ã€ŠDestiny Among the Stars [Romance] &#x2B; [Sci-Fi] &#x2B; [LitRPG]ã€‹


 Prologue

    I was slouched at the bar in my dad¡¯s shipyard caf¨¦, tapping my fingers on the worn wood counter. The place smelled like espresso and grease, a weird mix that somehow felt like home. The hot chocolate in front of me was damn near perfect, rich and smooth, the kind that made you forget the station¡¯s busted climate control was letting the cold creep in through every seam. Outside the big plate-glass windows, all you could see was the endless dark of space, the neon red sign buzzing softly like it was trying to stay awake. Cozy, but in that slightly rundown, ¡°we don¡¯t fix things until they¡¯re broken¡± way. Classic Athan Rossi vibes.

    The door swung open. My old man. Calloused hands, a face that could sell you a starship or rearrange your face, depending on the hour. He spotted me, that little smirk tugging at his mouth, Here we go again, kid.

    ¡°Hey, Dad,¡± I said, trying not to sound like I was hitting him up for cash. Grinned anyway. It¡¯s a reflex. ¡°Got something I wanna run by you.¡±

    He slid onto the stool across from me and waved down the server for his usual double espresso. The man could probably drink rocket fuel and still sleep like a baby. "For you, Luca? Always." He leaned back, all casual, like he had all the time in the world.

    We shot the shit for a bit: family, the crew, whatever small talk we could scrape together. It was mostly him asking about the latest portal delve, me trying to make it sound less dangerous than it was. You know, the usual.

    ¡°So, what¡¯s the emergency that couldn¡¯t wait?¡± he asked.

    I leaned forward, elbows on the counter. ¡°Okay, so here¡¯s the deal: the Triumph. The Alpha Centauri ship.¡±

    ¡°The one Karen¡¯s funding? What about it?¡±

    ¡°We need to talk ship, literally,¡± I said, lowering my voice. ¡°Look, Genesis builds solid stuff, workhorses, yeah? But this¡­ this needs to be different.¡±

    ¡°Different how?¡±

    ¡°Big, Dad. Way bigger than your usual runabouts. Think long-haul, adaptable. Alpha Centauri is just stop one. We need a ship that can be a home out there, for years if necessary.¡±

    He raised an eyebrow, gaze sharp. "Years? Planning a one-way trip?"

    "Hell no," I said, maybe too fast. Didn''t want him thinking we were bailing, not after Mom. "But we need to be ready for anything. Private cabins, not bunks. Real galley hall, labs, a hangar. This isn''t a joyride; we¡¯re pushing boundaries. We might even hit past level 60 out there, who knows? We need a ship that can keep up.¡±

    ¡°And what happens when you run into something out there that pushes back?¡± he asked, now leaning forward, his voice serious. I guess I must have spooked him.

    ¡°We¡¯ll be ready. Best damn team in the sector. Ryan¡¯s engineering brain, Danny¡¯s science smarts, even Zoe picked navigator at 54. With the right ship, we can handle it. Besides, this is our shot to show the UER what we¡¯re made of. To go beyond.¡±

    He was silent, stirring his espresso. "It''s more than just seeing new planets for you, isn''t it?"

    ¡°It''s about a lot of things. Getting away from here, maybe. Seeing something new.¡± I replied quickly. There was a lot I wanted to do: explore the universe and see new stars and new planets. My team needed a break; we¡¯d been delving into portals nonstop, raising money for this mission to commission our ship. I remember that original ¡®System¡¯ message four years ago. The system arrived to all civilizations in the Milky Way. I wanted to see them, I wanted to get there first.

    "Your mother always said you had stars in your eyes," my dad said, sighing, a hint of sadness in his voice. He must be remembering her, how much she had believed in me, in this crazy dream.

    "Maybe I do. Is that so wrong?" I asked, an edge to my voice. Maybe I needed this escape, this chance to prove myself. And maybe the team did too. We''d spent years delving, fighting to survive in those damn portals. We deserved a break from the grind, a chance to see something beyond Earth and its endless politics.

    He sighed. "No. But space is a bitch, Luca. Doesn¡¯t give a damn about dreams.¡± He was right, of course. It had been a bitch setting up the Shipyard and running it; so many teams had been lost on Mars, Europa, and so many other planets and moons, people who went in unprepared, underequipped, or just had bad luck.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    ¡°That¡¯s why we need the right ship, Dad. A fighting chance.¡± I pulled out my tablet. Emily said I drew like a kid, but whatever. ¡°Look.¡±

    I didn¡¯t wait for him to agree before diving in. ¡°Midsize, roomy for eight. Modular so we don¡¯t kill each other in tight spaces. Big, open bridge with map tables and viewports. Private cabins ¨C screw the bunks. A galley that isn¡¯t a closet. Labs, hangar. Comfort and function, that¡¯s the play.¡±

    I couldn¡¯t stop once I got rolling. My hands were flying everywhere, gesturing like I was already giving a tour of the ship that didn¡¯t even exist yet. ¡°Surveying planets, charting systems nobody¡¯s even named yet. We find a good spot, touch down, and bam, alien landscapes under our boots.¡±

    My voice got louder without me meaning it to. ¡°Think about it, Pop. We could uncover entire civilizations, or strike it rich on resources no one¡¯s even dreamed of. And the team? My crew? We¡¯re ready to make it happen.¡±

    He sipped his coffee, slow and steady like he had all the time in the universe. ¡°Quite the adventure you¡¯ve got planned,¡± he said, one eyebrow raised like he wasn¡¯t sure if I was a genius or just full of shit. ¡°And what about when you need some R&R?¡±

    I threw my head back, stretching, letting the warmth of the chocolate spread through me. "Oh, don¡¯t worry, Pop. We¡¯ve got plenty of comfortable spaces for that too." In my head, I could already see it: the plush lounge, the dim lighting. Perfect for, you know, unwinding after a long day of discovering new galaxies. Maybe with Emily, her laughter echoing softly, or Zoe, leaning in close, whispering about some nebula she just charted. Not that I¡¯d say any of that out loud. ¡°Picture it. Dad: soft rustle of pages, the murmurs of strategy over poker, the kind of vibe that makes the ship feel like home.¡± My eyes lit up as another idea hit me ¡°Or," I said, grinning, "help Zoe whip up one of her famous casseroles in our state-of-the-art kitchen."

    Okay, so I didn¡¯t really care about casseroles, but imagining Zoe in the kitchen, her apron over her bare shoulders, her ass sticking out? Yeah, that was something. Not that I¡¯d say that out loud, especially not to Dad. No way I was letting him know half the shit rattling around in my brain.

    Dad sipped his espresso and gave me the look, the one that said, You¡¯ve got big dreams, kid, but do you have the budget? ¡°You know this isn¡¯t going to be cheap,¡± he muttered. ¡°Just the space alone, the engine, building materials, furnishings... Installing that FTL drive.¡±

    I plastered on my most confident smile, even though my stomach did a nervous flip at the mention of the Drive. "I know it¡¯s a big undertaking, Dad," I said, throwing in a casual shrug like I wasn¡¯t sweating bullets over the numbers. "But I¡¯ve run the math. Between our savings and some financial backing from Karen at the IFC,¡± and that useless level cap holding me back from actually using my ''Starship Navigation Familiarity'' to its full potential¡­ ¡°I¡¯m confident we can make it work."

    The word confident hung in the air like I had it tattooed across my forehead. Truth was, I was about 80% sure we could pull this off, and that 20% uncertainty? Yeah, I buried that under layers of bravado and blind optimism. What was the alternative? Give up before I even started? Not my style. Besides, if we didn¡¯t figure it out, Emily would definitely kill me, and Zoe would probably find a way to make it worse just for fun.

    Dad raised an eyebrow, the kind of eyebrow lift that could stop a lesser man in his tracks. "This is... ambitious, Luca. You do realize what you''re asking for, right? This isn''t just a bigger ship. It''s a whole different class." He shook his head slightly, running a hand over his tired face. "The cost... we''re talking 400, maybe 500 million, easy. And that''s a bare-bones estimate. No gravity generator, no supplies."

    For a second, my enthusiasm dipped like someone had cut the power. Half a billion credits? It was a number so big it didn¡¯t even feel real. But I wasn¡¯t about to show weakness, not now, not in front of him.

    "I know it¡¯s a lot of money, Dad," I admitted, my voice steady, ¡°but we''ll make it back. We find something valuable out there, a new resource, a new technology... it''ll pay for itself. And Karen, she believes in the mission. She greenlit the Triumph Initiative, remember?.¡±

    "She greenlit a proposal," he countered, his voice firm. "Building a ship like this... that''s a whole different ball game. I''ll have to clear some schedules, expand the drydock..." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "And Karen''s a businesswoman, Luca. She''ll expect a return on her investment."

    Of course, she would, why else would she loan us the money? It''s her IFC on the line as well. The United Earth Republic would have her head if we failed. "We''ll give her one. I know we will," I said, my voice ringing with a conviction I hoped I could live up to.

    God, I hope that doesn¡¯t sound as desperate as it feels.

    Dad leaned back, studying me with that thoughtful expression he always got when he was deciding if I was full of shit or just stubborn enough to pull it off. "You always were the ambitious one," he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips.

    "Ambitious," yeah, that was one word for it. Maybe reckless or stupidly hopeful would''ve been more accurate. Relief bubbled up as he added, "Alright, let me talk to my engineers. We''ll run the numbers, see what''s feasible. No promises, but I''ll see what I can do."

    I grinned so wide it hurt. "Thanks, Dad. You won''t regret it." We clinked our mugs together, his espresso against my hot chocolate, and for a second, it felt like we''d already won. Like maybe, just maybe, this crazy dream could actually happen.

    In the back of my mind, though, the doubts were already lining up, whispering about how much was riding on this. How much I was risking. But I pushed them aside. We''d figure it out. We had to. I wasn''t ready to let this go, not yet. Not ever.

 Chapter 1 - The Triumph

    Four months. Four damn months of waiting, planning, and scraping together credits like a broke college kid saving for spring break. And now, here we were, standing by the port window like kids on Christmas morning. The Triumph of Darron, our ship, was finally ready. Well, technically, it was docked nearby, still under the watchful eye of one of Dad¡¯s pilots. But seeing it released from the shipyard clamps was something else.

    I leaned forward, my hands pressed against the cool glass, trying to soak it all in. ¡°Look at her,¡± I said, barely able to keep the grin off my face. ¡°Is it just me, or does she look even better than the schematics?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s gorgeous,¡± Zoe chimed in from beside me, her voice low and a little too smooth. I caught her reflection in the glass, her deep brown eyes shining with intelligence as she tilted her head, her long, dark locks swaying gently. She was always thinking, always calculating. It was one of the things I admired most about her. I knew that look. Zoe didn¡¯t just admire things; she studied them, like she was already figuring out how to make the Triumph her playground. Typical Zoe.

    Ryan, standing on my other side, gave a low whistle. ¡°Looks fast. Reckon we could race her?¡± He elbowed me, grinning like an idiot.

    ¡°Yeah, until we leave your sorry ass in the dust,¡± I shot back. But my chest tightened a little at the thought. This wasn¡¯t just a ship, it was ours. It was the culmination of every stupidly ambitious, half-baked dream I¡¯d had since we hit level 32 and focused our paths. And now? Now it was real.

    Emily brushed past me, her ponytail swishing as she stepped closer to the window. She had that look, all cute and focused, a little too serious for the moment. ¡°You sure it¡¯s ready for us, Luca?¡± she asked, her tone soft but edged with that undercurrent of doubt that always made me second-guess myself.

    ¡°Hell yes, it¡¯s ready,¡± I said, more for me than her. ¡°We¡¯ve got everything: Dad¡¯s cutting-edge designs and the Vanguard Hyper-Displacement Drive we pulled from Venus. You were there. You saw what we went through to get it.¡±

    And I wasn¡¯t lying. That level 60 portal on Venus had been no joke, an absolute cluster meat grinder of traps, mobs, and some bastard of a boss who nearly took Ryan¡¯s arm off. But we did it. We made it out, drive in hand, just before the whole portal collapsed behind us. Single-use bullshit. Still, that drive? Worth every scraped knuckle and close call.

    I looked over at Danny, who had been quiet this whole time, his eyes fixed on the Triumph. Typical Danny, always thinking ten steps ahead. ¡°What do you think, science boy? Ready to leave the textbooks behind and play mad scientist in zero-G?¡±

    ¡°Only if you promise not to break my labs on day one,¡± he said.

    ¡°No promises,¡± I said with a shrug, and Zoe snickered beside me.

    The ship was everything I¡¯d hoped for: a Galactic Surveyor Type MK I, sleek and modular, built for exploration but with enough creature comforts to make long missions bearable. It wasn¡¯t just Dad¡¯s first large ship, it was our masterpiece. And that Vanguard drive? It could push us to .5 AU per second. Half a fucking astronomical unit. It was still hard to wrap my head around speeds like that.

    ¡°Once we¡¯re past the Oort cloud, we¡¯ll be golden,¡± Ryan said, his voice cutting through my thoughts. ¡°You sure about that corridor to Alpha Centauri? No ice dust, no debris? Sounds too good to be true.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s legit,¡± I said, clapping him on the back. ¡°Gravitational pull or system mechanics or some other science shit, whatever it is, it¡¯s clear. Three weeks, give or take, and we¡¯ll be touching down on alien soil.¡±

    Emily crossed her arms, her expression softening just enough to let me know she wasn¡¯t completely sold but wouldn¡¯t argue. Yet. ¡°Alright, Captain,¡± she said with a small smile. ¡°You¡¯ve got us this far. Let¡¯s see if you can keep us alive for the next leg.¡±

    ¡°Challenge accepted,¡± I said, turning back to the window. My reflection grinned back at me, cocky as hell. Inside, though, I was buzzing with nerves, excitement, and something I couldn¡¯t quite name. This was it, the start of something big, something crazy.

    And, yeah, maybe I was imagining Zoe lounging in one of the ship¡¯s plush chairs, or Emily leaning over the bridge console. Sue me. I was twenty, I was human, and I was about to dive headfirst into the unknown with my best friends and the two biggest distractions in my life.

    What could possibly go wrong?

    <hr>

    With the ship now completed, all we had to do was board and take control. Simple, right? Except stepping into the Triumph of Darron for the first time wasn¡¯t just simple, it was fucking magical.

    The airlock hissed open, and we drifted inside, floating like kids on a zero-g field trip. The ship was pristine, gleaming metal, faint hum of machinery, and the sharp tang of disinfectant in the air. My boots gave a little kick, and I sailed forward, my crew trailing behind. Our breathing echoed in the empty corridors, the sound weirdly satisfying in the silence.

    ¡°Someone forgot to turn on the gravity generator,¡± I said, grinning like an idiot.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    Emily giggled behind me, her ponytail floating in a golden halo. She looked at ease, the low lights catching the curve of her neck and the shape of her hips. I had to look away before my thoughts ran off the rails, again.

    We moved deeper into the ship, lights flickering on as we passed, painting our path in warm yellows and cool silvers. It felt surreal, like we¡¯d stumbled into a dream. Zoe caught up to me, twisting effortlessly in midair. Her long legs kicked lazily as she floated upside down, her dreadlocks spreading like ink in water. ¡°You¡¯re gonna have to teach me how to drive this thing,¡± she said, smirking.

    ¡°Drive? Pretty sure this thing flies itself,¡± I shot back, trying not to focus on how her hoodie was riding up, exposing her flat belly. Jesus, Luca. Get a grip. But, seriously, those legs.

    Emily shoved a datapad into my hand, snapping me out of it. ¡°We finally got it!¡± she said, her grin lighting up her whole face. I took the pad, the edges of pride and excitement bleeding into my chest. This was our ship now. Not Dad¡¯s, not some pipe dream, it was ours.

    We rounded a corner into engineering, where Ryan floated surrounded by a halo of tools. His cap was barely holding on, his sandy blonde hair sticking out like he¡¯d just rolled out of bed, which, let¡¯s be honest, he probably had.

    ¡°Already losing tools?¡± I teased, pushing off the wall to get closer.

    Ryan looked up, a ratchet floating by his shoulder. ¡°Hey, this is new territory, Luca. Tools weren¡¯t meant to fly.¡±

    He grinned at me, that easy, cocky smile that always felt like a challenge. And damn if he didn¡¯t make even zero-g look good, his broad shoulders filling out his t-shirt just right. Was it normal to notice stuff like that? Probably not. But here I was, noticing.

    We left Ryan to his floating mess and drifted further into the ship, finding Danny in the science lab. His curly red hair floated like a puff of fire, and he was squinting at a big-ass microscope balanced precariously on a crate. Danny always had this boy-next-door vibe, freckles and dimples making him look like he belonged in a vintage ad for milk or something. But seeing him here, all focused and determined? Yeah, it worked.

    Emily kicked off toward him, her voice light. ¡°Think you¡¯ll have everything you need?¡±

    Danny grinned back at her. ¡°Almost. But we might want to move this microscope before Ryan decides to turn on gravity and it crushes something. Like my foot.¡±

    ¡°Relax, you¡¯d only have yourself to blame,¡± Ryan called out from the corridor, already halfway to help. He planted himself next to Danny, their movements synchronized as they adjusted the microscope. Watching them work together, Ryan¡¯s toned arms brushing against Danny¡¯s lanky frame, it hit me again: a toned ass was a toned ass. Didn¡¯t matter if it belonged to Ryan, Danny, Emily, or Zoe. The whole crew was a walking distraction.

    Shaking my head, I pushed myself toward the bridge, leaving them to their balancing act. This ship wasn¡¯t going to captain itself, and I wasn¡¯t about to let my hormone-driven brain get in the way of the biggest moment of my life. But, yeah, I¡¯d probably need a cold shower later. Or a long talk with myself about priorities. Preferably both.

    We floated into the bridge, and Zoe was already in her element, gliding from console to console like she¡¯d been born in zero-g. Her dreadlocks stuck out in every direction, and I swear, she looked like some kind of space goddess, intense, focused, and way too attractive for my own good. She adjusted screens, configured the AI, and didn¡¯t so much as glance back at us, her whole vibe screaming, I¡¯ve got this.

    Meanwhile, Emily floated beside me, her hand brushing against mine every now and then, sending little sparks up my arm. Her green eyes sparkled like emeralds in the dim bridge light, and her grin could¡¯ve powered the whole damn ship. I had to force myself not to stare at the way her shirt slid up as she twisted to take in the view. Focus, Luca. Focus.

    We drifted out of the bridge and down the corridors, every new turn revealing another part of the ship that was ours. Ours. It was surreal, exhilarating, and just a little overwhelming. My brain couldn¡¯t stop buzzing with all the possibilities. The bridge console, for one, flat, smooth, and just the right height. I caught myself wondering how easy it would be to clean up afterward if things got messy. Not that I¡¯d ever say that out loud.

    The tour took us everywhere: the observation lounge, the gym, the engine room, and even the storage areas. Each space was shiny and pristine, full of promise. But it was the cabins that really did it for me. Eight of them, lined up on the top deck, each a little oasis of privacy. My cabin was small but cozy, with a tiny bathroom, a space for a desk, and a bed that would eventually hold a mattress.

    Standing there, I couldn¡¯t help but let my imagination run wild. This bed¡­ Yeah, it¡¯s gonna see some action. Not that I had much experience to back that up, okay, no experience, but damn, I could picture it. Emily¡¯s playful smirk as she leaned over me, Zoe¡¯s sharp tongue cutting through the tension, even Ryan¡¯s easy laugh as we clinked glasses of¡­ something. Hell, even Danny might show up if things got weird enough.

    And the lounge? Don¡¯t get me started. All those couches, the low lighting, the view of the stars stretching out forever, prime hookup territory. I made a mental note to add ¡°cleaning supplies¡± to the shopping list. What¡¯s the point of being Captain if I can¡¯t christen this ship in style?

    Emily¡¯s voice pulled me back to reality. ¡°Okay, Captain,¡± she said, her grin widening as she pulled a device from her pocket. ¡°We¡¯ve got shopping to do!¡±

    ¡°Got it, Captain,¡± Emily said with a mock salute, ¡°We have shopping to do!¡± The word hit me like a low-voltage shock, spreading warmth through my chest and, okay, maybe a little lower. Her eyes sparkled as she floated out of the cabin, Zoe close behind, both of them laughing like they didn¡¯t have a care in the world.

    Captain.

    It wasn¡¯t even supposed to be me. Nobody else wanted the gig, so I¡¯d fallen into it like someone tripping over their own feet at a graduation ceremony. At first, I¡¯d been hesitant, hell, terrified, really. But now? Every time someone said it, especially Emily, it was like a little ego boost I didn¡¯t know I needed. ¡°Captain¡± had a ring to it, a weight that felt... good. And yeah, when Emily said it, I felt a little more than good. Not that I¡¯d ever admit that to anyone.

    As their laughter echoed down the corridor, I floated there in the cabin, staring at the space like I¡¯d just stepped into the bridge of the Enterprise. My cabin. My ship. My future. The thought made my pulse quicken, and not just because of the ship. The way Emily had grinned at me, the way she said Captain, damn, she could weaponize that word if she wanted to.

    I took another look around, imagining how it would feel when the place was fully set up. The bed, the desk, maybe a little frame with a picture of my fam, or just Emily in one of those outfits she rocked so effortlessly. A guy could dream, right? And dreaming was safer than facing how my brain short-circuited every time she smiled at me like that. Focus, Luca. Focus.

    ¡°Hold on,¡± I said, raising a hand to slow her roll. ¡°Let me talk to my dad about food supplies first. He¡¯s got experience with this, helping new captains stock up. You guys handle the furniture. Just make sure everything can be bolted down in case we lose gravity again.¡±

 Chapter 2 - Getting Ready

    The next four weeks were a blur of activity, and honestly? It felt like some weird space version of a home makeover show. Every day, more boxes arrived for the Triumph of Darron, and Emily and Zoe turned the bare-bones ship into something that actually felt like home. They didn¡¯t disappoint, mattresses, tables, couches, desks, gym equipment, rugs, and all the little things I didn¡¯t even know we needed until I saw them unpacked. Zoe found this ridiculously comfortable leather couch that somehow fit perfectly in the lounge, and Emily picked out curtains for the observation deck windows. Curtains. In space. I had to admit, it kind of worked.

    Meanwhile, I¡¯d been neck-deep in logistics with Dad and his team on the Genesis Platform, coordinating food supplies for the voyage. Sure, we had the small greenhouse for herbs and maybe some greens, but the bulk of our meals would come from frozen and pre-prepared rations. You can¡¯t exactly live off basil and lettuce when you¡¯re charting uncharted space.

    By the end of it all, our quarters didn¡¯t even look like part of a spaceship anymore. The cold steel walls and floors were mostly hidden under soft fabrics, wood paneling, and carpeted walls. My cabin now had a mattress that made me want to skip shifts just to lie on it. The whole ship felt... alive. Cozy. Like it was ours in every sense of the word.

    As I stood in the lounge, looking at the ridiculous amount of effort we¡¯d put into making this ship a home, I couldn¡¯t help but grin. This was going to be so much fun. Sure, the whole thing had cost a small fortune, north of 550 million credits, and that didn¡¯t even include the street value of the FTL drive, which added another 200 million if anyone felt like doing the math. But who cared? This was our dream.

    Of course, none of this would¡¯ve happened without the Interstellar Frontier Company. They¡¯d won the Alpha Centauri survey charter from the United Earth Republic and thrown 300 million credits at us to build this ship and make the mission happen. The rest? That had come out of our savings, every credit we¡¯d managed to scrape together. We¡¯d spent weeks convincing Karen and Michael at IFC to back us. I mean, begging wasn¡¯t off the table at one point.

    This was their big bet on us, and if we screwed it up, the IFC would lose their investment and get their asses handed to them by the UER. No pressure, right? But if we pulled this off? We¡¯d be rich. Like buy-your-own-space-station rich.

    For now, though, I wasn¡¯t thinking about credits or charters or all the ways this could go wrong. Standing there, surrounded by my crew, my family, it all felt worth it. Every sleepless night, every impossible negotiation, every credit we¡¯d spent. We were ready. And as Captain, still weird, still kind of a turn-on, it was my job to make sure we didn¡¯t screw it up.

    <hr>

    The last thing on the never-ending list was uniforms. Uniforms. Just the word made me cringe. I wasn¡¯t exactly the ¡°matching outfits¡± type, and the idea of telling my crew what to wear felt... weird. But Dad had been insistent. ¡°It¡¯s about discipline, Luca. Morale. Presentation. You¡¯ll be among other crews, miners, gas scoopers, shuttle pilots. They¡¯ll expect it.¡±

    So here I was, dragging Emily and Zoe to a shop called Uniforms Unlimited because, let¡¯s face it, I figured they knew more about colors and clothes than I did. My fashion sense maxed out at ¡°does this have holes in it?¡± and ¡°is it clean enough to wear again?¡±

    When we walked in, a middle-aged woman with purple hair and a smile like she genuinely enjoyed her job greeted us. ¡°Athan Rossi¡¯s son, correct?¡± she said, extending her hand. ¡°I¡¯m June. A pleasure to meet you, Luca. And you must be Emily and Zoe?¡±

    I blushed, like, actually blushed. Why do people always know I¡¯m Athan¡¯s kid? ¡°Uh, yeah. Hi, June,¡± I managed, shaking her hand like a nervous intern. ¡°We¡¯re here to, uh, get some uniforms made for our crew.¡±

    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.¡°Excellent,¡± she said, leading us into her office, which looked like someone had exploded a rainbow in it. Swatches of every fabric and color imaginable covered the walls and tables. It smelled like coffee and ambition, and she wasted no time pouring us cups from the fancy machine in the corner.

    ¡°So,¡± June began, sliding into her chair and looking at me expectantly, ¡°what kind of look are you going for? Professional? Casual? Camouflage, perhaps?¡±

    I hesitated, glancing at Emily and Zoe for backup. ¡°Uh, professional but comfortable?¡± I said, trying to sound like I had a plan. ¡°We¡¯ll be spending long hours on the ship, exploring planets. Maybe a set of uniforms for onboard tasks, something for downtime... gym clothes too, maybe? Neutral colors? Grays?¡±

    The second I finished, Emily groaned audibly and facepalmed. Literally facepalmed. ¡°Luca,¡± she said, getting up and pushing me toward the door, ¡°we¡¯ll take care of this, okay?¡±

    ¡°You sure? I was thinking maybe¡­¡±

    ¡°Nope,¡± Zoe cut in, joining the shoving effort. ¡°We¡¯ve got this. You¡¯re off uniform duty.¡±

    June raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t stop them. The girls plopped back into their seats as I stumbled out the door, still holding my untouched coffee. ¡°Fine,¡± I muttered, half to myself. ¡°Just don¡¯t make us look like space clowns or something.¡±

    From the hallway, I could hear Zoe¡¯s laugh echoing. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Captain. We¡¯ll make you look good.¡±

    And there it was again, that word, Captain. It hit me like it always did, sending a warm buzz through my chest and, yeah, lower. I shook my head, trying to clear the image of Emily and Zoe in perfectly tailored uniforms out of my mind. Focus, Luca. Let them handle it.

    Still, as I walked away, I couldn¡¯t help but imagine what they¡¯d come up with. Hopefully not something that screamed ¡°space janitor,¡± but knowing those two, they¡¯d figure out how to make us look damn good. I just hoped they didn¡¯t spend too much on it. Actually, scratch that, I hoped they did.

    <hr>

    Five hours. Five damn hours since Emily and Zoe had kicked me out of Uniforms Unlimited, and I was still fuming. Not because I didn¡¯t trust them, well, not entirely, but because sitting around while they ran the show left me feeling like a third wheel on my own ship.

    I was in the command chair, fiddling with the bridge¡¯s user interface, trying to figure out if I could customize the layout. It wasn¡¯t going well. Every time I clicked something, another menu popped up, and none of it made sense. Why does everything in space have to be over-engineered?

    When I heard the airlock hiss, I glanced up to see Emily and Zoe strolling in like they owned the place. Emily had this smug little grin on her face, and Zoe looked like she¡¯d just pulled off the heist of the century.

    ¡°How¡¯d it go?¡± I asked, spinning the chair around and leaning back like I was totally cool with being left out of the loop.

    ¡°It went great, Luca,¡± Zoe said, her smirk almost a challenge. ¡°We¡¯ve got some surprises for the whole crew, but you¡¯ll have to wait and see.¡±

    ¡°Surprises?¡± I raised an eyebrow, not entirely sure if I should be excited or terrified. Knowing Zoe, it could go either way. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we try them on before we leave? Did you get everyone¡¯s measurements?¡± I asked, trying to sound like a responsible Captain and not like someone secretly wondering how good everyone would look in their new uniforms. Okay, mostly wondering about Emily and Zoe.

    ¡°June will transmit the design specs over tonight,¡± Emily said, waving off my concern. ¡°We¡¯ll have them before we leave. Don¡¯t worry.¡±

    Zoe rolled her eyes. ¡°Relax, Captain. We¡¯ve got it under control.¡±

    And there it was again, that word, Captain. Zoe¡¯s tone was casual, but it still hit me like a well-aimed punch. Captain. My title. My role. My... weird turn-on when she or Emily said it. I tried not to let it show, turning back to the interface and pretending I didn¡¯t feel a little warm under the collar.

    ¡°Fine,¡± I said, because I did know better than to question them when they were in mission mode. They were a force of nature, and honestly? I wasn¡¯t about to get in their way. Instead, I turned my attention back to the bridge, letting out a slow breath as I scanned the room.

    The ship was coming together, piece by piece, and it looked spectacular. The consoles gleamed under the soft light, the viewports stretched out to reveal the endless starscape, and my command chair? Perfectly positioned. This was my domain, my sanctuary, my ship.

    But in the back of my mind, I couldn¡¯t stop imagining what those uniforms might look like, or more accurately, what the crew might look like in them. Especially Emily and Zoe. And maybe Ryan, if I was being honest with myself. God, I was hopeless.

 Chapter 3 - The Uniforms

    ¡°What the fuck is this?¡± I muttered, holding up one of the so-called uniforms like it was about to disintegrate in my hands. It looked like it was made for a doll, not a full-grown human being. Around me, the guys were tearing into their own boxes, and judging by their faces, somewhere between stifled laughter and utter disbelief, I wasn¡¯t alone in my confusion.

    ¡°These are our new uniforms,¡± Zoe said, grinning like she¡¯d just pulled off the prank of the century. She leaned casually against a crate, her dark eyes sparkling with mischief. ¡°Emily and I worked on them based on the specs you gave us. They¡¯re smart-suits, designed for functionality and...¡± Her voice dipped slightly, and her eyes flickered towards Danny for a moment, a playful smirk touching her lips. "...style." She let her eyes drift over him, lingering just a fraction longer than necessary, before returning to the group.

    Danny, caught off guard, froze, his freckles practically glowing under the hangar lights. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his hand coming up to adjust his collar as if it had suddenly become too tight. Zoe watched him, her grin widening slightly, clearly amused.

    I looked away quickly, pretending to inspect the ridiculous suit in my hands. God help us. This ship hasn¡¯t even left the dock, and it¡¯s already a mess.

    The thing in my hands, calling it a uniform felt generous. It was sleek, stretchy, and so form-fitting it looked like it would vacuum-seal to my body. The material shimmered under the hangar lights, and a zipper ran from the neckline all the way to the crotch. It even came with a face mask for emergencies, which was probably the only thing about it that made sense.

    "Uh, are these... are these supposed to be compression garments? Because I''m not sure about the, uh, the ventilation properties of this material. We might overheat. Or, you know, chafe." He pushed his glasses up his nose, avoiding eye contact with anyone.

    ¡°Uh, girls?¡± I ventured, waving the tiny, shiny thing at Zoe and Emily. ¡°I think there¡¯s been some kind of misunderstanding. We need practical gear, not... this.¡± My voice cracked a little as I gestured at the suit. ¡°How the hell are we even supposed to put it on? It¡¯s so... tiny.¡±

    Emily sighed dramatically, crossing her arms like I was the dumbest person on the ship. ¡°Luca Rossi,¡± she said, her tone dripping with exaggerated patience, ¡°you, of all people, should know how important it is to look good while exploring the universe. First impressions matter. Besides, these suits are state of the art.¡±

    I blinked at her, struggling to find the words. ¡°State of the art? Emily, this thing looks like it came out of a sci-fi strip club.¡±

    ¡°Well, if we don''t make it to Alpha Centauri, at least we''ll look good in these uniforms when they find our remains,¡± said Ryan as he handled one of the tiny outfits.

    Great, here we go. Time to find out just how badly they blew the budget.

    ¡°How much did you spend on this ¡®state of the art¡¯ gear?¡± I asked, bracing myself for the answer.

    Emily hesitated, her confidence cracking just a little. ¡°Well, we got the smart-suits, gym clothes, shoes, loungewear...¡±

    ¡°How much?¡± I pressed, my stomach doing somersaults.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, about a buck twenty?¡± she said, looking everywhere but at me.

    ¡°120...?¡± My voice rose, sharp enough to cut through the hangar¡¯s hum.

    ¡°120,000 credits,¡± she said in a quiet voice, like saying it softly would somehow make it less insane.

    The hangar went completely silent except for the collective gasp from the guys. 120,000 credits? On clothes? What the actual fuck?

    ¡°And we worked really hard on them,¡± Zoe added, pouting like she was the victim here. ¡°Don¡¯t you trust our judgment?¡±

    Trust? Oh, I trusted them to blow through a budget faster than a starship through hyperspace. I glanced around. Ryan looked like he wanted to laugh but was smart enough to keep his mouth shut. Danny was fiddling with his box like it might give him answers to life¡¯s mysteries. No one said a word. Arguing with Emily and Zoe was like arguing with gravity: pointless and dangerous.

    I let out a long sigh, feeling every ounce of defeat settle on my shoulders. ¡°Fine,¡± I said, throwing up my hands. ¡°Fine. Whatever. The money¡¯s already gone.¡±

    Emily¡¯s face lit up instantly. ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± she said sweetly, stepping forward to plant a quick kiss on my cheek. And just like that, it was hard to stay frustrated. Damn her.

    ¡°Exactly," Zoe said, clapping her hands together. "So, moving on! We didn''t just get the suits." She grabbed another box, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Let''s see what else we''ve got, shall we? There¡¯s also the gym uniforms, loungewear, shoes, boots, and other stuff,¡± she added as if that somehow made spending a small fortune on space spandex okay.

    ¡°Let¡¯s take a look at those,¡± Ryan said, stepping up to another box like he was ready to unravel the next layer of chaos.

    I leaned back against a crate, rubbing a hand over my face. Fuck me. What did I get myself into? The money was gone, the uniforms were shiny enough to blind someone, and my crew was clearly going to have opinions. But as I watched Zoe and Emily dive into the next box, laughing and chatting like this was all some grand victory, I couldn¡¯t help but smile.

    This is going to be a shitshow. A fun one, maybe, but still a shitshow.

    The first thing out of the box was the loungewear: sleek, white, and soft-looking, with personalized color accents for each crew member. But the kicker? It was sheer. Suspiciously sheer. As in, you¡¯d better not be shy about what you¡¯ve got underneath. My mind instantly went into overdrive, imagining Emily lounging on one of the couches in her red-accented set, legs curled up, maybe leaning just a little too far forward... or Zoe, her green highlights catching the light as she stretched out in the observation lounge, totally unconcerned about how see-through the fabric might be. Shit, focus, Luca.

    Then there were the gym uniforms, moisture-wicking, breathable, and made in the ship¡¯s colors. The shorts were... short. Not tight, but the kind that rode up when you moved, showing just a bit too much leg, maybe even a peek of bum if you weren¡¯t careful. My brain, unhelpfully, conjured up Ryan in those, his sandy blonde hair tousled as he wiped sweat off his face after a workout. Or Danny, lanky but somehow pulling it off, freckles on full display as he ran through drills. Why do I do this to myself?If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    ¡°Hey, these are actually nice,¡± Danny said, holding up his workout gear, completely oblivious to the fact that Zoe was practically undressing him with her eyes. She flashed him a smile so bright and hungry it could¡¯ve melted a lesser man. I swore I saw her fingers twitch, like she was resisting the urge to reach out and adjust his collar or something. God help us all.

    I forced myself to snap out of it, rubbing a hand over my face as if that would clear the images. ¡°Alright, alright. You win this time,¡± I said, trying to play it cool. ¡°Everyone grab your box, or boxes, rather, and let¡¯s get suited up.¡±

    As the crew started gathering their new gear, I couldn¡¯t help but glance back at the loungewear, my imagination firing on all cylinders again. This is going to be fun. Sure, it was completely impractical, and I was still mentally calculating how many credits we¡¯d blown on this stuff, but seeing everyone in those outfits? Yeah, I wasn¡¯t complaining. I just hoped I¡¯d survive it without embarrassing myself.

    <hr>

    I grabbed my own boxes, the weight surprisingly hefty. Time to see if these things were as bad as they looked.

    Carrying the three boxes up to my cabin, I couldn¡¯t help but grin like an idiot. Sure, the clothes were skimpy, okay, really skimpy and stretchy, but I couldn¡¯t deny it: the girls had outdone themselves. The color schemes, the ship¡¯s livery stamped on everything, even the socks... They¡¯d thought of everything. My original plan had been simple: matching coveralls for basic protection and cohesion, nothing fancy. But Emily and Zoe had gone full runway fashion show and given everyone a damn wardrobe.

    By the time I reached my quarters, I was out of breath. I dropped the boxes onto my desk and opened the first one, letting out a low whistle at the neatly folded uniforms. They were soft, almost luxurious. I ran my hand over the material, half-impressed, half-annoyed. Then I spotted the undergarments. Boxer briefs. Of course. I preferred boxers, loose, free, and, you know, breathable. But looking at the tight, form-fitting outfits they¡¯d picked, I knew boxers weren¡¯t going to cut it.

    ¡°Fine,¡± I muttered to myself. ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with.¡±

    I stripped down, folding my jeans, hoodie, and boxers with the kind of precision Dad would¡¯ve been proud of. The boxer briefs went on first, and I had to admit, they were snug but comfortable. Then came the main event. The bodysuit.

    Slipping one leg in, I immediately started doubting my life choices. The material hugged my calf like it was trying to choke it. ¡°How the hell is this supposed to fit?¡± I muttered, hopping on one foot as I worked the suit over my thigh. The other leg wasn¡¯t any easier, and by the time I got the thing up to my waist, I was bouncing around the cabin like a madman.

    ¡°Shit,¡± I hissed, trying to yank it higher without tearing it. Finally, with a deep breath and a lot of effort, I shoved my arms in and zipped the thing up. The fabric clung to me like, like plastic wrap, squeezing every muscle and curve. And yeah, there was definitely a wedgie situation going on.

    ¡°Fucking hell,¡± I groaned, adjusting awkwardly.

    I walked over to the mirror, bracing myself for the worst. But when I saw my reflection, I froze. Wide-eyed, I stared at the guy in the mirror, lean, athletic, and... damn.

    ¡°Damn,¡± I whistled, tilting my head to get a better look. ¡°I look good.¡±

    The suit wasn¡¯t terrible. It had pockets, which was a win in my book, as well as belt loops to hang a utility belt, and the built-in tech panel on the sleeve was pretty cool. Curious, I tapped the panel and scrolled through the options. It showed my vitals, heart rate, temperature, all that fun stuff, but the color customization caught my eye.

    I picked silver-gray, watching as the white bodysuit shifted subtly, filling in with a sleek graphic design. The thin V-shaped graphic stretched from my shoulders to my crotch. Right to the crotch.

    ¡°Oh god,¡± I muttered, staring at the bold design. ¡°This is going to be awkward.¡±

    I tried to look at the positives. The suit felt comfortable, and it made me look like a proper space captain. But walking around with a crotch-high V and everyone else in matching outfits? Yeah, this was going to take some getting used to. With a resigned sigh, I turned toward the door. Time to face the crew. Let the awkwardness begin.

    Shaking my head, I decided to just get it over with. The sooner I faced the crew, the sooner this whole uniform thing would be behind us.

    <hr>

    The door to my quarters slid shut behind me with a soft hiss, and I stepped out into the corridor, the new uniform hugging every inch of me like it was custom-molded to my body. The matching boots added a little extra spring to my step, and I was already half-wondering how the rest of the crew would react when I saw Emily stepping out of her cabin.

    ¡°Holy shit!¡± we said in unison, both of us freezing mid-step.

    My brain short-circuited. Her uniform, all white with red accents, was like something out of my most vivid daydreams. The narrow V design that started right between her legs and ended below her breasts in an upturned crescent drew attention exactly where it was supposed to, leaving nothing to discussion. Her blond ponytail framed her face perfectly, softening the intensity of those green eyes that now had me feeling about five degrees too warm.

    ¡°You... uh, you look... so hot,¡± I stammered, my voice cracking like a goddamn teenager. And I meant it. The suit clung to her in ways that made my brain do somersaults. Her chest, her hips, every curve, it was like the universe had decided to showcase everything in high-definition, and I wasn¡¯t ready.

    Emily blushed, her cheeks turning a shade of pink that somehow made her look even more irresistible. She crossed her arms over her chest, but honestly? That just made it worse. ¡°Thanks,¡± she said shyly, looking anywhere but at me. ¡°You look...¡± She trailed off, clearly struggling to find words.

    I grinned, leaning into the moment. "Like my uniform?" I asked smugly, shifting my weight and subtly flexing my bicep, just enough to make the fabric of the uniform tighten a little. Not like I was trying to show off or anything. Okay, maybe a little. If I couldn¡¯t stop myself from drooling over her, I might as well distract her with some humor.

    Emily laughed, the sound bright and warm. She stepped forward and gave me a playful punch on the abs, her knuckles brushing against the unforgivingly tight material. ¡°You ass,¡± she said, shaking her head but smiling. "The uniform definitely... suits you." She winked, her green eyes sparkling with mischief. "Maybe a little too much."

    Damn, she''s not pulling any punches, is she? And is it just me, or did her fingers linger for a second there? Focus, Luca. Don''t make this weird. Or do... No. Focus!

    ¡°Come on,¡± I said, offering her my arm. ¡°Let¡¯s go see how the others look in their new threads.¡±

    As she hooked her arm through mine, she glanced up at me, her teasing smirk firmly back in place. ¡°Did you like the undies we chose?¡±

    I swallowed hard, my mind instantly flashing to the snug boxer briefs. ¡°They¡¯re... different,¡± I said, trying not to sound like a total idiot. ¡°But I guess I can get used to them. What about you two? What did you pick for yourselves?¡±

    Emily winked at me, a playful glint in her eye. ¡°Just wait and see.¡±

    Her arm pressed against mine, and I felt the heat of her body through the thin material of our uniforms. It was innocent enough, a casual touch, but my imagination was already in overdrive. What did she mean by ¡°wait and see¡±? Was her underwear even more revealing? Would I even survive seeing the whole crew in these outfits? My thoughts spiraled, one image blending into the next: Emily lounging on the observation deck in sheer loungewear, Zoe in those gym shorts doing stretches, even Ryan and Danny in their workout gear, because apparently, my brain was equal-opportunity horny.

    That was it. Game over. The warmth of her body against mine, even through the thin fabric of their suits, was too much. The tightness in my boxer briefs turned into a full-on situation, and I fought the urge to adjust myself right there in the hallway. Shit, shit, shit. Focus on something else. Stars. The ship. Engine specs. Anything but how her chest feels so close.

    ¡°Easy there, Captain,¡± Emily teased, her voice light but sharp enough to make me want to crawl into the nearest airlock.

    My face went nuclear. ¡°Sorry, I¡­¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± she said, cutting me off with a gentle squeeze of my bicep. Her touch lingered just long enough to send a fresh wave of heat through me. ¡°I can¡¯t say I blame you.¡±

    Her words hung in the air, the playful edge of her tone doing absolutely nothing to help my situation. I cleared my throat, trying to regain some semblance of composure. Focus, Luca. You¡¯re the Captain. Act like it.

 Chapter 4 - Thanks Dad

    Together, Emily and I made our way to the galley, my heart pounding as much from anticipation as the snugness of my uniform. Every step through the corridors of the Triumph of Darron made me acutely aware of how the suit clung to my body, highlighting everything, everything. And if I felt exposed, I could only imagine what the others would look like.

    When we reached the galley entrance, Zoe was already there, leaning against the doorframe with her usual effortless grace. Her dreadlocks framed her face, and the form-fitting suit highlighted her long legs. She looked like she belonged on this ship, like she was born for this mission, the material hugging her in ways that should¡¯ve been outlawed. The zipper of her uniform was pulled down just enough to draw attention to her small chest, a tease of deep almond skin, a stark contrast to the white fabric was striking, but no one gave it a second thought. On this crew, it was just Zoe.  She caught me looking and smiled, running her hand down her waist like she knew the effect she had.

    ¡°Damn, Zoe,¡± Emily exclaimed, practically bouncing with excitement. ¡°You look incredible.¡±

    Zoe tilted her head, her smirk widening. ¡°Thanks. I guess this suit does have its advantages.¡± Her voice was light, but her eyes were practically daring someone to disagree.

    Holy shit, I thought, trying to keep my expression neutral. How am I supposed to focus with this going on?

    Before I could say anything, Joey walked up, his uniform stretching taut over his broad shoulders and chest. And, yeah, there was no missing the way the material left absolutely nothing to the imagination below the belt. Joey didn¡¯t even look embarrassed, in fact, he was grinning like this was the best day of his life.

    ¡°We¡¯re never going to be able to concentrate with all these distractions walking around,¡± he said, his tone half-joking but clearly checking out Zoe.

    Ryan strolled in next, his sandy blonde hair as messy as ever, but his uniform made him look like some kind of space model. The sleeves clung to his arms, showcasing muscles that, let¡¯s be honest, deserved to be shown off. He grinned as he approached, flexing just a little as he slid into the group. ¡°Speak for yourself, Joey. I¡¯m just glad I can finally show off my muscles without having to wear a tank top.¡±

    Okay, Luca, breathe, I told myself. Between Ryan¡¯s casual confidence, Joey¡¯s unintentional thirst-trap vibe, and Zoe¡¯s deliberate smolder, my brain was on fire. And then there was Emily beside me, the warmth of her body brushing against mine, her suit highlighting every curve, damn it, focus.

    Danny shuffled in next, tugging at his uniform with an annoyed groan. ¡°Can we just appreciate how uncomfortable these new uniforms are? I feel like they¡¯re constantly riding up.¡±

    I almost laughed at the sight of Danny, freckled, red-faced, and clearly out of his element, but even he managed to make the outfit work. The snug material showed off his lean frame in ways I hadn¡¯t noticed before, and the way his curly hair shifted slightly as he moved made him look oddly endearing. Why is everyone on this ship so ridiculously attractive?

    ¡°The lady told us they¡¯ll break in,¡± Emily said, her voice soothing. ¡°It should be wicked comfortable after a couple of wears.¡±

    Meanwhile, Chris walked in behind Danny, cool and confident as ever. His jet-black hair framed his face perfectly, and his suit practically glowed under the galley¡¯s lights. The bulge in his pants was... noticeable, and he clearly didn¡¯t give a damn. Seriously? Is this my life now?

    I stepped back slightly, my eyes sweeping over the team. Zoe¡¯s dimples, Emily¡¯s curves, Joey¡¯s confidence, Ryan¡¯s charm, Danny¡¯s endearing awkwardness, Chris¡¯s cool swagger, every single one of them looked like they¡¯d stepped out of a fantasy.

    Years of fighting together, of building trust and risking our lives for each other, had led to this. A crew so hot they could melt steel beams just by walking into a room. My chest swelled with pride, and something a lot less noble as I looked at them. We¡¯re doomed, I thought. Absolutely doomed.

    ¡°Alright, alright,¡± I said, trying to play it cool as I clapped my hands together. ¡°Let¡¯s focus. Everyone looks... great.¡±

    We finally gathered around the galley¡¯s oversized table, everyone crammed into seats that were clearly not designed with this many egos in mind. I sat at the head because, well... I was the Captain. My table... was already scratched and scuffed, already broken in, even though we hadn¡¯t left yet. We''d need to be more careful around here if we wanted things to last, I thought, and I drummed my fingers against the surface, stalling for time. The chatter died down, and all eyes turned to me.

    God, I hated this part. Speeches. They were awkward and unnecessary. Everyone here knew what they were doing, or at least pretended to, and I wasn¡¯t about to act like I had some profound wisdom to drop on them. Still, Captain duties and all that. I leaned forward, elbows on the table.

    ¡°Alright, listen up,¡± I started, keeping my tone casual because that¡¯s all I had. ¡°I know this whole setup¡¯s new. The ship, the uniforms, the tiny gym shorts. Yeah, it¡¯s tight, and yeah, it¡¯s weird. But we¡¯ll figure it out.¡± I paused, letting my eyes sweep across the crew. ¡°Just don¡¯t fuck up too badly, alright?¡±

    That earned a few laughs, and I couldn¡¯t help but smile. Humor: 1, Awkward Silence: 0.

    Leaning back, I stretched my arms behind my head like I wasn¡¯t winging every word. ¡°Let¡¯s get the last of the cargo loaded and get moving. The sooner we¡¯re out there, the sooner we start making history.¡±

    The crew nodded, murmuring their agreements as they stood to head off to their tasks. The table emptied, leaving me sitting there for a moment, staring at the now-vacant seats.

    Do we have everything? Hell if I knew. We had food, fuel, and enough gear to at least pretend we were ready. That¡¯d have to be enough. The rest? We¡¯d figure it out as we went, or we wouldn¡¯t. Either way, the clock was ticking, and Alpha Centauri wasn¡¯t getting any closer.

    This was my team. Flawed, ridiculous, way too attractive for my sanity, but they were mine. And somehow, I had to keep them alive, functional, and hopefully out of each other¡¯s pants long enough to complete the mission.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    ¡°Great pep talk, Captain,¡± I muttered under my breath, standing up and heading for the door. Let¡¯s see if we can survive launch without blowing something up.

    <hr>

    The galley had cleared out, leaving me alone. I shook my head, trying to clear my brain. Right. Loading. We needed to finish loading the ship.

    I headed towards the cargo bay, the hum of the Triumph''s systems growing louder with each step. As I rounded the corner, I saw the crew struggling with a particularly large crate, its metal edges groaning under the strain. Or rather, most of the crew.

    "Easy, easy!" Danny was saying, his voice tight with anxiety. He was practically hovering over the crate, his hands outstretched as if he could prevent any damage through sheer force of will. "We need to be careful. That contains sensitive calibration equipment. If we jostle it too much¡­"

    ¡°Relax, you¡¯d only have yourself to blame,¡± Ryan called out from the corridor, already halfway to help. He planted himself next to Danny, their movements synchronized as they adjusted the microscope. Watching them work together, Ryan¡¯s toned arms brushing against Danny¡¯s lanky frame, it hit me again: a toned ass was a toned ass. Didn¡¯t matter if it belonged to Ryan, Danny, Emily, or Zoe. The whole crew was a walking distraction.

    "A little help here, Ryan?" Emily grunted, her face flushed from the effort. The muscles in her arms were straining against the fabric of her uniform, and for a moment, I was too distracted to be annoyed.

    "Yeah," Zoe added, her voice low and slightly breathless. "Unless you''re planning on carrying this thing to Alpha Centauri yourself?"

    Ryan pushed himself off the wall with a lazy grin. "Fine, fine. But someone should''ve grabbed a pallet jack. My back isn''t what it used to be." He sauntered over to the crate, finally deigning to add his strength to the effort.

    As they inched the crate forward, its metal legs scraped against the floor, making me wince. "Guys, guys! Watch the floor!" I called out, hurrying over. "The ship is brand new! You''re going to scratch it all up."

    "Maybe if someone helped instead of just supervising," Chris muttered under his breath. He adjusted his grip, his biceps bulging.

    "Seriously," I said, trying to regain some authority, "We need to lift, not drag. There are pallet jacks for a reason." I gestured to the controls on the side of the crate.

    "Yeah, yeah," Ryan said, waving me off. "We''re almost there. Just a few more feet." With a final, combined heave, they shoved the crate into place, the sound of metal on metal echoing through the bay.

    Panting slightly, Zoe leaned against the crate, her chest rising and falling. She shot me a grin. "See? We got it. No scratches."

    I ran a hand over the floor, inspecting for damage. "Just try to be more careful next time, okay?" I said, trying not to sound too much like a nagging parent. "This isn''t some beat-up freighter. It''s our home now." I paused, then added, "And a very expensive one at that."

    Danny, ever the pragmatist, was already scanning the crate with a handheld device. "Readings are nominal," he announced, relief evident in his voice. "No damage to the equipment."

    "See? We''re professionals," Ryan said, clapping Danny on the back a little too hard. Danny stumbled, and I saw Zoe''s hand twitch like she wanted to steady him. Interesting.

    "Alright," I said, clapping my hands together, "Let''s get the rest of this stuff loaded. And someone grab a pallet jack this time. Please." I shot a pointed look at Ryan, who just grinned back, unrepentant.

    <hr>

    I stood near the loading bay, watching them hustle to get the last of our supplies onboard. This was it, the moment we¡¯d been building toward for months. The Triumph of Darron was about to embark on its maiden voyage into the unknown, and I was leading the charge with my closest friends by my side. No pressure or anything.

    Running a hand through my hair, I tried¡ªand failed, to ignore the wedgie creeping up my butt. The damn bodysuit was tight as hell, but Emily swore it would ¡°break in¡± eventually. For now, it just felt like a polite, fabric-covered assault on my dignity. Still, she¡¯d chosen this for the crew, and I wasn¡¯t about to half-ass it. Fine, bodysuit. You win this round.

    Emily glanced my way and flashed me a quick smile before returning to her work, her blonde ponytail swishing as she moved. Focus, Luca. Focus on the ship. The mission. Literally anything else.

    The final crates were secured, and the crew started drifting toward the bridge. For a moment, I felt a pang of sadness. We were leaving everything behind, the station, the platform, the only life we¡¯d ever known. But that was the point, wasn¡¯t it? To go where no man has gone before?

    As I turned toward the bridge, I saw Dad making his way toward me. His timing was impeccable, as always. Athan Rossi, the man who¡¯d taught me everything I knew about space and survival, now watching me take my first real steps as Captain. It was weird seeing him like this, not as the commander of the Genesis Platform, but just... my dad.

    ¡°Hey, Dad,¡± I said, pulling him into a quick, awkward hug. ¡°Glad you made it.¡±

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t miss this for anything,¡± he replied, his voice steady but warm. ¡°A journey into uncharted territory. I¡¯m proud of you, son.¡±

    The words hit harder than I expected. I stood a little straighter, nodding as if I wasn¡¯t completely floored. ¡°Thanks, Dad,¡± I said, my voice quieter than I wanted it to be.

    His eyes flicked down to my uniform, and his lips twitched with the kind of amusement that only a dad could manage. ¡°You¡¯re really going to travel through space in that?¡± he asked, gesturing at my snug outfit.

    I grinned, even as my cheeks burned. ¡°Emily promised it¡¯ll loosen up after a few wears,¡± I said, tugging at the fabric riding up my thighs. ¡°And hey, it¡¯s supposed to protect against cuts and scrapes. Fashion and function, right?¡±

    He shook his head, laughing softly. ¡°Well, let¡¯s hope it holds up. I brought you something to make the journey a little easier.¡± He held up two cases of wine, his expression softening in a way I wasn¡¯t used to. ¡°For celebrating new discoveries, or just surviving the day.¡±

    I froze for a second, staring at him. Celebrating new discoveries? What the hell was that supposed to mean? Was he being literal, like, ¡°Good job finding a new planet, here¡¯s a toast¡±? Or was there more to it? Dad wasn¡¯t exactly the ¡°wink-wink, nudge-nudge¡± type. Since Mom died, he¡¯d been all business, all the time: focused, serious, the kind of guy who measured success in results, not feelings. And yet, here he was, holding wine like we were about to party our way through Alpha Centauri.

    Was he telling me to cut loose?

    My mind went into overdrive. Was this some kind of subtle dad-code for ¡°go out there and enjoy the hell out of life¡±? Was he telling me to celebrate everything I discovered? Planets, new species, Emily¡¯s body, Ryan¡¯s tight ass. Holy shit, stop thinking. But seriously, what if he meant it like that? Was this some weird father-son bonding moment where he was low-key telling me to¡­ explore?

    No. No way. This was Athan Rossi. Mr. Stoic. He couldn¡¯t possibly mean¡­ could he? I tried to shake off the thought, but my brain wasn¡¯t letting it go. Damn it, Dad. Be clearer with your cryptic life advice!

    I glanced at the cases of wine, my grip tightening around the handles. ¡°Uh, thanks, Dad,¡± I said, my voice steady even as my brain continued its internal meltdown. ¡°I¡¯ll, uh, make sure it gets used for... appropriate celebrations.¡± Smooth, Luca. Very smooth.

    He gave me a knowing look, the kind that made me feel like he could see through every bullshit layer I was trying to hide behind. ¡°Good,¡± he said simply, patting my shoulder before turning to greet the rest of the crew.

    As I watched him walk away, I felt like I was missing something, a joke I wasn¡¯t in on, or maybe just another one of those dad moments that only made sense years later. My thoughts drifted back to Emily, the way her uniform looked, and to Ryan, who had no right looking that good in anything. Celebrating new discoveries.

    Was that Dad¡¯s way of saying, Go live your life, kid? Go screw around? Or just¡­ don¡¯t be afraid to feel something? I sighed, hefting the wine cases. Either way, the man had dropped a philosophical grenade on me and walked off like it was nothing.

    Fine, Dad. I¡¯ll figure it out. Eventually. Probably. Maybe after a glass of this wine. Or three.

 Chapter 5 - Separation

    Okay, here we go. Time to wrangle these idiots. "Alright, everyone," I clapped my hands, trying to sound like I knew what I was doing. Which, let''s be real, I usually didn''t.

    My eyes snagged on Emily, holy shit. That bodysuit¡­ tight as hell. And it was riding up her back just enough. Damn, she looked amazing. Like, a straight-up firecracker. And she knew it, with that little smirk and a wink. She was doing that on purpose.

    She sauntered over, pecked me on the cheek, "Alright, Captain," she said, all teasing and batting her eyes at me. She knew she was hot, the way she strutted away, that sway in her hips.

    Danny shuffled past, his eyebrows practically touching as he tugged at the collar of his uniform. "This thing''s tighter than a vacuum seal," he muttered resignedly. "I swear I just heard it squeak when I moved.¡±

    And of course, Ryan, that little shit, jumped in. ¡°Here, let me fix that wedgie for you, Danny.¡± Asshole. Tugging at his suit. Danny yelped, "Get your hands off me!" Face bright red. Ryan always had to mess with Danny. I¡¯d probably do the same thing, if I¡¯m being real.

    ¡°You two are hopeless,¡± I muttered, shaking my head. They were like a couple of toddlers. Still, I¡¯d die for those two knuckleheads, wouldn''t admit it though. They were idiots.

    Okay, with all the last-minute stuff finally done, we were all in our spots on the bridge of the Triumph of Darron, ready to rock and roll. Zoe, our navigation officer, was front and center, looking like she was born to pilot this damn ship. I¡¯m pretty sure she slept with a star chart under her pillow.

    To her right, Emily was all focused, her eyes scanning the screens like she was dissecting them. She was a real looker when she was concentrating like that. If I didn''t know better, I''d say she wanted to be here more than me. Maybe I was wrong, but damn if I wasn''t curious.

    Ryan and Danny were off to the side, like the nerdy science and engineering department, hunched over their consoles. Those two were a pair of tools sometimes, but when push came to shove, they knew their jobs. They were arguing about some pointless crap as usual. On Zoe¡¯s left were Joey and Chris, the newbies, but not really. They were like the older brother types who hung out with us back in the day. Joey''s got this quiet intensity about him, like he was carrying the weight of the world, which he kind of was, what with his dad being a grade-A shitbag and all. But underneath that brooding, he was solid. A good dude.

    Chris, on the other hand, was all smiles and energy. The guy just radiated positivity, it was almost sickening, bet he was glad to be part of the crew. He was a last-minute addition, someone to bring along with Joey. But all that charm was just hiding the fact that he was a beast in combat, yeah, we had that going for us.

    <hr>

    Alright, everyone was in position. I took a deep breath, the kind you take before jumping off a cliff. "Initiate undocking procedures," I said, trying to sound all captain-y. Like I knew what the hell I was doing, well¡­ I did know what I was doing, mostly, with my ''Starship Piloting Familiarity'' and my ''Starship Operation Familiarity'', just enough to make this work without immediately wrecking us, but not enough to truly feel in control, not until 10 anyway.

    I flicked open my interface because, let¡¯s be real, that¡¯s what you do at the start of an adventure, right? Set the stage, check the numbers, make sure everyone knows where we stand. For all you math weirdos out there, yeah, I¡¯ll update this stuff as we go. Just don¡¯t ask me to explain the math.

    [Status]

    Name: Luca Rossi

    Combat Path: Operative [Perception, Intelligence]

    Profession Path: Starship Commander [Intelligence, Memory]

    Level: 60

    Experience Points: 1,706,305/1,706,306

    [Attributes]

    Charisma: 22

    Intelligence: 50

    Memory: 45

    Perception: 66

    Willpower: 31

    When it came to XP allocation, I was a bit of a mess. Zoe and the rest of them? Those guys had it together: a skill plan and skill queue, all orderly and put together. My problem, no, not a problem, my situation, yes that¡¯s what it was, was different. I had to take on additional skills outside my path, you know, for the sake of the team, and, in a sense, it forced me to diversify because I cared. The problem was that at level 60, our cap, we only had a certain amount of XP, and while I had skills that gave me enough knowledge to do my job, everyone else could do it better. I was more of a jack of all trades. So I had my upgraded combat path and my professional path, plus, you know, other critical essentials.

    Now, our skills weren¡¯t flashy, no magic or special abilities, not yet anyway. These were mostly passive, like the system inserted knowledge into your brain, allowing you to skip college and whatever else. That¡¯s how Danny, at 20 years old, had PhD level knowledge on astrophysics or whatever, but could operate our instruments and actually interpret the data, and Ryan, as much a loser as he was, was a perfect starship engineer, mostly. My piloting skills felt okay; I had a level 4 in Starship Piloting and Operation Familiarity, but when it came to power system optimization? Well, that was just level 3. Anyhow, here are my Starship Commander Skills. I had more, but they weren¡¯t really relevant right now.

    Starship Piloting Familiarity: Level 4

    Starship Operation Familiarity: Level 4

    Starship Systems Familiarity: Level 4

    Starship Maintenance Familiarity: Level 3

    Starship Power Systems Optimization Familiarity: Level 3

    Starship Navigation Familiarity: Level 3

    "Alright, everyone," I said, settling into the captain¡¯s chair. My voice sounded steadier than I felt, which was all that mattered. "Initiate undocking procedures. Let¡¯s do this clean."

    ¡°You got it, Captain,¡± Zoe responded, toggling the thrusters. She had that cocky little smirk that said she could do this blindfolded. The Triumph of Darron rumbled softly, the engines humming alive beneath us. The vibrations carried through the deck, like the ship itself was just as eager as I was.

    "Docking clamps disengaged," Emily reported, her tone steady. "Jetbridge retracted. All systems nominal."

    ¡°Copy that,¡± I said, watching as Zoe began the delicate work of easing us out of the bay. ¡°Nice and steady.¡±

    Why the hell couldn''t I have focused more on one thing, like Zoe? Watching her make the maneuvers with such precision, it was hard not to feel the difference between her honed Multi-Vector Piloting skill and my level 4 version. At least my Zero-G Maneuvering Familiarity is at the same level as her. Her professional path had been consistent from the beginning, flying and navigation. Those skills synchronized and built off each other, pushing her navigation skills into the proficiency tier, far surpassing what I could do.

    Chris leaned into his console, toggling the comms. ¡°Genesis Platform, this is Triumph of Darron,¡± he said, his tone all business. It suited him, even if I could tell he was barely holding back a grin. And who knew what path Chris even had? Sure, he had a DPS combat path, he told me what it was one time, but his professional path? No idea. Who even let him on the ship? The guy probably had a charisma attribute so high it registered as a weapon.

    A short burst of static came through before the reply: ¡°Triumph of Darron, this is Genesis Traffic Control. We read you loud and clear. What¡¯s your status?¡±

    ¡°Traffic Control, we are undocked and maneuvering clear of the bay,¡± Chris replied smoothly. ¡°Requesting departure clearance.¡±

    ¡°Roger that, Triumph,¡± came the response. ¡°You are cleared for departure. Proceed on vector zero-seven-one until you are 10 kilometers clear, then resume your planned course. Safe travels.¡±

    ¡°Copy, Traffic Control,¡± Chris said. ¡°Proceeding on vector zero-seven-one. Thank you, Genesis.¡±

    The Triumph glided smoothly away from the platform, Zoe working the controls like the damn artist she was. The massive structure of Genesis shrank in the viewport, its spindly construction like a web against the stars. It looked smaller already, which was saying something. I swallowed a weird lump in my throat. Nostalgia or nerves? Could¡¯ve been both.

    "Ship¡¯s clear," Zoe announced, her voice calm but smug, like she¡¯d just nailed a perfect landing. Which she had, in reverse. I wished that feeling was just mine. All her skill points, completely focused on ''Starship Navigation,'' made her a natural, whereas I''d had a smattering of skills that allowed me to do the job, but never quite good enough to be truly confident.

    "Confirmed," Emily added. "All systems green. You¡¯re good to set our course when ready, Captain."

    Chris switched the comms. ¡°Genesis Traffic Control, this is Triumph of Darron. Clear of the platform and proceeding on departure vector.¡±You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

    "Copy, Triumph. You are cleared to engage your next sequence. Safe journey, and we¡¯ll see you on the other side." The radio crackled one last time before falling silent.

    And just like that, we were on our way.

    Chris thanked them, ending the transmission. He turned to me, gave me a thumbs-up and a wide grin, all teeth and boyish charm. ¡°That was easy,¡± he said.

    I tried to keep it cool, but a small laugh escaped my lips. ¡°Don¡¯t get too comfortable yet, Chris. We still have a long way to go.¡±

    Just then, the comms panel on Chris''s console chirped, a rhythmic pulse indicating an incoming priority message. He tapped a control, his brow furrowing slightly. "We''ve got a priority one hail from Genesis, Captain," he reported, his voice all business. "It''s Commander Rossi."

    I nodded, straightening up a little in my chair. "Patch it through to the bridge speakers, but keep it formal." This wasn''t just a casual chat; it was a message to the entire crew, and potentially being recorded for the logs.

    Chris manipulated the controls, as a soft tone echoed through the bridge, signaling the open channel.

    "Triumph of Darron," a familiar voice filled the bridge, rich with authority. "This is Commander Athan of the Genesis Station. Please confirm receipt."

    "This is Captain Luca Rossi of the Triumph of Darron," I replied, my voice echoing slightly in the sudden formality. "We read you loud and clear, Commander. Go ahead."

    There was a brief pause, a moment of static that seemed to stretch on for an eternity. Then, my father''s voice, a little softer now, but no less commanding. "To the crew of the Triumph of Darron, I extend my official best wishes for a successful and safe voyage. You have trained hard, and you are prepared for the challenges ahead." He paused, clearing this throat.

    "You carry the hopes of many with you," Athan continued, his tone gaining strength. "The success of this mission, the data you gather, will be invaluable to the United Earth Republic, and the IFC. Remember your training, rely on your crewmates, and conduct yourselves with honor and integrity. Genesis Station will be monitoring your progress. We expect great things."

    "We will do our best, Commander," I said, glancing around at the crew, who were all listening intently. "Thank you for your support."

    "Don''t worry, Commander," Emily chimed in, a hint of a smirk playing on her lips. "We''ll keep him in line."

    "Good. Remember what I said about sticking together." He paused, then to me, "Luca. Lead them well, son. Make me proud."

    My throat tightened unexpectedly. "I will, Dad. I promise."

    "Good. Genesis Station out." The connection closed with a soft click, leaving a sudden silence on the bridge.

    I nodded, took a deep breath, and turned to face my crew. ¡°Alright, guys,¡± I started, trying to keep the excitement from making my voice crack. ¡°This is it. Our journey begins now.¡± I glanced around at each of them, Emily, focused and ready; Zoe, smirking with anticipation; Danny, a little nervous, but determined; Ryan, already scheming, I just knew it; Joey, looking steady and resolute; and then, back to Chris, who flashed me another bright smile. Was he flirting with me?

    <hr>

    Across the bridge, Danny was working on his console, his brow furrowed in concentration as he double-checked the readings. On his screen, the Genesis Platform was already a distant speck, barely visible amidst the swirling chaos of the asteroid belt.

    Ryan leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms over his head with a satisfied groan as he finished the final systems checks. He shot me a confident wink. "All green, Captain. Ready to punch it."

    Joey''s eyes swept over the crew, lingering for a moment on each of us. He tapped a few commands into his console, his expression unreadable. When our eyes met, he gave a curt nod. "Vitals are nominal," he reported, his voice calm and steady.

    I cleared my throat, because, you know, captain stuff. I hated speeches, but sometimes I gotta say something, right? I didn''t want to be captain, no one else did, so here I was, stuck. ¡°Alright, everyone, let¡¯s remember why we¡¯re out here.¡± Ugh, this sounded so lame, the words tasted like ash. I tried to sound like I knew what I was doing, like some action movie hero. ¡°We have a mission to explore the Alpha Centauri system and uncover its secrets.¡± I paused, met each of their eyes, trying to look all serious and professional. ¡°It¡¯s gonna be scary, exciting, and awkward at times, but I know we can handle it.¡±

    My words got a few chuckles out of them, and I couldn¡¯t help but grin. It was nice when they weren¡¯t looking at me like I was a complete loser.

    ¡°But seriously, guys,¡± I continued, ¡°this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Let¡¯s make the most of it and discover something extraordinary. If it goes well, we¡¯ll secure funding to continue these sort of missions in the future.¡± Okay, that was enough inspirational captain bullshit for one day.

    I took one last look at the disappearing platform, a fusion of relief and anticipation swirling inside me before I settled back into my chair, my face set with some kind of determined expression. ¡°Now, let¡¯s get this show on the road. Engage primary thrusters, Mr. Mitchell. Ms. Woods, plot a course for the Oort cloud passage.¡±

    ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± they shouted back in unison, then burst out laughing. I couldn¡¯t help but laugh with them, they were a bunch of goddamn goofballs. The good kind.

    Ryan activated his control panel, and the Triumph of Darron kicked into gear, accelerating smoothly away from the asteroid belt. I leaned back, feeling the low hum of the engines vibrating through the ship.

    To my right, Danny was a statue, his eyes fixed on his sensor readings. Zoe, on the other hand, was a whirlwind of motion, double-checking her coordinates with rapid-fire movements. Her eyes flickered between the console, Danny, and Ryan, a hint of a smile playing on her lips whenever she looked their way, it didn¡¯t take a rocket scientist to know she''s got a crush. I felt a pang of empathy for her, it couldn¡¯t be easy being stuck between those two goofballs. I knew all too well how hard it was to admit feelings for someone when you''re around them all the time, especially if it was complicated. What was she waiting for? They were all idiots.

    With our duties done, the ship cleared the asteroid belt and set its sights for the Oort Cloud. Chris relayed our destination to flight control, the guy always seemed to know the right thing to say. One by one, they left the bridge, their tasks done for now as the ship shifted to autopilot. And then I was left alone. Fuck. Captain¡¯s log, I muttered to myself, today I gave a horrible speech, and everyone laughed at me.

    <hr>

    The cabin door slid shut behind me with a soft hiss, and I was alone, finally. For a minute, I just stood there, taking it all in. The walls were stark, like some kind of military prison cell, the furniture was too damn new to feel like mine, and the overhead lights were buzzing brightly, we should have installed dimmers. It wasn''t much, but it was mine for this trip, or however long this mess lasted. I could smell the sterile plastic, the recycled air, everything felt too clean, too new. I wanted to mark it, leave my stink on the place.

    I wandered over to the tiny desk by the viewport, placing the picture frame I brought from home right in the center. It was a shot of all of us, my mom, Maddie, smiling with that tired but warm look she always had; my dad, Athan, looking like he''d rather be anywhere but in front of the camera; and my brothers, Matteo and Alessio, grinning like a couple of idiots in matching Christmas sweaters. I ran my thumb along the edge, feeling the ghosts of the last real good holiday before everything went to shit. Before we lost mom. Before everything turned to dust.

    I shook off the nostalgia that was creeping into my chest, put the picture down, and turned my attention to the bed. The mattress looked like something straight out of a hospital, sterile and unwelcoming. Like they were expecting me to die here. I unzipped the bag holding my comforter and sheets, giving it a few jerky shakes that sent static crackling in the air. The warm, flannel comforter unfolded in my hands, soft and familiar against my skin. I threw it onto the mattress and smoothed it out with a few half-hearted swipes, ¡°Close enough,¡± I muttered. I could still smell the detergent, too clean.

    Next up were the crates at the foot of the bed. I popped the lid off the first one to find my standard-issue uniforms, neatly folded like I was some kind of military robot. I dumped the uniforms into one of the drawers, stacking them in uneven piles that sort of toppled into the drawers. The plastic smell of the factory still clung to them, a stark contrast to the familiar scent of home I was trying to create.

    The second box held my casual clothes, mostly gym clothes, those shorts and loungewear. My eyes landed on a set of flannel pajamas, green and black, and I snorted. Zoe and Emily¡¯s handiwork, 100 percent. They thought they were funny, those two. I bet they¡¯d planned this out for weeks. There were three sets, enough for a change, and for when the other two were dirty. They were soft though, they¡¯d be nice and cozy at night.

    The third box was heavier. Boots, spare gloves, and other gear. I pulled out the boots first, white, matching the bodysuits, with that clean, no-nonsense look that screamed crew uniform. They had magnetic soles, too, for when gravity inevitably decided to take a day off. Practical. Fine. They were even velcro because, apparently, we¡¯re kindergartners now, incapable of handling laces. I bet Emily and Zoe thought that was hilarious.

    They looked like they¡¯d be comfortable, though. Probably needed breaking in, but they¡¯d do the job. I tucked them into the bottom of the wardrobe carefully, right where boots belonged. Gotta take care of your boots, they¡¯re the only thing standing between you and the vacuum of space. These ones still smelled new, like rubber and whatever synthetic leather substitute they used. It wasn¡¯t bad, but it wasn¡¯t right, either. My old boots? They smelled like leather and sweat, a good smell. Familiar. Like they¡¯d been through hell and back with me. These ones had some work to do before earning that kind of loyalty.

    By the time I was done, the room looked a little less like a storage closet and more like it might actually belong to me. It was still not perfect. I''ll likely be shuffling all this stuff around for days. I could still smell the emptiness.

    I sat down at the desk, elbows on the surface, staring out at the endless black through the viewport. Out there, somewhere, was the Oort Cloud, and beyond that, Alpha Centauri. It was huge, almost too big, but then I looked back at the photo and felt a sense of duty wash over me. I had to do this for them, for mom. It was the only way to make the world right.

    I glanced around the cabin, now slightly more lived-in. I dug into my duffel bag and pulled out my old RISK board game. The worn box felt familiar and grounding. I spent countless hours playing it with my brothers, the sound of our laughter echoing in the kitchen back on Earth. I set it down on the shelf above the desk, letting my fingers linger for a moment. I could almost hear them yelling at each other over the stupid strategies we used to argue about.

    Then, I pulled out my Energy Tomahawk, its blade gleaming faintly in the dim light. It had been with me on so many missions where stealth and precision meant the difference between life and death. The metal felt cold, but right, in my hand, like a natural extension of my arm. It reminded me of the danger that was always waiting for me, the blood I had spilled. I placed it carefully on the desk beside my laptop, the weight of it both reassuring and a little terrifying.

    I leaned back in my chair, my eyes drawn to the viewport. The vast expanse of black, punctuated only by the distant pinpricks of stars, seemed to stretch on forever. Out there, somewhere, lay the Oort Cloud, and beyond that, Alpha Centauri. A low hum vibrated through the deck, a constant reminder of the powerful engines that were carrying us further and further from home. I pictured the crew in their own cabins, unpacking, making their own spaces, hopefully not tearing each other to shreds.

    The picture frame on my desk was slightly crooked. I reached out and adjusted it, aligning it perfectly with the edge of the desk. Mom, Dad, Matteo, and Alessio are all smiling back at me, frozen in a moment of happiness from a lifetime ago. A wave of longing washed over me, so strong it almost took my breath away.

 Chapter 6 - Unpacking

    The corridor was quiet except for the soft hum of the ship, a constant, low reminder that we were out in the middle of nowhere. I leaned against my cabin door, glancing up and down the hallway. My brain¡¯s practically screaming at me: Captain, shouldn¡¯t you be doing something important? But there really wasn''t much to do; the autopilot had like twenty uneventful days mapped out ahead, and I was restless as hell.

    I started with Emily''s cabin, two doors down, because, well, it was Emily. I knocked twice, waited a beat, then peeked my head in before she even answered.

    ¡°What do you want?¡± Her voice carried from behind a pile of clothes she was tossing onto her bed. Damn, she¡¯d already got everything strewn everywhere, what a mess.

    I stepped inside, like the oblivious jackass I was. ¡°Just checking.¡± Smooth, Luca, real smooth.

    ¡°Checking, huh?¡± She stood up, hands on her hips, and she''d got that look in her eyes, the one that said "you''re about to piss me off."

    ¡°Maybe I can help?¡± I offered, trying to be helpful, maybe a little too eager for her attention.

    Emily just gave me that look, then sighed, like dealing with me was the most exhausting thing in the world. "Out. I¡¯ve got unpacking to do.¡± Her body language was screaming "space," and for some reason, I couldn¡¯t seem to read the room.

    Before I could even process what was happening, she was ushering me backward, out through the door. It slid shut with a soft hiss, leaving me standing there, staring at the cold, metallic surface. Okay, maybe I should just let her be.

    I turned, frowning, and walked towards Chris¡¯s cabin. His door was wide open, which wasn''t really surprising. I glanced inside, his bed wasn¡¯t even made, boxes were scattered on the floor, and he was nowhere in sight. It was like he just dumped everything in there and vanished.

    ¡°Gym rat,¡± I muttered, shaking my head. Chris was probably already bench-pressing something heavy, sweat-slicked, and grinning like an idiot as he ¡®broke in¡¯ the equipment. I could see him, muscles bulging, the veins in his arms popping, sweat dripping down his chest. It''s the kind of stuff I¡¯d do, if I had more time and energy to be a jackass.

    Ryan¡¯s cabin was next, so I rapped my knuckles against the doorframe, poking my head in without hesitation.

    ¡°Luca! Come in, come in!¡± Ryan waved me in from where he was sitting cross-legged on the floor, unpacking a ridiculously fancy poker set. The silver metallic box gleamed in the light, and the neatly stacked chips looked way out of place in this ship. What a show-off.

    ¡°Fancy,¡± I said, crouching to get a closer look. ¡°Marshalls, you said?¡± My eyes were drawn to Ryan¡¯s hands, the way his fingers moved, quick and agile.

    ¡°Last-minute buy,¡± Ryan said, grinning like he¡¯d just pulled off a bank heist. ¡°Figured we¡¯d need something classy for poker night on the edge of the universe.¡±

    ¡°Classy is a stretch,¡± I said, thumbing one of the chips. It did have some weight to it, I¡¯ll give him that. I could feel the subtle grooves of the chip under my finger, felt the subtle weight of it.

    Ryan laughed, and we were both grinning like idiots. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s see what Danny¡¯s up to. If anyone needs distracting, it¡¯s him.¡±

    We headed to Danny¡¯s cabin, and it was the complete opposite of Chris¡¯s chaos. Everything was meticulously organized, everything unpacked and squared away. Danny looked up from his desk, where he¡¯d been fiddling with a small holographic star map. He was all focused, his brow furrowed, like he was solving a puzzle.

    ¡°Hey, guys,¡± he said, leaning back in his chair. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±

    Ryan flopped onto Danny¡¯s bed, not even waiting for an invitation. ¡°Nice place. Tidy, boring, but nice.¡± He rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. ¡°You see Zoe in that uniform? She looks incredible.¡±

    ¡°Can we not?¡± I said, running a hand down my face. Ugh, here we go. I hated how predictable we were.

    Ryan propped himself up on one elbow, smirking. ¡°What? You¡¯re telling me you didn¡¯t notice? Come on, Captain, you¡¯re not that professional.¡± He knew how much I noticed.

    Danny shook his head, already knowing what we were. ¡°Ignore him, Luca. It¡¯s easier.¡±

    ¡°I''m just saying!¡± Ryan continued, ¡°Zoe is looking like a snack, I bet you anything she''s got one hell of a bubble butt under those pants." He clapped his hands, "Just saying."

    ¡°And Emily¡­¡± I started, picturing her in my head. ¡°Emily, man¡­¡± The way her breasts strained against the fabric of her uniform, I could imagine burying my face there.

    ¡°I know what you mean,¡± Ryan said, his eyes lighting up. ¡°It¡¯s like, she can''t help but be a smokeshow. I bet those things of hers are like soft pillows.¡±This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

    Danny rolled his eyes, ¡°You guys are unbelievable! Seriously? Are you two always going to be like this?¡± He sounded annoyed as hell, and I could see the muscles in his jaw tighten.

    ¡°What, jealous?¡± I joked, nudging him with my elbow.

    Ryan chimed in, ¡°Maybe we just need to loosen you up Danny. You¡¯re always so focused on facts and science. How about we go for some girl-watching?¡±

    I laughed, "That¡¯s rich, you have a crush on everyone."

    Ryan, chuckled, ¡°Guilty as charged!¡± He paused, his mind wandering, ¡°But, I wonder what Zoe would look like with¡­¡±

    Danny interrupted, ¡°Okay, okay, enough! Can we please focus on our mission or do literally anything else?¡±

    Ryan, winked, "Fine, fine, no girl talk." He paused for a beat, "So¡­ back to the mission? Do you think Zoe likes how Emily fills out her uniform more than she does when she sees Emily?" The pervert.

    I snorted, "Yeah, I can see that. Emily has a huge advantage." I leaned into Danny''s ear, "Poor Zoe, maybe we should make a club for people who get overshadowed by other, larger¡­ assets?"

    Danny threw his hands up, ¡°I¡¯m done. I¡¯m going back to my star map. You two are hopeless.¡± He shook his head, and turned back to his map.

    <hr>

    This day was a blur, like a bad dream where I was forced to move boxes all day long. We were hauling supplies out of the hangar, all those heavy MREs and flash-frozen food, and it was like a never-ending game of Tetris. Me, Ryan, and Joey were taking turns maneuvering these carts stacked so high they looked like they were gonna tip over any second, dragging them across the decks to the kitchen. Every time we hit a corner too fast, the stack teetered like it was about to topple, earning groans from Joey, and laughter from me and Ryan, especially when that stupid package of vacuum-sealed broccoli went skittering across the floor. Of all the things to spill¡­ it had to be broccoli, the most pathetic of the vegetables.

    ¡°Careful!¡± Danny barked from across the hallway, struggling to keep his own load of science instruments balanced. ¡°That box you just bumped? Yeah, it¡¯s full of very delicate instruments.¡±

    Ryan just grinned, shifting a box of wires precariously on top of another. ¡°Why do they all look like overpriced soda cans?¡± He was teasing him, that little shit.

    ¡°Ryan!¡± Danny¡¯s voice cracked with exasperation. The dude was about to blow a gasket, I swear.

    I shook my head, trying not to laugh. ¡°We¡¯ll be lucky if half your equipment still works by the time it reaches your lab.¡± It was all just a mess, boxes everywhere.

    The real battle came later when we started setting up the lounge. The pool table alone was enough to make me reconsider the whole concept of recreational furniture. Moving that thing turned us into a pack of sweating, swearing caricatures of ourselves, and by the time it was finally in place, I was ready to swear off pool for life.

    And it made you wonder, with all the technology we had, why couldn''t they invent robots or androids to handle this kind of work? I mean, we¡¯ve got spaceships that travel faster than light, but we were still lugging around boxes like cavemen. I''d invest my own goddamn credits if we could get some help around here. Seriously, where is the AI when you need it?

    The lounge finally looked like something resembling livable by the time the sun, or a sad imitation of it from the ship¡¯s artificial lighting, had set. The big TVs were mounted, the video game systems were powered up, and the sleek furniture was arranged around the electric fireplace. It was almost enough to make me forget how much I hated chores. Almost.

    <hr>

    That evening, Joey took over the kitchen, all Gordon Ramsay with his ¡®get out of my way¡¯ vibe. He was yelling over his shoulder at anyone who dared to offer help. The result, though? The food was incredible. The smell of garlic, spices, and something sweet and caramelized filled the air. My stomach rumbled, but also, something else¡­ Plates clattered as we sat down at the long table, the sounds of laughter and conversation echoing off the walls. For a minute, it almost felt normal. I could smell the rich sauce, the herbs, it was making my mouth water.

    ¡°This,¡± Ryan said, shoving a forkful of pasta into his mouth, ¡°is what I call a proper send-off. None of that bland freeze-dried crap.¡± His cheeks were full, and he was grinning.

    ¡°Enjoy it while it lasts,¡± Joey said, smirking as he waved his fork in the air. ¡°The good stuff¡¯s going to run out before you can blink.¡±

    ¡°Which is exactly why we need to make the most of what we¡¯ve got,¡± Emily interjected, leaning forward like she was about to make an important announcement. I thought she was about to praise Joey, but no, this was Emily, so of course, she had a plan. ¡°That includes keeping the lounge sacred.¡±

    Ryan blinked at her. ¡°The lounge?¡±

    Emily nodded, setting her fork down with authority. ¡°Shoes off, loungewear only. It¡¯s supposed to be a sacred space.¡± Her voice was firm, her eyes gleaming with that weird kind of determination she got whenever she started organizing things. I could see the muscles in her arm tighten as she straightened up. Maybe she should be our leader; that would be hot.

    I groaned quietly. Here we go. She was on a roll, and I wasn¡¯t about to stop her.

    Zoe, of course, chimed in immediately, nodding in agreement. ¡°Yeah, nothing¡¯s ruining that vibe. If you want to hang out there, you¡¯ve gotta play by the rules.¡± Those two were totally on the same page, a dangerous combo, to be honest. And I couldn¡¯t deny that their faces had a sort of excited sparkle to them. What were they planning? They were definitely up to something.

    Danny, chewing on a piece of bread, squinted. ¡°The loungewear is, like, completely see-through, though. Is no one else weirded out by that?¡±

    Chris leaned back, crossing his arms with a grin. ¡°It¡¯s not completely see-through, and it¡¯s just the seven of us, Danny. If everyone¡¯s in loungewear, what¡¯s the big deal?¡± Oh shit, now this was getting interesting. I looked at Chris, the way his muscles stretched under his shirt, I knew he had to be thinking the same thing. I swear he could read my mind.

    ¡°It¡¯s the principle of it!¡± Danny protested, his voice rising with indignation. ¡°I don¡¯t want to feel like I¡¯m in some sci-fi fashion magazine ad every time I grab a snack.¡± I was with you on that Danny, but for completely different reasons. My mind was now racing, I couldn¡¯t wait to see everyone in the loungewear. I wondered if I would be able to see¡­ enough.

    Emily just shrugged, like she was dealing with a toddler. ¡°Consider it bonding. Besides, the rules are non-negotiable.¡± Oh, they were definitely non-negotiable, and I was kind of okay with it. This was going to be a mess, a good mess.

    ¡°You¡¯re both tyrants,¡± Ryan said, pointing a breadstick at her and Zoe. ¡°I hope you know that.¡± He was probably just as curious as I was.

    Emily grinned sweetly, like she¡¯d already won. ¡°And you¡¯ll thank us when the lounge is spotless and zen, not smelling like somebody¡¯s sweaty boots.¡± She¡¯d laid down the law, and I was trying to keep my face neutral but all I could think about was getting a full view of their figures. This was going to be interesting. This was my life now. Captain''s log, Luca muttered to himself, today Joey made a feast, Emily became a tyrant, and I was curious as hell about that see-through loungewear.

 Chapter 7 - On the way

    After dinner, the crew scattered to their rooms to change into their designated loungewear. I lingered in the corridor for a minute, watching the others retreat, their doors sliding shut with those soft hisses. I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck, that restless energy still bubbling just under the surface. It was hard to believe we were really doing this.

    Pajamas, uniform bodysuits, and now loungewear? The thought played on repeat as I stepped inside my cabin and sealed the door behind me. Who changes clothes this much in one goddamn day? It was like we were in some kind of intergalactic fashion show.

    Kicking off my boots, I started peeling off the snug bodysuit, the fabric clinging stubbornly as I tugged it over my shoulders. My muscles, still aching from hauling all those damn boxes, felt immediate relief as the pressure eased. My chest felt all tight and confined.

    ¡°Finally,¡± I muttered, tossing the suit into the laundry chute. That thing was practically molded to my skin after hours of moving supplies. It had been too tight. I stretched, relishing the freedom and the way my skin tingled. The girls had insisted on packing plenty of spares, which was good because these things were going to need daily washing. Between the sweat and the overall¡­confinement, I doubted anyone could bear to wear the same one twice.

    I reached for the folded loungewear on the shelf. Pulling on the loose pants and matching shirt, I immediately noticed the difference. The fabric was soft, like air, and so light against my skin. It was a complete reversal from the bodysuits. I glanced down and frowned. My boxer briefs were clearly visible through the sheer fabric of the pants.

    ¡°Ugh,¡± I groaned, adjusting the waistband as if it would help. Well, at least everyone else was in the same boat. The thought brought some comfort, but not enough to quell the awkwardness. This is what leadership looks like, right? Leading by example, showing my underwear to the whole ship? I had to laugh, the absurdity of it all.

    I smoothed out the shirt and glanced at myself in the small mirror by my desk. Yeah. Good example. Sure. I rubbed the back of my neck again, then took one last look at my reflection before heading out. My nipples were hard, the fabric was barely concealing anything, I looked like I was ready for a photoshoot.

    The corridor was quiet, the faint hum of the ship the only sound as I made my way to the lounge. My steps slowed as I approached the doors. What if no one else showed up dressed like this? What if Ryan decided to buck the rules just to be difficult? He¡¯s definitely the type. Maybe I should just go back and¡­ yeah, no.

    Stop overthinking it, Luca, I told myself. It¡¯s just clothes. Yeah, see-through, practically naked, clothes. Totally normal. I shook my head and pushed through the doors to the lounge, ready for whatever the fuck was waiting on the other side. I could feel the blood rushing to my dick.

    <hr>

    I flicked on the lounge lights, the soft glow bouncing off the sleek furniture and the polished pool table. The electric fireplace hummed to life, those simulated flames casting a warm, flickering glow against the walls. It was actually pretty nice, like a real place we could hang out, instead of just a metal box hurtling through space. I dropped onto the plush leather couch in front of the video game console, letting out a long breath.

    ¡°First one here,¡± I muttered to myself, a smug grin creeping across my face. I couldn''t help it, I was kind of excited about this. Everyone else must be mulling it over, maybe even freaking out a little. I pictured Ryan pacing in his cabin, grumbling about the loungewear rules, and Danny triple-checking his outfit for accidental transparency. I snickered at the thought, then grabbed the controller and powered on the console.

    The main menu lit up the screen, a colorful collection of game titles that immediately soured my mood. Damnit, most of them required an active internet connection, something that was impossible out here. But then, Ryan came through again, jailbreaking the system before we left. Two-player mode was still functional, a small victory, but a vital one. Fucking Ryan, always the sneaky bastard.

    The door slid open with a soft hiss. Ryan strolled in first, his usual swagger undercut by the faint blush on his face. He plopped down next to me, his sheer loungewear leaving little to the imagination, and he seemed acutely aware of it. Damn, those muscles were on full display, I thought, admiring the contours of his body. I wondered how he felt under that thin fabric, if he felt as good as he looked.

    ¡°Alright, Captain, happy?¡± Ryan said, spreading his arms as if to display his outfit. ¡°This better be worth the hype.¡± His voice was a little higher than usual, and I knew he was just as self-conscious as I was.

    Danny followed close behind, rubbing the back of his neck and avoiding eye contact. ¡°You know,¡± he muttered, ¡°I¡¯m not sure about this whole¡­translucent thing.¡± Okay, so Danny wasn''t exactly thrilled about this. His cheeks were flushed, and he was carefully keeping his arms close to his sides, like he was trying to hide something. He looked like a kid in a new pair of shoes.

    ¡°No rebels in this crew, huh?¡± I teased, tossing the controller onto the coffee table. I was honestly surprised they actually followed the rules. For a bunch of rule breakers, they were all surprisingly compliant.

    Ryan snorted. ¡°You¡¯re lucky Zoe and Emily are making these rules, or I¡¯d be in gym shorts and calling it loungewear.¡± He was trying to play it cool, but I could see the way his eyes kept darting down to his own body, checking, double checking.

    ¡°Sure you would,¡± I said, leaning back into the couch. I was still trying to process the view. Ryan was, as always, a total package of athletic prowess, but then I took a proper look at Danny, and holy shit. He was toned as well, his body not as bulky as Ryan¡¯s, but lean and defined. He hid it so well under his usual clothes. He was hot, like, really hot, in a quiet, unassuming way. I suddenly understood why Zoe seemed to be so into him.

    We¡¯d been fighting monsters side by side for years, seen each other in the buff plenty of times out of necessity, but this was different, this was our space, in our ship, where we could let our guard down. And now they were here, almost naked, and all I could think was ¡°this was going to be a long trip¡±. This was going to be a goddamn nightmare.

    <hr>

    The door slid open again, and Zoe and Emily walked in, chatting animatedly, their loungewear doing little to hide the outlines of their bras and panties. The sheer fabric clung to all the right places, leaving just enough to the imagination, while also leaving plenty not to. They were acting completely at ease, oblivious to the fact that they¡¯d just derailed every coherent thought in my head. The way they moved, it was like a dance, all fluidity and grace.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    My mouth went dry. My eyes darted from Emily¡¯s easy smile to Zoe¡¯s confident stride, catching every subtle detail in between, the way the soft fabric shifted against their skin, the light catching the curve of a hip, the delicate strap of a bra. It was all too much. My brain was screaming at me to stop staring, but my body refused to cooperate, like some kind of horny traitor. My mouth might as well have hit the goddamn floor. I could feel my pulse throbbing in my ears.

    Holy shit. I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. How was this even legal? Were they trying to kill us all with sex appeal? Their bodies were like sculptures, all curves and lines and soft, inviting skin.

    The other guys weren¡¯t faring much better. Ryan seemed intensely focused on a random spot on the wall, as if he was trying to memorize the pattern, probably trying to ignore the way he was hard as a rock. Danny had practically buried himself in his seat, like he was trying to become one with the couch cushions. He looked like he wanted to disappear.

    Emily was the first to break the silence, her smirk as sharp as the edge of a blade. ¡°You boys look cute,¡± she said, draping herself onto the arm of the couch right next to me. Her hip brushed against my shoulder, and I froze, caught between self-consciousness and the overwhelming realization that Emily was right there, touching me. I could smell her perfume, a light, floral scent that made me ache.

    Zoe rolled her eyes, her own smirk playful. ¡°It¡¯s called equality. If we¡¯re dealing with this, so are you.¡± She moved with a casual confidence that made my skin tingle.

    I managed to snap my jaw shut, but my thoughts were still racing. Equality, my ass. I¡¯m pretty sure this was just torture, they were doing this on purpose. They had to know how hot they looked, how they were making me feel, it was some kind of cruel game. I wanted to hate them for it, but I couldn''t.

    Chris entered fully now, his imposing frame filling the doorway. The loungewear fabric clung to his broad shoulders and bulging muscles, and I couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of insecurity as Chris casually tossed a pool cue stick to Ryan. Seriously, was he trying to make me feel inadequate? The way the fabric stretched across his chest¡­ it was a lot. And yet I still wanted to touch him. I was a goddamn mess.

    ¡°Alright, who¡¯s up first?¡± Chris asked, his grin all confidence. The way his eyes sparkled, the way his muscles rippled under the sheer fabric, it was almost too much to handle.

    ¡°Me and Danny,¡± Ryan said, grabbing another cue. ¡°Loser buys dinner next time we hit port.¡± He was practically vibrating with energy, a smug little shit. I could practically see the competitive fire burning in his eyes.

    ¡°Bold of you to assume there¡¯s anywhere to buy dinner,¡± Danny shot back, taking his position at the pool table. He was trying to play it cool, but I could see the faint flush on his cheeks, the slight tremor in his hands. The poor guy, he was probably as overwhelmed as I was. I bet he would break if I touched him.

    Joey arrived last, muttering to himself as he browsed the movie catalog on the main screen. ¡°What is this crap? Half these movies look like they were pirated by someone¡¯s grandpa.¡± He was clearly not impressed, but then, Joey¡¯s never impressed by anything. He was likely just annoyed that he wasn¡¯t the center of attention.

    ¡°Welcome to our life now,¡± Ryan said over his shoulder, lining up his first shot. ¡°Better find something good, or Zoe¡¯s picking.¡± He was so focused on the pool table, like it was some kind of life or death competition. I bet he was probably picturing himself as some kind of cool movie star, showing off his skills. The way he leaned over the table, the way the fabric clung to his back¡­ it was a lot to process.

    Zoe smirked, settling into a chair with a drink. ¡°You say that like it¡¯s a bad thing.¡± She was right, I had no doubt that she''d pick the most terrible movie imaginable, just for the hell of it. I knew she was a force to be reckoned with.

    I shut the console off, leaning back into the couch and letting the atmosphere of the room wash over me. The hum of the fireplace mixed with the faint clack of the pool balls and Joey¡¯s quiet grumbling as he scrolled through the movie titles. The warm light from the lamp cast the room in a golden glow, making the sleek lounge feel cozy and inviting. It was almost like we¡¯d created a real place to relax, despite it being a metal box in the middle of the void. And I was stuck here, surrounded by incredibly hot people, my mind going a million miles an hour. This was going to be a long, torturous trip. I was so fucked.

    I glanced around at everyone, trying to ignore the knot that was forming in my stomach. And then, my eyes landed on Emily. She was laughing with Chris about something, their faces illuminated by the electric fireplace, and a pang of jealousy hit me hard. He¡¯s got this easy charm, and Emily was practically glowing in his presence, and it made something inside of me boil. She had that soft, inviting look on her face, like she wanted him, and I hated it.

    I¡¯d had a crush on Emily since I was, what, 12 or 13? And somehow, it was hitting me all over again, like a freight train straight to the chest. And there was Chris: fucking Chris, all muscle, charm, and that easy, infuriating smile, standing there like a goddamn Greek statue flirting with my girl. Not that she¡¯s my girl, I reminded myself, but still. It felt like a fist squeezing my heart, sharp and sudden, making me want to lash out or punch something. Or maybe just sulk in a corner like some lovesick teenager.

    I kept hoping and praying that Chris wasn¡¯t actually flirting, that he was just being his usual friendly, annoyingly perfect self. Because if he was flirting? I was screwed. There¡¯s no competing with Chris. The man was a literal masterpiece, and me? I was just... me. The thought made my chest tighten, a pout threatening to creep onto my face, but I buried it. No way was I letting anyone see that. It made me feel like a kid competing with an adult, and I hated it.

    Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Danny sneaking glances at Zoe. It wasn¡¯t subtle, every time she laughed or tilted her head, his eyes flicked toward her like he couldn¡¯t help himself. Danny and Zoe, I thought, smirking slightly. Always a thing, even if they don¡¯t say it out loud. She¡¯d been flirting with him all day, and he¡¯d clearly been soaking it up. The guy was cute, freckles, dimples, the whole package, but he always seemed so unsure of himself. If anyone could pull him out of his shell, it was Zoe.

    Ryan, meanwhile, was completely focused on Chris, his eyes darting toward him whenever he thought no one was paying attention. So, I¡¯m not the only one feeling threatened. Great. At least I wasn¡¯t alone in the "Chris is stealing our spotlight" department.

    And Zoe? She was doing what she does best, watching everyone with that sly little grin that said she knew exactly what was going on. Mischief radiated off her like a beacon. She¡¯d caught Danny¡¯s glances, of course she had, but she was taking her time, letting him squirm just enough to make it interesting.

    Emily, on the other hand, was either oblivious to the tension or enjoying every second of it. She had this knack for walking into a room and becoming the center of everyone¡¯s attention without even trying. And Chris? He was leaning into it, which only made my chest tighten more. Relax, Rossi. It¡¯s just Chris being Chris.

    For a moment, it all felt strange but... okay. Like we were just existing, all of us in the same space, caught in the absurdity of our situation but somehow making it work. It wasn¡¯t exactly peace, but it was something close. A truce, maybe.

    I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as I closed my eyes, trying to shake off the tension coiled in my muscles. It was a good ache, though, from all the moving and laughing. It made me feel real, alive, like I could handle this. Yeah, I can do this. We can all do this, even if Chris is secretly trying to steal my girl.

    When I opened my eyes again, something caught the light, Chris, standing just right so his bulge was unavoidably there, clear as day. And Emily? Her eyes weren¡¯t on him. They were on me. She winked.

    She knew.

    Heat rushed to my face so fast I thought my head might explode. Damn it. I forced myself to focus anywhere else, but the damage was done. This trip was going to be so much more complicated than I thought. And if Chris wasn¡¯t careful, this wasn¡¯t just going to be a mission to Alpha Centauri, it was going to be hell.

 Chapter 8 - Deviation

    The galley buzzed with the sounds of clinking plates and murmured conversation as the crew gathered for breakfast. I stood at the head of the table, carefully pulling out my wedgie, armed with a printed chore list I''d cobbled together the night before, and I felt like the most annoying dickhead ever. I tapped the paper with two fingers, drawing everyone¡¯s attention.

    ¡°Alright, listen up,¡± I began, raising my voice over the scraping of utensils. ¡°I know nobody wants to hear this, but we¡¯ve got to keep this ship clean. That means daily chores.¡± A collective groan rippled through the group. Yeah, I know, I''m a buzzkill. I could feel their annoyance, their silent resentment.

    ¡°First up,¡± I said, glancing at the list, ¡°vacuuming the corridors. All four decks, every day. It¡¯s better to stay on top of it than let things build up.¡±

    ¡°I call Deck Three,¡± said Ryan immediately. ¡°Shortest corridor.¡± Of course he did, the lazy bastard. He was always looking for the easy way out.

    ¡°Not how this works,¡± I shot back, glaring over my paper. ¡°We rotate. Everyone takes a deck. And while we¡¯re at it, a quick mop every other day. Not crazy, just enough to keep it looking decent.¡±

    ¡°I hate mopping,¡± said Zoe, leaning back in her chair. ¡°Can¡¯t we just skip that?¡± Please, don''t give me a hard time first thing in the morning. I could feel a headache forming.

    ¡°Sure,¡± I said, deadpan. ¡°And we¡¯ll all enjoy slipping and breaking our necks.¡± I wanted to bang my head on the table. Why did I even become captain?

    Zoe rolled her eyes, but Emily stifled a laugh beside her. I hoped Emily had slept alone in her room last night, and not with him. Oh well. I tried to ignore the pang of jealousy.

    ¡°Next,¡± I continued, ignoring them, ¡°bathrooms. Weekly chore, thank god, but that means everyone¡¯s taking a turn. I don¡¯t care how ¡®gross¡¯ it is.¡±

    ¡°Gross is an understatement,¡± said Danny muttering. ¡°Have you seen what Ryan eats?¡± He was probably remembering the last time they had to clean the bathroom.

    ¡°I¡¯m right here!¡± said Ryan, gesturing with his fork. The way his eyes widened, I could tell he was genuinely offended.

    ¡°Good. Then you¡¯ll clean the bathroom after breakfast,¡± I replied with a smirk. Take that, you lazy ass. He was an idiot, but he was my idiot.

    Danny snorted into his coffee, and Ryan glared at him before I pressed on. I had to resist the urge to join in on the teasing.

    ¡°Dishwashers and kitchen cleaning, daily,¡± I said firmly. ¡°That includes wiping down counters, cleaning the sinks, and making sure the appliances aren¡¯t a biohazard.¡±

    Joey raised his hand. ¡°Does that include the stove? Because whoever cooked last night didn¡¯t wipe it down.¡± He was being a dick on purpose.

    ¡°I cooked,¡± Joey added, ¡°so it wasn¡¯t me.¡± Of course it was. He was trying to deflect, but he wasn''t fooling anyone.

    ¡°That¡¯s part of the job,¡± I said, fixing him with a look. ¡°And folding laundry? Daily. No exceptions.¡± I felt like such a mom, and I hated it.

    Chris groaned, leaning back in his chair. ¡°Laundry¡¯s one thing, but folding it? Really?¡± His muscles bulged as he stretched, and I couldn¡¯t help but notice. Why was he so attractive, even when he was complaining?

    ¡°Yes, really, and ironing¡± I said. ¡°Unless you want to wear wrinkled loungewear for the next six months.¡± I internally grinned, I can''t wait to see them in that fabric again.

    ¡°I¡¯m okay with wrinkles,¡± Chris muttered. Yeah, okay, we all know you have a goddamn God body, Chris. No need to rub it in. I had actually slept pretty well, despite how much I was thinking about Emily.

    I woke up in my own bed, all alone, and I hoped that she¡¯d been in her room too, but who knows? It would suck if she spent the night with Chris. Anyway, here I was, being a boring captain, trying to keep them all in line, but all I could think about was them.

    ¡°Lounge cleaning,¡± I continued, raising my voice to drown out the complaints, ¡°Daily as well. That includes picking up after yourself. No leaving dirty mugs, snack wrappers, or whatever else you people drag in there.¡± I swear, you¡¯d think we were all teenagers living in a frat house, not highly trained professionals on a mission.

    ¡°What about the cabins?¡± asked Emily, raising a hand. Smart question, Emily, very smart. She was thinking the same thing I was, the mess that would inevitably accumulate behind closed doors.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

    ¡°Cabins are your responsibility,¡± I said. ¡°But if they start looking like disaster zones, I¡¯ll have to inspect them.¡± And then who knows what I''ll find there?

    ¡°Oh no,¡± said Zoe, feigning shock. ¡°The horror of a Captain¡¯s inspection.¡± She was totally just messing with me, and I wasn¡¯t sure if she knew how much I wished that were a real thing. I could imagine her room, all messy¡­ I needed to stop these thoughts.

    I ignored her, glancing back at the list. ¡°The recycler doesn¡¯t need to be handled daily, but if it¡¯s full, someone needs to take care of it. No excuses.¡± I swear if I have to deal with a broken-down recycler¡­ I was going to lose my mind.

    ¡°What if someone doesn¡¯t want to do their chore?¡± asked Ryan, his tone almost gleeful, like he was already planning something. That little shit was always looking for trouble.

    ¡°The airlock is right there.¡± I said. That got a laugh from the group, even as Danny leaned over to whisper to Ryan, ¡°He¡¯s not joking, is he?¡± I''m not. I wanted to see how far I could push them, what I could get away with.

    I folded the paper and tucked it into my pocket. ¡°The goal is to bust through these after breakfast. Get it all out of the way so we¡¯re not dreading it the rest of the day.¡± I needed to get this over with so I could have some time to myself.

    ¡°And then?¡± Joey asked, poking at the last of his scrambled eggs. He wasn''t as enthused as the others about all this work, he was likely already planning on shirking his responsibilities.

    ¡°Then it¡¯s up to you,¡± I said. ¡°Instrument calibration, unpacking, gym time, whatever you want. Speaking of which, gym¡¯s mandatory, but since the space is small, go whenever it works for you.¡± Now we¡¯re talking. I was already picturing myself there, muscles pumping, sweat dripping.

    ¡°Finally, a good rule,¡± said Chris, perking up. Of course he likes the gym rule. Show off. He was probably already flexing in his head, the smug bastard, but hey, so was I.

    ¡°Do I have to?¡± groaned Zoe. She was probably just being dramatic; she enjoyed the gym as much as we all did; I¡¯d seen her enjoying the treadmills back at the Genesis Platform, usually surrounded by her fan club.

    ¡°Yes,¡± I said firmly, hoping I¡¯d bump into her at the gym. ¡°That includes everyone.¡±

    The group dissolved into bickering, complaints about chores mingling with jokes about whose turn it was to mop the most annoying corners of the ship. I leaned back in my chair, sipping my coffee. They''d complain, sure, but I could already see the routine settling into place. It was just a matter of making it work, keeping the ship clean, and keeping everyone busy, including myself. I needed to stay focused, stay in control, but they were making it so hard.

    For now, it was a waiting game, but at least they¡¯d stay busy. And maybe, just maybe, I¡¯d finally get a moment to check out everyone at the gym later. Yeah, that was something to look forward to.

    <hr>

    I stepped onto the bridge, the soft hiss of the door fading behind me. The air was cooler here, the hum of the ship¡¯s systems steady and constant. It was a nice change from the stuffy, humid laundry room. Zoe was at the navigation console, her dreadlocks past her shoulder, exposing her neck, and did she look good. She was totally in her element, as she studied the navigation map projected on the main screen, looking flustered. She was checking our location in the route, pausing every few moments as she cross-checked the ship¡¯s position against the plotted trajectory. I could watch her do that all day.

    ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± I asked, leaning casually against the doorframe, still feeling a little damp after dealing with the mess of socks, sweat-soaked shirts, and more stinking underwear than any person should have to handle. I swear, if I have to do that again I''m going to lose it. My hands still felt damp and smelled like dirty socks.

    ¡°Deviation,¡± replied Zoe without looking up. ¡°Three percent off-course. Not a lot, but over 1800 AU, that¡¯ll cost us days if we don¡¯t fix it.¡±

    Shit. Not good. I frowned, glancing at the map. We¡¯d plotted a clear route to the Oort Cloud Passage. The last thing we needed was to veer off and slam into some rogue asteroid, or worse, a debris field.

    The Oort Cloud Passage. Just saying it out loud made it feel like something straight out of a sci-fi novel, but it was real. Two massive, clear-as-day corridors, one from Sol to Alpha Centauri and another from Sol to Barnard¡¯s Star, cutting through the icy chaos at the edge of our solar system. No debris, no rogue ice, no orbiting bodies to worry about. A clean shot, like someone, or something, had cleared the table and left the rest of us guessing why.

    Nobody knew for sure whether it was natural or another trick from the System, but one thing was clear: without these passages, FTL travel wouldn¡¯t just be dangerous, it¡¯d be suicidal. At the speeds we were talking about, even a microscopic grain of ice could punch through the ship like a bullet through glass. And considering we were all crammed into this shiny tin can of a spaceship, that wasn¡¯t exactly ideal.

    The passages were discovered a couple of years ago when Earth¡¯s exploration teams started pushing out toward the solar system¡¯s edge. Lucky for us, someone figured out these pathways were the only reason FTL travel could even be possible. That, and the fact that two FTL engines had been scavenged from portals. One was locked up in some UER research lab, getting poked and prodded by university scientists. The other? Sitting on the Triumph of Darron. Our ship. Our shot at making history.

    The FTL engine itself was... well, complicated. But from what I understood, barely, it worked by slipping us between real space and subspace. Think of it like riding the edge of a wave, but that wave was light speed, and we were pushing past it. The engine generated some kind of field around the ship, shielding us from reality while we burned through the nothingness at speeds we weren¡¯t supposed to be able to hit.

    The catch? At those speeds, even the tiniest particle could become a nightmare. That¡¯s where the passages came in, giving us a clean, unobstructed runway straight to Alpha Centauri. No ice, no debris, just a long, empty stretch of space to light up the engine and pray it held together. It was genius. Or terrifying. Probably both.

    So here we were, on the edge of everything, about to push this engine, and ourselves, to the limit. The Oort Cloud Passage was our ticket to another star system, but it came with a hell of a warning label: Don¡¯t screw it up, or there¡¯s no coming back.

 Chapter 9 - Navigation and the Lounge

    I stepped closer, focusing on the map as Zoe adjusted the perspective. The plotted route and our current trajectory were out of sync, the discrepancy clear even to my untrained eye. The lines had separated just a bit, and it made my teeth ache. We were talking about outer space here, a small deviation could mean weeks of travel.

    "I thought Ryan handled that," I said. I mean, plotting the route based on her navigation was his job, right? He was probably screwing off, as usual. Typical Ryan.

    "He did," replied Zoe evenly, her tone not unkind but far from complimentary. "The autopilot just... misinterpreted them. It didn''t factor in the gravitational pull from the nearby moon." She paused as she adjusted the course on the screen. She moved with such confidence, with such ease. It was mesmerizing. I wished I had her cool composure, her natural grasp of spatial calculations, but my ''Orbital Navigation Familiarity'' was stuck at level 6, which felt about as useful as a paperweight at this very moment. And to make things worse, I could feel my face getting hot watching her, the pull of attraction a distraction I didn''t need right now.

    As if summoned, Ryan appeared at the doorway, a protein bar in one hand and an unmistakable chip on his shoulder. "What¡¯s wrong with my inputs?" he asked, crossing the room in a few easy strides. He looked all pissed off, his jaw tight. As if this was somehow an attack on him, personally.

    "They weren¡¯t wrong," said Zoe, her fingers still moving across the keyboard. "The autopilot just... misinterpreted them. It didn''t factor in the gravitational pull from the nearby moon." She paused, her fingers flying, adjusting the course on the monitor. She moved with such confidence, with such ease. It was mesmerizing. And a little distracting.

    Ryan leaned over her shoulder, squinting at the screen, that familiar cockiness in his expression. "We gave it all the necessary parameters, including gravitational and positioning data. It shouldn¡¯t be deviating,¡± he said. He was probably just trying to save face, like a little kid who got caught doing something bad.

    "Shouldn¡¯t and didn¡¯t are two different things," said Zoe, her voice calm but clipped. She paused, typing in a set of coordinates, meticulously accounting for the pull, and double-checking the star map before locking in the adjustment. "The autopilot AI can hallucinate sometimes. It¡¯s good, but not perfect. It over-relies on its internal database and fails to account for real-time positional shifts,¡± she said, finally taking her fingers off the keyboard, and looked directly at Ryan. God, she was good. "Did you, by chance, double check the positioning data after inputting the route?" The question hung in the air, innocent enough, but loaded with implication.

    Ryan frowned. "We spent hours calibrating it back at the platform. You¡¯re telling me it just... got creative?" He sounded genuinely frustrated, but now there was a hint of defensiveness too.

    "Yes," she replied, finally looking up at him. "Because that¡¯s what it¡¯s designed to do when it encounters variables it doesn''t fully understand, or variables that were not accounted for.¡± She emphasized the last part, ever so slightly. "It¡¯s better than nothing, but it¡¯s not infallible. It''s meant to learn, adapt, even improvise, but that means it can also make mistakes." She met his eyes, her eyes unwavering.

    I stayed quiet, sensing the tension brewing between them. Ryan folded his arms, his jaw tightening as he stared at the screen. Here we go, I thought, two of them, ready for a fight. Honestly, though, Zoe looked incredible right now. She was so focused, so in control. It was kinda hot, to be honest. If I didn''t know any better, I''d say she was turning him on, too.

    "I get it," Ryan said after a beat, though his tone suggested otherwise. "But if we keep overriding it every time it hiccups, we¡¯re going to waste more time than we save." He was so stubborn, so sure of himself. He hated being wrong. Typical engineer.

    Zoe turned back to the console, her voice calm but firm. "If we don¡¯t correct this now, that three percent becomes six, or worse. We''re not just flying from point A to point B; we''re navigating a complex web of gravitational forces, spatial anomalies, and temporal distortions. A minor error now can compound exponentially over time and distance. Trust me, Ryan, this is faster in the long run." She was so focused, so in control.

    The bridge fell quiet except for the soft tapping of Zoe¡¯s keyboard and the faint hum of the ship. I shifted my weight, glancing between the two of them. The air wasn¡¯t hostile, exactly, but it was heavy, like the stillness before a storm. Goddamn, it¡¯s so obvious, I thought, they need to get laid, probably. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife, and it was all the more obvious because it was two very hot people with a very clear problem. Not that I''d ever been laid, but still, I was sure it was that. They¡¯d been on this ship for two days, and they were already wound tight, like springs waiting to be released.

    Ryan sighed, stepping back and running a hand through his hair. "Fine. But if it screws up again, we¡¯re recalibrating the whole system,¡± he said. Oh yeah, that was definitely a threat. A childish, pointless threat. Typical.

    "Deal," Zoe said, not looking up. Her fingers paused over the keyboard as she hit the final command, locking in the corrected course. The map shifted, the new trajectory aligning perfectly with our intended route. She moved with such purpose it made my skin tingle.

    "Done," she said, sitting back in her chair. "We¡¯re back on track." She looked relieved, a small sigh escaping her lips.

    Ryan muttered something under his breath and walked out, leaving me and Zoe alone. I hesitated for a moment, then leaned against the console beside her. I could smell her perfume, the faint scent of something floral and spicy. And maybe a hint of frustration.

    ¡°You okay?¡± I asked. I¡¯m probably making things worse, but I can¡¯t help myself. I was always stepping into situations that didn¡¯t involve me.

    ¡°Fine,¡± she said, exhaling slowly. Her eyes stayed on the screen, scanning the data as if double-checking her work. She looked so serious, so focused, it made my chest ache. ¡°Just... this stuff matters, you know? If we mess it up, it¡¯s not like we can pull over and fix it.¡± I wanted to reassure her, but I knew I couldn''t.

    I nodded, understanding the weight she carried in that moment. ¡°You did good.¡± Smooth, Luca. Real smooth. I hated how lame I sounded.

    Zoe didn¡¯t answer right away, but after a moment, she glanced at me, a faint flicker of gratitude in her eyes. ¡°Thanks.¡± Okay, maybe I didn''t totally screw that up. All I could think about was their unresolved sexual tension, they were so going to make out in the engine room later or something.

    <hr>

    The lounge buzzed with energy, the crew settling in for another night of movie-watching. The electric fireplace cast a soft glow, the snacks were piled high, and the opening credits of Terminator rolled on the oversized screen. Joey had already claimed the spot closest to the TV, narrating the movie with his usual mix of trivia and exaggerated enthusiasm, why does he always do this. It was like he was trying to prove he knew more than everyone else, that little know-it-all.

    ¡°Fun fact: James Cameron sketched this idea on a napkin,¡± Joey announced, tossing popcorn into his mouth like a goddamn seagull. I swear he practiced that move in the mirror.

    ¡°You¡¯ve told us that three times,¡± Zoe shot back, sinking into the other couch right against Danny, who had tried to scoot over but had run out of space. She stretched her legs out and flicked a pillow at Joey, smirking when it hit its mark. Damn, her legs are gorgeous, I thought for the hundreth time, my eyes lingering on her smooth, warm brown skin. I sorta wanted to sneak a touch, just to feel the texture, but that would make me a creep. And I¡¯d probably get my hand slapped.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

    ¡°Hey, respect the classics,¡± Joey retorted, dodging the next pillow with theatrical flair. He was such a drama queen, always trying to be the center of attention.

    I leaned into the corner of the couch, my focus divided between the screen and Emily, who sat beside me. She¡¯d curled up with a bowl of chips, her green eyes lighting up at the explosions on the screen, and my body felt like it was about to explode as well. Her shoulder pressed lightly against mine, and every so often, her fingers brushed mine as we both reached for the bowl. Stop moving Emily, I thought, you¡¯re going to make me hard. Her touch sent shivers down my spine, little sparks of electricity that had nowhere to go. I had to remember to act casual, cool, like I didn¡¯t notice. I wanted her hand to linger.

    ¡°You know, Terminator was revolutionary for its time,¡± Emily said, her voice animated. ¡°The way it combined practical effects with early CGI, this movie basically paved the way for modern sci-fi.¡± God, she¡¯s so smart, and beautiful. She knew so much about everything.

    ¡°You sound like Joey,¡± Ryan quipped from across the room, earning a laugh from Emily. He was such a jealous shit.

    ¡°Please,¡± Emily said, grinning. ¡°I¡¯m way more insightful.¡± She''s probably right. She was probably way more insightful than all of us put together.

    The room filled with laughter, but I caught the slight tilt of Emily¡¯s head, the way her ponytail brushed against her neck as she turned to me. Her excitement was infectious, and I found myself watching her more than the movie, my heart threatening to beat out of my chest.

    When the credits rolled, Zoe grabbed the remote, spinning it in her hand like a baton, and I knew things were about to get messy. ¡°Okay, my turn to pick the next one,¡± she announced, leaning back like she¡¯d already won the argument. She was sitting way too close to Danny. Poor guy was perched by the armrest like he was ready to leap off the couch at any second. His face was flushed, his shoulders stiff, and he kept shifting like he thought maybe, maybe, he could scoot over and escape. Spoiler: he couldn¡¯t. Zoe wasn¡¯t going to let him. She was leaning in, brushing his arm just enough to drive him insane, and I swear, she was doing it all on purpose.

    ¡°No way,¡± Ryan said, sitting up straight. ¡°You already picked this one.¡± Of course he was ready to argue. He was such a predictable tool.

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Zoe raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with mock outrage. She casually shifted closer to Danny, her thigh now pressed against his. He looked like he might explode. ¡°We all agreed on Terminator.¡±

    She had to be lying. She always did. That didn¡¯t stop her from flashing Danny a sly smile as she said it, her shoulder brushing his. He laughed nervously, the sound halfway between ¡°please help¡± and ¡°I might die.¡±

    ¡°You pressured us into it,¡± Ryan argued, crossing his arms. ¡°It¡¯s Emily¡¯s turn. She¡¯s the biggest sci-fi nerd here.¡± Oh yeah, she is. She probably knew more about this stuff than most directors.

    Emily perked up, her grin widening. ¡°Finally, someone acknowledges my superior taste.¡±

    Goddamn, she¡¯s adorable, I thought, watching the way her whole face lit up. Meanwhile, poor Danny was squirming like he was sitting on hot coals, and Zoe was relentless. She tilted her head toward him, whispering something I couldn¡¯t hear, but the way Danny¡¯s ears turned bright red told me everything I needed to know. The kid¡¯s doomed.

    ¡°Superior is a stretch,¡± Joey muttered, earning a half-hearted kick from Emily. He was just jealous that she got all the attention.

    ¡°Fine,¡± Zoe said, waving the remote like it was a sword. ¡°Emily can pick next, but I get the one after that. No backsies.¡± Her tone was playful, but she didn¡¯t stop leaning into Danny, her hand brushing his arm as she adjusted her position. He looked ready to either faint or bolt, and honestly? It was hilarious.

    Ryan groaned. ¡°Not Blade Runner. It¡¯s so slow,¡± he said. He always liked his movies fast, loud, and stupid.

    ¡°It¡¯s atmospheric,¡± Emily shot back, her tone firm but playful. ¡°And a masterpiece.¡± I had to agree with her on that one.

    The debate spiraled from there, with Ryan lobbying for Starship Troopers. ¡°It¡¯s not a crap movie!¡± he argued, gesturing with a half-eaten pretzel. He really loved that movie, it was kind of endearing, in a weird way.

    ¡°Oh please,¡± Zoe said, crossing her arms as she leaned against the couch, her thigh still pressed against Danny¡¯s. ¡°You just want to see the naked girls.¡± Her tone was sharp, but her grin was playful, her eyes flicking to Ryan like she¡¯d just called out the most obvious thing in the world. She wasn¡¯t wrong. Ryan was that predictable.

    Danny shifted uncomfortably, his face so red I thought it might start glowing. Zoe, of course, noticed. She noticed everything. She let out a mock sigh, shaking her head like she couldn¡¯t believe what she was about to do, and reached behind the couch. A second later, she pulled out a blanket, spreading it over her lap. ¡°Here,¡± she said, draping it over Danny¡¯s legs. ¡°You look cold. Can¡¯t have that.¡±

    Danny blinked, his whole body stiffening like the blanket weighed a hundred pounds. ¡°Uh, I¡¯m fine,¡± he stammered, but Zoe just smiled, settling in closer as if that settled it. Her shoulder brushed his, and she tilted her head toward him, her locks spilling over her shoulder.

    I bit my lip, trying not to laugh as Danny gave a nervous laugh that sounded more like a dying engine. He looked like he wanted to crawl into the couch and disappear, and Zoe? She was loving every second of it.

    Ryan paused, his mouth half-open to respond. Before he could come up with anything, I leaned back on the couch, a smirk tugging at the corner of my mouth. ¡°Are you sure you want to watch that scene in these clothes?¡± I asked, gesturing at the sheer loungewear, and god I hoped he didn''t. I might lose it. I was already about to lose it just by sitting here with Emily.

    Ryan blinked, then nodded as if giving the idea serious thought. ¡°Huh. Good point.¡± He was such an idiot, I couldn¡¯t believe how obvious I was. I wanted to smack myself, but it was still funny.

    The room erupted in laughter, even as Zoe rolled her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re predictable,¡± she said, shaking her head. ¡°It¡¯s honestly kind of sad.¡± She was probably laughing at all of us.

    ¡°Predictable or consistent?¡± Ryan shot back, leaning into the arm of his chair with his usual smugness. ¡°You say sad, I say dependable.¡±

    He¡¯s trying, I¡¯ll give him that. Ryan could be so dumb sometimes, but there was something almost endearing about how hard he tried to make his arguments sound logical. Almost.

    ¡°That¡¯s one word for it,¡± Emily muttered, amusement clear in her voice as she reached for another chip. Her fingers brushed mine, and I swear my entire body lit up like I¡¯d been zapped with a taser. Calm down, Rossi. Don¡¯t be weird.

    ¡°Alright, alright,¡± Danny cut in, his voice squeaking slightly as he raised his hands like he was calling for a ceasefire. ¡°Let¡¯s settle this. How about The Matrix? Sci-fi, action, no naked people, unless you count Neo in the pod.¡± His voice cracked just a little at the end, and I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. Good idea, Danny. Please, let¡¯s stop talking about naked people before you combust.

    Joey, who had been quiet up until now, perked up, his grin widening. ¡°But it¡¯s a really gross pod scene. That should count.¡± Of course, Joey would focus on that. The guy always zeroed in on the weirdest parts of movies.

    ¡°Not the same, Joey,¡± Danny said, his tone slightly strangled as he dodged a popcorn kernel Joey lobbed at him. ¡°Not the same.¡±

    Meanwhile, Zoe had made herself at home. She¡¯d leaned her head on Danny¡¯s shoulder, her hands tucked under the blanket she¡¯d spread over the two of them. Where her hands were exactly? No clue. But judging by Danny¡¯s bright red ears and the way his voice kept cracking, I could guess he was losing his mind. She shifted slightly, her body pressed closer, and Danny froze like a deer in headlights. It was hilarious. Poor guy couldn¡¯t even figure out where to put his arms.

    ¡°Children,¡± Emily muttered, rolling her eyes at Joey and Danny¡¯s antics before turning to Ryan. ¡°The Matrix isn¡¯t a bad idea, but it¡¯s not going to win. We need something with actual artistic merit.¡± She punctuated the point with a look that could have killed any argument dead.

    ¡°Exactly,¡± Zoe chimed in, a slight blush showing on her face, her voice smooth and playful, as she adjusted herself under the blanket. Danny flinched slightly but didn¡¯t dare move. ¡°Artistic merit. Thank you, Emily.¡±

    Ryan groaned, leaning back with his arms crossed. ¡°Fine. Just let the women take over, as usual.¡±

    ¡°Finally,¡± Emily said, her grin widening. ¡°So¡­ Blade Runner? Philosophical androids, atmospheric brilliance, it¡¯s perfect.¡±

    Ryan muttered something under his breath about pretentious androids, but the decision had already been made. The crew resigned themselves to Emily¡¯s pick, the women victorious again. No complaints here, I thought, leaning back with a smirk.

    The real entertainment wasn¡¯t on the screen, though. It was Danny, stiff as a board under Zoe¡¯s blanket, trying not to melt into a puddle of awkwardness. And Zoe? She was having the time of her life. Poor kid never stood a chance.

    At least Emily sat by me tonight, a small victory, I guess, but it was enough to make my brain melt. And Chris seemed happy to sit by Joey tonight, they were sort of touchy with each other, their arms touching, and their legs entwined. Shouldn¡¯t that feel weird and gross? It was like some sort of weird, forbidden fruit that I knew I shouldn¡¯t be looking at, but I couldn¡¯t help it.

    Oh god, stop it Luca, and focus on Emily. Just focus on Emily, her laugh, her eyes, her gorgeous green eyes. Stop, Luca, I thought, just breathe.

 Chapter 10 - Alarms

    The hangar should have been pristine. It was brand spanking new, for crying out loud. The metal walls gleamed under the bright overhead lights, the air still carrying that fresh-off-the-lot smell of new electronics and something vaguely citrusy. But here I was, Captain Luca, on my hands and knees, in a dimly lit corner, waging war against a stubborn, greasy stain that had the audacity to mar my damn floor. It was a dark, ugly blotch, mocking the otherwise flawless surface.

    I attacked the stain with a scrub brush, my biceps burning, sweat beading on my forehead and dripping into my eyes, and the tight fabric of my bodysuit sticking to my skin. The bristles bristles scraped against the metal, a harsh sound that blended with the rhythmic hum of the ship''s machinery. ''Starship Maintenance Familiarity'' hadn''t exactly covered stain removal, but I knew enough to recognize engine grease when I saw it. Maybe the level 10 ability would allow me to remove this stain once and for all. But fuck me, right? The skill was still at level 4, and since we were level-capped, that meant no more skill XP.

    "Fucking grease monkey," I muttered, picturing Ryan''s smug face and his usual trail of questionable substances. "You''d think one of these idiots would have the decency to clean up their own damn messes."

    The stain, however, remained stubbornly unimpressed, a dark smudge refusing to yield. I switched tactics, dousing the area with a cleaning solution that smelled like ammonia and bad decisions. I scrubbed until my knuckles were raw, the once-white cleaning rag now a dingy gray.

    I paused, leaning back on my heels, to examine my handiwork. The stain had faded, but it was still there, a faint shadow against the gleaming metal. "Son of a bitch," I hissed, grabbing a fresh rag. This stain was a personal affront, a violation of the sanctity of my ship. And I, Captain Luca, was not going to stand for it.

    The bristles of the brush caught on a rough edge, jerking my hand. I swore under my breath, rubbing my knuckles before diving back in. The smell of cleaning fluid was starting to get to me, it was acrid and sharp.

    Then the alarm blared.

    <hr>

    The alarm blared, a shrill, piercing shriek that sliced through the rhythmic hum of the hangar. I froze, the scrub brush clattering to the floor, my heart leaping into my throat. Red lights pulsed, bathing the hangar in a sickening, bloody glow.

    "What the fuck is happening now ?" I muttered, scrambling for my communicator. "Bridge, report!" My voice sounded thin and reedy, even to my own ears. Each pulse of the red light felt like a hammer blow against my chest.

    Ryan''s voice, strained and tight, crackled through the communicator. "Uh... slight issue. Danny and I were, uh, running diagnostics on the reactor. Looks like it, uh, didn''t like that."

    "Didn''t like it?" I barked, already halfway to the hangar exit, my boots pounding on the metal floor. "Ryan, the ship is screaming like a banshee." My mind conjured images of flames, explosions, the whole damn ship coming apart at the seams.

    "Yeah, we kinda noticed that," Ryan replied, his attempt at nonchalance falling flat. "We''re working on it." Working on it after they probably blew it to hell.

    "Define ''working,''" I snapped, sprinting up the stairs and down the corridor. I nearly collided with Zoe, who was also headed toward the bridge, her expression surprisingly calm given the circumstances. "Shit, this is bad," I gasped, my lungs burning, my legs pumping.

    By the time I burst onto the bridge, the tension was thick enough to choke on. The flashing red lights made the already cramped control room feel even more claustrophobic, turning everything into a disorienting, pulsing blur. Danny was hunched over a console, his fingers on the keyboard, sweat beading on his forehead. Ryan hovered beside him, his arms crossed, but his jaw was clenched, a muscle twitching in his cheek.

    "What happened?" I demanded, my eyes darting between them. My hands were shaking so badly I had to clench them into fists.

    Danny didn''t look up. "We were running diagnostics on the reactor''s secondary systems," he mumbled, his voice barely a whisper. "I thought it was isolated, but..." He trailed off, his shoulders slumping.

    "But it wasn''t," Ryan finished for him, his voice tight. He wouldn''t meet my eyes. Probably too busy blaming himself.

    "It''s not a reactor failure," Danny added quickly, glancing up at me, his eyes wide. "Just the alarm system. We''re not in any actual danger."

    Okay, good, not exploding. I took a shaky breath, but the relief was short-lived. "Then shut it the fuck off!" I yelled, the volume of my own voice surprising me.

    "I''m trying!" Danny''s voice cracked, his fingers fumbling over the keys. He looked like he was about to cry.

    Zoe, who had reached the doorway, now leaned against the frame, her arms crossed, that cool, collected demeanor firmly in place. "So, this was your brilliant idea, huh?" she said, raising an eyebrow at Danny. "Scare the entire crew half to death for fun?" She didn''t seem angry, just... disappointed. Like she was looking right through him.

    Danny''s fingers froze above the console. For a moment, he just stared at the keys, his face pale in the flashing red light. He looked utterly lost.

    Zoe''s expression softened, and she pushed off the doorframe, stepping closer. "Hey," she said quietly, her voice cutting through the noise. "It''s okay. Just breathe and fix it, alright?" She rested a hand on his arm, a brief, reassuring touch.

    I watched as Danny took a deep breath, his shoulders relaxing slightly. He nodded, his hands returning to the console, moving with more deliberation now. Ryan murmured something low and encouraging, his hand briefly resting on Danny''s back. A moment later, the alarm cut out, leaving the bridge in blessed, ringing silence. The sudden quiet was almost as jarring as the noise.

    "Finally," I muttered, pressing my fingers to my temples, trying to massage away the throbbing. "Next time you run diagnostics, triple-check your setup." Maybe I should run a diagnostic on their heads.

    Danny nodded, still looking a little green around the gills. "Sorry," he mumbled. "Won''t happen again." He swallowed hard, his Adam''s apple bobbing.

    Ryan clapped a hand on his shoulder, forcing a grin that didn''t quite reach his eyes. "Hey, we figured it out. No harm, no foul, right?" He was trying to play it cool, but a faint tremor in his voice betrayed his lingering anxiety.

    I shot him a look. "Right, except for the part where I thought the ship was about to explode." My legs felt shaky, and I suddenly realized I was gripping the back of a chair so tightly my knuckles were white.

    "Minor detail," Ryan said, with a weak chuckle. He ran a hand through his hair, messing it up even more.

    As the tension began to dissipate, Zoe moved closer to Danny, her voice low and calm. "Seriously, you''re good. You fixed it. Now, go grab a drink or something before Luca starts hyperventilating again." The corner of her mouth twitched, a hint of a smile. She had this way of... diffusing things. Making everything seem manageable, even when it felt like the whole world was falling apart.

    This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.Danny managed a weak smile, and Zoe squeezed his arm before turning to me. "See? Crisis averted."

    "Yeah," I said, letting out a long breath. "But let''s try to keep the near-death experiences to a minimum, okay? My heart can''t take this shit." I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the dampness of sweat.

    I was suddenly exhausted. Bone-tired. "I need a drink," I muttered, more to myself than anyone else. I turned and headed for the door, leaving the others in the now-silent, dimly lit control room, the faint scent of ozone lingering in the air - a stark reminder of how close we''d come to... something.

    <hr>

    The lounge was a welcome change from the sterile, pulsating bridge. The soft glow of the electric fireplace cast long shadows on the worn, comfortable couches and the mismatched beanbag chairs scattered around the room. A few personal touches were evident - a faded poster of some vintage sci-fi movie, a small, scraggly plant that Zoe was determined to keep alive, and a collection of mismatched mugs that we''d each claimed as our own. The opening credits of Alien, Robocop, or Star Wars, take your pick, we''ve seen ''em all, played on the screen, the familiar soundtracks blending with the low murmur of conversation. We¡¯d sprawl on the floor or couches, snacks passed around, tonight, it was popcorn. It felt like we¡¯d finally settled in, not just as a crew, but as something more. Something closer.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Emily announced, stretching out on the couch beside me, ¡°who¡¯s picking the next movie? And if anyone says Her again, I¡¯m shoving them out the airlock,¡± she said. She really hated that movie, I could tell. As she stretched, her bare feet peeked out from under her loungewear, the toes wiggling slightly. Focus, Luca, you can do this.

    Ryan, naturally, had to object. ¡°It¡¯s a good movie!¡± Still salty about that, apparently.

    ¡°No one¡¯s debating that,¡± Zoe quipped, nudging him with her foot, ¡°but maybe try picking something where people actually stay awake this time.¡± Classic Zoe, cutting right to the chase. They bickered like an old married couple, and I bit back a laugh.

    I smirked from my spot on the couch, Emily''s arm resting lightly against mine as she settled in. A faint warmth radiated from where we touched, sending a pleasant shiver down my spine. I found myself studying the way a stray strand of her hair curled against her cheek, the gentle curve of her neck. I had to force myself to look away, my brain helpfully supplying a series of inappropriate images.

    ¡°Predator,¡± Joey declared, pointing at the screen. ¡°We¡¯re doing Predator. End of debate.¡± He was always so dramatic, that one.

    ¡°Finally, some taste,¡± Chris said from the pool table, where he and Danny were engaged in a surprisingly intense game.

    I shook my head, my eyes drifting to Ryan. He was at it again, quietly pulling a loose panel off the side of the coffee table, his fingers tracing the wires underneath. Probably trying to distract himself from the fact that he was losing at pool - and losing to Danny, of all people.

    ¡°Ryan, for fucks sake, leave the table alone, would you?¡± I said, making sure to keep the exasperation in my voice. He was always doing that kind of shit, and it was hard to concentrate.

    ¡°It¡¯s a reflex!¡± Ryan shot back defensively. ¡°And it was loose anyway. I was fixing it.¡± He was always making excuses for his behavior, like a little kid caught stealing cookies. He had to be doing this shit on purpose.

    ¡°Right,¡± Zoe replied, rolling her eyes. ¡°Because a loose table panel is such a priority.¡±

    I found myself laughing more these days, even when Zoe¡¯s jabs turned my way. But I noticed how she often paired off with Danny during pool matches, her competitive streak drawing out the quieter guy¡¯s playful side. There was something magnetic about that relationship; they were really good together, and they made my stomach hurt in a good way.

    ¡°Nice shot,¡± Danny said after Zoe sank a tricky bank shot.

    ¡°Nice shot?¡± Ryan mocked from the sidelines. ¡°She¡¯s cleaning your clock, man. You¡¯re one ball away from losing.¡± He was jealous, of course, Ryan was always jealous.

    ¡°I call it tactical retreat,¡± Danny said, shrugging as Zoe shot him a triumphant smirk. He clearly loved to make her happy. Damn.

    The lounge wasn¡¯t just a place to unwind; it was where we built trust, bond by bond. These evenings wove something deeper between us than mere friendship, that was for sure. I saw it in Emily¡¯s quiet smiles, the way Zoe pulled Danny out of his shell, even Ryan¡¯s begrudging teamwork when we needed him. It was like, we were all leveling up, and not in the way we had been back at Sandworth, more like we were all getting closer to something. And it was almost scary.

    Emily, as always, remained a steady presence by my side. She had a way of looking at me when I spoke, her eyes unwavering, that made me feel like she actually cared about what I had to say, like I was the only person in the room. I wasn¡¯t blind to the glances she threw my way, or the way her smile lingered just a second longer when she caught me looking back, and it made me so nervous, and also incredibly excited. She smelled like vanilla, and something else, something spicy and warm.

    <hr>

    "You''ve been quiet tonight," Emily murmured, her voice barely a whisper above the end credits. It was like she''d slipped a scalpel under my skin, gentle but precise, laying bare whatever bullshit I was about to feed her. I swallowed, suddenly feeling like a bug under a microscope. "What gave it away?"

    I nodded, suddenly very aware of how close we were. Her green eyes locked onto mine, and my pulse went from zero to sixty in a heartbeat. I could feel the tips of my ears burning, a blush creeping up my neck like an unwelcome rash. ¡°Yeah. Just¡­ thinking.¡±

    ¡°About?¡± she asked, tilting her head slightly, her eyes holding mine like she could see straight into my brain. It felt like she could see every dumb fantasy I''d ever conjured about her, like that time I imagined us slow dancing to some cheesy song in the lounge, or how I pictured what it would be like to trace the delicate curve of her, shit, now was not the time.

    I hesitated, glancing at the others. Zoe was leaning over the pool table, laughing as Danny flailed through some excuse about why he lost, and Ryan was loudly accusing them of hustling. At least someone¡¯s having fun. I dragged my eyes back to Emily, my gut clenching like I''d just swallowed a handful of gravel. ¡°About how¡­ this feels like the calm before the storm, you know?¡±

    My brain scrambled for an answer that wouldn''t make me sound like a total idiot. That this trip was turning out so much tamer than I¡¯d imagined. When we planned this whole thing, leaving the station, heading out into the unknown, I¡¯d pictured something wild. A bunch of twenty-somethings, cooped up together for weeks on end? I thought it¡¯d be chaos. Hormones flying, people sneaking off to hook up left and right, hell, I figured I¡¯d have gotten laid by now.

    But no. The crew¡¯s been¡­ weirdly mature. Even-keeled. Like we¡¯re all holding back or something. And now here I was, overthinking everything, especially Emily. Should I make a move? Would she even want me to? What if I screwed it up? What if she said no, and things got awkward, and she didn¡¯t want to talk to me anymore? Just the idea of screwing things up with her sent a hollow ache through my chest, like someone had carved out a piece of me with a rusty spoon, but I didn¡¯t want to blow it. Not with her.

    The corner of Emily''s mouth quirked up, a hint of a smile softening the intensity in her eyes. She tilted her head, studying me like I was some rare specimen she was trying to decipher. ¡°Then let¡¯s enjoy it while it lasts,¡± she said, her voice warm but steady. Her hand brushed against mine, her fingers lingering for just a fraction of a second before pulling away.

    When her fingers brushed mine, I flinched. It felt like I''d stuck my hand in an electrical socket, every nerve ending suddenly on high alert. Friends. That¡¯s what we were, for now. Probably.

 Chapter 11 - Engaging the FTL Drive

    The Oort Cloud was looming closer, twenty days after leaving the Genesis Platform, and I swear, I could feel the weight of this whole damn thing pressing down on me, like a fat, angry wrestler, and I couldn''t help but wonder what I was doing with my life. The crew wasn¡¯t new to challenges, we¡¯d spent over four years fighting side by side, navigating the dangers of portals, monsters, and the chaos that followed, but at least before, there were backup plans and shit, and if I messed up big time, maybe my dad would be there to help me out. Now? Nothing. Out here, past the asteroid belt, we didn¡¯t have a damn safety net. We didn¡¯t have a Plan B, we didn¡¯t have anyone to call, and it was all on me.

    And yet, underneath the panic, I could feel a thrill, a shiver down my spine. This was freedom, right? No Earth, no orders from people who didn''t know shit. And yet, it felt like I was about to step off a fucking cliff, instead of into the stars. The thought of engaging the FTL drive was both exhilarating and terrifying, and it was all mixed in up, that was the problem. All of our training, our systems, our routines, this was it. The final test to see if all that shit was worth it. I was going to make sure we made it, even though I felt like I was about to throw up. I wanted to make sure this crew was going to thrive, that I would make sure they all got home safely.

    I wanted to, but did I actually have what it takes to do all that? Was I even capable of being the captain they needed? The questions ran through my head like a broken record, but the edge of the known was just ahead. It was like the moment you know you¡¯re going to do something dumb, and you just lean into it and do it anyway, there was no turning back now, and honestly, I wouldn''t, I couldn¡¯t. I was excited, and scared, and a mess, and for some reason, that was exactly how I wanted things to be. Maybe. Probably.

    Then Zoe¡¯s voice crackled through the comms, cutting through the quiet hum of the ship. ¡°Captain, we¡¯re ready to activate the FTL drive and make the jump toward Alpha Centauri.¡± Her voice was steady, but I could sense the anticipation beneath it, that feeling that made you want to run in the other direction.

    I grinned, pushing off the console and standing a little taller. ¡°Everyone to the bridge, on the double.¡± My voice came out strong, confident. Even if I wasn¡¯t totally sure I felt that way, I¡¯d fake it till we made it.

    The crew was already assembling on the bridge, slipping into their stations. I looked around at their faces: familiar, steady, each one a little anchor in this vast, terrifying void we were about to step into. Did they know how scared I was? Could they feel it? Probably not. Or maybe they did, and they just didn¡¯t care. That thought didn¡¯t help.

    All of it: our routines, our systems, every damn thing we¡¯d done to get here, was riding on this moment. The weight of it hit me like a punch to the gut, and for a second, I thought I might puke. Shit. Pull it together, Rossi. I could do this. I had to. I just needed to be... well, a little more me.

    I tried to force a grin, taking in their faces as they settled into their seats, their eyes flicking to me now and then, waiting for the next move. They were looking to me for answers, and that almost made me laugh. Answers? From me? God help us. But it wasn¡¯t just fear crawling under my skin, it was excitement. A thrill that mixed with everything else and made my chest tighten. And yeah, maybe a little bit of horniness too, not gonna lie. But mostly? I just wanted to see what was out there. What was waiting for us in the dark, and why the hell it felt like it was calling us.

    My heart pounded as I stood by the captain¡¯s chair, my palms slick against the armrest. Deep breaths, Luca. This was it. Everything we¡¯d planned, everything we¡¯d worked for, right here, right now.

    I took a long breath, trying to savor the moment before giving the command to activate the FTL engine. This was really it. I was actually doing it. And for better or worse, there was no turning back.

    <hr>

    "Everyone ready?" I asked, trying to sound calm, but my voice cracked a little. I was not as cool as I thought I was, and my heart was practically trying to escape through my ribcage.

    Zoe, ever the professional, added, ¡°All systems are green. Just waiting on your go.¡± I bet she was sweating as bad as I was, but you¡¯d never know it, the cool bitch.

    "Engage," I said with a grin, trying to ignore the way my palms were sweating as I pressed down on the controls. God, I hated this, I hated that I had to be in control.

    ¡°What is this, Star Trek?¡± Ryan said, a huge, goofy smile plastered on his face, and I couldn''t help but roll my eyes. Of course, he¡¯d make a pop culture reference, like this was all a big joke. I needed to calm down, but how was I supposed to calm down when I could see the fear in everyone¡¯s eyes, mixed with the excitement? It was like looking into a mirror.

    ¡°Brace yourselves,¡± Zoe said, her voice tight, barely concealing a slight waver. It was pure adrenaline, a cocktail of what if and maybe we¡¯ll be okay that was making my brain go a million miles a minute. ¡°We¡¯re about to make history.¡±

    Everyone fumbled with their restraint harnesses, looking way clumsier than they probably wanted to. I caught Danny almost tangling himself up like he was trying to fight the straps, and Ryan rolling his eyes as he clicked his harness into place like it was no big deal.

    The bridge rumbled as the FTL engine engaged, and a low hum filled the air, vibrating through the deck and up into my chest. Time seemed to slow down, or maybe it sped up. I couldn¡¯t tell. My brain was racing, throwing every what if at me like a machine gun. Did I forget something? Were the numbers right? What if Ryan hadn¡¯t tightened a bolt? Did I even check the fuel levels? Shit. Was that weird light by Ryan¡¯s console supposed to blink like that? And, oh god, did I even put on my harness? I glanced down to see the straps secured across my chest.

    Through the viewport, the stars outside stretched, twisting into streaks of light before vanishing completely. The sensation hit like a roller coaster drop that just kept going, pulling us through... something. It wasn¡¯t just space. It felt like we were being dragged through a dimension I couldn¡¯t even describe, like everything around us was folding and unfolding at the same time. My stomach flipped, and for a second, I wondered if this was what dying felt like.

    And then it was over. Just like that, the pull stopped, the hum eased, and we were back to normal speed. I stared out the viewport. Where there had been streaks of light there was now nothing but pitch-black nothingness. No stars, no streaks, just the void. I stared at it, half-expecting to wake up and realize we¡¯d crashed, or maybe that we were just... dead.

    <hr>

    Zoe was the first to move, her fingers punching away at her console as she checked the trajectory. Her brow furrowed in concentration, and I found myself staring at her face. Was she scared? If she was, she didn¡¯t show it. Stone cold warrior, as usual.

    Emily let out a long breath, leaning back in her seat, her eyes locking with mine. That sigh? It might¡¯ve been the most beautiful sound I¡¯d heard all day. I grinned at her, a weird mix of anticipation and pure terror bubbling up in my chest. We did it. We actually did it.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

    ¡°Holy shit,¡± Ryan muttered, pulling off his harness with a grin that stretched across his face. He reached over, slapping Danny¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We¡¯re alive, man. Alive.¡±

    Danny blinked, like he was still processing, before a grin broke out on his face. ¡°Yeah,¡± he said, his voice cracking like he¡¯d just hit puberty all over again. ¡°We¡¯re alive.¡± He lifted his hand for a high-five, and Ryan met it with an echoing smack that made the whole room feel a little lighter.

    I let out a breath I didn¡¯t know I was holding, the weight in my chest easing up as I looked around. Everyone was smiling now, even Zoe, though hers was faint, more relieved than anything else. Goosebumps prickled along my arms, but for the first time, it wasn¡¯t from fear, it was from the sheer holy shit of what we¡¯d just done.

    ¡°Well,¡± I said, my voice cracking just enough to ruin the moment. I cleared my throat, trying to sound more captain-y, whatever the hell that meant. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re off to Alpha Centauri. Zoe, ETA?¡±

    Zoe glanced at her console, her fingers dancing over the keys. ¡°We should get there in two, maybe three weeks,¡± she said, her tone clipped, but there was a hint of excitement behind it. ¡°The ship¡¯s still accelerating. Assuming no major changes in course or unforeseen events, we¡¯ll hit deceleration on time.¡±

    Her words hung in the air, and for a second, the relief faded just a little. Unforeseen events. Because nothing we ever did was without risk. We were just kids, barely in our twenties pretending to be adults, running headfirst into the unknown. It was exhilarating and terrifying all at once.

    I leaned back, the captain¡¯s chair suddenly feeling way too big and too small at the same time. Captain¡¯s log, I muttered to myself. Today we made the jump to Alpha Centauri, and I almost threw up.

    The bridge erupted into cheers once Zoe confirmed we were on course. Ryan fist-bumped Danny so hard I thought they might break something, while Joey leaned back in his chair, letting out an exaggerated sigh of relief. Even Zoe cracked a small smile, though she quickly busied herself with recalculating our ETA, probably to avoid acknowledging she had emotions like the rest of us.

    I didn¡¯t even bother hiding my grin as Emily clapped me on the shoulder, her excitement spilling over into laughter. ¡°We did it!¡± she said, her green eyes sparkling like she¡¯d just discovered a new planet.

    ¡°Hell yeah, we did,¡± I replied, the tension finally starting to bleed out of me. For a moment, the bridge felt less like a control room and more like a celebration, a shared victory that made all the risk feel worth it. Where¡¯s the champagne?

    Ryan spun in his chair, pointing at Zoe. ¡°We¡¯re alive and on course. Admit it, you¡¯re impressed.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m satisfied,¡± Zoe deadpanned, but there was a glint of humor in her eyes that said she wasn¡¯t as unshakable as she pretended.

    The celebration didn¡¯t last long. One by one, the crew started peeling off to their stations or other tasks, the burst of energy settling into something quieter. Ryan and Joey headed to engineering to run diagnostics, Zoe stayed at her console double-checking trajectory data, and Danny mumbled something about reviewing inventory before scurrying off, looking half-dazed.

    Eventually, the bridge quieted, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Well, almost alone, Emily was still at the systems station nearby, tapping away as she finalized the daily schedule. Zoe was still focused on her calculations, her face lit by the soft glow of the monitors.

    <hr>

    It was strange, this sense of calm that had settled over the ship. Just an hour ago, we¡¯d been bracing for disaster, holding our breath as we crossed the threshold into the unknown. Now, everything felt... normal. Terrifying, sure, but also comforting in a way I hadn¡¯t expected. The ship was moving. The FTL drive had worked. Ryan had actually pulled it off, Zoe was keeping us on course, and we were alive. Against all odds, it felt like we might actually make it.

    I was halfway through a mental checklist of maintenance tasks when Emily stood abruptly, stretching her arms over her head, and just like that, my brain short-circuited. Damn it, Rossi, focus.

    She approached me, her movements light and unhurried, but there was something unreadable in her expression that made my heart hammer in my chest. Bright green eyes locked onto mine, and before I could figure out what was happening, her hands were on my shoulders, pulling me closer.

    Her lips met mine, and everything else vanished. The hum of the ship, the faint tapping of Zoe¡¯s keyboard, it all faded into the background. The warmth of her touch, the softness of her lips, the faint scent of her hair, it consumed me. My breath caught, my hands hovering awkwardly by my sides before instinct took over and I steadied her gently by the waist.

    Oh my God, this is happening. This is actually happening.

    The weight of it hit me, heavy and warm, like something in the universe had shifted and I wasn¡¯t quite sure I was ready for it. When she finally pulled back, her cheeks were flushed, her grin equal parts mischievous and daring. My heart was racing, my face burning, but I didn¡¯t care.

    ¡°That was unexpected,¡± I managed, my voice rougher than I intended. I felt like I¡¯d been caught stealing something, but I also didn¡¯t want to give it back.

    ¡°Was it really?¡± Emily replied, her tone light but her expression so earnest it almost knocked the air out of me.

    I blinked, my thoughts a total mess, a whirlwind of what the fuck mixed with more please. She had just kissed me. Emily. The girl I¡¯d been crushing on since we were, what, twelve? Thirteen? Back when the biggest disasters in my life were high school math tests and trying not to stare at her lips every damn second of the day.

    Over the years, we¡¯d grown close, much closer than I ever thought possible. Fighting side by side through Sandworth, leveling up, clawing our way back to some version of normalcy. But all that? It was behind us. Now we were here, moving light-years away from everything, floating in the void where there were no rules. We could do whatever the hell we wanted. And this? This was completely unexpected territory. I was lost. I was buzzing. I was so ready for more.

    Emily tilted her head, her smile softening, her eyes locked on mine in a way that made my chest feel like it might actually explode. ¡°You okay?¡± she asked, her voice dropping to a whisper that sent shivers straight down my spine. My heart skipped...

    ¡°Yeah,¡± I managed, brushing the back of my neck like that would somehow ground me. I was trying to act cool, but inside, I was freaking out. God, Rossi, get it together. ¡°Just¡­ wasn¡¯t expecting that.¡±

    Understatement of the century. And I hated that I wasn¡¯t smoother, that I was a stuttering, blushing mess. But she didn¡¯t seem to care. She just laughed softly, leaning in again, and this time her forehead rested against mine.

    My whole body buzzed, the electricity cranked up to eleven. I could feel her warmth, smell the faint floral scent of her hair, and every nerve ending in my body was screaming. I was officially losing my mind.

    ¡°I¡¯ve wanted to do that for a long time,¡± she murmured, her voice low and steady, like this was the most natural thing in the world.

    I exhaled sharply, a laugh escaping before I could stop it. ¡°Glad you did,¡± I said, and it came out so breathless and ridiculous that I almost cringed. But then I saw her grin, and suddenly I didn¡¯t care anymore. I was grinning too, my face heating up like I was on fire. And all I could think about was touching her again. More. Again. Always.

    Emily, my Emily, had kissed me. On the bridge of our ship. Moving, fuck knows how fast, away from Earth. And somehow, the vast unknown ahead didn¡¯t seem so terrifying anymore. In fact, it felt... possible. Exciting. Like maybe, just maybe, this whole thing was going to be okay.

    Across the bridge, Zoe sat at her console, pretending to be completely engrossed in whatever calculations she was doing. But I caught the slight twitch at the corners of her mouth, that telltale sign she was enjoying every second of this. She turned away, muttering something under her breath, but the faint sound of her giggle didn¡¯t escape me. She was on to us.

    And honestly? That just made me want to kiss Emily all over again.

    Emily nudged my arm gently, her voice low but carrying that spark of mischief that always made my chest tighten. ¡°Wanna head up to the observation deck?¡± she asked, her green eyes locking onto mine, full of something that made it impossible to think straight. ¡°I hear the view¡¯s pretty spectacular.¡±

    Just like that, the air shifted. We were in a completely different place. A new normal. Something I hadn¡¯t planned for but suddenly couldn¡¯t imagine not having. It wasn¡¯t just exciting, it was electric, the kind of moment that made you feel alive in ways you didn¡¯t even realize you needed.

    Captain¡¯s log, I muttered to myself as I followed her lead, my heart hammering like I¡¯d just sprinted a mile. Today, Emily kissed me. And I think I¡¯m in love. And also, maybe this is it. Maybe this is where everything starts. Or maybe¡­ I¡¯m just a horny mess. Who knows?

    Whatever it was, I wasn¡¯t about to miss it.

 Chapter 12 - The Observation Deck

    The observation deck was quiet, the kind of quiet that felt too big, like the ship was holding its breath. The faint hum of the systems was the only sound, barely enough to drown out my thoughts. Outside the glass wall, space stretched endlessly, streaks of light from the FTL drive fading into nothing. It was the kind of view that made you feel small. And maybe a little queasy.

    I leaned against the railing, arms crossed, staring out at the void. It wasn¡¯t just nothingness, it was alive, like it was staring back, waiting. The kind of waiting that made my skin crawl. What the hell are we doing out here?

    Emily stood beside me, her shoulders relaxed, but her hands fidgeting lightly at her sides. ¡°It¡¯s kind of eerie, isn¡¯t it?¡± she said, breaking the silence. Her voice was soft, hesitant, like she wasn¡¯t sure if she should be speaking at all.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± I replied, quieter than usual. ¡°Not much to see, but it still feels¡­ huge. Like it¡¯s waiting for us.¡±

    She turned her head, and I caught the way the light hit her jawline. Damn. My chest tightened, and for a second, I forgot what I was even looking at. ¡°You¡¯ve always liked the big picture stuff,¡± she said, her lips quirking into that small, knowing smile of hers. She always knew.

    I shrugged, hoping I didn¡¯t look as much of a mess as I felt. ¡°Someone has to think about it. Not like anyone else around here is losing sleep over where we¡¯re headed.¡± Dramatic? Maybe. But it was true.

    ¡°True,¡± she said, her smile growing. She glanced out at the stars or where they should¡¯ve been, then back at me. ¡°So, what keeps you up at night?¡±

    Her eyes were steady, cutting right through me like a laser. Damn, she was perceptive. I tightened my grip on the railing, my knuckles briefly brushing the cool metal. How was I supposed to answer that? Everything kept me up at night: the crew, the mission, and the terrifying realization that one wrong call could kill us all. But she was looking at me like she expected an answer, and something about that look made me want to give her one.

    My eyes betrayed me, drifting down the curve of her body. The light caught on her thighs, the way her uniform looked on her, the soft rise of her breasts. I looked away, suddenly finding the railing very interesting, before I yanked my focus back to her eyes. Get it together, Rossi.

    ¡°Everything,¡± I admitted. ¡°Keeping everyone alive. Making sure we don¡¯t screw this up. It¡¯s like¡­ we¡¯re out here with no safety net.¡±

    It felt like spilling my guts, and I hated it. Vulnerability wasn¡¯t my thing. But with Emily, it felt... okay. Like maybe I wasn¡¯t about to get ripped apart for admitting I wasn¡¯t invincible.

    She didn¡¯t answer right away, her green eyes studying me, like she was trying to figure me out. Her silence wasn¡¯t judging, rather it was grounding. Then, out of nowhere, she reached out, her fingers brushing lightly against my arm. Her touch was warm, even through my uniform, and it sent a jolt straight to my chest.

    ¡°You¡¯re not alone, you know,¡± she said, her voice soft. ¡°You¡¯ve got us. And we¡¯ve got you.¡±

    It wasn¡¯t just the words, it was how she said them. Sincere, steady, like she meant it. It caught me off guard, and I just stood there, staring at her like an idiot. For a moment, the knot in my stomach loosened, replaced by something lighter, warmer.

    I turned my head to look at her fully. She was close, much closer than I¡¯d realized. I could feel her warmth, see the rise and fall of her breath, and the way her eyes lingered on me made my pulse race. My mind was chaos, a jumble of what do I do now? and don¡¯t mess this up, and all I wanted was to pull her closer.

    Before I could stop myself, my eyes dropped to her lips. Just for a second. Then they snapped back up like I¡¯d been caught stealing something, my ears burned. Smooth, Rossi. Real smooth. I opened my mouth to say something, anything, but the words got stuck somewhere between my throat and my tongue, and before I could untangle them, she leaned in, and the world narrowed to just her, just this.

    Her lips brushed mine. A tentative kiss. My heart skipped a beat, then hammered against my ribs. Is this really happening? Her lips were soft, warm, and for a split second, I just froze, like a total idiot. Then instinct took over, and I kissed her back. My hand landed on her hip, maybe a little too awkwardly, but she didn¡¯t pull away. Instead, she leaned in closer, and the world narrowed to just her, just this.

    It wasn¡¯t perfect, hell, it wasn¡¯t even close. I had no idea what I was doing, but the moment felt too fragile to mess up. Too much like a dream I didn¡¯t want to wake up from. A really good one. I wanted it to last forever.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    When we finally pulled back, Emily¡¯s cheeks were flushed, her smile small but a little shy. That threw me off more than the kiss itself. She was always so confident, seeing her like this was¡­ different. Intimidating, in a weird way. ¡°Sorry,¡± she murmured, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Her voice was soft, uncertain. ¡°That was probably¡­ sudden.¡±

    I blinked, still trying to process the rush of it all and my palms were sweating like crazy. A short laugh escaped before I could stop it, my lips pulling into some awkward grin that probably made me look like a complete idiot.

    ¡°Yeah, sudden¡¯s one way to put it.¡± God, Luca, could you sound like a bigger dumbass?

    Her smile widened, and I could see her confidence coming back, like she¡¯d figured out I wasn¡¯t about to bolt. ¡°Was it bad?¡± she asked, her voice light, but there was a nervous edge to it. She was cute when she was nervous, really cute. My heart skipped again, like it was trying to kill me.

    ¡°No,¡± I said, my voice rough enough to make me clear my throat, trying to cover up how close I was to stammering. ¡°No, it wasn¡¯t bad.¡± Holy fuck, that was an understatement. It was incredible, and I was still trying to process what had just happened, replaying it over and over in my head.¡±

    Her eyes widened just a little, her smile softening, warming, and it hit me like a punch to the chest. I was completely mesmerized. And completely terrified. ¡°Really?¡± she asked, her voice quiet.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± I said, my voice somehow steadier than I felt. Inside, I was shaking so bad it felt like my bones were rattling. ¡°I just didn¡¯t think you¡¯d ever¡­ feel the same.¡± Because why would she? She¡¯s Emily. Gorgeous, totally out of my league. And now?

    ¡°Well,¡± she said, leaning in closer, her eyes sparkling in a way that made my stomach flip. ¡°Maybe I was just waiting for the right moment.¡±

    She was right, of course. She was incredible. Everything about her was amazing, and it made me want to scream. How the hell did I get here?

    Her fingers slid up my arms, tracing the muscle like she was figuring me out piece by piece. She leaned closer, her breath warm against my cheek, and and all I could think about was how much I wanted to kiss her again. And yeah, maybe do a hell of a lot more than kissing.

    My hands found the soft fabric of her uniform, just above her hips, pulling her closer until we were pressed together. It was like being hit with an electric shock and wrapped in the softest thing I¡¯d ever felt, all at once. A heated tension thrummed between us, a magnetic pull I couldn¡¯t resist, and didn¡¯t fucking want to. I was exhilarated and scared out of my mind all at the same time.

    Her lips met mine again, and this time? It was anything but tentative. It was eager, charged, like we were making up for every stolen glance, every thing we¡¯d never said. My head spun, and I was pretty sure I was about to pass out, but I didn¡¯t care. My hands tightened at her sides, then slid up her back, fingers brushing over the smooth fabric of her suit and the heat of her skin underneath.

    And yeah, I was hard. Of course I was. How could I not be? Her body molded against mine, soft and warm and everything I didn¡¯t know I¡¯d been waiting for. Her fingers curled into my hair, tugging gently, and I swear it sent sparks shooting straight down my spine. For a moment, I forgot about being terrified. Forgot that we were floating in the middle of nowhere, light-years away from everything.

    All I knew was this. Her. And I wanted it to last. Forever, if possible.

    ¡°I¡¯m glad you picked these uniforms,¡± I murmured against her lips, my voice rough with a mix of humor and desire. ¡°A bit tight, but, you know¡­¡± I couldn¡¯t help but tease her, even as every nerve ending thrumming with need.

    Emily laughed, her breath hitching as I trailed my hands down her sides. ¡°You¡¯ve never complained about tight before,¡± she teased, her grin widening as she caught my lower lip between her teeth, and I felt a surge of heat rush through me.

    ¡°Touch¨¦,¡± I replied, my hands finding their way back up, my thumbs brushing along the curve of her ribs before tracing higher. My fingers grazed her breasts, and I paused, feeling her shudder beneath my touch, and it made my breath catch in my throat.

    Her reaction sent a wave of heat through me, and I felt like I could do anything. My hands cupped her gently, tracing the soft lines of her body through the thin fabric of her suit. Emily¡¯s breath hitched, and she pressed into me, her movements somewhere between deliberate and instinctive, and I was hanging on by a thread. Her hands skimmed up my back, her fingers trailing along my spine, and every touch lit me up like a live wire. More. I needed more.

    ¡°You were always the explorer,¡± she whispered, her voice shaking but playful, her lips brushing against mine again. ¡°Always dragging us into one adventure after another.¡± She was trembling, but so was I.

    ¡°And you always followed,¡± I murmured, my words barely audible against her mouth. We were moving fast, too fast, and I couldn¡¯t bring myself to care.

    Her soft laugh melted into a gasp as my hands moved, exploring her curves with a mix of curiosity and awe. For all the teasing and urgency, there was this seriousness in how I touched her, like I was memorizing everything, the way her body responded, the way her breath hitched when my hand grazed her side. She was so beautiful, it made my chest ache, and I wanted to remember every inch of her, every second of this.

    Without breaking her gaze, my hand moved to the zipper of her suit. My fingers trembled as I pulled it down, the soft rasp of the zipper impossibly loud in the quiet observation deck. Cool air hit her skin, and she shivered, her breath catching as the zipper slid lower, stopping just at the curve of her bra. My breath was stuck somewhere between anticipation and disbelief.

    I paused, leaning in to kiss her again, slower this time, softer, letting myself feel every second of it. Her lips melted against mine, and she responded instantly, her hands sliding up to cradle the back of my neck. I could feel the warmth of her skin beneath my fingers, the rapid rise and fall of her breasts, and I was right there with her.

    I could hardly believe this was happening, not here, not now; but the thought only fueled the fire. I was so lost in her, so caught up in this moment, that nothing else mattered. Not the ship, not the void outside, not anything but her.

 Chapter 13 - Takin it Slow

    With a gentle nudge, she pushed me back toward the glass panel behind us, her eyes never leaving mine. I let her guide me, my breath quickening as the cold surface pressed against my back. Emily stepped closer, her hands finding their way to my shoulders, then sliding down my chest, and every inch of me ached for her touch. The warmth of her body beneath the tight fabric of her suit sent a thrill through me, and I could feel her trembling. One hand slid down to the small of her back, my fingers tracing a slow path down her spine beneath the thin fabric of her uniform. I wanted to feel her skin. Emily shivered, her eyes fluttering closed as my touch left trails of warmth in its wake. My breath brushed against her neck, and she tilted her head, inviting me closer. My other hand gently cupped her hip, my thumb making slow circles, grounding her in the moment, and we were both lost.

    ¡°You have no idea how amazing you make me feel,¡± I murmured against her ear, my voice rough, raw, and probably a little cheesy, but I didn¡¯t care. I meant it. Every word.

    Emily let out this soft, musical laugh that filled the observation deck, and even though my neck was burning, I couldn¡¯t help but smile. That laugh? It could fix anything. ¡°Well, I¡¯m glad I could be of service,¡± she teased, her eyes glinting with that mix of mischief and... something else. Nervousness? Maybe. She leaned back just enough to meet my eyes, and I felt like I could get lost in there forever. Honestly? I was ready to.

    A grin pulled at my lips even. God, Rossi, get a grip. ¡°I mean it,¡± I said, quieter now, like the words might break if I said them too loud. Vulnerable wasn¡¯t really my thing, but with her? It felt... right.

    ¡°I know you do,¡± she replied softly, her hand drifting to my chest. I felt her touch through the suit, light and deliberate. Her fingers found the zipper of my suit, tugging it just enough to let her fingertips brush against my skin. A shiver ran through me, sharp and undeniable. Her hand rested there, over my heart, like she could feel it racing, and it was grounding and electrifying all at once.

    And yet, a small part of me wanted to bolt. To run. Because this was big, much bigger than I¡¯d ever let myself imagine. It scared the shit out of me.

    ¡°So why didn¡¯t you ever ask me out?¡± Emily¡¯s voice was soft, playful, but she searched my face, looking for something real. There was a flicker of insecurity there, something I wasn¡¯t used to seeing from her. It hit me like a punch to the gut.

    I froze. Like, full-on deer-in-headlights froze. Did she just ask me that? My lips parted, but nothing came out. Of course, you didn¡¯t ask her out, idiot. She¡¯s Emily. She''s everything, and you¡¯re... you.

    Finally, I managed to look at her, and I knew my face was a mess, a mix of shyness, longing, and whatever else was swirling inside me. ¡°I¡­ I didn¡¯t want to ruin our friendship,¡± I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. It sounded stupid even as I said it, but it was the truth. And now, saying it out loud, I felt so exposed, like I¡¯d just laid my whole heart on the table for her to pick apart.

    Emily¡¯s expression softened, her lips curving into a smile so gentle it made my chest ache. But her cheeks were pink too, and that small vulnerability in her made me feel less alone. She reached up, brushing a stray strand of hair from my forehead, her fingers lingering against my skin like she was trying to steady me or herself. It felt great.

    ¡°Oh, Luca,¡± she said with a quiet laugh, warm and teasing but just a little shaky, like she was nervous too. Her tone made my heart swell, like it was trying to burst right out of my chest. ¡°You¡¯re so silly. We¡¯ve been friends for years, and if anything, it¡¯s about time we took things to the next level.¡±

    The way she said it, like she¡¯d rehearsed the line, was so damn cute it made me want to grab her and never let go. This is happening. I could barely wrap my head around it. Holy shit, this is actually happening.

    Her words hit me like a shockwave, and for a second, I couldn¡¯t breathe. ¡°Really?¡± I asked, my voice quieter than I wanted, almost disbelieving. ¡°You just¡­ wanted this?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely,¡± Emily said, her fingers sliding down to intertwine with mine. The warmth of her touch sent a spark straight through me. She gave my hand a light squeeze, tugging me closer, her confidence making it impossible to resist. ¡°Now come here,¡± she said, and my heart pounded so loud it drowned out everything else. This can¡¯t be real.

    She pulled me into a kiss, her lips warm and eager against mine. Every nerve in my body lit up. I leaned in, one arm wrapping around her, drawing her closer until her body was flush against mine. Emily pressed closer, her free hand sliding up to rest on my chest, and I could feel the rhythm of her heartbeat syncing with mine. I was lost in her, completely. This wasn¡¯t just right, it was everything.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to risk losing you,¡± I murmured, hoarse and breathless, my forehead resting against hers as we paused for air. I needed her to know how much she meant to me, and honestly? I just needed her, period.

    Her eyes softened as she looked up at me, something in her eyes that made my chest ache. She was trembling just a little, and it hit me how much this meant to her, too.

    ¡°You couldn¡¯t have lost me, Luca,¡± she said quietly, brushing her thumb along my cheek. Her voice cracked slightly, like she was trying to reassure both of us. ¡°Not now. Not ever.¡±Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

    The way she said it, like she was clinging to the words as much as I was, made me feel less alone. We were both lost in this, figuring it out as we went, and that somehow made it even better.

    Her words hung in the air for a beat before she leaned in again, her lips crashing into mine with a hunger that hadn¡¯t been there before. This kiss wasn¡¯t tentative, it was all urgency, all demand, like we were making up for every second we¡¯d held back. And yeah, it scared me a little. Emily¡¯s hands tangled in my hair, pulling me closer as I pressed her gently back against the cold wall of the ship. Everything else, like time, space, the fact that we were in the middle of nowhere, just disappeared.

    My hands roamed up her sides, her suit thin enough that I could feel the curve of her body underneath. I wanted more, needed more. My lips trailed down her jaw, finding the soft skin of her neck, and when she shivered under my touch, it sent a jolt straight through me. I kissed her collarbone, the delicate line of it, dipping lower until her breath hitched, and it was the most intoxicating sound I¡¯d ever heard.

    Her fingers curled into my shoulders, her nails pressing just enough to make me hiss softly against her skin. She arched into me, her body fitting against mine like this was what we were made for. Every nerve in my body screamed for more. I slid my hands down her back, finally reaching the curve of her lower back, pulling her impossibly closer. I didn¡¯t want this to end and couldn¡¯t imagine it ending.

    ¡°Luca,¡± she whispered, her voice trembling, full of something that made my heart slam against my ribs. Certainty? Anticipation? Both? Her arms wrapped around my neck, her fingers curling deeper into my hair, and when our kiss deepened, when her tongue brushed mine, all coherent thought vanished. Holy shit. Her nails grazed the back of my neck, and it sent a shiver so sharp down my spine that I pressed even closer to her, instinct taking over completely.

    But then the reality of it hit me. The tight confines of my suit, the maddening barrier between us, kept everything pent up, leaving my arousal coiled and tense, my entire body practically vibrating with need. My chest tightened as I processed what was happening, my breaths uneven and shallow. Holy fuck, did she really just¡­? I couldn¡¯t stop. Couldn¡¯t fucking think. Emily was all I could feel, all I could see, all I could want, and every ounce of logic in my head had officially clocked out

    We pulled apart, both breathless, our faces inches apart, and I felt like I¡¯d just landed on an alien planet; new, strange, and completely overwhelming. Emily¡¯s eyes locked onto mine, bright and full of something that made it impossible to think straight. Longing? Mischief? Desire? Probably all of it.

    Her hand slid down my chest, slow and deliberate, her fingers brushing the unmistakable bulge in my suit. She bit her lip, her cheeks flushing in a way that was equal parts innocent and not, and I felt a jolt of electricity shoot through me, followed by sheer terror. Oh God, her tongue. What just happened?

    I swallowed hard, my throat dry as sandpaper. When did she get so bold? The moment felt huge, like all the air had been sucked out of the room. This was everything I¡¯d wanted for so long, but now that it was happening, I was overwhelmed, struggling to take it all in. It was exhilarating and terrifying, like playing a game where the rules changed every second. And God, I didn¡¯t want to mess this up. The air between us was thick, heavy with emotions I couldn¡¯t name, anticipation coiling tight in my chest. It was so much, too much, but I couldn¡¯t look away. Couldn¡¯t move.

    ¡°I¡¯ve never done this before,¡± I blurted, my voice hoarse and barely audible. My face burned, and I wanted to crawl out of my skin. Why the hell did I just say that? The words hung there, and for a second, I thought I¡¯d ruined everything.

    Emily¡¯s smile softened, her hand sliding to trace lazy circles on the back of mine. ¡°Me neither,¡± she said quietly, her voice steady but warm. She¡¯s nervous too? That realization hit like a wave, and it was strangely comforting. At least I wasn¡¯t alone in whatever this mess was.

    We both let out these awkward laughs: hers soft and musical, mine rough and uneven. It broke the tension for a moment, but the pull between us was still there, impossible to ignore. The memory of her tongue darting out to brush my lips flashed in my mind, and I had to physically stop myself from groaning out loud.

    The laughter faded, replaced by something quieter, heavier. Her eyes softened as she tilted her head, brushing her lips against mine again, and I couldn¡¯t help it, I leaned into her, wanting more. Always more.

    ¡°It¡¯s okay if we take it slow,¡± she murmured, her voice gentle and grounding. The words hit like a lifeline, and relief washed over me. Slow. I could do slow. But God, I wanted to pull her closer, kiss her again, let her know just how badly I needed her.

    I exhaled deeply, relief flooding through me as her words settled something inside I hadn¡¯t even realized was broken. My heart felt like it stopped for a second, only to start pounding all over again. I¡¯d been so afraid of messing this up, of disappointing her, but now? Now it felt like maybe I hadn¡¯t.

    ¡°Okay,¡± I murmured, a sense of calm washing over me, even as the adrenaline still thrummed through my veins. She had completely taken my breath away.

    With shaking hands, I cupped her face, my thumbs brushing softly against her cheeks as I leaned in again. My chest tightened with want, and yeah, a little bit of terror too. This kiss was different, slower, deliberate, like we were memorizing the feel of each other while trying to navigate the uncharted territory we¡¯d thrown ourselves into. Our lips moved in a quiet rhythm, exploring, promising. I couldn''t stop thinking about her tongue from earlier. God, I wanted to feel that again.

    Emily leaned into me, her hands sliding to my shoulders, and the warmth of her touch sent a rush of pure need straight through me. The way she sighed against my mouth? Sparks. Confidence. Everything I didn¡¯t know I needed. My fingers tangled in her hair, tugging gently, and when she let out a soft moan against my lips, it sent a tremble through my entire body. I wanted her, needed her; but also, God, I wanted to savor this moment, hold onto it like it was the last thing I¡¯d ever feel.

    Then she pulled back, slowly, her forehead resting against mine, and it was the perfect mix of right and torture. Her breaths came in soft, uneven gasps, her hands steady on my chest like she was grounding us both. She was calm, but I could feel the heat radiating off her, see it in the way her cheeks flushed.

    ¡°I think we should stop here for tonight,¡± she said, her voice breathless but firm, her green emerald searching mine for understanding. She was right. I hated that she was right.

    I nodded, swallowing hard as I tried to get my racing heart under control. ¡°Yeah,¡± I said, my voice rougher than I wanted. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re probably right.¡± Even though every part of me screamed to keep going, to hold onto her just a little longer.

 Chapter 14 - Dreams

    Emily smiled, her thumb brushing along my jawline, and my heart did this weird flip, like it couldn¡¯t figure out whether to race or stop altogether. ¡°We have the rest of our lives to figure this out,¡± she said softly, her words landing like a balm on my chaotic thoughts. Say that again. A million more times.

    I let out a laugh: soft, awkward, and maybe a little giddy. My cheeks burned as I fumbled with the zipper of my suit, more out of nervous habit than anything else. ¡°Yeah. I got you.¡± I was a mess, but it felt... good. A good mess. ¡°I¡¯m glad we did this,¡± I murmured, my lips brushing against her hair. Her scent clung to me, sweet and warm, and I knew it was something I¡¯d never forget.

    Emily nodded, resting her head on my shoulder. ¡°I feel the same way,¡± she said, and then her voice took on this playful edge as she looked up at me. ¡°And now, you belong to me.¡±

    I blinked, her words hitting me sideways. What the hell does that mean? My laugh came out soft, but I could feel the heat rising in my face again. ¡°I guess I do,¡± I said, still feeling unsteady, like I was walking on uneven ground. But I didn¡¯t mind. Actually, I liked it. A lot. I was hers, and that realization settled over me like a weird kind of relief.

    Emily¡¯s arms tightened around me, pulling me closer, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. ¡°You have no idea how happy you make me,¡± she whispered into my ear, her breath sending a jolt right through me, and I could feel my body responding to her like a puppet on a string. She pressed a light kiss against the curve of my ear, her lips warm and lingering, and then that damn hand went down there, again, and I felt hot. ¡°You know,¡± she added, ¡°You got pretty excited down there.¡± She had to do that, didn¡¯t she? Just a little teasing, just to make sure that I would not, you know, get over it.

    My face felt warm, because yeah, I did, and then my thumb traced the outline of her perky nipples, and I swear, I almost blacked out. ¡°Hey,¡± I said softly, my voice a little shaky. ¡°You got pretty excited yourself.¡± We could both feel this, and I knew it, and maybe that was a good thing. ¡°We can take this at our own pace.¡± I needed a second, and also, I wanted more, right now, and I hated her for making me feel like this, and I wanted her more than ever.

    Emily let out a nervous laugh, leaning back into me to hide the growing warmth in her face, and that was cute. ¡°You¡¯re really bad at taking hints, you know that?¡± she said, her tone light but edged with something deeper, and I wondered if that ¡®something deeper¡¯ was love, or was it just a physical thing? She rested her head back on my shoulder, ¡°Like back at that portal, the Dust Enclave.¡±

    I frowned slightly, caught off guard and completely thrown off my train of thought, and then, that jealous memory went off. ¡°The Dust Enclave?¡± What the hell was she talking about?

    ¡°Level 54 portal, in Mars,¡± Emily said, her words deliberate now, and then I remembered her, that girl. ¡°That girl you tried to ask out. You have no idea how jealous I was.¡± Oh. Oh shit.

    My jaw dropped slightly. I felt hot and confused. ¡°Wait, you were jealous? Of her?¡± I couldn''t believe what I was hearing; my brain was short-circuiting. That girl was hot, but Em? There was no comparison.

    Emily pulled back enough to meet my eyes, her own sparkling with a mix of playfulness and honesty. ¡°Yes, of her. She wasn¡¯t right for you, not even close, but you couldn¡¯t see it. And the worst part was I couldn¡¯t tell you why it bothered me so much.¡± And then she smirked, just like she knew exactly what she was doing.

    I blinked, the memory surfacing with a vivid clarity that made me laugh despite myself. ¡°You mean when she turned me down in front of the whole group? That was brutal.¡± I really did not handle that well, and I was still embarrassed by it.

    Emily grinned, her cheeks still pink, which was really cute. ¡°Brutal for you. Satisfying for me.¡± She bit her lip, her eyes sparkling, and I just wanted to kiss her, again, so bad. ¡°I didn¡¯t know how to say it back then, but¡­ I guess I¡¯ve liked you for a long time, Luca.¡± And her words were like a drug, and I wanted to hear them every day, every hour, every minute.

    My breath hitched. ¡°Emily¡­¡± I started, my heart pounding in my chest, and my palms were sweaty again, and I wanted to kiss her, again.

    She cut me off with a light press of her fingers against my lips, and that made me want her even more. ¡°You don¡¯t have to say anything. I just wanted you to know.¡± What the hell am I supposed to do with that information? I was completely overwhelmed.

    I caught her hand in mine, holding it against my chest, and I needed to feel connected to her. ¡°I wish I¡¯d known,¡± I said, my voice barely above a whisper, and everything in that moment felt surreal, and perfect. ¡°Maybe things would¡¯ve been different.¡±

    ¡°Maybe,¡± Emily replied, her smile softening. ¡°But we¡¯re here now, aren¡¯t we?¡± and I suddenly wanted to make that our mantra.

    I nodded, pulling her close again, unable to help myself. ¡°Yeah. We are.¡± And that was all that mattered, everything in that moment was all that ever mattered. And also, I was hard as a rock. Great, Luca muttered to himself. Real mature. But Emily''s confession about being jealous? That was...unexpected. And the way she was teasing me? That was driving me insane.

    My fingers gently intertwined with Emily¡¯s as we stood together under the soft glow of the Triumph of Darron¡¯s interior lights, and I could feel that things had changed, that we were never going to be the same. Shit was heavy, and we both knew it, and I was trying so hard to pretend that everything was fine, before I finally broke the silence.

    ¡°How about we get some rest now?¡± I murmured, my voice low as I leaned slightly closer, and I wanted to kiss her again, right then and there, to lose myself in her again. ¡°We¡¯ve got an early start tomorrow.¡± Ugh, responsibility. And this damn ache in my groin.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    Emily pulled back just enough to meet my eyes, her gentle smile, and her green eyes were sparkling, and my heart skipped a beat, like a nervous little idiot. ¡°You¡¯re right. We should get some rest,¡± she agreed, her tone soft but tinged with reluctance, like she was fighting with herself to not ask me to stay, and that was so damn hot.

    We walked together to our cabins, me keeping her hand in mine as if I was a little kid, afraid of letting go of the only lifeline I had left, and the ship was so damn quiet. The faint hum of the ship¡¯s systems and the muted glow of corridor lights surrounded us, and I wanted to break that quiet, but I wasn''t ready yet. My heart was still racing, and I was a mess.

    When we stopped at her door, Emily turned to face me, her expression open and unguarded, and I wondered what she was thinking, what she was feeling, and then I suddenly became terrified. She wanted to say something, I knew it, maybe invite me in to her bed, and that thought made my heart hammer against my chest.

    ¡°Goodnight, Luca,¡± she said, her voice sexy as fuck, and all I wanted to do was kiss her, again.

    ¡°You too, Em,¡± I replied, trying to keep my voice steady, even though I was internally screaming, and it was hard to do that when I just wanted to touch her. Forcing myself to step back, I watched as she disappeared into her cabin, and I felt a pang of longing hit me, like I had just lost a part of myself. The door slid shut, leaving me standing in the dim hallway with my thoughts, and I felt so lost, and so alone.

    <hr>

    I exhaled deeply, running a hand through my hair, hating that she was gone, even if it was just for a while. A part of me felt like I was still there with her, still on the observation deck, her body pressed against mine, her lips on mine. And then reality hit: I¡¯d been this close to losing control, to letting the heat of the moment take us somewhere neither of us was ready to go. It was so damn hard to remember that she had been the one to stop, that we¡¯d both somehow managed to be adults about it. Both of us. And yet, here I was, my body still humming, my mind stuck on the way her touch had set me on fire.

    Damn. She was perfect. Absolutely, maddeningly perfect.

    I turned on my heel and made my way back to my cabin. The door slid shut behind me with a soft hiss, and suddenly, the room felt way too small. Stifling. Like the walls were closing in. I leaned against the door, pressing my forehead against the cool metal, trying to steady my breathing, trying to calm the whirlwind in my head. I¡¯m a captain, I reminded myself. Not a horny teenager. But God, it didn¡¯t feel that way. Not even a little. Get it together, Rossi.

    Stripping off my bodysuit turned into a full-on battle, the damp fabric clinging to my skin like it was mocking me, reminding me of just how close I¡¯d come to completely unraveling. My cheeks burned as I yanked it down and kicked it aside, standing there in the cool air in nothing but my frustration. My heart was still pounding, my body still tense, and I felt so damn inadequate. Not like the guy I wanted to be for her. Just... me. Messy, flawed, barely-in-control me.

    I glanced toward the small shower unit in the corner, already knowing it was the only way to cool down. Or at least pretend to. With a sigh, I stepped in, letting the hot water pour over me. The heat didn¡¯t help, not really. It just made the ache in my chest worse. The memory of her smile, the way she looked at me, the way she wanted me back... it didn¡¯t make sense. It didn¡¯t feel real.

    Emily was... everything. She was the girl I¡¯d been chasing forever, the one I never thought I¡¯d have a chance with. And now she liked me back? Liked me. What the hell was I supposed to do with that?

    The water ran down my face, washing away the sweat and some of the intensity of the evening, but not enough. My thoughts were still spinning, tangled in a web of disbelief and longing and absolute chaos.

    <hr>

    That night, my dreams were a blur of Emily: her freckles, the way her hair fell in those loose waves over her shoulders, the way she smiled at me like she knew exactly what she was doing. It was driving me insane. Every detail was so vivid, so real, it felt like she was right there, her body pressed against mine, her confidence pulling me in, and yeah, of course I got hard. I tossed and turned, her presence lingering in my mind like a drug I couldn¡¯t quit, leaving me feeling like a mess. I hated her for it, for the way she could completely undo me, but God, I wanted her more than ever.

    I probably had a wet dream. Probably. The thought made me cringe, and then that cringe flipped into something darker, deeper. Desire. Need. I just¡­ needed her.

    When I woke up in the middle of the night, my body was drenched in sweat, the sheets tangled and clinging to me like some cruel joke. My breath was ragged, my chest tight, and it hit me all at once: I¡¯d been imagining her there. With me. Her touch, her scent, her everything.

    I shoved the sheets aside, sitting up and pressing the heels of my hands against my eyes, trying to get a grip. My body was screaming, and it felt like I was going to explode. It had only been a few hours since I¡¯d kissed her, touched her, and already, the ache was unbearable.

    The longing for Emily wasn¡¯t just in my head, it was in my chest, my skin, my everything. It was frustrating and electric all at once, like a wire humming with too much current. The thought of pulling her into my bed right now, of walking to her room and kissing her until we both forgot where we were, it was tempting. Too tempting. And it scared the hell out of me.

    <hr>

    I leaned back against the cool metal wall of my cabin, staring at the faint glow of the console across the room. This just happened. Everything had changed, and I didn¡¯t even know where to begin. My brain was stuck on an endless loop of what the hell just happened and what the hell happens next. Sleep wasn¡¯t happening. Nope, not with my thoughts spinning like this, and definitely not with the way my body still hummed from her touch. I was frustrated, restless, and already aching for the next time I could hold her again.

    How was this supposed to work? Months of travel, living in these cramped quarters, with every second spent fighting this pull toward her. And the terrifying, unavoidable thought: What if I¡¯m not good enough? Her legs, her breasts, her smile, her laugh. Her everything. It was perfect, and it was overwhelming, and I was completely screwed.

    ¡°Just one day at a time,¡± I muttered under my breath, running a hand through my damp hair. The words sounded so hollow, so lame, and I hated myself for saying them. But it was the truth. It wasn¡¯t going to be easy. I wasn¡¯t na?ve enough to think it would be. But for her? For us? Hell, it had to be worth it. She was always worth it. This is it, I told myself. No turning back.

    I swung my legs over the side of the bed, the cold floor sending a jolt through me, grounding me. With a deep breath, I walked to the small sink in the corner of my cabin. Splashing water on my face, I let the coolness chase away the lingering heat from my restless dreams, but it didn¡¯t help. Not even a little.

    I still wanted her. Still couldn¡¯t stop thinking about her. Still felt like I was going to explode under the weight of it all, this longing, this fear, this need. I gripped the edge of the sink, the metal cold under my fingers, and stared at my reflection. Focus, Rossi. If I didn¡¯t get my shit together, I wasn¡¯t going to survive this trip.

    Captain''s log, I muttered to myself, a wry, shaky laugh escaping. Today, I almost lost myself. And I don¡¯t know what the fuck I¡¯m doing. What a mess. I shut my eyes, letting the water soak into my hair, letting myself feel the weight of everything. What a beautiful, messed-up mess.

 Chapter 15 - The day after

    Walking down the corridor to the galley with Emily felt like walking a tightrope, one wrong move, and I was going to fall hard. Her hand brushed against mine, lingering just long enough to make my heart stutter. Or maybe that was just my body, gearing up for something I didn¡¯t even know how to handle. She smiled, looped her arm through mine, and leaned into me as we walked, and fuck, I was so glad we were doing this. I was so glad she was here, that she actually liked me. What the hell is happening?

    ¡°Someone¡¯s in a good mood,¡± I said, my tone teasing because that¡¯s what I do, right? Be cool, be casual, even though my heart was pounding and all I wanted was to kiss her again. I couldn¡¯t stop the grin spreading across my face, even though I felt like a total idiot.

    ¡°Can¡¯t imagine why,¡± Emily replied, looking up at me, eyes sparkling like they could see right through me. They were so damn bright it made my face heat up, and yeah, I knew I probably looked like a loser. She rested her head lightly on my shoulder for a moment, letting the silence between us settle, and I was trying and failing to figure out what to say next. Also, trying to stop myself from kissing her right here in the hallway. She was playing me like a damn fiddle, and I hated it. And I loved it.

    Just before we reached the galley doors, she straightened, slipping her arm free and smoothing her hair in one of those casual gestures that drove me insane. I shot her a questioning look; I couldn¡¯t help myself,but she just smirked, daring me to say something. And God, I wanted her so bad it hurt.

    We stepped into the galley, the warm smells of breakfast mingling with the low hum of conversation. Most of the crew lingered in their pajamas, taking advantage of the slower morning pace. I was trying to pretend I was over it, over her, over last night, but let¡¯s be honest, I wasn¡¯t fooling anyone. Least of all myself. Emily had this way of pulling me out of my own head with just a glance, and yeah, I could feel her eyes on me. Focus, Rossi. Don¡¯t let her into your head. You¡¯ve got shit to do today.

    Emily wrapped her arms around herself, glancing sideways at me with that damn smirk she always wore when she was about to throw me for a loop. ¡°I barely slept last night. My cabin¡¯s freezing. I think there¡¯s a draft.¡± Her tone was casual, but there was something about the way she looked at me, like she was waiting for something, that threw me off. Why was she looking at me like that? She had to be testing me.

    Nope. Nope. I have to focus. I grabbed a slice of toast, keeping my eyes firmly on the food, not her. I wasn¡¯t about to let her pull me in again. Not today. ¡°Huh. That sucks,¡± I said, taking a bite like I had it all together, even though my brain was still replaying last night on a loop. ¡°Mine¡¯s warm and cozy, I slept like a baby.¡± Keep it cool, Rossi. Toast. Breakfast. That¡¯s all that matters right now.

    The toast was good, buttery and crunchy, and I chewed thoughtfully, letting my brain shift gears. If her cabin was cold, she¡¯d need another blanket. Or two. Maybe three. I could picture her snuggled under a pile of them, her hair messy, cheeks pink from the warmth. Cute as hell. Yeah. That¡¯s what she needs. More blankets. Totally practical solution.

    ¡°You should grab another blanket from storage,¡± I said, swallowing my toast. ¡°Plenty of extras.¡±

    Emily stared at me, her lips pressing into a tight line, and for a second, I thought she might actually appreciate my advice. But then her brow twitched, and her expression shifted into something sharp. Oh. Oh no. ¡°Yeah. Thanks for the brilliant idea, Captain Obvious,¡± she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

    I grinned, refusing to let her tone faze me. She¡¯d be fine once she had more blankets. She just didn¡¯t know it yet. ¡°Anytime,¡± I said, feeling way too pleased with myself. See? Problem solved. Nice and simple.

    But Emily? She huffed, turning toward the coffee machine with a flick of her hair, and I got the distinct impression I¡¯d missed something. Again. What? She¡¯s cold. Blankets fix cold. What else could she possibly mean?

    Nope. Not going there. I shoved another piece of toast in my mouth, focusing on breakfast. Emily was messing with me, sure, but I wasn¡¯t going to let her derail my whole day. Focus, Rossi. Eat the damn toast. You¡¯ve got shit to do.

    <hr>

    After breakfast, I headed up to the bridge, trying to shake the lingering buzz of energy that wasn¡¯t from coffee. The FTL drive hummed steadily, the ship¡¯s systems running smooth, and everything was¡­ quiet. Too quiet. It was almost peaceful, but also unnervingly dull, and my brain was already threatening to wander back to Emily. Nope. Not going there.

    I slouched into the captain¡¯s chair, elbows resting on the armrests as I scanned the displays, trying to look like I had everything under control. Like I wasn¡¯t already climbing the walls. Navigation was locked, power distribution was steady, and there wasn¡¯t a single damn thing happening. I was bored out of my mind. And worse? I had this nagging feeling like I¡¯d forgotten something important. What the hell was I missing?

    Leaning forward, I stared at the power grid interface, squinting like it might give me an answer. At first, everything looked fine. But then I spotted a small fluctuation in the auxiliary reserves. Nothing big, nothing critical, but it was something. And something was exactly what I needed to keep myself sane.

    I frowned, reaching for the console with what I hoped looked like deliberate confidence, but my hands were already shaking a little. Cool, Rossi. Look like you know what you¡¯re doing. I hovered awkwardly over the controls, pretending I wasn¡¯t second-guessing myself, and started tapping through the menus. I had to backtrack twice because apparently, I was still an idiot who couldn¡¯t remember where the settings were, but eventually, I got there. And no, I wasn¡¯t thinking about Emily. Not even a little.

    The fluctuation wasn¡¯t a big deal, but it bothered me enough to latch onto it. Adjusting the load balance would give me something to do, even if it was completely unnecessary. My fingers hovered over the controls, more awkward than I wanted to admit, before I finally started redistributing the power. Each input felt too careful, too deliberate, like I was trying to make it seem more complicated than it was.

    The graphs shifted, the fluctuation smoothed out, and the system looked¡­ fine. I leaned back, nodding to myself like I¡¯d just solved world hunger. ¡°There,¡± I muttered. It wasn¡¯t anything impressive, just a tiny adjustment no one else would probably notice, but it mattered to me. Over the next week, maybe it¡¯d save a few hours of energy. Maybe not. Who cared? At least I¡¯d done something.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    <hr>

    I rubbed the back of my neck, staring at the console like it might give me answers, but all it did was reflect how stuck I was. The routine was setting in, and while that was supposed to be comforting, it just gave my brain too much room to wander. And where did it always go? Emily. Her smile, her green eyes, her lips. What¡¯s next? I thought, glancing around the empty bridge. All I wanted was to see her again, and it was messing me up.

    The crew was fine, mostly. Ryan had been pricklier than usual, snapping at anyone who got too close, and Zoe? Yeah, no. Not touching that with a ten-foot pole. Those two were like magnets, attracting one second, repelling the next and it was terrifying to watch.

    I exhaled sharply, pushing myself out of the chair. Sitting here was torture, and I needed to do something, anything, to distract myself. What¡¯s Emily doing right now? I shook my head, trying to shake the thought loose. The bridge didn¡¯t need me, but engineering? Engineering was always worth a visit. At least it would get me out of this chair before I completely lost it.

    The air grew warmer as I stepped into engineering, the hum of the systems louder here, more alive. My body reacted to the heat, and because my brain couldn¡¯t help itself, I started wondering if Emily was warm. God, Rossi, focus.

    Ryan was crouched by the drone bay, a wrench in one hand, his tablet in the other. The faint hum of the room was broken by the occasional clink of tools, and I couldn¡¯t help but notice the way bent over to reach for something. It was almost distracting. Almost.

    ¡°Hey,¡± I called, leaning casually against the doorframe, and I had to stop myself from letting my eyes linger. ¡°Got a sec?¡± I needed a distraction, even if it was just talking to Ryan, and also, what was Emily even doing?

    Ryan glanced up, raising an eyebrow, and his eyes were sparkling with what looked like amusement, like he knew exactly where my head was. ¡°What¡¯s up, Cap?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a fluctuation in the auxiliary power grid,¡± I said, stepping inside and pointing vaguely toward the wall panels, and it was so damn hot in here. ¡°I noticed it earlier. Something tied to the drones¡¯ recharge cycles, maybe?¡± What a nerd. I just needed something to do, something to say, something to distract myself with, and maybe he wouldn''t notice that I was just trying to not think about her.

    Ryan set the wrench down, pulling the tablet into both hands as he scanned the readouts, his fingers moving all over the screen, and I had to force myself to not look at the way that his biceps tensed when he moved his arm, seriously, what the hell was happening to me? ¡°Huh. Yeah, I see it now. Just a tiny dip. Nothing critical.¡± He sounded a little too amused by it.

    ¡°Should we adjust the recharge intervals?¡± I asked, and I wanted to touch him, just to see if I was, you know, thinking too much about that stuff. My tone wasn¡¯t pushy, more curious than anything, because I was really trying to be a good captain, and also, to not think about Emily, which was proving difficult. ¡°Spread out the load, or¡­?¡± I wanted to be helpful, and also, to see if I could distract myself from my thoughts.

    Ryan shrugged, leaning back on his heels, and I had to bite my lip to not stare at his chest. ¡°We could, but it¡¯s not really worth the effort.¡± He was doing that on purpose, I knew it.

    I frowned slightly, why the hell was he being like this? ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°Because it doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Ryan said, his tone light, almost amused, and it was getting really hard to focus. ¡°We¡¯ve got fuel for years. This reactor¡¯s running on uranium, remember? You don¡¯t ¡®burn¡¯ through it like gasoline or something. The limiting factor on these systems is time wear and tear, long before it¡¯s fuel consumption.¡± He was right, I knew that, and yet¡­

    ¡°Oh.¡± My frown eased, even though I still felt annoyed at him, at myself, at everything. ¡°So efficiency isn¡¯t a big deal?¡± What a dumbass question. What are you even doing, Rossi?

    ¡°Nah,¡± Ryan replied, waving a hand like it was nothing, and I swear, he was doing it on purpose. ¡°Not at this level, anyway. A percentage here or there isn¡¯t going to change anything meaningful. If it¡¯s making you twitchy, I can smooth it out, but it¡¯s barely a blip.¡±

    I shook my head, trying to shove all the weird thoughts out of my brain. ¡°Nah, leave it. Just wanted to make sure I wasn¡¯t missing something.¡± Or maybe I¡¯m missing someone.

    ¡°You¡¯re not,¡± Ryan said, picking up the wrench again, his grin widening like he could see straight through me. ¡°Relax, Captain. This ship¡¯s got a long road ahead, and she¡¯s built to take it.¡±

    And yeah, I really hoped he was right about the ship, about everything, because I wasn¡¯t sure how I was going to survive this trip without losing my mind.

    <hr>

    With nothing pressing to handle, I decided to hit the gym. Maybe if I pushed myself hard enough, I¡¯d stop thinking about everything, especially about Emily. The ship had settled into its usual rhythm, with the crew scattered to their tasks or hiding in their usual corners. Nobody needed me. Nobody needed me. That thought crept in, bringing a strange mix of uselessness and panic. If nobody needed me, why was I even here? What did that make me? The ship was basically on autopilot, and I was starting to feel like a glorified babysitter with too much time to think.

    And of course, my brain spiraled. Why had Emily been so quiet this morning? Maybe she was over it. Maybe she¡¯d realized it was all a huge mistake. Maybe the FTL drive had killed us, and this was hell. Focus, Rossi. Gym. Sweat it out.

    First, I needed to change, and yeah, maybe show off a little while I was at it. Back in my cabin, I stepped inside and let the door slide shut behind me. The room was still plain, but after three weeks, it had started to feel like mine. My blanket was uneven across the bed, my well-worn RISK board sat propped on the desk, next to my energy tomahawk. It was a little piece of Earth reminding me of who I was supposed to be. Captain. Leader. Scared kid trying to fake it. It was comforting and suffocating all at once, a constant reminder that I was so far away from home, and nothing was ever going to be the same.

    I reached for the zipper on my bodysuit, peeling it off in one smooth motion. The fabric clung slightly, still a little damp, like I hadn¡¯t had a moment to breathe since that kiss or my restless dreams. Over time, the suit had softened, molding to my shape without squeezing, and fine, I¡¯d admit it, it looked good. I looked good. I caught my reflection and considered taking a picture to send to Emily. No, bad idea. Stop thinking about her for five seconds.

    Hanging the suit neatly in the small closet, I paused. Emily and Zoe. My brain immediately went to their faces, their smug little grins when they¡¯d picked these suits out like it was a team-building exercise. Of course, they¡¯d nailed it. As usual. They¡¯d been right about everything, about the suits, about the crew, about me, even when I hadn¡¯t been right about myself.

    I shook my head, grabbing a clean set of gym clothes. Gym, Rossi. Just get to the gym. The rest would have to wait.

    Pulling open a drawer, I rummaged for my gym clothes, the routine feeling oddly hollow. The clothes felt so small, so simple, compared to the mess in my head. I grabbed a pair of shorts and a soft gray t-shirt, tossing them onto the bed. Sliding into them was second nature now; the shirt snugs enough to show off the definition I¡¯d worked for, the loose shorts giving me room to move. I caught my reflection in the mirror, wondering for a second what Emily would say if I sent her a picture. My body responded instantly, and I hated it. Get a grip, Rossi.

    I tied my shoes, grabbed a water bottle, and stepped into the corridor. The air felt cooler here, cleaner, and I told myself I was ready to get my sweat on. Anything to stop the spiraling thoughts. I was tired, yeah, but the gym was better than being stuck alone in my head, chasing circles I couldn¡¯t escape. Maybe the gym would clear my mind. Maybe it¡¯d give me something to focus on besides her smile, her voice, her everything.

    There wasn¡¯t much else to do. The ship didn¡¯t need me right now, and I wasn¡¯t exactly in the mood to boss anyone around, not that I ever really liked doing that. No, I needed this. I felt like I was losing it, like my grip was slipping. Maybe it was my turn to lose control, just for a little while. Yeah. Maybe.

 Chapter 16 - Danny at the Gym

    When the gym door slid open, I didn¡¯t expect to see Danny on one of the treadmills, walking at a steady pace while staring at his tablet like it held the secrets of the universe. I paused for a second, caught off guard. Danny? In the gym? He had to be trying to impress someone, and honestly? It was kind of cute.

    The rhythmic hum of the treadmill filled the otherwise empty room, the quiet so sharp it made my ears ring. I suddenly felt like an intruder in his space, watching him so focused, so tuned in. Maybe that¡¯s why Zoe¡¯s so smitten with him. He had this energy, this calm control that made him seem way more put together than the rest of us. And okay, yeah, it was kind of¡­ magnetic.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t think anyone else would be here,¡± I said, stepping inside. My voice sounded louder than I wanted it to, and I wasn¡¯t even sure why I was talking. I had expected Chris, or maybe Ryan, not Danny. And my heart did this weird flutter thing I immediately hated. Why the hell do his freckles look so damn cute?

    Danny glanced up briefly, flashing a quick grin before looking back at his tablet, like it was no big deal. He looked¡­ good. His red curly hair was all tousled, like he¡¯d just rolled out of bed, and I couldn¡¯t stop noticing it. Zoe loves that look on him, doesn¡¯t she? Why couldn¡¯t I stop noticing it?

    ¡°Needed to stretch my legs,¡± Danny said casually. ¡°Been cooped up in the lab too much.¡±

    I nodded, dropping my water bottle on a bench and stretching my arms overhead. My whole plan to distract myself at the gym suddenly felt shaky. What is it about Danny? What does Zoe see in him? I knew I shouldn¡¯t care, but I did. ¡°Figured you¡¯d be buried under work,¡± I said, trying to sound casual. ¡°Things piling up?¡± Maybe he¡¯d screwed something up, maybe I could actually make myself useful for once.

    ¡°Not exactly piling up,¡± Danny said, his tone light, like all of this was just no big deal to him. ¡°Just¡­ there¡¯s so much to do. You know how it is when you¡¯re deep into something you love? I could stay in the lab for days if I didn¡¯t force myself out.¡±

    Nerd. The thought flickered before I could stop it, and I immediately hated myself for it. That was Zoe¡¯s thing, not mine. But, okay, I couldn¡¯t deny it, I was kind of impressed by his energy. And maybe even a little jealous. He looked genuinely happy, totally at ease, while I was over here a walking disaster. Is this envy? Great. Add that to the list.

    I smirked, grabbing a set of dumbbells and settling into a set of curls. The familiar motion felt good, grounding me a little, helping me work out the tension that had been coiled up since breakfast. I needed this, needed to move, to sweat, to focus on anything that wasn¡¯t her. Or him. Or¡­ whatever the hell was going on in my head. ¡°Can¡¯t say I relate,¡± I said, my voice dripping with casual self-deprecation. ¡°Half the time, I¡¯m wandering around wondering what the hell to do next.¡±

    That part? Completely true. And it sucked. The whole captain thing felt more like an empty title most days. What was even the point of being in charge if there was nothing for me to actually do?

    Danny stepped off the treadmill, slinging a towel over his shoulder as he leaned against a nearby wall. He looked relaxed, but I could see the glint in his eye: focused, sharp, like his brain never stopped working. ¡°That¡¯s because most of your job is keeping us from falling apart, and right now, we¡¯re all doing fine. No fires to put out, no emergencies to manage.¡±

    I switched arms, focusing on the pull of the dumbbell, the stretch in my muscles. ¡°So what¡¯s keeping you so busy?¡± I asked, glancing at him. His frame was slim, sure, but he was more toned than I¡¯d given him credit for. When did he get that defined? ¡°Not like the mission calls for much until we hit Alpha Centauri, right?¡±

    Danny¡¯s face lit up, he launched into one of his explanations. It was like he became a completely different person when he talked about his work: focused, alive, and yeah, still kind of cute. Okay, give him some credit, Rossi.

    ¡°Sure, officially there¡¯s nothing to do until we¡¯re surveying,¡± Danny said, his grin widening, ¡°but come on, Luca, do you know how rare this opportunity is? Moving faster than light? Watching spacetime warp around us? Every instrument I¡¯ve got is running full tilt, pulling in data we barely understand.¡± He was a total nerd, but it was nice to see someone who genuinely enjoyed what they were doing. What do I even enjoy doing anymore?

    I paused mid-curl, raising an eyebrow. He was so animated, so passionate, it was almost hard not to stare. How does he do that? Where does he find that drive? ¡°Wait, so you¡¯re¡­ making your own work?¡± I asked, genuinely curious and, yeah, a little jealous.

    ¡°Absolutely,¡± Danny said, his grin turning sharper, his excitement practically radiating off him. ¡°I¡¯d be crazy not to. The things I¡¯m seeing out there, particle interactions, distortions, radiation signatures. It¡¯s like peeling back a layer of reality. This isn¡¯t just about the mission, man. It¡¯s about understanding the universe.¡±

    The way he said it, like he really believed it, was almost inspiring. Almost. And God, I wanted that. I wanted to feel that kind of focus, that kind of passion. But here I was, spinning in circles, wondering where the hell Emily was. She wasn¡¯t on the bridge, she wasn¡¯t in engineering, and she wasn¡¯t here. So where is she?Stolen story; please report.

    I shook my head, trying to push the thought aside. Focus, Rossi. Danny¡¯s still talking physics like it¡¯s the meaning of life. ¡°You¡¯re something else, Danny. Here I am griping about having nothing to do, and you¡¯re out here rewriting the laws of physics for fun.¡± My words came out teasing, but the truth burned underneath them. I wished I was half as passionate as Danny, or at least as passionate as I was whenever I thought about Emily.

    Danny shrugged, his grin widening like he could see straight through me. ¡°Hey, someone¡¯s gotta keep busy. Otherwise, I¡¯ll start losing my mind, and trust me, you don¡¯t want me getting bored.¡± His tone was light, but there was something under it, something I recognized. He was scared. Just like me.

    ¡°Yeah, no thanks,¡± I said, setting the weights back on the rack and trying really hard to focus on something, anything, other than him. ¡°But maybe take a break every now and then? We¡¯ve got weeks before Alpha Centauri. Don¡¯t burn yourself out before we even get there.¡± My voice sounded steadier than I felt. I needed him, all of them, in top form. If I didn¡¯t have that? I didn¡¯t even want to think about what would happen.

    ¡°Burnout¡¯s not a problem when you love what you¡¯re doing,¡± Danny replied, tossing the towel over his shoulder. He was smiling, but there was something in his eyes, like he was debating whether to say more. ¡°But point taken, Captain. I¡¯ll slow down¡­ eventually.¡±

    <hr>

    He hesitated by the door, his grin faltering for just a second before he turned back to me. ¡°Actually, can I ask you something?¡± His voice was quieter now, less sure.

    ¡°Uh, yeah. What¡¯s up?¡± I said, my pulse picking up, because Danny never got serious unless it was something big.

    He rubbed the back of his neck, his red curls a mess from the treadmill, and I couldn¡¯t help noticing how flustered he looked. ¡°How do you handle it?¡± he asked, his words coming out in a rush, like he didn¡¯t want to say them but couldn¡¯t hold them in. ¡°I mean, Emily¡­ she¡¯s into you, right? Like, really into you. How do you deal with that? Because Zoe¡­¡± He trailed off, his cheeks flushing, and for a second, he looked like he wanted to disappear. ¡°Zoe¡¯s been¡­ relentless,¡± he finished, his voice barely above a whisper. ¡°It¡¯s thrilling, don¡¯t get me wrong, but also? It¡¯s terrifying.¡±

    The words hit me like a brick, and I laughed; sharp, awkward, and way too loud. ¡°How do I handle it? I don¡¯t. It¡¯s a huge distraction.¡± My hands went to my hips, my brain spinning faster than I could keep up. ¡°I mean, every time I see her, I lose focus. I can¡¯t stop thinking about her. Half the time, I¡¯m just trying to keep my shit together long enough to get through the day.¡± I shook my head, feeling my face heat up. ¡°So yeah, Danny, I¡¯m probably not the best guy to ask. But Zoe? Dude, I don¡¯t envy you. That girl doesn¡¯t know how to quit.¡±

    Danny let out a nervous laugh, his hand scrubbing through his hair again. ¡°Tell me about it. She¡¯s everywhere, like, all the time. And it¡¯s not just flirting. It¡¯s¡­ everything. She¡¯s so confident, and I¡¯m just¡­¡± He gestured at himself, his voice dropping. ¡°Me.¡±

    I snorted, shaking my head. ¡°Trust me, she¡¯s into you, man. She doesn¡¯t do half-measures. If she¡¯s putting in this much effort, you¡¯re not just a crush. You¡¯re the prize.¡± My words came out teasing, but they were also the truth.

    Danny looked at me, his expression a mix of relief and dread. ¡°Yeah. That¡¯s kind of what scares me.¡±

    I clapped him on the shoulder, grinning despite the chaos in my own head. ¡°Welcome to the club, man.¡±

    Danny laughed, waving as the door slid shut behind him, but the weight of the conversation lingered. Emily, Zoe, the whole damn mess of it. My head was spinning, and I felt that weird twinge of jealousy creep in again, sharp and unrelenting. Stop it, Rossi. You¡¯re a mess. Just hit the gym, keep moving, and maybe, just maybe, you¡¯ll figure it out before you lose your mind.

    <hr>

    The corridor was quiet, the hum of the ship¡¯s systems filling the space like white noise. I¡¯d just stepped out of my cabin, freshly showered and dressed, heading to the galley for lunch. My thoughts were spinning, about the morning, the crew, and mostly, about her. Had she been avoiding me? Or was I avoiding her? It felt like every step was pulling me closer to something I wasn¡¯t ready to face, and yet, I couldn¡¯t stop.

    Turning the corner, I nearly collided with Emily. She stopped short, her green eyes widening in surprise, and for a second, we just stood there, staring at each other. ¡°Hey,¡± she said softly, her voice carrying a mix of nervousness and relief. Her hair was tied back, a few loose strands framing her face, and she looked effortlessly beautiful. Of course, she did.

    ¡°Hey,¡± I replied, my throat dry. What is it about her that makes me forget how to function?

    She shifted, her hand brushing her arm like she was trying to decide what to do with it. ¡°Were you heading to the galley?¡± she asked, her tone casual, but there was something under it, hesitation, maybe? Like she was trying to gauge where we stood.

    ¡°Yeah,¡± I said, nodding. ¡°Needed to grab something to eat. You?¡±

    ¡°Same,¡± she replied, her lips curving into a small smile, but it didn¡¯t quite reach her eyes. For a moment, the air between us felt heavy, like neither of us knew how to bridge the gap that had somehow opened up between breakfast and now.

    I shifted my weight, rubbing the back of my neck. ¡°We haven¡¯t really seen each other today,¡± I said, my voice quieter than I meant it to be. ¡°Were you¡­ avoiding me?¡±

    Her eyes widened slightly, and then she laughed, a soft, breathy sound that made my chest ache. ¡°I was about to ask you the same thing.¡±

    We both laughed, the tension easing just a little, and then she stepped closer, her hand brushing against mine. ¡°I wasn¡¯t avoiding you,¡± she said, her voice gentle. ¡°I just¡­ wasn¡¯t sure if you wanted space.¡±

    ¡°Space?¡± I echoed, shaking my head. ¡°Emily, you¡¯re the only thing I can think about. Space is the last thing I want.¡±

    Her smile softened, and she closed the remaining distance between us, her hand lightly resting on my arm. ¡°Good,¡± she murmured, and then she leaned in, her lips brushing against mine in a kiss so soft it made my heart stop.

    The world narrowed to just her, her warmth, her scent, the way her fingers curled lightly against my arm. I kissed her back, my hand moving instinctively to her waist, pulling her just a little closer. It wasn¡¯t urgent or rushed, just¡­ perfect.

    When we finally broke apart, her cheeks were flushed, and I couldn¡¯t stop the stupid grin spreading across my face. ¡°So¡­ galley?¡± I asked, my voice light, but my heart still hammering.

    Emily laughed, her fingers lingering against my arm. ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, her smile brighter now. ¡°But you¡¯re carrying the trays.¡±

    ¡°Deal,¡± I said, falling into step beside her, and for the first time all day, everything felt right.

 Chapter 17 - Deathstalker

    I dragged my well-worn Risk board into the lounge that evening, setting it up on the low coffee table with the kind of care usually reserved for priceless artifacts, or, in my case, elaborate bait. I lined up the colored army pieces in perfect formation, set out the dice and the little dice tower, and leaned back, waiting for someone, anyone, to take the bait.

    After lunch, I¡¯d bumped into Emily again, somewhere between the storage bay and engineering, and ended up making out like we were teenagers hiding in the back of a movie theater. The way she¡¯d grabbed the front of my suit and pulled me closer, her lips warm and eager, had sent my brain into overdrive. I could still feel the heat of her touch, the press of her fingers, the way she¡¯d laughed when I¡¯d reluctantly pulled away, mumbling something about needing to breathe. And now? Now I can¡¯t stop thinking about it.

    The crew trickled in, one by one, clad in their loungewear and looking for a place to flop. My eyes kept drifting to the door, waiting for her, even though my head was still full of her from earlier. Finally, Emily walked in, sinking into her usual spot on the couch. My heart flipped, like it always did, because of course it did. She tucked her bare feet under her, completely at ease. I forced myself to look away. Play it cool, Luca.

    Joey arrived next, took one look at the board, and immediately shook his head. ¡°Nah, man. I¡¯m too tired from, you know, doing nothing all day.¡±

    ¡°What a guy,¡± I muttered, trying not to roll my eyes as Chris followed him in, already munching on a protein bar.

    ¡°This game takes forever,¡± Chris said through a mouthful of whatever protein-flavored nonsense he was eating. ¡°And let¡¯s face it, nobody in this room can be trusted. Last time I played, I ended up with no allies and no armies. Pass.¡±

    Emily laughed, the sound lighting up the room. She leaned her head back against the cushion, and my breath hitched, just a little. ¡°He¡¯s got a point. Risk always ends with someone flipping the board,¡± she said, patting the cushion beside her. ¡°Come on, Luca, sit. Nobody¡¯s playing.¡±

    I stared at her, then at the board, and tried to keep my eyes from drifting back to her bare feet or the way her loungewear looked just right. Damn it, Luca, focus.

    ¡°You guys suck,¡± I muttered, sweeping the pieces back into the box like it wasn¡¯t a big deal. I plopped down beside Emily, trying not to think about how natural it felt to be this close to her. Too easy. Too good. Maybe I should have brought more board games.

    ¡°So, Joey,¡± I said, my voice casual but my eyes fixed on Emily, ¡°What exactly have you been doing for the last half hour? Besides, you know, taking up half the couch." I tried to keep the edge out of my voice, but my eyes lingered on Emily, searching for any reaction. I hadn''t meant to sound so pointed. The truth was, I''d been wondering where she was. Wondering and maybe, okay, obsessing just a little.

    Emily gave me a sidelong glance, her lips curving into a knowing smile. She didn''t answer where she''d been though. Instead, she winked, her bare foot lightly nudging my leg under the coffee table. The contact, however brief, sent a jolt through me. My senses sharpened, hyper-aware of everything: her foot, the faint scent of her perfume, the way she seemed to know exactly what she was doing to me. Why doesn''t she just say it? Say where she''d been?

    ¡°Looking for something good,¡± Joey answered, oblivious, slouching back even further with his arms crossed, like he was trying to take up as much space as possible. He shrugged. ¡°Everything¡¯s garbage.¡±

    Joey clearly wasn''t going to pick anything decent. ¡°Fine. My turn,¡± I declared, grabbing the remote and scrolling quickly through the movie catalog. I stopped on Deathstalker and hit play, maybe a little too abruptly. Honestly? I needed the distraction. And yeah, part of me was curious to see if Emily liked these old-school action flicks. She was hard to read sometimes.

    ¡°Seriously?¡± Zoe asked, raising an eyebrow as the opening credits rolled. She always had to be so judgmental. ¡°Isn¡¯t this movie kind of... rapey?¡±

    Ryan shrugged, already laughing at the absurd dialogue as Deathstalker swaggered onto the screen. He was such a dork. What the hell was he even laughing at? ¡°It¡¯s an ¡®80s classic. What¡¯d you expect?¡±

    ¡°The girl is hotter in Deathstalker 2,¡± Joey chimed in, earning a chorus of groans. I bit my tongue, determined not to comment because if they had any idea what was running through my head right now, I¡¯d never hear the end of it.

    ¡°What? No, the original¡¯s got a better rack and shows way more,¡± Danny added.

    Zoe immediately turned and smacked him on the shoulder, her cheeks tinting pink. ¡°Seriously, Danny?¡± she said, narrowing her eyes. ¡°You know who doesn¡¯t have a rack? Me!¡± Her voice carried its usual sarcasm, but there was a flicker of something else, something that made me think she wasn¡¯t entirely joking.

    Danny winced, his grin faltering for a second. ¡°Oh, come on, Zo, that¡¯s not what I meant,¡± he said, clearly scrambling, putting his arm around her shoulders. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ you¡¯re perfect the way you are.¡± He avoided her eyes, his own cheeks turning red, and I had to stop myself from laughing out loud. This guy was doomed.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    Emily chimed in, her tone sharper than usual. ¡°Seriously, though, this is what you guys focus on? Rack ratings?¡±

    I bit back a laugh, feeling my cheeks heat up. She had a point, and damn, she looked good when she was fired up. Her eyes flicked toward me, and for a second, I thought she could read my mind. My heart did a weird flutter-jump thing.

    ¡°Oh my god, guys,¡± I said, sinking deeper into the couch, trying to play it cool. Her foot brushed against me again, and a jolt went through me. I tried to focus on the movie, to get lost in the ridiculous fight scenes, but it was hard. Her foot was right there, a light pressure against my leg, and it was messing with my head. "Will you all shut up so we can watch this?" I blurted out, maybe a little too harshly.

    Chris leaned forward, his eyes glued to the screen as the camera panned to Deathstalker flexing his absurdly ripped physique. I immediately felt the urge to drop to the floor and crank out a hundred pushups. ¡°Look at those delts,¡± Chris said, half to himself. ¡°Do you think he¡¯s a nattie? That¡¯s not just bodyweight workouts, man.¡±

    Danny snorted, making that half-laugh sound he always did when he thought something was too ridiculous to be serious. ¡°Were steroids even a thing back then?¡±

    ¡°Oh, they were a thing,¡± Chris replied, rubbing his chin in that way that made his biceps flex just enough to annoy me. ¡°But still, the discipline to get that shredded is insane. Respect.¡±

    ¡°Respect for what?¡± Zoe cut in, her voice dripping with skepticism. She didn¡¯t even look at the screen, her attention was locked on Danny, her eyebrow raised just slightly. ¡°Dude barely moves his lips when he talks. He¡¯s a talking brick.¡±

    Chris waved her off, gesturing at the screen like it was obvious. ¡°The muscles, Zoe. The guy¡¯s built like a tank.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, sure, but what¡¯s the point?¡± Zoe asked, finally glancing at the screen. Her tone was light, almost lazy, but the way she shifted under the blanket said she was anything but. Her foot nudged Danny¡¯s leg, subtle but deliberate, and her lips quirked into a small smile. ¡°All that bulk just slows you down. Toned¡¯s better, lean, fast, and, you know, actually functional.¡±

    Danny¡¯s face turned pink, and he stared at his tablet like it held the answers to the universe. ¡°Uh¡­ good point, I guess,¡± he mumbled, his voice a little strained.

    Zoe didn¡¯t respond. She just leaned back, her head resting lightly on Danny¡¯s shoulder, her hands hidden beneath the blanket they shared. Whatever she was doing under there, it had Danny sitting stiff as a board, his eyes locked on the screen but not really seeing it. She didn¡¯t even glance at him, her expression perfectly casual, but the faintest hint of a smirk tugged at her lips. She knew exactly what she was doing.

    Meanwhile, Chris shook his head, still focused on the screen. ¡°Yeah, well, those delts are still insane.¡±

    I sighed, sinking deeper into the couch. Why do I even hang out with these people? The movie wasn¡¯t distracting me nearly enough, especially with Zoe working her magic on Danny right next to me.

    Emily rolled her eyes, and she was so close I could smell her shampoo, some kind of floral scent that made my head spin. I had this crazy urge to lean in, to get even closer, but I held back, afraid of overstepping. "I''d rather talk about the magic," she said, her voice light but confident. ¡°It¡¯s cooler than the sword-swinging. Honestly, I wish the System had given us magic. Imagine having fireballs or teleportation instead of¡± she gestured vaguely at the group. ¡°Whatever the hell this is. All passive skills and no lightning bolts.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Danny cut in, adjusting his glasses, and I suddenly caught myself wondering what he looked like without them. What the hell, Rossi? Get it together. ¡°Magic¡¯s stupid,¡± Danny continued, all serious like he was presenting at a science fair. ¡°All it does is create shortcuts. With our passive skills, we can develop tech that surpasses any magical system. It just takes time and planning.¡±

    I wanted to laugh at how damn earnest he sounded, but Zoe beat me to it. ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, smirking in that way that made her feel magnetic, like she owned the room without trying. ¡°Because planning is totally this crew¡¯s strong suit.¡± And honestly? She wasn¡¯t wrong.

    <hr>

    On the couch, Emily shifted closer, her shoulder brushing mine, and a thrill shot through me. This was new, all of it. This easy closeness, the casual touch that felt anything but casual. I tried to focus on the movie. Deathstalker was actually pretty great, the effects were hilarious, the action was non-stop, and even the dialogue was growing on me. But the warmth of Emily beside me was a constant, happy distraction.

    When she leaned into me, resting her head lightly against my chest, the world narrowed. It wasn''t that everything else faded, not exactly. I was still aware of the others, of Zoe and Danny''s quiet murmurs, of Chris''s occasional commentary on Deathstalker''s physique, but they felt distant, like background noise. What mattered was Emily. The gentle weight of her head, the scent of her shampoo, something light and floral, and the steady rhythm of her breathing. This was everything I''d been hoping for all day, and it was even better than I''d imagined.

    My hand twitched. I hesitated for a heartbeat. Was this really okay? Then, before I could overthink it, I lifted my arm and draped it around her shoulders. My heart was pounding, a rapid, excited beat. Would she pull away? But Emily didn¡¯t move. Instead, she reached up, took my arm, and pulled it tighter around her. And just like that, any lingering doubt vanished. She fit so perfectly against me, her fingers resting lightly on my forearm as she snuggled closer, her legs curling under her like she was completely at ease. It felt¡­ incredible.

    I could feel the rapid pulse in my veins, a physical echo of the excitement buzzing inside me. Every nerve ending felt alive, sparking a new kind of energy. I relaxed into it, into her, shifting slightly to make her more comfortable. It felt so natural, so right, being this close to her.

    The movie played on, a fun spectacle. I laughed along with the others at the more ridiculous moments, but my focus kept drifting back to Emily. To the way she felt against me. This was new territory for me, this feeling. And her arm, held close against her, confirmed it wasn''t one-sided. It was a silent acknowledgment, a quiet confirmation that maybe, just maybe, she felt it too.

    She was leaning on me. Actually leaning on me. And it felt¡­ perfect. Her fingers were warm against my skin, a light pressure that sent a pleasant shiver through me. I could feel the steady rise and fall of her chest as she breathed, a rhythm that seemed to sync with my own. It was nice, this closeness, this shared space.

    I swallowed hard, my mind a whirl of emotions. Happiness, excitement, a touch of disbelief. It was all there, swirling inside me. I tried to focus on the movie, on the comfortable silence that had settled between us, but every so often, I''d glance down at Emily, at the way her hair fell softly against her cheek, and a goofy grin would spread across my face. I was a goner. Totally and completely gone on this girl. And for the first time, maybe ever, I didn''t mind one bit. This felt too good to be anything but right.

 Chapter 18 - The Gym and the Broken Drone

    The galley hummed with morning energy: clinking cutlery, the murmur of conversation, and the faint aroma of coffee cutting through the recycled air, and it felt like a battlefield, and I was not ready for it. I sat at my usual spot, trying to swallow a spoonful of oatmeal and savoring the first sip of coffee, and I was trying so hard to not think about Emily, and mostly, about what had happened, and what hadn''t happened. Things were calm. Too calm, like the calm before the storm. And maybe everyone felt it, because it was all so quiet. Usually, there was more chatter, even some banter, but today, everyone seemed lost in their own thoughts.

    Chris and Joey, who usually shared a playful rivalry, were unusually subdued. Chris picked at his food, his usual easygoing smile absent, while Joey stared intently at his plate, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. Even Emily seemed a bit off, her usual bright demeanor replaced with a more subdued, almost flustered expression, and she was avoiding looking at Ryan, which was weird. She was usually quick to engage with him, even if it was just to bicker, but not today. Today, she seemed to shrink into herself whenever Ryan spoke, her eyes darting around the room like she was searching for an escape route. What the hell had even happened last night? Had they all gotten into a fight?

    The silence stretched, punctuated only by the clinking of utensils and the low hum of the ship. It was so damn awkward, and I couldn''t take it anymore. I cleared my throat, the sound amplified in the quiet room, and I regretted it instantly, but I had to say something.

    "Alright," I began, trying to sound casual despite the tension knotting my stomach. "What the hell has made you all quiet today? Did someone slip a sedative into the coffee?" and I immediately regretted it, because then, Ryan happened, because of course he did.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t want to have to say anything, but since you asked¡­¡± Ryan said, sliding into a chair with far too much energy for the early hour, like he hadn¡¯t gotten a wink of sleep. And yeah, that probably meant that he had been doing something, instead of just laying in bed, and what was he even doing, and why was he so damn giddy? ¡°But you¡¯re not gonna believe what I just heard.¡±

    My spoon paused halfway to my mouth, and I could feel my heart rate pick up, like my body was preparing for a fight. Oh shit. No. Whatever it is, don¡¯t say it, don¡¯t share anything, don''t even look at me, I¡¯m not interested, and my whole body tensed. I set the spoon down carefully, giving Ryan a pointed look, but it was like talking to a wall. ¡°Do we have to do this now?¡± Why did they always have to do this to me?

    ¡°Yes, we do,¡± Ryan replied, leaning in like he was about to deliver the greatest story ever told, and it was probably about Zoe, I just knew it. ¡°It¡¯s about last night. Apparently, Joey and Chris-¡±

    I shot a glance at Joey, and his face was already turning an alarming shade of red, like he knew exactly what was about to happen. Ryan, no. Don¡¯t. I swear to God, you are going to get us all killed. ¡°Ryan¡­¡±

    ¡°- had themselves quite the moment in the gym,¡± Ryan continued, oblivious, and the fact that he was not even a little bit subtle, was also, making me angry. ¡°Zoe told me all about it.¡± What a damn shit stirrer.

    Fuck. Of course Zoe told him, because who else would she tell that kind of story to? I glanced down, aiming a discreet kick at Ryan¡¯s shin, but my foot connected with the table leg instead. Ryan didn¡¯t even flinch, and that only made me more pissed.

    "Oh, sweet Jesus," Danny blurted, his eyes widening in horror as he visibly paled, like he''d just been told the ship was about to hit an asteroid, and his hand flew to his mouth, like he was about to be sick. "Please tell me I''m not about to hear what I think I''m about to hear."

    Great, just what Danny needed to hear first thing in the morning - graphic details about his older brother''s love life. Danny, who was Joey''s younger brother and clearly wanted to be anywhere but here, looked like he was about to pass out, and he was so damn pale. And when the hell did this even happen? Before dinner? I should hit the gym with Emily from now on.

    ¡°No,¡± Joey muttered, staring down at his plate. ¡°You really don¡¯t.¡± He was mortified, and it was a little bit cute.

    Ryan, ever the agent of chaos, ignored them both, because of course he did. ¡°So there they were, thinking they had the gym all to themselves¡­¡±

    The galley door slid open, and in walked Zoe, and she was smirking. She had that look in her eyes, and it always made my skin tingle, the one that said she was up to something. She strolled over to the table, her plate in hand, and plopped down next to Emily, who was already trying to shrink into her chair. What the hell was wrong with them?

    ¡°Oh, good,¡± Ryan said with a grin, and I wanted to punch him. ¡°Zoe¡¯s here. She can back me up.¡± Back you up? Back you up? I tried again to stop Ryan with a kick, this time grazing his calf, but Ryan only glanced at me with a smug, ¡°you¡¯re welcome¡± expression, and it was like he was doing this on purpose, like he was trying to torture me. Before turning to Zoe, he added ¡°Tell them what you saw,¡± and yeah, he really was a shitbag.

    Zoe took her time, biting into a piece of toast and chewing slowly, while making eye contact with me, and I could feel my face getting hot. ¡°Oh, it was nothing,¡± she said airily, and she had to be doing this to get to me, which, of course, was working. ¡°Just Chris and Joey. Bonding. Really closely,¡± and then she winked, and I wanted to see her in the gym, and I needed to stop these thoughts.

    Joey¡¯s head hit the table with a soft thud, and I had to stop myself from laughing out loud, it was actually hilarious, and also, I was so tired of him acting so cool, and also, where was Chris? ¡°I¡¯m going to die.¡±

    Emily cleared her throat, her cheeks flaming as she glanced at Zoe, and for a second, I felt my body respond, and I wanted to grab her hand. ¡°They weren¡¯t... you know... at first,¡± she mumbled, and the fact that she was also embarrassed, made me want to tease her. ¡°They were working out. Like normal. And then...¡±

    ¡°And then they decided clothes were optional,¡± Zoe finished, grinning as she turned to Ryan, and it was like they were two sides of the same coin, always working in tandem, and I wanted that too, that easy friendship. ¡°You should¡¯ve seen them. It was like something out of a fitness calendar,¡± and my brain immediately conjured images of their bodies, of their muscles, and then I just wanted to shut down.

    Chris, lounging in his chair, and I swear, he was trying to get everyone to see that damn deltoid, gave an unapologetic shrug. ¡°What can I say? A man¡¯s gotta unwind.¡± But those shoulders, man, they were insane.

    Oh my God, stop. Please stop. Luca stared into his coffee as though it might swallow him whole. ¡°I really don¡¯t think we need to-¡± and then my mind went to Emily, and the way her tongue had felt.

    ¡°And,¡± Zoe continued, undeterred, and I hated her so damn much, and also, I admired her for it, ¡°things got a little... let¡¯s say heated. Right, Emily?¡± And it was like she could read my mind, she had a way of doing that.

    Emily, sitting beside me, straightened slightly and tilted her head. Her embarrassment was gone, replaced by a wicked glint in her eyes, and I wanted to see her face, all red and wanting. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯d say Joey¡¯s got the whole Deathstalker thing going on. You know, chiseled ass and heroic muscles,¡± and her eyes went to Chris, like she was trying to compare them, and that was so damn hot. She glanced at Chris, a slow smirk spreading across her face, ¡°Chris, though? More like one of the comic relief guys. You know, the ones who trip over their swords,¡± and my mind went straight to the floor, and I couldn''t stop myself from imagining them all there, in all of their glory.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Joey snorted into his coffee, his mortification momentarily forgotten, while Chris¡¯s grin faltered just enough to make Zoe burst into laughter, and then Ryan laughed, like the moron he was, and I just wanted it all to stop. Ryan slammed the table with a loud laugh, nearly choking on his eggs, and I suddenly wanted to punch him, to stop him, and to grab him and¡­ what was even going on?

    Danny, muttering something about needing peace, pushed back his chair and made a hasty retreat, his hands over his ears, and I suddenly felt bad for him, because he was probably the most normal one out of all of us, and I was probably just as messed up as he was, even if I was trying so damn hard to pretend I wasn''t.

    I needed to end this madness, to find a way out of this mess, and also, I needed to go to the gym and hit something, hard. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s it. Breakfast is officially over,¡± I said, and I really hoped they would all stop talking, and also, that I could finally escape this, and think about Emily, and also, that I could also finally touch Emily, again.

    Joey sat up a little straighter, his face less red, finally, and yeah, I was kind of glad that he was able to find some normalcy out of all of this. ¡°Thanks, Em,¡± he said quietly, and that moment of vulnerability was still kind of cute, and it was also kind of hot.

    Emily leaned back in her chair, entirely too pleased with herself, and I suddenly wanted to kiss her again. ¡°Anytime.¡± And it made my heart flutter a little, it was a bad habit. Captain''s log, Luca muttered to himself, today Ryan shared a steamy story about Joey and Chris, Zoe seemed to have enjoyed it a little too much, and Emily, and her damn eyes, had nearly driven me crazy, and also, did they even clean up? Because, seriously, that¡¯s what I want to know. I mean, I wasn''t opposed to anyone having fun, but I also didn¡¯t want to touch any dried-up jizz at the gym, I needed to start working out and I needed to go now. I mean, maybe I was also a little bit jealous that I wasn¡¯t there, and also, I really did hope they cleaned up after themselves. Because, seriously, this whole thing was hot and also, what were even the implications of all of this, and why did that also, make me want to go to the gym and sweat it out. Finally, some action! Yeah.

    I quickly stood up and grabbed my water bottle from the table, and I suddenly needed a distraction, fast. It had been what? Four weeks since we had left Earth? About damn time they were all finally getting comfortable, and that we could finally stop acting like we weren''t all attracted to each other. And if they were going to start having these kinds of moments, well, I needed to be ready for it, to see it all. Because honestly, this whole trip had just gotten so much more interesting, and I needed to go to the gym.

    <hr>

    I walked through the ship¡¯s storage areas, and I was already bored, trying to look busy, cataloging the exploration tools we had at our disposal, even though, what was even the point? The hangar housed the dropship, vehicles, EVA suits, drones, and satellites we¡¯d soon be deploying, and all of them looked so damn complicated, and I was in charge of all of that. I paused at each item, inspecting for any obvious wear or damage, and yeah, this was not my cup of tea. Everything needs to be perfect before we reach Alpha Centauri, I thought, mentally checking off each item on my list, and mostly, wishing I could be anywhere else.

    As I entered the workshop section, I spotted Danny and Ryan hunched over one of the larger drones, and it was like I had walked in on something that I wasn¡¯t supposed to see, like they had a secret life here, that I had no idea about. It was an impressive piece of tech, nearly as big as them, bristling with sensors and reinforced plating, and yeah, I was a little bit impressed, even if it made me feel like more of a useless moron. The pair were deep in the process of recalibrating its systems, Danny carefully threading wires into a panel, and yeah, he was looking cute, while Ryan adjusted the drone¡¯s alignment, and they seemed to know exactly what they were doing, which was kind of annoying. They always did.

    I leaned against the doorway, watching silently for a moment, and I was trying so hard not to just gawk at them, because maybe they also had something else going on, and it was not my place to interrupt. Good, they¡¯re on it, I thought, and I almost sounded a little bit like my dad, in my head. At least someone around here isn¡¯t dragging their ass, and it was so damn tempting to just call out to them, and get their attention, and ruin their little moment. Then, without warning, the drone slipped from their grip, and I swear I saw my life flash before my eyes.

    ¡°Shit!¡± Ryan shouted, and it sounded like a surprised little yelp, as the heavy machine crashed to the ground with a sickening crunch of metal and plastic, and yeah, I had felt that in my gut. Danny stumbled back, clutching his leg and letting out a sharp grunt, and I wanted to laugh, but I also knew that I had to play it cool.

    ¡°Fuck,¡± I muttered under my breath, striding over, and even though I wanted to laugh, I also needed to make sure he was okay, and that Ryan was okay, too, even if it was entirely his fault. ¡°Danny, you okay?¡± My voice was sharp, mostly because I was trying to mask that I was actually a little bit concerned, and not just annoyed, and also, they looked so small next to all that tech.

    Danny grimaced but nodded, testing his leg with a slight flex, and then, he gave me a little look, and yeah, he was fine, I knew it. ¡°Yeah, just got clipped. I¡¯ll live.¡± And then he smirked. The nerd.

    I crouched beside the drone, running a hand over its cracked casing, and it was all jacked up, and the wires were all over the place, and this was probably going to take some real effort to fix. Wires jutted out like broken limbs, and several of the internal components were clearly damaged, and I really wanted to find out which part was most expensive, to see if Ryan was in trouble, but also, what was I even doing? I glanced up at Ryan, who was hovering awkwardly nearby, and it was almost cute. ¡°What the hell happened?¡± And also, why did I want to be there with them, working on the drone, what was going on?

    Ryan hesitated, scratching the back of his neck, and that was always his tell. ¡°Uh... the harness wasn¡¯t secured.¡± Of course it wasn''t. He was always doing shit like this.

    I straightened, fixing him with a hard stare, and my body reacted to that, and I could feel my muscles tense up, like I was ready to fight him. ¡°You¡¯re telling me you didn¡¯t check the fucking harness?¡± What are you, a moron?

    Ryan bristled, and yeah, he was a little bit cute when he was all puffed up like that. ¡°Hey, it wasn¡¯t just me. Danny didn¡¯t¡­¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t throw Danny under the bus,¡± I snapped, cutting him off, and yeah, I wanted to protect him, which was also, very weird, ¡°You¡¯re supposed to know better. That¡¯s basic shit, Ryan.¡± And yeah, I was also just angry because what the hell was I supposed to do now? I was so bored.

    Danny cleared his throat, his voice quieter, and he was always like that, so calm. ¡°Look, it¡¯s on both of us. We got sloppy. It won¡¯t happen again.¡±

    I exhaled through my nose, and yeah, I was more annoyed than actually angry, but it was still important that they knew they messed up. My frustration flaring briefly before I reined it in, and yeah, I didn''t have the energy for this, not today. ¡°It better not. We can¡¯t afford to break anything else. Every piece of equipment counts.¡± He also looked a little too upset, and yeah, I needed to stop. I knelt back down, turning the drone carefully to assess the damage, and it was a total mess, and it made me want to kick something. After a few minutes, I sat back with a sigh, because that was all I had time for, I had no idea how to fix that thing. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s toast. Motherboard¡¯s bent, sensors are shot. Scrap it.¡±

    Danny let out a long breath, rubbing the back of his neck, and yeah, he probably had been excited to work on that thing. ¡°That¡¯s... not ideal.¡±

    ¡°Not ideal is putting it lightly,¡± Ryan muttered, and he sounded actually upset, and that made me feel a bit bad. ¡°Hours of work down the drain.¡± He also looked really cute when he was all vulnerable. What the hell?

    I pushed myself to my feet, dusting off my hands, and I needed to get out of here, because I was not sure what was happening. ¡°It sucks, yeah, but we¡¯ve still got a full set of drones. This one was a backup.¡± I shot Ryan a look, and tried to sound like I was in control, even when I wasn''t. ¡°Secure the next one properly before you start messing with it, got it?¡±

    Ryan nodded begrudgingly, his jaw tight, and I wanted to see him smile. ¡°Got it.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± I said, though my frustration lingered, but what did I expect from him anyway? I turned toward the door, muttering to myself as I walked away, and I wanted to see Emily, and maybe touch her again. ¡°Should¡¯ve been here helping instead of playing inventory clerk.¡± And also, why was I so jealous of their ability to just¡­ do their thing? What was even my thing?

 Chapter 19 - Mission Charter

    Okay, so there I was, at the head of the table again, staring at this mission charter like our life depended on it. Three weeks in, two to Alpha Centauri, that¡¯s what Zoe had planned. We had three freaking months to do everything. Shit, time was slipping through our fingers like sand and we hadn''t even arrived yet. I could feel my shoulders tensing up, already picturing us all screaming at each other.

    ¡°Alright,¡± I started, trying to sound all captain-like, which was a joke. "Three weeks down, we¡¯ll be at Alpha Centauri in about two, which means we got just over three months to get the survey done before we have to haul ass back to Sol." I needed to be more in control. Maybe if I pretended long enough, it would become real.

    "That¡¯s cutting it close," Emily said. She flipped through her notes, taking notes, punching her keyboard like life depended on it, probably some super-organized shit. She was always so put together, it was actually kind of a turn-on, not that I''d ever say that out loud. Not with Joey and Danny here, they''d never let me live it down.

    Danny, ever the worrywart, leaned back in his chair, adjusting his glasses. "It¡¯s not just the time, it¡¯s the whole damn thing. The UER wants a full system map, and the IFC is salivating over potential resource exploitation. Then there''s the whole ''search for alien life'' bit. It''s a huge-ass list." He wasn''t wrong.

    Joey, Mr. Doom and Gloom, chimed in, "Let''s not forget that we''re balls deep in debt to the IFC, 300 million deep, just to be clear." Yeah, Joey, I know the numbers, and why couldn¡¯t you just shut up? Like I needed a fucking reminder that we were one wrong move away from being space-hobos. Trust me, I know how much we owe.

    I rubbed my eyes, the weight of it all pressing down. ¡°Yeah, exactly. The payouts are there, maybe, but we gotta be fast and efficient. The charter mentions bonuses for ''strategic resource identification.'' So, any high-value asteroids or weird-ass minerals, we need to tag ''em. No screwing around."

    Emily tapped her laptop, and I found myself wanting to touch her, just a little, ¡°The habitable zone analysis has the big payout, 500 mil if it¡¯s habitable, 200 more for a bio-compatible atmosphere. That¡¯s where we make all our money." That¡¯s right. Cash money, that¡¯s what I like to hear. I wanted her to hear it too, because I wanted to know what she thought of that, to see if she had also, you know, similar needs. Money talks, bullshit walks, and right now, money was screaming my name. And hers, hopefully.

    Danny nodded, frowning. "Yeah, but what if there are no planets to even consider? The charter does say to document ''any'' planetary bodies, even if they''re barren rocks. And we still need to grab core samples, look for life signs, artifacts, whatever else..." His eyebrows were doing that thing again. Distracting as hell.

    I leaned back, pointing at the laptop in front of me, and all I saw were random numbers and symbols. ¡°We¡¯ve got the satellites, the probes, all the tools, the whole shebang. Everything we need is right here. We just need to get our shit together so that we can jump into action when we hit Alpha Centauri. Everything needs to be ready." Emily was sitting so close to me, and it was hard to pretend that I was even listening to what was coming out of my mouth.

    Danny practically yelled, his voice was a bit too shrill for this early in the morning, ¡°That''s what we¡¯ve been doing, you know?¡± Okay, okay, chill the fuck out, Danny, I didn¡¯t say that you weren''t trying. No need to get your panties in a twist.

    I raised my hand, wanting to avoid a lecture. "I know, I know, I¡¯m just saying we gotta deploy instantly. Get those probes out for the planetary surveys, start analyzing for those signatures, and grab core samples where the charter indicates. Plan the orbits, grab the data, and haul ass."Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    Emily raised an eyebrow, giving me that look. The one that said, ''You''re full of shit, but I''m going to let you think you''re not.'' "Luca, you can¡¯t half-ass this. The charter is very specific about the ''comprehensive mapping'' and the ''alien lifeform detection'' protocols. We need to follow procedure. This is the only shot we¡¯ve got at this survey." She was right. Annoyingly right.

    ¡°I¡¯m not saying to half-ass it, Jesus,¡± I retorted, already feeling my temper flare up. I had to stop myself from being so damn defensive. ¡°I¡¯m saying we gotta be sharp, no wasted effort, no doing things twice. We don¡¯t have time for screwups. If we plan carefully, we can do this fast and right,¡± and I knew that wasn¡¯t true, that we had limited time and a lot of chances to screw this all up, but also, she was so close to me, it was so hard to concentrate. And then, she had to do it, her hand had found its way to my thigh, what a tease, what a damn tease.

    Danny sighed, and I could almost see the disappointment on his face. I had a moment of clarity that I had lost my point, again. I swear, the guy had more sighs than a depressed cat. ¡°Concise and thorough don¡¯t always work together, Luca. You can''t ¡®optimize¡¯ science.¡± And he had a point.

    ¡°Look, Danny," I said, leaning forward. ¡°I know you¡¯re the brains, you¡¯re the scientist, I trust you. But three months ain¡¯t a lot when we¡¯re dealing with three stars and whatever the hell else is out there. We gotta go for the mission charter''s shit first.¡±

    Her gaze steady on me, and it was so hard to focus. ¡°He¡¯s got a point. The IFC doesn¡¯t care what we find unless it lines up with the payouts. So, habitable zones, resources, life signs¡­ that''s where we have to focus," and her fingers, and her touch, they were driving me insane. I really did need to stop.

    Joey, who¡¯d been quiet for once, and I had to admit, I was a little worried about that too, finally decided to speak. ¡°But what if there¡¯s nothing out there? What if it¡¯s just dead rock?¡± Oh, fuck you, Joey. Don¡¯t jinx us like that, because now, that was all I could think about, and also, I could feel myself getting hard, and it was so damn inconvenient.

    The room got quiet, the thought hanging there like a turd in a punch bowl, and I had to force myself to take a deep breath. I hated that idea, that we could fail, that we might have bet it all, for nothing, and I was not ready to think about that.

    Emily broke the silence. ¡°We¡¯ve got more than theories. Five planets based on every observation from Earth. Sure, one might be radioactive, but that still leaves other options.¡± Her hand had moved even higher now, and what was even the point of this whole mission, anyway?

    Joey looked up, his face less screwed up, but he was still a mess. ¡°Yeah, but ¡®options¡¯ don¡¯t guarantee results.¡± No shit, Joey, they don''t, but what are we supposed to do, cry about it? And also, you have no idea what is happening here, under the table.

    ¡°No,¡± Emily said, ¡°but it¡¯s better than nothing. We have data, tools, and a kick-ass team that knows how to use them,¡± and then her fingers squeezed my inner thigh, just for a second. Oh my God. ¡°And that counts for a lot,¡± and she was probably trying to distract me, or to keep me quiet, or what, I had no idea.

    Danny nodded, and he looked kind of smug, and his eyebrows were doing that thing again. ¡°Yeah, those observations give us a start. Once we¡¯re in-system, we can fine-tune everything in real-time.¡±

    ¡°And there¡¯s probably a valuable asteroid or two,¡± I murmured, trying to act like I wasn''t a complete mess. ¡°If all else fails, we sell that on the black market.¡± Because yeah, that¡¯s what we could actually do.

    Joey snorted, finally smiling, and he had been looking a little too serious, and I was glad he was letting loose a little, even if it was just a small snort. ¡°Oh, great. Captain¡¯s Plan B is to turn into space pirates. Fantastic.¡±

    I shrugged, because why not, and it also felt good to let the tension go, even if for just a few seconds. ¡°Whatever keeps us out of debt, right?¡± Maybe if I become a pirate, I could get a cool eyepatch. I really did need her hand off my leg.

    Emily rolled her eyes, and I wanted to kiss her, but instead, she just made sure to move her fingers just a little higher. ¡°Let¡¯s stick to the mission before you start designing a pirate flag, okay?¡± Yeah, yeah, okay baby. What''s a space-pirate flag look like anyways?

    ¡°Fine, fine,¡± I said, holding my hands up in mock surrender. ¡°But don¡¯t say I never gave you options.¡±

    The tension in the room eased, like a breath of fresh air. Danny scoffed. ¡°If this whole exploration thing doesn¡¯t work out, I¡¯m calling dibs on naming the ship for piracy."

    Alright, that''s actually a pretty good idea, Danny. He might be a genius after all. Or just a really good pirate. He¡¯d be a damn good pirate. Maybe this could be an option, though, Zoe? Yeah, she''d want to name the ship. She¡¯d probably name it something ridiculous, like ''The Star Hopper'' or ''The Cosmic Cucumber''. Zoe was weird like that. But in a good way. Mostly.

 Chapter 20 - The System

    "You know," Emily said after everyone had scurried away, leaning against the edge of the table, her hip brushing against mine. "Hopefully, Alpha Centauri will bump up our level cap. I¡¯ve got some work to do on my skills.¡±

    "Tell me about it." I sighed, running a hand through my hair, making a mental note to get a haircut soon. I pulled up my interface, the screen flickering to life, and selected the Status page. "I''m spread thinner than butter on toast."

    ¡°How¡¯s it look?¡± she asked, scooting closer.

    She couldn¡¯t see my own interface, so I walked her through it. Normally, everyone¡¯s status page was a well-kept secret, but in our team, at least Ryan and Danny, Zoe and Emily? We always sort of shared our status and what we hoped to accomplish.

    I brought up the attribute screen, trying to ignore how close she was. My interface flickered to life as soon as I focused, displaying my stats in all their messy glory. I read them out loud for her.

    [Status]

    Name: Luca Rossi

    Combat Path: Operative [Perception, Intelligence]

    Profession Path: Starship Commander [Intelligence, Memory]

    Level: 60

    Experience Points: 1,706,305/1,706,306

    The attributes¡­ that had been a point of frustration among all of us when we first gained the system. We had all hoped, dreamed even, that this thing would have made us strong, more agile, heck, given us magic or some shit. Instead? We got attribute points that helped us with our passive Skill XP gain and skill level-up speed.

    [Attributes]

    Charisma: 22

    Intelligence: 50

    Memory: 45

    Perception: 66

    Willpower: 31

    "They''re... okay, I guess," I said, shrugging. "Perception''s decent, from the Operative path. Intelligence and Memory could be better. Charisma''s shit, as always. And Willpower... well, let''s just say I''m easily distracted." I shot her a sideways glance, and she smirked.

    ¡°Alright,¡± said Emily, her voice all business-like, ¡°let¡¯s write down your skills, the attributes, and where you are; maybe we can create a skill plan for you.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, Em, sounds like a lot of work,¡± I said; I suddenly felt tired, lazy, and didn¡¯t want to put in the math. This was a lot of work.

    "Come on, Luca, if we don¡¯t work on this now that we have time, you¡¯ll never do it. You¡¯ve been postponing this for years," she said, her hand on my lap, trying to motivate me. God, that felt nice.

    "Ugh, fine," I said, giving in. I knew she was right.

    "Great!" she smiled, one of those smiles that lit up her eyes. God, she was gorgeous, but also, this was going to be a pain in the ass. She took out a pen and paper, because, of course, she had those handy, and got ready to note things down.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s start with my combat skills, ok?¡± I said, dreading this. My skills were great, a bunch of passives that allowed me to do my role well enough. Sure, I didn¡¯t have any at level 10 with abilities unlocked, like Zoe, but I managed. I focused on the skill menu and opened it up. The list made my eyes blur a bit. I wasn¡¯t good at planning this.

    [Combat Skills]

    Ranged Weapons Proficiency: Level 7 (102,300/133,613) [Perception/Intelligence]

    Silent Movement Proficiency: Level 6 (79,300/100,661) [Perception/Willpower]

    Ambush Tactics Proficiency: Level 6 (74,200/100,661) [Perception/Intelligence]

    Adaptive Cover Proficiency: Level 6 (83,800/100,661) [Perception/Intelligence]

    Close Quarters Proficiency: Level 6 (73,208/100,661) [Perception/Willpower]

    Precision Shots Proficiency: Level 6 (89,100/100,661) [Perception/Intelligence]

    The first skill, Ranged Weapons, was granted to all of us at level 1 with our recruit class. It was the basic bare minimum everyone got. It basically taught us how to hold a weapon and how to maintain aim and stand. After that, the next five skills, from Silent Movement to Precision Shots, were all part of the Scout Combat Class that I unlocked at level 10. Everyone had different classes; Emily chose the Hunter Class, a mix of short-range and long-range DPS, Danny I think, got the Brawler class, which, you know, Warhammer and smacking things up close.

    The next set of combat skills were from the Operative Class, a branch upgrade from the Scout at level 32, and you know what? I absolutely loved these skills, except, you know, the whole intel-gathering bullshit. That took a lot of work to level up. Situational Awareness? That was a key skill.

    Intel Gathering Familiarity: Level 4 (48,100/48,449) [Perception/Memory]

    Stealth Infiltration Familiarity: Level 5 (71,390/71,620) [Perception/Intelligence]

    Critical Strikes Proficiency: Level 6 (99,870/100,661) [Perception/Intelligence]

    Light Armor Proficiency: Level 6 (92,300/100,661) [Perception/Intelligence]

    Situational Awareness Proficiency: Level 6 (91,200/100,661) [Perception/Intelligence]

    Blade Expertise Familiarity: Level 4 (47,032/48,449) [Perception/Intelligence]

    Tomahawk Throwing Proficiency: Level 8 (151,259/172,000) [Perception/Memory]

    That last skill, Tomahawk Throwing? Yeah, that was not part of the Operative Class. That was a regional skill, only found through skill shards in New England. The system was weird like that. Some skills were regional to parts of Earth, same as some items. The Energy Tomahawk was my absolutely favorite weapon, perfect for scouting or operative missions, silent, deadly, and it delivered a nice whack when it hit its target. And it was just plain cool.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    I went through each skill as Emily wrote them all down. I was glad to see that my own attributes sort of matched these; it meant that I¡¯d be getting a little bit extra if I used these in combat. There had been some debates as to how much extra we got until we sat down and started taking notes. Ryan, who could be so annoying sometimes, or rather most of the time, had worked out the math, but I did not remember most of it. But it had to do with the skill¡¯s primary attribute multiplied times by 5% of the value of your personal attribute or something like that. Basically, the higher you had the corresponding attribute, the faster you¡¯d leveled that skill, hence my Perception attribute being the highest.

    "Those are from your Operative path?" Emily asked, her voice surprisingly invested.

    "Yeah, that''s the level 32 upgrade," I confirmed. "Intel Gathering, Stealth, Critical Strikes, Light Armor, Situational Awareness... all 6''s, except for Intel Gathering, which is... 4. And Stealth is at level 5, it¡¯s at 71,390 out of 83,661, so it¡¯s almost there.¡± I paused. ¡°Oh, and Blade Expertise, which is, you know, knives and shit. Also a 4, as I don''t really use daggers. But," I added, with a flourish, "Tomahawk Throwing is a majestic level 8."

    Emily laughed. "Of course it is. So, basically, you''re a sneaky, tomahawk-throwing badass who can''t gather intel to save his life."

    "Hey, I resent that remark," I said, but I was grinning. "But yeah, that''s pretty much the gist of it."

    ¡°So,¡± said Emily, looking up, she had written the long list of combat skills and how much XP each had. ¡°Are you going to walk me through the descriptions of each skill?¡±

    ¡°Are you kidding?¡± I asked, a little perplexed. There was a freaking encyclopedia of text behind each skill.

    ¡°Can you at least summarize?¡± she asked. She smelled so good sitting here by me, we should be making out in the observation lounge, not sitting here like two college kids comparing notes.

    ¡°Fine, let me see,¡± I said, focusing on the second combat skill. She already had her own Ranged Weapons skill so I wasn¡¯t going to repeat that one.

    [Silent Movement Proficiency]

    Level: 6

    Experience: 79,300/100,661

    Primary Attribute: Perception

    Secondary Attribute: Willpower

    Description: "Improves the ability to move quietly over various terrains, reducing the likelihood of being detected. Experience gained by sneaking past enemies, practicing stealth movement, or evading detection in high-pressure environments. Improvement Effect: 5% reduction in movement noise per level. Improves the ability to assess the terrain for quieter pathways.¡±

    Active Ability: Unknown

    ¡°And,¡± she asked, jotting everything down, ¡°how important is that skill?¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± I replied, perplexed. ¡°It¡¯s absolutely critical,¡± because it was.

    ¡°Okay, okay, no need to get defensive,¡± she replied, ¡°let¡¯s continue.¡±

    I went through all my skills, each more critical than the previous one, which are absolutely essential skills for operative missions. This was my Swiss army knife, skills that helped me understand how to move silently, blend into the terrain, hide in plain sight, almost land critical hits in combat, etc.

    Finally, Emily looked up and focused back on my face. She was so pretty but so adamant in going through this exercise. ¡°Let¡¯s look at your Professional Skills,¡± she said.

    Ugh, ¡°Okay,¡± I said, focusing on the skill menu again.

    [Professional Skills]

    Starship Piloting Familiarity: Level 4 (43,800/48,449) [Perception/Intelligence]

    Starship Operation Familiarity: Level 4 (38/900/48,449) [Intelligence/Memory]

    Starship Systems Familiarity: Level 4 (31,800/48,449) [Memory/Intelligence]

    Starship Maintenance Familiarity: Level 3 (27,500/29,927) [Intelligence/Memory]

    Starship Power Systems Optimization Familiarity: Level 3 (26,350/29,927) [Intelligence/Memory]

    Starship Navigation Familiarity: Level 3 (28,400/29,927) [Intelligence/Memory]

    Starship Maneuvering Familiarity: Level 4 (48,001/48,449) [Perception/Willpower]

    The Profession Path, god, what a pain. These came from two professions; the first, at level 16, was the Pilot Class. I chose it because at the time, my dad needed some help shuttling people back and forth. I figured at the time it was as good as anything. At least better than a lumberjack, or trader, or city planner. Those classes? They sounded boring as fuck.

    Anyway, I chose the pilot class, which then upgraded into the ship commander class, which is a jack of all trades and master of none. I hope the next upgrade, whenever it is, helps me specialize. In theory, I could upgrade my skills, but I haven¡¯t gotten any to level 15.

    Everyone had better classes than me. Zoe had her navigation class, which is all navigation, piloting, you know, drawing routes in space, figuring out gravity, and all that. Ryan? He¡¯s actually useful; he had his engineering class focused on Starship stuff and could potentially fix our reactor or thrusters. We had manuals on board and the tools to fix things, but his class gave him nice insights. Danny? He¡¯d got his science class, which, again, is all passives, and got him what he needed. Joey¡¯s got the medical skills, which basically allowed him to bypass 12 years of school and god knows how much real-life experience. Also, he had his little TL8 gadgets that did most of the work.

    Yeah, those Basic Starship skills? Those were the ones the Ship Commander Class got me. I know they can be upgraded and maybe make myself useful, but again, I got to get them to level 15 first, and that¡¯s a bitch. At level 6,0 we barely had 1.7m XP before we hit the cap, and I had to somehow spread out all the love among my skills.

    The next five skills were part of the Pilot Class, which was cool but limited to a smaller starship, like a dropship or shuttle, though I imagine they would apply to a fighter if those ever got built.

    Orbital Navigation Familiarity: Level 4 (39,200/48,449) [Intelligence/Memory]

    Zero-G Manuevering Familiarity: Level 4 (43,209/48,449) [Perception/Willpower]

    Multi-Vector Piloting Familiarity: Level 4 (46,756/48,449) [Intelligence/Perception]

    Atmospheric Handling Familiarity: Level 4 (32,679/48,449) [Intelligence/Memory]

    Fuel Efficiency Familiarity: Level 4 (8,414/48,449) [Intelligence/Memory]

    Inspect: Level 6 (73,034/100,661) [Perception/Intelligence]

    Vehicle Handling Familiarity: Level 4 (32,452/48,449) [Perception/Intelligence]

    Light Vehicle Operations Familiarity: Level 4 (32,679/48,449) [Perception/Memory]

    Strategic Planning Familiarity: Level 3 (16,977/29,927) [Intelligence/Memory]

    Conflict Resolution Familiarity: Level 3 (19,780/29,927) [Charisma/Willpower]

    Adaptive Leadership Familiarity: Level 3 (21,730/29,927) [Perception/Willpower]

    The Inspect skill was exactly what it appeared to be: a skill that allowed me to inspect an item, a mob, or other system-related stuff. The higher the skill, the better the distance. The Vehicle Handling and Light Vehicle Operations skills? Those two were related to our Exploration Vehicle below decks in the hangar. I picked up both skill shards since we started using the Peregrine for our mobile outpost. The rest, I figured, would be important, you know, to lead my team to infinity and beyond.

    Emily was silent for a moment, absorbing all this information. Then, she looked up at me, a strange expression on her face. "Luca," she said slowly, "you''re a mess."

    "Hey!" I protested, "I prefer ''well-rounded''."

    "You''re a mess," she repeated, but she was smiling now. "A beautiful, talented, incredibly skilled mess." She leaned in, her voice dropping to a whisper. "But a mess nonetheless."

    "So, what do we do about it, oh wise and organized one?" I asked, trying to keep the conversation light, even though my heart was doing that weird fluttery thing it did whenever she got too close.

    "We make a plan," she said, her eyes sparkling with determination. "A plan so brilliant, so foolproof, that even you can''t screw it up."

    "Oh, I highly doubt that," I said, chuckling. "But I''m willing to be proven wrong."

    "Good," she said, grabbing a pen and paper. "Because we''ve got work to do. First, we need to figure out what you actually enjoy doing..."

    "Besides ogling you?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

    Emily blushed, a delightful shade of pink that made me want to kiss her. "Besides that," she said, her voice slightly flustered. "We need to find something that aligns with your skills, your attributes, and, most importantly, your interests."

    "Hmm, interesting," I said. "And what if my main interest is lazing around and, you know, not dying?"

    Emily rolled her eyes, but she was still smiling. "Then we''ll work with that. But for now," she tapped the paper with her pen, "let''s talk about your skills. And don''t even think about changing the subject this time."

    I sighed, knowing she was right. "Fine," I said. "But if this turns into a boring-ass study session, I''m blaming you."

    "Wouldn¡¯t have it any other way, Captain,¡± she grinned back, all teeth. Then, she leaned in, her lips brushing against my ear. "And maybe," she whispered, "if you''re a good student, I''ll give you a reward later."

    My breath hitched. "A reward, huh?" I asked, my voice suddenly hoarse. "What kind of reward?"

    Emily pulled back, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "That, Captain," she said, "is for me to know and for you to find out."

    <hr>

    And with that, she turned her attention back to the paper, leaving me with a racing heart and a very specific set of images flashing through my mind. Focus, Luca, I told myself. Skills. Plan. Right.

    But as she started talking about skill queues and attribute bonuses, all I could think about was that promised reward. And damn, if that wasn''t the best motivation I''d had in weeks. Maybe this skill planning wouldn''t be so bad after all.

    Maybe, I thought, as I leaned in closer, inhaling her scent, maybe this was exactly what I needed. A plan, a goal, and Emily, all wrapped up in one enticing package. Yeah, this could work.

    And as her lips curved into a smile, I couldn''t resist. I leaned in and kissed her, a soft, lingering kiss that tasted of wine and promise. When we broke apart, her eyes were shining.

    "Now," she said, her voice a little breathless, "where were we?"

    "Skills," I said, grinning. "But maybe we should take a break first?"

    Her smile widened. "Maybe we should."

 Chapter 21 - Trivia Night

    I leaned back in my chair, sipping the lukewarm lemonade that passed for a treat around here while the galley buzzed with conversation. Half the crew was chattering away, their voices blending into the usual background noise, but then she spoke. Emily¡¯s voice cut through the chaos like it was tuned just for me.

    ¡°I think we should plan some team-building activities,¡± she said, glancing at me with that look she got when she had an idea she wasn¡¯t letting go of. That look always meant trouble. Or fun. Or both.

    I raised an eyebrow, setting my mug down. ¡°Team building?¡± I asked. "Like what... trust falls in the observation deck?¡±

    Emily rolled her eyes, her lips curving into that playful smile that always managed to knock the sense right out of me. ¡°No, not trust falls. Something fun. Like trivia night. We split into teams, compete against each other, make it a thing.¡±

    I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table, trying not to get lost in how effortlessly she had everyone¡¯s attention and mine especially. ¡°Trivia, huh? Sounds harmless enough. Who¡¯s running it, though? You volunteering to be host?¡±

    Her smile widened, her green eyes sparking with amusement. ¡°Why not? We¡¯ve got plenty of supplies between us to make it interesting.¡±

    ¡°Interesting, huh?¡± I smirked, already knowing she had something planned. Emily didn¡¯t do boring. ¡°Alright, you¡¯re on.¡±

    Before Emily could respond, Ryan, sitting a few chairs down, slapped the table like he was trying to make a statement. Hell yeah! Trivia night, I¡¯m in.¡±

    I bit back a laugh, glancing at him as he grinned like a little kid who¡¯d just been handed the keys to a candy store. What¡¯s his angle? Knowing Ryan, it was probably just another way to show off. Or maybe, yeah, maybe, he was jealous. I mean, I had Emily, Danny probably had Zoe (or, more like, Zoe had Danny), and Ryan? He was just trying too hard, as usual.

    Emily laughed, glancing at me with that smug little look that made me want to kiss her just to wipe it off her face. ¡°See?¡± her expression practically said. Told you it¡¯d work.

    I shook my head, trying to suppress the grin tugging at my lips. ¡°Yeah, yeah. Let¡¯s see if you can even name five constellations, Ryan.¡±

    Ryan pointed his fork at me, his confidence dialed up to eleven, which was a classic I¡¯m compensating for something move. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯m still winning.¡±

    The crew cracked up, turning the conversation into a mix of trash talk and team strategy, but I caught Ryan stealing a glance at Emily, and then quickly looking away. Yep. Definitely jealous.

    <hr>

    I stretched out on the leather couch in the lounge, finally feeling like I could breathe after a day trapped in that damn bodysuit. The loungewear was loose, airy, practically perfect. Sure, it was semi-sheer and left little to the imagination, but at least everyone was in the same boat. No big deal, I told myself. We¡¯re all just comfortable.

    And then Emily walked in.

    She slid onto the couch beside me, her movements so effortless it was like she was claiming the spot, not just on the couch but in my head. My eyes drifted before I could stop them, not that I had a chance. The bold red of her bra caught the light, the straps thin, the cups minimal. It wasn¡¯t just underwear, it was lingerie. Since when does Emily even own lingerie?

    Where the hell has she been hiding that? My brain kicked into overdrive, rewinding through every memory I had of her in normal, sensible cotton undies like the rest of us. And now? Bam. This. The faint line of red at her hips hinted at something just as daring below, a thong? Bikini briefs? My thoughts spiraled, totally out of control. What other surprises is she hiding under that sheer fabric?

    Where the hell has she been hiding that? My brain kicked into overdrive. And now? Bam. This. The faint line of red at her hips hinted at something just as daring below. My thoughts spiraled.

    Emily leaned back, looking completely at ease, like she wasn¡¯t driving me insane. Her green eyes flicked toward me, and she smiled, but with just enough edge to make my chest tighten. She knew. Oh, she definitely knew.

    ¡°Comfortable?¡± she asked, her tone casual, but there was a glint in her eye that made me want to scream.

    I swallowed hard, my voice rougher than I meant it to be. ¡°Yeah.¡± It was a miracle I even managed that one word.

    I tried to focus on literally anything else, the fireplace, the sounds of the crew talking in the background, but my mind was already spinning.

    Ryan flopped down on the couch next to Emily with a beer in one hand and a bowl of popcorn in the other, blissfully unaware of the chaos the night was about to bring. His light green boxer briefs peeked through his loungewear, practical, boring, and totally forgettable. Why couldn¡¯t the girls just keep it simple like that? I tugged at my own waistband, where my silver briefs were visible under the sheer fabric, grumbling internally. Functional. Easy. But no, they had to take it to another level.

    And then Zoe walked in. Holy shit. My drink nearly went down the wrong pipe. If Emily was subtle, Zoe was a full-on look at me billboard. Neon green. A thong. Like, a legit thong that practically glowed under the sheer loungewear pants. There wasn¡¯t even the pretense of a bra. She wasn¡¯t even pretending. The sheer fabric left her dark nipples front and center, daring anyone to look, or not. Zoe was flat as hell, and she knew it, but she¡¯d always found ways to make people notice. Tonight? She wasn¡¯t trying to blend in. She was taking center stage, and goddamn if it wasn¡¯t working.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

    I leaned back, trying not to look. But my eyes kept slipping, like she had some magnetic pull dragging it back. Zoe strode into the room like she owned it, pausing only to scan her options before zeroing in on Danny. Poor guy didn¡¯t even see it coming.

    Without a word, she plopped down right next to him, claiming the seat like it was a throne. Danny, who had been laughing at something Ryan said, immediately stiffened. His laughter cut short as Zoe leaned back, her arm casually brushing his, her confidence radiating like a spotlight.

    Danny¡¯s reaction was priceless. His face flushed pink, and his posture turned awkward, his shoulders tight, like he was trying to shrink into the armrest without making it obvious. Was he nervous? Giddy? Resigned? Probably all three, knowing him. Zoe just smirked, completely unfazed, her dark eyes sparkling as she threw a sharp comment at Ryan, sending the room into more laughter. But she wasn¡¯t looking at Ryan. Her focus was all on Danny, like a predator sizing up its prey.

    I tried to focus on the conversation, but the green strap at her hip practically glowed in the low light, and her nipples? Seriously? They were right there, all perky and happy looking, dark against the sheer fabric, like a flashing neon sign. Does she even know what she¡¯s doing? Of course she does. She always does. I shifted slightly, suddenly very aware of the fact that I was practically staring.

    This is supposed to be trivia night, I reminded myself. Team bonding. Fun. Not¡­ this. But nope. The girls had clearly turned the night into something else, and here I was, losing the game before it even started. Danny didn¡¯t look like he was winning either.

    <hr>

    ¡°So, what¡¯s on the agenda for tonight?¡± Chris shouted from the pool table, taking a swig of his drink. He and Joey were already at it, the clack of the balls echoing through the room.

    Emily leaned back on the couch, giving me that sly smile again. She knew exactly what she was doing. "We¡¯ve been planning a trivia night," she said, her eyes drifting to the crew. "What do you guys think?"

    Danny shifted slightly on the couch, already pinned into his usual spot by the armrest. ¡°Trivia¡¯s fine, I guess. As long as it doesn¡¯t take too long.¡±

    ¡°No more work tonight,¡± I said, my tone firm as I stretched out on the couch, trying to look relaxed. ¡°Tonight, we relax. That¡¯s an order.¡± I was starting to feel like a broken record.

    ¡°What are we playing for?¡± Ryan asked, his eyebrows going up as he leaned back next to Emily, trying way too hard to look casual, and failing.

    Zoe was leaning in on the couch beside Danny, her body angled slightly toward him, her thigh pressed against his like it was the most natural thing in the world.

    Danny froze instantly. His body went rigid, his hands clutching the edge of the blanket like it was a shield. His eyes darted to Zoe, and yeah, her dark perky nipples were right there under that sheer top, before he quickly looked at the TV, like he was praying for it to save him. But he didn¡¯t move. He was terrified. And also, thrilled. I could see it. Poor guy didn¡¯t stand a chance.

    ¡°Winner gets bragging rights,¡± Emily said, her smile widening as she watched the chaos unfold.

    ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Joey yelled, lowering his pool stick with an exaggerated groan. ¡°It¡¯s already Friday! What¡¯s the point if it¡¯s only for two days?¡±

    Emily rolled her eyes. ¡°Alright, Joey. What do you suggest?¡±

    Joey leaned his cue against the wall, a grin spreading across his face. ¡°Loser does a dare chosen by the winner.¡±

    The room buzzed with interest. Chris set down his drink and strolled over. ¡°Now we¡¯re talking,¡± he said, dropping into a seat. ¡°I¡¯m in.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like fun,¡± Ryan added, throwing a hopeful glance at Zoe. She didn¡¯t even spare him a look, instead leaning even closer to Danny, her arm sliding along the back of the couch behind him. Danny¡¯s face flushed red, his eyes darting between Zoe¡¯s smirk and the blanket, where her hand, probably, was somewhere too close for comfort.

    She tilted her head, feigning innocence, her dark eyes sparkling. ¡°Boys versus girls?¡± Ryan asked, and I could see the hope in his eyes, like he really wanted this.

    Zoe laughed, throwing her head back like it was all beneath her. ¡°Is that even fair? That¡¯s five against two.¡± Her confidence was insane, like she¡¯d already decided she¡¯d won.

    ¡°Exactly,¡± Joey chimed in, his grin wide and mischievous. ¡°You¡¯re on!¡±

    I shook my head, smirking. Of course Joey and Ryan think they¡¯ve got this in the bag. Idiots. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s do it,¡± I said, already bracing for the chaos that was about to unfold.

    As the teams settled in and the trivia questions started flying, I found myself watching the crew more than the game. Chris, the guy who usually treated everything like a joke, turned out to have a freakishly good memory for history. He rattled off answers about wars and treaties like he had them memorized, his cocky grin growing with each point. Where the hell did that come from?

    Zoe? No surprise there, she had a knack for cutting people down, and now she was doing it with trivia. Old movies were her weapon of choice, her smug smile growing wider every time Ryan missed a question. Smug little shit.

    But Emily? Emily was the biggest surprise. Normally so chill, she leaned forward with this fire I didn¡¯t see coming. The second the questions dipped into sci-fi, she was on it, rattling off answers about wormholes and time loops like she¡¯d written the damn questions herself. Joey and Ryan looked like they¡¯d been hit by a truck, and I couldn¡¯t stop grinning.

    ¡°Seriously?¡± Joey groaned, throwing his hands in the air as Emily landed another point. ¡°How do you even know this stuff?¡±

    ¡°Some of us read, Joey,¡± she shot back, her green eyes sparkling with amusement.

    Zoe laughed. ¡°It¡¯s more than that. She¡¯s like an encyclopedia.¡±

    Emily shrugged, her smile playful but sharp. ¡°I can¡¯t help that you guys don¡¯t keep up.¡±

    The questions kept coming, and I kept pretending to focus. But my eyes? Yeah, they wandered. Zoe sat across from me, one leg crossed over the other, the faint line of her neon thong catching my eye again under the dim lounge lights. Of course she¡¯s wearing that. She shifted slightly, her confident smirk making it impossible to look away.

    And then there was Emily, casually sitting like she wasn¡¯t completely wrecking the game. The red strap of her bra peeked out from under her sheer shirt, and my eyes zeroed in on it before I could stop myself. Seriously? Get a grip, Rossi.

    I forced my eyes back to the scoreboard. Focus. Trivia now, distractions later. But between Emily¡¯s smirk and Zoe¡¯s neon thong, ¡°later¡± was starting to feel like a very long time away.

    <hr>

    After several rounds, the girls were absolutely owning us. The scoreboard said it all, but Zoe¡¯s triumphant grin made it crystal clear. She stood up, fists clenched like she¡¯d just won a goddamn boxing match. She was hot, man. Her sheer loungewear left nothing to the imagination, and I couldn¡¯t help but notice her dark nipples poking out against the thin fabric. It was the kind of thing I couldn¡¯t stop thinking about. Of course.

    ¡°Okay, Emily,¡± Zoe said, that smug grin plastered across her face as she stood there like a victorious queen. ¡°What do we want from our defeated foes?¡± She was enjoying this way too much, but damn if she wasn¡¯t fun.

    Emily leaned back, tapping her chin like she was really considering it, but I knew that glint in her eyes. ¡°Hmm¡­ what¡¯s a fitting punishment for such a spectacular loss?¡± she teased, her voice dripping with mischief. She was too good at this.

    The guys groaned, Joey already slumping lower in his seat like the sore loser he was. Chris just leaned back, his smirk intact. ¡°You better make it good,¡± he quipped, his tone cocky as hell. ¡°We don¡¯t back down from a challenge.¡± Cocky bastard.

    I could already tell this was gonna be good. The girls were plotting something, I just knew it. I needed to focus¡ªhad to pull my head out of the gutter and stop staring at Zoe and Emily like some lovesick idiot. Get it together, Rossi. This has gone on long enough.

 Chapter 22 - Ryan

    Emily stood up, slow, like she was doing it on purpose. The fabric of her lounge pants shifted, and yeah, I caught a glimpse of her ass. Perfect, as always. That thong was practically invisible. I ripped my eyes away, focusing on her face. Not the time, Rossi. Seriously, get a grip. I am in love with this girl.

    She walked over to Zoe, leaning down, her lips practically on her ear. Whispering some shit I couldn''t hear. My gaze was locked on them. A warm flush started creeping up my neck. Whatever Emily said, it made Zoe¡¯s face light up like she¡¯d just won the goddamn lottery. Those black dreadlocks of hers bounced as she nodded, framing that cute face of hers ¨C button nose, big, dark eyes, the whole nine yards. She''s gorgeous. They both are. I am in love with Zoe, too.

    When Emily pulled back, Zoe looked like she was about to unleash hell, biting her lip to stifle a laugh. ¡°Oh, that¡¯s perfect,¡± she said, her voice dripping with something wicked. ¡°I love it.¡± What the hell did Emily just say to her?

    Zoe turned to the boys, to us idiots, a predatory grin spreading across her face. She planted a hand on her hip, looking like a goddamn panther about to pounce. ¡°Alright, losers,¡± she announced, smug as ever. ¡°It¡¯s payback time.¡±

    Emily stepped forward, raising two fingers in a mock peace sign, her confidence practically radiating off her. ¡°The dare is simple,¡± she said, her voice calm and collected but with a dangerous edge that made the hairs on my arms stand up. ¡°You¡¯re going to give us a striptease. Right here, right now.¡±

    The room erupted into chaos. Joey choked on his drink, coughing and sputtering so hard it looked like he might pass out. Danny¡¯s face turned bright red, his hands flying up like he was warding off a demon. ¡°Nope! Nope, nope, nope,¡± he stammered, shaking his head furiously. ¡°I¡¯m out.¡± The poor guy looked like he was seconds away from sprinting out of the room.

    Chris, that cocky asshole, just laughed a sharp bark that was way too confident. ¡°Striptease, huh?¡± he said, already standing up. ¡°You sure you can handle it?¡± He wagged his hips at them. ¡°This doesn¡¯t exactly leave much to the imagination as it is.¡± Show off.

    ¡°Oh, we can handle it,¡± Zoe shot back, folding her arms and smirking like she knew something the rest of us didn¡¯t. She was daring him, her dark eyes glinting with that dangerous energy only she could pull off. She was so hot, it was almost unfair.

    Ryan groaned, rubbing his temples like he already regretted existing. ¡°Why do I feel like this is going to haunt me forever?¡±

    ¡°It will,¡± Emily said brightly, clearly enjoying the chaos she¡¯d unleashed. ¡°But hey, a deal¡¯s a deal.¡± She was ruthless when she wanted to be, and I loved it.

    I stayed quiet, leaning back on the couch with a sigh. My gaze flicked between the girls, Zoe, brimming with that dangerous confidence, and Emily, her mischievous spark on full display, and then to the guys, who ranged from mortified to overly cocky. I couldn¡¯t decide if this was the best or worst idea of the night. It was like watching a train wreck in slow motion. Couldn''t. Look. Away.

    Joey glanced around, wide-eyed, his voice cracking as he squeaked, ¡°We¡¯re really doing this?¡±

    ¡°You bet your ass we are,¡± Chris said, cracking his knuckles like this was a goddamn cage fight instead of a striptease. ¡°I don¡¯t back down from a challenge.¡±

    I shook my head, muttering under my breath, ¡°This ship is a goddamn circus.¡± But a fun one, I had to admit. A fun, fucked up one.

    <hr>

    Ryan stepped up first, because of course he did. And yeah, he was making a whole thing out of it, rolling his shoulders and flashing a grin that was equal parts confident and, honestly, kinda hot. Shit. Did I just think that? He started swaying to the beat as the music picked up, then pulled his shirt off in one smooth motion, like he¡¯d been practicing this shit in the mirror. He twirled it over his head like a goddamn rodeo clown, clearly loving every second of it. I wanted to punch him. Also, seriously, what was that guy¡¯s workout routine?

    His chest was toned, a few faint scars catching the dim lounge lights. I forced myself not to stare. Great job, Captain Rossi, definitely setting the standard for professionalism. Not. Those scars are kinda great, though. He''s had a rough life, I should know, I was there.

    The rest of the assholes erupted into cheers, like they¡¯d gone from terrified to horny in under a minute. All that earlier reluctance? Gone. They were whooping like this was the highlight of their sorry lives. ¡°Get it, Ryan!¡± Joey hollered, nearly falling off his seat. I kinda wanted to shove him the rest of the way.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    Ryan was eating it up, leaning into the act as his hips swayed to the beat. He swung that shirt around, pulling it taut between his hands like he was auditioning for some terrible space cowboy calendar. My body tensed up. I didn¡¯t want to admit it, but¡­ damn. What the hell was happening to me? He looks good. That''s all. It doesn''t mean anything.

    Then he sidestepped toward Emily, and my stomach twisted. He was getting too close, way too close. His waist swayed, like, inches from her, and that teasing grin on his face was unbearable. Emily rolled her eyes in this exaggerated way, but she didn¡¯t seem to mind the attention. That made me want to step in, say something, do something. Instead, I just sat there, stewing in my own jealousy. I mean, she is my girlfriend, probably. Not that it stops me from wanting Zoe, too.

    The thirty-second countdown ended with Ryan tossing his shirt into the air like it was the grand finale of his ridiculous show. He collapsed shirtless onto the couch next to Zoe, his arm draping over her shoulders like it was no big deal. My brain short-circuited. What would his skin feel like, soft, warm, or just¡­ what the fuck, Luca? Stop it. Just stop.

    Ryan made some half-assed attempt to reach for Zoe¡¯s tits, which earned him a smack and a burst of laughter from her. ¡°Get lost!¡± she said, shoving him off with a grin. She was clearly enjoying herself. It was getting harder to just sit still and watch all this unfold.

    ¡°You¡¯re done, cowboy,¡± Zoe laughed, still grinning as she pushed him further away. And yet, somehow, he was still sitting way too close to her. They look... good together. I can''t deny that.

    The room buzzed with laughter and cheers. The energy was crackling in the air. I felt it, too, like static under my skin, making my body respond in ways I couldn¡¯t control. Zoe and Emily exchanged glances, their smirks practically daring the rest of us to hold it together. They were clearly loving this, soaking up every second of their power over the situation. And me? I couldn¡¯t stop wondering what it would take to get on their good side. Or, you know, both sides. At the same time.

    ¡°That was incredible!¡± Emily said, clapping her hands, her face glowing, and damn, she¡¯d never looked more beautiful. My brain was short-circuiting, every wire frayed as she flashed that smile of hers. ¡°Okay, who¡¯s up next?¡± Her voice was light, teasing, but I could feel the weight of the question like a boulder dropping onto my chest.

    I tensed as the girls turned their attention to the rest of us, their eyes scanning the room like hunters sizing up their prey. My pulse kicked into overdrive. Part of me wanted Emily to pick me, like, really wanted her to. But the other part? The part that had been barely holding it together all night? That part wanted to dive under the couch and hide until this whole thing was over.

    I tried to play it cool, to look disinterested. I even shuffled behind Joey a little, like blending in would somehow save me. But no dice. I could feel their gazes burning into me, like I had a damn spotlight trained on my face.

    Then Emily stood, all grace and mischief, pointing directly at me with that playful smile that knocked the breath out of my lungs. ¡°How about you show us what you¡¯ve got, Luca?¡± she said, her voice a perfect mix of teasing and something else, something that felt a lot like wanting. And holy shit, my body responded to both.

    My stomach plummeted, like I was free-falling on a roller coaster, and my heart skipped a beat so hard it hurt. ¡°Me?¡± I managed, my voice cracking between disbelief and full-on panic. Why me? ¡°Come on, pick someone else. Chris hasn¡¯t gone yet.¡± Yeah, deflect, Rossi. That¡¯ll definitely work.

    ¡°Chris can wait,¡± Zoe said, her smirk widening into a full-on grin. She was dangerous, hell, they both were. ¡°You¡¯re up, Captain. Show us what you¡¯ve got.¡± Her words sent my senses into overdrive, the room shrinking down to just their voices, their eyes on me, and the sudden need to prove myself.

    The room erupted into chants, the teasing voices blending into a chorus that made my skin tingle. ¡°Luca! Luca! Luca!¡± Ryan pounded the armrest, grinning like he was watching his favorite show and I was the main attraction. He was enjoying this way too much. Of course he was.

    I swallowed hard, the weight of the moment pressing down on me as my body already started reacting to the challenge. Alright, Rossi. Time to sink or swim. And yeah, maybe I wanted to show them, to show her, what I had. What I could be.

    <hr>

    I swallowed hard, the weight of the moment pressing down on me as my body already started reacting to the challenge. Alright, Rossi. Time to sink or swim. And yeah, maybe I wanted to show them, to show her, what I had. What I could be.

    I groaned, running a hand through my hair, and yeah, I was probably going to die. But what else was there to do? ¡°I hate all of you,¡± I muttered under my breath as I stepped reluctantly into the spotlight. They had me exactly where they wanted me, and I knew it. My mind raced, mortified and hyper-aware that Emily¡¯s and Zoe¡¯s eyes were locked on me. And, okay, maybe I was enjoying it a little too much.

    I hesitated, trying desperately to come up with some way to get out of this, or at least make it less humiliating. My brain scrambled for an excuse, but my body? It was practically screaming for this, ready to show off like some dumb show pony. The adrenaline from the earlier rounds mixed with the teasing chants of my crew made it impossible to think straight. And then there was Emily, her smile doing that thing where it melted my brain and made me hate her just a little for being so damn distracting. I mean, I love her. But I also hate her right now. It''s complicated.

    My eyes flicked to the side table, where my half-drunk beer sat forgotten. Maybe I should¡¯ve finished that, or chucked a couple more before this whole circus started. A little more liquid courage would¡¯ve done wonders right about now. But no, here I was, stone-cold sober and about to make a complete fool of myself. Fantastic planning, Rossi.

    With a resigned grin, because there was no way in hell I was backing out now, I nodded. ¡°Alright then,¡± I said, hating how my voice sounded almost too confident, even though I was shaking inside. Equal parts terror and excitement coursed through me as I took a step forward. ¡°Let¡¯s see what I¡¯ve got,¡± I added, my tone dripping with mock bravado. Because if I was going down, I was going down in flames. And, yeah, part of me wanted to see how much they¡¯d burn. Maybe I even wanted to burn with them.

 Chapter 23 - Luca

    The music kicked in, a heavy beat that felt more like a battle cry than a song. I knew I was fucked the moment I stepped forward. My body moved before my brain could catch up, trying not to think about the fact that every eye in the room was locked on me. They weren¡¯t just watching, they were waiting for me to fucking explode. And yeah, I was going to. This was completely insane, but also? A little thrilling. If I was going to do this, I was committing. No holding back. All in, all the way. Okay, maybe some holding back. I mean, I''d never actually been to a strip club. Hell, the last four years at the Genesis Shipyard had been a dry spell.

    That place was firewalled to hell. Between the brute force attacks, the hacking attempts, and Dad controlling the bandwidth like a hawk, access to certain... sources, was limited. But we had trips back to Earth, videos got shared, and there were other facilities around Sol where we¡¯d staged out of. Porn was everywhere, even if our home base was a bit static. And yeah, I''d had access. I had done my research. Still, putting on a show like this? Terrifying. Now it was my turn, and I was terrified. But, neither Emily nor Zoe had any idea what a real strip tease was, probably. A lap dance? I had no fucking clue, that¡­ I hadn''t really done any research into that. I''d have to figure it out. Raise the bar from Ryan''s tame but steamy show, but not go overboard. The rest of the idiots would want to beat my dance, and I desperately wanted to keep things from going too far.

    Swinging my hips to the rhythm, I took slow, deliberate steps, trying to channel... something. Confidence? Delusion? Who the hell knew. Why the fuck did we even agree to these outfits? I looked at Emily and Zoe, sitting side by side, exchanging those smug, knowing glances that said they were absolutely in charge of this entire moment. Puppet masters. And me? Yeah, I was the damn puppet, and I was totally fine with it.

    But then I focused on Zoe. God, she was so fucking hot, sitting there like she owned the room. Which, let''s be real, she kinda did. Her dark nipples were visible through her top, the faint line of her neon thong catching the light. She was magnetic, and I couldn¡¯t look away. And, okay, I had to admit it, there was a certain logic here. I was already making out with Emily every chance I got, and she was always teasing me. Maybe focusing on Zoe was payback. Fair was fair, right? Plus, I didn¡¯t want to be like Ryan, all tunnel vision on Emily. Someone had to balance this out. Equity. Totally makes sense. And those tits. I couldn''t wait to get my hands on them, to play with her nips, one day, hopefully soon.

    I spun once, giving them a view of my ass, because why not? It was probably stupid, but the rush of it was exhilarating. Then I reached for the hem of my shirt, heart pounding as I pulled it up, slow and deliberate. I gave the girls a teasing glimpse of my abs, something I¡¯d been working my ass off to achieve, before yanking the shirt off entirely. Swinging it a few times above my head, I locked eyes with Zoe and launched it her way, like I was throwing down a gauntlet. Focus on me now, little fox. Let¡¯s see who¡¯s really in charge.

    For a split second, everything in the room felt charged, electric. My shirt landed in Zoe¡¯s lap, and her smirk widened. Emily¡¯s eyes flicked between us, that amused glint still firmly in place, and yeah, maybe I was playing with fire. But damn if it didn¡¯t feel good to burn. A little competition between them? Bring it on.

    Zoe squealed, catching the shirt midair before sniffing it loudly and theatrically. Of course, she was loving this, she always loved being the center of attention, and she was so damn good at it. Her laugh rang out over the cheers and claps filling the lounge, and yeah, everyone was enjoying my humiliation. Somehow, that only made me want to lean into it more.

    ¡°Oh my god, Luca!¡± she said playing it up and holding the shirt to her chest like it was some kind of prize. Her dark eyes sparkled with mischief, and she was all teeth in that grin, like she was ready to eat me alive.

    ¡°Enjoy it while it lasts,¡± I shot back, smiling wide even as I felt warmth creep up my neck. My heart was hammering, my pulse pounding in my ears, and yeah, I was playing a dangerous game, but what the hell? I was already in it.

    With my shirt gone, I let the music take over. The cheers from the guys grew louder, and I could feel the air shift; thicker, charged. They were all watching me, and I¡¯d be lying if I said I didn¡¯t love it. Alright, Rossi, I thought, feeling both exhilarated and terrified, if you¡¯re gonna go down, go down swinging. Or, you know, grinding. But also, maybe don''t go too far. Remember, when you have no idea what you''re doing, you improvise.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

    The beat shifted, faster, more intense, and I dropped to the floor in a controlled slide, because that''s what you do in strip teases, right? The move drew a fresh wave of whistles and laughter. I didn¡¯t hesitate; I shuffled forward on my knees, wiggling my butt a little bit, every inch pulling me closer to Zoe. The tension in the room was suffocating now, the air crackling with it, and I could feel her eyes burning into me. Keep it together, Rossi, don''t do anything stupid. Don''t get hard, don''t get hard. Focus on something else. The mission. Engine schematics. Anything but her.

    Zoe leaned forward, her smile daring me to keep going, and god, she could see right through me. That knowing look of hers, the way she owned every moment. It was maddening, and it made me want to keep pushing, just to see how far I could take it. But also, maybe don''t push too hard. You''re not exactly a pro at this. And you''re definitely getting hard. Fuck. Think about... space. Vacuum. Cold, empty, dead space.

    When I reached her, I stood up slowly. For a second, it was just us, her dark eyes locked on mine, and the rest of the room faded away. She wasn¡¯t just playing along; she was daring me to take this further. I bent my knees slightly, lowering my torso to match hers on the couch.

    And I really, really wanted to. But also, I really, really didn''t want to make a complete fool of myself. Or get hard. Which was definitely happening. Abort. Abort. No. Keep going. You got this. Maybe.

    ¡°Don¡¯t stop now,¡± Zoe teased, her voice low, just for me, and god, she was dangerous. That smirk, that glint in her eye, I could feel myself melt just a little. She had me wrapped around her damn finger, and I didn¡¯t even care.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m not done,¡± I murmured back, my voice barely a whisper, matching her tone. My brain screamed at me to back off, but my body? My body had other plans. I started swinging my hips slowly, not quite humping her, but getting close, my bulge brushing against her chest. I might have even purred, I was so into it. Okay, maybe that was a bit much, even for me. And yeah, definitely too much. Way too hard. This is bad. This is so bad.

    Her gasp turned into laughter, sharp and breathless, and holy shit, I did that. The rest of the crew lost their minds; they were hollering, whooping, and clapping, but it all blurred into background noise. My ears were pounding, my pulse racing, my body buzzing like I¡¯d just downed a shot of pure adrenaline. What the hell is this night turning into? And also, how the fuck am I going to live this down? And why am I so fucking hard?

    Then, the music stopped. And I was just standing there, bent over in a squat like an idiot. Way to go, Rossi. I straightened up, breathless, grinning like a damn fool as the room erupted into applause. Ryan was already on his feet, clapping like this was the best show of his life, that absolute moron. Joey? Nearly fell off the couch, cackling like he couldn¡¯t breathe. And me? I couldn¡¯t stop smiling. My heart was racing, my body a mess, and somehow, I didn¡¯t regret a second of it. Well, maybe a few seconds.

    Zoe leaned back on the couch, still clutching my shirt like it was a trophy, her eyes wide with shock and something else, admiration? She looked like she couldn¡¯t decide if she wanted to laugh or kiss me, and yeah, I was a little proud of that. Her expression was this perfect mix of disbelief and awe, and for half a second, I wanted to do it all over again. What the hell is wrong with me?

    <hr>

    I was a complete mess, and I needed a breather. Feeling a sudden wave of self-consciousness, because yeah, I had probably just made a fool of myself, again, I grabbed Ryan¡¯s beer off the side table without asking and took a quick swig. It was cold and bitter, but I needed something to cool me down. Dropping onto the couch next to Emily, I leaned back, trying to play it cool, even though my heart was still hammering in my chest. ¡°And that,¡± I said, still catching my breath, my voice raspier than usual, ¡°is why you never dare me to dance.¡± Total lie, but it sounded good.

    Emily didn¡¯t respond, just smiled at me with that mischievous glint in her eyes, the one that said she was absolutely in control. She slid closer, her body brushing against mine, and before I could fully process what was happening, her arm wrapped around my bare torso. Her touch was warm, electric, and it felt like every nerve in my body was suddenly on fire. I froze for half a second, just enough time for her to tilt her head up, her lips brushing against mine. The kiss? It knocked the rest of the air out of my lungs, leaving me completely undone. It was slow, soft, and so damn perfect, and it was like she had been waiting for the exact moment to do this, and god, I was ready for it.

    The room erupted into cheers and whistles, snapping me back to reality, and I couldn¡¯t help but smile against her lips. This is really happening, I thought, my head spinning. Zoe¡¯s voice cut through the noise, loud and dramatic as ever: ¡°Get a room!¡± Of course, she had to add her commentary. But it didn¡¯t matter. We were already lost in each other again, and nothing else existed in that moment. I couldn''t wait to do this with Zoe.

    When the kiss finally broke, my face was burning, and I was definitely a blushing mess, but I couldn¡¯t stop the grin spreading across my face. Emily¡¯s cheeks were flushed too, and her green eyes were sparkling like she knew exactly what kind of chaos she¡¯d just unleashed. ¡°What the hell are you doing to me?¡± I murmured, low enough for only her to hear. She just smirked, leaning her head against my shoulder like she hadn¡¯t just turned my world upside down.

    Well, I thought, still feeling the heat from her lips, if this is team bonding, I¡¯m all in. I looked around the room, Ryan was laughing, Joey looked stunned, Chris just raised his drink like he was toasting to my insanity, and Danny, well, he looked pensive, probably planning how to beat me.

 Chapter 24 - The Boys

    Next up were Joey and Chris. The music kicked in, and they moved to the center of the lounge, standing face-to-face like they were about to have some kind of absurdly sensual dance battle. I leaned back, my arm loosely around Emily¡¯s waist, feeling the warmth of her body against mine. The buzz of the beer was fading fast, replaced by the chaos unfolding in front of me. I was just starting to relax when Emily shifted onto my lap, her weight settling a little closer, a little firmer, and suddenly, relaxation was off the table.

    She wiggled slightly, adjusting herself, and every movement sent a jolt through me. Her hip pressed against my stomach, and I could feel the faintest pressure where her legs draped over mine. My breath hitched. I fought to keep my composure, forcing myself to look up. ¡°Comfortable?¡± I murmured, trying to sound casual, even though my voice betrayed the fact that I was very much not.

    Emily turned her head, her lips quirking into a smirk as her green eyes met mine. ¡°Perfect,¡± she said softly, her voice a little too sweet, a little too knowing. Her fingers slid over my forearm, anchoring herself to me as she settled in like she had no idea what she was doing, or maybe she knew exactly.

    Before I could respond, or combust, Chris and Joey started moving, their bodies fluid as they danced to the pulsing electronic beat. My attention snapped to them, trying desperately to focus on literally anything else.

    Every motion was deliberate, their synchronization almost unnerving, their moves dripping with a confidence that bordered on cocky. My brow furrowed, a mix of fascination and discomfort creeping up my spine. I couldn¡¯t help noticing the way Emily and Zoe¡¯s eyes were glued to the pair, their eyes sharp and unflinching. What were they seeing? What was I missing?

    Were they blushing? I wondered, glancing sideways at Emily again. Her lips were slightly parted, her body leaning forward just enough to betray her interest. Zoe, sitting nearby, was practically perched on the edge of her seat, her expression unreadable but intense. They¡¯re into this, aren¡¯t they? My heart did a weird little skip, and I could feel the heat rising in my own body. I wasn¡¯t even the one dancing, but the atmosphere in the room was electric, almost overwhelming.

    The music swelled, and Joey and Chris started shedding their shirts in perfect rhythm, tossing them aside like they had rehearsed this shit. Their chiseled torsos glistened faintly under the dim lights, every movement designed to elicit a reaction. The sharp intake of breath from Zoe didn¡¯t go unnoticed, nor did the way Emily¡¯s fingers absentmindedly traced a pattern on my thigh, her touch sending shivers down my spine. I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to keep my head in the game. Why is this working on me? I hated that I liked this. What the hell is happening tonight?

    Were they really this into it? I thought, a twinge of something unfamiliar twisting in my chest. It wasn¡¯t jealousy, not exactly. I mean, they¡¯re just friends, right? This is all part of the game. Everyone¡¯s having fun. But I couldn¡¯t shake the tension building in my body, partly from Emily shifting against me, partly from the sheer absurdity of the scene. This was insane. And yet, I could feel my own heat rising, like I was being dragged into the same current everyone else was riding.

    My eyes flicked back to Joey and Chris, now shirtless, their chemistry undeniable as they moved in perfect sync. Damn, they looked good. Too good. I thought about Ryan¡¯s earlier commentary, the gym, the "caught in the act" moment. Did Emily and Zoe really walk in on them? The way Zoe had laughed it off earlier seemed less like a joke and more like... a memory. Was this performance for them, then? My chest tightened, and I hated how much I wanted to know.

    The music swelled, and Joey and Chris stepped closer together, their movements so deliberate it almost felt rehearsed. The onlookers gasped, the energy in the room hitting a fever pitch. My grip on Emily¡¯s waist tightened instinctively. She shifted slightly in rhythm with the music, her thigh brushing against me, and I felt heat rush to my face. This was getting out of hand. I was a captain, for fuck¡¯s sake, not some hormone-ridden teenager. Get a grip, Rossi.

    Emily¡¯s eyes flicked up to mine, her cheeks flushed, though whether from the performance or something else, I couldn¡¯t tell. Her lips curved into a small smile, soft, knowing, like she was teasing me without saying a word. Was she turned on? Hell, was I? This is normal, right? Friends having fun. A little tipsy, a little too close, it doesn¡¯t mean anything. But my pulse quickened, and the heat in my chest spread lower. This wasn¡¯t normal. Not for me. Not for her. This was... something.

    As the music ended, the room exploded into cheers and whistles. Joey and Chris grinned, triumphant and completely unapologetic. Zoe clapped loudly, her eyes lingering on them just a beat too long. Emily joined in, her laughter bright and unrestrained as she turned back to me. Her hand tightened briefly on my arm, her warmth seeping through my skin.

    My heart skipped a beat. I felt lightheaded. This was supposed to be fun. Just a stupid game. What was I even doing?

    <hr>

    Then Danny stepped into the spotlight, and I straightened instinctively, curiosity rising. He wasn¡¯t exactly the type to steal the stage. But Zoe was already queuing up a slow song, her smirk practically daring him to back out. I glanced between them, and yeah, she was up to something. She always was.

    The music started, soft and deliberate, and Danny stepped forward. Slowly, he pulled his shirt up, and I swear, the entire room leaned in. His chest, unexpectedly toned, tattoos faintly peeking out, caught the dim light, and for a second, even I had to admit the guy looked good. He tossed the shirt at Chris, who screamed like he¡¯d won a prize, catching it with exaggerated flair. The room exploded into laughter, but my focus stayed on Danny.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    What the hell? He wasn¡¯t just going through the motions. There was something about the way he moved, calculated, smooth, confident. Like he¡¯d been waiting for this moment, or maybe like he was performing for someone specific. I looked at Zoe, and yeah, her eyes were glued to him, her smile curling wider with every move he made.

    And me? I didn¡¯t know what to think. Danny, of all people? He was full of surprises tonight.

    Danny¡¯s right hand tugged at his waistband, just an inch, teasing the edge of his blue briefs, then mirrored the motion on the left. The way he moved, so deliberate, so measured, was¡­ not at all what I¡¯d expected. The room grew quieter, the playful hollers fading into something more charged, and yeah, I felt that tension all the way down to my balls. What the hell was happening? Danny swayed his hips to the beat, the firelight catching the faint sheen on his chest as he worked his way out of his pants like he¡¯d done this a thousand times.

    When the fabric finally hit the floor, leaving him in nothing but his briefs, Zoe let out a soft gasp. My stomach twisted at the sound, but not in a bad way. It was more like¡­ fascination. I followed her gaze and, yep, she was tracking Danny¡¯s every move, and holy shit, she was really into it. That should¡¯ve made me uncomfortable, or jealous, but instead, I found it kind of hot. Zoe, so composed and confident, was totally captivated by Danny. And he knew it.

    Then Danny turned to Zoe. My pulse quickened as he locked eyes with her, extending a hand and pulling her to her feet. You¡¯ve got to be kidding me. I watched, jaw tight, as Danny guided her into a slow, synchronized dance. Their movements were fluid, almost hypnotic, and Zoe¡¯s laughter turned breathless as Danny pulled her closer, his body pressed against hers. What the actual hell? This was some kind of twisted fantasy playing out, and yeah, I wasn¡¯t looking away.

    The crew fell silent, the energy in the room shifting into something heavier, more intimate. I glanced at Emily beside me, her cheeks flushed, her lip twitching with some unspoken thought. But Zoe? Zoe was all in. Her body moved with Danny¡¯s like no one else was there. Like I wasn¡¯t there. And it was still, undeniably, hot.

    I swallowed hard, my arm tightening instinctively around Emily¡¯s waist as Danny ran his hands up Zoe¡¯s sides, his fingers brushing just shy of her curves. The firelight danced across their bodies, the music pulsing like a heartbeat, and yeah, it was intense. Too intense. When Danny leaned in, brushing his lips against Zoe¡¯s cheek, the tension in the room snapped, and everyone erupted into cheers, breaking the spell.

    I let out a shaky breath, the corner of my mouth twitching as I glanced at Emily. ¡°Well,¡± I muttered, half to myself, ¡°didn¡¯t see that coming.¡±

    With a final spin, Danny twirled Zoe back to the couch, guiding her to her seat next to Emily before he turned to face everyone. The applause was deafening, the energy in the room crackling like static after a storm. Danny was grinning, his chest rising and falling, and yeah, he took a mock bow. The smug, talented bastard. He¡¯d pulled it off, completely.

    The room was buzzing. Danny joined Chris and Joey on their couch, high-fiving and laughing like they¡¯d just won the championship. Next to me, Emily and Zoe were doubled over, giggling uncontrollably. Their cheeks were flushed, beer, dancing, sheer absurdity, or maybe something else entirely. I wasn¡¯t sure, but I knew that whatever it was, it had them totally caught up in the moment

    I should¡¯ve been soaking in the vibe, maybe even joining the laughter, but Emily¡¯s weight on my lap made that impossible. She shifted slightly, adjusting her position, and yeah, my body immediately betrayed me. Really? Now? I bit the inside of my cheek, trying desperately to keep my composure. This wasn¡¯t fair. Her hips brushed against me again, and I was so close to losing it, and she knew. She had to know.

    Emily turned her head, her lips curling into that wide, knowing smile that drove me crazy. She planted a quick kiss on my cheek, her tone light but her eyes sharp, teasing. ¡°You¡¯re awfully quiet,¡± she said, and I swear, I saw the flicker of mischief in her eyes. She didn¡¯t move, staying exactly where she was, her ass lodged on my thigh, completely unbothered, or worse, fully aware of what she was doing.

    ¡°Just¡­ soaking it all in,¡± I muttered, trying to sound casual, even though my voice wavered just enough to give me away. I shifted slightly, hoping she wouldn¡¯t notice the heat creeping up my neck, but who was I kidding? She noticed everything.

    Soaking it all in. Great choice of words, Rossi. Goddamn idiot.

    I looked at Danny, lounging with this air of confidence that felt new, or maybe I was just noticing it more after tonight. The guy wasn¡¯t exactly subtle. He leaned forward in his seat, clearly trying to keep it casual, but the poorly disguised bulge in his loungewear said otherwise. Zoe¡¯s gaze seemed magnetically drawn to it, her breath hitching every time Danny laughed. The pink tinge in her cheeks made it obvious he was getting to her, and yeah, I didn¡¯t mind. They were playing their own little game, and it was kind of fun to watch.

    <hr>

    Danny launched into a story about our childhood, when a neighbor¡¯s dog, was it Bob''s? Yeah, I think so; chased us down the street, earning a round of laughter from the room. Zoe, perched on the edge of the couch, was practically hanging on every word. The way she looked at him now, like she was really seeing him for the first time, yeah, that was new. And it was hot. He was pulling it off, and I couldn¡¯t help but feel a little impressed. Who knew the quiet guy had it in him?

    I raised an eyebrow as Emily leaned closer to Zoe, whispering something in her ear that turned her friend¡¯s cheeks crimson. Zoe shot her a look, her lips pressing into a tight line. ¡°No way,¡± she said, though her voice had all the conviction of wet paper. ¡°He¡¯s just a friend.¡± Sure.

    Emily smirked, full of mischief, her eyes darting to Danny with a pointed look that screamed yeah, right. ¡°Sure he is,¡± she whispered back, her tone low enough that I almost missed it. Almost. This was getting way too good.

    I caught the whole exchange but kept my mouth shut, letting the scene unfold while my own attention stayed... divided. What the hell was happening tonight? First the dancing, now this? My focus drifted as Emily shifted slightly on my lap, her weight settling into me in a way that made me tense. Did she know? Could she feel it? I adjusted again, trying to play it cool, but her movements weren¡¯t helping. If anything, they were making it worse.

    She had to know. Right? The smirk tugging at her lips suggested as much, and I bit back a groan. This night was spiraling in the best possible way, and I wasn¡¯t sure how much more of it I could take. Still, the smile spreading on my face was impossible to hide. Yeah, this was too good to be true.

 Chapter 25 - Playing Tag

    The bridge was quiet, save for the usual hum of the ship''s systems. I sat slouched in my chair, one hand idly tapping on my console as I flicked through various screens. Diagnostics, status reports, navigation logs¡­ everything¡¯s green. As usual. A week left before we reached Alpha Centauri, and this monotony was grinding on me, and everyone else, I bet.

    Across from me, Emily sat at her workstation. Whatever she was working on held her attention way better than the meaningless busywork I had been cycling through. I stole a glance at her, momentarily envious of how absorbed she looked. What could she possibly be doing that was more interesting than this shit? I swear she could make watching paint dry look exciting.

    My console beeped softly, pulling my attention back, thank god. A small red icon blinked on the screen, and I straightened in my seat, a spark of curiosity and excitement jolting me out of my boredom. ¡°Finally,¡± I muttered, pulling up the notification. Something, anything, to break the endless nothing.

    It didn¡¯t take long to locate the issue. The gravity generator in the hangar bay had been deactivated. My excitement dulled slightly, but it still lingered. At least it wasn¡¯t another uneventful status update. I tapped the comms line to engineering.

    ¡°Ryan, you seeing this? Gravity generator¡¯s off in the hangar,¡± I asked.

    Ryan¡¯s voice crackled over the line, carrying its usual hint of irritation. ¡°Yeah, I noticed. Chris and Joey are down there. Probably got lazy and turned it off to slide boxes around.¡± Fucking idiots, they¡¯re always doing stupid shit like that.

    I sighed, leaning back in my chair. ¡°Figures.¡± I stared at the intercom button for a moment, contemplating calling the hangar directly to give them a piece of my mind. But then I stopped myself. What¡¯s the point? A little walk never hurt anyone. I wanted to see what was going on down there.

    Standing, I stretched, rolling my shoulders to shake off the stiffness from sitting too long. ¡°I¡¯m heading down to the hangar,¡± I said, glancing over at Emily. ¡°Chris and Joey are fooling around.¡± I wanted to see if she was paying attention.

    Emily didn¡¯t look up, but the corner of her mouth twitched in what might have been a smile. ¡°Don¡¯t hurt them.¡± She always said that.

    I stepped into the corridor leading to the hangar, the faint hum of the ship''s systems echoing around me. As I approached the door, the soft vibration underfoot ceased, a clear sign of the gravity generator¡¯s localized deactivation. I paused for a moment, staring at the red indicator light above the door. Lazy bastards. I can¡¯t wait to see what stupid shit they¡¯ve been doing.

    <hr>

    The door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing Joey and Chris tumbling through the air, laughing like kids in a playground. Joey was upside down, reaching out to tag Chris, who twisted away with a sharp push off the storage racks. What the hell were these two doing?

    I leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, taking in the scene. My initial irritation wavered as I watched their antics. They weren''t screwing anything up, I thought, my lips twitching into an almost-smile. They¡¯re just¡­ being them. Dumbasses. And probably all sweaty and gross after turning off the gravity in the hangar. I could only imagine what those two got up to when they thought no one was watching. Probably better not to think about it too much.

    Joey twisted mid-air, narrowly dodging Chris¡¯s outstretched hand. ¡°You¡¯re too slow, old man!¡± he shouted, his voice echoing in the cavernous hangar.

    ¡°Old man?¡± Chris shot back, a grin splitting his face. ¡°You¡¯re older than I am!¡±

    I shook my head, rolling my eyes. So they were playing tag. In zero-g. Like a couple of ten-year-olds. I couldn''t help but smile. It was ridiculous, but it was also kind of... endearing. They needed to blow off some steam, I guess. And who was I to judge? After last night''s strip tease, I didn''t exactly have room to talk.

    I decided to leave them to their games. No need to interrupt their fun, and frankly, I could use a distraction of my own. I turned and headed towards engineering. If anyone was going to have some interesting gossip, it would be Ryan.

    <hr>

    The engineering bay was filled with complex consoles, conduits, exposed wiring, and various components, all bathed in the warm, yellow glow of the overhead lights. The place looked like a workshop, both organized and chaotic at the same time. It was familiar, yet always slightly overwhelming, Ryan was such a fucking mess.

    I spotted Ryan near the main reactor, hunched over a console, his brow furrowed in concentration as he fiddled with a component, muttering to himself. It looked like a vital piece of equipment, maybe something to do with the power coupling. He was trying to fix something, which was never a good sign. Soft music, some kind of electronic beat, was playing in the background, barely audible over the din of the machinery. I walked over, bumping his shoulder with mine playfully as I leaned against a nearby railing.

    "Everything alright, Ryan?" I asked.

    He looked up, startled, then a relieved smile spread across his face. "Luca! Just the man I wanted to see. This fucking thing is giving me a headache." He gestured to the component in his hands, a mess of wires and circuits. "Think you could give me a hand?"

    "What''s wrong with it?" I asked, peering at the device. Engineering wasn''t exactly my forte, but my Starship Systems Familiarity skill gave me a basic understanding of the core components. It looked like a power regulator, crucial for maintaining stable energy flow throughout the ship. "Is that the primary regulator for the auxiliary reactor?"

    "Yeah," Ryan said, sounding slightly surprised. "You actually know what this is." He held it up, turning it over in his hands. "It''s been acting up lately. Keeps throwing error codes, and I can''t isolate the problem. If this thing goes down, we could lose backup power, and that''s a whole can of worms we don''t want to open."

    He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It''s always something, you know? If it''s not the reactor, it''s the thrusters. Or the life support. Or the fucking recycler. It never ends." He fiddled with a small, intricate tool, his movements precise and practiced.

    "Need a wrench?" I offered, spotting the tool tray beside him. I should have dumped more XP into these engineering skills. I feel pretty useless right now. But at least I could fetch tools. I grabbed the wrench he needed and smacked his arm playfully with it before handing it over.

    Ryan glanced up, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Sure, Captain," he said, taking the wrench I offered. "Maybe you''re not as useless as you look."

    "Har har," I said, rolling my eyes. I watched as he expertly tightened a bolt on the regulator, his movements precise and practiced. I gave him a friendly shove with my hip, almost knocking him off balance. "So, about those error codes," I said, trying to sound helpful. "Have you checked the diagnostic logs? Maybe there''s a pattern we can identify."This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    "Already did," Ryan said, not looking up from his work. "Nothing conclusive. It''s like the system is glitching, but I can''t pinpoint the source." He grunted as he applied more pressure to the wrench. "This is going to be a long night."

    "Want me to grab some of those energy readouts from the bridge for cross-referencing? Might help us isolate the problem area," I asked.

    Ryan paused, considering for a moment. "Nah," he said, shaking his head. "I''ve got a program running a diagnostic sweep. It''ll take a while, but it''s more thorough than anything we could do manually. Besides," he added, with a smirk, "wouldn''t want to deprive the bridge of their fearless leader for too long."

    I watched Ryan work and a familiar wave of self-doubt washed over me. Here he was, wrestling with a vital piece of the ship''s machinery, keeping us all alive, and what was I doing? Playing chaperone, offering unsolicited advice, and basically just... existing. My so-called "familiarity" with starship systems felt like a joke compared to Ryan''s actual expertise. He was the one who had dedicated countless hours to mastering the intricacies of engineering, while I had dabbled, picking up a few basic skills here and there. Sure, I was the captain, but what did that even mean in this situation?

    I could plot a course and give orders, but when it came down to it, I was utterly useless when facing a real problem. Danny, lost in his scientific pursuits, was probably making breakthroughs that could change the course of human history. Zoe, with her navigational skills, was the only thing keeping us from getting hopelessly lost in the vast expanse of space. Even Chris and Joey, for all their goofing around, had their roles, their skills, their areas of expertise. And me? I was just... here. A glorified figurehead, good for morale maybe, but ultimately, just taking up space. I should have pushed myself harder, learned more, done more. Maybe then I wouldn''t feel like such a goddamn dead weight.

    I made a face at him. "Hilarious. So, what were those two idiots doing in the hangar? They''re fucking, right?"

    Ryan chuckled, his eyes still fixed on the component in his hands. "Yeah, they were blowing off some steam. You know how they get."

    He snorted, shaking his head. "No shit, Sherlock. You just figured that out? They''re not exactly subtle."

    "I guess not," I said, grinning. "Still, playing tag in zero-g? That''s a new one, even for them." I punched his arm lightly.

    "They''re energetic," Ryan said, a smirk playing on his lips. "Gotta burn off that sexual tension somehow. I just hope they cleaned up after themselves. Don''t need any, uh, ''residue'' floating around the hangar."

    "Ugh," I said, making a face. "Thanks for that image. So, are they like, officially together now? Or is it just a casual thing?"

    Ryan shrugged. "Who knows? They''re not exactly broadcasting their relationship status. But they''re definitely into each other. It''s pretty obvious, especially after last night."

    "Huh," I said, leaning back against the railing. "Good for them, I guess." I paused, then added, "So, what about you and Zoe?"

    Ryan froze, his hand hovering over the component. "What about us?" he asked, his voice carefully neutral.

    "Come on, man," I said, nudging him with my elbow. "You used to be all about her. Now she''s with Danny."

    "She''s moved on, Luca," Ryan said, his voice flat. "And honestly, can you blame her? They''re both into the same nerdy stuff. She practically threw herself at him last night. They are probably fucking already."

    "You don''t know that," I said, although I could see his point. "Have you asked Emily? She''d probably know, and she would tell you."

    Ryan shook his head. "No way. I''m not asking her about that. Besides," he added, a hint of bitterness in his voice, "she''s got her own thing going on with you, doesn''t she?"

    "Yeah, well," I said, rubbing the back of my neck, "about that. It''s not really a ''thing,'' you know? We''re just... having fun. It''s not like we''re exclusive or anything. I mean, we''ve been kissing and stuff, ever since we left Sol, but it''s not like we''ve talked about where it''s going. And last night, on the couch. That was... unexpected. A surprise, to be sure. A welcome one." I smiled wistfully, remembering.

    Ryan looked at me, a complex mix of emotions in his eyes. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "You always did have a way with her, Luca. Since we were kids. I guess some things never change."

    ¡°You know, you really need a haircut. These golden locks are getting out of control," I said, ruffling his hair, messing it up even more.

    Ryan smacked my hand away, laughing. "Hey, watch it! I like my hair."

    "It''s not like that," I said, feeling a pang of guilt. But I kept my hand on his head, petting his hair now "You know I''ve always... well, you know."

    Ryan nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, I know. We both have. It''s Emily, after all. Hard not to fall for her." He paused, then added, "Just... be good to her, okay? She deserves that." He punched my arm, a little harder than necessary.

    "Hey," I said, rubbing my arm. "What was that for?"

    "Nothing," he said, but his smile had a slightly forced quality to it. "Just making sure you''re paying attention."

    "I will," I said, my voice firm. "I''d never hurt her, Ryan. You know that."

    "I know," he said, clapping me on the shoulder. "Just saying. She''s special."

    "So," I said, changing the subject, "What about Zoe? You gonna just let her and Danny have all the fun?"

    Ryan shrugged, turning back to the component. "What can I do? She''s made her choice. She''s obviously into Danny. And it''s not like I can just waltz in there and tell her how I feel. I''m not like you, Luca. I can''t just... put myself out there like that."

    "Bullshit," I said, rolling my eyes. Though, let''s be honest, I hadn''t exactly ''put myself out there'' with Emily either. She was the one who made all the moves. If it were up to me, we''d probably still be exchanging awkward glances across the room. Still, I wasn''t about to admit that to Ryan. "You''re just scared. And for what? Rejection? So what if she says no? At least you''ll know."

    "Easy for you to say," Ryan muttered, his eyes fixed on the reactor component. "You''ve got Emily wrapped around your finger. You don''t have to worry about this stuff."

    "It''s not like that," I said, but even I knew it was a weak argument. "And besides," I added, trying a different tactic, "I don''t think Zoe''s the type to stay exclusive. You should at least try and see what happens. Before it''s too late." Especially with a body like hers. I mean, those curves, that confidence... and those nipples. Last night, they were on full display. Hard as rocks, practically poking through her shirt. How could anyone focus on anything else?

    Ryan was silent for a moment, his fingers tracing the outline of the component. Then, he sighed. "I don''t know, Luca. It''s just... complicated. What if I make things worse? What if she laughs at me?"

    "She won''t," I said, firmly. Even though I knew that wasn''t necessarily true. Zoe could be unpredictable. But Ryan needed to hear this. "And even if she does, so what? At least you''ll have tried. Look, I know you, Ryan. You''ll regret it more if you don''t at least try. Besides, she''d be lucky to have you. Or Emily for that matter. You''re a good guy, Ryan. You''re smart, you''re funny, and you''re way better looking than me."

    Ryan snorted, shaking his head. "Yeah, right. Says the guy who''s got Emily practically eating out of his hand."

    "I''m serious, man," I said, my voice earnest. I punched his arm lightly. "You''re a catch. Don''t sell yourself short." I meant it. Ryan could be a monumental asshole sometimes, well, most of the time, but he was also one of the most loyal, capable guys I knew. He deserved someone who appreciated that. Someone like Zoe, or... well, maybe not Emily. That was different. But still, the point stood.

    "Maybe," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. He looked up at me, a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. "But what if-"

    "No," I interrupted, shaking my head. "No more what-ifs. Just do it. Talk to her. You never know what might happen." Unless you''re me, apparently. Then you just get dragged along for the ride, whether you like it or not. Not that I was complaining, exactly.

    "Besides," I added, grinning. "You wouldn''t want Danny to make a move on her first, would you?"

    Ryan''s head snapped up, his eyes narrowed. "He wouldn''t."

    "Wouldn''t he?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "They were pretty cozy last night."

    Ryan scowled, his jaw tightening. Then, he let out a bark of laughter, shaking his head. "You know," he said, "sometimes I forget how observant you can be, Luca. Especially when it comes to... certain things." He bumped his hip against mine, a playful gesture that was also a challenge.

    "What can I say?" I said, shrugging. "I have a high perception."

    "Yeah, well," Ryan said, looking down to the component in his hands. "Maybe you''re right. Maybe I should talk to her. I mean, those nips... they were hard to miss last night. I kept trying to brush my hand against them, but she kept pushing me away. It was... frustrating. And arousing, if I''m being honest." He grinned, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "If we ever make it back to Earth, remind me to buy more pillows for the lounge. You know, for... strategic coverage."

    "You''re an idiot," I said, laughing. I shoved him again, a little harder this time, and he stumbled, catching himself on the console. But I knew what he meant. Zoe was... distracting. In the best way possible.

    "Maybe," Ryan said, his grin widening. "But at least I''m an idiot with a plan." He turned back to the reactor component, his expression focused once more. "Now, about this damn thing..."

 Chapter 26 - Arrival at Alpha Centauri

    I felt the vibration of the ship deepen, the kind that made my bones feel like jelly as we decelerated into the Alpha Centauri System. The bridge was alive, every crew member locked into their stations or glued to monitors, their focus razor-sharp. Me? I leaned back in the captain¡¯s chair, trying to look as calm as possible, but my heart was doing cartwheels. This was it: the edge of the next frontier. All that waiting, all the prep, and now? Now I was here. And yeah, I was more scared than excited. But also relieved. We made it. We didn''t die in a fiery explosion or get lost in the Oort Cloud. That was something, right?

    Zoe was hunched over her console, her long dreadlocks draped over one shoulder, her hands hovering near the controls like they were glued there. Even under the dim bridge lights, I could see the way her almond skin practically glowed, and I noticed the way her fingers twitched, her posture tight. She wasn¡¯t saying a word, but I could tell she was wound up. Zoe never let things show, so the fact that even she looked tense? Yeah, it was a mood.

    Then Joey¡¯s voice broke through like a goddamn cannonball. ¡°Finally, some real stars!¡± he yelled, pointing at his screen like he¡¯d just found buried treasure. Always the dramatics with that guy. I rolled my eyes but didn¡¯t say anything. He wasn¡¯t wrong. This was a big deal, even if he sounded like an idiot.

    My eyes drifted to the viewport. The stars of Alpha Centauri hung there, faint and distant. Not exactly the brilliant fireworks display sci-fi posters promised. Proxima Centauri, the closest of the three, was just a dot in the void. Alpha Centauri A and B? Pinpricks. Tiny lights separated by distances so huge, my brain didn¡¯t even want to try and process them. It was¡­ kinda underwhelming. Not that I was going to admit that out loud. The crew was buzzing, and I wasn¡¯t about to kill the vibe.

    <hr>

    My stomach churned, and I told myself it was just from the deceleration, not the weight of what we were doing. We were the first humans to ever do this, to ever see this. That should¡¯ve felt bigger. Maybe it would later. Right now? It was just a lot.

    Zoe let out a laugh, short, almost disbelieving and unbuckled herself from her seat. ¡°Holy shit, we¡¯re here,¡± she muttered, running a hand through her dreadlocks. Her boots hit the deck with a light thud as she stood, her excitement radiating like a pulse. She spun on her heel, her eyes scanning the bridge for someone, anyone, to share this moment with.

    Her eyes landed on Ryan, who sat next to her and was still staring at his console, his fingers tapping away like they hadn¡¯t just made history.

    ¡°Ryan!¡± Zoe practically screamed. He looked up, startled, just in time for her to throw her arms around him.

    ¡°We made it, Ry,¡± she said, her words muffled against his shoulder, and I could hear the rawness in her voice. Ryan, caught off guard, hesitated for a second before wrapping an arm around her awkwardly. His face was half-surprised, half-grinning, like he didn¡¯t know what to do but wasn¡¯t about to pull away either.

    And yeah, that was a sweet moment, I¡¯ll give her that.

    Around the bridge, the crew started to catch on. Joey whooped, slapping the side of his console like he couldn¡¯t contain himself. Emily let out a relieved laugh, leaning back in her chair and glancing over at me with a grin that made my chest feel tight. Chris raised his fist in the air, letting out a triumphant, ¡°Hell yeah!¡± It was chaos, but the good kind.

    I stayed in my seat, my hands folded over my chest, watching as high-fives and hugs were exchanged like we¡¯d just won the universe¡¯s most intense game of dodgeball. And maybe we had. A grin tugged at my lips despite myself. They¡¯d earned this moment. Weeks of waiting, grinding through chores, staring at nothing but logs and diagnostics. And now we were here, humanity¡¯s first steps into a new star system. All that tension, all that stress, for this little moment of celebration.

    And yeah, I was proud of all of them. But mostly? I was just trying not to freak out.

    <hr>

    As the initial wave of celebration ebbed, Zoe drifted back to her station. I caught the flicker of hesitation in her expression as she looked at the stars on her display. For all the crew¡¯s excitement, the reality of the system¡¯s vastness was impossible to ignore. At this distance: over 2,000 AUs from Proxima Centauri, and far further from Alpha Centauri A or Rigil Kentaurus as it was named, officially, and Alpha Centauri B, Toliman, the three stars were little more than points of light against the black. We had known this, of course. The navigational briefings had been clear: the stars wouldn¡¯t dominate the sky or appear in dramatic proximity to one another. But knowing it logically didn¡¯t make the sight any less underwhelming. And yeah, that reality was sinking in, even for me. This was it, and yeah, I didn¡¯t know how to feel about it. It was amazing, but¡­ also a little bit terrifying.

    Ryan, ever perceptive, leaned toward Zoe. His sandy blonde hair caught the light as he spoke softly. ¡°It¡¯s not what we expected,¡± he said, his voice steady, ¡°but look at what we¡¯ve done. We¡¯re here, Zoe. We made it.¡± He¡¯s always been good with words, that dumbass.

    Her lips curved into a faint smile, though her eyes lingered on the screen. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± she said, squeezing his hand briefly. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see what we find.¡± And yeah, maybe that was all we needed to hear.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    I adjusted my console, pretending not to notice their moment, and yeah, I was jealous. She¡¯ll be fine, I thought. We all will. This is just the first step, I needed to tell myself that, too. I glanced back at the stars ahead, feeling the weight of the unknown pressing on me. This system was vast, too vast for one ship to explore entirely in our limited time. Every decision from here on would matter, and every mistake would cost us dearly. And yeah, the responsibility was starting to sink in.

    Before I could dwell on it too much, I decided to check my interface. It had been weeks, and a small, hopeful part of me figured that maybe, just maybe, the change in system would trigger something. I focused, bringing up my status screen. My eyes immediately went to the skill queue. Still inert. No daily passive XP. I blinked, then checked again. Nothing. A wave of confusion, then frustration, washed over me. "What the fuck?" I muttered under my breath.

    Emily, seated beside me, reached over and squeezed my hand, her fingers warm and steady. It was such a simple gesture, but it made my chest tighten in a good way. I turned to her, catching the faint smile tugging at her lips. She didn¡¯t say anything, just let the gesture speak for her. And yeah, it helped, more than I wanted to admit.

    ¡°Danny,¡± I called over my shoulder, my tone neutral, almost impatient. ¡°Turn on the screen. Let¡¯s see what we¡¯re dealing with.¡±

    There was a pause. Too long. I twisted in my chair, eyebrows raised. ¡°Danny?¡±

    He jerked like he¡¯d been caught stealing cookies from the jar, his datapad clutched awkwardly in his hands. His eyes darted from Ryan and Zoe back to me, wide and a little panicked. ¡°What? Oh, yeah, sorry. On it,¡± he stammered, fumbling to bring the interface online.

    I didn¡¯t miss the way he checked out Zoe, or the faint pink creeping up his neck. It was almost funny, really. He¡¯d been watching them, and yeah, I couldn¡¯t blame him. The way Zoe and Ryan had been leaning into each other, it was hard not to notice. But Danny? He looked like he¡¯d just been caught watching something he shouldn¡¯t, and that made it so much better.

    ¡°Focus, Danny,¡± I said, smirking despite myself as I turned back to my screen. ¡°We¡¯re not here to sightsee.¡± I was trying to distract myself from the fact that my skill queue wasn''t working. It didn''t make any sense.

    ¡°Right. Got it,¡± Danny mumbled, his voice a little higher than usual as he scrambled to pull up the interface. And yeah, I knew he was trying to shake off whatever just happened, but the way Zoe glanced over her shoulder with a subtle smirk? She definitely noticed, too.

    Emily¡¯s hand stayed on mine for a moment longer, her thumb brushing lightly against my knuckles before she withdrew.

    A moment later, soft lines and markers blinked to life on the viewport, outlining the positions of Proxima Centauri and Alpha Centauri A and B. Data streamed in beside the stars, distances, orbital details. I squinted at the display. Still just dots, I thought, resisting the urge to roll my eyes. Well, at least now we know which dots are ours. All that effort, all that tension, for a couple of damn dots on the screen.

    The crew returned to their stations, their chatter quieter now, like they were still processing what this meant. The buzz wasn¡¯t gone; it was just different, muted, but charged. No one said it out loud, but you could feel it. This was something bigger than we could grasp.

    "Hey," I said, my voice a little louder than I intended. "Has anyone checked their interface?" The question hung in the air, and I could feel the shift in the atmosphere on the bridge. Everyone looked at me, a few faces already reflecting the same confusion I was feeling.

    Emily frowned as she brought up her own interface. "What''s wrong?"

    "My skill queue is still inert," I said, the words laced with disbelief. "And no daily XP."

    The effect was immediate. A wave of murmurs rippled through the bridge as the rest of the crew accessed their own interfaces. I could see the same realization dawning on their faces, the same mix of confusion and frustration.

    "Mine too," Chris said, his voice tight. "What the hell?"

    "This doesn''t make any sense," Zoe muttered, her fingers flying across her console as if she could somehow force the system to update. "We''re in a new system. The cap should have lifted."

    "Maybe it takes time?" Joey offered, but his voice lacked conviction. We all knew the system didn''t work like that.

    Then, because he could always be counted on to say the absolute worst thing at the worst time, Joey added, "Or maybe we were wrong. Maybe just getting here doesn''t do shit. Maybe there''s some other hidden mechanic we''re missing."

    I wanted to punch him. Right in his stupid, pragmatic face. "Thanks, Joey," I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "That''s exactly what we needed to hear. You know, besides the whole mapping and surveying thing, and getting paid, the whole fucking point of coming here was to level up. To get that tingle, that little rush. You know, that feeling we haven''t had in what almost two years?" I could feel the anger rising in my chest, and it had nothing to do with logic and everything to do with frustration.

    Ryan, ever the optimist, chimed in, "Maybe we just need to, you know, use our skills. Get things moving." He gestured vaguely with his hands, like he was physically demonstrating the activation process. "Shake off the rust."

    Zoe shot him a withering look. "I''ve been using my navigation skills, Ryan. It hasn''t done shit."

    "So... combat skills?" Danny said, his eyes drifting towards the door, then back at us. "That''s how we unlocked the system to begin with, right? Maybe that''s what it takes?"

    A heavy silence fell over the bridge, yep, you guessed it, we could hear the proverbial pin drop. We were in a new system, millions of miles from home, and our skills weren''t leveling. We were still capped. A sense of unease, bordering on panic, began to spread among the crew. This wasn''t just an inconvenience; it was a serious problem. We relied on those skills, on that progression. And on that rush. That little jolt of pleasure that came with every new level, every skill up. We were junkies, in a way, and right now, we were all going through withdrawal. And right now, we were stuck.

    I let my eyes drift back to the viewport, taking in Proxima Centauri and its distant siblings. No dazzling bursts of light, no cosmic drama. Just tiny points against an endless, indifferent black. Not exactly the fireworks show we¡¯d all secretly hoped for, huh? But that¡¯s the universe for you. Cold, quiet, and a hell of a lot bigger than we are. Still, we were in it, for real. And yeah, that sent a shiver down my spine.

    It was terrifying. And amazing. And it was all on me now. I gripped the armrest a little tighter, trying to keep my nerves in check. There¡¯s no turning back from this. We made it. Now it¡¯s time to make it count. But how were we supposed to do that if we couldn''t even level up?

 Chapter 27 - Beatdown

    "Maybe a little sparring will kickstart it?" Danny added, trying to sound casual, but I could see the uncertainty in his eyes.

    "You want us to beat each other up?" Emily asked, her voice laced with skepticism. "Seriously?"

    "It''s just a thought," Danny mumbled, shrugging. "We''re stuck, aren''t we?"

    Joey raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "I''ve got space in the infirmary."

    My stomach twisted into a knot. This was escalating quickly. Part of me wanted to shut it down, to tell everyone to calm the fuck down. But another part, the frustrated part, was starting to see the twisted logic in it. We were fighters. Maybe that was the key. Or maybe we were all just losing it.

    "So who''s fighting who?" Chris asked, breaking the silence. His voice was surprisingly neutral, but I could see the glint of something in his eyes. Excitement? Apprehension? A mix of both, maybe.

    All eyes turned to me. Right. Captain. Decision time. I looked at each of them, trying to gauge their expressions. Zoe was watching me intently, her arms crossed. Ryan looked eager, a little too eager. Emily seemed concerned, and Danny... well, Danny looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here.

    "Fine," I said, the word escaping my lips before I could fully process it. "Let''s go to the gym. But nothing serious. We''re just testing this, got it?"

    A wave of nods and murmurs of agreement rippled through the bridge. As we headed towards the gym, I could feel the tension rising with every step. This was either going to be a breakthrough or a complete disaster. And honestly? I wasn''t sure which one I was dreading more.

    The gym was spacious, equipped with everything from weights to sparring mats. The air smelled faintly of ozone and sweat. Not exactly the ideal place for a friendly spar. More like a place where things got real. And yeah, my stomach was doing somersaults now. This was a bad idea. A really bad idea.

    "So, who''s up first?" Ryan asked, bouncing on the balls of his feet like he was ready to jump into a ring. He was practically vibrating with pent-up energy.

    Everyone looked at me. Again. Because, you know, captain. "I''ll do it," I said, stepping forward before anyone else could volunteer, or worse, volunteer me. "Ryan, you''re up."

    Ryan grinned, cracking his knuckles. "You got it, Captain."

    "Just remember," I said, trying to inject some authority into my voice. "We''re testing a theory. No killing each other."

    Zoe snorted. "Where''s the fun in that?" she teased, but I could see the hint of concern in her eyes.

    Ryan and I faced each other in the center of the mat. He bounced lightly on his feet, his blue eyes glinting with a mix of challenge and something else. Something that made my stomach clench. Was this a mistake? Probably. But there was no turning back now. We were doing this. For better or for worse.

    "Ready?" Ryan asked, raising his fists. His blonde hair fell across his forehead, and for a second, I just stared, my mind blank. Then, with a jolt, I mirrored his stance, my heart pounding in my chest like a war drum. This was it. Time to see if a little pain was the key to unlocking our potential. Or if we were all just a bunch of idiots, desperate for a fix.

    Ryan and I circled each other, our movements mirroring each other. The gym lights reflected off the sweat beading on his forehead, and I could see the focused intensity in his eyes. This was ridiculous. We were supposed to be a team, and here we were, about to beat the shit out of each other on the off chance that it might magically fix our level cap problem.

    Ryan threw the first punch, a tentative left hook that I easily blocked. It was soft, almost playful. Testing the waters. I responded with a right jab, equally light, aiming for his shoulder. We were feeling each other out, trying to figure out the fight.

    "Come on, Luca," Emily called from the sidelines. "Is that all you''ve got?" Her voice was teasing, but I could hear the underlying tension. They were all watching us, their faces a mix of anticipation and apprehension.

    I feinted to the left, then threw a right hook towards Ryan''s ribs. He grunted as it connected, but he took it well. And yeah, his abs were tighter than I expected. Like hitting a wall of muscle. Where the hell had that come from?

    The next few exchanges were more of the same. Feints, blocks, and light punches. I walloped him across the head, and yeah that was weak, more like bitch-slap. We were both holding back, testing each other, testing the theory. But it was starting to feel¡­ real. The air crackled with a strange energy, a mix of adrenaline and something else. Something I didn''t want to name.

    "Still no passive XP gain," Ryan said, his voice a little breathless. He ducked under my left jab and landed a solid punch to my gut. I grunted, more from surprise than pain. How the hell was he checking his interface while we were fighting?

    "How are you even looking at that right now?" I asked, circling him, trying to catch my breath. My eyes were glued to him, to the way his muscles moved under his skin, the way his blonde hair was plastered to his forehead with sweat. This was a mistake. A huge mistake.

    Ryan grinned, a flash of white teeth in the dim light. "Multitasking," he said, shrugging. "Gotta stay informed." Then he lunged, a flurry of punches aimed at my head and chest. I blocked most of them, but one connected with my jaw, sending a jolt of pain through me. And yeah, that one hurt. A lot.

    "Take it seriously, you two!" Danny''s voice cut through the air, laced with a hint of anxiety. "The system might not recognize it if you''re just playing around."

    "Oh, we''re taking it seriously," Ryan said, his voice low and dangerous. He feinted left, then right, then landed another hard punch to my ribs. I stumbled back, gasping for air. That hurt. And the look in Ryan''s eyes? That wasn''t the look of a teammate. That was the look of a predator.

    "Come on, hit him back!" Zoe shouted. She sounded excited, maybe a little too much. "Give us a show!"

    "Yeah," Emily added, her voice laced with excitement, "Make it count!" Were they enjoying this? A little too much?Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    The pain in my ribs flared, a sharp reminder that I was in a fight, not a dance. And maybe, just maybe, Danny was right. We needed to take this seriously. A surge of adrenaline, hot and fierce, coursed through me. My vision narrowed, focusing on Ryan, on the way his muscles bunched under his skin, the sweat dripping down his temples, the slight flex of his ridiculously tight ass as he shifted his weight. And yeah, I wanted to hurt him. Not just to test the system, but because he''d hurt me. Because he was standing there, looking at me like he was about to tear me apart, his legs moving like a wanna-be boxer. And maybe, just maybe, because I wanted him to look at me like that.

    I launched myself at him, a flurry of punches aimed at his head and body. I felt a savage grin stretch my lips as my fists connected with his flesh, bone, and muscle. This was it. This was what we needed. Pain. Exertion. A real fight. And maybe, just maybe, a way to finally break through this fucking level cap.

    My fist connected with his jaw, and I felt a thrill course through me, quickly followed by a sharp pain in my knuckles. He grunted, staggering back a step, but he didn''t go down. Instead, he shook his head, his eyes clearing, and then he was on me, a whirlwind of fists and elbows. I tried to block, to counter, but he was too fast, too strong. A punch caught me in the temple, and the world spun. Another connected with my stomach, driving the air from my lungs. I stumbled, my legs turning to jelly. And then, with a final, brutal uppercut, Ryan sent me crashing to the mat.

    The world went black.

    "Maybe you were right," I heard Joey''s voice, muffled and distant, as if from the end of a long tunnel. "Maybe we are missing something."

    I tried to open my eyes, to speak, but everything was dark and heavy. My head throbbed, my body ached, and my thoughts were a jumbled mess. Had it worked? Was the level cap gone? Or had we just brutalized each other for nothing?

    Then, strong arms were lifting me, pulling me to my feet. I blinked, my vision slowly clearing. Ryan was standing over me, his face etched with concern, and yeah, maybe a little bit of guilt. He looked like he wanted to say something, but he just held out a hand, helping me to my feet.

    "You alright?" he asked, his voice surprisingly gentle.

    I nodded, my head still spinning. "Yeah," I mumbled, my voice hoarse. "Just peachy."

    Joey appeared beside me, holding a small spray bottle. "Here," he said, "this will help with the swelling." He sprayed something cool and soothing on my face, and the throbbing in my head eased slightly.

    "So," I said, turning to look at Ryan, "Did it work?"

    Ryan shook his head, glancing down at his hands. "Nothing. Still no skill queue."

    A wave of exhaustion washed over me. We''d pushed ourselves, pushed each other, and for what? Nothing. We were still stuck. Still capped. And now, on top of everything else, I had a throbbing head and a bruised ego.

    "Well, shit," I said, slumping against the wall. "Now what?"

    Then a thought struck me, a very obvious, very stupid thought. "Hey, Ryan," I said, my voice a little dazed. "Do you even have a hand-to-hand combat skill?"

    Ryan blinked, his grin faltering for a second. "Uh... no," he admitted, scratching the back of his head. "Do you?"

    I stared at him, then at the others, who were now looking at each other with a mix of dawning realization and sheepish embarrassment. "No," I said, my voice flat. "None of us do. We have weapons skills. Guns, mostly. You know, for shooting things. Not for... this." I gestured vaguely at my own face, then at the gym around us.

    I wanted to facepalm, but my face hurt too much. Of all the dumb, impulsive, illogical things we''d done, this had to be near the top of the list. We were idiots. Well-meaning, desperate idiots, but idiots nonetheless.

    Ryan, of course, chose that moment to grin again, that infuriatingly charming grin that made me want to punch him all over again. "Well," he said, clapping me on the shoulder, "at least we got a good workout in."

    I glared at him, but even I had to admit, it was kind of funny. In a messed-up, we''re-all-going-crazy-in-space kind of way. Though, I thought, maybe I should invest in a hand-to-hand combat skill if I ever came across a skill shard. Emily would probably kill me, though. We had spent hours working on my skill plan. Eh, what was one more skill?

    <hr>

    We were a sorry sight as we stumbled into the lounge. I could feel every single bruise throbbing, a technicolor map of pain blossoming across my body. My face felt like one giant bruise, and I was pretty sure my ribs were cracked. But, at least Ryan was sporting a nasty shiner, so I wasn''t the only one who''d paid the price for our little experiment. We were laughing, though, a slightly hysterical edge to it, fueled by adrenaline, relief, and the sheer absurdity of what we''d just done.

    "Idiots," I muttered, shaking my head. "We''re fucking idiots."

    "Speak for yourself," Ryan said, wincing as he touched his swollen eye. "But hey, at least we tried."

    I dimmed the lights in the lounge, letting the starlight spilling in through the wide windows take over. It was so goddamned romantic, I thought, glancing around for Emily. The soft glow from the small lamps bathed the leather couches and armchairs in a warm light, and yeah, I had to admit, the setup looked good. Like, better-than-usual good. I grabbed two bottles of wine from the stash my dad had handed me before we left, carefully opening them, trying not to spill like an idiot. This was a milestone, and we deserved to celebrate. Even if we were sporting fresh bruises.

    Pouring the wine into glasses, I raised mine in an easy toast, the grin on my face more crooked than I¡¯d planned, thanks to my swollen lip. ¡°To surviving the Oort Cloud Passage and finally coasting into Alpha Centauri,¡± I said, my arm wrapped around Emily¡¯s waist as she stood beside me. She looked amazing tonight, and yeah, so did the rest of the crew. There was something about making it through a mess like the Oort Cloud that made everyone shine a little brighter.

    We all raised glasses, the soft clink of glassware blending with murmured agreements. It had been a rough couple of days, constant course adjustments, tension so thick it could¡¯ve clogged the FTL drive, and no room for error. But now? We¡¯d earned this. A breath, a slice of calm after all the chaos.

    Emily passed out slices of pizza, the smell of melted cheese and pepperoni filling the room, and damn, it hit just right. ¡°Courtesy of Luca¡¯s oregano,¡± she teased, sprinkling some over Zoe¡¯s slice with a flourish before handing it over. She paused as she passed me, her eyes tracing the colorful bruises blooming on my chest, visible beneath my sheer white shirt.

    She moved around the room like she owned it, making everything feel better, easier, she had that magic about her. And then, before I could even process it, she was on my lap, settling in like it was the most natural thing in the world. My heart skipped a beat, and yeah, I was totally screwed. Every slight shift of her weight sent a jolt through my aching muscles, but I wasn''t about to complain. Not when she felt this good pressed against me.

    Zoe leaned into Ryan, biting into her slice with her eyes closed, practically humming with satisfaction. ¡°God bless the hydroponic garden. Who knew oregano could taste this good?¡±

    ¡°Me,¡± I shot back, adjusting Emily on my lap and trying and failing not to focus on how good she felt pressed against me. Or how every slight movement made me acutely aware of just how badly Ryan had pummeled me. How was I supposed to be normal like this?

    Across the room, Joey scrolled through the movie catalog like it owed him something, his brow furrowed in exaggerated frustration. ¡°Man, is it just me, or do we have, like, no good movies left?¡± he griped, scrolling past the same tired titles we¡¯d already seen twice. What a clown.

    Danny laughed, leaning over the pool table as he lined up a shot. ¡°That¡¯s because you burned through anything decent weeks ago. Don¡¯t blame the catalog, blame your garbage taste.¡± Always the smug bastard.

    Chris swirled his wine like he was in some fancy parlor, his tone dripping with mock sophistication. ¡°A man who devours Deathstalker four times in a row has no leg to stand on,¡± he said, smirking.

    Joey shot him a glare, sticking his tongue out like a five-year-old before going back to his pointless search.

    I leaned back, letting the sound of laughter and friendly jabs wash over me. This was nice. Normal. We¡¯d made it. Everyone was here, and for once, everything felt right. For now, at least. And with Emily sitting on my lap, her warmth radiating through me like some kind of antidote to the universe¡¯s bullshit, I couldn¡¯t help but feel like maybe, just maybe, things were starting to look up. Even if my body felt like it had been trampled by a herd of space elephants.

 Chapter 28 - Dishwasher Boy

    As the party started to wind down, I found myself lounging on the couch with Emily sprawled comfortably on my lap. Her weight against me felt so natural, and yeah, it was definitely making things¡­ complicated. The sheer loungewear didn¡¯t help, and my brain was doing its usual thing, overthinking everything. Specifically, one question that had been gnawing at me all damn night: Was she wearing a thong or a g-string? My ribs ached with every slight movement, a constant reminder of Ryan''s fists, but even that wasn''t enough to distract me from this particular dilemma.

    I couldn¡¯t shake it. The thought had wormed its way into my head early in the night, and now it was like an itch I couldn¡¯t scratch. The problem? I didn¡¯t actually know the difference. I mean, I¡¯d heard of both, obviously, but I couldn¡¯t have pointed one out in a lineup if my life depended on it. Was a thong just thicker? Was a g-string basically a shoelace? I didn¡¯t know, and it was driving me nuts.

    Emily shifted on my lap, her hips wiggling slightly, and yeah, my whole body lit up like a Christmas tree. This was getting harder to hide. I gripped her hips instinctively, keeping her steady so she didn¡¯t notice, or at least, didn¡¯t make it worse. A sharp pain shot through my side, and I winced. Note to self: bruised ribs and lap dances don''t mix.

    Finally, I caved. I leaned in, my voice low enough that no one else could hear. ¡°Emily,¡± I whispered, ¡°are you wearing a thong?¡±

    She froze for a second before turning to look at me, her green eyes glittering with amusement. And yeah, I knew I was in for it. A slow, mischievous smile spread across her lips. ¡°Luca Rossi,¡± she said, her voice dripping with playful scorn. ¡°You are such a naughty boy.¡±

    Before I could reply, she leaned in, her lips brushing my neck in a way that sent shivers all the way down my spine. My bruised muscles protested, but honestly, I didn''t care. Not when she was this close. Her laugh was soft and wicked, and I could feel the heat rising in my face, and everywhere else. This was a mistake, wasn¡¯t it?

    ¡°Well,¡± I said, trying to match her energy, even though I was completely out of my depth. ¡°Now I really need to know.¡± My grin felt lopsided, but she didn¡¯t seem to mind. She leaned back slightly, her hands trailing lazily up my chest as her eyes locked on mine, filled with that teasing glint that drove me insane.

    ¡°You¡¯re adorable,¡± she said, shaking her head as if she couldn¡¯t believe I¡¯d actually asked. ¡°But tell me, Luca, what do you think the difference is?¡±

    ¡°A thong¡¯s¡­ thicker?¡± I ventured, my voice hesitant. ¡°And a g-string is, like, thinner? Or¡­ stringier?¡± My cheeks were burning now. God, I sounded like an idiot.

    Emily laughed, a full, genuine laugh that made her whole body shake against mine. I bit back a groan as her movement jostled my sore ribs. Worth it. ¡°Oh, Luca,¡± she said, her voice dropping into a soft, seductive purr. ¡°You really are a novice, aren¡¯t you?¡±

    Her fingers toyed with the hem of her loungewear as she tilted her head, considering me. Then, in a move that nearly stopped my heart, she lifted the waistband just enough to reveal a sliver of red. ¡°This,¡± she whispered, her voice both daring and playful, ¡°is a g-string.¡±

    I swallowed hard, my throat dry, as my eyes locked onto the sliver of fabric. My brain was screaming at me to say something, anything, but all I could manage was a strangled, ¡°Oh.¡±

    Emily leaned closer, her lips brushing my ear. ¡°So now you know,¡± she murmured, her breath warm against my skin. And yeah, I was definitely not going to survive this.

    ¡°Is that what Zoe was wearing the other day?¡± I asked, my voice dipping low with curiosity, and yeah, I¡¯d been paying attention. Probably way too much. My bruised ribs throbbed in protest as I shifted slightly, trying to get a better look. Focus, Rossi, focus.

    Emily smirked, her green eyes narrowing as if she could see right through me. ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, her voice dripping with amusement. ¡°They can be quite¡­ revealing.¡± Her fingers traced small circles on my arm, her nails barely brushing my skin, and yeah, my brain was short-circuiting. ¡°But then again, they¡¯re just as comfortable as a thong.¡±

    Was she trying to kill me? Because it was working. My thoughts raced, tripping over themselves in an effort to focus on anything but the visual she¡¯d just planted in my head. And the growing ache in my pants wasn''t helping.

    And then she leaned in closer, her body pressing flush against mine. Her lips hovered inches from my ear, and I could feel her breath, warm and teasing, as she whispered, ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask Zoe about it? Something tells me she¡¯d be happy to show you.¡±

    My brain flatlined. Completely shut down. Was she serious? Was she actually telling me to ask Zoe about her underwear? The idea made my stomach flip in a way that wasn¡¯t entirely unpleasant, but it was overshadowed by the fact that Emily¡¯s lips had just brushed my ear, and yeah, thinking was not an option right now.

    ¡°Yeah, uh¡­ maybe another time,¡± I muttered, trying to sound casual and failing miserably. My voice cracked slightly, and I immediately wanted to punch myself. Or Ryan. He was the reason I was in pain in the first place.

    Emily pulled back just enough to meet my eyes, her grin softening but losing none of its mischief. ¡°I¡¯m just teasing,¡± she said, her tone playful but with an edge of sincerity that made my chest tighten. Her hand came up to cup my cheek, her thumb brushing lightly over my skin. ¡°But, hey, no judgment if you¡¯re curious.¡±

    Curious? That wasn¡¯t the half of it. I let out a weak laugh, my hands tightening instinctively on her waist as I tried to regain some semblance of control. Every slight movement sent a jolt of pain through my ribs, but I didn''t care. Not when she was this close. ¡°You¡¯re gonna kill me, you know that?¡±

    Her smile widened, but there was something softer behind it now, something that made my stomach twist in a completely different way. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t dream of it,¡± she murmured before leaning in and pressing a featherlight kiss to my lips.

    <hr>

    Joey, who had been pretending to browse the movie catalog but was clearly keeping one eye on us, cleared his throat loudly. ¡°Uh, guys?¡± he said, trying to sound casual and failing miserably. ¡°I think it might be time for bed.¡± He jabbed a thumb toward the clock on the wall, which read 02:00, and yeah, I knew he was just trying to bail me out of my predicament. Thanks, Joey. Maybe.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

    The crew groaned in unison, the late hour catching up to them. One by one, they began to gather their things, stretching and yawning as they shuffled toward the door. Zoe, already tucked under Danny¡¯s arm, shot me a knowing glance that sent my stomach into knots. She knew. Of course she knew. ¡°Night, Captain,¡± she called over her shoulder, her tone dripping with amusement. And yeah, she definitely knew what was up.

    Emily untangled herself from my lap with deliberate slowness, her teasing smirk still firmly in place. I exhaled sharply, realizing I¡¯d been holding my breath the whole time. Snatching up a pillow, I strategically placed it over my lap, my ears burning.

    "This is all Ryan''s fault," I muttered under my breath, glaring at the pillow like it was his fault I was hard and in pain. I muttered, ¡°I¡¯ll clean up,¡± before standing, hoping the motion would somehow distract from the situation below my waist, and yeah, it wasn¡¯t working.

    If the other guys noticed, they mercifully chose not to say anything. Joey, though, couldn¡¯t resist giving me a thumbs-up, already halfway out the door with Chris trailing behind him. ¡°Good man,¡± he said with an exaggerated wink that made me want to launch the pillow at his head. Instead, I clenched my jaw and let him have his moment. Next time, Joey. Next time.

    As the room emptied, Emily stretched luxuriously on the other couch, her arms reaching above her head like she didn¡¯t have a care in the world. The movement drew my eyes, not that I had any control over it, and when she propped her head up on a pillow, she caught me staring. Of course she did.

    ¡°Come on, silly,¡± she said, motioning for me to join her. Her tone was light, but her eyes carried that same playful edge it always did, the one that tied my brain in knots and made me forget how to think straight. ¡°I¡¯ll wait while you clean up.¡± Her smile was teasing, but there was a promise there too, and yeah, I was already counting the seconds.

    I hesitated, caught between the gravitational pull of her invitation and the nagging sense of duty telling me to actually finish what I¡¯d started. And yeah, let¡¯s be honest, the pull was winning. ¡°Uh, yeah, just give me a minute,¡± I muttered, my voice cracking slightly. Smooth, Rossi. Real smooth.

    The cleanup was mercifully quick. I moved through the room, gathering glasses and plates scattered around like I actually had some purpose. The sink filled with a low hiss as I started loading the dishwasher, the rhythmic hum of the machine spinning into action helping calm my nerves. Barely. My thoughts, though? They were still in the lounge, laser-focused on Emily sprawled out on the couch behind me. I could feel her eyes on me, like she was watching my every move, waiting, and yeah, this was going to be a long night. A good one. But still, a long night. My body ached, my head throbbed, and my dick was still hard. Yep, definitely a long night.

    <hr>

    ¡°Alright, Emily,¡± I said, closing the dishwasher, trying to sound like I had it all together, ¡°Time to get you back to your room.¡± I¡¯m starting to think I should have just let her sleep on the couch. Every step was a reminder of Ryan''s fists, and my body was protesting loudly.

    She was fast asleep, and looked so peaceful, and yeah, I could have just stayed there and watched her sleep, but I knew I couldn¡¯t.

    Sitting down near her feet, I rested my elbows on my knees, unsure of what to do next, and yeah, I felt like an idiot. I rubbed the back of my neck, glancing at her loungewear, and yeah, it was far too revealing, though I supposed that wasn¡¯t news by now. I still couldn¡¯t wrap my head around how Zoe and Emily had managed to convince the lady at the uniform shop to sell them these, it was ridiculous. Even the guys¡¯ underwear was visible through the thin fabric, though none of us seemed to care. It was like some bizarre, see-through uniform.

    We were all into sports, I mused, my eyes drifting to the dim lights of the lounge. Locker room rules, I guess. But the girls¡­ I sighed, the thought trailing off, yeah, the girls brought a different energy to our evenings. Emily, with her playful teasing, always seemed effortlessly alluring, and Zoe, with her confidence, didn''t even need to try. They were both something else. And now, thanks to Ryan, I was feeling every single one of my bruises. Great.

    Occasionally, Zoe would arrive without wearing a bra. Though her breasts were barely there, she still made an effort to draw attention to them. The outline of her dark nipples pressing against their long lounge shirts certainly did the trick. Despite the flirtatious atmosphere amongst our crew, there seemed to be some level of restraint as there had been no news of any extracurricular romance. Was this a typical normal? I didn''t want to think about it too much, after all, we were having fun. I was just glad that my arousal was finally subsiding, and yeah, that was a relief.

    My eyes flicked to Emily again, and I took a deep breath when I realized her bra had slipped loose at some point, one breast now exposed. She must have known or done this on purpose, probably, yeah. My heart thudded as I looked away sharply, forcing myself to focus on the blank wall ahead. Okay. Nope. Not going there, I told myself. What the hell, man?

    After a beat, I grabbed a nearby blanket and carefully draped it over her, tucking her in gently. Just cover it up, that¡¯s right. Problem solved. But as I adjusted the blanket, my eyes betrayed me for a second, catching on the tiny knot at her waist where her g-string was tied, and yeah, I was a mess. It had the ship¡¯s logo printed on it, just like the rest of our clothes. Even the underwear, I thought wryly. What a ridiculous use of my budget. She was beautiful, and yeah, I wanted her.

    ¡°Come on Emily, time for bed,¡± I sighed after a moment, touching her shoulder, trying to sound like I had it under control, but yeah, I was a mess.

    As Emily stirred awake, I couldn''t help but smile at the sight of her sleepy eyes and disheveled hair. She was beautiful.

    ¡°Mmm, what time is it?¡± she asked, and yeah, she was still half-asleep.

    ¡°It''s time to say goodnight, sweetheart,¡± I replied, and yeah, I was such a sap for her. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get you back to your room.¡±

    Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, Emily reached into her shirt and unclipped her loose bra, letting it fall beside her. She stretched, her bare chest now exposed, her movements deliberate, and yeah, I was trying so hard not to look, and failing miserably. Her arms extended out, giving me a glorious view of her fully exposed breasts just a foot away, and I was pretty sure my brain stopped working. Slowly, she reached out and ran her fingers through my hair, pulling me closer, and yeah, I felt like I was going to pass out. ¡°I had so much fun tonight,¡± she breathed before leaning in to kiss me. My ribs screamed in protest, but I ignored them. This was worth it.

    My heart raced as I returned her kiss, my hands instinctively finding their way to her hips, and yeah, she was so good, and I was so lost. We broke apart after a moment, both slightly breathless. And I was now, officially, fully awake. And hard. Again. Great.

    ¡°Me too, Em. We¡¯ll do it again sometime,¡± I admitted with a smile, and yeah, I wanted to do that again, soon. ¡°But it¡¯s late, and you should get some rest.¡±

    Emily pouted, looking at me with those big green eyes of hers. ¡°Do I have to?¡± she asked, tracing circles on my chest with her finger, and yeah, I could get lost in her eyes. And her fingers weren''t helping with the whole ''bruised ribs'' situation. Or the other situation.

    I felt myself growing warm under her touch.  ¡°We have a lot of work tomorrow, come on, I¡¯ll walk you,¡± and yeah, I needed to get out of here, fast.

    With a sigh, Emily nodded. ¡°Definitely, Captain.¡± And yeah, that was it, she had me, I knew it.

    I stepped away, allowing her to get up off the couch, the blanket falling off her. Then, I guided her out of the lounge toward her quarters. As we approached her cabin door, Emily shivered, goosebumps visible beneath her sleeves. Her big, forlorn eyes met mine as she whispered a soft ¡°Goodnight.¡± And yeah, I could see that she was tired, that she was letting her guard down, and that was a privilege.

    ¡°Goodnight, Emily,¡± I replied gently, watching her step inside, kind of hoping she would invite me in, yet dreading it, before heading back to my own cabin once the door slid shut. My body ached, my head was pounding, and my dick was still hard. What a fucking night.

 Chapter 29 - Sleep Over!

    Once inside, I changed into my warm pajamas. Despite the lack of flannel, the fabrics Emily and Zoe had chosen felt surprisingly good, soft, breathable, and insulating against the ship¡¯s subtle chill. As I settled under my comforter, I made a mental note to check the thermostat in Emily¡¯s room. She was always cold; maybe it was malfunctioning. I was a little worried about her. Just as sleep began to tug at my eyelids, a soft knock came at my door. I knew exactly who it was.

    ¡°Emily?¡± I asked, opening it. My heart was practically coming out of my chest.

    She stood there, teeth chattering a bundled-up, adorable mess in her buttoned-up pajamas. ¡°I can¡¯t take the cold anymore,¡± she stammered, her voice small. Fuck, she¡¯s cute. ¡°Can I stay with you?¡± Please, please, please, I thought, even though I also knew this was a bad idea.

    I glanced quickly down the empty hallway before stepping aside. I knew this was going to be a disaster. ¡°Come in.¡± I couldn''t help the little smile that had started forming on my lips.

    Emily didn¡¯t wait for an invitation to do anything else. She went straight to my bed and burrowed under my comforter, shivering so hard the mattress shook beneath her. I shut the door, leaning against it for a moment, staring at the now-occupied bed, and sure, my mind was racing. Where am I supposed to sleep now? This is a terrible idea, I thought, but I couldn''t stop the smile that had now formed on my lips.

    ¡°Stop standing there and get in,¡± Emily called from beneath the blanket, her voice muffled but insistent. She peeked out, her face rosy from the chill. She was cute as hell. ¡°You¡¯re warm. I need you.¡± That did things to me.

    I hesitated. Part of me wanted to jump in, the other part knew this was awkward as shit. Finally, I caved, climbing in beside her, closer to the cold bulkhead. My bed was warm, sure, but then her ice-cold limbs hit me. Jesus Christ she was cold. Oh, wait, these were actually good for my bruises, maybe this is not a bad idea after all. A sharp pain shot up my side as Emily shifted, pressing against my sore ribs from the fight earlier. I winced, but didn''t say anything. Didn''t want to ruin the moment, you know?

    "Holy shit Emily, are your feet made of actual frost?" I yelped, jerking back as her toes, like little icicles, grazed my legs.

    She giggled, all sleepy and cute, curling closer. "Come on, don''t be a baby. I''m thawing out." As she moved, her knee bumped my chest, right where it was bruised. I bit back a groan. Man, that hurt, but her cold skin actually felt kinda good on the throbbing blue and purple mess.

    ¡°Thawing out? You¡¯re trying to freeze me solid!¡± I grumbled, pulling the blanket tighter around us, she was playing with me. ¡°How are you even alive with feet that cold? You¡¯re like an actual ice elemental.¡± I was probably being dramatic, but they really were freezing.

    Emily wiggled her toes against my calves. "You''re exaggerating. It''s not that bad." She had to know she was driving me nuts, and yeah, I was starting to think she liked it. Her arm brushed my chest, sending a jolt of pain through me. I sucked in a breath.

    "It is exactly that bad," I retorted, but my voice softened as her arms wrapped around my waist. She felt so good, even if she was a damn popsicle. Her head rested on my chest, breath warm against my skin, a total contrast to her freezing hands and feet. My heart was beating so hard, I swear it was trying to escape. Another wave of pain, this time from my shoulder, as she snuggled closer.

    "Goodnight, Captain Complaints," she murmured, planting a quick kiss on my cheek. This was getting out of control, fast. I winced as she pressed against my side again.

    ¡°Goodnight, Frost Queen,¡± I replied dryly, but my hand found her hair, stroking it slow. Despite her being a walking ice cube, she was warm in a way that made my heart do stupid things. I was totally gone.

    As Emily drifted off, breathing all soft and steady, I stared at the ceiling, my mind racing. She was going to give me hypothermia, but damn if it wasn''t worth it. Probably pathetic, right? But I couldn''t help it. She had me wrapped around her finger, body pressed against me, and I was okay with that, even if every movement was a painful reminder of that fight. I''m such an idiot. A happy, bruised idiot.

    That poor idiot, Ryan, was probably grimacing in pain in his room alone, nursing that shiner I gave him and that nice chest of his, I had gotten a couple of good hits in there. We really went at it today, huh? Good times, good times. I didn''t regret it, not really. It was fun, in a painful, we''re-all-idiots kind of way. I smiled to myself, picturing Ryan''s stupid face. He''d probably give me shit for it tomorrow, but he''d be smiling. We''re all just a bunch of idiots, in our own ways, but we have each other''s backs. And right now, I have Emily''s. Even if she''s a beautiful, freezing, pain-inducing, wonderful problem. My problem, at least for tonight.

    <hr>

    The next morning, I woke to find Emily curled up against me, her arm draped across my chest. The warmth of her breath tickled my neck, and as my eyes adjusted to the dim cabin light, I froze. Her shirt had come unbuttoned at some point during the night, leaving her bare, glorious breasts exposed in the soft glow. Of course, I thought. Just my luck. I swallowed hard, trying to look away and focusing on the ceiling, trying to will my thoughts into something less incriminating, but that was a losing battle.

    But come on, I had to look. She was beautiful, all peaceful and comfy, hair a mess on my pillow. The moment felt¡­ I don''t know, fragile? Like if I moved, it would shatter. Part of me wanted to just stay there forever, soaking it in. The other part was like, Dude, get the hell out of here. But for now? It was pretty damn nice.

    I tried to slide out of bed, ninja-style, but a jolt of pain shot through my ribs as I moved. Damn, still sore. Emily stirred, her arm tightening around me for a second, right on the most tender spot on my chest. I bit back a hiss. Then her eyes fluttered open. She yawned, stretching like a cat, and oh my god, the movement was pure torture, especially when her knee bumped my crotch. I couldn''t stop staring, even though every slight shift of my body reminded me of the fight. She was a goddess, a beautiful, distracting goddess who was currently using my bruised body as a pillow.

    "Good morning," she mumbled, voice all husky and sleep-ridden. Too beautiful. Way too beautiful. Those green eyes, that little nose... fuck.

    "Good morning," I replied, sitting on the edge of the bed, trying to act like my heart wasn''t about to explode. I risked a glance back, and yeah, my eyes betrayed me. Straight to the goods.

    Emily sat up behind me, wrapping her arms around my waist, chin on my shoulder. Her bare chest pressed against my back, warmth spreading through my thin shirt. Holy hell. "Last night was great," she whispered, playful as shit.

    ¡°It really was,¡± I agreed, though my grin quickly turned into a grimace of restraint. I cleared my throat and added, ¡°We¡¯ve got a lot of work ahead of us today, mapping the system, deploying the first satellite¡­¡± My words trailed off as Emily shifted, clearly in no rush to move. I was enjoying this way too much.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    With a sigh, she reached for her shirt, buttoning it up slowly. "So, what happened?" she asked, all casual but with that glint in her eye.

    ¡°You fell asleep,¡± I replied with a smirk. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to wake you. You looked¡­ happy.¡± She did.

    ¡°Oh.¡± Emily paused, her expression shifting briefly before a teasing smile replaced it. ¡°Well, at least your bed is warm. And so are you.¡± She reached out suddenly, her fingers darting toward the very visible bulge in my pajama pants. She wasn¡¯t making this easy.

    ¡°Emily!¡± I yelped, leaping off the bed like a startled cat, clutching my waistband as she laughed hysterically. I was a mess, but I was also enjoying this.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Captain?¡± she teased, still sitting cross-legged on the bed, her shirt now mostly buttoned, her breasts put away. ¡°Scared of a little attention?¡±

    ¡°From you? Absolutely,¡± I shot back, my face flushed as I tried to maintain some shred of dignity. I was a goner, but I wasn¡¯t fighting it. I leaned down, planting a quick kiss on her lips, catching her by surprise, before bolting toward the shower. ¡°Gotta stay professional, right?¡± I called over my shoulder, still laughing. I really was, I needed to cool off.

    Emily flopped back against the bed, a satisfied grin on her face as she watched me go. ¡°You¡¯re so dramatic,¡± she muttered to herself. She was right and oh so sexy. One day Em, one day.

    As the water ran in the shower, I leaned against the wall, grimacing as the hot spray hit my tender chest. I ran my hands over my face, wincing as my fingers brushed a particularly sore spot on my ribs and letting out a long, exasperated sigh. This is fine, I told myself. I just slept with Emily. We didn''t do anything, but hey, small wins, right? Totally fine. Just another day with her, driving me completely insane, while I''m also aching like I went a few rounds with a heavyweight champ. And I was actually okay with that. I mean, who wouldn''t be? She''s Emily, for crying out loud, and she chose to be with me, even if it was just to cuddle, drive me up the wall, and inadvertently use me as a human heating pad for her ice-cold feet.

    <hr>

    I waited for Emily to finish dressing in her room, took her sweet time, too. I might''ve spent a little too long staring. We went down a deck to the galley for breakfast, fashionably late, of course. Breakfast was bacon and eggs. We were running low on fresh stuff, 44 days in. Dry goods, frozen crap, and freeze-dried mystery meals were the norm now. Everyone was hoping for a habitable planet with edible plants and animals, but that was a long shot. Goldilocks zone and a hint of an atmosphere was the best we could hope for, and even that felt like a pipe dream.

    I sat by Ryan and Danny, who were already arguing about the deployment of the satellites, while Emily sat by Zoe, who, yeah, I could tell she was already dying to catch up, and probably ask Emily about last night.

    I leaned back in my chair at the breakfast table, half-listening to Ryan animatedly explaining some technical detail to Danny about reactor efficiencies. My coffee mug was warm in my hands, but my mind was only half in the conversation. Across the room, the murmur of hushed voices caught my attention. Emily and Zoe, huddled close, their heads bent together, whispering with occasional bursts of giggles. I had a bad feeling about this.

    "So," Zoe whispered, loud enough for me to hear, "How did it go?" Here it comes.

    "How did what go?" Emily asked, playing dumb. She was good at that.

    Zoe leaned closer, her voice dropping lower, but I caught just enough. ¡°Didn¡¯t you spend the night at Luca¡¯s? I want all the juicy details.¡± Shit, they were talking about me.

    I froze, almost choking on my coffee. They''re talking about me? I tried to focus on Ryan, who was now gesturing wildly, a bruise on his cheekbone, a souvenir from our little sparring match yesterday. Looked good on him. But my Perception attribute was a bitch, and I was locked onto the girls conversation. Too convenient. I winced as I shifted, my ribs protesting. That was thanks to Ryan''s surprisingly tight abs. I''d hit him as hard as I could yesterday and it was like punching concrete. Note to self: get Ryan to teach me how to box.

    "It was nice," Emily said softly, a smile in her voice. My heart did a stupid flip-flop thing.

    "Just nice?" Zoe pressed, probably with those damn eyebrow waggles. They were having way too much fun.

    Emily¡¯s response was quieter now, but I caught the tail end: ¡°...fall asleep... didn¡¯t want to get too carried away.¡± That was a relief, and also, a little disappointing, not going to lie.

    I swallowed, mind racing. Too carried away? I shifted again, trying to act like I wasn''t eavesdropping. My focus on Ryan and Danny was gone. I was feeling it, the heat in my cheeks. A dull ache pulsed in my shoulder, another gift from Ryan. He packed a mean punch for an engineer.

    ¡°Oh, what I would have done to him...¡± Zoe said dramatically, her voice teasing, earning a muffled laugh from Emily. ¡°You two make such a cute couple.¡± She knew I was listening, I was sure of it, we shared some skills and stats, I bet her Situational Awareness was higher than mine.

    My grip tightened on my mug, my ears burning and I wanted to crawl under the table. I resisted the urge to turn and look. A cute couple? Is that what she thinks? I had to get a grip, we had a lot of work to do.

    "Luca? You with us?" Ryan''s voice startled me. He was looking at me funny, probably noticed the shiner I''d given him was throbbing.

    "Huh?" I blinked, forcing a smile. "Yeah, sorry. Just... zoned out." Great, now everyone knew I was a mess. I winced, feeling the dull ache in my chest. He slaps like a bitch.

    ¡°More like for a whole minute,¡± Danny joked, shaking his head. He wasn''t wrong.

    Across the room, Emily''s voice rose. "No wonder I''ve been freezing at night! Tell him to fix it right away." What the hell was she talking about?

    "Fix what?" I muttered, pretending to be focused on my companions. What were they scheming? I was starting to feel a little scared.

    I shifted again, uncomfortable, my grip tightening on my coffee. The girls'' voices, soft and conspiratorial, kept drawing my attention. I caught Zoe''s voice, defensive. This was never going to stop.

    "I didn''t think he''d actually do it," she said, sheepish. Do what?

    ¡°Do what?¡± I muttered to myself. Across the table, Ryan¡¯s head turned toward the girls, and my stomach sank. Oh no. Don¡¯t walk over there, Ryan. Don¡¯t¡ª

    Ryan stood up, walking toward Emily and Zoe, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "I''m sorry," he said, his voice low but clear. "I thought it was just a harmless prank." What the hell is this about now? Was everyone in on this except for me?

    I barely resisted a groan. I glanced at Danny, who was scribbling on a napkin, muttering about drone calibrations. How could he be so calm?

    Emily''s glare softened. "It''s okay," she said, gentle but firm. "Just please fix it. I can''t sleep in a cold room every night." I was going to have a talk with him later.

    Ryan nodded. "Yeah, alright. I''ll do it after duties tonight." He turned and strode toward the engineering lab, sandy-blonde hair catching the light. I was sure they had been talking about him. He looked kinda cute with that bruise, not gonna lie.

    My attention snapped to Emily and Zoe, who exchanged glances and burst out laughing.

    "That''s another hottie," Emily said with a sigh, her eyes lingering on Ryan''s retreating ass, probably, I couldn¡¯t tell from here but that¡¯s where I¡¯d stare, or the shoulders, I guess girls liked shoulders. I was starting to lose it. "When did these boys grow up? They were just goofballs we had to shake off in high school, and somehow, they turned into hunks overnight."

    I nearly choked on my coffee. Hotties? Hunks? What the actual- I glanced at Ryan''s back, then at my own reflection in my mug. Am I supposed to compete with that? He did have a nice back, though. Broad shoulders, narrow waist... Stop it, Luca.

    Zoe shrugged. "Okay, so sabotage didn''t work," she admitted. "What''s our next plan of action?" Sabotage?

    My ears perked up, but I kept my eyes on Danny, trying to look busy. Next plan? What plan? This was going too far.

    "I don''t know...maybe we should just let things happen naturally?" Emily suggested.

    "But we only have a limited amount of time on this mission," Zoe argued. "We can''t waste it waiting for something to happen between us and the boys. Honestly, I''d be glad for any of them." My pulse quickened. Was everyone in on this? They were trying to get laid. I couldn''t say I hated that.

    My brain short-circuited. Any of them? My coffee mug hit the table with a thud. I stared blankly at my reflection. Do they just... talk about us like this? This was getting way too interesting.

    Danny finally noticed my dazed expression. "You okay?" he asked, tapping his pen. "You''ve been zoning out a lot today." I really hadn''t been doing a great job at pretending I had everything together.

    "I''m fine," I said automatically, lifting my mug to cover my face. I tried to drown out the girls, but their voices still carried. My cheeks burned. How much scheming had they been up to, and how long before it involved me again? I knew I wanted to be a part of it, whatever "it" was. Even if it meant dealing with a sore body and a bruised ego, courtesy of Ryan.

 Chapter 30 - Satellite Deployment

    After breakfast, I buried myself in the mission brief. The highlight? Deployment, configuration, and calibration of the infrared satellite. This was it, the start of our real work. Once we launched that thing, it would map out the system, and a communications satellite would follow to extend its range and send a message back to Sol. The real beginning of our mission. No pressure, right?

    The satellite launch itself was pretty uneventful. The ship had a deployment chute for satellites and probes: easy, automated, and done in minutes. We just guided the ship along a parallel trajectory to keep things lined up. Honestly? It was a little anticlimactic. I mean, we were starting something historic, and it felt more like flipping a switch. If only the rest of the mission were this simple.

    The next step, though, was manual. And dangerous as fuck. We had to get out there, manually connect an F-Type Energy Cell, and confirm the satellite was responsive. The F-Type would power it for years, but yeah, it also meant someone had to actually step outside and do it. That part sat heavy in my chest, a lead weight of dread. My job, my team, my responsibility. And what a fucking mess it already was turning into.

    Emily and Chris were on the bridge, monitoring the satellite¡¯s telemetry and running calibration checks. Danny and Ryan? They were suiting up for their first EVA to service the thing. It was the first time anyone on our crew had to leave the safety of the ship, and sure, I was nervous. More than nervous. I was picturing everything that could go wrong: a snag in the tether, a slip that sent them drifting, some microscopic debris ripping through their suits. This wasn¡¯t a game anymore.

    Zoe was working on Danny''s suit while I helped Ryan. She was meticulous, double-checking every seal, every tether, her hands moving with quick efficiency. Danny stood stock still, looking more like a mannequin than a person, probably terrified. Nervous, yeah, but trying not to show it. Probably thinking about Zoe. Or maybe about not dying.

    Ryan, on the other hand, was cracking jokes like he wasn''t about to step into the void. His grin was too wide, too forced, and I could tell he was covering the same nerves I felt in my gut, amplified by the fact that they had fucked up. Royally. How the hell do you forget the battery for a satellite? Were they too busy making googly eyes at each other? Probably. Fucking Ryan, always goofing off. It''s a miracle we even made it this far with him on board. Though, Danny wasn''t much better. Too busy daydreaming about Zoe, probably, with those damn dimples and freckles and that stupidly cute curly red hair. God, they were both infuriating. Ryan probably wouldn''t have been so distracted if he was not so goddamn friendly with Danny. They probably just forgot the battery pack because they were fucking around. No, they''re professionals, they wouldn''t do that... right? They fucked up, big time.

    "This is the fun part, right?" Ryan quipped, his voice tinny over the comms as I adjusted the seals on his helmet. He winced as I tightened a strap over what was probably a tender spot from our fight. Serves him right. His tone was light, but his grip on the edge of the table said otherwise.

    "Fun, sure," I muttered, not bothering to look at him. "Just don''t screw it up, or it''s going to be a very short trip." And don''t forget any more essential components, you fucking idiot.

    Zoe shot me a glare from across the room, her expression saying, Not helpful, Captain. She turned back to Danny, giving his shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "You''re good, Danny. Just stick to the routine." And try not to let Ryan distract you into oblivion.

    Out there, in the relative vacuum of space, they''d look like they were barely moving, just floating alongside the satellite. But we all knew better. They''d be hurtling through space at thousands of miles per second. A mistake out there? Fatal. No retries, no do-overs. Isaac Newton would make sure of that. And now, thanks to those two idiots, the danger just got ratcheted up to eleven.

    I was trying not to think about how much could go wrong. But as their captain, I had to. Especially now. Now that I knew they were capable of making monumental fuck-ups. My hands were shaking, and it wasn''t just from the adrenaline. It was from the sheer, unadulterated terror that was coursing through me, mixed with a healthy dose of anger. We were so fucked.

    <hr>

    I cleared my throat, drawing their attention. "Alright. Let''s get this done." I hated how shaky I sounded; I needed to pull it together. Fake it till you make it, Luca.

    Danny and Ryan were now completely encased in their hardened EVA suits. We had designed the bodysuits to be compatible with this equipment, so we just needed to raise the pants of the hardened suit to their waist, then lower down the top portion from the winch and secure them, making sure the seal was tight. The room before the airlock wasn''t tight per se, but with the bulky suits on, there wasn''t much elbow room left. They looked like a couple of overstuffed dolls. Or two idiots who forgot the damn battery.

    Once sealed, they turned on their oxygen supply, making sure everything was working. I strapped them both to the tether cable, my hands moving automatically, but my mind was screaming. This is real. This is really happening. The tether would be hooked up directly to the inside of the airlock room. Once the exterior hatch opened, that room would be exposed to vacuum, allowing them to exit the spacecraft while tethered safely. They''d each have another tether they would secure to the outside of the ship, as a secondary safety measure if the first failed. Finally, their EVA suits had positioning jets that allowed them to move, somewhat clumsily, towards their destination, in this case, our telescope satellite. Our telescope satellite that''s currently useless, thanks to them.

    Zoe and I shared a moment alone as the airlock door closed, separating us from Ryan and Danny. With a smile and a wave, Ryan and Danny turned to face the exterior hatch and pressed the button, removing the air and finally opening the exterior door. I felt a tightness in my chest, a knot of dread that had taken up permanent residence there. This is it. We were actually doing it. And I was terrified they''d find another way to screw it up.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

    "You think they''ll be ok?" Zoe asked, and I could feel her hand trembling in mine, and I suddenly wanted to hug her. She was scared, and also, I was probably also making it worse. I hated how much that terrified me, and she grabbed my hand. She''s scared, too.

    "They''ll be fine," I said, I was lying, and I could feel my own hands clenching into a fist, holding her hand in mine. I was trying to sound convincing, but I was also trying to reassure myself because what the hell was this all about, also, what if they got hurt, and what if this was all just another mess? "They''ve done this before," but I wasn''t feeling it, and my gut felt like I had swallowed a black hole, and I hated all of this. In simulations. Where they couldn''t forget vital components.

    Zoe nodded, taking a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves and I suddenly wanted to kiss her, to make it all better, and that made me even more pissed. She knew the risks as well as I did. We all did, and that was also, part of the problem. Why did we always have to do things the hard way? Because apparently, we like to make things harder on ourselves.

    <hr>

    On the command bridge, Chris and Emily were monitoring their every move, like they were all hooked up to them, and they were in control. While Joey was tracking their vitals, and I was sure that he was also terrified for his little brother. I hated being stuck on the sidelines, because this was it, and they were out there, and I wasn''t. I should be out there, not stuck here watching.

    Danny and Ryan pushed off from the safety of the airlock, and what was with them always trying to show off, it wasn''t like it was a competition. They could have been a little less enthusiastic, my gut clenched, I had to fight the urge to call them out on that. Showoffs. I watched them float away from the ship and into the void, and it was like they were suddenly so small, and I wanted to pull them back, even if I was also feeling like they deserved to be there. Maybe a little scare will teach them a lesson. Their positioning jets fired, and they started heading for the telescope satellite, and they looked so small out there, it made my gut clench.

    As they approached their destination, Zoe and I were monitoring their progress, and I felt like I was going to throw up. I wanted her to see that I also cared, even though I wasn''t as brave, as competent, as good as them. Each minor adjustment from Ryan and Danny''s jets felt like it took forever to get them to the satellite, and it was like I was watching this in slow motion, and that was the worst kind of slow motion.

    "Forty meters¡­ thirty meters¡­ slow down a bit¡­ twenty meters¡­ Danny, slow down¡­ ten meters¡­ you''re almost there," Emily''s voice came steadily over the intercom, her calm tone a lifeline. At least someone''s calm.

    I stood at the airlock, and it felt too smooth, too much like what a real captain would be doing. I hated that I was starting to play the part, my arms crossed tight as hell, watching the telemetry feed. Zoe was beside me, her hand was still in mine, her eyes fixed on the live footage from the EVA suits'' cameras, and I could almost feel her anxiety. Ryan and Danny were tiny against the vastness of space, and their movements were painfully slow, and they were also so small.

    Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Ryan¡¯s voice crackled through the comms. ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± he said, his breathing heavy and strained, and I could finally breathe again. For a second.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Emily replied, her voice firm and measured. ¡°We¡¯re going to do this slowly and take our time. No rushing.¡± I just wanted them to hurry the fuck up.

    Danny and Ryan tethered themselves to the satellite, and they looked like they knew what they were doing, and their figures bobbing in the zero-g. Methodically, and they were doing this so damn slowly, they started to install that F-Type energy cell, each movement deliberate, every tool change a slow, careful effort, and my brain was on fire, and I wanted it all to be done. Every muscle in my body was tense, and I felt like I was holding my breath. That was probably exactly what I was doing. I needed to stay calm. Hurry up, you idiots, before you break something else.

    My fingers tapped restlessly against the viewport as I watched the process. I fought the urge to chime in; it wasn¡¯t my place right now, but goddamn, I wanted to. The tension in the room was palpable, a weight pressing down on everyone on the ship.

    After what felt like hours, Ryan''s voice broke the silence. "The battery''s in place," he said, a mix of exhaustion and relief coloring his tone. I held my breath. Please, please let it work.

    Emily leaned forward, her hands on the keyboard as she began the remote system checks. ¡°Alright, hold tight while we test the connections. Don¡¯t unhook yet.¡±

    Zoe exhaled audibly, her posture relaxing slightly as the satellite¡¯s systems began to respond to Emily¡¯s commands. The diagnostic data streamed in, and I caught the faintest hint of a smile on Emily¡¯s lips as the results populated.

    ¡°Looks like it¡¯s working perfectly,¡± she announced, her voice triumphant. Thank god for small mercies.

    ¡°Hell yeah,¡± Ryan muttered over the comms, his tone lighter now. Danny let out a small laugh, the tension in his voice finally easing.

    ¡°Great work, guys!¡± Emily exclaimed. ¡°Now, make your way back to the ship. Nice and steady.¡± I needed them back.

    On the screen, and it was like I was now watching this on repeat, the two figures started their return, using their positioning jets in short bursts to close the distance to Triumph, and I had to stop myself from looking. Everyone was silent, that was so unlike us, tension lingering till the airlock hissed closed behind them, and it felt like a release, and also, like the start of something new.

    As the feed cut off, and the indicator lights on the airlock panel turned green, Zoe leaned back, and I suddenly saw that, she was also a mess, like I was. Sighing loudly, ¡°They¡¯re back,¡± she murmured, relief washing over her face.

    ¡°Good,¡± I said simply, my voice steady, and I was trying so hard to not look like the mess that I was, but my shoulders finally relaxed, and I could breathe, again. I turned to Zoe, and I hated how vulnerable I suddenly felt. ¡°Let¡¯s head down and meet them.¡± I just needed to see them with my own eyes, that¡¯s all, I needed to make sure that they were real. And maybe yell at them for being such colossal screw-ups.

    <hr>

    The science lab was abuzz, and it was too damn loud. Though Danny looked like he might lose his mind, I could see the vein popping out on his neck, he was definitely about to have a meltdown. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, clearly irritated, and his glasses were all askew, as the rest of the crew crowded around the consoles.

    ¡°Would you people stop breathing on my screens?¡± he muttered, swatting at Ryan¡¯s hand. That was also kind of cute, as it hovered near one of the displays, ready to touch something, anything, just to make the scene all the more chaotic.

    Ryan, who was grinning, pulled back. ¡°Relax, man. I¡¯m not touching anything. Yet.¡±

    I stood by the doorway, leaning against the frame with my arms crossed. I didn¡¯t need to be in the lab, but there was no way I¡¯d miss this. The first scan data from our deployed satellite was coming through, and everyone was itching for a glimpse of the Alpha Centauri system. What would we find?

    Finally, numbers began to flicker across the screen. Danny¡¯s irritation gave way to focus as he scrolled through the incoming data, his brow furrowing in concentration. He pulled up a simplified model of the system, a web of light representing the three stars, planets, and asteroid belts. It wasn¡¯t much yet, but it was enough; this was the real deal.

 Chapter 31: Dress Uniforms

    "Well, there it is," Danny said flatly, gesturing at the screen. He had to ruin the moment, even if he was still a nerd. At least he was good at his job. Unlike someone else I knew. Cough, Ryan, cough. Was that even Ryan¡¯s fault? Probably.

    "Alpha Centauri," Emily whispered, her voice soft, like she was talking about a ghost. Her eyes were fixed on the model of the solar system. I couldn''t help but want her to want me as much as I wanted her. I found myself wanting to take her hand, to share this with just her.

    The holographic display slowly resolved into a basic representation of the system. It was beautiful, even if it was so simple. Alpha Centauri A and B spun in their tight binary orbit, surrounded by their planetary entourage - a collection of dots and lights that somehow made us feel both incredibly small and unbelievably significant. Proxima Centauri lingered farther out, a faint, single dot. It was all a bit anti-climatic, but still¡­

    "So¡­ what are we looking at?" Joey asked, squinting at the screen. Idiot.

    Danny sighed, his focus intense as always, clearly not in the mood to explain the basics. ¡°Three stars. A and B are binary, and Proxima¡¯s orbiting the pair, but we knew that already. The planets¡­¡± He sighed again.

    ¡°Sixteen of them,¡± Ryan interrupted, jumping in before we could all breathe. He pointed at the data feed, looking so damn proud of himself. ¡°Sixteen confirmed bodies so far, plus moons and asteroid belts.¡± Sixteen¡­ that''s a lot of exploring to do.

    The room went quiet for a moment, the enormity of it sinking in. I could feel it too, a thrill of anticipation, and yeah, maybe a little bit of nervousness. I wanted to grab Emily, be with her, alone, to share this. For centuries, this system had been a distant dream, and now, it was no longer just a theory. That made it all the more real, and for the first time, I truly felt the weight of our mission. We were really here, right on the edge of discovery. What were we going to find? And what were we going to do if we found something dangerous?

    ¡°Proxima Centauri b,¡± Zoe said, pointing to the faint dot near the third star. ¡°That¡¯s the one we¡¯re after, right?¡±

    Danny nodded. ¡°That¡¯s the theory. Likely in the Goldilocks zone, but we¡¯re not going to know much until we get closer and run more detailed scans.¡±

    Emily crossed her arms, her brow furrowing. She always looked so powerful when she was thinking. I was starting to realize that she was not what I thought she was, that she was so much more than I had given her credit for. ¡°So basically, we¡¯ve got numbers and dots,¡± she concluded. I found myself wanting to know what she was really thinking, what drove her.

    ¡°For now,¡± Danny admitted, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. He was practically vibrating with excitement. This was his element. ¡°This is just the first pass. The good stuff comes when we get closer and start doing orbital surveys.¡± I grinned, already imagining what we might uncover.

    Joey leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not exactly the sci-fi poster I was expecting,¡± he commented.

    I smirked. "What were you hoping for? All three stars lined up with planets orbiting like clockwork?" I was suddenly so damn tired of being the captain, and yet, it was also, probably the best thing that had ever happened to me.

    ¡°Maybe some epic space dragons,¡± Joey shot back with a grin.

    "Alright, let''s not get carried away," I said, straightening up. A grin tugged at my lips. Space dragons would be a hell of a discovery. "Danny, Ryan, keep parsing the data. Prioritize orbital patterns and radiation levels, especially around Proxima b. We need to start planning the next phase before we get too close." It was time to get to work, but my mind was racing with possibilities. And with how much I wanted to get Ryan alone and punch him for that battery stunt and for beating me up like a bitch.

    ¡°Looks like we have a destination,¡± I said. ¡°And a potential payday.¡± The IFC had supported our voyage and had financed a large portion of our ship and supplies. They would be paid a bonus for finding new habitable planets, resourceful asteroids, or other strategic locations, like high-level portals or new technology. My team had been the first to be awarded the finance for this project because of our max level 60s and the fact that we had acquired the right FTL drive to make this trip a possibility. We were going to make them pay us for it.

    ¡°According to mission protocol, we need to send out our communications probe now that we¡¯ve mapped the system,¡± Chris stated, always with the rules. ¡°In case anything happens to us, we have to make sure our data gets back to Earth.¡±

    ¡°Good call, Chris. Ryan, Danny, let¡¯s get the logs ready and organized,¡± I instructed.

    ¡°We also need to do our first recording,¡± Emily added enthusiastically.

    ¡°Ugh, I completely forgot about that,¡± I groaned, though a part of me was excited to document this moment. ¡°Where should we set up for it?¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°The observation deck is the best spot, lots of room to pose. Let¡¯s change into our recording outfits!¡± Zoe exclaimed.

    ¡°Change? Aren¡¯t these uniforms enough?¡± I asked, looking down at my bodysuit. I had gotten so used to wearing it that I didn¡¯t even think there were other options.

    "No way! We can''t be seen in these outfits, these are just for us." Emily replied. "Captain, Zoe and I will distribute the dress uniforms. Everyone meet us in the observation deck in two hours." Dress uniforms? What the hell are those going to look like? I swear, if they make me wear something ridiculous, I''m blaming Ryan. It''s always his fault.

    <hr>

    I scanned my team, assembled on the observation deck. It felt surreal, like a scene ripped from a movie, or maybe a bad dream where I''m suddenly in charge of things and have to give speeches.

    God, I hated public speaking. But, a small, ambitious part of me thought maybe, just maybe, I could get good at this. Imagine, commanding the masses, announcing our future discoveries to the world. Yeah, that¡¯d be awesome, the great captain Luca and his crew of lunatics.

    I caught the little touches that Zoe and Emily had clearly obsessed over in our uniform selections. They were really proud of their work, and honestly, it showed. Emily stood beside me, her infectious grin and sparkling eyes showing just how much she was enjoying this moment.

    She caught my eye and winked. Great, now I''m blushing. Focus, Luca. The new dress uniforms were definitely a step up from our usual bodysuits. They did look good, even if I felt like a complete impostor in mine. And damn, Emily looked good in hers. That skirt was doing things to me.

    The guys wore crisp white shirts under sleek jackets, the pins denoting their officer roles: Engineer, Scientist, Medical Officer, and so on, gleaming under the observation deck''s soft lights. Our blue slacks were tailored just enough to look professional without feeling restrictive.

    I adjusted my own jacket, feeling a strange sense of formality I hadn''t anticipated, especially given the observation deck''s official function; this was our designated make-out spot. Especially about all the times I''d been up here with Emily. I¡¯m pretty sure this was a favorite spot for Zoe and Danny too, probably Chris and Joey too, I just hoped kissing was all they¡¯d done up here. Oh god, where¡¯s the blue light?

    Zoe and Emily had opted for flowing skirts that added a formal yet practical flair. And damn, did they both look incredible. Zoe, all curves in all the right places, even if she was a bit flat, but with legs and an ass that went on for days.

    And Emily, just... fuck, she was stunning. We all looked sharp, almost like the kind of crew you''d see stepping off a naval vessel docked at some high-profile port. It was a good look, one that spoke of professionalism and unity, even if it felt a bit out of place in a room more known for stolen kisses than official business.

    God, I hope no one brings that up during the recording. I felt a surge of pride for everyone, even myself, though I still wasn''t entirely sure how I ended up in charge of this whole operation.

    The observation deck had been transformed. It was the best place on the ship for a romantic rendezvous under the stars. The view of the stars was phenomenal.

    Tonight though? Ryan had hooked up a large screen on one wall, currently displaying the logo of the Triumph Initiative. The camera was set up on a tripod, its red recording light blinking like a watchful eye. It seemed almost sacrilegious to be using this space for something so¡­ official. I half expected the speakers to start playing mood music.

    I nodded to Ryan, who stepped forward and pressed a button on the console, probably enjoying the hell out of this. Show off. A soft chime indicated the start of the official recording.

    I cleared my throat, the silence of the observation deck amplifying the sound, making me feel even more awkward. I hate this. Why did I agree to this? Oh right, mutiny. It was time.

    "Alright," I began, my voice surprisingly steady, despite the tremor in my hands. I gripped the edge of the console, trying to project an image of confidence I definitely didn''t feel. Don''t screw this up, Luca. I looked at each of my crew members, their faces a blend of excitement, nerves, and determination. Even Joey''s, the party pooper.

    "This is it. The first humans in history to travel to Alpha Centauri." I paused, letting the words hang in the air, the weight of them settling upon us.

    The gravity of our achievement wasn''t lost on me, nor on anyone else, I could see it in their eyes. This was it, the moment we''d all been working towards, the culmination of years of saving, training, sacrifice, and dedication. And here I am, Captain, because no one else wanted the job.

    "And we''ve already made discoveries that go beyond what any of us could have imagined,¡± I said, hoping we found something useful out here, for the IFC''s sake, and for ours. We needed a win. Also, Dad would be proud. I hope he and the boys were doing okay back home. Focus, Luca, grandiose speech.

    I gestured to the screen behind me, which switched from our gorgeous Triumph Initiative logo to a breathtaking infographic. It displayed our findings so far: 16 planets orbiting the three stars, their estimated sizes and orbital paths, moons orbiting their planets, and asteroid belts weaving paths through the system.

    The visuals were mostly estimates, thanks to Danny''s handiwork, we needed a hell of a lot more data. Please, let there be something valuable out here.

    "We represent the best of humanity," I said, correcting myself smoothly when I nearly defaulted to ''America.'' We weren''t supposed to use America anymore, just the United Earth Republic or UER; that was the warning we''d received from Karen; it was propaganda for unity or whatever. Since they funded the project, we''d be their little mascots. My voice carried a weight that matched the occasion, a solemn pride that resonated within me, even if I felt like a fraud.

    "We are explorers and adventurers, driven by need to push the boundaries of what we thought was possible." I looked at my crew. Each of them had earned their place here, and I couldn''t be prouder to lead them, even if I''d rather be doing literally anything else.

    There was Chris, all muscles and diplomacy. Ryan, who I was strangely attracted to, despite wanting to punch him half the time, especially after he beat me up, and he fucked with Emily¡¯s thermostat, and the battery incident and god knows how much other shit he¡¯d pulled. Zoe, a snack, who could probably kick my ass. Danny, the cute, freckled nerd.

    And Joey, the only one who seemed remotely mature, even if he was a buzzkill sometimes. Emily¡­ need I say more? I could feel a swell of anticipation in my chest, a shared sense of purpose that bound us together.

    "Together, we''ll uncover the mysteries of this system and carve our place in history." I actually believed it, despite my doubts. We were going to make history, to leave a mark that would last for generations. Or at least, that''s the plan. And maybe, just maybe, I''ll get good at these speeches.