Daughters of Demeter

"I know for a fact there are some places you can get that done in the Imperium," I told the others. "Core worlds, where they had the best medical tech obviously."

I continued, "It wasn't common, you'd only find that on those worlds where they had the top level medical stuff and a society that was relaxed enough that those sorts of modifications were legal to perform. And where there was enough demand that surgeons would learn the techniques and offer it as a service."

Sarah looked like she was suppressing a smile as she asked, "So you were looking into that sort of thing after all? What you're saying is, becoming a foxgirl was really a long-term dream for you?"

My cheeks coloured as I shook my head, "No. That was a special bonus Jenny offered me. I wasn't actually searching for those sorts of modifications, but I read about them while I was researching the different medical options for my transition. There was some overlap in the worlds and the medical facilities who did the best transgender procedures and the facilities who did the demi-human cosmetic modifications."

"The bottom line is this catgirl Cam spotted in the city could have been another Imperium ex-pat," Rebecca stated. "And that's probably the simplest explanation."

Our cat-kin crewmate grimaced and shrugged, "I suppose so? Like I told Amanda this afternoon, it looked to me like her ears and tail were moving naturally. But I suppose it's possible to fake that with micro-actuators. The same kind of technology inside Jenny could probably make really convincing cat ears and tails?"

"Oh I know for a fact they can," Sarah grinned as she looked at the AI. "We can even order all the parts and everything while we're here, assuming we could convince Jenny to let us upgrade her android to join the fuzzy-ears-and-furry-tails gang."

Rather than respond to our engineer, the android in question turned and gave me a hard look instead.

I just shrugged, "I told you I was going to tell her about that conversation. Honestly, I'm surprised it hasn't come up before now."

The five of us were sitting around the table in the mess, we all had drinks in front of us but it was too early to make dinner yet. For that matter we hadn't even discussed if we'd be staying on the ship or going out to another restaurant. Or if Tamsin would be joining us again or not.

Meanwhile work in the lounge was almost finished and the shipyard staff had left for the evening, so the Demeter was all sealed up. They'd be back in the morning to finish things up in the lounge before getting started in the secondary hold. So odds were the Demeter would be here for another day or two, until the installation was complete.

The boss finally decided, "Without any more information the odds are we'll never find the person Cam saw, so we're never going to know for sure. Especially if they were on their way to the spaceport to head offworld."

"What do you think Jenny?" Rebecca added as she looked to our AI crewmate again.

She looked thoughtful for a few moments, then nodded. "I agree, the most likely assessment is it's a coincidence. A quick search of this world's medical-related media confirms that they're capable of the same sorts of cosmetic procedures Amanda mentioned, and as Sarah indicated they also have the technology to create very convincing life-like prosthetics."

After a brief hesitation she added, "It would be highly illegal, but I could attempt to access security camera records for the area around the Vesfar Urox offices during the time Amanda and Cam were there. From there I should be able to track where the catgirl went. But I'm reluctant to take the chance, as the consequences for getting caught would be uncomfortable."

Rebecca asked, "I feel like it's a long-shot, but if there's a remote chance of finding another Re/Gen capsule do you want to try and find them?"

The AI didn't even need to think it over. She shook her head, "It's not worth the risk, and we have more important things to worry about."

That was the end of that conversation, so the discussion moved on to tomorrow's plans.

"We got a half dozen small personal safes delivered today," Sarah said. "So I figured Cam and I can go around installing them in the cabins tomorrow, while the shipyard guys finish up in the lounge. Then when they head down to work in the secondary hold me and Cammie can finalize the installation up here."

I asked, "How's it going to work exactly?"

The cute engineer replied, "There's an intercom panel in the lounge, we'll hide the controls behind that. So you lift the intercom panel, behind that will be a keypad. Type in the code and the wall panels will unlock and open, revealing the storage space inside. Then just close the panels when you're done, and the locks will re-engage automatically."

"That sounds good," I commented.

Rebecca agreed, "Like you've been saying all along Amanda, it'll be better than just leaving stuff out in the open. And it shouldn't be too complicated or difficult to access. Not quite as easy as just grabbing a strongbox off a shelf, but it shouldn't take more than a couple seconds to open it up when we need it."

"It'll be the same in the secondary hold," Sarah continued. "Similar set-up, with the compartment hidden behind wall panels. We'll probably wire the access up into the existing bulkhead door controls down there. One code controls the door, another code opens the hidden panels."

I nodded slowly then asked, "So it sounds like Sarah and Cam will be busy tomorrow, and maybe the day after? Depending on when the shipyard staff finish up with everything. What will the rest of us be doing? And are we still planning on some shore-leave while we're here?"

"Yeah we can spare a few days for leave," the boss responded. "After we're all finished here at the shipyard, that is. I wanted to check around and see if I can find us some cargo that's heading to Regulon-4, but that can wait."

She added, "As for you and Jenny and I, there's not a whole lot for us to do in the meantime. Actually before we worry about that we should talk about the pay from the salvage job. As you all know, we offloaded the Kaden Merit's laser turret, computer core, sensor suite, and a few other smaller bits and pieces here. Helen's people finished their inspection and analysis, and we agreed on a figure when I met with her this afternoon."

"The laser turret was the star find this time," Rebecca continued. "That and the sensor suite were the two big-ticket items. The computer core was pretty modest, and the rest of it was pocket change by comparison. The grand total, less fuel and fees and supplies and so on, came to eight hundred and twenty-eight thousand ecks. Twenty percent of that is a hundred and sixty-five thousand, six hundred. Divide that five ways and we each get thirty-three thousand one hundred and twenty ecks"

Cam's eyes were wide and their jaw a little slack listening to the numbers. They mumbled, "That's a fortune! I don't think there's that much money in all of Ganvis Station..."

The boss smiled, "It's honestly more than I was expecting considering the state of that old ship. But it's a good reminder that salvage jobs are pretty lucrative when we can get them. I haven't had a chance to count out the pay yet, but I'll get to that shortly."

"And tomorrow we'll be able to lock it all away in our private safes," Sarah added with a smile. "Or I guess we could start on that after dinner tonight if there's nothing else going on? It won't take long, just a few minutes of welding to secure each safe."

I looked to the tall redhead and asked, "Speaking of dinner, should I get started preparing something? Or were we going out into the city again? And do you know if Tamsin was planning on joining us again tonight?"

Rebecca shook her head, "I don't have any plans for tonight, and I haven't heard from Tamsin either. I'd be happy with a quiet night in tonight, if that's ok with the rest of you?"

Nobody objected to that, and there really wasn't any need for Sarah and Cam to rush to install those safes right away either, so we all decided to take it easy.

For dinner I decided to make us some simple comfort food, since we all ate fancy last night. Sarah and Cam both helped out, my blonde girlfriend set the table while the cat-kin refilled everyone's drinks before I served up the food.

We all talked a bit more as we ate, about shore leave and what other sorts of things we might like to do while we were here. Both Rebecca and Sarah were interested in another visit to that wilderness area again, so we made plans to head back out there with Cam and Jenny the day after the work was done on the ship. There'd also be another day in the city, for shopping and or sightseeing. And maybe we'd all go out dancing or something, or explore some of the other night-life options.

After we'd all had enough to eat Cam and I started clearing the table. While we were doing that Sarah asked, "Hey cutie, with all Cam's excitement we never found out what happened at Vesfar Urox. Did you get anything from your sister?"

"Yeah," I nodded as I began washing the dishes. "Nyssa's decided what to do with her share of my life insurance payout. She's left home and enrolled in flight school at the capital city. She did an aptitude test and scored really well in both piloting and astro-navigation, so she's studying both. Her plan seems to be to sign on with a merchant ship once she graduates."

My blonde girlfriend asked, "Is she still thinking about travelling all the way out here to see you?"

That made me grimace, "I honestly don't know? I hope not, it's a very long way from home and we already know it's not exactly the safest lifestyle."

"Anyways she's only just started classes," I added. "So it's going to be some time before she's ready to ship out and start travelling the stars."

Rebecca asked, "What did the rest of your family think of her decision, did she say?"

I nodded, "Yeah. Mom and dad and my older brothers all told her not to join the Navy like I did. They were happy and proud when I did it, but having lost one child that way they've changed their tune. Nyssa said they weren't exactly thrilled about her wanting to go offworld at all, but they seem to think civilian ships will be a lot safer for her than a military assignment."

"Are they safer?" Jenny asked. "Civilian craft versus naval vessels?"

Sarah shrugged, "It's debatable. It mostly depends on the assignment, the ship, and its captain. I suppose on the civilian side at least you can quit or sign on with a different ship if you don't like a job or don't like how your current ship is run. With the Navy you don't get that option."

"Yeah," I agreed. "You go where they tell you, and that's that."

The AI responded, "Well I hope things work out well for your sister, whatever her ultimate goals and plans may be."

"Thanks Jenny," I smiled. "Me too. I'm going to write her back before we're ready to leave here, and considering what we'll be up to I'll probably let her know that might be the last message for a while."

By then Cam and I had finished tidying up the mess and galley. We probably would have taken another round of drinks into the ship's lounge to relax and talk more, but it was still a bit of a construction site for now. So the five of us remained seated in the ship's mess instead as we sipped our drinks and refined our plans for the next few days.

When it came time to turn in for the night Cam and Jenny went into their respective cabins, while Rebecca accompanied Sarah and I into ours.

She was in the middle as the three of us cuddled up together in bed, with Sarah on the left and me on the right. I turned onto my side facing towards my two girlfriends, with my chest pressing against the tall strong redhead's side while she wrapped her arm around me and my head rested on her shoulder. I also had my right leg wrapped around hers, and my tail twisted around and across Rebecca to reach Sarah's thighs.

We all exchanged some kisses as we got comfy, but before anyone could go any further than that Sarah spoke up.

"I hope I didn't cross any lines last night?" the cute blonde asked quietly. "I know it was very last minute, having Tamsin stay over and everything. I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to really talk to either of you about it, the whole thing came on kind of fast and caught me by surprise."

I shook my head, "It's fine. I know we didn't have the opportunity to discuss it in detail before-hand, but I'm glad you asked first."

"What about you Rebecca?" Sarah asked quietly. "I hope you're not upset or anything? I know you and Tamsin have been friends for a long time..."

Our amazonian girlfriend seemed thoughtful for another second or two before finally responding, "I've only got one question. How was she?"

That caught both Sarah and I off-guard, and the cute blonde ended up grinning.

"Energetic," she smirked. "And enthusiastic. And experienced. In all it was a very fun night."

Rebecca had a relaxed easy smile on her face as she said, "I'm glad the two of you had fun."

"You're not jealous or anything are you?" I asked softly. "Considering you and Tamsin go so far back together..."

She shook her head, "Not at all. I remember how well she and Sarah got along at first. And honestly, the history Tamsin and I have together would probably just make things way too awkward between us..."

Sarah grimaced slightly, "In that case maybe I should warn you? She's definitely interested in you as well. I don't think that 'history' is going to stop her. Maybe just slow her down slightly."

"Noted," Rebecca responded with an amused smile. "But right now I'm much more interested in the two girls I'm already with."

She followed that up by planting a kiss on my lips, then turning and delivering one to Sarah as well. And that was the end of any serious conversation for the rest of the night.