RECYCLEDCRAFT: Space Sex Mystery?

[peridexion]

PREMISE (example)

You awaken on a train - or a sleek-feeling spacecraft, or a boat, or even a submarine.
The shape of the craft isn't important, or even immediately apparent - but you are here, a sealed, surprisingly comfortable room with a soft bed, whereas before you were home. If home was even where you wanted to be.

"Good morning, passenger," a voice purrs; you can feel a presence with it, but there's no indication anyone is in the room with you.

There is, however, a comfortable weight along your legs, your arms, your spine... something appears ready to keep you here for a while.

What will you do?

CONTEXT

What is this, exactly? This premise is a smut spinoff of a wider continuity - the 'space'craft your character is on has taken your character from their home. It - any and all pronouns are fine, and if you OOCly have a preference just give a heads-up in your starter comment and we'll go from there - has been through quite a time recently, having lost its crew and the programming that initially determined its purpose. (Some data/facts still remain for basic navigation and specialization - see the next entry!) Nor does it remember exactly how it happened, just that something terrible happened and it has to do things more on-its-own now.

But what it can still do is (A) interpret characters' emotions and respond accordingly, (B) provide safe and sturdy transport plus life support and (C) bond intensely with those now tied to it!

This can be for a one-on-one scenario, a group account, or even joint threading if everyone would like to put in the time to sort things out! Can start with the premise above, or can be time-skipped along to where both parties are familiar with one another.

OPTIONS

What kind of 'craft are you on, anyway?
The Ace - originally a sleek fighter craft, this one was made to take to space and the skies with impunity! Very flexible, good at interpreting orders, and still carries echoes of 'tude from its former crew. And now it's focusing all that energy on you. Think you can take it?

Star-Gazer - originally a solo-craft meant for exploration, this 'craft was built to take someone far, and to provide companionship to anchor someone to reality on the way. It's designed to be cozy, and is not meant to be shared. Maybe it remembers another name alongside yours, but it no longer recalls those memories consistently. But perhaps that isn't a bad thing...

Like the Lightning - this was a mercenary's craft, passed along from generation to generation. With acute knowledge of trade routes and meticulously-crafted stealth routines to take shelter on even the most unexpected worlds, its job is to do the job - but it can't do so alone, and that's where you come in. Such a partnership does come with benefits, as a matter of course.

The Lost One* - a missioncraft, badly damaged, better suited for a group than an individual... but it has found someone, and will desperately work to make sure they are safe. Believes very strongly in doing the Just thing, but now it doubts it knows how to determine that anymore. Appears to have lost everything twice over, and has just enough memory to make it very hard to accept things at face value. Befriending this one is the most difficult possibility, but it is doable - if you wish to sincerely try.

*This IS meant to poke fun at myself, to be clear.

GENERAL SCENARIOS

Introductions - Exactly what it says on the tin.
Visiting a World - Can be just shopping, can be a 'risk of getting caught' sort of deal, or you've caught whiff of Adventure. Each 'craft will have different reactions, of course, but fun CAN be had by all!
Voidstorm* - Traveling through one of these tends to have... unique effects. Usually ones that are temporarily bad for one's sanity, but not having to be alone during them is supposed to help. Or it can just make things weirder; you never know! Don't try to break the windows and go outside, though; that's never a good idea.

*I'm not changing what it's called, because I can't think of anything better to call it. To explain 'from the outside': imagine if sex pollen were a space phenomenon you could fly through, and be directly effected mentally/emotionally. Hallucinations, particularly shared hallucinations, are common. Seeing people you love outside and feeling compelled to go out there is also possible. Other possibilities include seeing emotions as aura colors, feeling compelled to speak and act on one's deepest feelings, and not being able to understand other languages.
You can see why sex pollen wouldn't be out of place here, right?

KINKS

Anticipated Content: Mindsharing, Voyeurism and/or Exhibitionism, Sense Play, Cuddling (through atypical means), Xenophilia, Mechanophilia, Vulnerability (Emotional, Physical), Light Bondage, Body Worship.
Personal Favorites (Not required for the premise, just ones I like): Biting, Sense-sharing, Orgasm Control, Sensory Overload, Slow-to-Warm-Up, Breastplay, Lactation.
Nos: Watersports/Scat, Bloodplay, Necrophilia.

Any kinks not listed under any of these are open to discussion, as well.

Comments

(frozen comment)

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Æn'kae winced. He got that, needing to help because he Could and who else was there? "Okay, then, what can I do to help you? If I can't help with that directly, what can I do indirectly?"

(frozen comment)

[peridexion]

Doing the voidcraft equivalent of taking a deep breath, it performed the scan that would allow it to identify what world number this was-

And its internal scanners stuttered to a stop, realizing that this cluster of worlds was familiar. The root number was the same as the one for one of the three voidtreckers that had been entangled with it at Jema'grethy!

This was part of a multiverse, then, and an annoyingly complex one. Notions of guilt, and guilt over feeling that way, crept in.

If this voidcraft were in danger, if those who designed this wider world wished to - or could - directly intercede in retrieving Their agent, wouldn't They have sought this voidcraft out by now?

With some haste, its attention returned to Æn'kae and his own worry.

Nothing at present. This world - and its wider system - are not void active, and you are not tethered to me. Who on this planet has knowledge of-

And here the question again became images, of worlds layered on top of each other, seemingly superimposed without the one damaging the other.

multiverse theory?

If it could cope with the thundering mix of emotions that might result, there could be a source of aid nearby...

But it understood that this qualified as a 'long shot'.

(frozen comment)

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Æn'kae chewed on his lower lip, having to take some time to process it. "I... know a little? But, um... I'll admit it's very little." He'd dealt with pockets of subspace, even beyond using it for warp travel, but not alternate universes. But oh, elements, he wasn't sure he'd manage to avoid it forever.

"If you need someone who really knows it I umm, I can put a query to the Federation representative at the settlement. Starfleet seems to get tangled in that sort of thing more than we do. Even... even if they can't send someone I can request the information and I think I can sort it out if they're willing to share?"

(frozen comment)

[peridexion]

There were some immediate regrets in 'voicing' this line of action... but neither were there ways it could think of to better pull in a third option, plus relying solely on the Ministry to finish the job was undesirable to the voidcraft at this time.

It sent Æn'kae an image of a device, like his own, transmitting a message.

What matters is the communication, not just what is communicated.

(frozen comment)

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Æn'kae raised an eyebrow. "Are you wanting to send a message to another dimension?" When he knew what they were trying to do he could start figuring out who or what might be needed to do that. He certainly didn't have a clue where to start, but he could figure it out.

(frozen comment)

[peridexion]

Yes.

Something simple to confirm, even if everything that came after that... wouldn't be.

Then it sent an image of the site around them.

What is next to be done here?

(frozen comment)

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Æn'kae nodded. He'd talk to the Federation representative while walking with Roj later.

The shift back to here and now caught him off guard and he gave a small chuckle, shrugging. "Honestly? Mostly just a bit more of the same. Someone will probably replant later... or maybe even take advantage of the cleared out area to put up a small house."

He had to admit the idea tempted him, but he also didn't know how much time he'd manage to spend here in the long run. So better let someone have it who'd be able to really use it.

(frozen comment)

[peridexion]

The hiera's response to that was somewhat mixed; without being able to tell if this space was needed for someone's expansion, it didn't seem right somehow.

One of the other downsides for traveling without looking ahead.

It sent an image of itself, moving elsewhere on the planet. Will have to relocate?

(frozen comment)

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Æn'kae frowned a bit at the initial reaction. On one hand he appreciated it, on the other, he wanted to make sure any concern was put at ease. "Not until you are ready," he insisted, adamant.

"I know we'll need to expand beyond the initial settlements, but there isn't a rush. And... I suspect most of those who weren't already on the flotilla are waiting to make sure the settlements will last the year." They were too scared to trust the idea of a home. And who could blame them? As much as he believed in this as the perfect new homeworld... he couldn't even really think of it was his home.

(frozen comment)

[peridexion]

That seemed settled for the moment, then, or perhaps the season.

The voidcraft sent an image of a clock, an otherwise-errant question occurring to it. This it paired with a visual of day shifting to night and back again.

What is the length of a day here?

The internal clock it used for void travel was in the vicinity of 29 hours, a custom mod based on calendars from both its homeworlds, but it understood the matter to be quite variable across inhabited worlds.

(frozen comment)

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Æn'kae had to pause to think at that, and then gave up and went into his computer. "It looks like the day cycle is about 23 hours by Federation time. I'm not sure if you have the same measurement for hours they do though. I know we don't, though I umm I think that's probably going to change."

(frozen comment)

[peridexion]

That is true.

Came the quick agreement; dealing with interplanetary standards like this could provide its own problems.

A few more quick illustrations for rest, combined again with the clock, came through.

What portion of a 'day' do people here spend asleep?

(frozen comment)

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Another pause while he considered. "Overall I'd say maybe about a third of it? Maybe a bit more or less. I'm not entirely sure. Sorry."

(frozen comment)

[peridexion]

Internally, the voidcraft classified that as within nominal/normal standards for humanoid lifeforms.

It could investigate further another time, perhaps.

Thank you, it projected, seeing it as only reasonable for how much Æn'kae had been engaging in this pseudo-charades without giving up to seek someone else as a go-between.

This time more with feeling than even images, it questioned what Æn'kae intended to do next, right now.

(frozen comment)

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Æn'kae ducked his head, flushing somewhat at the thanks. "Don't mention it," he mumbled before looking around to take note of everything around them.

"I guess haul off the last few loads first. I have to take Roj around in the evening. I have someone helping me with her during the day, but I would miss that outing as much as she would. Even if there isn't more to do in the morning I have plenty of reports on the local fauna I want to look over. And I find it's easier to focus away from all those people, so umm, I'll be back so long as you will have me?"

(frozen comment)

[peridexion]

The voidcraft could sense no problems with any of these plans - that Æn'kae preferred not being around people to better his focus came just shy of irony, given its own past necessities.

Yes. Æn'kae was fully welcome at this point.

(frozen comment)

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Æn'kae beamed at that. "Then I'll get back to work and I'll be back again tomorrow. If you think of anything you would like me to bring between now and when I leave, let me know, ie?"

(frozen comment)

[peridexion]

Assent came back, paired with one last confirmatory ping from Æn'kae's comm.

Then one last question did occur, and the voidcraft sent along a visual of what would hopefully analogize well with a computer terminal, sending a signal out into space.

Digital research medium?

If it was going to do this, it would be folly to go in blind.

(frozen comment)

[under_the_raptors_wings]

A blank expression for a moment before he spoke, a bit uncertain he'd quite understood the question. "We uh... do use computers for almost everything, and we can reach any open network available through subspace?"

(frozen comment)

[peridexion]

Subspace. That was what it needed to be looking out for, here - open networks did not work well (to say the least) in the void, and most of the voidcraft's experience was with closed networks of some sort or another, or otherwise limited to just one planet or system's output at a time.

Thank you. Transmitting gratitude, it began tentatively extending its awareness to find that pathway to information...

Æn'kae wouldn't hear the 'debris alert' alarm as much today, for however much longer he worked.

(frozen comment)

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Æn'kae didn't exactly think about sending anything, but he still managed to broadcast that he was happy to help while he focused on wrapping up. He worked quietly, letting the Hiera do what they were trying to do without causing a distraction.

He finished up in the partial twilight that followed the setting of the first sun, pushing longer because of how close to the end of this he was. When he did he looked to the Hiera. "I guess... that's it for today. I'll see you in the morning?"

(frozen comment)

[peridexion]

The response from the hiera was more subdued - more because it was distracted, and not by its own emotional baggage, than because it was ignoring him - but still it sent acknowledgment, even well-wishes.

There was much to be done, still...

(frozen comment)

[under_the_raptors_wings]

Æn'kae gave a small smile as he left, bringing everything he'd brought along back with him. The hiera being distracted because they were busy was understandable. He appreciated the response he got all the more for that, honestly.

The first sign of having received outside attention was more subtle than someone showing up and looking around. If the hiera was watching for it, someone was scanning the area around where they'd crashed. Of course, pinning it down who was doing it and where they were would be easier said than done. Whoever it was didn't make an effort to contact the heira, just... took scans.

(frozen comment)

[peridexion]

As distracted as it was, it hadn't bothered trying to 'sleep' again - which was well enough, because it could detect a variety of scans through sheer cumulative experience.

Given that this could be anything from 'routine check from orbit' or 'a political enemy scouting out this world for an advantage', however, it defaulted to its normal response of maximum caution.

Double-checking its remaining energy - still terribly low, but no longer presenting a risk factor to any tetherable beings nearby - it void-shifted out of phase with the system, just for long enough that there would be nothing solid to sense.

This world was not void active, and had no experience with the methodologies that went into void travel. Anything detectable simply would not match known technologies in this system, and could be more easily dismissed as a glitched reading.

(frozen comment)

[under_the_raptors_wings]

The first thing Æn'kae noticed as he approached the next morning was the silence. Not a physical quiet, no, if anything the animals in the area were louder than they had been prior. It was the mental silence. There was no sign of the hiera that he could pick up and he'd gotten so used to it that the lack really worried him.

What he had not expected when reaching the temporary clearing created by the crash, was a Terrhaha sitting in the middle of it.

They wore a Starfleet uniform of black with command red and stood to their full height at his approach. While they weren't as tall as him, they seemed almost taller given that he slouched most of the time and utterly lacked their confidence.

"Huh. Well now, seems it was one of D'Tan's folks messing around out here. When they didn't know a thing about it I got the go-ahead to check into it. And of course, I'm sure you have no idea what I'm investigating, huh?"

He raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest, the height difference between them becoming noticeable, not in an instant, oh no, an instant reaction like a feline making itself larger would have indicated he'd felt threatened. Oh no, it was more, in that moment after the condescending tone, he came to the conclusion that they were not worth his time. "I trust you will understand if I do not take you at your word."

The barest flicker of a smile twitched across their lips, but they quickly pushed it down. "Y'know, talking to D'Tan, he's just so damn open that I forgot for a sec that ya'll are Romulans."

Rather than rising to the bait, Æn'kae got even colder. "I would happily go back to the settlement with you and report what I have observed while cleaning up the mess I found here to Subcommander Nadel, and you, if she trusts you to be part of the meeting."

The Terrhaha shook their head, unable to hide their amusement any longer. "Oh relax your icy ass, boy. I know the Republic is our ally. And more important than that, I know you're no kind of threat to either of us."

That took him aback, breaking through the ice somewhat.

Before he could react they laughed, sounding more feminine in that moment than they had the entire time. "Look when you work intell near Romulan space, you gotta learn something before you make a mess of things. So how about this boy, I'll tell the good subcommander I ran into you and she doesn't have to worry about the Tal Shiar causing you grief... again."

Æn'kae raised an eyebrow as they trailed off. "And?"

"And when you get back. You update her, boy. I'd bet this won't be the last time we see each other, and I'd rather next time not be on bad terms. But y'should maybe drag an actual scientist or two out here too, because if the readings here had my head scientist confused, I kinda doubt a veterinarian's gonna know what to do with them, huh?" And with that they hit their comm badge, not giving him a chance to say more before beaming away.

Of all the infuriating. He took a deep breath in and out and then settled down where he'd meditated before. If the hiera was around and hiding he wanted to reach them. He'd believed this person had chosen to trust him, well, trusted him now that he didn't have much choice but to talk to Nadel. But he wanted to see what he even could share first. He didn't want to get the hiera in trouble!