Chapter 3
In the morning Zeke awoke with Sori resting on him; Sori was still sleeping, so Zeke just watched her sleep. After a while Sori woke up and they both got ready for the day.
At breakfast everyone was pointing at and naming every visible object.
Apparently the teaching was not about to start for a while after breakfast, and Sori took the opportunity to give each of them a repeat examination. She passed the same small tubelike device over their heads, and examined the holograms. “Good,” she said, after she finished with each of them.
“At least our brains aren’t fried,” said Walter, looking warily at Sori.
“Good thing,” agreed Zeke, “I’m anxious to learn sentences.”
“No sentences today,” said Mvek, “more words.”
And so it continued. The words poured into their brains, they stumbled through lunch and sometime later went back for more words. The day passed in a haze, and this time Zeke’s head didn’t clear after a walk around the ship. He felt drunk, and couldn’t focus his thoughts.
Sori caught up to Zeke and led him to his own quarters. She helped him get into bed, but did not join him.
“Sleep,” said Sori.
The next morning, he couldn’t even remember if he had dinner. But he felt a lot better, and knew a lot more words. In fact, there wasn’t a thing in his quarters that he couldn’t name.
“Today you learn sentences,” said Mvek, at breakfast.
Zeke was looking forward to this. Sori helped them into the training chairs and they got started.
Instead of the simple pictures of the last two days, today was something new. Zeke’s hologram showed a person walking along, dragging his feet, about to collapse. The voice said the word for “tired,” and shortly Zeke could say “I am tired,” in Standard.
By lunch they could almost hold a conversation in Standard. And the mental fatigue, although present, wasn’t nearly as bad as yesterday. Zeke hoped it would remain that way, he didn’t want to go though that again.
“I am speaking Standard,” said Zeke.
“I am eating a fake-meat burrito,” said Susan.
Then back to the machines. By the end of the day the disorientation was back. Zeke was so exhausted he went immediately to sleep upon reaching his quarters.
Zeke awoke the next morning feeling better, but still a bit woozy, and headed for breakfast. Susan was the only one in the dining room, and Zeke sat down beside her.
“How are you feeling?” asked Zeke.
“I’m not so sure I can take any more of this,” groaned Susan.
“I don’t think we have very much left,” said Zeke, “since we are having this conversation in Standard.”
Sori came over and did the scans again. Zeke wanted to talk to her about their relationship, but didn’t feel comfortable doing so in front of Susan. Hopefully they weren’t married or something. Well, he would catch up to Sori later.
“You will be feeling better in a few hours,” said Sori, “we will start the teaching session then.”
“Do we still need it?” asked Susan. “We can talk in Standard pretty well, don’t you think?”
“Yes,” said Sori, “but you can’t read it yet. Don’t worry, today is the last day of the teaching.”
Zeke found Sori after breakfast.
“Hi Sori,” said Zeke, “before my head gets all fuzzy from today’s teaching session, I wanted to tell you how fantastic you were those two nights. I’d like to be with you again, soon.”
“I agree,” said Sori. “You were excellent, pushing me to my limits, bathing my body in pleasure. We will have other times together, during this trip, and perhaps when chance allows us to meet afterwards.”
When chance allows, considered Zeke. So the relationships did seem to be different with the aliens. Sori wasn’t talking about any kind of commitment, she was describing more of a casual thing. At least it sounded that way.
“So,” said Zeke, “does this sort of thing happen often between the different alien species or are we an exception?”
“Not all species are biologically able to enjoy recreational sex,” said Sori. “Of those that are, a significant number have experimented at least once with another species. Sometimes physical differences prevent success, but most of the time it is enjoyable, or at least interesting, for all involved.”
“Do any of the participants ever...” started Zeke. He didn’t know the word for marriage. Either the lessons missed that one or it didn’t exist.
“...ever form a more lasting relationship?” finished Zeke.
“I am not sure of your question,” said Sori. “After our experience we have a relationship as sexual partners, and should we meet again after this trip I hope we might renew the relationship for a time.”
Bingo! So their relationship had just been a casual fling, nothing more permanent.
“That’s exactly what I wanted to know,” said Zeke. “I hope I’m recovered enough from the training to be with you tonight.”
“You will likely not be,” said Sori, “but we still have tomorrow night, then you will be starting your training. Have you decided on your specialty?”
“Sure,” said Zeke, “I’m going to be a pilot.”
“A very good choice,” said Sori, “Earthlings have excellent reflexes. When you get to the base, ask for instructor Yzran. He is perhaps the best instructor in your environmental tolerances.”
“So I can just pick any instructor I want?”
“The instructor may refuse,” said Sori, “but that is unusual.”
Zeke talked with Sori until it was time for their lessons. Sori rounded everyone up and the Earthlings entered the teaching room for yet another round with the mind-numbing machines. The day passed in a haze and when Zeke awoke the next morning he could read Standard.
After getting ready for the day, Zeke switched the computer display to Standard and fooled around with it. Reading Standard was not as easy as reading English, but Zeke was fairly proficient; he just needed some more practice – the old-fashioned kind, Zeke had had enough of the training machines.
Zeke found the others in the sitting room talking to one of the Greys. His name was Vish.
Vish’s people, the Shao, had expanded to 112 planets and several thousand gigantic artificial worlds. Their population numbered over 203 trillion, and they were one of the more advanced peoples in the galaxy. The ship they were on had been built by the Shao over two hundred years ago, and it still looked new.
Vish showed them holograms of his artificial worlds and they were very impressive. One was a double torus larger than Jupiter housing almost one trillion individuals in luxury. Another looked to be a series of concentric rings containing enormous cities.
Most Shao preferred the artificial worlds, since they were not a physical race. A comparatively smaller number of Shao lived on the planets, but they were the exception – if you could call 250 billion individuals an exception.
“So Vish,” asked Zeke, “is there any truth to those stories about you guys and the anal probes?”
“And what about those cattle mutilations?” asked David.
“Some truth,” acknowledged Vish.
“You shouldn’t do that,” complained Susan, “it’s just wrong.”
“Possibly,” acknowledged Vish, “On the other hand, no Earthlings are harmed, sometimes minor medical problems are corrected. And we are conducting important research that could benefit countless species. Your system of food production has become intertwined to such a degree, that a bacteria or virus could quickly spread to a majority of livestock. Such conditions encourage a disease that could devastate your population. The same is true for many other developing worlds.”
“That still doesn’t give you the right to snatch people up for your experiments,” said Susan.
“In any event,” said Vish, “I am not involved with those projects, and with more human participation in our cooperative defense, such research is no longer looked upon favorably.”
Another mystery solved, thought Zeke. A bit disconcerting though, humans had been looked upon as little more than experimental animals, at least until enough of them joined the alien’s organization. How was the Shao’s experimentation any different from those “other” aliens they would be defending Earth against? Zeke resolved to find out about this, but he wouldn’t be asking the Shao on this ship.
Before it got too late, the group decided to get some sleep for the upcoming day. Starting their training would be exciting and Zeke could hardly wait. Zeke went back to his quarters and used the waterless shower, intent on paying Sori one last visit.
When Zeke entered Sori’s quarters, the lights were already off. Two simulated moons overhead provided enough light for Zeke to see Sori under the covers in her bed. Hopefully, Zeke thought as he sat on the bed, she wasn’t asleep yet.
“Hi Sori,” said Zeke, “are you asleep yet.”
Being able to talk with Sori was a dream come true, and Zeke resolved to take advantage of it.
“No,” said Sori.
“Computer,” said Zeke, “increase light level five times.”
The room brightened, not too bright, but enough to see reasonably well. Zeke pulled the covers off of Sori and looked her over. She was, as expected, naked. Zeke got undressed himself, and lay down on his side, near Sori.
Zeke moved his head over Sori, and lightly blew into her nostril slits. He gently traced around her bellybutton with his hand.
“Sori,” said Zeke between breaths, “I’m going to miss you after tonight.”
“Do not miss me,” said Sori, “remember our times together, anticipate our times in the future, and enjoy our time in the present.”
“Zeke,” said Sori, “in our prior encounters, you have devoted yourself to my pleasure. This time, lay back and allow me to devote myself to your pleasure.”
“Sounds like fun,” smiled Zeke, making himself comfortable on his back.
Sori knelt beside Zeke and softly blew into his nostrils. It tickled, but was kind of nice in a way, even if it wasn’t turning Zeke on. Really, Zeke considered, everything he had done with Sori probably didn’t turn her on either – like kissing on the lips. Sori’s mouth had been dry, and she hadn’t seemed to like it. Or when he touched her anus, she had actually said “no.” And touching her sides or neck didn’t seem to do much for her either.
Once Zeke left the ship tomorrow, and assuming he eventually found another cute alien to have fun with, he was going to remember to watch carefully for what turn-ons his partner had. Perhaps the computer would have more information.
Sori moved down and started blowing softly on Zeke’s bellybutton. It tickled a little.
However, Zeke remembered, Sori definitely did have her turn-ons. Her bellybutton was one of them, she also liked her nostrils blown into, and she liked the inside of her pussy rubbed and licked. Touching the inside of her vagina seemed to set her off, Sori had jumped Zeke as soon as he had touched her there.
The second night they were together, Zeke had kept away from Sori’s vagina, but Sori still seemed extremely aroused with just the pussy licking. Zeke couldn’t read her facial expressions very well, she seemed not to have them. Except... Her flushed face and unfocused eyes as she came, that was an expression Zeke hadn’t had any trouble reading. And that was one expression Zeke wanted to see again.
A touch on Zeke’s penis returned his attention to the present. Sori had stopped blowing on his bellybutton, and was holding his flaccid member. As she had on their first night together, Sori gently stroked Zeke’s cock.
Blowing on Zeke’s bellybutton may not have done much for him, but Sori’s hands worked their magic on his cock. Before long, Zeke was breathing heavy and groaning, his cock tingling and ready to explode. Sori kept him on edge for what seemed like forever.
Finally, Zeke felt the pressure inside him build in a way that could no longer be denied. He was seconds away from coming. Zeke started thrusting his hips, wanting more. Sori increased her attentions, and Zeke’s entire body stiffened as he came, a few spurts landing on Sori’s chest.
“Computer,” said Sori, “clean.”
Zeke felt the tingling, just like in the waterless shower, and suddenly Sori’s chest was spotless. Looking down, Zeke noticed his cock and Sori’s hands were completely clean also. Neat trick.
“Sori,” sighed Zeke, “that was awesome.”
“I am pleased you enjoyed it,” said Sori, lying down beside Zeke.
Another oddity about Standard was its lack of a word for thank you. Zeke was starting to get a feel for how something as simple as a missing “thank you” could impact normal conversation. The words “thank you,” Zeke considered, didn’t convey much meaning, they were just a polite noise. But take away those words, and the speaker had to use other, more personal, more accurate words.
Interesting, Zeke mused, reaching out to gently stroke around Sori’s bellybutton. Standard had no concept of marriage, no words for “thank you,” and no curse words. Well, at least Zeke hadn’t learned any curse words.
“I was wondering,” said Zeke, “have we been taught all the words and concepts of Standard?”
“Yes,” said Sori, “you know all the words.”
“Are you familiar with languages where some words are especially insulting?” asked Zeke.
“Yes,” sighed Sori, “Standard is an artifically created language, unpleasant words were not included.”
Zeke moved down, between Sori’s legs, and started licking the edges of her pussy lips. Sori moved her legs further apart.
“Why did they leave out the unpleasant words,” Zeke asked, licking underneath Sori’s pussy lips.
“The intention,” said Sori, starting to squirm, “was to encourage the expression of actual issues.” Sori panted, “Meaningful dialog, instead of generic insults.”
The aliens seemed to have thought of everything, Zeke decided, giving Sori’s pussy a thorough licking while his hand teased her bellybutton. Sori was now holding her breath for a time, releasing it in gasps, then holding it again.
“Zeke,” gasped Sori, “are you recovered enough for intercourse?”
“Not just yet,” Zeke grinned, continuing to lick every inch of Sori’s pussy.
Sori’s vagina was pulsing, dripping a steady stream of juice. Zeke ran his tongue around Sori’s vagina, but was careful to avoid touching the inside of her vagina. Sori’s squirming made it increasingly difficult to avoid her vagina, but Zeke persevered.
“Are you recovered now?” gasped Sori again.
“Not yet, but shortly,” Zeke replied. Teasing Sori was so much fun.
Zeke continued until his tongue started to get tired. Sori’s breath was coming in deep shuddering gasps, her hips rocking gently back and forth.
“Now,” gasped Sori, “Please be ready now.”
Zeke carefully positioned his body over Sori and entered her, making sure not to put his weight on her. Sori’s vagina was so wet that Zeke’s cock slid in with no trouble whatsoever. Zeke started fucking in a steady rhythm, while Sori’s vagina fluttered constantly around his cock.
Sori’s eyes stared, unfocused, past Zeke; her face was completely flushed, and Sori’s hips moved frantically as she tightly hugged Zeke with her arms and legs. Zeke realized she must be having her orgasm already.
Soon Sori’s vagina stopped fluttering and she released Zeke, slumping to rest on the bed. Zeke, already having come once, knew it would be a while before he came again.
Zeke continued his slow rhythm, luxuriating in Sori’s tight vagina. After a while, Sori’s vagina started slowly contracting again. By the time Zeke neared his own release, Sori’s vagina had started a slow, gentle fluttering. The feeling against Zeke’s cock was different from the faster contractions Sori was having earlier.
On the verge of exploding, Zeke groaned, trying to hold back. Suddenly Sori’s vagina stopped its fluttering. Even with the decrease in sensation, Zeke was too close. Zeke’s body went rigid as he came.
Slowly Zeke pulled out of Sori, and lay down beside her. Sori’s eyes were already closed.
“Computer,” said Zeke, “lights out.”
When Zeke awoke the next morning, Sori was staring into his eyes.
“Twice,” said Sori, “you are very skilled to make me climax twice. I will remember our encounter, very fondly.”
“I’m already looking forward to meeting up with you again,” said Zeke, blowing softly on Sori’s nostril slits. The two stayed like that for a while, before getting ready for the day and heading to breakfast.
An hour after breakfast the spaceship arrived at the base. The group watched from the sitting room; Zeke and Sori sat together and talked, Walter ignored them.
The base didn’t look like much. Just a long, featureless, white cylinder floating by itself in space. Like in the hologram room, no windows, seams, or other markings showed. And without any marks or reference points, determining the actual scale of the base was impossible.
As the ship maneuvered around to the end of the base, a dark circle became visible in the center of the cylinder’s hub. Only when the ship flew into this dark circle and docked in an enormous hanger along with countless other ships, did the true size of the base become apparent.
“It’s enormous!” said Susan.
“Why so big?” asked Mark.
“The base is divided into a multitude of different environments, each with a unique atmosphere, climate, and gravity,” said Sori. “Centrifugal force simulates the gravity, and the different levels provide the necessary gravity variations.”
“With all the different habitats, you must be very careful where you go,” continued Sori. “Entering the wrong habitat could prove fatal.”
The computer would warn them against inadvertently entering a hostile habitat, but they needed to know the environment encoding scheme if they were to live aboard a multi-environment station. Four numbers represented an environmental profile which described the impact of all environmental factors on an individual. Given the number of combinations of environmental factors such as gravity, temperature, pressure, and atmospheric components; the details of the profile were complex. However, the mapping was done is such a way that it was easy to quickly determine an individual’s tolerance of a particular environmental profile.
“The human environmental profile is 91-8-136-57,” said Sori. “And this ship is currently set to 88-12-130-66. My profile is 87-17-128-72. Since our numbers are not too far off, we are both comfortable. Do not enter an area where any of the numbers differ from your profile by more than 30, it could be dangerous.”
“What about eating?” asked Zeke. “Is there a profile for that too?”
“We have a similar method for that,” said Sori. “Food has a planetary origin and a six number profile, yours is 12-32-393-102-1-52. Deviations of any number by less than sixty are edible. Depending on individual tolerances, you might deviate by as much as two hundred before it becomes poisonous.”
“The planetary origin,” interjected Mvek, “is a better method. Keep to food from Earth and you will be safe.”
“Will there be meat on the base?” asked Walter. “I’m getting tired of this vegetarian diet.”
“It’s really vegan,” interjected Dan. “No animal products at all. I miss them already.”
“Yes,” said Sori, looking at Mvek. “your normal diet is available. Although it is not polite to mention such things in public.”
“Oh, sorry Mvek,” said Dan.
“I am used to worse practices as a recruiter,” said Mvek, “but new recruits on the base are much more easily offended by talk of eating animals.”
“Worse?” asked Walter. “Well, as long as no one starts eating me, it can’t be much worse.”
Zing! Walter always came up with the good ones, hopefully Mvek was not offended. How did an offended Mvek look anyway? Zeke considered, and decided to see what the computer had on alien expressions and moods.
“Before I lose interest in food for the remainder of the day,” said Sori, “we have arrived and docked. We will help you pack your belongings, and get you started with your training at the base.”
Packing went quickly for Zeke. He didn’t have much except for the few things salvaged from the car and the clothes Mvek had given him. It all went into a single hovering anti-gravity container. Sori explained the container would go into storage for now and later find its way to Zeke’s new quarters on its own, once Zeke had selected a quarters.
“You mean our quarters are not already assigned?” asked Zeke.
“The location of your quarters will depend on the skill you choose to train in,” explained Sori. “Quarters are located in proximity to training. And, depending on the training selected, some quarters are specially designed to enhance training.”
“I’m going to miss you,” said Zeke, giving Sori a hug.
“Do not miss me,” reminded Sori. “We will see each other again, and others on the base will share your time.”
Some of the others took longer to pack, but before too long everyone was assembled and Mvek led them into the base. Sori and the Greys remained aboard the ship.
The base had an entirely different look than Mvek’s ship. The docking port joined smoothly with a large circular chamber, about forty feet in diameter. The walls were a bright white, and merged seamlessly into floor and ceiling. Illumination spread evenly throughout the room, with no apparent source. The only items not white were Mvek’s ship and a fifteen foot diameter blue circle in the center of the room.
Mvek led them to the blue circle, which Zeke guessed was related to the disk used to board Mvek’s ship. Apparently the others thought the same and were soon standing within the circle. Mvek gestured and a railing appeared.
“Computer,” said Mvek, “transport us to indoctrination.”
The platform smoothly rose towards the ceiling, which opened into a fifty foot diameter tube with the same bright white walls. Strange, thought Zeke, the opening to the tube had not been visible from the ground. Filing this detail away for the future, Zeke continued to look around. One side of the tube had a definite end, but the other stretched into the distance, seemingly forever. The platform moved rapidly towards the end they couldn’t see. Surprisingly, there was very little wind or noise.
For a moment, Zeke was disoriented, but then realized the tube must run the length of the cylinder that was the base. A few other platforms were zooming through the tube, but passed by too quickly for Zeke to see the occupants. Zeke did see other tubes branching off from this one at regular intervals, possibly this was the main way of getting around on the enormous base.
Within a few minutes they turned into another tube and came to a halt in a white room like the docking port, but with three blue platforms on the floor and several open archways on the walls.
Another blue platform came to a rest beside them, the single occupant was six feet tall, with five furry blue legs, three purple tentacles at the top of a stalk, and no visible head. It crawled off the platform and left through the archway on the left.
“Computer,” said Mvek, “blue guide to indoctrination.”
A glowing blue ball appeared before them, then moved to one of the archways and hovered. Mvek motioned for them to follow. They went down a short hall; the blue ball stopped at the only open archway. The group entered a large room with alien furniture designed to accommodate a variety of species. The ball disappeared, this room was their destination. It was unmistakably a waiting room. Alien, artistic, and white, but a waiting room nonetheless.
“We will wait here,” said Mvek. “Shortly an indoctrination expert will discuss areas of training with each of you.”
Zeke sat back and got comfortable. Apparently the aliens hadn’t found a solution for waiting, and this would probably take a while. Zeke was a bit too excited to take a nap, so he imagined what piloting a starship would be like.
After a few minutes, Susan started pacing back and forth nervously.
“What’s taking so long?” she said, annoyed.
“They’ll probably be here soon,” said Zeke. “So, what are you going to train in?”
“I want to do something that involves exploring the galaxy,” said Susan. “You know, finding new worlds, new cultures. That sort of thing. What about you?”
“I want to pilot a starship, and Walter wants to be captain of a starship.”
“Hey, that could work out,” said Susan. “Maybe we’ll be on the same ship.”
Zeke was about to reply when another alien entered. The alien reminded Zeke of a jellyfish, but with the tentacles coming from all over the body. It was circular, three feet in diameter, and transparent. They could see its internal organs and what was likely its brain at the top. Definitely not an air breather, it floated in a transparent hovering container just big enough to keep it submerged.
“Good afternoon, I am Maeoglaiere. I will discuss the numerous specialties available to you and find one best suited to your abilities and interests. Before we begin, please introduce yourselves and tell me if you are already considering a particular specialty.”
“I’m Susan Gladshaw, and I want to explore the galaxy, see new planets and discover new peoples.”
“I’m Dan, and I’m not sure what I want to do yet. But I’m happy to be here.”
“Mike Donaldson, undecided.”
“Walter Westerfield, I want to be captain of a starship.”
“I’m Zeke, and I’m interested in piloting a starship.”
“Excellent,” said Maeoglaiere. “Walter and Zeke, how certain are your choices?”
“A hundred percent,” said Zeke. “It just feels right.”
“Well, 99.999 percent for me,” said Walter.
“In that case,” said Maeoglaiere, “you two may wish to proceed to your training sections now rather than listen to my lecture on the different specialties. It is primarily for the undecided, although you are welcome to listen if you like.”
“Hey!” said Susan. “I’m decided about being an explorer.”
“There are different specialties covered by your interest,” said Maeoglaiere, “including pilot, captain, engineer, diplomat, and many others. In a moment, I will start the lecture with these.”
“Computer,” said Maeoglaiere, “red guide for Earthling pilot training, blue guide for Earthling leadership training.”
Two globes, red and blue, appeared. Both moved to hover over the archway leading back to the entry hall.
“Maeoglaiere,” said Zeke, “may I be assigned to instructor Yzran for pilot training?”
“You may choose any instructor you wish,” said Maeoglaiere. “Many Earthlings are more comfortable with an Earthling instructor and we try to accommodate that preference; however, the final choice is always left to the individual. Are you certain of your choice?”
“Yes,” said Zeke.
“Computer,” said Maeoglaiere, “cancel red guide. Red guide to pilot instructor Yzran.”
The red globe vanished and a new one appeared, again moving to hover by the archway.
“Bye Maeoglaiere,” said Zeke, “Bye Mvek. I’ll see the rest of you later.”
Zeke walked towards the red globe and Walter followed. The globes led back down the hall to the room with the platforms. Here the globes separated, each hovering over a different platform.
“I guess this is where we split up,” said Zeke.
“I guess,” said Walter. “Computer, green guide for finding Zeke.”
A green globe appeared, moved over Zeke for a moment, and disappeared.
“Pretty sharp,” said Zeke, stepping on his platform. “We’ll have to meet up after we get settled in.”
“OK,” said Walter, “bye.” Walter gestured and his platform rail raised; the platform lifted up and out of sight.
Zeke gestured and his platform did the same, zooming down the tube towards its destination; wherever that was, thought Zeke.