Author’s Note
When we last left our intrepid band of space pirates, a small, but determined harvester crab named Reg had taken it upon himself to fix the dispenser in the ship’s galley. He repaired it enough to make tea. But sometimes, when you’re a pirate, you need more than a hot cup of tea to kick the morning blahs.
* * *
Chapter 12: Aidoru
Onboard The Black Prince, in the galley.
Jade shuffled through the doorway wearing a loosely-tied bathrobe. Her eyes were puffy and her hair was matted on one side. She opened a cupboard and pulled out a mug.
Reg, the palm-sized metal harvester crab skittered across the counter and met Jade at the galley dispenser unit. He turned his eye stalks to her and raised a pincer. Jade deposited her cup under the galley dispenser nozzle and held up her own hand to meet Reg’s pincer in a high-five.
Reg bounced on his frontmost legs and turned to press the button on the dispenser’s front panel. Jade stood staring at the dispenser as hot tea filled her cup.
Jade met Reg for another high-five before retrieving the mug. “My man,” she said, and raised the mug to inhale deeply.
At the galley table, Emily scooted over to make room and Jade sat down. “Morning, captain.”
“Good morning,” said Jade, once again hovering over her mug to inhale. Emily plucked a granola bar from the center of the table and slid it over to Jade.
“Thanks.”
On the other side of Emily, Amaliya sat with with her elbows on the table, shoulders slumped and fingers tangled up in her hair. She was frowning.
“Good morning, Amaliya,” said Jade.
Amaliya grunted once.
“Really? Even after last night?” Jade unwrapped her granola bar and bit the end off.
“It’s not that,” said Emily. “She’s on hunger strike.”
“That so?” said Jade.
Lúcia walked into the galley, selected a mug, high-fived Reg, and retrieved her tea.
“Morning,” she said, as she took her seat at the table.
Emily passed Lúcia a granola bar and she began to unwrap it.
“Amaliya’s on hunger strike,” said Jade.
“Oh,” said Lúcia. She pushed her granola bar back to the center of the table. “Then I shall join you in solidarity, sister Amaliya. What are we protesting?”
“Nothing,” grumbled Amaliya.
“I see,” said Lúcia.
“And everything.” Amaliya pulled her fingers from her hair and pressed her palms to the table. She pushed herself up straight. “Mostly the breakfast selection. If another granola bar passes over my lips, I might just lose the will to live.”
Amaliya leaned forward until her forehead rested on the table. She wove her fingers in her hair again.
“There are some strawberries in the garden,” said Lúcia. “They are not fully ripe, but perhaps for a change of pace…?”
“I need a cheeseburger,” mumbled Amaliya.
“Hmm,” said Jade.
“What’s a cheeseburger?” asked Lúcia.
“Doesn’t matter,” droned Amaliya. “The galley doesn’t make cheeseburgers and we don’t have any money to buy one. Hence my dissatisfaction with granola bars and life in general.”
“Au contraire, mon frère,” said Jade, with a smirk.
“Soeur,” said Lúcia.
“Right,” said Jade. “I still get those confused.”
“What?” said Amaliya.
“The captain said frère, which means brother. I assumed by referring to you, she meant soeur, or sister.”
“Not that,” said Amaliya, “the au contraire part.”
“It means on the contrary.”
“Yes, but what part is contrary? The cheeseburger?”
“Probably,” said Jade, “but I was thinking more about the we don’t have any money part.”
“You been rifling through Latte Lady’s jewelry drawer again, haven’t you? Find something to pawn?”
“Better,” said Jade. “Think all you can eat buffet.”
“Not funny,” said Amaliya, letting her head droop until her forehead smacked the table again. “Emergency rations are not a buffet.”
“I’m dead serious.” Jade laid a hand on Amaliya’s shoulder and then turned to Emily. “Pull out the old Michelin Guide and look up Joe’s Crab Shack.”
* * *
In the conn.
“Science Officer Emily,” said Jade. “Did you find it?”
Emily held up the Michelin Guide. The tablet screen was displaying ‘Joe’s Crab Shack’ in light up letters on a rustic wooden sign. At the bottom of the sign was, ‘Home of the crabtastic all you can eat buffet.’ in hand-lettered white paint.
“You know there’s not a planet anywhere near here with a salt water ocean,” said Amaliya. “You know that, right? Coupla moons with methane seas, maybe. No crab in there. Joe’s full of shit.”
“So it’s vat grown protein,” said Jade. “So what? Bet it still tastes like seafood.”
“It’s not granola bars,” said Emily. “Lay in a course, Captain?”
“Aye,” said Jade.
Emily held the Michelin guide a few inches from the navigation console. There was a staccato beep. Emily tapped the console and a moment later the hiss of the maneuvering thrusters reverberated through the hull.
“How are we paying for this, again?” asked Amaliya, “Or are you planing a dine and dash?”
“A good captain always has a plan. And no, it’s not dine and dash. It’s Dogecoin.”
“Dogecoin?” said Amaliya.
“Dine and dash?” said Lúcia.
“It’s when you eat and then sneak out before the check comes,” said Emily.
“Oh, dear,” said Lúcia. “We must speak about this plan captain. The moral implications are troubling to say the least.”
“We’re not dining and dashing. We’re money laundering.”
“Oh, okay” said Amaliya. “That’s so much better. How does this factor into the food selection?”
“Y’all know I was into some shady stuff, right?”
Amaliya and Emily nodded. Lúcia kept her gaze fixed.
“So the gold Doubloons of yesteryear are the cryptocurrencies of today.” Jade surveyed the faces around her. There were only blank stares.
“I’ve got cryptocurrency. Dogecoin. And a fair amount of it. Totally untraceable. I can deposit, withdraw, transfer, whatever. But I can’t spend it.”
“Why not?” said Emily.
Lúcia perked up. “Because of The Man.”
“I should be wondering why a nun would know such details,” said Jade, rubbing her chin. “But, surprisingly, I’m not. And you’re right.”
“I still don’t get it,” said Amaliya.
“You have to earn money to spend money,” said Lúcia.
“Obviously,” said Amaliya.
“And you pay taxes you on the money you earn.”
“Right…”
“So if you spend more than you earn,” said Lúcia, “you don’t pay taxes. The Man doesn’t get his cut. And then he gets curious. Like where did this extra money come from? And why am I not getting any of it?”
“Okay…” Amaliya knit her brow.
“So you have to launder the money. Setting up shell corporations, maybe trading art, antiquities, or other subjectively-priced items to further obfuscate the actual amount of money. The proceeds deposited in off-world banks where tax laws are lax. Anything to conceal the true source of wealth.”
“And you know this how?”
“Mother Bertilda,” said Lúcia.
“Whatever happened to give unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s?” said Emily. “Or unto The Man, in this case.”
“Caesar is corrupt.”
“And maybe so is the Abby of Hildegard von Bingen?” Emily held her finger and thumb up for all to see. She shrunk the distance between them. “Maybe just a teensy little bit.”
Lúcia shrugged. “God works in mysterious ways, sister Emily. The money goes to help the poor.”
“I still don’t see how any of this buys us lunch,” said Amaliya.
“You think the restaurant business runs completely on the up and up?” said Jade. “Pssh. Gray market supplies. Undocumented staff paid off the books. And Joe’s as shady a character as any of ’em. It’s just lucky I happen to know him.”
“Great, so Joe’s going to buy us lunch because you used to run scams together?”
“No,” said Jade. “I’m going to write up an invoice for some vaguely defined consulting services. I’m going to give that invoice to Joe along with a crapload of Dogecoin. He’s going to pay my invoice in local currency… Minus a twenty percent cut, the greedy bastard.”
“Why would he do that? What’s Joe going to do with this cryptocurrency no one can spend?”
“Pay his undocumented staff? Buy tableware? I don’t know. I don’t care. Once I get my payout, I’m buying us all lunch with what I earned for my ‘consulting work’.” Jade made quotation fingers in the air in front of her. “And whatever else we need. No questions from The Man, ’cause I’ll have the paper trail to prove it’s legit.”
Lúcia smiled. “If there is any left over, I think I would like to try a cheeseburger.”
* * *
Joe’s Crab Shack, in the lobby.
“There’s more people here than I expected,” said Jade. “A lot more.”
Amaliya pointed to the All You Can Eat Buffet sign.
“Hm,” said Jade. She stood up and walked over to an aquarium tank that was at least three meters long. Inside, crabs were crawling over the rocks and each other.
Amaliya stood and moved next to Jade. She linked arms and stared into the water. One of the crabs flickered a few times and disappeared. It came back a second later.
“Still think it’s real crab?” asked Amaliya. “Glitching like that?”
“No,” said Jade. “But it can’t be that bad. Look at all these people.”
“It’s good just getting off the ship for a while. I’m sorry I was so grumpy. And about granola bars of all things.”
“Meh. I’m about done with emergency rations, too.” Jade turned around. She stared at the sign above the hostess. On the display was the number 25. It ticked over to 26 and a young couple stood up. Jade looked at the number 86 in her hand.
Jade walked over to the hostess station. “Is Joe around?” she said, leaning in. “You think you could tell him that Jade is here about the, uh, consulting job?”
The hostess looked up. Her tied back hair was coming loose around the edges. There was perspiration on her brow. “Sorry for the wait,” she muttered, and shoved four free drink coupons over to Jade.
Jade glanced down. “Um, thanks, but I really need to talk to Joe about that–”
The hostess was gone. She was hustling the young couple over to a table that had just been cleared.
“–consulting thing.” Jade said to no one.
“No Joe?” said Amaliya.
Jade shook her head. She fanned out the coupons and held them up. “Free drinks, though.”
“Moving to the bar,” said Amaliya. She stood over Emily and Lúcia who were crammed next to each other on a narrow bench.
Jade displayed the coupons in her hand.
“To the bar,” said Emily, standing up.
“The bar?” said Lúcia.
* * *
Joe’s Crab Shack, in the bar.
The room was dimly lit, with a nondescript mix of popular oldies blaring from cheap speakers in the ceiling.
“And I’ll have a rum and Coke,” Jade said, raising her voice over the music. “Hold the Coke.”
“So a rum, then?” said the bartender. She was wearing a puffy red hat shaped like a crab with googly eyes and two big plush claws sticking out the front. The black plastic pupils danced as she chomped the gum in her mouth.
“Yep,” said Jade.
“So that’s a rum, a white Zin, a pan-galactic gargle blaster…” The bartender leveled a gaze at Amaliya before turning to Lúcia. “…and an orange juice.”
“Virgin screwdriver,” corrected Lúcia.
“Right,” droned the bartender. “My mistake.”
Jade slid the coupons across the bar and smiled. The bartender curled her lip.
Emily turned to Amaliya. “What’s pan-galactic gargle blaster?”
“Dunno. Sounded floofy and fun. Like a sex on the beach or something.”
“Hm.”
The bartender slid four drinks across the bar.
Jade caught the bartender’s attention. “Hey, I was wondering. If you happen to see Joe, could you tell him Jade is looking for him? Jade Espinoza. Thanks.”
“Joe?”
“That’s right. The owner.”
“Yeah, sure.” The bartender curled her lip and shuffled off.
The overhead music cut off mid-song and a bank of lights illuminated a small stage. There was a crunch of heavy metal guitar and artificially created fog rolling in from two black boxes on either side of the stage.
The bar patrons all turned their attention to the stage.
“Ladies, gentlemen, small furry creatures from Alpha Centauri, and everywhere else in between… Tonight only… All the way from Neo-Tokyo… Aidoru!”
“Three figures emerged from the fog and quickly fanned out on stage. Each was holding a microphone, wearing a short plaid skirt and white blouse, paired with thigh-high boots that were something akin to police riot gear. They marched to the front of the stage while waving and shouting greetings.”
Jade gazed upon the triplets and sighed. “Cute.”
“And you said the place was good because of the buffet,” said Emily, elbowing Jade in the ribs.
“What?” Jade shrugged. “It is… But this is nice too.”
The three women on stage, identical triplets, were jiggling in all the right places as they took turns carrying a shrill melody. Guitar power chords and frantic drum beats erupted from speakers behind them.
A cluster of men in business suits pressed to the stage, standing wide-eyed, their mouths agape. They were throwing flowers, greeting cards and hand-written letters.
“What exactly is going on here?” said Lúcia.
“J-Pop,” said Emily, moving her head to the beat. “Cute, huh?”
Jade nodded.
“More like the exploitation of underage girls,” said Amaliya. “No wonder they’re way out here in the sticks. This shit’s pretty much illegal in the inner systems these days.”
“They don’t look underage to me,” said Jade. “They look hot.”
Emily was bopping her head to the beat while mouthing the words the triplets sang.
Lúcia sat, staring at the stage with her eyebrows knit.
“Recording companies find these girls young,” said Amaliya. “Tell ’em they’re gonna be big stars. Then they work ’em half to death. When they’re not touring, they’re doing photo shoots, meet and greets, that sort of thing. And their fans are–”
“Yeah, well, that’s the price of fame,” said Jade. “And you got to admit, their dance moves are pretty fabulous. Look at that coordination.”
“Yeah, look at them,” said Amaliya. “Take a close look. Short skirt. Blouse barely buttoned, tied around the waist.”
Jade shrugged.
“Now look at the front row of fans.”
Jade surveyed the faces of several middle-aged men in business suits. Several were reaching out toward the stage while the performers deftly stepped back to avoid their grasp.
“They’re dressed like school girls, aren’t they?” said Jade.
“Lolitas,” said Amaliya. “Though you’re right. These three are older than most.”
“Seriously? School girls? Marketed to old dudes?” said Jade. “That’s sick.”
“Yeah, well that’s showbiz. Some of the girls are even biologically modded to augment their pheromone output. Enhances their siren’s call. Makes them the ultimate fantasy.”
“That… They can’t do that,” said Jade. “Recording companies actually do that?”
“The recording companies have plenty of lawyers on retainer who would file a motion to suppress your opinion. And it’s all in the fine print of the contracts. So yeah, they pretty much can.”
“That is not cool.”
“Oh, they really do own them for the duration of the contract. Legally speaking. They even control their social life. No dating. Not even casual relationships. Performers have to appear available to keep their fans interested.”
“Like those skeezy dudes in the front row?”
Amaliya nodded. “Sexual harassment runs rampant in the industry.”
“Fuckers.”
Jade turned to the bartender. “Hey,” she said, “you find Joe yet? Tell him Jade Espinoza want to talk to him about his entertainment and–”
The bartender chomped her gum. She put a hand on her hip and stared. “You’re serious?”
“Serious as a heart attack, lady. Tell him Jade–”
“He’s right there.” The bartender pointed to the aquarium with the holographic crabs. She threw her head back and laughed once before turning back to slinging drinks.
Jade stood up and stomped toward the aquarium. Amaliya followed.
“She’s pulling your leg, baby,” said Amaliya. “There’s nobody here.”
Jade stared at the aquarium. She moved her gaze to a plaque above the aquarium. ‘In memoriam, Joe C. Shack, our esteemed founder,’ it read. Below the plaque was an e-ink posting of a news article with the headline ‘Tragic Fishing Accident Claims Life of Seafood Mogul’.
“That fucker,” said Jade. She pounded the edge of the aquarium, causing a group of holographic crabs to glitch out of existence for a moment.
“The man’s dead,” said Amaliya.
“He’s not dead,” said Jade. “Probably faking it for income tax purposes. While the management exploits those girls on stage. Makes me wonder who else he’s exploiting. That fucker.”
“Jade,” hissed Amaliya. “He’s dead.”
“Oh, come on. Joe C. Shack? Really? Who has a name like that? And a crab fishing accident? There’s no salt water ocean for light years. You said it yourself. It’s all bullshit. He’s a con artist. And he’s pulling the biggest con of them all.”
“You know what that means?” said Amaliya.
“Yeah, no consulting invoice. No Dogecoin exchange. And no free buffet.” Jade scowled. “That fucker.”
A ringing of feedback from the sound system filled the air. Jade and Amaliya turned to watch one of the triplets jerk back from the grasp of a man and bend to reclaim her microphone.
“Tough crowd,” said Amaliya.
“You see what happens when you pull shit like this, Joe?” Jade was talking to no one in particular as she stomped back to the bar. “You don’t deserve to have these girls singing in your bar.”
Amaliya followed behind Jade.
“Crew,” said Jade, “I have some bad news.”
“Is there good news, too?” asked Emily. “Like, I’ve got some good news and some bad news. Isn’t that how it’s supposed to work?”
“Just bad news, I’m afraid.” Jade heaved a sigh. “We’re leaving. Joe’s not here. We’re not getting any free buffet.”
“That’s it then, just the bad news?”
“Yep. Pretty much.”
Once again, feedback rang out from the sound system. One of the businessmen in the front row was reaching onto the stage. Again, one of the triplets jumped back before stooping to collect her microphone.
The man was undeterred and was pulling himself up onto the stage while reaching out. He was unsuccessful and tumbled backward.
The singers’ voices were becoming strained.
A group of very butch Space Marines congregating in the corner looked like they weren’t too fond of having the show interrupted. Two of their group stepped forward the instant the man made for the stage.
“There might be some good news after all,” said Jade, surveying the action. “Looks like Mr. Business Suit has just booked an appointment to get his ass kicked… by a couple of girls no less.”
The businessman in the front row hoisted had himself onto the stage. He was just getting to his feet when the Space Marines closed in.
The sound of audio feedback once again rang out as another microphone was dropped.
Another man in a suit made for the hole created by the first one. The pair of Space Marines made his foray a short one.
“Good news after all.” Jade grinned and sprinted toward the stage.
Emily, Amaliya, and Lúcia exchanged glances. They rushed behind Jade. By the time they arrived, Jade had already jumped into the fray and landed a hard right. The businessman crumpled and a Space Marine sergeant dragged him off the stage.
Two more men in business suits rushed the stage, followed closely by a third. The Space Marine sergeant grabbed the recent stage-rusher by the shoulder and with the help of her buddies, tossed him back into the crowd.
A battle cry of “Motherfucker spilled my drink,” rose from the din.
In the distance, someone smashed a bottle. There was more incoherent yelling. The bartender ducked just as a beer mug went sailing over her head. The stuffed claws on her plushy crab hat jiggled.
Several more business men rushed the stage, followed by the remaining squad of Space Marines.
The triplets dropped their microphones and huddled together behind one of the large speakers on stage. The backing music never stopped. The bar erupted into a melee of fists and sailing bottles with a speed metal accompaniment.
A shrill whistle sounded. A dozen large men with Cheney Orbital Security badges on their matching uniforms burst through the doorway.
Another beer mug went sailing through the air. The security squad lowered their face shields and pulled their batons.
One of the security men shoved a Space Marine out of the way as he moved toward the stage. The Space Marine turned and scowled. Her buddies formed up around her.
The security officer raised his baton. It was the last thing he did.
The Space Marine sergeant threw a punch, cracking the security officer’s face shield and bloodying his nose at the same time. The security officer went down in a heap. The other officers closed in.
Anyone who was not yet on their feet, rushed into the fray.
Lúcia stood caught in the middle of the pressing crowd. She had her hands together in front of her, fingers steepled, and her head raised heavenward. Her lips were moving, but her words were drowned out by the din. The mob parted and flowed around her.
Another dozen men in Cheney Orbital Security uniforms pushed their way through the front entrance.
Jade threw another punch. She popped her head up and shot a glance at the men in the doorway. She looked at Lúcia, then turned to Amaliya and Emily. “Crew,” she said. “Grab Lúcia. We are leaving.”
“The girls?” said Emily, her eye on the triplets.
Jade motioned them over.
The triplets huddled together, frozen in place. Another bottle was smashed. The second security squad marched forward.
Amaliya surged ahead. She grabbed two of the triplets by the hand. Emily took hold of Lúcia the other triplet.
“Come on crew,” said Jade. “We’re taking the back way out.”
A beer bottle went sailing overhead, smashing into one of the speakers and cutting the sound volume in half.
Amaliya turned to the crowd and puffed her chest. She raised a fist in the air. “Free Britney, bitches!” she yelled before running for the exit with two of the triplets in tow.
Lúcia jumped up on stage. “Free Britney!” she yelled. She stood surveying the crowd for a moment while Emily tugged at her hand. “Bitches!”
She jumped down.
Four pirates and three identical triplets ducked through the door labeled ‘Staff Only’.
“Who’s Britney?” asked Lúcia.
* * *
Seven women tore through the restaurant’s kitchen, hand in hand, forming a line. Together they sprinted for the door marked exit and spilled out into a delivery corridor.
“Yes,” said Jade, splaying the fingers of her right hand and shaking it vigorously. “Landing that punch was almost worth the lack of a free meal.”
“Speak for yourself,” said Emily. “That crowd was getting scary.”
“But, we made it,” said Amaliya. “Together.”
The triplets spoke, one after another,
“A daring rescue
“More excitement than… ever?
“Free Britney, indeed.”
“Who’s Britney?” asked Lúcia again.
“Doesn’t matter,” said Jade. “We’re not out of the woods yet. Come on.”
The seven women hustled down the corridor.
“Which way to the dock?”
Lúcia shrugged. Amaliya and Emily did the same.
Again, the triplets spoke, one after another.
“I’ve been here before.
“And if my memory serves.
“This way to the dock.”
The triplets set out down the hall, followed by the crew.
“The dock is that way.
“Through the portal over there.
“You will find your ship.”
Jade turned to the triplets. “Thank you. We would have been lost if–”
Jade’s words were cut off by a blaring alarm. The lights in the corridor dimmed to red.
“A level two security alert has been declared. All citizens are to remain in place. Bulkheads are sealing in ten… nine… eight…”
“Fuck that!” said Jade. “We are not sticking around to deal with those orbital security assholes. Come on!”
Each member of the crew grabbed the hand of a triplet. The seven women streamed through the portal.
“Seven… six…”
“Ship’s in the next berth down,” said Jade, “Hurry!”
“Five… four…”
The seven women tumbled into the airlock of the Black Prince.
Jade was the last in. She took inventory of the faces around her. “Emily, seal the air lock.”
“Aye, Cap.” Emily slammed the door panel with the flat of her hand.
“Amaliya, release the docking clamps.”
“Got it.” Amaliya turned and sprinted for the conn.
“Lúcia, get our passengers secured.”
“Oui, Mon Captaine.” Lúcia shot a salute and held her hands out to the triplets.
“Sorry, ladies,” Jade surveyed the faces of the triplets. “But, we’ve got to go.” She turned and ran toward the conn. “Welcome aboard The Black Prince by the way.”
* * *
In the lounge, about an hour later.
Captain Jade made her way down the ship’s corridor. Her magnetic boots clicked against the deck as she moved. She turned her gaze to Lúcia, floating a few centimeters above the middle of the Megacomf sofa. The triplets were sprawled out on either side of her, one with her head resting on Lúcia’s left thigh, and two with their heads on her right.
Lúcia was moving her hands from triplet to triplet, stroking their hair while humming softly. The ship’s maneuvering thrusters hissed from time to time, but the triplets’ eyes remained closed.
“I came to check on our guests,” said Jade, “but it looks like you’ve got it all under control.”
“I believe they’ve had enough excitement for one day.” Lúcia yawned. “And perhaps I have, too.”
“Gravity’s going to be off for a while. You want some mag boots?”
Lúcia shook her head. “Are we out of danger?”
“Scope’s clear. There’s nobody following us.”
Lúcia nodded. She let her shoulders slump and rested her head on the back of the sofa.
Amaliya walked down the corridor, keeping a wide stance, and finally coming to stand beside Jade. “I hate these boots,” she muttered.
“How’s it looking, XO?” said Jade.
“We’re safely nestled in the crater. Emily’s switching off non-essential systems to lower our electronic emissions and make us less detectable.”
“Nice work.”
Amaliya turned her gaze to Lúcia and the triplets. “And our guests?”
“Well taken care of, I’d say,” said Jade.
Lúcia held her hand out in a brief thumb’s up gesture before going back to stroking the triplets.
Emliy clacked down the corridor to join Jade and Amaliya. She looked at Lúcia and smiled. “Aww, they’re so cute.”
“Amaliya says you’ve been dialing down our systems to make the ship harder to detect. Good thinking.”
“Someone would have to be real motivated to find us on a routine scan.”
“How long are we hiding out?” asked Amaliya.
Jade shrugged. “At least until our guests wake up so we can ask them what they want to do.”
“You think they’ll want to go back? After all that?”
“Not up to us,” said Jade.
Emily again looked over at Lúcia and her companions. “Adorable,” she sighed.
“Shh, don’t wake them,” said Amaliya.
Jade glanced at the triplets. “I think they’re down for the count,” she said. “Lúcia, too.”
Emily reached back and touched a control panel to dim the lights. “Did you notice how they speak?”
“One after another?” said Jade. “In sequence.”
“Yeah, and something else.” Emily held up her right hand and started counting on her fingers while muttering under her breath. She repeated the motion three times.
“Five, seven, five” said Amaliya. “Haiku.”
“Yeah,” said Emily. “Everything they say follows the same pattern of syllables and each triplet says one line.”
Jade shrugged. “We all have our quirks.”
The triplets all jerked at once and sprang upright. The sudden motion caused them to bounce off the back of the Megacomf and float upward. Lúcia dragged herself upright, rubbed her eyes, and reached out to pull the triplets back toward her.
“Ship out of danger?
“Anyone coming for us?
“Have we been followed?” said the triplets one after another.
“We’re okay,” said Jade. “We’re hiding out in the bottom of a crater on a nearby moon.”
“Happy to hear it.
“Orbital security,
“Not the nicest group.”
“I hear ya, sisters,” said Jade.
“Sister,” said Lúcia, stifling a yawn.
“Souers” said Jade. “Right. I remembered this time.”
“Souer,” said Lúcia. “Singular.”
“I’m know my French isn’t great, but–”
“There is only one Aidoru,” said Lúcia.
“Like a band name or what? I’m not following.”
“There is only one,” said Lúcia.
“Honey,” said Jade, “Either you got knocked on the head during the fight or I did, because there are clearly three triplets sitting with you.”
The triplets spoke again, one after another.
“I am one person.
“Fashioned as three by science.
“Choice of my parents.”
“Aidoru explained it to me while you were busy in the conn, ensuring our safety, Captain,” said Lúcia. “Three bodies, sharing one consciousness.”
“No shit,” said Jade.
“That’s got to be a party on date night,” said Amaliya.
The triplets giggled.
“Speak in haiku, yes.
“Communicate so always.
“Except when singing.
“One body, one line.
“Each mouth takes a turn speaking.
“But we are as one.”
“No shit,” repeated Jade.
Again, the triplets giggled simultaneously.
“Result of the three.
“Genetic engineering.
“Unplanned side-effects.”
“Interesting,” said Emily.
“I bet you’re really good at cards,” said Amaliya. “And other things.”
Emily, Jade, and Lúcia all turned to stare.
“Nice to meet you,” said Jade, extending her hand to each of the triplets. “We should talk about what you want to do once things blow over. It was not our intention to kidnap you.”
“The perfect rescue
“The offer to come with you…
“You are most gracious.”
“Well, I…” Jade blushed. “I’d say you’re welcome to tag along, but we have to put it to a vote first. You see, we’re not a regular crew, we’re more like…”
Jade let her thought trail off as she looked around the lounge. Amaliya had her upturned thumb high in the air. Emily and Lúcia did the same.
“I guess it’s decided,” said Jade. “You’re welcome to stay as long as you want. If you want.”
“Aidoru starts young.
“Now the years are too many.
“Appeal is waning.”
“It sure looked like you had a good following to me,” said Jade. “Very dedicated. And really, how old can you be?”
“Fantasy for men.
“A young girl. A Lolita.
“That is Aidoru.”
“Don’t sell yourself short,” said Jade. “Your dance moves are top notch. And the singing is really good.”
“I sing and I dance.
“Many stages, many nights.
“The days blur as one.”
“Been doing it for a while, then,” said Emily.
“Raised as a pop star.
“No real choice in it for me.
“I realize this now.
“But you do have a choice,” said Amaliya. “You can choose to come with us. If that’s what you want.”
“What is it I wish?
“To leave. To go far away.
“Abandon the old.”
“If you want,” said Jade.
“Travel on your ship?
“If you have room for one more.
“I will not bother.”
“You won’t be a bother,” said Lúcia. She hugged each of Aidoru’s three bodies in turn. “Would you like a tour of the ship? We can start with the garden and I’ll introduce you to Reg.”
Aidoru cocked her three heads simultaneously.
“Reg is a harvester crab,” said Lúcia. “He’s really good at tending to plants and making tea. He’s good friends with Mia. Mia has a whole space station full of wildflowers. You’d love it there. Maybe we can visit sometime.”
“Or we could slow down and ease into things,” said Jade.
“I have another friend, Marie-Anne,” said Lúcia. “I’ll introduce you to her on email. Do you do email? Marie-Anne’s an artificial lifeform. And she’s teaching me to parle Français. That means to speak French. She lives on Nouveau Paris. Have you ever been there? Like when you were touring?”
“Um, Lúcia…” said Jade.
“Emily says you’re not allowed to date,” said Amaliya. “That it says so in your contract. Is that true?”
Everyone fell silent. All eyes were on Amaliya and then Aidoru. Aidoru turned to Amailya and nodded–all three heads in unison.
“Have you ever considered it?”
Aidoru nodded again, more vigorously this time. The corners of her mouths turned up.
“Do you, um… Do you like girls?”
Aidoru pushed off the sofa and floated over to where Amaliya was standing and surrounded her with each of her three bodies. Three plaid skirts swayed as Aidoru pressed close. Three pairs of lips brushed the skin of Amaliya’s neck.
“I have to confess,
“I am not experienced,
“But I am eager,” whispered Aidoru.
“That’s all I needed to hear, honey,” Amaliya sighed. “All I needed to hear.”
“Perhaps we should start the tour with the stateroom?” said Lúcia.
Emily stood silent, but grinning.
“I hate to be a buzzkill,” said Jade, “but how old are you?”
“I am twenty-one
“And for what you have in mind,
“That is old enough.”
“You know this sofa here is pretty nice, too,” said Jade. “It’s a genuine Megacomf. Really nice, even in zero-G. And a lot closer than the stateroom.”
Aidoru pushed off the deck and sent one of her bodies to take Jade by the hand. Two of her bodies reached out to join hands, making a bridge between Jade and Amaliya.
Aidoru collected Emily and Lúcia next.
“I’m eager to try,
“This sofa called Megacomf.
“It looks inviting.” Aidoru reached up–three hands on three shoulders–each one knocking the collar of her white blouse to one side.
“That’s not all that looks inviting,” said Amaliya, lowering the zipper on her jumpsuit a few centimeters. She laid a finger on the tip of Aidoru’s nose.
Aidoru turned her gaze to her feet and giggled.
“In the interest of full disclosure,” said Jade. “I should probably tell you we’re pirates.”
“Space pirates,” said Emily.
“Lesbian space pirates,” said Amaliya.
“Be gentle with me.
“I’ve not been with a pirate…
“Or anyone else.” Aidoru knocked her blouse off the other shoulder and began working on where it was tied at her waist.
“Never been with anyone?” asked Jade.
Aidoru stood, interspersed between the crew. Without any prompting, she reached to pull off her boots and then moved her hands to the waistband of her skirt.
Three identical bodies stood naked. Aidoru looked up briefly, but otherwise fixed her gaze on the floor.
“I am bare for you
“I will give so you may take
“Anything you wish.”
Amaliya reached out and touched to cup the cheek of Aidoru nearest her. “But what is it you want?”
“I want what you want
“I will be your fantasy
“Anything you ask.”
“I’m the last person to look a gift horse in the mouth,” said Jade. “Not that you’re a horse. Not even close. It’s just an expression. But… Never mind. What I’m trying to say is… Um…”
Amaliya stroked Aidoru’s cheek with her thumb “I think what the captain is trying to say is you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”
“Your daring rescue.
“You risked yourselves to save me.
“I must pay my debt.”
“You don’t owe us anything, honey,” said Amaliya. She wrapped her arms around the Aidoru nearest her and hugged her tight.
Three identical tears welled in the corners of three identical eyes. Three identical eyes wavered for a split second, before the three identical tears streamed down three identical cheeks.
“Maybe we should tour the stateroom first,” said Jade.
Amaliya shot her a glare.
“For a nap,” said Jade. “We’ve all had a busy day.”
* * *
In the stateroom.
Seven women huddle together on the king-sized bed. The order was Jade, Aidoru, Amaliya, Aidoru, Lúcia, Aidoru, Emily. The top sheet, tucked in on the bottom and sides, kept them from floating away. A wad of jumpsuits lay discarded in the corner.
Reg was floating overhead with 500ml pouches of hot tea in his pincers.
“It’s a tight squeeze,” said Emily.
“You’re not falling out over there are you?” asked Jade.
“No. You?”
“I’m good.”
“Amaliya?”
“Snug as a bug.”
“Lúcia?”
“Feeling the sisterly love, Captain.”
“Aidoru?”
“My words escape me.
“Never have I felt this way.
“A newfound freedom.”
“Wait until you’ve experienced naked kissing time,” said Lúcia. “It is most liberating.”
“One step at a time,” said Amaliya.
Under the sheet, six sets of hands linked together. Jade, Aidoru. Aidoru, Amaliya. Amaliya, Aidoru. Aidoru, Lúcia. Lúcia, Aidoru. Aidoru, Emily.
“This is nice,” said Emily. “I’d trade an all you can eat buffet for this any day of the week.”
“Me too,” said Amaliya.
“You are most gracious.
“And you call yourselves pirates?
“You’re the sweetest bunch.”
“Welcome aboard,” said Jade.