The false sun had crested over the top of the domed ceiling and was now well into its slow, casual descent over the western side of the station.  Street lamps blinked to life as the simulated sunlight gradually dimmed, but the crowds certainly did not stop.  Just like Las Vegas, New Luxor never slept.  The ebb and flow of the crowd reminded Niira of the deep, vast oceans of her youth--powerful tides, guided by unbelievably vast forces of nature.  People were no different, even if their motivation tended to be 'booze' and 'breasts', rather than the gravity that pulled at the tides.  She struggled to see over some of the taller patrons shuffling along with the current, watching for a very specific sign.

The young selka tugged the dark hood of her cloak more tightly around her head, tucking her headtails back while she slipped between two drunken men and hurried along.  The voidsilk shroud kept the majority of the ambient emotions and sensations from pelting her psyche, but crowds like these were difficult to filter out.  Inebriation, chemical highs, loss, ecstasy, desire, and fulfillment... She could sample every emotion under the sun in this place, some of which only existed in certain more exotic species.

Still, her destination would be well worth enduring the mixed palette of empathic flavors.  A brightly-lit sign caught her attention, flashing in neon green holographic letters: "Immersion/Emergence Zone".

"Finally." Niira elbowed past a far too chatty woman and followed the arrow on the sign.  A corner at the end of the path buzzed with several casino-goers garbed in similar cloaks and vestments to Niira's.  Individuals phased in and out of local space and went about their business as normal.  The young selka hurried along the less-crowded path and sidestepped several other members of her race as they went to join the mob.

To the selka, traveling on foot was more of a passtime than a necessity.  Their ability to not only survive, but to thrive in subspace allowed them to surpass any obstacle, overcome any hindrance, and generally go anywhere they wanted.  Niira could have simply immersed, floated leisurely to her destination, and emerged right where she preferred if the station hadn't greatly discouraged such wanton use of subspace travel.

Administrators of large, public attractions such as New Luxor had quickly come face-to-face with a problem: When left among other sapient species, the selkas' tendency to pop in and out of local space caused all manners of accidents, ranging from simple bumps to minor medical emergencies.  However, seeing as every sapient race that utilized subspace did so using selka technology, disallowing immersion and emergence within their walls would have landed them knee-deep in varying levels of protest.

A simple, elegant solution was devised: Selka scientists developed a smaller civilian model of the subspace beacons usually employed to map star systems, and placed them at strategic locations around large structures.  These advanced devices, through the use of rudimentary AI, projected pulses of electrical energy and artificial psionic waves through the void and into the realm of subspace.  Therefore, as Niira closed her two main eyes and opened the three that could peer through the Space Between, and she felt the familiar, slightly dizzying shift between dimensions envelop her cloaked form, she would have no trouble finding the closest location of the next emergence zone.

The blocky space around the beacon was simple; a black and white lobby, furnished with sofas and soft armchairs for the selka patrons to sit, rest, wait for friends, or simply escape the noise.  Selka visitors came and went with ease, emerging into the room and simply slipping through the wall when they decided where to go.  Subspace, better known as the Space Between to the religious selka, was incredibly mutable in nature.  A mere thought could influence its form, and multiple selka minds often joined to share the same perception and, thus, the same physical manifestation of subspace.  Consensus between dozens of different selka, all coming and going at their leisure, however, was quite chaotic.  Thus the beacons themselves were programmed to project artificial 'thoughts' of their own, adding an unbiased third party to balance the equation and prevent absolute chaos.  This time, the simple, neutral waiting room had been chosen.

Niira appreciated the utilitarian design, but there were far more elegant applications of the Space Between and its malleability.  The projected meeting room faded as she stepped back from it, clearing her mind of the artificial consensus and allowing her to produce something more familiar.  Sounds muted and bubbled away as she focused on a deep, calm sea.  It rose swiftly around her, the gentle pressure of cool water engulfed her body, and a distinct sensation of weightlessness came upon her.  Before her three eyes could even blink, she was completely submerged.  The oceanic construct of non-space allowed Niira to swiftly swim through its currents.  She directed the flow of the 'water' with her mind alone, pushing herself in a direction that, in her perspective, was up, but had no true meaning in this two-dimensional space.  The station's artificial gravity, nearly entirely muted in this realm between realms, served as little more than a guide for which way was 'down'.

There was no empathic echo here, where the thoughts and sensations of realspace could not reach.  Niira pulled her hood back and shook out the slender, elegant tendrils that trailed down from the back of her skull to just past shoulder-length.  Her shimmering gunmetal skin glistened in an ethereal light that apparently came from nowhere, yet everywhere, simply by the design of her will.  The familiar thrumming of the subspace beacon now pulsed beneath her, visualized as a blinking light.  Its bretheren spread out across the station flashed in the distance.  Niira's tri-eyes focused on one in particular, toward the western end of New Luxor, and she willed the currents around her into action.

The watery visualization held true as she glided through the sub-dimension; there was a sensation of cool, soothing moisture on her skin, but the supposed sea rushing past her felt more akin to a firm, constant breeze.  Her voidsilk cloak remained dry and, notably, undamaged by subspace's corrosive effect.  Loose strands of the precious, ethereal material hung in the watery void through which Niira swam, her webbed fingers stretching wide to help her propel herself along with the currents.  A beacon drew near, its bright white light pinging rhythmically in the enshrouding darkness of a deep blue sea.  Niira directed the current downward and allowed gravity to guide her to the light.

Shadows pooled around the beacon, and her perception of the world around her shifted to that of its projection; this time, a cute little beachside cabin.  Selka in all flavors of swimsuits milled about and conversed, invisible to even those right outside the emergence platform.  Niira righted herself and set her feet down on the floor.  She drew her hood over her head, stuffed her headtails back into her cloak, and shut all five of her eyes to focus on emergence.  Once more, her head spun just slightly, and she felt a rush of wind as the air parted around her emerging body.  The smell of salt water greeted her nose, the gentle chatter and distant waves gave way to New Luxor's booming sound systems, and the sweet little cabin faded away to nothing.  Niira brushed her cloak smooth and hurried around the corner to feast her eyes upon New Luxor's beautiful artificial beach.

A cloudless blue-orange sky hung overhead as the sun gradually set, casting an enchanting glow over the briny cove that seemed almost too real.  The sand sank beneath her shoes, holographic seagulls crowed overhead, and the artificial breeze was deliciously cool and salty.  Stationgoers of all ages swam, basked, built sandcastles, and roughhoused along the sandy shore, the rush of the waves drowning out even the loud, overpowering music from the nearby casinos.  Niira basked in pure nostalgia for several long moments.  Every sensation pulled fond memories of home to the surface and replayed them, made foggy and imprecise by time, in her mind.

The young selka shook off her reminiscence--and her cloak.  The pure black garment appeared to melt away from her form, dissolving into pools of shadowy thread, then vanishing altogether.  Niira gave herself a quick patdown; her synthfiber jumpsuit, leather hip pouch, and its vital contents were all unharmed and functioning correctly.  Voidsilk protected simple realspace items from subspace corrosion, but only with proper coverage, and only for short periods.

With her wardrobe intact, Niira concerned herself with the next order of business: A proper swimsuit!  She'd read about a shop near the beach that sold them, and she'd spotted the most adorable one-piece on the store's exonet page...

The bridge and engineering staff had gradually dispersed and gone their separate ways.  Some stayed behind at the slot machines to gamble their bonuses away, while others perused the local flavors.  Booze, bodies, food, chemicals... The list went on.  Lin had found himself bar hopping with Jack and River, and eventually Jack went... well, somewhere.  He remembered him saying something, but his inebriated brain had apparently deemed it unimportant.

"Fuckin' 'ell." River slurred as she slumped over the bar in a tiny little corner tavern.  The place was packed, smokey, and loud, and she hardly had room to rest her head on the polished wood bar. "I think I'm at my limit, love."

Lin had fared no better over the course of their pub crawl; he'd started light enough back at the casino, and even managed to stay on mixed drinks for about half their little adventure.  After the third stop, Jack had suggested he "quit being such a pussy" and switch to shots.  Not to be outclassed, Lin spent the remaining time pounding back as much whiskey as an old-timey Irish stereotype.

"I can't even remember if I've puked yet." the panda groaned, staring at an empty shotglass and suddenly feeling disgusted at the sight of it. "Why do we do this shit, River?"

"Because we're right fuckin' daft." River's accent was a funny thing; it only seemed to really come out thick when she was angry or drunk.  The skunk combed her fingers through her pure white hair, messing it up with dizzy, clumsy strokes as she slurred something entirely incomprehensible.

"What was that last drink we tried..?"

"Engine grease." River furrowed her brows and counted off the ingredients on her fingers, "Whiskey, cola, and... bacon grease..?" she licked her lips, as if seeking out some sliver of flavor she'd missed on them. "Yep.  Definitely bacon grease."

"Right, that.  Never again." How had he ever considered trying that?  Who the hell even came up with that drink?  These questions would have to wait until he sobered up.  Lin slid his glass forward and called in his tab.  A quick swipe of his credit chit later, and he was officially done drinking. "Oh well.  Least I got to stare at your pretty face the whole time."

River scoffed. "While it was buried in a glass, yeah.  So, what's next?  Gonna go and pass out somewhere?"

"I just may." the panda stared at his drinking buddy for a long moment, then quietly slurred, "Wanna get a room, Queen Floof?"

"Lin, if I went to bed with you, we'd be up for the next four hours clumsily shagging." River tabbed out as well, then rested her head on her arms. "And to be perfectly honest, the idea of any sort of rocking motion is... troubling right now.  I haven't puked on a bedmate since... last shore leave."

"That sounds distressingly recent."

"Just before you signed on, come to think of it."

"So not even a year." Lin made a face. "Gross."

River drunkenly laughed, and an unladylike burp came along with it. "Besides, love.  We tumbled once, and it was fun.  But I ain't as randy as Jenkins.  Bloody foxes..."

"Don't tempt the wrath of the Golden Cock.  I'll wave my magic wand, and your clothes'll disappear!" the pair laughed again, but the mere act of laughter sent a surge of pain through Lin's head. "Goddammit, I can't ever do this again."

"But you will."

"I know.  How the hell did we ever get to space if we're this stupid?" he waved a hand dramatically through the air, nearly clotheslining a passing bartender. "Like... Like ice cream."

River raised a brow. "Ice cream?  The hell're you on about?"

"You know!  Ice cream throat?  You swallow ice cream and it freezes the back of your throat, and you can't reach it to rub it." Lin pinched the bridge of his nose.  God, his head was splitting. "So you wait, and eventually it gets better.  And what do you do?  Eat more fuckin' ice cream!"

"You're bloody mental, you know that?" River groaned, then quietly conceded, "Not wrong, though."

Lin snorted and rested his head on the bar.  The pair went silent for several moments, both trying to drown out the ambient noise around them.  Lin regretted not bringing any chaser pills--this was going to be a hell of a hangover.  He glanced in River's direction again and mumbled, "Chief was gonna hit me earlier.  Did I tell ya?"

"No.  Why?"

"Because I figured out why he was moping."

The skunk sighed, then made a face and tried to wave away the liquor and cigar breath she'd just exhaled. "He's just in 'alpha male' mode, love.  Don't pay it no mind."

"I don't actually fuck every girl I meet, River." Lin groaned and picked his head back up. "For instance, I never once touched the captain."

"You wouldn't be alive if you did."

"Point still stands." he checked the time on his tablet: 17:25. "Where did the captain go, anyway?"

"A hot bath, apparently." River forced herself to her feet and held onto the barstool to steady herself.  She wiped her face with an open palm and glanced back over her shoulder at Lin. "And I am going to bed before I black out.  Just one bit of advice, love."

Lin began the slow, calculated process of getting up as well. "What's that?"

"Eventually, even fucking gets lonely, Panda Power.  I've seen you two, and the way you smile at one another." the skunk grinned drunkenly. "If you want something--truly want it--you'd best make a move on it."

"What?  Seen who?  Smiling how?" Lin called after the fluffy woman as she stumbled off and disappeared into the crowd.  There was no way he was going to wrap his drunken mind around that, so he did the next best thing: He wandered.  Out into the crowd he went, letting his whim guide him forward.  A whiff of sea salt caught his nose, and something inside him decided this was pleasant.  Lin turned west and shuffled sluggishly along the path.

Dozens of flashes lit up the central pavilion showroom, rivaling even the station's glaring exterior lights as photographers captured dazzling still shots of the most provocative men and women to ever grace a magazine cover.  One by one, luscious lingerie models would saunter down the runway, turn, pose, and strut their stuff for the cameras and onlookers, ensuring every angle of every curve was thoroughly appreciated before making their way backstage.

Up front, the journalists, magazine publishers and their hired photographers got a nice, close view of the action.  Atlas and Flora, being mere observers, had managed to reserve seats toward the back before the entire building had filled up.  The latter ran the entire spectrum between passive appreciation to hardly keeping her tongue in her mouth, while the former recorded every tiny detail, his glowing eyes whirring inaudibly as he focused the digital zoom in his pupils.

"I have received vast quantities of data in a very short time." Atlas commended, his eyes wide, posture straight in his seat. "This is most enlightening."

"I can't believe I let you convince me to come here." Roxxy squirmed in her seat. "I didn't think they'd be so..."

"Dr. Jenkins?"

"Hot!" the vixen huffed and leaned back in her chair. "Seriously.  How do they keep their fur so shiny?"

Atlas's eyes shimmered as he ran a search for the answer. "I have located the product used by the lingerie and swimwear modeling industry.  Would you like me to place an order?"

Flora tried not to sound too eager, casting the AI a sideways glance. "How much?"

"Eight-thousand credits."

"What!  For how many bottles?"

"Four."

"Christ, no!  I'll stay acceptably mediocre."

Atlas turned one eye to Flora and kept the other on the action on the runway.  The effect was slightly disturbing. "Do not undervalue your appearance, Dr. Jenkins.  I have compiled a wide range of data on how organics rate attractiveness, and on a numeric scale, you would rate at a solid eight out of ten."

"That's sweet, Atlas."

"It is simple logic, Dr. Jenkins.  A data point."

"That's less sweet." the vixen scoffed, but couldn't suppress a grin. "Could you maybe cut the chameleon stare?"

The synthetic red panda processed for a moment, then returned both eyes to the runway. "I apologize."

"No, it's ok.  Just weird." A fresh set of cheers and whistles drew her attention to the runway as well, and her jaw dropped.  A handsome red panda, comparatively short in stature, red hair, in a microfiber speedo... "Oh god, Atlas.  Look."

"I have observed, processed, and recognize the significance of his appearance." Atlas's cold, mechanical response contrasted with the almost amused expression he wore.

"I wonder how he'd react if he knew."

"I would hope he would be flattered." Atlas watched the organic inspiration for his fluffy form strike an elegant pose on the runway, glowing emerald eyes wide with curiosity. "It is in the nature of his occupation to bring pleasure to others.  It would be logical, then, for him to appreciate the pleasure I brought Master Lin in his image."

Flora made a face. "Or... he'd find it creepier than a fan making a shrine to him."

"That is a distinct probability."

The show continued, with Atlas and Flora watching in appreciative silence.  A buxom cow girl in a way-too-small bikini followed Atlas's inspiration, and her polar opposite, a petite vulpine in a scaly-looking silver one-piece, proceeded her.  There seemed to be no end to the various flavors of model or style, and the pair took plenty of time to let their eyes wander.  Atlas focused on recording data throughout the entirety of the show, but Flora soon noticed the faintest appearance of disquiet in his expression.

"Something wrong?" she asked, reaching over to give the synthetic's hand a squeeze.

"I believe the data I have recorded is accurate." he began, lacing his fingers with Roxxy's. "However, there is an inconsistency that I have experienced personally, and I do not have any explanation as to why it exists."

"Well, lay it on me!  Maybe I can help."

The wah nodded and turned his head to face her this time, to avoid the creepy chameleon-eye look. "Organics often rate their social status based upon the attractiveness of their sexual partners."

Flora scoffed. "The shallow ones, yes.  Physical attraction is important, sure, but it's not everything."

"I have obtained data that suggests that organics who copulate with unattractive or undesirable partners often feel shame as a result."

"Sometimes..?"

Atlas continued, a surprisingly genuine look of concern crossing his features. "Dr. Jenkins, when you requested that I elaborate on my sexual encounter with Master Lin, you found it humerous.  You suggested that it was 'prime material for teasing'.  Why is that?"

Flora suddenly felt very small in her seat.  She shrunk back a tad and avoided looking at Atlas. "I... don't quite know how to answer that, sweetie."

"Is it shameful that I had sex with Master Lin?  Would he be ashamed if someone else knew?"

"Atlas, Atlas!" Roxxy took both the boy's hands in hers. "No, honey.  Not at all."

The synthetic wah stared at her, processing, querying, exchanging data with various sources. "Then please, explain why it would be grounds for hazing.  Please explain why he avoids letting others know."

The vixen breathed a heavy sigh and gave his hands a squeeze. "Lin avoids telling people because A) the captain would be pissed--and she was when she found out, and B) because he doesn't want people making fun of him over it."

"I am uncertain as to why they would."

"Because, honey, there's... still a lot of stigma about synthetics and sexuality." It hurt to say it, but there was no kinder way. "It's just seen as... kind of pathetic if you have to fuck something that's programmed to do everything you ask it to.  You know, because you... don't even have to try."

Atlas slowly canted his head to the left, staring unblinking at his organic companion. "Organic courting rituals have been described as 'hunting', or as a 'game' to be 'won'.  These analogies lend credence to your explanation." The wah's brows knitted almost unnoticeably. "Do you feel it is pathetic, Dr. Jenkins?  To an extent that you would haze Master Lin for it?"

Flora couldn't remember a time when she was more uncomfortable or ashamed of herself.  She bit back tears and forced herself to meet the AI's gaze. "No, Atlas.  I'd make fun of Lin for just about anything.  I'm sorry.  I had no idea you felt this way.  I think it's wonderful that you expressed yourself--even if it was at his behest.  Hell, from how you describe it, the idea was practically all yours, at least to start with.  It's certainly not pathetic, and neither are you."

The red panda studied her for just a quick moment, then returned the gentle squeezing she'd been giving his soft, synthflesh and fur hands. "Organic behavior is far more complex than I currently understand.  But I believe you are genuine, Dr. Jenkins."

Flora threw herself into Atlas's arms and hugged him tight, inwardly scolding herself for her insensitivity.  She said nothing, simply content in the thought that she hadn't alienated herself from the kindly, if not strange, synthetic that she'd been entrusted with protecting.

<I don't understand.> Roro, who had been unusually quiet, twitched atop the vixen's head. <It's only metal, no matter how pretty it is.  Why did it look so sad?>

"Maybe now you'll give him a chance, hmm?"

"Dr. Jenkins?" Atlas pulled back and regarded her questioningly. "Give who a chance?"

"Oh, never mind." Flora idly petted the flowers around her ear. "I'm here for you, Atlas.  If you're ever worried or sad or... anything else, really.  You can always talk to me."

Atlas's eyes shimmered faintly. "It is the duty of the Prospector engineering and programming staff to ensure I am functioning at full capacity.  While I appreciate your offer, you need not burden yourself with a heavier workload."

"No, silly." she reached over and brushed her fingers against his cheek.  That soft fur was practically indistinguishable from the real thing. "I mean, if you ever want to talk.  Like we did today.  Nothing technical or programmy about it.  That's just what friends do, Atlas."

"I... see." There was something new, unreadable, in those glowing eyes for a moment.  Atlas returned his gaze to the runway, where the show appeared to be moving to the undergarment models. "Thank you, Dr. Jenkins.  I look forward to talking again."

"Me, too." Flora stifled a laugh when she saw the telltale sign of a smile tugging at Atlas's lips.  She idly wondered if he even realized what it meant, even as her attention was drawn by a hunky deer in some tight boxer briefs.  The vixen squeezed her thighs together and sucked down a breath, silently cursing Roro for starting to squirm around her waist.  The show was only half-over, and there were a lot of sexy bodies waiting to walk out from backstage.

The artificial sun had just begun to touch against the station's horizon.  Niira watched from beneath the surface as the sky turned the most beautiful shade of orange, drowning out the overwhelming blue.  All Sol systems measured station and vessel time in Standard Earth Hours, and it was common for them to follow the standard twenty-four hour day-night cycle.  Time had simply slipped away from her today; from the casinos, to the cute little retro-style arcade games, to the dance theater, and now to the cool, refreshing waters.  She'd certainly had an eventful day.

The selka felt the last of her held breath giving out, and she effortlessly propelled herself to the surface, webbed fingers and toes pushing water far more effectively than her human or furred companions' digits.  She breached the surface and exhaled sharply, drawing another slow breath and allowing herself to bob and float on the surface.  The false sun shone atop the briny water, reflecting off her shiny white one-piece swimsuit.

Niira leaned back and cast an upside-down glance at the shoreline.  There was less of a crowd, and that meant less empathic noise for her to tolerate.  Perhaps now she could sit on the sand and watch the sunset in relative peace.  Powerful legs kicked hard, and she treaded water like a pro, pushing herself into the shallows until she could simply wade onto the beach.  An attractive pile of sand stood out, and she perched herself atop it, stretching her legs out before her and watching the artificial sky transition into a realtime view of the station's local space.

It was so strange to be off the Prospector after such a long time in deep space.  Her simple living quarters were claustrophobic compared to the huge domed ceiling, and the bright lights and loud sounds were nearly offensive to her senses.  Furthermore, she'd only just begun to realize how lonely her first day out had been.  She'd been invited to go plenty of places, and she had initially set off with a couple of the ship's cooks--though that was more of an effort to get away from the engineers.  More specifically, one of them.  Still, even as introverted as she tended to be, today had been quite lonesome.

Her train of thought went derailed when she thought she felt something move beneath her.  Her suspicions were confirmed when the pile of sand under her butt twitched and groaned, and she let out a yelp as it began to rise!  The selka rolled to her right and watched as a familiar panda pulled himself out of the sand, bleary-eyed and smelling of alcohol.

"Oh my goodness!  Lin!" Niira knelt down beside the confused panda as he coughed up sand. "Are you--how did--how long..?"

"Children, Niira.  Pretty sure children are legit hellspawn." the panda groaned again and rubbed his head.

"Why didn't you just move?"

Lin searched her gaze, as if he might find the answer within her glowing blue eyes. "I forgot how."

The selka sighed and began brushing the sand from her friend's fur.  She was aware of his tendency to indulge in chemical pleasures, but had not yet witnessed him quite so drunk. "You could have suffocated."

Lin nodded, then sneezed, blowing twin jets of sand from his nose.  He looked an absolute mess, but otherwise appeared unharmed. "Tell that to the children."

"I'm telling it to you--the adult--who ought to know..." she didn't even bother to finish.  She managed to clean him off from the shoulders up, or at least the best she could without dunking him in the ocean.  She was tempted, too. "Are you alright if I leave you for just a moment?"

"Unh..." Lin stared blankly at nothing in particular. "Yeah.  Yeah, I'm good."

Niira quickly rose to her feet and hurried over to the personal lockers.  She pressed her thumb against the biometric scanner, opened her rented locker, and retrieved her leather pouch from inside.  Locking up again, the selka returned to her panda friend, who had decided that the sand looked comfortable enough to lay on.

"I just finished brushing out your hair." she sighed, settling down beside him again.  She propped the boy's head up onto her lap and dug into her pouch.  Her fingers found purchase on a thin, straight tube with a button on one end and a plastic cap on the other.

"I don't think I need any more chemicals in me." Lin slurred, attempting to nudge the object away from where she was aiming it--his neck.

"Be quiet and hold still." Niira uncapped the end of the tube and pressed it to the side of Lin's neck, just an inch above the clavicle.  The panda winced as a tiny needle pierced his skin, the tube clicking, hissing, then beeping as it delivered its payload into his bloodstream.

"What was that, anyway?"

"Ethylredoxrazine." Niira capped the tube and slipped it back into her pouch.  She kept Lin's head steady in her lap and brushed away any sand she'd missed before. "It was originally for me, but I never wound up drinking.  Your liver will thank me.  Maybe you will, too."

Lin's gaze gradually became more focused, more vibrant as the fast-acting alcohol neutralizing agent flowed through his veins.  He blinked up at her, realization apparently beginning to set in as the booze dissolved. "I nearly died, didn't I?"

"Don't even say it like that." the selka bit down hard on her tongue and forced back the horrible anxiety threatening to overtake her. "I'm just happy you're alright, Lin.  Goodness..."

"Sorry, Niira." A frown tugged at his features, and he let himself relax with his head in her lap. "I didn't realize how bad I was until way, way too late."

Niira stared down at him and breathed in deep, taking him in, reading the aura of shame, guilt, and regret as it poured from his sandy body.  She smiled, and was delighted to feel him do the same before it even pulled at his lips.  Just the touch of his aura on hers was enough to make her heart flutter, now that she was certain he'd survive his live burial. "It's good to see you."

"You, too." the panda grinned in his usual confident way, and Niira could feel the influence of alcohol recede from his perception. "Having a good time?"

"Overall." Niira shrugged, lifting her friend's head with both hands so she could rearrange her posture.  Long legs stretched out wide to alleviate the cramps building up from having them bent.  She returned Lin to her lap and casually plucked grains of sand from his hair. "The performing arts troupes here are phenomenal!  Even the best video footage is so far removed from the real thing."

Lin turned his face toward Niira's tummy to give her further access to his messy black hair.  His eyes roamed over her swimsuit-clad form, but surprisingly, that usual aura of flirtatiousness was muffled under something else.  Something softer. "I guess it is different for selka, huh?  You feel a performance as much as you watch it."

"Someone's been paying attention." she carefully groomed the other side of Lin's face, basking in the tranquility reverberating within the panda's being.  Her glowing blue gaze found his amber eyes, and for a while they simply watched one another.  The empathic echoes Niira felt from Lin brought a soft heat to her cheeks, which showed on her dark skin as faint patches of violet.

"You didn't go out with anyone else today?" the panda asked.  He radiated want, but not desire.  Attraction, but not infatuation.

Niira stumbled over her words. "Chefs--I mean, the cooks.  The um... kitchen staff.  Some of them." She couldn't steady her heartbeat!  The echoes of attraction, appreciation, and tranquility were so warm, so flattering!

"They ditch you?"

She had to play it cool.  Niira cleared her throat and took a second to compose herself. "More like we just wanted different things." she shrugged and leaned in to blow the sand out of her friend's ear, quickly apologizing when he squirmed in response.  Her fingers brushed behind that ear to get any particles she may have missed. "They were more interested in strip clubs and bars.  I wanted something more classy for my first day.  So we split."

Lin pursed his lips.  Sympathy, but not pity.  Regret.  Longing..?  It was hard to read under the rest.  He shifted his weight and brought his arms about to hug around the selka's waist.  The gesture sent the butterflies in her tummy into a frenzy! "Well, let's go somewhere tomorrow.  You and I."

"You want to?" the selka cursed herself for sounding so eager. "Well, you... I mean, we don't have to.  I'm sure whatever I'm interested in isn't as exciting as drinking." And now she sounded too judgmental!  She wanted to pinch herself, but that'd just look weird!  The heat in her cheeks began to burn.

"I don't even want to think about booze right now." Lin rubbed his forehead, but smiled at her all the same.  There went the butterflies again. "I can be classy sometimes.  I snuck into a ballroom dance once."

"To do... what?"

"Slip someone a .38." the panda chuckled at the confusion written on her face. "That's a gun."

"I know that.  I was wondering why!" her eyes went wide.  She couldn't even picture Lin holding a gun.  He was just so gentle!

"An old job.  Maybe I'll tell you about it after shore leave." the air around him turned a strange mix of discomfort and nostalgia. "Not the happiest story."

Curiosity nagged at her to press, but this was certainly not the time.  She turned to watch the sun, now set half-way beneath the false horizon.  The sky above had transitioned to a real-time projection of the stars around the station, with the deep blue gas giant around which it revolved covering the entire northern ceiling.  They watched the artificial globe of light sink further away, the ocean water gradually illuminating from beneath as floor lights switched on to keep it lit.  The loud, overbearing sounds of casino music and attractions quieted to calmer tones as night descended over the station.  Lin's discomfort faded beneath tranqulity, affection, and contentment.

"It's nice." he said quietly, eyes shining faintly in the glow of the water. "Relaxing like this, I mean.  Bright lights still suck, though."

Niira pressed her palm to the panda's head.  There was a dull throb, a stab of pain whenever he looked directly at the setting sun or the bright blue water.  She hesitated, gave herself a second to wrest control over her emotions, and focused on a happy thought; floating under a blanket of stars back home, feeling the waves gently rise and fall beneath her.  Not a care in the world, not a pain in her body.  The selka channeled this feeling into her palm, guiding it with her mind's eye as a soothing blue glow that thrummed mysteriously on her fingers.  She applied gentle pressure, pushing the warm, glowing bliss into Lin's scalp and watching it sink in.

The effect was most telling; Lin squirmed and writhed for a moment, then crooned as his nerves electrified with a pleasant, giddy feeling.  It sank into his core, then radiated outward as his body repeated the imposed blissful sensation, flooding his muscles, tendons, and nerves with pure, ethereal pleasure. "What did you just...?"

"A little trick." Niira sucked in a breath and chewed on her lower lip.  He liked it!  His aura was practically dancing! "How's your head?"

"Everything's... amazing." the panda slurred and rolled his head back to look up at her.  He looked slightly dazed; eyes unfocused, a tiny smile on his lips.  Niira drank the image up and savored it. "How is there not a market for... whatever you just did?"

"Oh, there is." she laughed, brushing a stray lock of hair from his eyes. "It's fiercely regulated, documented, and expensive.  You can easily become addicted to a selka's 'happy touch'.  We don't want that kind of reputation."

Lin mumbled something entirely unintelligible, the waves of bliss gradually subsiding, leaving him sprawled out against her thighs, as if he'd melted there. "You can have my bonus check if you do that again."

They shared a laugh, and Niira busied her left hand with petting Lin's ears, the other with curling a finger around one of her headtails, like a human might play with her hair. "I'm nowhere near qualified to get paid for that.  Even if I was, you'd get it free."

"Hey, I'm a capitalist.  You provide a service, you ought to be compensated." there was a definite playful tone to his voice. "Not to toot my own horn, but I give a good backrub."

The mere thought renewed the heat in Niira's cheeks, and she tugged nervously on her headtail.  She looked around the beach at the couples, the groups, the families.  She reflected on just how strangely lonesome the day had been, even as enjoyable as it was. "You being here with me means more than you know, Lin."

Even possessed of an unattuned mind, it seemed Lin could pick up on the extra meaning in her words. "You sure they didn't ditch you or something?"

"Of course.  It's just like I said; I wasn't interested in getting drunk or staring at naked people.  Or... dealing with the chief." she sighed, attempting to disguise her frustration. "I only really ever talk to the engineers, the captain, Anders... or you.  So I just went off on my own."

"I'd have gone with you.  I wish I'd known."

Niira waved away his concern. "We didn't see one another.  You couldn't have known." She spent a moment to read him again, azure eyes meeting his, taking him in.  Analyzing.  Feeling.  She gave him a wry smile. "I sense you found out about the chief."

"That's pretty good." Lin snorted. "Yeah, he was ready to get us both brigged over it."

"So what did he say to you?" it was impossible to control her tone now.  Venom oozed from her lips as she asked, "Did he tell you to stay away?  That I was a pretty little flower not meant to be plucked?"

"More or less."

Niira groaned.  A hot wash of frustration bathed her neck and cheeks.  It was so humiliating to even talk about it. "You know, it'd be nice of him if you were actually being a creep, and not the perfect gentleman that you have been." Just a tiny bit of that flush returned to its bashful state. "And you really have."

"So do you not like the chief?" Lin's tone suggested caution, but there was more to it.  Reluctance.  Anxiety.

"He's fine to work with most times.  Pleasant, even.  But lately he has it in his head that I need to be protected." There was more, of course; the possessiveness, the pseudo-gallantry he employed in her presence, but nowhere else.  Nothing struck her quite as unpleasant as the desire, however.  Desire took many forms, and was beautiful in nearly all of them.  This was not one of them. "There's a lot of prejudice against selka in some parts of space, Lin.  There are those ship captains who choose to treat us more like equipment than people, just because we can induce a subspace immersion."

The panda scowled. "That's ridiculous."

"Well, it happens." Niira sighed heavily through her nose. "I don't think it's Chad's intention, but I get the sense that he feels you'll 'break' me if I get too close."

Lin breathed out quietly.  He brought up a hand and brushed his fingers over hers.  All at once, her heart was again aflutter, and she had to bite back a most embarrassing vocalization as he slowly, carefully took hold of her hand.  She felt a playful breeze stir up his aura, watched him bring that hand to his lips, and had to stop herself from squealing when he kissed just above her knuckles. "Funny.  You don't feel like equipment to me."

Niira's cheeks blazed, and for a moment she had to force herself to ignore every empathic echo in the area.  It was all too much!  She tried to still her thumping heart, her trembling hands, but to no avail.  She took a deep breath and let it out slow, squeaking out a response, "You're too sweet." She prayed that the big, goofy smile on her lips didn't look half as stupid as she imagined!

"Not really."

"You are!" the selka squeezed his fingers. "You come down to the core and talk before I do my tuning exercises.  You have lunch with me and listen to me talk about selka culture and..." she watched his pretty amber eyes for a long moment. "I feel so comfortable around you."

"Now that's funny." Lin snorted.  There was an air of self-deprication about him now. "You know what I'm usually like.  I'm still surprised that didn't put you off."

Her hand escaped his and reached forward to cup his cheek. "We both know that isn't all of you, Lin."

The panda's eyes flicked to glance at the fingers brushing his soft-furred cheek, then back to her luminous blue gaze.  There was a familiar warmth to his face, even before the redness showed up just beneath the black and white fur.  Neither said a word.  Time seemed to freeze around them as starlight clashed with the glow of the false ocean across the beach.  Niira sensed something new in her friend, and she puzzled over this emerging feeling of revelation.  It started in low, then blossomed into a dizzying collage of emotions.  A most curious combination of surprise, anxiety, joy, trepidation, and relief.

"Niira." Lin finally said, his voice trembling just a tiny bit. "You're too good for someone like me."

The young selka stared down at him.  There was that joy, struggling under the ugliness of fear and doubt.  Fear that he might be right, doubt that he could make her happy.  He was so open, his aura so easy to read, and so beautiful and sad.  The most sincere and forlorn affection had coalesced from his revelation, and it shone brighter than every star in the galaxy.

"All I know how to do is dig holes and stuff them." he went on, averting his gaze.

"That's not true." Niira scolded him softly. "I won't hear another word of that, Lin.  I..." she took a deep breath. "I really like you."

"And I like you, Niira.  A lot." Lin hesitated. "But I'm just--"

She silenced him with a finger to his lips. "No 'but'.  That's it.  It's as simple as that, Lin." Niira felt happy tears wet her cheeks, and she whimpered joyously as Lin climbed into her arms and hugged her tight.  She clung firmly to the object of her affection, the man whose awkward charms had worked their way into her heart.

"I'm not sure how this will turn out, Niira.  You and I..." Happiness and uncertainty spiralled tempestuously in his echo, but the tenderness in his voice showed the overjoyed selka which would win out.

"No one knows.  But I know what it is now." she pulled back and smiled, staring into his eyes.  His cheeks were so red, and the stupid smile on his lips was just adorable. "It's the start," she began, resting her forehead on his, "of our story.  Long or short, I'll be happy to write it with you."

Lin swallowed hard.  He looked quite tempted to kiss her, and Niira felt the urge swell up many times, herself.  It never happened, though; somehow the sight of one another's happy smiles and shining eyes held them in place.  Somehow that was enough. "I'll do anything." he sought out one of her hands and laced their fingers. "To prove that I'm not just some dumb pervert.  Anything."

"You can start by believing it, yourself." Niira couldn't help but grin at his eagerness. "Just relax, Lin.  Take it slow."

"Oh, don't worry.  I'm good at slow and lazy."

They shared a laugh and turned their gaze to the horizon, where a hundred-thousand stars burned in the deep reaches of space.  Niira glowed--both figuratively and literally--with rapturous joy.  Her ethereal halo, normally muted and contained, shone faintly around their bodies, shimmering with unrestrained bliss.  She'd never expected things to go this way.  Lin was a naughty boy, that much was true.  But there was so much more buried under that sex-hungry jokester.  Something kind.  Something beautiful.  She'd felt it from the moment they first spoke, and now...

Well, none of it really mattered now.  The feelings rising in the air between them as he turned back to her, his hand on her cheek, and his soft breath against her lips before she tasted his kiss... That was far more important now.  Shore leave had only just begun, but this would be a difficult night to top.