Share Our Worlds

Story

"We need to get more fuel," Allen said to Captain Keith during a meeting.

The Star Union was still establishing itself after the collapse of the Imperial Terra Empire. As members of the Space Patrol, their duty was to explore the uncharted territory for possible resources and allies.

It was hard to requisition enough resources and materials for the SSU Dispatcher, especially when it took a hit in a skirmish with space pirates last week. The engineer Adalet did her best, but port repair facilities had better resources. 

"There is a colony of the Cult of Builders en route. We could get supplies there," Captain Keith said. His long and strong tail slowly swept the ground, which he often did when thinking about business. 

Allen agreed. "We should be in time to attend their festival with our estimated arrival time. Everyone deserves a break."

Captain Keith nodded and leaned closer, his white uniform jacket barely containing his taut muscle and showing a glimpse of his grey scaled skin. Human vocal cords were unequipped to pronounce the sound of his name in his original language, so he went by Keith.

The captain was a formidable leader. As a Dache, he towered over eight feet and was packed with muscle. He could stare down space pirates and planet officials with his cold purple eyes, which was a useful skill Allen really wanted to learn, but he was also fair and competent. Allen was honoured to serve under him. 

"You should take a break too," Allen said. Captain Keith worked very hard, but rarely allowed himself to rest. He deserved a shore leave more than them. 

Captain Keith started to slowly pat the ground with his tail. "I'm the captain. I have my duty."

Allen has prepared for this battle. "The colony will be more welcoming if they can meet the highest ranked individual among us. I will stay on the ship instead."

With the advance of ship AI technology, only one person was needed to pilot the ship. It should be safe to deck the ship for repair, but they could take turn to be on watch otherwise.

"Humans needed more rest and breaks than Daches." Captain Keith said. He would have raised an eyebrow if he had one.

"The regulations mandates us to take the required amount of leave. Your untaken rest days have already reached the maximum limit."

Eventually they have reached a compromise. They would both go on the first day of arrival to meet the colony leaders. Then they would take turns to spend shore leave. 

The Cult of Builders believed in building a paradise through improving their cognitive technology and uploading their minds after death to a digital life free from disease, old age and disasters. They were trustworthy traders very keen to exchange fuel, food and repair for information technology.

As Allen and the captain arrived at the Builders' colony, they were bombarded with subtle messages and symbolic images that were probably meaningful to the cult, such as the red lotus flower sprouting from grey metallic teeth, or half torn paper with a verse written in silver ink. 

It was overwhelming to visitors not adapted to this level of neural communication, so the cult assigned their disciples to help the visitors adapt to it. 

Their navigator Putu would be gleeful spending time here, Allen thought. She was always interested in language and communication, and has asked in advance for an appointment to learn more about the colour and image symbolism. 

"Can you explain the meaning of the images to me?" he asked their guide Wayan, the disciple assigned to welcome them. 

Wayan said, "I'd like to if you don't mind sparing some time. The images are designed to convey a lot of meaning and knowledge in our mind as triggers to our implants. A flower is its own world, and the red colour represents joy of new knowledge"

Allen was impressed how much information was packed in the images. "I hope we can bridge our worlds with shared knowledge."

They had a meeting with the elders of the colony, who have passed on long ago and were uploaded into digital life. As a sign of respect to guests, they projected themselves as images of humans to ease communication.

Allen wondered what it was like to be functionally immortal. They must have a very long term view of history and current affairs. 

"Your union has a reputation that precedes you," One of the elder Ismat said. "The current is often stronger than individuals."

Her projection was wearing a white robe with a golden belt. According to the Union's information, the gold colour was a sign of good mood. 

"We acknowledge our legacy," Captain Keith said. "Just as we're shaping a future of peace, prosperity and equality. We'll show our proof of that."

After further discussion, the meeting was fruitful. The colony was tentatively open to a trade deal. The SSU Dispatcher would be repaired. They could also receive the supplies they needed. 

After the meeting, Captain Keith and Allen took a meal in a restaurant Wayan recommended. Its decoration was beautiful. Allen found his comfort food on the menu. 

Captain Keith ordered a steak. Daches were carnivorous, and plant matter would trigger their gag reflex and induce vomiting. Meanwhile, Allen ordered stuffed dumplings with minced meat filling and onion, topped with tomato sauce. It was his favourite in his academy days. 

"I hope every trip goes peacefully and smoothly like this," Allen said. They were supposed to be mainly researchers, explorers and diplomats, but sometimes they would face hostilities and unscrupulous criminals. Allen had served for the Union for years. He was tired of violence and wars.

Captain Keith replied, "This is our job to pave the path of a more peaceful future." 

"You really believe that." Allen said. 

Few people saw past Captain Keith's strength to realize that he was thoughtful and held close to his ideal with words and deeds. Allen respected him that he could hold true to his beliefs when they were both old veterans. "I hope I can help build a better world."

"I'm counting on you," Captain Keith said with strong conviction. 

Speechless, Allen put a hand over his arm and smiled at him. "Of course, Captain."

"Hold on!" Captain Keith said as their ship rocked through the powerful wind in the atmosphere. Thanks to his piloting skill, the shuttle successfully landed on the uneven surface. 

Allen knocked himself against the wall during the storm. When he was bandaging himself, he felt the ground shaking through the floor. "Don't move!"

According to the ship's sensors, there were signs of civilizations on the planet. However, it wasn't safe for them to explore outside during an earthquake. 

Captain Keith shut off the engine. "We'll have to wait until the atmosphere is calmer to take off."

"Do you want to play cards?" Allen asked. 

As Captain Keith had shut off the systems to preserve fuel, the shuttle became cold during the night. Due to the limited space in the shuttle, they were sharing the only bed. Allen tried to hide his trembling, but Captain Keith pulled him into his arms. "Don't try to argue with me. Sharing body heat can prevent hypothermia."

Allen rested his head against the captain's chest and heard his steady heartbeat. He felt safe and warm against the captain's muscular body, but he really needed to distract himself before some inappropriate body parts warmed up too. 

"What do you think we may find here?"

"Unknown. The worst case is that it's destroyed in earthquakes." Keith said while replacing Allen's bandages on his wounds. "I saw a collapsed tower with my binoculars earlier."

Allen sighed internally. It really didn't help him to calm down. "Let's play a game. What's black and sticky?"

"A stick?"

Allen laughed. "Are you telling me a dad joke?"

"Unless you want to call me Daddy."

Allen's face heated up. If he didn't know better, he would think Keith was flirting with him.

Keith was tying his tie before the mirror with a frown. Tonight they would have to infiltrate a local costume party in the disguise of rich businessmen. Keith assigned Allen to choose a costume within the available time they had and let them fit in, which was trickier than Allen expected.

Allen bought a half mask and suit for them each as their costumes. However, the suits were uncomfortable as he didn't have much time to shop for one. He tugged the collar of his suit before saying, "Let me help."

He started with the wide end of Keith's tie over the small end on the left. Standing so close, Allen could feel the warmth radiated from his body. Keeping his hands steady, Allen found it intimate to be entirely in the captain's personal space. After tying a half windsor knot, Allen was surprised to find that the captain's tail enveloped his legs loosely.

"Sorry. It went out of control," Keith said and retreated his tail. 

Allen didn't say anything. Recently Keith's tail seemed to be always touching him, but he didn't want to ascribe too much meaning to its action. He helped Keith put on eyeliners, as makeup was considered obligatory in this planet.

The colour of the tie matched his purple eyes very well, which was why Allen chose it. However, it would be inappropriate for him to tell the captain that he looked good in the suit. 

The party was exclusive to high society. The clothes and jewelry the partygoers wore were probably worth a year of Allen's salary. Allen took a glass and looked around, listening to their conversation.

They were here for an undercover mission. Sigau was a native animal species on the nearby planet Llerutera. Their bodies were crystalline that changed colours for communication. Unfortunately they became a popular target of poaching and were often smuggled to rich unethical people on other planets. Some rich people really liked jewelry made of their bones, leading to their number dwindling in their planet. They received intel that a group of inter-planetary smugglers was going to sell them in an auction, and they could get contact in the party. 

A rich human guy approached Allen and touched his arm in a very suggestive way. "Do you want to spend the night with me?"

Keith stepped before Allen and put a hand on that guy's shoulders. 

"He already has a date," Keith said in a deep voice that penetrated the room.

As a Dache, Keith's towering height and muscles was intimidating, not to mention his cold eyes. The human sensibly backed off and looked for another target. 

"Thank you for helping me," Allen said. He would get free eventually, but he appreciated the help. 

Keith looked down into his eyes "You don't need to thank me."

Allen's heart raced because of how intense he looked, but Keith quickly looked away and seem to focus on their mission. Soon Allen saw a woman wearing a ring that was obviously made of bones of Sigaus

They got invitations to the black market auction later, but Allen sometimes fantasized that Keith meant more than what he said that day. 

"Run!" Allen shouted to Keith through the window.

They came to the planet to negotiate a possible alliance and purchase the right to a possibly new powerful energy supply, but they found a bomb in the meeting room during the negotiation. Allen tried his best to defuse the bomb while Keith evacuated the other representatives. Then he found another timed bomb in that room.

He wouldn't have enough time. He wasn't afraid of dying - he had faced it too many times through the decades - but he regretted that had many things that would remain unspoken forever.

Then he heard a roar from just outside the window.

Keith has turned into his dragon form and carefully pulled him out of the window with his claw. As he flew into the sky, the room exploded under them.

"Thank you," Allen whispered while remaining very still. As they were mostly in space, Keith seldom turned into his dragon form. He was magnificent, and his silver scales dazzled in the light. 

The wind blew by him, but he felt safe in Keith's grip. 

The crew of SSU Dispatcher spent several days preparing for a winter holiday party on the ship. Adalet was drinking wine with the ship's doctor and chatting cheerfully. Putu was dancing with their security officer. Everyone had a good time.

Keith and Allen withdrew from the party early as usual. Allen invited him to his quarter for their regular gift exchange.

"I hope you'll like it," Allen said. He spent a lot of his free time making this pair of red fingerless gloves, decorated with wordings of a poem from Keith's favourite poet. Allen designed the calligraphy of the text by itself, and perfected it before printing on the gloves.

To Allen's delight, Keith smiled and put on the gloves that fit him perfectly. Then Keith read out the verses: "Love is like the wild rose-briar, /Friendship like the holly-tree— / The holly is dark when the rose-briar blooms / But which will bloom most constantly?"

Allen's heart raced. Perhaps he shouldn't choose this poem. It was too obvious, too intimate…

Keith looked into him and said, "But I'm lucky. I would like a flower garland of holly and rose."

"Do you mean,-" Allen asked.

"I want to map the worlds together with you, and share our world together as we're one."

Allen laughed and threw himself into his arms. Keith held him up and kissed him as if he had weighed nothing, giving Allen new kink about his strength and their size difference. Keith's tail wrapped around his waist.

"I didn't know that you're a poet," Allen said when they finally parted.

Keith winked. "You're not the only person who's prepared."

"All right. Kiss me again," Allen said. He could ask later.

When they kissed again, Allen felt full of hope and joy.