R.S.S. Moonstone

by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Chapter Four

Alien Encounters

Elleen Ka carefully stepped around the crates and carryall’s someone had none-too carefully shoved into her room. It wasn’t the first time she’d found her supposable private room used for storage, even considering their normal missions it wasn’t that often it happened either. With a maximum load of personal and cargo aboard every spare space was packed full. Even the Captain’s quarters would be stuffed full of supplies, though probably not quite as much as the lowest ranking crew were now dealing with. She knew from experience that hydroponics would be straining at the gills, and there wasn’t much free space in Hydroponics in the first place. Abruptly she heard a sound from beyond a stack of crates. “Who?” she asked, knowing from the lowered emergency bunk that she had a roommate ‘for the duration.’

“Sandra. Sandra Fedderson” a voice announced from the wash area. “Professor of Braken Archeology. Call me Sandy and I’ll stomp you flat. Your Elleen Ka?”

“Yes Doctor Fedderson” Elleen admitted softly, unsure what to do. She normally avoided humans, especially such obviously aggressive ones. In fact, she normally avoided everyone. That she would be sharing her precious privacy with an unknown human for an unknown amount of time, and one apparently prone to murderous violence upset her more than somewhat. Still she knew she had no right to expect even the little privacy she normally had. When in doubt, she used the best excuse she had. “Going to sleep” she informed the unseen woman.

“Gotcha, eight hours right?” A heavyset blond stepped out of the wash. She was at least sixty human years old Elleen noted. Grey was just beginning to fleck the woman’s short hair, informing the mouse that it wasn’t colored hair she was looking at. “I’ll find someone to bother that long. Though I want to talk with you when you have a free minute. I’ve never met an eH dHar. In fact until they assigned me that bunk I’d never heard of your race.”

“Four hours” the eH dHar corrected. “Then you may freely return. I won’t be back for at least twenty. I’m afraid I rarely have a free minute. Our mission will assure I barely have time for food and sleep. I do not think we will cross each others paths often.” ‘In fact’ she thought, ‘I’ll make certain that we wont.’”

“I’ll try not to bother your things then” Sandra offered, a wave of her hand indicating the stacked crates and bags. She politely ignored Elleen’s avoidance of a personal conversation.

“Not mine” Elleen explained to her temporary roommate. “All that is extra ships stores. My things are in the center drawer under the lower bunk. Good night.” Ignoring the human she peeled out of her duty uniform, grabbing her brush to work at her fur before sleeping. Unlike humans normally eH dHar rarely bathed. A good brushing not only kept their fur shiny, but clean. While she worked on her fur her temporary roommate grabbed a belt purse and vanished. Soon Elleen shut off the light, laying on top of the worn dark blue blanket that had been given her in the Academy. It was the first thing in her life that she had been able to call her own. It was the first gift she had ever been given. Seconds later she was deeply asleep.