The Girl in the Tank: Galactic Consortium, Season 1

Episode Five: Fraternization ch.6

Cheyenne dreamed that Lana was making love to her. They were on the deck of the Cambridge. As Cheyenne's arousal began to peek, the bright flash came and she heard Mackenzie's voice shout, "you said you'd come home."

Cheyenne's face broke the water and she woke, feeling aroused, disturbed and angry. She felt claustrophobic and she tore the mask from her face. Her head still burned when she was out of the gel for too long, but it was tolerable for a few seconds, a sign that she was slowly healing. And it was better to tread the gel, surface occasionally and breath than to be suffocated by the mask.

"Are you okay?" Janda asked. Cheyenne nodded. She looked around the room, relieved that Janda, not Lana was on duty, and disappointed as well.

"I'm ready to get up," she said.

"Lana is not on duty yet. Shall I call her? Or Javin is available?"

"Anyone is okay," Cheyenne said.

Javin, another healer, answered Janda's request and soon they had Cheyenne mostly covered in the patching. She was already starting to climb out of the tank when Lana arrived.

"You are up already?" Lana commented. She looked disappointed but she covered it quickly. "I am sorry, I should have woken earlier."

"It's okay, I woke and wanted up, that's all," Cheyenne said, her tone apologetic. Lana likes touching me as much as I crave her touch. But can't she understand that it's not so easy for me? I've never felt this way about another woman. That might not be a big deal to them, but it is to me.

She felt bad, even though she had only thought it. Of course Lana couldn't understand. Her culture simply didn't see the distinction between gay and straight as important. Cheyenne knew enough gay people, was liberal enough, to applaud that fact as a good thing. But it didn't make her own feelings any less conflicted.

She held out her hand in a gesture of peace. "Come, walk me over to the shower, please. And then I will try some breakfast if I must," she joked.

Lana took her hand and led to the far side where a small shower closet was. "You must, Miss Cheyenne. It will get your system functioning again."

When Cheyenne finished her shower, she found that Javin and Janda had both left, Javin back to his original duties and Janda to get them all breakfast. She let Lana towel her dry, enjoying the sensation of the woman's hands working on her. When she was dry and dressed, she leaned into the healer and gave her a small peck on the lips. "Thank you."

The door slid opened as Janda returned. Cheyenne walked herself to the couch and sat. Lana was still watching her, as though she knew she was being toyed with. She smiled and shook her head but came over as well to sit next to Cheyenne to eat.

#####

Dan arrived in the forward bay that evening to find a half dozen housekeepers setting up chairs and Kavi waiting for him. "It seems, Mr. Biggest of the Little Officers," Kavi joked, "that we are in much the same boat."

Dan arched an eyebrow.

"I am the junior most of the senior healers on board," she replied. "And as such drew the unlucky egg to be the other chaperone. Make sure no horrible fraternization is occurring between the crews. Though perhaps we can make the best of it."

Dan smiled in spite of himself. "I guess we shall."

"So what is the entertainment?" she asked.

"A movie. Do you have movies?"

"We have video recreation, yes," she replied. "Though the distinctions you make between TV shows and movies alludes us."