Off on a Tangent (I was a Teenage Exocolonist)

(Author's Note: The characters are 18+ in this setting.)

The rugged space-colonist known as Sol hoisted himself up the ladder, climbing up to the engineering bay’s maintenance platform, his rough hands coming away slick with rainwater. The humidity of Wet season tended to soak everything on the alien planet of Vertumna, but at least it wasn’t making people feel sick like during Pollen. While the environment had proven to be a worthy challenge for the humans that landed here, it had also shaped him into the strong, young, warrior today. Well, that and the “super-strength” augmentations he received as a child.

As Sol crest over the top and stepped over the eaves, he spots a young woman laid on her back with short pink feathered hair and a slim, tight body. She was just the person he was looking for, the one the chief engineer had tasked him to find.

“Tell her I’ll be down soon, I need a few more minutes.” Tangent flatly replied to an unasked question, clutching the side of her head with palpable frustration. She did not deign to even look up at him, her eyes shut tight. As one of the colony’s undisputed geniuses, she knew the reason for the unwelcome intrusion, there was no need to waste time playing out the conversation.

Sol simply hummed in acknowledgment, knowing better than to attempt a dialogue with the haughty scientist; ever since childhood she refused to even speak with the other kids unless she had to, much less play with them. Her face was always buried in her holopalm, studying dancing images of charts and archives projected up from her hand. Today however, an eye gleaming with burning curiosity fluttered open as the burly man began to turn away and the normally emotionless woman shot up to her feet.

“Wait.” Tangent commanded, “I need to talk to you actually, you specifically.”

With an impatient sigh, Sol spun back around to face her again, crossing his muscular arms across a broad chest. Tangent licked her lips and swallowed nervously, a daunted look on her face suddenly becoming determined. It was something he had seen before during previous attacks by the native wildlife, whenever the young woman steeled her resolve. While she lacked any semblance of social grace or skill, when Tangent wanted something, she was always brave enough to reach for it.

“My performance in the lab has suffered and Instance suggested that I learn relaxation techniques to overcome some of the… burnout, I’ve encountered. During my, ahem-” She abruptly turns away, a rare moment of fear and embarrassment washes over her face briefly before she tries again, “-research, shall we say. I discovered… something, that I have an interest in. It is something that you can help me with…” Tangent trails off, desperately searching her friend’s face for reassurance. “I can’t-I don’t want to ask anyone else.”

“What kind of research?” Sol naturally questioned, anticipating a scientific matter.

There is a long moment of silence, Tangent pressing her lips together, struggling to form the words.

“I want you to **** me.”

More silence and now incredulous stares as the two grappled with the new direction the conversation had taken.

“I want you to attack me, **** me to have sexual intercourse. Hurt me…” Tangent bluntly continues to clarify, a blush creeping over her cheeks as she tries to maintain a neutral expression. “I don’t want to know when it’s coming or where, I want you to **** me, I mean, really **** me.”

“That’s-” Sol begin, before being rudely cut off.

“Yes, yes, I know! A paradoxical idea, granting consent for ****.” She angrily scoffs, brushing her pink hair back and sighing, “There is shockingly little information on the topic in the ship’s archives, I realize that may come as a surprise to you.” The venom drips from her shaky voice, despite her haunted face.

“That’s not what I was going ask,” He replied with a deep frown, choosing your words carefully, “Why… ask for this?”

“Does it matter?” She coldly replies, stepping forward until she was only a few inches away, looking up at the strong man in front of her, “I’m giving you an opportunity to savage me, to have sex. To fulfill your biological imperative, release endorphins.” Her pleading eyes search Sol’s for a moment, before she continues, “If it will ease your conscience, consider that perhaps I’m long overdue for it, that I should be punished.”

“Do you?”

“Yes- No!” Tangent blurts out conflicting answers, burying her head into her hands with exasperation, “I didn’t think there would be this many questions, especially from you.” The space colonist furrowed his brow at the insult, but stayed silent. The pink-haired woman lifted up her face, a sour look as she tried again to demand her own ****, “The only thing that should matter is that I can’t think about anything else. My work here- I’m useless! I’m deadweight to Instance, to everyone until… this ‘matter’ is resolved.”

Sol could only stare down at Tangent, watching her chest rise and fall with every hard breath. She did look exhausted, **** as well. The man quickly glance around; no one ever came to the abandoned maintenance platform except for her, hence why she spent so much time huddled away here in solitude.

“So,” Tangent began urgently, pressing for an answer, “Will you help the colony?”