Pioneer spirit

A week later, Dustin found himself looking at all three of his lovers giving him pleading eyes over breakfast at the morning briefing. “I don’t know why you’re bothering to make those faces at me. Of course we can take a detour; you said it’s only a three day trip each way from our planned journey? It’s not like a week extra is going to make a huge difference to the mission, and what kind of a captain would I be if I didn’t take my crew’s requests into consideration.” Rye beamed at that, before pushing back from her seat. “I’ll go send my cousin a message now and let her know we’re on the way if that’s alright Dusty? And then I should probably double check the shuttle engines and stuff. Thank you!”

Shaking his head at the departing bunny girl, Dustin turned back to the other two. “So, we detour to a new Rabyth colony world and spend a day or two helping Rye’s family out. Any other changes to our routing on the way back?” Meli’s ears flickered as she shrugged. “Not at present. I’ll maintain a watch over the comms network while you three are planet-side just in case.” At that remark, Dustin glanced over at Emely. “You’ll watch the comms, Meli? Not our communications officer?”

Emely nodded in reply to his question, fidgeting in her seat as she did so. “I talked with Rye about the colony and it sounds like it’ll be super fun - helping build accommodations, eating meals around a campfire and everything. I’ve wanted to do some pioneer style camping for years, but when your home options are the imperial palace or a fishing island, it’s not easy to organize. As long as that’s alright with you of course sir?” Dustin flicked a glance at Meli to make sure she really was happy with the arrangement then nodded. “Of course Emely. Besides, it’s your turn for a date night isn’t it? And camping out there’s bound to be all kinds of things we can do as a couple while Rye’s busy catching up with her family. Toasting marshmallows together if nothing else.” Emely tilted her head to one side, tails flicking curiously as she asked “What’s a marsh mallow?”

Planning for the colony support visit slash camping trip had taken the crew most of their working time during the following few days travel. Their main activity would be fairly simple - the colony was nestled in a clearing on a wooded hillside but didn’t have a nearby starport capable of ship landing yet, so the ability to use their shuttles to ferry goods too and from the main drop-off for supplies would be a massive time-saver for the three dozen families that had formed the initial landing party. But beyond that Rye had been busy pillaging engineering to load one of the shuttles up with tools that’d help speed up construction while they were there. There was nothing in her stock that they could afford to leave behind she informed the others regretfully, but it was enough that they could double or triple the construction speed for the few days they’d be there. Which would at least be enough to get the first phase of colony accommodation fully finished before the rapidly approaching winter hit, and thus save the bunny folk from having to double up on their housing during the cold months.

With everything planned, the three of them took turns in kissing Meli goodbye; the Velca woman didn’t seem too bothered by the fact that she’d taken it on herself to stay behind, but Dustin made a mental note to grab a sapling or something from the planet for her to form part of their garden. Planning for that had spiralled rapidly out of control as soon as the other two had gotten involved; what he’d thought would be a quick series of design decisions was now on it’s fifteenth revision and they hadn’t even started adjusting the plumbing for the rooms yet. Shaking his head to clear it of that thought, he turned his attention back to the controls of the shuttle. Emely shifted excitedly in her seat next to him, but maintained enough professionalism to report the all clear from Sola for descent to the planet.

As the shuttle left the bay, Dustin glanced to his right. The second shuttle, with Rye at the helm floated nearby; she was the better pilot he had to admit so he’d largely by just following her flight path down to the colony. The speakers chirped as he dwelt on that thought for a moment. “Ready to go meet some of the final set of in-laws, Dusty?” Rye’s voice dripped sarcasm; she’d been making comments around that topic for most of the past three days - he’d had training from Meli’s uncle back on Earth, and had a meal with Emely’s family but had yet to meet any of Rye’s. This time however, he was prepared for the joke. “Meet your family, yes. Meet the in-laws, not yet - not unless you’re planning to pull over so we can do the pairing tattoos and everything first.” The embarrassed spluttering from the other end of the line made him smile, before Rye finally found her composure. “Alright, you win that one captain. Follow my lead and we’ll go see my cousin.” Then, in a quieter voice apparently talking to herself the Rabyth woman added “Was he joking about pairing? I should ask him next time we’re alone. Oh cog, but what if he says yes? Or what if he says no?”

Emely leaned forward and tapped a control, killing the audio from the other shuttle before speaking softly into her own microphone. “You didn’t mute your microphone, Rye. No, I don’t think he heard you - I killed the audio and any way he’s focusing on not crashing the shuttle into your backside. Yes, I am aware of your thoughts on Dustin and your backside. Yes, that’s fine - I’ll speak with her when we get back for you. Wait, you’re kidding right? No? Umm… sure.” Then she cut the comms and blushed. “Do I want to know what that was about, or why you lied to Rye about my not hearing her thoughts?” Dustin asked. Emely shook her head. “It’s nothing captain. I lied to protect her feelings - you’ve probably noticed she really struggles with social situations. And the rest of that was to do with her wanting to discuss how her species handling of ritual bonding will fit with Meli’s and my own. Just in case the pair of you do decide to go further.”

Dustin had spent enough time around his third love - and here he paused a moment, querying his own brain as to when he’d realised he loved her the same as Meli and Rye - to recognise when she was holding something back. Checking the flight path was locked he turned his head to look at her. “I could order you to tell me everything, kitten” he mused to himself, earning a flushed look from the Feliax woman. “I’d have to tell you if you did, sir. But please don’t; let Rye have privacy on this until she’s ready to talk to you directly?” She gave him a pleading look and he smiled back. “Of course, love.” That earned a little hiccup of delight as he continued “I trust all of you. If you say one of the others needs to work things out, then I won’t push it. Do let her know she can talk to me too though if you think it’ll help.” Emely gave him a nod, then the pair turned their attention back to the window as the blast shields lifted after re-entry.

The colony world beneath them was idyllic - rolling hills, clear blue rivers, grassy plains, and forests of deep green and purple. Wait, purple? Dustin tapped a control, causing one of the screens to zoom in on the approaching woods below them as they descended. In close up the trees now looked very like silver birches - except where those trees on Earth had deep grey-white bark, here they were the deep reddish-purple of beetroot. He didn’t have time to ponder long however - the pair of shuttles were rapidly approaching a hillside clearing dappled gold in the early morning sunlight. Campfire smoke drifted lightly in the breeze around the edge of their landing site, and as the vessels approached a half dozen figures looked up and waved.