Tasty, but new concerns arise

The galley's food synthesizer stared back at Kira with a confounding interface. She'd expected standard military categories - proteins, carbohydrates, beverages - but instead found herself facing an array of cryptically labeled options. The beverage section offered choices like "Clarity Infusion," "Metabolic Activator," and "Morning Stimulant" with no further explanation.

Her finger hovered over "Morning Stimulant," which seemed the most likely candidate for something resembling coffee. The machine hummed to life, producing a steaming dark liquid that at least looked and smelled coffee-adjacent.

The food options were equally unhelpful, organized into categories like "Immune Support," "Hormonal Harmony," "Core Conditioning," and "Peak Wellness." After several frustrated minutes trying to decipher what anything actually was, she jabbed at "Core Conditioning," hoping it might be protein-based.

The synthesizer produced a thick, creamy congee, dotted with what appeared to be berries and nuts. The savory aroma made her stomach growl unexpectedly. She hadn't realized how hungry she was until that moment.

The first sip of the "Morning Stimulant" coated her tongue with rich bitterness followed by a subtle sweetness that lingered pleasantly. Not quite coffee, but close enough. The congee was even better - deliciously salty with bursts of sweetness from the fruit, and something else... a complex umami undertone that made her take another spoonful almost immediately.

"God, that's good," she murmured to the empty galley. The taste clung to her tongue, somehow familiar. She'd have to see if the recipe was in the ship's records. Each spoonful seemed better than the last, and she found herself scraping the bowl clean, then licking the spoon with an enthusiasm that would have embarrassed her if anyone had been watching.

Halfway through her drink, an odd sensation bloomed in her lower abdomen - a warm heaviness reminiscent of menstrual cramps, but without the actual pain. She frowned, placing a hand against her stomach. The feeling spread slowly, radiating outward until her entire pelvis felt warm and slightly tender.

"What the hell?" she muttered, setting down the mug. Her contraceptive microchip should prevent any menstrual symptoms. Had something happened to it? The strange dreams about fertility and rivers came rushing back, making her shift uncomfortably in her seat. Having dreams like that could be a sign fo something off in her hormonal cycle.

She tried to recall when she'd last had the chip checked. Two months before this assignment? Three? The microchips were supposed to be good for five years, and she was only three years in. There was no way it had failed.

The warmth in her abdomen intensified slightly as she finished the drink. Her breasts felt tender too, she realized with growing concern. Just like the start of her period, before the microchip had eliminated that monthly inconvenience.

She looked around the galley, wondering if there was a medical scanner she could use to check the chip's status. The thought of going back to the medical bay was rather deeply unappealing.

"It's nothing," she told herself firmly. "Probably just psychosomatic."

The warm heaviness persisted as she cleaned up and left the galley. She needed to familiarize herself with the ship anyway; perhaps she'd find a medical scanner on her own. Besides, keeping busy would help take her mind off the strange sensations and lingering dream images.

The corridor stretched before her, its organic curves so different from the utilitarian designs she was used to. That subtle musky scent seemed stronger in some areas, fainter in others, creating an olfactory map she found herself unconsciously following. Her hand occasionally drifted to her abdomen, checking whether the warmth was spreading or intensifying.

As she walked, she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching her.. The thought made her skin prickle with unease. This was going to be a very long journey if she couldn't even eat breakfast without overthinking everything.