To Boldly Go...

After giving it some thought you say. “Why does it have to be one or the other?”

There’s a moment’s silence as the women digest your words. “What do you mean?” Peg asks. “One or the other?”

“I mean why go home? Why go back to Earth?” You say, the idea coming to life in your mind even as you spoke it. “It does sound risky going through the wormhole and we could use some more time to get prepared for whatever is on the other side. But we don’t need to spend that time on Earth.”

“Where else would we go?” Mom asks.

“Anywhere.” Elsie whispers. As usual she was the first to glean what you were thinking. “Everywhere!”

“Exactly.” You smile at her. “We are already way, WAY beyond where any other Earthlings have ever been.”

“Besides Gramps.” Chloe says.

“Yes, besides Grandpa.” You say. “As far as I understand Grandma’s initial trip had been an accident.”

“Yes.” Peg says. “Her escape pod just happened to fall through the wormhole.”

“And as far as we know the only other ship from the other side to make the trip has been this one?”

“Correct.” Kazia says. “Even within the clan the wormhole has been kept a secret. Only a few even know about this trip.”

“And all you’ve done on this side is go straight to Earth and back again?”

“Yeah.”

“What happens if you don’t return?”

“Don’t return?”

“Not right away at least.”

“I’m on my own out here.” She says. “They won’t send a search party if that’s what you’re asking. If they knew we had you on board, they’d definitely try. As it is though, there’s no rescue coming.”

“Perfect.”

“Perfect?”

“Think about it Peg.” You say. “We’ve got a ship. A space ship! And an entire galaxy to explore.”

“Most of a galaxy.” Kazia corrects. “The far side is where the wormhole leads. Although even in a fast ship it would take centuries to get there via traditional FTL.”

“Think Peg, think.” You smile as you see the glimmer of scientific curiosity begin to flicker in your aunt’s eyes. “We could be the first humans…”

“Half humans.” Chloe says.

“Whatever. We could be first to explore space. Really explore it. Who knows what we might discover out here.”

“I don’t know if I like the sounds of this.” Mom worries.

“Hold on, Helen.” Peg strokes her chin. “He makes a good point. We could take time to learn this technology and better prepare ourselves. Fiona in particular could use it. In the meantime, why not take a look around?”

“It would also save us the trouble of trying to pick up our old lives.” El says. “After all of our preparations to leave it would be weird to try to go back again so soon.”

“But…just flying around the unknown?” Mom says. “It sounds like it might be dangerous.” After getting a squeeze from your hand she adds. “But…as long as we’re together…and if it’s what Jesse wants…I guess I’d be okay with it.”

“Ha ha!” You laugh as a real sense of adventure settles over the room. “How long do we have before we need to…refuel or whatever.”

“Hm?” Kazia says. “Oh, this is a long range ship. Main drive and power are good for at least a year or two. With a bit of ingenuity we might even be able to use natural fuel sources, I’ve heard of it being done.” She looks around at the others. “But…I’m a pilot primarily. I can run a ship fine, it nearly runs itself honestly, but I am no engineer.”

“Um…” Button swallows hard, clearly intimidated by this room full of women.

“Go ahead Button.” You say.

“Um…I might be able to help out.” She says. “I’ve had a complete training, which included a technical component.” With a guilty glance to Kazia. “It’s how I was able to stay off the sensors for this long.” Kazia glares back at the pup, the natural hostility that Button had told you about between her kind and ‘normal’ women clearly evident. Looking back to you and keeping her eyes only on you Button continues. “Um…puppies can learn extremely quickly on things their boys desire them to know. With…encouragement I could probably become a passable engineer within a year.”

You grin and reach out. Button hurries forward and dips her head to allow you to give her a pet.

“El?” Peg says, looking to the technically gifted one in the family. “You’ve been coming along in leaps in and bounds in your studies since we left.”

“I’ve been focused on computers, not engineering.”

“That sounds like something we’ll need too.”

Kazia looks around. “We damn near have a proper crew here, ya know?”

“Kazia.” Mom says. “You’re really going along with this? Don’t you have a family waiting for you?”

“Not as good as this one.” She smiles. “And nobody would really miss another worker being gone for awhile.”

“Oh. Don’t say that.” Your mom says. “You are a lovely girl. I am sure you are missed.”

“Meh.” She shrugs.

Still petting Button’s soft fur you say. “You know…this other side, I’m not so sure it’s all its cracked up to be anyway. Some of the stuff I’ve heard…”

“You’re not kiddin.” Chloe says. “I’m not so sure I wanna be a worker drone anymore.”

Kazia slaps her shoulder. “Be proud to be a worker, Cousin. Our day will come. Trust in our goddess.”

Chloe rolls her eyes. “Okay, so Kazia’s our Pilot. Button’s our Engineer. Elsie Computer Officer.”

“Officer!” El giggles.

“Fiona Security Chief. Jesse Captain.”

“Jesse?” Peg says.

“Who else?” Mom says. “He is our Prince.”

This time it is Peg rolling her eyes, in manner so similar that you could tell she was Chloe’s mom. “He’s barely 20!”

“He’s all man to me.” Mom says proudly. “I’ll only follow my Jesse.”

“This was his idea. Besides you’ll be so busy learning and stuff.” Chloe slips an arm around Peg. “The Science Officer can’t be the captain. That’s not how these things work.”

Peg smiles and puts her arm around her daughter. “This isn’t Star Trek, my girl.”

“That’s right. It’s better!” Chloe laughs. “That just leaves auntie Helen and I. Helen, obviously, is morale officer matron. Ship M.O.M. for short.”

“Mom? Ooo!” Your mother perks up. “I like the sound of that.”

“And for myself, well, there’s only one role left.” Chloe sighs. “It’s not glamorous but…somebody’s got to be Chief Sex Officer.”

There are snickers all around. “How about Medical Officer instead?” You suggest.

“Medical?”

“I know you’ve had first aid and stuff.”

“More than that.” Chloe looks to Kazia and brags. “Graduated nearly middle of my class for Paramedic night school. I was trying to convince my Daddy to let me be his live in nurse. He he he! His, ugh, wife wouldn’t have suspected a thing. Clever huh?”

“Yeah!” Kazia says as the rest of you shake your heads.

“And think about it Chloe, as ship doctor you get to give the physicals.”

“Heyyy!” Chloe’s face lights up. “That’s right! Doctor Chloe, I like it! Ha ha! Specializing in mouth-to-cock resuscitation.” There is more laughter.

“There we have it. The Bailey’s will go where no family has gone before.” You say boldly to the approving nods of your family. “The intrepid crew of the…uh, what’s this ship’s name?”

“Corvette A9-169.” Kazia says.

“The intrepid crew of the Corve…erm..A9…hm.” You stop. “Okay, that’s not gonna work.”

***

Author's Interruption: This was not how I expected that vote to go. LOL I love you guys. Any cool ship name ideas feel free to put them in the comments.