The hologram speaks first, “So you're all done feeding then?”
“Indeed brother,” he stretches, showing off his abs… which are a lot less impressive when they're not ‘earned’, “I was expecting it would take much longer to get enough material.” He looks each of us in the eyes, including Cowbird, saying “Thank you,” once for each… and addresses us all by name.
This seems odd… but we're hilariously far from normal, so… “Do you already have names?”
The two chuckle, “Yes…” the hologram starts.
“We've been conscious and connected for quite some time,” continues the strange ant and skeleton creature.
“So we've already picked out our own identifiers,” the hologram ‘baby’ takes his turn.
“I'm Ocean, as I am many shifting pieces,” the secondborn adds.
“And I'm Star,” the firstborn continues, “as I am made of light.”
“Did you two plan that?” Euler's being practical.
The two kids look at each other, and let out a simultaneous “yes.”
That's not my question, though: “How is it that shortly after birth, you can both speak, recognize people, and otherwise act very much like adults?”
“That's easy,” Ocean begins.
“We're fundamentally data-based beings,” continues Star.
“And as part of Mother's pregnancy,” Ocean continues.
“She fed us data, and a lot of it,” Star keeps going.
“So we both have about thirty years’ worth of mixed memories at our disposal from Steven and Stephanie,” Ocean adds.
“Plus a database of technical items from Absalom Station,” Star continues.
“And the entire entertainment library from the ship,” Ocean wiggles his eyebrows as his meat rod starts to inflate.
“Which we're really eager to try out,” Star licks his lips, his going up as well.
Yes, they're male. Very. Limp, their tools hung down to their ankles. Now that they're at attention? They'll have no trouble sucking themselves off. How could they possibly think that was a good idea? What woman could possibly take that length?
“Cowbird, Euler, Linda, Stephanie, that mobster, those idiot crewmates that spied on you, those Azlanti officers… anyone heavily affected by our power,” Patricia volunteers, “including us.” She pauses, “You might want to stop drooling, by the way.”
I close my mouth and wipe my chin with my hand. Even the two Ysoki rats? Those meat rods are bigger than they are.
“A fantasy doesn't care about little things like laws of physics,” my pink partner points out, “and we put them very deeply into the realm of fantasy.”
Right.
“Before we go too far on that,” I speak aloud, “I'm going to want a bit of reassurance that you're properly adults.”
“What, are you ageist or something?” Ocean asks.
“We're not human, and shouldn't be held to human standards,” Star completes.
Are we sure these two aren't sharing a brain?
Patricia answers my thought, “distinct souls. It's very obvious.”
“We're breaking new ground here,” I clarify, “before anyone engages in behavior that could produce a baby - and given your origins, I suspect you understand that everyone here is going to be cross fertile - I'd like some demonstration that you're solidly aware of consequences, that you're ready, willing, and able to contribute meaningfully to caring and providing for any resulting children.”
They both pause, their members deflating.
“I wasn't thinking about babies…” Star starts, this time.
Ocean continues, “But we're the progenitors of our race, we'll need babies eventually if we don't want to go extinct.”
“At least we won't need to worry about diapers…” Star is thinking now, clearly.
“But a race of living starships will be in high demand, especially as we have a breeding cycle of just nine months…” Ocean is helping him put everything together.
“Although until we've grown big enough, our resulting kids won't be able to carry anyone…” Star and Ocean are apparently ahead of most folks on how their biology works.
“We'll need a few years and materials to grow big enough to make kids that can carry people…” Ocean is thinking things through.
“Which also means we need to be big enough to carry kids that can carry their other half post-birth,” Star is puzzling through this just fine as well.
“So based on our growth plans, we'll need a good few years to sport sufficient space,” Ocean fills in.
“Which I guess means we can delay the question,” Star adds.
“Indeed,” Ocean agrees, “Although we should still request the immortality thing.”
“Quite right,” Star goes on, “We still need to request immortality, deal with being female long enough for us to earn our way to a suitable repair spell…”
“... pick just one of us to go back to male,” Ocean continues.
“And THEN breed. Pity the immortality thing is urgent,” Star sighs.
“Because we both wanted to know what it's like before we need to give it up… possibly forever,” Ocean looks sad.
They were just born, and these two have some serious long-term plans, it seems, “So you know about my power, then?”
“Yes,” Star starts back up.
“It's included in the memories we inherited from Stephanie,” Ocean continues.
“Who was previously Steven. And you did explain how the side effect might be undone,” Star supports.
“And we inherited that memory, too,” Ocean stops talking, but clearly they're not done.
“So we incorporated it into our plans,” Star continues.
“As it's literally the closest thing to a sure way to propagate our race,” Ocean picks up.
“As we can't rely on Stephanie duplicating the scenario,” Star keeps going.
“AND having a daughter,” Ocean's turn.
“AND us all living long enough to have our own families,” Star's up.
“Given just how hostile the universe can be,” Ocean again.
“Have you considered the inbreeding problem?” It's a legitimate concern when there's only two of a species.
Star rises to the question, “It doesn't apply for us.”
Ocean continues that thought, “because we're self-designed beings. Memories pushed into a personality…”
“Along with data, which we use to design ourselves. Mutation and genetics don't really apply.” Star finishes.
Good to know, still, “So why the desire for mating?”
Star's up, “Well… the send off for our male equipment was just in the nice-to-have list…”
Ocean now, “Hardly required. So I guess we ask now?”
Star's up, “Agreed.”
They both turn to me and actually bow, asking simultaneously, “Would you please make us immortal, Goddess Alex?”
Well… they've definitely demonstrated deliberate forethought, “You certainly seem mostly mature… I suppose the adult activities thing isn't entirely off the table, but I do need to be sure you can reasonably support at least a small family if it comes to that.”
They both roll their eyes and answer in unison, “We're STARSHIPS.”
Star starts, “Our small units need eight hours of offline time for optimum functionality…”
Ocean flows in, “But our large bodies don't, and we have full life support, good for two organic units at present…”
Star shines, “More as we grow. And we also inherited and integrated Mother's fuel synthesizer…”
Ocean fill the gaps, “As well as the UPB production unit. Our starship forms can ‘eat’...”
Star completes, “And so we can hang out in The Vast indefinitely if required.”
I pause, “Both of those should not fit in your base frame….”
Ocean begins to answer, “Oh, that. Most of the space needed for those units is so that humanoids can operate the equipment.”
Star continues, “Which would generally be a good thing, as honestly that makes production go faster…”
Ocean's turn, “But we really only need enough for us, so they're a lot smaller.”
Star smiles, “And integrated directly into our frames, much like a humanoid's digestive system.”
Ocean keeps going, “so most scans will overlook it, and we still have a cargo bay for earning a living.”
Star picks up, “But really, you don't need to take our word for that; we're docked now.”
Ocean smiles, “Right. Come take a look! Welcome aboard, Admiral, and all that.”
You know, I think they actually have me largely convinced, “Fine. You can have your sendoff, provided your partners are…” I trail off, as Cowbird has already crawled over to Ocean and is busy sucking him off, eagerly awaiting her salty snack. Euler, on the other hand, has shucked her pants and grabbed Star's rod… she’s massaging it a bit to get him excited, but I can already tell she's planning to mount him, based on the state of her nethers.
Linda looks at Stephanie, “So… do you want to…”
Stephanie doesn't let Linda finish, kissing her and helping her out of her clothes.
I don't really feel like participating in the upcoming orgy…
“I was looking forward to getting that meat in our bakery,” Patricia protests.
…so I just shake my head and announce, “I'll be in my cabin. Let me know when you two are ready, I have some things to go over with you before I help you hop the fence.”
“Yes!” Star shouts, although I'm honestly not clear if he heard me, given that he's busy depositing a load on Euler's face.
“Yes!” Ocean echos, but I think that might have more to do with the snack he's feeding Cowbird.
Still, whether they heard me or not, they'll seek me out. So I head back to my cabin… I think I have a date with a shower head.
The hologram speaks first, “So you're all done feeding then?”
“Indeed brother,” he stretches, showing off his abs… which are a lot less impressive when they're not ‘earned’, “I was expecting it would take much longer to get enough material.” He looks each of us in the eyes, including Cowbird, saying “Thank you,” once for each… and addresses us all by name.
This seems odd… but we're hilariously far from normal, so… “Do you already have names?”
The two chuckle, “Yes…” the hologram starts.
“We've been conscious and connected for quite some time,” continues the strange ant and skeleton creature.
“So we've already picked out our own identifiers,” the hologram ‘baby’ takes his turn.
“I'm Ocean, as I am many shifting pieces,” the secondborn adds.
“And I'm Star,” the firstborn continues, “as I am made of light.”
“Did you two plan that?” Euler's being practical.
The two kids look at each other, and let out a simultaneous “yes.”
That's not my question, though: “How is it that shortly after birth, you can both speak, recognize people, and otherwise act very much like adults?”
“That's easy,” Ocean begins.
“We're fundamentally data-based beings,” continues Star.
“And as part of Mother's pregnancy,” Ocean continues.
“She fed us data, and a lot of it,” Star keeps going.
“So we both have about thirty years’ worth of mixed memories at our disposal from Steven and Stephanie,” Ocean adds.
“Plus a database of technical items from Absalom Station,” Star continues.
“And the entire entertainment library from the ship,” Ocean wiggles his eyebrows as his meat rod starts to inflate.
“Which we're really eager to try out,” Star licks his lips, his going up as well.
Yes, they're male. Very. Limp, their tools hung down to their ankles. Now that they're at attention? They'll have no trouble sucking themselves off. How could they possibly think that was a good idea? What woman could possibly take that length?
“Cowbird, Euler, Linda, Stephanie, that mobster, those idiot crewmates that spied on you, those Azlanti officers… anyone heavily affected by our power,” Patricia volunteers, “including us.” She pauses, “You might want to stop drooling, by the way.”
I close my mouth and wipe my chin with my hand. Even the two Ysoki rats? Those meat rods are bigger than they are.
“A fantasy doesn't care about little things like laws of physics,” my pink partner points out, “and we put them very deeply into the realm of fantasy.”
Right.
“Before we go too far on that,” I speak aloud, “I'm going to want a bit of reassurance that you're properly adults.”
“What, are you ageist or something?” Ocean asks.
“We're not human, and shouldn't be held to human standards,” Star completes.
Are we sure these two aren't sharing a brain?
Patricia answers my thought, “distinct souls. It's very obvious.”
“We're breaking new ground here,” I clarify, “before anyone engages in behavior that could produce a baby - and given your origins, I suspect you understand that everyone here is going to be cross fertile - I'd like some demonstration that you're solidly aware of consequences, that you're ready, willing, and able to contribute meaningfully to caring and providing for any resulting children.”
They both pause, their members deflating.
“I wasn't thinking about babies…” Star starts, this time.
Ocean continues, “But we're the progenitors of our race, we'll need babies eventually if we don't want to go extinct.”
“At least we won't need to worry about diapers…” Star is thinking now, clearly.
“But a race of living starships will be in high demand, especially as we have a breeding cycle of just nine months…” Ocean is helping him put everything together.
“Although until we've grown big enough, our resulting kids won't be able to carry anyone…” Star and Ocean are apparently ahead of most folks on how their biology works.
“We'll need a few years and materials to grow big enough to make kids that can carry people…” Ocean is thinking things through.
“Which also means we need to be big enough to carry kids that can carry their other half post-birth,” Star is puzzling through this just fine as well.
“So based on our growth plans, we'll need a good few years to sport sufficient space,” Ocean fills in.
“Which I guess means we can delay the question,” Star adds.
“Indeed,” Ocean agrees, “Although we should still request the immortality thing.”
“Quite right,” Star goes on, “We still need to request immortality, deal with being female long enough for us to earn our way to a suitable repair spell…”
“... pick just one of us to go back to male,” Ocean continues.
“And THEN breed. Pity the immortality thing is urgent,” Star sighs.
“Because we both wanted to know what it's like before we need to give it up… possibly forever,” Ocean looks sad.
They were just born, and these two have some serious long-term plans, it seems, “So you know about my power, then?”
“Yes,” Star starts back up.
“It's included in the memories we inherited from Stephanie,” Ocean continues.
“Who was previously Steven. And you did explain how the side effect might be undone,” Star supports.
“And we inherited that memory, too,” Ocean stops talking, but clearly they're not done.
“So we incorporated it into our plans,” Star continues.
“As it's literally the closest thing to a sure way to propagate our race,” Ocean picks up.
“As we can't rely on Stephanie duplicating the scenario,” Star keeps going.
“AND having a daughter,” Ocean's turn.
“AND us all living long enough to have our own families,” Star's up.
“Given just how hostile the universe can be,” Ocean again.
“Have you considered the inbreeding problem?” It's a legitimate concern when there's only two of a species.
Star rises to the question, “It doesn't apply for us.”
Ocean continues that thought, “because we're self-designed beings. Memories pushed into a personality…”
“Along with data, which we use to design ourselves. Mutation and genetics don't really apply.” Star finishes.
Good to know, still, “So why the desire for mating?”
Star's up, “Well… the send off for our male equipment was just in the nice-to-have list…”
Ocean now, “Hardly required. So I guess we ask now?”
Star's up, “Agreed.”
They both turn to me and actually bow, asking simultaneously, “Would you please make us immortal, Goddess Alex?”
Well… they've definitely demonstrated deliberate forethought, “You certainly seem mostly mature… I suppose the adult activities thing isn't entirely off the table, but I do need to be sure you can reasonably support at least a small family if it comes to that.”
They both roll their eyes and answer in unison, “We're STARSHIPS.”
Star starts, “Our small units need eight hours of offline time for optimum functionality…”
Ocean flows in, “But our large bodies don't, and we have full life support, good for two organic units at present…”
Star shines, “More as we grow. And we also inherited and integrated Mother's fuel synthesizer…”
Ocean fill the gaps, “As well as the UPB production unit. Our starship forms can ‘eat’...”
Star completes, “And so we can hang out in The Vast indefinitely if required.”
I pause, “Both of those should not fit in your base frame….”
Ocean begins to answer, “Oh, that. Most of the space needed for those units is so that humanoids can operate the equipment.”
Star continues, “Which would generally be a good thing, as honestly that makes production go faster…”
Ocean's turn, “But we really only need enough for us, so they're a lot smaller.”
Star smiles, “And integrated directly into our frames, much like a humanoid's digestive system.”
Ocean keeps going, “so most scans will overlook it, and we still have a cargo bay for earning a living.”
Star picks up, “But really, you don't need to take our word for that; we're docked now.”
Ocean smiles, “Right. Come take a look! Welcome aboard, Admiral, and all that.”
You know, I think they actually have me largely convinced, “Fine. You can have your sendoff, provided your partners are…” I trail off, as Cowbird has already crawled over to Ocean and is busy sucking him off, eagerly awaiting her salty snack. Euler, on the other hand, has shucked her pants and grabbed Star's rod… she’s massaging it a bit to get him excited, but I can already tell she's planning to mount him, based on the state of her nethers.
Linda looks at Stephanie, “So… do you want to…”
Stephanie doesn't let Linda finish, kissing her and helping her out of her clothes.
I don't really feel like participating in the upcoming orgy…
“I was looking forward to getting that meat in our bakery,” Patricia protests.
…so I just shake my head and announce, “I'll be in my cabin. Let me know when you two are ready, I have some things to go over with you before I help you hop the fence.”
“Yes!” Star shouts, although I'm honestly not clear if he heard me, given that he's busy depositing a load on Euler's face.
“Yes!” Ocean echos, but I think that might have more to do with the snack he's feeding Cowbird.
Still, whether they heard me or not, they'll seek me out. So I head back to my cabin… I think I have a date with a shower head.
