I felt her stiffen in surprise, but only until her lips felt mine.

I'd met her maybe twice, this iteration. She had me on a big project, that was why we'd been awake for so long.

The previous teams had reeled in and replenished all the solar wings, all the sails. Fresh new membranes, with the new coating Nicole in Materials Tech had tested over four iterations, almost a century. Our new wings would be collecting twice the power, twice the thrust, and micrometeorite deterioration would be reduced by over 95%.

They didn't replace the trusses or rigging. Or the winches. And the hull brackets may have been what we launched with.

… Wait why- Oh. Oh yes. I met the Captain twice.

The first time, up on the service bridge. She wasn't happy, finding something so critical had been overlooked.

"Poor maintenance was what got our predecessors in this mess! And it was You-…re Engineering wing that… Salvaged the situation."

… Huh. Maybe I really DO need a reset. My memories are slurring.

The second time… I don't know HOW she could be so stealthy.

One minute I'm hunched over my workstation, putting the new jaws on the Hullbot. The next, a massive presence behind me, as if from nowhere.

I had snapped upright in surprise, and in my rush, thumped my head right into her chest.

She always looked so hardened in that uniform. That moment of panic and fear stretched the moment out long in my mind.

Long enough to feel her breasts through her uniform, feel their mass, feel their warmth, the soft flesh yielding, cradling my stupid hard skull, lovingly cradling-

It was over in an instant, the Captain taking a brisk step back, the sharp -Clack-CLACK- of her heels unmistakably real on the deckplates.

She Harrumphed as she tugged her coat square again. "Did I startle you, Head Engineer?"

I babbled. Half-spoken abortive apologies. It took me nearly twenty seconds to catch it.

-Head- Engineer.

The Captain held out her hand, holding something. A twitch of her wrist made me lift mine.

I caught the blue chit and stared at it.

"I read your reports. You are operating FAR above your station. Your predecessor was…" Her cheek twitched for a moment, a flash of a wry smile. "… Burnt out, I suppose. You were on duty, but you missed…"

The Captain sighed, and looked away. "I… Allowed her to enter the lottery last night. It was a full house, I thought… Hmpf." She looked back at me. "Vanessa put on a -hell- of a show, actually."

"Unfortunately, that means her duties must now fall on the shoulders of the one I deem most capable of completing the tasks presented. I am sorry, Head Engineer, but this makes you exempt from any and all Auctions, Lotteries or Cullings until I determine otherwise. You know FULL WELL how neglected maintenance changed… Everything, here."

I stared at the blue chit. Free but restricted access to The Club. Prep and pamper but none of the fun.

Until the Captain said otherwise.

And now…

Oh, now! Now is important! Yes!

This morning I woke to a text message, from the Captain. All projects completed far ahead of schedule, you have guaranteed our safety for centuries, yadda yadda-

Relieved of duty, Full Club Access restored, and good luck.

I almost missed the 'as my final act as Captain' in there.

It stood out in my jumbled memories, right now, as the woman who was once My Captain slumped into my sudden kiss.

I held her head firm, she let her full weight dangle from her neck. Felt her body shudder in lust when the tension made some soft -pops- in her neck.

We didn't notice the lottery box crash to the floor, her hands wrapped around me, strong fingers roaming up and down, clutching-

I let out a yelp, our lips parting with a pop of suction, tongues unwinding from each other with a wet squelch.

That was a hell of a goose. And those hands were still lovingly kneading my ass.

Another maid had already scooped up the lottery box, giggling at us even while chit after chit jangled into the slot.

"I suppose this means you won't be waiting tables tonight after all, Marion…!" she sing-songed at The Captain.

The ex-captain.

Practically purring, rubbing her cheek into the side of my neck, swaying happily.

Her name is Marion.

And she wants me tonight.

In The Club, Marion wants me.

And I want her too.

…

I don't know why but I remember her name. I remember her beautiful face.

>>ragged wheezing, clattering footsteps, giggling as my hooks burn in the bones of my arms and legs, hammered in where accursed hands and feet were burned away, purity of blade in their place. I drop from the ceiling, kick my hook deep in her chest. Looking down and smiling, savouring the horror in her eyes. Slowly I open her soft throat with another hook, watch the blood burble from her mouth and the life drain from her eyes.
>>She'll feed me for weeks.

Surely it's nothing.