The moment Orion's brought in out of the void, I push the button to seal the door shut behind them.

Only then does Orion release his trip of Wayta and collapse to the ground.

The Venetian remains standing though, keeping herself steady against the wall.

Ignoring that Venetian, I stoop over to pick up captain and test the strength of my body. It holds, and I lift him up.

Orion winces. "Take away all my machismo, why don't you?"

"You have no need to put on airs for me, captain," I answer. "And you certainly have no need to do the same for her."

"It's true," Wayta assures, starting to unzip her space suit. "I know all your secrets, Orion."

As she speaks, her form alters to match that of Orion's, and the skin that she is revealing as she removes her suit is white and masculine.

Orion buries his face in his hands. "Please. Stop."

Wayta uses Orion's face to smirk back at him. "Ah, am I traumatizing you, sweetheart?"

"Enough," I answer her even as Orion shuffles out of my arms. "Is the oxygen back on?"

Orion holds himself for a moment, steadying himself before nodding. "Yes. We're ready for flight-"

The ship shakes as another solar flare passes through, sending Orion stumbling back onto my machine body.

"Well," he gasps, "when that's over, I guess."

Yes, but Wayta isn't.

The ship lurches again, and this time Orion braces himself without using me. He frowns, studying the sensations the ship jolts into him. "That's not from a solar storm." He whirls around to me. "Are we being boarded?"

Dipping into the computer's systems, I scan the ship. "Yes. A ship is connecting to our entrance."

"What kind of ship? Alliance, or rogue?"

"Or Ganymede," Wayta offers in Orion's voice.

"We have to prepare for the worst," Orion says.

"I'll prepare to welcome them," I answer. "And prepare the defenses likewise."

Orion nods in gratitude.

"And I'm going to need some of your clothes," Wayta says, swishing at where her hair would normally be. "Especially if they're from Ganymede."

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