Pop-ex (Population Exchange)

Answers and Explanations

The walk to my quarters passes by in a blur. I'm aware of everyone walking with me. I know there are eyes watching me. None of it matters, except the one walking so close we could be one body.

We enter my quarters and step to the side, where Tiger immediately pulls me into the tightest embrace I've ever felt, I return it without hesitation. Suddenly it's like he's drowning, and I'm what he's clinging to for dear life. I want to be everything he needs, but now isn't the time to deal with our feelings.

I release him. The moment my grip loosens he releases me as well.

We step away from each other.

Arkner spins me around and gives me a quick embrace.

Then Captain Ton hugs me slightly longer.

Skip comes barreling through my open door, and upon seeing me grabs me into a hug, lifting me slightly off the ground before putting me back down.

We all step away from the door so it can close.

Captain James jokes, "I'm starting to feel left out."

I smile and give him a quick hug.

Skip informs us, "Captain Zerrva wants to be here, but he's currently handling the influx of Warvian women."

Captain Ton adds, "I've already volunteered my ship to house a hundred of them."

"How many are there?" I ask in shock.

Arkner replies, "The Battle Star is one of four brother ships. They're the largest in the fleet. The last Captain made sure it was also the fastest and strongest, even of the four. I would estimate a crew of at least seven hundred men, and at least four hundred fifty women to serve them."

I almost collapse. Tiger immediately grabs me. I become aware of my current attire and whisper, "Excuse me for a moment while I change my clothes."

I step into my sleeping chamber, leaving the men in the common area. I strip off the battle uniform, throwing it into a corner to be dealt with later, and quickly dress in my own clothes, even swapping the helmet for my usual hat.

I take a deep breath and find I'm wishing I had some of the weed from last night, to help me calm down. I shake it off, and step back into the living space of my quarters.

Skit hands me a glass of cider.

I see Tiger making a weed stick.

"It's called a joint." Tiger informs me, "Not a weed stick."

I smile weakly, look around the room and admit to my friends and family, "I don't know what I'm going to do."

"You've done enough for today." Captain Ton exclaims, "Tomorrow will figure itself out."

I laugh and give him a friendly punch.

Captain Ton feigns pain. "Keep that up and you'll be commanding two ships." He jokes.

I gently push him away, and go to sit next to Tiger on the small couch. "Good thing I know that's not how command is passed on the Phennox."

Captain Ton chuckles and gets a little nervous.

I stare at him.

"I put it in my will a few space years ago, that if anything happens to me..."

"Why?" I ask in shock.

He answers, "Nobody knows the Phennox like you and Jorman, and he's too young."

I smack my head. "That needs to get changed and soon."

"Tomorrow's list is always growing." Arkner says, "Yet, tomorrow never comes."

Skit, Arkner, and Captain Ton sit on the big couch, in that order from me. Captain James grabs a chair from the kitchen area and puts it on the other side of the table, placing him between Captain Ton and Tiger.

Tiger lights a joint, takes a hit, and passes it to me. I take a hit and pass it to Skit, and it keeps going.

I lean my head on Tiger.

Tiger looks at Arkner. "Can you please explain what everyone has been hiding, other than Vlon's gender?"

"My gender is the big secret." I answer, "Not from you all, at least at first. You guys just weren't sure, and didn't bother to ask, so I decided to see how long it would take for someone to give in and ask."

Arkner continues, "When the Warvians became involved her s*x became a secret we had to keep, to ensure she would get the chance to battle as a warrior."

"If your treatment of Vlon changed before the warrior test they might have figured out she wasn't male. They could have claimed her, with no way for Vlon to escape." Captain Ton adds.

Captain James surmises, "She would have been made a breeder, like the women she just freed."

Captain James takes his hit and passes the joint to Tiger, who takes it, but seems lost in thought.

I touch his head and see a young child, with eyes like mine. "You could have saved Vlon." The child tells him.

I turn his head so we look into each other's eyes.

"It was your child I saw." He whispers as tears fill his eyes.

I rub my hand on his cheek. "You did save me. That child will never exist." I assure him.

Tiger slowly takes his hit, and passes the joint to me. I take my hit and pass to Skit without ever taking my eyes off Tiger.

"There's also the obvious match connection forming, that was a potential problem. Which is why we were worried about things being ruined just by your presence." Arkner informs Tiger.

"The what?" Tiger asks, snapping his attention away from me.

"Match connection." Skit replies, "Any Nyrarian with the active empathic gene forms a strong bond when they find their other half. If Vlon hadn't been resisting it, because you didn't know her gender; and you hadn't been so confused: it would have formed in the first space hour after you met. Nothing can keep it from forming after you meet, except death before completion."

Captain James exclaims, "That's got to cut down on divorces."

Arkner laughs. "They're practically unheard-of on Nyrar, and there's very little s*x without matching, because people don't want to waste time with someone who doesn't complete them."

Skit volunteers, "Our mom was an unfortunate Nyrarian without the empathic gene active. She left Nyrar to avoid being an outcast as soon as she realized it was never going to activate.

"I thought Nyrarians have the gene active from conception." Tiger asserts before taking a hit.

Arkner corrects him, "Vlon had her gene active practically from conception, which is almost as rare as not having it activate at all."

Skit adds, "Most develop the skill right after learning to talk. Late bloomers can activate anywhere up to and through puberty. Mom's never did."

"By the time mom realized Vloncar was using her to improve his line she was already pregnant with me." I explain, "She found the Phennox about to leave, explained her situation to Captain Ton, who offered her safety aboard his ship."

Captain Ton adds, "Moments later, my chief of security, who had practically begged to be allowed to transfer crews, decided to stay instead. I took it as a blessing."

"And your entire ship bonded together in the name of protecting and helping Vlon?" Tiger asks.

Arkner answers, "Vlon has a way of uniting everyone who cares about her."

"Celka and mom are the only ones I ever had to worry about." I admit with a shrug.

"And the one freak who tried to r**e you when you were thirteen." Arkner points out, "But I sensed you needed me, and came to your rescue."

I nod my head. "I forgot about him, but he obviously didn't care about me."

"Wasn't he a visitor from Lique?" Skit double checks, "Thought he could force a bond and gain skills from Vlon?"

Arkner and Captain Ton nod their heads.

Tiger grabs me tightly. "I can't ever lose you."

I hold him close and whisper, "We'll figure it all out."

Suddenly the other four men remember they have places to be, and things to do, and politely excuse themselves before rushing out the door.