One in Twelve Thousandth Percent

Chapter 36:

June 22, 2530. Alternate timeline #2, ISS Angel orbiting Earth.

You know, for being 4 foot 11 inches, I had never considered myself ever being what others call the "big spoon". Especially not when compared to Misaki's height, her being a whole foot taller than me. But I was not prepared for what I woke up to. The last few nights we slept together, one of us was always tucked up on the shoulder of the other, who was laying on their back.

This was the first day I woke up to find myself cocooned by Misaki's body, or I was the "little spoon". Also, when we slept before, we wrapped our arms around each other as if we never wanted to let go ever. So let me tell you. When I also felt her hand palming my entire right boob, I almost died. I had to slip out from under her and hop into a cold shower.

When I came out, she was awake. Up and about, the bed was already made and I could smell the coffee. I put on shorts and a fresh tank and went to the kitchen.

"Hey, babe." I say, coming in and grabbing my mug. "Hey back, hon. How was your... um shower?" She snorts, which makes me freeze. She knew. She did it on purpose. I roll my eyes. "It was... refreshing." We both laugh.

Our little mini kitchen has a small table with four chairs. The chair I sat in put my back facing the door to the living room. Misaki finishes her cup and heads for the bedroom. "My turn to shower! No peeking."

"Still trying to be a good girl–" Whack. I get hit in the back of the head with her tank top. I turn and look, catching her walking away, giving me the look. You know, one that makes my brain short circuit. That coupled with seeing her bare back and amazing figure just...

System error. A restart is recommended.

All I can manage to do is tilt my head 45 degrees like animals do and blink.

System 35% recovered.

After she turned the corner, I still sat there staring for a few seconds more while my brain reboots...again.

System 50% recovered.

My senses restart and tell me that I'm sitting in a chair and haven't fallen over yet. That's good.

System 70% recovered.

I regain feeling in my fingers and toes. Oh, that's what those are.

System fully recovered.

I blink a couple of times, pick up my coffee and take a sip. Yikes. At this rate, I'm in trouble. I finish my cup and get up. Only a couple minutes have passed, so I can go in and get dressed before she gets out of the shower. Once I'm dressed, I get more coffee and sit in the living room to wait.

Another five minutes or so pass before Misaki comes out. "You're right, hon. It is refreshing." I hear her say from the bedroom. Once she's dressed, she joins me in the living room. I'm sitting on the couch and she sits next to me, spins around and tosses her feet up on top of my legs.

"Well, hello there." She smiles. "Hello yourself, Miss First Officer." I roll my eyes. "I wasn't given a choice. She kinda coerced me into it." She smiles again and winks at me. "Yeah, sure you were hon. She stripped your emotional layers like you were an onion." "I mean, not all at once. But, over time it happened that way. Wait.. layers..." I stop and think, putting my coffee down. Misaki stops to watch me. She knows that when the gears start going, it's best to let me finish.

I push her feet off and stand up, going over to a random wall. I feel around on it for several minutes, then pop off a medium sized wall panel. Holding the panel, I turn back to Misaki. She's in the middle of a sip and almost chokes on it as she catches my idea. "Oh, I get it! Pull wall panels and weld them together to create patches for the holes in the hull. You're brilliant, hon!"