System

4. A Night on the Cards (1)

Emily Post-Redwood was planning a serious night out. She took time to prepare herself, combing and brushing her fur thoroughly and picking out a fairly provocative outfit. She padded through her suite of rooms as she selected a few items to take with her. She purred when she caught a glimpse of her reflection and instinctively turned back her ears.

She grinned at herself in the mirror and her sharp teeth protruded briefly. She looked quite predatorial, which seemed strangely appropriate for a night at the gaming tables.

After a quick look around the room she slipped outside and closed the door. There was no need to lock it since the ship would only allow access to those who had permission, which was a fairly limited group.

Emily was a feliform - a cat person. Her DNA had been altered to give her certain features. Most of these were cosmetic - her tabby fur, her ears, her tail, her whiskers - but there were also subtle changes to her spine and bone structure, giving her a pronounced feline gait. She moved along the corridor like a tiger on the prowl, rather than a traditional human heading for a night out.

The feliform tweak was an old pattern which had a very long commercial history. It had originally been developed as an affectation but had quickly become a popular option for life changes. Emily had used it twice before and felt quite at home in this body. This one was still relatively young though and she was still adjusting to the way the spine curved as she walked. It would be a few years before all of her movements were entirely natural.

The ship's lights had already adjusted themselves to indicate the setting of the sun. They flickered like gas lamps, which made the corridors feel warm and mysterious. Emily climbed a small staircase and stepped out onto the deck.

The ship was immense. It had three huge white hulls which were linked together through a maze of bridges, struts and broad walkways. Emily chose her route carefully and walked slowly across the vessel, taking in the view from one of the more prominent balconies. The sun was setting over the sea and the sky was turning orange. It was going to be a very pleasant evening.

A number of passengers passed her on journey's of their own. She greeted them with a friendly smile. The ship only carried a thousand residents which meant it was possible to know a reasonable proportion of the people on board. Emily had been living on the Swan for two months now and had made a number of friends and acquaintances. In general she preferred the night-life, and spent the days working in her office or sunbathing on the deck. She used to enjoy swimming but her new body was not entirely suited to water.

The main casino was on the central hull, deep within the bowels of the ship. The atmosphere changed as she arrived in the entertainment district. Quiet music was playing over the speakers and there were a few crew members on duty - mostly from the hospitality team. A brightly coloured woman with peacock feathers welcomed her at the door and asked about her day. Emily smiled and replied politely, but her mind was already on the evening ahead.

She arrived in the games room with a flourish. There were already a number of people at the table as she took her seat.

'You're late,' said a tall blue skinned man on her right. His eyes glistened in the dim light.

'I had a busy day,' she replied with a slight growl. 'Where's Travis?'

'Late as well,' the blue man answered bluntly. 'We may need to start without him - again.'

'Fine by me,' she purred. 'Less competition.'

The blue man made a face.

'Your one-time ex-husband can be quite distracting when he chooses to be.'

'Three-time,' she contradicted him. 'If you count all the variations. I might marry him again some time if it feels right. You never can tell.'

'How nice,' the blue man muttered, sounding bored. 'Mister Quentin, shall we start.'