Fantasy Making of a Starship Captain

"He'll sleep with you, fiancée or no. Just give him a sign, that's all he needs," said Taylor's Lust.

"Believe me, I really want to," said Andrea's Lust. "I'd love to have him inside me." Her voice was full of desire.

"Then what's the problem?" Taylor's Lust asked.

"Andrea's Morality and Andrea's Love for Herman. You can't connect with them because you're not on the same plane or in the same body, but they are devoted to Herman, her fiancée. They think sleeping with Mike would be a betrayal."

"Betrayal. Such a harsh word," said Taylor's Lust. Suddenly his arms were around her again, and once again he was squeezing her tits. "Think of it... like a misdemeanor. Like parking in the wrong place. Do you like that?"

"Mmmmmm," Andrea's Lust smiled. She really did like it! "But I don't think they will view it that way. If Taylor parks his penis inside my vagina, Andrea's Morality is not going to view that as the equivalent of a parking violation."

"Then overpower them. Overpower them with your Lust...."

Taylor studied Andrea's face. He could clearly screan the battle within.

"What... what were we talking about?" Andrea said.

"Dinner. In your quarters."

"Oh, I don't know, Mike," said Andrea, smiling nervously. "I... I have a lot of work to do."

"Of course." Taylor was such an Alpha Male, that he didn't show even a hint of disappointment. He got up to leave. "Will you be at Survey Service Day?"

"Of course," she said, again with that embarrassed smile. "I'll see you there. And thanks again, Mike."

He nodded and turned to go. Andrea watched his ass cheeks flex inside his tight trousers as he left. She spent a long time staring at the door after he was gone.

It was called Survey Service Day. On every inhabited planet which had a Survey Service ship or installation, the Survey Service would open its doors to show its skills to the public once a year. There were demonstrations of search and rescues, tours of spaceships, shows of marksmanship, and more.

Taylor allowed civilians from Sheppard's Planet to shuttle up to the Relentless and had Lieutenant Garrity arrange staff to give tours. He realized most people had never even seen, much less heard of a Command Cruiser. He made a mental note to offer to give Andrea a tour as well. He could see he was breaking down her resistance, slowly but surely. Taylor realized she was engaged to be married, but he didn't care. She was gorgeous, and this would be his first and only chance to have her.

The only thing holding Taylor back was himself. He wanted her to fully consent. He didn't want to seduce her and take her while she was willing but still somewhat reluctant, as he had other women in the past. Andrea was his friend. He wanted this to be special. He wanted her to want him as much as he wanted her.

The pavilion was set up near the landing field, roughly equidistant from most of the territorial concessions. Taylor saw Andrea, and she saw him at the same time, and he waited to see what she would do. Would it be a greeting, a handshake, or-

"Mike," said Andrea, giving him a hug, as if they hadn't seen each other in days. She enjoyed the feeling of his strong chest against hers. When she pulled away, she saw a hint of a smile on his face which drove her wild.

She looked into his eyes flirtatiously. "Are you full recovered from your epic battle with the dreaded Gorgon?" Her tone was soft and mellifluous, like a humming bird trying to attract a mate.

"I think so," said Taylor. Suddenly he heard the sound of a throat clearing behind him.

"Oh," said Taylor. "Where are my manners? You know Sophie, of course."

"Of course, hello again, Sophie," said Andrea.

"Hello, Andrea," said Sophie, giving a cold tone of disapproval. Andrea's smile kind of wilted.

"And this," said Taylor, putting his arm around a shy officer, "This is Ensign Miles Redding, our cadet officer on his training cruise. Miles, say hello to Commander Andrea Farber."

"Hello, Commander Farber," said Miles, extending a weak hand. His hand only melted further as Andrea shook it. Andrea was so pretty!

"It's nice to meet you, Miles," said Andrea. She made a hand gesture, and a woman standing some distance away came forward. "And I also have someone I would like you to meet."

A young blonde woman came forward. Andrea introduced her. "This is Ensign Susan Callow. Ensign Callow is my cadet officer."

Taylor smiled at Miles. "Miles, we thought you might enjoy talking to Ensign Callow. You two know each other from the Academy, don't you?"

"Yes, sir," said Miles. "Know" was a bit of a stretch, since Susan was a pretty girl, and Miles was too afraid to talk to the pretty girls. One time he had bumped into her in the mess hall and said "Excuse me"; he thought that was most he had ever spoken to her.

"Well?" said Taylor. "Aren't you going to say hello?"

"Yes," said Miles. He turned to her. "Susan... nice to see you again."

"Hello, Miles," she said, giving him a small smile. A very small smile.

"Why don't you two go off and give us a full report on the pavilion," said Taylor meaningfully.

"Yes, sir," said Miles. He and Ensign Callow walked off.

Taylor had instructed Miles to ask her out to lunch and befriend her. He didn't think Miles was ready for more at this stage. He turned to Andrea. "What did you tell her?"

"Only that she should be friendly," said Andrea. She held out her arm, and Taylor took it. "You look after everyone, don't you, Mike?"

"We're the Survey Service," said Taylor. "We don't leave anyone behind."

There were all kinds of booths and exhibitions and of course, food. Andrea and Taylor laughed as they both tried mutated frogs legs. Fried and breaded, it tasted exactly like chicken. They talked and laughed. Sophie hung around them with such a blank expression like she had seen a Gorgon. She was such a mood killer that Taylor subtly hinted that she should check on Lieutenant Garrity on the Relentless. She glared at him and headed off.

Andrea smiled at Taylor as they sat at a picnic table. "Honestly, Mike, I don't know how you cope with her as a first officer. That face!"

"Oh, you should see what she looks like when she laughs," said Mike, chewing his frogs legs.

"Sophie laughs?"

Taylor nodded.

"How do you get her to laugh?" Andrea asked.

"I tickle her," said Taylor.

"How?" Andrea asked.

The sun was shining, he was sitting with an attractive redhead with large breasts, and she had just asked how he liked to tickle women. Life was so incredibly, incredibly good.

Taylor reached out and ticked Andrea along the rib cage. "Like this."

Andrea laughed.

"And this," he said, tickling some more.

And then suddenly, they laughing and cuddling and then they were suddenly face to face, and Andrea froze.

"Mike," Andrea whispered, as if she were paralyzed, unable to move. She stared at his lips, which were mere inches from hers. Her eyes widened. Taylor looked into them, and to him they said "Yes", ever so clearly.

Taylor moved his lips closer to hers, over hers, and then-

"Michael, darling!" came a new voice.

Taylor stiffened, and pulled back.

"The Great Captain Michael Taylor!" said a new voice.

Suddenly, he found himself engulfed in a bear hug. It was a woman, a dark brunette. When he pulled back, he recognized her face immediately.

"Natasha," he said weakly. He glanced at Andrea. "Andrea told me you were here. I was going to pay you a visit-"

"But first you had to stop those scheming Chinese in theirrr tracks," said Natasha Romanov. "Don't look surprised, Michael. We in the Russian Concession know everyting that happens around us."

"I'm sure you do," said Taylor evenly. "You run the Russian Concession, don't you?"

Natasha gave a mock bow. "I, Natasha Vladimich Romanov, have moved up in the world. I'd love to tell you all about it... over dinner... if it's all right with Andrea, of course."

Andrea gave her a hard stare, as if she had just been slapped in the face.

"Of course I'd love to have dinner with you, Natasha," said Taylor, giving her a charming smile as he smoothly interposed his body between the two of them.

"Good. I'll see you at 7. I am in Putin 204, in the main building," said Natasha. As she walked away, Taylor noticed her hips swaying slowly.

"Better bring a food taster, Michael," said Andrea darkly. "Russian spies are known for their expertise in poisoning."

"She was never proven to be a Russian spy, Andrea," said Taylor.

Andrea looked distressed. "Michael... I realize I have no right to ask this, but... are you going to sleep with her?"

Taylor raised his eyebrows.

Andrea suddenly got a look of helplessness in her eyes, as she touched his arm. "I mean I know how it sounds, and of course you and I, we're not... together." The words came babbling out of her in a jumble. "I'm just... looking out for your well being."

"I appreciate your concern," said Taylor. He paused, looking into her eyes. The moment between them had been lost. He extended his hand. "Shall we review some of the exhibitions?"

"Of course," said Andrea.

But she was no longer smiling.

A few minutes later, they felt the ground tremble. Everyone stopped what they were doing and felt distinctly ill at ease. The tremor wasn't strong enough to make anyone fall off their feet, but no one moved as they all shook for several seconds. Andrea and Taylor held hands as it passed. Taylor, though distressed by what was happening, couldn't help but notice how pleasantly Andrea's large breasts vibrated up and down, as if she were being violently penetrated by a man.

And then the tremors ceased.

"What was that?" Taylor asked, after it was over.

"Another miniquake," said Andrea. "It started about a month ago. They have been increasing in frequency and strength."

"Any idea of the cause?"

Andrea shook her head. "A geological team from the Scientific Branch was here last week. They did an exhaustive analysis. They said the ground is perfectly stable."

"Then what's causing these quakes?"

"We don't know, Michael." She lowered her voice. "But I hear rumblings from the World Government. If these quakes get worse, they may scrap the entire project."

"Let's hope that doesn't happen," said Taylor.

He and Andrea walked around and looked at the various booths. There was a demonstration of holographic communications systems, a holoscreen showing sensor arrays in operation, a demonstration of how ship's engines worked, and a simulation of ship's weapons systems, and more. And then Taylor smiled when they arrived at the shooting range for the small arms demonstration. Taylor couldn't resist. He turned to Andrea. "Would you mind?"

"By all means," said Andrea, gesturing with a smile.

Taylor went up to the officer administering the exhibition and asked for a concussion rifle. "What's the usual run?" he asked, as he took the gun.

"A run of three, sir," said the officer.

"How high can you go?" he asked.

"Six at one time is the maximum," said the officer.

"Do it," said Taylor.

The officer looked apprehensive, but nodded.

Suddenly, six virtual birds appeared in the air. Taylor paused for only a microsecond, and then he pivoted with lightning speed, firing six shots, no more, and no less. The six targets all burst into flame.

There was an "ooooohhhh" from the gathered spectators. And then one started clapping, and the others joined in.

"Michael, that was incredible!" said Andrea. "I... I had forgotten that you were a master marksman."

"Major Shalikashvili gave me a commendation for my marksmanship," said Taylor, calmly turning the rifle to the officer. "Of all the awards I received at the Academy, that's the one I'm proudest of."

"Just how many awards did you receive at the Academy?" Andrea asked.

Taylor frowned. "I'd have to think about that. Four, or five maybe. It's been years since I looked in my service jacket."

"You're incredible, you know that?" said Andrea.

And then Taylor gave her a sexy, confident smile. "It's nice of you to say so."

They walked around, looking at the other exhibitions. At one point they crossed paths with Ensigns Redding and Callow. Redding gave them a weak smile, but Callow just rolled her eyes.

"Maybe pairing those two off was not the best idea," said Taylor.

"Susan... Susan is a bit picky about the people she befriends," said Andrea. "She has a few rough edges I'm trying to wear down."

"I just hope she doesn't impale Miles with one of them," said Taylor.

There was one more exhibition Taylor couldn't resist participating in.

The hand to hand combat demonstration. He saw two enlisted crewmen going at it, while a third watched. They wrestled with each other by the numbers, and then one threw the other, but it didn't look real. It didn't feel real.

Taylor got into the ring. "Would you mind a quick lesson, boys?" The men nodded their assent.

Taylor paused, and then started to take off his shirt. The other men were already shirtless. As he took off his shirt, he saw Andrea give him a puzzled glance. "It seems every time I go hand to hand, my shirt gets ripped. I don't know why," said Taylor as he pulled his Survey Service day shirt over his head.

Andrea bit her lip as she saw Taylor's chest. It was all hairy and muscular. He was so handsome! For a moment, she imagined his strong chest, pressing against her breasts, rubbing against her as he pounded, deep inside of her...

"All right, let's begin," said Taylor. "Try to hit me," he told the men.

One of the three men asked, "Which one of us, sir?"

"All of you," said Taylor.

Andrea took a deep breath. What was Mike doing?

The men made eye contact with each other uncertainly.

"I didn't say to look at each other! I said to attack me! Now do it, that's an order!" Taylor snapped.

The men charged him.

"Live within the moment," Master Tan had said. And by this time, Taylor had learned how to do it.

The three crewmen attacked him at the same time, which is not to say simultaneously, and as Taylor parsed milliseconds, he chose the closest one, grabbed his arm, and sent him flying into the air; and then he grabbed the second, and tripped him, while giving him a good push in the back.

The last of his attackers, a muscular black man who reminded Taylor a little of a beefed up version of Mark Stratford, grabbed Taylor and tried to wrestle him to the ground. But Taylor wouldn't budge. He saw the surprised look forming on the man's face as he saw Taylor wasn't going down, and then Taylor grabbed the man roughly and tripped him hard, and he hit the ground with a thud.

Suddenly, all three men were on the ground, and Taylor was the only one standing.

The crowd cheered.

As the men got up, Taylor gave the black crewman a hand. He did remind Taylor of his former GBF. "Are you all right? I think I tripped you a little harder than I should."

"I'm fine, sir," said the crewman, smiling at him. "You sure are a dynamo. Can you teach me how to do that?"

"Unfortunately no," said Taylor, remembering the words of Master Tan. "You must learn on your own."

As Taylor exited the ring with his shirt in hand, Andrea took advantage of his toplessness to give him a hug. "Mike, that was incredible! What made you crazy enough to think you could take three of them at once?"

"I've done it before," said Taylor casually, as he put on his shirt. He noticed Andrea's eyes looking at him hungrily as his shirt covered up his handsome chest. "It's like a dance. It's just a matter of knowing the rhythm." As he finished putting on his top, he noticed something about Andrea's Survey Service shirt.

There were two distinct points sticking out of Andrea's Survey Service day shirt, both with round imprints around them, like target bullseyes. Andrea didn't seem to notice. She was too busy giving Taylor a dreamy smile the rest of the afternoon.

"He's so handsome! Just look at that hairy chest! Look how easily he took on three guys! Mike's the ultimate alpha male! We HAVE to fuck him!" Andrea's Lust said.

"That would be a betrayal of Herman, the man we are about to marry and spend the rest of our lives with," said Andrea's Love for Herman.

"And we can spend the rest of our life with him. After we sleep with Michael. Did you see the way he threw those three guys? Did you see that chest?" said Andrea's Lust.

"I just can't," said Andrea's Love for Herman. "I can't... unless...." Her voice trailed off.

"Unless what?" said Andrea's Lust.

"Unless Mike seduces me. If he seduces me, I'll... I'll give in. Maybe," said Andrea's Love for Herman.

"Mike, so good to see you," said Natasha, giving him a hug.

Taylor was having dinner with Natasha in the Russian Concession. She was wearing a black dress which showed off her ample breasts. It was funny, because Taylor had never thought of Natasha as having large breasts She must be wearing one of those special bras which shifted things upwards and inwards.

Natasha was a pretty woman, but a different kind of pretty from Andrea or Cherry. She was pretty in a sinister way. It was hard to describe. She had kind of a pretty face but it seemed twisted into a snarl. She had long black hair that was pretty, but also made her looked wicked in a way that Taylor could not easily put into words. She had hazel eyes which seemed to glare at him. Natasha smiled, but her smiles always seemed cold and insincere.

Taylor hadn't gotten a chance to get to know Natasha at the Academy, she had left too quickly. The popular opinion had been that she was a spy for the Russian Federation. Maybe he was letting those rumors sway his opinion of her.

Gently, over dinner, he reached out and screaned her.

Taylor's reaction was immediate.

Yes, Natasha was a spy.

Or, if not a spy, she was up to something, something nefarious. Screaning didn't always give results that were easily articulated in words.

Natasha kept the conversation light, at first. She described how she rose through the ranks of the business world. She was actually one of the directors of the Russian Concession, a mine which produced tons of valuable Tiberian ore, which was used in all kinds of shipboard components. She promised to give him a tour of the mines the following day.

Then Natasha turned the discussion towards him, asking Taylor about some of his past missions, and how he enjoyed being in charge of the Survey Service's first command cruiser.

But then she started asking some probing questions. Exactly how fast could a Command Cruiser actually go? How quickly did its megajoulers recharge? What was its force screen regeneration rate?

Taylor smiled, and apologized, but told her that those questions were classified.

"Of courrrse," said Natasha. She smiled sadly. "You must tink I'm some kind of spy trrrying to get secrets from you."

"No, I don't-"

"I knauw vat they said about me," said Natasha, waving a hand dismissively. "At Academy. That I a spy for Russia. But I vas viped out in tree months. What kind of spy is that?"

"I don't think you're a spy, Natasha," said Taylor, giving her a charming smile. He saw the effect it had on her, making her calm down and get more excited, both at the same time.

Natasha changed the subject, talking about their classmates. "Ernie Maslarov now vrites porrrrn holobooks."

"About pancakes on people's backs that make them have sex, yes, I heard," said Taylor.

Natasha looked at him slyly. "Pancakes get on back, makes pepil verrrry sexy. Makes dem vant to do sexy tings vith all kinds of pepil, have sex with pepil never thought they would beforrre."

Is Natasha trying to seduce me with a story about mind controlling pancakes?

"Joanna was talking to me about that," said Taylor.

"Ah, yes, Joanna. Big cheeken farm gurl," said Natasha, her expression souring. "I hearrr you had private dinnar with herrr."

"It seems everyone is quite well informed about my travels on Sheppard's Planet," said Taylor.

Natasha licked her lips. "Only because you are so interesting to vatch, darling." She smiled at him again. "So tell me, Mike. Are you and Joanna...." She let her voice trail off.

"No," said Taylor, his eyebrows furling. "We're just friends. Besides, Natasha, Joanna's married."

"That has never stopped you beforrre, so I hearrrr," said Natasha, smiling at him slyly. Before he could respond to that, she had moved on to a new topic. "Ets a pity that you and Cherry gurl never stayed together. You seemed like natural couple."

Taylor nodded, biting his lip.

"Maybe Sophie Astor es more to yourrr liking?" said Natasha, with just the hint of a smile.

"Sophie and I are just friends," said Taylor.

"How can you be friends with gurl who nevar smiles?"

"Oh, Sophie smiles," said Taylor. "You just have to wait long enough."

Natasha laughed. "Maybe you take her to yearrr one billion, you see her smile then, yes?"

Taylor chuckled. "Maybe." But Sophie hadn't been the one to accompany him on that particular mission. His first officer at that time had been Jennifer Hale. Taylor wondered if events would have turned out differently if it had been Sophie instead of Jennifer....

"But you never got married, no?"

"No," said Taylor, taking a bite out of his steak dinner.

"Neither did I," said Natasha. "Oh, there was a man, once. His name was Boris. I met him in spy school."

Taylor's eyebrows lifted. "Spy school?"

Natasha pointed at him, and he laughed, and so did she.

"Just seeing if you are listening, darrrling. No, ve met in business school. That is vhere I vent after Academy. Boris was a handsome man, very... very good hands, if you knauw vat I mean. " She flexed her hands in a big way. Taylor smiled. "But it was not meant to be. I rose through the ranks of the Russian business vorld, had some romances, to be surrre, some penis, and then yet some more penis, you know, but nothing lasting." She sighed. "I tink I wanted a man... more exciting, someone handsome, but also... morrre than that, brash, bold, brave. You know vat I mean, Mike?"

"I think so," said Taylor, just giving a hint of a grin. Suddenly, he felt one of her legs, starting to rub his under the table.

"Vat about you? You never find vimen for yourself to marry. Could it be you nevar find right von?"

"That could be," Taylor said. He didn't twitch an eyebrow as he felt her start to stroke his hand.

"I tink you needed something different. Someone more sophisticated, maybe." She leaned forward. Her lips were bright red.

"Maybe," said Taylor.

Natasha kissed him on the lips. She grinded hungrily against his for a moment, then pulled back. "How vas dat?"

"Nice," said Taylor.

"Nice?" Her eyebrows furled like she had been slapped in the face. She abruptly stood up, and pulled Taylor to his feet. Then she grabbed him, and gave him a strong kiss. Her hands were moving all over his body, probing, rubbing, feeling. She ground her chest against his. She rubbed her hands all over his back like it was a magic lamp. She moaned and groaned as she pressed her lips against his.

When she pulled back, she looked searchingly into his eyes. "Better?"

"Yeah, I'd say," Taylor grinned.

"Is is true vat they say about Survey Service Keptins?" Natasha asked, holding both his hands as she stared into his eyes.

"And what is it that they say?" Taylor asked.

"That they have stronger needs than othar men?" And before Taylor could reply, she was kissing him again. The second time was even better than the first.

After she pulled back a second time, Natasha said, "I regret it," with a bowed head.

"Regret what?" Taylor asked.

"That ve never got togethar," said Natasha. "I am shorrre, if I had been at Academy longer, we would have. Chinese gurl would never have tempted you with her tiny tings if you had seen these first." And she opened the top clasp of her dress, and Taylor could now see her creamy Russian breasts. Natasha boldly took his hands and placed them on her breasts. Millions of years of evolution compelled Taylor to start squeezing them. They were surprisingly firm. He started to get aroused.

Natasha kissed him a third time, and this time it was longer than before. When it was done, she pulled him by the hand and led him to a nearby bedroom.

Taylor stopped as they got to the doorway. He saw the bed by the wall, just waiting for them.

"Vat's vrong, darling?" Natasha asked.

"I'm sorry... I can't do this," said Taylor.

"Vhy not?"

"I'm... I'm just a little tired," said Taylor.

Natasha gave him a cynical look. "Vimen say they are too tirrred. But men are never too tirred for ting we are about to do, unless men have balls cut off. Es that et, arrre your balls cut off, darling?"

"No," said Taylor, giving a little smile.

"Then vat you mean is that you arrre not attracted to me," said Natasha, and her head dropped slightly.

"No! No, no," said Taylor. He raised her head. "Natasha, you... you're gorgeous." He cupped her breasts. "These are gorgeous!"

"Then vat is wrong?"

Taylor bit his lip. "I... I just can't perform today."

Natasha's eyes narrowed. "Today. Do you mean... you and Andrea?"

Taylor nodded. "Earlier today."

"I didn't know-"

"No one does," said Taylor. "I'd appreciate it if you kept it a secret."

"I am spy. Who is bettar at keeping secrets?"

Taylor laughed.

"But... even a man can do it twice in one day, no?" She was nothing if not persistent!

"I'm... really drained. Andrea... she banged me really good," said Taylor.

"Andrea... riding on you?"

Taylor nodded. "Sorry, I just didn't think I'd need any ammunition for later in the day. I-"

Natasha put a finger to his lips. "Talk no morrre, Mike, I understand." She gave him a quick kiss. "I see you tomorrow morning, at the mine shaft?"

"Of course," said Taylor. He made his goodbyes.

In truth, he didn't really know why he had refused her.

Taylor reflected on his dinner with Natasha as he lay face down on his bed. His shirt was off, and Yeoman Ann Marie Queen was rubbing his back.

Taylor had fled a woman he could have sex with, Natasha Romanov, to return to the ship to be rubbed by a woman he couldn't have sex with. Did that make any sense?

Ann Marie was certainly younger and prettier than Natasha. She was a beautiful blonde, with large breasts, the tops and sides of which were well exposed by her uniform's plunging neckline. When he had returned to the ship, Taylor had felt a scratch that needed itching, and had called her to his quarters to give him a back rub.

But he couldn't properly sleep with her. She was a junior member of his crew. Why then hadn't he slept with Natasha? Was it because he suspected her of having ulterior motives? Or was it something else? Something to do with... Andrea?

"My, you're tense," said Ann Marie, as she rubbed his back.

"There wouldn't be much use for a backrub if I weren't tense," said Taylor.

"Oh, there could be another reason for it," Ann Marie said, smiling as she leaned forward.

Taylor could see more of her breasts that way. They looked glorious. He knew that Ann Marie would be naked and her legs spread in a heartbeat if he so desired it. He looked at her breasts longingly. Unfortunately, they were forbidden fruit he was not meant to pick-

The door chime sounded. Ann Marie looked startled and stopped rubbing.

"Who is it?" Taylor asked.

"Commander Astor."

Ann Marie looked worried. Taylor nodded for her to continue rubbing his back. "Come."

The door opened and Sophie entered his quarters. "I'm sorry, I didn't know you were busy."

"What do you want, Sophie? And when are you going to identify yourself as Sophie to me, rather than 'Commander Astor'?" Taylor asked.

Sophie raised an eyebrow. "I suppose the day we are living as husband and wife, rather than as Captain and First Officer."

Yeoman Queen, who was nervous when Sophie entered, suddenly tittered.

"What is it, Sophie?" Taylor asked.

"Ensign Redding was looking for you. He wanted to report on the vital mission you sent him on," said Sophie.

"Let me guess. He struck out?"

"He struck out," Sophie confirmed. She watched as Ann Marie continued to rub Taylor's back. He was lying almost face down on his bed, only propped up on his elbows as he faced Sophie. Ann Marie was on top of him, almost mounting him, with her legs spread over his. With her legs spread so widely, it was hard not to see the first hint of the lovely curves sticking out of her miniskirt ass flap. The room reeked of sensuality. Physically, only a back rub was taking place here. But Sophie's trained Passive Observer eye could see the desire in Ann Marie, in her body, in the way her legs were spread, in the look in her eye.

Taylor's desire for her, however, was much less clear, as right now all his attention was focused on Sophie.

Taylor said, "I should have asked Andrea if her ensign girl was friendly. All I asked was if she was cute."

"Obviously the matching criteria you attempted to use didn't employ enough dimensional matrixes."

"That's exactly what Andrea said to me," Taylor said, with a straight face.

Ann Marie laughed again. Sophie noticed that from the angle that Ann Marie was leaning over him that Taylor could see nearly all her breasts. They were big and round, but not as big as Sophie's augmented breasts. Somehow, that made her feel good, though she would never admit it.

"Now, what's the real reason you're here, Sophie? Unless you've come for one of Ann Marie's wonderful back rubs?"

Sophie raised an eyebrow. "I was curious about your meeting with Natasha Romanov."

"She's up to something," said Taylor. "I can feel it."

"And what else did you feel, Captain?" Sophie asked.

Ann Marie tried hard not to laugh. Taylor gave her a warning look.

"I just sensed that she's doing something that's not entirely proper," said Taylor.

"You screaned it."

"Yes."

Sophie frowned. She again noticed Ann Marie's long, pantyhose encased legs. The dark shading of the pantyhose gave her legs a sensual, forbidden look. Sophie was the only woman on the ship to refuse to wear the traditional female dress uniform. Sophie wondered what Taylor's reaction would be if she appeared on the bridge one day wearing long boots, pantyhose, and a miniskirt.

"I know you are sometimes skeptical of my screaning abilities," said Taylor.

"How can I be open minded about an ability which you yourself cannot describe?" Sophie noticed how Ann Marie continue to stare at Taylor with such tremendous lust in her eyes. It unnerved her slightly. Sophie was fairly sure that Taylor hadn't slept with her. The sexual energy between the two of them was too raw and unresolved for that.

"It's hard to explain," said Taylor. "It's just that... sometimes I can sense something about the inner nature of people, or situations." He paused. "Natasha did try to seduce me, though."

"Tried? That would imply that she failed. First Joanna, and now Natasha. You are becoming the very model of restraint, Captain," said Sophie.

"Not entirely," said Taylor, subtly indicating Ann Marie with his eyes. "Tomorrow I'm going to go down and check out their mine. I want you to check the colony database and see what you can find out about the Russian Concession's mining operation."

"Very well."

"Oh!" he groaned, as Ann Marie rubbed a sensitive spot. "That felt good." He turned to Sophie. "You should try this. Are you sure you wouldn't like a massage?"

"Actually, I'd love one," said Sophie. "When you can find a male crew member who will wear what Yeoman Queen is wearing, and who will fawn over me and reek of sensuality, send him to my quarters. I will be waiting, breathlessly." She turned and left.

After she left, Ann Marie turned to Taylor. "I never realized she was so funny!" she said, in an amazed voice.

"No one knows."​