p class="p1"Worldbuilding is necessary - now we get to meet Chanun's navigator! I just finished up another chapter that was pretty much entirely a sex scene - I think y'all will be pleased with it when it comes out ;)./p
p class="p1"This chapter is pretty short - I'll probably be posting another one in three days, want to make sure I spread these out. /p
p class="p1"Feel free to leave any comments or feedback, and I hope you enjoy!/p
p class="p1"- Sleipy Nova/p
p class="p1"-/p
p class="p1"I walked down the long hallways of the ship with a strut and a sigh, beginning to take in the surroundings. The Sleipnir was pretty massive, much bigger than anything that I was expecting. I'd surely have to take a more lengthy tour a bit later, after we had disembarked. The ship was pretty much empty, as many of those who were already part of the team on the Sleipnir had taken the landing time as an opportunity to stretch their legs and get off the cruiser. I could see why they'd want that; it must get pretty stuffy being stuck in the same place 24/7./p
p class="p1"span class="s1"I finally made it to Room 300. Bag in hand, I opened the door, startling the person who's back was turned. He spun around and looked at me as I entered./span/p
p class="p2""Oh!" He gasped, a hand running toward his mouth. I gave a sideways grin./p
p class="p2""You must be my Navigator." I held out a hand in a friendly greeting. "I'm Cha-" I couldn't help it, I coughed a bit again as I said my name. Damn, it got caught in the back of my throat way too much. My opposite number still stared at me, his face fairly emotionless. I gathered myself and continued my introduction./p
p class="p1"span class="s1""Chanun. Sorry about that, dude. Nice to meet you." He shook my hand, my thicker, darker fingers enveloping his more lithe, pale ones./span/p
p class="p1"span class="s1""Hi, Chanun. I'm...um...Ezekiel," he said softly, having no trouble with my name's pronounciation. As I met Ezekiel, I took a closer look at him. He was shorter than me, about 5 foot 9 to my 6 feet even, his body thin compared to my stronger, thicker build. His hair was cut fairly short, albeit a bit spiky on top, its short black color contrasting the Navigator's light skin perfectly. His eyes were a deep chestnut brown, but it was what framed them that shocked me a bit./span/p
p class="p1"span class="s1""You got specs?" I asked quizzically. Glasses were normally not permitted in combat - they were seen as being detrimental in high pressure situations given their unwieldiness and potential to break. Most Fighters had to get contact lenses, at the very least, but I had always heard that it was mandatory for Navigators to get laser surgery to ensure that they had 20/10 vision. Well, at least recently. Some Commanders who had come in with glasses were able to keep them, as long as they weren't directly running combat missions anymore./span/p
p class="p2"Ezekiel bit his lip, nervous. "Yeah...I couldn't go through with the laser," he said, looking away from me, almost ashamed. "And my eyes are too sensitive for contacts. I got an exemption from the Commander on this ship. They're giving me a chance, but they said that one mistake where my glasses screw something up, and I wouldn't get an option next time. Makes sense, since I think he has specs too. He's sympathetic. " He looked a bit sheepish, probably not making the first impression he wanted to with his new partner-in-crime. In the back of my mind, I thought vaguely about some of the ramifications of what Ezekiel was saying, but I pushed them away./p
p class="p2""It's cool, man. I trust you," I said genially, patting him on the back. "I'm guessing if you qualified for an exemption, there must be a reason why they let that come to pass." Ezekiel grinned a little more now, his fears assuaged. He was lucky to get the least judgmental fighter possible./p
p class="p2""Yeah, well...I aced the Navigator exam. Stayed up for three days straight to get it done. Figured that as long as I'm going to be drafted for this war, I may as well try my best." He jumped up and ran over to his bag, taking out a folder full of sketches, maneuvers and strategies. "I definitely have some stuff we need to try in the VR sims. It'll take a lot of practice, but I think we can do some really, really cool shit."/p
p class="p2"I smiled and nodded. "Definitely, bro. I'm excited to work with you. I think we'll kill it together." I leaned back on the bed and kicked off my boots, throwing off my socks and letting my feet breathe a little bit. "So, where you from, man?"/p
p class="p2""East Mainland," he said, shrugging as he began to put his things away. I could have guessed as much from his pale skin. "I got drafted, like you I'm guessing."/p
p class="p2""Yup," I responded. "I'm from the Islands. Got the East Coast/West Coast thing going for us, huh?"/p
p class="p2""I guess so." I looked at the two bags Ezekiel had brought with him onto the ship. Both were larger than the one sack that I had currently stowed on my bed. /p
p class="p2""Who's that in the photo?" I asked as Ezekiel put a frame onto his dresser drawer./p
p class="p2""Just my family. Mom, dad, three sisters. I'm the only boy, and the oldest."/p
p class="p2""Ah, so the man of the house," I quipped with a slight grin. Ezekiel raised an eyebrow, although I did see a smile creep across his face./p
p class="p2""Well, I'm just trying to set a good example, you know. I told my sisters I'd see them when I got back, and I intend to keep that promise. So, in case you hadn't already realized it, you're in pretty good hands in terms of your Navigator."/p
p class="p2"I stretched my arms and leaned back on my bed, my black uniform tightly gripping my body. I wasn't used to such constrained clothes when I was at home, but I had acclimated to the stretchy, rubbery feel of the suit during my time at the Academy. /p
p class="p2""And you got a pretty kickass Fighter yourself," I said with a wink. "I think we'll make a killer team."/p
p class="p2""Same," Ezekiel said, walking over and sitting next to me on my bed. "I'm happy that you seem like a good guy, too. I know certain fighters have a bit of a...temper."/p
p class="p2""Yeah, I pretty much just go with the flow," I leaned back on my hands and sat up, my muscles feeling nice and loose. "No need to get dramatic, we're all adults. Let's just do our fucking jobs."/p
p class="p2""Totally," Ezekiel said determinedly, pumping his fist a little bit. "I'm happy that you're focused on the task at hand, too. I know that you must have heard the rumors about the Sleipnir."/p
p class="p2"I shrugged. "I'm not gonna worry about THAT right now. It'll come organically, I'm guessing. No need to get a rep as a whore or anything."/p
p class="p2"Ezekiel harrumphed. "I know I'm pretty focused on the task at hand, I expect you to be too."/p
p class="p2"I raised an eyebrow, getting the vibe that my comrade either took himself too seriously or, dare I say, was a bit of a prude. "Don't worry, Zeke. Ass is on the back burner for me. Trust."/p
p class="p2"Ezekiel's expression softened. "Zeke. Cool name. I like it."/p
p class="p2""Zeke it is, then," I said with a smile. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to take a quick nap before the thing at 9. Can you set an alarm?"/p
p class="p2"He nodded and I lay down, closing my eyes and catching some Zs before that afternoon's meeting./p
p class="p1"This chapter is pretty short - I'll probably be posting another one in three days, want to make sure I spread these out. /p
p class="p1"Feel free to leave any comments or feedback, and I hope you enjoy!/p
p class="p1"- Sleipy Nova/p
p class="p1"-/p
p class="p1"I walked down the long hallways of the ship with a strut and a sigh, beginning to take in the surroundings. The Sleipnir was pretty massive, much bigger than anything that I was expecting. I'd surely have to take a more lengthy tour a bit later, after we had disembarked. The ship was pretty much empty, as many of those who were already part of the team on the Sleipnir had taken the landing time as an opportunity to stretch their legs and get off the cruiser. I could see why they'd want that; it must get pretty stuffy being stuck in the same place 24/7./p
p class="p1"span class="s1"I finally made it to Room 300. Bag in hand, I opened the door, startling the person who's back was turned. He spun around and looked at me as I entered./span/p
p class="p2""Oh!" He gasped, a hand running toward his mouth. I gave a sideways grin./p
p class="p2""You must be my Navigator." I held out a hand in a friendly greeting. "I'm Cha-" I couldn't help it, I coughed a bit again as I said my name. Damn, it got caught in the back of my throat way too much. My opposite number still stared at me, his face fairly emotionless. I gathered myself and continued my introduction./p
p class="p1"span class="s1""Chanun. Sorry about that, dude. Nice to meet you." He shook my hand, my thicker, darker fingers enveloping his more lithe, pale ones./span/p
p class="p1"span class="s1""Hi, Chanun. I'm...um...Ezekiel," he said softly, having no trouble with my name's pronounciation. As I met Ezekiel, I took a closer look at him. He was shorter than me, about 5 foot 9 to my 6 feet even, his body thin compared to my stronger, thicker build. His hair was cut fairly short, albeit a bit spiky on top, its short black color contrasting the Navigator's light skin perfectly. His eyes were a deep chestnut brown, but it was what framed them that shocked me a bit./span/p
p class="p1"span class="s1""You got specs?" I asked quizzically. Glasses were normally not permitted in combat - they were seen as being detrimental in high pressure situations given their unwieldiness and potential to break. Most Fighters had to get contact lenses, at the very least, but I had always heard that it was mandatory for Navigators to get laser surgery to ensure that they had 20/10 vision. Well, at least recently. Some Commanders who had come in with glasses were able to keep them, as long as they weren't directly running combat missions anymore./span/p
p class="p2"Ezekiel bit his lip, nervous. "Yeah...I couldn't go through with the laser," he said, looking away from me, almost ashamed. "And my eyes are too sensitive for contacts. I got an exemption from the Commander on this ship. They're giving me a chance, but they said that one mistake where my glasses screw something up, and I wouldn't get an option next time. Makes sense, since I think he has specs too. He's sympathetic. " He looked a bit sheepish, probably not making the first impression he wanted to with his new partner-in-crime. In the back of my mind, I thought vaguely about some of the ramifications of what Ezekiel was saying, but I pushed them away./p
p class="p2""It's cool, man. I trust you," I said genially, patting him on the back. "I'm guessing if you qualified for an exemption, there must be a reason why they let that come to pass." Ezekiel grinned a little more now, his fears assuaged. He was lucky to get the least judgmental fighter possible./p
p class="p2""Yeah, well...I aced the Navigator exam. Stayed up for three days straight to get it done. Figured that as long as I'm going to be drafted for this war, I may as well try my best." He jumped up and ran over to his bag, taking out a folder full of sketches, maneuvers and strategies. "I definitely have some stuff we need to try in the VR sims. It'll take a lot of practice, but I think we can do some really, really cool shit."/p
p class="p2"I smiled and nodded. "Definitely, bro. I'm excited to work with you. I think we'll kill it together." I leaned back on the bed and kicked off my boots, throwing off my socks and letting my feet breathe a little bit. "So, where you from, man?"/p
p class="p2""East Mainland," he said, shrugging as he began to put his things away. I could have guessed as much from his pale skin. "I got drafted, like you I'm guessing."/p
p class="p2""Yup," I responded. "I'm from the Islands. Got the East Coast/West Coast thing going for us, huh?"/p
p class="p2""I guess so." I looked at the two bags Ezekiel had brought with him onto the ship. Both were larger than the one sack that I had currently stowed on my bed. /p
p class="p2""Who's that in the photo?" I asked as Ezekiel put a frame onto his dresser drawer./p
p class="p2""Just my family. Mom, dad, three sisters. I'm the only boy, and the oldest."/p
p class="p2""Ah, so the man of the house," I quipped with a slight grin. Ezekiel raised an eyebrow, although I did see a smile creep across his face./p
p class="p2""Well, I'm just trying to set a good example, you know. I told my sisters I'd see them when I got back, and I intend to keep that promise. So, in case you hadn't already realized it, you're in pretty good hands in terms of your Navigator."/p
p class="p2"I stretched my arms and leaned back on my bed, my black uniform tightly gripping my body. I wasn't used to such constrained clothes when I was at home, but I had acclimated to the stretchy, rubbery feel of the suit during my time at the Academy. /p
p class="p2""And you got a pretty kickass Fighter yourself," I said with a wink. "I think we'll make a killer team."/p
p class="p2""Same," Ezekiel said, walking over and sitting next to me on my bed. "I'm happy that you seem like a good guy, too. I know certain fighters have a bit of a...temper."/p
p class="p2""Yeah, I pretty much just go with the flow," I leaned back on my hands and sat up, my muscles feeling nice and loose. "No need to get dramatic, we're all adults. Let's just do our fucking jobs."/p
p class="p2""Totally," Ezekiel said determinedly, pumping his fist a little bit. "I'm happy that you're focused on the task at hand, too. I know that you must have heard the rumors about the Sleipnir."/p
p class="p2"I shrugged. "I'm not gonna worry about THAT right now. It'll come organically, I'm guessing. No need to get a rep as a whore or anything."/p
p class="p2"Ezekiel harrumphed. "I know I'm pretty focused on the task at hand, I expect you to be too."/p
p class="p2"I raised an eyebrow, getting the vibe that my comrade either took himself too seriously or, dare I say, was a bit of a prude. "Don't worry, Zeke. Ass is on the back burner for me. Trust."/p
p class="p2"Ezekiel's expression softened. "Zeke. Cool name. I like it."/p
p class="p2""Zeke it is, then," I said with a smile. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to take a quick nap before the thing at 9. Can you set an alarm?"/p
p class="p2"He nodded and I lay down, closing my eyes and catching some Zs before that afternoon's meeting./p