"Ship, may I speak with you?" Tenn asked.
"You may," Tak's ship replied. After her Master had gotten out of Moo-Ping 10 (with the help of both Tenn and the ship itself), the three of them had been traveling through the galaxy, trying to find a safe place to plan their next step.
Neither of the Irkens were keen yet on returning to their 'assigned' duties, and the ship would follow wherever her Master wanted her to go. And Tenn…she had some respect for, especially for her earlier help. So, she would at least hear out what she wanted to discuss.
"I've…been thinking of asking Tak out. For a date," Tenn said nervously. "I just wanted to ask if…you think she'd say 'yes'?"
The Ship felt her processors heating up at the thought of her Master stooping to 'dating' someone, as lower species might. But out of anyone her Master could date…Tenn was probably the least bad option. She was an Irken, and an accomplished one at that, and clearly saw the importance of her Master.
Plus, she did enjoy being around Tenn, and her Master likely did, as well. But would she really be interested in a date?
"I'm…unsure," she answered honestly. "But I can tell my Master has a lot of respect for you. More than for most others."
Tenn blinked, then looked at her with wide, shiny eyes. "You think so…?"
"I'm certain about that, at least."
"T-Thank you!" Tenn said. "I'm going to…I'm going to do it, I think! If I can think of a good idea of how to." With that, she left, seeming to think to herself—the three of them were currently staying on a very out-of-the-way planet, so the Ship wasn't sure what she could find out there that would be helpful.
The next day, Tenn showed off a knife she had apparently procured at the nearby market. It was a gleaming silver color, polished to a shine, with a small amethyst set into the hilt. It also looked sharp and functional.
"I just wanted to know if you think that Tak would like this," she asked shyly. "I figured, if I gave her something, that'd be a good way to…segue into the question."
"I think she would," the ship said. "It could be useful, and it looks nice."
Tenn smiled, sliding the blade back into a black, discrete sheath. "I'll give it to her later," she declared. "Is there anything I could do for you, while I'm here?"
"Not at the moment," the Ship said, even if the offer was generous. Tenn wasn't nearly the mechanic Tak was, and she knew that, even if she stepped in when she could to help.
Tenn stepped out, and the Ship was left alone, going into sleep mode not long after…both to conserve power and out of boredom.
Later that night, Tak began working on the Ship. Nothing of urgency, just a simple maintenance check to ensure everything was working as it should, and to do minor things such as changing her oil. Moments like this were quite possibly the most tender the Ship could recall…even with her Master's memories included.
"Tenn asked if I wanted to go on a date," Tak commented after she confirmed that the wires connecting her AI brain to other systems were in good condition. "And she gave me a gift."
"She was planning on it," the Ship hummed. "…what did you say?"
"I accepted," Tak said. She looked away, blushing slightly. "I…didn't even think about it much before I found myself answering. But I still don't have any doubts. Tenn is…" Her voice trailed off, and she carefully traced a claw over the Ship's mechanisms.
She cleared her throat. "You already know I haven't done anything like this. Aside from…when that idiot thought I was actually interested him." She sneered, and even the Ship made a sound of disgust at the thought of Zim. "And clearly, being with Tenn is different."
"Clearly!"
"So…I must put some proper planning into our first date," Tak continued. "I have a few ideas I'd like to run by you."
"Of course.
The next day, the Ship was left alone until evening, at which point both Irkens entered the hangar. Neither looked different at first glance…but their uniforms were clean and pressed, boots shined to a polish, and Tenn was shivering with a nervous energy, a faint blue blush on her face.
"Ship," Tak said once they two of them were inside, both taking their respective seats (Tak's in front of the controls, and a spare for Tenn just behind), "Set coordinates for Sugar Sanctuary."
"Yes, Master," the Ship said, quietly pleased—that had been one of the top choices on the list she'd formed for her Master.
It was a short flight to the restaurant, the Ship landing in one of the closest landing zones. The sounds of some alien band were audible even from out here, and Tenn grinned in delight, Tak looking smug at her reaction.
The two headed inside, Tenn reaching for Tak's hand a few times but always nervously pulling back. The Ship waited, keeping itself on to watch for any potential dangers.
For hours, nothing happened…and then, the two of them returned. Now, they were holding hands as they walked, laughing about something as they both carried soda cups in their free hands.
The Ship wordlessly popped open the windshield as they approached, and the two of them reluctantly pulled apart to take separate seats. Tak offered to share one seat, and Tenn blushed brightly and giggled, thanking her but saying she was fine for now.
Still, the Ship noticed her Master holding her arm back behind their seat, and Tenn reaching forward to take her hand again.
Their happy mood persisted all the way through the flight back, and even as they left the hangar, once again holding hands. The Ship was content, knowing that her Master was happy, and went into sleep mode without regrets.
Around noon the next day, Tenn returned. "So, how was your date?" The Ship asked, already knowing the answer.
"Oh, it was wonderful," Tenn said with a blissful sigh. "Tak put so much thought into it, and she's…amazing, you know?"
"I do. …did you need something from me?"
"Oh, right! Well, I really enjoyed last night, and I wanted to thank Tak somehow, so…I made a song for her," Tenn said. "…could I play it for you and get your opinion?"
"Fine."
Tenn grinned, sitting and pulling a tablet out of her PAK. She pressed a button, and recorded synthetic music began to play. Tenn closed her eyes once it started, bobbing her head to the tune she'd put together.
The Ship listened. The song was pretty good, actually, seeming to be a mash-up of songs from the rhythm game Tenn was good at. It seemed like Tenn had handpicked the songs Tak enjoyed, too, blending them together.
Once the song was over, Tenn looked at the Ship expectantly. "It seems like something she would like," she told her. She had enjoyed the song, anyway, and she was sure her taste still matched that of her Master's.
"Thank you!" Tenn said, hopping to her feet. "I'll definitely share it later." She reached forward, patting the top of the Ship's hull…and then just as quickly pulling her hand back, flushing in embarrassment.
"Okay. Um. See you!" Tenn darted away, clutching her tablet to her chest.
The Ship might have blinked, if she was physically able to do so. Either way, she stayed awake a bit longer, partially waiting to see if Tenn would return for whatever reason. When she didn't, she put that minor moment out of her mind and went back into sleep mode.
Her Master and Tenn were a few official dates in, and had been spending more time with each other even when not doing such a thing…and yet they still kept coming to her for advice. Practically every day…it was starting to get mildly irritating, even if the Ship couldn't express why it felt that way.
It was more often Tenn looking for advice, but today (perhaps a week and a half after Tenn's confession), it was Tak who came to her to discuss the plans made for their next date.
"Tenn's been wanting to go dancing together," Tak explained. "…I've never done it, aside from playing DDRfA with her."
"I know," the ship said. It decided to tactfully not mention that though Tak was decent, Tenn was still much better at the dancing game than her Master. She'd been holding the high score for years, after all.
"I figured…I need a way to practice that skill," Tak continued. "It should be simple enough to pick up, and it would please Tenn. So…I'll practice dancing, here, and you can be the judge of whether my skills are sufficient. You, I can trust to be honest with me."
"…Yes, I can do that," the Ship said after a moment of thought.
Tak grinned, pulling a tablet out of her PAK and setting it on a nearby surface. Moments later, a song began to play…and the Ship quickly realized it was the song that Tenn had made for her.
It took a few seconds for Tak to begin moving, mostly shuffling her feet with some small movements of her arms. A minute in (and after looking up a 'dancing' video), the Ship spoke up. "Your movements should be a bit more fluid, I think."
Tak grimaced. "I…want to be accurate, though."
"You think Tenn will care?"
"Maybe not, but…this is still something important to her!" Tak said, stopping. With a sigh, she restarted to music and tried to move more naturally, but it was still stiff.
The Ship sighed, bring out two cables meant for plugging into devices…instead placing them on Tak's wrists. "You'll be with a partner when you do this anyway, so…think about Tenn being here."
Tak blinked, then restarted the song again and closed her eyes. This time, her movements were a little more fluid, if still a bit stiff. The Ship moved the wires in just the right ways, trying to get her to move her arms a little more loosely, even lifting up one arm and spinning her Master once.
It was a little rough, but her Master seemed to have relaxed by the end of the song and was following the rhythm without it seeming too…forced. Once the song was over, Tak opened her eyes again, and the Ship retracted the wires.
"Excellent work, Master," she hummed. "I think Tenn would be pleased." Even just the attempt and intention would please Tenn…it was something the Ship liked about her.
"Thank you for your assistance," Tak said with a nod.
"My pleasure," the Ship said, happy to help even despite her growing irritation with the whole situation.
Still, it would eventually end at some point. The two of them were happy and would surely become confident enough to cease coming to her for advice, she thought as Tak left.
How wrong she was. More days passed, and though Tenn only stopped by to quickly ask her about her (well, Tak's) preferences for colors and foods, or to gush about her Master, and Tak bounced date ideas off of her…it felt like they were only interested in talking about the other, their girlfriend, when speaking with her.
That, and she was their mode of transportation to their dates…seeing them all lovey-dovey was nice and all, but it was also bothering her for some reason.
It all came to a head when Tak was using her to fly towards an abandoned satellite station a few systems away, Tenn watching their current base while they went to scavenge materials.
Most of the flight passed in silence before her Master spoke up. "Tenn and I had fun dancing," she said. "We've been thinking of getting a copy of Dance Dance Revolution for Aliens in the base—"
The Ship let out a small electronic sound in annoyance. Tak immediately frowned, antennae falling back against her head. "What?"
"You and Tenn keep using me as an advice dispenser and as…as practice for the gifts you give and skills you use on your dates," the Ship spat. "That isn't my role, and you know it."
Tak scowled. "Do you disagree with me dating Tenn?" she asked, a low warning in her voice.
"No, Master…I'm glad that you're happy."
"…but there's more to it than that, isn't there?" Tak said. "I've been spending more time with Tenn…and in the time with you, I end up talking about her."
"…It's true," the Ship said begrudgingly. She disliked thinking about it—her Master's happiness should be paramount. But she still disliked it when she felt…overlooked or replaced.
She should have figured her Master, of all people, could figure out what she was feeling.
Tak sighed, placing a hand on her console. "You are…the person I trust most, besides myself," she said quietly. "I've come to care for Tenn, and I do trust her to a degree…but you were here first, and she cannot replace you."
The Ship was silent, carefully absorbing her words, encoding them as a core memory so that she could never forget. "…I trust you," she hummed. "More than anyone. I'll do whatever you ask of me."
"I know."
The rest of the flight passed in a silence that felt comfortable and companiable.
Perhaps Tak had said something to Tenn, because after that conversation, Tenn had stopped appearing looking for advice. While the Ship was partially glad for that, she hoped Tenn wasn't completely avoiding her…while she of course preferred her Master, Tenn was high on the list of people she'd be willing to spend time with.
So, she had a few mixed feelings when Tenn appeared a few days later. The Ship waited patiently, to see what she was here for. "I wanted to share something with you," Tenn said.
"Something for Tak?" the Ship asked, doing her best to keep the bite out of her voice.
Tenn rapidly shook her head, to the Ship's surprise. "No, something for you." She pulled her tablet out of her PAK, pressing something on it…and music began to play.
It was similar to the song she'd made for Tak, but…different. An electronic filter had been placed over it, and some of the notes had been replaced by the revving of engines or clanking of metal…had those sounds come from her? In a song like this, they sounded…beautiful.
The song only lasted for a few minutes, and Tenn looked at her expectantly. "…I enjoyed that. Thank you," the Ship told her.
Tenn beamed widely, holding the tablet out to her. "You can download it, if you'd like."
The Ship revealed one thin wire, using it to plug into her tablet and download the song she had created. Tenn beamed, reaching out and patting her hull again, this time letting her hand linger for several seconds.
"I'll see you later," she promised, slowly pulling her hand back before leaving the hangar. The Ship watched her leave, feeling…pretty good. That had been a change, and certainly not one she was upset about.
…she decided to listen to her song one last time before entering sleep mode.
Of course, it wasn't long before the Ship was flying the two of them to yet another date. This time, though, Tak didn't tell even her what it was, deciding to leave it as a surprise.
After about an hour of flying, Tak stopped the ship just far enough for them to be able to watch a nebula not far in the distance, one that seamlessly blended pink and purple clouds of gas, seeming to shift the longer they stared at it.
Tenn gasped in delight, moving up to sit in the chair beside Tak. The two of them pressed close together, wrapping their arms around each other and cuddling as they observed it. They were even sharing some pieces of taffy Tenn had brought along.
The Ship felt…good. Perhaps better than on their previous dates, even. Rather than just taking them somewhere and waiting for them, she was part of this. They felt comfortable and safe inside her cockpit, and she wanted to make sure they would stay that way.
There was a sense of completeness, in that way.
She dimmed the lights in the cockpit for the two of them, including those on the controls, and she basked in the sight with the two of them, feeling content.