Ambassador Part 2

"You seem a bit mopey," Koji voiced to the open elevator

"I am not moping." I side eye him

"Your species is quite complex. It is no surpris-"

"Knock it off."

"Why else would you be moping?"

"I said I'm not." I scoff, waiting forever for the damn elevator to get to the bridge

"You've been pretty enamored with our ambassador until just yesterday...the 1 week mark."

"I was just assuring they were getting along with the crew." I start tapping my foot

"I didn't think first week impressions were that important for you? I seem to remember with the last ambass-"

The doors opened, and I marched out Koji in tow. I quickly sat in my chair but frowned as Koji sat in his beside me.

"You are quite easy to read," Koji mumbled.

"Koji, you are being quite the pest,"

"Says the little grechkin who has been lurking around every corner"

"I don't need to explain myself to you,"

Jerry turned in his chair curiously, "Ooh? Drama?"

"No drama," i glare

"Big drama," koji intervenes, "Our captain here has been particularly interested in the ambassador."

"Don't spread rumors about me." I sink into my chair

"Aren't you part of that incubation species?" Jerry raised a brow

"That's what I'm saying," koji nods, "but the ambassador looks similar to captain in a lot of ways."

"Yeah, but his looks aren't everything." Jerry shrugged

The security officer Kovinak came in while Jerry spoke and took a sudden interest, "What about who's looks?"

"Captain is looking for a girlfriend." Jerry filled in

"I said NOT to spread Rumors," I groan

"That could be quite the issue. Tohegan females are concitered large and are thus on only large class ships. Not to mention, he would need to quit before mating, leaving us, " Kovinak hummed

"Why would he quit?" Jerry looked surprised

"Tohegan females consume the male after mating. Most males don't really venture out in careers like this, " Koji explained

"That's rough, buddy." Jerry nodded

I groan, only sinking deeper into my chair, "There are very limited species we are compatible with. Well, that males are compatible with. I'm accepting my life as it is. I am a very successful ship captain, and that's all that should matter. "

"That's it, buddy." Jerry nodded, turning back to the navigation station

Readers POV

How many damn questions are there. And there seem to be so many that are so generalized. I don't think I've ever had to Conciter half of this.

I finalize the quiz and stare at my results. It has 3 categories, mating pair, bonding pair, and no match.

The list identified every known creature in the GGP. It was nearly overwhelming. I glace at the filter.

I see I can filter my results and decide to go small. I could type in the ship i am on and limit to the species that are on board.

That gave me much better results. I have 4 in mating pair, 11 in bonding pair, and only 5 in no match. Overall a decent spread...

I guess i don't really know if I want to date here, though. It's odd to think of dating an alien. What would we be able to bond over? They would be so different. The aliens themselves all look so different.

Though I keep it in the back of my mind. It may come in handy later. Though it is somewhat interesting that what is claimed as the second best fleet ship is so small.

It's the next day I find myself looking with a better mindset. I sit confused staring at an odd symbol at the corner of many of the species. This symbol is in all categories.

I try to look into it, but the information is restricted. I decide to ask about it and see if it's something I should be concerned about.

Though I don't see Culpepper in the medbay. I don't find her until I make it to the cafeteria where she is barely recognizable as a cloud.

"You're joking" she giggled

"Jerry said it was true. Can you imagine?" One of the engineers spoke

"You're talking to the asexual one" she deadpanned

"Whats happening?" I question

She changed her form into a more human one like before, "Oh! We are just exchanging a bit of gossip"

"Captain has partner problems" the engineer shrugged

"I actually had some questions about that kinda thing" I elaborate

"Do you want to talk in private?" Culpepper hummed

"That's OK, I was just wondering what the little symbols are on some species" I shrug

She about gasped, "Oh I totally forgot to mention that! There are cultural issues that some species MAY have. Its like some believe in only 1 mate but they may have no moral issues with more than 1"

"You looking for a mate?" The engineer perked up

"I don't really know. I never thought about it honestly" I take a seat

The engineer had quite the look about them that I couldn't understand, "Well, dating can be a great way to immerse yourself"

Culpepper glared the engineer down, "It is honestly up to you. You don't need to date anyone if you don't want. If I were you I'd just think on it. And DONT pay any mind to those trying to find out who your compatible with. SOME people live for the drama"

"Its a small ship" the engineer let out a symphony of whisting tones, "Im still chewing on the little bit of gossip i got"

"Did the captain have a fight with his partner?" I question

"No, better. He wants one" the engineer rapped their claws on the table

"What is juicy about that is his species are...a special case. The male usually is killed after mating. The fact he is interested in dating means he either will soon resign OR will break his culture ties" Culpepper filled in

"Intense. I noticed i can't read the culture sections" I explain

"Its the weird thing about being an ambassador. They may be flagged. The GGP is careful with species information" culpepper nodded

"What is your culture like?" The engineer questioned

"Gretch" culpepper glared

"What? I am curious!?" The engineer now identified as Gretch glared back

"Its fine," I shake my head, "Our world is multi-cultured so different areas have different beliefs. My particular culture is usually having 1 partner at a time. We change partners if we aren't satisfied with the relationship. Though in that same regard some people don't date for different reasons"

"Sounds complicated" culpepper shrugged

"It can I guess. Though I guess being human it feels very second nature. You like who you like kinda thing i guess" I get up, "Either way, thanks for answering my question"

"No problem. See you later" culpepper waved

I decided to go back to my wondering and chatting since before this. I didn't really have the interest in dating at current. Though learning different cultures was interesting. Some are so wildly different it was amazing.

It was 2 weeks later though that i got a question I didn't see coming, "I heard you got culture blocked"

I look up confused at the engineer named shugen, "What?"

"You know, culture blocked. On your match finder?"

"How did you know that?" I raise a brow

"Heard it traveling around the ship" he shrugged

"Oh" I mumble. I guess I did interupt a gossip session with my question so not exactly surprising that word is spreading, "Yeah but I'm not that worried about it"

"Really? Are you part of a single mate culture?"

"Not really. We can have different partners. I prefer to only have 1 at a time. The goal is to find the perfect partner i guess"

"Whats a perfect partner? Is it a mating thing?"

"Depends on the person. Some partners don't mate or some can't procreate. What makes them perfect is how they get along"

"You humans are weird" he mumbled, "This all sounds complicated"

"Don't other species have complicated mating rituals?"

"Yeah but humans kinda have a reputation" he shrugged

"A reputation?"

"Yeah. I think it's called the 3 fs? Fight, fuck, and flee. When you see another species you have one of these reactions"

I... can't even process that right now, "No. Well maybe? Where did this come from??"

Just then I see the second in command Koji come in and the engineer excitedly called him to join, "Hey Koji, you heard of the 3 fs?"

Koji shifted nervously as he came over, "Yeah, though admittedly i forget the third"

"Fight fuck flee" the engineer bocked

"I don't believe this the most appropriate conversation" koji tutted

The engineer frowned passed his tusks but nodded, "I was just curious. I've heard humans are a very... compatible species"

"Compatible?" I question

"He means you match well with other species. Humans have a history of this. By the current estimates they can reproduce with most species" koji explained

"Is that rare?" I shrug

"Very. Most can only mate with 3-6 species and reproduce. That number only really gets as high as 15 for unreproductive matches" koji adjusted his glasses

I find myself a bit more stunned thinking back to my list, "I never would have guessed"

Koji turned a interesting flash of yellows before returning to his usual hue, "The captain is the opposite. No currently logged species is compatible outside his own"

Sounds weird. I try to think about the list identified had. I can't say I really looked in depth... "What was the captain again?"

"Tohegan" Koji nodded

"Hm" I hum to myself

Koji flashed another sudden color of orange, "I should head out, get back to work" he looked pointedly at the engineer

"See yah" the engineer waved him off, "I need to probably head for shift anyway"

Hawks POV

I about jump out of my skin as someone rapidly raps on my door. I hurry to it to answer.

Koji looked a nervous wreck, "In in in"

I let him into my space and shut the door behind him, "Whats the emergancy?"

"She did take the test"

"What?" I squint confused

He grabbed me by the shoulders shaking me, "She did, she made it sound like she is compatible with most species too"

"I told you not to pry into my love life" I scoff shrugging him away

"You aren't fucking listening" he scoffed back

"I already dropped it. Don't go getting my hopes up"

Koji flashed blue and visibly relaxed, "Im just trying to help"

"My species doesn't require a mate. It's fine. Honestly" I shrug

"You were just so excited"

"For nothing. I would just be overcomplicating things if anything"

"That doesn't mean you don't deserve happiness" koji sighed

"Its gonna be what it's gonna be"

"You keep saying it and I don't believe it one bit"

"What do you want me to say? It's hard. Most males of my species hardly even live this long. They don't pursue careers. They fight over just the chance at having a partner... I guess being out here i tricked myself into thinking maybe I can have something different"

"Its possible" koji reasoned

"Im just at a low point koji. I'll get to feeling better. I just need some time" I nod

"No one would blame you if you left"

"That's the thing" I sigh grabbing my file off my table, "I LIKE living like this. I don't want to give it up. Yes I want to reproduce but my species isn't like others where I would ever see those offspring. I dont want to sharpen my teeth to maximum. I dont want to starve myself unable to chew food for a dumb beauty standard. I just want to be me... I may be willing to culture break but finding a compatible species who may need to culture break to be with me is asking too much"

"There are infinite species and infinite possibilites"

"I just don't have infinite time" I shrug