Reach Across Distance

© 2018 by Walter Reimer


Thumbnail art by  tegerio, colored by  marmelmm



“Another message from Meredith?” Kiran asked.

Varan looked up from the small, crystalline datapak she held in her palm. “How did you know?”

The kam grinned at her, his tail rising in a languid manner to brush at her left shoulder, causing her robe to slip down a few centimeters. “You always seem happier when you get correspondence from her.”

“Jealous?”

“Perhaps a little. Would you like some privacy to watch it, or do you want me to watch it as well?”

Varan thought, but only for a moment. “You may stay,” she said. “It was fun watching you masturbate the last time,” and she chuckled at his sudden attempt to look shy. The bony tip of her tail traced lightly around his belly, then gave a gentle push. “Sit down and we’ll watch this.” Varan was dressed in a gauzy, almost translucent casual robe, while Kiran was dressed only in his fur.

Kiran sat down as Varan slid the pak into the low table, and took a seat facing the message as it loaded.

ConfedCiviNet
874492TKK3211
From: 1872900 D’Estcourt, Meredith
To: KSI198275555 G’Raf, Varan

The holoprojector built into the table cleared the address and replaced it with the image of the Terran equine as she sat comfortably in a padded chair in her quarters. Varan felt the tips of her ears and tail twitch at the sight of her alien lover, her gold-colored fur smoothly brushed and one white-socked ankle crossed over the other.

Meredith waved. “Hello, Varan! I hope that you’re doing well, and are staying out of danger – although, according to our newsnets here, the war with the Ichoniik is all over. From what you told me, they’ve tried this before.” She smiled. “But enough about that.”

“I’ve made it about halfway through the next level in the game, and if you haven’t found out yet, keep that cheese grater, and pick up one tentacle from the Hentai Emperor before you go through the portal.” She winked. “You’ll need it, trust me on this. And watch out for the bushes,” she added cryptically, with another wink.

“She’s being very mysterious,” Kiran observed.

Varan paused the recording and waved for quiet. “Zēt, you. She just doesn’t want to make it easy. Letting me know what’s ahead before I get there would be cheating.”

“Aka.”

The mare had paused and smiled, nibbling her lower lip for a moment before saying, “Before I forget, there’s something I wanted to do – and no, it’s not that,” and she giggled. “I’ve been doing a bit of studying, lir demef, and I hope that this message gets to you on time.” Meredith took a breath.

“Happy birthday, Varan.”

The vir’s feline pupils dilated and her tongue clucked against the roof of her mouth in disbelief. “Birth . . . day?” she echoed.

Meredith was already holding up a paw, as if the recording could hear her. “I know that shlani don’t celebrate the day of their birth, but Terrans do, until they get old enough that it doesn’t matter any longer.” She winked. “Or some just lie about it.”

“Still, you’re my friend, and I love you, so happy fifteenth birthday, lir demef.” Meredith smiled, and Varan felt her heart beat a tiny bit harder. It was a thoughtful gesture, even if – aka, despite the fact – it was unnecessary. “The border hasn’t been reopened,” the mare added, “but when it is, I’ll treat you to dinner at Downtime Station.”

“That’s very nice of her,” Kiran said.

“G’reget.” Varan was gazing at her lover’s simulacrum as Meredith shifted in her seat and reached to her right.

“I wasn’t sure if a gift could get to you on time, Varan, so I thought of the next best thing,” and Meredith sat back up.

The vir and the kam both felt their ears go back as the performance started.



End