Home for Dinner
© 2020 by Walter Reimer


Thumbnail art by  ahro


“I have to get back to the Kith,” Varan said after breakfast. “The Captain will expect my report about your tactics against the Ublyudok, and I have duties to perform.” She smiled at the palomino mare. “Of course, I’ll be available if you wish to talk.”

Meredith grinned. “’Talk,’ huh?” The two females chuckled and Fuji gave them both a wry grin. “You know, if you’re still stationed here, and we have a couple days before the Kiss Me has to leave, we could play the game. If I recall, we were still in the Land of Contusion – “

“And you were trapped as a stained glass window,” Varan said.

The mare rolled her eyes. “Those damned designers – you’re supposed to be rewarded if you complete a puzzle or riddle, not punished.” She smiled. “At least we hadn’t spotted any baristas.”

“True. I don’t want to find another coffee shop in the simulation.” The two shared a kiss and the vir left the room.

Fuji stood up from his chair and stretched. “I have a short list of things to buy, and then I’ll be going planetside. Will I see you for dinner?”

“Sure.”

Shortly thereafter, Meredith boarded a shuttle that took her down to This Far.

“Two thousand tons of hypergolic fuel?” she asked after reading what was on the Kiss Me in the Dark’s manifest. “This is because I had to ditch that one cargo?”

“Afraid so,” the Transcosm rep said, his voice and ears betraying not the slightest hint of apology. “A lot of ships use it for maneuvering engines, so you’ll be headed back to Oda Station with the next convoy.” The mare nodded and put her thumb on the padd, signing off on the contract for both the route and the cargo. As she turned to go the fox said, “Please be careful, Captain d’Estcourt.”

Meredith paused at the door and looked back at him. “I was trying to be careful,” she said, “but sometimes you can’t help circumstances.”

His lips quirked in a smile. “Everything got a lot less boring when Terra decided to go crazy,” he agreed. “Safe flight anyway,” and he folded up his padd as she left the office.

Of course, she’d notified her co-mothers and her father that she was coming, and Javid grinned widely before gathering his daughter in his arms and hugging her tightly. “Good to see you, little Sunflower,” and he kissed her on the cheek as they parted. “How have you been doing?” the iron gray-furred stallion asked as they walked into the kitchen. “Marie’s out back, looking after the boys; Thea’s at work.”

“A few tense moments, Father,” she lied. She didn’t want to hash things over again; she just wanted to relax. “We’ll be headed out in another convoy in a couple days.”

“But you’ll be staying for dinner,” Javid said, and he grinned as she nodded. “How about your friend Fuji?”

“He’s doing a little shopping, and said he’d like to have dinner with me.”

The stallion grinned. “How about here? You know we’d like to see him again.”

His daughter smiled. “When he calls me, I’ll ask him.”

“Want anything to eat?”

She shook her head. “I just had breakfast.” She batted her eyelashes at him. “I could do with some tea, though.”

Javid reached out and tapped a fingertip gently against her nose, causing her to giggle. “You know where everything is, filly. Get it yourself.” She batted his paw away playfully and went to get her tea, and he said, “I’m planning on curry tonight.”

Meredith’s ears swiveled as she dropped a teacube into a mug. “Madras?”

“Just how you like it.” The stallion chuckled as the mare’s tail actually wagged like a canine’s. “Will Fuji like it, do you think?”

The younger mare added sweetener, and stirred as the hot water dissolved the cubes. “I think he might like it. It’s not jalfrezi or,” and here she shuddered only slightly, “phall.” She sipped her tea and sighed at the taste. This Far had a hydroponic tea plantation. “I’ll leave you alone and go bother Marie and the boys.” She kissed her father on the cheek and went to the back garden.

“Hi Mar – oh,” and she shut up as Marie shushed her. The two colts were fast asleep, and their sister lingered over their crib for a moment before going to sit beside her co-mother.

Marie kissed her daughter on the cheek. “Hi, Sunflower.”

“Hi. You’re looking well, Mother.”

“And you’re looking better rested. Just get in?” the piebald mare asked.

Meredith nodded. “Couple days ago. Varan met us at Magus Station.”

“I get it,” and Marie gave her an insinuating smile. “How is she?”

“She’s the second-in-command aboard her ship now, and doing well.” Marie grinned at that, and the golden palomino’s eyes narrowed. “What?”

“Remember that pilot project? For tank grown meat for Kashlani?” Her daughter nodded, and Marie said, “The first production run’s been quality tested and approved.”

Meredith’s eyes widened and it took an effort not to clap her paws. “That’s great news! I hope the company’s happy.”

“Yes, they are. I got a raise and a bonus for the effort,” Marie said proudly. The two paused and sniffed as the scent of frying garlic and ginger wafted out from the kitchen. “Ooh, curry.”

“Father said it’ll be Madras,” Meredith said.

“Yum,” Marie said. “I’m going to go help him,” she said as she stood up. “I think onion naan to go with it . . . keep an eye on your brothers, please,” and she tousled Meredith’s mane in passing as she headed inside.

Meredith sat there, watching her brothers sleep. The two colts were curled up against each other, and occasionally one would twitch an ear or make a soft noise. They looked very peaceful and happy, completely unaware of the war, or work, or anything like that.

The golden palomino caught herself sighing, wishing that she could have a child and stay working aboard the Kiss Me in the Dark. She gave a soft, almost whispered snort and pulled out her padd. Muting the sound, she sent a text to Fuji to let him know what was for dinner, and she grinned as he responded enthusiastically.