Warped Space - Chapter 3
By Misty Steppes

My, it has been a while hasn’t it. Apologies for the absence, the Real World has indeed been cruel over the past… almost two years, I think it’s been? Dear. Well, whilst I get my bearings, enjoy a new chapter of Warped Space!

Perhaps I’m being a touch overdramatic - after all, I was just laying in my bed. Even in an unknown galaxy, universe even, the concept of something soft to spend the night on was the same. After spending several hours immersed in learning the strange language that had been thrust upon me, “Galactic Common” as it were, I had turned in for a “night” of fitful sleep - I wasn’t sure that night really meant anything on a starship. As I rolled side to side, adjusting the pillow-like object periodically to find a comfortable position, I found rest elusive. Not that the bed wasn’t comfortable, I hadn’t slept on anything that comfortable in my life, but you could hardly blame me for being restless. In a split second my life had turned upside down, inside out, and backwards, and I’d been unceremoniously dumped into what was, for all I knew, another dimension entirely.

I guess I got that vacation after all, I thought wryly to myself, staring up at the ceiling. I hope James is alright.

My intrepid assistant had originally been set to fly back across the country for the holidays, to spend a couple weeks with his folks. With any luck he should have made it out just fine, given he had only been moments away from the manual shutoff, but who knew? I certainly didn’t. I sighed thoughtfully. At least I didn’t have anyone back on Earth who would feel my absence too hard. Sure, James was a decent guy and might be affected for a time, but we weren’t exactly close. No friends awaited me back at the university, and any family I had was long since estranged - my parents and siblings had never quite understood me, or my endless pursuit of knowledge, and the extended family was no different. I suppose they’re all the well-adjusted ones, though, to be fair.

“Lights on, please.” I spoke out into the void, hoping that the lights worked how I presumed - I’d look a right fool if not. On cue, the room slowly illuminated, warm light emanating from panels above me. I reached over and grabbed the datapad off of the desk, glancing at the clock.

21:36:31
The clock wasn't in the Arabic numerals that were standard on Earth of course, though conveniently they seemed to also count in Base 10, so the conversion wasn’t too much of a hassle. I clearly hadn’t been trying to sleep for too long, given it had been around “noon” when I’d arrived, and I’d spent a good six or seven hours on the language program.

Speaking of, what an incredible piece of software! It had interfaced with the translator earpiece and quickly taught me the basics of the language. It was very strange… in many ways, the language was similar to English and other Germanic languages, as what little remained of my high school German and French told me. The grammar was extremely similar to German patterns, with very particular word order and compound words, but even that didn’t account for just how efficient this teaching seemed to be! After what equated to little more than an afternoon of studying, I had already reached a somewhat conversational level in Galactic Common, though I wouldn’t dare call myself fluent. I suspected that they had some sort of strange memorization method embedded within the program, but with all the crazy nonsense surrounding me, that would hardly be out of place.

I looked at the datapad in my hands and considered opening it again, but shook my head. For whatever reason, the only application I could access was the language program - understandable, I suppose, but my curiosity about my current situation was far from satisfied. The tablet returned to its former place on the desk, and I flopped back onto the bed with yet another sigh.

“Aaron, you good? My shift just ended, I’m heading to the mess hall if you’d like to join me.” A knock came at the door along with the familiar voice, and the surface of the otherwise unassuming metal door was replaced with a clear view of what lay beyond it - in this case, the still uniformed First Lieutenant Amina Del’Roux, tapping gently on the door’s surface with a slightly awkward smile. Perhaps it was thanks to my sudden change in surroundings, but I hadn’t yet taken a look at my new hosts, beyond the fact that they seemed largely human. Amina in particular seemed broadly Caucasian in appearance, with jet black hair neatly tied up, a strong contrast to her extremely pale skin, a trait that the other crew member I had met shared. The smooth black plates of unknown material seemed quite thick, so I had no way of knowing what she looked like beneath her uniform, but nevertheless Amina seemed like quite an attractive young woman at first glance.

“Aaron?”
Breaking from my momentary stupor, I blushed slightly before quickly clearing my head. I had more important things to worry about than my lovely host’s appearance.
“Come in!” The door hissed open automatically at his words, and the smiling Amina poked her head inside. “Sorry to bother you,” she said pleasantly, “I can’t imagine what’s been running through your head.”

I chuckled. “You have no idea.” As she spoke, I noticed that the translation program was much quieter. It would only speak over words that I didn’t recognize, and those were already few and far between. I guessed that I would struggle if I came upon any slang, but I couldn’t very well complain about learning a language in six hours. Amina had clearly noticed my somewhat decent Galactic Common as well - a bright smile crossed her lips.

“Impressive! I don’t think I’ve heard of anyone picking up Common that quickly, then again most new learners are children nowadays. I would keep the translator for now - I’m sure you haven’t got everything just yet.” She glanced at the tablet on the desk, looked back at me, and nodded her head in the direction of the hallway. “Seems like you’re taking a break anyway. You coming?”

Weighing the awkwardness of meeting new people on a spaceship in a different galaxy against sitting in my room alone… I guessed the former would at least be a bit more interesting. I stood, leaving the datapad behind, and followed Amina out into the hall. As the door closed behind us, she glanced over at me.
“All this,” she gestured at the futuristic white corridor, “might be a little jarring at first, but you’ll get used to it quickly I’m sure.”

I nodded, still far more unsure of myself than she seemed to be. “I suppose - I hope the crew doesn’t mind my… sudden… intrusion.”

Amina laughed in response, a strange melodic tone that was endearing in its own way.
“You’ll be fine. I, for one, am happy to have you, and I’m sure the rest of the staff will take to you just fine.” Her reassuring smile put me slightly more at ease, and we continued on our way to what I assumed was the cafeteria.

The chatter of the cafeteria was slightly overwhelming as the large door slid open, the long white corridor suddenly ending with this large room. As far as I could tell, this ship was quite large - not nearly as cramped as I would expect, and this large mess hall was no different. Several tables and chairs were arranged neatly, with a dozen or so uniformed crew members jovially conversing and scarfing down hot meals, and rolling robotic attendants retrieving and replacing empty plates with unfamiliar dishes. For a few moments I just took in the strange sights and sounds in silence, Amina waiting patiently beside me, but before long someone noticed me and an awkward pause overtook the room. I took a half step back. Should I interrupt? Should I just leave? Before I had a chance to doubt myself too much, a figure I couldn’t quite make out called from inside the room.

“LT, why don’t you introduce us to your magic warper boyfriend?”
The tension broke in an instant, as the room filled with laughter, Amina’s familiar giggle returning. I glanced over at her - was she blushing? I’m far more awkward right now than she is, that’s for sure. My thoughts were interrupted once again as Amina grabbed me by the shoulder and pulled me into the room.

“Everyone, meet Aaron…” She glanced at me.

“Brewer,” I supplied quietly.

“Aaron Brewer,” Amina continued, “our newest discovery and resident warper - as far as I know, the ONLY warper, full stop.”

The chatter from before returned with a vengeance, but everyone had one clear topic - me. Another voice popped up, but I didn’t recognize anyone here. Joel from before was nowhere to be seen.
“So what’s your secret, Brewer? You a Warp Beast in disguise or something?” Another bout of laughter rippled through the small crowd, but I didn’t quite know how to respond. Amina stepped in on my behalf, giving the man who asked a withering glare.

“No, he’s not a warp beast, Ar’Dokh. Seems like he’s just an INCREDIBLY lucky scientist from a pre-spacer world.” As she spoke she led me to an open set of chairs, where we took a seat. The crew members sitting opposite us offered me welcoming smiles, and one slid another datapad my way, this one with pictures of what I could only assume was food on it.

“Grab whatever you like, we have rations to spare,” he whispered conspiratorially. “I recommend the Kanthian Steak Melt, always popular, but who knows what’ll be to your taste.”
I could hear other tables still sending questions my way as I scrolled through the meal options, but I gratefully let Amina ward them off as I finally just decided to go with the crewman’s recommendation.

Not ten seconds later, one of those rolling robots slid a plate with a beautiful-looking steak right in front of me, as well as a few sides and some things that looked similar enough to Earth silverware. It was only as I began to take in the pleasant, rich smell of the cooked slab of meat that I realized just how hungry I was! Extradimensional travel took a lot out of you, I guess. Amina and her crewmates looked on with amusement as I dug in eagerly.

One of the other crewmen nudged Amina. “He seen the Captain or the Commander yet, LT? We don’t need to wind up in the brig for a cycle because you ‘forgot’.”
“Not yet Pilot, but the Captain comes off duty soon. It’s probably best if he meets the Commander last anyway…” The two of them smirked, and I wasn’t sure if I should be worried. When I heard the next sound deafen the room, though, I decided that I definitely should be.

“ATTENTION!”