Three Square Meals Ch. 003

"Sure." he replied, smiling at her warmly. "I think you've earned it." he said with a playful glance at her heavily rounded tummy.

Alyssa grinned as she looked up at him and then waited patiently for him to begin.

"Well I'm currently working as a trader." he began. "I bought this freighter, the Fool's Gold, a good while ago with the intention of exploring the galaxy and it's been my home ever since."

"Have you been anywhere exciting?" she asked him curiously. "Before I snuck on board, I'd never left Karron before." she said regretfully.

"Sure, lots of places." John said with a smile. "I've traded with all the major races in the Galactic Council and visited quite a few of their homeworlds. The galaxy is an amazing place with lots of incredible things to see out there." he said animatedly.

"That sounds amazing!" Alyssa said wistfully.

"Well you seemed strongly opposed to going back to Karron." John teased. "So there's nothing stopping you from doing some exploring of your own." he said encouragingly.

"Maybe." Alyssa said thoughtfully. "I've certainly been enjoying my first trip into space." she smirked, rubbing her tummy where she carried his heavy load.

"I've been enjoying it too." he grinned, continuing with his comforting caresses.

The blonde girl smiled at him affectionately and then looked at him pensively as though wanting to ask something else.

"Go ahead and ask." John said with a chuckle.

"You said you were 'currently' working as a trader." Alyssa asked him perceptively. "What did you do before that?"

"I was in the Terran Federation military for quite a while." John said. "I was a marine officer before I finally retired."

"I thought old people retired?" Alyssa asked inquisitively. "You don't look quite that old." she said speculatively. "You're early sixties right? Still a few years to go until retirement?" she continued with a impish expression on her face.

"Ouch! That hurts." John said with a grin.

Alyssa cackled mischievously and then leaned up to give him a quick kiss on the lips.

"So why did you retire from the military old timer?" she teased him playfully.

A haunted look flashed over John's face for a moment, making her instantly regret asking.

"Sorry John, I didn't mean to dredge up bad memories." she apologised sincerely.

"It's ok." he said with a sad smile. "I was in the military for a long time and fought in a lot of battles. I just didn't want to lose any more friends in the end, so I thought it was probably past time for me to move on to something new."

Alyssa reached up with her delicate hand and tenderly stroked his face, which he found strangely comforting.

"Sorry for getting all maudlin on you." he apologised wryly.

"It's ok, it's been good getting to know more about you." the teenager said with a fond smile.

"You'll have to tell me something about yourself sometime too." he said with a playful grin.

"Maybe, if you're lucky!" Alyssa laughed self consciously.

Sensing that the young woman was trying to deflect his questioning with humour, John let it go. He stretched languidly and then sat up.

"I'm just going to check the long range sensors." he explained. "I won't be long if you want to just stay here and rest." he said, eyeing her heavily rounded stomach.

"Thanks I'll take you up on that!" Alyssa grinned at him, relaxing into the bed.

John stood up and shrugged on some trousers, before strolling out of his cabin and heading into the cockpit. He sat in the comfortable pilot's chair and had a good look at the view screen for the long range scanners.

There didn't seem to be anything active out there, but the scanners were picking up quite a few wreck sites in this sector. Breakdowns and other accidents were not uncommon occurrences for space farers, but this many wrecks usually indicated more serious trouble. Still, he had come through the sector unscathed on his way to Karron, so he wasn't unduly worried. Just to be on the safe side though, he double checked that the alarm was still active on the long range scanner.

Finding everything operating correctly, John walked back to his cabin and stripped off before climbing into bed again. Alyssa had rolled over and was sleeping angelically, so he snuggled in behind her, wrapping her up in his arms and soon fell into a deep, restful slumber himself.