Page 14 of Yorix

My stomach rumbled at that point.

Yorix turned a concerned look my way. “I will take us to lunch once we land, as soon as I have someone take your baggage to our new quarters.”

“Ah, okay. Is it true about the restaurants and parks, or will we have to eat at a mess hall?”

“We can do either,” he informed me.

“Really? Um, whichever is fine.”

“How about I take you for a stroll through the entertainment promenade and we see what there is? My bachelor quarters were aboard another ship.”

“Oh!” I hadn’t realized that. “So, will you have to commute to work every day?”

He inclined his head. “It is but a short journey. It will not be an inconvenience.”

“Ah, okay. So, food tech, you tweak the computer code for the replicators?”

“Yes. It is something computers cannot do as they are unable to taste.”

“I suppose that’s true. I’d never really thought about that.”

“Right now, my team is working on products that can then be replicated so the ones sold on shelves or reproduced via ordering through a replicator will be identical to ones made at the factory on Earth.”

I smile. “You mean like grocery store items?”

“Yes. Currently, we are working on something called Goober Grape. The Space Force commissary wishes to stock it for the members on Icthus Station.”

“Goober Grape! Oh, gosh! I haven't had that in years! My grandmother used to buy it when we were kids, so we’d have it at her house. I gotta say, I’m more of a Peter Pan and Welch's grape jelly kinda girl myself. “

“We’ve successfully created those already. You can replicate the jarred items individually, or as a sandwich on various brands of bread.”

“That is so cool!” I gave his arm a squeeze. “You provide such an important service, you know. The taste of home for those far away.”

He looked pleased at my praise. “Being able to eat foods from our homeworlds provides comfort for us as well. Also, it is an excellent trade agreement, as exotic food stores will be able to purchase licenses for replication and sell to those eager to try things from Earth.”

“It’s kind of mind boggling to think about. I suppose once food replicators are allowed on Earth, the trade will also flow in reverse.”

“There are traders applying to be allowed to operate ships filled with replicators to do just that.”

“Really? So, they’d like what, replicate various food stuffs and shuttle them down?”

“Yes, exactly that. But negotiating the right to import is a complicated process on your planet.”

I laughed. “You’re not kidding. You have to do it country by country.” My eyes grew round. “Wow, look how huge your ships are!” I exclaimed as we came in close to some of the ships of the Fleet.

“We’ll be docking in five,” the pilot informed us as he executed a gentle banking maneuver that caused us to come even closer to one of the behemoths.

“I’d almost forgotten those were battle cruisers,” I murmured, taking in the sight of what looked like large guns bristling from the hull.

“Pulsar cannons,” Yorix informed me. “If ever invaders come, we are well prepared to defend your world and our ships.”

“There are several fighter battalions as well,” the pilot told me gleefully. “I’m combat trained for them myself.”

And then the ship was swallowing us as we flew in ever so slowly through an opening, entering a bay where our pilot found the spot he’d been directed to, and settled back down on the cushion of air with a gentle bump. The engines stopped, and both men began unfastening their harnesses, so I hurried to do the same. It turned out that getting it off was a helluva lot easier than on, so I managed to do it without tangling it up too badly. Then the door opened, lowering the ramp, and it was time. I’d flown into space to my new home, and it was time to settle in.