Page 19 of Commander's Mate
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
HARPER
The morning before we shuttled down to Halor, Scarlet, Zoe, Nora, and I went to the supply room to be body scanned for clothing sizes. Dania Fratu, directed us to stand on a floor mark one at a time. She was very nice to us explaining how the scanner worked. Not only did it take our measurements, but it also created holograms of each of us.
“We have four styles to choose from,” Dania said and touched her virtual screen to display them for us. “I suggest, two long sleeved tunics, the sleeveless and a short sleeved since you each get four outfits.”
“Looks like your uniforms without the markings,” said Zoe, a little disappointed.
Dania smiled with a hint of sympathy in her eyes. “I’m afraid it’s all we are authorized to issue.”
“It’s better than wearing just a long shirt with no shoes or underwear,” I said. “It’s not like we are going anywhere.”
“I think you’ll find them very comfortable,” Dania added, “and they are self cleaning.”
“What about underwear?” Nora asked
Dania frowned. “What is down clothes?”
Obviously, a hitch in our translators. “For breast support.” I gestured to my breasts then kind of drew a pair of panties over my upper thighs and stomach.”
“Ah, inner clothing,” Dania nodded, “is unnecessary. It is already inside the garments. That is why we must special order for you four. All of the women in our company already have theirs, and men don’t need breast support.”
“What about sleep clothes if we don’t get underwear?” Nora asked.
“We have some extra-large shirts without sleeves if that would help,” Dania offered.
“Ask her about, you know, Harper,” Zoe said. “I should get mine any time now and I have nothing.”
“What’s the problem?” Dania asked.
“Well,” I began, “We human females have a monthly reproductive cycle where we shed the lining of our uterus if we don’t get pregnant…? We need some way to contain that… do you know what I mean?”
“Ah, yes! There are two ways we handle that cycle. We have this.” She took out a small plastic case and took out what I recognized as a menstrual cup. Zoe frowned as Dania held it up to show us. “Or, while you are at the clinic on Halor you may opt to have your cycles suppressed until you wish to breed.”
“That sounds like the implant I have,” I said. “How do we know that will work for us?”
“Just like the language biochip, it will be tailored to your specific DNA and it can be counter acted whenever you are ready to breed,” Dania explained.
“No more periods?" Zoe grinned. “I’m in.”
“Does it hurt much?” I asked.
“Not at all,” Dania assured.
“What about this language chip they are going to give us?” I asked.
“They apply the pain blocker. It won’t hurt at all.” Dania assured us. “But let me finish telling you about the tunics. The fabric can project different colors and patterns through its fibers. Each one has four colors and patterns. We use that feature off duty so we are not all dressed a like.”
“Hell, I’m just glad to be getting clothes,” Scarlet added. “I want both those implants, too. Mine is about to run out too.”
I didn’t want to say anything, but the idea of getting alien technology injected into my body was just a little scary. Well, more than a little. But I would do it. If I couldn’t read and write, the language, I knew I wouldn’t be able to make a useful contribution to the community.
“Before I forget, you will also each be given two pairs of footwear.” She brought them up on the screen. One pair was a pair of simple black slipons and the other was a pair of black midcalf high boots. These came with a set of four pairs of anklet socks of thin stretchy material
“Thank you, Dania,“ I said and offered her a smile. “I for one am glad to be getting real clothing.
As I thought about it, I guess we were lucky the slavers didn’t just make us go naked. But, I heard one of the alien women say that we would be naked for the auction and the prospective buyers could touch us and examine us like we were livestock. I suppose we were in a way. Then Zared came into the room and the invisible sparks flew between us. That never happened to me before, that shock of attraction when you know he’s the one for you.
