Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #11 February 2015 | Page 62

caused a rift between them, a rift that was never fully repaired. The two had been at odds since the beginning of the voyage, although there had been a fragile peace between the two. This vacation was sadly going to test that. Camille and a few engineers were already waiting in line when Mary arrived with the rest of the crewmates. The two women looked at each other briefly, and then turned away. Camille had spent the night with Eric happily, and he had warned her to be professional, knowing Mary would not. “I know how Mary will be… hell her race is known to get childish at times. I need you to make sure nothing goes wrong.” He stroked her hair as they lay together in the afterglow. Camille nodded in understanding, In the morning, being near Mary made her feel the ugliness between them. *One Hour Later* Planet Pleasureville Part 1 In the depths of space a temporal gateway ripped open to spew The Harbinger Crew back into their own time period. It was time to do something they had never done before, go on shore leave. The Harbinger was piloted to Neutral Territory with great haste as Maryanchanka Toranka came onto the bridge wearing a swimsuit. “Oh I can’t wait for this!” She said excitedly as her cat –like tail swished back and forth. Eric however was not happy about vacation. “I’m not gonna be able to leave the ship you guys. Me and Forin here have got to order new parts.” He indicated the temporary Comms Officer on the back wall. The kid was a Vampirion, but was up to snuff on Comms. Mary however found herself in a bad situation as she realized who she would have to be with when the group went to Planet Pleasureville. Mary and Camille would have to be in a group together, and this was a nightmare in the making. Mary and Camille were both friends with Eric in The Academy, and the three were inseparable. However Mary’s jealousy over Camille and Eric growing closer PAGE 62 The Shore Leave teams stared in amazement at Pleasureville. The planet was like a painting of Olympus, if Olympus was a five-star hotel combined with a casino and strippers. The planet would made Vegas and Atlantic City look like an innocent bible study. Their rooms were paid for, and the two women were paired up with four others in one of the spacious estate rooms. The tension could cut the air for everyone who wasn’t Camille or Mary. The two women were kept at opposite sides. Mary sat in her bed with a smile on her face. Her old flame Jaime was able to telepathically communicate with her from his Cryo-Pod in the ship. “I wish we could be here together Jaime. It’d be like the first time we went out on a date.” She thought. Jaime replied instantaneously “It would be nice if your thoughts weren’t on the half-breed.” Mary frowned, the two former lovers had been very slowly repairing their relationship. However their usual arguments threatened to tear them asunder again because Mary’s Nekosian genes made her rather clingy to lovers. After her psychic conversation with Jaime, Mary left her room to go to one of the three large bar rooms in the main pool area. The Nekosian bumped into Camille on her way out, causing a rather uncomfortable moment between the two women. Camille just finally