The New World Project (PM to join)

It’s the year 2513. The earth is overpopulated and unable to sustain life for long. Scientists predict the earth’s atmosphere will become deadly in less than two years, and the intense heat will incinerate the surface of the planet in less than 100 years. Most of the population in developed areas of the world live exclusively indoors, wearing gas masks for any outdoor activity. In the underdeveloped and developing world, mortality rate is through the roof, with the average life expectancy of 16.

Three major world corporations have spent billions of dollars building an intergalactic fleet. The corporations managed to build three intergalactic space ships, each carrying their name: Orion, Cygnus and Perseus. There was intense cooperation between the three corporations in the design and building process which took over 200 years to complete. After three intense years of flight tests, the fleet received the green light to select members of the population which would best propagate the human species. The selection process took over 5 years to complete, and now the last transport vessel from the Orion is scheduled to pick up the last 500 people from Earth before setting of on the first intergalactic mission to find a New World, rumored to exist two years away, traveling at faster-than-light speed.

The last 20 people aged 18 to 25 are being lead by an officer into the transport vessel. As they each take their seats, they cannot help noticing how every single one aboard is young and extremely good looking. Not only that, but each one is a top specialist in their own field, selected purposefully to re-establish the human race in its new location.

“Ladies and gentlemen fasten your seatbelts and prepare for take off!” the pilot voice is heard, after which the transport lifts off and speeds with haste to the Orion.

The passengers remain quiet as the transport approaches Orion, all of them aware that they are probably the last to leave Earth before its inevitable demise, should the discovery of the New World prove to be too late for the remaining population.

Name: Dr. Irriannya (Irri) Lundsey

Age: 25

Appearance:View attachment 986632

Specialty: Medicine, she's an MD not a PhD.

Background: Irri has always been exceptionally smart. She was one of those annoying kids that jumped grades like most girls played hop-skotch. She graduated valedictorian of her HS class at 12 and from Yale medical school (again, top of her class) at 16. She had to take a two year break before starting a residency program however because no one would take on a 16 year old (too many legal issues involved because she was a minor). Despite her young age she's considered to be one of the best General Surgeons anywhere with a meticulous eye to detail.

Performing surgery on someone from one of the Corporations was how she came to their attention to be considered for this intergalactic project. Never one to turn down an adventure she lept at the opprotunity. Besides who could turn down the possibility of finding a new home? One where you could, theoretically, actually BREATHE when you went outside? It was too good a chance for her to pass it up.

* * *

Now she sat, waiting to board the Orion and it wasn't lost on her that those around her were the best and the brightest. Clearly they'd all been chose with childbearing and not just their specialties in mind because she didn't see a single person on this puddle jumper that was over 25. It made her wonder if any of the crew of the Orion would be older than that. Certainly the Corporation heads would have reserved themselves a seat as well. Besides men could procreate healthy children much later into life than women could so it would be natural for there to be a couple men who were older...particularly in command positions.

Feeling her mind start to race in circles she chuckled to herself and simply closed her eyes, trying to meditate a bit before she called to board the Orion and had to settle into the hustle and bustle of ship life.

The transport finally docked in the main hanger of the Orion, alongside other 19 transports, and soon the 500 passengers were lead to a very large makeshift reception area. Before they left Earth, each of them were given a color coded badge, so now they were instructed by the flight attendants to wait in line in their respective color defined area.

The system proved to be very effective, as the lines were formed in a matter of minutes. The receptionists moved very fast, checking the identity of the passengers and giving them the key-cards to their designated living quarters. Each of the passengers were instructed to head for the turbo-lifts according to each sector specified on their keys. In less than thirty minutes, all 500 new passengers were on their way to their new living quarters.

The living arrangements for passengers on the Orion are in mixed four bed cabins, each with two women and two men. Each living cabin has its own WC and separate shower for two. The passengers had been informed well in advance of the mixed cabin arrangements. The policy was established in order to encourage social and sexual interaction with the minimum degree of regulation. The only strictly enforced rule was that all social and sexual encounters were to be consensual. Also, all women are on strict and mandatory contraceptive medication, due to a new policy of controlled mix of genes in procreation. The concept of intimacy is non-existent on the ship, except for the toilet cabins, which are the only ones lockable.

Irri had to admit she wasn't really thrilled with the living arrangements. Oh she'd been warned about the mixed sex quarters and bunking with men didn't bother her in the least but she'd expected it to be more like dorm rooms with two bedrooms on either side of a common room. Not all four beds in the same room together!

This was not going to be conducive to sex...at least not at first. She supposed that once everyone got used to the living conditions those inhibitions that they'd been brought up with from birth would gradually slide away. After all whole families used live in one room cabins, huts, etc. down through the ages and the human race had continued along just fine.

Thought about that way she could also see another reason for all the young people. They were going to be the most likely to give up their inhibitions.

Since no one else was in the room yet she chose the bed that happened to be the farthest from the rooms vid screen (she didn't sleep well with light of any sort so this way if someone was up late watching something it would be less likely to disturb her) and began to unpack her small bag into the small dresser at the foot of her bed.

She couldn't help but wonder what her roommates would look and be like.

The three main ships, Orion, Cygnus and Perseus are each accompanied by their own little fleet of battle cruisers, designed to defend the mother-ships against any possible threat. The Orion, which comes from North America, has 10 battle-cruisers; the Cygnus, which comes from Asia has 5 battle-cruisers; and Perseus, from Europe, managed to build 8 battle-cruisers. Thus the entire fleet capable of FTL speeds was comprised of four intergalactic ships and 23 battle-cruisers. The whole of the human race depended on this global fleet for their future...

OOC:

Lt. Tom McArthur
Age: 22
Specialty: Fighter Pilot stationed on Orion; Squadron Leader.
Height: 6"2
Weight: 140 lbs
Eyes: green
Hair: brown
Build: athletic, well toned

Tom graduated Top Gun at the top of his class, and is one of the most talented and edgy fighter pilots in the Orion fleet. He is the only military personnel member living in the mixed cabin. All the military personnel were spread out throughout the ship and mixed in with the people of other specialties. The policy was designed so as to avoid separatist groups of people based on specialties.

IC:

Tom returned from his debriefing, where he was told that in less than an hour the fleet with make the jump in hyperspace. He was still on standby, but nothing out of the ordinary was to be expected. He arrived at the cabin and walked inside, only to find a young woman settling in. He smiled seductively and extended his hand:

"Hi, I'm Tom... I mean, Lt. Tom McArthur!"

Irri was startled when the door to the cabin opened. An emotion she kept well hidden however since she didn't know the man coming through the door. He looked military to her but that didn't necessarily mean he was. He could have been raised in a military household for all she knew. She wouldn't make assumptions just yet.

Just as she promised herself that he introduced himself and she discovered that her first impression was correct after all.

"Hi, I'm Tom... I mean, Lt. Tom McArthur!"

Extending her own hand she grasped his firmly (no girly half-handshakes for her!) and offered a friend smile in return.

"Dr. Irriannya Lundsey. Most people just call me Irri," she added as she turned to finish her unpacking. "So what precisely to you do Lt. McArthur?" she asked politely formal for now. It always took her awhile to warm up to new people.

"Tom, please, call me Tom! I don't think we should formalize ourselves, since we'll share a room for quite some time!" he tried to break the ice, smiling at her.

Tom was usually a very confident young man, aware of our attractive and charming he was, but the presence of the new passenger made his heart beat much faster than he had expected. It was something compelling about her, and yet something that made her seem difficult to reach.

"What I do... well, I'm a fighter pilot stationed on Orion. So you could say that my job is to protect the ship against any kind of attack. It's unlikely we'll encounter anything requiring my services, but you'll never know!" he said looking at Irri and smiling.

"I see you've just arrived!" he continued after he sat on his bed, looking at Irri as she unpacked, studying her amazing body and long legs. "I don't know if you've seen the clothes women have to wear around here... you'll find them in your top drawer along with the start-up manual. You really should read that first!" he rambled on. "I mean, have you seen the women? My goodness, they can't wear bras, the skirts are so short they can barely sit without exposing their... you know... High heels all over the place... And did you know we're not allowed to have exclusive relationships? They're, like, encouraging promiscuity... I'm sorry... I'm rambling... I tend to do that in the presence of extremely attractive women..."

As Tom rambled Irri's eyes went wide. No bra she could live with, high heels she could live with, but no one has said anything to her about wearing skirts so damned short she'd flash someone if she even moved or not being able to have a relationship if she met someone she cared for. The longer he talked the more she felt a growing sense of anger welling up inside of her.

Opening the top drawer of her dresser once more she actually paid attention to the items already there. Flipping through the manual she felt her anger growing. These damned people had all but made women chattel!

"Oh like hell!" she growled softly to herself as she flung the book across the room, though she was careful not to aim it toward Tom. It wasn't his fault after all that the Corporations had deliberately left out a LOT of information about jut what the women were signing up for.

"They can kiss my lovely white ass if they think I am leaving this room in what amounts to a nightshirt. I'm a surgeon and if they expect me to practive my skill when one of them needs it then they damned well better get used to the fact that I do not dress like a whore on holiday!"

Tom was startled a bit when she threw the manual across the room, but then smiled when she expressed her anger at the dress code.

"Surgeon? Wow! They weren't kidding about mixing us up!" he chuckled and picked up the manual from the floor, flipping through it as he sat down again. "Our other room-mate is a philosophy professor, you're a surgeon, my goodness! This must be an elite cabin. Except for me, of course, all I do is lead a fighter squadron!" he continued and smiled as he read more of the manual.

He was very interested in what he was reading since men and women had different manuals.

"Look, at least you were one of those who got to leave Earth. Do you have any idea how many brilliant people were left behind? There's only 10% chance we'll find anyone alive by the time the three ships return from the New World. By that time, the population will be decimated and full radiation. I know it sucks, but, hey, at least you're going to be alive!" he tried to reassure her and smiled.

He flipped through some more pages and then said to her:

"I like your spirit though... I knew you're a tough one the minute I walked in here!... Look, I was stationed on this ship a year ago yesterday. And I know why they are enforcing these regulations. I'm no psychologist, but they said something about creating an environment for free sexual expression to prevent mass depression or something. It's one of their main policies. My captain is a woman. The best damn pilot I ever served under. She's wearing these clothes, even if a darker color. Nobody dares to disobey her! Two of the generals are women as well. They wear the same clothes. Different colors. Everything is color coded in here... And did you know that every single person on this ship lives in four bed cabins, except for the Chairman. He lives in a three bed cabin. Even senior officers and politicians are mixed up equally across the ship."

He stood and gave her the manual.

"Give it a chance, Miss Lundsey! I think you'll enjoy your life on the ship. Recreational facilities are great, food is amazing, you've got the best people in the world in every field, the best entertainers, the best looking people. Try to enjoy it, or you won't last a week! What else can you do?"

When he mentioned things being color coded she wrenched open the top drawer again and sure enough, every one fo the tiny little "dresses" in her drawer was a forest green. Now granted this was a color she liked, as it brought out the green in her hazel eyes, but it wasn't all she wanted to wear, all day, every day. This was getting to be worse and worse.

And she was growing angrier by the second.

At least she was until he reminded her that this ship was one of the only ways anyone was likely to live out their full lifespan. If she were still down on earth she'd likely be dead in two years time. It was a crappy compromise the way she saw it. She didn't like giving up her freedoms just to stay safe. She also didn't like being lied to. There had been nothing in her informational packet about these micro mini-dresses, about clothing being regulate, about not being allowed to have steady relationships...it was getting worse and worse.

"What the hell do they think gives them the right to lie about such things? I'm not a moron. I get the psychological implications behind these damn rules...what I object to is being lied to and led around by the hand like I'm some 5 year old instead of a fully grown, fully functioning, and highly intelligent woman."

Looking back in the drawer she gave a grumbled sigh. He did make a point about her not lasting a week if she threw a total snit about this now. She just wouldn't be very social in clothes like that.

"I'll wear them for everyday and social function, but they will NOT be worn in my OR. It's not good aseptic (sterile) technique to have that much skin exposed in an operating room and those heels would cripple me during an 8 hour surgery. There had better be scrubs and sneakers in the med labs."

"Oh, I'm sure there are, Miss Lundsey! They are very strict about hygiene. We're required to take showers every 12 hours, so I'm sure the OR is as it should be. There's something else you should know about the color codes. It's in the manual, but I'll tell you anyway: We're not allowed to get involved sexually with people of the same color code. So you can't have sex with another doctor, or nurse, or... medic. They're really serious about mixing us up and avoiding social isolation and elitism. Actually, I think that's rather nice... For the past year this ship was full of military personnel, technicians and medical personnel working around the clock. We barely had time for sex, but I'm telling you, after a hard day's work, walking around the corridors and seeing gorgeous women like you dressed like that made my day. Everyday! It kept me sane! I'm serious!" he said and chuckled.

"Look, I know they should have told you about this, but there was a lot of ground to cover and they must have missed it in the rush to get it done. I mean, should you have known about it, would you have said: 'To hell with you and your New World, I'm staying right here and die of radiation in less than a year?' Come on!" he said and started to strip as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

He didn't stop until he was completely naked and opened the door to the shower room and walked inside.

"I'm gonna take a shower. You're welcome to join me, if you wish!" he said and gave her a friendly smile, not even trying to hide his impressive erection.

The more he talked the more annoyed and frustrated she got. Not only were they telling her how to dress but they were telling who she could have sex with too! Oh this got better and better. He then had the gall to just wave away the severe lack of information they'd been given as if it were nothing! Damned military shit had had a year (by his own admission!) to get used to all of this. For her it was just getting dumped in her lap.

Would her decision have been different if she'd had all the information? In truth she doubted it. But to withhold such pertinent information from the people coming on board this ship seemed criminally fraudulent to her. She had had the right to know what was happening to her, to know what she was getting into when she signed on the dotted line. And they hadn't rushed all this together in that short a time. It had taken years to build the ships, test them, select people etc. They could have taken the time to make sure that people fully understood the expectations that were going to be placed on them as what would likely be the sole survivors of the human race.

When he started stripping she rolled her eyes and turned her back, utterly ignoring the invitation to join him and missing the show he was apparently putting on for her.

He might be ready to just have sex with anyone, but she was still too pissed of to consider doing anything that didn't include hurting someone. Hearing the water start in the shower she decided she needed some physical activity and so she pulled on a pair of gym shorts, and a tight workout top, grabbed a towel and her water bottle, and headed out in search of the gym facilities she knew were somewhere nearby.

Just as Irri left her cabin, another young woman walked in her direction, dressed in exactly the same kind color of uniform she had to wear, giving away her enrollment in the medical profession. She had long dark hair, blue eyes, and an appetizingly voluptuous body. She smiled as she passed Irri, looking at her from top to bottom. After passing her, she looked behind her the check her out once again, before opening the door to Irri's cabin and going inside.

The woman heard the shower running and opened the door to see who was inside:

"Tom! I knew you'd be here! Who was the hottie who just left your cabin?" she asked while ogling Tom's naked body.

"Hehehe! Come in here and I'll tell you!" he answered.

She smiled when she saw his rock hard erection and took off her uniform in a matter of seconds, joining him in the shower.

"So? Who was she?" she insisted while pressing her body against his from behind, running her hands over his chest.

"She's my roomie! She's a surgeon!"

"What? A surgeon? Damn, I can't fuck her!" she said and laughed out loud. "She turned you on, did she?" he asked and lowered her hands on his cock, stroking it slowly.

"Ohhh, babe, she sure did, I mean, did you see how hot she is? She's a feisty one as well!"

"Did you fuck her?"

"Are you insane? I just met her!"

"Awww, I feel a little guilty taking advantage of the boner she provoked!" she smiled and then got down on her knees, starting to lick his cock slowly.

Irri saw the other woman enter her cabin and wondered for a brief moment if she was their other roommate. She decided quickly that that was unlikely since the woman had been wearing medical green and Tom had said they'd deliberately mixed up the jobs in each room.

Stalking down the hallway in her gym gear she got more than one look from the military personnel on board but no one said anything to her. Apparently her gym attire was considered appropriate sine you wouldn't exactly be able to work out properly in those little dresses they expected you to wear!

Making her way down the halls she realized something else. The female military personnel were indeed wearing those damned dresses. Well those who weren't on duty anyway, or whose jobs didn't require specialized gear. She supposed if even the military women had to wear them that she'd just have to get used to. Didn't stop her from being pissed off about the lack of information still however.

Finding the gym at last she was glad to see that it wasn't busy yet. More people were getting settled in than using facilities yet no doubt. It wouldn't surprise her if she was going to have to turn to late night trips to avoid the crowds but that was all right with her. Eventually she'd be in the med labs all day seeing patients. She doubted she'd have to operate anytime soon but they had all teh simulators necessary for her to keep up her skills until someone was sick or injured. Until then she'd help out the GP's and OB/GYN's.

Hopping onto a treadmill she popped in a set of earphones, set the speed, and simply ran. She had no set distance, only the goal to run until her anger diffused enough for her to be at least civil company again.

After a few minutes into her workout, a woman dressed in gym gear approached Irri and signaled her to take the earphones off.

"Hello there! I'm the supervisor of the sports facilities. I haven't seen you before, so I don't know if you've been told about this. I noticed you came in wearing your gym gear. Could you please wear your uniform when you walk in and use the gym gear provided for you? We like to keep everything nice and clean, and also you can't wear gym gear outside of the gym. OKAY? Have a nice workout!" she said and then walked away to talk to others using the facilities.

---
Meanwhile, in their cabin, the dark hair woman was now taking Tom's erection deep in her mouth while stroking his balls softly.

"Fuck, yes!" he whimpered as she was working so well on his accumulated tension since he met Irri.

He closed his eyes and already he imagined Irri's naked body on the floor of the shower sucking his cock with the same enthusiasm.

Just when they were in the middle of it, the door to the cabin opened and in walked a stunning tall blond woman dressed in what appeared to be the regulation clothes. The purple shimmering material however was very different to what Irri had to wear. Also, the design had a much lower cut, revealing almost half of her large round breasts. As soon as she walked in, she could hear the water flowing, and she could also hear vague moans. The woman smiled and went straight for the door to the shower room. As the room opened, she caught them in the act. The brunette hardly flinched when the door opened, but she turned to see who it was.

"Oh my! I can't believe it! Delilah Jones!" she shouted, as she recognized the blond woman looking at both of them, smiling.

"Yes! That's me! Are you my room-mate?" she asked her.

"No, no, I am!" Tom intervened, extending his wet hand to Delilah. "This is my friend Lori!"

Delilah took Tom's hand and shook it.

"I can't believe it's you! You're such a lucky bastard, Tom!" Lori continued, while slowly stroking his cock. "She's is my favorite singer in the world!"

"Thanks, sweetie! Now, I'm sorry I interrupted, please go on!" she spurred them on.

Irri rolled her eyes at the chipper woman who told her to wear gym provided gear in such a cheerful voice. Damn, did she get nothing of her own anymore?! Glaring at the woman's back she kicked up the speed on the treadmill and changed her music list to the angriest music she could find.

At least the gym provided attire didn't look that bad. Basic running shorts and sports bra type combos which was nearly what she was wearing now. But no, why should she be able to wear her own clothing? Were they trying to humiliate the people who had come here willingly? Was some corporate big wig sitting back laughing at the massive joke he'd managed to pull off? His own private harem full of scantily clad women, only allowed to dress how he wanted and what he decided was acceptable?

She knew she was being melodramatic and that reasonably it made sense to keep things like gym attire centralize to cut down on laundry services and save water but it still annoyed her. Irri was an incredibly independent woman and the situation she found herself in just grated on that independent streak.

At least too tired to keep running at this pace she downed some water, told the too happy woman she'd remember to wear gym provided attire next time, and took off back toward her room with the stalking grace of an angry jumgle cat. Not that anyone had seen a jungle cat for decades.

Opening the door to her room she let out a low growl and spun so her back was to the open door of the shower. The last thing she needed right now was to watch her roommates going at it like rabbits! And who the hell was the blonde? There were supposed to be two men and two women in each room, so one of the these women didn't belong here. She wasn't about to ask while one of them had the known roommates dick in her mouth!

Delilah turned towards the door to see who had come in. When she met Irri's angry gaze, she immediately reacted and closed the door to the shower room, after which she forced herself to smile at her.

"Hi! I guess... YOU are my new room-mate! I'm Delilah Jones, but my friends call me Dee!" she said and slowly walked to her bed, taking a seat.

As she sat, the sound of the water stopped and a powerful air blower could be heard from the shower room. After a few seconds of stunned silence, Tom and Lori emerged from the shower room, both naked and dry. Lori got dressed as soon as she could, aware of Irri's disapproving gaze.

"H-hi!" Lori stammered. "I'm sorry I used your shower, you must want to use it after your workout..."

"She's Lori," Tom intervened while getting dressed, "she's a nurse in the surgery unit... so I think you're her boss or something..."

"Yeah... exactly... I'm sorry doctor..." she excused herself while getting dressed.

"Lundsey. Doctor Lundsey!" Tom intervened.

"Oh my!" she responded in a state of distress, while arranging and straightening her clothes. "Doctor Lundsey, I'm your chief nurse! I'm terribly sorry for the intrusion! I do apologize!" she continued, not daring to look Irri in the face.


Delilah Jones

"Hi! I guess... YOU are my new room-mate! I'm Delilah Jones, but my friends call me Dee!"

Giving the woman a grateful smile for closing the shower door, Irri moved into the room and settled on her own bed, trying not to show further annoyance with the scene she'd walked in on. She'd known that privacy would be sorely lacking aboard the Osiris but she hadn't expected to have that fact so forcefully shoved into her face quite so quickly!

"Hello Dee, Irriannya Lundsey. Just call me Irri, it's so much easier," she said with a tight smile, her annoyance still showing around her eyes. "I promise I'm not an angry bitch all the time, just a few details I wasn't thrilled with not being told about. I'll get over it."

Before she could say more, Tom and the brunette came out of the shower, clean and dry and she couldn't help the disapproving glare she shot at both of them. The girl had been dressed in medical green and Irri entertained the, brief, hope that she wouldn't have to work with the girl...a hope that was quickly dashed when Tom made introductions and she found out this woman was the Chief Surgical Nurse.

At least she had the grace to blush and apologize.

"What you do on your own time is none of my business, Lori," she said quietly but rather primly and deliberately avoided inviting the girl to call her Irri. "All I'm going to care about is your work in my OR," she added with the typical smugness of a surgeon who knew she excelled in her field. "It was just a shock to walk in on that little scene. I'll get over it. Life on this ship is going to require a lot of adjustments for someone whose spent most of her life sequestered away in Universities and operating rooms is all."

Lori took Irri's admonishment like a professional, without taking it personal in any shape or form. She had been stationed on Orion for two years, so she knew very well why sexual encounters of any kind between personnel working in the same field was forbidden. In order to maintain order on the ship, the chain of command in all domains and fields was to be strictly observed, which is where the interdiction came from.

"Understood, Dr. Lundsey! I am looking forward to working with you, Doctor!" she said in utmost respect, and left the cabin quietly, smiling at everyone.

"She's a good girl, Doctor! We've been seeing each-other for four months now... not exclusively, of course!" Tom tried to explain. "I hope you will be understanding with her... she really is a good girl."

Suddenly, Tom's discourse was interrupted by an announcement which was broadcast on the cabin speakers:

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is General Robert Wittenberg, the Commander of the Orion. The entire fleet, including the Perseus, Cygnus and the battle-ships are ready to enter into hyperspace in precisely 2 minutes, leaving behind our solar system for the most important mission for mankind: The quest for the New World. Listen now for the address of the Orion Corporation Chairman, Mr. Darel Williams:”

“My friends, this is not the moment for big words and emotional speeches. Any one of us is just as qualified and entitled to make big speeches as I am. However, we are all aware of the sacrifices made by humanity and the trust that was placed on our shoulders. We are now embarking on an epic journey. We are not only searching for a new planet, but we are also searching and building a new way of life. Together we will build a society of equality, justice and freedom from the destructive forces of economic greed.

You were chosen because you are the best in your field. You are the best humankind has to offer. Together we will learn from the triumphs and the tragedies of our past. Together we will build a new future for humanity. So let us look to whatever lies ahead with hope and confidence as we begin our quest for New World. General Wittenberg, you have permission to make the jump to hyperspace!”

“Acknowledged, Mr. Chairman. Prepare to make the jump to hyperspace in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, engage!”

A slight tremor signaled the jump to light speed, as they all realized that Earth was already long behind them, possibly never to return again. After a few seconds of silence, Dee broke the stillness:

"My goodness! I guess we're off... I need to take a shower, but you can go first, Irri!" she said and smiled at her, trying to hide her emotions.

"She's a good girl, Doctor! We've been seeing each-other for four months now... not exclusively, of course!" Tom tried to explain. "I hope you will be understanding with her... she really is a good girl."

Irri was glad when the loudspeakers cut Tom off. If they hadn't she would have. She would make up her own mind about Lori when she worked with her. She didn't need an enamored boyfriend trying to tell her what to think about one of her nurses! Just because he liked her...or at least liked fucking her...didn't mean Irri would. Didn't mean she wouldn't either but she would make up her own mind and no matter what she decided wouldn't change who Lori was.

She listened to the speech and fought the urge to roll her eyes. So much for it not being the time for emotional speeches! She felt the small lurch as they jumped to FTL and gave a small sigh. She was sticky, sweaty, and cranky. What she needed was a shower. As if Dee had read her mind she offered to let Irri go first which made her give the blonde a grateful smile.

"Thanks Dee. I won't be too long. Just need to let osme hot water work out the tension and get the sweat off me," she said with a small chuckle before grabbing her towel and disappearing into the shower room. She might have seen Tom stark naked but she wasn't about to flash herself at him! She stripped in the shower room and turned the hot water on full blast giving a small sigh of relief as it beat down around her neck and shoulders.

As soon as Irri closed the shower cabin door, Tom lied down on his bed.

"She's wrapped up tighter than a drum, isn't she?" Tom said, grinning at Dee.

"Hey, that's not nice! She's a successful surgeon forced to live in the same cabin with a soldier and an artist. Of course she's tight!" Dee smiled.

"She's very hot though... very hot... in a mysterious, unapproachable kind of way..." Tom rambled on. "I just hope she's not gonna be too tough on Lori... not that she can't take it... Lori's the best nurse on this ship!"

"And a good cock sucker!" Dee interrupted, breaking out laughing.

"Hahaha. Yes, exactly! It didn't seem to bother you as much as it bothered the good Doctor!" he said and grinned.

"Bother me? It didn't bother me one bit! I would continue where Lori left off right now, but I'm afraid Irri will hate my guts if she finds your cock in my mouth!" she replied with a sensuous smile. "Damn, I hope she can't hear us..."

Blissfully Irri missed the entire conversation happening out in the bedroom. All she was aware of was the hot water rolling down her body and the steam filling up the room. It was blessed peace in an otherwise disturbing day.

Silently she lathered up a body sponge and took her time running the soap down her body, letting the suds slide down her skin and purring softly at the tickling sensation of it. It was a delight to just have some quiet and no need to worry about rules or suprises.

It was peace.

However that peace couldn't last. She'd told Dee she wouldn't be in the shower too long and she couldn't just hog it from the other woman...no matter how much she'd like to. Finally turning the water off she wrapped a towel around her hair and one around her body before coming out of the shower room. Granted she could have used the driers in there but she'd always liked the old fashioned method of drying off with a towel.

OOC:

Professor Mark Forrester
Age: 27
Specialty: Philosophy.
Height: 5’8’’
Eyes: blue
Hair: Dark brown
Build: Athletic

IC:

The door opened and Mark walked in the room, brightening it up with his dark orange suit. He took a few seconds to look around the room, smiling gallantly. He was definitely the oldest in the room, but there was no trace of superiority in his demeanor.

“Hello, Professor!” Tom greeted him.

“Tom, stop that! My name is Mark! Hello!” he greeted the two ladies with a polite smile. “I’m Mark Forrester!”

“Tell them what you do, Professor, I mean Mark!”

“Hm... I’m a philosopher, which is a euphemism for superfluous personnel.” he answered looking at the two ladies, and then taking a seat on his bed opposite the two ladies’ beds, and next to Tom’s.

"I'm Delilah Jones..."

"The singer! Yes, I know who you are. I never knew what you looked like, but now I see that the beauty of your voice is certainly matched by your looks! I'm delighted!" he smiled at Dee and politely bowed his head.

"But, please, call me Dee!"

"Dee. Of course!" he said and then turned to Irri, slightly amused to find her all wrapped up in towels. "What about you, Miss?"

Irri noticed the new man in the room as she came out of the shower but she didn't say anything since he was already introducing himself to Dee. Apparently he already knew Tom. Was there anyone around that Tom didn't know? Settling on her own bed she stretched out on her stomach, resting her head on her arms and smiling gently to her roommates.

A shower always made her feel better, even if it was temporary.

"What about you, Miss?"

"I'm Dr. Irriannya Lundsey. You can call me Irri. Were you a philosophy Professor, or a philosopher at heart and a Professor of something else to pay the bills?" she asked, honestly curious and suddenly realizing that they their room had an Interesting dynamic. She and Tom were both highly trained in skilled professions, (she a surgeon, he a pilot) while Mark and Dee would have been considered more free-spirited. At the same time, however, it was she and Mark who would have been considered 'intellectuals' on Earth, based on their professions. That didn't preclude either Dee or Tom from being educated and highly intelligent, just the tags that could have been put on each of them back 'home'.

This could prove an interesting mix.

“Very nice to meet you, Irri!” he smiled at her with a sigh of relief that she felt comfortable in his presence wearing only a towel.

He couldn't help noticing her beautiful long legs left uncovered by her towel. he refocused his attention and answered her:

“Good question! I am a Professor of Philosophy actually, even if that was not my main source of income. I wrote a few books and toured the world trying to sell them. That rather paid the bills than the teaching... Apparently I caught the attention of some corporate officials and two years ago I was co-opted in an interdisciplinary committee which set out to establish inter-human policies for the New World expedition... which brought me on this ship. I’m sorry... I’m rambling... I don't know if I answered your question!"

"What sort of books did you write?" Dee intervened before Irri could respond.

"Oh... all sorts of things... probably the most well known is 'A New Humanity: From destruction to rebirth'. That's the one that caught their attention and why I ended up on the committee." he replied to Dee, trying to keep his eyes off her enticing cleavage.