They traveled a lot faster through the ship then before.

Aleph had just about gotten used to what she now realized was the sedate and gentle pace of movement that Pylo used for their tours.

But there was an excitement to the creatures motions, it swooped, arced and plummeted across the corridors in a way Aleph had not never seen. And naturally their guide pulled the trio and their little bubble along for the ride.

It reminded Aleph a bit of the centrifuge training and being thrown off the cliff by Omega. But somewhat less disorienting (or did she mean more?) because she could see the walls barreling along with just their magical rainbow bubble between the rushing walls that sped past at what felt like a breakneck pace.

And all the while Pylo was just chattering in a way somehow eager and almost spastic.

“I hope you will be gentle with me, lashing softest with your words. I sought to serve sweet smoothest wants. The gentlest strokes of air, sweetest musks and heartiest stews of sopping wet vapors. Swaddling for your fragile little flesh. Warmth for your trembling figures, It is not too rough? Just the best pressing prying air yes? Not too hard? Gentle enough?”

Aleph laughed and whooped as they swept around a corner, pressing her up against the side of the bubble with Quarti and Omega. Feeling her muscles and bones straining against acceleration for the first time since leaving terra!

She had almost forgotten what that FELT like.

It made her gasp as they continued along and the pressure lifted while they drifted.

Then they came upon another airlock and pylo was dragging their conveyance into the space with her. Pressing the dark flesh or bone or whatever of her body down against the bubble. Deforming it around her body like some kind of shimmering coating bringing out every crevice in such a way that made Aleph turn away and stare at one of the control sticks for the bubble.

The very pink and fleshy looking control stick.

Damn stupid sexy alien beastie!

And then they spun, and there was LIGHT. It was so bright after the gloom of the ship that Aleph covered her eyes from the glare.

There was a barrier which their bubble was sticking too. In fact it was almost like the film was ‘merging’.

Before she could realize what was going on a circular opening, like some kind of tunnel had formed and she was scrabbling to snap the lock of her helmet into place.

Omega was swearing up a storm.

“Pylo! You should have warned us the seal was going to break like that!”

Pylo was already sliding through into the space beyond, swimming out into the blinding light. Voice sad.

“So many supplicating pleas, was no harm meant or tended. No lashing pains task-mistress. Oh so sweet and good was all tidings. Is the two airs are as one, clean and sweet and soft and gentle to embrace you all. Is best! Better than even little skin wrapping clinging womb walker that carries you in opulent luxuriation. Come partake the fruits and delights of my labors!”

Omega was grumbling as she looked over the readouts from the environmental diagnostic.

Quarti however had shoved herself at the widening tunnel between their little bubble and the bright room beyond.

Omega was quick to follow with the lightly flashing green lights of the sampler. After just floating there Aleph realized she had been left behind while mulling on the scent she had picked up on the air. Was that cake? She swore it reminded her of a very faint scent of freshly baked pastries.

She reached out with a hand for the strange smooth tunnel that none-theless gave her gloves grip, then pulled herself through and into the ‘space’ Pylo had been making for a surprise.

And felt her breath vanish from her lungs at what she saw.

Aleph floated there in wonder.

Quarti and Omega were likewise silent.

A nervous tremble of husky voice was the only thing to break the silence. Reminding Aleph she should inhale.

“Do you not like it? Pylo worked so very hard to try and do her best, make it sweet and delighting to your-”

She rushed in to reassure with barely caught breath.

“Pylo it’s beautiful”

It was like hanging in the sky. Puffy white clouds surrounding in diffuse fog all around, with glimpses of sky blue in the distance, or were those carefully painted walls? Looking behind her all she saw was the rainbow shimmer of the bubble interface surrounded by cloud. As if they had stepped through some impossible interdimensional portal into an expanse of sky.

“Omega? Is... Is it safe?”

It startled her friend beside her who looked down at the read outs then croaked with a dry throat.

“Yeah, nothing toxic we thought to look for anyway. Cleaner then the Berth even”

Aleph was not sure whether it was her or quarti that opened their helmet first.

The sudden quiet with a faint whistling of distant wind like that of a canyon was the only sound in the space.

It was like the most soothing balm after hearing the imperceptible droning of the suit. And the slight grinding vibration of the Berth.

“It’s so peaceful”

Her voice hit the air and spread out happily like it did back home, at the height of the mountain cliffs.

She took a breath.

It was fresher than even the bubble had been. More so there were hints and nuances of flavors and scents in the air.

Like someone was baking pies and cakes and fresh bread far down the valley. Just hints but not overwhelming.

And the light was warm like the sun of terra, it even prickled her skin in a way that she had not realized she missed.

More soft and broad then the sharpness of the grow lamps in the berth.

Then there was a sharp sting in the air. Something almost charged and strange. Aleph had never smelled it before. She turned and there curled up almost timidly was Pylo. Vast as can be and yet so much more REAL now. Aleph could SMELL the presence and that somehow made the creature all the more present. Her nose told her it was there. It was like floating next to a shimmering black shard of the unknowable here in the pristine beauty of some fantastic familiar.

She leaned a little bit closer, just to confirm and had to cough a little bit. It was not unpleasant but so much more metallic and sharp then anything she had ever dealt with.

It almost reminded her of the smell from one of the metalworking mills she had toured as a child.

Aleph found herself loath to break the peaceful stillness of this seemingly holy place.

“You made this for us?”

“You strain and twist and loath your crude terrible bondage of metal and leaves... Barbaric and vulgar little slime beasts. Fumbling and dripping in your precious fluids and vapors. Always sizzling more and more and more away off your porous orifices. Cutting and shearing the seed and root of your lives again and again... So tremulous and foul and caustically feral... so fragile and delicate and beautiful. I enfold and shape you here where you may stretch and suffer wants of throat clogging vapor no more. A gift for your lusts”

Omega’s voice was clear. Aleph had missed her removing her helmet. But somehow wet with joy and relief.

“I never thought I’d taste the air of Terra as my home again... I... I’m sorry... Thank you Pylo”

It was so peaceful and wonderful. Pylo merely smiled and nodded.

Which meant of course Quarti had to barrel into Omega from out of nowhere and shove her into pylo’s face with a whooping shout.

“NOW KISS!”