The door opened smoothly, First Officer Sternbottom entered, and after one outraged look, exclaimed, “Captain!”
~~~~
Captain Softcenter’s efforts to convince her First Officer, that what Sternbottom had seen was merely an attempt at levity, fell on deaf ears.
#lookinmybriefs #haroldhardpod #humor

Her breathing deepened, and her blood throbbed in private parts of her body. She watched with wondrous appreciation as he slowly shuffled his feet, almost tripping, flailing his arms in as awkward a manner as a man ever had.
“Magnificent,” she whispered, utterly captivated.
#lookinmybriefs #humor

He unbuttoned his shirt. Juzee quickly palmed the door lock, and then watched with increasing excitement as he finished disrobing. He crawled onto the desk and stood.
“Good Spirit!” she whispered, staring at his nude body.
She raised her hands and clasped them under her neck. #lookinmybriefs #humor

“Oh, I would love to see that,” Juzee exclaimed, grinning mischievously.
“Would you?”
Haree gaze was speculative, and he raised his eyebrows. Juzee emitted a giggling snort.
“Naked?” he asked.
“It’s traditional.”
#lookinmybriefs #haroldhardpod #spaceopera #shortstory

“So, this is my new desk,” Haree said.
“Yes, but I can’t give you a rom until we transfer its data and reformat it.”
“I suppose I could try dancing on the desk,” he joked. “If my accounting skills don’t measure up, I might need a backup job.”
#lookinmybriefs #haroldhardpod #spaceopera #shortstory

It buzzed again and then subsided. Two men lifted a wood desk and maneuvered it through the opening. They sat it in the position Juzee indicated and left the room. A crewman yanked the pole from the doorway, and then jumped back when the door tried to smack him. #lookinmybriefs #haroldhardpod #humor

Haree watched as a shipmate placed a pole between the edge of the door and the opposite door post.
“Is that necessary?” Juzee asked, somewhat embarrassed for the door’s sake.
The crewman started to reply and then flinched when the door buzzed as it tried to bump the stick. #lookinmybriefs #humor

Both coughed in embarrassment and looked away. Her rom dinged. She answered and heard, “Captain, we’re outside your berth. We have the desk you ordered.”
“Good. You may enter.”
The door opened, sliding smoothly into the wall. #lookinmybriefs #haroldhardpod #spaceopera #shortstory

“But wouldn’t that add to the business costs?”
“Yes, well you see, they don’t just dance.”
Enlightenment hit Haree. He blushed. “Oh. They’re prostitutes.” A thought occurred. “Great Captain’s Spirit! Do they have dancing boys as well?”
“Yes.”
#lookinmybriefs #haroldhardpod #spaceopera #shortstory

“I’ve noticed that. The entertainment companies on Octive rock have installed speakers in every room. They say piping in progressive music results in longer short-term room rentals.”
He gave her a puzzled frown. “Why would anyone rent a room for a short time?”
#lookinmybriefs #haroldhardpod #humor

Haree lowered his voice. “Please, don’t mention this to anyone, but I rather enjoy progressive music. It has a strange effect on the senses.”
“I’ve noticed that. The entertainment companies on Octive rock have installed speakers in every room." #lookinmybriefs #haroldhardpod #spaceopera #shortstory

“Right. It’s called the Great Mall of Silica. Hard Rock used to be called Second Time, but a company headquartered in the Pebbles purchased it and changed the name. It’s become a cultural hangout. A lot of artists and progressive musicians make their home on the rock.” #lookinmybriefs #haroldhardpod

"It’s got a shady reputation as a place where lots of illicit deals take place, but we took a contract to move a shipment of old gems from Hard Rock to Silica.”
“I’ve heard of Silica. They have a big market place.” #lookinmybriefs #haroldhardpod

“He thinks these AI’s are going to kill all of us some day.”
“Oh, they would never do that,” Juzee replied with a rueful shake of her head. “It’s much more fun to torment us.”
“Quite. Lovely ship you have here, Captain. Since I am to tour the Hoop, may I ask where we are headed?”
#lookinmybriefs

He had asked and had been given permission to take a tour of her ship, The Bursting Button. At that moment the door slid open, remarkably fast, but as Haree was about to step over the threshold, it tried to close, causing Haree to smack his nose on it. #lookinmybriefs #haroldhardpod #spaceopera

She suspected that her First Officer was secretly in league with her sisters; probably reporting on her activities from time to time. Hah! She would show them. She knew she was a capable captain. She glanced at the door, wondering where Haree had gotten to. #lookinmybriefs #haroldhardpod #shortstory

Personally, she thought her actions nothing short of dazzling. She would recoup the monies owed by Hardpod Industries and her finances would finally be under control.
Her smiled dimmed a bit when she remembered how First Officer Sternbottom had found Haree and her this morning. #lookinmybriefs

Was mix-up. Haree hired as accountant.
Smiling, Juzee pushed the send icon and pocketed her rom, hoping the text would satisfy her sisters. Perhaps, now that she had an accountant, they would not inquire too closely into the circumstances that had led him to her employment. #lookinmybriefs #humor

Sternbottom let out a harrumph and said stiffly, “Your oldest sister has requested an explanation as to why you kidnapped a member of the Hardpod family.” #lookinmybriefs

Seeing her First Officer standing in the doorway, Juzee asked, “Is something wrong, First?” She followed her officer’s gaze to the man tied to her bed. “It’s not what you think. We were just playing.” #lookinmybriefs #haroldhardpod #spaceopera #shortstory