"Right on time." Cora smiled as she picked up her black duster from the armchair in the quarters she shared with her husband and wives. She slipped it on over her old Doctor Who T-shirt and cargo pants and pointed at the side of her head. She'd detected the arrival of the science team via her wireless link with her ship's sensors and hull-mounted cameras. "Grishnag and Ayastal are already waiting in the cargo hold to help them bring their equipment aboard."

"Glad they didn't arrive early." Dylan glanced around in search of his clothing. Syala grinned, picked up his pants from the floor beside their bed, and handed them over. He smiled back and kissed her before putting them on. "Thanks."

"It'll be nice to finally go somewhere," Syala said as she put her loose-fitting shirt and shorts on. "I was hoping we'd be able to visit Earth, but heading in the opposite direction will be just as much of an adventure. I'm just glad the refit is finished and we get to see a new place."

"Yeah, it'll be good to get off this station. If we're lucky, we'll have a chance to explore a planet's surface." Dylan helped Syala fasten the button on the back of her shorts, securing the flap above her tail, and then finished dressing. "The station was cool at first, but after being cooped up here for several months, I'm ready for a look around the neighborhood."

"I think we all are." Cora gave each of them a kiss and stepped into the corridor. Dylan and Syala followed her, Syala's hooves producing a tapping sound with each step on the synthetic hardwood floor. Cora grinned and added, "Zilaka is already waiting on the bridge and Nishara's just arrived from her last-minute shopping expedition."

"Zee's eager to go adventuring, eh?" Dylan smiled. "That's a good change from when we first met."

Cora nodded. The young alien woman had come from a technologically primitive culture, as had most of her other wives, and had been severely traumatized by the events that brought them all together. Cora was glad to see Zilaka gradually pull herself together and embrace her new life on the Mae Jemison.

They reached the cargo hold and found the ramp already lowered. Ayastal stood on the docking bay floor, conversing with the science team. The team was made up of two shonari, a mekharan, a bioengineered minotaur from Earth, and a human. The shonari were taller than humans, as was the minotaur, but Ayastal towered over all of them. The ten-foot-tall reptilian woman nodded at something one of the shonari said, turned, waved at Cora and the others, and then picked up a huge metal crate. She carried it effortlessly up the ramp, paused to give each of them a kiss, and locked the crate into position beside one of the six-wheeled rovers.

"Perfect timing, guys," she said with a glance over her shoulder. "Our guests arrived just a couple of minutes ago."

One of the shonari stepped forward with a smile and held her hand out. "Hello. I'm Ralissa Thorana. I'm in charge of the science team."

"Glad to have you and your team aboard, Dr. Thorana. I'm Cora Engstrom, owner and captain of the Mae Jemison." Cora smiled back, reached out, and gently grasped Thorana's flesh hand with her metal one.

"Just call me Ralissa." The scientist motioned at the rest of her team. "We're grateful that you were able to transport us on such short notice."

"We're glad to be in the right place at the right time. Welcome aboard." Cora checked her internal chronometer and glanced at the ramp. "There's just one more member of the team, and she should be joining us any moment now."