“Down Girl” Daryl on his back as a 3 headed astro dog. As one head licked his face the other two searched his pockets. Eventually being able to wrestle the not so large but powerful dog from his chest. While Lovely was not a big huge bread actually close to the breads of the old earth similar to the French Bulldog. As Daryl got up I am sorry I could not get the treats. Three heads lowered, maintaining eye contact with their big brown eyes. They stared for a moment as Daryl showed his empty pockets of his one piece but slightly baggy coveralls. While Lovely was not really a force of security the three heads with their keen sense was really all he needed. Besides, she was so cute and at times was sure she was smarter than some of his customers. “I promise, After this run we will get some real meat. Not the simulation crap that we have.” Lovely seemed to perk up as it ran to the lift. Daryl stopped for a moment to wonder how three minds control the body to get going anywhere safely. As he walked over the lift as one of his true friends was waging their little tail happily he turned to the control panel where a single lever was there with a few lights that the labels had worn away decades ago.
It was fine, it was not hard to control, up went the front and down went to the rear. There were not even walls, just a waist level bar and a makeshift fence that he put in when he first got Lovely to keep her from hopping off.. Again. As he slowly moved forward picking up speed. Caitlyn smartly told him from his personal control pad that they were ready to go. “Fine, start the procedure and you will be in the driver's chair in 5 moments.” as Daryl knew moments were not a true measure of time but it made the AI mad at first. Not like killer mad but angry girlfriend mad. That could be worse at times but Caitlyn over the years gave up on perfect protocol. Also can you make sure that Chester is at least in the living compartment. Caitlyn sighed “I am not the keeper why should I look for that thing that crawls all over and inside our home. He rarely does anything and when he does 50% odds that hurts the Rush Valley.” Daryl just with little thought “Please” Daryl almost singing as a child begs a parent to be cute “Okay he is up in the front zone in a proper place so as not to get hurt.”
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Finally underway as he made sure not to go to fast but just fast enough not to toss him over the rail. As he he traveled up the spine he could do his “Safety Inspection” of the for walk ways. It would cause vertigo to anyone who did not see it every day. “Well Lovely, 150 Years ago there would be a crew of 8. Imagine 8 humans and xenos work all over. It must have been beautiful. This ship was always beautiful.” Rucker letting out a low whistle as Lovely's heads seems to be in a flurry of cleaning and smiling at him. As they traveled at a slightly increasing speed with each section bathed in different colors signifying the different zones. Red, Yellow, Blue in a repeating order over and over then a section of White just for a moment. Quickly he started to turn the one level causing power to be cut to the lift. The lift just coasted, not like to stop but just enough that the micro gravity fields could be felt. Lovely barked with excitement with drooling and her little happy dance. Daryl always figured that the cute dance was too many messages from the three minds but it only happened during happiness so who knows not I. “Yes buddy this is always my favorite part” which was partially true he loved it but he loved all of it.
All around them a section that was transparent, just completely clear with the whole Universe around them with the slight pulls of gravity from the ship and the deceleration of the lift just gave the feeling of floating in space without the danger of the void. He thought to himself, Yea this upgrade by those dragon people was so worth the extra credit during overhaul. Maybe after this run he would see these transparent walls and make this the great family vacation place. His mind drifted to his kids, they live on two different planets enjoying their lives as a rancher and a small colony manager. They would be just about a decade younger by earth years. Rucker knew that all the time in lower hyperspace caused a weird relativity aging process. Just a bonus that he never really thought about when he started his second career in his life. Slowly they approached a white wall with a door as the lift drifted slowly to a small bump. The hatch opened and he walked in with lovely trodding behind. Daryl yelled “Okay lets get this show on the road.” Caitlyn spoke back “Aye Aye Captain.” Daryl grumbled back “You ruined it, I am a trucker.”