Chapter 4

I sat in a chair beside Adam’s bed inside the ship. As Echo had said Ambrosia had indeed taken care of my brother.. but much like Echo did to me, Ambrosia had done something similar to Adam. He.. well wasn’t really a he anymore. Or human for that matter. Nor did he appear to be in his thirties anymore, he looked to be about the same age as me. He hadn’t lost much height although he was just a few inches under 6 foot now, his body resembled a rather busty woman that you’d see on the front cover of magazines. His long , silky hair was a brilliant blonde, almost white. He had the ears and two tails of a wolf although like his hair those too were light blonde. Even though he hadn’t woken yet I’d been able to get a close look at his eyes as several medical nurses examined them. Unlike my red slitted eyes his were a cold , icy blue. His delicate face resembled nothing of my former brother which brought tears to my eyes at the thought that I’d never see his former face again. Still all in all I was happy that Ambrosia had saved him, I’d rather have a sister than a dead brother, besides everything that really mattered was up there in his head, I didn’t care what he looked like, he was all the family I had left. 

Jenna had slipped into a coma after I’d knocked her out, apparently there was severe damage to one side of her brain and the other medical professionals onboard the ship determined it unlikely that she’d ever wake up again and even if she did her life was over, she’d basically be a vegetable for the rest of her life, there was a slim chance that wouldn’t happen but I’d overheard some of the doctors saying that even if she did make a full recovery she’d more than likely be wheelchair bound. There was talk of taking her off life support but I selfishly wanted her to suffer although I didn’t voice my opinion. 

The entire crew who had formally had a strong dislike for me had changed their attitude and were being much kinder to me, I wasn’t sure if it was out of pity or concern for Adam but it was a nice change of pace and I’d managed to actually make a few friends. 

At the moment I realized I was getting a bit hungry which was more often now as I was basically feeding two people ,myself and Echo. I stood up from the chair and leaned over to give my unconscious brother a hug. 

After I left his quarters I made my way towards the dining hall, I was greeted at the door by one of my new friends. His name was Jarred and he wasn’t much older than me, in fact he was the youngest member of the crew.

“How’s Adam?” He asked with a smile as he scanned his QR code into the doors reader and unlocked it for both of us, we stepped inside and took a seat at one of the small tables, the little droid quickly taking our orders and the automated kitchen begin preparing our meals.

“He seems to be doing okay.. all his wounds are healed but he still hasn’t woken up.” I said with a sigh.

“Well considering it took you a week to wake up, I’d just be patient, he’ll come around, our captain is strong.” Jarred said as our meals were brought to us.

I nodded and jabbed my fork into the salmon I’d ordered, I cut off a sizable piece and devoured it, Jarred looked at me slack jawed.

“That’s not very ladylike you know..” he commented.

I rolled my eyes. 

“You and everyone else knows I’m eating for two and I’m absolutely ravished! Echo needs their fill as well, it’ll be the same for Adam when he wakes.” I said through a mouthful of salmon.

“It’s weird don’t you think? I thought our first contact with intelligent life would be.. well I don’t know what I was expecting but it definitely wasn’t parasites.” Jarred said.

I felt Echo tense around my nervous system and they let out a small growl at the mention of being called a parasite.

‘Tell the man child that I am NOT a parasite’ Echo said with a huff.

I let out a loud laugh and relayed the message to Jarred, his face paled and he looked at me.

“Please Tell Echo I’m sorry..” he said hesitantly.

I laughed again and smiled at him.

“Don’t worry, they said all is forgiven and to relax.” I replied as I finished my meal.

Over the next few hours Jarred and I spent time in the media and entertainment room, we played a few co-op games on a rather outdated PlayStation Five, then watched a few short movies on the wall mounted 4K TV, by the time the last movie was over I was exhausted and so was Echo. I told Jarred goodnight then gave him a quick hug and made my way for Adam’s quarters.

~~~~~~~~~~

When I awoke in Adam’s bed I realized with a start that he was awake and crying and that he had me held in a tight hug, my chin resting on his collarbone. I looked up into his tear stained, piercing blue eyes that had similar slit like pupils to mine.

“Don’t panic?” I said, causing him to laugh in his new musically feminine voice.

“A little too late for that but I’ll be fine.” He said with a smile, showing off his new extended canines. 

I felt echo warm up inside me at the sight of Adam and they gently unwrapped themselves from my nervous system and emerged they’re sticky body from the pores on my arms. The black gooey mass suddenly vibrated while sitting on my arm and Adam looked down in wonder as Ambrosia exited his body in a similar fashion. Both symbiots wrapped around each other in what looked like a weird, bizarre alien hug all while vibrating.

‘Ambrosia is so happy with her new host’

Echo said to me with a giddy, happy voice inside my head.

“And I take it you’re happy to see your sister?” I asked echo out loud.

They laughed inside my thoughts and an image of what must have been echos former host and Ambrosias former host hugging each other appeared in my head.

‘This was the last time we saw each other’ 

Echo commented as they shared images from their memory with me. 

I couldn’t help but smile, my little alien was so happy and in return I felt happy, experiencing their feelings. 

Adam cleared his throat.

“Ambrosia had suggested a few names for me.. I think I’ll be going by Sydney from now on.. she also knows how to fix the ship and is very eager to help.”

Adam now Sydney said with an odd expression on her face.

“I know it’s a bit overwhelming at first.” I commented as I looked up at my sister.

“It’s a bit odd, sharing my body.. although I’m just happy to be alive so I don’t really mind. Honestly this new body feels stronger than my old one, I haven’t felt this refreshed and energized since I was Eighteen.” Sydney commented with a smile.

“Now.. let’s go to the kitchens, Ambrosia requires sustenance.” 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Having recently eaten, neither echo or I were hungry, but we watched Sydney and Ambrosia devoured meal after meal.

Sydney laughed as Ambrosia asked question after question about the strange new foods she was sharing with my sister. 

She particularly loved anything seafood related especially the salmon.

“This is called crab.” Sydney said holding up a forkful to her own eyes so that ambrosia could examine the meat. She took a bite and swallowed.

Ambrosia spoke through my sisters mouth with a snake like hiss.

“I seeee! It’s glorioussss!” She said out loud.

At this point, the entire crew had gathered in the dining hall and was watching the odd display happening in front of them, their mouths agape as they watched their captain talk to Ambrosia. 

“Yesss yesss I think we will get along fabulously, my new wonderful hosssst!” Ambrosia declared through Sydney’s voice. 

Sydney giggled and stood up.

“Ambrosia would like to take a look at our technology, she thinks she can repair the ship.” Sydney said to the onlooking crew. They all nodded and one of the engineers stepped forward. 

“I will do my best to show her.. um captain?” The young man said. 

The two exited the dining hall, Sydney’s tails swishing back and forth with excitement.

I reluctantly followed, I don’t think I’d ever seen my sibling so energetic before, I’d say it was annoying but honestly I was just happy that she wasn’t freaking out like I had when echo first healed me. 

Now that I thought about it, the body I now inhabited didn’t bother me at all, in fact I was beginning to love it. The way my tails felt so soft, how much stronger I was because of Echo. This wasn’t a curse or a bad thing at all, this was a blessing I’d been given.

I silently thanked echo inside my mind and in turn received what felt like a loving nudge from their mind.

I followed my sister and the engineer down the ladder outside of the ship. We made our way to the damaged side of the shuttle. With Sydney’s permission, Ambrosia took over their body as she examined the dead engines sticking out the side of the hull. 

I watched in awe as Ambrosia made my sister’s pointer finger extend slightly, she removed a panel on the side of the ship revealing wires and damaged cords.

Sparks begin to emit from Sydney’s finger and Ambrosia made quick work of splicing wires here and there, while welding certain parts together that I didn’t understand a single thing about. Hell the whole thing was so complicated I might as well had been looking at the hardest math equation in the world.

Once ambrosia had finished she stuck the panel back in place and smiled, returning control of the body to Sydney.

“Go start the engines, Ambrosia said this should work temporarily.” Sydney said in her commanding captain voice.

The engineer nodded and quickly climbed back up the ladder inside the ship.

Sure enough, with a few clacks and groans the engines roared to life. 

~~~~~~~~~~

The entirety of the crew sat in the meeting room, Captain Sydney standing in front of them.

“Now this may seem a bit odd to all of you, and before I even begin to explain I will say it is completely optional, I won’t force a single person to do this but Ambrosia has asked for our help.” Sydney said as she tapped her fingers on the metal desk In front of her.

“Five of Ambrosias species remain on this planet, two of them now inhabiting my sister and I. 

I request three volunteers to become hosts for the remaining symbiotes.” 

Ambrosia suddenly took over, you easily could tell the difference as Ambrosia usually had a hissing snake like sound to her voice.

“Becoming a host comes with privileges and benefits, your lifespan will extend from an average of one hundred years to an average of one thousand, we can make your bodies stronger, faster, always healthy, we will share our knowledge with you, which as I have demonstrated by fixing this shuttle, is thousands of years more advanced than the current human race, and least but not last you will never physically age. My remaining brothers and sisters would be ever grateful to take on new hosts and be given the opportunity to live with you back on earth in harmony, we are a peaceful race and have much to offer if you give us the opportunity.” Ambrosia finished her speech and gave control back to Sydney.

“You have some time to think it over, thanks to Echo and Selina we have found fruits in the ground that will last us the trip back to earth, as you know we’ve been running low on supplies. we leave in three days time.” And with that Captain Sydney spun on her heels and left the meeting room.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Captain Sydney to medbay one, Captain Sydney to medbay one!” 

The intercom screeched as my sister and I were walking to our sleeping quarters.

“Never a dull moment huh..” Sydney grumbled.

I nodded and followed her as we walked down the many twisting halls of the shuttle.

We reached the medbay and I groaned at the sight that greeted us.

Jenna was sitting in a wheelchair with a dreadful look plastered on her face.

She took one look at me and glared.

“Happy that you’ve permanently crippled me, freak?” She said with a snarl.

I know it was insensitive and inappropriate but I couldn’t help but burst out laughing, I hated the women sitting in front of me.

“You think this is funny!?” She screeched.

“I can’t fucking walk now!” 

“You kinda deserve it..” I said between stifled laughs.

Sydney gave me a harsh look and I quickly shut up.

“Selina, stop laughing at her, have some compassion.” She said.

Jenna looked up at Sydney with a confused expression. 

“So you’re the new captain? Where is Adam?” She said with a raised brow.

“Right here.” Sydney said pointing at herself.

“What are you talking about? I don’t understand why there’s two of you now.” Jenna said gesturing between Sydney and I.

Sydney rolled her eyes and sighed.

“Jenna you shot me. The same thing that happened to Selina, happened to me” Sydney said as she looked at the confused women.

Realization dawned on her face and her jaw dropped as she looked over Sydney’s body.

Tears started to well up in her eyes and she begin to sob.

“Adam.. we definitely can’t be together now..” Jenna said through heavy sobs.

“It’s Sydney, and I don’t want to be with you Jenna, you’ve shown your true colors on this trip, the women I thought I was dating back on earth would have never done the despicable things you’ve done on this trip, even if you were still attracted to me, which I can easily tell you aren’t, I wouldn’t ever want to be with someone so cruel and malicious as you.” Sydney said harshly.

“B.but.. I only did the things I did because that one was taking you away from me!” Jenna suddenly screamed and pointed a finger at me.

Sydney sighed and shook her head.

“Jesus how crazy are you really Jenna?! That’s my sister! My fucking family! You really think I’d be with my own blood? Thats disgusting!” Sydney said harshly as she slammed her fist down on one of the bedside tables.

Jenna’s face suddenly became beet red.

“I didn’t.. I was so jealous..I didn’t really consider.. ugh. Please just leave.. I want to be alone.” She said as tears poured from her eyes.

Sydney sighed and walked over to Jenna, she brushed a few tears away from the wheelchair bound woman’s eyes and knelt down beside her.

“When you’re ready to seriously talk about this.. you know where to find me.” Sydney said softly.