Tatyana positioned herself on the far wall of the Cargo Bay and stuck her feet out. "The whole group in a line, please. I'll stop them short of the wall with my feet." She replied, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

Lucas paused and tilted his head in confusion, "I'm sorry, what? You can stop five containers with your feet?" he asked, disbelief written all over his face.

Tatyana shrugged nonchalantly, a confident smirk playing at the edge of her lips. "I've got big, strong feet, what can I say?" She retorted, before bursting out into infectious laughter. Lucas, unable to help himself, joined in her laughter.

"Okay, here you go." Lucas released his grip on the last line of containers, sending them drifting towards Tatyana. As they approached, she crouched further, both feet poised to meet the incoming load.

Five containers large and sleek, metallic barriers to protect the precious commodities housed within them. Each container shimmered gently in the dim lighting, emitting a faint hum as Lucas guided them down the gangway.

With a precise timing born of experience and instinct, Tatyana's feet connected solidly with the five containers, halting their progress at the wall's edge. She exhaled a sigh of relief and triumph.

"Wow, that was intense!" Tatyana declared; her cheeks flushed with excitement. "Lucas, you're getting better at this. You didn't even tap the wall." She glanced back over her shoulder at the solid barrier of metal and technology behind her, taking in the sheer size and scope of it all.

"Beautiful," Lucas stated, eyes still fixated on the final container's placement, and Tatyana herself.

Tatyana tore her gaze from the cargo hold and looked over at her comrade. She nodded in agreement, "Sure is."

"I'm going to let the bay doors close and pressurize, then help with the manifest. You two can dock." Tatyana said with a final nod at Lucas, unhooking her tether and gliding toward the bay door.

Lucas readied himself for the final docking procedure and turned to address Bella only to realize she had been standing behind him the whole offloading procedure.

"When you said, 'beautiful,' you meant her, didn't you?" Bella asked, a teasing smile playing at the corner of her lips as she observed the two of them.

Lucas stammered awkwardly, "Well, uh, yeah! I mean, the whole operation is beautiful. The precision, the teamwork, it's like poetry in motion. And every time we do it, it's different." He cast a quick glance over at Tatyana who was just entering the secured cargo bay.

"And Tatyana's feet, are they beautiful too?" Bella persisted, smirking.

Lucas blushed, stammering slightly, "Well, they're big and strong, just like Tatyana said. It's impressive, the way she used them to stop those containers."

Bella chuckled at Lucas's stumbling response, and then sighed, shaking her head affectionately. "I knew what you meant, Lucas." She turned back to face the view port, a faint smile on her lips. "Looks like we're finally done here. I'm going to see the Doc before we get started on the manifest." Bella said, already turning to make her way toward the elevator.

Lucas kept himself preoccupied, efficiently scanning data and finalizing reports, but found his mind wandering back to moments earlier when he'd watched Tatyana effortlessly stop those containers: those strong, powerful feet of hers, the confidence in her movements...

---

Tatyana's eyes sparkled as she danced her way past the nearly invisible doors of the pressurized cargo bay, the air touching her skin like an old friend's embrace.

The lights inside the cargo hold reflected the subtle silver highlights in her platinum fur, a dazzling contrast to her deep-blue eyes.

As she moved, her body shifted effortlessly, each motion a graceful and practiced dance step that most only dreamed of mastering. She carried a confidence that exuded from her; even in the confined space of the cargo bay, she exuded an air of strength and authority. Her curvaceous figure was accentuated by the fitted, gray battle suit she wore.

An efficient tool designed for combat and survival in the harsh conditions of space. But even uniformed, her unique features shone through.

The smaller, internal bay doors opened, "Well, hello beautiful!" Captain Carter's cheerful voice echoed throughout the cargo bay. He stood tall with short blonde fur and bright blue eyes—the perfect mirror image of Tatyana.

Tatyana couldn't help but grin from ear to ear at her father's choice of words, "Oh daddy, how rude, talking about your own daughter that way." she said, feigning disgust.

"Oh quiet, I was talking about the large shipment, and you know it, you brat." Nigel winked, the grin never leaving his face.

As Tatyana approached, she couldn't help but return her father's smile. It was rare to find such a strong bond between a father and daughter, but Captain Carter and Tatyana shared a unique bond. A bond forged in the fires of countless missions and trials, from when Tatyana was just a young girl traversing the cosmos at her father's side.

"Hi Bjorn," Tatyana said, hands behind her back as she greeted the ship's engineer with a smile. Bjorn grunted in response, his face deep in concentration as he tinkered with one of the cargo containers.

Bjorn—Captain Carter's trusted friend and confidant—was as much a staple of the Titans Pillar as the Captain himself. Standing a few inches over seven feet tall and built like a literal bear, Bjorn had earned a reputation for himself throughout the galaxy as the best damn mechanic around.

"Hi Tats! Why are you breaking my Tug-Arm couplings?" Bjorn asked sternly, without looking up from his work.

"Because I can watch you working on them, shirtless," Tatyana replied cheekily, smirking at the massive man before her.

Bjorn grunted again. "Your father would kill me if he knew what you were implying," he said, but his tone betrayed a hint of amusement.

Captain Carter merely shook his head and laughed heartily at their antics. "Bjorn, old friend, don't listen to my daughter. You know she's just teasing you."

"Fine," Tatyana pouted. She knew when to admit defeat, as she did slow cartwheels to an equipment panel nested within the walls of the cargo bay, "The gear was welded again." She explained as she opened the panel to pull out and sling a rifle over her shoulder.

"It's the Celestial Gates," Bjorn grumbled as he continued working on the container doors, perturbed. "They're welding metal, dropping Tugs short of their destination, or right on top of the stations--"

"Sucking the power out of fold bubbles?" Tatyana interjected, winking at Bjorn as she continued to cartwheel herself gracefully around the cargo bay.

"Exactly." Bjorn responded gruffly, finally looking up from his work to meet her gaze, his frustration palpable in his voice.

Bjorn's grumpy exterior belied his deep care and concern for the safety of all aboard the Titans Pillar. He understood that space was unpredictable, and he took that unpredictability seriously, doing everything in his power to ensure that everyone and everything was well protected.

"Got it!" Bjorn exclaimed as the doors to the containers opened. Various gases escaped, a common occurrence, but it still disquieted the ambiance.

Captain Carter handed Bjorn a scanning device, and brandished one as well, as Tatyana, slid in front of the two, her rifle now at the ready.

"Okay," Nigel sighed, "Let's check that manifest."

---

In the medical bay, Doctor Orlova was checking her readings, lost in thought. The calmness of the bay was a welcome change from the chaos of the cargo hold, but the silence weighed heavy on her.

As the Chief Medical Officer of the Titans Pillar, Dr. Orlova was responsible for the health and well-being of the entire crew. Her skill and dedication had saved many a life, and she wore the burden of that responsibility with honor and dignity.

Her fit figure and fiery red fur, clad in a white lab coat, leaned over her diagnostic tools. She turned to Bella, who was sitting on the diagnostic bench, ready for the good doctor’s word.

"Well Bella, you are once again, perfectly healthy." Orlova started, "But let's be honest, you didn't come here for an examination, did you?" she probed, crossing her arms and looking directly at Bella.

"You know me well, doc." Bella responded with a sardonic smile. "It's Tatyana." Bella sighed, knowing that Orlova saw right through her façade.

Orlova laughed gently, patting Bella's hand. "What's bothering you, Bella?” she asked, her warm and soothing voice giving Bella a feeling of security and comfort.

"She's, okay we, you and I are modern Osphranter." Bella started, eliciting a raised eyebrow from Dr. Orlova, "We have the evolved features. The smaller feet, the shorter, cuter nose, far less fatty deposits in key areas. While Tatyana, she is classic, prehistoric Osphranter: larger nose, big feet, and massive amounts of fatty deposits scattered all over - a throwback." Bella let out a deep sigh.

Dr. Orlova raised an eyebrow at Bella's matter-of-fact words and her wistful tone. "How does that make you feel, Bella?" she probed gently.

"Well, I didn't feel anything about it at first, but Lucas seems to be enamored with her every time she does something incredible. I'm happy for her, of course, but it also brings up this weird mix of emotions for me. Jealousy, a little bit, I suppose. But also, sadness, because I can't relate to that wondrous kind of admiration for Tatyana like Lucas can. It's like we're on two different planets, unable to connect over this one thing. And it hurts." Bella confessed, dropping her gaze to her hands in her lap.

Orlova sighed, her expression softening further. "Bella, I understand that you feel a disconnect with Tatyana and Lucas. But it's important to remember that everyone has their own unique experiences and perspectives. Lucas sees Tatyana's strength and capabilities and is drawn to them, but you two also have a bond as First Mate and Pilot. You have your own set of skills and experiences that make you valuable and important to the crew in ways that Tatyana can never be."

Bella nodded slowly; her lips pressed into a thoughtful line.

"Besides, those, um, fatty deposits that Tatyana carries, will appear very attractive to mammalians." Orlova tried to stifle a giggle but failed, smirking and raising her eyebrow.

Bella let out a sigh, understanding dawning on her face. "I suppose you're right, doctor." She swallowed the lump in her throat. "Thank you for helping me sort this out."

"No problem, Bella. If you ever feel like talking, I'm here to listen." Orlova's soothing smile was now back in full force.

Suddenly, a klaxon blared in the medical bay, and the lights flickered ominously.

"What the? What's happening?" Bella asked, panic lacing her voice.

"Stay calm, Bella. I don't know yet, but I'll find out," Orlova responded, quickly moving to her diagnostic console to access the ship's systems.

The comms crackled to life. "Medical team please come to Cargo Bay 16! Doc, you there?" The voice of Captain Carter spoke through the speakers.

There was urgency, but also a calmness - the calm of someone who knew how to handle a crisis.

Orlova tapped her intercom controls, "Understood, Captain. We're on our way." She turned to Bella, who was standing beside her. "No rest for the cursed." Orlova sighed, patting Bella on the shoulder, beckoning her to follow. As the two hurried towards Cargo Bay 16, Bella couldn't shake the feeling of inadequacy that had surfaced during her conversation with Orlova.