Two weeks earlier, Pinwheel's previous ship.
Pinwheel was sitting in the engine room in a lounging area across the internal part of the Friendship Drive.
The FSD consisted of a top part and a bottom part. The top part was a brass cylinder that extended through the ceiling of the room. A multitude of pipes, valves, and wires were running along the length of the cylinder; branching off and joining together in different places. The bottom part was a squat cone section that transitioned into a much thicker cylinder. The cone section was lined with a circle of many gemstones. Most of which had colors of Pinwheel's dark grey coat and the color of the light they refracted was like Pinwheel's black and blue mane. Several other gemstones had the color of yellow and fiery red.
"Starbreeze, would you please join me in the engine room?" Pinwheel asked on the intercom.
A short time later, the spaceplone avatar with the flat, wide angular parts on her hips that had little winglets on top cantered into the engine room. Pinwheel patted the empty space beside him, motioning for her to sit, which she did.
Pinwheel spread his forelegs a little and asked, "Can I get a hug?" And the ship avatar who was slightly smaller than him hugged him eagerly.
"You're a good ship and I love you," Pinwheel said gently. "I love you too, commander," Starbreeze replied cheerfully.
Pinwheel continued, "Are you and Blazing Trail getting along well?"
"Of course!" Starbreeze squealed happily. "She's been great from the moment she came on board."
Pinwheel, who had since moved close enough to rest the side of his head against hers replied softly, almost in a whisper, "That's good. I am glad."
Starbreeze slowly moved away from him, glancing over to the Friendship Drive and Pinwheel followed her gaze. She said, "But why do you have to ask? Look, my FSD is already partially attuned to her.." She trailed off. It dawned onher what was happening. Why there suddenly was additional crew that her FSD attuned to. She looked back to Pinwheel, already her windshield washer nozzles were spraying onto her cockpit-glass eyes. With a wavering voice, she stated "You're going to sell me." Pinwheel opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. "Why would you sell me?" Starbreeze cried. "Why? Why? I have always done everything you asked. I have never had a single malfunction!" Pinwheel was still hugging her, but Starbreeze was hitting his chest with her forehooves in frustration, but there was no strength behind the punches.
Pinwheel held her closer again and said in a still calm, but firmer voice that demanded the authority of the commander that he was "You are a good ship. And I love you. Okay?"
"Okay," Starbreeze sobbed.
Now, what was the furthest point from Equus we have ever been?" Pinwheel asked.
"Fourteen thousand six hundred and eleven point zero one light years.” Starbreeze supplied without delay.
The factual inquiry seemed to distract the AI from her distress, at least momentarily.
“And what is the furthest we have been in the last five months?”
"Two hundred and twenty three point five eight light years,"
"Barely outside the bubble. I feel like i need a change of occupation. I feel like trading for a while. And you're an AspX. You're meant to jump far. Blazing Trail would like to take you to these undiscovered places from now on."
"I don't want you to leave!" Starbreeze interrupted.
"Just because I'm selling you doesn't mean I'm abandoning our friendship. It only means we won’t be working together as much anymore.”
“All because you want to do more cargo hauling?” Starbreeze asked disbelievingly. “I can do that too.”
Pinwheel sighed. “Do you really want to go cargo hauling?”
“Not really. Doesn’t seem fun.”
Pinwheel said, “Then go exploring with Blazing trail. We can stay in contact. I promise I'll come along on some journeys. And I will demand photos and stories of all the amazing planets you see. Does that sound acceptable?"
Blazing Trail, the yellow kirin with a fiery red mane appeared in the doorway. Seeing the avatar's tear-stained face, she stated matter-of-factly, "You told her."
Pinwheel responded, "Actually she figured it out."
Starbreeze added, "But it's okay now. I understand."
Pinwheel asked, "Blazing has been aboard for almost a month. Didn't you suspect anything?"
"I thought she was just going to be SLF crew," Starbreeze responded.
“Breeze, you can't fit a fighter hangar."
"I know that. I didn't want to believe you were selling me."
Pinwheel sighed, "I want you to understand and always remember that even though I am selling you, I will always love you. You still love me too, right?"
"Of course I still love you," Starbreeze replied.
Pinwheel hugged Starbreeze again, more tightly. Then he stood up and addressing both he said, "We expect to finalize the deal next week. To ease the transition until then, Blazing Trail will take command of this vessel effective immediately."
"Command transfer logged," stated Starbreeze.
"So, have you decided which different ship type you want to buy yet?" Blazing Trail asked Pinwheel.
"I already have my eyes on a specific one with maximized cargo capacity."
"Suure, you want her to have an avatar with...cargo capacity," Starbreeze teased playfully while tracing the shape of a well-sculpted behind with her hooves in the air.
Pinwheel blushed, Starbreeze giggled, Blazing Trail turned to start walking in the direction of the cockpit.
"So Starbreeze, what do you say about we plan to get our names on some Equuslikes?"
"Yay!" the avatar exclaimed and jumped after the new commander.