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2593-14

"How are you feeling?" Eric asked the hyena.

"I'm pretty good," Robert replied, a goofy grin on his face. "I mean, I can't feel anything below my neck, but I'm actually okay. How come I'm not freaking out?"

Eric smiled. "You're wearing a Bliss band."

Robert mouthed an 'oh', and then chuckled. "Never had one of those on. They're pretty good."

"Yeah, only the best for my crew."

The hyena nodded.

"As for why you can't feel your body, I have it in lock down for now. I need us to go through what happened, and I don't want you to panic and trash about."

"Why would I panic?" Robert asked, then. "Oh, right, I got blown up. Yeah, I'd really panic remembering that. I must be in really bad shape."

"Not as bad as you'd think. Your belt went in emergency mode fast enough to prevent any irreparable damage. You're going to be okay, I want you to remember that."

Robert nodded.

"I'm going to lower the band's intensity. Try to stay calm."

The hyena's eyes focused slightly, then he gasped. "Eric, oh my God, it hurt so much."

"Stay calm Robert, you're okay. Brick and Brack went out and got you. You're on the med table, remember that, you're inside the ship."

Robert panted but he nodded. With a visible effort, he calmed himself. "I thought I was going to suffocate I couldn't breathe, I couldn't move. I couldn't see anything. I thought my eyes had been burned off."

"That was the belt, it extended your clothing over your face hands and feet before hardening, I know it felt horrible, but it saved your life."

"How bad is it?"

"Like I said, not as bad as it could have been. Some internal damage, that's all fixed."

Fear crept up on Robert's face. "There's something you couldn't fix, isn't there?"

"It's only temporary, Robert. I didn't start on it because you have to decide how it's going to be done."

The hyena relaxed. "What is it?"

"You lost your left leg, just above the knee. I'm going to give you back your body so you can take a look."

Robert closed his eyes and tensed, then relaxed, looking at the tiger in surprise.

"I told you, I fixed you up."

"Shouldn't I feel pain from my leg?"

"I've shot down those pain receptors. You don't need that distraction." Eric offered his hand, and helped Robert sit up.

The hyena glanced at his shortened leg and looked away. "Shit."

"It's not that bad, Robert."

"How much is it going to cost me?"

"Nothing. Whatever you decide, it's covered. This happened under my watch, so it's my responsibility. I take care of my crew."

Robert chuckled. "Does that mean you jerked me off while I was unconscious?"

"No, it was more fun climbing on the table and sitting on your cock."

Robert looked at him eyes wide and Eric raised his hand to placate him.

"I'm joking. Your body was under enough stress, you didn't pop any boners while you were unconscious."

"Can I move?"

Eric nodded and Robert turned to let his leg dangled of the side of the table. "How long was I out?"

"I kept you unconscious for two weeks. After I fixed you your body needed the rest."

"Didn't you feed me? I'm famished."

"That's your stomach being empty. The nutrients went directly in your bloodstream."

"Then I want to go eat something."

"Can you decide what you want for your leg first?"

Robert looked at the stump of skin. "You said you'd pay for it, so I can get a mechanical leg with all the augments then?"

Eric shook his head. "I'll pay for the base model, the augments are on your account."

"And I'd have to wait until we're at Titan to get it, right? You can't do that here."

"Mechanicals aren't my fields."

Robert nodded. "Yeah, and I don't want an artificial leg. I just want the old thing I had before I ended up on this thing." He patted the table.

"Well, it won't be identical."

Robert looked at the tiger suspiciously.

"I can't recreate the breaks in your tibia. You'll have to settle for a perfect bone."

Robert was speechless for a moment, then. "I think I can live with that."

"I'll get the casing out while you eat. I'll put it on afterward and do the needed adjustment. You should have a fully functioning leg by the time we reach Titan." Eric helped him off the table, then supported him as they walked to the dining room.

"What happened?" Robert asked.

"Someone sabotaged the array."

The hyena stumbled. "Eric, that wasn't there when I did the first walk through. It means someone on the crew put it there."

"I know."

"Do you think it's Gerald?"

"No."

"One of the others? But they've been with you for years. Who do you think it is?"

"I don't know, but I'm looking into it. You focus on resting."

"The corridor's recorded, isn't there a record of who put it there?"

"No, that time has been deleted." It hadn't been, not until Eric had removed it himself. It was lucky Brick and Brack had been kept busy by Gerald dealing with securing the array. If not for that, they would have looked at the recording and seen William putting it there.

"I didn't think that could be tempered with. Doesn't that mean it has to be Mark? He's the only one with the kind of knowledge to do that, right?"

"It isn't him. Like I said, I'm looking into it." Mark had the skills, but Eric had the override codes.

"How much did we lose?" Robert sat at the table at Eric's insistence.

"The explosion released six pods." He went to the fridge and pulled out a tray of meats, cheeses and bread. "Two of foodstuff four of equipment. I've gotten confirmation that two of the equipment pods have been rescued by allied ships." He placed the food before Robert and went back to the counter and prepared coffee. "One by an independent captain, one of the tags has gone silent, foodstuff, so that's probably gone to pirates. The other two are still floating out there."

"How much is it worth?" Robert made a sandwich.

"Don't worry about that. This isn't your fault."

"I should have realized it was a bomb. I should have been more careful, gotten Brick to have a look, instead of trying to pull it out."

Eric squeezed the hyena's shoulder as he placed a cup before him, then went back for the condiment basket. "I should never have let explosive come on board. I should have had sensors on all entry points."

"Why don't we?"

Eric shrugged. "They're expensive, there hasn't been any aggressive attacks like this on any of our ships in over two hundred years. No one expected anyone would stoop to trying to blow someone up."

"Do you know who did this?" Robert asked. "I mean which corporation is behind it."

"It's got to be Vanguard, but this is low, even for them. Normally they just try to divert our cargo."

"Didn't you say the pirates worked for them?"

"No, but I'm pretty sure Vanguard arranged the attack. Manipulated them."

"Why is Vanguard so set against you?"

"Me? They don't even know I exist, I'm just one captain among others, but they've had it in for Orr Corp since before the war. Don't ask me why, I don't know. Maybe we did something to piss them off, maybe they're just greedy. To be fair, we've been harassing them as much as they have us, so maybe it's just the way business goes. I'm happy Elliot is the one who has to deal with that and not me."

They were silent for a time, Robert eating, Eric standing, thoughtful. "When you're done call me. I'll bring the casing here so you don't have to amble on one leg." Eric left him, calling up the ship's inventory for where the leg casing was. It told it which locker it was in, but he had to dig through everything else there. The kind of injury Robert had received was so rare that this was the first time Eric had needed it. And considering how far back in the locker it was, he didn't think the previous captain had ever needed it either.

By the time he finally put everything else back in the locker, Robert let him know he was done eating. Eric stopped by the med bay to program the casing. He didn't activate it, so it still fit in his hand. Once he'd entered Robert's details in it, and it had its instruction, he took it to the dining room.

Robert was leaning back in his chair, eyes closed, a satisfied smile on his lips and an erection between his legs. Seemed that the hyena's system was back up and running, so Eric threw Robert over his shoulder and carried him to the lounge, where he made sure Robert had an orgasm worthy to two week's unconsciousness.

After that, he secured the casing on the stump, and activated it. It elongated down, taking the shape of his leg, but slightly thicker, and up to the hyena's hip, where if formed a brace. Eric helped Robert stand, the casing was an inch longer than his other leg.

"You can move about, but you can't put too much weight on it for the first two week. Even once the bone's been generated, you can't overdo it. If the casing gets damaged you're going to have to spend the rest of the trip on the med table to get your leg back."

"How come it's going to take so long? The portable healer I used when I fell fixed the break in a couple of minutes."

"This isn't just a fix. It needs to regrow the bone from where it broke, then make sure your knee forms correctly, another reason you don't want to stress it. Hospitals have fabricators that can rebuild a full bone in minutes, but the expense isn't worth it for a ship like this. Then you have to take into account regrowing muscle, and strengthening it so it can support you."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to sound like I was complaining. I was just curious."

Eric nodded. "Take step." Robert hobbled. "Okay, again, remember not to put too much weight on it. Really, I'd prefer you avoid walking as much as possible. Until the array is sealed again, you won't have much to do anyway, so enjoy the respite."

"Right, like my job was so stressful. So, sit back, catch up on my reading and everyone's cock?"

"Yeah, but when you're fucked, it's going to have to be on your stomach until the casing comes off. Considering how vigorous some of us can be, I'm worried it could get damaged while your leg is over their shoulder."

"Maybe I should just have sex in the zero-G room."

Eric suppressed a shudder. "If that makes you more comfortable, sure. Just remember, you also need rest and to eat a lot of protein."

Robert grinned. "Shouldn't be a problem"

"I mean meat."

The hyena's smile widened. "Oh, I know."

"Not cock," Eric sighed. "Actual meat. The casing is doing the work, but you're providing the material, don't ignore your hunger. Or your fatigue."

"Why not have nanites build my leg?"

"They are, but they need material to work from. Hospitals have banks of proteins and everything they need to build on demand. I don't. So, the nanites work with what you provide them. Another reason it's going to take a while for your leg to be finished."

"Okay, I'll be careful, eat properly and get plenty of rest. You should think about doing the same, you look tired."

Eric nodded. "I have one more thing to deal with, then I'll be able to take it easy for a while."

He had two things actually. He stopped by the cockpit, where he sucked off Jeff, then went to his office. There he called William to join him there.

William had kept to himself since their last talk. Eric didn't think anyone had noticed, as busy as they all work with the repairs. The wolf did the work, and as soon as it was over he'd retire to his room. Mark spent a lot of time in his own room, he wasn't as used to the hard work he was helping as the others. Brick and Brack spent their times trying to figure out who had brought the explosive on board and how. They too lamented the lack of sensors. As busy as everyone was, it was rare for there to be more than two people in the lounge. Eric had to find each one individually to make sure their needs were taken care of.

William one the only one to protest. Eric thought the wolf felt his blue balls was a form of penance, but he didn't let him argue his way out of the sex. William wasn't the one in charge of his punishment. Eric had decided he was.

The wolf entered his office and after a moment of hesitation he sat down.

"You know one of the pods is lost, right?" Eric asked.

William nodded.

"Do you know what that means?"

The wolf shook his head.

"It means that by Halibury law, Orr Corp is within its right to request that you be turned over to them. You'd lose all citizenships. You'd become a none entity, which means we could do anything we want to you and you'd have no recourses."

William swallowed and nodded.

"Now, Orr Corp isn't a monster. You wouldn't be used for... I don't know, I can't think of any horrible thing that could be done to you. So, you don't have to be afraid of that. It probably means you'd be jailed for the rest of your life. You've caused billions in loss, that is a serious crime."

"I know," William whispered. "I'll accept whatever punishment your corporation sees fit."

Eric nodded. "I know. I understand that you didn't intend this to happen, and that you are remorseful. If I didn't believe you were sincere, I wouldn't make you this offer. I don't want to lose you. You've been a good worker, you've been loyal, a good friend, and a good lay. But I can't take any chances that something like this might happen again."

William looked up at him, confusion in his eyes.

"I want to get your personality adjusted."

The wolf stared at him, and reached for his head. "You want..." he couldn't say it.

Eric nodded. "If I do that, I can convince my brother this was an accident, and not to press charges against you."

"What?" William started, then stopped. "How much...?" He shook his head. "No, I don't deserve to know. Do whatever you want to me, Captain."

"Will, I just want your loyalty. I can't afford that someone might trick you into doing something like this again. I'm not going to do anything else, you have my word."

The wolf looked at him. "Captain, I don't have the right to expect you to be lenient. I'll authorize any kind of adjustment you see fit for me to have."

Eric sent him the document he'd prepared. Will returned it a moment later and Eric looked it over. The wolf had removed the details of what Eric planned to do and had replaced them with 'Complete Personality adjustment'.

"Are you certain, Will? If this is what you're signing, you're giving me the right to make you someone else."

"My actions could have killed Robert. I don't deserve to exist anymore."

"Will..." Eric trailed off. He could tell his words would fall on deaf ears. The wolf had given up. He'd surrendered himself over and he wouldn't hear of anything else. "Alright." Eric filed the form, but he didn't send it to headquarter. He'd get screamed at for this, but he didn't care.

"Since you've given your life over to me, I want your word that you aren't going to do anything stupid, like try to kill yourself."

The furtive look he received told Eric William had contemplated it.

"Your word, Will. I own you now. You agreed to it, I'm not going to let you back out of it."

The wolf nodded. "I promise."

"Good. If you even try to kill yourself, or do something stupid that could result if your death, I am going to make you regret it, do you understand?"

William was clearly confused, but he nodded.

"I'm not emotional, you know that, but it means I can be cold and calculating. Remember that if the idea of walking away from all this should pop in your head. Remember I have the med table at my disposal, that I can bring you back from the brink of death, like I did with Robert. That I know how to use it in very creative ways to punish you afterward. Do you understand me?"

Fear flitted in William's eyes, and he nodded. Eric didn't like scaring him, but he couldn't be sure the wolf would be able to resist the temptation to punish himself in the ultimate way before they reach Titan. And he certainly couldn't get him to use a psychologist program in his current state. Considering the broad authority William had given him in regard to his personality, Eric thought he should add some changes to ensure the wolf didn't do anything stupid afterward either.

"We're done here, Will."

The wolf nodded and left.

* * * * *

Over the next week Eric noticed things get more stressed on the ship. Will was avoiding everyone actively now. Brick and Brack were going crazy trying to find who had caused the explosion. He'd heard them scream at each other. And everyone else was looking at each other suspiciously.

Eric had Brick prepare dinner, even though it wasn't a day he normally did. He seemed happy for a reason not to be around Brack. When it was ready he made sure everyone was there. He even told Robert to join them, leaving the cockpit unattended. Technically against regulation, but no one would notice. He had to order William to attend.

He was going to wait until everyone had eaten, but after five minutes of uncomfortable silence, he spoke up.

"Alright, this has gone on long enough. I wasn't planning on saying anything, but the way things are going, I'm worried I'm going to be the only one left alive by the time we reach Titan. And I will not be without sexual partners for any amount of time."

People looked at each other, William looked at Eric fear in his eyes.

"So, let me make this clear. I know who is responsible for the explosion."

Brick and Brack exploded with questions. A moment later the others joined in, everyone except for William of shrank under the vitriol in everyone's voices.

"Enough!" Eric had to glare them down, but eventually even Brack stopped and sat down.

"William was tricked into bringing it aboard and-I said enough!" he yelled as Brick jumped to his feet. "Sit back down."

The mule was baffled at the order. He looked from Eric to the wolf, who withered even more under the mule's gaze.

"Brick, you are going to sit your ass down, or I am going to do it for you."

"But-"

Eric started to stand and the mule immediately sat.

"Now, I have settled on William's punishment for what happened. Therefore, I don't want any of you to take it upon yourself to do something to him. Will is already miserable enough about what happened."

Everyone looked at the wolf again, but he didn't notice them, his eyes were solidly fixed on the floor.

"William was used by my company's enemies. As such, he's as much a victim as a culprit. He will pay for his part in what happened, but that is my responsibility, not yours. I want you to forget what happened."

Robert choked on his coffee. "You can't be serious. I almost died!"

"Alright, I see this isn't going to be quite that simple. Robert, you have every right to be angry, but I'm still the Captain of this ship. I give the orders, and I am saying this, William is off limit when it comes to retribution. I will punish him."

"How?" the hyena asked.

"That is between me and William. Robert, if you need to, I will allow you to have a talk with him."

The hyena glared at the tiger.

"Fine, scream at him, but I will mediate to ensure no more than that happens, or that you don't damage the casing on your leg."

Robert wasn't happy with that, but he nodded.

"As for the rest of you. You will treat William as if nothing happened. He is part of the crew."

Gerald nodded, but the others looked at the wolf with clear mistrust. Eric suppressed a sigh. He guessed expecting everyone to let bygone be bygones was too much to ask.

"Captain, what's me and Brick doing on the ship?" His voice was soft, but Eric thought he heard an edge in it.

"You're security."

"Then why did you keep this from us? How are we supposed to do our job?"

"Brack, once we lost the pods, this became a corporate matter. The kind of money this now involves is so high even I'm barely qualified to deal with it, but as the ship's captain, and as an Orr, I still have to. Once on Titan, I will administer William's punishment. Once we are back to Earth, Orr Corp will decide what more needs to be done."

"Look, Captain," Brick said. "If we're just here to lift stuff, just tell us okay? We like working here, we love the sex. But we've got to know why we're here. We spent the last weeks going over everything, me and Brack got into fights over this."

Eric nodded, seeing how his handling of this could seem to the two of them. "I'm sorry. While I'm an Orr, I'm not a corporate person. I never expected I'd have to deal with anything like this. I should have told you I was handling it from the start. You are security. You saved our lives during the pirate attack, you've seen to it we are better prepared should it happen again. I would have let you handle this, if the stakes weren't as high as they are."

The mules looked at each other. "Captain, Will can't walk about the ship."

"Brack, he has work to do. If I lock him up, who's going to do it?"

"Okay, but he can't move about freely. Me or Brick have to be with him, when he's done he's got to go back to his room."

"Brack, I've told you-"

"This isn't about that. It's about safety. How do we know he isn't going to do any more damage?"

"You don't trust me when I tell you he didn't know what would happen?"

"I get that he told you that, and I get that he looks like it's eating him up, what happened, but If that thing had blown up here, we'd all be dead. We can't take the risk it might happen."

"Brack, I-"

"He's right captain," Will said, barely above a whisper. "You can't trust me."

Eric studied the wolf, then the others. There was no way the camaraderie of a few weeks ago could be rekindled. It was like having a brand-new crew all over again. He'd really hoped he wouldn't have to go through that again.

"Alright, you two are in change of making sure Will is escorted at all time he isn't in his room."

"His door gets locked."

"Fine, but he eats with us. He may be under arrest, but I will not have him be ostracized. He is part of the crew, and that is final."

They were reluctant, but Eric got nods from everyone.

"Good, now let's eat. One of you can then escort Will to my office, where he and Robert can have their talk." Eric wasn't looking forward to sitting in on that screaming match, but he hoped that Robert would be more accepting of the situation after that.