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A disinterested look traced the grey wolf's brow as he stared at the food processor. It was almost midnight. Wasn't really hungry, to be honest, but he had an appetite. Probably because he was alone. And bored. He was having trouble fitting in around here, on Luminous. Furs were intimidated by him. To make matters worse, he couldn't sleep. Nightmares, with a pinch of general restlessness. He eventually turned around, scanning the dim, empty mess hall. Despite the hour, there were a few others mulling around, including ...

... Assumpta, was it?

Pyro flashed his best Sunday smile.

She saw this, blinking enigmatically in response.

"Mind if I join you?" the wolf called, brazenly, striding toward her with tail held high.

A hesitation. The snow leopard had planned on eating alone. "If you wish."

"I do." The wolf bowed, pulling out a chair, then spinning it around and straddling it, coolly. He folded his arms on top of the back-cushion. The arm-sleeves of his uniform were rolled up past his elbows. He'd been given the rank of 'crew-fur,' which merely meant he was non-commissioned. "Thought I was hungry. Turns out I wasn't."

"Then why are you here?"

"Mm ... " A shrug. " ... maybe I'll find room for dessert," he replied toothily, with a wink.

The snow leopard squinted.

"What?"

She tilted her head. "I've always found wolves and canines to be lacking refinement."

"That's something you have, I bet?"

"You noticed," she approved, lightly.

A lingering chuckle, glancing at her meal, sniffing. "Fish? Salmon ... "

" ... tilapia," she corrected. Pausing. "And macaroni cheese." A slight scowl. "And broccoli."

A scrunch-face. "Mouse food."

"Yes. I am ... " How to explain this. " ... branching out," Assumpta said. "I was told I had a dour culinary palate. The macaroni meets my approval. Barely. Cheese has always tasted 'off' to me. The broccoli? Unacceptable."

"I can imagine," Pyro sympathized.

Assumpta cut off a piece of fish, very properly. With a knife and fork. Raising it to her maw, and biting down with her sharp teeth. It was juicy and flavorful. "The rumor on the ship," she said, between chews, "is that you have heightened senses."

"Maybe."

"And that you have been 'flirting' with Ensign Soldotna."

"Maybe," he said again. Pyro's red eyes focused on her cool-blues. Like fire meeting ice. "As long as we're playing the 'rumor game,' word has it ... " He trailed, pausing for effect. " ... you're not averse to a little intimacy, yourself."

"Meaning?"

"Well ... " Turning his head one way. And then the other. " ... some say you've been 'associated' with as many as twelve furs since this ship launched. Other accounts have it at five or six."

"Four," she corrected, plainly.

"Still. You've only been in space for a month. Month and a half." From what he'd read of their official logs. "Averages to one a week. Pretty good track record."

A quiet glance.

"Any of them predators?"

"No." Not that it was any of his business. But if she didn't answer, he'd assume she was embarrassed, and that would put her at a social disadvantage. There was always an underlying push/pull with predators, like subconscious power plays.

"Really? None?" Egging her on.

She picked up her water glass. Took a sip. Saying nothing, at first. Setting her glass back down, she changed the subject (putting the focus back on him), " ... you will not be successful in 'associating' with Soldotna if you do so with me. It will turn her off. I can assure you of that."

"Why? She one of those 'only for love' types?"

"Rodents tend to be. They are overly sensitive. I thought everyone knew that."

"Well, not many rodents visit the Uncharted Territories. They don't have the nerve." He let that linger. "I'm still learning." He drummed his claws on the tabletop, very near the edge. "So, I can't have my cake and eat it, too, huh? I can't have you both?" He was speaking in a playful, casual tone. But that didn't mean he wasn't seriously open to the idea ...

"Do you honestly think she can handle you?" The spotted cat seemed amused. Purring, briefly.

"Me?" Paws to his chest, over his heart. "I'm like a flower."

"What kind?"

"I don't know. The hardiest one there is."

"So, you are a dandelion?"

"A dandy-wolf."

"Ah ... " Her eyes glinted. It'd been a while since she'd been able to volley words with anyone.

"I think the real question is whether you," Pyro emphasized, "can handle me."

"Is that a challenge?"

A wordless grin. Red eyes glowing (or at least seeming to). Continuing, "If you want it to be." He let that hang, before adding, "Dotna's a security officer. Rough and tumble. I've seen her in action. If she can manage the wasps, she can deal with me." He struck a thoughtful pose, nodding to himself. "I think she likes my roguishness. And my devilish good looks. That must be it ... "

A 'yeah, right' face from the spotted cat.

"What?"

"You are presumptuous, and clearly over-compensating for something." A peering head-tilt. "You lost your ship. Your home. Who knows what else. I suppose you feel, now, in a new environment, surrounded by strangers, that you have to prove yourself. And how to wolves do that? By flirting, being edgy. Exercising their dominance."

Pyro harrumphed. "Who said I was flirting with you? Maybe I'm just very well-adjusted. And friendly."

"You asked me for sex."

"Not technically." He sat up straighter. "Think you're the one being presumptuous."

"I don't think so. Your species is rather easy," she whispered, teasingly, "to read."

"Ouch," he went, playfully, with another grin. His tongue lolled out, lightly. "Now, who's flirting?"

A raised brow.

"Deny it if you want, Assumpta ... " A random whistle-sound. A fragment of some tune. "You ever felt a knot before ... "

" ... no."

"Really ... " He paused, strategically. "You owe it to yourself. It's an experience," he promised, quietly.

"I'm sure it is."

"You only live once ... "

"Some would say otherwise."

Pyro blinked. "Didn't strike you for the spiritual type."

"I didn't say I was," the feline replied.

"Well ... " He blew out a slow, steamy breath. "Anyway, just sayin' ... I'm bored. If you wanna ... " He trailed off, looking out the window. Orbital 9, the snow rabbit station they were tethered to, loomed large. But beyond that, even grander, was the planet below. Deep-blues, wispy whites. Emerging greens. It was mid-spring down there. Or so he'd heard. " ... the 'lone wolf' thing ... you know, that old chestnut? Sorta applies to me. I like my independence." A pause. "But I never want to be completely alone, either. Oh, die, me dichotomy," he pronounced, poetically, "that I may be left with a unified self."

"Doesn't the complexity of life lend to its richness?"

"Complexity is just another word for 'complicated'. I just want some simplicity, now and then. Some peace. If that makes me 'poor,' then so be it."

"Not many predators would claim that," the snow leopard said, softly.

"Yeah ... " He rubbed at his face, sighing. Fighting off a yawn. " ... I guess I'm not most predators."

Assumpta glanced out the window. "Me, neither." She went quiet for a moment, after that. Listening to the hum of the warp core, which was vaguely audible in the background.

" ... seen you hanging around the snow rabbits a lot. Smelled them on you a few times." Pyro's tapped the side of his snout, sniffing (for show). "Even now, in fact." He skipped a beat. "I hear they have strong psyches ... those 'freeze' things, right? Mental steadfastness. Some deal like that."

"Yes." A hesitation. Admitting, "I have been working with them continuously since we arrived here. We are ... or have been," she corrected, "integrating some of their systems into ours."

"Oh, 'integrating systems' ... is that what they're calling it, now?" A hearty laugh. "I suppose it makes sense. You, uh ... take this ... " He held up a finger. " ... and put it in that ... " Making a circle with his the thumb and forefinger of his other paw. " ... integration! I'll have to remember that one ... "

Assumpta fidgeted. She hated being bested. Admitting, "I did take a short break from working. With the quartermaster aboard the station. But it was merely ... "

" ... recreational?"

"Call it what you will," she offered, matter-of-factly.

"Do you feel less lonely because of it?"

She had to think for a moment. "I am satisfied."

"That wasn't really a 'no'." He took a deep breath. Staying light in tone. "If I may ask: what do rabbits have that a wolf doesn't?"

"Lithe legs. Big foot-paws. And a lower body strength that defies common sense."

"So, he humps well. Psh ... humping is easy," he insisted.

"It is not merely about speed and delivery. It is about friction, rhythm. Application ... " She took an other bite of food, then decided she wasn't hungry anymore. A swallow. " ... we showered when we were done."

"I have the best nose in this entire sector," he reminded, chest puffing out proudly. "I can pretty much tell where everyone's been ... or who they've been with. Comes in handy, sometimes."

"Apparently so." She'd wondered how much of Pyro's 'wonder nose' was tall tale and how much was accurate. Now, she knew.

He cleared his throat, resisting the urge to motorboat his lips. "Well, uh ... "

" ... yes?"

" ... I'm guessing that's why you keep turning me down? Your desire's been quenched already."

"Partly."

"What about Soldotna?"

The snow leopard leaned back, lazily, and crossed her arms. "Are you asking me if she's 'active'?"

The wolf became momentarily sheepish. "More like ... if there's anything I should know? Before I pursue her, that is. I mean, if ... well. I probably will." Lapsing into sudden shyness. "You know that one gathers all the information they can before the hunt ... any advantage. Anything to help you make the catch."

"Of course." A sage nod. "But I honestly spend little time around Soldotna. If you wish to find out about her, you'll need to ask someone else. Or engage in reconnaissance." A raised brow. "Merely sniff the information out."

"That a joke?"

"A suggestion."

"I think you were making a joke."

The corners of her lips tugged upward a bit. Was she purring, too?

Pyro smiled. "You better be careful, Assumpta. Cheesy jokes. Cheesy food. Breeding with prey. If you're not careful, you're gonna turn into one ... "

" ... how is that your concern?"

Spreading his arms in a benevolent gesture. "Just lookin' out for ya. Wouldn't want you to lose your edge."

"And you're not worried about losing yours?"

"Hadn't considered it, really." A pause. "Guess that's a chance I'm willing to take."

"Is that your penis or your heart speaking?"

A slow, sharp smile. "It's a duet."

She purred, eyes glinting. "Well ... if that is all," she told him, standing up and gathering her tray. Her glass, too.

Pyro frowned. "You leaving?" He'd been really enjoying this.

"It's late. I'm going to bed."

"Oh. Sweet dreams, I guess."

She just walked (sauntered, more like, with that spotted, grey-furred tail swishing nonchalantly) away, calling over her shoulder, "Not that I care, but if you wish to get closer to Soldotna ... "

" ... yeah?" The wolf perked, standing up himself.

" ... perhaps ask Rella if you could join her security detail."

"Why would I ... oh!" Pyro went, suddenly understanding. Maybe he'd get to work with Soldotna. Maybe they'd both be stationed to the armory, even. Maybe they'd get to 'know' each other better. " ... I'll ask." An awkward nod. "I mean, I have to do something aboard this ship, right? I don't wanna mooch ... "

"She may say no."

"Well, you've gotten me used to hearing 'no,' so ... " A chuckle. " ... I can handle it."

"Glad to be of service." A mirthful glance as she headed for the door. "Goodnight."

" ... yeah. Night," Pyro murmured, staying behind in the mess hall to consider his options. Or were they opportunities?

It was mid-morning on the station, broken and tattered, all peace shattered as smoke poured into the Promenade like a dark, billowing fog. A dark entity, with glowing, flapping eyes. Flames danced, illuminating the debris that littered the previously pristine floor. The attack had happened only a few minutes ago, with an unexplained flash. Followed within seconds by sharp, shattering explosions.

Kody had gotten a 'medical emergency' call almost immediately. Clutching a med-kit, he hopped over twisted pieces of metal, ducking vaporous coolant leaks. Thankful that he was in good shape. Finally skidding to a halt with his bare foot-paws (which were now covered in metallic dust), dropping to his knees in front of the first victim he saw. A non-medic (though probably not a civilian; probably a member of the High Command) was already there, looking rather helpless.

" ... are you a doctor?"

"Yes. What happened? Is he conscious? Any bleeding?" Kody asked, in rat-a-tat fashion, ears twiddling seriously.

"No." The snow rabbit's voice shook, faintly. His 'freeze' restraining his emotions. But they were churning beneath the surface, all the same. "A ceiling beam dislodged and struck him in the chest. I think his head ... maybe it got hit, too. You must help him ... please ... "

A hurried nod. Loading a hypo, pressing it to the injured snow rabbit's neck. 'Whoosh.' More scans. "He's got a concussion. Two broken ribs. Can't do much from here, other than alleviate his pain ... " This was basic triage, right now. Kody wished he could do more. Seeing Denali, he gave a shout.

Luminous' med assistant bounded forward (in that undulating, slightly-goofy way of otters).

"We need a stretcher to get this one to the infirmary. Thoracic and cranial trauma."

"Aye, sir!"

"Kody!"

The doctor turned, eyes darting.

Rella was hunched over Chester. The black-and-white mouse was bleeding. Profusely. His piebald fur stained and matted a dark-red. Ropy tail jerking at random, sickly intervals.

"Oh, Lord," the white rabbit breathed, standing up, hopping frantically to his fellow crew-fur. He almost dropped his supplies in the process. Kody may have been trained for situations like this, but his adrenaline was still through the roof. "What happened?" You're asking that too often, Kodiak. Does it even matter, at this point? Just deal with the aftermath. Just keep everyone alive as long as possible. The universe is your enemy.

"He got hit with shrapnel. Or some kind of metal. Right into his gut. I haven't pulled it out," Rella replied, pointing. A slightly-curved piece of steel, about the size of one's paw, was jutting out of the mouse's belly. "His pulse is weak."

Kody felt himself beginning to sweat. Fumbling with the hypo-spray. Giving the mouse a shot. Scanning. Nothing. "I'm afraid to move him. You're gonna have to help me, here." The rabbit put the back of his paw to his own forehead. Thinking. Quickly. "Okay ... Rella, apply pressure. I'll remove the metal and patch the wound." It would stop the bleeding. He'd probably need a transfusion, though. Soon.

The mahogany-furred squirrel nodded, quietly. She was trying to compartmentalize this, like any good tactical officer. She thought about when Wren was injured during that pirate attack. Love and duty were such dangerous allies.

" ... here. Here," Kody said, urgently. Pointing.

She pressed her paws on the mouse's belly. His uniform torn and tattered. The fur exposed.

"Harder."

"Kody ... "

" ... you're not gonna hurt him any worse than he already is."

A nod, and she applied sharp pressure.

" ... you don't faint at the sight of blood, do you?"

"Of course not." An audible gulp. "I'm used to seeing it. I'm just, uh, not used to touching it." The fluid was seeping between her fingers, now.

"You're doing fine." Kody breathed in, deeply. The air wasn't pleasant. The environmental control systems weren't circulating the atmosphere properly. A quick count of 'one, two, three,' and he pulled the metal out of Chester's belly. Tossing it, almost cutting himself in the process. Hadn't had time for gloves. Though it was doubtful Chester had any transmittable diseases (judging from his last physical). Hurriedly, Kody proceeded to grab a sterilizing unit, passing it over the mouse's wound. The metal that pierced him may not have been clean. And then, just as soon, a dermal regenerator. Running it up and down along the gash. Trying to stitch him back together. " ... okay." A sigh. A nod. After a full minute. "The bleeding's stopped. But ... I mean, his body's going into shock. I've done all I can from here. I gotta move on ... " It wasn't ethical, was it, to care more about patients you knew over total strangers? He didn't want to leave Chester, but ...

" ... me, too," Rella insisted, waving her arms (in a 'help!' signal). Denali, out of breath, lumbered on over, rudder-tail dragging behind him. "I have to find the station's tactical chief. Have to secure the area ... Denali, deal with Chester."

" ... so, this was an attack? Not a malfunction?" Kody asked, worriedly. Gathering his med-kit. "You think there's gonna be another?"

The squirrel, briefly hesitating, scampered off without answering. Bushy tail flagging about. No time to chitchat.

Panicked voices. Squeaks, mews, and rabbit-barks. Chaos. Flickering lights, blue alert strobes. She scanned the crowd. Medics. Officers. Mostly snow rabbits. A few members of the Luminous crew who'd been onboard when this had happened, beginning meetings, work. Or simply having breakfast. That's what Chester had been doing. Juneau had come aboard to pick up some engineering supplies. He'd been waiting for her by the food processors. Still no sign of Juneau ... maybe she was dead. There was no way of knowing ...

... a female snow rabbit hopped up to Rella, suddenly. Lithe and beautiful. Pure-white, with ears tipped in charcoal. Her nose at a constant sniff. "Aria," she stated, briskly. "Constable for Orbital 9."

The squirrel spun in surprise, chittering, "You scared me!"

"My apologies. We are all on edge, today."

A stabilizing breath. Angular ears cocking at the continuing klaxons. "You know who I am?"

"Of course."

"Who was responsible for all this?" Rella pressed.

"Who?" Aria echoed, as if it were obvious. Her ice-blue eyes burned. "Arctic foxes."

"So, this was a terrorist attack?"

"Yes. They 'flashed' in," Aria explained, "using some kind of transporter technology. I had my phase pistol with me. I shot one, but he escaped ... "

"Transporter?" Those were rare. "How did they acquire ... "

" ... I do not know," Aria interrupted, almost barking it. Eyes scanning the repair and medical teams (who were trying to calm the storm). "But whatever 'beam' they used? It scrambled our sensors. We've never seen anything like it."

"That's not much to go on," Rella replied, dissatisfied.

"Now you know how it feels to be in a 'cold war'," Aria said, meeting Rella's gaze, intently. "I've secured the Promenade, but our shield matrix was compromised. They'll be able to beam in again if ... "

FLASH!

Right on cue.

The snow rabbit's eyes (and the squirrel's) darted to the focal point of the light, squinting. Blinking. Aria pulling her pistol in a second flat. Firing. She was very experienced with a weapon.

Rella ducked, scampering for cover.

Arctic foxes scattered. Four of them this time, wielding phase rifles. Firing back.

Aria dove aside, rolling. Aiming. Hitting one in the chest. He stumbled backwards and dropped, wincing. Crawling for cover. Another snow rabbit guard knocked him out with a spinning kick.

Beams of energy lanced and sliced through the smoky air. The foxes were advancing upon Kody, who was hunched down, desperately working on a victim. Even amidst the firefight. But he was soon yanked up from his knees by the lead fox.

The doctor yelped and thrashed, long ears twiddling. "What the h-hell. L-let me ... ouch! Let me go!" Trying to deliver a rabbit kick.

But, just like that ...

FLASH!

They were gone. Except the fox who'd been struck.

Aria sat up, panting ...

... Rella's paw being offered.

The female snow rabbit nodded, primly, took it. And was pulled upright. Her bobtail gave a few flickers, and she brushed the debris off her uniform and pelt. "There's no guarantee they won't be back for a third strike. We need a security team guarding all the key points on this deck."

"Agreed. You hit one of the foxes," Rella observed, filled with worry for her captured crew-fur. "Maybe we can interrogate him. He might know where they've taken Kody, and ... "

" ... one thing at a time, lieutenant-commander."

"Rella," the squirrel corrected.

Aria bowed her head, already on the move. The squirrel scampering beside her.

"What do you mean, they took him?" the captain demanded, eyes widening. Sitting behind the desk in his ready room. His bushy, walnut-furred tail went to full arch. "Is he okay?"

"I don't know ... obviously," Rella replied, slowly. "But they wouldn't have gone to the trouble of taking him just to kill him."

Wren swallowed. "No, I suppose not ... "

"They need him for something." Rella's voice was quiet. She hadn't had a chance to shower yet. Her fur was all matted, and her uniform stained. It'd been an hour since the attack. She and Aria had settled things down aboard the station. It was looking more unlikely that further attacks would take place, at this juncture. At least not here. "Chester's lost a lot of blood. He needs a transfusion from the other mouses onboard, but according to Denali, Field is the only one who shares his type."

"Field passes out when he sees too much blood."

"I sent him to sickbay, already. Told him to close his eyes."

A nod. "Any other injuries?"

"Two snow rabbits are dead." An exhale. "Chester was our only major injury. A few others got sprained ankles, bruises, et cetera, but ... "

A nod, rubbing his own cheeks. Whiskers twitching.

" ... the High Command has put its fleet on full alert. Tensions are extremely high. A splinter group has claimed responsibility for the attack," Rella said, placing a computer pad on Wren's desk. It had all the information on it, in case he needed it later. "The snow rabbits are vowing to track them down. The Arctic foxes are neither condemning or condoning the whole thing," said Rella.

"How convenient," Wren muttered, sarcastically. "Maybe that's by design. Have a 'rogue' agency do all your dirty work so you can deny any liability." A sigh. "If we can't track the foxes' transporter, how are we going to help Kody?"

"We have one Arctic fox in custody. He's not talking yet, but Aria, the constable aboard the station, seems to believe she can force him to. I'm not so sure. Kody will probably have to help himself." A wry glance. "You know he's stubborn enough to survive anything ... "

Wren nodded, with a tired smile. That was most definitely true ...

The vixen entered quietly, with little fanfare. Being in control of the situation, she wasn't willing to speak first. Make him do it.

"What do you want?" Kody finally demanded. He was tied to a chair in the middle of a cool, dimly-lit room. He'd tried to struggle, at first, but it was no use. It only made his wrists hurt.

A slight smile on the fox's part. Her bushy tail hued like winter-white. Her fur long and luxurious. "You."

"How enigmatic," said the rabbit, bitingly. Buckteeth flashing. "How 'bout you answer my question?"

"I didn't bring you here to kill you. Is that satisfactory?"

He rolled his neck, licking his lips. Had a dry throat. "Where am I?"

"I'm afraid I can't tell you that."

"No?"

A step forward. A head-tilt. "No," was her whisper. Her fur was analogous to the rabbit's, only his had more 'color' to it, being a creamy off-white. "You are a doctor?"

"Yes."

"Good. We are in dire need of your skills."

Kody squinted. "Surely, you have your own physicians. Why me?"

"We are a splinter group, not directly tied to the Arctic fox Home-world. We don't have the advantage of government resources ... "

"A splinter group for what ... "

" ... security. The sanctity of our species." It was as if she was reciting a mantra. "The snow rabbits are dangerous. Hell-bent on our destruction."

"Excuse me? Who launched that attack this morning?"

"It was preemptive. You," she emphasized, "are a rabbit, yourself. Of course you'd take their side. Don't let their cool, sensual natures deceive you. They are actively working against us. They are creatures of finesse, and not everything they do is publicized by the High Command. If you dig a bit deeper, however ... if you've seen what I've seen ... "

"Give me some examples," Kody demanded.

"Your tone indicates you wouldn't believe me. You've already chosen your side," the vixen decreed.

"Another way of saying 'I have no evidence' ... "

She stiffened, defensively. "I used to have a mate, you know. He was on border patrol. A snow rabbit 'probe' accidentally veered off-course. Faulty navigation. Or so they claimed." She took a shaky breath. "It went into our space, still scanning. Our ship used a tractor beam to capture it ... but it 'conveniently' self-destructed. The shockwave traveled through the beam and disabled our ship." Her muscles tensing. "My mate was electrocuted."

"Should've destroyed it. As paranoid as both you and the snow rabbits are, I'm sure every vessel or probe has a failsafe or self-destruct. To keep either side's technology out of 'enemy paws'. You must've known that. You took the risk ... "

" ... and here I thought prey were renowned for their compassion."

"You're telling me a sob story. I'm your prisoner. Chances are you're trying to win me over."

"A cynical view."

"I'm not naïve," he insisted.

"There is such a thing as natural law. We are stronger, by design. And we will have prey's respect. Today's attack was merely a warning."

"Funny way of seeking respect ... "

"I did not bring you here to debate semantics." A breath. "We captured you because a snow rabbit doctor never would've helped us."

"Capture an Arctic fox doctor, then. They know your species better than I do."

"You were aboard the station when we attacked it. It was convenient. Two birds with one stone. That is the phrase, isn't it? Besides, our cell is isolated for a reason. Our government must not have any knowledge of our actions. It is for their own protection. Anyone we reveal our existence to cannot be allowed to leave ... "

" ... including me," Kody whispered, with realization.

"Correct."

"And what makes you think I'm going to help you?" he challenged.

"You have an oath. A moral obligation, as a physician. You're also prey. You're a rabbit, and you're male." She rattled off the reasons with a conniving look. "That makes you an easy lock to pick."

Kody clenched his jaw.

She continued, succinctly, "We've acquired transporter technology."

"From whom?"

"The wasps."

"Wasps?" The rabbit's voice spiked, ears twiddling tall.

"They had the technology. We needed it. A simple transaction."

"The wasps are a stronger, more dangerous enemy than the snow rabbits could ever be. To you. To me. To everyone. You'd have to be blind not to see that," Kody insisted. "You've made a deal with the Devil."

"A melodramatic statement," she insisted.

"What could you possibly give them in return, anyway?"

"That's classified."

"Of course," Kody mumbled, fighting against his restraints for a moment. Still no use. He shook his head and slumped.

"The transporter ... " She began to pace, back and forth, paws clasped behind her back, angular ears cocked atop her head. " ... was the only way to launch these quick sneak attacks. We do plenty of damage. Strike fear and doubt into their minds. Or as much as possible with their 'restrained emotional states'." She trailed off. "Unfortunately, transporter technology is currently designed for insect physiology. There hasn't been much testing on mammals."

"For good reason. Our bodies are more complex. Taking them apart and putting them back together again, molecularly? That's years away from safely working," the rabbit guessed.

"Each time we use it," she confessed, sadly, "our cells deteriorate. I'm starting to lose some of my foxes. They're dying. I want you to fix them."

"As far as I know, you can't fix damage like that," Kody said, with a quiet seriousness. "You can only treat it."

"You will fix them," she emphasized, with a bite.

"And if I do?" he asked, playing along.

"Then you will survive."

The rabbit was beginning to sweat.

The fox lowered her voice to a sultry hush. "As I said, I know prey. And I know rabbits. I know ... " Her ample breasts swelled beneath her clothing. Deep breath, followed by an exhale. " ... what you want."

"You're awfully sure of that," Kody replied, nervously. What's she doing ... trying to seduce me? Give me a fucking break.

"I want you to willingly help us, doctor. If it's not willingly ... well, then you won't do your best work. And we might be needing your services for quite a while. Perhaps you need extra incentive ... " She padded around him. In slow, calculated circles. Her tail trailed behind her, brushing in front of his twitching nose. Spreading her scent all around the room. All around him.

He shivered. "You honestly think I'm gonna breed with you," he panted, "and be coerced into aiding your cause?" He struggled, once more, weakly. He was getting flustered. "One of my fellow crew-furs is near death because of you. You realize you might elevate a cold war into an actual full-scale conflict? Is that what you want?"

No response.

His head strained to follow her as disappeared behind him. He felt a queasy sort of arousal.

"Do you really," she finally whispered, touching his nape, clawed fingers trailing up the back of his head. Up a long and slender ear. Up, up. Stopping at the tip. Pinching it, teasingly. " ... now, do you really," she whispered, "think you have a choice?" Her claws lowered and dug across his cheeks. A paw tugging at his fluffy, white bob-tail, harshly.

A yelp.

"If so, you are mistaken ... "

Juneau, red-eyed, sat on a bio-bed parallel her unconscious mate. Her foot-paws not quite reaching the floor. Tail with a heavy arch to it, as if drooping. She felt like this was her fault, somehow. The mouse had only been on the Promenade because of her. Waiting for her. She'd never felt so bad in her life.

"Hey," Adelaide whispered. Lightly brushing her winged arm against the squirrel's side.

"Hey," was the blank, weak echo. Hadn't even known the bat was in sickbay ...

"Mind if I sit down?"

A shrug.

"Denali said he'll be okay," the bat mentioned, "in a few days." She'd come down here to check on Field, who'd given blood. The mouse was currently sleeping (after having been in a woozy state).

"He's not even a full doctor. Just an assistant."

"Still knows more than the rest of us." A reassuring, pink-hued smile. "Do you need to talk about anything?"

"No."

"You sure?"

"Yes. And you should be, too. You read minds, right ... "

"To a degree." The bat didn't enjoy having to explain the intricacies of her 'powers' every single time someone mentioned them. "I don't need my telepathy to tell you're in pain. Anyone would be, in your situation," she continued. "It's not good to bottle things up."

"I've done my crying in private," Juneau assured, numbly. She hesitated before adding, "I'm a fixer. I fix things." She swallowed. "But I can't fix this ... "

" ... we're never really in control, though, are we?" Adelaide supplied. "No matter what we might think ... "

The squirrel sniffled and cleared her throat. "If you can't control anything, then what's the point?"

"The ride, I suppose. The journey."

"Sounds like an utter cliché to me ... "

"I know." The bat wasn't about to be turned off by the squirrel's anti-social attitude. "But it's still the best answer."

No response.

"I guess I'll go, then ... "

The squirrel grabbed the bat's pink, velvety wing-arm, brushing the membrane in the process. " ... no ... sorry. You don't ... " Collecting herself. " ... you don't have to go."

A quiet nod.

The squirrel folded her paws in her own lap. "I'm not sensitive enough to deal with his pain, when he wakes up. If he tries to share it with me, or ... you know? He'll want to be comforted. How am I supposed to help him? I'm afraid of strong emotions. All they do is hurt you in the end ... "

"Why do you say that?"

"Experience." A pause. "I've always found it hard to trust others. With my engines. With my heart." She tugged at her uniform. "I dunno." A pause. There was so much she wasn't saying. About her past, about everything. "Chester wants to be openly affectionate. I'm so reserved. He goes all in. I hold back. We're opposites, really. And yet I ... I do things with him. That you don't do unless ... "

" ... you're in love."

"Yeah ... " Looking at Chester's inert form. He was naked, covered by a pale-blue sheet (up to the shoulders). The computer was monitoring his vital signs and everything.

"There's nothing wrong with that. Some would argue that love is the best, most meaningful thing we can experience in life."

Turning her head. "That include you?"

A toothy smile. "Yeah. And you don't even need to be the same. As long as you have chemistry. Field and I aren't that much alike, but we interact well."

"So, what's my problem?"

"You were probably able to segregate the physical from the emotional, with Chester. The biological from the spiritual. But things blur after a while. Somewhere along the way, the walls came down. The dam burst," she added, clasping her paws together. "You got swept away."

A heavy, whisker-twitchy sigh.

"I know that sounds sappy, but ... "

" ... it's okay." A chitter-sound. "I just wish I could get my mind off it, but we're docked at the station. The engines don't need maintenance or regulation. The ship's power supply is stable." A head-shake. "All I can do is sit here and worry. Sometimes, I hate being a rodent."

"You don't mean that ... "

No response.

"Have you tried getting some rest?"

"I don't wanna be unconscious ... " For some reason, that was scarier to her, right now, than being awake.

Adelaide nodded, worriedly. Clearly, Juneau had a brilliant technical mind. But, emotionally, she was rather unkempt. That wasn't something that could be 'tidied' overnight.

"You can thank Field for me, when he's up. For, uh ... the blood. For Chester," Juneau said, quietly.

"I will."

More quiet, from the squirrel. Before saying, "You're mated to a mouse. You know how 'eager to please' they are ... "

A warm glance. "Yeah ... "

"I think that's what got to me. About Chester. I mean, it's not that other males hadn't tried ... " She trailed off for a moment, voice wavering. Compose yourself, Juneau. Come on. "He was just so innocently eager. So sweetly persistent. Before I knew it, I was letting him wriggle his way in ... "

"Figuratively and literally, right?"

A sheepish twitch. "Right."

"I totally understand." Adelaide gave the squirrel a reassuring hug. "So, if you don't wanna rest ... have you at least eaten today?"

A head-shake. "I was ... " Her voice hitched. " ... that's why he was on the station. He wanted to have breakfast with me. I had, uh ... meetings? Or something. I don't even remember, now. He insisted. I wanted to be with him too much to say no. I used to be able to say no to everyone, all the time ... "

Adelaide wordlessly let go of the squirrel.

But Juneau leaned her head on the pink bat's shoulder.

So, they sat there, keeping each other company, watching over their mousey lovers. Until Adelaide advised, "I'm going to take you to the mess hall. We're gonna eat and talk, okay?"

A withdrawn little squeak. " ... okay."

Kody, reeling from the animal act they'd engaged in, had a few bruises. And a hazy head. He'd stopped struggling about halfway through. She, being a predator, was physically stronger. There was no point. His cheeks burned beneath the fur. He'd never really thought it possible for him, as a male, to be raped. It was humiliating.

They'd left the cell, afterward, and were now in a cavern of some sort. Makeshift beds were lined up in a corner. The doctor had been given a scanner and some crude medical supplies. And been told to 'do your job.' He'd started mumbling about the working conditions, but she just ignored him.

The vixen (he still didn't know her name) watched from a short distance. "What can you do for them?" she asked impatiently, arms crossed. Leaning against a rocky wall.

"Like I suspected: very little. I can give them medicines, give them treatments. I can stabilize them, sure. But the only way to prevent this is to stop using the transporter." The rabbit sounded dejectedly tired. Probably because he was.

"Impossible." The vixen crossed her arms. Still scenting of Kody. "It's our only method of striking the snow rabbits with minimal losses on our side."

"You call this minimal? It's ... " The doctor huffed, angrily. Shook his head. "That's just ignorant. Look what you're doing ... at least put a ceiling on usage. If you use it a few times, fine. But repeated use becomes a problem."

"We only have so many foxes in our ranks. And they all know the risks."

"Well, it's your funeral, then," he spat, darkly.

Choose your words carefully, bunny," she advised, with equal bite.

"Don't call me bunny," he shot back.

Padding toward him, a paw to his cheek (roughly), she whispered, "I will call you what I wish."

Kody twisted away, turning his back to her.

A laugh.

"What's so funny?" he muttered.

"Your resentment. If all prey would just accept that predators are stronger, more dominant, and give us our dominion? There would finally be peace."

"I have a hard time believing that. No one likes to be oppressed."

"If nature didn't want you to be oppressed, why are you so pitifully weak? Why do I have the teeth and claws? And the strength?"

"Why do I have the legs to run from you?"

"You don't have to run."

"You don't have to pursue," he countered.

The vixen just scowled. Clearly, this rabbit was as stubborn as his snowy cousins. "We should both accept that predators and prey are different. And will always be different. We will never see eye-to-eye."

"Maybe not," Kody replied, quietly. "But it's silly to be at each other's throats, isn't it? In the grand scheme of things? What's it going to accomplish? Is it going to change the trajectory of the universe, alter space and time? We have to evolve beyond that. I mean, really ... what's the point ... "

"Your words are meant for a protected, idealized world. A classroom. Not the reality of the front lines. There are too many individuals with too many wants and needs to please them all, or even get the majority of them on the same page. I have to protect myself and my species. As long as the snow rabbits point their weapons at us ... I will do the same, and more," she promised. "My instinct demands it. And if there's anything true about furs, it's that our instincts guide us more than we'd ever care to admit."

Kody burned beneath the fur. Having just bred with her, he couldn't refute that. Yeah, she'd forced it. But his rabbit virility was so rampant, he'd ended up erect enough to make it possible.

" ... enough talking," she eventually said. "You have work to do."

The white rabbit nodded, quietly. Knowing he had to get out of here, and beginning to formulate various plans of escape.

"Dotna ... hey," called Pyro, panting. "Wait up." Jogging toward the chipmunk.

She turned, blinking as she stepped (backward, gingerly) into a lift.

"Good afternoon," the wolf said, as he finally joined her. The doors whooshing shut beside him.

"Not exactly good," she responded, quietly.

"Oh. Yeah. The attack." An awkward pause. He rubbed at his own neck. "It's a bad thing." He looked to her. That was lame, Pyro. Say something else. "Not to sound uncaring, but I'm so used to violence lately. After what happened to me ... " A swallow. " ... you know, before I came here. I mean, I saw a whole planet destroyed, so ... "

" ... guess that would do it," she said, sympathetically. "But I never get used to it. I didn't enter this career track to be a fighter, per say. I mainly wanted to help keep the peace." But she did have a certain physical energy that lent itself to combat, all the same.

"A noble cause." He nodded, honestly. "Someone has to do it ... "

"Yeah. Um ... where are you getting off, again?"

"Wherever the lift stops."

"What deck," she emphasized.

"Oh. Well ... what deck are you going to?"

"I'm going to the armory."

"Me, too!"

She gave him a shy, uncertain look. And told the computer, "D-Deck." It chirruped, and the lift began to move.

"Why are you going to the armory?" the wolf wondered.

"Rella wanted me to be prepared. Have everything in order, just in case the foxes decide to flash aboard Luminous. We're under yellow alert for the time being."

"Yellow alert?"

"A 'stay on your toes' situation. Security personnel carry phase pistols at yellow alert or higher."

"Ah." Pointing to her hip. "You're not wearing a phase pistol."

"Not yet," she replied.

Was it Pyro's imagination, or did that sound like an innuendo?

The lift whir-whirred as it went.

The wolf looked to her, sniffing her scent. Blueberry patch. Again. It was faint, but rather nice, and ... " ... I asked Rella about maybe joining your 'thing-a-do.' I mean, joining the security team."

Soldotna blinked.

"She turned me down." A sheepish grin. "Said she had enough furs. Directed me to Adelaide, and ... so, I guess I'm under her, now." A pause. That sounds slightly libidinous. Your mind, Pyro. " ... well, not literally under her. Like ... you know. I'm serving under her. Not serving her. Just ... " Oh, boy. " ... I'm on her staff."

The chipmunk tried to hide her growing smile, but she couldn't. While gruff at first glance, the wolf's amiable side was coming through more and more. Maybe it was just a matter of him adjusting to his new environment. "You're an Ops officer? Crew rotations, away missions, all that?" Her striped tail flitted, randomly. "Always thought that sounded so mundane."

"Adelaide told me that Ops officers are the oil that keep the gears moving. I told her I thought oil polluted and went out of use decades ago." A nod. "She said I was being a smart-ass."

"She said that? Those exact words?"

"Not exactly. But I bet she was thinking it," Pyro insisted. "She's a paw-ful. I can see how Field got bowled over by her. Very charismatic. Playful and confident. A little dominant." A nod. "But, uh ...I mean, I'm all those things, myself, by the way. Actually. Charismatic, playful ..."

" ... confident, and a little dominant," the chipmunk finished for him, with a sly side-glance. "Right, right ... "

"Yeah." His chest puffing out in self-promotion. "So, I guess I need a 'Field' type ... "

" ... you want Field?" A smirk.

"What? I do?" A blink. "No. H-heh ... uh. No, that's not what I meant." The mouse was bi, though, wasn't he?

"Alright, then what do you mean?" Soldotna asked, taking the bait.

"I go for cute-ish, full of energy, and closer to submissive than not." He daintily touched a finger to her nose. "I think that's you," he whispered.

The chipmunk blushed beneath her multi-brown fur, and opened her muzzle in stammering response. "Uh ... " But was interrupted by the lift, which came to a halt. The doors swished open. " ... uh, here we are. D-Deck."

Pyro gestured with an arm, in gentlemanly fashion. "Females first ... "

She padded into the corridor, bare foot-paws making soft sounds on the softer carpet. "So, if you're working in Adelaide's department, shouldn't you be reporting to her? Or something? Instead of following me?"

"She's busy visiting Field in sickbay, and then coordinating back-and-forth supply exchanges between Luminous and Orbital 9, in wake of the attack. Said she'd assign my duties when things slowed down, once she could 'train' me properly. So, I guess that means: free day!"

"H-heh ... well, you could help me. I guess." She offered it before she could stop herself.

"Help you? Be your shadow, you mean?"

"Thought you were already," Soldotna said, with a sly nod, striped tail moving even faster. Flit-flit! Like it was besieged by hyper-waves. "So, yeah. Shadow. If you want to call it that ... " They rounded a corner. The armory was up ahead. " ... just don't tell Rella that's what you're doing."

"Why? She think I'm a 'bad boy' ... a corrupting influence?" This made him grin widely.

"She thinks you're a bit carnal. She admires your abilities, but ... "

" ... doesn't trust me." Maybe that's why she directed me to Adelaide, a telepath. Thinks the bat can keep a better eye on me? Well, we'll see about that ...

"She will, eventually. I mean, she's very open-minded. Most furs on the ship are. They just need time to adapt to you."

"That include you?"

A shy, whisker-twitchy nod. "Maybe."

"Mm ... "

They reached the armory, the doors whishing into the bulkhead. Both of them stepped through. And when the doors shut, giving them privacy, Soldotna turned and apologized. "I don't mean to make you feel like an outcast. I know you've lost a lot."

"You're prey. I'm a predator. It's a billion year-old deal. You don't have to explain."

" ... you intrigue me, though. I have to admit ... "

"Because I'm different. The allure of the unknown."

She rubbed her neck. "It's not your aura. It's your personality ... " She wasn't sure what to say, next. So, she asked, "How, exactly, does a red-eyed wolf get a name related to fire? Is that a coincidence? You can't make things combust into flames just by looking at them, can you?"

"Damn ... " He did a playful eye-dart. " ... no one's supposed to know about that."

She giggle-squeaked, biting her lip. Eyes shining brightly.

A momentary quiet. "You're very cute," he breathed.

She flushed. And replied, slowly, "Well. Uh. I guess you are very ... handsome ... "

" ... guess?" The wolf gave a low, throaty growl. A warm rumble, more like. He advanced upon her. "Maybe you need to be sure ... "

" ... maybe." Her heart skipping beats. She cleared her throat, squeakily. "But I have to work, Pyro. I really do. Need to check the power cells in every phase pistol. Make sure they're fully charged. Make sure the targeting scanners on the rifles are accurate, and ... "

He held up his paws, in a gesture of surrender. "Alright, alright. Just tell me what to do," he said, with a wink, "and I'll do it. Start from the beginning ... "

Kody fiddled with the controls, awkwardly. He didn't want to tap the wrong button. He was a doctor, not a computer programmer. But he'd hopped away, frantically, when the vixen had turned her head to converse with an underling. Over the past few hours, he'd been straining his tall ears, eavesdropping on little conversations here and there. Enough to gather where the transporter unit was being kept. Now, he just had to figure out how to use it. There had to be a 'recall' function somewhere that could beam him to the location he'd been taken from. The Arctic foxes had hooked up a universal translator to make this thing more understandable, but even so ...

" ... nice try."

Kody flinched. Dammit.

" ... stand up straight. Back away. And turn around."

"Anything else?" he demanded, sarcastically. "Would you like me to hop through hoops?"

"That'll come later," was her dry, sarcastic reply.

He did turn around. But he didn't back up. Staying very near the transporter module. "You said yourself: you need me. You won't hurt me."

"Not irreversibly, no," she agreed, darkly. She dropped her weapon. Couldn't risk frying the transporter. Her claws and muscle strength could deal with the rabbit.

His breath quickened upon seeing her tensing posture. As if she were preparing to pounce. "Well, regardless, I'm getting out of here. I've done all I can." He slapped at some buttons. Tapped a few things. Nothing.

She chuckled, padding a step closer. And then another. "I'll let you in on something, bunny: we're not alone. My group here? There are others like us. And there are snow rabbit agencies, too, taking matters into their own paws. The tension has been building for far too long. It's reaching dangerous levels. It needs released. And the only way for that to happen? Is through conflict."

"Peace makes too much sense, huh?"

"It's too late for that. Peace requires trust, and trust takes ages to build. Witness your own actions: you are trying to escape, because you don't trust me."

"You've given me no reason to!"

"I gave you my body, didn't I?" It came out as a taunt.

The rabbit clenched his jaw, burning beneath his pelt. "I didn't ask for it."

"But you enjoyed it. I heard it in your moans."

His ears burned.

"The fact remains: the only thing prey have going for them are their survival instincts. That's it." She shrugged. "Kinda pitiful, really. I'd dare say yours is stronger than ours. If you would only acknowledge that predators are naturally superior in every other ... "

God. She's such a bitch. Kody, ignoring her (blah, blah, blah), frantically tapped at more buttons. There were a few he hadn't tried yet. Come on, come on ... a beeping. A whir-whir-whir. It was powering up? Yes, it was. He'd managed to engage the transporter!

The vixen gave him a death-stare. "We can find you, Kodiak. This isn't over."

And the rabbit, before he could reply, was whisked away, back to the Promenade on Orbital 9.

When Chester finally woke, sometime later, Juneau (back from her meal with Adelaide) was hovering above him. Holding to his paw. Fingers meshing with his, tenderly.

The white and black-patched mouse blinked. Weak and wincing. Whimper-squeaking, too. "My head hurts," he whispered. His whiskers were drooped. "I don't feel good ... "

"I know ... " Her free paw ran along his cheek. Her thumb, especially, moving back and forth. How was it that mouses were so cute, so innocent?

"What happened?"

Juneau swallowed, hunching over him. "Nothing you need to worry about," she assured.

"I remember l-loud noises ... and, uh ... " A head-shake. " ... I was bleeding." It was starting to come back to him. Some of it, anyway.

"It's alright ... "

" ... Juneau?"

"Yeah?"

A squeaky breath. "I love you."

She looked away, suddenly, a lump in her throat.

" ... are you okay, yourself?"

A wordless nod, tears falling off her whisker-tips, quietly.

"You're crying ... " He began to worry. Whiskers twitching at half-energy. Even though he was injured and struggling to remember why, he had enough worry to extend to her.

" ... because I love you. So much," she whispered, desperately. Paws moving to his chest. She sniffled. "I don't know what I'd do without you." The words tumbled out of her like weights, and then, in an instant, floated away. She'd never said anything like this to anyone. She felt lighter, somehow, as if she'd just undergone a form of catharsis. It felt right. Love was a risk, but she was going to take it.

"I'd hug you, but my arms feel ... like I can't reach up ... "

"Then I'll hug you for the both of us," Juneau replied. And that's exactly what she did.