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Author's note: I've done a bit of minor editing and inserted a scene I'd mistakenly left out of the first version. Also, I've decided that Ashiya and Kyle deserve a bit more closure than I've given them, so one more chapter is planned. It may be a while- my muse is finicky lately- but there will be more!

--

His first thought was of how much his head hurt. His second thought was of how surprised he was to be alive to feel his head hurt. His third thought was of how much being surprised at being alive made his head hurt.

"Damn, my head is killing me," he murmured.

Immediately he felt a smooth, scaled hand on his forehead and a quiet voice in his ear. "Just relax. Your body is recovering from a mix of 'mech toxin, my venom and who knows how many chemicals and medical nanites the doctors used."

Memories flooded back, and as his eyes managed to adjust to the light, he recognized the blurry shape next to him. "Damn... I think I understand why you did it, but Jesus, Ashiya... you bit me!"

She chuckled softly. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't see any other way to slow your reaction to the toxin. I was more terrified that I would end up killing you."

"Though instead it would seem that the venom instead helped save your life, Mr. Aragones." One of the station's physicians followed his words into the room; the Tyrazed's booted hooves clomped quietly against the tile. "Line-captain Syhassi, I'm glad to meet you. I've been informed that analysis of your venom is already underway and that the Rimworld Alliance Medical Bureau is very much looking forward to seeing the results." He turned his attention to the bedridden Human. "As for you, Mr. Aragones, you're quite lucky to be alive. Your reaction to the biomech toxin was quite severe, and if the Line-captain hadn't envenomated you, you likely would have died of cardiac or respiratory arrest before getting to treatment."

"I'd figured that." He reached over and squeezed her hand weakly. "I'm going to take this reptile out to the best dinner she's ever had once I can drag myself out of this bed."

"You'll have time to make the reservations, then, I'm afraid." The physician tapped a few times on the datapad he was carrying. "The toxin, and your body's reaction to it, did some substantial damage to your body's systems. I'll be putting you on medications to reverse that damage, but it will be a low dosage; I don't want to tax your body with accelerated healing. You can look forward to spending two weeks or so under direct orders to rest."

"Gah." He sighed. "Not that I mind a vacation, but I do have bills to pay."

"You do not need to worry about that," came a familiar voice. Kyle looked up, forcing his eyes to focus on a trio of newcomers at the doorway. The Commodore, flanked on each side by Spentz and Raorahn, entered the room. "The Arc-Major has assured me that the Rimworld Alliance will compensate you quite well for the work you did and the injuries you've sustained. Given that-"

A loud beeping interrupted him; the physician looked down at his datapad and frowned. "I'll have to leave you for the time being... it looks as though one of those unfortunates who was captured alive by the 'mechs is going into full-stage rejection of those hell-blasted cybernetic implants." He rushed past the three soldiers, who quickly made way for him; inwardly, Kyle winced. The dead are the lucky ones when it comes to the 'mechs, he thought bitterly. Once they get their claws on you, the best they'll do is cut you open while you're alive to see what makes you tick. Worst they can do is try to "improve" upon it.

The Commodore and Raorahn both lowered their ears, and even Spentz looked pained for a moment. "As I was saying, Mr. Aragones," the Commodore continued, "given that we have your ship on record for no less than ten 'mech kills, as well as a collaborative kill on a gunship corvette, and a confirmed kill of a 'mech assault drone aboard the station. Once the cleanup and tallying are complete, I believe you will find yourself with more than enough credits to carry you through your recovery."

"Well... that's one worry off my mind, then." Kyle sighed. "What about Ashiya, though? Hasn't the Alliance gotten around to setting up banking accounts for any of the Kryyjh yet?"

The Commodore looked askance at Spentz, who shook his head. "No. The issue is still up in the air in the Alliance Congress. Apparently they were worried that the Kryyjh government would see it as a provocation. Now with the 'mechs going on the offensive, the issue is being pushed back."

"Oh, God damn it all. Ashiya wasn't the only Kryyjh to help the station, Spentz. You tell me that we don't want them to think of us as fascists yet we won't pay them directly for the risks they took? What if I'd died? I really doubt you'd have taken that lock off my account so that Ashiya could draw from it."

"That lock is on there for a reason, Aragones. You and your little 'deal' with Mesconen's electronics cartel-"

"Oh for fuck's sake, Spentz, I told you I'd been taken by a front!" Ordinarily Kyle would let this confrontation slide, for Ashiya's sake if nothing else, but the headache and the buildup of resentment pushed him on. "Get your head out of your ass for once and realize that you've got peoples' lives in your hands! Christ, it took you four months to unseal Fysher's records once he was gone! How many Kryyjh are you going to leave hanging-"

The Arc-Major's face was turning red, something that the back of Kyle's mind tagged as a warning. "Your cohort was as deep into questionable dealings as you, Aragones! I had that De'horourna'kir pegged for at least two under-the-level financial deals and suspected for at least five more. Don't you dare try to play innocent."

He was aware of Ashiya squeezing his hand, rather hard, and of the Commodore's flattened ears, but he was too far into the situation to care. "Fysher and I never did anything that hasn't been done by a thousand other people in this sector every day. People bend laws to get by out here sometimes. You only focused on me because of Fysher, and only on him because of what he was! Racist AND homophobic, I don't know how you manage to look in the mirror-"

"MISTER ARAGONES!" He'd never heard Raorahn raise his voice before, let alone in anger, and that in itself was enough to break through Kyle's haze. The felinoid's tail twitched, once. "You know I have never held your view of my superior officer against you, but I will not let you slander him, even in anger!" His ears raised after a moment, just slightly. "The Arc-Major is not a racist and certainly not a homophobe. I should know- I am homosexual, a fact of which he is aware and has never placed against me in my career at this station."

Kyle looked back to Spentz, who- for the first time he could remember- actually looked a bit hurt. "What the hell, Aragones. I know damn well that everyone thinks I'm a hard case, because I am. But I don't care what someone is or who they're sleeping with- I'm here to do my job, which is to enforce law on this station and its space. The reason I tend to focus on De'horourna'kir is that they usually bring trouble with them. The quiet and law-abiding ones I don't even look at twice. Maybe you wouldn't have such a hard time with me if you weren't always intent on treating the law like a joke."

"Well... damn." Kyle rubbed his aching head. "I apologize. I shouldn't have gone off like that. I was out of line."

Spentz reached up and tugged at his collar. "Well. We can let it drop. How you feel about me has no impact on my job, Aragones, nor does how I feel about you. Our past history aside, your actions for the station yesterday are to be commended. We wouldn't have had nearly the success we did pushing the 'mechs off this station if you and your group hadn't managed to patch the network back together. I'm also pushing my contacts higher up the chain of command to speed the Kryyjh banking issue along. The fact that some of them lost their lives on this station isn't going to go unnoticed."

"I will do what I can to assist that effort." The Commodore flicked his ears; whether it was in anger or something else, Kyle couldn't tell. "I do carry some weight in the halls of the Congress."

"Yeah... that's good to hear." Kyle let his head fall back down onto the pillow. The heated exchange and subsequent apology had taken most of his strength. The soldiers seemed to take this as a cue. "The Arc-Major and I have others we need to speak to as well," Raorahn said, ever the voice of diplomacy. "Commodore, will you be joining us?"

"No, Arc-Lieutenant. I will remain here for a short while... I have something I must discuss."

Raorahn nodded at that, and both station officers saluted the Commodore, who swung his ears back in the typical Tirarnik salute in return. As they were leaving, Kyle raised his hand. "Hey, Spentz," he called.

The other Human turned. "Yes?"

"I've got to admit... I loved how you handled that bastard who wanted you to vent the station."

It could've been a smirk on the Arc-Major's lips. "Drastic times call for drastic measures, Aragones."

After they left, the Commodore closed the door, then turned and approached him. "Kyle Aragones," he said in a quiet voice as he reached the side of the bed. "I quite frankly had expected our first meeting to go quite differently than it had. Then again, I have learned that interesting things seem to happen around you."

Comprehension eluded Kyle. "I'm sorry...?"

"You will understand when I tell you who I truly am." The Commodore took a seat in one of the chairs beside the bed. "My birth name... is Antarhaou Paskharour."

Kyle's mind froze, running itself around in circles trying to grasp the meaning of that information. "You... you're...."

"Fysher may have told you that he had a brother, but I doubt he would have said more than that. He was quite protective of my station in life."

Finally, the logjam in his brain broke. "Hell... yeah, he'd told me about having a brother, but he never told me who you were...."

"I trust you understand enough of Tirarnik society to know the consequences if even someone of my rank and privlege were discovered to be related to a De'horourna'kir." A soft sigh escaped the Commodore's muzzle. "Time changes many things, but the backwards mindset of my culture is a match for any mountain."

"It didn't take much to get Fysher started on that subject." Kyle closed his eyes for a moment. "I tried like hell to find out about his family. I'd wanted the Tirarnik government to at least recognize that he existed, and find out who to send his effects to... I never got a single word back from anyone I contacted." He forced himself to sit up. "He was your brother... should I return his things to you? I understand the sword was a family heirloom...."

The Commodore actually shook his head, a typical Human gesture that most Tirarnik went out of their way to avoid mimicking. "I understand that particular blade is currently in the possession of the Line-captain," he replied. "I do not doubt that Fysher would want it to remain with her, and I would dare say it is in good hands."

"I... thank you." Ashiya appeared shocked, but humbly bowed her head. The Commodore smiled slightly. "Fysher and I kept in touch after his departure from Tirarnik space, Mr. Aragones, despite the forced distance between us. As you Humans say, 'blood is thicker than water'. He spoke very well of you... I could see a certain pride in his letters, in his partnership with you and your fights against the biomechs. I know he would be greatly pleased at how well you performed aboard the station today."

He managed a weak smile. "Thank you."

"You are welcome." The Tirarnik officer leaned back. "I will admit, my appearance at this station was not by chance. After finally receiving news of my brother's fate, I made arrangements to move a series of training exercises towards this sector, and to personally oversee the one that arrived here- in the name of ensuring that our troops did well in outlying areas, of course." The slightest of smiles appeared on that dark-furred muzzle. "My true desire was to find and speak to you if at all possible. It just so happened that the biomechs hastened that occurence."

Kyle nodded, unsure of what to say.

"I am pleased that I finally have been given the chance to speak to you, Mr. Aragones, especially in light of recent events- not only against the biomechs, but regarding the Kryyjh as well. Fysher spoke often of your desire to do right by others, and I see that he meant every word of it." The Commodore reached out a hand. "You are a credit to your species, Mr. Aragones, whatever my culture may think of your kind. I could wish we had more like you in our number."

Kyle shook the offered hand weakly. "Don't get yourself down," he said. "I know there's plenty of decent Tirarnik out there who don't have a problem with anyone. They just don't make all that much noise."

"I could say I understand where you're coming from," Ashiya added. "My species is thought of only as militaristic and xenophobic. Which... well, most of us are. But some of us would like to see that change."

"Indeed, I do not doubt that. May we all live to see the day those changes come to pass." The Commodore slowly stood. "Now, Mr. Aragones, I will allow you the rest you both need and deserve. I will do what I can to speak with both you and the Line-captain again soon. Until then, I wish you both the best."

With that, he left the recovery room. Kyle let his head fall back onto the pillow and gave Ashiya a concerned glance. "You probably want an explanation right now," he murmured.

To his surprise, she shook her head. "No. What I want right now is for you to sleep. You can tell me whenever you feel you want to... I'm not going anywhere."

He couldn't help but smile at that, as he made himself comfortable. As he closed his eyes, he felt her hand against his cheek, and he had just enough time to consider how much he enjoyed that feeling before exhaustion claimed him.

--

Looks like it's going to rain.

Ashiya took a sip of her coffee- a Human drink she had grown to love- as she looked through the window. Quite frankly she had very little to complain about... Niyre had generously given her and Kyle use of one of her condominiums on the surface of Eligaria Seven for the duration of Kyle's recovery, with the hope that being planetside would help speed his healing, and Elmez'ki had ensured that they would only have to ask for pretty much anything they needed to have it delivered to their door within the hour. She'd never lived in such comfort her entire life.

She could also admit to herself that she loved being planetside. Feeling the wind, the warmth of the sun, and even breathing in the scent of an oncoming rainstorm- it was natural, something every intelligent creature had evolved to depend upon by some measure. Stations in space were necessary for spacefaring economies, but nothing could replace a wide-open sky and ground beneath one's tail as a place one could call "home".

If only I could shake the nightmares.

She seldom dreamed before, but now she could hardly sleep for more than a couple hours before awakening in a terror. Her nightmares were occasionally about the actual battle with the 'mechs aboard the station, the cluster of bodies they'd found, or Kyle's near-death... but most of them centered around the sight she'd been unfortunate enough to see one week ago, when she and Kyle were still aboard the station. She had been simply traversing the halls in the medical wing to pass the time when she had been nearly run over by a medical crew pushing a cart carrying, she had later learned, one of the unfortunates who had been taken alive by the 'mechs. While she had heard some of the stories of what happened to those poor souls, she'd never seen one of them close up, until that moment- and for the span of three seconds, she was subject to the most horrifying sight she'd ever known.

He had been a male Rah'shahek, a rather tall and strong species of omnivores that were still fairly rare in Rimworld Alliance space. Apparently that rarity had caught the 'mechs' attention, to his great misfortune. She'd been able to spot vivisection scars all over what parts of his body were visible beneath the thick wrappings still holding him together, but what the 'mechs apparently had done to him after that was what had burned itself into her mind forever. A third of his skull had been sliced away surgically, from just past the right ear to the left cheek, and his brain had been pulled free and placed into a thin, see-through plastic container. Dozens of thin silvery wires streamed from the contained into various points in his neck and chest, and at least one threaded into a bulging lump under his skin that was probably some sort of cybernetic "addition" to his body.

Apparently the doctors had not had the time to sedate him, because he was screaming... or at least trying to. All that had come out of his mouth was a deep, distorted moan, almost electronic-sounding- apparently they had replaced his vocal chords with a vocoder of some sort. But his one remaining eye spoke of the horror he was living through at that moment. In those three seconds Ashiya had gazed into the face of biomech cruelty- their absolute neglect for the rights of anything other than themselves, their desire to consume and destroy. And as that cart rushed by, leaving Ashiya plastered against a wall trying to catch her breath, one thought raced through her mind- a thought that had haunted her ever since.

If it hadn't been for Kyle... I could have ended up the same way.

She left the table and returned to Kyle's bedroom, looking in on him. He'd been sleeping for most of the five days they'd been planetside, waking only to eat and take care of other biological needs; the forced downtime wasn't sitting well with him, and he complained of feeling useless and coddled. He was asleep at the moment, looking rather uncomfortable, with a slight frown on his pale lips. She wondered if he was having nightmares as well.

The first time I saw you, I was waking up on a strange bed, wondering how I was still alive. Now here I am, watching you in a strange bed, thankful that you're still alive. She curled herself up in the chair next to the bed, watching the mammal's slow breathing and the shifting of heat through his body. It's not just a matter of being on my own in this alien place if I were to lose you, anymore. It's different now. I don't... I don't want to be without you.

He unconsciously shifted in his sleep, murmuring something in what seemed to be the primary Human language. It sounded strange to her, with drawn-out vowels and sudden stops, but she rather liked the cadence of it. I think maybe I should give learning it a try, she pondered, still watching him sleep. I want to be closer to you, Kyle Aragones. I want to know why you hurt so much, and I want to help make it stop.

On an impulse that she didn't fully understand, she slid herself out of the chair and removed her robe, leaving on only her underwrap, then pulled open the covers and carefully crept into the bed. She nestled in next to him, curling her tail behind her and gently putting one arm over his chest.

She'd never been this close to him before, in such intimate contact. His skin was so soft, so very warm, and she actually envied him for it; she wondered what it would be like to be able to feel the world around her with as much sensation as Humans did. Ah, but he's said as much about my sense of smell and ability to detect heat, she reminded herself. We all wonder what it is to be what we aren't, don't we, Kyle. Still... I can't help but feel just a little limited, trapped beneath these scales.

She lightly traced her fingertips across his cheek before settling in beside him, letting out a soft sigh of contentment at the already-warmed blankets. She kept a bit of distance between them, just to give him his personal space, and watched him for a while as she heard soft peals of thunder and the faint tapping of rain on the rooftop. The soft, rhythmic sounds lulled her into a deep, peaceful sleep, for once completely free of nightmares about being cut apart by the 'mechs.

She awoke once during the afternoon, to find that both she and Kyle had moved in their sleep. He was snuggled against her now, his head nestled against the top of her chest, and his arm draped over her waist. She had rested her chin against the top of his head and laid her tail over his legs. Some distant part of her mind told her that their embrace was far too familiar for mere friends, but the rest of her didn't care in the least... it felt wonderful. She let her pupils close once again, and dropped back into slumber.

Warmth and comfort was all she was aware of for a long while, until a quiet voice slowly brought her back to consciouness. "Hey you, sleepy-scales. I think it's time to get up."

"Nnnrrfff...." Consciousness crept back into her brain, and she realized that Kyle was gazing at her with a slight smile. "Nuh... sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."

"You didn't, at least not directly." He chuckled. "You've been in here with me for about the last five hours, I think. Not that I mind." A smile crossed his lips. "But I can tell you didn't eat today... your stomach is growling."

"What...?" As if on cue, the sensation of hunger hit her. "I suppose I have been eating a bit less than usual," she admitted.

"More like not at all." She could see the concern in his eyes. "Or sleeping, for that matter. I may be spending most of my days comatose, but I can still tell."

She rubbed her snout, debating for a moment whether to play it down as simple insomnia or to tell him the truth. She decided that she would rather be honest with him. "I've been having nightmares," she said. "While you were still recovering on the station, I saw one of the 'mechs' vivisection victims. I just...." She let out a long sigh. "I can't help but imagine what would have become of me if you hadn't been there when I made my distress call."

He placed his hands on her shoulders. "But I was there, and you don't have to think about that. Now, we are going to get some food into you."

He started to get up, and she placed her hands on his shoulders to halt him. "Oh, no you don't," she told him, flexing her hood a little to show that she was teasing. "I'll handle the food preparation, while you stay here and be a good patient. I swear I'll tell Laou that you've been going against the doctor's orders, otherwise."

A flash of very real fear crossed his face before he laughed. "You wouldn't! She'd be down here inside the hour chewing me out!"

"Then you be a good furless mammal and stay put." She chuckled softly as she left the bed, donning her robe once more and slithering out into the kitchen. She was not a cook by any measure, but the condominium had been provisioned with enough instant foodstuffs to feed a squad out on maneuvers for a week. As she was assembling a large bowl of salad with chunks of cheese and meat for Kyle, a display on the table flashed and chirped- an incoming call from Laou. "I'll get it," she called towards the bedroom before reaching over to tap the display. "Hello, Laou," she said.

"Ashiya! You're looking well." The ursinoid was smiling broadly. "How is Kyle?"

"Sleeping most of the time and complaining about it every moment he's awake." They shared a laugh. "He's recovering well, though. Niyre was right; being planetside is definitely helping."

"She knows her stuff, that herbivore. I just wanted to check up on you two, since our little group up here worries otherwise. Lisschek's been beside himself- he swears he's going to go back in time and alter Human evolution so that they can access the Vii'nev hive-mind, and he can know how Kyle is at any moment instead of having to wait for word. To be honest, I'm starting to wish he could do just that." Laou chuckled, before reaching offscreen to tap at something. A small padlock icon popped up, indicating that the connection was now encrypted. "Actually, I called to tell you something as well, Ashiya. Ever since you and the other Kryyjh came to the station, some of us have been working on cultivating contacts in your former government. We wanted to keep tabs on what the situation was regarding all of you, through 'unofficial' channels."

She leaned on the counter, the salad forgotten for the moment. "What did you find out?"

"There's been no decision about all of you yet, but the reason for that isn't very pleasant." That expressive muzzle dropped into a frown. "The Rimworld Alliance isn't the only interstellar government to be hit hard by the 'mechs lately. We've gotten word that ten outlying Kryyjh stations have been attacked. We can't get any numbers on casualties or the like, but I'm not getting the feeling that they did much better than us."

Ashiya sighed. "The 'mechs have been busy."

"Unbelievably so. The Central Clusters, the Arc League... it's like the 'mechs have figured out where to hit everyone where they're the most vulnerable."

"I don't understand how they're doing this. This isn't exactly common knowledge, but I know that my people are fighting the 'mechs in at least seventeen different systems. I also know the Rimworld Alliance has been fighting them off across entire sector grids. They suddenly have the ability to pull off this sort of offensive across this much distance?"

Laou shook her head. "That's well beyond the range of my hunt, lady serpent. Yours as well. I didn't tell you this to make you worry- I just wanted to keep your ears pointed towards the truth... so to speak." She chuckled. "You let the people in charge handle the big issues, and worry about what you can change."

Ashiya nodded. "You're right. Thank you, Laou. I appreciate the information."

"No trouble at all." The ursinoid grinned as she tapped at her controls again, de-encrypting the transmission. "Oh, I've got something I wanted to show you as well. It turns out that a lot of the children that your group rescued have been drawing pictures and making postcards for everyone. I happen to have one of the drawings right here." She held up a thick piece of paper with a handful of stick figures rendered in crayon; she could easily recognize herself, depicted as a single yellow-green line with two line "arms" and a triangle for a head. Scribbled in passable GalCom2 over their heads was "Thank you for rescuing us".

Ashiya felt her jaw drop. "That's adorable!" she exclaimed. "Hold on, I'm going to get a capture of that so Kyle can see." She brought up the menu and saved a copy of the image into the condo's computer system. "You don't know how good seeing that makes me feel, Laou."

"Oh, I can guess." The Duraour winked playfully. "There's more waiting for you two to see, once you come back up to the station. No hurry, though- I want both of you hale and hearty the next time I see you." She looked offscreen at something and grinned. "I see you folks are in for a storm tonight. There's nothing better than cuddling up with someone and listening to the rain, hm? Take care down there!"

The display blanked, leaving Ashiya staring open-mouthed at the screen before outright laughing quietly to herself. The Kryyjh finished putting together a salad that actually even looked appetizing to her, despite knowing that the leafy greens and colorful vegetables would last in her stomach for about three minutes before being violently ejected. Instead, she quickly sliced up a thick slab of meat- something made from a large, flightless bird bred on this planet- and sprinkled some spices over it. Satisfied, she placed both of the plates on a metal platter, poured some flavored water into a pair of glasses, and set down some utensils, then carried the tray into the bedroom.

Kyle was sitting back against the bed's headboard, arms behind his head and legs crossed. "Hey, that looks good," he commented, looking at the food on the tray. "Who was it that called?"

"Laou. She had some information and something I want you to see. First, though, here you go." She set his plate in his lap and let him collect the glass and utensils, before taking a seat in the chair next to the bed. She slid a slice of the meat into her mouth and let it sit a moment, enjoying the taste before she swallowed it. "Mmm, that's good. Laou says that she's heard from some contacts that she and the others have cultivated in the Kryyjh government. They're getting hit hard by the 'mechs as well, just as hard as we were." It felt strange, for just a moment, to refer to her own peoples' government as "they" and this alien one as "we"... until she remembered why she was here now. "It seems to be even more widespread than that, as well. It seems every major interstellar alliance or government has seen a drastic increase in biomech attacks, using similar tactics."

"Gah." Kyle leaned back and sighed. "The 'mechs have always been a serious problem, but now they're acting like a real aggressor for the first time anyone can remember. Before, it's just been simple numerical superiority and a complete unwillingness to back off. Now... what the hell, they're an actual military."

"Frightening, I know. But I refuse to live in fear. The 'mechs can be beaten, even at this new game of theirs." Ashiya swallowed another slice of meat. "Here. This will lighten your mood." She raised the display that was attached to the nightstand, keyed it on and brought up the image she'd saved. Kyle immediately broke out into laughter. "Oh, God!" he chortled. "That's too precious. I think that's me there, right next to yours. Is my head really that big?"

"Look at mine! I look like I could swallow both of us whole." Ashiya snickered. "Ah, younglings. Doesn't matter the species, they're all a wonder."

They were quiet for a short while, enjoying the food, listening to the rain- already coming down hard- and looking at the picture on the display. Once they'd finished their meal, Ashiya set the tray on the nightstand and stretched out on the side of the bed. She'd just been about to ask him if he'd enjoyed the meal when he spoke first. "I have a question. On the station... Hessirin said something to you in your language before he died. I've been wondering what it was."

"Ah, that... well." Ashiya leaned forward. "It was a request, Kyle. 'Protect our savior.' You see... we Kryyjh that you brought here to Alliance space look at you as just that- our savior. Of course, that goes doubly for me." She gave him a smile.

"Ashiya, we've talked about this-" he began.

She gently put a finger to his lips. "I know we have. But you're not going to change our view of you, Kyle Aragones- especially not mine."

He shook his head, making a soft sound of amusement. "I'm the furthest thing you're going to find from a hero around here," he told her. "Let's just say that Spentz wasn't entirely off the mark when he was rattling off my 'list of crimes' back on the station."

"As you told him, people have to do things out here to get by. I understand that." She placed a hand on his shoulder. "The universe is a perfect creation, but us tiny little life forms scurrying around inside it certainly aren't. Nothing you could have possibly done wrong could ever erase what you've done for us."

She could see his expression growing distant again- she'd learned to read his face so very well- and she moved up along the side of the bed, stopping beside him. "Kyle," she said quietly, doing her best to give her own expression a sympathetic tone. "This isn't just about me, is it? You're thinking about Fysher right now."

He looked shocked for a moment, then chuckled. "You never told me you Kryyjh could read minds."

"I like to think of it as just having gotten to know you." She leaned against the headboard, next to him. "I'm listening if you want to talk," she reassured him.

He leaned back and let out a soft sigh, then nodded. "Alright. This is a long story, though."

"Take your time, my dear mammal. I've got nowhere else to be."

The Human folded his legs underneath him, made himself comfortable, and began to speak.

"I'm sure you've figured out by now that Fysher was a Tirarnik and a De'horourna'kir. He and I met about nine standard years ago on a trade station further inside Alliance space. I'd been working as a desk clerk for a beryllium-mining company, and he was 'in-between jobs'. We'd both been separately drinking our respective life-problems away when some argument started between a small group of Humans and another group of Tirarnik. Words were followed by punches, and the fight spilled over into where I'd been sitting, and me- being rather drunk and belligerent- joined in. It turns out that the only good shot I got in was on Fysher, who'd just been trying to make his way past the ruckus. He took offense to that, and hit me back hard enough to dislocate my jaw." Kyle chuckled. "Not the best first meeting two people could have.

"We saw each other again a few hours later, coming out of the local medical bay where my jaw had gotten re-set and he'd just gotten the three teeth I'd knocked out replaced. We were both sober by then, and we realized just how absurd what had happened was, so we laughed about it, put it behind us and started talking. It turned out that he was looking to go into business for himself, and had a decent amount of money put away, but didn't have a lead on anything viable. I happened to have some contacts in the freelance mining world and had heard that the market for salvage was up, due to increased 'mech attacks in various areas. We were both experienced solo pilots, and anyone who's flown anywhere but the most secure Alliance sectors knows how to handle themselves in deep-space ship-to-ship conflicts, so we decided that we should get ourselves a vessel and find a good place to set up a salvaging operation.

"The Shadowdancer took us three months to find, two weeks to buy and seven months to strip down and refit. It wasn't easy, but it was a hell of a lot of fun, and we learned a lot doing the job. We sort of flitted through a few outlying sectors before finally deciding on this one. It was rough going at first... we didn't really know what we were doing, we didn't know the area, and we didn't have any contacts with the locals. But we plugged away at it, 'keeping eyes open and ears up' like Fysher used to call it, and after a year of ekeing out a living we started making friends and finding better leads. By then, really, it wasn't about the money any more- we were free, making a living doing something that- while dangerous- was exciting and enjoyable, and we had people we could count on. We couldn't ask for much more than that."

The Human paused for a moment of rest; so much talking still took quite a bit of his strength. Ashiya waited while he took a sip of water before continuing. "You probably picked up from what I said to Spentz that Fysher was homosexual. It sort of took me by surprise, because I hadn't noticed it until about seven months after we'd met, when he propositioned me. He admitted he was disappointed when I told him I was hetero- apparently I'm rather attractive to other males."

Ashiya chuckled. "Khamen's said as much."

"You've got no idea how much those two teased each other. Fysher actually started pricing one of those skintight scale body kits you can buy at some of the fetish shops. Would've played hell on his fur, though, so he never went through with it." Kyle laughed quietly. "His orientation didn't bother me, and he knew I wasn't interested, so aside from the occasional teasing, he never brought up the subject. At the very least we were never competing for lovers. I actually met a couple of his; Fysher had good taste- they were people you could depend on in a crunch, decent and honest. For a little over six years, the two of us lived the kind of life most people only read about in adventure stories."

She watched his expression fall from reminsicent to pained. "Seven months ago we'd found a Cerilliad freighter abandoned in the middle of an outlying asteroid field. It had been caught in a 'mech ambush and suffered heavy damage, but all hands were able to escape via lifepods. We knew that the company it belonged to would pay a hefty reward to get their ship back, but we couldn't simply tow it in without making sure that it was free of 'mechs, so we docked the Shadowdancer and went aboard to do a quick sweep. We didn't expect there to be many 'mechs on board since they typically just loot what they can and move on."

Ashiya frowned. "And that wasn't the case this time, was it?"

"No." Kyle closed his eyes for a moment. "Five minutes after we boarded, we were swarmed. We had an exit plan, and we managed to follow it, but during the ambush Fysher took a wound to his arm from one of the 'mechs' blades. By the time we got back to the Shadowdancer he was complaining of a headache, and within a minute of us undocking he was going into full-blown seizures. Our medical bay couldn't handle the severity of his reaction... and he died before we were even halfway back to the station." He lowered his head, and Ashiya saw a tear trickle down his cheek. "He was gone... just that fast. No chance for goodbyes, no time to prepare...."

"Kyle... I'm terribly sorry." She gently held his arm. "It must have been painful to lose someone that close to you that way."

"It's... it's not just that." He looked up at her with eyes full of anguish. "Over the years, Fysher became the brother I never had when I was growing up. I put my life in his hands and he put his in mine, never so much as a second thought in either of our minds. Honestly, Ashiya... I loved him. Maybe not the way he would have liked, but I loved him. I never had the chance to tell him before I lost him." He covered his face with his hands. "I never even thought to... I should have...."

"No... Kyle, it's...." Words failed her. It tore her heart in half to see him so distraught, so angry at himself for the same common failing everyone had with those they were close to. "I'm so sorry," she murmured. "If my species wasn't so damnably xenophobic and secretive, the Alliance would have had a counterserum...." She'd never felt so much impotent rage and self-loathing before. This good, decent male had lost his closest friend to an act of senseless violence- and if only the people in charge of her society had pulled their snouts from their vents and put the common good ahead of their own fear and distrust, it would never have happened.

She pulled Kyle into her arms, hugging him tightly to her, letting him weep into her shoulder as she keened into his. She could feel his body shake as he sobbed, and each motion felt like a physical blow. She wanted to take his pain away, ease his mind, make everything better for him. "Kyle," she murmured softly into his ear. "He had to have known. Everything I've heard about Fysher makes me believe that. The Commodore told you how well Fysher spoke of you to him."

"I know, but...." He paused to take in a ragged breath of air. "I don't know why I never told him. Maybe some part of me didn't want to lead him on, make him think I was considering sex with him. I never meant to keep him at arm's length, Ashiya, but looking back maybe that's what I did."

"No. I can't believe that." She stroked his cheek with her palm. "I think I can envy the Vii'nev somewhat, because each of them always knows what another is thinking and feeling. The rest of us just get words to use, and even within a single one-species culture they're not the most precise tools. Look at how many species you have here and it's a wonder we can communicate 'go left at this junction' to each other, let alone complex feelings." She managed a half-hearted chuckle. "But we try, and we do our best to understand each other. It could be that you simply couldn't find the right words to tell Fysher how you felt without possibly confusing him- but I truly believe that he knew despite that. I know- I may never have met him, but I simply know- that he wouldn't want you to tear yourself apart over this."

He rested his head against her chest for a short while, seemingly deep in thought. Ashiya simply caressed the back of his neck and let him be. She couldn't get used to how warm and soft his skin was, how she could actually feel his pulse through it in certain places. She could wonder how Humankind survived long enough to get off their own world, let alone beat back a biomech incursion for decades by themselves, until she remembered the abject determination and bravery Kyle had shown. But you're not invincible, even if you want to believe you are, she thought. You can hurt. And some of you want to put on a brave face and carry on no matter what... but nobody can do that forever. Not you, not me. Out here in the depths of nothingness, we all need each other.

She had begun to think that he'd fallen asleep against her when he finally spoke again. "I guess you're right," he murmured. "I just... I hate the fact that I couldn't have told him goodbye. I hate that the 'mechs took him out of my life like that. I hate that Hessirin died right in front of me and I couldn't do a thing about it."

"You hate the 'mechs, Kyle." She gently ran her fingers through his hair. "And with all the reason in the universe. But you can't hate yourself for what they did. You're one person, and you did everything that one person could, put your life at risk when you could have simply sat and waited for others to solve the problem. You saved lives that day, Kyle Aragones... more lives than I can count. I won't for one second let you believe that you somehow failed." She lowered her head to gaze into his eyes- those strange, lidded, round-pupiled eyes. "I wish I could do something to make you feel better. I'm angry enough to spit venom at the fact that Fysher could have lived if only my government weren't such fools. How many lives could have been saved if Kryyjh weren't so distrustful of other species, so close-minded and stupid...."

His hand gently covered her mouth, quieting her. "No," he replied, his voice soft but brooking no argument. "Your government, maybe, but any species that includes you can't ever be described that way." He shook his head slowly, moving his hand away. "And I wouldn't even be here right now if you hadn't saved me," he continued. "I had no idea I was just as vulnerable to the toxin as Fysher had been. The Alliance has never been able to formulate a test to check for the condition."

"I couldn't have let you die." She looked away for a moment. "I... I didn't want to lose you."

She couldn't quite read the look he gave her... a strange mix of what seemed to be acceptance and confirmation, as though he'd already know what she'd told him. But instead of clarifying, he stroked the edge of her hood with his palm for a moment before leaning back. "Let's get some rest," he told her. "We'll talk more in the morning, alright?"

She hadn't realized it until he'd said something, but she was tired- almost exhausted, in fact. Their exchange had taken as much out of her as it seemed to have taken from Kyle. She began to climb out of his bed, but he gently took her hand. "Wait," he said. "Stay here. I think we both sleep better when you do. Besides...." One of his eyes closed in a teasing wink. "I won't bite, I promise."

She couldn't help but laugh at that. "Oh, good, I was worried for a moment," she joked, removing her robe and tossing it onto the nearby chair, then pulling back the covers and sliding into the bed next to him. He turned off the light, plunging the room into darkness lit only by the faint twilight that the storm allowed through the far window. She could hear rain falling on the roof, harder than before; Laou had been right about the storm. It was alright with her, though... she was safe, warm and in good company.

She took the Human into her arms and let him do the same with her. The embrace felt wonderful, and she didn't think she'd ever want to move again. With the sound of the rain and Kyle's steady breathing, it didn't take her long at all to fall into a comfortable sleep.

*KRAAAKA-THOOM*

The deafeningly loud clap of thunder jolted her awake and bolt upright in the bed. Half-blind and confused, for a moment she believed that she was back on-board her transport pod, being attacked by the 'mechs. A light flicked on, and she felt a soft-skinned hand on her shoulder. "Ashiya!" a voice yelped. "Hey! Calm down!"

She froze, not comprehending for a moment. Then memory came flooding back, and she relaxed, dropping back onto the bed. "The... gah!" she muttered. "I'm sorry, Kyle. The thunder... it just caught me by surprise."

"Easy. It's alright." He squeezed her hand. "It startled me too. Your brain forgets about things like that when you spend most of your time out in space, hm?"

"I guess so...." She rubbed her head slowly, taking deep breaths to try to slow down the rapid beating of her heart. "I didn't mean to wake you. I'm sorry."

"Not your fault in the least, Ashyia. Just relax." His hand gently moved hers aside and began to stroke the back of her neck. "You spend far too much time in a strange state of tension, I think. Sometimes I start to wonder if you even know how to relax."

She let her hand fall to her side, leaning into the gentle caress. "I do," she insisted. "It's just... not a good idea to do so where I come from, that's all."

"From what you've told me, I can understand that. But you're not where you come from anymore." He placed his hand on her shoulder. "Come here. Sit in front of me. We're going to get rid of this tension of yours."

"Alright." She shifted position to curl herself up in front of him, her tail lightly draped over his legs and her back against his chest. She relaxed her hood and let her head sink down. "Now, I understand that you have different muscle groupings than I do," he told her. "But I've learned I have a knack for giving relaxing massages, whatever the species. Now I want you to simply let the tension go. You're safe here, I promise."

She did her best to comply, letting her pupils close and slowing her breathing. She could already feel her heartbeat slowing, just by virtue of his warm and gentle touch. I keep wanting him to let himself be vulnerable to me, but I haven't given him the same, she thought. Let down your guard, Ashiya. Kyle's proven that he won't let any harm come to you.

It was easier thought than done, but Ashiya finally managed to let her body relax, almost melting into Kyle's arms. She heard him chuckle. "There you go," he said to her. "Doesn't that feel better?"

"It does, yes...." She could feel his hands slide across her back, up over her shoulders and down her sides, his fingertips gently pressing against her scales and rubbing at the muscles underneath. He found each tight muscle, each sore spot, and gently massaged it away with slow, circular motions. It didn't take him long to make her feel as though her skeleton had turned to gel, her muscles becoming more loose and relaxed than she could remember them ever being. "Nnnhhhh," she murmured. "Kyle... I think you may have missed your calling. You could do this for a living, easily."

"Maybe, but it wouldn't bring me the same joy as doing it for people I care about." He gently pushed against her back to have her lean forward, brought her head up and began to knead his thumbs along either side of her spine, all down along its length. The release of endorphins that her knotted neck muscles caused as the Human massaged them felt almost like an orgasm traveling through her, making her shiver and pant quietly for breath. Her body rocked back and forth ever so slightly each time his thumbs pressed against her hide. Before I came to Alliance space, I never knew what it was like to have someone do so much just to make me feel like this. If more of my people knew they could have this kind of life here, the skies would glitter with the reflections from our ships, the kind of mass exodus you'd see... I could never go back, now. Never. I would rather die than give this up and return to the isolation and distrust they call a way of life. This is where I want to be, with Kyle.

She could feel her heart begin to beat faster again, but now for an entirely different reason than before. The soft caresses of Kyle's fingers against her body were firing up instincts she had, not too long ago, almost forgotten she'd had. The attentions of a worthy and loving male were like an intoxicant for her, making her want even more; she wanted to embrace this Human, to coil herself around him and feel every bit of his warm skin against her scales. At one point I was afraid of forming an attachment to Kyle. Now I fear ever losing the one we have. I think... that maybe it's time to make that link stronger.

The object of her thoughts was at that moment working his way along her lower back with those talented hands of his. Ashyia was amazed that she hadn't literally melted into a puddle of utterly contented reptile right there in front of him. "Kyle," she said quietly.

"Hm?" came his reply.

"There's something I would like to ask you, but I'm not sure I can find the words, so I would rather show you what I want instead. May I?"

"Of course."

"Alright." And with that, she reached behind him, gently took hold of his wrists, and brought his hands around to her front to place them against her breasts. "I know that you don't practice species discrimination when it comes to intimacy," she said in a soft voice. "I was hoping that, perhaps... we might form a partnership." She knew that the term had a dual meaning in the Galactic Common languages, and that he was aware of both of them. She craned her neck so that she could look at him with one eye. "If you would have me."

"Well." He returned her gaze with a steady one of his own. "I... had thought of asking you to take the co-pilot's chair of the Shadowdancer, Ashiya. And I'm most certainly not adverse to the idea of being intimate with you. I only worry that I can't protect you." He let out a small sigh. "My track record in that department is shoddy, I'm afraid."

"You can't protect me from everything, Kyle. Nor can I do that for you. But... we can protect each other." She stroked his hands with her palms. "People like you and I can't simply live in safety. We have to be out there-" she raised her head a bit, indicating the skies outside, which were currently dumping sheets of rain on the roof- "taking the risks many others won't take, and reaping the rewards. But it's lonely out there, and dangerous. You told me that you couldn't manage any real salvaging by yourself... let me be there with you, to help you." She interlaced her fingers with his, holding them against her chest. "Let me be a part of your life. Let me be with you."

He was silent for a moment, looking into her eyes, before he gently removed his left hand from her breast, used it to bring her snout around to face him, and then kissed her. It was a soft, tender kiss, and she returned it as best as she could, leaning into it. After a long moment, he pulled away. "I don't think I've told you," he said, "but you are beautiful."

She lifted her hood a little in embarassment. "Flatterer. Are you trying to get me to blush?"

That got her a chuckle from him. "That would be a neat trick for you, I think," he replied, moving his hands to the top button of her underwrap. "May I?"

She slipped her fingers underneath the bottom of his sleeveless shirt. "Only if I can do the same."

"Deal." He raised his arms to allow her to slide his shirt off of him. As she tossed it aside, she took a moment to admire his upper body; she knew he took care of himself physically, having joined him in a number of workouts aboard the Shadowdancer, but she'd never had a chance to see the well-defined muscles of his chest and abdomen. She traced her fingertips over them as his hands unbuttoned her underwrap and opened it, exposing her breasts to his view. "One thing I don't understand," she said, "is why so many of you mammalian males have nipples." She tweaked one of his for emphasis.

He laughed at that. "I'm not sure, myself," he replied. "I much prefer seeing them on females." His fingers slid back the patch of soft scales that protected her left nipple, and he leaned down to take it into his mouth, sucking on it gently. She let out a sharp gasp. "Ohhh," she murmured. "Gah, Kyle... I can't begin to tell you what a lost art foreplay is in Kryyjh society."

"I'm more than happy to show you how we do it here in the Alliance." With a playful grin, he began to nibble on her sensitive nipple, his rather sharp incisors tugging at it gently. She had never felt that before- her race had very few teeth aside from their fangs, which did not lend themselves well to sex in any way- and it made her shudder in delight. She slid her hands all over his chest, sides and back, loving the warmth of his skin, how pliant it was under her fingers. "You mammals are truly something else," she said quietly. "It took me a while to understand how it was so many different species could have such interest in intimacy with each other... but now I wonder how I was ever content without this sort of variety."

"I doubt Khamen and I are the only ones who've shown interest in the Kryyjh," he said with a sly grin. He lowered his head to gently nuzzle and kiss the undersides of her breasts, and she shivered. "That... ohhh. I think... you found a sensitive spot I didn't even know I had."

He gazed up at her, letting his hands gently knead her breasts for a moment. "You have really been denied any good foreplay, haven't you?" he asked quietly. "I'm going to have to rectify that." With that, he slowly lowered his head along her body, leaving a trail of soft kisses along her abdomen, still squeezing her breasts gently with his hands. She laid her hands on his shoulders and gazed down at him in wonder and anticipation. "Niyre and Laou are two truly lucky females if they've been able to experience this for so long," she said.

He chuckled at that, moving still lower until he reached the lower half of her underslip. She could feel him flick his tongue against the scales of her belly, teasing at the edges of her garment, just above her vaginal slit; it was all she could do to keep herself from tearing the clothing off and shoving his face against her. "I'm not sure... how much more of this I can take," she panted, dragging her fingertips up and down along his back.

"I'll make it worth your while, I promise," he replied with another wink. He undid the button that held up the rest of her underwrap and let the garment slide down her tail onto the bed, leaving her bare before him. Her vaginal slit was already slightly opened, wetness glistening at its edges, and Kyle leaned down to give it a soft kiss, an action that made Ashiya groan. "Wait," she managed to gasp out. "Before you do anything else... I think it only fair that I be able to return the favor." She rubbed his chin with her palm. "I promise I won't bite," she added playfully.

He grinned at that, raising his head to lightly kiss her breast before leaning back. "I'm all yours."

She immediately slithered her way to his side, pressing herself against him, lightly flicking her tongue against his ear. She could scent his hormones so easily now, and they were driving her already raging libido to all-new heights, but she wanted this first time with Kyle to last. She slowly slid her hands into the waistband of his loose pants and drew them down, leaving him covered only by his undershorts, tented by his erection. She actually felt a bit of trepidation- she had no idea what a Human penis looked like- but her increasing sexual need drove her on to find out. She gently stroked him through the thin fabric, making him shiver. "May I?" she asked.

He gave her a wanting look that made her heart skip a beat. "Oh, God, please do. You're not the only one fighting urges, believe me."

She drew his undershorts down, watching in wonder as his penis finally sprung free and stood before her. She'd never seen a male mammal nude before, let alone one with an external penis, and it looked strange to her- but also alluring. She could see the veins beneath the skin, pulsing with his lifeblood, and the lightly-haired testicles beneath it glowed like a sun to her heat sense. She'd smelled his sexual musk before, but never so strongly, and she could feel herself get even more wet at the thought of having this length of flesh inside her. She felt Kyle's hand on her shoulder and glanced up at him. "Anything wrong?" he asked.

She gave him a smile. "With this? Not at all," she reassured him, giving his shaft a gentle squeeze and hearing the soft moan it elicited. "I find it to be more than acceptable." She leaned over and flicked her tongue across his tip, picking up a droplet of his seed; it was thick, warm and salty, and she could feel it coat her tongue before she drew it back into her mouth. She nestled her snout between his legs and drank in his scent, nuzzling his penis gently. "Would it be alright if I tasted more of you?" she asked.

"Only if I can do the same," he replied.

"Oh, by all means, please." She stretched herself along the bed opposite of him, letting out a soft hiss of pleasure as he wrapped his arms around her waist and began kissing the edges of her genital slit. She flicked her tongue along the length of his maleflesh, enthralled by the taste and scent; finally, need overrode patience, and she took him into her mouth, sucking at his length and squeezing it with her tongue. She gently caressed the soft sack beneath his length with one hand, while running the fingers of her other hand through the thatch of hair above it.

Evidently, Kyle was not to be outdone. She felt him drag his tongue along the edges of her slit, its tip flicking against her soft wet inner flesh, and even his teeth scraping across it. Then he spread the lips of her sex open and began to lap at her depths, letting his broad, flat tongue rub across her flesh, gulping down her juices as quickly as he could collect them. The pleasure was exquisite, and her tailtip lashed back and forth, her drawn-out moans of pleasure muffled by his organ in her mouth.

Then he withdrew that talented tongue of his from her body. She was about to ask- or possibly beg- him to resume when he slid two of his fingers into her instead. She couldn't help but let out a deep, guttural moan as his long, clawless fingers parted her inner flesh, sinking deeply into her; they quickly found her clitoral folds and began to caress them slowly, tracing their length along her already-soaking channel, and making her release him from her mouth for a moment to cry out in pleasure. "Kyle!" she gasped. "You weren't joking about showing me what foreplay is! I can't find words to tell you how good that feels!"

She heard him chuckle. "Good. You're going to invent some new words before we're done, if I have anything to say about it."

"Oh, I won't be the only one if I can help it...." She lowered her head, flicked her tongue across his scrotum a few times to savor even more of his male scent, then gently took it into her mouth. She began to stroke his length, squeezing it lightly with every upward stroke, as she sucked on his sack; she let her tongue caress the sensitive flesh, curling it around him and tugging ever so gently, loving the taste of him. The deep moans that her attentions earned her were music to her ears.

She felt her inner muscles tighten around his fingers as a climax approached, scant minutes after they'd gotten started. Her entire body undulated across the bed as it struck, triggered by his expert fingers, crashing over her like a wave and leaving her unable to do anything but lie there and enjoy it. She rested her head against his groin, lightly nuzzling his penis as she panted for breath, watching in wonderment as a trickle of his seed dripped along its length; she was quick to capture it with her tongue, gulping it down eagerly. "You taste wonderful," she murmured to him.

"I can definitely say the same about you," he returned. She raised her head to see him licking his fingers clean of her juices, then leaning down to lap at her vaginal slit to get at more of them. Seeing this wonderful male's tongue slide across her scales inflamed her passion even higher. "Kyle," she said quietly, her voice just a bit strained.

He paused to look up at her. "Ashiya?"

"I can't wait any longer. Five minutes of foreplay with you is better than an hour of anything I've gotten from any Kryyjh male I've been with." She coiled over herself to flick her tongue against his neck. "I want this in me," she whispered into his ear, gently squeezing his shaft. "I feel as though I've cheated myself by waiting so long to do this. I should have stripped you naked the moment I woke up aboard your ship." She slithered her way up along his body, ever so slowly, relishing the feel of skin on scales. "It would have been a perfect way to start off my new life... but I'm more than willing to make up for the wait." Finally, she poised herself over him, giving his entire body a long look; she could see her slit literally dripping onto his length, so aroused was she at the prospect of mating with this Human. She let out a soft hiss of contentment as he wrapped his arms around her waist, and dipped her head down next to his. "Thank you," she sighed, raising her head to look into his eyes as she impaled herself on him.

The climax hit her almost like a physical force, as the sensation of that warm, solid length of maleflesh parting her depths rolled through her. She let out a little sigh of contentment as he hilted inside her, and she held that position for a moment, squeezing him inside her and moaning at the feeling of resistance so deep inside. He wasn't as large as Khamen- that would've been physically impossible- but he was easily as large as any Kryyjh male she'd seen, and much warmer. She could feel his heat radiate into her body, quickening her pulse and raising her arousal even higher. She drew herself up, keeping only the tip of his shaft inside her and feeling him shiver at the sudden coolness of the air against his sensitive flesh, and then let herself drop back onto him once more. His moan counterscored her own. "God, Ashiya, you feel wonderful," he gasped.

"So do you," she groaned. She leaned down to flick her tongue across his chest, which glistened with sweat; it was tangier than his semen, but enjoyable as well. "And I can't get enough of your taste," she added. "Mammals are such an interesting lot... I can see why the reptilian types here enjoy being with you."

"I've always liked the scaled types, myself." He gently moved her head down so that he could rub and kiss the inside of her hood, which she opened for him. "Ahhhh," she gasped. "Obviously you do... and you've learned our sensitive spots quite well." She coiled her tail around his leg and squeezed gently. "Though I don't have the same experience pleasuring mammals... I think I'm going to enjoy learning."

"That's the spirit." Kyle grinned. "Now... why don't you show me what Kryyjh can do?"

"I'd be delighted to." With that wonderful invitation, Ashiya placed her hands on the Human's chest, raised her head, and began to undulate her body against his, the slow rhythmic motions drawing her almost completely off of him before taking him back inside her to the base. She felt her hood spread wide open in arousal, and Kyle's knowledgeable hands gently caressed and rubbed its edges before moving down to squeeze her breasts. The feeling of those soft palms pressing against her exposed nipples blended in with the pleasure of his length sliding deep into her, drowning any coherent thoughts she might have had in a sea of ecstacy. The biomechs, the station, even the storm that had awoken her were forgotten; all she knew was this naked-skinned mammal and the pleasure he was giving her, and her determination to give him just as much in return.

She was just coming down from her second orgasm of the night when he reached up to caress her snout. "I've got an idea you might like," he told her with a sly smile.

She let out a deep hiss of satisfaction as she placed her head against his chest for a moment. "I like it already. What is it?"

"Let me show you. I'll need you prone on the bed."

"I'm liking this idea more with every word," she chuckled, as she slowly- and reluctantly- removed herself from atop his body. "Looks like we'll be washing the sheets tomorrow," she said with a laugh as she splayed herself across the bed, her chest pressed against the mattress. "Now what?"

"Now you hold on tight, and I do this." She felt him lift her tail up and drape it over his shoulder; the action brought her entire lower body up off of the bed, arching her back and parting the edges of her opening. She let out a soft gasp at the feeling of the cool air of the room invading her body and began to turn her head to look back... when one of Kyle's hands pressed gently but firmly against her back, the other drew her tail up even further, and he thrust himself hard and deep into her from behind.

"Guhhhh...!" She'd never, ever been taken like this before, and had never known the sensation of gripping and squeezing a penis quite this way. His movements were swift, rhythmic and powerful, and it truly was all she could do to wrap her tail around his chest, hold onto the bed for dear life and let herself be mated. Another climax struck, receded and was quickly followed by yet another, making her cry out and arch her neck, her blurred gaze falling on the Human once more. She wanted to say something- words of thanks, an exclamation of love, passion-fueled profanity- but all that came out of her throat was a guttural hiss of ecstacy as even another climax took her. She half-collapsed onto the bed, panting heavily for breath, and Kyle slowed down for a moment. "Are you alright?" he asked, worry evident in his voice.

She held up a hand for a moment in a wordless request to wait as her pleasure-soaked brain tried to remember the mechanics of speech. "Alright...?" she finally managed to drawl. "Kyle... gah... no male has ever given me... this much pleasure." She paused to swallow; she was beginning to drool on herself. "It... nnnhhh... it's just a bit... too much for someone who isn't used to this sort... of attention."

He stroked her back. "I'm sorry. I should have gone a little slower."

"Don't dare be sorry." She twisted her neck so that she could face him. "I am more than willing to get used to it, believe me... if the pleasure doesn't outright kill me first." She lightly squeezed him with her tail. "Though I would love to show you one of the ways we Kryyjh have sex... it might be a bit more difficult for a biped, but you do strike me as the type who enjoys a challenge."

"Definitely." She shivered as he withdrew from her, and a dribble of her vaginal juices seeped from her slit to drip down her stomach. He knelt next to her to give her a soft kiss. "What do you want me to do?"

"Go onto your knees and grab the headboard. I'll take it from there."

He quickly complied, and she took a moment to marvel at just how vulnerable and beautiful this mammal was. She still wasn't used to having or giving trust, even during sex, but it was something she was finding herself enjoying- craving, even. She lightly flicked her tongue across his back, watching him shiver in response. "Are you ready?" she asked, reaching up to run her fingers through his thick hair.

He nodded. "I'm all yours."

--

He could see how eager she was to have him, and it made him shiver just a little. He was still somewhat upet with himself with going so fast with her, forgetting that she was still new to this amount of freedom, but it was easy enough to see she wasn't holding back. "Close your eyes for me," she murmured. "I want you only to feel what I'm doing to you, with this soft skin of yours."

"Anything you want." He complied, closing his eyes and letting his body relax. Everything was silent for a few seconds, but then he felt her tongue flick across his side, leaving thin trails of wetness wherever it went. A shudder ran through his body at the strange yet pleasurable sensation of being literally tasted by a large predator that he couldn't see. And to think I was afraid of snakes as a kid, he thought.

The Kryyjh's agile tongue tasted him again, seemingly randomly, making him gasp when it flicked across his length. But besides that, she made no contact with him for a few minutes, increasing his anticipation and wonder- so much so that, when he finally felt her snout rub against his thigh, he couldn't help but let out a gasp. Her chin slid along his leg, then her shoulder, then he felt her back against his other thigh and he realized that she was actually winding herself around him, using her more flexible skeletal structure to literally slither her way along his body. Still her tongue flicked, marking her path with warm saliva, and the smooth scales of her body rubbed between his legs, drawing out a deep moan. "Never would have guessed you could do this," he murmured.

She chuckled, but said nothing, continuing her slow journey along his body. She wound her way around his waist, pressing her breasts against him, dragging her nipples along his skin and letting out a soft moan. When her chin finally slid across the back of his neck, and her breasts were pressed against his side, he felt her put her arms around him- one over his shoulder, the other around his waist- and brace on. A moment later, her warm, wet slit rubbed against his shaft. "This is how we Kryyjh make love, Kyle," she whispered into his ear. "Though it's been a very long time since I trusted a male enough to embrace him this way... but I believe you're quite worthy of it." She gave his earlobe a gentle nuzzle. "Now it's your turn to hold on tight and enjoy the ride," she chuckled.

With that, she drew herself up, then impaled herself on him once more. He let out a soft groan of pleasure at once more being surrounded by her inner flesh- which became much louder when she began to flex her entire body rhythmically against his. He could feel the contractions of her muscles travel up her body, from tail to neck, making him feel in some bizzare way almost as though he were being swallowed. And every movement of her body dragged her up and down along his shaft, which she squeezed inside of her in the same rhythm. "Oh, God... Ashiya...." he gasped.

She let out a soft, hissing sigh into his ear. "You're so warm," she breathed. "So warm, so soft, yet so strong...." Her words dissolved into a quiet moan as he felt her orgasm; her inner muscles clamped down on him, forcing out his own sharp groan of pleasure. Yet she never lost her rhythm for even a moment as the pleasure went through her, instead simply clinging to him even more tightly. He could feel every inch of her scaled body- her chin resting on his shoulder, her breasts rubbing against his side, even the tip of her tail draped over his ankle... and he felt not endangered by being in this large, venomous reptile's embrace, but protected. He lowered his head and kissed her shoulder.

Seemingly spurred on by the simple show of affection, Ashiya sped up her rhythmic movements, actually making small ripples along the length of her body. Her warm, slick channel dragged itself along his length, tight enough for him to feel her pulse, holding him as if she didn't want to let him leave her body. He could feel sweat dripping along his skin despite the coolness of the room, even though Ashiya was the only one moving. He took one hand off of the headboard and slipped it under her chin, bringing her mouth to his to share a slow, tender kiss with her, feeling her forked tongue brush against his own. He let go with his other hand as well, letting them both fall onto the bed and wrapping his arms and legs around her. "I couldn't let you do all the work," he told her with a playful grin.

With that, he began to thrust himself into her, timing his movements with her own, drawing a deep moan from the reptile's throat. Making love to Ashiya was a unique experience for him, not just because of what she was but because of how eager she was to know new things, and he wanted her to know all she could about life in the Alliance. You're free now, sweet reptile, he thought, gazing into those lidless, slitted amber eyes. Free to be with whoever you want. Free to do what you wish. And I'll be with you for as long as you want me to be.

He tightened his hold on her, felt her do the same in response, and began to ram himself into her as hard and fast as he could. She hissed sharply into his ear and began flexing her body against his in response, matching his movements perfectly, every single motion driving his length into her to its base. She tightened around him again in yet another orgasm, both of their lower bodies by now drenched by her sexual juices. She shuddered, keening loudly in ecstacy, and he felt his own climax approach; he leaned his head against her shoulder and took her as hard as he could, determined to give her as much pleasure as possible before his body surrendered to its needs. "Ashiya...." he panted.

"Kyle... I- I can... feel that you're close... let me feel your seed inside me...." She pressed her body against his. "I want it... please...!" she gasped hoarsely.

The desire in her plea was the final push over the edge for him, and with a weak cry of pleasure, he finally surrendered to his instincts and let his climax overtake him. He clung to her as though his life depended on it, panting for breath, feeling as though he were spewing his very soul into the depths of Ashiya's body. He couldn't help but groan as he felt her inner muscles milk him for every drop they could. "Mmmmm...." he heard her murmur into his ear. "That... that feels so good. So very warm." He felt her body relax underneath his, unwinding from around him to relax on the bed; as they separated, he saw an expression of supreme contentment cross her features. "Any female who has the chance to lie with you is an extremely lucky female, indeed," she told him, reaching over to rub his cheek.

"And any male who ends up in your coils is going to wish the Kryyjh had come to the Alliance a long time ago." He kissed her palm gently. "Let's wash up and change the sheets. I personally want nothing more than to spend the rest of the night basking in the afterglow with you."

"That sounds like an excellent idea." They left the bed to take a long, hot shower together, content to simply soak and talk, before getting out to clean up after the mess their sex had made; the bed itself was waterproofed, probably for just such an occasion, and the two entertained themselves for a while coming up with stories of who might have used the bed before them. It had gotten quite late when Ashiya pulled up the blanket and rested her chin on Kyle's chest. "I'm looking forward to our partnership, Kyle," she told him. "What about you?"

"I am." He was telling the truth. He'd missed having someone in the co-pilot's chair, someone he could depend on and talk to during the days and weeks spent out in space. "You will make an excellent salvage pilot, I think. You've already shown you can handle pretty much anything."

"I think that we can do anything we set our minds to." She smiled at him, and he couldn't help but return it. He very much liked the sound of "we" coming from her. "And I think we're going to enjoy coming up with things to challenge ourselves with."

With that, she settled down against him, and he watched her pupils close as she fell into a deep sleep- this time undisturbed by the thunder outside. He flicked the lamp off and put his arms around her neck, nestled his head against hers, and quickly joined her in slumber.

--/ /--

"Well if it isn't my favorite serpent!"

Ashiya turned to see Laou walking up to her, muscular arms flung wide. She gave the Kryyjh one of her customary crushing embraces, which Ashiya did her best to return. "Hello, you!" the Duraour exclaimed. "I'd heard you and Kyle are back on the station. How are you doing?"

"I'm fine, thank you." Ashiya smiled. "Kyle's still with the physician having a follow-up examination done. He's shown no ill effects, but they want to be careful."

"That's good to hear. So...." The massive furred female leaned against her with a broad, toothy grin. "You and Kyle. If you didn't spend a good amount of time with that male inside of you, I'll be intensely disappointed."

Ashiya couldn't help but chuckle. "With the setup you had in place for us, it was almost inevitable, wasn't it?" she replied with a sly smirk.

"When I set two people up, I play for keeps." The ursinoid winked.

Ashiya patted Laou's arm. "So... you're not jealous in any way, I would hope? I know that you and Niyre are very attached to him."

"We are, for him being the person he is. He isn't 'ours', though, any more than we're 'his'. And we both want him to be happy, so if he finds time with another female who also makes him happy, Niyre and I are both content to share." Laou patted her neck. "And I don't doubt you can keep Kyle 'in practice' for the times when I get to be with him." She dropped one eyelid in a sly wink. "And we also both want someone in that other chair on his ship who cares about him and will do whatever needs to be done to keep him safe. I have absolutely no doubt that you fit the description perfectly."

"I could never let anything happen to Kyle. He's... special to me. I owe him my life, old and new." Ashiya patted Laou's hand. "I see why your group cares so much about him."

"Just as much as we do about you." Laou put her arm over Ashiya's shoulders; the Kryyjh made a playful show of being under some great weight. "You realize you're one of us now, don't you? Whatever choices you make from here on in, you've always got us to rely on."

"I truly appreciate that." Ashiya crossed her arms and leaned against the bulkier female. "I'm hoping that this will prove to be a long and fruitful relationship. Kyle and I have come up with a couple of ideas that-"

She was interrupted by a high-pitched chime from one of the nearby infopanels, which had sprung to life to display a Rimworld Alliance logo atop the words "IMPORTANT INFORMATION". Laou turned her head to watch. "Hrrm, must be something important if they're doing a mandatory broadcast," she commented.

After a moment, the icon was replaced by an apparently live shot of a news conference, with Arc-Major Spentz standing before a podium, Lieutenant Raorahn positioned just off to his side. After a moment, the Human officer spoke. "Attention, members of the Rimworld Alliance in Eligaria system and its surrounding sector," he said. "This is Arc-Major Lawrence Spentz, chief security officer for this sector. I am holding this conference to disseminate important information to the public regarding the events of the biomech incursion two standard weeks ago."

"This should be interesting," Laou murmured, moving with Ashiya to a row of chairs so that they could comfortably watch the transmission.

"Firstly, as many have undoubtedly heard, our sector was not the only one attacked, nor was the Rimworld Alliance the only interstellar government to suffer encroachment from the biomechs. Confirmed statistics from the Alliance, its allies and friendly parties reporting place the casualty report as follows: One point six million killed, five point four million injured, forty-three thousand still unaccounted for."

Ashiya grimaced, and Laou let out a sad sigh. "Damn those things," the Duraour growled.

"The Rimworld Alliance will not allow the biomechs to endanger its space, its colonies nor its citizens unchallenged. A reorganization of military objectives is being undertaken to provide more protection to outlying areas, and the Vii'nev- whose assistance and coordination spared more lives than can be counted- have sent additional forces from the Asken Cluster and Drakefire Nebula hives to increase their defensive presence in such areas.

"I am pleased to be able to provide some good news in regards to the biomech threat. Due to the diligent and inspired actions of no small number of Alliance forces and independent ship crews, the Alliance has pinpointed several points of origin for this series of attacks. While the wormhole technology employed in these attacks is still being researched, we at least know where many of the biomech forces originated from, and long-range expeditions are being coordinated to gather more information as well as to provide possible early warning against future attacks."

"Oh, fuck yes!" Laou exclaimed. "Take the fight right back to those lice-ridden motherless slugs!"

"This in turn leads me towards a more local development, albiet with galaxy-wide implications. Much mention has been made of the assistance our Kryyjh refugees gave aboard this station. Of the sixty-seven who were aboard during the time of the attack, all of them volunteered in some way to assist, and nine of them sacrificed their lives. My staff and I have publicly acknowledged their assistance and joined the calls for a meaningful gesture in return, and I am personally glad to say that it has been granted." He paused, as if drawing out the suspense. "As of 0922 hours yesterday, standard time, the Alliance Council has granted full and unrestricted Alliance citizenship to all Kryyjh refugees in Alliance space. All Kryyjh in this sector are requested to visit a Rimworld Alliance military or security station as soon as possible to complete mandatory paperwork and receive induction guidance from Interspecies Relations Bureau staff. My staff and I congratulate our Kryyjh friends and welcome them to our family."

Ashiya stared at the screen, too stunned for words. Next to her, Laou let out a deep chuff of laughter. "For once the Alliance gives me a pleasant surprise!" she exclaimed. "I would've expected the matter to be in discussion for a couple more months at least. Do you know what this means, lady serpent?" She shook the stunned Kryyjh's shoulders. "This means you're staying! You don't ever have to worry about going back to that damned 'reproductive assitance' hells-hole!"

Ashiya almost melted into Laou's arms in relief as it finally sank in. "Never," she murmured. "I'm staying here. Staying."

"Damned right you are!" Kyle rounded the nearby corner, holding a handful of papers and bearing a wide smile on his face. "I saw the broadcast as well. About time we got a good surprise from the Alliance, isn't it?"

"That's what I said!" Laou let Ashiya go so that Kyle could pull her into a fierce embrace, which she then immediately joined, almost smashing the Human and Kryyjh together between her strong arms. "And so how are you doing, precious?" she asked Kyle, ruffling his hair as she looked down at the papers in his hand.

"Clean bill of health, basically. They just wanted to see what long-term effects Ashiya's venom would have on me. There's not even traces of it now." He grinned. "The physician told me that there's a lot of headway being made using Kryyjh venom as a counterserum for biomech toxins. You've made the Alliance medical community very happy."

"She seems to have a gift for that, if you ask me." Khamen followed his words into the lobby, quickly making his way over to Laou and embracing her tightly. The two shared a gentle but passionate kiss that made Ashiya do a double-take. "Well, now," Kyle chuckled. "How long have you two been doing that?"

"Since the 'mech attack." Khamen stood behind the ursine and put his arms around her waist, getting a quiet, affectionate growl from the muscular female. "Laou here left the station ten minutes before the attack. When I realized how close I'd come to losing this wonderful bulky ball of fur, I decided that perhaps our prior agreement wasn't quite as important as I had thought. She felt the same way."

Ashiya couldn't help but smile. "So you two...?"

"Someone needs to help keep ME 'in practice' as well, don't you think, dear?" Laou gave her a laviscious grin. "Now, we're going to take the lady serpent here down to a security office to get her citizenship in order, and then we're all going to get some lunch to celebrate. They've finally finshed repairs on the main commissary and Elmez'ki has been dying to show us his redesigned food outlet."

"I'm starving. Laou, you are my new hero." Kyle laughed as Ashiya gave him a playful swat on the backside.

The actual registration procedure was somewhat short. As the Kryyjh had been living in Rimworld Alliance space for some time, they were already familiar with most of the laws and customs, and thus Ashiya was given a primer on her responsibilities as a full citizen and asked to swear an oath to obey and uphold Alliance laws, which she did without hesistation, before she was given identification documents and instructions on how to register for things such as a bank account and voting rights. The Induction counselor was a very short but merry Kiknachiki female whose continuous stream of off-beat anectdotes about the lifestyles found in the Alliance kept Ashiya in almost constant laughter. It wasn't until after the counselor had gladly signed off on her acceptance form, and the Kryyjh was already on her way out of the office, that Ashiya realized that the entire encounter had been as much a cleverly-disguised interview as a conversation. She couldn't help but chuckle to herself at that.

On her way back to the nearby lobby, she came upon a robe-clad Isshak- a male, she'd since learned, distinguished by the upturned scales on his snout- who gestured for her to hold a moment. "You are the one called 'Ashiya', are you not?" he asked in a quiet, sibilant voice.

"I am, yes."

A friendly smile moved across his snout as he slid his hood back. "I understand that you masqueraded as one of us upon your first coming here," he said. "Your reason for doing so and your actions after the fact have left no mark of disrespect upon your impersonation. Indeed, what you have done would mark you a Herald of Mercy amongst my kind." He extended a hand. "It was not long ago that my species, wounded and in need of help, was welcomed to this Alliance. I am glad to be able to extend the same to you and all the Kryyjh. May more of your noble people find refuge here." He clasped Ashiya's offered hand firmly. "May the luckiest stars shine upon your path."

"And may fortune favor your hunt." The Isshak pulled his hood back on and moved along, and Ashiya resumed her journey into her new life.

--

"Shadowdancer to Asken Cluster Hive Prime. Requesting docking permission."

Ashiya looked on in awe at the enormous station nestled in geosynchronous orbit over the gas giant Fyhreni Six. She'd seen pictures of Vii'nev stations during her time in the Rimworld Alliance, of course, but to gaze at a realtime display of this stunning example of Vii'nev biotechnology was something else entirely. Amber and steel were intermixed as though they'd been poured together into a pail and then somehow blown into smooth, glistening bubbles, interconnected to each other by what she could only describe as silvery webbing. An insectoid aesthetic was definitely behind the construction, and Ashiya found it both eerie and utterly beautiful.

"Asken Cluster Hive Prime to Shadowdancer_,"_ came the reply a moment later, via a synthesized voice- the psi-crystals she'd heard about, transcribing the thoughts of one of the station's personnel. "We have been eagerly awaiting your visit! Docking permission is granted. Please allow remote guidance."

"Understood, Hive Prime. Thank you." She turned over navigation of the ship to the station, and the Shadowdancer gently cut a turn to line up with an access vector. "It's something to behold, isn't it?" Kyle asked her, gesturing at the image of the station on the display.

"I never knew anything like that could exist." Ashiya leaned back in her seat, unable to tear her eyes from the view.

"Wait until you see the inside," he told her. "The Vii'nev have always had a flair for beautifying their constructs, but for their primary hives they pull out all the stops. There's a nine-month waiting list just to visit because it's so popular; we get to skip that because the queens sent us an invite."

"I've been thinking about that the entire trip here." She couldn't help but feel nervous. Lisschek was a very good friend indeed, and she'd never had a problem with any Vii'nev she'd met, but to be invited to one of their primary hives to speak with their queens... well, it was an honor few had ever gotten. "I keep worrying about breaking some protocol or something of that sort."

"Don't worry about it. They even put up with me; they'll adore you." He grinned at her. "You'll be fine. The Vii'nev are an outgoing species, and the Asken Cluster hive are probably the most welcoming of any I've ever met. Unless you manage to envenomate at least two of the queens, I'm sure you'll get along just fine."

She laughed at that. "Alright then. I just hope I'm dressed well enough for the occasion."

"You look beautiful." It was an honest compliment, and she couldn't help but give him a smile and a lift of her hood. Still, she couldn't help but look over her wrappings and robe once more; these were her best clothes, a mix of deep green and gold that contrasted well with her eyes and scales and did a nice job of showcasing her chest. This was the first time she'd worn it. "This will be interesting, to say the least," she told the Human.

"You'll love it." He patted her shoulder as the Shadowdancer entered the docking section and was brought into a bay. A soft series of clicks vibrated through the ship, indicating that they were secured, and the pair went to the airlock to disembark. The bay itself was nothing special- function trumped form in such a utilitarian section- though Ashiya noted the continued use of circles and spheres in construction, as well as a very comfortable amount of lighting, something she might not have expected had she thought about it. Kyle led her through the corridor leading into the station and through a heavy bulkhead- and the Kryyjh's breath caught in her throat.

The primary welcoming station was a dome of sorts, with various desks and kiosks set around a thin, translucent pillar of amber in the center. Strewn across the "ceiling" were multitudes of silvery threads, forming a complex spiral over the entire room. The threads were apparently three-dimensional, as they seemed to shimmer and twist in the light as she slithered along beneath them. She literally almost ran straight into the pillar, so entranced by them was she; only Kyle's hand on her shoulder broke her out of the spell. She lowered her hood in embarassment. "Sorry," she murmured.

"Don't feel bad. Some people actually do walk right into the pillar. Those strands are amazing."

"Hypnotizing, I'd call them. Even if I had eyelids I don't think I could blink." She followed him to one of the kiosks, where a female Vii'nev- she'd learned how to tell their genders apart by sight; coloration and eye shape were the main differences- opened her arms in greeting. "Ah, friend Kyle and friend Ashiya," she thought to them. "Your arrival is very welcome. This one is Alrisa Vii'vii'Asken'vii, one of Hive Prime's welcoming staff. The queens are eager to see you both."

"It's good to be here again," Kyle said. "Ashiya's never seen a Vii'nev installation before, and I've been meaning to show her... and this is about as good as it gets."

The insectoid laughed at that. "It can be overwhelming to some who are not used to our style," she admitted. "Cases of disorientation and even nausea are not unheard of. We do what we can to help those unfortunates adapt to our particular construction methods." The Vii'nev gestured towards a small door, and another insectoid creature- this one barely half a meter tall- scurried out. The red-shelled insect gazed up at Alrisa expectantly. "This hive-servant will guide you to the queens' chamber. It is psionically linked to the hive-mind, so if you have any questions, you may speak them to it and it will act as a relay."

"Thanks much." Ashiya followed the hive-servant, staying next to Kyle as it led them through numerous passages, each just as intricately detailed and beautiful as the lobby. She had a difficult time fighting the impulse to stop and touch the several crystal and amber sculptures that were position in certain areas. "I see why there's a waiting list," she said quietly. "You don't want to know how bland and utilitarian Kryyjh installations tend to be. Put a single one of these sculptures aboard one of our stations and nothing would get done for weeks."

The Human chuckled at that. "The Vii'nev love to sculpt. It's been a big part of their culture since long before the Alliance found them. It's all done by hand, too, every last bit- nothing more complex than hand tools and their own particular blend of enzymes to shape the material. Their homeworld has one particular sculpture that is literally seven meters tall, all one piece of amber."

Ashiya let out a soft hiss of astonishment. "I'd like to see that sometime."

It was a bit of a journey through the station before they reached the queens' chamber, during which time Ashiya saw numerous artworks, both physical and on display panels; to her surprise, quite a few Human works were shown alongside Vii'nev ones. Kyle explained that the Vii'nev enjoyed Human artwork and culture, a part of their close relationship. Finally, they reached a large set of doors flanked by a pair of what seemed to be honor guards; the two nearly-identical Vii'nev were garbed in thick, colorful robes and held what seemed to be ceremonial spears. The two guards gave a courteous nod and parted to allow them access, and the doors slid open silently.

She might have expected some grand chamber, strewn in impossibly expensive silks and other materials, or carved in lifelike detail to show some sort of rituals. She was surprised to see that the queens' chamber aboard the station was exactly the same as the rest of the installation, aside from a presence of more staff, more display panels showing various artwork, and the dias upon which the queens sat. As the hive-servant led them up to it, Ashiya took in the sight of the literal rulers of the Asken Cluster hive; the three female Vii'nev were larger than any others she'd seen before, and their carapaces were quite a bit more colorful- not to mention draped in glistening fabrics that seemed to be of every color at once- but other than that they seemed no different than any others of their species. Three pairs of rainbow-colored compound eyes moved to watch them as they approached. Kyle bowed deeply before them, and Ashiya hastened to copy the motion. "Your Majesties," the Human said. "It's good to see you again."

To Ashiya's awe, three separate mental "voices" spoke to her mind in harmonious unison. "Ah, friend Kyle," they said, humor evident in their "tone". "We have said before that you need not bow before us. You are friend and equal to all the Vii'nev. As are you, friend Ashiya. We are glad to meet the first Kryyjh to visit Alliance space in fifty years."

"It is good to meet you as well, Your Majesties." Ashiya found a lump in her throat. "I... have honestly been amazed by everything I've seen aboard this station. We Kryyjh have nothing like it."

Merry laughter echoed through the queens' thoughts. "We are a rather sentimental and art-centered species," they said. "We have learned that your Empire has had no interaction with an intelligent insectoid species before. We could only imagine what you might have expected to see here."

"I've found my preconceptions to be challenged very often during my time in Rimworld Alliance space. I've been grateful for that."

"The sign of an intelligent mind. While popular opinion held that your species cared only for military matters, we are pleased to know that you are as compassionate and brave as any other. The actions of you and the other Kryyjh aboard station Epsilon-Seven-Three during the biomech attack have put absolute proof to that."

It took Ashiya a moment to speak, overwhelmed by the praise from these three important beings. "We... defend what we care for, Your Majesties," she finally managed to say. "I don't think we are terribly different from your kind in that respect."

"Indeed not. We hope that more of your species may find their way to the Alliance; we could only benefit from what thoughts and insights they could bring." There was a short pause, during which the queens appeared to be conversing amongst themselves. "As for you, friend Ashiya, also known as Line-captain Vyarhi Syhassi, you hold a special place amongst the Vii'nev of Asken Cluster. Friend Kyle is quite dear to us all, and it was your direct actions which preserved his life during the biomech incursion. We mourn the deaths of those whose minds are singular, for their thoughts and souls are truly lost to us, and to have lost our Human friend in such a way would have been a tragedy. For your selfless actions, and your part in giving the Alliance a countermeasure for the biomech toxin which has claimed far too many lives, we have commissioned a work in your honor."

On an unspoken cue, a side door opened, and a large object hidden by cloth was wheeled out by another honor guard. With a bow to the queens and another to Kyle and Ashiya, the guard pulled the cloth off- revealing a life-sized amber sculpture of Ashiya herself, one hand gripping Fysher's shotgun, the other outstreched as if giving something. The sculpture's expression was one of battle-fury, yet the posture seemed to be that of a protector. Ashiya stared at it, dumbfounded; the artist had seemingly etched every detail of her form, every last scale, perfectly. "We believe she approves of it," the queens' thoughts came, with just a hint of playful humor.

"I... this is... truly amazing." She had to force herself to look away, to bow to the queens once more. "Your Majesties, this is... this is overwhelming. I don't know how to thank you."

"It is we who must thank you, friend Ashiya. Your actions have saved many lives, and- we believe strongly- may yet herald better times for your species. We will place this statue prominently here within the prime hive as acknowledgement of your bravery, so that as long as the Vii'nev exist in this universe and this station soars above the skies, you will be remembered." The queens gave her the Vii'nev version of a smile. "May you and friend Kyle find a good fate amongst the stars, friend Ashiya. Remember that you are always welcome amongst the Vii'nev."

With the deepest bow she could manage, she let Kyle show her out of the chamber and lead her to a small viewing area, lined with windows overlooking the impressive gas giant they orbited. She took a seat in one of the smaller chairs, and he joined her. "A little overwhelmed, hm?" he asked, holding her hands gently.

"That doesn't begin to express it." She looked up at him. "Being around you makes extraordinary things happen, I've noticed," she teased him.

"I tend to attract extraordinary people." He placed a light kiss on her snout. "You deserve the honor, Ashiya. I won't ever believe otherwise."

"I've never felt special, honestly. Still... that was a beautiful sculpture. Maybe if I ask nicely, they'll put it next to yours?" She gave him a grin and a flex of her hood.

--

A quiet beeping awoke Ashiya, stirring her from restful slumber. She heard Kyle give a soft moan next to her and shift in the bed. "It can't be time to undock already," he grumbled.

"Mmh... no, apparently an incoming transmission." She forced her eyes to focus on the bedside display. "...hmm. For me, encrypted, a directed relay from an unknown source... with Kryyjh identification tags."

"Ahh." Kyle rubbed the back of her neck. "I'd better let you answer it alone. It's very likely private."

"I would appreciate it. I'll take it on the command console." She quickly donned her robe and left the bedroom, making her way to her seat at the ops panel and accepting the transmission. Her old verification code worked to decrypt the message, and a familiar Kryyjh face flashed onto her screen. "Ah, Line-captain Syhassi," came a male's voice. "Or may I simply call you 'Ashiya'?"

"Sub-commander Ashk'khryin." She let out a deep sigh of relief. "Once again you know how to worry a female."

"I do seem to be developing a bit of a bad habit with that. My apologies again for the unorthodox method of communication. It wasn't easy to find where you would be at this particular moment, and I do have news for you." The male Kryyjh smiled. "Have you managed to keep notified of what is going on here in the Empire?"

"Somewhat. Some friends of mine have been keeping up contacts, but news is travelling more and more slowly lately."

"There is reason for that. While the government is doing its best to squelch the information, several things have become general knowledge amongst the populace. The Purity Concord's actions have not gone over well, since the rate of infertility is still rising and many people have family or acquaintances who are affected by their plans. What's more is that word is being spread that the Rimworld Alliance might have the medical technology and expertise to reverse it. There's rising calls for diplomatic relations to be made with other interstellar governments, which the Empire still refuses to do."

"Word is being spread, hm? And I imagine your voice might be one of those spreading it?" Ashiya flexed her hood in a sign of amusement.

"Perhaps I might have spoken a word or two into the right aural canal." It could have been the slightest of smirks on his expression. "In itself this might not be enough to spark any great dissent with the government, but information has also spread that the biomech attacks did far more damage to our outlying regions than is admitted, and- unlike the Alliance, whose transmissions are viewed with ever more regularity in Kryyjh space- no headway has been made into determining their origin. Even some of the most xenophobic sections of the military are calling for relations with the Alliance to be established- it seems they recognize that the 'mechs are far more a threat to us than the Alliance would ever be."

"Somehow I'm doubting that Command is taking their advisements well."

"A complete understatement. There's been public executions." The male sighed. "The Purity Concord has its fangs in deep, I'm afraid, and it won't shake loose easily. But the public outcry is only getting louder."

"I'm glad to hear that. I'm just worried that more than a few snouts will be bloodied before this is all over. If only Command would stop swallowing its own tail and listen for half a cycle."

"If only. It's time we've had more intelligent minds at the head of this hunt. Of course, if Command even knew I was thinking that, let alone saying it aloud, I'd be shot on sight."

"I can only imagine the risks you're taking in speaking to me. I'm curious as to why, though."

"I understand that you've made a life for yourself in Alliance space, Line-captain. However, I wanted to ask if you would consider returning to Kryyjh space and providing support to the dissidents. I fear this will become a civil war in time, and it will prove to be a weakness we can ill afford with the biomechs becoming a true threat."

The request caught her by surprise, and she gazed away from the screen a moment to take it in. "I... I can't," she said quietly. "I'm sorry, I understand why you ask, but... I can't leave this place, not now. I have too many people depending on me here, and I doubt I would make all that much a difference- if not in fact just draw more hostile attention to your movement. I could do better for you here."

To her surprise, he folded his hood, showing understanding. "I expected you to say something like that," he said. "I wouldn't have asked on my own, but I promised others that I would. You're something of a figurehead here, Line-captain- especially after word of your exploits against the 'mechs reached us."

"I can't say I like being an icon, honestly. There were plenty of other Kryyjh here who did as much or more than I did. Some of them died."

"True heroes, and reasons for us to be honestly proud of our species, for once. I've made efforts having the names of our honored dead spread around, though the government won't even allow them to be mentioned in any sort of permitted communications. They want us to stop believing that all of you even existed." The male let out a sigh. "At any rate, though, the biomech incursions have produced one happy fact for you. The Alliance need not fear that the Kryyjh Empire will make some military move to take any of you back by force; the possibility was a distant one to begin with, but now with all our resources being pointed towards the 'mechs, the issue is permanently set down."

"I'd expected as much... but I thank you for the confirmation. It does take some weight off my tail." Ashiya leaned back in her chair. "You know, Sub-commander... if you wanted to come to Alliance space, I know people in the local security office who would gladly take you in, along with whoever came with you. I would personally vouch for your efforts in getting the first group here."

"Someday, perhaps, Line-captain. I would rather visit Rimworld Alliance space as a proud member of the Kryyjh, though, as opposed to a political refugee. I have hope that it will be possible, and soon."

"As do I." Ashiya smiled as she tapped out a few commands. "I'll transmit to you a small number of contacts I have here, who have given me express permission to refer any Kryyjh interested in contact with the Alliance to them. Use the codes I'm providing and feel free to cite me as your reference. They'll be more than happy to give you whatever information they can, and to relay messages between you and me, so that you won't have to go hunting shadows in the dark anytime you want to talk."

The male's expression was one of stunned surprise. "This will be quite useful," he replied. "Thank you. Perhaps their information can be helpful to us dissidents. At the very least, we'll know who we can turn to should all other options fail." He gave her a warm smile. "I have one other question, Line-captain. This Human you are with, this Kyle Aragones. Is he as good a person as I have heard?"

"I trust him with nothing less than my life and my freedom, and he trusts me in turn."

"I am glad to hear it. A shame that Line-leader Hevisi does not know that you have found a much higher-quality male. He would quite possibly split his skin in sheer outrage."

"I'd pay money to watch that," she chortled. "Good luck to you, Sub-commander, and to all the dissidents. As the Humans say... go kick their asses."

He laughed at that. "We will do what we can. Fortune favor your hunt, Line-captain. I'll stay in touch as best as I can. Transmission ends."

The display blanked. Ashiya left the helm and went back to the bedroom, where she found Kyle sitting up waiting for her. "Good news, I hope?" he asked.

"Mostly, yes. That was an old friend from Kryyjh space- the one who helped me and the others defect." She slipped out of her robe, once more baring herself to him, and rejoined him in bed. "How are things on his side?" he asked, putting his arm around her as she settled in next to him.

"Troubling, but not unexpectedly so. My people are getting angry with how our government is handling the fertility issue, the biomech attacks and relations with other interstellar governments, and in return the government is cracking down. If there's one thing I've learned from reading your species' history, though, it's that freedom is a lot like a viscous gel- the harder someone tries to crush it, the more it simply seeps through the cracks. The Kryyjh will come through this, once they realize how much they have to gain from throwing off old prejudices and taking in new ideas."

"I don't doubt that for a moment." He reached over and turned the light off. "Think he'll need help from our side?"

"I gave him contact information, just in case. He knows he can turn to us if things go bad."

"Glad to hear it." She felt him kiss her neck, and she turned to look at him; in the darkness, he was a blur of warmth to her heat-sense, but such an amazingly familiar and comforting blur. I could never have left you, she thought. Not for anything.

She settled an arm over his and very quickly fell asleep.

--

"Gnnnh... Kyle, how am I supposed to concentrate on this game of chess if you keep doing that?"

Kyle paused the movements of his hand, which were now rather wet with the juices of her vagnial tract. "Do you want me to stop?" he asked teasingly.

"Not for a moment." She gave him a sly grin, and he resumed sliding his fingers into her, making her shudder in her seat. "Besides, you already blew my best rating out of the water a month ago," he told her. "How am I supposed to feel better about myself as a chess player if I don't... handicap you?" He twitched his fingertips against her clitoral folds, and she clenched the armrests. "Oh, that's not fair," she groaned. "Do I do this to you when you're playing?"

"You have, several times. Or do I have to remind you what a mess I ended up making when your tongue did some rather unexpected exploration the last time we played against each other?" He chuckled into her aural canal. "Not only did I have to change my shirt, but you beat me in six moves afterwards. That's hardly fair."

"All is fair in love and chess." She raised her head and let out a soft groan of pleasure as he expertly brought her to climax; as it subsided, she paused the game and turned to him. "I'm going to get you for that," she mock-hissed at him, smacking her tailtip against his leg.

"Bring it on, sweet serpent." He kissed her snout, and she flicked her tongue against his chin. "Do me a favor and check to see how the matter collectors are doing? I want to get a look at some of the prospects we've been hearing about."

"Will do." She saved the chess game, closed it and brought up the status screens. "Ninety-six percent to target accumulation. Shouldn't be more than a couple minutes." She slid her wrappings back down from where Kyle had pushed them to gain access to her slit. "I almost forgot to tell you- Niyre sent a message a few hours ago, looking to see if we were interested in a trip to Earth. I told her I would ask you and send back a response, but then I got into that game of chess, and then you distracted me even more with those wonderful fingers." She chuckled. "I would definitely like to have a look at your homeworld, Kyle, and see where your wonderful species got its start."

"Hm. I haven't been back to Earth since I was twelve or so. It's still a bit of a mess, I'm afraid, though nowhere near as bad as it was before the Alliance found us. You might like seeing things like the Sphinx, or the Statue of Liberty, or the Space Elevator, or Touchdown Square in Quan Ling."

"The one place on Earth the 'mechs managed to set down, and then got their tails fed to them by the Eurasian Protectorate. That, I'd love to see." She grinned. "And we can definitely afford it. What do you say? Want to plan a week or two of vacation with the group?"

"A little time with the group on an actual planet sounds good, especially the old home turf. Write back that we'll be there. I could show you-"

He was cut off by a shrill beeping from the console. Emergency transmission detected flashed on the display, followed by a static-ridden image of a very panicked-looking Peshy'ia. "Emergency! Calling any friendly vessel within receiving range. This is the Ashytar's Starjumper_, a Rimworld Alliance transport vessel, under attack by biomech skirmish ships at coordinates I am transmitting now. We have taken heavy damage and cannot defend ourselves. Please assist. Repeat, please assist!"_

Ashiya gave him a quick glance, and he nodded. The Kryyjh immediately opened the comms channel. "Ashytar's Starjumper, this is the Shadowdancer," she said, as Kyle slid into the other pilot's seat, shut down the matter accumulators and keyed on the engines. "We are proceeding to your position at full speed and expect to intercept you within three minutes. Hold out as best as you can and we'll take those 'mechs off your tail."

"Thank the stars. We will do what we can, but please hurry!"

Ashiya cut the transmission and looked over to Kyle. "This must seem disturbingly familiar to you," she joked, even as she brought the weapons systems online. "What was it your Yogi Berra said? 'It's like déjà vu all over again'?"

"Or like you Kryyjh say, 'we've hunted this prey before'." Kyle brought the engines to full power and keyed in the warp-sphere generation sequence. "That's fine. I like the partner I have in this hunt." He saw her grin at that from the corner of his eye. "Setting course and proceeding at emergency speed. How are the weapons?"

"Locked, loaded and ready to go."

"Alright then. Let's go slag some 'mechs." With a tap at the console, the Shadowdancer and its two crew streaked into the darkness of space.