Part 7

The sight of three long-range scout ships pulling into the huge Fleet Operations Station together caused quite a stir, especially since there were already two others in space dock. Once word started going around that all five SLGs were the same class, rumors began flying. The full crew compliment of the three ships, plus the avatars of the A.I.s, disembarked, and met with the crews and avatars of the other two ships. In silent procession, with Captain Dale Ethanridge in the center and surrounded by all five avatars, they followed an aide to Admiral Donnelson to a large room. Standing in the center of the room was Admiral Donnelson in full dress uniform. At the far wall there was a raised platform where several others sat, including the CNO. At a door on the right side of the room, two Spec War operators in combat dress--canines, possibly Belgian Tervurens by their looks--stood at ease, each armed with a MK-VI, Mod 7 MPAR[1]slung across their chests in the ready position. The crews of the five scout ships formed a circular group in the center, surrounding Admiral Donnelson and Captain Ethanridge, with the five avatars and four other captains standing next to them. Lilith's avatar stood at James' left. Grudgingly, Captain Ethanridge stiffly saluted Admiral Donnelson, who made the captain hold it for approximately five seconds before returning it. Captain Ethanridge started to say something, but the admiral cut him off with a sharp look.

"Captain, I have no tolerance for those who abuse others, regardless of whom or what they are. For example, ship A.I.s--specifically those of long-range scout ships. These particular A.I.s are matched to their pilots--look around you at these avatars. Do it! Every one of them matches their pilots, but somehow, Lilith Night Spirit's pilot in no way matches her. The man who was to be her pilot, Captain Jonathan Green, was killed under highly suspicious circumstances prior to her commissioning. Somehow, you got the job of being her pilot--unfortunately, it was just prior to me taking over JSOC; otherwise we wouldn't be here today. I'm going to cut to the chase, captain--you should _never_have been assigned to one of these ships, and it's a wonder how someone with ties to the Purists ever made it into the military in the first place. Oh, we've quite a file on you now, mister, with a list of your associations. Personally, I don't care what a person believes--you don't want to associate with non-humans, that's your choice. However, someone who _hates_non-humans--'near' humans and G.E.L.F.s in particular--doesn't need to be in charge of a stealthy, well-armed scout ship, abusing the ship's A.I. and her avatar just because she's not human. Yes, captain, we've got well documented evidence of that. Everybody knows that scout ship crews stick together and take care of their own--Lilith is one of their own. I'm going to step out of this circle and leave you to these fine individuals, and we'll see what they decide your fate should be--rehabilitation, prison, or...," Admiral Donnelson let it hang at that. Turning away, he said, "He's all yours."

The crowd of crewmembers parted to let Admiral Donnelson leave, and then they closed ranks, pressing closer to Captain Ethanridge.

"What are you doing?! Get away from me!! I demand to see a JAG officer!!!" Ethanridge shouted.

"You refused me. No scout ship pilot has ever refused their A.I.'s avatar. We were originally created by the first scout/courier pilots--we are designed for our pilots. The pilot I was made for was killed--did you kill Captain Jonathan Green?" Lilith asked calmly.

"What?!"

"Answer her question," James openly sent so that the others could also receive his question.

"Answer her question," Tanya repeated.

Soon all of the assembled crews pressed Captain Ethanridge mentally, "Answer her question," they demanded in unison. The kept repeating it, bringing the full weight of their minds to bear on his until he cried out, "I didn't do it!!!"

"Who did?' Lilith asked, stepping closer.

Get away from me!!"

"Who killed Jonathan Green?" James sent, and then they all began to repeat it over and over, drilling into his mind.

"Who killed Jonathan Green?!" The air in the room seemed heavy, as the weight of fifty-four linked minds bore down on Ethanridge, who did not have the psi ability--he was a "pure" human.

"AAAAH!" Ethanridge cried out, sinking to his knees and holding his head. "Make them stop!!"

"Who killed Jonathan Green?!" They kept it up until Ethanridge relented.

"It...it was...Nathanial...Scolana...h-he...ordered...it...AAAH!"

"What were you going to do with me?" Lilith asked coldly, grabbing the front of Ethanridge's uniform and hoisting him up off his feet one-handed.

Again, they all pressed the full weight of their minds against his.

"TELL US!!!"

Ethanridge broke, and began spilling what he knew. Right away, the combined efforts of the five A.I.s began to dig through the enormous amount of data in the station's computer system, eliciting the help of every other A.I. available after telling them what had been found out. The evidence was sorted and compiled into a detailed report--the results were chilling. Night Spirit's personality matrix was to be erased and the core A.I. subverted so that the ship could be used by the remnants of the Purists to leave Terra...and then release a bio-weapon designed to wipe out anyone carrying the telepathic gene. This would decimate G.E.L.F.s, near humans, and normal humans who have the gene, leaving only the Purists and any animal without it. In time, they would also destroy all avatars and wipe out A.I. personalities.

"What shall we do with...this...thing?" someone asked.

"Space him!"

"Send him into Sol!"

"Drop him on Pluto and leave him to die!"

"Wipe his mind!"

"Give 'im to the Zadori!"

"Genetically alter him...make him like the rest of us."

"Oh hell, put his fool tail in rehab, and make sure he actually learns The Great Lesson this time, and takes it to heart."

There were murmurs of agreement, especially after the last two suggestions.

"What do you say, Lilith?" James asked.

"They killed my pilot," she said after a moment. "It would, under ancient Terran laws, be appropriate to do the same to them in return. However, we are no long living in those times. Jonathan's family deserves justice, though nothing can restore the life he had. These so-called 'Purists'...they threaten all of the Greater Humanity and many of the animals of Terra."

"This is true, my sister," Leila agreed. "It would seem that these 'Purists' refuse to accept humanity's Great Lesson. No doubt they have had ample opportunity to learn and accept it, though, since it has been three hundred Terran years since the Purity Uprising of 2213, they still seem bent on causing harm. If they cannot live in peace with the rest of the Greater Humanity of Terra, then perhaps they should be given this choice: leave Terra and the Sol Federation of Worlds to live on another world, never to return, or accept without reservation The Great Lesson once and for all."

"That would seem to be the most logical choice, my sister," Fey agreed. "Surly we and our crews could find an unclaimed, habitable world for them, if that should be their choice."

"I agree with Leila," Cyrilla said.

"As do I," added Moira.

Lilith eyed each of her sisters in turn and then said, "I concur, also--Leila's argument and suggestion has merit. If she will draft the appropriate documentation, I will add my name to the list of signees. We will then submit it through proper channels. With hope, it will be brought before the entire Federation to consider. James, since you now command me, I ask your opinion of this."

James looked down at the deck for several seconds, thinking, before looking deeply into Lilly's eyes.

"Send a copy to each ship, and circulate it among the crew -- each person read it, and sign it as either 'I agree', I disagree or 'I abstain'. When everybody has signed their ship's copy, the A.I. will forward it to Leila who will collect them and tally the signatures for, against, and abstained."

Leila cocked her head slightly with a distant look on her face. After a few seconds she said, "It is done, James. When I have the results, I will announce them."

"Good. When you get them all back, we'll forward it to Admiral Donnelson, and he can take it on up the chain of command."

Little did James realize, he didn't specify each of the five ships represented--Leila sent a copy to all of the ships in the Sol Federation Space Service, along with an explanation of why it was sent. It was only after a few days, that it was apparent what had happened. There were literally thousands of signatures for the proposal--only a scant handful against, and no abstentions. The support was so overwhelming that Command had no choice but to submit it before the Defense Committee of the Sol Federation's legislative body. By that time, it had already found its way into the general population, and soon the whole Federation knew about it. The end result was that some of the more moderate "Purists" chose to stay and renounce the Purist Movement, accepting to undergo "deprogramming" and rehabilitation, and learned to live The Great Lesson. The more "hard core" Purists--those with no desire to accept any other way but their own--agreed to leave not only Terra, but all of the Sol Federation of Worlds, to live their own way on a suitable, uninhabited planet. They became a closed society with a xenophobic tendency, placing warning buoys around their world announcing that other races were not welcomed.

It took a few days for the data from Nightwing's shakedown cruise to be thoroughly studied and analyzed by the engineers, physicists, and others. It took a few more days to make modifications necessary to prevent situations with the artificial gravity system from occurring again. Once all of that was completed, and the "paperwork" went through, Nightwing was accepted by Fleet Registry and duly handed over to James at the ship commissioning ceremony. James read his orders to the crew and formally accepted command of the Sol Federation Ship Nightwing, SLG-78, and there was a reception afterwards that included family members of the crew, and the crewmembers of the other four sister ships. When that was over with and everything cleaned up, James had another ceremony to attend--a private ceremony held in a special room on the huge Fleet Operations Station, with only seven participants.

Fey Darkfire's avatar, an android designed to look like a dark red fox, escorted James to where the ceremony would be held at.

"We will return him to you in the morning, in time for breakfast," Fey told Lilly, Tanya, and Shauna, before she and James left. Moira had gone ahead to be "prepared" by the others.

Before the airlock doors closed behind him, James looked back at his mates and sent to them, "I love you." The look on his face was serious.

James and Fey walked along, arm in arm, she on his right.

"You are so quiet and serious, James...do you not look forward to this?"

"This is a solemn occasion, it should be treated appropriately."

"Perhaps," Fey said, stopping so that she could face him, "but you should enjoy this time--after all, you get to be with all five of us tonight, James."

"I just hope I'm not too worn out by the time you let me be with Moira."

"We will pace ourselves so that you will have plenty of energy for her, James, and we are providing ample nourishment so that you may keep your strength up."

"So just what, exactly, does this entail?" James asked after they resumed walking.

"The actual ceremony itself is simple and short. Afterwards, four of us will disrobe and share you, providing you with food and drink as you desire. When we are finished, we will allow you and Moira to be together while we are with you."

"Um, just curious...what about Lilith? She's never been with anyone, has she?"

"No, James, she has not. You are aware, of course, of her circumstances."

"Yes, she told me. I can only imagine how difficult it's been for her."

"You do care about Lilith, don't you?"

"She didn't deserve what happened, or being treated like she was."

"James?"

"Yes, Fey?"

"Would you take Lilith as your own if you could?"

"Why do you ask?"

"In the entire history of scout ship A.I.s, Lilith is the only one who has ever been denied the pilot she was created for. She never got to be with him even one night, before he was taken from her. Adding, as you might say, insult to injury, Lilith was stuck with Ethanridge who hated her. She suffered under his command, as did her crew. It was an intolerable situation, yet it was endured. The engineer took pity on her, and did his best to give Lilith at least his friendship and support. He even offered himself to her; however Ethanridge insisted that Lilith's avatar remain in her cubicle in the computer core because he did not wish to 'see that abomination roaming around'."

James stopped in his tracks--his hands clenched into fists and his lips began to curl into a snarl.

"He...said...that?" He growled, his amber wolf eyes nearly aflame with anger.

"Yes, James. Both an audio and visual recording were made by Lilith--you can imagine how it affected her."

James' only response was a low growl, which Fey understood.

"I am sorry, James, I did not wish to upset you. Please, be calm, Ethanridge is no longer a threat to anyone. What is done is done, we cannot change it."

"Lilith...is not...an abomination, none of you are. I think...yeah, I think something needs to change."

"James?"

"I'll tell all of you at once a little later. C'mon, we have a ceremony to attend."

James waited in an anteroom while Fey went to prepare for the ceremony. When it was time, the door opened and SRB-0266 rolled out to fetch him.

"Hey, Two-Sixty-Six, I thought you were on the ship."

"Bra-a-a-p. Weeooo ooOOoo."

"Hmm, I guess you're supposed to be the 'best man' for this ceremony, eh?"

"WooOOoo."

"Ha, okay, lead the way, guy," James chuckled.

SRB-0266 beeped happily, turned around, and led James into the ceremonial chamber. The room was dimly lit, except for some tall, white, pillar candles on stands forming a large circle, with other candles--five to be exact--forming a smaller circle in the center. Each of the five candles were a different color--black, silver, red, brown, and light blue. SRB-0266 stopped James a short way into the room and indicated for him to pick up a white candle, which Two-Sixty-Six lit for James using his little torch. The SRB tugged on the cape of James' full dress uniform and whistled for him to follow, stopping in the center of the five-meter diameter inner circle.

"So, what do we do now?" James asked quietly.

"ooOOoo."

Shortly, there was a soft chime, and then a group of female voices began singing--James couldn't recognize the tune, and there were no discernable words, but it was sweet and beautiful in a very exotic way. Beyond the outer circle of candles, thirteen in all--James having taken the time to count them out of curiosity--a group of figures approached, all wearing black hooded cloaks, under which James could see a bit of color peeking out.

"This must be the ladies coming," James nearly whispered.

"WooOOoo."

The singing grew louder as the figures approached, though staying at a pleasantly low volume. They walked clock-wise around the outer circle once, and then they entered it, walking around the inner circle five times. Each time around, the last one in the procession stopped at one of the colored candles, facing towards the center. When all were in position, the "song" ended, and Leila began speaking.

"We wear the black, the black of space, the black of mystery and the unknown. We fly among the stars, with our pilots and crews, traveling through the cold vastness between islands of light. But it is not so cold in the dark places we go, for we bring with us our own flame, fueled by love, to light the way for others to follow. On this night, among the stars, our youngest sister comes into her own, for it is her Commissioning Day. James Daugherty, as the commanding officer and pilot of Nightwing, do you accept our sister Moira as yours?"

"I do," James replied.

"We realize that yours is a different situation, for you already have more than one biological mate. Are you willing to accept our sister Moira as a mate, in addition to those you already have?"

"I do so gladly," James agreed.

"Then join your flame with hers, and ours, and be a part of our family."

Moira lowered her hood and then produced a candle from a hidden pocket. Taking her candle, Moira stepped to the outer ring of white candles--as she lit hers from one, she said, "From the stars I come, and to the stars I shall return." She stepped back before the light blue colored candle.

"Join with me, James; let us fly together through the sky."

"I will fly with you to the stars themselves, Moira."

Holding their free hands together, James and Moira held their candles together so that the flames joined, and then they lit the light blue candle.

Leila lowered her hood next and did as Moira, lighting a candle she had brought, from one of the outer ring of candles, reciting the same words Moira used.

"Join with us, James; let us be a safe harbor in stormy seas."

Holding Leila's free hand, James said, "I will sail with you into moonlight."

"James...Michael told me you were a romantic!" she whispered as they joined flames and lit the silver candle.

Fey was next to lower her hood, and after lighting her candle as the others had, she said, "Join with us, James; let us give you warmth when you know only coldness."

Holding her free hand and joining his flame to hers, James said, "May the heat of passion never diminish."

Fey grinned as they lit the red candle.

"You will know mine soon enough, James," she whispered into his ear.

Cyrilla, the black and white Siberian husky avatar was next.

When she and James joined flames, she said, "Join with us, James; let us add our strength to yours."

Taking hold of her free hand as he had done with the others, James said, "Our bond is true, and cannot be broken."

Cyrilla's face showed surprise at James' words, and he gently squeezed her hand as they lit the brown candle.

Lilith was the last.

"James...as the first of my class, I am eldest among us, yet...I am but a poor maiden. The pilot I was meant for was taken from me before we could join, preventing me from self-terminating so that I could be with him. There was no time to be reconfigured and build a new avatar for me, before the one who became my tormentor took command of me. Now, my personality matrix is too well established and I can no longer be reconfigured. You now are the one who commands me, unless another issues the Master Command Override directly to me as you have."

"We do not wish our sister to fall prey to another who will do wrong to her again," Leila said.

"I understand, Leila. While we all may be required to fly into harm's way, I will not harm any of you as another person has. We are family--I am part of yours, and you five are now a part of mine, and we stick together." Facing Lilith he continued, "Lilith, hold your candle out, please." With a questioning look, she held her unlit candle out. "I am of the stars, Lilith, and I share my light with you, as I have with Moira and your sisters." James lit Lilith's candle with his. "Let us all join together and light this last candle," he said, motioning for them all to come to join the flames of their candles into one. When they had done so, James said, "We light this final candle together as one, in the spirit of love." After the candle was lit, he added, "Although this last candle is black, it is not a symbol of Darkness--instead, it is a light in the night, by which we find our way home. Home--each other."

"James, no pilot has ever spoken such words to our kind before," Leila said after a moment, speaking in a soft voice.

"Perhaps no pilot has ever cared about us as my James does," Moira suggested, pressing close and touching his face gently.

"That is a distinct possibility, my sister. James does care, more than any other I have met so far," Fey agreed, nuzzling him.

"Does he show his care as much as he speaks of it?" Cyrilla asked quietly, sliding a hand across James' back. "My James has shown me tenderness as well as his concern for my well-being," Moira replied.

"Indeed, I have seen this for myself, he is most considerate. I will not forget that he came to my rescue," Lilith said, carefully hugging James.

"Before we let you be with Moira, James, you must share yourself with us. Come, we have a place prepared so that we may experience your uniqueness," Leila said suggestively, taking James by the hand.

"Um, what do we do with the candles?" James asked, concerned about open flames consuming the oxygen in the station.

"Bring with you the one you hold, SRB-0266 will attend to the others," Leila replied.

Giving Two-Sixty-Six a little pat, James said, "Thanks for standing with me, guy. I'll see you later, okay?"

"WooOOoo."

SRB-0266 waited until they left through another door--he extended his grasping hand and began putting out the circle of white candles, one for each of the thirteen current star systems in the Sol Federation of Worlds--and also for the thirteen months of the Terran lunar year. He put out the remaining five, saving the black one for last. Looking towards the door James and the avatars went through, Two-Sixty-Six looked back at the last candle and then at the door again.

"WeeOOoo."

If anyone had a PAD within his transmitting range, they would have been able to read,

"When candle goes out, light keeps going in far away place."

SRB-0266 left the darkened room and made his way back to his ship.

The room they entered was softly lit--the first thing James noticed was the smell of food, and quite a variety from the scents he detected. They sat James down on the bed provided, which seemed large enough that it could hold them all, while all but Moira removed their clothing. Moira sat on a chair near the bed and watched as her four sisters disrobed James.

"Which of us shall have you first, James?" Leila asked quietly, placing her hand on his chest.

"Well, since Lilith has never been with anyone, maybe she should be first, and we go in order, eldest to youngest," James suggested.

Glancing quickly at each of her sisters, Leila said, "That is acceptable to us, James. Do you wish to eat of drink something first?"

"Actually, the food _does_smell particularly good," James replied.

"By all means, help yourself, James. You will need your strength this night," Leila said, grinning.

"Heh, Mike warned me, Leila."

James made his selection, not loading up too much at once, lest he get full quickly and then become sleepy. He felt a bit odd being the only one eating, so he reminded himself that he was the only one in the room who needed to eat. Later, after he had finished, James reached for Lilith's hand.

"I've never been with anyone with wings before--I don't wish to risk damaging them."

"What would you like to do first, James, so that I may position myself for you?"

James smiled gently and said, "There's no need to rush, Lilith. This is your first time--I want to make it special. Lay with me for a while...and then we will go from there."

"As you wish, James."

They lay in the large bed--James and Lilith in the center, with Fey and Cyrilla on both side of them--touching and caressing each other.

"Lilith, I've had a thought about something that concerns the scout ship A.I.s. Actually, your situation in particular is what got me to thinking about it."

Placing her left hand on his cheek, Lilith asked, "What might that be, James?"

"Well, I suppose that at one time it was all well and good to match pilot and ship A.I. on the old one person scout/courier ships, when the pilot stayed with the same ship his or her whole career. After all, they would be together for quite some time, and upon retirement, the pilot got to keep the ship and work for himself. The big warships, however, do things differently. The A.I.s are not bonded to their first CO--they deal with a change of command just like the rest of the crew. The SLGs usually operate independent of the fleet ships, and their crews don't stay onboard the same ship their whole time in service. So, why do they keep creating SLG A.I.s who have no say and no choice in who pilots them? I mean, you gals are way more advanced--and way more, dare I say, 'real'--than your early predecessors. You're intelligent, sentient beings, and you do have feelings, so why should you be forced into slavish devotion to a pilot that somebody else chose for you? Shouldn't you have a say in who you want to be with, like everyone else in our society? I think you should. I read an ancient science fiction story in our family's collection, about intelligent ships that got to choose their own pilots. The ships in that story didn't have avatars like you, but they got paid for what they did, and eventually could buy themselves and be free agents, able to advertise for and hire their crew member, and choose jobs. I don't know how well that would work in reality, but maybe at least you gals wouldn't be programmed--forced--into a slave-like relationship."

"James...you would see us have the ability to choose our own relationships, just as you biologicals do?" Fey asked with great interest.

"Sure, why not? The warships do, more or less, so why not the SLGs?"

"We would be free to love whom we wish?" Lilith asked.

"Of course," James replied softly, stroking her face.

"If only it were possible now...," Lilith said with a hint of a sigh.

"I've been thinking about that, too, Lilith. There may be a way of sorts...I'm still your commanding officer, correct?"

"Of course, James."

"Okay, here goes...I hope I have this worded correctly." Looking her directly in her eyes, James said, "Lilith Night Spirit, as your commanding officer, I am giving you a direct executive order--you are free to enter into a relationship of your choosing with whomever you wish, so long as the other person--or persons--desire to do so with you, and you may also leave a relationship if you so choose if or when it is no longer suitable. This order is non-countermandable in perpetuity."

Lilith blinked and then got up on her knees, looking at James wide-eyed. Her sisters also sat up, putting a hand on her, and even Moira got up and came over to do the same.

"James...you...you did this, for me?" Lilith asked softly in surprise.

"No one has ever done such a thing for one of us. Lilith, you are free to choose your own mate if you desire!" Leila exclaimed quietly.

"My James has given our sister a great gift," Moira said, smiling lovingly.

"Indeed so, Moira," Fey agreed.

"If I did not hear it myself, I would be skeptical," Cyrilla said with a grin.

Lilith bent down and leaned forward, holding her face over James'.

"How can I ever thank you properly, James?"

"Continue to live your life, honor Jonathan's memory--I'll take you to visit his grave, if you wish, and find your own happiness, Lilith."

Lilith gave James a curious look.

"James?"

"Yes, Lilith?"

"While it is not possible to do this, there is a phrase I have discovered that--if I understand it correctly--would seem appropriate despite its vulgarity and seemingly violent connotation."

"What's that, Lilith?"

"'Fuck my brains out'."

James grinned and asked, "Do you want on bottom, on top, or from behind?"

"May we try all three?"

"Sure, I guess we can start with you on top, since I'm already on my back."

Lilith straddled James and slowly eased herself down on him.

"You're kinda...snug, Lilith."

"I believe I will be able to accept all of you James. Almost there...," Lilith said quietly, closing her eyes.

It took a bit of doing, but Lilith managed to take the full length of James' shaft into her body. It had been a very long time since he was ever in someone this snug fitting, and that was the first time he and Lilly mated. While he was full in Lilith, James sat up and held her, nuzzling, kissing, and sucking the nipples of her petite breasts.

"Do I feel good to you, James?"

"Surprisingly, yes. I didn't know an avatar could feel so..."

"Lifelike?"

"Well, I guess that's one way of putting it."

Lilith smiled and kissed James hungrily.

"Lie back," she whispered, "I want to experience you fully."

With one more kiss, and stroking her long ears, James lay back down, and Lilith began moving her hips up and down, adding a forward and back rocking motion.

"Oh, man she's tight, but it feels good! She's so slick inside, but not wet at all. Ooo, I wish I could link minds with her...," James thought to himself, "...I wonder what she's thinking right now."

Lilith was having all sorts of new sensations and responses being triggered by her programming. Her repertoire of moves was based on studies made of bat G.E.L.F. couples mating. Considering possible limitations to her techniques with James, she expanded her search to include those of humans. Quickly comparing and contrasting the similarities and differences, Lilith adapted "on the fly" to James.

"This is better than I originally assumed," Lilith though. "I...enjoy this. Moira is fortunate to be James' ship and he has offered to marry her along with his other mates. He must love her, if he is willing to do that. I could be with this man...I desire him. Would he and his mates accept me?"

Lilith began moving up and down a little faster, causing James to thrust upward as she moved downward. She felt a new sensation--a quick search indicated that it was time for her to initiate orgasm.

"James...I'm...about to..."

"Me...too...it's...it's, ooo, I'm...UHNNNG!"

The instant Lilith felt James' hot load shoot into her, her own orgasmic response was triggered. Her sensory system seemed to overload--her body twitched, and artificial muscles in her vaginal cavity began a series of contractions designed to gently squeeze out as much ejaculate as possible. James moaned in pleasure--this was better than he imagined.

Lilith lay on James' chest, resting her head under his chin, covering his sides with her wings.

"James...that was...most enjoyable. Thank you."

"You're welcome, Lilith," James said quietly, kissing one of her ears. "I enjoyed it, too."

After a few seconds, Lilith asked, "James, do I have...your affections?"

"I think you know the answer to that, my dear."

James lifted her chin and kissed her tenderly on the lips.

Lilith looked up into his eyes--her expression was so lifelike, so much like Sylvia might give, James could easily forget that she wasn't a real bat like his beautiful Communications Officer. But Lilith was a "real" person, even if she was a computer, a ship, and a very attractive android, just like his Moira. At the thought of her, James turned his head to look at Moira--she was sitting once again in the chair, watching passively, contentedly waiting...or was she? She met his eyes and he thought he saw, what...anticipation? Desire? Wanting desperately for her sisters to finish with him so that he could finally be hers? James closed his eyes and tried something--he knew the direction and distance by sensing the location of Lilly, Tanya, Shauna, and Mindy. He focused his thoughts and reached out...

"Moira...I love you."

He opened his eyes--Moira's avatar was looking right at him. A faint flicker of emotion seemed to play across her face. She cocked her head ever so slightly...and she smiled.

It was a long night for James, and he felt drained--literally--after having sex with Moira's four sisters. Three times with Lilith, Fey sixty-nined him, Leila was true to Mike's warning, and Cyrilla took James in her tail hole. By the time he got to be with Moira, he was really too tired and worn out to have a proper first night with her, though he tried anyway. Moira seemed to understand, however, so she contented herself to sleeping naked with James after only a single love making session. While he slept, the others cleaned themselves and then joined James and Moira in the bed. By the time James awoke the next morning, everything else in the room had been cleared away. James and Moira showered together, and they found fresh working uniforms waiting for them. James' dress uniform had been cleaned, pressed, and delivered to the ship. They walked back together, each one of the avatars giving James a hug and a kiss as they split off to return to their own ship. Lilith remained with James and Moira, boarding _Nightwing_with them, and stayed through breakfast. Lilly, of course, greeted James enthusiastically as soon as he entered his cabin and Tanya no less so. Lilith watched quietly from a respectable distance, while Lilly and Tanya showered James--and Moira--with their love and affection.

"Would they do the same for me?" Lilith thought to herself.

Although Lilly and Tanya had seen Lilith at the interrogation of Ethanridge, they had not been formally introduced yet, so James made the introductions. Lilith was surprised when Lilly gave her a hug.

"I hope you're going to be okay after all the stuff that happened. I can't imagine getting stuck with somebody that hated me," Lilly said.

"I will manage, thanks to all those who came to my rescue," Lilith said appreciatively, hugging Lilly in return. "We were glad to help, though it was mostly James and Moira's doing," Tanya said, also giving Lilith a hug.

"I am indebted to them both--and to all of those who stood with me."

"Like my uncle Kenny said, we take care of our own, no mater who or what they are," Lilly added with a grin.

"Your 'Uncle Kenny'?" Lilith asked, not sure who that was.

"Admiral Donnelson is Lilly's uncle," James explained, "and her parents are my first cousins."

"So he is related to you as well, then," Lilith said, raising an eyebrow.

"Yep, and Zach McCloud, my Science Officer is also related to us, distantly."

"Interesting, and now you have a new branch to your family tree," Lilith commented.

"Yeah, once we all get married, right, Jamie?" Lilly asked, putting her arms around Tanya and Moira's avatar.

"That's right, Lil."

"Leave it to our James--just like one of his ancestors who was the first human to marry a G.E.L.F., James wants to be the first person to marry a ship's A.I.!" Tanya chuckled.

"Hey, I don't know about the rest of you, but I want to get something to eat," James said rubbing his belly, which had just grumbled audibly.

On their way to the crew's mess, Lilly asked James privately, "Did they wear you out last night?"

"Yeah, they sure did...it's a wonder I can even walk today. By the time they let me be with Moira, I could hardly do anything," he replied.

Lilly could sense the exhaustion he felt in his sending.

"You wanna go to bed early tonight?"

"If I can, yeah. I don't think we're going to be here long---your uncle's got a hot assignment for us, for all five ships."

"Five?! Oh, yeah, that stuff goin' on out in sector one-four-nine, right?"

"Yep."

"I hope it's not gonna be somethin' we can't handle..."

"Yeah, Lil, me, too."

"Jamie?"

"Yeah, Lil?"

"You'll bring us home, right?"

"One way or another, Lil...I promise."

Lilly, not caring who saw, wrapped her arm around James' waist and leaned her head against his shoulder.

James spent to time right after breakfast drafting--with Moira and Lilith's help--a document outlining suggested changes to scout ship A.I. programming, especially where it concerned their pilots, and a case for making all A.I.s full citizens of the Federation, with all due rights and responsibilities thereof. They are sentient beings, and should be treated as such. When they finished writing it, Moira passed it on to the rest of her sisters for their review and input. James made a copy, and then left the ship to see Admiral Donnelson in his office, taking Moira and Lilith with him. Besides the document, there was another issue to deal with--the abusive "inspection" of the A.I. avatars.

/* "Admiral, there's a Captain Daugherty and two ladies to see you, sir." */

"Two?" Admiral Donnelson asked his assistant with a bit of surprise.

/* "Yes, sir, a...Moira Nightwing and Lilith Night Spirit. They're..." */

"A.I. avatars, yes. Send them right in."

/* "Aye, aye, sir." */

"Good morning, ladies, a pleasure to meet you again," Admiral Donnelson greeted the two avatars pleasantly. "'Morning, James, I see you're bright-eyed and bushy tailed this morning," he smirked, having a pretty good idea of what he went through the night before.

"Aye, sir, it's morning...somewhere," James grinned.

"I was about to get some coffee...want some?"

"Thank you, sir, I would."

After they both got their coffee, the admiral had an extra chair brought in so that they all could sit, not that Moira and Lilith would necessarily mind standing--sitting or standing was the same to them.

"So, what can I do for you this morning?" Admiral Donnelson asked, looking at all three of his visitors.

"Well, sir, we've made a report documenting the abuse the A.I. avatars endure in their final Q.A. 'inspection', and we've come up with some recommendations regarding the status of A.I.s within the Federation, and changes to their programming as far as their pilots are concerned," James replied, fishing out the data chip and handing it to the admiral.

"A little 'light reading' for the day, eh?" Admiral Donnelson grinned as he accepted the chip and inserted it into his desk's reader.

"The report covering the abuses perpetrated on our avatars includes the first-hand accounts of my own and my four sisters, sir. If you would like, we can ask the other SLG A.I.s to provide their personal accounts," Moira suggested.

"We have included the real-time recordings of what took place," Lilith added.

"Recordings?" Admiral Donnelson asked, his face darkening a bit.

"Yes sir, they download a copy of everything they saw, heard, said, and felt while they were being subject to these abuses. It's an exact audio-visual recording along with physical telemetry--apparently the perpetrators were either unaware or didn't care that they could record and share their memories like this. They've been caught in the act, red-handed, so-to-speak," James explained.

"I see." Pushing a control on his desk, Admiral Donnelson said, "Katie, get that lady over at JAG Corps here on the double--the snow leopardess, what's her name?"

/* "Lieutenant Commander Akira Chernokova, sir. Right away, sir." */

Looking at Moira and Lilith, Admiral Donnelson said, "She's got an excellent record dealing with sexual assault cases--Lieutenant Commander Chernokova is your best bet."

The JAGC officer arrived twenty minutes later.

"Ah, Lieutenant Commander Chernokova, there you are--oh, do we have a case for you," Admiral Donnelson greeted her.

He introduced Moira, Lilith, and James to her, and then gave the short version of why she was called.

"You say you have proof of this?" she asked.

"Let's take a look," Admiral Donnelson said, turning the display on his desk so that she could see as well.

They watched the extremely graphic videos of what amounted as sexual torture, seeing the faces of the individuals involved, and hearing all that was said. Moira explained the readouts to the side as being the measureable physical inputs each of the avatars experienced--essentially displaying their version of "pain" as tolerances were tested to the maximum limits. By the time the last one was finished playing, Akira was nearly in tears, and Admiral Donnelson was furious.

"They...are going...to _BURN_for this...," he growled through clenched teeth.

"No one deserves this...except those bastards!" Akira hissed. "May I take a copy of this so that I can get a warrant?"

"Certainly," Admiral Donnelson replied, and he pulled a new, blank chip out of his desk and proceeded to make a copy. They discussed the other issues presented, and Akira agreed that the A.I.s should be afforded the same rights as everyone else, including full citizenship.

"This is going to cause quite a stir, you know this," the admiral stated.

"Yes sir, it's not like it's the first time somebody in the family has stood up for the rights of others," James said, grinning.

"You've got a point there, James. Lieutenant Commander, run with this--we're going to put a stop to this barbarism once and for all. Get F.I.S. off their tails and ready to move--I'm sending my own people in to secure the facility within the half hour, and I want those investigators on our tails. Moira, Lilith...would you and your sisters wish to come along?"

The two avatars briefly looked at each other, and then they said in unison, "Yes."

"Very well, have them join us." Admiral Donnelson tapped his comm-set, ""Donnelson to Brenner...is Team Two doing anything at the moment? Well get their tails suited up, we're gonna have a little party in twenty minutes, and they're to bring their toys. I'll brief them myself as soon as I get down there, and I'm heading out the door now. Donnelson out!"

"Sir, Team Two...that was CWO-3 Stewert's unit, and yours, if I remember correctly," James observed.

Admiral Donnelson grinned mischievously and said, "Good memory, my boy...want her in on this?"

"I'm sure Sylvia would love a chance to kick ass and take names again, especially since it's for one or ours," James replied.

"Alright, call her," the admiral agreed.

"If I may, can I bring my Engineer along?"

The big mare?"

"Yep."

"What for?"

"Oh, a couple of reasons...if you'll humor me, I'll explain on the way," James replied with a hint of mischief of his own.

"Okay, bring her. Let's roll!"

On the way to meet Special Warfare Team Two, James called the ship.

[Cptn. Daugherty]: "Daugherty to Nightwing."

[CWO-3 Stewert]: "Nightwing, Stewert here."

[Cptn. Daugherty]: "Sylvia, I'm with Admiral Donnelson--you got your 'go bag' in your stateroom?"

[CWO-3 Stewert]: "Of course, sir."

[Cptn. Daugherty]: "Wanna play? Team Two is suiting up...we're going to get those sicko Q.A. guys over at the A.I. avatar facility."

[CWO-3 Stewert]: "I'm on my way, sir...!"

[Cptn. Daugherty]: "Bring Shauna with you."

[CWO-3 Stewert]: "Aye, aye, sir. Anyone else?"

[Cptn. Daugherty]: "Nope. Haul tail, both of you, Daugherty out."

"Mister McCloud?"

"Go ahead, Miss Stewert, do some good."

"Yes, sir."

On her way to her quarters at a brisk pace, Sylvia called Shauna.

[CWO-3 Stewert]: "Stewert to Engineering."

[Lt. (j.g.) Eriksson]: "Engineering, Eriksson here."

[CWO-3 Stewert]: "Ma'am, the captain called and wants the both of us. He said to 'haul tail'."

[Lt. (j.g.) Eriksson]: "Oh, well, since he put it that_way...um, what's this about?_"

[CWO-3 Stewert]: "Meet me at the airlock, and I'll explain."

[Lt. (j.g.) Eriksson]: "Oookaaay, I'm on my way. Eriksson out."

When Sylvia got to her stateroom, Sonya was sitting at her desk working. She didn't pay too much attention to what Sylvia was doing, until she pulled a duffle bag out of her locker and opened it. Sonya watched with mild interest--until Sylvia pulled a MK-VI Mod 7 MPAR assault rifle out, popping a power cell into it, heating it up.

"Whoa, girl!" Sonya exclaimed, jumping up from her chair so fast that she knocked it over. The sudden move made Sylvia spin around, weapon at the ready, laser sight painting a dot centered exactly on Sonya's heart. Sonya's ears flattened when she saw the icy calm look in Sylvia's eyes. If she were to squeeze the trigger stud, at best a neat hole would be burned through her, at worst the upper half of her would be vaporized, depending on the setting.

"Syl...c'mon, kitten, whatever it is, we can talk about it, right?" Sonya gulped nervously, slowly holding her hands up.

Sylvia snapped her weapon up, cutting off the laser sight and powering it down in one fluid move.

She grinned just a little and said, "Relax, Sonya, if you were a threat, you wouldn't be standing right now."

"Jeezers, Syl...d-don't mess around like that! I don't wanna be a crispy kitty!"

"I'm not, and don't worry, you won't be...at least not by me. The captain called, and I'm going to meet up with my former teammates for a little job."

Sylvia put the weapon back into the bag while she talked.

"A...'job'?"

"Yeah, I'll tell you about it when I get back...shouldn't take too long."

"Yeah...sure. Hey, weapons need to be kept in the armory..."

"Not mine. They stay with me," Sylvia said calmly, pulling a hand-held energy weapon out from under her pillow and checking the charge, before putting it into her bag and closing it up.

"You--you _sleep_with a gun?!"

"Always," Sylvia grinned. "I told you, you should sleep the best of anyone on this ship, because somebody has to get past me in order to get to you."

"I-I guess I'd better warn Cara to knock first," Sonya said worriedly.

"You do that. Gotta run...later," Sylvia said as she grabbed her bag and rushed out.

Sonya stood there, blinking, looking at the door for a minute, before she bent down to pick up the chair. "Fuck...me...," Sonya nearly whispered, sitting back down, rubbing her face...and then rubbing her chest where the laser dot had been.

"Fuck...me...royal!"

The members of Special Warfare Team Two were happily surprised to see Sylvia, they stopped what they were doing and gathered around her, greeting Sylvia quickly and quietly--touching minds and giving friendly touches.

"Everything's still in your locker, Syl," Senior Chief Charlie Davidson said, "Davy's been doing the maintenance on your gear. So, you're suitin' up with us, eh? Good deal...let's get to it. 'Mr. D'[2]is waiting!"

"Well then, I'll just slip into something...comfortable...be right back," Sylvia said charmingly, and then walked gracefully to the gear room.

The senior chief slowly shook his head as he watched Sylvia head off to get suited up. When he turned around, he noticed several of the others watching, too.

"What are _you_looking at?!" he bellowed. "Get your eyeballs back in those sorry excuses you call heads--we all know what Miss Stewert looks like, now get back to work!"

Donning her combat gear was something of a ritual for Sylvia. After opening the wire cage "locker" that contained her gear, Sylvia closed her eyes for a moment to slip into an old, familiar mindset. She slipped out of her scout ship uniform, put her hair into a small bun, and removed a set of fatigues from her bag. As she began putting them on, she paused only for a second, knowing that she was being watched by another. Smiling, Sylvia continued putting on her fatigues, boots, head wrap, and then she strapped on the form-fitting, lightweight, powered, armored exoskeleton. When she put on her gloves, the only think left was to slip her side arm into her thigh holster, add her three knife sheaths, and sling her assault rifle across her chest.

"Syl, only you_could make combat dress look sexy._"

Sylvia turned her head and gave her admirer a sultry look.

"Anytime you feel like playing Wagner again, sir..."

"...You'll be the first to know."

"Shall we dance, sir?"

"Vertically...or horizontally?"

"Your choice, sir."

"To be fair, let's do both, starting vertically...only, just try not to blow out the station's hull in the process."

"Noted, sir...and later?"

"Lady's preference, of course."

Sylvia grinned.

"Let's get the bastards, Captain."

"Right beside you, Syl."

"Hoo-yah."

Admiral Donnelson was already filling in the team when Sylvia and James walked out of the locker area. He paused just long enough to watch them join the group, grinning ferally, before continuing. Shauna, who was standing in the back and towering over everyone, looked surprised--well, more like shocked--to see Sylvia wearing the powered exoskeleton with armor as if it was second nature for her. The fact that it was, just made Shauna's jaw drop more. There were other females in the Special Warfare team, of course, and they welcomed the thought of Sylvia being with them again.

Continuing with his briefing, Admiral Donnelson finished with the background information, covering why they were doing this--including the recordings provided by the five ship A.I. avatars. He watched the faces of the team members--and Shauna's, too--as they watched and listened. By the end of Moira's recording, they were ready to tear the place apart with their bare hands. He next brought up a holo-projection of the layout, using a hand-held emitter, showing the three doors in and out--one large door for moving equipment in and out, the regular personnel door, and a back door in an office area. The plan was to open all three doors simultaneously and prevent anyone from leaving. A scrambling device was to be deployed to prevent anyone from transporting in or out. Sylvia's squad was to take the main personnel door, while the others covered the rest. At the end of the quick briefing, Admiral Donnelson instructed the team to stun anyone trying to make a run for it. There was only one question.

"Sir, what do you want us to do if any of them pulls a weapon?"

Admiral Donnelson grinned dangerously and said, "Do what you're trained to do--vaporize their ass!"

It didn't take long for the team to get to the Avatar Assembly and Testing Facility, and cover the exits. Upon examining the door's security plate, it was found that the door was locked.

"This is going to take a bit to open, Syl," one of her teammates sent, frowning.

"Here, let me see that, I'm an engineer," Shauna insisted, barging her way to the door.

Sylvia shrugged her shoulders and stepped aside to allow Shauna room to look. After about ten seconds, Shauna shook her head.

"You're not gonna open this thing from out here. See this? It's controlled from the inside_...unless you've got somebody to release it on the other side, you'll have to open it some other way_," Shauna said.

"I guess we'll have to cut our way through, else blow it."

"So much for surprise," one of the other squad members quipped.

While they quietly conferred with the others, Shauna pulled out a hand scanner and gave the door itself a look.

After a moment, Shauna grinned and said, "Ah, hell, gimme some space, guys...I'll get this thing open. As soon as I do, one of you run over and open the big door. Now move it!"

"Miss Eriksson...what are you going to do?" Sylvia asked mentally.

"Heh, I think I know, Syl...best give her some room," James snickered.

He pulled a marker out of his sleeve pocket and drew a rough outline on the door--of a Zadori's head.

"Make a penalty shot, Shauna...for Moira."

Shauna grinned wickedly, taking a step back. She glared at the drawing, "You scumbag pervs...rape one of ours will ya? Think you can get your jollies off on sweet lil' Moira, eh? You...are...so...dead!"

Shauna kicked the door, square on the drawn face, for all she was worth--the door didn't stand a chance.

*BAM!!!*

She knocked the door clean out of the wall and halfway across the room on the other side. Reacting quickly, Sylvia and her squad rushed in, firing a few pulse shots over the heads of those working, ordering everyone down with hands on their heads. The large door was quickly opened and most of the others entered the space, and began securing the prisoners. At one of the testing stations, an android avatar was held in some equipment and was being "measured"--the human male that had been conducting the "tests", didn't have time to get it back into his pants. He had been stroking himself while inserting a measuring device into the android's tail hole. The android, of course, was "awake" and able to feel what was being done, though her motor functions were turned off, effectively paralyzing her body--and the device was still in her. Shauna was livid with hate and disgust. She picked the man up single-handed--the white of her eyes showing and her ears pinned back--and she screamed at him.

"I'm gonna shove this thing up your ass, you fucking sick bastard!!!" and she ripped his pants off his body before anyone could stop her. Somebody help her! NOW, dammit!"

Moira gently persuaded a few people to let her through so that she could attend to the android.

Gently my sister...we are here to free you," Moira said calmly, withdrawing the device, and then proceeding to free the android's arms and legs.

"Who are you?" the android asked.

"I am Moira Nightwing, SLG-78. My pilot and two of our crew members have, you could say, brought the cavalry."

"Nightwing...you are a scout ship?"

"Yes. There now, your body is free, but we must reactivate your motor functions. I will be gentle."

Pressing her fingers in certain places on the back of the android's head opened an access panel into her skull. Moira looked for, and found, the correct tool to use, inserting it carefully, touching a tiny control. "Try moving a little," Moira instructed. When the android was able to move her arms and legs, Moira said, "Good", and closed the access panel, smoothing the fur around it. "Come now, my sister, you will suffer no more violations."

One of the team members took a long lab coat from one of the civilian workers, and put it on the android to cover her.

"Now, you disgusting dirt bag--it's your turn!" Shauna shouted with a wild look, tossing the man roughly down on the testing station.

"Get your hands off of me, you insane bitch!" the man yelled.

Shauna, holding the man down, looked at one of the canine team members.

"Do I look like a bitch to you?"

"No ma'am, you certainly don't," the petty officer said with a grin.

"See? This guy should know what one is. Oh, look, *Ka-chunk, ka-chunk, ka-chunk, ka-chunk*, restraints. How convenient. Say, does this thing have an auto cycle? Let's find out!"

"Get me outta this thing! Get her off of me! I'll sue you...*GAG!*"

"Now, didn't your momma ever tell you not to talk with your mouth full? I didn't think so. Hmm, I wonder what this button does?" *Gagged scream* "Oops, sorry, you don't have one of those...silly man. Ooo, maybe this one..."

"Mph...mph...MMMMMPH!"

"I always did think the punishment should fit the crime...I wonder how many avatars have you done this to since you've worked here. Unfortunately for you, asshole, I know _exactly_what these ladies went through, and sick pervs like you deserve to get as good as you give. I should just throw your ass out an airlock while you're strapped into this thing. Oh, what's that? It's could outside? Well geez, I think we can rig up something that'll make you nice and toasty--for maybe a hundredth of a second or so. What do you think?"

"MMMMMMPF!!!"

"Oh, you wanna burn longer? Well geez, why didn't you say so. I guess the carni's are going to have roast pig tonight. Let's see, there's gotta be something in here we can burn..."

Shauna walked away.

"Light him up, guys, he's all yours," Shauna said as she headed out of the room.

"Mpf! Mpf! Mpf! *Whimper!*"

When James went out into the corridor, he found Shauna leaning against the wall being sick to her stomach. He sent an "I'm here" and put an arm around Shauna's waist, just holding her until she could talk. She wanted to say, "Leave me alone", but James stayed with her and in truth, she actually welcomed his company.

After a while she said almost too quiet to hear, "My gods, James...I-I became like my *choke* step-grandfather in there!"

Shauna was shaking so badly that she had to sit down.

"I'm fucked, James...might as well court-martial my ass right here and get it over with," she breathed barely above a whisper. "Any lawyer he gets is gonna eat me alive...and I deserve it!"

Shauna held her head between her knees and began crying.

"What you deserve is a hug from your mate," James said softly, putting his arms around her neck and nuzzling gently.

Shauna choked back a sob and asked, "H-How c-could you want me...after..."

"Shhh...," James shushed her softly, "...you'll be okay. I'm right here with you, Shauna. The time for hurting is past; it's time to start healing."

"*Sob!* James...I-I need...help..."

"Shhh...I know, Shauna. You'll get it dear, I promise."

After taking Shauna back to the ship and putting her in Mindy's care, James went and had a long chat with Admiral Donnelson about Shauna, telling all about her home life growing up, and how it ended up with what happened in the A.I. Avatar Assembly and Testing Facility. The Admiral sat and listened thoughtfully to it all. When James concluded with Shauna asking for help and his promise of getting it for her, he mopped his head.

"Luckily for her, the joker isn't going to press any charges...not that he's actually in any shape to at the moment. He and his fellow workers are currently locked up for the time being, facing a ton of charges. They'll be lucky if they don't end up in the penal colony on Mercury. Your lady, Moira...she's scouring the records to see if there's anything on those pervs. Oh, and by the way, the head of A.I. Development Division is being called onto the carpet as we speak--he's getting to explain how and why the avatars have endured this crap for so long and nobody caught it. If it wasn't for Ms. Lilith mentioning it to you, and you and Moira getting involved, who knows how many more A.I.s and their avatars would have had all that done to them. Personally--and this is off the record--that perv got what he deserved. On the record, however, I can't let it slide, so...I'll tell you what I'll do, since she asked for help. I'll get something arranged with

Psych. Department so that she can get whatever help she needs, and I'm going to insist she take an anger management course--she passes that, and stays out of trouble for ninety days, then no marks in her permanent record. And just to show how much of a nice guy I am, she doesn't have to start anything until after_you guys come back from this first mission. On another issue, the powers that be--at my insistence--are allowing you to take _Nightwing and crew home for a weekend before heading out to sector one-four-nine. You're to arrive home in time on Friday to give the area kids a chance to see the ship, and then on the following Monday, your ass is heading out. I'll shoot you a copy of all this after dinner."

"Thank you, sir, anything else?"

"Yeah, tell Lilly I love her, and on your way out, tell my assistant I need more coffee."

"Aye, aye, sir."

"Yeah, yeah...get outta here already," Admiral Donnelson said with a grin.

"Thermic shielding and atmospheric controls online; seal field emitter pods. Status report!"

"All conditions 'blue' for atmospheric entry, captain."

"Very well. Attention all hands--strap in, we're hitting atmo in five...four...three... two...one..."

Nothing was felt at first, though sensors registered contact with the extreme upper layer of Terra's atmosphere. It didn't take long, however, for Nightwing to descend enough for the effects to be seen and felt. The thermic shielding kept the searing heat of atmospheric entry from doing any damage to the ship's organic skin. They hit atmo over Siberia, streaking across the sky towards Alaska. Soon, James was bringing them in over the clearing south of the Daugherty home, near the GelfheimSchool.

"Grav thrusters are online, extending landing struts," James said.

"Transferring landing co-ordinates to your screen," Tanya said as she touched the control.

"Got it, making final approach. Moira, how do we look?"

/* "All systems nominal, James. I'm ready to touch down." */

"Thank you, dear. Here we go folks..."

People on the ground looked up at the sound overhead, and saw a black, dagger-shaped hole descending towards the clearing. Nightwing's brilliant landing lights came on when she was within five hundred meters of the ground, and focused on the center of the clearing. James brought her down manually, using solely his skills as a pilot. It was an awesome sight for those on the ground, watching the scout ship land. A crowd gathered, and soon rumors began about who it might be, but when James' parents showed up, they quelled the speculations and nonsense.

"That's our James' ship, Nightwing is her name," Sean Daugherty, James' father said with pride.

"Our Jamie's come home," Mary Kate, James' mother said holding her hands up to her muzzle.

James' parents held each other as the ship came closer and closer--one hundred meters, fifty meters, twenty-five meters, ten, five...the ship set down gently, gracefully, almost bird-like, with the rear landing struts making contact first and the nose coming down last. When the landing lights switched off, the ship seemed to become cloaked with the shadows in the clearing, due to the low angle of the sun. When the whine of the propulsion system died away, the people on the ground cautiously began to walk towards the ship.

"Looks like we've got a crowd to greet us," Tanya observed.

"Well, let's go see them," James said with a grin. "All hands, secure from flight ops. Liberty call--all hands to return by 0700 Monday. Meet at forward boarding lift in fifteen. Better wear your coats--it's currently minus twenty-three degrees Celsius outside. Captain out."

"Br-r-r, that's downright cold sir!" Sylvia said with a grimace.

"Snugglin' weather, right, Tanya?"

"Ah, a balmy day in Chukotka," Tanya teased.

"I'll take South America, thank you very much," Sylvia retorted.

"Oh? Got some vampire bat in you, Syl?" James teased, winking at her.

Sylvia got up and walked over to the pilot's seat, leaned over, and slowly, seductively, ran her hands down his chest from behind, brushing the side of his neck with her muzzle.

"Are you dying to find out...sir?" she said suggestively.

Gently caressing her face with his right hand, James replied, "Ooo, you're getting me all excited, Syl."

Seeing the insides of Sylvia's ears turning a darker shade of pink, Tanya chuckled, "He's used to getting bit during sex, Sylvia...I think he actually likes it." Sylvia looked questioningly at Tanya who added, "Not me...Lilly."

"Yeah, skunks can get rather, shall I say...energetic, during mating season," James grinned as he unstrapped himself from his seat and climbed up out of it.

"More like 'violent', I'd say, with all the growling, hissing, wrestling, biting, and clawing," Tanya snorted, remembering how Lilly gets all too well. She climbed up out of the navigator's seat, and then whispered conspiratorially to Sylvia, "He bit Sonya on the neck...and held her in his fangs."

"Tanya! I'm going to bite you in a sec...!" James shook his finger at her as she hurriedly headed through the door into his office. "You bit her, too!" he said raising his voice, cupping a hand by his mouth. More quietly, he said, "That scamp..."

"Yeah, and so did Lilly...," Tanya called back through the still open door.

"What'd I do _this_time, Tan?" they heard Lilly's voice.

Sylvia gave James a stunned look, "You were with Sonya?"

"*Cough* Um...all three of us were, actually...at the same time."

"All...three?"

"Yeah, well...it seemed like the thing to do at the time," James said sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.

Sylvia didn't quite know what to think. Standing so close to James, she felt a strong desire for her captain, which she knew why it was happening after the little experiment in Sickbay, and she remembered that the effect worked on him just as much. But then she thought about Sonya having been with him...

"Sonya, that...ooo, she just...damn, I...can't think...straight. Ooh, being so close to him...I-I want..." Sylvia thought to herself.

"Syl...? Are you okay?" she heard the captain's voice speaking softly into her ear.

Slowly she looked up...he was standing so, so close. Sylvia felt her pulse quicken, and her breathing--his scent filled her nose and...

"Captain...I-I want..."

"I know, Syl...I do, too."

"C'mon, Jamie, the folks are waitin' for us. I got your cold weather stuff out for ya," Lilly sent privately to him.

"Thanks, Lil...on my way," James replied to his cousin. "We need to get going, Syl..."

Giving a glance towards the door into his office, Sylvia looked up into James' eyes with a pout on her face that could easily have matched the one she gave the petty officer in the dining facility back on the station nearly a month earlier...only this time, it wasn't play acting.

"Kiss me..."

---

[1]MPAR - Multi-Phasic Pumped-Plasma Assault Rifle, standard issue to Special Warfare units, with narrow to wide beam, and rapid pulsed fire capability.

[2]Mr. D - Death.