FSE

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Chapter 9

"So you say that he was unconscious on the cargo bay floor when you first found him Moah?" Alfred asked as he shined his ophthalmoscope into the red tinted eyes of his latest patient.

"Yaggho." The large hairy man answered with a nod.

The medic turned away from the man he had been inspecting and glanced across his sickbay to the Girunjh seated on his second examining table. "And he tried to attack you, right?"

Cocking his head Moah scratched his scalp and looked from Rana to Barnabus who were standing next to him. Had that been what the green man was doing? He could have sworn that the grumpy looking alien had just been playing with him. After all, all he had done was tickle him and make him laugh.

"Well he attacked me, I can tell you that!" Barnabus cut in before his mechanic could answer. Pushing himself off of the wall he had been leaning against the fuming Jack went over to the vertical med bay bed where their bound and ball gagged stowaway was. "Caught the son-of-a-bitch rummaging through my room and messing up my bed." Barnabus flicked the orcs broken nose, the Verdomian giving a painful yowl around the ball-gag in his mouth before he said something muffled and began to struggle.

"Captain!" Alfred yelped aghast. Pushing the bearded man away from his patient the blond reached up and began setting the poor green alien's nose, making sure he was very careful as he used his cell regenerator on the broken cartilage under the bruised olive green colored skin. "He's tied up now there no reason to rough him up anymore."

"Trust me kid he deserves it!" Barnabus said crossing his arms over his chest. "If the bastard had said to you what he said to me earlier you'd be doing the same thing." There was a quick blush from the Jack as he remembered the alien telling him to disrobe and let him sleep with him. "Still can't believe that he was able to sneak into my room."

"Wouldn't be the first time we found some strange guy in there Comet." Rana quipped. The older man gave his pilot a halfhearted glare, his expression earning him a sly smile from her in return. "Where did you get that ball gag by the way?"

Barnabus' face tinted red even more for a second before he pretended to cough and look away. "Never mind that. Let's just be happy that I was able to find a way to shut him up. He's a mouthy son-of-a."

[Barnabus: I still can't believe the way that red haired horndog had bluntly commanded me to take off all his clothes. It was embarrassing, and what was even more embarrassing was that given a different set of circumstances I might have actually agreed to it. But of course I knew I couldn't do that, the man was a primitive and knocking him out had been the best to do. At least that's what I thought until I had a nearly three hundred pound man lying on my floor. It had taken both me and Moah nearly ten minutes to drag his green rump all the way down the stairs and into the sickbay. It was there that I told Alfred what the he had said to me. The thing about the pain in my chest, not the sex stuff. At first he was confused and tried to respond, but then he noticed what I had done to our new guest and all my questions were instantly forgotten. Usually I wouldn't mind being ignored by a doctor but I needed answers and I need them fast. Maybe now that the "orc's" fixed up now I'll get them]

Speaking up again Barnabus placed his hand on Alfred's shoulder and turned the young man towards him and the others. "Anywho Alfred what do you think about what I told you?"

After slipping his medical tool into his pocket, Alfred rolled back on his heels and thought over what the Captain had told him earlier. "Well... I'm starting to believe that this Verdomian might be right about what happened to you." He finally said. "Before you brought him down here, I was double checking through all the information I received from your blood tests and scans. When I looked closer at the numbers and consulted my medical books the only explanation I could find that even came close to what you experienced was one thing. But it didn't make sense."

"What was that one thing?" Barnabus asked growing concerned. Whenever a doctor started using sentences that long it usually didn't end well.

"It appears that you were going through symptoms similar to what happens to someone when they go through chemical withdrawal." Alfred said with a confused frown.

"Wait, you mean like with drugs and stuff?" Rana looked over to Barnabus with a raised eyebrow. She knew her captain wouldn't ever do anything like that. There had to be another explanation.

"Not necessarily drugs Rana." Alfred clarified. "But there is something in the Captain's blood." Picking up his personal P.A.D. from his desk the younger man brought up his findings and scrolled through them. "When I reran the blood test, my scanner picked up a strange chemical alongside what I only recently learned was a trace amount of Verdomian DNA." He looked over to their prisoner. "His DNA I might add. That's what you have inside of you Captain."

Barnabus had to sit down as the information, a sense of dread falling over him. A guy he knew once from a bar, a fellow human, had had a similar problem after he started going out with some alien. His friend had grown horns and a tail over the following of weeks, then suddenly his heart gave out and he died of cardiac arrest right there in the bar. The changes in his body caused by his boyfriend's sperm mutating him too much. "How bad are the mutations going to be doc?" Barnabus asked.

Alfred realizing that he had frightened the older man went over to him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry Captain there isn't nearly enough of our friend in you to cause any sort of alterations to your body." He said to the relief of everyone in the room. "But, I still don't know what in the universe the unusual chemical in your blood will do to you." Pursing his lips the spectacled man stopped for a moment thinking. "It'd help if we knew what exactly it was and where it came from."

"You know I think I know just the guy to ask that question actually." Getting back on his feet and going over to their prisoner, Barnabus pulled the ball gag from the Verdomian's mouth roughly. "Ok big green you feel like telling me what this stuff inside of me is? And if you don't tell me the truth I swear you'll regret it!"

Glaring at his mate Miktes cracked his jaw. He didn't know what the hell him and the other creatures in the room had been talking about ever since he had awakened, but he was getting sick of having to listen to their babbling. "'Bout time you yanked off that stupid gag!" He bellowed at them. "How dare you think you can just knock me out and tie me up! I you weren't my property I'd beat the hell outta all of you for even thinking that you can- oomph."

Having grown tired of being yelled at Rana shoved the ball gag back into place silencing the angry man. "Well, doesn't look like he's going to give us an answer anytime soon." She sighed. "At least not until he calms down."

"I don't think he can answer us Rana." Alfred said shyly. When both Barnabus and Rana gave the youngest member of the Wild Comet crew a raised eyebrow at his revelation he bashfully confessed. "I know you both said that Moah and I shouldn't add stuff to the computer without telling you, but... we found a complete dictionary of the Verdomian language in the researcher's computers. We couldn't help but patch it into the translator program in our Universal Translation Devices."

"Gemma gonah doosha Barnabus." Moah added with a guilty look of his own.

Barnabus rolled his eyes, leave it to their two resident eggheads to risk crashing their entire computer by adding unknown, untested, and potentially dangerous computer code. At least it worked out this time. It was just a shame that his and Rana's UTD's didn't sync with the Comet's computers until they got back on board. Knowing what the Verdomians were saying might have made their mission go a lot smoother. Remembering something Barnabus looked over to Moah. "Hey big guy do you still have the spare translator you found last week in the trash?" He asked.

After scratching his muzzle for a second Moah suddenly got his "I've got it!" look and dug into his back pocket, producing the asked about device in a manner of seconds. "Yaggho Barnabus!" He said as he picked off a piece of candy wrapper.

Barnabus took the device from the other man's furry fingers and examined it for a moment. The UTDs which they all had were small hearing aid-like devices that went into ones ears or equivalent. They were an as sensual part of their work, Jacks going all over the galaxy and having to deal with numerous different languages. "Great... now all we gotta to is..." Hesitantly Barnabus walked over to the orc in their midst and grabbed him by his red hair. "...Put this little baby in his ear." Pulling the Verdomian's head back and exposing his pointed ear the Jack captain pressed the UTD into his ear canal after a bit of struggle.

"What the hell did you just do?" Miktes growled once he was released. Frantically the warrior shook his head trying to dislodge the thing that had just been stuck into his ears. The only thing he succeeded in doing however was causing whatever was to make a loud beeping sound and give him a pinprick which hurt like hell. "OUCH! Take it out, take it out!" He loudly whined like a child.

Giving him with a look of annoyance Miktes' hairy mate rolled his eyes and began to make his strange sounds again. "Blah, blah, blah, you big, blahblah."

Miktes stopped his fussing to look at the other man. 'Did he just say "you big."?' He wondered. Narrowing his eyes the dominate stared straight into the shorter male's eyes. "What did you just say to me?" He asked.

"I said: Oh, be quiet you big baby." Barnabus repeated slowly.

Miktes could feel his face heat up in anger. "WHO ARE YOU CALLING A BIG BABY YOU... wait, what?" The red headed man blinked a few times realizing that he had completely understood what the other man had just said. He had just assumed that his new mate was unable to talk. It had never occurred to him that it was a different language it had been speaking. "Y-You can talk?" He blurted out with his mouth hanging open. "Why didn't you do that before!?"

"You didn't ask me big boy." Barnabus shot back with a condescending smirk. "Not that the thought crossed your tiny mind while I was kicking your ass up in my bedroom."

"Wazzat supposed to mean!" Miktes growled.

Barnabus chuckled at the response he gotten out of their captive. He was actually a little cute all red faced and flustered. "It means you're a dumb primitive who's way too stupid to have a coherent thought in his green little head. Oh, and it also means you don't know how to throw a proper punch."

The first insult about his intelligence flew right over Miktes' head, the warrior zeroing in on the second one about his fighting skills. "Why you little!" He roared. Fuming the warrior struggled in his bindings again, the table he was attached to rattling from the strength he was using in his rage. "Let me outta these dam ropes and I'll show you! I'll kick yer ass from your stupid little house all the way back to the temple."

Barnabus only laughed harder as the other man as he yelled at him. There was just something really amusing about messing with the surly alien. Maybe it was because he wanted to get a little revenge for the way his people had been trying to kill him and Rana all afternoon.

Unfortunately his fun at the Verdomian's expense ended much too early for his liking as Rana interrupted their interplay with a punch to his arm. "Stop teasing him Barnabus." She scolded. "We're supposed to be asking him something, remember?"

"Heh, sorry guess I got caught up in messing with him." Barnabus apologized as he rubbed the forming sore spot on his arm. Rana was right they needed to get down to business and talk about that stuff in his blood. "Ok... ahh, um... whatever your name is. I want you to answer a few questions for me and you better not-"

"-Miktes." The Verdomian said with a haughty pout. When Barnabus stopped talking to stare at him in confusion the other man clarified what he meant. "My name is Miktes and I'm the firstborn of the Hestry clan. So you better show respect or else I'll slug ya."

"Fine then, Mickey..." Barnabus couldn't help the grin that crossed his bearded as his nickname made the Verdomian growl in outrage. "...How about you tell us why my chest was hurting earlier again."

"It's Miktes! So say it right!" Miktes instantly corrected. "And I don't get it all myself, but my father said that the pains in our chests were separation pains. Since we're mates now we gotta stay close to each other or else it'll start up again."

Barnabus held up his hand to stop the orc. "Hold the phone what do you mean "mate"?"

Miktes growled in irritation. What was wrong with these people couldn't they understand the simplest thing? "You, you're my mate!" He announced to the people in front of him. "Not that I'm too happy about it ya know. I really wanted to mate with a pretty girl back at my village, but we're stuck together now so there's nothing I can do 'bout it."

Barnabus was about to ask what he meant by mate again, the previous question not really answering what he wanted to know. But before he could the Jack captain was beat to it by Alfred who asked a different question. "Um, Mr. Miktes how did the Captain here become your mate in the first place."

"Captain?" Miktes looked around the room, when his mate raised his hand he understood who the skinny one was talking about. "Well... it happened 'cause he touched me." He said trying to remember everything his father had told him back in the mating ceremony chamber. "I was in the middle of my mating ceremony and then... Captain burst into the room and knocked me down. When we touched and looked into each other's eyes we became soul-bounded... forever."

Wanting to know even more about what happened; Alfred peered up at Miktes questioningly. "That can't be all that it was that made you mates." He reasoned. "It wouldn't explain the strange chemical I found in the Captain's blood work." The blond scratched his hairless chin. "Humm... did you drink or eat anything during this ceremony of yours?"

Miktes was very put upon at being questioned by what he believed must be his mate's servants. But understanding that he needed to humor them so that they would let him go he answered. "I drank the sacred water my father gave me too. Some nasty blue stuff that's supposed at start the soul bounding or something."

"Oh god..." Barnabus felt a headache coming on. The glowing water he had fallen into and swallowed. If what the alien was saying was true then he had just gotten into the biggest mess of his entire life. He had accidentally gotten himself married a big, brutish, dimwitted primitive in a loincloth. But maybe... maybe there was a way out of this, there had to be. "Now when you said forever do you actually mean that, right?" He asked. "Or is there a way to break this bond. You know, some sort of anti-sacred water."

"What kind of stupid thing to ask is that?" Miktes said with a snort. He had never heard of someone actually wanting to destroy the bond the strangers created between two people. It was unheard of. Suddenly a thought crossed his mind. "What, you saying I ain't good enough for you or something, you little hairy bastard!"

"Keep talking like that and I put the ball gag back." Barnabus warned him. The threat seemed to sufficiently work, the Verdomian growing quiet and giving him a nasty look. Their prisoner now silent Barnabus turned to his crew. "Ok everyone let's turn this ship back around and get rid of this idiot. I don't really want to go home with Mickey here tagging along." Rana, Moah, and Alfred all nodded to their captain's decision and turned to leave the room.

Watching them start to leave Miktes gave a huff at being called "Mickey" again, but then what his mate had said fully sank in his thick skill. They were going to try and leave him behind? He'd die if they did that. "Wait, you can't do that!" He called after them desperately.

"Oh yes we can." Barnabus said over his shoulder. "If anyone else finds out that you're from a forbidden world, then they'll know what we've been up to and we'll get our asses thrown in jail."

Miktes didn't know what this forbidden world talk was, but he couldn't allow them to leave him back at his village. "B-but if you leave me behind we'll both die!"

That sentence caught everyone by surprise, each of them stopping dead in their tracks and looking back at Miktes with worried faces. "What do you mean you'll both die?" Rana asked.

"The separation pains!" Miktes frantically motioned with his head to his own chest then over to Barnabus'. "My father said that for the first few weeks of our bound we gotta remain close to each other. If we don't then the aching will kill us."

"The withdrawal symptoms you felt Captain!" Alfred said with a snap of his fingers. "That's what he's talking about. It must be some sort of chemical bound that his people create using that sacred water you drank. The DNA inside of you is acting as a genetic tag which sends signals to the unknown chemical, telling it to speed up your blood pressure. It's very similar to what the Kappians do during their month of family bonding. I remember reading a very interesting article about it in the-"

Before their ship's doctor could go of on one of his tangent's Barnabus interrupted him by exclaiming, "-So let me get this straight: Not only am I stuck being mated to our angry friend here, but I have to be connected by the hip to him too." When Miktes nodded to his question the Jack threw hands up into the air and gave a groan. "Great, just great. Now I got some smelly guy in a loin cloth stuck in orbit around me. Could this day get any worse?"

"Um actually yeah it can." Rana said looking at her watch. "You're sort of missing the phone call you were supposed to make to our client about our mission right now."

Barnabus let out a long sigh. He had almost forgotten about calling professor Tworows. The little old man was most likely waiting right next to his vid-phone right then waiting for Barnabus to make contact with him about the status of their mission. "Guess you're staying with us after all." He said looking over to the still tied up Miktes. "At least until our doctor can find a way to free me from this mating bullshit."

"I'll get right on it sir." Alfred saluted.

"Thanks kid." Going over to the vertical table Miktes was tied to, Barnabus took out his mulitool and shifted it into its knife configuration.

"W-what are you going to do?" Miktes said growing worried. That thing in his mate's hands looked sharp. Instead of answering him however the hairy creature sliced the robes binding him to the metal slab behind him, finally freeing him from his captivity. "You let me go?" The warrior said utterly perplexed.

Barnabus shrugged and put his knife away. "Yeah why not." He rationalized. "After all, if this mate stuff you're talking about is true then you're not going to hurt me, right?" When Miktes slowly nodded to the question the older man gave a small sigh of relief. "And... if you did try to hurt me I'm sure Moah could handle you, right Moah?" The human looked over to the Girunjh, the big man getting the hint and punching his own palm with his large fist, trying to intimidate their Verdomian guest. "See... wouldn't want to make him unhappy." Barnabus nodded his head teasingly. "He's big."

Miktes eyed the large hairy creature across the room vividly remembering the fight him and it had in the room he had woken up in. "Fine I ain't going to try and hurt you." Miktes looked his mate up and down. "As long as you don't hurt me back Captain."

"Call me Barnabus."

"Barna-what?"

Barnabus rolled his eyes. "Captain is my title, you know since I own this ship." He explained. "My name is Barnabus. Say it right Bar-nah-bus."

"Bar-nah-bus." Miktes repeated, his mouth having trouble with the strange word. "Stupid name." he remarked afterwards, ignoring the dirty look directed at him from everyone in the room. "Anyway let's stop with all this talking huh? We gotta get started."

"Started on what." Barnabus asked almost too afraid to know.

"Fucking around of course." Miktes said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Tell your servants to leave so that we can begin! I'm horny and we need to consummate our bound." Not waiting for a reply the Verdomian unbuckled his belt and pushed down his pants. Baring himself in front of the crew of the Wild Comet without a single hint of shame or modesty, the four Jacks letting out a low whistles and hushed wows as they saw what the orc had between his legs.

"I can see you're impressed. " Miktes said smugly. If these creatures were that easy to impress then he was going to like being around them. "Take off your clothes submissive, I'm really interested to find out if you're a female or a male. I've never seen anything like you before so I don't know by just looking."

Barnabus didn't know what to be angry at, at first. That this guy expected him to just kick everyone out of the sick bay so that they could have sex or that he didn't know if he was a man or a woman. He settled for being angry at the way Rana, Moah, and to a lesser extend Alfred were trying and failing to hold back their laughter. Steaming mad now Barnabus snapped. "There is no way in hell I'm going to sleep with you buddy." Spinning on his heel the bearded man stormed out of the room to go and make the phone call to the professor. "I have some standards."

"Hey where do you think you're going?" Miktes shouted after him. Attempting to catch his disobedient mate the Verdomian male tried to walk forward, but only succeeded in tripping over his own pants around his ankles and falling to the floor, bare green ass sticking up into the air. With a frustrated growl that was a combination of embarrassment and anger, Miktes rolled onto his back and kicked his shorts off of his legs in a childish fit. The article of clothing flying across the room and landing on Moah's muzzle. Now free of his clothing the olive skinned warrior jumped to his feet again and ran out of the room after Barnabus. His naked form vanishing out of the rest of the crew's sight as the Verdomian disappeared into the common room.

Reaching up and removing the discarded shorts from Moah's face, Rana gave a bright smile. "You know guys; I really got the feeling that the rest of this day is going to be highly amusing." She said with a smirk. "Want me to call you if anything interesting happens?"

Both Alfred and Moah looked at each other than nodded to her question each man saying a quick. "Yes please." and "Yaggho" respectfully.

Outside of the sick bay an increasingly perturbed looking Miktes shifted his eyes from left to right trying to figure out which way his short mate had fled. "Where did you go you disobedient submissive." He growled to himself. Taking a few tentative sniffs he easily picked up Barnabus' sent and started following it across the large room. Eventually he came to another one of those indents in the walls like he had come to earlier. Remembering what the other one did, Miktes raised his hand and pressed it against the flat surface. Just as he expected it split in two and disappeared into the doorframe with a whoosh.

"Wonder if we can have some on these weird things put in my house." Miktes bet having magic doors would make everyone else in the village real jealous of him. Give the Verdomians warrior something to look forward to now that his mating with Ocher and his future of being on the council of elder was now off. Pushing that aside however and getting back to the hunt on hand the redhead stomped his way into the room beyond, intent on finding this Barnabus and rutting with him into submission.

"Is that you Rana?" Said man's voice sounded as the Verdomian stepped out onto the bridge. "Could you help me remember how to work this dammed long distance vid-phone?"

"Where are you submissive?" Miktes shouted back. The orc's question was followed by an agitated sigh from wherever Barnabus was hiding.

"You actually followed me?" Barnabus asked. Walking over to the edge of the cockpit's platform he leaned against the railing and peered down at his mostly naked stowaway. "Put some pants will you, you idiot? No one needs to see your mangy watermelon butt hanging out."

Miktes was taken aback by the way his mate was talking to him. To give him orders and insult his perfect ass! "I will not dress until after you come down here and let me take you!" He blustered.

"Then I guess you're going to be feeling a breeze across your balls for the rest of your life then." Barnabus mocked, lowering his voice to match Miktes'. Then raising his nose almost haughtily at the bossy Verdomian, the dark haired man returned to his chair and sat down, going back to trying to get the long distance vid-phone to work for him.

"Don't you walk away from me!" Miktes said as his mate disappeared from sight. Not getting a response back the grumbling warrior padded around the large structure Barnabus was on top of, trying to find a way up there. But soon all thoughts of discipline escaped from his rage fogged mind all together. The sight he found the most wondrous thing he had ever seen. Stretched out before the temperamental man was a dark inky void with dazzling specks of light everywhere. There were even vast clouds that were made up of a variety of rainbow colors within it. His mouth hanging open Miktes walked forward dumbly only coming to a stop when he ran face first into an invisible barrier. "W-What... what is this? Where are we?"

[Barnabus: Noticing that our little guest had grown ominously quiet I put aside my phone call once again so that I could look down and see what the Verdomian was up to. What I saw certainly was a surprise. There he was face pressed up against the glass windshield of my ship, staring out into the stars in complete amazement. I couldn't help but chuckle at the reaction seeing space had caused in the green guy. It actually reminded me of the first time my parents took me up into space for a little day trip to earth moon. I bet I had the same look on my face back all those years ago that Miktes has right now. A sudden sense of wonder mixed with fear as you realized that you're so insignificantly small compared to everything else in the universe. That you're just a little part that barely has any effect on the greater scheme. I didn't realize it back then, but that's when I think my dream of wanting to be a space hero started. Wanting to explore the world beyond earth and find my own place among the stars.]

Deciding to humor the naked man under him Barnabus answered his question. "That's space out there Mickey." He said. "You know that thing you see when you look up into the sky at night."

Miktes places his hands against the glass and fervently glanced around at the marvel in front of him. This all had to be a dream he was sure of it. But... he felt like he was awake. "We're in the heavens" He eventually asked, looking back at Barnabus.

Barnabus nodded absently to the question. "Yup, you're in a space ship flying through the sky buddy." Seeing that his temporary crewmember was busy gazing out into space Barnabus took the lull to sit back down in his chair and relax. His relaxation didn't last long though Rana entering the cockpit and sitting down next to him with a pleased look on her face. "What?" Barnabus asked her growing worried. Whenever he got that look from here it always meant trouble.

"Nothing, just enjoying the "I told you so" moment." She replied. "We go to steal an artifact and we end up stealing the son of the Verdomian's leader."

"Ugh don't remind me please." Barnabus rubbed his face with both his hands. "I mess up ok." he finally admitted. "But we can still make this good. We got what we came for and as soon as this mating thing dies down we're dumping Mickey down there back on his backwoods planet."

"If you say so." Rana stared at the green skinned man down in the observation deck under them. In a lot of ways the big braggart reminded her of her captain. Only the Verdomian was a lot more grouchy and rude. Putting away that though she shifted her eyes back to the older man. "Sill... I hope we're not getting in over our heads here. This was supposed to be a simple treasure hunt and now we have to hide this guy."

"That shouldn't be hard. Just keep him in the ship as long as we can. Heck maybe we can even show him to the professor for a few extra creds." Giving a shocked look Barnabus remembered the call he was supposed to be making. Hitting several buttons on the vid-phone he had been messing with, the Jack captain waited as his ship contacted the communications systems back on Aquarii colony and connected him to the number the professor had given him. 'I Hope he's still at his office.' Barnabus fretted.

It took several moments but eventually the screen on the vid-phone flickered on and the familiar face of Professor Morry Tworows appeared on it. "Hello, this is the department of archeological studies at Aquarii Station collage, Professor Tworows speaking." The elderly man said absently. "How may I-" Blinking the short blue man leaned forward and gave a wide-eyed expression. "OH, it's you Mr. Comet! How is the job I sent you out on? Were you able to get to Verdomo yet and find out where the relic is being kept in their temple?"

"We've done more than just get to Verdomo Prof we landed on it, stole the artifact, and are coming home as we speak." Barnabus said proudly.

"Oh my you have!" Professor Tworows asked in shock. "B-but it should have taken a bronze rank crew weeks to sneak into that Verdomo temple."

Barnabus gave the other man a smug look over the vid-phone and leaned back in his chair with his arms cradling his head. "Well I guess me and my crew are just that good." He said with an eyebrow waggle. "Actually the job you sent us on had to be the easiest mission we've ever been on."

Rana glared over at the reclined Jack a little bit miffed by his casual lie about their mission. 'Easy mission me ass.' She smoldered. Rana would go anywhere for Barnabus and do anything for him after all he had done for her but there was only so far one would go for a friend. The Middle Eastern pilot just wished that her old friend would take things a bit more seriously sometimes.

Not noticing the irritation displayed on his second in commands face, Barnabus continued his phone call with their client. "So Morry you got all those my credits you promised me lined up?"

"Yes, yes I have the full seven hundred thousand as we agreed." Tworows said ecstatically. The blue tinted academic seemed to be positively giddy by the information that he had just been given, his wrinkled features transforming into a full blown grin. "J-just promise me that you'll be back to Aquarii colony before the start of my symposium?"

"Don't worry it'll only take us around three days to make it all the way back home." Barnabus assured the other man. "We'll get back in time for that big smart guy meeting you were talking about."

The professor gave the other man a happy nod and began typing something on the keyboard on his own vid-phone. "Wonderful, just wonderful. I'm sending over the address I want to make our exchange at when you pull into dock."

After waiting for the portly professor to finish, Barnabus peered closely at the screen reading the spot he would have to go to. "Wait... this is all the way in the boonies," He remarked grimly.

The boonies as it was famously called was the place where the colonies water and fresh fish supply was kept. A large lake like area the resembled a seedy fisherman's wharf and was usually where people went to fish and spend the day by the lakeside. It wasn't exactly the safest place in the colony and was often the place for shady dealings and body dumps.

"You want us to go all the way out there?" Barnabus asked growing suspicious. "You wouldn't want us to come over to your office instead would you? Or maybe you could meet me at the spaceport"

"NO!" The Professor said firmly. Giving an apologetic look for shouting the older man continued in a much calmer voice. "I'm sorry I shouted. But please, neither of those places will work for me. I'm afraid that I cannot trust my colleges here at the collage not to follow me." He explained. "The academic world is very cut throat Mr. Comet. The wharf is the perfect place for our exchange; no one will ever think I would go all the way out there." Seeing the unease in the face of the bearded man over his vid-phone the short man then quickly added. "If you agree to meet me at the place I specified I just might hire you again for another job. At the same rate too!"

That offer got Barnabus' attention. Another payday of over seven hundred thou? They'd all be set for life. "Alright, I suppose it wouldn't kill me to meet you there." He said. "But I'm not coming alone. Me and a few of my crewmates will meet you at the location when we get back."

"I wholeheartedly understand Mr. Comet and I'll be there as promised." After giving the Jack captain another happy nod the older man's said a quick goodbye and ended the call.

"Man oh man, did you hear that Rana?" Barnabus said, almost vibrating out of his seat. "Fourteen hundred thousand all together!" Feeling like celebrating their good fortune the dark haired man shifted in his seat to suggest that they go and break out the good liquor for a small party. But when he did instead of finding his female crewmember sharing in his enthusiasm he was he found her frowning at him in disappointment. "...What?"

"Did you honestly just agree to take another illegal job!?" Rana asked angrily. "After what you promised us back at the spaceport!?"

Barnabus cringed at the volume in her voice. He hadn't even realized that he had broken his promise until she had just brought it up. "Oh come one Rana." He tried. "The mission wasn't that bad. It was just like one of those old movies I watch. We got to be real space heroes breaking into a fortress and then running away from those Verdomians. Plus, for all we know the professors second mission is probably just escorting the professor to his boring science meeting."

"That's not the point Comet and you know." Rana put her arms over her chest and glared down at her lap. "What happened back there wasn't a game Barnabus. You could have dies if Miktes hadn't snuck on board" She gave a sigh. "This one illegal job nearly got us all killed by a bunch of aliens and you go and agree to another one without a second thought!"

Barnabus' mood instantly sobered up at that. He hated seeing any member of his crew upset. Being their leader the most important thing that he could do was to make sure that they were all happy and most of all safe. They were all younger then him and he saw them as not only his employees but his friends as well. "Look... Look Rana, I'm sorry I did that ok? I just got carried away hearing about all that credit." Barnabus explained softly. Giving his pilot a small smile he placed his hand on her shoulder and rubbed of softly. "We won't take the job if you don't want to. We're a team, all of us."

Not missing the slightly disappointed tone in the older man's voice Rana gave in a little. "No... it's alright. We can at least see what he wants us to do first." She suggested. "But if it's another treasure hunt on some planet we say no am I understood."

That seemed reasonable Barnabus thought. "Ok I agree to your terms Miss. Najjar. No more robbing sacred temple for ancient artifacts."

"Artifact?" A gruff voice asked from under the duo. "Yeah that's right you guys stole the sacred relic from the temple."

Looking down both Rana and Barnabus watched as Miktes' head popped up over the top step that led up to the cockpit. "Oh... I almost forgot that you were down there." Barnabus said dismissively. "Done looking out at the stars?"

The still naked Verdomians continued the rest of the way up the steps and stepped in front of his seated mate, staring down at the other man with a nasty glare that could melt rock. "Forget about that! Tell me where you hid the artifact!" The warrior ordered. "I gotta take it back to the temple."

At first Barnabus didn't answer the order given to him. His attention slightly caught up in the sight of all the naked green flesh and large member right in front of him. But he soon got his act together when Miktes let out a low growl at being ignored. Returning the glare given to him Barnabus slowly stood up meeting the large green man, human face to... orc nose. "Two things you got to learn about being on my ship buddy." He began poking his finger at the tattoo on the Verdomian's chest. "Number one: I'm. In. Charge. Here. On this ship! So you're not going to be giving me any orders understand! And two: Put on some damned pants will you! Please, before you knock something over by swinging that thing around."

Miktes was silent for a few moments processing what his shorter mate had just said to him. Then with a sneer he gave Barnabus a small push and stepped back. "I should punish you for speaking to me that way." He said huffily. "I am the dominate! The one in charge and you are the one who listens." Not caring to hear his mates reply to his statement the larger man turned around and gave a snort.

{Miktes: As if the mighty Miktes of Hestry clan is going to let some hairy little submissive tell me what to do. He should be happy that I-oomph!}

A hard slap upon his bare bottom snapped the haughty orc out of his thoughts, causing him to give a yelp and grab at his ass as it stung. "What the fuck!" He snarled. Spinning back around, he saw his mate standing there with a smartassed smirk on his face. "D-Did you just spank my ass?!"

"Well you were acting like a spoiled brat so I believe you deserved it." Barnabus replied. "Now like I said get dressed and get ready cause I'm taking back what I said earlier. We're locking you up somewhere where you'll be out of the way."

"And where exactly are you planning on sticking him Captain?" Rana asked with a wry grin. "It isn't like we have a brig or anything we can put him in until this is all over."

The fact made Barnabus think. There really wasn't that much room on the ship. The supply room wouldn't work, neither would the cargo hold. They used them too much. Finally an idea came to the Jack captain and he snapped his fingers. "How about we put him in your room Rana?" He suggested. "You spend most of your time... in... the..." As he spoke Rana got a look on her face that told the bearded man that his little idea was the wrong idea. "Ok, ok bad idea. Um... how about in Alfred's room or Moah's workshop?"

"I don't think Moah or Alfred will be happy giving up their rooms either." Rana looked over to Miktes who was still rubbing his sore butt cheek as he scowled at Barnabus from behind. "The only place I see is your bedroom Comet." She said amused.

"B-BUT."

"Nope it's your room or he runs around the ship free." Rana chuckled as the look of despair on Barnabus' face. "You should be happy about though. He's your husband now after all."

Hearing the "H" word literally made the color drain from Barnabus' face. The idea that he was now basically married to the green alien next to him was one of the most sobering thoughts he had ever had. Being stuck in a committed relationship with some primitive, now that was scary. Giving his second a huff Barnabus plopped back down into his seat and sulkily said. "Fine we'll stick him in my room."

"You're not "sticking" me anywhere submissive. I go where I please." Miktes snapped. "And besides the separation pains will start up again if we're in different rooms."

"My room is right behind the wall of the cockpit Mickey so I'm sure it won't be that bad." Barnabus shot back as he thumbed over his shoulder. "And even if it was further away I'm sure I could stand a little pain in the chest if it meant that I could get a pain and my ass like you out of my hair for a few hours."

***************

Back on Aquarii colony an excited Professor Tworows happily collected his paperwork for his next class and placed the stack of papers in his briefcase. Everything was working out just right for him that week it seemed. He workload from his research partners had arrived early that morning, his classes were going smoothly, the cafeteria had his favorite, Salisbury steak, and best of all he was about to get his hands on the artifact he had been looking for, for years.

Humming Beethoven's forth sonata the elderly professor left his office with a spring in his step and stepped out into his waiting room. "Hello Professor Tworows." His human secretary said softly from his right. "You certainly are happy this afternoon."

Looking over to the blond woman, Morry unintentionally licked his lips as he saw her sitting there. The human female was one of the most beautiful secretaries he had ever had the fortune to work with. He was so happy he had hired her last month. Stunning hourglass figure, full red lips, and a chest that put many other women to shame. It was as if she were prefect. It was just a shame for the old man that there was such a difference in their ages and that he was married. He would have loved the idea of taking her out to dinner at least once. Maybe even having a little nightcap afterwards.

"Ah yes I am quite happy Miss. Tryhere." The professor said answering the young woman's question. "I just got a wonderful bit of information about the relic I was looking for. It seems the crew of Jacks I hired has found it and are returning home."

If the professor had been wearing his glasses that day like his wife had told him he might have noticed the small twitch in his sectary's left eye or the small smirk that briefly crossed his lipsticked lips when she heard what he had said. "Well, isn't that good for you." She said smiling. Coyly the buxom woman walked around her desk and gently caressed her boss's cheek, giving him a seductive smile that left him quaking in his penny loafers. "Oh, by the way Professor Tworows I was wondering if I could possibly go to lunch early today. You see I missed breakfast. Guess I spent too much time lathering up in my show this morning and ended up running late."

The older man could feel his face grow hot as he was touched by those soft fingers and thought about the gorgeous woman bathing. His blush running all the way up his blue face and right to his stark white hair. "I... I... I assumed you could go early." He managed to get out with a stutter. "In fact take the rest of the afternoon off please."

"Oh, thank you sir." Miss. Tryhere giggled. "I'll be sure to pick you up something nice as a thank you." Giving the short little man a radiant smile the woman watched as he left the room with a slight stiffness in his steps. As soon as he was gone however her pleasant demeanor instantly dropped and a small sneer crossed her features. "Perverted old codger." She spat.

Quickly gathering her purse and keys the blond left the small waiting room and made her way into the hallway. As she walked she passed by many other men and women, some of them giving her friendly welcomes and nod while other stared at her with lustful eyes. Usually she would have enjoyed the attention, but today she had something better to do. Ducking into the stairwell the secretary made her was up to the roof of the university and jogged in her high heels over to the small maintenance shed that was situated near the back.

Using her keys she entered the small structure and stepped inside, pulling the chain to the room's lone hanging light and illuminating the room. Inside there was something that no one would expect to see in such a place. An elaborate looking Vid-phone much less advanced then anything seen in I.U.G. space. Steeling herself Miss. Tryhere sat down on an upturned bucket in front of it and took the receiver and hit the connect button. "Hello are you there?" She said into the speaker.

There were several minutes of loud static but finally another voice came over the other end. "Yes I'm here." A gravelly voice answered. "What do you have to report?"

"He's found the artifact sir." Miss. Tryhere informed the person on the other end. "Said that a Jack crew would be bringing it to him."

"Do you have the proof of what you say?"

"Yes I do I'll send you the conversation I recorded from his office." Picking up her purse the large chested woman pulled out a small device and then plugged it into the vid-phone.

There was a deep chuckled from over the communication as whoever she was talking to received the video she had taken. "Good work, you can quit your job at the collage any time you see fit now "Miss Tryhere"."

Miss Tryhere smiled and oddly flickered as if she were an image on screen. "That's good news I'm not so sure how much longer I can hold off that fat pervert you've had me working for." Reaching up to her left bosom the human woman pulled off a small broach on her shirt. Suddenly her body flickered and shifted, her supermodel looks being replaced by the visage of a disgusting looking alien with a thin almost skeletal body, razor sharp teeth, and large bug-like eyes. "Wonder if the old fart would still be interested in fucking me if he saw what I really look like." the former Miss Tryhere said in a deep male voice.

"I seriously doubt that unless he's into vermin." The other man quipped. "But who knows what he'll do after we get through with him. Him and whoever he hired to get that artifact."