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Chapter 11

"Hey everyone we'll be docking at Aquarii station in about ten minutes!" Rana announced over the Wild Comet's communications systems. "Barnabus, you guys finished with you little project in there yet?"

"We're still doing it actually Rana. But we should be done soon so I'll be back on the bridge in..." Barnabus cringed as a yelp of pain sounded from behind him in the sick bay followed by a gruff salty curse. "...in a few minutes." Sighing, the Jack captain hit the end button on the com device he was using and glanced across the sick bay to where Alfred and Miktes were. "How many more do you have to give him?" He asked. "All that whining is really getting on my nerves doc."

Alfred, busy loading the next of the vaccinations into his jet injector absently answered the older man. "Only a few more Captain, then I'm done." Securing the next vial of medication in his injector, Alfred stepped over to his nearest examining table where a very grumpy and whimpering Miktes was lying flat on his belly, his black shorts pulled down just enough to expose his Verdomian backside to the human's torturous ministrations.

"Yer lucky that you said I needed these damn stings blond one." The Verdomian cursed as he laid there. This had to be one of the most humiliation things he had ever been put thought. Having to lay on his belly while some youngling pricked his ass over and over again with some strange object. "To think I'm allowing you to stick sewing needles in my ass. I should kill you right on the spot."

With his life being threatened Alfred took a step back an alarmed look on his face. Luckily for the younger man Barnabus was there to save him. Barnabus slapping Miktes on his upturned ass and glaring down at him for scaring the doctor. "Will you stop threatening people please?" He said with a roll of his eyes. "You need to have these shots if you're going to come with us on our little trip." Miktes face now red at being spanked by his uppity mate one again looked over his shoulder at the human mouthing another series of curses before he let out another yowl as Alfred injected another vaccination.

[Barnabus: I swear Miktes is being the biggest baby, because he has to go through some small medical procedure. I didn't whine nearly half as badly. But... if I could I would spare him anymore, if only to shut him up. Of course I knew we couldn't risk it. Our big green friend over there needed the mandatory shots that everyone gets if they live or visit an I.U.G. colony. The vaccinations protecting whoever who got them from the multiple diseases that pop up when so many people from so many different planets live together in one place. The colony even has these stupid shots worked into their security. Alfred telling me that it had something to do about genetic trackers or something. Humm... sort of sounds like what he was talking about earlier. Anyways, if the scanners the colony uses to check incoming ships finds out that someone you have on board doesn't have their shots then there's big trouble. And right now me and my crew need to avoid the military, colony security, and everybody else like the plague.]

"There you go!" Alfred announced as he delivered the last of the injections. Smiling his patented doctor's smile the thin young man took a step back and began putting away his jet-injector. "You'll be reasonable healthy for the rest of days now Mister Miktes."

His torture now over the surly Verdomian got up from the flat table, rubbing his sore bottom as his feet met the floor. "'Bout time you got down with that skinny." He huffed while he yanked up his pants. "I don't think I'll be able to sit down for a week."

Barnabus couldn't help the snort of amusement that he made at the turn of phrase, peering down at the floor so that he could hide the face he knew he was making. That was something he had muttered a few times after an exceptionally good night at the bar. Looking back up when he saw a pair of bare green feet come into his vision Barnabus found himself staring right into the face of their Verdomian passenger. "What?" He asked trying and failing to sound innocent.

"What did I tell you about making fun of me?" Miktes grumped sulkily. "Stupid submissive."

A raised eyebrow from Barnabus accompanied the warrior's rude yet somehow placid insult. The Jack had only know the other man for a few days, but he could instantly tell that something was bothered his green skinned passenger. Hoping to get a rise out of the younger man and get him yelling and stomping around again, Barnabus smirked. "Watch who you're calling a submissive kiddo. Cause... if I remember the situation upstairs correctly you were the one..." He left the rest of what he was saying up in the air, Miktes' face growing red as his implication, before the thickset warrior let out a frustrated breath and huffily walked out of the room heading towards the bridge.

"That wasn't very nice of your Captain." Alfred said from behind the older man. "He looks like he's really upset about something. I hope I didn't hurt with all of those injections."

"I don't think the big lug was upset about that." Barnabus said knowing full well what was wrong with their orc. Miktes hadn't really been himself since they had their little "confrontation" up in the locker room. And really Barnabus couldn't blame him. He had sort of forced himself on the Verdomian and apparently had wounded the other man's pride by taking control the way he did. It had made the Jack captain a little bit ashamed of his actions. Losing control the way he did. It was just that the red head had been so annoying and he couldn't take it anymore. Of course another part of the middle-aged man was also a little flattered that an old guy like him could so easily make a young buck like Miktes cum so quickly the way he did.

Suddenly realizing that he had been standing there while Alfred waited for his response Barnabus gave a sheepish chuckle. "Sorry got lost in thought." He told the younger man. "But, as I was saying I think Mickey is a little more upset about what happened between the two of us up in the locker room."

Getting a worried look on his face Alfred went over to his captain. "What exactly happened up stairs? Did the pain in your chests come back?"

Barnabus knew his face was turning red at being asked that question, but the Jack captain tried his best to play it cool. Waving his hand at the younger man like it was nothing and starting to head to the bridge. "It's nothing you have to be concerned about Alfie just me and Miktes having it out a little again." He laughed out loud, then thinking he added. 'And then some.'

Letting the blond get back to whatever it was he did all day with a pat to the back, Barnabus left the sickbay and made his way onto the bridge. His body relaxing as he returned to the sights and sounds of the cockpit and the sight of the swirling colors of the hyperspace corridor they were traveling in for the last part of their journey home. "Heya Rana." He called up to their pilot. "How much longer till we break out? And get back home?"

Peering over the cockpit's railing Rana smiled down at the older man. "About another five minutes Barnabus." She said casually.

"Great, make sure to take us in nice and slow though." Barnabus said growing nervous. Once they were back within colony space they'd have to be extra careful as to not attack any sort of attention. "Have you seen our jolly green giant by the way? He came this way a few minutes ago."

There was a small chuckle from Rana as she smirked down at him. "Yeah the big old grump came in here a few moments ago and stomped over to his regular spot on the couch."

Glancing around the cockpit platform's corner to the observation deck, Barnabus observed as a still surly Miktes sat at the couch they kept at the front of their ship, glaring out of the front windshield as he silently brooded about whatever was bothering him. "He say anything to you when he came in?" The bearded man asked out loud.

"Just grunted a quick "don't bother me woman" before he plopped down." Rana replied, lowering her voice as she mimicked Miktes, gruff sounding voice. "I got things handled up here, so why don't you go over there and talk to him for a bit? Maybe cheer him up." The dark haired woman gave Barnabus a wink and motioned towards the front of the ship. Silently telling the older man that he should go over and talk to him.

Barnabus shook his head at his pilot and "best friend", instantly aware of she was doing. Why couldn't she understand that he didn't want to try and get closer to the Verdomian? Barnabus knew that he couldn't go getting attached to the other man. Doing so would only end badly and he knew it. Especially with the way the greenskin kept throwing around the word "mate". But... Barnabus realized that he should go and talk to him. At least to tell him about what was expected of him once they landed back at the spaceport and left for their planned meeting with Professor Tworows.

Giving a long suffering sigh Barnabus slumped and glanced up at his second in command. "Fine I'll go and talk to the big jackass." He called back to Rana. "But I don't want you listening to what we're going to talk about."

"I would never think of eavesdropping on you Captain." Rana said with a dramatic flair, he hand over her heart. Of course her declaration didn't go over to well when she cracked the biggest shit eating grin at Barnabus' expense.

"Yeah right." Barnabus chuckled to himself. Heading over to Miktes, the dark haired man took a deep breath readying himself and then took a seat next to him on the couch. "So... you want to tell me why you're acting grumpier than usual?" Barnabus asked quickly as he glanced over to the other man.

Miktes continued staring out of the front of the ship for a few moments before he spoke. "You know why I'm mad at you." He stated. The Verdomian glowered at his hairy mate hoping that he could get across how angry he was. He was tired of being told what to do all the time, tired of having to cow down to these weak creatures who he could beat up without a single thought. "You overstepped your place as a submissive. I'm 'spose to be the one who takes charge when we do any fucking."

Barnabus raised an eyebrow. He wasn't expecting that. He had assumed that Miktes was upset that he had forced himself on him no that he didn't get the chance to take control. "Really that's what you're upset about?" He asked with a laugh "Just because I'm the one made you cum?"

Miktes pouted and crossed his arms over his chest. "Yes..." He said quietly.

Barnabus gave a long sigh and leaned back in his chair. He supposed there was no talking to the other man about it now. Especially when they had an audience who was trying to make it look like she wasn't listening to them. Falling into an awkward silence the two men watched as the Wild comet fired off a pulse of energy from one of its weapons turrets and tore open a small hole into the side of the tunnel they were in. Then using the newly formed exited, Rana directed them out of the hyperspace corridor and back into normal space. The kaleidoscope of colors that had been swirling around them for most of the day giving way to starry blackness of normal space and to one of the most comforting sights that Barnabus and his crew of Jacks knew in the entire universe.

Floating before them, in the inky blackness of the void was Aquarii Station colony. The massive domed space station peeking over the moon which it shared its orbit with around Aquarii-3, its surface reflecting the light off of the small artificial sun which was situated directly above it. The colony, built many, many years ago was truly a technical wonder. Within it, under the large dome of glass was a vast outstretch of land, the terraformed terrain containing a large high tech city that was surrounded by several forests, lakes, fields, and rivers. Anything anyone could ever want in a homeworld away from homeworld. To say Barnabus was proud that he actually got to live on the pristine oasis would be an understatement.

Drawing his attention away from the approaching station Barnabus peered over to Miktes, seeing that like him the Verdomian was amazed by the sight before them. The alien getting up from his seat slowly and making his way over to the glass front of his ship so that he could press his large nose up to the glass and take as close a look as possible. "A floating island?" He asked in awe.

"Not exactly Miktes." Rana responded from her seat behind the flight controls. "But that's an apt comparison."

Chuckling as Miktes seemed to be stumped by the words his second had used Barnabus lean back in his seat and put his arms over the back of the couch, taking it all in. "That Mickey is my home." He informed the Verdomian. "It's called Aquarii station colony and she's the best place any person could ever ask to live."

"This is where you live?" Miktes said in surprise. To imagine that such a place could exist let alone that he was now mated to a being that lived there was really a shock to the young warrior. He had never given much stock to his people's belief in the strangers before. However after seeing all the wonders and strange magic that these humans and their creatures possessed he had begun to wonder if maybe they were the ones that they worshiped. They certainly were strange, might as well go the extra length and call them strangers. "Tell me submissive." Miktes demanded, peering over his shoulder to Barnabus. "Which one of these buildings do you live in? Is it the tallest building at the center over there?"

Barnabus let out a puff of air at the Verdomians use of word "submissive', he had hoped that after humiliating him up in the locker room that he had gotten the other man out of the habit of calling him that. "I don't actually live in the dome buddy; I live at the spaceport, right here on the ship in fact." Barnabus answered a little bit bitterly. "In my little room."

Turning around to face the human, Miktes squinted his eyes trying to figure out what his pointed ears had just heard. "What do you mean you live over there?" He asked. The human dwelled inside his puny flying house when he could just as easily live on the floating isle floating in front of them. There seemed to be enough room after all. "But you said you were the boss around here." Miktes growled at remembering what his bossy mate had said. "Shouldn't you be living in those fancy houses over there?"

"I'm just the boss on the Wild Comet kiddo. To anyone else I'm just some low level Jack-of-all-Trades who can barely make his bank payments each month." When Miktes only stared at him blankly the human gave an exasperated sigh. "I'm saying I'm just some insignificant Jack." Barnabus clarified. "A hapless worker, a replaceable cog in the machine, a nothing, a nobody, a... man, did I just make myself really depressed."

"Don't get too depressed Comet." Rana said trying to cheer her friend up. After shifting the ship into a slower speed the Middle Eastern woman stood up and leaned over the cockpits railing. "After we get paid from this dumb mission of yours, I'm sure we can find some nice apartments in the upper levels."

Hearing that made Barnabus' mood lift a little. She was right; the days of them living payday to payday were soon going to be over. Even if they didn't take that second job the Professor had lined up for them, he and the crew would still have over seven hundred thousand credits in the bank. More than enough for them to live the high life for a good number of years. And once they were secure they could buy equipment for their job which would lead to better, higher paying missions. "Take us in for a landing Miss Najjar if you would." Barnabus said in a confident voice.

"Sure thing captain." Sitting back down and taking hold of the steering controls, Rana slowly rounded the Wild Comment around the side of gigantic space station. Taking them towards an area of the colony which was lined with hundreds of large cargo bay doors against its broad side. After slowing even more and coming to a full stop the dark haired woman, turned on the ship's communications systems and connected them to station's personnel who oversaw the comings and goings of every starship which used the spaceport. "F-class star cruiser Wild Comet: number four, five, five, seven, eight, two, nine, ...one requesting entry." Rana announced.

There were a few moments of loud static before a response came. "We're reading you Wild Comet; please remain in holding position as we scan your vessel." A voice came over the line.

"Got you loud and clear dock control, Wild Comet staying still." Rana shared a worried glance with her captain, giving him a nod to get ready.

This was the point that they all had been dreading. If the person working the scanners picked up Miktes, an unknown alien on their scanners then they would be found out and barred from entering the colony so that the security forces could search the ship for their green skinned passenger. Luckily for the crew of the Wild Comet though, Moah had provided them with a way to get around this little problem. Acting fast Barnabus reached into his pocket and took out one of the cloaking devices they had found in the researcher's outpost back on Verdomo, moving over to Miktes he turned it on and pressed it up against the Verdomian's chest.

Taken by surprise by the human's sudden movement Miktes tried to back away but quickly found himself grabbed by the arm and held in place but his human mate. "Hey that's damned cold!" Miktes growled as he felt the icy chill of the cold metal. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?"

"Don't move or else they're going to find you." Barnabus warned wit a hiss. Holding his breath the older man kept them both still as a "wall" of green light passed through the bridge, scanning everything that it passed and taking note of any anomalies. It was only when this same light double back after a few minutes and out of the ship that he released Miktes' arm and took a step back. "Man I hope that worked."

"Hope what worked?" Miktes asked as he rubbed the spot where the cloaking device had been pressed up against his skin.

The answer came when the voice over the communication system said. "Ok we're reading three Humans and one Girunjh same as your crew list. Welcome home Comet."

That said both Jacks released the breath they had both been holding and giggled nervously to each other. Miktes watched them with a small frown. He didn't get why they were acting so odd. So what if their people found him on the vessel? Miktes would just kick all their asses and make them leave. Not like a warrior like him would be intimidated by a bunch of stupid humans. He was a Verdomian after all much stronger and taller. After making sure to give Barnabus a snort for daring to touch him Miktes plopped down in his seat as the female guiding the ship took them into a strange a meta; tunnel. Glaring around at their new surroundings Miktes was about to ask why they had left the sky to come into the cramped space when jets of white smoke shot out from the corners of the room, the entire ship lurching down a little if it were falling, Miktes having to grab the side of the sofa as his stomach churned and a startled yelp escaped his mouth.

Seeing the Verdomians reaction as they were pressurized and the colony's artificial gravity took effect Barnabus had to smother a chuckle threatening to escape from his bearded lips. "It's just the room getting pressurized Mickey no need to be afraid." He said trying to mollify the younger man. "Don't be suck a little scardy cat."

Miktes instantly shot his mate a death glare. He didn't know what this cat thing was but from the way his mate had put it, it didn't sound good. "I told you I ain't afraid of nuffing!" He harrumphed. When a grin came as a reply the warrior realized then and there that he had been much too lenient with his short hairy mate. He had to assert his place as the dominate one in their mating. If he didn't he had the feeling that human would just keep pushing. Putting him both figuratively and literally in a position that he wanted no part of.

Leaning down so that he and the human were fact to face, Miktes frowned at him with equal parts condescension and venom. It was time he laid down the law and made sure that his mate got it through his hairy head. "Look here Submissive, I'm sick and tired of being told what to do by you." He growled. "I think it's high time I show you your place. So stand up and march right to those fancy sleeping chambers of yours so that I can breed that smart ass of yours. And if you don't do what I say this time then I'm... I'm... I'm just going to pick you up, bend you over my knee and spank yer disobedient little submissive ass red until learn to listen!"

There was snorting sound from above the duo as Rana overheard their conversation. Barnabus now red faced reached up and flicked the younger man's nose. Taking delight as Miktes yowled and jumped back, his hand covering his bruised nostrils "Like is said before Mr. Green: I am not going to sleep with you." The bearded man said with a bored look. "Now if we got that out of the way. We should be landing soon so come on we need to get you dressed in your disguise so that we can go out for that meeting we have."

That said the human turned around and strutted out of the room Miktes giving chase after he rubbed his sore nose for a second. Why was that man so infuriating! "Get back here!" The warrior shouted nasally as they both went into the common room. "I ain't done yelling at you yet!"

"Yes you are Mick-key." Barnabus made sure to say that last part with a high voice knowing that he hated it. "Oh, and just so we're clear. I'm not a submissive or whatever that means. If we were going to have sex, and let me make it clear we are never going to, but if we did I'm not going to just let you climb on top of me and pound away. I'm versatile in bed so I believe that bedmates should just go with the flow and take turns pleasuring each other. Whoever ends up on top end up on top."

"Ver-sa-tile?" Miktes had to think. He had never heard that word before in his life, at least in this context. And the very idea of actually taking turns personally offended his dominate pride. A true dominate was supposed to be the one breeding the submissive every time. Showing their dominance by bringing their lowly partner to orgasm in a fit of screaming abandon, it was a sign of power for his people. At least that's what it always meant to Miktes. Glaring up at his mate who was rummaging through a box at the other side of the room the red headed man decided to try and get him to rut with him again, it would only take a few well-placed gropes and a few dirty words and he'd have his little mate naked and willing to let him pound his hairy ass. Getting a predatory smile over his face, the Verdomian slowly began sneaking up behind the human, his eyes glued to the cloth covered ass that he just knew he would have this time.

But just as the he was about to pounce Barnabus stood up and tossed a jacket at the younger man making him stumble mid-sneak and fall backwards on his ass. "What were you doing?" Barnabus said looking down at the seated man. "Whatever, I don't really care. Just put those on and get yourself ready." The jack raised his hand to his mouth and shouted across the room. "Alfred... get your stuff together! I'm taking you with us in case something happens with that chest pain thing again."

"I'll be right there Captain." Alfred's voice came from behind the sick bay door.

On the floor Miktes brooded for a few moments at his failed plan, looking over the strange article of clothing that had. "What am I supposed to do with this stupid thing?"

Barnabus rolls his eyes at the question. Did this boy really forget what they had discussed earlier in his room? "It's your disguise Miktes; you got to put it on so that no one will know you're a Verdomian." He explained slowly. "I know it isn't the highest of fashion but it'll do. Used to be my clothes when I was younger, going through my rebellion stage. Now that I'm forty-two I really can't wear hoodies and baggy jeans now."

Miktes gaped up at the human in shock at what he had just said. "Your forty-two season rounds old!?" He said gobsmacked. "Dam... didn't know you were such a decrepit old man."

Barnabus sputtered at the insult cheeks tinting a little. Sure he had a few gray hairs, but he was not a decrepit old man!? "Well Mister Green." He said glowering down at the half naked man. "How old is your grumpy ass then."

"Eight seasonal cycles." Miktes simply said. "No... no I think it's nine."

"WHAT!?" Barnabus nearly choked on his own breath hearing that. Miktes was only... oh god. He had given Miktes a handjob! Walking unsteadily he fumbled towards the common room's couch.

"Captain!" Alfred's voice sounded from behind them. Turning towards the source both Miktes and Barnabus watched as the thing young man raced across the room and quickly grabbed the older man's wrist checking his pulse. "What's happened? Did those chest pains come back?"

"No I just found out something that nearly gave me a heart attack." Barnabus pointed over to their Verdomian passenger. "Did you know that he's only eight years old?"

"What's wrong with that?" Miktes snapped. It wasn't like he was some youngling still in swaddling clothes. "Better than being some ancient geezer like you."

Alfred watched as the two grown men stared daggers at each other childishly, wondering why they were fighting. Suddenly it came to him and he let out a laugh. "Captain, Captain calm down Miktes isn't eight years old." He said smiling. "A single year on Verdomo is about three and a half years on earth. So he's much older than that."

Barnabus glanced over at his medic. "Really?" He said growing relieved. Quickly doing the math in his head... And then counting on his fingers when that didn't work, the Jack quickly figured out what this information meant. "So... he's about twenty-eight?"

"Yes he is." Alfred nodded. "And... I believe he thought you were over a hundred and twenty of his years old."

Barnabus finally joined in on his friend's laughter. Being a hundred and twenty certainly would make him an "ancient geezer." Shaking his head at his own foolishness he held out his hand for Miktes to take so that he could help him up. "Guess I'm sorry I freaked out on you kiddo." He said. "And just so you know I'm not as old as you think I'm... um..." Barnabus fumbled trying to figure out how old he was in Verdomo years

"Twelve." Alfred provided for the stumped man. "He's Twelve Mister Miktes."

"Sill old." Miktes said slapping the human's hand out of his face and standing up by himself. Not as old as his father Daleer but still pretty old. Wondering something the Verdomian asked his obstinate mate another question. "What's this kiddo thing you keep calling me?"

"It's what our people call our young, kids." Alfred not so helpfully replied this time.

"Yer calling me a child!" Miktes growled his eyes flashing. "How dare you, you dammed submissive! Of all the stupid, insulting, annoying!" The warrior let out a frustrated groan. "I swear when I get the chance I'm going to make you- OMPH!"

Tired of being yelled at Barnabus clamped his hand over the angry man's tusked mouth. "You just had to tell him didn't you Doc?" He said frowning wryly at Alfred. "You just had to tell him."

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

{Miktes: I couldn't believe my eyes as me and the humans made our way through the "spaceport" where we landed my mate's flying house and onto a large and busy street. There were tall buildings made out of metal and glass all around us, moving carts that sped along at great speeds, and then there were the people! There had to be thousands of them milling around, much more than I've had ever seen the village, even during the festivals. But what was really amazing was that there were so many different kinds of them. Creatures that looked like strange animals, ones that looked like humans but had strange things growing out of their bodies like horns or had different colored skin, there were even a few creatures that appeared to be walking plants, their leaf like arms and legs carrying them to where every they had to be as they passed by them. Really this colony place was a true place of wonder. And as we kept going further and further into it I became more and more glad that I had sneaked on board of my mate's vessel. I'd never be able to see such things back at my home. The only downside was that my stupid mate wouldn't let me look around. Insisting that we get to his dumb meeting on time. Whatever that was.}

"Keep up Miktes I don't want you getting lost." Barnabus called back to the Verdomian as he began to dawdled, the older man looking him over again to make sure that no that any signs of his true species weren't showing through the old clothing he had made him wear. It had been one hell of a fight to get the Verdomian to dress in his old black hoodie and baggy jeans, but thankfully it had been well worth it. No one seeming to even notice the surly young alien as the three of them made their way out of the spaceport and out into the main city of the colony.

Snapped out of his sightseeing Miktes gave Barnabus a dirty look as he joined the older man and Alfred. "Don't talk to me like some sort of youngling!" He said pulling off the hood which covered his head. He still clearly remembered the fight they had on the ship before they left. "I already told you I'm an adult!"

Barnabus reached forward and flicked the warrior's rounded nose again, making the warrior jump back and then stomp his feet in frustration. Watching the mini tantrum before him Barnabus couldn't help but crack a smile. He really was beginning to enjoy doing that to the other man. Now wasn't the time for laughing however he realized, so stepping forward he quickly pulled Miktes' hood back over the larger man's green head. "Listen kiddo.... I mean Miktes." He corrected before he could anger the Verdomian. "I know you don't like me telling you what to do and all. But you got to listen and keep on your hood."

"That's something I don't get." Miktes motioned around to the various people and aliens around them, several of them having to duck out of the way as he swung his hands around. "If there's all these weird creatures walking around here why do I have to put on all this heavy clothing?" growling the warrior pulled at the bothersome pants he had been made to wear. All a proper Verdomian needed was a simple loincloth.

Barnabus rolled his eyes at the question and walked away, exasperated that after having told the other man a dozen times why he had to be disguised that the alien still couldn't get it through his thick skill. Luckily though, Alfred was there to repeat the information in place of his frustrated captain. "Mister Miktes, the reason people can't know that you're from Verdomo is because it's against our laws to go to your planet. If they found out we'd be arrested and... well I don't know what they'd do to you. But I'm sure it wouldn't be good."

Miktes gave the blond man a bit of a sneer. He was still a little sore about the many needles the younger man had given him back on the flying house. "If that's true then why the hell were my hairy mate over there and that woman of yours running around our sacred temple?" The Verdomian thumbed over to a busy Barnabus who was examining a bus schedule that was attached to the side of a nearby building.

"Well... actually we came to your world without permission." Alfred admitted quietly. "Travel to your home is forbidden because the I.U.G. doesn't like to meddle in the affairs of undeveloped and primitive worlds like yours." When Miktes growled at the use of the world primitive the doctor quickly explained. "I only meant primitive compared to us. You don't have any of the things that we use every day."

"Alfred..." Barnabus called from a few feet away. The older man motioned for his doctor to join him. "Could you help me find the right buss to take us over to the boonies? I can't understand any of this stuff written over here."

Alfred hid a smiled with his hand. Barnabus was notorious among their small crew for getting himself lost at time. "Sure thing Captain." He quickly said an excuse me to Miktes and jogged over to where the older man was standing.

Watching the two as they got into a small fight over what was ever on the board across for him Miktes gave a snort at the stupidity of humans. First they go around telling him what to do then they call his people primitive. Even Verdomo didn't have any of the wondrous magic they possessed his people weren't naked and living in caves. Growing board the green skinned warrior let his eyes wander around the area again his eyes falling onto some strange cart with an odd red and yellow canopy over it. Scenting the air the thickset young man smelled something delicious wafting through the air. Hadn't eaten since that morning when the Moah creature had brought him his food and he was starting to get hungry again. His mate obviously didn't know how much a full grown Verdomian ate as he refused to give him more, saying something about rations. Getting angry all over again Miktes checked to make sure the two humans behind him were still busy and grinned when he realized they weren't keeping an eye on him. He'd teach them for not feeding him right and bossing him around.

"-And it looks like we'll be able to take the seven thirty transport right there." Alfred said finishing his explanation of their upcoming journey. The shorter man turned to the other Jack with a bright look. "See Captain that wasn't too difficult to understand."

Barnabus had to rub his forehead at the about two dozen instructions the younger man had just said in rapid succession. It looked like they would have to transfer seven times to make it all the way out to where the professor had told them to meet him even if they took the premium transports. Barnabus just knew that it wasn't going to be a pleasant trip. Especially since they had to lug around their third companion. Turning around to said pain in the butt, Barnabus went to open his mouth to tell him of their plans, but instead of finding the angry looking Verdomian he found that same chipmunk alien that had taken the bodyguard job from his earlier, the small man giving him a quick nod before he raced off down the street. Growing nervous Barnabus reached over and shook Alfred's shoulder. "Um... Doc." He began in a voice that was somehow eerily calm and completely terrified. "Where did our Verdomian go?"

Alfred blinked up at the older man and searched around the sidewalk. When he didn't see Miktes either he began to sweat and tremble, his nerves getting the better of him. "T-This is b-b-bad isn't it?" He asked with a nervous, rattling laugh.

Barnabus let out a loud groan. "Yeah... this is pretty bad."

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

Meanwhile far away from the large high tech city which dominated the colony's center, an incredibly nervous looking Professor Morry Tworows quietly made his way down the quiet and mostly abandoned alleyways of the old wharf area of the station known as the boonies. Trying his best to not make eye contact with them numerous seedy individuals he passed on his way to the location where he and Barnabus were going to be meeting at an hour's time. The old man knew it was dangerous to be there. No, it was downright stupid he realized. But it was the only place he could think of to make his upcoming exchange. None of his colleagues would ever follow him down to the seedy location and he took comfort in that. Besides it wasn't like he would be there long. Soon the Jacks he had hired would be there and then he could get his relic and go back to his nice and safe penthouse in the heart of the city.

The sound of a can getting kicked behind him drew the academic out of his personal thoughts and back to reality. "W-WHO'S THERE!" He shouted fearfully. Starting to shake the portly academic spin around on his heels and tripped on his own feet, falling onto his backside onto the gritty, muddy street he had been traveling down.

A tiny squeak answered his frantic question, along with the appearance of a small mouse which twitched its nose at him for a moment before it scurried off. A little embarrassed by the way he had just acted the professor carefully got back to his feet and dusted off the filth that had stuck to him from his fall. "Now, now old boy can't be getting all worked up because of a little mouse." The professor said to himself. "There's nothing that's going to hurt you in this alley. You are perfectly safe."

"You know talking to one's self can't be a very good sign of mental health." A voice sounded from behind the elderly man. Giving a yelp the professor spun around and was terrified to find out that he was no longer alone; two robed figured standing a short distance from him.

Taking a large gulp of air Morry watched as they two began walking towards him. They were frightening men, one only a little bit taller than him with while the other a giant, his hulking form barely able to fit in-between the houses on either side of them. "Oh my." The blue skinned man said slowly backing away. This certainly wasn't good.

"Oh my indeed." The smaller of the two chuckled. "Tell me, what is the head of archeological studies at Aquarii Station collage doing all the way out here in the middle of nowhere?"

Morry didn't answer the hooded man's question, instead opting to try and turn tail so that he could get as far away from the duo as his stubby little legs could carry him. However the portly man's could get away his escape route was quickly blocked when the larger figure jumped into the air as if he were weightless and landed right in front of the fleeing professor, Tworows bumping into his back and falling down to the ground with a sound of surprise.

"W-What do you want from me!" Morry asked as he tried to his behind the suitcase he was carrying, but he soon found it smacked out of his hands, it breaking open and the cash within it raining down on the three men like snow. "I... give you whatever you want if you promise not to hurt me." He pleaded.

The large man looming over the frightened old man slowly turned around to face him. "We want the artifact." He said in a dark voice that was both rough sounding and gravely. "So hand it over."

"I don't have it!" Morry exclaimed in a frantic voice. "The people I hired to find it for me haven't delivered it yet!"

Walking over to the two the lanky figure reached down and took the professor's glasses off of his face. "See... what did I tell you?" He said to his companion. "We should have waited longer."

"What difference would waiting of make?" The other retorted. "Whether we get it from this old fart or those from those Jacks he hired we'll still have what we seek in the end." With a terrifying looking fanged smile that glinted under the darkness of his hood, the larger of the cloaked men grabbed professor Tworows by the collar of his pressed and starched shirt and lifted the heavy set man into the air as if he weighted nothing. "And seeing that we'll be getting what we want from the Jacks there's no reason to keep this one around any longer is there?"

The thinner figure gave a sigh. "Really?"

"It's the only pleasure I get in this life." The other man laughed darkly. Taking out a small dagger from under his robes, the sinister being slowly showed it to his captive, letting the light filtering in between the building shine off of the metal surface. "Tell me professor, since you're an expert with all things about alien cultures and all. What sort of weapon it this and where does it come from?"

Struggling in his captors grasp Professor Tworows peered down at the deadly blade. When he saw it his eyes grew wide and his mouth hung open in shock. "T-That's was Warg ceremonial dagger that they give to their high ranking officials!" He said astounded. "B-But the only way you could have one, would be if you were a-" Whatever the old man was going to say about the weapon would never be heard. Because just as he was about to finish the man holding him off of the ground grinned sinisterly at him and drew his blade across his blue skinned throat in one solid motion. Orange blood spilling from the fresh wound and down the hooded man's clawed fingers, as the professor began to cough up blood and screamed silently.

Watching with a fiendish gleam in his eye the large man chuckled to himself as the life drained out of his victim. This was the best part for him for him watching the fear in another's eyes as they sank into oblivion. "It always surprises me how easy it is to end the lives of you. I.U.G. scum." He remarked to his companion. His fun now over, he threw the lifeless body of Morry Tworows to the ground and stepped over him. "Let's hope that the Jacks put up more of a fight when they come around. I'd like to at least tell my clutch back home that I was in at least one good battle."

"No more killing." The thinner figure snapped. "One body on this is already enough. We will handle the Jack my way." Reaching into his robes the gangly man took out a P.A.D. and began dialing a number. "I've actually got an idea how we can settle this matter, get rid of all witnesses, and get us out artifact."

The taller man chuckled. "Fine if you must." He said wiping the blood from his dagger. "There'll most likely be plenty more opportunities to sate my lust for death once our plan has come to fruition."

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

This was bad... so very, very bad. Rana was going to kill him he just knew she was. Barnabus kept repeating to himself as he ran down the sidewalk, franticly searching left and right for his wayward pet orc. How could he have been so stupid as to turn his back on the rambunctious red headed hellion? The Jack captain should have known that the first chance he got Miktes would take off on his own. The only solace that Barnabus could take in the whole thing was that the Verdomian apparently wasn't too far away from him yet. That was if the very, very dull ach in his chest was any clue. If Miktes had been further away than they both would have been in agony, right?

Skidding around a corner the worried Jack captain glanced up ahead of himself to see Alfred running towards him in the opposite direction. Coming together the two men gave each other hopeful looks, each praying that the other had found their quarry. "Did you find him yet?" They asked each other at the same time. When they realized what the other had said the added a defeated, "Dam it."

"This is awful! I just know the colony security is going to pick him up and find out where we are and arrest us and throw us and jail to rot forever and-" Alfred only stopped his rambling when Barnabus gave him an annoyed glare, realizing that he had fallen into his bad habit of speaking too much. "Sorry." He muttered bashfully.

Barnabus gave a calming breath while he scratched at the back of his neck. "Naw, it's alright kid. I'm sorry" He said softly. "It's just that we don't have time to waste. We got to find the big "pain in the butt" before someone else finds out what he is." The Jack captain kicked at the ground. "I just wish we had some clue as to where he went."

As if on cue a loud belch sounded from the duo's right, the bodily noise accompanied by a boisterous and very familiar voice, "Serving maid! Bring me another round of those hamed-bur-ger things! I'm really hungry over here!!"

"MIKTES!" Both Alfred and Barnabus shouted together. Quickly the two men ran towards the source of their companion's voice, quickly making their way towards the entrance of a nearby diner and getting stuck as they both tried to cram their way through the door at the same time.

Inside of the restaurant a very confused waitress say the two men trying to enter and hesitantly went over to them. "Um... hello and welcome to Meander's Diner." She said once she was close enough. "Will you two boys be taking a stool or a booth?"

Finally managing to free themselves from the entryway, both Barnabus and Alfred spilling out onto the checkerboard floor with all the graze of a pair of chimpanzees. "Um yeah you can miss." Barnabus was the first to say after they fully recovered. Getting to his feet the Jack captain straightened his vest and then began asking. "We just came in here looking for a friend of ours. You wouldn't happen to know..." Looking across the crowded diner Barnabus imminently caught sight of their quarry. Miktes sitting at the lunch counter, his hood pulled down exposing his green colored head, eating his way through a plate with a very large hamburger. "...never mind miss, I see him over there."

Following the middle-aged man's eyes to the seated alien the waitress gave a giggle. "Oh he's your friends?" She asked with a smile. "The big guy came in here about an hour ago demanding food. He was actually really cute about it too. Kept raving that we had the best food that's he's ever eaten once he got some."

Barnabus took notice that there were two tall towers of empty plates on either of Miktes' sides, their presence showing him that the hamburger the Verdomian was currently devouring had only been one of many. "How much did he spend?" Barnabus asked, almost afraid to know the amount.

The woman tapped her chin thinking. "Last time I checked his bill came up to a hundred and fifty credits. When we asked him how he was going to pay he just said that he'd make his... "mate" ....pay for everything that he ate. Oh, is that one of you?"

Barnabus could feel his left eye twitching in anger as he stood there. Miktes had just spent nearly all the credits they had taken with them for their trip across the station. "Yeah that's me." Barnabus said with a huff. "Alfred will you please keep this lovely young woman here company while I go over to our big "friend" over there and tell him something."

Both Alfred and the waitress had to take a step back as the bearded man rushed past them, stomping his boot clad feet over to the still blissfully unaware Miktes with a deadly intent in his steps. Glancing over to the waitress that had greeting them frightfully Alfred gave her an apologetic smile. "Just for the record..." Looking down to the woman's name tag he quickly read it. "...Janice. Whatever is about to happen I apologize in advance. And assure you that we'll pay for any damages."

The woman gave the blond a puzzled expression and looked over her shoulder, watching as the man who had just rushed past her went over the restaurant's green skinned customer and without warning slapped him on the back of his head haired head. "Oh my." She said covering her mouth with her hand.

Across the room a now painfully aware Miktes glowered at his mate as he rubbed the forming bump on the back of his head. "What the hell..." Looking to whoever had hit him Miktes found his mate standing there behind him, the human giving him the angriest look he had ever seen. "...Oh it's you." The Verdomian growled. "What did I tell you about doing shit like that?" To think the human had the nerve to strike him in a public place. How would it look to others if they saw that he allowed his submissive to humiliate him in such a way? "You're lucky I'm too busy eating to punish you right now."

"And you're lucky that's there's too many people around for me to get away with killing you!" Barnabus snapped back, waving his hands around wildly. "What did both me and Alfred just get done telling you out on the street!"

Going back to eating his food Miktes gave his mat's question all the respect he felt it deserved, hitting Barnabus in the nose with the tuff of fur on his tail disrespectfully. "How the hell should I know? I only listen half the time when you talk and when your servants speak I don't even listen at all." Snubbing his nose at Barnabus the younger man began tearing into the delicious sandwich in his hands and giving a please hum as the taste of it. His pleasure didn't last long though, his tail receiving a sharp tug which caused him to fall off of the back of the stool he was on and onto the floor with a thud. Glaring up at his mate, the contents of his sandwich all over his face Miktes let out a low growl through his gritted teeth. "Ok now I'm starting to get pissed."

"You're getting pissed. You-" Barnabus said in a hushed voice as he stared down at the other man, not believing what he just heard. "...You're getting pissed? I'm the one who's mad! You ran off without telling us and what's worst you took. Off. Your. Hood! What if someone around here realizes that you're not a native species and reports you?"

"Oh, that shit again." Miktes said shifting into a seated position, hands in his lap. "Well that ain't a problem." Looking around the diner, the Verdomian man motioned for the waitress that had greeted Barnabus and Alfred to come over. "Hey you girl, tell my mate here what you said I was again."

Barnabus gave Miktes a confused look. Wondering what the hell he was doing then shifted his eyes to the waitress as both she and Alfred walked over to the two of them. Unlike him, she seemed to be amused by being ordered to stop what she was doing and come over. "You're a Grolinn, honey remember?" She laughed as soon as she was in talking distance.

"Yeah you heard her I'm a Groin-lan or something." Miktes said with a thumb to his own chest. Thinking that was the end of the conversation the warrior peeled the burger patty from his sandwich off of the floor and ate it, making Barnabus and several other diner patrons gag as he consumed the piece of dirty meat.

"Man your friend must be really drunk or something to not even remember what species he is." The waitress said giving Barnabus a sympathetic look. "We get them in here all the time." She explained. "Men coming home from the bars wanting a quick breakfast. Of course we've never had a Grolinn in here before. Quite an unexpected customer."

Barnabus scratched his head trying to remember where he had heard the word the woman had just said. "Grolinn?"

"Yeah he's a Grolinn, right?" Janice responded cheerfully. "Those new aliens that are on the news all the time. Never seen one his color before."

It was then that Barnabus realized what she was referring to. The Grolinn were a newly contacted race at the edge of I.U.G. space and she was right Miktes' race did look a lot like them. The only differences being that the Grolinn had small pointed horns on their head, and were red in color. Why didn't they think of that? It would have been easier to claim that Miktes was just some sub species of the Grolinn then to dress him up like an alien skater punk. Quickly forming a lie in his head Barnabus gave the woman a fake chuckle. "Yeah that's what he is alright, A Grolinn." He said with what he hoped was a trustworthy smile. "Though he's... he's a young one... a-a child really. That's why he doesn't have his horns or red like the ones on TV."

Janice looked down to the still sitting alien next to them. "It is?"

Barnabus nodded enthusiastically to the nosy woman's question. "Yeah they sort of... um, turn red the older the get. Like a... like a..."

"...A tomato!" Alfred spoke up.

Barnabus flinched and gave his medic a hard glare. "Yeah... like tomatoes." He said through gritted teeth.

"That certainly is odd." Janice said with a shake of her head. "Oh by the way how will you be paying for all the food your friend has eaten?"

Barnabus let out a puff of air. "I'll be paying via P.A.D. transfer." He said in a defeated voice. He really was never going to hear the end of this when Rana got word of their little detour.

After paying for all the food Miktes had eaten and managing to drag the surly man out of the diner by the scruff of his neck, Alfred and Barnabus stood out on the sidewalk outside the diner giving the green man perturbed looks. "I can't believe you did that!" Barnabus fumed. "You could have been caught in ten seconds flat."

"If anyone bothered me I'd just kick their ass." Miktes said dismissively. "I'm not afraid of a bunch of guards. I'm a trained warrior after all you know."

Alfred gave the slightly older man a worried look. He really didn't want to think of the Verdomian getting hurt just because he didn't understand the danger he was in. "Miktes these "guards" won't be like the ones back on your world. They'll be colony security with high powered laser weapons."

"I ain't scared of any weapons." Mites shrugged and turned away from the two men crossing his arms over his chest. " 'Sides not like anyone knew who I was. They thought I was one of those groin things."

At the casual way the taller man had written off all of their concerns, Barnabus realized something he was enjoying their grief. "You did all this on purpose didn't you?" He accused. "You ran off just to make me and Alfred worry about you."

"So what if it was." Miktes said giving them a sly smirk. "Maybe me running off will teach you a lesson about telling me what to do all the time. If you keep at it I'll just make you search all over for me."

Barnabus could feel himself shaking at what the other man had just said. Of all the selfish, self-centered things to do to them. They could all be in the back of a police transport right now if the Verdomian's little stunt had turned out bad. "I swear you are the biggest jerk I have ever had the misfortune of spending time with!" He exploded. "How could you be so thoughtless!?"

Reacting at being shouted at with equal anger and volume Miktes started screaming back. "Who do you think you're calling a jerk old man?" He demanded. "I'm your dominate and I demand you show me some respect!"

Barnabus huffed. "I'll show you respect when you start acting like and adult young man!" He said, instantly regretting it when he had a flash back to something his dad had said when he was a teenager.

Hearing an echo of his own father in what his mate had just said Miktes growled. "Oh yeah well maybe I'd start acting like an adult if you'd finally agree to rut with me like you're supposed to!"

The next thing that happened was totally a surprise for both of the fighting men. Instead of Barnabus taking his turn in their little screaming match, Alfred interrupted them by breaking out into loud laughter that made them stop their petty fighting and take a step back looking at him in confusion. "What are you laughing about?" They both asked in unison.

"It's nothing, it's nothing?" Alfred said holding his sides and trying to regain himself. "It's just... that you arguing like that sort of reminded me of an old married couple I read about in a book."

Miktes and Barnabus blinked owlishly at the younger men. "Married?" Miktes asked. Frowning he looked over to Barnabus hoping for an explanation. The human turning away as he made eye contact. "What's married?"

"Never mind that Mickey." The Jack captain said deflecting the question with a serious look. "It's not anything important." They had been acting like a married couple? Barnabus realized that he had to remember to keep his cool in the future. He knew from personal experience that passionate fighting like that could end with the two of them falling into something deeper. Something he didn't want to even think about. That's the way it had been with Ekkar towards the end.

Pushing the thoughts of his Ex to the back of his mind however the older man put his hands in his pockets and motioned with his head for his companions to start following him. "Come on boys, we've wasted enough time here." He began in a slightly depressed voice. "If we're going to keep our meeting then we better find a transport to take us there fast." Not waiting for a reply from the two younger men the bearded jack started walking down the street.

"What's wrong with him?" Miktes asked staring at the retreating back of his mate. Barnabus had gotten really quiet all of a sudden and for some reason seeing his mate act all upset like that sort of made his stomach ache and not from being hungry.

"Let's just say that I put my foot in my mouth Mister Miktes." Alfred said guiltily.

Miktes scratched the top of his head wondering what in the world the thin human had meant by that. Whatever it was it was responsible for his human mate's deflated mood he knew he didn't like it. Though he really didn't know why it bothered him at all in the first place.

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

[Barnabus: The ride to the boonies wasn't really a pleasant one. What little money we had only being enough for bus fare to the far flung part of the colony. By the time we did make it all the way out to the water reserves night had fallen and a heavy fog had rolled into the large body of water next to the wharf. So as you can guess when we got off of the bus the entire area wasn't exactly the most pleasant of places. No, it was dam right creepy. Then again we were making a shady deal so what did I really expect.]

Walking down the completely deserted street of the old fisherman's wharf Barnabus had to stop for a second and crack his back, the aching that had started as he sat in the uncomfortable bus seat returning with a vengeance. "Son-of-a... I think I'm going to have a sore back for the next week after all this is said and done."

Alfred who was next to the older man gave him a sympathetic look and rubbed small circles on his back. "Don't worry Captain I think I have something back in the sickbay that'll help with that." He assured him. "But I'm like you. That was the most unpleasant ride I've ever had. No wonder why no one uses those bus things anymore."

"It wasn't so bad." A clueless Miktes said from behind the duo. "Kind of fun."

Both men turned around slowly to glare halfheartedly at the green skinned man. Unlike them the Verdomian had been bouncing in his seat for the entire trip out into the countryside. Making rude comments, asking what everything was, and generally being a thorn in Barnabus' side. Rolling his eyes at his annoying alien companion, Barnabus stood up straight and continued on their way to where Professor Tworows had told them to meet. Coming to the small alleyway where their exchange was supposed to take place.

Strangely though as the trio of men turned around the corner to head down the narrow back street they found themselves walking right into a crime scene. Stopping Barnabus shifted his eyes around to the mess in front of them. The area was sectioned off by yellow and black crime scene tape with several Aquarii colony security officers milling about the alleyway. But the thing that caught his amber colored eyes the most was the body that was at the center of the mess. It was their client, the blue man's dead eyes staring out blankly as he laid there in the dirt dead.

"What the..." Barnabus turned to Alfred who looked back at him in horror. "What the hell happened to the professor?"

Before the bold haired medic could respond to his captain's question a loud voice rose up over the ambient noise of the crime scene. The person who it came from giving a loud and very dramatic grasp before the shouted. "That's them officers! Those are the three who are responsible for the death of my dear old friend Morry Tworows. Please... please stop them before they get away!"

As if they were one entity every security officers all turned towards Barnabus and his two companions, angry looking expressions crossing over all of their faces as they saw them standing there. Barnabus stood stock still for a few moments, the words that had just been shouted across the alleyway hitting him at full force. Then coming to his senses he staggered back into a frightened Alfred and a strangely blasé Miktes, shouting a loud and panicked. "WE DID WHAT!?"