Sleight of Paw

"They'll be fine. We're leaving them in good paws." Iolvin held a Sense in his paw, wirelessly Linking to it with his nanites so he could make a call. "I'm just getting there now, sis. Want me to add him to the chat?"

"Nah, I'll call him later. He'll just get annoyed if he's got to deal with me and sis at once." Ilaria seemed distracted for a moment, then came back wide eyed. "Gotta go, Yoyo. I've got, uh... literal fires to put out. Tell our boy I love him."

"Alright, Lulu. Give Robby and RhyRhy my sympathies. Later, sis."

"Later, Yoyo. Hey, close the damn fire doo--!"

"Now I'm glad I use the Starbreeze. The Volk is too bleeding-edge for my nerves to handle." Yoyo smiled for the three girls following him through Vapor Furnace Prime's Hangar 2. "Not that your big sis doesn't have everything covered. She's just working out glitches right now."

"Her ship is the first modular design ever, right? That's a big deal. I'm happy she's leading the way. It suits her." Nadiya smiled and placed a kiss intended for Qesis' cheek on her nose instead. "We all have our priorities. I'll take a honeymoon over a flaming ship though."

"Silly." Qesis smooched the side of her vixen's snout in turn. "Can't wait until we get where we're going? I can relate, but..."

"Ugh. Osiris, save me." A tall, toned Egyptian girl followed behind the group, pulling three suitcases behind her. "Please tell me we're getting close, Iolvin."

"It's just right here. Watch the ramp to this loading gantry."

"Oh... Thanks, big bro."

"Ah!" Qesis snagged the back of her long dress on the lip of the ramp and stopped, tugging her new wife with a similar yip. "Damn. That's the third time. Maybe these long linens aren't the best for for this space station?"

"You should be fine in the interior. The industrial exterior areas are a bit rougher around the edges." Yoyo backtracked a bit and helped free the dress. "With any luck, Void will dock you guys at the guest entrances. He's fond of floating in the black to save on docking fees, so it won't be any fur off his pelt."

"Thanks." Qes lifted her rearward skirt drape and tucked it into her waistband. "You keep calling him 'Void', but what's his full name? It can't possibly be that, and I'd rather not make a bad impression."

"Oh, right. We named him 'Vydr' (Voy•dra), but I just started using the first bit because it sounded pretty cool. His mothers aren't so keen on it, though." Yoyo walked up to his son's multi-purpose frigate and tapped a call button on the side door. "He doesn't care what you call him. Just don't get the ship's name wrong, because you need to find it if you get lost. Remember it's called 'Hermes'. Alright? Hermes."

"I'll remember if need be." The third girl pulled the luggage up to the door with a huff of breath. "The sacred clothing, my goddess..."

Qes smiled and donned her head briefly. "Thank you, Layla. You really didn't need to carry so much."

"It's literally all I have to do for you, Goddess. I'm honored to serve." Layla's words dripped with a hidden poison of sass. "Iolvin, how much longer must we wait?"

"I'm not sure. I doubt he's roaming about at this hour." Yoyo tried the buzzer one more time, then after another pause he started banging on the hatch. "Come on, son. I'm surprised his AI isn't opening for me either."

A somewhat androgynous voice came from the outer panel. "I'm not opening because I've been told not to do so, Yoyo. Sorry."

"Tell my son I'm gonna grab Arty if he doesn't let his damned father inside."

"Please, no. Arty screws up some of my systems when he hacks me. Give me... a minute or so." After a few moments the AI came back with, "He's coming. Sorry, Yoyo. Nothing personal, okay?"

"Nah, you're just doing your duty. No problem, Kino." A short while later the hatch opened, allowing a scantily clad android to silently slink out. "Oh, sorry."

"No, pardon me..."

Yoyo sighed as he spotted his son inside the doorway. "Really, Void? I left Kino a message about when we were coming."

"Sorry, dad. I completely forgot. I thought you were coming tomorrow." The shirtless otter nudged his head inward to invite his guests, his only two limbs preoccupied with keeping himself upright. "So these are the newlyweds? Pretty young, yeah?"

"My mom was younger when she married. It's not too strange, especially when these two have known each other since they were little." Yoyo stepped inside and rolled his eyes at the scent of fresh sex. "So I know I asked if you could handle these three for a few weeks... but could you bump that up to a whole semester of school?"

"I don't know. Can they pay rent?"

Yoyo slapped his son with his tail, causing the half of an otter to swing from his grip on the a ceiling stability bar. "They're family. You can't make it work?"

"I might, if you could stop treating my like a punching bag." Vydr hooked a wall mounted bar with his tail and steadied himself with a sigh. "I've been talking with the Military Academy branch about hosting classes or internships for students. If they're planning on attending and one of them is on a flight path... I might be able to get some coin for it and make it doable. Running this ship isn't free, and they're going to take up valuable passenger space."

"Consider me officially happy I decided not to run my own ship. Ruthless." Yoyo tried to help Layla load the luggage over the lip of the bulkhead, but threw his paws up when she practically hissed in protest. "So where is this pretty little lady taking this?"

"Yeah," Layla huffed as she carried the last of the suitcases into the ship. "Throw me a bone here, water pup."

"Uh... Well those two probably want a bit of space and a view if they're going to spend their time the way I assume they will." Vydr checked around, namely by way of swinging between handles with the aid of a hook on the heel of his lone boot. Upon finding his quarry he waved her over. "Kino, show these ladies to the aft loft. Let them take it as a room and move out my stuff when nobody's around."

"I almost want to watch you swing over there like an ape, but sure." The ferret-shelled Construct walked over and gave her guests a courteous bow. "Magic word, sir?"

"Bloody hell... Please, Kino." The captain shook his head as he corrected his shirt with a shimmy. "She's been trying to clean up my manners now that we've got family aboard."

"Well you could start by making yourself comfortable around them." Yoyo took Kino's furred arm and kissed her paw. "Are you gonna hide your little party trick and scare the crap out of them later?"

"I... guess showing them's for the best. I was just getting in some exercise."

"I'm pretty sure you've had enough for the day already, sir." Kino adjusted her captain's clothing further. "I do hope you won't be inviting more of her trade aboard whilst the guests are present."

"No, Kino. And thanks, love." With only the one arm and leg already in use, Void kissed his AI on her forehead. "Okay, you girls want to see something cool? It's our little secret though. Deal?"

Nadi hardened her Link to Void. "Oh, let me focus on you then... Alright."

"This sounds interesting. Sure." Qes led her wife into the ship and watched the otter intently. "We can keep a secret."

"Good, because I hate moving around like this all the time. Not too bad when I'm alone and the gravity is turned off, but..." The light around Vydr closed toward his center, like a bubble in space collapsing. Then the bubble popped with an implosion, causing a similar explosion on the far side of the room. The explosion quickly settled into normal space again, the center of which containing Vydr balancing on his one leg. "... that is much easier. Ta-da."

"Oh, bravo! That was awesome." Qesis led Nadi over to the previous spot the otter occupied and shook her head in disbelief. "It's like a fancy version of the 'M's portals."

"It's not always as handy as they are, but it can be a bit more discrete." In the blink of an eye Void popped into a new location next to Kino. "Speaking of... you guys can roam anywhere that isn't locked, except the Cargo Bay. Also if you see this symbol, that's an airlock. Airlocks are bad."

"Son, Nadi here can't see if she's alone. She uses others' eyes and ears as her own." Yoyo quirked his head to the side ponderously. "You also can't see through Kino, right?"

"Nope. She's another one of those hive minds."

"Ah, so no Kino either then. Robots are out."

"Construct, if you would." Kino started leading the others down a central hallway of the Hermes. "Your lodging will be on the far aft, split between the second and third decks. Might I recommend our blind guest remain on the second deck, as the loft requires the use of a ladder?"

"Sounds like a plan. Make sure to keep an eye on her too, and physically stop her from entering dangerous areas if need be." Void took a deep breath as the three followed his AI. "Now if you don't mind me, I've got something pressing to finish."

Yoyo placed a paw on his son's shoulder. "Nope. Take me with you, Void."

"Damnit, dad... Fine." The two blinked out of existence and back again in Void's personal quarters. "You want to talk or something? Right?"

"Just wondering why you're hiring whores, and robot ones at that." Iolvin checked around the room as he sat on the bed, huffing as his tail landed directly on a used condom. "You're handsome. You mom says you take after me and I happen to agree."

"Yeah, I take after both of you. I don't have a whole body." Vydr tossed himself onto the bed and stretched out, giving his old man a whack with his tail in the process. "And don't call her that. Tyrra is a good girl and a friend. She just can't help her initial programming."

"Oh... Sorry. I didn't know you two knew each other for more than that." Finding the condom thankfully empty, Yoyo tossed it into a nearby bin. "Son, I just want you to find someone. I want you to be happy with more than this odd lifestyle of yours. Lulu agrees, I'm sure."

"I don't care if mum agrees. I'm still a freak, and freaks don't go on very many dates." Void kicked his father off the bed and huffed with a purposeful distaste. "Now if you don't mind, I'd like to finish what you so kindly interrupted before I get blue balls."

"Vydr, you aren't a freak. Yes, you came out... different, but you are so much more than that. You graduated flight school in just two years. You're smart." Yoyo groaned and shook his head when his son whipped out his cock as if to prove he was ignoring his father. "At least tell me you're trying before you give up. There's got to be better options than your paw. Can you even jerk it right like that, anyway?"

Void wrapped his four fingers around his hardening length, distinctly missing a thumb to ease the action to come. "I can make due. Now please... You can hang around all day if you like, just give me a bit."

"You're unloading today Loading? Whatever's fine; I won't get in your way." Yoyo found his target, grabbing a bottle of red alcohol from a small crate as he headed for the door. "Mention this to Lulu and I'll tell her what you do for a living. Call it the price of secrecy."

"You wouldn't tell mum anyway, you damned alcoholic." Void laid back and stared at the ceiling, his will to paw off fading. He blinked another bottle from the batch into his paw and pulled the stopper out with his teeth. "But thanks for the discretion as always, dad."

"I love you too, son." Yoyo followed suit, taking a swig as he walked out the door. "Gwenyr root brandy? Damn good taste son..."

---

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28 Days Later

Academia Arcanum

Northern Wing, New Horizons Academy

Vapor Furnace Prime

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---

"You really don't need to come with us, Void." Nadiya closed her eyes and took in the sights, impressed at the few furs that were floating around somewhere above. "We'll be fine. You don't need to push yourself."

"No, I should tag along until you're more acquainted with the campus. After you signed up for that ship command course, you technically became my charge." Vydr hopped along with Kino at his side to act as a second leg. "I promised my and your mum that I'd be your guardian, too. This is nothing."

"And this?" Layla groaned as she toted a crate that distinctly sloshed with each step. "Does this have something to do with being a good guardian?"

"Indirectly, yes. We have to pay the bills somehow." Kino hefted two more crates over her shoulder. "At least you only have the one. Sorry to make you carry anything, but I can't balance these and help the Captain at once. Thank you, honey."

"It's... fine. No problem."

"So I can really learn magic here?" Qesis stared in wonder at several students levitating higher by the second off the ground. "Isn't it something you're born with? Something like that?"

"I'm not really sure myself, but my understanding is you have an attunement you're better aligned to than others. The magic part just takes training." Void found the registration line and pointed toward it with his tail. "That's where you'll find out more. They have a few ways to test your attunements, and after that they'll recommend a course structure to match."

Qes checked the short line as it led up a large stairwell. "So that's all there is to it? That sounds easy."

"Well you're my Goddess, aren't you? Why shouldn't this come easy to you?" Layla headed for the stairs, but stopped with a tired huff of air. "What should we do with this?"

"I hate to ask this of you, but could you hold it for a little while longer?" Void took a deep breath as he came up with a delivery route. "While you girls do this, we'll drop off the goods. We'll come back to check on you and nab the last carton in a short bit. Sound alright?"

"As long as you hurry up... sure." Layla hefted the crate into a better position and started climbing stairs. "My goddesses? Shall we?"

"Absolutely!"

"Then good luck, lasses."

Nadi chased after her enthusiastic mate and latched onto her arm for guidance. "This is really making your day, huh?"

"I'm just glad you decided to try as well. I know you want to be like your sister, but it means a lot to me that you're trying to take some of my classes as well." Qes gave her mate a soft kiss as they reached the end of the line, drawing a few eyes at the gesture coming from an uncommon, darker skinned human. "I'd hate to be lonely out here. Maybe later I can show you just how much I appreciate your company..."

"Qes! Not so loud..." Nadi rested her head atop her wife's own. "This isn't as open a place as my tribe. It's embarrassing..."

"This station is owned and run by your family, isn't it?"

"The 'M's built it from a wreck or something and their brother and sisters all run different parts. That said..." Nadi noticed several more sets of eyes resting on her. "Uh, there are decency restrictions here. We can't just fuck in the streets like back home."

"But we never have fucked in the streets, hone--"

"Qes! Watch what you say!"

Qesis noticed at least a dozen people staring at her and got the hint, red flushing to her face. "Sorry. I'm not used to... this."

"Um... Excuse me?" A sloth guy a few spots ahead in line spoke up. "Are you really related to the Rihzyets?"

"Uh..."

Nadiya took that question without hesitation. "I'm surprised you know who we are. Is our family famous around here?"

"Maybe. I just..." The sloth ducked his head to hide his face some. "If you see Salt, could you ask her if she'd like dinner sometime? I want to thank her for saving me from some muggers."

"I'll relay that next time I see her. Not sure if she'll bite, though."

"Thanks!" The sloth offered his long-clawed paw for a shake. "If you ever need a favor, I'm your guy. I'm Charles."

"I'm Nadiya and this is my wife, Qesis. Nice to meet you." Nadi reached out, then corrected her arm into a shake. "Good luck with the testing ahead."

"Married... wow." Charles noticed the line advancing and moved up. "Thanks. Good luck yourselves. I hope you get the classes you want."

"Fingers crossed we'll get something together." Nadi nodded to the sloth as he went in with the next group, then she gave her wife a kiss. "He sounds like a fun guy. Don't you think?"

"I only heard half of that, but yeah. He seemed cheerful." Qes led her wife up the stairs more, then into the room at the top as the doors opened again. "Oh! Time for a little fun."

"Next ten, please." An older man in very tacky robes poked his head out the door. "That's all. Please, wait here."

"I can't." Layla tried to move past the old man but ran into an invisible wall he created with a swipe of a paw. "Hey! Stop whatever you're doing! Have respect for a priestess!"

"Sir, she's my priestess." Qes sighed as she gave Layla a stern look. "She's just going to observe from the side, if that's alright. Please?"

"Manners maketh man." The old man nodded at the politeness and repaid it in kind. "Okay then. She'll be your responsibility though, young lady."

"Of course. Thank you, sir." Qes tugged her priestess through the door as it shut. "Sometimes I regret my father demanding I take a priestess along."

"At least you didn't have to take guards as well." Nadi found her way to the line of students and fell into position. "Get over here before you make a bad impression, Qes."

"Ah, right!"

" Ahem." A beautiful silver wolfess clasped her paws together behind a desk. "Welcome, younglings. I applaud your enthusiasm for joining my academy. However, not all of you will gain a position in the Academia Arcanum. Questions so far?"

Nadiya stood up straight as she connected with the woman, oddly unable to see through her eyes. Is she blind? "Ah... You say this is your academy?"

"Yes. I am the founder of this branch of our great institution. It is my..." The wolf tilted her head with a small smirk. "Ah, I see. You should prove an interesting candidate, Misses Rihzyet. So, any further questions?"

"Grandmistress Witch Holmwilt? Which of us were you just talking to?"

"An interesting woman for whom I'd actually like to find another judge. Master Wizard Vorpal, could you skip the next group and assist me in scoring, so I might stay impartial?" The witch slowly stood and waved a paw, the back wall disappearing to provide passage into a room that couldn't have existed from the exterior shape of the building. "It appears I have family in this group. No leniency shall be allowed however. That is how accidents happen and students get themselves injured or killed."

"Certainly, Grandmistress. I'll score beside you and we can count only my vote for this person." Vorpal stepped into the well lit testing area and lowered his cloak hood, revealing a black house cat. "That is, unless you have other plans? I'd prefer a blind test myself, if you'll forgive the choice of wording."

"You know I don't shy away from being called blind, Master Vorpal. So, shall we begin with the touch test?"

"Ah, good choice. Students, please come here." Vorpal presented a line of booths, then waved his paw to magically fill them with various stones. "This is a test of the Grandmistress' design. We would like you to examine these stones and tell us what comes to mind for each; use whatever means you deem important--sight, taste, whatever your mind can invent. There are papers and pens available, so please provide your answers quietly."

Qesis raised her paw. "What... if some of us can't write?"

"Is this the case? We turn back nobody for lack of worldly skills." Vorpal scanned the students. "Raise a paw if you cannot write." Surprisingly, Nadiya was not the only student to do so. "Very well. Starting from left to right, we will test these vocally for you. Move to the far left booths and I will make them sound proofed against the others."

"Thank you, sir."

"Master Vorpal, if your would." The cat created a sight and sound proofed dome over the first two stalls. "So, let's attempt to get this done before the others. Grandmistress, can you hear well?"

A voice sounded inside the dome coming from the witch outside. "Yes, Master Vorpal. Please continue."

"First stone, students. Take a moment, then provide an answer."

The other student, a lion by best guess, felt his smooth, black stone and formulated an answer. "Greed. I think I feel greed."

"Interesting. And you, young lady?"

"Wow..." Nadiya picked up her stone, but she already knew more than she could hope about it via the other students. "It's all over the place, but I'm mostly getting... an industrial feeling--warm production, maybe?"

"Quite interesting. Aha. Then the next stone, please."

This softer, chalkier rock looked warm and pink, but pulled out a stinging sensation upon rubbing it. "Shock. I feel shocked."

"Astute. Nice answer, young one. And you, miss?"

None of the other students quite got the same reaction, the bulk thinking more toward the lines of it being salt. "Salty?"

"You don't seem sure. And you never tasted this, so how do you know the taste?

"I don't. It's the... smell?" The vixen decided to test her own way rather than rely on the others, giving the stone a solid sniff that burned her nostrils. "Sulphur. It's definitely reminding me of sulphur."

"That... is a rare response. I'll note that." Vorpal indeed pulled out a ledger of sorts from his robe and wrote down his notes with pure magic. "Okay, last stone. This one can be tricky."

"This one is like salt to me, Master." The lion held the clear stone in his paw, rubbing it to put the smell in the air. "Definitely. Salt."

"I thought you might say that. I may know your attunement already, young one." The notebook came back at the ready with the promise of Nadiya's coming answer. "And you, girl?"

"This one is indeed strange." Salt was definitely not the shared answer here. In fact, nobody seemed to have a common idea of the material. Qesis was the most sure, thinking somehow the solid stone was like ice... but that wasn't right either. Nadi rubbed her paw along the surface, then nuzzled her nose in similar fashion. "It's almost oily, but cold... like the leaves of a plant such as aloe. Liquid, even."

"That answer is... a first. Noted as well." The barrier dissolved with the wave of a paw, then Vorpal clapped twice. "When you are finished, please step forward with your answers. Please be patient as we review the results."

Qesis found her wife after turning in her papers. "What was it like in there, honey?"

"It wasn't any different than out here, I could still see through you." Nadi chose to invade the instructor's mind, but something kept her from doing so. "Huh. This guy can protect himself from my abilities."

"This Master Vorpal guy? So he's tougher than that cute exterior shows..." Qes gave her mate a kiss. "Not as cute as you though."

"Students, I can safely say most of you have potential. However, Miss Roting seems to stand below our general attunement standards. Please, exit the testing grounds. You may sign up for attunement training courses and try again next year, dear." Master Vorpal waited for the upset girl to exit the room, then immediately went on to the next test. "If you're ready, please form a line. This next test is very hard to pass, neigh impossible actually, but we are not testing if you can complete it. We only ask that you try your best."

"This sounds fun." Qes pulled Nadi up to the rear of the line. A wooden beam formed ahead, shifting and curving toward the other side fo the room. "A strange balancing beam? Oh gods, that'll be tough for you..."

"Quiet. First candidate, please attempt to reach the other side without falling. Take as long as you need, but at no point may you turn back." The first student stepped on the beam and slowly moved across. Upon reaching the first shifted segment he started wobbling, throwing out his arms for balance. As he moved to the curved section though he started walking sideways as if gravity had shifted, soon leading to him falling from the beam. "A fine result. Good. Next candidate, please."

One by one, the students made their advances across the balancing beam. One or two fell off after the first shift, but the vast majority fell on the part they all silently named the 'corkscrew' due to the physics-defying motion involved. Only one student made it beyond this point, but for whatever reason he turned around and froze, leading to his eventual failure to complete the course.

"My turn. Wish me luck." Qesis stood on the balancing beam, glad her parents taught her blade dancing with her added grace. She easily cleared the initial section, then started wobbling at the first shifts. With her extra finesse she managed to recover quite well, moving on to the corkscrew. She took this section slower, but apparently without too much hassle as she made the full barrel roll. The next section however had her in a similar situation as the best student, standing still and shaking her legs. She never turned back, but she did fall with a yipe after only a few steps. "That was--!"

"Quiet. How many times must I tell you not to share your experiences?" Master Vorpal gestured to Nadiya. "Last candidate, please take your turn."

"Yes, Master." Nadi placed her hindpaws on the beam and immediately fell as she gauged the diameter incorrectly from external views. "I slipped. Can I try again?"

"Odd, but I suppose so."

"Thank you." The next attempt went much smoother the second time, as Nadiya relied almost entirely on her senses of touch and proprioception to guide her. The straight section seemed to go on further than it appeared, and on top of that the beam felt like it rounded and thinned in diameter. Nadi took her time as she went, feeling the beam end. She prodded her foot about, finding the beam had a gap in it that couldn't be seen from the start. Nadiya jumped the gap and continued until the next, feeling a hint of cold to one side. This repeated again, only with a hint of warmth.

After the final leap the beam turned square in shape again, making things easy enough. Nadi slowly found her footing as she walked forward, continuing without any hassle. A long gap of perhaps the easiest segment later, Nadiya found herself walking up an incline. Each step made the incline sharper until eventually Nadi needed to start climbing the pole directly upward. After a bit of straining she made it to the top, but she couldn't find a path around her from atop the pole. She nearly lost her balance and reached upward to settle herself, touching another pole coming from the ceiling. With a sigh of exhaustion she jumped upward to grab the pole, but found gravity shifting so it turned into a ledge. With a yipe Nadiya grabbed the ledge and pulled herself up. After catching her breath, she took a few steps forward and touched a wall, able to go no further. "Am I done?"

"Well this is... another first." Master Vorpal waved a paw and shrank the course until Nadiya was only a pace away. "Young lady, you are the first person to finish this test. Congratulations. As for the rest, you have all passed sufficiently."

"That's a hell of an achievement. Good for you." Grandmistress Holmwilt walked over and waved her paw, shifting the course into a series of chambers. "This final test will sting a bit. We will put you through rising amounts of certain elemental mægicks. When you can no longer bear the sensations, step out of your zone to become immune. There is no final end point, only lower points of failure."

"Indeed. You gain points the longer you remain, but there is a minimum for each element as well as a minimum total score to pass. If you've made it this far however, it's not likely you will fail." Master Vorpal slewed his paw over the testing chambers. "Please, take your positions."

"So... what was that last test all about? It wasn't that hard." Nadi took her place in a magic circle with her wife's guidance, then let her find the one next to hers. "All I did was walk a bit, jump some, and climb. The last jump was about the only odd part."

"You... didn't see the fire and lightning? The corkscrew?" The students all lined up and the circles started glowing indigo. "The last part that bent the whole room upward? That wasn't on fire for you?"

"Nope. It was just a beam?" Nadi shrugged her shoulders. "I dunno. It wasn't that hard. Ouch!" The first element was electricity, shocking the students with more and more powerful bolts. "What the flying fuck!"

"Fuck me!" Qes jumped out of her circle along with several other students, followed a moment later by Nadiya nearly falling on her face. "You okay, hon?"

"Yeah, I just... couldn't control my leg fully..."

"Well it's a magic taser, so I guess that could happen."

"Good, candidates! Reset, please!"

"Here, back to your circle..." Qes guided her wife and then found her own position. "Here we go again."

"Crap!" The next test had Nadiya leaping forward almost immediately as magical fire overtook her. The rest followed much later, but the test never ended. "Qes? What's going on?"

"Concentrating!" The fire column rose to engulf Qesis before she jumped forward, lasting far longer than the others. "That was... almost refreshing after living on Vasily so long."

"Good, good. That was a nice result, miss." Master Vorpal wrote something in his odd ledger and waved a paw over the magic circles. "Again, please."

Several more iterations of the test proceeded, each with Nadiya leaping from danger first. Blinding heat, suffocating water, burning acid, and more temporarily harmed the students, though with no lasting effects once they left their circles. After the last test, the two instructors conversed over the results.

"Alright. By my own marks, we have another fail from this test. Miss...es Rihzyet, you have failed the final test."

"I... failed?" Nadiya slumped as she headed for the exit. "I guess I'm just going to be a ship commander after all. I'll... see you later, Qes."

"Young lady, it seems you lack patience in addition to elemental resistances. Please, hold."

Grandmistress Holmwilt stepped forward and cleared her voice. "Nadiya, you have failed the general test. However, you have exceeded all goals and set new ones regarding the rare psionic arts. Your attunement is not in the elemental, but in the mental much like myself." She held up a crystal similar to the clear one from earlier and touched it to her desk, causing the desk to melt. "With this, you similarly have an affinity for the capture and use of essences through siphoning. You are the only person to guess the properties of the stones to accurately aside from myself."

"What does... that mean, Qes? Are they--"

"It means I would be proud to take you as my personal apprentice, Nadiya. And yes, I can read your mind when you speak through it."

"Everyone else, we have course suggestions and our seals of approval for your enrollment in them. Come, receive your documents so you may register for next week's classes." Master Vorpal nodded to Nadiya with a smile. "And congratulations, Apprentice Rihzyet. Your position is one of worth commendation."

"Master Vorpal is correct. If you accept my offer, you won't have classic classes. You'll be training directly beneath me as I teach others. You will become an Apprentice Witch immediately." The curvy Arctic Wolf shed her robe and offered it to Nadi, revealing a very attractive dress beneath. "So what do you say, dear sister?"

"Sister?"

"Yes, in a way. Your family adopted the various clones of me." Again the cloak was offered, with the realization that the wolfess was guarding her mind at the moment. "Ah, my mistake... There. Do you feel it? My name is Ashe, or as your brother calls me, Sparks."

"Sparks! Of course I know you! Yoyo tells me all about you whenever he visits!" Nadiya took the cloak and hugged her sister, finding family far more important than a trinket at the moment. "We need to catch up. I want to hear about that time you froze Yoyo's paw to his tail, without him obviously changing it in his favor of course."

"Agreed... though perhaps you should avoid making a scene." Sparks draped the cloak over her sister with a grin. "I like it. Wear that when you're here for lessons, and try to act like a student and not my sister. Outside of the Academy though, we're free to be as close as you'd like."

"Sure!" Nadi shivered as a surge of magic spread through her and made her sense stealing easier. "Wow. Okay, we're definitely going to need more of this."

"I'll gladly teach you more. Keep your mind open and follow my instructions. You'll make a wonderful witch if you manage that."

"Right!"

Layla pressed off the wall she rested against and headed over. "Uh... so can I put this down yet, Goddess?"

"Oh, you have friends? Don't let me hold you back then, little Apprentice."

"Oh, but..." Nadi grabbed her wife by the paw and pulled her closer. "This is my mate, Qesis."

"You're mated? So young? I don't know what to... say to that." Sparks reeled the two in for a hug, forgoing her position as Grandmistress for the joy she felt. "Congratulations, sisters. And congratulations on passing. I'm sure we'll have a lot of fun together."

" Ahem..."

"Right. We have more evaluations to perform and I have an image to maintain." Sparks pulled out a wooden wand and affixed a crystal to the tip. "Everyone, please enjoy some refreshments and get to know your fellow classmates as repayment for the pain we've inflicted." The wand waved to and fro, creating a floating magic circle. Moments later the far wall turned upside down and the exit door opened, revealing a dining hall that also could not be explained by the shape of the rooms. "Wonderful job, students. Oh, and Nadiya? Drop by my office tomorrow evening after final evaluations. We have to outline your duties and schedule."

"Yes, Grandmistress Sparks."

The headmistress shared a grin with her sister and student as they parted ways. "Just be lucky nobody here can hear that. Be careful out there."

"I wi--" Nadi stopped in her tracks as Yiff blinked into her arms, confusing the hell out of the vixen until she Linked to him. "What the hell!? Hey! Y-Yiff?" A few confirmatory pets followed by the friend's trademark burrowing between her tits brought a smile back to her muzzle. "Yiffy! You're out of quarantine?"

"Hrm? The stick man didn't follow?" Yiff tucked his head down low, enjoying the warmth. "Ah, yes. The sooner, the better. That prison was terrifying."

"Then I agree. Good to see you again, buddy."

"Nadiya? Who is this creature you summoned?" Sparks moved closer to examine the aaula, noticing right away that the two managed a Link. "You speak to this beast of the æther? To think you'd already become the rarest of professions, a familiar tamer..."

"Yiffy isn't a 'familiar', whatever that is. We've just made a deal to help each other." Nadi gave the little guy a kiss and wrapped her new cloak around her to keep him hidden. "What makes you think he's one of those?"

"He appeared out of nowhere for one. Then there's the pact you've bound between you." Sparks gave the alien creature a closer look, seeing him glowing even through her blindness. "More than anything though, he has the aura of a mythical beast. As small as he stands, mægick streams through him as a conduit. He fits the description of a familiar for certain."

"Then... sure, he's a familiar I guess." Nadi checked all perspectives available around her but couldn't find the source of the little guy's entrance. "I'll see you later, Sparks. I have to find someone that didn't come along with Yiffy."

"Ah... Perhaps the transport used couldn't find us in the æther realm. Your familiar, Yiff, has a keener lock on your position though."

"Gotcha. I'll see if we can't find him then. Don't let me hold you up though."

"I'll see you tomorrow." Sparks closed the doors and turned the wall around again, which phased the entire wall from existence on Nadiya's end. Have fun, sister.

Nadi smiled heartily as she found her wife chatting by a bowl of lemonade. "I will."

---

---

2 Hours Later

Civic Ward 2

---

---

"That's the last one." Vydr slapped his Slate under the stump of his bad arm to hold it in place. "Thank you, ladies. We've got enough cash to last the month with that last damned sale."

"Captain, I remind you that I warned you not to buy the goods too early." Kino practically carried her partner up to a short line by the airlock between wards. "Next year, keep in mind when classes start before buying so many things demanded by students."

"Hey, I got a good deal specifically because I bought early... I just didn't have any free space to buy anything else. It balances out." Void sat on a conveyor belt for a luggage check, gaining a familiar frown from the security team. "Hey, mate. You meet my aunt yet?"

A wolverine knocked Void onto his hindpaw when he got near the body scanners. "Nah. Who's that?"

"This little girl right here, Nadiya. Uh... don't ask how she's my aunt, though." Void hopped through the scanner first, standing still long enough for a red light to flip green with a beep. "Oh, we don't look much alike do we? She's the vixen. The human is her mate, Qesis."

"You know, you don't need to make excuses to take your whores back to your ship." The officer waved Void through and gave Kino a signal to wait until after the others passed. "Biologicals first, ma'am. We have to re-tune the machine for you. Hey, tarts. Head on through."

"They're not prostitutes, Koel."

"Don't kid me, man. There's no way you're gettin' laid looking like that unless you pay for it. Them two are whores." The wolverine stopped a very confused Nadiya after her scan and held out a paw. Show your brothel's license, too."

"Hey, I said they--" A large, metal claw clamped onto the wolverine's calf, sending him to the floor as a hefty electric current bombarded his muscles. "What the fuck?"

"Oy, don't go calling every cute girl you see a whore." A smaller-statured woman strode forward as she reeled in the line on her odd weapon. "When you come to your senses, check your pay for the day. I'm having Salt dock you for that bad habit."

"Thank you." Void approached the officer, freezing as the taser grapple pointed at him. "H-Hey now..."

"Oh, Vydr! Fuck, I didn't see you standing there."

"Aunt Sydney! Hey, long time." The otter hopped forward and gave the ottkat an odd hug. "What brings you to Hangar 2? I thought you mostly did training these days."

"I do, but that doesn't mean I can't take the occasional assignment when there aren't many recruits." Cid holstered her weapon and pulled Nadiya through the scanner, holding her ground when Qesis reached the scanning point. "Stay there, hon... Ah, this switch. So, you've met Nadiya? What is she, your... uh, sister?"

"No, more like yours. She's my aunt as well." The light swapped color to green and Void signalled Qesis should pass so Layla could be scanned. "So how do you know Nadiya?"

"I'm her security detail, for now anyway." The scan came back green again and Sydney waved Kino through entirely. "Sorry, I had to check. I know you've been caught with traces of some strange things before so you can't be too sure..."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Sydney."

"I'm more concerned with you bringing some kind of virus or contaminant through actually. I know your father has an eye on you, and that's good enough for me." Cid helped her comrade back to his hindpaws and stopped another group of traders. "Koel, you with me? Crap, I stunned him too good."

"We can wait. We were just heading back now that the Furnace is going dark."

Sydney waved the next person up to the scanner. "Going back? You mean...?"

"Yeah, they're staying with me. They're taking classes starting next week and they're registered to Hermes." Void threw his arm around Kino and watched as the next person went up for a scan. "So where's this security detail come into play? This is the first I've heard of this."

"It's not really any of your--"

"It's exactly my business. I'm her captain."

"Right. Well Qesis' father made a large order for security now that she was starting school and I thought he was being ridiculous. If he wanted to go for overkill he only needed to hire me." Sydney got an amber light from the scan and took a closer look, finding something in the trader's luggage. "I'm sorry, sir. Could you show me your ID and open your bag?"

"Yes..." He pulled out his Slate and presented it, but as the ottkat's attention was diverted he grabbed his luggage and darted for his ship. "Move!"

"Hey! Don't make me shoot!"

Void sighed as he focused on the scene, blinking the smuggler so he appeared nearby and running back through the checkpoint. "Oh, Sydney..."

"Stand the bloody hell down, sir!" Cid had her taser trained on the buffalo's chest, causing the confused fur to drop his case and raise his hooves. "Against the wall. Move."

"You're welcome, auntie."

"I had him, you know. I... do appreciate not having to zap the guy and write up a violence report, though. Thanks." Sydney kicked the travel bag to the side and began patting down the buffalo. "Could you guys get Koel up to handle this?"

"Already on it, Komandarm Karidan." Kino carried her captain over idly, then jabbed a two fingers into a particular spot inside Koel's shoulder to jolt him awake. "Apologies. Your services are needed and tapping a nerve bundle seemed prudent."

"Huh?" The wolverine snapped to his senses and held off the other traders. "Oh, uh... Wait here, sir."

Cid ripped a zip-tie off a bundle near the gate and wrapped it around the buffalo's legs. "Efreitor Koel, call in backup. I can't stay here for processing."

"Got it, ma'am." Koel clicked his radio and heard a chirp just around the corner. "Hey, Komanda? We need backup at the C2-H2 junction."

"Copy that. We've got two politseyskiye moving in from a patrol. Any imminent danger?"

"One known suspect and several requiring inspections still. I'm just understaffed between shifts, Komanda Spetzbez." Koel rubbed his head as he released his radio. "Reinforcements are inbound, ma'am."

"Good." Sydney wraped another tie around the buffalo's wrists and dusted herself off. Forget what I mentioned about a pay dock. In fact, I owe you a drink later, Koel."

"Thanks, Komandarm. I'll handle the rest."

"Wonderful. Keep to your duty and there's hope for you, son. You did well in training, so don't let me down out here." Sydney huffed a breath of air as she walked toward the others. "So you have an extra bed on that ship of yours? I've never been inside her."

"Him. I have beds but I'm not sure about extras. If we need to pick up passengers you might need to share a bunk with someone." Vydr hoisted himself up by Kino's neck and she folded her arms to make a seat for the otter. "Hermes is just over here, at docking port twelve. You're free to make yourself at home, so long as you pay your way--replenish supplies and the like."

"Sounds fair enough. I have an expenditure allowance for lodging and gear anyway, not that I really need the money." Sydney made her way to the correct dock and took a moment to admire Hermes, including his ruggedly scratched paint job. "My kind of ship. I don't think I've seen this model before though."

"Hermes is another prototype like the Starbreeze. My mum--Er... Robyn, not the real one--built a frigate to test some engine designs. I'm not sure of any other family where starships are paw-meDowns." Void passed the bewildered ottkat and unlocked the side hatch, pointing to an X-shaped symbol built out of red squares. "I'll just give the same warning I gave these three. This symbol means 'airlock', so don't touch the controls near it if you value your life. There's a bunch of loading ports and stuff, so keep an eye out. Aside from that, welcome aboard."

"I'm pretty tidy in vacuum myself, but I assume that doesn't work out well for the rest of us. Good to know." Instinctively, Cid made sure the inside was clear and then watched the door as Qesis passed through. "So... What courses of study did you ladies write into? Knowing your family, I'd guess Nadiya took something with maths or guns."

"Magic, actually. We're both signed up for something or the other at the Academia Arcanum." Qes found her favorite seat in the common area and sat down, her wife jokingly crushing her via her lap. "Ouf! My silly mate here isn't sure what she's doing yet, but she's already a Master's Apprentice."

"I'm actually a Grandmistress' Apprentice. I'll find out what that really entails in another day. The rest of my classes are a minor in starship command."

"Oh, so you're a bit like your big sister then... in more ways than one." Sydney nodded to the girls, then checked with the slumping third figure of Layla as she collapsed into a chair. "I take it the tests were exhausting? Did you sign up for anything, Layla?"

"Me? No, I'm just here to serve my Goddess. So far I've just been carrying her royal stuff though." Layla sighed as she forced herself back to her feet. "Speaking of, I should prepare the royal chambers with a prayer..."

Sydney waited for the side hatch to close and then followed Layla back. "I've got to figure out a detail for Qesis' security. Mind if I help?"

"Oh... Sure. Thank you, ah... Sydney?"

"Yep. Think nothing of it, love."

Qesis looked to her wife. "Food?"

"Food."

"Here you go, sir." Kino lifted her captain so he could grab a ceiling bar, then smiled to the couple as they raided they reached the kitchen. "They're cute together."

"That's uncommon of you. Yeah, though... They are cute." Void sighed as he thought about the guardsman's words again. "I'm glad someone around here found love."

"You could too. Freelancer or not, you're a good guy and you look handsome."

Void teleported into the main hallway. "Yeah, the parts of me that exist maybe. It's the parts I wasn't born with that drive people away."

"You don't scare people off. You shouldn't say that." Kino walked ove to her captain and stared him in the eyes with her own black cameras. "Maybe you just aren't looking around you hard enough. Maybe... there's someone already interested in you."

"Yeah, that would be nice if it were true." Vydr looked to his room up front, but turned for the ladder down into the Cargo Bay instead. "I'll go check the hold in case we left some of that booze on accident. Wouldn't want a head of the Spetzbez finding contraband down there while she's staying aboard..."

"You just want to sulk." Kino simulated a sigh as she parted ways. "It's fine. You could use some time to think. I need to rest after hauling all that cargo, but I'll stay in standby for a few hours if you need to wake me. Please... feel free to do so, Captain."

"Uh... Yeah, sure. Rest up, Kino." Vydr shoved the wedged top of the ladder that doubled as a hatch and used his weight to lock it open. Once in place, he gave the air a moment to cycle before blinking down into the hold. "Let's see... Supplies are here... Right, the crates were over on starboard." He blinked over to the group of crates and ran his paw over them, tapping to confirm they were empty by the hollow sound. "Good... Good... Yeah, they all seem clear. Good sales, good with the law... Good time."

"Did you just say 'good with the law' there?" Sydney hopped down into the Cargo Bay and clicked on her flashlight for a clearer view in the dim lighting. "You're not actually a pirate, are you? What's in these crates?"

"Oh no, it's always good to be on the right side of the law. I was just mumbling about the incident earlier is all." Void blinked to the center of the mostly empty space. "These here were all emptied today. I was only confirming we'd finished our last shipment. The ones on your left are all supplies and food for our use."

"Okay. Yeah, looks good." Sydney scrolled though the inventory manifest on a crate with her Slate. "Oh, you get the good jerky. Best stuff for a long night on guard..."

"Like I said, ours is yours if you pay your way. Take some."

"Thanks. Might be taking a long night until I get used to this hangar." Cid snagged a bag of jerky and scanned her light around, tapping it as it intermittently flickered. "Damned torch... Aha, good. Oy..." The light came back to life hovering over a small, lone crate near the front loading gate. "What's that one?"

"Uh..." Void pulled his Slate off his belt and thumbed through the master manifest. "I don't have contents on that one. An error in my last load, maybe?"

"Where were you docked before this?"

"We were at an Earth colony on DS-2002-C. Talk about a mouthful." Void blinked over to the crate to check the screen built into it, but the crate was unpowered. "Well maybe that's why. They forgot to check the thing was turned on. Let's hook it into the induction grid..."

"Wait, don't touch it. If it's an unknown we should scan it first."

"Uh, too late?" The crate powered up with the press of a two-state button. Soon the lid opened as a safety precaution, leading Vydr to fall hard onto his tail. " Ooblek! Kino! I need you to undock us now!"

"A bloody Ooblek!?" Sydney pulled out her electrified grapple gun and trained it on the crate. "Get clear! I'll shock it!"

"No! They need electricity to move!" Void's eyes widened as he spotted a blob of white liquid turn more solid and matte to lift out of the crate. He knew what was coming and preemptively blinked to the other side of the room as it leaped. "It needs to feed on simple alkali and acid compounds. That means you and me. Just stay away until we hit vacuum, then we'll vent it into the engines."

"You sound like you've done this before."

"I have. One smuggled itself in with a passenger a year ago. Fucker got vented and wanted back in." The blob melted to the floor then turned opaque and solid again, causing Void to blink himself and Sydney to another corner. "The thing got in the vapor vents of my thruster and we ended up stranded, but the heat killed it. I figure we can keep this one busy and try sending it straight into our vapor trail--see if it suffers the same fate."

"Holy hell, man. That shit sounds terrible." Cid fought to keep her lunch down after the new sensation of being teleported around without warning. "It's doing that thing aga--!"

The two blinked again, this time avoiding the liquid creature as it soared through the air. "It's trying to take one of us. If it latches on it'll take control of your nerves and use you as a hostage... as it eats you from the inside out." The creature landed and quickly reset itself for another leap, far too quickly for Vydr to react properly. He blinked Sydney away to safety a deck higher, then found his good arm surrounded by a blob of snotty white. "Shut the ladder well! We have to cont-t-t..."

"Vydr! Hey!" Sydney checked the lower deck by sticking her head down the ladder well, then pulled the ladder wedge shut when she saw Vydr silently hopping toward it. "Shit. The cunt's got him. Um..."

Kino jogged over from the cockpit. "We're outside VFP's safety radius. Where's Vydr?"

"He's... down below. It got him." Cid slumped down as she locked the ladder hatch into place. "He got me out of there and took that hit for me..."

"Huh? It didn't get his head, did it?"

"What? No, but--"

"Good. Just give him a minute." Sure enough, Vydr blinked himself up a deck and fell onto the metal-paneled floor. "Find a good position for it, sir?"

"No, it never moved away from the ladder. I was hoping it would try the airlock next, but it seemed to know what that was. The fucker has experience." Void's skin was visibly reddened beneath his thick fur, a hint of blood misted over the tips of a few strands. "Damn. It started digging into me sooner than the last one too. I don't think we'll get it to play ball."

"Then what do we do? Should I call the UNEO Defense Fleet? They could--"

"I don't want to think about that, Kino. If by some small chance they don't scuttle the ship to make things easy, they'll damage it a ton and suspend our trader's license to boot." Void reached up so his Construct could lift him to his hindpaw. "We have the Ooblek contained. Let's think of something."

Sydney held her machine gun heart as she just breathed. "Why don't you do that warp thing?"

"Can't. I don't have experience blinking outside Hermes." Void rolled his shoulder and grabbed a ceiling bar. "I could punch a hole in something or blow up the engines. No joy."

"What about Nadiya's abilities?" Kino sidled against her captain threw his arm around her shoulder. "Could she maybe talk with the Ooblek?"

"I don't know. What's an Ooblek?" Nadi slowly led herself out of the kitchen toward the commotion. "You're distressed... no, scared to death. What is this Ooblek thing, Void?"

"It's a member of a species involved in the Singularity War. We met them soon after thinking they were friendly due to their support in the final battle, but they were just serving themselves." Void groaned as he noticed his blood wicking out into Kino's faux fur. "They feed on other creatures alive, using them like walking batteries as well. Their ships are often powered by slaves. They have no laws or morality... like they're made of pure chaos. I don't think they're evil though, just aiming to help themselves. My dad knows they can negotiate for example."

"Well wherever it is, I can't sense the Ooblek."

"Damn, I was hoping you could talk to it. It's in the Cargo Bay below us." Void looked at the floor and took a deep breath. "There's one more thing my dad said. They can communicate through the nervous system of a victim."

Kino wrapped an arm around Vydr's waist. "Captain, you can't. This one is more mature than the last and harms you faster."

"No, I have to try. If we can make a deal with it, we might be able to get it to leave of its own volition." Void pushed Kino away so she wouldn't come with him, then mentally prepared to go back into the fray. "I'll come back quickly if things don't work out. Nadiya, please try connecting with me just in case it might help."

"I'll stay close."

Sydney slumped to her knees out of her feeling of helplessness. "Good luck, Vydr."

"Thanks. I'll definitely need it." Void blinked himself back into the cargo bay, standing merely a meter from the Ooblek. He held out his arm and the creature took the offer almost greedily. "Y-You want another taste, huh? Don't w-want to talk?"

You know I'm sapient? Curious. The Ooblek crawled up Vydr's arm and touched his spine, the voice becoming much clearer after a pang of pain. Do you perhaps know much about our kind? You must, acting as you have.

"Yes. My father has n-negotiated with the Ooblek before."

You are in pain. Perhaps I should not harm you before we might understand each other? The Ooblek stopped piercing Vydr's pelt and allowed the otter to move freely. Now, confirm why you have trapped me. There is a door to the darkness and nothing else.

"We originally wanted to space you and burn you in our engines. It's clear you're smart enough to avoid that fate. Therefore, we'd rather come to a mutually beneficial agreement instead." Void rolled his arm in his shoulder, the sensation dropping to a mere tingle now. "So to start with, our terms. We can't let you free where you might make more victims. We also cannot keep you here, obviously. What are your needs and goals, aside from the need to feed yourself?"

I would normally ignore you and consume your flesh, but you have the unique ability to escape me. I can assume you won't allow me near others either.

"Even if you got ahold of someone else, I could just blink them away from you the same as myself."

So if I don't make an agreement, I will starve. As your kind require food as well and cannot go near open areas with me aboard, you too will starve. I see no room for negotiation. Let me into the darkness near a populated planet and we will part ways.

"Actually, we have one final option. We can call in a specialist ship to kill you, but we'd likely lose this ship in the process. We're just trying to avoid that, which has the nice perk of not ending with your death."

I see. The Ooblek shifted around further, investigating the stump of Void's missing arm. Fine. I require sustenance for life, current for control, and raw materials for my people. Beyond this, I also seek enjoyment.

"Good. We're getting somewhere." Void moved his stump a bit, watching as the creature followed it without touching it. "All of your needs are ongoing over time. Our problem is solvable at once. Hm... My family might be able to create something electric for you that allows you to take shapes. They've certainly created more advanced things already."

Interesting. You propose a vessel for me, then. You do wish for my wellbeing. The Ooblek finally covered Void's arm, then stiffened to make a mirror copy of his good arm that mimed the same motions. I might also gain a vessel through you. You require replacement shapes to become like the rest of your kind, correct?

"I was born this way. My mum didn't have enough room inside her to let me grow correctly--too small of a womb. That doesn't make me..." Void inspected the new arm as it gained definition, down to individual furs, the hard bump of an elbow, and even a thumb that didn't exist on the real paw. "That's really good. So you'd stay like this and help me just to keep a shape? Why? What do you get out of it if you're not in control?"

I will remain in control We will join together our efforts.

"Okay... Interesting, to say the least." Void moved his arm around and the Ooblek perfectly copied his motions. "We aren't sure how it works, but we think you have two genders to your species because one can change color and the other can't. Are you able to change color to match mine?"

This is not true. We have no gender. We gain the ability to copy colors with experience. The Ooblek gained a basic color matching the average of Vydr's reddish-brown fur. I am particularly experienced. I am much more likely to bring back materials for Ooblek.

"You also seem to understand the true value of trade... and from your stowing away, you're versed in the aspects of my particular kind of trade as well. That makes you useful to my crew." Void examined the creature making up his new arm and nodded as it started to gain more variance and detail in its color patterning. "You almost look like a very good prosthesis. You could pass in public as one, I'd bet. How would you like to serve as the other half of my body? In return, I can secretly hire you as one of my crew."

What use is this to me? I do not understand the nature of a 'crew'.

"It means I'd pay you to be helping me... as a personal assistant. You may then use your coin to purchase any goods you require. This deal would go on as long as you and I favor it." Vydr sighed as he tried to consider all of the Ooblek's needs. "What is the nature of the materials you need? And where are they to be delivered?"

Quite curious. You care for my needs? The creature stretched itself over Vydr's side and then began to form a basic leg, giving the deal a fair trial before either party committed. Aside from nutrients, I require whatever Ooblek needs. Ooblek requests materials constantly. We then return to Ooblek to deliver materials.

"Ah, so let me get this straight. Your planet needs things, somehow you know this, and then you deliver those things to your planet?"

Correct, if basic. I am always connected to Ooblek since it birthed me. All Ooblek asks in return is we contribute what we can of these requests.

"So if you could purchase parts of the supplies and arrange delivery, you wouldn't need to personally head home. That works out then." Void checked the basic leg, finding it was actually a clone of his pants and not the whole structure beneath even though the end results were simulated in the shape. "Tell me if this hurts and I'll stop."

The Ooblek adjusted to support Vydr's weight as he leaned on his new leg. Far from it. This is easy work. And you say you would support my needs in return for this? All of them?

"Sure thing. I'm a man of my word. And lucky for you, I'm also a man with quite a few connections near Ooblek thanks to my father's diplomatic routes. I think we can make this work. If not, we'll find a mutually beneficial manner to part ways. Are we agreed?"

These terms are acceptable, pending trial. We are agreed.

"The rest of the crew knows about you, but they're scared you'll eat them. They also don't fully know the details of our deal. Feel free to move on your own if need be to avoid injury, but do not ever injure my crew. Got it?"

Yes. On that point, I do require nutrition. I have been in that storage device far too long.

"We can find you something to consume, I'm sure. Raw meat might work, I'm thinking. Just remember that you have to pay for your own supplies and food, though for tonight we'll waive that bit in the name of friendliness." Void took a slow step forward and smiled as the Ooblek followed his motions enough to slowly walk around. "With a bit of practice, we could get rather good at this. I'd like a name for you, though. And actually, it might be nice to name your species as well to avoid confusion. Hm..."

We are made of Ooblek. Before meeting other sapience, we had no need for names. The creature improved its gait over the course of a few steps, copying the average motion the other leg was attempting until they were both in sync. Even still, we only copy other beings to interact with sapient ones. Should we not copy naming as well?

"No, the point of names is to make each of you uniquely identifiable. It's so we can denote when things or words are intended for one in a crowd. That said, I think you just stumbled upon something there." Void held out his paw and smirked at the close copy. "Your species might be called Mimics. And since you're doing such a good job at it already, your name might be Mime. Does that sound alright to you?"

These names mean nothing to me. If you enjoy them, I have no qualms with using them. After only a few minutes of training the Mimic already learned how to properly walk at a slow pace. Enough about your silly names. All I require is yours, for easier relations. I can only talk to my host in any case.

"My name is Vydr, though people call me Void. Call me whichever you like." Void stumbled as he tried to stop walking, then again as he started toward the ladder. "We'll have to work on this. If you can react properly, I think walking will be fine. How do we coordinate arms, though?"

Have you not been understanding me this whole time? Our nerve networks are now Linked together. I can send impulses and sensations to your brain, and your brain can learn to send them back. Mime sent a hint of sensation from Vydr's phantom paw as the forefinger and thumb claws touched. If you understand this principle, you can send my nerves impulses to move muscle. However your kind seem slow to learn this. It will take ti--

Void turned that touch sensation back upon itself, imagining those fingers touching again to his wonder. To both partners' combined surprise, Mime got the impulse and twitched its thumb. "Wow. It's... like I'm growing again. It feels so strange."

I see. You learn through direct training. We will need to establish a regular training regimen to improve. We will be less productive otherwise, and more productivity means more you can pay me. Correct?

"I can agree to that, yeah. Help raise our profits and you'll get a cut of them." Void created a few small ripples in space and moved them around, making sure the area above was clear enough to blink. "I'm about to move us up to the main deck with the others. Any objections? You ready, Mime?"

Yes. Let's finalize my position in the crew.

"Well put. Here we go. It might be disorienting at first, but I do this a lot so try to get used to it." Vydr focused and blinked the two into an open spot of the common area. "Okay. Everyone, we have an agreement. Stay calm."

"It's okay, Void. We already know most of it." Kino walked forward and gave the odd new living prostheses a few testing prods. "Nadiya passed along a few bits of info. So this Ooblek is going to stay with us? Safely?"

"We decided to call their kind Mimics, and its name is Mime. Uh... let's just call it a 'him' for now as well." Void instinctively went to throw his arm over Kino's shoulder, but had to adjust now that he didn't require her for balance. "Mime has agreed to help as part of the crew, without harming anyone else. Keep him secret outside this ship though, just in case there are anti-Mimic officers out there. We have to do our end to protect him as well."

"So we aren't going to die in our sleep?" Sydney loosened up and found a seat to relax. "Well bloody good work, mate. You're reminding me of your dad right now."

"What, with the false half a body? Yeah, it's strange. At least I have both eyes though."

"No, not just that." Sydney took off her holster and placed her grapple on the dining table. "You've got his bollocks. And seeing as you didn't kill Mime here, you've got his heart too. He'd be proud."

"He'd be... proud." Vydr took a moment to really think about that in silence, then started moving toward the kitchen using the ceiling rungs out of habit. "Come on, Mime. I promised you a snack and I don't go back on my word. You're part of our family now."

Wonderful.

"Heh. The kid's a natural leader." Sydney crossed her arms behind her head and shut her eyes, her heart finally slowing to match her exterior. "He's the spitting image of his parents. I see a lot of fun in this crew's future."