***************
"This is the pilot of Leviathan Raishen," Pilot announced as the small screen in front of him flipped on to reveal the
face of a trader. "We require a transport pod. Do you have any sufficient enough for our services available?"
"I do for ten thousand credits," the man answered.
"Leviathan transport pods aren't worth ten thousand," Pilot narrowed his eyes. "I believe the standard for a replacement
is seven thousand."
"Fine," the man lowered his head as he eyed him. "I'll have one of my workers bring it up for payment. You can bring them
back once the autopilot has been configured to homing with your Leviathan."
"That will suffice," Pilot blinked as he raised a pincher. "I will have the Drd's standing by with your payment."
"Do you have any crew Pilot?"
"Yes," Pilot tilted his head slightly. "Infact they would benefit from refreshing their stocks somewhere that isn't - overly
crowded. Have you any recommendations?"
"They can come to my station, it's enclosed and I have a decent supply of basics for travelers. Someone will be bringing
the transport within the arn."
*******************
"Chaelsmond."
Chey gazed up from the neuro cluster repairs she was working on with the help of a few of Raishen's system charts and some
of the Drd's as his voice came through her comm. "Yes Pilot."
"I have acquired a transport pod that will be boarding in another two hundred microts. The seller has agreed to allow the
crew the use of his way station to gather commerce if you still desire it. My inventory base indicates there is more than
sufficient liquids, fuels and nonperishable rations. More than enough for the journey to the Diagnosan Crichton spoke of for
Raishen's more serious damages."
"We need better uniforms," Chey announced as she got up and began to head for the docking bay. "I think we'll go have a
look at least."
"Wouldn't you prefer to go down to the station alone?" Pilot asked with gentle curiosity. "If I am correct, it would be
the first time since your abduction to - indulge in planet side leave ..."
**************
Chey came into the docking bay, her heart racing as she stood a little away from the waiting Drd as the pod landed. She
watched as two more Drd's whirred up to the other one with a small package of the credits. The hatch flew open and a Sebacean
man stepped out, wandering over to the Drd's.
He gazed up at Chey, watching her with a mild curiosity as she slipped into his pod.
**************
"Boom," John swung around the corner of the corridor, aiming his pulse pistol down the next one. He fired, the pulse blast
ringing out as it shot down the corridor. He sniffed smugly as he began to walk down it. "Chicka boom, don'tcha just love
it ..."
He swung the pistol around, aiming it as he saw something dash across the next corridor in the curving turn of the passageway.
He jogged ahead quickly, stopping short in front of it in enough time to see Chiana's light gray form slinking swiftly down
the next curve. She seemed almost like a white tiger in her shading. He moved to catch up with her.
He leaped into a room, aiming the pistol at the table in it. "Boom, boom boom!"
Chiana dashed out from beneath the table, heading for one of the Drd access shafts. He shot at it, Chiana stopping short
as the blast rang off the rim of the small mouth.
"Ooooh lala!"
Chiana smiled, biting her lip as she curved her head up to turn her gaze to him. "Why are you in those clothes?" She asked
as she ran into a leap.
"Ack!" John shouted sharply as she landed on him, piling him to the ground with her on top of him. She chuckled, straddling
him as she brushed her fingers across his brows, licking his eyelid. John threw his arms back as she grabbed his wrists, holding
them down as she leaned on one arm, biting and kissing into his neck. "Help! I'm being attacked by an alien!"
She chuckled again, gazing brightly into his eyes as she slid her hands down to his shirt and ripped it open. She drew
her hand along his chest, rubbing it. "Why are you chasing me?"
"Ummm," He creased his brows up at the ceiling as she gripped his pants and ripped them down one hip. Her hand slid up
the tare to his manhood. "Oh-o-o-o-ooooooo!"
He rolled over with her, closing his eyes as he kissed down her chest and along her breasts. He took her by her hips, pulling
her into his lap. She sighed as her legs wrapped around him, drawing her fingers up through his hair, grasping tightly as
he teased at coming into her, rubbing his hardness against her warmth instead. She brought his lower lip into his mouth, holding
it with her teeth as she smiled, pulling him down with her by his lip as she laid her head down. He folded his arms around
her back, taking her by her shoulders as he pushed into her. She moaned softly as the sensations of pleasure he brought her
washed through her body. He stood with her, holding her by her back and rump as he carried her to the table and laid her over
it. He pushed deeply, moaning with her as she drew her head back, arching her back. He drew out slowly, thrusting back into
her hard as he gripped her buttox tightly, his breath drawing warm into her hair and ear. Her groans increased as she pulled
tighter to him with her legs, digging in her nails across his back, biting into his shoulder.
His thrusts increased, holding her tightly as he groaned. Chiana cried out at the sudden rushes of her spasms, absorbed
into the deep pleasure and ecstasy of being with John, his own climax throbbing hot into her, the sound of his cries until
he finally collapsed on top of her.
"More," she whispered into his ear. "Again."
John groaned with exhaustion as he drew up on his arms over her, resting his forehead on hers. "Wait."
"Nohh," she breathed, touching his sides gently with her urgency as she raised her head. "C'mon, you're always teasing
me."
He let out a sharp breath with his smile as he laid beside her. "Me?" He asked as he watched her half raise, drawing her
hand down into her warmth. She moaned softly as he began to tease and kiss her breast, turning her face to his neck as his
hand folded over hers, searching over her wetness. She laid back as he massaged gently, rubbing his fingers over her clitoris
as he brought his lips to her ear. "I remember why I was chasing you now. You broke some more comms. Mmmm, you keep doing
that, I'll just have to stay here and tease you forever."
He gazed down her as her body tensed, her breaths coming in sharp whimpers as she stretched her feet out. Her ankles popped
as she arched at her back. Her knees snapped then as he saw her muscles tensing in her strains, her buttox tightened, lifted
slightly off of the table as she gave out a quiet, desperate cry. Her fingers came over his to guide him, urging him to rub
faster. Her voice rose into a deep groan as she clenched at his chest, straining and pressing her legs together tighter. Her
groan became an exhaustive whimper again as she relaxed, her legs trembling from her intense exertion. John rose up beside
her, pulling her legs up to him, resting them against his shoulder as he leaned into her. He pressed his hardness to her,
thrusting into her hard and sudden. She cried out in a deep groan as he continued to thrust hard, pounding against her as
he grunted with the effort. He could feel her spasms around him, drawing to his own climax in a sudden, painful release.
He collapsed beside her, trying to catch his breath as she lay still. After a few moments she drew herself into a more
comfortable position, sleeping lightly as she laid her hand over his chest.
"Okay," he barely spoke as he closed his eyes. "But next time ..."
************
Chey stepped into the compound, gazing over the chamber below her from the walkway. It was filled with an assortment of
junk. Clothes, trinkets, a few displays of bladed weapons amid parts for ships that had been laid around. She walked the walkway,
turning her attention up to another man as he approached, smiling.
"Name's Kholif," he nodded to her as the man from the transport pod walked past them without giving them any more attention.
"I was starting to think your Leviathan didn't have any crew." He scratched his head as he guided Chey down to the room below.
"How many are you then?"
"More than enough," she commented. "We need more medical supplies, some things to wear and maybe something that'll keep
us preoccupied ... maybe, things to read? Game blobs?" She shrugged.
"I see," he eyed her as she began to browse through the various uniforms, cloths and materials. "If you're interested,
I have a really nice offer for a transport. I got a fella from Rindan looking for a discreet ride to a sector that might be
in your interest. He's a big spending, high realmer. He's had all his fun at the gaming arena just across from my compound
and wants to find something that won't attract the attention of the Peacekeeper's that have been crawling around as of late.
You're doing well to hang out here, they're looking for a Nebari female."
"I'm not wanted," she shook her head as she began to gather a few items. "I don't think we're suitable for your - high
realmer. My crewmates - ran into a little space fever, and the Leviathan is a former pirate ship with an ill tempered Pilot.
It's been a little crazy ..."
"Sounds like it," he smiled again as he came behind a counter. He pulled up a box and opened it. "Here, I think this would
suit you, no?"
Chey raised her brows as she pulled out the dark blue and black tunic. It was a long sleeve that skirted at the waist down
to about knee level. The way it clasped folded over from the right shoulder down to the slit in the skirted part to the left
hip.
"It's Nebari design, from some of the nonconformist colonies," he smiled again as he set out a pair of black, chapped boots
and leather pants that went with it. "Unless, you're interested in something a little more sexy for a Nebari girl? I've got
all sorts of things running the lost and found from the gambling arena. Tell truth if it wasn't for them I'd be out of business
as a parts and supplies man in this frelling sector. They're the only thing that keeps this moon popular enough to see any
business ..."
Chey nodded slightly as she pulled off her Nebari coat and put the other one on.
"It's actually called a taun for the ju'tak bashi," he went on. "The outcast Nebari's wear it to practice with their hand
to hand combatants they developed from all sorts of cultures. If expense is of no consequence to you I can throw in a few
of the weapons and a holo-program of it. Give it a cycle or two, and you'll be fighting like one of them, minus a Luxan tongue
lash technique." He chuckled as he finally got a small smile out of her, leaning back. "When there's nothing else better to
do on a Leviathan, I just happen to think you'll like that better than the game blobs we got here. I'll find it for you ..."
"Outcast Nebari," she muttered with a frown of curiosity as she traded the new boots from her old ones. "I've heard of
the nonconformist colonies but - I didn't know about this fighting style. Are they part of the resistance?"
"I wouldn't know all that," he shrugged. "This Ju'tak is a form of an entire discipline, mental, physical ... spiritual.
I've rarely seen any Nebari, much less spiritual ones - but this ... I hear it's becoming very popular underground. I'll get
those medical supplies while I'm looking. Standard kits right?"
Chey nodded slightly again as she added the pants of the uniform to the collection she was starting to make as he left
for a back room. She glanced up when Chiana and John finally came through the door and down into the shop. Chiana wasn't in
anything but John's over sized shirt which was torn. Chey couldn't help but smile to herself at John, his hair was getting
pretty long, it was almost shoulder length and as frazzled as Chiana's. The pants he wore were ripped down one leg. Chiana
came to her, smiling as she ran her hand over the new coat Chey was wearing. She let out a small, purring sound with a twist
of her head as a compliment. "Not very revealing but ..."
"Oh yeah," John came towards them, pulling on a black, leather PK cloak. "I'm set, let's go."
"Keep looking," Chey stated as she put a shirt in his hands and then peered down to his bare feet. "You need boots too."
"Oh," he pulled the cloak back as he looked down, wiggling his toes as he slipped the torn sleeve of his pant leg aside.
"That did feel kind of airy walking in."
Chiana moved away from them, browsing through the different leathers and cloths. She picked a few things, adding them to
the capsule Kholif provided when he returned. She caught her attention on a leather outfit being displayed on the wall, her
mouth drawing slack, casting her jaw to one side as she stared at it. It looked just like what she had been wearing before
- what Chiana would wear. Kholif followed her eyes.
"Where did you get that?"
"I was afraid that might interest you," he commented. "Does it look familiar?"
"No," Chiana answered quickly as she jumped the counter and yanked the leathers down. She glanced to Kholif as he caught
her attention again as he moved to a gated door behind his counter.
Kholif raised an eyebrow as he waved his hand over the door panel, the bars raising out of sight. "This used to be the
former keeper's private slave collection. I lease part of it to the arena, but the rest is devoted to my own collection of
- things that would offend the more sensitive. Care to go in? I think you might find it interesting."
"That depends," she smirked as Chey came to her side to peer into the long hall. "What kind of slaves are you collecting?"
"Not me," he shook his head, waving his hand. "It's bad for my reputation. Have a look if you like but be very careful
about nearing the eastern wing. They've got a few prisoners."
Chiana bounded inside, Chey followed her down the long hall of containment cells filled with supplies and boxes and into
a larger room. It was decorated and displaying all kinds of things for bondage and for torture. There were even Nebari control
collars, Charrid daggers and Scarran interrogation capsules.
"This is pretty serious," Chiana muttered as she picked up a foot long electrical prod.
"You don't want anything out of here," Chey eyed her as she came to her side, taking the prod out of her hands. "Do you?"
Chiana's lips parted as she crouched down to gaze over several shelves of cuffs and chains. "And let Harvey get a hold
of it? I don't think so. Unless ... " she smiled broadly as she waved a leather collar at Chey.
Chey paid no attention to her as she moved to a second passageway, listening quietly as she heard a weak but persistent
coughing coming down it. It was followed by a soft moan that sounded choked and mournful.
"Someone's crying," she nearly whispered as Chiana came to her.
Chiana eased ahead of her cautiously, peering down the corridor as she made her way towards the quietened cries. Chey took
her hand, holding it firmly as Chiana laced her fingers into hers.
Chey was trying to prepare herself for what she would see. She had seen many prisoners before, she had even been at the
task of watching over the arrests on her captain's host vessel but nothing had ever prepared her for this time. Inside the
cell was a Nebari female. She was badly beaten, her naked form swollen with welts and dark bruises all over her. She was tied
by her wrists, bound to her back and hanging off of them from a chain into the ceiling. Her feet were also bound and hung
higher than her head off the ceiling by chains. Her frail, broken body looked almost lifeless the way she hung her head. If
it wasn't for the quiet moans of her crying she would have thought she was dead.
Chiana swept her hand over the panel. She slipped through as the door opened, going to the chains hooked to the walls and
yanked them free.
The Nebari's feet came to the floor first. Her head flew up, her face twisted into a silent outcry at the strain her weight
put on her arms and shoulders. Chey grabbed her, cradling her to the floor as Chiana released her arms from the ceiling as
well. She laid with the young woman in her lap, wiping the bangs from her face as Chiana crouched around them, taking the
straps off of her wrists and ankles. Her face was badly bruised, most of her eye swollen shut but Chey could recognize her.
She looked to Chiana as she came around, tilting her head as she gazed into the Nebari's face, touching it tenderly as
the young woman opened her eyes.
"It's her," Chey whispered as Chiana took her into her arms, gaping as she looked over her.
"How ..." Chiana rested her forehead on her twin's as she rocked her. "Chiana, where - where's Moya? The others, where's
the others?"
"Mmmmoya," the girl in her arms spoke thickly through her dry, cracked lips. "Wormmhole ... Rygle - Rygle. Somewh -here."
Chiana shook her head, not understanding. "Where's the others, Aeryn, D'Argo - Jool ..."
Her counterpart didn't answer, drawing her face into Chiana's chest as she drew into another fit of a dry, weak coughing.
She drew her closer, holding the back of Pip's head as she settled her gaze on Chey. Chey returned the gaze, silent as
she helped her stand with her.
**********************
