“Well ya didn’t have’t cry’s all I’m saying!” Master Sergeant Darren Avery rubbed his temples as he straightened his belt buckle before tightening the loop.

“I wasn’t crying! I was concerned about my physical wellbeing! You don’t know what that silvery goop is do you?” Private Jones retorted as he pulled his shirt over his head.

Darren sent Reese a disapproving look as he slowly shook his head, scoffing lightly.

Darren and Reese continued to banter as they dawned their uniforms, behind them science officer Dayun Pir, and Decanus Derna Tae watched with mild amusement.

***

“Look at the way they bicker and argue…I think the short one is the leader.” Decanus Tae whispered to Captain Bass as he scratched his chin. “You know they kind of remind me of you and Commander Lemm!”

“That the one that bit Lemm?” Aerti inquired calmly, ignoring the playful Jab.

“Shot…actually…” Lemm grumbled. “And they do not!” Lemm argued adamantly and sent Derna a mean look.

“That’s the one.” Science officer Dayun adjusted his glasses.

“The shorter one is much more cooperative and social. Also notice the chevron’s on his uniform? I think that is some kind of command insignia!” Derna added eagerly.

“I assume as much.” Aerti responded, deep in thought.

***

“Why are they just looking at us?” Reese trembled, trying not to turn around to let the god like beings know he knew they were watching.

“Ah dun’know…why don’t ya ask em!” Darren grumbled as he tucked his shirt in.

“Hey…remember that cut I had on my back…from… the drinking incident?” Reese shrugged his shoulders as he tried to reach his back.

“When ya almost had a date with the twats bowels?” Darren held back the most signature of grins.

“…” Reese narrowed his eyes.

“Yea ah member…what of it?” Darren rolled his eyes.

“It’s all gone…I can’t feel the sting anymore…” Reese winced as Darren swung him around and pulled up his shirt.

“Heh…don’t that beat all! Damn’hell what in god’s name was in that bath!” Darren smacked his tongue against his teeth and let Reese shirt down.

***

Captain Bass straightened his shirt and let out a bit of a held breath.

“Why do you look so anxious?” Commander Lemm inquired with a bemused grin across her lips.

“I don’t know. He’s an officer, I’m an officer…just sort of seems big that’s all.” Aertimus rolled his shoulders back in a mild shrug.

Lemm shook her head and rubbed her temples gently. ” Captain, it’s not like your making first contact with a sentient class 1 species…it’s just a human sir.” Lemm’s tone was dismissive and amused.

“Arnt I?” Aerti grinned. “Don’t know…they were capable and advanced enough to inject you with a bit of shrapnel form that weapon of theirs. Ehh?” Captain Bass winked as he stepped around the table.

***

“Maybe it’s like some kind of magic tonic?” Reese narrowed his eyes. His skin had never felt cleaner, nor had he ever felt more awake. “You know, the fountain of youth?”

Darren sighed as he slapped Private Jones aside the head. “It ain’t no magic tonic Jones, smarten’up!” Darren mimicked Reese’s as he grumbled. “It’s clearly sum kinda science dodad!” Darren spoke with confidence.

“Actually, your friend has the jist of it. Its water mixed with a nutrient solution that human bodies metabolize quite easily. It repairs damage to individual cells, repairs damaged organs, tissue and bone matter, and restores lost brains cells and the like. It also does a fantastic job destroying harmful bactrea cultures. So actually…it’s a little bit of each if you like.” Captain Bass spoke with a mildly amused tone of voice as he approached the two humans from the front, slowly. “Anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal formula…and it does wonders for your health.” Captain Bass spoke clearly.

Darren was taken aback by the fluid English the giant of a man was speaking. After along and contemplative look, Darren Avery took a confident step forward.

“Folk back home’d pay a small fortune for something like that!” Darren narrowed a brow, testing the waters. “To what do we owe the honors then…if ya don’t mind me ask’n.”

“Standard affair. There are foreign Bactria cultures down there that could make us very sick. Along with eliminating the harmful, it also acts as a vaccination exposing you to a few of the harmful cultures that you might encounter while you are with us.” Captain Bass explained, calmly, slowly, with a confident voice.

Darren simply nodded, while Private Jones kept a wide distance between himself and the barrel chested giant. He had been frightened by the sight of Commander Lemm, Captain Bass was down right terrifying.

“S’ppose we should get the formalities out of the way eh?” Darren saluted, stiff backed, standing at attention. “Master Sergeant Darren Avery. United States Armed Forced.”

Captain Bass looked over to Lemm, who herself looked at a loss for what to do. Slowly Aertimus Bass saluted him in return, looking as professional and stoic as he could.

“Captain Aertimus Husstel Bass, Imperial fleet…commander and chief of the Gyjon.” Captain Bass spoke, feeling a little more than awkward at such formalities with a Human, but he kept his composure, as respectfully as he could. It wasn’t that he didn’t respect humans, but he had just never met one under such interesting circumstances before.

“Commander’n chief of this rig eh?” Darren spoke, standing at ease once Captain Bass returned his salute. “So were on some kinda space ship I take?”

“The Gyfjon, yes.” Aertimus gave a polite nod to conform Darren’s suspicions, before looking to Commander Lemm once more. “This is Commander Lemm Tam, my first officer.” Lemm for her part nodded her expression a far more reserved than Captain Bass.

“Ma’am.” Darren saluted, standing at ease once Lemm reluctantly returned the salute.

“The man behind me is my chief science officer Dayun Pir.” Captain Bass motioned to Dayun, who nodded formally. Dayun was a hoplite elite, the Pir were generally mathematicians, doctors and scientists.

“The lady who took care of you until now is Dacanus Derna Tae.” Captain Bass motioned to the dark skinned giantess to his side.

Derna waved eagerly and smiled adoringly.

“Sergeant Avery, I would like to take this conversation to a less…public location?” Captain Bass had to resist the urge to up and pick up the small human. It was in his nature to do so. But, he had some time to adjust in his interactions with Niall, so he was learning. Carefully he set his hand down on the table and motioned for Sergeant Avery to climb aboard.

“Heh, well at least ya got more manners than grabby-mc-happy over there.” Darren laughed and gave his head a bit of a shake as he motioned to Decanus Tae. As he stepped forward he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Sir! Is that really a good idea?” Private Jones looked onward, he was trembling and looked quite disheveled.

Before Darren could respond, Captain Bass spoke up, calmly. “No harm will come to you, or your commanding officer while in our charge mr….” The Captain hesitated as he looked to Reese.

“J…jones…R…reese J..Jones.” Reese stammered.

Darren gave his head a shake and scoffed lightly as he climbed aboard the waiting palm. “Ah’m just gonna let chew know now I wuz never a fan of this with the twat…so dun get used to it!”

***

Darren sat on the makeshift seat that Captain Aertimus Bass had provided for him. His head was in his hands and he was resting his elbows on his knees, hunched over forward.

There was a long, tense silence as Aertimus sat back in the large black chair behind his desk in his ready-room. Captain Bass looked tense, and somewhat anxious for the inevitable blow up that was to follow.

Aertimus was silent for some time, when he did open his mouth to speak, he was interrupted.

“Ah just don’t unner’stand one thing -captain- Bass.” There was calmness to Darren’s voice, but also a snarky sort of resistance.

“I’ll answer any question you have to the best of my ability.” Aertimus maintained an heir of calm and professionalism.

“Ah could see conquering…ah could even unner’stand genocide. Not like my people ain’t never wiped out a lesser species fer land and resources.” Darren chuffed.

“Sergeant we have no desire to….”

“But why the -hell- pull this?” Darren looked up to meet Captain Bass’ gaze. He was livid, but doing his best to remain in control. “Why bottle us up on our own world, seal us off from the galaxy?! Not’t mention slavery…the enslavement ‘n subjugation of human beings! Dang…just…dang!” Darren had to bite his lip to stop from running off at the mouth.

Captain Bass folded his hands together and rested his elbows on his desk. When he spoke, he did so with conviction. “Sergeant Avery, I understand this is a difficult pill to swallow…but please try to understand. There are those of us in the Empire who want nothing more than to secure the freedom of your people. Unfortunately we are the minority at present. While you’ve every reason to be upset, I encourage you not to judge us too harshly. Humans are treated well, and it is against our nature to bring harm to….”

“Hollow words Captain!” Darren scowled, standing quickly. Years dealing with Eyrn had given him confidence enough to speak frankly with Captain Bass, although the barrel chested man was far bigger and more intimidating than Eyrn.

“I imagine they would sound that way.” Aerti sighed. “The red zone exists to prevent further atrocities against your people. What happened so many years ago was a mistake, and it had very real, very lasting consequences. You’re species is unique in all the galaxy Sergeant Avery. We established the Terran protection act to protect humanity from the many threats….”

“But who’s gonna protect us from you?” Darren stood and began to pace back and forth. “Gat’danget! We spend all out dang lives looking u! We thought we were the gat’dang masters of our own universe. Kings’a’the hill! Jus’ta find out we’re nothing more’n mice in a cage!” Darren’s tone softened, he sounded regretful and disappointed.

“It’s not like that Sergeant….” Aerti began.

“The hell it ain’t! Tell me cap’n?! When we reach the stars, when we come knocken at yer door, what’er ya gonna tell us? ‘Welcome to the galaxy! It all belongs to us! Y’all belong to us; y’all’er our pets, surrender your ship and get in yer cage!”

Aertimus leaned back slightly and pressed his lips together. After what seemed like an eternity, he sighed with a bit of a shrug. “Darren, I got nothing.” He sent the human a solemn and questioning look as he set his hands down on his lap.

“I wish there was something I could tell you, I wish I had an answer. Hells, I wish I wasn’t so embarrassed by this that I could look you in the eye and give you even one good reason it all makes sense. But I can’t, I-got-nothing.” Aerti sighed.

“Heh….” Darren flopped down onto his seat, rubbing his temples. “Ah woke up this morning at the top’a the food chain…’en now’m way down at the bottom.” Darren looked up; reaching into his shirt pocket he pulled out a thin brown cigar, a zippo from his pant pocket, and bit off the end of the cigar. After lighting it he took a long smoke and exhaled slowly.

Aertimus grinned as he noticed the universal language Darren was speaking. A chuckle escaped his lips as he watched the small human smoke the brown object.

“We have something similar.” Aerti spoke up as he motioned to Darren’s cigar.

“Eh?” Darren peeked up, grumbling somewhat dismissive.

“There is a plant we grind up and smoke. There is a long story behind it, but they say it was a crop we took with us from Earth. You may know of it? Tobacco? I think it was called?”

Darren lit up a bit and chuckled, smoke escaping from his mouth as he did. “Shit, guess even intergalactic ogre’s love them a good smoke!” Darren grinned. “You smoke cap’n?” Darren peeked up at the towering man.

“Oh? Me? Naw. Never could stand the smell.” Aerti laughed.

“Ain’t just about the smell eh? The taste…the way it warms yer throat…and ah think they happen’t smell nice.” Darren shrugged as he took his cigar out of his mouth and examined it, before sticking it back in his mouth.

There was another silence, this one felt a little less tense.

“I want you to tell me as much as you can about Eyrn.” Captain Bass broke the silence with a solemn tone.

“I figured she was yer reason for coming. Kinda struck me odd it took ya’ll so long t’ come for ‘er.” Darren chuffed.

“We don’t drop by very often Sergeant Avery. Frankly her presence on Earth is a mystery to me. I was hoping you’d be able to shed some light on that actually.” Captain Bass leaned in forward slightly.

“Not much to tell, classified information most of it, but not much use in keeping it secret from you.” Darren spoke, realizing the foolishness of his words.

“Anything you know would be helpful.”

“Well, far as I know she was found as a young’en shut up in some big pod.” Darren was quickly interrupted.

“A cryo-pod…why would there be a child…that doesn’t make sense….” Aerti mused to himself, furrowing his brow.

“‘ho’s tellen this story eh?” Darren grumbled.

“My apologies.” Bass chuckled as he set his hands together neatly on the table, listening to Darren intently.

***

“You were a bit hard on Aertimus, don’t you think?” Pryvani sipped the amber liquid in her glass and leaned back in her chair. Her eyes never left Sergeant Avery.

“Bit…but he gave me a hard pill’t swallow ya gotta admit.” Darren met Pryvani’s gaze with gusto, attempting to stare the goddess sized woman down. He crossed his arms.

“He eased it down…many would have attempted to force it down…you had it easy Sergeant.” Pryvani’s lips curled upward into a grin, but her tone was serious.

“S’ppose its why ‘e got assigned to the Geffeljeffer…”

Pryvani was silent, but her eyes were telling.

“Jus’ what’er you saying?” Darren narrowed his eyes.

“Darren, sometimes it pays to have the right people, in the right place, at the right time.” Pryvani spoke softly.

“Are yew tellen me yer the reason Aerti Bass got the Gefflejeffer!?” Darren laughed. “‘e may have a thing’er two’t say ’bout that!” Darren slapped his knee.

“Aertimus Bass has himself to thank for any achievement he has earned. I’ve no part in that.” Pryvani crossed her legs elegantly. “But sometimes Darren Avery…it pays to have the right person, in the right place, at the right time.” She grinned. “And I like to make sure those people end up there…as often as I can…”

Darren looked back at her, blankly.

Pryvani sighed. “Let’s just say, I saw the benefit of having a man like Aerti Bass in charge of overseeing the Redzone…and I was willing to grease a few palms to make it happen.” Pryvani spoke, scarcely above a whisper. She sent Darren a ‘look’.

Darren narrowed his eyes and leaned forward. He was trying to stare her down, read her expression. Pryvani took another drink and sat back, gladly meeting his gaze.

“Gat’dayum…yer a clever one eh!” Darren laughed, sitting back in his small chair.

Pryvani simply nodded, her smile just a bit cocky. Well…she didn’t always have to be modest…

“Mmmm.” Pryvani set her glass down and set her hand down on the table palm up. “I’m warm…would you mind if we took our conversation outside? Perhaps walk along the waterfront?” Pryvani smiled politely as she motioned to Darren and then to her palm.

Darren stood, gave himself a bit of a stretch and hopped gingerly onto her palm, sitting near the center. Her long lavish fingernails made him nervous, but he didn’t let on…much.

“Sick of the view here eh?” Darren attempted to steady himself as Pryvani lifted her hand to her shoulder, and docked it there for him to step off.

Darren did so with ease. Masked by cascading green hair, he held on to the strap of her dress for support.

“Mhmmm” Pryvani hummed casually as she thumbed over the payment tab.

“Don’t forget ta tip yer server.” Darren noted.

“Tip?” Pryvani asked, peeking over to her small passenger.

“Mmhmmm…a small extra bit of cash fer their hard work. Ya know…gratuity?”

“Hmmm…we don’t normally do that…but I suppose it wouldn’t hurt. Even after how she treated you? You want to leave her extra?” Pryvani asked with a coy smile.

“Ain’t her fault…just how she wuz raised. Can’t fault her fer that. She’s a good kid…” Darren smiled.

“…as you wish then.” Pryvani swiped a number into the pad and set it on the table, making her way for the door, the long elegant train of her gown dragging behind her. “Got a good grip?” She whispered to Darren.

Darren grumbled as he held on tight, he disliked this part. “Why ya’ll gotta be s’damn tall is beyond me…’

***

Ntyalone began to clear the plates off the table which had just been occupied by none other than Pryvani Tarsus, a bored and tried look on her face. Automatically she reached for the payment pad, nearly looking over the absurd number that had been left. The young server nearly collapses as her knees went weak.

“Sweet Gokma and Kippers…the hells!” Ntalaone rubbed her eyes once, then twice, then a third time as she dared look over the pad once more.

She reached for a chair and pulled it out, nearly collapsing into the chair.

“Sitting down on the job?” Kunnu peeked his head around the corner, grinning at her, the shocked look on her face sparked his curiosity. “What gives?”

“Miss Tarsus….” She whispered.

“Forget to pay her tab?” Kunnu narrowed his eyes.

“On the contrary…she paid it…and then left me 800 credits.” Ntyalone blinked a few times. “That’s nearly a week’s wages.”

“Emperors teet…imagine if you’d of been nice!” Kunnu grinned as he disappeared behind the corner.

***

Pryvani walked slowly along the iron guard rail of the board walk that lined the side of the sparkling blue water Falls. The waterfall was a spectacular sight to behold, for Titan or human. The walk way was damn with the gentle mist that showered them in the waterfalls wake. It was not nearly enough to soak a person, but it was noticeable. Pryvani smiled.

“This is one of my favorite places to come Darren, I love Blue Water Falls.” The heiress’s tone was relaxed and gentle, far more than normal even.

“It’s lovely.” Darren buried himself into the green flowing hair. Not that he was trying to be affectionate, but what to Pryvani was a gentle misting of water, was nearly a shower for Darren. He was not nearly as taken by it as Pryvani. “Just a lil wet’s all.” Darren attempted to sound pleasant.

“So, where did we leave off?” Pryvani adored feeling the abrasive little human’s softer side, even if it was forced. She had known OF him for a while, but this was their first face to face. Everything Iron Maiden had told her about him was true. He was in fact just as interesting as she had hoped. At the very least he had managed to peek her interest, even if his story was only just beginning.

“Well if ya quit interrupted me maybe ah could get this dang story told?” Darren grumbled, shifting about to find a spot on her shoulder where the misty shower couldn’t reach him.

“I believe you were just about to explain how Miss Eyrn came to find herself in your possession?” Pryvani offered, hiding her amusement.

“Right…’n no more dang interruptions!”