(Sorry for the drought folks, there are a few stories from DX and JS being worked on, as well as this with a few more chapters to go. There will continue to be stories, as long as we continue to get interesting ideas! Thanks for reading, and for checking back from time to time! Speical Thanks to DX for the edit)

Ourania stepped into the command tent with iron resolve. She had decided ahead of time that the best strategy was to remain silent, deny everything, and resign her post with her pride intact. She was the daughter of Pande Morth, and her honorable blood ran back generations. Theirs was one of the purest and oldest bloodlines in Atlantis. She had not signed up to join the army just to play glorified games of capture the flag with titans. 

“You asked to speak with me, Epistratichos?” Ourania said, as she entered the tent’s inner chamber. 

“Hypostratichos, actually.” Rixie Tam, or rather a holographic rendition of Hypostratichos Rixie Tam, sat where Epistratichos Darren Xanthopulus was supposed to have been. 

Ourania’s expression was one of shock, for a second anyhow. It didn’t take the young recruit long to compose herself, stiffen her lip, and shift her posture. “Hypostratichos.”

Rixie eyed over a thin file folder, open on the desk before her. She silently thumbed through a few papers, before sitting back in her chair, resting her hands behind her head. “Barti-Beckchi Ourania Morth.” Rixie’s smile was thin, but confident. 

“How can I help you, Hypostratichos?” Ourania said, and sighed. 

“I’m going to be honest, recruit, I really don’t like being shot.” Rixie closed the unremarkable folder, leaned forward, and crossed her arms onto the table. “In fact, it’s at least in the top three, on my list of things I really dislike.” Rixie took a long deep breath. “So, I’d like to know, recruit, why did you harpoon me in the leg?”

Ourania looked down at the desk, she laughed, a small, cynical puff of a laugh, then shook her head. “Shouldn’t the Epistratichos….”

“I asked you a question, recruit!” Rixie said, in a tone she’d been honing since she’d become a Tam. 

Ourania felt a metallic taste in her mouth. All Titans were intimidating when full-sized, but even scaled down, this was a ferocious, beast of a woman, who commanded such respect with her presence alone, Ourania was finding her resolve challenged. 

“It was…an accident…I was only attempting to….”

Rixie’s tone dipped back down to a calm, controlled level, too calm perhaps. “Recruit, do you know what sits, just under being shot, on my list of things I really don’t like?” Tam asked, her eyes on the folder, idly running a long finger along its edge. 

“I haven’t a clue, ma’am.” Ourania replied. 

“Liars.” Rixie hissed. 

Ourania swallowed. “I…”

“Let me level with you, Barti-Beckchi Morth.” Rixie stood, and casually rounded the table. “I am not here, talking to you, as Hypostratichos Rixie Tam, as Magister-Imperator Tam, or even as head of security for Lady Tarsuss.” Rixie stopped just shy of the shorter, human woman, and leaned against the desk on one hand. “I am here as Rixie, plain old ordinary, pissed off, doesn’t like being shot, hates being lied to, Rixie. And I just want to know one gorram thing, and I want you to be honest. Why did you shoot me?”

“Look, if you’re trying to threaten me….”

“Threaten you?” Rixie laughed, then looked around, examined herself in disbelief, then looked back to Ourania. “You think this is me threatening you?” Rixie adjusted her posture and laughed. “Please, you don’t even know what threatening is.”

Ourania clenched her fists. Despite the woman’s obvious size advantage, her anger had swelled enough, and the recruit couldn’t take another word. “Actually, I do! Your people have been using intimidation to oppress us for generations! Dressing up and claiming to be gods, commanding us, ordering us around! If that’s not threatening, what is?” Ourania stood as tall as she could, the rage, the hurt, the anger was causing her to shake. 

Rixie did not show any evidence of a reaction, but then, Rixie had a lot of training in not reacting.

“You want to know why I shot you?” Ourania spat. “Because I could. For once in my life, I could. I wasn’t a subject, I wasn’t weak, we beat you, and it felt amazing. I shot you, for every Atlantaean who honestly believed your people were gods! Who devoted themselves to a religion, their entire lives, for nothing! Who really, honestly, truthfully believed if they prayed to you, worked hard, and followed the gods damn tenets, that they would be rewarded with eternal peace after death! Who still frakking believe it, even today! I shot you because I wanted to see you bleed!” Ourania hissed, and slammed her fist on the table. 

Rixie was silent. She watched the anger drain from the recruit’s face, replaced by a look of complete satisfaction. And the confidence Rixie herself had when Ourania had walked in the room, was not a fair bit weaker. 

“Now, plain ordinary Rixie.” Ourania said, with forced civility. “Is there anything else you’ll be needing from me?”

Rixie looked Ourania over, and shook her head. “No. You are dismissed.”

Ourania’s lips tightened, she nodded just enough to offer the Hypostratichos the smallest bit of acknowledgement, and turned quickly on her heel to leave. 

“Now just a Goddamn minute.” 

Both women looked up in unison to find Epistratichos Xanthopolous standing at the tent door. 

“Belay that order, recruit. Hypostratichos Tam may be done with you, but I am not,” Darren said, his eyes cutting lasers through the angry recruit. 

“Darren, it’s alright….”

“No Rixie, it’s not.” Darren stepped into the tent, with long determined strides, until he was standing in front of Ourania, nose to nose, as if he were back at Groom Lake. 

“I don’t know where you come from, or who your daddy is. I don’t care what prayer of yours to the goddess didn’t get answered, and I don’t care to hear your sob story either. When you put that uniform on, Barti-Beckchi Morth, all of that crap, and all your personal baggage stays at home!” Darren bellowed, in a tone he hadn’t used in years. 

“Really? Those…those…those monsters still don’t even think we’re people!”

“Mind your bearing, recruit!”

“No! Atlantis, Avalon, all of this only exists as the personal play thing of some spoiled rich brat! Whose family has had us under their thumb for generations. You think we’re free? You think any of this means anything? As soon as the one who sits on the mountain is gone, her heir will come and we’ll be back to temples and goddesses, we’ll be slaves, just like everyone else out there!” Ourania said.

Darren stayed nose-to-nose with the furious recruit. His voice lowered, though still simmering his anger for later use. “I’m gonna ignore that you are way the hell out of line, recruit, and tell you something. You’re half-right, you know. I mean, you’re full of shit about Pryvani Tarsuss, but you have a point. Our freedom teeters on a thin line, but that ‘spoiled rich brat’ and a handful of other ‘monsters’ are a few of the only ones keeping that line taut. Including the woman you shot today.” Darren looked back to Rixie, who to his surprise, seemed to be reflecting on the rant Ourania had spilt all over her lap.

“People like Pryvani, Rixie, and the rest up there on Tayas Mons are fighting a battle, longer and harder than you’ll ever know, kid. You think you’re making some kind of…of stand here, making an example of Rixie? All you’re doing is spiting in the face of one of the few titans in the universe who has dedicated her life to making sure we don’t have to live in cages. She doesn’t have to. And if she wasn’t the officer and person I know her to be, your little stunt might have lost us one of the allies we need if we’re ever gonna be more than pets. You didn’t strike a blow for humans, recruit. You could have destroyed what little freedom we have.”

Ourania was quiet, she looked shaken, but not wholly convinced. It would take more than one passionate speech to erase generations of hate and bitterness. But she was, for the time being, speechless, which was a start. 

“I hope you remember that, Ms. Morth. I hope you do, but you’ll be doing it somewhere else. Barti-Beckchi Morth, you are hereby dishonorably discharged. Palemst Jorenton!”

Darren’s senior non-com entered the room, and saluted. “Sir!”

“Palemst, take an MP and escort this woman to her tent. Ms. Morth, you will pack your bags, you will hand in your tags, and get the gat’damn hell out of my camp! Dismissed!”

The young woman stood fast, with not so much as a flinch. 

“Now get out of my tent!” Darren turned. 

Ourania followed Jorenton a few steps, but paused at the door. 

“You know. There’s nothing stopping her from owning you.” Ourania said, in a harsh whisper. “You could be her pet, and there isn’t a thing you could do. Because she’s a person, and we are not. This is their game Epistratichos, they’re just letting us play for a while.” Ourania said, and then left the tent. 

Darren and Rixie stood, silent. 

Until Rixie at last broke the silence. 

“You’d make a lousy pet, honestly.” Rixie shrugged. 

“Get in line, I’m already property of Lysis Xanthopolous.”

Rixie laughed. “And Aisell Maris, remember.”

“Yea, well Aisell ain’t got nothing on an angry Lysis, who’s likely going to tear me a new one when we get back.” Darren was flustered, but so was Rixie. “She was wrong about you Trix…had no business saying what she did….”

Rixie shook her head. “I’m fine Darren, but thanks. Sticks and stones…right?” Rixie smiled, and shoved Darren with a forced smile. 

“I’m just saying…you’re one of the good ones. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise, and don’t you forget it.” Darren grumbled, as he headed out of the tent. “Now turn that thing off, I need you to be you for a bit…you know…big you.”

“I know…really…I’m okay.” Rixie laughed, “Alright, see you outside.” Rixie said, and the hologram vanished. 

***

Kymie stood, watching her feet, as the Lysis and a contingent of soldiers talked over what was to become of her, on the city wall. Lysis had sternly asked Kymie not to move, and being the dutiful titan she was, Kymie didn’t even dream of disobeying. It hadn’t even occurred to her that she could, in fact leave, and that there was really little the Avalonaean guard could do to stop her. 

But, Kymie already felt guilty for causing a fuss, and when the words “under arrest” were used, her eyes welled up with tears. She had never been arrested before! What would her parents think, what would her friends think?

Kymie grimaced, a sick feeling ate away at the lining of her stomach. What would Dr. Freeman think?!

Kymie was in full blown panic now. She didn’t want to lose her job! She enjoyed working for Niall! She almost felt like she and Naskia were starting to become friends, everyone treated her so nicely, they even seemed to care about what she had to say, how she felt. She felt like more than just an employee, she felt like a friend!

Kymie’s breathing sped up, her cheeks went pale, and her palms were sweaty. There was a hard lump in her throat that she repeatedly tried to force down, and her mouth was dry and arid. All she had wanted to do was help Dhan, he had trusted her, and she had let him down. He had never been out on his own before, and she abandoned him, he had never dealt with so many people all at once, and it was all her fault!

At least so she tormented herself into believing. 

“Kymie.” Lysis said, loudly, shaking the titan from her trance. 

“Y…yes?” Kymie replied, in a frayed tone. 

“It occurs to us, that we don’t exactly have a method of detaining you. However, circumstances being as they are, it would be irresponsible of me to allow you to simply wander off. There are several smaller settlements from here to Tayas Mons, should you get lost, and stumble upon one of these, or a farm…well…you can see how that wouldn’t exactly help to settle the chaos you’ve already inadvertently caused, right?” Lysis spoke calmly. 

“Right. I mean, I don’t…okay.” Kymie squeaked. 

“So, I’m placing you under arrest, until such time as an employee of Tayas Mons can safely escort you back to the Tarsus compound, where you will no longer be under Avalonaean jurisdiction, and will be the responsibility of Pryvani Tarsus. Do you understand?” Lysis said, sorted and quick. 

Kymie nodded, though her eyes were quickly welling up with tears.

“As we have no facilities large enough, we will ask that you follow a contingent of Guardsmen to a designated safe area, to await pick up. Your cooperation….” Lysis swallowed, the reality of her situation not at all lost on her, “would be greatly appreciated. It will help restore order and civil peace to the city.” Lysis composed herself. “As we don’t have cuffs your size…I would ask you to please put your hands behind your back, and keep them there…until otherwise told so.”

Kymie nodded, and did as she was asked. Though as Lysis went on, running through some sort of pre written speech, the panic took its toll, and Kymie Abaforad burst into tears.

***

“So,” Alex said, as he sat in Eyrn Fitzgerald’s cupped palm while she made her way across Valhala Station’s promenade. “What’s it like?”

“What’s what like?” Eyrn replied, with a bemused smile. 

“Traveling the universe, an intrepid adventurer, with nowhere to be, nobody to answer to…unlimited freedom. What’s it like?”

Eyrn shrugged and shook her head. “Weren’t you listening before? I’m hardly free to do as I like. I’m being paid to write a book, I just managed to sneak away and do a little bit of sightseeing in the process.” Eyrn kept a brisk pace, taking care to keep her passenger close to her center of gravity. 

“Besides,” She went on, “it’s not like you’re just driving to Wally World. There are so many rules and regulations you have to follow – no fly zones, cultural customs to familiarize yourself with, you practically have to read a novel on every star system you visit, not to mention keeping track of check-in stations, and making sure you have the right permit to be where it is you want to be. The titans are nothing if not meticulously careful.” Eyrn rolled her eyes. 

Alex chuckled “The titans? Present company not included?” Alex asked, with interest. 

“I’m not a titan, I’m an American. We’re not known for our cultural sensitivity, right?” Eyrn winked. 

“Hey, I’m still trying to digest that. I mean, you grew up on earth. You were the Roswell alien, the Alien at Area 51…you were the little green men.” Alex shook his head. 

“Yup. And now you’re married to one!” Eyrn teased. 

“I am not…I mean we are not. Married, that is. I mean….”

“Right.” Eyrn rolled her eyes. “Here she is!” The titan came to a stop, and lifted her cupped palm to chest level, spreading her fingers out so Alex could see past them. “She’s not much, but she’s all mine.” Eyrn motioned to the small, well-aged Oprone Two civilian shuttle. 

Alex stood, and held on to Eyrn’s thumb for balance. Even at such a grand scale, Eyrn’s hand seems so much smaller than his Rixie’s. It was almost like standing on Thyllia’s hand – she wasn’t much bigger. “Kind of small, eh?” Alex tilted his head, and examined the shuttle.

Eyrn shrugged, “I don’t take up a lot of room.”

Alex laughed. “Fair enough.” Alex eyed the titan grinning down at him, then looked back to the modest shuttle. “And that’s where you’ve been living?”

“For the most part.” Eyrn nodded. “I spent some time on the Gyfjon, but otherwise, she’s home!”

“So, what’s her name?” Alex asked. 

Eyrn blushed and looked away. “You’re not allowed to laugh.”

“I make no promises.” Alex answered plainly. “You didn’t name it the Enterprise, did you?”

Eyrn shook her head. “No, of course I didn’t.” Eyrn answered indignant. 

“The Millennium Falcon?” Was Alex’s next guess. 

Eyrn raised a brow and smirked. “No, I didn’t name it the Millennium Falcon.”

“Alright, I give…what did you name your ship?” 

“Well…meet the SS Raven…” Eyrn winced. 

“The Raven…why does that sound familiar…where is that from?” Alex racked his brain and furrowed his brow. 

“It’s named after the Hansens’ ship…from Star Trek Voyager.” Eyrn proclaimed. 

“Ah, that’d be it. I never cared for Voyager. Terrible writing.” Alex shrugged. 

“It wasn’t that bad.” Eyrn insisted. “I always liked it, because of the exploration.”

“So you named your ship after a doomed vessel that gets assimilated by space robot zombies?” Alex questioned. 

Eyrn huffed. “And what did you name your ship?”

Alex huffed, “All right, fair enough.” As his titan escort drew closer to the humble ship, he had to admit, to him it seemed absolutely massive close up. 

The ship’s hangar opened, like a whooping crane about to take in a fish, Eyrn gingerly hopped onto the platform and stepped in, and the hangar closed behind them. 

“So, how long are you going to be on Avalon?” Alex asked, as Eyrn approched the cockpit and threw herself into the pilot’s chair. 

“As long as I need to be. Darren said he and Lysis had some big news, I’m hoping it’s what I think it is! I love being an aunt, the more the merrier.” Eyrn’s lips curled up and her her eyes softened. 

“You’re going to stick around until the baby’s born?” Alex asked, surprised. 

Eyrn nearly threw herself at Alex, two huge hands landing on either side of him, her face quickly descending on him, “Are you saying it’s true!?” she shouted, about as excited as the tiny titan could be. 

Alex’s calm demeanor broke for a second, and he nearly fell over. He soon composed himself, and nodded. “Well that’s just what I’ve heard through the grapevine anyhow…don’t take my word for it.” Alex tried to act as if his heart wasn’t about to leap out of his chest. After all, he lived with Rixie, he was used to being surprised. 

“I can’t believe it!” Eyrn spun in her chair and slid back a little, letting out a giddy cheer. “Alex, this is so cool! Darren’s gonna be a daddy!”

Alex covered his ears, “He already is, or did you forget about George?”

Eyrn shook her head. “No! I didn’t forget. But another one, and this one could be a girl!”

Alex signed and shook his head. “Women and babies, I’ll never understand.”

“Yes you will.” Eyrn winked. “You and Rixie will have one of your own someday, and when you do, you’ll know.”

“That’s never been done, we don’t even know that it can. Besides, who said Rixie and I…anyhow what about you? Enough about my love life.”

Eyrn shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Naw, not me. I can’t see myself settling down, barefoot and pregnant. I mean, could you imagine me, with kids?” Eyrn scrunched her lips, then shook her head once more for good measure. “Anyhow, I’d have to meet someone first.”

Alex was in the process of running the ship through start up protocol, much to Eyrn’s surprise, when he turned back and asked, “You haven’t met anyone yet?”

Eyrn’s face soured. “No,” she said, just a little too quickly.

Alex was ready to leave well-enough alone as the tiny ship began to come to life, when Eyrn began to rant. 

“I mean, he would have to look up from his damn data pad and look at me first. Never mind kids, the man’s so absorbed in that damn ship of his, I bet he’d rather make love to it than an actual person!” Eyrn grumbled, and stretched her arm up to activate the navigation panel. 

“He’s a very specific nobody, isn’t he?” Alex qurked a brow. 

Eyrn ran her fingers busily along the navigation panel, before stopping and turning to Alex in a huff. “I mean…I’m attractive…right? I’ve never had anyone else to compare myself to. I was always the only one of me…I was what I was…but now….”

“Well, I…uh….” Alex fumbled. 

“I may be small and boyish, but I’m awesome in other ways!” Eyrn rebounded, her voice sure and determined. 

“Wait…I didn’t say….”

“You know, I’m really smart too, I learn really fast, much faster than most. Because I learn like a human, and humans are fast learners!” Eyrn proclaimed. 

“I…well….”

“Aertimus Bass is a damn fool if he’s too blind to notice me! You’re right Alex, thanks for the chat,” Eyrn smiled sweetly, and patted Alex gently on the back, before standing and moving across the small ship to a side panel. 

Alex shrugged, “Heh, no sweat…it’s what I’m good at…apparently.”