“Eugh….” Naskia groaned as she sat at the table in the lecture hall. It was jam packed and the committee were making their way in. She had spent the few hours she had left after spending a long time vomiting into the sink making herself look perfect. To look at her you wouldn’t think she had spent most of the previous evening drinking whiskey and being seduced by a female friend but inside she was a mess. Her head was pounding and she was getting random cold sweats breaking out. She wasn’t sure if the queasiness she was feeling was down to nerves or needing to vomit again; all she wanted to do was go back to bed. Niall was just grinning up at her, gloating about his hangover free state. “I’ll make him suffer for this…” Naskia thought to herself.

Loona rushed into the lecture hall and sat herself down with only a minute or two to spare. “Sorry…I had a quick nap when I got home. Nearly slept in.”

Naskia looked her up and down, she had changed into a smart outfit and had brushed her hair to appear presentable she did not look her usual pristine self. The most notable difference was the large pair of sunglasses she was wearing, despite being in a dully lit room, in an attempt to block out as much light as possible to spare her aching head.

“Glad you could make it.” Niall grinned up at Loona.

The desperately hung over Titaness took off her sunglasses and glared at him. “Please Nas…can I be the one to kill him?”

Naskia didn’t laugh, she just joined Loona in glaring down at the grinning Human. “I’ve put up with far more from him for way longer, so I should be the one to do it He’s getting eaten, he’d hate that the most.”

“Ladies, ladies, you can both kill me together ok? What better way to start your new life together as lovers?” Niall said raising his hands in surrender and grinning.

“What?!” Naskia shrieked in a high pitch. “We’re not lovers! We’re just good friends who had a little too much to drink and got carried away…”

Naskia was clearly uncomfortable; she spoke quickly without making eye contact with Niall or her partner in crime. She didn’t know if she was more uncomfortable because of Niall’s teasing or because she actually enjoyed it.

“Suuuuuuuuure.” Niall grinned. He was about to continue his teasing when Professor Kurathen called the hearing to order.

“After much deliberation and discussion we have come to a decision on this rather…unique issue. Miss Prenn has raised valid point; what happens here could well effect how people see Humans and could potentially change some master/pet relationships, and not necessarily for the better. She has also pointed out that the Human species’ attributes as a whole also has an impact on this outcome.”

Professor Kurathen paused for a second before turning to Loona’s arguments. “Miss Armac did much to counter Miss Prenn’s arguments. She successfully demonstrated that Humans are not as primitive as we believe and that they are both technologically and culturally developed. The Human in question has proven himself to be more than worthy of being a member of the teaching faculty at this institution.”

Naskia grinned wildly at Niall ignoring her headache. Niall fist pumped ready to dive into Naskia’s hand the second his employment was approved. Loona remained unmoved.

“Just wait for the but…” Loona said.

“However…” The Professor said as if on cue “Miss Armac was unable to remove the main impediment to Dr Freeman’s employment. The Tannhauser Gate University Charter specifically states that only Imperial Citizens may teach or study at the University, therefore we are unable to decide in favour of Dr Freeman.”

Lyroo didn’t grin like Naskia did but a sly smile crept across her mouth, happy that she had kept the status quo and that Humans would remain under Titan protection for the foreseeable future.

Professor Kurathen cleared his throat ready to speak one last time. “It is the judgement of this committee that we cannot make this decision. As it pertains to the charter, only the student body can make this decision and therefore will be go to a referendum. Voting will open at the end of this hearing and any student wishing to vote must do so before midnight tonight. The results will be published on the University’s announcement page this time tomorrow. We are adjourned.”

“What in the name of fuck was that?!” Niall fumed. He’d waited long enough. 3 days by his count had passed since the committee adjourned to make their decision. “What a goddamn copout! “He shouted.

“I did not see that coming…” Naskia muttered stroking Niall’s back, she hated waiting, it must be like torture for him. She looked over to Loona to see her smiling quite contentedly. “What are you smiling about?”

“We just won…that’s what.” Loona grinned.

“How’d we win?! It’s going to a vote…it could go any way!” Naskia said shaking her arms in frustration.

Loona sighed with a hint of Niall like patronisation. “I knew the committee couldn’t over turn the charter, the best I could do was force a student vote. Did you think you and Niall playing a gig at an employment hearing was for the benefit of the committee?” Loona stopped and put her sunglasses back on, the effort of thinking was causing her brain to ache more. “They had to see you! Both of you, two people just like them, young and in love, just like they are or just how they want to be. You two did that magnificently. Check the statistics, High and Dry has been downloaded from your blog three times more than any other item. You two made an impact and that’s why we will win. Now if you’d both excuse me, I’m going to go throw up again and go to bed….”

Niall and Naskia watch Loona walk shakily out of the lecture hall, pushing her way through the crowd, some of whom clearly wanted a reaction comment from her for local news sites.

“Do you think she’s right?” Niall asked mulling over what Loona had said.

Naskia shrugged. “I hope so…I mean she’s gotten us this far. If it was just me and you I think I’d be locked up for cruelty and you’d be going through Lyroo’s ‘human rehab program’.”

Niall just chuckled. “A fair point…the lass has done well.”

Naskia watched the crowd filter out, some hanging around with pads, they would probably want a comment from her or Niall. She was definitely in no mood to talk to anyone and she didn’t want to risk leaving Niall exposed while she felt so sick.

“Shall we sneak out the back and go home for a nap?” Naskia asked.

“Aww…do I not get to speak to my adoring public?” Niall joked.

“No!” Naskia snapped back with a tone that signalled she was half joking half serious. “Your adoring girlfriend is poorly because someone fed her whiskey! Someone said I have to because he’s Irish and it’s tradition, whatever that means.”

Niall chuckled at the sight of his girlfriend’s beautiful blue eyes widening as she talked, they had the trademark red veins of someone who was clearly nursing a hangover. “Fine we can go! But I’m nowhere near tired, you can sleep by yourself.”

“Awww but I want you to cuddle with me…what if I wear you out?” Naskia said suggestively lowering herself to the table top.

“And just how do you propose to do that?”

Naskia grinned and lowered a hand down on top of him from behind and plucked him up before he realised what was happening, she sat back up and held him in front of her face.

“Well the ride home should help tire you out.” She grinned.

“Nas don’t you d….!” Niall said before he was cut off as Naskia released him.

She watched her little boyfriend fall from in front of her nose straight down and landing with what felt to her like no impact at all, just above her cleavage. She felt his little hands pawing at her smooth skin as he slid down between her breasts, each many times the size of him. She felt him get caught between them and giggled as she saw his head and upper chest struggling against the grip of her bosom. She shook her chest from side to side and Niall soon vanished between them, trapped in a cave of flesh, sweat and warm air.

“That’s why you don’t give your giant girlfriend a hangover, you silly little man.” Naskia muttered as she snuck out the back door.

“C’mon Loona! Wake up!” Nonah said pulling at Loona’s fringe.

She ducked as she saw a hand swipe at her as Loona’s unconscious body reacted to the intruder.

“No! Bad Loona! No hitting!” Nonah shouted giving Loona’s cheek a kick, the irony completely lost on her. She then scrambled up the side of Loona’s face to her ear and stuck her head in as far as it would go.

“Waaaaaaaaaaake up!!!” Nonah shouted.

With her face buried in Loona’s ear Nonah didn’t see the hand appear above her and pluck her from the ear she was clinging to. She was quickly whisked round in front of Loona’s bleary, bloodshot eyes.

“Nonah…I’m trying to sleep.” The grumpy Titaness groaned. She still had a thumping headache, not as bad as earlier but still enough to make her want to escape into unconsciousness.

“You haven’t given me anything to eat in over a full Earth day! I’m starving…just make me something nice and then you can go back to sleep.” Nonah sulked.

Loona sighed and sat up. She thought back to the good old days when Nonah would be locked away in her tank and unable to bother her at all. “Fine…fine…I’m up!”

The sleepy Titaness hauled herself out of bed and gently clasped Nonah in her hand and she pulled on a thin yet surprisingly warm robe, her old student apartment didn’t hold the heat very well in this cold climate, just like the rest at the University. The newer universities didn’t have anywhere near as much prestige as Tannhauser but at least they would have modern dorms with big rooms, modern appliances and windows that didn’t vent heat.

“Ok…what do you want?” Loona said setting Nonah down on a kitchen counter in a kitchenette that looked remarkably similar to Naskia’s.

“Hmmmm….fried crussets?” Nonah said with a cheerful tone, happy to be getting fed finally.

“Ok crussets it is.” Loona reached for a frying pan and activated the heating unit on the worktop and waited for it to warm up. In a modern university it would have instantly been hot, or even better; it would have a food processing unit.

Nonah looked on hungrily as Loona cooked the thick meaty sticks, the smell that wafted over to her set her stomach juices churning immediately. She could feel the saliva starting to run out of the inside of her cheeks. “Try not to burn them on the outside while keeping them raw on the inside.” She added cheekily.

Loona stopped cooking and turned around with her arms folded across her chest, spatula in hand. She shot Nonah a look like thunder, she not in the mood to be criticised.

“Ok…I’ll shut up…” Nonah smiled.

Loona continued to move the crussets around the pan turning them every minute or so while Nonah watched on, edging ever closer to the spitting pan.

“Look! They’re going black!” Nonah yelled with a hint of annoyance in her voice.

Loona turned to her and held the spatula down beside Nonah, the handle was almost twice the little girl’s height. “Tell you what, if you think you can cook them any better, then you do it! I’m starving and hungover, it’s only fair you do your fair share since you’re my equal.” Loona spoke with some venom present in her words.

Nonah looked up at her former master suddenly feeling a bit more pet like again. Loona never talked to her like that, not even when she was a pet. There clearly were some draw backs to being a social equal of a Titan but still relying on them for everything. Nonah took a step back and looked down at her feet deciding it would be best to hold her tongue than push Loona any further. If she felt anything like Nonah had when she was hungover then she needed a break.

Loona finished the crussets and served them up on a plate on to the kitchen counter. She put one aside for Nonah and kept a few for herself. Nonah tried to cut into the skin of one of the crussets but the thick, burnt crust just deflected her knife. Loona sighed as she watched Nonah struggling, not willing to ask Loona for anything else or comment on her cooking.

“Here…let me…” she said pinning the crusset with her fork and then cutting it in half, Nonah would only eat some of the insides anyway. Loona then cut into her own crussets and took a bite.

“Eugh!” she said spitting out the half chewed contents on to the plate. Nonah stared at the masticated clump of meat, her eyes wide, the pile easily weighed as much as she did.

“It was raw on the inside…I don’t think they’re edible…” Loona groaned, she was desperate for something to line her stomach.

“Naskia can cook!” Nonah chimed in.

Loona slammed her fist down on the surface beside the plate angrily, the knife and fork on the plate rattled and Nonah was thrown from her feet. Anger flashed across her face, her controlled façade was nowhere to be seen as her head ache and empty stomach got the better of her. “Yes I know! Naskia is wonderful! But you’re stuck with me aren’t you?! Now stop being such a brat before I lock you back in your tank ok?”

“Stop being such a grump!” Nonah snapped back reminding herself Niall didn’t win Naskia’s respect by being a wuss. “I didn’t say Naskia was better than you! I said she could cook! Why don’t you just get her to make us food? She owes you for all the stuff you’ve done!”

“Ok…that’s pretty clever. Sorry…I didn’t mean to snap…I just don’t feel well.” Loona buried her face on her upturned hands. “I really can’t cook can I?”

“No you can’t…but then again neither can I.” Nonah giggled. “Now hurry up and get ready! I’m so hungry I could eat you!”

“Well that’s midnight…” Loona said sitting on the sofa beside Naskia. Both girls had their feet up on the table and were half watching the wall screen.

Naskia stroked Niall softly, he was curled up asleep on his favourite spot on her stomach, Nonah was lying asleep under a blanket on the arm of the chair beside Loona. Naskia had fed them up when they arrived, begging for food like two starving orphans.

“Only another 29 hours to go…” Naskia muttered back.

She idly flicked through the channels hoping to find something to keep her interested until she felt tired enough to sleep. A combination of nerves about the results and post hangover energy was keeping her awake.

“Oh! Stop there!” Loona shouted as Naskia flicked. “No go back a few!”

Naskia skipped back a few channels, there didn’t look to be anything interesting on. “What am I looking for exactly?”

“The Tol-bot match!” Loona said dropping her feet to floor and leaning forward with excitement. “It looked like the Iron Maiden was playing.

Naskia stopped when she saw an ominous figure clad in a glowing black dress, it appeared to look like advanced combat armour of some sort that had been tailored into something far more imposing and feminine. Not an inch of skin could be seen, completely hiding the identity of the woman within, Tol-bot players were very secretive about their true identities.

“Oh I love the Iron Maiden! She’s the best, no one can beat her! Her strategies are beyond flawless.” Loona said hopping slightly in her seat with excitement.

Naskia sighed and picked up her pad deciding reading was better than watching two people move pieces around an arena. She had been reading lecture notes from classes she’d missed during the hearing when her pad flashed up an incoming transmission.

“Source unknown…that’s odd.” Naskia muttered to herself.

She accepted the transmission and an unknown female face filled the pad’s screen.

“Good evening Miss Bass.” The woman spoke with a distinct calm. She had a pale complexion with dark green eye shadow which complemented her hair, itself three distinct green colours. She was young, probably a similar age to Naskia, maybe a bit younger and was wearing a rather shiny, expensive looking necklace, in its centre a blue and green jewel that had been fashioned to look like a planet, one Naskia didn’t recognise. “My name is Pryvani Tarsuss…”

“Ehhh…hi…” Naskia said back unsure who she was or her reason for calling.

Loona tore her eyes from the screen and looked at the face on the pad, her eyes widened with disbelief.

“Ahhh, I see Miss Armac has heard of me.” Pryvani spoke confidently. “Could you enlighten Miss Bass for me please?”

“Pryvani Tarsuss, owner of the Tarsuss Mining Corporation, trillionaire and one of the most famous people in all The Empire, how do you not know this?” Loona was completely aghast at Naskia’s ignorance and the fact they were both talking to a celebrity.

“Thank you Miss Armac.” Pryvani smiled.

Loona went red embarrassed at speaking to such a well-known, beautiful celebrity while still a complete mess from her hangover. “Call me Loona…” she whispered.

“Well I prefer to be on a first name also, Miss Tarsus just sounds so…old.” Pryvani smiled.

“Ok…what can I do for you Pryvani?” Naskia asked nervous about the possible motives such a rich person could have for calling her.

Pryvani flashed a charming smile at her. “It’s more what I can do for you, Dr Freeman specifically. Can I talk with him?”

“He’s asleep right now…” Naskia turned the pad round to face Niall, still sound asleep on her stomach, before turning the pad back round.

Pryvani was smiling from ear to ear, much more genuine than the faux charming smile she had been wearing since she called. “If only Shonda Har were alive to see his theories embodied by two people so well.”

“I don’t follow….” Naskia muttered.

“Shonda Har was a philosopher, his main work centred around looking for the collective ‘soul’ of a species, he believed Titans to be the protectors and guardians of the galaxy.” Loona interjected.

“Very good Loona, I’m impressed!” Pryvani beamed. “Here we have a couple, a Human and a Titan. Niall is exceptionally intelligent and curious, managing to advance himself from a Human level of understanding to the top end of Titan knowledge in only a few short months; he embodies the collective soul of Humankind. And you Naskia, are the loving, caring protector who despite all the pressures on her has made sure Niall has gotten the chance to flourish; as he deserves. You embody the Titan soul completely.”

Naskia couldn’t reply. She just glowed bright red unable to deal with praise that was being lavished upon her by the charming celebrity. Pryvani decided it was best to move the conversation along.

“You may want to wake Niall, what I have to say concerns all of you.” Pryvani’s tone became more serious.

Naskia gently picked up Niall and nudged him awake. Loona went to wake Nonah but she was already sitting up watching the pad intently.

“Hi Nonah” Pryvani said. “I saw your testimony at the hearing, you spoke very well. I did not think a Human bred here could do so well but you proved me wrong, very well done.”

Nonah didn’t reply she just smiled cautiously at Pryvani, unsure what to make of her. Niall was soon on his feet in Naskia’s free hand.

“Hello….” He spoke.

“Good evening Niall! It is a pleasure to finally speak to you, I’ve been watching your progress with interest for a while now. I’m sorry I couldn’t meet you in person but my attention has been required…elsewhere.” Pryvani sat forward slightly, she was clearly excited.

“Ok…I’m a bit out of the loop here…” Niall said bleary eyed.

“You are…” Pryvani smirked. “I’m Pryvani Tarsuss, I inherited one of the largest corporations in The Empire from my father. I firmly believe that Humans are not a lesser species and with a bit of luck will soon be exploring space and recognised as equal with Titans. I’ve been waiting a long time for you Niall.”

“Waiting for me?” Niall asked confused. This was a lot to take in.

Pryvani smiled and brushed some loose hair back. “Well…not you specifically but a Human who could demonstrate to Titans everywhere that Humans have advanced. That they are no longer a primitive species and you have done that in ways I didn’t think possible.”

Niall grinned quite flattered with the compliment. Unlike the others he was able to handle the praise. “All in a day’s work.”

“Hmmm….indeed. I just wanted to be the first to congratulate you Professor Freeman.” Pryvani said.

“You’re a bit early, the result won’t be announced until the morning.” Loona said.

Pryvani flashed her smile again. “Yes you’re right, but I just couldn’t wait to find out and it wasn’t hard to get access. You won; 62% for you, 34% against and 4% abstaining, quite a high turnout too.”

Naskia squealed and curled Niall into her palm and clutched him to her chest. “Niall! You won! You’re gonna be a professor!”

Niall couldn’t reply, he could barely breath Naskia was clutching him so tight. She extended her hand again and opened up her palm, Niall was now sitting with his legs extended and was just breathing, relieved to finally have his future secured and to be released from Naskia’s loving but painful grip.

“I have to say you owe Loona a great debt. Her strategy of defeating Lyroo Prenn’s arguments quickly and then appealing directly to the people who would vote on the University Charter was genius, a move worthy of the greatest political operators in The Empire. Lyroo never stood a chance.” Pryvani said to the bright red Loona.

Niall exhaled a deep sigh of relief. “Thank you Pryvani, you have no idea how hard it is just sitting around waiting to know your future.”

“I can only imagine how frustrating it must be for a man who seeks answers to be denied knowledge like that.” Pryvani empathised.

Niall smiled. “I’m sure, I wish I could repay you somehow.”

“As a matter of fact there is a way.” Pryvani said with a glint in her eye. “Your code for the holoprojectors…it could be useful to me. I would like to license it from you. I own a house in Tannhauser, near the university…or so I’m told…I’ve never actually been there. I’m arranging for it to be modified to suit your needs and also to have it fitted out with several top end holoprojectors to help make day to day life a bit easier for you. I’m prepared to give it you and also any other help I can offer in any matter for use of your code.”

“What kind of help?” Niall quizzed.

“Anything really, I have a lot of influence. Legal matters, citizenship, money, you name it and it’s yours.” She responded.

Niall turned around and looked to Loona and Naskia who both nodded. Naskia was all too aware she would lose her student accommodation once she graduated and provided the house was nice it would save the bother of looking for a suitable house. And not paying rent either.

“Ok…deal.” Niall said.

Pryvani smiled happy to have reached an agreement so quickly. “Excellent. I shall have my people draw up the papers and you can send me the code when you are ready. Now I’ve taken up a lot of your time and I know it is late in Tannhauser so I shall let you celebrate in peace. I hope we shall meet in person soon, all of you.”

“I do too Pryvani. Thank you again for the call.” Niall said half in a daze.

“Oh no, the pleasure was all mine. Good evening to you all.” Pryvani said ending the transmission.

The group just sat in silence blinking at one another as they tried to take in the magnitude of the conversation they had just had.

“There’s no way she’s wrong is there?” Niall asked.

“Not a chance! She’s Pryvani Tarsuss! That lady can get whatever she wants.” Loona half shouted.

Naskia smiled and raised Niall to her lips and kissed him softly. “Well Professor, what do you want to do next?”

“Ehhh…” Niall rubbed the back of his neck. “I have no idea…”

Naskia grinned happy at his answer. She had an idea. “How about we get you measured for some nice suits to make you look like a proper professor? Made by a tailor this time and none of my rubbish stitching!”

“That sounds good…but how about tomorrow we just take the day off? Spend some time together in the holosuite, just me and you.” Niall said looking up into her shining giant blue eyes.

“Awww….that sounds perfect.” She said bringing him to her lips to kiss him again. “You really know how to treat a girl Professor.”