“Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.”

–Robert A. Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land

The chair struck the bell three times, and the Imperial House grew silent.

“The House will be in order. The chair recognizes the Representative from Wedney.”

“Thank you, madam chair,” Rodrec Zeramblin said. “I ask unanimous consent to address the body.”

“Without objection, so ordered.”

“Representative Zimm, I wish to thank you,” Zeramblin said, with a smile. “If not for the information you provided this body this morning, a grave offense against the Empire might have occurred. Many of you may have heard this already; these rumors move fast. But let me confirm it officially. Earlier today, Navarchos Ziah Solis was arrested on charges of High Treason, on the personal order of the Emperor.”

The floor did not explode at that, as most every member had heard this from the Floor Leader himself, but the gallery erupted in shock. The chair rang the bell, and called for order once more, and when things calmed down, she told Zeramblin to proceed.

“Thank you, madam chair. Navarchos Solis took actions contrary to his oath to defend the Empire. He ordered officers to lie to this body, ordered them to disobey their duties to the Empire. He murdered one man in cold blood, and his actions caused the death of another officer. He did this because indeed, Earth has sent a vessel to Saturn, as Representative Zimm helpfully showed us this morning.”

Again, there was an eruption from the gallery; again, order was called for.

“This vessel is, according to information provided to me by Praetor Imperii Lagvul, currently grounded at Titan Station; it had been seized under orders from Solis,” Zeramblin said. “He was seeking to prevent first contact with Earth, and indeed, to foment mistrust between Earth and the Empire, with the aim of bringing us to war.

“Now, war with Earth would not threaten the Empire, not militarily, but that’s not the point. The Empire has an imperfect history, but over the last few centuries we have become an Empire dedicated to protecting this sector of the galaxy, to allow us all to thrive in peace and harmony. Yes, military action must sometimes be taken to safeguard that peace, but never again with the aim of oppressing any people. I say plainly, it would be better this Empire fall than become once again obsessed with military might, ruling its subjects through fear.”

Zeramblin paused for effect, while members on both sides of the chamber murmured their agreement – save for the Ler, who shouted it loudly. (This was not so much because they were being emphatic in their assent as it was because they were Ler.) “Madam Chair, the people of Earth, united together, have sent a vessel to Titan, and its crew has already met with us, in no small part because we forced them to. It is therefore obvious that we must authorize first contact, and begin to take the first steps toward diplomatic relations with the people of Earth. But of course, that is not all.” Zeramblin looked down at his notes for just a second, then continued. “We have many millions of humans living within the Empire. These humans, at present, have no rights, save what limited ones we have passed to protect them from cruelty.

“This has been the case for many hundreds of years, and it is not something that we can or should change on a whim, but with the people of their homeworld having made significant steps toward qualifying as a class one sentient species – indeed, given their level of technological development, their eventual reclassification is all but assured – we can no longer ignore the Human Question. We must decide whether humans can and should be granted additional rights within the Empire.”

That did lead to a bit of an eruption on the floor, and a veritable explosion from the gallery. When order was restored, Zeramblin continued. “This body is not ready to make that decision. It will require careful consideration of all the factors involved, from high-minded principles like freedom and liberty, to philosophical questions, such as whether a species, raised as pets for generation upon generation, can ever truly be capable of understanding freedom, to prosaic ones, like how we could transition humans from pets to people without causing harm to come to them – or to the Empire. Accordingly, as part of the emergency legislation I have proposed, I have appointed a special committee to study the Human Question, made up of Senators and Representatives who will ask the hard questions, and hopefully reach fair answers, consistent with the ideals and principles of this great Empire. Their proposals will then be placed before this body, which shall consider them carefully. I urge this body to support this committee in its work.

“Madam Chair, I move my bill, and ask unanimous consent that the floor debate for its supporters be managed by the Representative from Tannhauser West,” Zeramblin said, sitting down.

He knew this bill would pass, and knew its passage would begin the last chapter of his political career. He accepted it. As the clerk read out its title, Zeramblin smiled. His political career would end with him remembered as a crusader for basic rights. It was not the legacy he had expected, but it was a much better legacy than he’d dared hope for.

* * *

“So,” Tig said, settling Ted on the desk by her bunk.

“So….” Ted replied.

They looked at each other for a good long while, then both broke out laughing.

“Gorram, I feel like a virgin,” Tig laughed. “I really don’t usually have trouble suggesting to someone that we get into bed. Um…which didn’t come out exactly the way I intended.”

“I usually don’t have any trouble accepting,” Ted said, quietly, “but….”

“Oh, gorram,” Tig muttered. “I’m an idiot. After this morning, with those…those….”

“No, that’s not it,” Ted sighed. “They beat on me. You never would. I’m not afraid of you, Tig. I never could be. That’s not it. It’s…I’m….”

“You’re what?”

Ted sighed, then laughed. “Well…I’m a little intimidated, okay? I don’t know that I can possibly be enough for you. You’re so damn beautiful, and brave, and wonderful, and I…well, you could probably do more for yourself with one finger.”

Tig gave him a slight smile. “Ted, you will never, never not be enough for me. If anything, I’m worried that I’m too big for you to properly enjoy yourself.”

“Have you looked at yourself ever?” Ted said. “Tig…my God.”

Tigoni gave Ted a sportive smile, and sighed. “I think…I think we’re both too worried about not being adequate.”

“I know we are. You’re right, it’s like being a virgin – you’re too amazing. I don’t want to screw this up.”

“Me either,” Tig said, digging in her pack. “So let’s get over that worry.”

Ted looked at her quizzically, as she drew out a bottle, small for her, roughly as large as him. “This is Aiat Hustain,” she said. “Four-year-old Special Reserve. I think humans drink alcohol, yes?”

“Only when we want to drink alcohol,” Ted said. “That’s Titan alcohol?”

“The best Titan alcohol. I got this from my big sister for my birthday. One drink’s worth. I’ve been saving it for a special occasion,” she said, taking a small glass from her pack. She unscrewed the cap and poured the green liquid out, save for one small drop; that, she poured into the cap, trying to eyeball a proportionately similar amount for Ted.

“I’ll warn you, Titans tend to like spicier food than humans. This has a kick.”

Ted smiled broadly at that. “I told you I grew up in Santa Fe, didn’t I?”

“Well, we’ll see how you like it,” she said, lifting her glass. “Do you…on Earth, do you wish each other health when you drink?”

“We call it a toast,” Ted said, lifting the cap with both hands. “¡Salud!” he said, raising it to her.

“Prosest!” Tig replied, raising her glass to her lips, and drinking fast, letting the alcohol warm her.

She looked back down, and saw Ted looking at the cap, eyes wide.

“Are you okay? I told you, it’s spicy.”

“It’s amazing!” he said, coughing just slightly. “God damn, that is…I have a brother who runs a small artisanal salsa company. Salsa – it’s a type of sauce we use on Earth. Generally spicy. He has one that’s got Trinidad Moruga scorpion peppers, ghost peppers, Scotch bonnets, and then some habaneros to cut down on the heat; this isn’t quite that spicy, but it’s close. I’m not letting you get this stuff anywhere near Miguel; he’ll propose to you after one drink. And Imani – my sister-in-law – she would not be happy.”

“And you?”

“When I propose to you, I’m doing it up right,” he said with a grin.

“Who says I won’t propose first?” Tig said, scooping him up and giving him a gentle kiss.

“Hmm,” Ted said. “Well, whoever proposes first has to let the other one go through their proposal too. Just for fun.”

“Oh, definitely,” Tig said, unfastening her flight suit. “I think we should propose to each other regularly. And then celebrate each other accepting,” she said, setting Ted down carefully. “Now, get out of that flight suit, mister,” she added, getting up and sliding out of hers.

The small amount of alcohol was more than enough for both of them to get over their initial fears; indeed, the only thing that it may have impaired might have been the striptease, because neither one of them had the patience to disrobe in anything resembling a sultry manner. By the time Ted finished removing the flight suit he’d borrowed from Tatenda, Tig was pulling her socks off, down to just her panties, which were, she realized sadly, a rather dull, functional pair.

Then again, looking down at Ted, who was gazing at her in wonder, she saw that her knickers didn’t need to be particularly hot. She could read him clearly, and she could in his awed expression that she herself was enough.

“Wow,” Ted said, gazing up at her from his position at crotch-level. “Oh, God, Tig,” he laughed. “I’m definitely not enough for you; I’m just lucky there isn’t anyone who is.”

“Hmm,” Tig said, as she gently scooped him up in her left hand. “We’ll see. Let me get a closer look at you.” She pored over him carefully, as if appraising a diamond; Ted swallowed, hard, as she gently flipped him over, carefully prodding him with her right index finger; he lay face down in her soft palm, feeling the steady flow of blood in her hand, as she slowly drug a finger down his back, pausing only to caress his backside a little more. She repeated it a few times, and Ted sighed in pleasure.

“Well,” she said, flipping him over again, and repeating the process on his chest, “I think you just might come close, little man. And even if you aren’t,” she said, with a wicked smile, “at least you seem to be enjoying yourself as much as I am.”

Ted laid back as she rubbed carefully on his crotch; he wasn’t even sure there was a reasonable comparison to be made between this and anything else he’d ever experienced. She gazed down on him like a goddess…and like his oldest, dearest friend…and like the hottest woman he’d ever met…of course…that was just because…she was all three….

He held up at the edge, carefully grabbing her fingertip; it was nowhere near enough to stop her, of course, but she did, immediately.

“Something wrong?” she asked, with slight concern.

“No,” Ted laughed. “A bit too right.”

“Ah. Well then. You will do just fine. Plus you look hot. And adorable. And cute. And hot.”

“Is that possible?”

“I wouldn’t have thought so,” she said, bringing him up to her mouth, the spicy hangover of Hustain making her breath all the more intoxicating. “But you proved me wrong. Just one more thing….”

Carefully, she licked Ted from toes to head, pausing once more on his manhood, but not so much to bring him to orgasm. She kissed him for good measure.

“Yum,” she rumbled. “You even taste good. Yeah, you will do nicely. But then, it’s not just a question of whether you’re good enough for me.”

“No?”

“No,” she said, lowering herself onto the bunk, and leaning back, setting Ted gently on her stomach. “It’s also a question of whether I’m good enough for you.”

Ted stood up weakly, getting his balance on her stomach, which rose and fell with each of her breaths. “I will confess,” Tig said apologetically, “that I’d probably smell better if I’d taken time for a shower. It’s been a long day.”

Ted laid down on her taut stomach, and kissed it gently. “True of me too. So we’ll have to take a shower before we go to the reception. But not yet.”

Remarkably, he was able to get his bearings reasonably well – Tig was not the first woman he’d kissed on the stomach. The perspective was almost – almost – reasonable. He looked around him; her breasts and head lay ahead of him, her legs and hips behind. He was astounded. She was longer than the Sally Ride by a good four meters, and the Ride herself was on the bigger end of shuttlecraft.

He began walking toward her face, not just because he was not yet ready to face her vagina, but because it was too early for that anyhow. He climbed up on her right breast – he noted that her breaths had grown a bit quicker in anticipation. It was work, of course, but he’d never climbed a hillock more happily, nor been more entranced with the view.

He sat down by her nipple, and rubbed it idly, staring up at the beautiful woman who stared down at him. She looked almost nervous, so Ted paused. “Anything wrong?”

“I hope…I know my breasts are a bit small,” Tig said.

Ted literally fell on his back, laughing hysterically. When he recovered, he began stroking her nipple a bit more urgently, and said, “Tigoni, for God’s sake, you realize that one of these could crush me if we were on Earth, yes?”

“Well…yeah, but….”

“Tig…nothing on you is too small,” he said, kissing her nipple, which perked up quickly. “And nothing is too big, either.” He massaged it again, amazed at the level of detail he saw as it hardened. “It’s you. And you are perfect,” he said, kissing it more.

Tig lay back, and Ted was stunned to find himself pushed flat by a heavy weight, though given what it was pushing him into, he didn’t complain. Tig was massaging the breast he was on. She began pushing him down, and letting her tit carry him back up, and down, and up. She giggled.

“Hmm…well, you do seem to fit nicely there. But…well, I know there’s a lot of me to cover, and yet Navarchos Bass said we should keep our tour short…would you like to see one of the highlights, and then explore in more detail later?”

Ted was caught halfway between an emphatic yes and a terrified no; he really wasn’t sure how to approach his next stop.

“Ted,” Tig said, softly, as if sensing his hesitation. “Nothing on you is too small, either.”

“I just….”

She plucked him from her breast, and held him above her face, and gave him a smile that had only one meaning. “Ted…you will not disappoint me. I promise.”

“All right,” he said, swallowing hard. “Just…if I do…tell me what I can do.”

“Oh, always,” she said, bringing him down for a kiss. “But only if you give me the same courtesy.”

She slipped her panties off with her left hand, and set Ted between her thighs with her right; she had moved herself into a sitting position, because she wanted to see him. She wasn’t sure herself how best for him to approach her, but she was determined that he enjoy the attempt.

Ted stared into the maw of her sex; he was gratified to see that her arousal equaled his, but rather daunted by it, as well. When he was a test pilot, he’d flown an F-95X into orbit once, which was impressive, especially as it wasn’t supposed to be capable of reaching orbit. He’d had to bypass three safety systems to manage it. Hey, he’d been ordered to fly as high and fast as he could.

As he’d initiated reentry, he had felt a combination of exhilaration and terror – exhilaration that he’d done something next to impossible, and terror that he’d end it by burning up on the way back home.

He felt precisely the same here.

He decided to approach things the same way he had then – carefully, slowly. Feel his way. And so he approached her, and gently stroked her.

It was soft, and slick with anticipation. He leaned in, and softly kissed her, which brought an encouraging rumble. Okay. So he was capable of getting a reaction from her. Good.

Carefully, he spread her labia, opening up the gateway to her sex; he would easily be able to slip inside her. The only real difficulty was keeping her labia open so he could get back out.

He ran a hand along the inside walls of her vagina, and got a deeper, more urgent rumble. He smiled. He remembered what he’d done once he got a feel for the plane, once he was sure he wasn’t going to be incinerated. He’d rolled it, about sixty kilometers out from landing.

Throwing caution to the wind, he dove inside of her.

Tig gasped; she hadn’t really been expecting this. Outside of her was pretty safe, but inside….

And then she gasped again, as she felt her tiny lover slide himself against her. And then she groaned. And then she stopped thinking altogether.

He had spun around, and worked his way to her pelvic floor. There wasn’t much air in here, but there was enough; he wasn’t sure whether Tig was built to orgasm from vaginal stimulation alone, and didn’t much care; if not, he was quite happy to leave this area and examine her clitoris. But whether or not this was enough to bring her to completion, the low rumblings that rang through his world told him that it was enough for her to enjoy it.

He used himself as a dildo; he figured he might be on the small side for one, but he was also sentient, which allowed him to adjust his angle of attack. He bore down on a ridge on the bottom of the pelvic floor that he suspected might be sensitive; Tig’s vocal response told him he was right. And so he ground against it, into her and surrounded by her and sanctified in the fluids which ran over him, and after a while, he found he could not hold back what Tig had started for him in her hand, and moments later, he was squeezed tightly, as Tig could no longer hold back, either.

He was squeezed tight enough that he saw stars, for just a moment, before Tig finally released him, and he found himself slipping headfirst back between her thighs. He breathed in lungfuls of air, laughing in pure amazement. Never could he have imagined that. And never could he imagine topping that.

He looked up the long body of Tigoni, who was leaning against the wall of her bunk, eyes closed and blissed out. When she finally recovered, she looked down at the tiny man leaning against her thigh, and giggled.

“You,” she said, finally, “you are more than man enough for me. I just hope I’m enough for you.”

“My love,” he said, stroking the hair which bordered her sex. “You’re enough woman for ten of me.” He kissed her gently.

She plucked him once more, and set him beside him, on her pillow, and turned to look at him. “I love you,” she murmured.

“I love you,” Ted said, curling up in her shadow. “I wish we didn’t have to go to the reception.”

“I know,” Tig said, “but think of it this way – we’ll go out, have fun, see friends. And then we’ll come home for the night. And night watch on Titan Station is 28 hours long.”

Ted grinned. “I just hope that’s enough time,” he said, as he lay down.

“Not nearly,” Tig replied, joining him. “But it’s a good start.”