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The atmosphere in the room was tense as a bow string pulled taught. Pamela could feel the eyes of her soon to be Father-in-law and Mother-in-law drilling into her like they were trying to kill her with cold unfeeling stares.

The office was of the same decor as the rest of the home. Dark wood and stone fixtures, veins of silver knitted intricate spiderwebs along the wall, and the flickering lights in the lanterns was a gloomy pale color.

"So. What interest do you have in my son?" The imposing figure of Zelkren Smith spoke, his voice like a whip crack in the silence. Pam could sense Lzzkren tensing to spring to her defense so she tried to head him off.

"I love him and I am with his child." Her voice wavered only in the middle of the sentence after a strong start. She already realized her mistake as his mother responded in a casual manner, "So you say. But we've heard that before haven't we?"

Whatever amount Lzzkren had relaxed when when Pam spoke up was shattered by Xian Smith's cold cutting remark.

"We've already told you." He spoke through clenched teeth, "She is receiving the best health care possible."

His mother made a clicking noise with her teeth, a kind of admonishment, "How is that any different then before? When she had the best healthcare money could buy?"

She had a point, as much as Pam hated to admit it. There really was no explanation for loss of their first child. And before she could allow herself time to ruminate on the subject Zelkren spoke up once more.

"And the life our son leads, is hardly the respectable life we'd want for our grandchildren. The heir to our family."

That washed over Pam like a mist. She had already considered how dangerous Lzzkren's "Job" was and that it could potentially threaten her life and their future child. But watching Kitty and Othelo raise their children in such peculiar circumstances had given her comfort.

"Our life is...irregular yes." Lzzkren began carefully, "But you'd never accept such a child into your community anyway. A half breed." He sneered "I know how you feel about such things. You've made it painfully clear."

His father scoffed as if Lzzkren had said something funny. "You underestimate me. Then again you always have. We'd be all too willing to give the child a home here where it could have all that you can't give it. Where it could be raised properly."

Lzzkren folded his arms and rolled his eyes, "Yes because that worked so well with me."

"Every family line has it's quirks." His mother mused out loud. "It's all part of the evolutionary process. And when those quirks do not benefit the families growth...they die. It's simply the law of nature."

Lzzkren spat some words in Dark Elven that Pam didn't understand but from the slight way his Mother's lips curled up Pam could figure out it was what she had wanted to hear.

"Such vulgar language. It seems she's only made your short temper worse." His father admonished reproachfully "Your lack of control is very disturbing."

"Then why not simply banish me completely? Why continue to dance around what you've wanted to do since we fell in love?" Lzzkren growled leveling his eyes on his fathers.

"Now now, we are not cruel." His mother cooed. "We love you dear, Even if we don't love the choices you've made with your life. And there's always time to turn your life around."

While Lzzkren reeled from his mother's opposition to what he believed his Father struck another verbal blow.

"You could come back to the family. Bring your human and half breed child. Return to your post on the surface and you will be forgiven. We can even make most of your criminal enterprises go away."

Pam couldn't help but feel like the offer was being placed in the center of a bear trap. She could already see the situation playing itself out. They could raise their child in the lap of luxury, never having to worry about criminal records or if the child was getting a proper education. But the exchange would be the freedom she had come to relish. She'd be shackled down to another corporation, but this time she'd be married into it.

Lzzkren must have thought along the same lines because he started up again "If you think me foolish enough to entrust the happiness of MY family to you-" But Pam cut him off with a hand on his shoulder.

"Thank you for the offer, it is a life changing opportunity." Her voice was measured and calm. "We will need time to mull over our options. I apologize. But as successful business people you understand the importance of not making large choices so casually."

The two of them addressed her with the same looks one usually reserved for a rambling homeless person asking for change. But Pam continued.

"I want dearly for our child to have a large loving family that accepts them for whoever they become. And with a pedigree such as this I'm sure they are destined for greatness. So you understand being a mother that I only want what's best for them."

His Mother's ice cold eyes didn't stray from Pam's own. "Clearly what's best for the child is on our planet. Not racing among the garbage of the galaxy with degenerates and criminals."

Pam rose from her seat and Lzzkren followed suit. "Well I'm afraid that's not for you to decide."

And with that the two showed themselves out. Pam's shoulders relaxed the moment the door was closed behind them.

"I felt like she was going to throw a knife at me." She confessed leaning on Lzzkren who slid an arm around her.

"She would have used a needle. Smaller impact point. But more importantly, you're carrying her grandchild. I doubt even she's that heartless."

Pam wished she could share in that confidence, but for the time being she'd just have to trust Lzzkren to protect her even if he was wrong.

The walk from the main room of the silk to Puck's private quarters was not normally a long one. One of the benefits of being the captain meant having a room close to just about anything important on the ship.

But right now leaning on Jessie who bore her weight like she was a child, Puck felt like she had miles to go.

"Almost there." Jessie mumbled and she didn't even bother admonishing him. There was no one else here so she didn't need to keep up her abrasive attitude towards him. Her head was pounding, she felt flush.

Suddenly she was floating. No...being carried!

She looked up to Jessie's uncharacteristically stoic expression. He was holding her lightly in his thick powerful arms.

Allowing herself a small smile she leaned into his chest and gripped at his T-shirt. "Mmm, thank you."

"Don't mention it." Jessie nodded gently and opened the door to her room carrying her back in. She felt herself relax just from the familiar surroundings. The silk was her home. And this was her private paradise. The benefits of being captain.

Without even having to ask him Jessie lay her on the bed and moved to her walk in closet returning with some more comfortable clothes. "Enjoy the free show." She chuckled letting him undress her slowly. "You'll have to work harder for it when I'm feeling better."

"I bet." There was no humor in his tone though. Even in Puck's cloudy state she could sense his anger. There was so much anger, sorrow and fear among her crew. And she blamed herself.

She was the foundation of this family and they had just seen her damaged. Of course they were shaken.

She took his head into her hands and drew him into an embrace. A rare sign of tender affection between the two of them. Even a soft kiss on his forehead.

"I'm sorry." An even rarer apology. Jessie was the one member of the crew she'd never needed to apologize to or play nice with. He was always able to take whatever she could dish out and came back for more. She often wondered if he understood her weaknesses better then she did.

"It's not your fault." He responded automatically hiding his face in her modest chest.

A sharp tug of his ponytail tilted his head back and she gently removed his sunglasses. The lighting in her room was dim enough it wouldn't hurt his eyes. Other then his sister Puck was the only person he let look at his eyes. There were pale and his pupils large. Decidedly strange for a human but Puck liked them. It made him look more like a puppy.

"I'm fine. I promise." She ran his fingers through his hair and quietly felt a sting of jealousy that his hair was silkier then hers.

"No you're not." He argued. "If I'd have been there-"

"You would have gotten ripped apart." She shot him down instantly. Even through the haze of painkillers she knew that's what everyone was thinking.

He looked hurt by the truth so she leaned in and kissed him softly. It lacked the passion and bite of their usual kisses. It was deep and honest.

"I need you to be strong." She spoke softly when their lips had only barely parted. "We're going to be going up against more then we've ever had to deal with. I'll need you with me."

It felt heavy. For someone who regularly bench pressed crushing amounts of weight he wasn't sure he could shoulder so much burden.

"It could get us all killed." He acknowledged. and Puck sighed. "Maybe....but I'd rather die trying, then keep living in fear of that monster."

The idea that anyone had scared Puck...HIS Puck. It was enough to make Jessie want to punch everything in sight. But another stroke of her firm hand along his jawline melted his muscles again.

"Are you with me Jessie?"

"Of course Puck."

She didn't correct him, he didn't have to use her title here. Instead she lay back on her bed and pulled him along with her. His weight made the mattress shift so she was tucked against him. The smell of his jacket still lingered on his neck earning him kisses along it. Powerful arms that could crush steel slid around her as gentle as if she were made of glass.

Just a couple hours. She'd let herself be delicate and tender for a couple hours then she would begin rebuilding.

The foundation was chipped and dented. But not cracked. She would not crumble.

****************************************

Pam hadn't felt this bad in a long time. Kitty had given her something for her shock but she hadn't felt like she could keep it down. Her stomach was in knots.

What had started like a business meeting had turned into an assault, all because a madman felt like putting a little fear into the heart of his employees.

Lzzkren was furious, mostly at himself. After a short shouting match with the rest of the crew they had retired to their room where he was using a wooden sword to lash out at some training dummies. Each smack echoed through the wide open room and was punctuated by a grunt and growl. He had shed his suit and now muscles rippled with strain and power born out of anger.

Pam sat nearby on one of the grassy hills, his suitjacket draped over her shoulders providing some comfort while he tried to beat his frustrations out on the dummies.

That man...no. He was a monster. That much Pam was sure of. His eyes had no humanity in them. Even when he was laughing they were like the eyes of a cold blooded creature. He was driven only by the pleasure at other peoples pain.

She had met some people like that on her way to the top, but never to that degree. Men and women who had lost their empathy in a quest to gain as much power and wealth as possible. There was a time when she would have become just like them. She had often worried about it. How easy would it be to ruthlessly cut away the parts of her that made her worry about others? To only care about herself and those closest to her? People could have been fired, money could have been made. The rise to the top could have been easier...

CRACK!

One of the dummies had been shattered at it's thickest point and was laying in pieces on the ground. Lzzkren didn't stop though. He had moved onto the next dummy. And the next.

Slow realization began to dawn on Pam as sweat glistened on his skin and fire burned in his eyes. It would be easier to find a way to defeat Spider if they thought like he did. But would it be worth it?

Was Puck capable of becoming a monster like that? With her powers she had it had to be tempting. She could likely kill people without raising a hand. So why didn't she? After all they were criminals weren't they? Othelo was supposedly responsible for genocide!

And yet they always seemed to aim for wounds rather then crippling. To knock out rather then die.

It had to take great strength. Strength that Spider didn't have.

For the first time in what felt like days Pam felt like there was hope.

Rising to her feet she made her way down to the training area where Lzzkren stood panting among the rubble of his practice dummies. Wood and stray were scattered around his feet.

With confidence she placed a hand on his bare shoulder and he turned to watch her from the corner of his eye.

"What?"

"Drop the sword."

It took a moment, but his stiff fingers released the sword letting it fall silently to the grass. His entire arm felt numb and tight from the effort. She slide a hand along his bicep and felt the muscles straining against his skin.

"Take a deep breath."

He obeyed, his chest rising as it filled with air, she slid her hand down his side along his abdominal muscles.

"Let it out slowly."

The air left through his pointed nose slowly, but audibly. He felt the tension in his chest and neck slowly unwinding as Pam's chest pressed to his back and her lips brushing against his neck.

"I love you."

He turned to embrace her firmly, holding her tight. For the first time in a long time he needed her instead of the other way around. She felt herself standing firm like she was the one with all the training and skill.

"I love you too."

No hesitation in his voice. No shame or pride. Just the truth.

"I want to get married." He continued his voice barely audible as they sank into the grass together.

"How soon?"

"Now."

She laughed softly and their lips met once again.

"Yes."

Puck waited impatiently by her new ship. It was one of the dozen or so that they had kept from Kat's drug fueled rampage through a Scientific research facility. The previous owner must have been important though because the car positively oozed a sense of superiority. It's onboard computer even had an accent. It came with all the touches of luxury, but secretly she had told Lea to start amassing parts to replace it's engine with something stronger.

Someday she intended on racing Othelo in his own car and beating him. Just to savor his defeat.

But that was not today. Today Othelo stood by in a nice suit holding two of his children while Kitty held the others. Lots of kissing and hugging and promises to be safe and come home in one piece were being exchanged. Puck looked away unwilling to indulge in eavesdropping on the little families moment. Instead her attention was drawn to the lumbering hulk of a man packing backpacks into the storage in the back of her ship.

"Jessie, what's all that?" The purple haired captain inquired moving closer to inspect one of the bags. He grinned sheepishly "Well I just figured...you four ought to be ready for anything. So I was packing some survival kits in the trunk."

The Captain gave him a very dry look. "What do you think he's gonna do? shoot us down over the mountains? He can't make any money off us like that."

"If he was half the businessman you claim he is he'd find a way." A new voice called and Puck shot an annoyed glance over her shoulder to see the final members of their party arriving. Lzzkren and Pam were entering the hanger in suits as well. Everyone looked very professional considering they were a bunch of degenerate space pirates.

"You're going to make us late. Hurry up and get in the ship." She barked and Othelo bid his wife goodbye with one last kiss. The rest of the crew had gathered to see them off. Some of the newer members of the crew didn't seem as concerned as the four who were making the trip, but Puck knew it was difficult to explain just why a meeting with Spider was so intimidating.

"Hey." Jessie again. He had closed up the storage and was standing next to her now. Her sharp gaze traveled up his tight crisp white shirt to his simple face.

"Just...be careful alright?" He asked hopefully. Puck felt a wave of heat wash over her and grabbed his collar, dragging him in so they were eye to eye...or at least sunglasses since he always wore a pair.

"I'm the Captain here. You don't give me orders." She admonished and then stroked his cheek tenderly.

"Take care of my ship. I'll be back soon."

She released him then one by one bid her goodbyes to the crew. It felt too stiff and final for her so she made sure to sprinkle in lots of threats of torture and maiming if anything went wrong. The crew took it in stride though and before she knew it she was piloting her ship out and away from The Crimson Silk.

"You've got fur on you." Lzzkren was the first to break the silence from the back seat where he and Othelo were tolerating each others company only barely. Othelo just chuckled, but the laughter died in his mouth as the fastidious dark elf drew out a lint roller and had a gleam of silent fury in his eyes.

"Keep your hands to yourself! Moooom he's touching me!" Othelo cried out in a whine as Lzzkren attacked him with the lint roller to clean him of his families hairs. Puck just sighed and turned up the angry music from her stereo.

Pamela was taking things surprisingly well, then again to her this was just another business meeting wasn't it? Puck stole another glance at her business manager. Today's Pam was a kind that Puck hadn't seen before. In her business suit she gave off the feeling of a ninja, or a surgeon. Some profession where ruthless efficiency and precise actions were required. While the Captain had expected Pam to sport some kind of no-nonsense bun she had instead opted to have her hair blown out into a luxurious mane of lightly curled ringlets and tumbling tresses. She was...frankly stunning. Perhaps this was the pregnancy glow that people talked about?

As for her pregnancy it wasn't nearly far enough along to show in her stomach, but Puck theorized that underneath that sharp looking business suit Lzzkren had probably forced the businesswoman into some kind of armor. Of all of them Pamela was the least useful in a fight and if anything went wrong...

No! No she couldn't think of that. Not right now. She needed to be every bit the steely Captain the universe thought she was.

Pamela caught Puck looking at her and misunderstood it as expecting her to do something about the boys scuffling in the back. Pam considered it, then pressed a button rolling up a window that separated them from the back seat and the noise of the two boys.

A smirk tugged at the corner of Pucks lips but she continued on towards their destination in silence.

*****************************

He had chosen an expensive restaurant. Of course he had. A place full of enough people that they couldn't be sure who was on his payroll and who was an innocent bystander. Spider knew Puck hated to spill innocent blood.

Puck knew Spider didn't care.

Though they had spent the morning bickering about Pam coming along Lzzkren and Pam had had their arms linked the moment they stepped from the ship and Puck led them to the restaurant. Her stylish but sensible shoes clicked softly on the pavement and she smiled politely as a well groomed doorman opened the entrance for them.

Two waiters greeted them in the entrance way, twins it seemed.

"Right this way please."

"Mister Volaju is waiting for you."

The twins led them into the back of the building while Lzzkren leaned in to whisper. "Vladimir Volaju is his legal name." But Pam simply hissed back "I did my homework thank you." She had in fact read all the files attached to the name "Spider" that the silk had. But she had no time to enjoy putting Lzzkren in his place because they had arrived.

"The illustrious Captain Puck. How wonderful to see you again." His voice oozed with charm but it lingered in the ears like a fly. The sweetness in it was bitter like spoiled honey.

Puck gently took his hand and did a poor job at hiding her disgust as he kissed it, finally giving Pam a good look at him out of the shadows of the booth he had chosen for them.

It was instantly apparent why they called him "Spider." His long legs and arms gave him such an appearance, aided by his cold shark like eyes and rows of gleaming teeth that would have given MOS a run for his money. His hair was black and shiny and reminded Pam of an exoskeleton. The smile was as sincere as someone politely telling you they planned to eviscerate you with a fork. The business woman felt her stomach instantly knot up as a wave of discomfort passed over the group.

"Spider." Puck sniffed taking her hand back from him and wiping it off on a napkin.

One by one Spider addressed them, clearly dragging this uncomfortable greeting out. "Othelo, my sources tell me you're a happy father now! How's that treating you?" The normally relaxed and mellow pilot stiffened at the revelation that Spider knew about his children. "Well you know..." He managed to force out and plaster a pained smile on his face. "I never was one for sleeping through the night."

"How awful that they're likely to lose their father to the justice system some day." Spider finished moving his attention to Lzzkren and Pam while Othelo took his seat in the booth, followed by Puck. That way she would be on the exact opposite side of the rounded booth as Spider was.

"And who is this?" Spider's voice tightened and became lower. Dangerous sounding. "I know you like to show off Lzzkren but I specifically said "No dates."

There was a very unsubtle click and Pam felt every muscle in her body stiffen. It was the unmistakable sound of a weapon being prepared to fire. In fact if her mind wasn't spinning with fear she might even have been able to recognize the weapon from hearing Lzzkren use it at one time or another. But in this case the sound had come from behind her so it clearly wasn't his.

"Spider!" Puck barked drawing all the rooms attention back to her. She met his glittering predator eyes with a glare. "That is not a date. That is my new Executive of business affairs."

Spider seemed taken aback by this and turned his gaze back to Pam. Though she didn't dare take her eyes off Spider's she could envision Lzzkren's free hand itching to go for his blade. A thought that only gave her some minor comfort. Summoning up her courage she untangled herself from the dark elves arm and took Spider's hand in a firm handshake.

"A pleasure to meet you Mister Volaju. I am Pamela Jackson."

Spider took the hand to his lips and Pam did her best to keep a straight face as he kissed her wrist and released her hand. "A pleasure of course. But I'm afraid this meeting is private." He turned his back on her to address Puck, "And you knew that Captain. Richard? Dispose of her."

A large man with short cropped red hair took her by the arm and without a moment to blink Lzzkren drew a blade from somewhere and had the knife at Richard's neck.

The sound of a thousand weapons clicking and loading filled the room. Apparently it wasn't a question of who was and wasn't on Spider's payroll. Everyone here was.

"How surprising. Usually Puck is the overemotional one." Spider remarked holding out a glass for someone to fill with wine.

"Lzzkren." Puck spoke in a carefully measured voice, her hands were tense like she wanted to grab a fork from the table and stab someone in the neck. "Put. The knife. Away."

Lzzkren hesitated and glared at Richard silently letting him know he was not allowed to touch Pam before putting the blade away. Richard didn't seem shaken in the slightest and watched Spider for more commands.

"I am in charge of the Crimson Silk's business and financial efforts. With my assistance in the last few months we have seen a seventy five percent increase in productivity and to have me removed from the room would only hamper your goals...Mister Volaju."

The room was silent. Pamela could hardly believe the words had sprung from her mouth without a thought. But they were already out there and Spider seemed to be considering them as he took a sip from his glass.

"Oh silly girl. I wouldn't have had him remove you from the room right away." Spider leaned in till they were so close she could smell the wine on his breath.

"Richard would have ripped your arms off first and then after you'd died from the shock or blood loss he would have packed you up in a to go bag for the Captain."

Pamela almost choked smothering a whimper of fear that tried to escape her lips. She succeeded in the effort, but it was clear his words were not hyperbole.

And just like that Richard released her arm leaving her sleeve rumpled. She was sure under the sleeve her arm was probably sporting an angry red mark but she simply smoothed out the jacket and took her seat in between Puck and Lzzkren. Instantly she was aware of why Spider had chosen this seating set up. With the booth at their backs and a table between them the crew were backed into a corner. Meanwhile Spider's looming bodyguard set a chair at the head of the table and Spider took his seat.

"You've been very busy lately my darling caretaker." Spider spoke again in his relaxed and vaguely threatening voice. Puck brushed off the term caretaker, knowing it was just a cheap jab at the fact that he still owned the deed to her ship.

"You know what they say about idle hands." Puck shot back as a waiter came by and filled everyone's glasses with water. When asked if they would like some wine everyone accepted. Pamela normally wouldn't drink so early in the day, and never when on business but everyone else at the table had agreed and she didn't want to draw any more attention to herself. Already she was regretting her prideful insistence that she be here. What a foolish choice. She could blame it on her professional pride all she wanted but if she ended up dead it would do no one any good.

Gently under the table, a pair of fingers stroked her thigh and without looking down she knew they were Lzzkren's. He was letting her know he was still there, as if she could forget that he was currently her best chance for survival if the sociopath sitting in front of them all took a sudden turn of mood.

Spider urged them all to take a look at their menus, and that there would be time for business after they had each ordered. Puck and Lzzkren begrudgingly made their orders first, neither ordering anything significantly filling. Pam followed suit knowing that when she was in a lunch meeting she always tried to eat lightly. It gave her more energy for the rest of the day and provided her with less distractions to stop her from speaking when necessary.

Othelo was the only one who seemed to have an appetite. Much to Pamela's amusement he ordered soup, a plate of appetizers, an entree and even requested a dessert menu for later. Puck and Lzzkren looked ready to strangle him the more he spoke till the waiter took their menus and vanished into the back.

"Now then, let's discuss some of your most recent...capers." He used the word as if Puck's attempts at heists and robbery were nothing more then the fumbling of a children's cartoon villain. Puck began at the most recent incident demanding to know if Spider had done anything about the kidnappers.

"They acted without my knowledge. But I can assure you that none of them will be working at that facility any longer. I prefer my enterprises to be less...exposed. And with your little pet Ferrin dragging them into the limelight like that they've become a risky investment."

No one seemed satisfied with that explanation, but they didn't have much leverage to work with.

"I want to remind you how important the Ferrins are to my operation." Puck insisted never taking her eyes off Spider even as her water was refilled. "You've tried to buy them off me before and I refused. I don't want to have to discuss that again."

"You brought it up." Spider commented idly "I have no interest in your little hacker. He's good but not as good as others in my employee. And as for the breeding stock..." Here he leered at Othelo, "I prefer my companions to have less body hair then my dogs."

Pamela was surprised to see a flash of hot anger in Othelo's eyes. While most men would grow defensive and irritated at such a comment involving their wives Othelo had always laughed off such things when people on the ship had said them.

Then again, Spider wasn't family. Not like the crew. Already Pamela was starting to worry that when Othelo and the others had been saying their goodbyes it was just in case they didn't come back.

Puck quickly moved the conversation onto safer grounds, discussing the payments she had been making and how they had yet to be late on a single one. The unspoken words that Pamela knew were true was that they had even gone without parts for the ship, ammunition for the weapons or their favorite snacks so they could pay that regular bill. It was a sharp bill but more bothersome was the interest on it. As if it wasn't substantial enough.

"And while I know how badly you would like me to lower the interest," Spider chuckled "My answer is still no. Not until you prove to me I won't immediately regret giving your the benefit of my trust in that matter."

Pamela bite her lip to keep from speaking out loud how unprofessional of him it was to mock them like that when Puck had risked her life time and time again to make the payments without fail.

The meal arrived and Puck continued to explain their heists. Occasionally Spider would have Richard bring up some articles that had been written by the media on Puck and her crews exploits. By the time they had finished their meal Pamela had almost gotten relaxed from how...almost normal the meeting was. Except for the fact that literally everyone in the restaurant was paying attention to them.

"Now, we've been dancing around this subject for some time." Spider brought it up as a plate of gourmet cheesecakes was set on the table (Othelo's dessert order) "These people here."

Richard brought up some images of Anna, Hana, Men and Mika, pictures of them with various members of the crew.

"I wasn't aware you needed to be briefed on my every choice involving my staff." Puck shot back defensively.

"Oh I wouldn't dream of it. But these three specifically." The picture of Mika vanished and the other three grew larger. "I've had my best men and women looking into their identities and they haven't come up with anything. So I can't help but be curious."

"Maybe you should hire better detectives then." Puck countered. "They're just Shamans. Spiritual experts." When Spider looked unconvinced she continued. "The crew finds their presence relaxing. And each of them being a capable fighter doesn't hurt either."

Spider didn't look satisfied. "Puck, you naughty girl. I hope you're not trying to pull the wool over my eyes with such an obvious lie." Puck looked ready to flip the plate of cakes into Spider's face but she maintained.

"If you don't have any other questions for me Spider, I'd like to get back to my Ship. We have appointments to keep."

Spider hesitated, letting the silence linger while Othelo silently indicated to the waiter he'd like a few things to go. Lzzkren kicked him under the table but Othelo didn't comment.

"No...no I think I'm done with my questions. But because of the amount of publicity you've been getting lately...I think I'd like your next payment to be double." Puck's hair began to tremble like snakes but she swallowed her fury and gritted her teeth.

"That. Seems. Harsh." She commented.

"It's a harsh universe." Spider rose from his seat folding his napkin and setting it on the table before turning his eyes to Pamela. "I do hope you enjoyed this little meeting. I'm still not sure if I like you." He extended a hand and Pamela took it with a strained smile. Then she shrieked when she felt something warm and wet lick her hand. She withdrew sharply and fell into Puck as Lzzkren wrapped his fingers around a fork and slashed at Spider who casually stepped back avoiding the attack as easily as pouring a drink.

Pamela's eyes were transfixed with horror on what appeared to be a horrible worm made of flesh with two bulging eyes on either side of it's head and a writhing thick tongue almost dripping with drool. It was coming out of his wrist! And just as smoothly is slithered back in like his skin was liquid. It rippled and smoothed out once the monster vanished and Spider licked his lips thoughtfully.

"I enjoy your flavor though. Your fear flavors your flesh." He chuckled and gestured to the men behind him who all rose their weapons pointing them at the pirates. In that moment Pamela saw flashes of her life in the forefront of her mind.

"I do not appreciate your Dark Elves reactions though Puck. This woman has changed him for the worst and I don't approve. A punishment will need to be had."

"Then punish me for it." Puck growled and shoved the table finding it bolted to the ground. She chose instead to stand on her seat and then step onto the table, her boots scattering the flatware while Othelo rescued what was left of his desert.

Spider seemed to consider it for a moment. "The noble captain sacrificing herself for her crew." His face fell. "Disgusting. But I suppose that's reasonable."

Moving faster then Pamela could follow Spider was on the table and grabbed Puck by her throat. With strength that surpassed what his slender lanky body should be capable of he threw her to the ground and Pamela only caught a flash of Puck's black magic as it cushioned her fall.

Spider leapt lightly from the table landing on either side of her, knees bent looming over her. Othelo and Lzzkren were up, Lzzkren in front of Pam and Othelo with a gun in hand but Puck shouted for them to stop.

"This happens. Then we leave." Puck growled at Spider. "And you'll take the interest on our payments down by half."

Spider's lips curled into a twisted unstable smile. His pale skin almost looked ready to crack like it was a mask of shiny plastic.

"You've got some brass ones. I'll lower it by a quarter."

Puck barely had let the word of agreement escape her lips before that creature lunged from Spider's palm once more, bursting forth and attacking Puck's face.

Screaming filled the Restaraunt and Pamela felt herself getting faint. She couldn't bare to look and hid her face in Lzzkren's jacket. Othelo shouted Pucks name and Lzzkren's grip tightened on his blade.

"That's ENOUGH Spider. She's had enough!"

But Spider just laughed like Othelo had told a funny joke. When he finally withdrew he had blood on his suit and his hand was drenched in it. The monster was licking flecks of blood of Spider's cheek and Othelo was helping Puck to her feet passing her napkins to staunch the flow of blood from her left eye.

"Oh how tasty. It popped like a grape." Spider mused as the creature slithered back into his flesh and vanished. "I'll even knock off 25% on your next payment. Those screams..." He shuddered perversely. "I'll be hearing them all night."

Puck looked disgusted but stood with as much dignity as she could and spat some blood on the ground. "Good night Spider."

She maintained her composure all the way to the car. Pamela clutching at Lzzkren feeling lightheaded. There was so much blood on Puck's shirt and drops of it marking their trail.

"Othelo, Driving. Lzzkren get one of the survival kits out of the back. Pam...don't pass out. You're not allowed."

Pam made a whimpering sound that she almost didn't recognize as coming from her but Lzzkren gently guided her into the back seat of the car. "Sit here." He ordered and Pam nodded gingerly. Puck climbed in after and once Lzzkren had gotten the kit he shut the door and they were off.

Puck leaned back in her seat closing her remaining eye in a sigh and a shudder, "Fuck this hurts." she remarked so dryly that it sounded like she had only stubbed her toe. Lzzkren produced a bottle of something from the bag and Puck wasted no time in taking a gulp. Lzzkren looked at her and remarked moments too late. "That was to sterilize the wound."

Puck opened her eye again, somehow managing to give him a withering gaze despite her condition and accepted a clean towel from the Dark elf pouring some of the liquid onto one corner.

"Here, let me." Lzzkren insisted taking the towel from Puck and he dabbed at the area around her eye. Pam looked away unable to even stomach directly looking at the wound.

"I apologize." Lzzkren mumbled so softly Othelo might not have even heard it despite only sitting in the front seat.

"Shut up. He wanted to scare us. Especially Pam. Even without her there one of us would have gotten hurt."

The sickness in her stomach became too much with the addition of guilt and Pam clawed at one of the panels on the floor, finding a sickness bag and taking a moment to herself in the opposite corner of the back seat.

Puck groaned and closed her eye once more. "Just don't get any on the leather. Lzzkren's already going to have to clean the blood from the upholstery."

Pam did her best to comply, this little experience leaving her feeling...completely out of her element. This was business that was beyond her experience. She had expected the financial wounds but everything else...she simply couldn't process it yet.

The rest of the trip out of the planets atmosphere was spent in silence until the Silk came into view. Othelo simply texted an alert to Kitty to prep the med bay and gave her a quick report of Puck's injury.

Finally Puck broke the silence.

"Othelo, did you save any of those little cakes?"

With a wry smile Othelo passed a container into the back seat and Lzzkren opened it for her so she could eat the cakes with one hand while the other continued to press the towel to her face.

"Have one Pam." Puck insisted and Pam shook her head gently feeling her stomach churn again.

"Try the chocolate one." Puck insisted and the smaller woman nodded too weak to argue taking one out of the box and nibbling it gingerly.

"This is just the cost of doing business Pam." Puck added sternly. The words did not do much to comfort the trembling executive. Lzzkren put his free arm around Pam and gave her a comforting squeeze.

That helped...a little.

There was something particularly feminine about elves. Dark elves were no different. The grew very little body hair leaving their arms, legs and chest smooth, and their features often seemed delicate. Even when angry to the untrained eye Lzzkren looked like he could be easily destroyed by a single punch.

Of course anyone who had fought with an elf knew otherwise.

But to the point of smooth graceful curves and long slender limbs, it wasn't difficult for a normal human, particularly a human who had put on a few pounds recently.

"I've gotten faaaat." Pam groaned looking at herself in the mirror she was sharing with her lover. Lzzkren rolled his eyes in response and continued the meticulous grooming of his features. While some people would be put off by having a boyfriend who's more particular about his looks then she was. But Pam appreciated the effort he took for vanities sake. It just meant that she could feel even more confident knowing someone as good looking as he was wanted to be with her and only her.

"Seriously how have I gotten so big so fast?"

"Fishing for compliments does not suit you." He finally spoke with a flicker of a smirk to indicate he was teasing. Clearly she did not approve and pouted her lip at him. This seemed to have an opposite effect as desired though. Instead of apologizing he simply swooped in and kissed her pouting lips, cupping her face in his hands till she relaxed her body and gave in letting the soft lips of her lover drain any insecurity she'd had away.

When the kiss was was broken she sighed contentedly and turned back to the mirror as if it would hide the blush she could see clearly in her reflection.

"Don't think you can just do that whenever you want and get away with it." She scolded halfheartedly, because clearly she would enjoy him doing that plenty often.

"My bathroom. My rules." Lzzkren remarked looking far too smug for his own good. Pamela decided this wouldn't do at all and reached over to pinch his bottom making him grunt and his face twitched.

"Just who do you think is in charge around here?" She purred trying to sound flirty and dangerous.

"Not you clearly." He retaliated by cupping one of her breasts in an all too familiar fashion.

She rose up on her toes to meet his gaze on a level height. "I am so the boss."

"You're the assistant."

"Guess that would make you the mailboy then."

"What scandal. The Assistant to the CEO is sleeping with the mailboy."

"She's such a slut."

Each sentence had been drawing them closer and closer till their lips were brushing against one another again. She kissed him after calling herself a slut and he purred back "My slut."

Then he winced and stiffened feeling her take hold of a much more delicate area then his rear end.

"Says the biggest manwhore on the ship." She taunted and released him. "I've heard all about just how many one night stands you've had trying to get over me." She smirked as if she had won some great battle with this revelation.

Lzzkren looked taken aback at the assertion. "W-well...what about you then? Or did you spend all this time alone because you knew you'd already had the best?"

She laughed and the sound pierced him like knives. "Being the CEO came with its perks. Like having boys delivered to me when I wanted. Arm candy. One time I spent a week in Tincun with this underware model from Ledis? I mean you're flexible, but he was almost impossible to believe."

Lzzkren was blushing now and frowning. The game wasn't fun anymore and Pam could see that she had cut through his double standard.

"Of course that was before MOS forced us back together again." She leaned into him again and his arms stiffly rose to wrap around her. "Before I became "Your" Pam again."

The embarrassment turned to pride as she brought up the words he often uttered while they were in the middle of lovemaking. He reiterated them in her ear softly.

"My Pam~"

He felt the shiver race through her and knew she enjoyed it as much as he did. When she spoke again it drove him to kiss her fiercely. One word that carried with it so much meaning.

"Yours."

"I won't let her do this!"

Lzzkren was storming through the halls of the Silk like a man on a mission. Othelo and Jessie hot on his heels.

"Captains orders. Besides you know how Puck is." Othelo pointed out casually keeping pace with his hands stuffed in the pockets of his flight jacket.

Jessie was decidedly more concerned. "You can't interrupt them. It's a sacred right of passage!"

"My perfectly sculpted ass it is." Lzzkren spat stopping at the munitions storage and punching in his personal pass code. The door opened and he darted inside only to return with a canon hefted onto his shoulder. The other two boys boggled in shock. Then Othelo burst out laughing while Jessie lunged to grab it from him.

"Are you out of your mind!?" Jessie roared as his massive bulk tried to consume as much space as it could so Lzzkren couldn't dodge away. The Dark Elf however had no trouble side stepping the muscular brute so he fell to the floor with a crash that vibrated down the halls.

"She'll kill you if you do what I think you're about to do." Othelo sighed wiping away a tear of mirth.

"I'd like to see her try! I'm driven by loves true power. The need to protect my mate." Lzzkren took off down the hall at a sprint now. "I won't let that...that DEVIANT sully my Pam."

That earned another bark of laughter from Othelo who was jogging at his side while Jessie clambered to his feet and scrambled to catch up. "Your Pamela?" Does she know that you've claimed her?" The pointy haired pilot teased as they rounded the corner leading to the front of the ship.

"O-of course she does!" Lzzkren faltered with a stammer but continued to charge forward.

"And dude, it's not like she's some pure angel. She's all over your junk like a pole dancer in a firehouse." Jessie pointed out.

That sentence alone was enough to skid the entire chase to a stop. Othelo had a look of puzzlement as he tried to work out the logistics of Jessie's strained analogy. Lzzkren however lost all sense of composure and threw the rocket launcher to the floor before lunging at Jessie.

"TAKE THAT BACK MEATHEAD!" He roared eyes blazing with fury as he threw a flurry of fast sharp punches at Jessie's dumbfounded face. Each punch snapped the blond thugs head in a different direction, even knocking off his sunglasses which caused him to flail about blindly, almost swinging his sizable fists into Lzzkren in the process.

"Not cool man!" Jessie shouted finally wrapping his arms around Lzzkren locking him in a crushing hug against his muscle shirt. The stench of Jessie's body was almost incapacitating for Lzzkren who opened wide and sank his teeth into the exposed bicep. Jessie howled more with shock and confusion then pain and hurled Lzzkren back down the hall where he landed on his feet and took a moment to straighten his suit collar.

"I won't let ANYONE sully the name of my Pamela. Especially not some barely literate dumb muscle!" He snarled with a feral barring of his sharp teeth. Jessie was busy rubbing the dark bruise on his arm and looking a little wounded by the cruel words. Othelo was still smirking and gave him a pat on the shoulder.

"There there big guy. He's just acting crazy because he's in Looooooove~"

That was it. That taunting was enough to push the normally calm and composed Lzzkren right over the edge. He fell to a knee and swept up the Rocket Launcher aiming it at his fellow pirates while seeing nothing but red.

"You will NOT mock my feelings for her! She is perfection!" he roared and pulled the trigger sending a blazing ball of light from the barrel and down the hall after Othelo and Jessie's hastily retreating forms. The explosion caught Jessie in the back and sent him crashing into Othelo flattening the smaller skinnier pilot. Smoke filled the hall and they were both lost from sight.

Satisfied with defending the honor of his mate Lzzkren turned heel and completed the short journey to Puck's room where he kicked the door for attention. When the intercom crackled to life Puck's voice sounded annoyed.

"Is the ship on fire? Because I believe I was clear when I said to not bother me!"

"Release Pam to me this instant you deviant or I will blow your door to shreds."

"Lzzkren?" Pamela's voice squeaked out sounding confused. "G-go away!" She demanded a moment later.

"I've come to rescue you from her perverse desires!" Lzzkren barked back and aimed the canon at the door. But this time nothing happened when he tugged on the trigger. All too late he realized in his haste he had only brought one charge rocket.

Not to be deterred he began hammering on the door with the launcher itself denting it while Puck shouted at him through the intercom.

"I'm taking that out of your paycheck you over possessive pointy eared-"

"G-go away Lzzkren! I don't want you here!"

"Don't let her intimidate you! You don't have to do this!"

When the door finally fell open the scene was revealed. A furious purple haired captain blazing with demonic power and fury. The very furniture in the room was rattling with her anger.

But Lzzkren stood dumbfounded as his world became consumed by the vision of beauty he knew as Pam.

She was in shiny red latex. A more modern spacestyle suit that she only had zipped up to just below her breasts which were already swelling with pregnancy. Thick matching boots put Pam an extra inch above her usual height, and her hair had been pulled back into a curled pony tail in some kind of stylized battle look.

Her face was redder then the clingy bodysuit that left so little to the imagination. Scattered around the room were other outfits Puck had been planning to dress Pam in. But they would have to wait it seemed as Lzzkren seemed lost in Pam's eyes.

The business woman turned fetish model carefully trotted over to him to embrace him and brush her lips along his ear. "You were worried about me." She mumbled sounding surprised.

"You should be the one worried about him." Puck growled ominously.

"O-of course I did." Lzzkren stammered feeling a shiver race through him and a significant hardness making his custom tailored pants no longer as comfortable as they had been. "I love you."

He had never said the words in front of anyone else before. And it felt even more powerful knowing that Puck, and now Othelo and Jessie who were lingering in the doorway still smoking from the rocket blast had heard it. He had completely lost all sense of composure and manners because he had become worried...or was it jealous?

Either way Pam could feel a heat building in her that she was sure had nothing to do with the outfit Puck had forced her into.

There was something soothing in repetition. While some found it dull and crippling Lzzkren thrived on it.

He was most happy when life was running as it should. When his days passed like the inner workings of a clock, precise, methodical, it was then he was most at peace spiritually and emotionally.

But unfortunately for Lzzkren, he was a space pirate, and life never stayed the same for long.

As exampled, he was woken early from his slumber by a rumble that shook his entire room. His blade was in his hand before his eyes were even open and he rolled to his feet. He moved silently through the large area he had claimed as his own, padding across the grass he had transplanted from his last place of residence and out the door into the hall. He could just as easily ask on the intercom what was happening but he preferred to find things out on his own rather then be told.

The hallways were cool in temperature, and his satin bedclothes didn't help with that at all, by the time he reached the bridge he was in need of coffee, or liquor. Something to reignite the heat that would flow through his veins.

The door slid open and his sharp features betrayed annoyance at the scene spread out in front of him. The pilot was at his post, but his pants were on the floor and his shirt thrown somewhere behind him. The Captain arrived in that same moment and came to the conclusion Lzzkren had with a groan.

"Othelo for gods sake if you and Kitty are going to screw around can you AT LEAST do it when we're not in danger of crashing into anything?"

"I have noooo idea what you're talking about boss." The spiky haired pilot lied as he avoided her judging gaze. "I just felt like relaxing a little while I steered us through this asteroid belt. That jolt you felt is the ship telling you that we need to replace the buffer shield. She's already down to 64%."

Puck stomped across the room to argue with Othelo, blaming him for the shields being weakened but Lzzkren turned and left the room silently. He was tempted to attack the pilot for waking him, but he was too irritated to do a proper job at it. He was likely to end up damaging the ship and then Captain Puck would blame him.

When he returned to his suite he hesitated...

Something felt off.

Sliding open the door he entered cautiously. The screens that lined his room's walls still displaced an artificial night sky full of stars. But his intuition had been right. There was a figure in the darkness making their way through the grass to his bedroom.

****************

The jolt had startled Pamela, but she hadn't been asleep.

No instead she had been up scanning the news feeds and to her anger she had discovered that the news of her vanishing hadn't turned into a manhunt or a missing persons report.

Instead the Board of Directors had filed a report that she had simply abandoned the company and even pinned some embezzlement crimes on her. Then according to the weasels who she had formerly been in charge of she had fled the planet. It was more likely they saw her kidnapping as an opportunity for a takeover of the company and a convenient excuse for some of their own embezzling.

And worse yet? No one cared! People she had thought were her friends all swallowed the lie easily. Even her family were shown in interviews commenting how she had grown so distant in the last few years they weren't surprised she was capable of such a greedy and ruthless act.

Following those reports the Board of Directors had announced their plans for the next business quarter. Pamela was unsurprised to find they were making all the wrong choices. Anything she would have vetoed was being passed as brilliance. Without her guidance those selfish misers would run the company into the ground and make off with whatever they could.

Unable to contain her fury she screamed and scattered a stack of papers from her desk. This startled her secretary who had fallen asleep at her desk so badly that the long eared rabbit woman fell over backwards and crashed to the floor.

Pamela was unsympathetic. "Clean up this mess. I want these papers filed by the time I get back or I'm feeding you to MOS." She growled which sent the poor furry woman scrambling around the floor to gather up the mess Pamela had created.

The dark haired business woman instead stormed from the room and found herself marching briskly down the hall without any active idea where she was heading. She still wasn't that familiar with the ships maze like corridors and while in the back of her head she knew she was likely to get lost she didn't care.

Perhaps it was fate, or instinct that led her to Lzzkren's room. The door was labeled clearly complete with a glowing "Do not Disturb." sign flickering on it. But she wasn't in the mood to care. She hammered on the door with her fist till it stung and waited impatiently for her ex-lover to greet her. When he didn't after what felt like too long she opened the door herself and entered the room in a huff.

The room itself stunned her. She had been here before during it's daylight cycle but only briefly. It still amazed her that Lzzkren had managed to create something so organic feeling on a space ship. The room opened into a wide field of soft dark green grass complete with a gently flowing stream running through the middle. Off to one corner an elaborate garden had been constructed, and in the other a smaller shack of elegant and elaborate construction rested. Reasoning he had to be in the shack Pamela snapped back into her fowl mood and began her approach with every intention of...

...of what she wasn't sure of but she knew it wouldn't be pretty. Even when he was being polite Lzzkren was condescending and pompous. And when he learned of how her company had responded to the situation he was likely to admonish her for allowing it to happen. As if he could plan for every possible situation.

"What are you doing in my room?"

The voice made her jump and she spun around clumsily to face him. She felt her heart hammering from the surprise and she glared. "Are you TRYING to give me a heart attack?" She accused.

His gaze turned dismissive and mildly annoyed. "What are you doing in my room?" He repeated. She knew how much he hated to repeat himself but something about his frustration made her own feel mildly soothed.

"Because of YOU-" She started with a jab of her finger to further implicate him in the crime, "-my company just framed me for embezzlement. And because I'm trapped here on this stupid ship I can't even go prove them wrong!"

There wasn't even a flicker of remorse on his face. "I did not bring you here. Those meddling children tracked you down and kidnapped you. You may recall that I demanded they let you go."

"And why didn't you make them huh?" She pressed leaning in to try and emphasize her anger. "You're the weapons master! Or is that shiny sword just for looks? You've killed before I've seen it on the news!"

Lzzkren sniffed like she had just said something foolish and rude in the company of important people and brushed past her, "I can't hurt the Ferrin because the rest of the crew likes him too much and I can't hurt the Machine child at all. He is some Material too powerful for my bullets or blades. And more to the point the crew has grown...fond of the little abomination. They are disgustingly sentimental and accepting."

She grabbed at the back of his shirt causing him to windmill his arm in an undignified manner to avoid stumbling. "Oh is that it? You just pass the blame on? That sounds about right. It's never YOUR fault is it?"

"Just like it's not your fault that no one in your family cares enough to believe you're innocent?" He shot back jerking out of her grasp and turning to face her once more. He had never wanted to face her again after the pain that their relationship had brought to them both. All along he had known it was best if they just stayed apart but that meddling child and that foolish little tech geek-

WHACK!

Her hand caught him off guard. Any other night he could have deflected it, or dodged it, or even blocked it but his anger at the situation had distracted him enough that Pamela had landed a solid slap to the side of his face leaving a burning red handprint.

"What was THAT for?" He snarled throwing his sword away before he was tempted to use the flat of it on her for retribution.

"For being right!" She shouted back. He had clearly touched a nerve and the logic of it cut through her own blinding rage. The company may not have been her fault but the family was. She had pushed everyone away in an effort to continue building her company into the titan of industry it was.

The silence stretched on between them for what felt like an eternity. But quietly he put an arm around her, and guided her back to his bedroom.

*************

The sake he provided her with burned her throat, but it felt good to have some sort of sensation as shouting at him and slapping him had left her feeling numb and tired.

"I wasn't always like that you know." She sighed once the cup had been refilled. "Before you I actually was very focused on balancing my work and my family. Dinner with my Mother and sisters every week. I'd visit dad in the home. But after..." Neither of them wanted to actually speak out loud the word "miscarriage." It contained far too much pain and brought with it all the subsequent suffering of their first breakup.

"I just wanted to forget. About you, and it and...all of it. So I poured myself into my work. Which left less time for-"

"Whatever your excuses are you know the truth." Lzzkren admonished in that condescending way he had that made her want to slap him again.

"Well what about you then?" She pushed back as they sat across from one another on cushions on the floor of his bedroom.

"What about me?" He countered sipping his own sake.

"You left your family who you worked SO hard to honor after our little rebellion together." She began unfocused eyes trying to find somewhere on him to stare. "And now you're here on this ship of thieves and murderers and...whatever! You seem to hate all of them. So why are you still here?"

He had meditated on this very question for a long time, and many times. He knew the answer he had arrived to. Should he share it with her? It was risky.

Holding up a finger to indicate her patience he took the bottle of sake forsaking the cup and drinking from it. The rush of chemicals entering his system was almost instantaneous. It was the quickest way to making a difficult and likely self destructive choice.

"Because," He answered with a sigh where she could almost see a cloud of sake breath. "These chaotic, moronic, soft hearted fools remind me of life before it all went so wrong."

He drummed up the courage to meet her eyes. "Before I ruined your life."

She frowned, like she had just bit into something spoiled and set her cup aside.

"Because it's always about you isn't it?" She sighed and leaned forward, crawling towards him. Before his alcohol soaked reflexes could react she kissed him.

She had thought about his lips often since they had left. They were soft, softer she reasoned then even hers. But he was always more groomed and manicured. He claimed it was a product of his race.

Her fingers slid down his chest finding a place to hold onto and support herself till he cautiously slid his arms back around her like he expected this was a trap.

The kiss drug itself out as they almost immediately picked up where they had left off. Mouths opened, tongues that tasted of expensive alcohol met in a clash and a struggle of writhing muscles. He felt her body pressed against him and marveled at how soft she was when he knew the tender flesh hid an cold as stone business woman.

She felt warm right now though.

And his slender frame hid the muscles that had been built through dedication to his crafts. She slid her hand between the buttons of his nightshirt to touch the bare skin and a jolt of pleasure raced through her. She was curious about the new scars she had seen when he had been sent to the medical bay. Without breaking the kiss she began undressing him.

Their lips finally broke and she found herself in his lap, his shirt open exposing dark skin and darker nipples. Without his expensive clothes he seemed somehow more accessible to her. But she had to make something clear. Her eyes met his so he made sure to pay attention.

"This isn't about you." She began.

"Or you." He countered.

She peeled the shirt off his shoulders and he began unbuttoning her blouse the same way.

"I haven't forgiven you." She muttered running her hands along his shoulders and down his back.

"Nor I you." He followed suit undoing her bra and setting her modest breasts free in the shadows of his candlelit room.

"You're still a pompous..." She began adjusting her position so she was straddling him, "self centered..." A solid grind against him told her that he was more then ready to continue "Bastard."

"Harlot." He growled and nipped at her neck sending shivers down her spine. "Ice queen." her breasts were so warm against his chest, but his mind was already focused on the warmth he remembered from long ago that he wanted...needed in this moment.

"Pointy eared-" She gasped feeling his bulge pressed between her legs. She dig her nails into his shoulders to brace herself and try to maintain some semblance of control, "P-pointy eared man whore."

"Don't flatter yourself." He grunted wriggling out of his pants to finally free himself to rub against her panties.

"Why not? You don't anymore." She argued and he silenced her with another hard kiss. It seemed they were in agreement. Neither of them needed this. They weren't back together. Absolutely not. Even as his hardness slid inside her quivering muscles making her moan into his open mouth they were content to lie to themselves.

It was better then he remembered. Better then any of those emotionless flings he had thrown himself into in the years that followed. She gripped him so tight he considered for a moment he might be forced back out. But the motion of her hips and the weight of her body pinning him to the floor was enough to ensure he wouldn't be escaping accidentally.

She deserved this. She knew she did. After going so long with a focus on the pleasures of being the CEO she had earned this primal pleasure. His lips, his hands, worshiping her every curve. She didn't even feel particularly pretty that evening but the sensations rushing through her made her feel like a goddess. She had worked hard for too long. She could indulge in this lewdness. "H-harder."

Grunting and growling like animals they didn't so much make love as attack one another. Gripping, stroking, grinding, sweating. Her scent was all around him bringing back a thousand buried memories. Her taste so familiar.

The sounds of his pleasure ringing in her ears. She was getting close already, and she knew it wouldn't end there. She wouldn't let it. All of his refinement was gone and he was spread out beneath her, bare for all to see. This was the true warrior that was buried under tailored suits and expensive tea. The aggressive, beast throbbing inside her eager to spill his seed and reclaim what he had lost.

But not tonight. She brought herself up all the way to his tip making him growl in displeasure before slamming herself back down again attempting to establish dominance. She was claiming him, not the other way around.

None of that mattered though as she felt his body tense and tremble beneath her and the heat of his cum being pumped inside. It was enough to make her throw back her head and cry out in climax. The hot juices rushed out of her over his pelvis and she felt a bead of sweat run down her neck to her breast. His eyes seemed to glow in the faint light as he devoured the image in front of him.

They were content to keep up the lie for a while longer.

But in this moment the truth was clear to both of them.

Lzzkren had been shot.

It was not the first time he had been shot. His father had been the first one to shoot him during his training.

And he was almost positive it would not be the last time he was shot either. So long as he allied himself with the ship of fools his life and well being would always be in question.

With as much dignity as he could manage he made his way to the medical bay, feeling the breeze as the ships medic raced past him at a speed only capable by her race. His sharp eyes could follow her movements down the hall before she vanished round the corner. By the time he arrived she would have already had the room set up. Despite the way he could feel the wound burning he did not increase his pace. Each step was perfectly measured and controlled.

He was a man of dignity. Even in if it caused him more pain.

He hadn't always been that way though...

*******************************************************************************

"You return home this instant!"

The voice of his father barked from the cars communication system and Lzzkren rolled his eyes drawing out a gun and firing it into the dashboard disabling the system with a burst of sparks. His passenger cackled and ran her hand along his thigh giving it a squeeze.

The wind whipping around them was warm as they raced through the summer night on Lzzkren's homeworld. Trees rushed past in a blur of shadows and bursts of starlight peeked through the leaves as the twin moons framed the sky above the treeline.

The dark elf heir poured more power into the magically engine and they were well beyond a safe level of speed. But the girl only cheered and pumped her fist in the air.

"I haven't had fun like this since I was a kid!" She exclaimed scarcely able to believe the situation. Only hours before the two of them had been shouting at each other over a boardroom table over the cost of a contract Lzzkren's family had drafted up for her to sign.

Now he could feel that hand rewarding him for the risky situation by hooking a finger around his belt. There was a smirk of superiority as he felt himself tense and heat up from the touches. The sensations only got worse (or better depending on your point of view) when she leaned in to kiss his long, pointed ear. It was particularly sensitive and caused him to push the accelerator all the way down.

They burst free of the tree line into an open field with grass that came up to half the height of the car. They were cutting a pat through the field as the moonlight lit up their transport and he got another good look at her.

Pale skin, rounded cheeks. A sharp pair of eyes that looked ravenous now but not long ago were as cold as ice when she had been calling him an elitist womanizer.

She wasn't particularly wrong on either count.

He skidded to a stop somewhere in the middle of the field and killed the engine. The sudden contrast between the roar of the wind from a moment ago and the silence was intoxicating. It almost begged to be broken with a scream or a the sharp crack of his gun which once more rested comfortably on the inside of his custom tailored jacket.

He turned to face her and their lips met in an undignified mash of unbridled passion and desire. Neither of them needed each other, they simply wanted this. Wanted to turn all the aggressions from their day jobs into something primal and pleasurable.

Her lips tasted like cola flavored lip gloss. How childish. He reflected. But that wasn't to say he wouldn't enjoy them.

**************************

The surgery had gone well. Lzzkren's body took particularly well to medicine born from herbs and other plants from his homeworld and he always kept a supply on the ship. The ships medic had learned how to use them and so now he lay in a bed in the medical bay awaiting his discharge. He could leave right now and she wouldn't stop him, but he insisted on following protocol if only for keeping up the appearance of receiving proper medical care.

So while he rested and the Medic wrote up her report he closed his eyes a moment and tried to summon forth the memory that had passed through his mind while she'd been treating his wound. Just as he could envision the natural light of the night giving his lover's skin a healthy glow he was interrupted by a voice. "Her" voice.

"You've gotten sloppy again."

There she stood in the doorway. Her face was stern but her eyes betrayed her worry. He didn't crack the smile that threatened to expose itself, though it gave him pleasure and satisfaction to know she was concerned.

"Considering how long I've been surrounded by these fools I'm amazed I haven't gotten even worse." He shot back. The Medic rolled her eyes and gathered up the papers she'd been filling out. "Well since you don't feel like thanking me I'll just go have a snack." She sniffed trying to act like she really cared that he had insulted her. In reality she was leaving him alone with Pamela. They all knew it even if only the medic was willing to admit it.

The silence that stretched on between the two of them was agonizing. He strained his mind to think of something scathing to say but nothing was able to break through of the memory that now decided it should replay itself in the forefront of his mind in vivid high definition.

"Just how rusty have your skills gotten playboy?" Pamela taunted him moving closer to the bed, her eyes lingering on the bandaged wounds and then on the scars that she was unfamiliar with. And she had seen his chest enough times to have the memory of it burned into her mind. Shamelessly Lzzkren remained still, his perfectly sculpted muscles tight under his dark skin. The scars told stories of past crimes, and the faded scars were memories of the strict training he had undergone to be the head of his family.

A family he had abandoned for her.

"I can still handle you if necessary." He muttered and apparently realized all too late that it could be misconstrued as flirting. His face darkened with embarrassment at this oversight and he looked away as if she wasn't worth his time.

She laughed a condescending laugh and moved to his bedside. "I bet you could. Or at least you wish you could. But that ship has sailed." She admonished. That drew his gaze back to her and they locked eyes.

"You don't sound so sure." He accused, his voice dropping an octave.

"I'm always sure." She countered.

"That's a lie."

"You're the expert."

"I lied to protect you."

"More like protect yourself."

The conversation had devolved quickly and now the two of them were glaring at each other. It took a solid minute of this before either of them moved. Surprisingly it was Pamela who made the first move.

She kissed him. Hard. Fast. It was over before Lzzkren could even register what was happening. His eyes were wide with shock as no amount of logic had led him to believe she would do that in this situation.

Then the stinging slap of her left hand against his cheek brought him crashing back to the moment at hand. "You deserve that and a thousand more." She accused while he tried to gather together the scraps of his dignity left.

With a equally condescending smirk he purred, "You mean the kisses? Because I'm open to either."

Now her face was red. She considered slapping him again but instead turned to storm out of the room. "Pompous asshole!"

Settling back into his bed with a sigh Lzzkren focused on the stinging in his cheek. The cool tingle of the medicine on his gunshot wound. Even the chill of the air in the med bay.

Anything to distract him from the fact that now he knew she still wore that childish cola flavored lip gloss.

Pamela hated being inactive.

She'd always been like that growing up. If she didn't have a project to work on she would make one. Her secretary had always commented that she was wound so tight that some day she'd snap in half. Pamela would just chuckle and remind the young man (Who she had hired based on his organizational skills second and his tight behind first) that idle hands weren't making anyone money.

But she was a long way from the corner office she had so proudly lorded over the board of directors in her company. A long way from those backstabbing, underhanded, sneaky, ruthless demons in suits who would fire their own mother, on her birthday, so long as it got them a little higher in the company.

Here her office was much smaller. It didn't have a window but it had an elaborate picture wall that could show her landscapes of many different planets with the push of a button. And instead of those immoral weasels that she herself had hired at some point to help her push her business to the top, these days she was working with decidedly more trustworthy and reasonable clients.

Pamela was the Business manager for a crew of Space Pirates.

Not just any Space Pirates either, but some of the most infamous Pirates in the galaxy. She had been kidnapped by them and forced into servitude by their captain. Captain Puck had long come to terms with the fact that while she was decent when it came to tactics, and her willpower was undeniable. But when it came to the finer points of organization, and financial management she was lacking. And while she was a proud woman she was also exceptionally greedy. In the end avarice won out and Puck agreed that Pamela was needed.

And so here she was at a job she never applied for and she felt herself falling into the same bad habits. Working till her eyes refused to focus. Standing up and feeling stiffness in her back and fingers. Her stomach felt like it was devouring itself. She'd missed dinner again. That in itself was a feat because the Ship's cook was VERY insistent on people eating well.

Pamela sighed and finished the last of her coffee. The liquid did little to fill her belly but the dark haired woman didn't want to confront the cook about why she hadn't come down to dinner. One thing would inevitably lead to another and then she'd be interrogating the cook about why she hadn't filled out a supply list for the kitchen.

Just as she was about to surrender to her hunger pains however there was a rapping on the door. Pamela froze and knew immediately who would be on the other side. He always was very precise about how he handled himself around her. Measured. Controlled. Everything down to the way he knocked on her office door when he knew she was working.

A burst of activity as she smoothed out her work clothes and switched the wall screen to a mirror so she could give herself a once over. To her dismay the hours of working at a computer screen had left her with dark circles under her eyes. The weeks in space were starting to have a toll on her complexion washing out the color. She felt decidedly drab and reflected that she would have never allowed herself to fall so far behind in personal upkeep. To let the board of directors see her like this would have been professional suicide. They would smell weakness. They would-

A sharper knock on he door snapped her back into the moment and she ran her fingers through her hair to try and tame it before switching the screen back to a landscape of a city skyline. He was getting impatient. But she smirked turning to the door, after the years she'd spent apart from him he could stand to wait another minute.

A third time and she finally opened the door from the button on her desk. A slender dark skinned elven man stepped into the room holding a box. As usual his suit was immaculate, crisp and clean without a stray hair or speck of dust. His hair was shiny with product but still looked as soft as silk. He had it combed into a pompadour which was painfully out of fashion on her planet but he assured her where he came from it was a sign of class and status.

"You missed dinner." He greeted her bluntly, his dark eyes burning into her. Appraising her.

"Hello to you to." She shot back and turned her gaze from his eyes to the paperwork she'd last written. "Unlike some people around here I have alot of work to do. I figured I could have something later."

A cheap shot but she wasn't on her game yet. He was the weapons specialist for the ship so his duties were no where near as constant and demanding as her own. Instead he filled his time with with a strict training and meditation regimen which left him with a trim and fit form that she could admire through his custom tailored suit.

He sniffed in disdain and placed the box ontop of her papers. It was shiny and black lacquered box tied with a gold thread. She turned her best piercing gaze on him but he deflected it easily by turning his head and pretending to admire a plant that one of the crew had given her as a welcoming gift.

Abandoning her efforts to set his hair on fire with her mind she undid the strings from the box and lifted the lid revealing a packed meal of rice, some unidentifiable form of meat in a tantalizing smelling glaze, some fresh chopped vegetables and two stuffed dumplings. It wasn't the standard takeaway meal that the ships cook would prepare which led to her questioning him. "You made me Dinner?"

Turning his unimpressed gaze back to her he spoke barely moving his lips but somehow his voice came out clear and dry as a bone left in the desert. "You always allow busywork to distract you from what's really important. If you starve yourself you're useless to the crew. And the Captain does not suffer useless people."

Despite the manner he had responded she couldn't help but feel a rush of warmth starting in her chest and spreading to her limbs. Rather then argue with him she took the chopsticks he had supplied in the box and began to eat. After the first few bites he took a seat across the desk from her watching her eat as though he was sure the moment he left she'd stop and go back to work. She paused to reach into the cupboard behind her and draw out a pair of glasses. Nothing as ornate as the crystal she had in her old office but they would do. She set them down on the desk and waited patiently.

He glanced at the glasses then to her, refusing to acknowledge her silent request as long as he could. But the staring contest could only last so long before he sighed and begrudgingly drew a flash out from the inside pocket of his jacket. From it a liquid the color of tree bark flowed into each glass and she smiled appreciatively. Then she pretended not to notice how her smile made his dark cheeks burn darker.

The two silently toasted their respective glasses and sipped while she continued her enforced meal. Once the box was picked clean she placed the lid back in place.

"It was very good." A measured compliment. She couldn't afford to give him too much. They had too much history between them for her to completely forgive him. He was the whole reason she had been stolen away from her comfortable fast paced life and dragged out into the darkest parts of space to work for known criminals.

"I know." He answered in that solid self assured manner. "Don't make a habit of it. You're expected to socialize on occasion or the crew will force themselves upon you." While his words sounded dire and threatening she knew the truth to be they would simply drag her away from her work to play silly games and participate in whatever foolish time wasting non-sense the less focused members of the crew had come up with.

He rose from the chair after draining what was left in his glass, apparently having said all he was willing to say. But something caused Pamela to reach out and take hold of the cuff of his jacket. It stopped him and he turned to look down at her in her seat. A single perfectly groomed eyebrow rose questioningly. A hint of annoyance flashed in those dark eyes. He had not planned for this, could not predict what she had in mind.

She rose from her seat till she was eye level with him. "Thank you." It was a moment of letting down her walls. An unplanned moment that even surprised her. Maybe it was the satisfaction of a full stomach, or the hum of alcohol melting away the tension in her muscles. But it felt...necessary.

Yes...yes it was simply protocol wasn't it? She wasn't going to forgive him so quickly. Not over a simple boxed dinner and some booze.

His face was placid, questioning. He was trying to figure out her motive for the gratitude. It was like they were playing a game of chess and she'd sacrificed one of her pieces, but he couldn't predict how it would benefit her in the long run. When he became frustrated in trying to find the deeper meaning in the words he responded with a very simple, "You're welcome."

And there it was. The two of them in this little office. Barely a closet compared to the sheer size of the ship. It gaze a feeling of isolation, like they were the only two living beings in this little four walled universe. Outside that door was a vast emptiness. But here they had each other and what felt like a lifetime of memories. Painful memories.

What else was there to say? A list of suggestions ran through Pamela's mind like a scrolling news feed but nothing seemed right. While he was a man of few words she could tell he too was seeking out just the right sentence that would put him on top in this unspoken competition.

Finally she released his sleeve and they stood in silence for another awkward moment. The energy in the room had gone from stifling to barely a pulse. "You can keep the box." He broke the silence with a sentence that landed with all the grace and dignity of a file cabinet falling over. It made her cheeks burn and she snapped back with "What a gracious gift. I shall treasure it forever."

That was enough to have the walls go back up. He nodded, and stepped to the door sliding it open. As he stepped through it Pamela felt a pang of loss. A dull ache in her chest. The same dull ache she had lived with for years after they separated. Having forgotten it in the brief time she had been on the ship it stung that much sharper in return.

Before he closed the door he spoke once more, barely audible but she caught it all the same.

"Don't stay up too late. It's bad for your health."

And the door was closed and he was gone. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding and sank back into her tall backed executive chair. Suddenly the heat from the alcohol seemed to overwhelm her and she undid the first couple buttons on her blouse.

"Damn that man." she muttered to herself closing her eyes. All the tension and stiffness from working was gone and replaced by a tangle, a tightness in her stomach. She knew now that no more work would be accomplished tonight.

So what could she do to be productive? She was loath to let the night pass by while she idled. But her mind was far from her actual job.

Instead it was following the dark skinned, well dressed man back to his quarters. It was carefully and meticulously undressing him and guiding Pamela into a fantasy she had refused to indulge herself with for at least a year.

Deafening silence filled her office. And with another muttered curse she surrendered to these thoughts. With the push of a button her office door locked.

The lights dimmed.

And leaning back in her chair she closed her eyes to draw forth memories of a time she had lied to herself about. Times that she claimed she'd forgotten. The two of them under the stars. Together in every sense of the word. Not competing. Completing one another. Perhaps she dared even to dream that they could have that again.

There in the darkness Pamela allowed the fantasy to free her and give way to emotions she had left inactive for so long.

Because Pamela hated being inactive.

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Othelo Jones

February 2013

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