The planet Marek was a crater marked dusty planet circling a dim red star, as far as Jim could tell as their ship circled it there was only one settlement and it didn’t look like much. He wasn’t sure what he’d expected exactly but as they began their descent Jim couldn’t help but think that the place made Mos Eisley look like the good side of town.

“Told you the view was better under my butt,” Clara said as they looked out the window. They were circling a paved area that to Jim looked a lot like airport parking.

“This is my first alien planet,” Jim replied, “Let me enjoy it.”

As he said that the two of them watched a being in tattered robes dump a large bucket of very organic looking refuse out onto a nearby street. Jim nervously looked at the various figures milling about, a lot of them wore gas masks or outfits that looked like scuba gear, and while a lot of them could have looked like anything under the robes and masks they wore a lot of them looked… very human, albeit with skin colors or features you would have never seen on earth.

“So is there a common ancestor for most species?” Jim asked suddenly.

Clara shrugged, “Look Jim I’m not some kind of scientist or a priest who worries about that stuff, evolution, bored goddesses, it’s just not my problem. Most species breath the same atmosphere as us and have a body structure pretty close too.” She grinned as she picked him up, “obviously most species get a bit… bigger than humans.”

“As I’ve noticed,” Jim muttered.

She carried him in her hand down to the cargo bay where Isstvell and Lyrei were waiting silently, still in their disguises for a minute he could believe they really were just machines.

“Jim!” Lyrei’s muffled voice called as one of the figures turned towards him, “Clara! Did you two enjoy your private time together?”

“Uhh yeah,” Clara muttered, clearly embarrassed. “What did you two do down here? Stare at the wall?”

“We’ve been using our combined computing power to simulate the first Human World War,” Isstvell said, standing up, “I hoped it could help us understand Jim’s psychology better.”

“World War One?” Jim asked, a bit bewildered, “I don’t know whether to be flattered or offended.”

“I was playing the part of the German Kaiser!” Lyrei said excitedly.

“I was the Russian Tsar,” Isstvell said neutrally, “I did better than he did in your history but my subordinates murdered me a few years in.”

“Well I’m glad you had fun, we’re meeting my contact soon,” Clara said excitedly.

“It’s her aunt,” Jim said.

Clara started, “Yes it is but she’s still a very valid underworld contact!”

“Of course she is!” Lyrei said in a warm tone, “You’re doing very well leading the mission Clara!”

“This entire spaceport is crawling with thieves,” Isstvell muttered, “I intercepted a number of electronic communications and complaints about theft comprise almost 30% of outgoing messages. I’m staying with the ship to protect it.”

“Fine,” Clara said, “Even one Aelmari is more than enough to shoot our way out of anything we’re going to run into here.” She thought a minute and then gestured for Isstvell and Lyrei to follow her to a cabinet in the hall. She placed Jim up on her shoulder and placed a strand of her pink hair in his hand so he could hold it for balance. She threw the cabinet open eagerly revealing a large array of various guns, some of them looked almost like something a sporting goods store would sell and others looked like sci-fi film set pieces.

“I had your construction nanites make these!” Clara said excitedly as she grabbed something that looked shockingly like a single action revolver, “Look Jim I made that gun from the movie you showed me!”

“Clara,” Isstvell said impatiently, “you’ve scaled up a primitive human kinetic weapon and while it may have recreational value it would be unwise to choose this as your primary means of protection in such a-“

“It’s got plasma shells!” Clara said excitedly as she holstered her western set piece. “a little Glalan tech on a human classic!”

“Clara do you have any experience in ballistics?” Isstvell asked, her frown deepening, “taking a weapon which was, by my records, obsolete by human standards and then outfitting it with your own people’s munitions seems to be mixing a number of variables you have not accounted nor prepared for.”

“Yeah yeah,” Clara muttered, “We probably won’t need them anyways, around here it’s more of a deterrent.” She patted the revolver’s handle before grabbing  another pair of silvery guns that looked much more like science fiction items, holstering one across from her revolver she tossed the other to Lyrei who looked at it strangely.

“I can manifest a plasma projectile far more powerful than anything your species produces Clara,” she said, a bit confused.

“Yeah and there’s only one race that shoots plasma from their hands,” Clara explained, “yours, and since we don’t want anyone to know you’re here you’re doing your killing with that today.”

“Do I get a gun?” Jim asked.

Clara laughed while the two Aelmari looked on impassively, “Jim!” Clara wheezed, “What would you do? Shoot someone’s eye out?”

“I almost shot your eye out with my grandad’s 1911!” he replied angrily, “Give me a red ryder BB gun for all I care!”

“I’m not dumb enough to fight without a facial shield and most people around here won’t be either,” Clara replied, “besides it would be weird group of slavers that let their merchandise carry around a gun, even a little one.”

“The cat has a point,” Isstvell said, “but be warned Clara you had better be a VERY possessive owner do you understand? No unnecessary risks.”

“I’ll be with them at all times,” Lyrei said sweetly, “And I’m sure Clara will exercise excellent judgment.”

“Obviously!” Clara said as she grabbed what looked like a silvery rucksack out of the cabinet. She pulled a simple drawstring open and held it up to her shoulder, “All right Jim hop in!”

“You can’t carry me there?” he asked.

“Merchandise goes in bags!” Clara said with a grin as she shoved him in.

“Wait-“ Jim started but the last thing he saw as she pulled the bag shut again was her smug face. He protested a minute until Clara laughed from outside.

"I've got a pair of socks I've been wearing the whole way here that I could toss in there to keep you company if you're not quiet!"

Jim decided to quietly ride in the bag.

…

Shaerra, matriarch of the first worldship to make contact with humanity, was having difficulty dealing with the responsibility. Worldship matriarchs had no established hierarchy, but they’d never had any problem reaching simple consensus on communal decisions for the Aelmari until now. Lyanna, another matriarch, had ordered the residents of her ship, some five billion strong, to “forcibly adopt” the entire Sapporo region of Japan, it had taken them less than an hour to do so and then they’d immediately fled for the furthest reaches of Aelmari influenced space. It had happened so quickly that even a race that communicated and thought as quickly was at a loss as to how to respond, what’s more the fact that none of the five billion Aelmari on Lyanna’s ship had leaked the plans onto the neural net suggested an alarming amount of premeditation.

“Lyanna,” Shaerra said darkly over the video screen, a form of communication they used for the benefit of the humans involved, “What do you have to say for yourself?”

“The humans love it!” Lyanna had exclaimed as fireworks went off behind her, although she appeared to be standing in a large forested area with many Japanese inspired castles and buildings in the background the shimmering sky told Shaerra she was in one of her worldship’s recreation bays. She held a very confused looking Asian man in her hand who gave an awkward smile and a thumbs up.

“It’s very nice,” he said, “Erm… when will we be going back to earth?”

“Bring them back right now!” Shaerra protested, “the other humans miss them and now they’re all scared we’re going to just rush the planet and grab ALL of them!”

“Oh well I guess they just have to visit!” Lyanna said, “Sorry we’ve got to go we’re holding a welcome parade for the humans!” with that the video chat ended.

Shaerra sighed and looked down at Brandon, her own human, as he wasn’t expected to talk to any human leaders that day he was wearing simple lounge pants and a loose shirt for comfort. With a relaxed sigh she grabbed him up and dangled him in front of her face, she closed her eyes and inhaled his scent and took a few minutes to simply enjoy the presence of her very own Tiny. Everything about humans triggered a deep sense of satisfaction for her, for all Aelmari, she snuggled him against her cheek.

“So what are you going to do about her?” Brandon asked, ending the moment.

 “I don’t know,” Shaerra admitted, “I don’t want any of the other Matriarchs to get similar ideas but… isn’t getting the humans somewhere safe what we’re here to do in the first place?”

“I’m still not really on board with the ah, adoption of the entire species,” Brandon said uncertainly.

“But you always tell me the best thing to do to make it happen Brandon,” she said demurely, “since I started asking you for advice on our recruitment efforts the number of humans voluntarily joining our worldships has increased dramatically.” She placed him down on the table and ruffled his hair just a bit with her finger, a gesture she knew he didn’t care for but she just enjoyed too much to stop.

“He’s a helpful guy,” Trish, Brandon’s girlfriend, called as she walked out of a chamber of the living quarters she kept semi-permanently displaying a calm beachfront. She sauntered over to the desk and looked expectantly at Shaerra, who guessed what she wanted and lifted her up to join Brandon. “We’ve decided,” she said sweetly as she clasped his hand, “that we’re staying.”

“Oh!” Shaerra said with a smile, “that’s wonderful!” she hadn’t really considered giving them the option of leaving but it was nice to hear they were happy. “You won’t be the only ones!” She said as she mentally pulled up the statistics on how many humans were on the worldships and on the planet, she froze as there was a single error.

“Human not found?” She whispered aloud.

“Shaerra is there something wrong?” Trish asked, a bit concerned.

Mentally she pulled up the file on the “missing” human.

“James “Jim Arnett,” the name filled her mind. He wasn’t on the worldships and he wasn’t on the planet… Lyrei and Isstvell, did they…? No, they couldn’t have brought their human with them, she’d ordered them not to.

“Brandon,” She asked suddenly, “What happens to a human military official who disobeys his direct commander.”

“Well it’s not really my area of expertise,” he said slowly, “but if this… situation has happened you should probably send someone to bring them into custody.”

Shaerra blinked, “Right of course,” mentally she ordered Maeve, her second in command, to begin preparing a battlecruiser.

“Any special orders Matriarch?” Maeve asked as notifications that the ship was being fabricated come over the neuronet.

“Keep it a disciplinary effort if you can,” Shaerra replied, “recover Isstvell, Lyrei, and the human… the Glalan too I suppose, don’t harm anyone any more than necessary.”

She severed the link and looked back to her humans and smiled, “Now you two wanted to try climbing a simulated Mount Everest today correct?” she waved a hand and the nanites making up her desk began to create a tiny set of climbing gear.

Trish walked over to it but Brandon was hesitant, “Should we erm… just change here on your desk?”

“Yes please,” Shaerra said, trying to keep herself contained as she watched the tiny couple.

“Brandon she’s already seen it all,” Trish said as she pulled her thin cotton shirt off and selected a thicker one from the rack.

Brandon sighed and followed his girlfriend’s example. There were some parts of living on an Aelmari worldship he was still getting used to.

…

Whatever material Clara’s bag was made out of was just porous enough that Jim could see out slightly when he pressed his face against it. He couldn’t see a lot but he could tell she was walking down an alleyway while many other giants, some even taller than Lyrei and Isstvell, all female just as she’d said. He gulped a bit as he managed to spot the outline of another species loom almost twice as tall as Clara, whatever it was it growled at her as she passed.

Finally they stopped at a building that looked like it was made out of concrete, if concrete was a metallic blue that is, and Clara pushed the door open.

“Auntie Lucia!” he heard Clara call excitedly.

“Clara darling!” the muffled voice of the fox-woman called, “Come in and take some of that armor off. Who is your friend?”

Jim realized she was talking about Lyrei, who was still disguised in a full gas mask.

“My name’s Lyrei!” she said excitedly, “My species doesn’t breathe this atmosphere so I’ll have to keep my equipment on.”

“And what species would that be exactly?” Lucia asked.

Jim could tell she still wasn’t buying their story so he loudly coughed in the bag, hoping to get her attention. It worked and he felt the bag shift as someone carried him and a minute later he tumbled out onto a table. He steadied himself and stood up, he took a look around and saw what was clearly a pawn shop, albeit instead of bulletproof glass covering high value items pale blue force fields shimmered in the low light. He looked up to see the three giant faces looking down at him. Lyrei’s eyes were just barely visible behind the opaque gas mask, Clara seemed nervous, and Lucia…

Lucia was definitely an impressive looking woman, standing just a bit taller than Clara’s 90 feet she wore a well tailored red robe which framed her impressive bust nicely, her foxlike ears twitched idly from behind her long red hair as she regarded him curiously. She leaned close, laying her palms flat on either side of him, he stumbled backwards a bit as a face the size of a small house examined him closely.

“Even cuter in person,” she said with a disarming smile, “Jim was it? You’re the merchandise these two are here to sell?”

“That’s right,” he said nervously.

“Hmm… well definitely more of an exotic pet than a slave, no offense precious.” She winked at him at that. “I’ll have an associate of mine put out feelers for the type of person who would be interested in such a product.” An enormous finger reached out and gently stroked under his chin, “Oh now why would you want to part with such a cutie Clara?”

“He’s just not interesting to me,” Clara said with a very poorly acted dismissive wave, “he’s quite scrawny, I need a pet with more intelligence and stamina.”

“Lacks-“ he looked up at Clara and saw her force down a smirk at his reaction, he scowled but didn’t reply.

“And you?” Lucia asked Lyrei, “do you not desire this creature?”

“I have… no attachment,” Lyrei lied, and unfortunately Jim could tell it was difficult for her to say that, “I am merely hoping to see if there are perhaps collectors or even a market for such a small sentient.”

“Hmmm…” Lucia mused, smiling. “Well I’m going to need to collect a genetic profile next,” she held up her index finger and Jim jumped back in surprise as a small retractable claw seemed to pop up from under her fingernail, briefly he wondered if Clara had those. “Hold very still,” she said, and he shivered as the enormous claw traced down his neck and hooked the inside of his shirt, in one smooth motion sliced clean down the front, reducing his shirt to tatters. Another quick slash and his pants were reduced to ribbons as well, breathing out with relief he let the remains of his clothes fall off him before the embarrassment of being naked set in and his hands went to cover himself.

“Was that necessary?” Lyrei asked, a hint of edge to her voice, Jim noticed one hand had drifted perilously close to her gun.
Lucia shrugged, “I’m very precise, see not a scratch on him?” with a fluourish of her hand the claw was gone.
“You could have just asked me to take them off!” he said, the room wasn’t quite as warm as he would have liked.

“I could have, yes” she replied with a smile.

“I don’t have any others- that is to say Master Clara didn’t bring any others with us.”

“What a shame,” Lucia said, although by the way she looked at him she viewed that as a bonus.

She turned back to the other two giants, “my residence is above the store, you two can stay in my guest room tonight, why don’t you go get settled in while I complete the biological profile on our human here?”

“Auntie Lucia,” Clara began uncertainly, “I should probably just stay close to my er, merchandise-“

“Go, I insist,” Lucia said firmly, pointing to the stairs. Clara’s cat ears twitched a moment before she sullenly went. After another moment Lyrei hesitantly followed her. Lucia watched them trudge up the stairs, as soon as they were gone a smile slowly spread across her face as one eye darted down to him.

Instinctively at that gaze Jim started but before he could run he was swept up by her giant palm and squeezed tightly. She held him in front of her eyes a moment, regarding him again before walking behind the counter of her shop and opened a door, revealing a small back office which was much cleaner than the rest of the establishment.

“Now then,” Lucia muttered as she set him down on another table, “We’ll have to complete a genetic profile of you to include in any advertisement.” She powered up a machine that looked more like it belonged in an earth museum than on a distant alien world. Seeing his look she rolled her eyes, “I don’t know what rich friends Clara has made but down here planetside I’m not replacing something that isn’t broken.” She held what looked like a paper strip up to him, to her it was small but to him it was nearly the size of his leg. “It’s quite simple, we need you to place a genetic sample on this.”

“Okay sure,” he said, “are you going to draw blood or something?”

Lucia laughed, “No darling I’m afraid buyers of a male sentient are going to want to be sure of certain OTHER parameters that some of your blood wouldn’t be able to give me.”

“Oh,” he said, his face red as he realized what she wanted, “Well sure I can rub one out I gues-

One of her palms came up behind him as he stepped backwards and he felt her hand force him back forward a few steps toward the paper strip at his feet.

She grinned and loosened a belt on her red robe, parting the cloth around her torso she gave Jim a very good look at her breasts, sticking her chest out just slightly towards him. Jim swallowed nervously and felt himself growing hard at the sight.

“I figured it wouldn’t take much,” Lucia said with a sultry grin. With her free hand she put her thumb and index finger together and stuck them into her mouth a moment, when they came back out they were glistening with her saliva. Gently the enormous digits gripped his erection and began stroking slowly.

The experience was overwhelming as she leaned her face in and her hot breath washed over him, “That’s it,” she said sweetly, “just relax and look at something nice,” she sashayed her chest back and forth ever so slightly. The warmth of one hand at his back, holding him in place and the deliberate work of the other didn’t take long to get Lucia what she wanted. With a cry of pleasure he came, never stopping her movements Lucia aimed him down at the paper strip and grinned as she hit her target.

With that she released him and he nearly crumpled to the table, his legs weak and jellylike. Humming to herself Lucia stuck the small paper strip into a slot on the machine he’d seen earlier, causing a series of beeps and a familiar whirring and clicking sound of an ancient computer going into operation.

Walking back to him she opened a cabinet above the table he was on and pulled out a bowl that looked like it was made of the same metallic blue material as the rest of the building. She walked over to a small sink in the corner and filled it, dipping a single finger in to check the temperature before setting it in front of Jim. Her fingers hooked under his armpits and he was lifted like a doll into the air and slowly lowered into the warm water of the bowl. He couldn’t help but sigh at the pleasant feeling, it was almost like a hot tub.

“There we go,” Lucia said warmly, “just relax in there okay? Is the temperature good?”

“It feels wonderful,” Jim breathed as he let himself sink a bit deeper.

“Now while your genetic profile completes I’d like some real answers to a few burning questions I have.” She sat in a chair and scooted it closer to the bowl holding Jim and his bath, placing her elbows on the table and her palms on her cheeks she loomed over him.

“First off I know you are not Clara’s slave, she and that other thing aren’t here to sell you,” Lucia said, the smile was gone now.

Jim thought it over, “You’re right,” he said finally, “what gave us away?”

“Everything dear,” she said with a chuckle, “the way you talk to one another, the way you interact, the way you’re apparently completely calm despite being abducted from a primitive planet to be sold into slavery. There are excellent spies in this universe, the three of you are not among their number. Obviously what I want to know is what you’re really doing here and why Clara won’t let her dear aunt Lucia in on it?”

“It’s… complicated,” Jim said hesitantly.

“Clara is involved how complicated could it be?” Lucia asked dryly, “I love that girl like my own daughter but the decisions she makes are often… unwise. She’s lucky she survived joining that foolish marauder crew and she’s prancing around in new armor with her own ship now but I suspect she’s gotten herself into something far more dangerous. I want you to know that as nasty as my business has gotten over the years I’ve never dealt in slavery until now and I’m only playing along with this charade to try to get my niece out of whatever she’s mired herself in. Who is that other being with you? Does Clara owe her money?”

“No there’s no money involved,” Jim said, “Lyrei is… friendly with Clara and I, don’t worry she’d never harm either of us.”

“Jim,” Lucia said after a moment, “The fact that you’re galivanting across the universe with my niece also makes me question YOUR judgement. At some point I’m going to get the entire story of what happened on your primitive little planet.” She sighed, “In the meantime… are you SURE you wish to go through with this farce about selling you? I’ll put out the advertisement but we could be drawing in some very dangerous people.”

“I understand,” Jim said, “We… need to find people who would be interested in someone like me, this seemed like the best way to do it.”

“A honeypot then,” Lucia muttered, “there is no legal authority on Marek beyond the barrel of a gun you know, if Lyrei is some kind of law enforcement she’ll need to be very… forceful if you find what you’re looking for.”

“I’m not too worried,” Jim said. He’d seen Lyrei and Isstvell walk off enough explosives to wipe out a small city and then a barrage of Clara’s alien rifle fire right afterwards.

The machine whirred and made an angry buzzing sound, Lucia rolled her eyes, “It seems the machine had an error, we’ll have to run it again.” She grinned down at Jim in his bath, “I know you were just starting to relax but I’m afraid I’ll need another sample.” Jim couldn’t hide his physical reaction at that and Lucia chuckled, “Well it’s good to see Clara was lying about your stamina…”

…

The advertisement evidently didn’t take long to attract interest as several giant aliens milled about the dingy pawn shop, some idly glanced at the other merchandise and some just stared straight ahead. Jim was presented, naked, on the counter of the shop while Lucia and Clara waited behind it. Lyrei was in the corner, leaning against a wall and doing her best to look bored, but anyone could tell she was trying to keep an eye on the entire room at once.

The other aliens seemed on edge as well, Lucia had put out a few chairs for her impromptu auction but most of them had still decided to stand.

“We should have prepared a display box or something,” Lucia muttered, “I didn’t think you’d have so many prospective buyers wanting to come by so quickly.”

“I guess I’m just a hot commodity,” Jim said weakly. Several of those aliens didn’t look very friendly.

“If anyone would like to come and examine the human before bidding please do so one at a time!” Lucia called out to the room.

A greenskinned species shorter than Clara or Lucia sauntered up to them, at first Jim thought she had black hair but as she approached he realized they were tentacles, writhing slightly as she moved, her eyes didn’t seem to have any demarcations, just a deep black that he could see his reflection in. She had a lithe and athletic looking but otherwise normal body, and was clothed in a bright silver fabric that clung to her and contrasted with her skin.

“Smells Delicious,” she muttered as she licked her lips and looked over him, “Might I have… a taste?”

Before Clara or Lucia could reply a long pink tongue snaked out of her mouth, coming down and coiling around him like a snake. Jim gasped in surprise as he was squeezed and covered in the alien’s saliva. He began to panic as he was drawn slowly up towards her mouth.

“H-Hey!” Clara shouted, hand going towards her gun, “Hands- tongues off!”

The green alien paused, Jim held his breath as he was suspended in midair by the prehensile tongue until finally the alien growled and lowered him down to the table and withdrew, leaving him coated with her saliva.

“You okay?” Clara asked quietly as she tried to towel him off with one of her sleeves.

“Yeah,” Jim muttered, “Just… don’t let that one near me again okay?”

The next alien to approach was only half Clara’s height and had to bring over a chair to reach the counter in order to examine Jim. A pair of translucent wings buzzed behind her as compound eyes looked over him, she had a yellow tint to her skin and Jim realized with a start that with the black clothing she wore she resembled an earth bee. Confirming his thoughts there was a buzzing noise as a group of other bee-girls, all around twenty feet tall landed on all sides of him. Where the larger one was somewhat plump and had the appearance of an older woman these four were quite visibly muscled and looked a bit on edge, although Jim didn’t see any stingers they all carried holstered weapons.

“Hmm…” The larger bee pondered him, “Such a small species, and yet the advertisement shows you’re genetically compatible? I suppose my hive cannot afford to be too picky with males.”

“No your majesty!” one of the four smaller bee-girls said eagerly, “Our hive is the greatest and you can have the best males!”

“My queen don’t disparage yourself so!” Another called.

The queen laughed, causing her ample assets to jiggle a bit, “Girls you flatter me, and besides,” she looked over Jim and her wings buzzed slightly, “perhaps we can find some ways to have fun with him. Tell me human would you like to be our hive’s new king?”

Jim blinked, “I’m… not sure,” he looked up at Clara who just shrugged at him, “what would that entail exactly?”

“A hive king mostly does whatever they want I suppose,” the queen bee said nonchalantly, “You’ll have to serve me and provide genetic material for the hive but other than that we’ll keep you in the lap of luxury. Our records indicate several members of your species have served hives before in this manner to reported mutual satisfaction. You also find honey palatable, which is good to know.”

“Wait,” Jim said excitedly, “Your species has other humans like me living with you?”

“Not now I think,” the Queen said, continuing to regard him, “but definitely in the past… Once I’ve purchased you we can consult the other queens about it, I’m looking forward to showing you off at our gathering.”

She turned and buzzed her wings, hovering back into the shop with the other buyers, with a last look at him the… drones? Lifted off and followed her. If nothing else that definitely confirmed there were off-planet humans, Jim wondered if she was telling the truth about the current lack of humans living with them though.

The next potential buyer was a tan looking silver haired woman around the same height as Clara who otherwise had a surprisingly human look, Jim tried to see if there was anything else that gave her away as an alien but came up empty. She was wearing something that would be shockingly close to an earth pantsuit as well.

“My name is Elara and I’m here on behalf of my employer the Lady Delana,” she said in a formal tone, “I am on a scouting mission to procure rare humans for her collection.” Jim forced himself to remain calm, Clara licked her lips as the woman continued. “Tell me human what nation-state do you hail from?”

“Uh, America?” He said uncertainly.

“Oh I don’t know,” Elara muttered, “Americans are dreadfully common, I don’t know why so many harvesters stop there… an entire planet and everyone wants to collect Americans. Are you perhaps an elected official? A famous singer?”

“No,” Jim said, this was taking an odd turn, “My family owned a farm.”

“I suppose I should purchase you anyway,” Elara said with a sigh, “although another standard American… I can’t say you’ll be displayed very prominently at the lady’s home.”

She opened a suitcase and Jim gasped, inside were a dozen plastic tubes, each showing a human apparently frozen in a casing, some of their expressions betrayed fear, or calm, one, a medieval knight, had a sword drawn. Jim realized that they looked like they were from a number of different places and even eras.

Elara pulled one last empty tube out and held it up to Jim, “We can dispense with the auction,” she said firmly, “the lady will outbid any of these degenerates, even for a common specimen like this one. Please enter the tube human.”

“Now hold on,” Clara said, coming around the counter and subtly trying to get between Elara and Jim, “It wouldn’t really be fair not to give everyone else a chance…” She shot a look at Lyrei who was watching them intently. At the sight of the humans one of her hands had drifted down to her gunbelt and Jim could practically feel her fury at seeing them in such a state.

“Lady Delana is one of if not THE foremost collector of humans,” Elara protested, “trust me it would be better for a dealer in them to simply establish a direct line.”

“Collector?” Lucia asked curiously, “How many does she have?”

Elara shrugged, “I cannot say, I only procure them for her, but with this trip,” she held up a tube containing what looked like a World War era pilot, “She will FINALLY have completed the entire Flight 19 set, which I can assure you is quite an accomplishment.” She placed the frozen human back in her suitcase.

“A-are they dead?” Jim asked fearfully, glancing at the plastic tube she’d set next to him.

“Of course not,” Elara snapped, “dead humans are worthless, but keeping them in suspended animation like this they can last and be displayed forever! The lady has several very rare humans from a now extinct nation-state known as “Rome” who are worth more than this entire planet.”

“This is all very fascinating,” Lucia said, glancing at Jim, “but our decision stands, you’ll bid with the others.”

Elara growled and retrieved the plastic tube from the table, “fine but you’re just wasting everyone’s time.” She snapped the briefcase shut with a click and took a seat.

“I’d say that’s what we’re here for,” Clara said, nodding at Lyrei across the room, the Aelmari smoothly walked to the exit and took a position next to it.

“I’d like to see the merchandise,” another voice said, the three of them turned to see a red skinned woman with jet black hair and curled horns standing over all of them. She was by far the tallest alien in the room, bigger than Lyrei, standing twice as tall as Clara and her aunt, she could only barely fit in the store without her head touching the ceiling. A pair of amused yellow eyes took in the startled Glalans and she smirked.

“Y-yes of course,” Clara said, “by all means.”

“I know I look like a certain mythical being from your planet, a demon I think?” she said as she got on her knees to better see Jim, “but please try not to be afraid.”

She reached down to her belt and unclipped something, slowly she placed a rectangular box on the table. To her it was maybe the size of a purse, but to Jim it was closer to the size of a semi-Truck. She tapped the top twice and with a pneumatic hiss a door on the side opened.

Jim gaped as a human, or something human sized anyway, confidently strode out of the box. It had what looked like a motorcycle helmet in a metallic green that matched the rest of the skintight suit she wore, and it was DEFINITELY a she by the way it hugged her figure. As she approached him Jim briefly wondered if this was another human, she stood over him at nearly seven feet tall and looked fairly muscular, like a professional athlete. The figure clicked a button on the side of the helmet and there was another pneumatic hiss as she pulled it off, revealing a pale blonde with long hair that spilled down her back. She gave him a smile.

Lyrei was now watching them both intently from the other side of the room, Jim saw Clara and her exchange glances as well. He didn’t want to give it away, but he doubted they’d be letting this human leave either.

“Well it looks like you were right Zeph, a real live human male in this part of the galaxy!” the woman said, “Jim right?”

“Yeah that’s me,” he replied hesitantly, “So you’re definitely a human?”

“Oh yeah,” she flexed a bicep, “just a bit of genetic modification, pretty expensive on a species as rare as ours but it was worth every penny.” She licked her lips a moment, “Penny,” she chuckled, “God it’s so strange speaking English again, those translator nanites just leave a weird buzz on your lips sometimes you know?”

“I’ve never noticed,” Jim said weakly, “Where did you-“

“My name’s Sarah and I’m from earth yeah,” she said, cutting off his question, “full Earth-human not one of those diaspora types.”

“D-Diaspora types?”

“Yeah but being honest I don’t hang out with other humans much,” she said, “they tend to like to keep quiet and away from things which isn’t my style.”

“So why are you here at an auction for a human?” he asked.

She laughed and looked up at the giant redskinned woman, “Zeph there thinks I need a mate.”

“You do!” Zeph said eagerly, “you’d make an adorable couple with this one! He could clean your armor for you after jobs and he could pleasure you in any way you-“

“Slow down there!” Sarah laughed seeing Jim’s red face, she glanced up and down his body, her eyes hovering between his legs for a minute, “A little on the small side but I think it’ll do.”

“I hope that’s a comment about my height,” Jim muttered.

Sarah laughed, “Jim we barely come up to ankles of most species, if you get offended by being called small you’re going to have a rough time out here.”

She pulled something off her belt, it looked a bit like a watch, before he could say anything she clasped it on his wrist and hit the button in the center. A green metallic outfit similar to hers seemed to ooze out of it like liquid, quickly conforming to all the contours of his body.

“There now you’re not naked at least,” she said as she walked around him, taking his form in. “Take care of that outfit, it’s very expensive and if you’re not leaving here with me I want it back.”

“Sure,” he said, looking over the space armor, “What exactly do you do to afford stuff like this? Are you a bounty hunter?”

Sarah and Zeph both laughed at that, “Jim a species our size doesn’t hunt anything, we get hunted, or did you not figure that out yet?”

“I’ve had an inkling,” he said darkly, remembering the sensation of the greenskinned woman’s tongue wrapped around his body.

“No I’m a spy and occasional assassin,” the way she said it was like saying she was a stockbroker, she gestured to box on her wrist and a blade several feet long sprung out, “poisoned,” she explained, “I’m actually one of the highest paid hitters out here, one little cut and that’s it, no matter how big they are. Zeph here is my… manager I suppose.”

“I get twenty percent!” the horned woman said excitedly.

“S-so you want him to be your boyfriend or something?” Clara interrupted, Jim couldn’t help but notice her fists were balled as she asked that.

“Boyfriend?” Sarah laughed, “Zeph wants that for him I guess,” she gripped Jim’s chin in her hand, “I think we could have a bit of fun but I was just going to dump you off somewhere safe, I have a bit of a soft spot for abductees, it’s a hard way to start your life in the wider universe.”

“Well that’s very kind of you,” Jim said, “but why not just bring me back to earth?”

Sarah rolled her eyes, “Jim it’s a month there and back with most engines and there’s nothing interesting on the way, unless you’ve got a dimensional drive it’s at the ass end of nowhere and I’m not spending two months of my life to drop a stranger back on that mudball. My charity only goes so far.”

“Ah,” he muttered, “makes sense I guess…” He was a bit surprised she wasn’t even interested in going back.

“Of course if you don’t want to go with me I’ll toss my bid in with someone you do want to go with,” She mused, “these Glalans,” she gestured up at Clara and Lucia, “you’ll be happy to get away from them and their silly dominance games.”

“Excuse me?” Clara asked in an offended tone. Lucia just smiled and said nothing.

“I’m guessing the cat does stuff like shoving you in her boot, threatening to step on you, maybe uses your body to get herself off?” Sarah asked with a smirk, “big bad kitty trying to make herself look like the alpha female.”

Jim tried to avoid laughing at Clara’s enraged expression, Sarah had more or less described her behavior perfectly.

“W-well a small species like yours is probably used to it and maybe likes it?” Clara said when she’d regained her composure.

Sarah rolled her eyes and glanced around the room, “Okay Jim here’s the deal, that greenskin species over there? Bad news but you’ve probably figured that out, win or lose this auction Zeph and I won’t let her have you.”

“Thanks,” Jim said in what he hoped was a grateful tone, in truth between Lyrei at the door and Clara and Lucia he wasn’t too concerned about it, but it was nice to know more people were looking out for him.

“The bees are nice,” Sarah mused, “the queen is going to be very eager for your ah, royal jelly. You could do worse than going with them, what do you say? It would save me the trip.”

“What about her?” Jim asked, pointing to the silver haired woman with the briefcase full of frozen humans.

Sarah frowned, “I don’t recognize that species, which is odd since I’ve been around the block a few times. Zeph you see anything like her?”

“No I’m afraid not,” she said uncertainly, “if not for her size she could almost be a human…”

 There was a sudden crackling of static as every communication device in the room, and indeed on the planet, switched itself on and began broadcasting a message.

“To the residents of the planet Marek, this is the Aelmari, we are conducting a disciplinary matter and have our ship in your orbit. Do not resist.”

…
Aelmari starships typically were created with fairly utilitarian designs, however since the contact with humanity they’d taken on more… artful looks. The bridge on Maeve’s cruiser was inspired by a popular human entertainment program for example, as she sat in a captain’s chair in the center of a spacious room she had to admit she liked the layout.

“Do you think everyone on the planet got the message?” She asked one of the other Aelmari on board, “disciplinary matter, do not resist lets everyone know where just here for troublemakers right?”

“I’m sure they received the appropriate message captain,” the first mate said. She frowned and turned around, “Captain… Maeve, is that a human in your cleavage?”

Maeve was trying to push him down lower with her finger but froze, “He’s here for ah, moral support.”

“I thought we weren’t allowed to bring any humans on this mission?”

“The thing about that is-“

“Are you going to let us play with him too?”

…

“The Aelmari are going to attack the planet!” Lucia said in a panic, “Auction is over, everyone get offworld as quickly as you can!” The assembled aliens moved towards the door but Lyrei stepped in front of them.

“I’m afraid not,” she said, pulling off her mask and revealing her smiling Aelmari face, “I’ll be taking all humans here with me and you!” she pointed to Elara “I need to ask you some questions.”

The green skinned alien pulled her weapon and fired it directly into Lyrei’s cheek, causing the same quick shimmer Jim recognized from his and Clara’s own battle against her, but otherwise she just smiled. A quick jolt went out and the greenskin was unconscious on the floor.

“I don’t want to hurt anyone!” she said as she raised a hand, foregoing the pistol Clara gave her, a ball of heated plasma appeared in her hand, “but I can if I must!”

Elara clacked her heels on the ground angrily and drew a long barreled silver handgun, there was a flash and suddenly Lyrei’s left shoulder and her arm were gone, she had a shocked expression on her face, as did everyone else in the shop. The only sound was the gigantic blue elf falling to her knees and then slumping to the floor.

“Aelmari go down if you know just HOW to hit them,” Elara muttered, she swung the gun around to the counter, “and I think I will be taking all the humans with ME, do you Glalans have an issue with that?”

“Of course not-“ Lucia began, but Clara pulled one of her pistols and with a scream opened fire. The shots bounced harmlessly off a shimmering forcefield around the bored looking businesswoman. With a scowl Lucia joined her, the additional shots didn’t seem to help.

“Give it up,” she snarled, “I’m not afraid of Aelmari, you can only imagine how pathetic I find your species, ALL of your species!” she swung the gun around, sweeping the room and causing the remaining auctioneers to cower.

“Sarah?” Zeph asked quietly, the enormous red skinned woman was edging back a bit.

“She big and scary and that’s about it,” Sarah muttered to Jim, “get her in close to the action like this and she’s useless.” She eyed the giant woman in the business suit, “If I can get under that shield one poke from this claw and she’s dead-“

“Mercenary?” Elara asked with a cruel smile as walked to the counter, ignoring the Glalans taking cover “Sarah was it?” She aimed the gun at the two of them, “I only have one human hibernation tube remaining, since you seem a bit far removed from earth to be a valuable collectible I think I’ll forgo taking you at this time, but perhaps we could reach another arrangement?”

“What did you have in mind?” Sarah asked, bracing the steel claw behind her.

Elara chuckled, “I want to see you work, kill that cat for me and I’ll let you and your red skinned friend here go,” she pointed the gun up at Zeph who cringed in fear and looked like she was about to cry.

Sarah looked at Jim and then down at Clara, cowering behind the shop’s counter and shakily trying to shove a power pack into a plasma pistol, with a growl the amazon sprinted down the counter top and before Clara could react the relatively small woman was leaping at her.

“H-HEY!” Clara shouted, she tried to bring a hand up but Sarah was already on her, a quick scratch from the wrist mounted blade across the cheek drew blood and she leapt away again as Clara’s giant hand scrambled for her. Jumping up Clara’s hair she easily reached the top of the catgirl’s head and leapt again onto the counter.

“There, she’ll be dead in a minute!” Sarah shouted.

Elara chuckled, “What a cute little display, I wasn’t sure a human could pose a threat to a normal sized species but… that was impressive. You two are free to go.”

Sarah glared at her stopped once more as she walked past Jim, sweeping him off his feet the amazon planted a deep kiss on his lips that sent his heart pounding a minute, he felt her hand cup his ass and squeeze… and then trace up his back and along his arm as she pulled away, she’d attached something else to his wrist?

“Take care Jim,” she said quietly, “you get very few things for free out here in space, you owe me a favor next time we see each other.”

Zeph glanced down at Jim one last time herself before scooping up Sarah and depositing her back into the small box she’d been carried in before. The horned woman eagerly ran for the exit, as she opened the door Jim saw that the Aelmari’s arrival had triggered mass panic as the street was filled with activity. With a last glance back the Queen Bee and her drones followed.

Elara grabbed Jim roughly, “A lot of trouble to go through for such a subpar human,” she muttered as she squeezed his tiny body.

“Clara!” Lucia was standing over Clara and slapping her, whatever poison she’d been injected with from Sarah’s blade was working quickly, her eyes fluttered and a sheen of sweat had appeared on her forehead. Lucia had tears in her eyes as she aimed a pistol at Elara who just laughed and ignored her.

“Do you want to know something Jim?” She said as she placed him on the ground, “I HATE humans.” She lightly kicked him with a shoe that looked remarkably like a businesswoman’s high heel, “I hate that my employer pays me so much to find you, I hate learning about your history, your asinine pop culture, trying to figure out which of you are valuable…” the high heel hovered over him and pinned him to the ground.

“W-Wait!” he shouted, “I’ll get in the tube-“

“I don’t know if I want to bother at this point,” she said with a savage grin as she pressed on him a bit more, causing him to grimace in pain. “Every time I drop off some humans for the lady’s collection I fantasize about unfreezing them all and just killing them all one by one while the rest watch… but today I think I’m going to get to stomp at least one of you insects, then every time I feel bad about wasting my life on your awful little species I’ll look at the red stain on these shoes and smile.”

“Don’t you dare!” Clara was on her feet, swaying uncertainly and with a glazed look in her eyes, in a jerky motion she drew the massive building sized revolver she’d had the Aelmari fabrication nanites make for her, it shook but she held it steady on Elara.

“Glalans are another species someone needs to wipe out,” Elara sneered, “none of your toys can get through my shield, an Aelmari would have a hard time cracking it and in case you didn’t notice I already killed yours.”

For her part Clara was hallucinating in and out of reality, one moment she was in her aunt’s store staring down an alien about to crush her friend under a heeled foot, the next was shooting stars and blackness. She blinked… was she dead already? No that was ridiculous, she was Clara, the space marauder!”

She cocked the hammer on the gun, the click echoed throughout the store, “D-Do you feel lucky?” She slurred.

“Clara!” Jim yelled, “Just let her take me, get help!”

“No, I’m not taking you,” Elara said in a low voice, the increased pressure from the heel drove the point home.

“Let him g-go” Clara said as she blinked and forced herself to remain lucid, “Or make my day.”

“The last thing you’re going to see is your human popping under my shoe!” Elara said with a smile.

Clara pulled the trigger.

Clara’s upsized .44 magnum was a curious mix of three species technologies. The design was of course a simple human revolver, already obsolete by the modern era, but it’s prominence in certain films Jim and Clara had watched together during their captivity had enraptured her with the revolving action firearm. Her own species had never developed anything similar so the gun looked exotic and interesting, a part of her had been excited to show it off to other Glalans.

Glalan firearms were similar to humanity’s in concept, although instead of a slug a charged plasma ball would be propelled when the shell ignited a gel which the Glalans used instead of gunpowder, a gel which was an order of magnitude more potent. Clara had determined an upsized human round to be insufficient and had simply ordered the AI on the Aelmari worldship to create her plasma shells as she was used to.

The Aelmeri contribution to the weapon was Clara’s own mental idea of how the weapon should function carried out by fabrication nanites, as no Glalan equivalent for a .44 round existed Clara had simply imagined the gunpowder replaced with the much more potent Glalan explosive gel, which would not have been an issue had she not replaced it in the same volume creating a much more powerful charge. For their part the AI on the construction nanites had examined the weapon and determined that it needed to dramatically strengthen both the barrel and the general frame, unknown to Clara a significant force field was also added between the cylinder and the barrel to further direct what the AI suspected would be an extreme outpouring of force. The resulting weapon was not only the most powerful handgun on the planet, it was the most powerful handgun in several galaxies.

Clara’s hallucinations were interrupted by the sharp painful sensation of her wrist breaking as a fireball that temporarily blinded her rocketed out of the barrel of the gun. Lucia cried out in horror as Elara, shield intact, was blown through her shop wall, and the wall of the building across the street, and the building across the street from that. To Jim it seemed as though the sun exploded and he screamed as he was dragged with Elara by the force field, the shimmering advanced technology barely keeping him and Elara from being pulverized.

…

Isstvell growled angrily as she saw the other ships in the spaceport taking off, the Aelmari message had been directed at her and Lyrei, she knew that much, but judging by the plasma fire she was detecting further in town things had gone sour.

“Isstvell,” Lyrei thought at her suddenly, the signal was… faint.

“Lyrei!” she returned, “What’s going on? Should I bring the ship?”

“I’m… hurt,” Lyrei said, “I don’t know if I will be able to self repair before function terminates. My body is non-functional. A buyer showed up to purchase Jim and she had weapons technology beyond what was expected here.”

“What about Jim and Clara?” Isstvell asked.

An explosion suddenly rang out over the landscape and Isstvell honed in on it, it was perilously near Jim, Lyrei, and Clara’s last known location.

“Isstvell,” Lyrei called weakly, “She’s a standard biped with brown skin and silver hair. She has eleven humans held prisoner in her briefcase, they are not being kept in acceptable conditions.”

The signal went quiet and Isstvell thought a moment. Aelmari emotions didn’t work the same way that biological species did, indeed emotions had been a controversial addition a millennia ago but it was ultimately decided they would assist The Mission… some emotions still required a conscious decision to engage in.

“loading anger,” her subconscious spoke neutrally, “maximum level.”

“Approved,” Isstvell said aloud as she felt herself hover into the air, her hair blew in her face as the plasma projectiles manifested around her.

…

Elara coughed and stood up in the pile of rubble that had once been a dwelling, her shield had saved her life but even the kinetic dampeners hadn’t saved her from the entire force of the weapon. Whatever that cat had shot her with she’d be feeling it for the next few days. She stepped and winced, something was sprained or broken. With a growl she grabbed the briefcase full of humans which had thankfully stayed in her grip and appeared unharmed.

She took a minute to collect herself and grinned as she saw that at the very least the human she’d come for had been dragged by her force field along for the ride too. He was weakly stumbling to his feet.

“Now where were we stain?” She asked mockingly.

The sky went orange a moment and Elara looked up to see a blue skinned being descending towards her with rings of fire orbiting her and lightning dancing over her eyes.

“Surrender the humans immediately!” Isstvell’s voice was distorted like something out of a horror movie, and seeing her floating there like an angel of death Jim could understand exactly why so many species feared the Aelmari.

Elara aimed her pistol at Isstvell’s hovering form but Jim ran to her and, leaping onto her shoe and sprinting up, bit her on the ankle as hard as he could. He was rewarded with a cry of pain as Elara’s shot went wide. She looked down at him and he could feel the hate in her eyes.

“A quick stomp isn’t good enough for you!” She screeched, but before she could act a series of plasma bolts flew from Isstvell’s hovering form and it seemed like cracks in the air appeared overhead, a final ball shattered the shield. Elara’s gun suddenly grew red hot in her hand and she screamed as she dropped it.

“You have much valuable information,” Isstvell said in that same horror movie voice as she hovered in front of them, “It would be unfortunate if I had to destroy you.”

A series of blue beams appeared around her and a dozen other Aelmari with plasma projectiles manifested appeared behind her. Elara screamed at the sky but slowly got to her knees and put her hands behind her head. The lightning dancing in front of Isstvell’s eys flashed brightly a moment before she matched Elara’s pose, descending to the earth and putting her hands behind her head.

“Isstvell,” one of the Aelmari said uncertainly, “We don’t have cuffs that will hold our own people… could you just agree to go with us?”

“I agree,” Isstvell said, standing back up. “My fellow scout, Lyrei, is in dire condition, she is very near-“

“We have dispatched a repair drone to her,” the Aelmari “arresting” them said pleasantly, “we expect a full recovery in time. We do not have a remedy for your Glalan unfortunately and we expect her expiration…”

“Jim” he heard a voice in his head and looked around.

“Yes?” he replied, causing the Aelmari to look down at him in confusion.

“It’s Sarah,” she said, “that suit I loaned you has it’s own neuronet, stolen Aelmari tech actually.”

“Cool,” he thought back at her, picking it up easily, “what do you want?”

“I left you an antidote to my poison, you have an extendable needle on your wrist, it should work injected anywhere just get it in her as soon as you can.”

He looked at the small box she’d placed on his wrist, as soon as he thought about it a needle the size of his forearm extended, responding to his mental commands.

“I keep those in all my suits in case I accidently poke Zeph,” the thought came with a humorous undertone, “We’re very close.” She seemed to sense his thought and laughter came back, “Not like you and your catgirl.”

“We’re just good friends,” he sent back.

There as a moment of silence on the neurolink before Sarah’s voice returned, “Zeph wants you to know you’re exactly the kind of clueless male everyone hates, now go save your “friend” before that poison kills her.”

Jim sighed and looked up at the dozen Aelmari looking down at him with comforting smiles. He bolted back in the direction of Lucia’s shop as the blue space elves protested and dove for him. The suit must have given him some added strength and agility, and combined with the Aelmari medical nanites he’d been exposed to since his “adoption” he felt like a superhero as he leapt over grasping blue hands and easily slide under and over debris.

The street was easy, the stomping feet of the species above him were almost comically slow. He wondered again at what exactly his mental state was as he dodged an incoming wolf-girl’s boot as easily as a character in an earth action movie would. He leapt up on another woman’s shoe, causing a fearful exclamation as he jumped through another rubble strewn building. He could hear panic as the dozen or so Aelmari attempted to follow him on foot, all of the calling that they just wanted to help.

Finally he reached the open building façade where Lucia’s front door had been, the fox-woman was cradling her niece’s head in her arms and seemed to be crying, she saw Jim run in and scowled.

“Haven’t you pulled Clara into enough madness?” She shouted angrily.

“Not yet!” he replied with a grin, as he sprinted towards Clara he wondered if the suit was giving him a euphoric feeling as well.

“It is,” Sarah’s voice answered in his head, “It injects you with combat drugs.”

“Wonderful!” he shouted as he plunged the needle into Clara’s boot, he was rewarded with her flinching and a little bit of blood flowing out of the hole as he withdrew it.

“How long will it take?” he thought at Sarah.

“Should be pretty quick,” Sarah replied over their neural link, “Like I said I made the antidote for poor Zeph, she kept surprising me and getting a dose of lethal toxin.“

Clara sat up as though she’d been electrocuted, “JIM!” she breathed. She slumped a moment and looked around at her surroundings. “Was it a dream?”

“I think so Clara,” Lucia said soothingly, patting her forehead.

“I saw the hall of the ancestors,” Clara said softly, “Jim you were there, they had you covered in chocolate and waiting for me to lick it-“

She was cut off as a dozen Aelmari accompanied by Isstvell marched into her shop. Three of them walked over to Lyrei’s unmoving form and began injecting her with a silvery looking fluid via a tube that seemed to grow out of their fingers.

Seeing the blue space elves Lucia gulped and threw her hands in the air, “We surrender!” she shouted.

“Did you get her the antidote?” Sarah’s voice called in his head.

“Yeah,” he sent back. “Do you want to come down here and meet the Aelmari?”

There was laughter through the link, “No Jim, you enjoy being the coddled pet, I’ll command my own destiny thanks.”

“Will I see you again?” he asked.

“Statistics say no,” She replied, “but in a universe of trillions of beings I always run into the same few dozen people wherever I go. Space seems like a small town sometimes… call it fate.” With that he had a sensation like the other half of a tug of war giving up and the link went silent. He tried thinking things at her a few more times but was met with silence.

As the Aelmari provided care to Lyrei he looked up at the sky and wondered where Sarah was going, he glanced at the blackness between the stars and wondered if he would be able to see her ship.

…

Shaerra looked over the two Aelmari, the catgirl from Glalan Prime, and the Fox-woman from Glalan beta. They were all suspended in force-cuffs, a part of her knew her two sisters, Isstvell and Lyrei, were only allowing themselves to be held like this. Jim, their claimed human, sat in her palm.

“You two brought a human into a dangerous combat zone,” she said dispassionately, “I cannot approve.”

“Excuse me Miss Matriarch!” Lucia said eagerly, “I don’t believe I was ever involved in this arrangement, and if I had know the human was yours I would have sent him back immediatel-“

“Silence!” she said as she regarded the fox-woman, “You agreed to participate in an auction of a sentient being… this is a violation of Aelmari law.”

“B-but only to help my niece!” Lucia said eagerly, “I just wanted to get her out of trouble!”

Shaerra glanced at Clara, who gave her an embarrassed nod, “I’m well aware of the circumstances of your… participation.” She tapped Lucia’s cuffs allowing her to fall to the ground in the worldship. “I have decided to release you.”

Lucia looked down at her free wrists, then back at Clara, “Well there were damages…”

Shaerra sighed, the Aelmari did keep a galactic bank account for exactly these situations, she thought a few commands.

“Check your balance,” she muttered.

Lucia pulled a small handheld computer from her pocket and entered her banking information, her eyes went wide, “I would just like to say I LOVE what you Aelmari do to the galaxy!” the fox-woman exclaimed, “Why I was just saying the other day-“

“There is a ship prepared for you in the docking bay,” Shaerra said coolly, “You may keep it.”

“And a free starship too!” Lucia said nervously, “M-my niece will of course be treated well I assume?”

“You have the word of an Aelmari matriarch that no harm shall come to her,” Shaerra replied.

Lucia looked back at her niece one more time, “Well things look okay here Clara, call me sometime!” she said as she scurried down the hall.

“Now then,” Shaerra said turning to the other three. “You directly disobeyed my orders not to take Jim with you and the mission turned out to be exceedingly dangerous.” She paused, letting her words sink in, “BUT you also recovered eleven captive humans and delivered confirmation of offworld human populations, as well as a helpful prisoner for questioning.”

The cuffs released the three of them and they fell to the floor of the Aelmari worldship, Lyrei and Isstvell stood up instantly while Clara rubbed her hands and muttered curses.


“As penance I am ordering Jim to host a nightly dinner for the next two weeks for a few hundred Aelmari who do not have any personal humans yet, Isstvell, Lyrei, you will not be permitted to attend.

“B-But that’s not fair!” Lyrei protested.

Isstvell frowned, “Matriarch we did what we did because we believed Jim’s mental wellbeing would benefit-“

“I think going without your human for the evening for a few weeks is a relatively light punishment,” She replied darkly. She looked at the human in her palm, “And frankly I think you encouraged them.”

“I… may have,” Jim admitted.

Shaerra shrugged and smiled, “a relationship with humanity is what our species is striving for… I can’t be too upset when the influence goes both ways.”

She regarded Clara, “Glalan you have demonstrated remarkable bravery in pursuit of our Mission and in assistance of Aelmari strategic goals, is there anything I can offer you as a reward?”

Clara thought a minute, “Well, I’d like to be able to come and go as I please. I DO want to stay here with Lyrei, Isstvell, and Jim… but I want to be able to make calls and leave if I want.”

“Granted,” Shaerra said, “Now with punishment and reward doled out I want all of you to relax, there will be a follow up on these human diaspora populations and I suspect I’ll turn to you four again.” She placed Jim on the floor and allowed him to join his giant friends as she turned to leave.

“Jim,” Clara began slowly, “That other human seemed very interested in you…”

“She’s not tall enough for me,” he said jokingly as Isstvell grabbed him and placed him in his usual riding spot between her breasts. The four of them began down the hall to their quarters.

“Good!” Clara said, blushing, “I wouldn’t uhh… want you to be conflicted if we ran into her again.”

“Clara you’re such a good friend, warning Jim about the seductive wiles of his own species,” Lyrei said, there was just a hint of mockery behind that smile.

“Well,” Clara said uncertainly as they walked, “Jim DID save my life and all-“ She had a thought, “hey that Matriarch lady never said I couldn’t go to that dinner party or whatever right?”

“No I don’t believe you were mentioned,” Isstvell said bitterly, “I can’t believe it, our human is going to be entertaining a hundred of our sisters and we can’t even go…”

“Now by entertain, or host or whatever what exactly am I supposed to do?” Jim asked.

“I’m sure you and Clara will think of something,” Isstvell said in a dejected tone.

“You know Jim I’ve heard when a human takes a female to a dinner that’s a sign of courtship,” Clara said suddenly, “Isn’t that funny, like if you and I were…” She coughed a moment as the two blue elves and Jim stared at her. “Nevermind,” she muttered, “I forget what I was saying. Hey let’s simulate up a firing range and see if I can make a Glalan tech revolver that won’t break my wrist!” The four of them laughed at the memory as they entered the living quarters.