Darkness gave way to light, numbness exploded in to pain. Memories drifted back through the haze, for a moment she thought herself to be in the afterlife, then thought better of it.


Mayhem pushed herself to her feet, everything hurt, her head, neck and chest worst of all. She took stock of herself, noting much to her surprise, and somewhat to her annoyance, the lion hadn't even raped her. Next time she saw him, he was going to pay for that humiliation.


But first, she needed to report to Kilin.


She stalked back towards her quarters, silencing anyone she passed with a glare and a growl. Part of her was glad the lion hadn't raped her. But for the most part she was offended that he would find her so undesirable that he would not take the rare chance to have his way with her.


When she next got her hands on him, he would know fully what he missed out on. She would make him pay, oh yes. But she would also make use of that magnificent body. One as proud as him would be so much fun to break.


Entering her quarters, she found her latest play thing was still chained up, she hissed in annoyance, unbinding the wolf. "Out. Now."


The wolf looked at her for a second, not saying a word, and moved to recover his clothes, which earned him claws across the face.


"I said out." Mayhem growled at the wolf, who whimpered and made great haste towards the door, tail tucked between his legs.


She set down at her computer and put a call in to Kilin and waited for him to pick up.


"Mayhem, where the hell have you been?" Kilin growled, much sooner than expected. "I've been trying to contact you."


"Sorry, commander." Mayhem said. "I ended up in the brig. Tiera's a better fighter than I expected. I've some important news for you though."


"As do I." Kilin said. "It's Admiral, now."


"'Admiral'?" Mayhem asked, purring. "Things are looking up for you. The human and the bitch have vanished from the station, and the human has a new ally, a lion."


"We know the location of the human." Kilin nodded. "You're no longer needed to detain him, he and Tiera have been spotted in the Lunar Colony, and are currently being pursued. I do have a task for you though."


"Sir?" Mayhem considered Kilin's words for a moment, realizing he didn't want anyone who might listen in to the conversation know he wanted the human dead.


"Darkmoon hired an assassin to send after the human. For this reason he was 'demoted'." Kilin said, carefully choosing his words. "The assassin is a snake, one of the deadliest in the system, he is known as Plissken, he is currently on the station, you know what to do."


"Yes, sir." Mayhem nodded. "What of the human's ally?"


"Take him out of the picture any way you see fit." Kilin said.


"Yes, sir." Mayhem nodded again, purring this time. She was going to have fun.


* * *



Everything was quiet. Maximus sat in the other room of Tiera's apartment, patching up his wounds as best he could. He knew some of them would need proper medical attention. But first, he had to wait for the panther to wake up.


Part of him regretted letting her go so easily, her body was quite appealing. He just couldn't see fit to rape a woman, regardless of the circumstances and legality. And so he waited, to make sure she regained consciousness.


He heard her stirring, then leaving the apartment. He gave her a few minutes, wanting to avoid encountering her again, he could take her again, but he was getting sick of fighting.


As he was about to leave, he heard the door being nudged open, and the footsteps that followed were not of the panther, far too light.


"Tiera..?" A feminine voice broke the silence, she sounded worried.


"Tiera isn't here at the moment." Maximus said, stepping in to the main room. He knew how bad it much look, the apartment in shambles, blood stains everywhere, and him, pretty much covered in blood, the artificial fur over his cybernetic arm hanging down like a glove.


It seemed the newest arrival, a young wolf with black fur, thought it looked pretty bad too, as Maximus found himself staring down the barrel of a bolt rifle. She was quick, and had a steady hand.


"Who are you and what have you done with Tiera?" The wolf demanded.


"My name is Maximus." Maximus replied calmly. "And I've done nothing with Tiera. She wasn't here when I got here."


"Then why are you here?"


"I came to deliver a message to the human who is staying with her." Maximus said.


"Okay." The wolf said, sounding rather disbelieving. "Got an explanation for the mess, and why you're so badly beaten up?"


"To explain one, explains the other. When I arrived, I found the door had been forced open, much the state you found it in." Maximus said, "Neither Tiera or the human were present. There was, however a snake present, who seemed most vexed at the fact that the human wasn't here. He intended to kill the human, and if the human is dead, I can't properly deliver my message, now can I?


"So, we fought. He gave me quite a sound thrashing, but apparently didn't feel like killing me." Maximus shook his head and laughed. "I can't say the same for the panther who showed up about ten minutes later. She seemed to have a vendetta against Tiera and the human both, and opted to take it out on me, since she wasn't here. I taught her a lesson I doubt she'll soon forget, but took more of a thrashing in the process.


"And I was about to go try and find the infirmary, when you showed up."


"You fought that snake, and Mayhem and survived?" The wolf asked, rather astounded.


"I take it you're familiar with both of them?" Maximus asked.


"Mayhem is sort of the private assassin of our former commander." The wolf said. "The snake, if he's the same one I'm thinking.. He tore apart a company of 8 men, didn't seem any worse for wear afterwards. I lost track of how many bolts he took. Not to mention his scales dispersed the charge of a stunner blade. He was looking for the human though."


"Huh. Dr. Redding was right." Maximus said, mostly to himself.


"Dr. Redding? Of Ion Tech?" The wolf asked, finally lowering her bolt rifle. "You know him?"


"He's my boss, sent me here." Maximus nodded. "He said there would be a lot of people wanting to see the human dead. Do you know him?"


"No. I'd love to meet him though." The wolf said. "I've been studying genetic engineering, I don't really want to end up a career PDD soldier. He's sort of my idol."


"He can be a hard man to get close to." Maximus said. "But he's a good man, and very supportive of following ones dreams. If you ever end up on Europa, perhaps he can find the time to meet you."


"That would be wonderful." The wolf said with a smile.


"... So, if you're not concerned about me killing your friends now. Could you direct me to the infirmary?" Maximus asked with a laugh. "I've lost more than enough blood for one day."


"Oh.. yeah, sorry." The wolf said sheepishly. "Follow me."


Maximus nodded and followed her, a smile crept across his face, he liked the way her uniform fit her. "So, do you have a name?"


"Of course I do." The wolf said with a laugh.


Maximus shook his head and laughed. "Okay then, what is your name?"


"Kasa."



* * *



"You're sure it's safe here, Aerix?" Tiera asked quietly, examining the surroundings. The basement beneath a nearby orphanage. Despite how nice the wolf Aerix called Mother was, Tiera didn't trust her, or the place.


"Not really, no." Aerix laughed. "But it's safer than the streets. And I know Mother, she won't turn us in."


"How do you know?" Tiera snapped. "How can you so blindly trust her, and get us trapped in a small room with one way in or out."


"Do you have any better ideas?" Aerix said. "Maybe we should go to your mother. I'm sure that would go over well. Or maybe we just go present Nathan to Kilin, to congratulate him on becoming Admiral?"


Tiera started to say something, and then stared at Aerix. "Wait.. What? Kilin, Admiral?"


"... You didn't get the news?" Aerix asked. "What were you two doing this morning? ... No wait, don't answer that. I'll just fill you in on the interesting bits.


"Apparently, the Freedom 7 was a hoax, Nathan is actually from Mars Prime, and leads a cult which intends to enslave our race again. He is not only responsible for the 'merciless and unprovoked' attack on a squad of soldiers here, leaving one dead and four more injured, he's also responsible for the massacre of a squad of guards on the Jump Pad, and somehow responsible for the assassination of Admiral Darkmoon.


"An emergency meeting of the Council was called and Kilin was elected Admiral, for his military experience. Kilin has issued orders that Nathan is to be taken alive, but anyone caught aiding him will be killed on sight. There's also a sizable reward for any information leading to his capture."


"Well, that's all news to me." Nathan said with a laugh. "So.. I'm supposed to be enslaving you two? Shame I left my whips and chains back on .. Mars Prime?"


"That.. is entirely unbelievable." Tiera said, shaking her head. "Isn't Mars Prime one of the colonies we lost contact with shortly after the war?"


"Yep." Aerix nodded.


"So we need to find a way off this rock." Tiera sighed.


"To where, though?" Aerix asked. "Europa? They might be accepting of him there..."


"Earth." Tiera said.


"Are you mad?" Aerix snapped.


"No, I am." Nathan said.


"You want to get us all killed, Nathan?" Aerix growled. "I can solve that for you right now, if you like."


"No Aerix, I don't want to get you two killed." Nathan said with a sigh. "I want to let you two go back to your normal lives."


Aerix growled, standing up abruptly and slamming his head in to the ceiling, then stalked out of the basement, muttering a long string of expletives.


For a moment, there was silence, Nathan and Tiera looking at each other. Then Tiera rose quietly and followed after Aerix, turning briefly to Nathan. "I'm sorry, Nathan."


"So that's it, eh Tiera?" Aerix asked as she approached. "You're just going to drop him off on earth and let him walk out of your life. Leave him alone to die?"


"I can't stop him." Tiera said, wrapping her arms around Aerix, and finally letting herself cry. "I.. I just wanted him to be happy here.. Even if just as a friend."


"It's not your fault, Tiera." Aerix said softly.


"Aerix.." Tiera said quietly, looking up to the minotaur. "I'm going to go with him."


"Are you mad, girl?" Aerix said, "There's no reason to throw your life away like that."


"I love him." Tiera said, "I don't want him to die alone."


"... You've made up your mind, haven't you?"


"I have." Tiera nodded.


"Alright." Aerix said. "... I'll see what I can do for you two, only if you try to talk him out of it."


"I'll try." Tiera said with a smile. "And thank you Aerix."


"Don't mention it." Aerix said as the two walked back in to the basement, this time Aerix remembered to properly duck, to avoid hitting his head. Again.


"First step of that journey is getting back to the Jump Pad." Aerix said, settling back on to the floor. "Problem is, Nathan can't just take a standard transport."


"And we can't exactly sit here forever." Tiera said, sitting next to Nathan.


"So.. How do we get off this rock then?" Nathan asked.


"I'll watch the incoming pilot logs." Aerix said. "I have quite a few favors to call in, so we might be able to get you on to a cargo transport."


"Otherwise, it will be a matter of stealth or subterfuge." Tiera said.


Nathan smiled slightly. "Thank you both."


"No problem." Aerix said, rising again, and hitting his head on the ceiling, again, this time earning a snicker from Tiera. "I'm going to go talk to Mother about some food. Leave you two kids alone."


"You turned his mood around fast." Nathan said when Aerix was out of earshot.


"I'm good at that sort of thing." Tiera said with a smile. "Nathan ..."


"... You're going to try and talk me out of this, aren't you?" Nathan asked.


"No." Tiera shook her head. "I'm going to go with you."


"Tiera, you can't." Nathan said. "You have a life here, you have friends."


"But there's one thing I don't have here, Nathan." Tiera said with a sigh. "You. Nathan, I love you, and I don't want you to die alone. I want to be with you, I want to be there for you."


Nathan looked in to her eyes for a moment and then bit his lip. "Tiera, be realistic here. You're a wolf, an animal! How could you possibly think I could ever love you? I don't. The very thought is sickening!"


Tiera stood up with a sharp backhand across Nathan's face that sent him sprawling. "You... .." she couldn't find any words to fit how she felt, and turned away, running up the stairs crying.



* * *



Plissken was coiled quietly in a dark hole he'd found, it was perfect for him, several ways in and out, too tight for most to move quickly though, and he would have plenty of warning if anyone came.


This job was becoming a hassle. The human wasn't where he was supposed to be, and instead there was someone who seemed intent on protecting the human. A skilled fighter, at that.


On top of that, rumors were circulating the station that Admiral Darkmoon was no more, which meant, his contract was no good. Add to that the fact that the Doctor obviously wanted him dead. It seemed his best bet was to just lay low for a while.


A sound caught his ear, someone was coming. His tongue flicked out, tasting the air, a single female it was. He knew he should move to avoid detection, but his lust and curiosity got the better of him.


She came in to sight. A panther. Not extremely attractive, but she had a certain rugged beauty to her, and a cybernetic right arm. She looked him over, sizing him up even as he sized her up.


"You must be Plissken." She said. "I've been looking for you."


"You have indeed found me." Plissken hissed. "to what do I owe this pleasure?"


"The new Admiral would like you to keep your agreement with the prior Admiral." The panther said.


"What's in it for me?" Plissken hissed, slowly extending to coil around the panther. "After all, I've already gotten my freedom."


"Kilin can arrange for that to be taken away." The panther said, not moving as he coiled about her. "But should you keep your end of the bargain, he will offer you almost anything you would like."


"Anything, eh?" Plissken said, running a claw across the panthers chest.


"I'm not his to offer." She purred. "He will offer you money, power, a steady supply of women."


"So I get more, for doing what I already agreed to do." Plissken hissed. "I'll do it. But I want you."


"I'm not part of the bargain." The panther purred. "But, snakes have always excited me.. Will just once suffice?"


"It just once satisfies you." Plissken hissed.



* * *



"We told him we would help, Aerix." Tiera growled. "So we should. Besides, I want to make sure that bastard ends up back where he belongs."


"Why?" Aerix shot back. "Why not just turn him in and get your name cleared? Why risk you life and your job to help him?"


"... Because, I still love him." Tiera sighed. "Even though I hate him. He doesn't deserve what Kilin would do, no one does."


"Fine. I'll just go kill him now." Aerix growled. "Quick and painless. How's that work for you?"


"Aerix, just drop it!" Tiera snapped. "If you don't want to help, then don't. But I am still going to help Nathan get back to earth, with or without you."


"You know I can't let you do that alone, Tiera." Aerix said with a sigh. "I'll help. But I'm still not happy with it."


"Nether of us are happy with this situation Aerix, it's just something that has to be done." Tiera looked down and sighed. "He just blind sided me with that.. I really didn't expect it."


"You should have Tiera," Aerix said. "The comparative number of humans who found wolves or any species really, attractive was a small fraction. Even smaller than those who considered us their equals."


"I know that, Aerix. I knew from the start that the odds were against it." Tiera said. "But Nathan seemed different. I.. really thought there was something there.. He was someone else entirely in bed this morning."


"I knew it." Aerix growled. "Took advantage of your innocence, had his fun, satisfied his curiosity only to cast you aside like an old toy."


"That's not true!" Tiera snapped. "He never made a move on me. And we never even had sex, thanks to you."


"But you just said...?"


"I said in bed, yes." Tiera said. "But we didn't have sex. We were together, close. For a moment everything was perfect, for a moment I was able to forget all the problems we were facing. He kissed me, and everything fell in to place... Then you called."


"I had good reason."


"Yeah, you did." Tiera sighed. "And either really bad or really good timing, depending on how you look at it."
"I'd think of it as good." Aerix said. "Accounting for how it turned out."


"Sex wouldn't have changed anything." Tiera sighed. "I'd already made myself completely vulnerable to him.. All that would have changed, is finally getting to be with a human."


"I meant the whole PDD bearing down on you two, thing." Aerix said.


"I know." Tiera said. "... I should go let him know we're still going to get him to earth."


"I'll go." Aerix said, then caught Tiera's distrusting look. "Don't worry, I won't kill him. Or maim him. Or bruise him."


"Well, you can bruise him, if you want." Tiera said with a bit of a smile.


"I'll keep that in mind." Aerix said, rising to head back down to the basement, remembering to duck this time.


"Come to kill me, Aerix?" Nathan asked with a bitter laugh when Aerix reached the foot of the stairs. "Go ahead, you can't make me hurt worse than I already do."


"You broke her heart," Aerix snapped. "And you're worried about a bruised jaw?"


"You think I wanted to?" Nathan said, anger in his voice. He rose and moved towards Aerix. "Do you think I wanted to break her heart? Do you think I wanted to make the only friends I have hate me? .. I know it sounds hard to believe. But I did it for her."


Aerix stared at him, dumbfounded. ".. How the hell can you say that?"


"She wanted to go with me Aerix." Nathan sighed. "She was going to throw her life away, and for what? A childish fantasy. We would last maybe a couple of months. Sure we would be together. Sure she'd have herself a human lover. We might even be happy for the time.


"But we wouldn't live long. One of us would die, leaving the other with no reason to carry on. I'm fine with that, my intention is just to live long enough to find a nice place to bury all the women I've loved...


"But Tiera. She's got a life here. She has friends, people who care about her. And she's not surrounded by people who want to kill her just because of what she is. There's no reason for her to spend a few months on earth with me.


"... So I changed her mind the only way I could. I made her hate me. It tears me up.. she makes the third woman I've lost.. in a year. But at least when I'm gone, she'll be safe."


"Nathan, you're an asshole." Aerix said, "But... thank you."


That seemed to catch Nathan off guard. "Huh?"


"I didn't want her to go. I tried to convince her not to...." Aerix sighed. "She's all I've got. I can't lose her."


"Just take good care of her Aerix." Nathan said. ".. And maybe.. When all is said an done, tell her the truth of the matter. Tell her I loved her."


Aerix rested one massive hand on Nathan's shoulder and nodded. "I will Nathan, on that you have my word."