"Identify yourself."

"Koi da Tak," came the incensed reply.

"I am bringing you aboard Talyn. Lower your shields and disarm your weapons. I am not familiar with your vessel or its technology and I require time to study it and you."

Crais frowned. The vessel had caught their attention as it sped towards the small commerce planet they were orbiting. He had never seen anything like it or its owner before. Talyn's sensors had barely detected it at all but they had and its technology could prove useful against the peacekeepers.

"Captain Crais. I find you actions repulsive. You have no right to waylay me and bring me on board your ship. I am in a hurry and I need to get back to my companions with the supplies I procured. So if you will excuse me I have things to do and places to go!"

"I'm warning you woman—we will fire on you."

"I'm warning you peacekeeper if you do I'll destroy you and your leviathan."

Crais laughed. Her bravado was admirable and filled him with a strange emotion that he found disturbing to say the least. He frowned when he realized that he was becoming aroused by their verbal foray.

"Talyn deploy the docking whip and bring the ship on board."

Talyn emitted a series of loud beeps and whistles in answer to Crais demands.

Koi frowned as her explorer's sensors went off the chart. Talyn was more powerful than she had imagined. He was nothing like Moya.

 Crais was not what she expected either. It had been so long since she had desired male companionship. Why would the sight of the handsome dark haired peacekeeper fill her with need? She gasped as she felt a rush of desire causing her body to shiver, her thighs to clench, and her nipples to tighten painfully against her flight suit.

She muttered, "What have I let you talk me into Moya?"

Koi smiled at the memory. She had left the leviathan to return to Guardian space. Things were changing on Guardian Home world. She was no longer and outcast shunned by her race. She was free to do as she chose. She had decided after spending several weekuns on Home world to return to Moya. In her dismay she had found out that Moya had delivered and Crais had bonded and stolen the young leviathan away. Now she was tasked by Moya to break the bond and return her runaway son. She had simply told the others that she needed to get parts for the defense grid to explain her sudden absence after returning so soon.

This had better be worth it she thought as she allowed the docking whip to drag her into Talyn's depths.

Crais paced, pulse rifle ready, as the strange vessel was deposited gently inside the cargo bay. He waited for the brash young woman to exit the vehicle. She was beautiful, of that there could be no doubt. She will learn to submit to one more powerful and superior. He paled, surprised by his thoughts. She is not a peacekeeper. How is it possible I could want her? The very thought of touching her should repulse me but it doesn't. Crais pondered this as the exit ramp lowered from the explorer and grated against Talyn's deck. He watched as the longhaired beauty exited the ship, hands up showing she didn't have any weapons. Oh but she does, his mind told him as his body hardened painfully, herself.

Koi stood quietly as Talyn scanned her for hidden weapons. Smiling wryly she faced Crais tempted to scan his mind and read his thoughts, curious by the look of self-loathing he had on his face. Shrugging she held her hands before her in deference as he placed the shackles on them.

They both gasped as their hands touched. Crais jerked away as if burned while Koi tried to damp down the strong urge to lean forward and lick the smooth skin of his neck.

"You!"

"Yess," she purred. "What is it you really want Crais?"

"Nothing from you—the ship is another matter entirely." He pushed her roughly urging her to walk forward.

Tired of the games Koi concentrated her mind's abilities on separating Crais from the neuro-transponder on his neck. She probed Crais's mind gently. Surprised and shocked of the knowledge she gleaned. She smiled sadly as she probed his memories of his youth. Scenes of a young, carefree boy playing with his younger brother, laughing, rough housing running carelessly down green hills, rolling over and over in tall grasses.

The smells of hay, sweet grasses, fruit assailed her senses as her mind devoured his memories. She stopped moving and turned to face Crais. Her eyes glowing, her skin dampened.

"Keep moving!" Crais barked. "The containment cell is just a few… ahhh!"

Crais grabbed the back of his neck, rubbing fiercely as the transponder began to burn and itch.

"What is…Talyn, I can't see, feel…you."

He dropped the pulse rifle, as the urge to rip the transponder from his neck grew stronger and stronger.

Koi was beginning to sweat profusely. Talyn was fighting the separation as hard as Crais was.

"Nooooooo!" she screamed a single blast from the previously hidden pulse gun hit her squarely in the back.

Koi collapsed into an unconscious heap on the floor as the pulse rifle was once again returned to its docking place within the ceiling of the passageway.

"Thank you Talyn. She won't hurt either of us again. I promise."

Crais knelt beside the unconscious woman bent on her destruction. She appeared so vulnerable. So beautiful, unknowingly he reached out and smoothed the hair from her face. It was so soft and long. I wonder what it would feel like against my chest or brushing my cock…. He frowned as the trail of thoughts became more erotic each image and each act grander than the one before it.

Crais left the dropped pulse rifle and gathered Koi in his arms. It had been so long since he had shared leisure time with a woman. His body ached with arousal caused by this woman. I am not a peacekeeper anymore. Irrevocably contaminated. Who I spend my leisure time with is my business now. I want her and she will not deny me.

"Talyn begin scanning and mapping her vessel. I will return to command soon."

Crais carried her down a series of corridors to his quarters. He laid her carefully on the simple bedding he had recently acquired. He removed her boots and socks admiring the slender feet previously hidden inside. He greedily examined every inch of her, as she lay there on his bed unconscious. The glorious waist length auburn hair that he itched to bury his hands in and feel flowing silkily over his body. From what he could tell her body was nicely made up. Her waist and hips were trim and fit. Her neck long and slender, skin that he could see was smooth and creamy, unmarred by time or puberty. Crais rubbed his hand over his erection trying to sooth its hunger as they waited for Koi to wake.

Koi opened her eyes slowly. Sending tendrils of thought about the area searching for Crais. She gasped aloud as she ran against his mind and its thoughts. He wanted her with a hunger that matched her own. She was please by his attention but she also wanted more.

Crais's comment of her wakeful state caught in his mouth as Koi's desire filled hypnotic stare bored into him. He shuddered moving away from the bed and her. "It's about time you woke up."

"Why, you were enjoying yourself watching me," she said looking pointedly at his arousal.

"That is none of your concern." He barked, flushing.

"It could be if you let it," she told him quietly.

Crais gasped, his body tensed.

"You don't know what you're saying. I…I'm a peacekeeper—you're not."

"We desire each other and you—aren't a peacekeeper anymore. Scorpius has wanted buoys all over the uncharted territories for Talyn and your capture as well as Moya's and her crew. We don't have to be enemies Crais."

"What do you know of Moya?" Crais demanded moving closer.

"Nothing that you should worry your pretty head over Crais." Koi laughed. The sound tinkling down his spine as if she had touched him.

"Come, enough talk. I want you—you want me, end of story."

Crais wanted to deny her bold statement but couldn't. He wanted her like he had wanted no other woman before. Stalking to the side of the bed he began to undress as Koi watched him greedily.

"Take your hair down," she told him quietly.

"Why? It gets caught in the neuro-transponder and it's aggravating when it gets in my face."

"Okay, keep it up. Just let me braid mine up so it won't get in the way. I hate it when I sit on it."

"No! Okay I'll take mine out, just leave yours alone. I want…to feel it on me—everywhere," he admitted reluctantly.

Crais sat beside Koi on the bed, naked from the waist down. He looked at Koi. Doubt, fear, desire, and need filled his eyes. Koi leaned slowly towards him. She quickly moistened her lips with a flick of her tongue as her lips slowly touched his.

Groaning Crais tangled his fingers in Koi's hair and forced her down on the bed. Straddling her he leaned forward until they were almost forehead-to-forehead, looking deeply into her eyes. "We do this my way! I'm in control here."

Koi searched his eyes bowing her head in submission.

Crais pulled on her hair causing her back to arch forcing her breast against his naked chest.

"You—have on too many clothes," he said nuzzling her neck.

"I want to feel you against me, all of you against me." He whispered as he sat her up and helped her out of the rest of her clothing.

"What about you?" Koi asked trying to touch his lightly haired bared chest. "You still have on your pants."

Crais stood and worked the leather away from his sweating skin. He felt a little embarrassed as Koi examined him greedily, licking her lips to moisten them. No peacekeeper female had ever examined him in this manner. His recreations with other peacekeepers had always left him feeling as if he had missed something somewhere maybe this was it. Maybe males and females were suppose to enjoy leisure time as more than away of ridding oneself of sexual tension.

Koi held her arms out to him, eager to touch and taste him. Crais came to her slowly, unsure of himself for the first time since being removed from his home as a boy.

His mind felt pain briefly, he gasped as he realized that Koi was talking to him without using her mouth.

"You are a telepath."

"Shhhh don't talk Bialar, just feel."

Crais laced his fingers with hers and closed his eyes. The images flashing through his mind made aroused him to the point of orgasm. He tried to stop Koi's mental foreplay but he was no match for her telepathic abilities.

Koi smiled, Crais was so weak with desire she could do anything she wanted and all he could do was take it. She pulled him down to the bed and pushed him back. His low moans and writhing from her mind screw only intensified her efforts. His cock waved back and forth jerkingly as if it had a mind and will of its on. Koi leaned forward and grasped it in her hands, steadying it, soothing its lust.

Crais jerked in shock, his back arching as he felt Koi's lips wrap slowly around his cock. He felt her tongue as it slid around the circumference, teasing, licking, and sucking. Moaning loudly he began to fuck her willing mouth. Never had a peacekeeper woman offered herself to him like this. These were things he had only heard whispers of and dreamed about. He laced his fingers through her hair, controlling the pace of her mouths assault. His moans became louder as she moved a lithe hand to playfully caress his balls while she continued her mental screw and her mouths exploration of his body.

 Koi abandoned her mind screw; it was too hard to concentrate now that her need had grown. The burgeoning rod in her hands and mouth would not last much longer and she wanted to feel him inside of her. Stroking her deeply, hard and fast. She wanted to be lost with this man to feel his mouth on her breast, sucking their rosy tips. Licking her neck, kissing her, tongue deep in her mouth. Tasting the sweet moisture pooling between her legs, as she grew hotter, wetter, and ready for his cock's invasion.

Koi moaned releasing Crais from her mouth. She shivered lightly as a small orgasm rocked her.

He watched her amazed. Her eyes were closed, her head thrown back, that glorious hair spilling over her shoulders hiding her breast from his hungry appraisal. Reaching forward he wrapped a handful of the hair around his hand and tugged gently. Koi looked up her eyes full of desire enjoying the sensation.

"Ummmmm," she moaned.

Crais tugged again forcing her to crawl across his body and straddle him. He scooted them both back until he was resting against the wall. Looking in her eyes he lifted her slight hips and lowered her on top of his waiting manhood. They both held their breaths savoring the feel of it all as she slowly sand around his throbbing shaft. They sat perfectly still. He was sheathed inside her to the hilt and it was the most delicious feeling either of them had ever experienced.

"You are glorious," he moaned beginning to move.

Crais took a taught peak into his mouth and suckled while his free hands kneaded and caressed her hips, buttocks, and unattended breast. Koi's moans increased his efforts. He pounded inside of her the sound of their efforts echoing against the walls.

SLAP! SLAP! SLAP!

"I want you deeper, deeper…ahhh Bialar!"

Crais flipped Koi onto her stomach and brought her up against him he rammed his swollen cock into her dripping wet cunt and wrapped his hands into her hair holding on for dear life.

He moaned as the heat and wetness sucked and pulled at him as he buried himself deeper and deeper inside of her sweetness. Koi's moans and incoherent mutterings angered him. He wanted to hear his name on her soft lips. Only his name, forever his name.

He fucked her harder.

"Koi. I won't let you go. You belong to me. No man will know what I know of you ever again. No one! You are mine. Mine, MINE!!"

He punctuated each word with a stroke, and each stroke was answered by a moan from Koi.

"BIALAR!!" Koi screamed his name as she came, her cum hot and wet gushed over him causing the tentatively held control to break as he himself came deep within her. Shuddering, moaning, greedy for more.

Koi continued to move against him as the hot stream of cum bounced off of her walls. It felt so delicious, so utterly delicious and she wanted more.

Crais collapsed over her back, spent. He rolled them to their sides and pulled her tightly against him. They were still joined--his cock semi-hard inside of her.

His hand shook slightly as he stroked her hair, moving it tenderly from her face, glorying in the feel of it against his skin. He was still hungry for more, the things he had said…he wondered if he had truly meant them as he lowered his head to her neck leaving possessive little love bites along his mouths path.

Crais tossed the bedding apart. Ripping the pillows apart with his bare hands. Shredding the sheets, stabbing the mattress over and over. She was gone. She was gone. Damn her. Damn her. He punctuated his anger and pain at her betrayal by stabbing the bed over and over in retribution.

Talyn also felt his pain. They were one. When Crais hurt he hurt. He had not realized that the female belonged to them. He would make it up to Crais. He would get her back. Recapture her so that Crais would be happy again. It was his fault. He had let her go. His jealousy had been immature and unwarranted and now---now he had to make it up to his friend….

Koi allowed the explorer's computers to maneuver the craft. It had been several hours since she had escaped. Crais would no doubt be angry. He was a passionate man, and he only knew how to express that side of his passion. She wiped the silent tears away. Why did he tug at her heart so? She barely knew—she laughed, bare yes she definitely knew him bare. He was so complex and so angry. How….

"Computer, estimated time to destination?"

"Arrival in 14 arn."

Koi sighed. That didn't leave her much time. Moya would be disappointed that she had not succeeded in getting Talyn away from Crais, but she couldn't stay any longer, watching Bialar sleep had been her undoing. His brow had softened; the harsh lines had disappeared from his face and beside her lay a man. Not the monster everyone wanted to believe him, but a man who had gambled and lost more than he would ever admit openly.

"Oh, what am I going to do," she whispered as she manually reset the ship to return to her previous coordinates where she had abandoned Talyn and Crais.

Koi grimaced as Bialar cruelly twisted her arm behind her back and shoved her against the bulkhead of Talyn's docking hanger.

"Where the hell were you? Why did you leave?" he demanded.

"I came back! Please you're hurting me, let me go Bialar."

"I haven't begun to hurt you-Koi," he spat. "You—disgust me."

"If I'm so disgusting why does your body still want me? Why do you want me? If I'm so dis…"

The slap echoed around the docking hanger surprising them both. Koi's eyes watered as she fought the tears caused by the pain of his action. Physically it hadn't hurt but emotionally he might as well have fired his pulse rifle into her point blank.

"I'm sorry—didn't mean…you made me angry."

"Talyn," Koi whispered to the confused leviathan, "unlock the nearest cell and have your drds guide me there."

"Koi! Dammit Koi don't walk away from me. Don't…"

Crais's voice broke into a sob as she disappeared from view down the corridor. He slumped against the bulkhead as years of pain and suffering poured from his soul into the empty room.

Koi settled into the small cell. She sat on the bare rack with her knees drawn up to her chest rocking back and forth in her misery. The endless stream of tears ran thoughtlessly down her face and sank into her clothing. The drd that had escorted her there had remained in the cell. It's eyestalks waving about frantically as if to sooth her pain.

He had hit her. The sound still echoed within her mind. It had taken all her strength and training not to lash out at him. It would have been the easy way out, killing him by severing his spinal cord with a single thought. She shuddered in distaste as she realized she had almost done just that.

"Koi."

She looked up and looked away from the haggard figure standing on the outside of the cell door.

"You—eat. It's been several solar days. You don't have to stay in here. I won't hurt you. I'm sorry. What do I have to do, say? I won't ever…."

Koi turned her back on the cell door refusing to speak or look at Crais. Defeated, he slammed the tray into the door scattering its meager contents along the corridor as he stalked away.

"Talyn."

BEEP. CHIRP. CHIRP. CHIRP.

"Continue following the trajectory of Koi's ship. I know you're frightened. Moya won't hurt you. She's your mother. I know what I said, that she wasn't to be trusted but you can trust her. I lied. I lied. I was selfish. I wanted you…

Crais stopped, stunned. It's always been what he had wanted. He had wanted his brother to serve with him aboard his ship, had he not Tauvo would still be alive, would be a tech instead of a warrior.

He was stunned, ashamed, and humbled as he accepted his part in the tragedy of his past.

"I…I even killed Teeg. I'm horrible. I don't deserve to live."

He reached beneath his braid and began pulling and tugging on the neuro-transponder.

Talyn beeped furiously, confused and frightened. The woman. Koi she could stop him. She was always there at the back of his mind waiting and watching. Why wouldn't she help? She cared for Crais just as he did even if Crais's actions had originally been selfish.

Koi woke crying out in pain as another pinch was inflicted on her by the insane drd. It's eyestalks and floor lighting flashed vividly as if in warning. The cell door was open and other drds were in the hallway behaving strangely, some twirling around in circles while others bumped into the bulkheads.

"Talyn, Crais? What the yotz are you two up to?"

Koi placed her hands along the bulkhead in an effort to sense Talyn's thoughts and found only fear and horror. Crais something was wrong with Crais. Help. Help.

She released the bulkhead as the interior lighting and environmental controls began to fluctuate. Concern and fear for Crais's safety made her forget her anger and pain at his lack of control as she ran from the cell headed for Talyn's control center.

Koi stood shocked and horrified at the amount of blood she had slipped and fallen in. She had struggled to her feet; stomach heaving as she realized it was Bialar's. In a sickened daze she followed the trail of blood to his rooms, where she found him laying pale, face down on the ruined bed. Crying out in fear she rushed to his side, relieved when she saw his chest rising in rapid shallow breaths.

"Oh, Bialar. What have you done?" she whispered to the dying, unconscious man.

"Koi, I'm sorry. Please forgive me. Please…."

"Shhhh. I can help you."

Koi spoke to him in soothing tones as she examined him for injuries. She tried to ignore the destruction of the bed that only weekuns before had been a place where their souls had merged for a brief instant. Averting her eyes she focused on Crais and his pain drawing it unto herself, blocking it from his own neuro-receptors.

"Ahhh, my neck hurts like hell…. You--your neck!"

She carefully rolled him over to his side, unable to hold her bile any longer at the sight of the small punctures where the neuro- transponder had once been. A steady stream of bright red blood continued to ooze from the largest puncture at the center of his neck.

"Oh! Why?" she wailed. "There has to be away to fix this she told one of the drds in the room. I need to think…. Think! Ohh Zhaan! If only you were here."

BEEP! BEEP!

"Talyn, I'm doing all that I know to do. He lost a lot of blood and I'm not sure if he can survive without the neuro-link to you. I have to find that damn thing and put it back!"

Koi raced from the room following the trail of blood. She dropped to her knees in defeat as she came upon the shattered, melted, deformed remains of the transponder and Crais's pulse rifle. She picked up the still warm particles and continued to Talyn's control room.

"Talyn, he…he…destroyed it. How could he? He'll die."

Koi slumped to the floor. Series of lights flashed as a small crack appeared near her. She watched as a metallic tentacle bearing what resembled another transponder rose from the small opening.

"I understand, I don't know if I can move him this far alone. I'll do it! I have to!"

Koi rose to her knees and ran to Crais's quarters. Summoning her reserves she fought his dead weight to the floor and grabbed him underneath his arms and began dragging him through his blood towards the command center.

"Next time talk about how you are feeling. Don't run off doing the heroic thing cause you feel guilty. Do you realize what you are doing to Talyn? He's just a kid. He doesn't know how to survive on his own because you didn't let him learn from his mother. It was selfish of you. Just because it's the peacekeeper way doesn't mean it has to be your way. When you wake up I'm going to kill you!"

Koi slumped to the floor beside Crais, exhausted. Looking ahead of her she realized she had several hundred yards to travel yet. She sighed and looked at the unconscious man beside her, his survival depended on her. Taking a deep breath she stood on wobbling legs and began to drag him towards Talyn's command center.

BEEP, BEEP! BEEP, CLICK, BEEP.

"Keep it up Talyn. Keep it up. You sound close now. I can do this."

Koi tried to remember the human children's tale that Crichton had told Jothee one night. How did he say it, " I think I can, I think I can, choo, choo."

She laughed out loud as a wave of dizziness broke through her musings forcing her to concentrate the last several yards. Finally! She pulled Crais to the waiting tentacle and guided its probes to the vacant holes that had held the last neuro-transponder.

"Do it, Talyn!"

Koi closed her eyes as she heard the crunch of the probes as they bit into blood-crust covered flesh and scraped the bone of his vertebrae as the microscopic tendrils sought out their corresponding nerves. The sound of the probes rubbing against the bones as they anchored themselves caused Koi to move away from the unmoving man thankful that he wasn't conscious. She placed her hand over her heaving stomach as her body attempted to show her just how it felt about the noises and smells assailing her.

"Nooo…"

Koi never finished the sentence as her food starved body finally crumbled under the emotional drama she had forced on it and slid her weary mind into the abyss of unconscious oblivion.

Someone was touching him. Light sure hands moving over him with a cool wet cloth. Wiping, cleaning, ministering, to him.

Crais groaned, struggling to pull his mind from the lethargy and pain of the dark void he had resided in until his awareness had surfaced.

It's not Koi his mind screamed in agony. He knew her touch. It's not Koi. A sob wrenched from his parched throat as he tried to open his eyes and sit up.

"Please, Captain Crais, do not attempt to rise yet. You are still very weak from your injuries."

"Priest?" he croaked confused. "How—did…?"

"Talyn brought you both here. If he hadn't you would be dead now."

"Koi?"

"No more questions. Here. Drink this it will ease your thirst. Then you must rest. Talyn is trying to block most of his senses so that you might heal without an overload but he is frightened and as much as I hate to or the others for that matter—he needs your guidance. Rest."

"Please, Pau Zhaan! Koi—is she…" he swallowed as a lump of pain and grief wailed up inside of his throat making further communication impossible.

"She is well," Zhaan told him softly, eyes widening seeing that no longer was he the monster they hated. His eyes were filled with physical and emotional pain and something more. She gasped. Crais loved Koi.

"Well, I guess Crichton was right! Love does conquer all."

Crais turned his head. His fear of her words and his training scoffed at love as the ultimate weakness. This priest had seen right through him. He continued to look at the wall as another set of footsteps neared.

"Thank you for calling me Zhaan."

"You are welcomed. A moment in private Koi."

Zhaan led Koi to the passageway. She examined the young woman closely following her eyes as she sought to evade the questions Zhaan wanted to ask.

"When you are ready to speak. I will listen. He—has changed. No longer the hate filled man we knew."

"Zhaan…" Koi began finally meeting her eyes. "I don't understand. It has all happened so quickly and I—I'm afraid. These emotions are so—they are so…"

"Intense?" Zhaan offered.

"Yes! Exactly. How did you know?"

"I did not reach my age of over 800 cycles without loving deeply, Koi. Go to him. He is worried about you even though he seeks to hide his feelings. Make him understand it is not a weakness as the peacekeepers would have their kind believe but one of the universe's greatest gifts. I will ensure you are not disturbed. Make him understand and make him rest."

Koi stood watching Zhaan departing figure before bowing her head and going inside the room.

She watched Crais's taunt, muscled back. She smiled wryly. It bore scars from scratches she had inflicted on him when they had given into the attraction that changed both of their lives forever. Forging a bond that grew more intertwined each passing moment. Reaching out she slowly touched his shoulder. When he didn't reject her touch but still refused to look at her she sighed heavily and sat down in the chair that Zhaan had vacated by the bedside.

"Bialar. I am here. I am safe. There is no shame in your fear for my safety. There is no shame in the feelings you struggle with. Stop trying to put them in nice little pigeonholes because they will never fit. I know I tried and it always finds a way to the forefront of my mind."

"I am not you!"

Crais turned on her in an instant grabbing her startled hand as she snatched it away from his coiled muscles.

"What did you do to me? Why can't I think clearly anymore? You did this to me. Made me weak. You did something to my mind. I don't want to care about you. I don't want to care about us. You are only a woman, a warm body to ease the sexual tension, but nothing more. Nothing more!"

"Maybe you should say it a few more times and you will start to believe it," Koi hissed as anger roiled inside of her.

"Maybe you can be nothing more than that peacekeeper you were raised to be. Maybe I'm wasting my time. You aren't the only man in the universe."

Koi stood, shaking Crais's hand away easily. She took several deep breaths as she tried to control her anger.

"Zhaan said that you should rest. I'm leaving now. Have a nice life, Captain!"

Koi stalked from the room without a backward glance. Crais sunk wearily to the bed wishing he could disappear from sight. He rubbed his eyes as a tingling awareness began to form within his mind. Talyn!

Talyn sensed Crais's return. He wanted to listen to Moya, Aeryn, and Pilot, but his Pilot needed him. He could sense Crais's pain and fear. Koi! They had said mean things to each other again. Why couldn't the Pilots get along?

He followed Koi's explorer with his sensors as she sped away from Moya wondering where she was heading. Curious he broke from Moya's side and began to follow a safe distance behind her.

Why am I always crying? I hate him! No, you don't. You want him. You desire him. You may even be falling in love with him but you don't hate him. She continued arguing with herself as she cooled off, unaware of Talyn's presence.

Crais tried to sit up as he saw what Talyn saw. Felt what Talyn felt. Koi had left Moya.

"No, I pushed her too far. I didn't mean it. I didn't mean it."

"Pilot, have you heard from Koi or Talyn?" Aeryn asked.

"No, they both disappeared from our scan a quarter arn ago."

"Frell. Pilot, is my prowler ready for launch?"

"Yes. The drds completed your…"

"Thank you Pilot. Tell Moya not to worry I'll…"

"Officer Sun! Your prowler just launched."

"What the frell. Pilot who's flying her?" "It's Crais."

"Frell! Pilot patch me through to him."

"Done."

"Crais, I don't know what the yotz you are up to but you get my prowler back aboard Moya, Now!"

"Demanding as ever Officer Sun. Admirable. I will bring your prowler back after I have retrieved Koi and Talyn and not before. Crais out!"

Aeryn stood in the corridor at a lost for words as Zhaan rushed to her side.

"Aeryn he's not strong enough to fly your prowler. He can barely stay conscious. How he made it from his bed to your prowler is beyond me."

Talyn burst forward between Koi and the Sheyang vessels preparing to fire upon her. He blocked their shots sending several frag pulses towards the nearest one destroying it.

The sound of frag cannons and the intense light snapped Koi from her revere. She gasped as she realized the Sheyang were about to combine their fire on the young leviathan.

"Talyn, starburst now! Go warn Moya! I'll be okay. I promise."

"Koi, get your ass aboard Talyn." Crais ordered.

"Whaa…" Koi began as the prowler danced its way though the Sheyang fire power and disappeared inside of Talyn.

Crais struggled to remain conscious at Talyn's control center. He had to if they were all to survive. I can't let her get hurt.

Koi's footsteps rang along the corridor as she ran full out to the command center. He shouldn't be up. How is he up? He needs me!

Talyn shuddered as a Sheyang missile embedded itself in his side and exploded. The fire ran along the access shaft singing nerves endings and sending a wave of intense pain through his hull.

Koi reached Crais as he paled and fell forward unconscious--the waves of pain hit him full blast. She barely caught him in time.

Lowering his bulk to the floor and trying to identify the meaning of the many lights and panels flashing wildly.

"Talyn, starburst. Talyn!"

"Priest, remove these restraints immediately!"

"Shut up. You are lucky to be alive. This time we will make sure you can't do anything to harm yourself."

Zhaan scoffed at Crais in disgust as he continued to stubbornly ignore her warnings and struggle against the restraints.

Koi smiled warmly at their banter from the doorway before coughing loudly.

"I'll take over now, Zhaan."

"Be my guest!"

Zhaan stomped from the room muttering under her breath.

"You should listen to her. She is only trying to help you, Bialar."

"Release me," he purred silkily.

Koi walked to the entryway and locked the door. She then turned off Pilot's video unit to the room before devoting her full attention to Crais.

"I don't want to release you," she purred, flashing a series of erotic images through his mind.

"Koi," he hissed, "the priest said that I needed to rest."

"Oh, you can rest. I'll do all the work."

Crais moaned, a low moan of surrender as Koi began to remove her clothes. He watched, his eyes filled with pride, love, and desire as she climbed into the bed with him and pushed the sheets away to gaze longingly at his limp flesh.

"Trust me," she giggled. "This won't hurt a bit."

Having said that she slid beneath the covers until her mouth grazed his stomach. Kissing the flat, muscled ridges, she began to ease her way lower, licking, tasting, touching and exploring every part of him. Her tongue memorized the shape and depth of his navel, the texture and taste of his skin.

Koi moaned -- her own body moistened as her need grew. Knowing that he couldn't touch her was a heady aphrodisiac. He was totally at her mercy. His soft moans only spurred her on as she neared his rapidly swelling sex.

 She wrapped her hands around its changing girth and began to stroke it until it was completely erect. Sighing she placed her lips on the tip, kissing lightly, teasing him until his moans became louder and more urgent.

"I want to touch you. Please let me go," he begged.

"Never!" She answered, taking his swollen cock as far into her mouth as she could and began to suck.

End.