FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Wind howled, and sand blew, seemingly without end. Engines sputtered and gave one last push, before giving out. Before long, another large, slow moving craft had crashed back down onto the sand with a thump, followed by the swearing and cursing of its occupants. This was Rackinox. A dirty, ugly little world with no value of anything whatsoever to anybody. Even as a colony, it was a poor excuse for one. It only had one city, barely even large enough to be called that, and here and there, small scattered settlements.

And Daniel lived here, to some extent. Hired out to one of the bigger companies on the planet, that made a killing doing caravan work. Rackinox was an incredibly hard world to land on, let alone fly on with a starship. Imports often had to be shipped down through an orbital elevator, and then dispersed via ground caravans. The reason for this, was the sand. Rackinox had many, many uncontested storms that blew across its surface all year round, and the sand that traveled the globe was extremely fine, almost powder like. If any starship landed on this world, it would never leave again because of sand getting into everything.

Which was now why Daniel was sitting in the cockpit of his Hauler, practically halfway buried by sand as its gravity lifts gave out. Although there was good money in this business, there were a lot of troubles too. He wasn't a technician, just a driver. And he couldn't fix his Hauler, which was now why a few of the more apt people in the group were working on the engines in the back. From outside the windows, he could see that the rest of the group had stopped now, waiting for his transport to get up and moving again. He turned back to the two in the back of the Hauler, working on the engine compartments.

"You guys think we you can get this bucket up and running again? If we don't make it with this one that's another pay cut on all of our salaries."

One man turned back to him.

"I don't think she's getting back up again man. Sand came in through the repulsors, got into the gears and oil. It's hard as a rock now. We've have to strip the damn thing and replace it. Nothing we can do."

Daniel leaned up against the wheel, looking through the tinted glass to the world outside, as the caravan of Haulers floated just barely off the twisting, rolling sand. He turned back to the mechanics as they left the engine.

"Can't we tow it guys? We've already lost two on this run. By the time we get to town we won't even have any money to claim."

One of the mechanics nodded.

"Let's check with the boss. I think it's risky. We waste time towing this one, while we're sitting out here any one of the Haulers could go down. Do we really want to take a risk for just this one, and lose a few more in the process?"

Daniel stepped out of his chair, and went for the back of the Hauler, past the cramped engine compartments, and started piling on his gear. Either way, he'd be going outside anyway. The question was, what for?

Daniel shoveled away at the sand building up over his vehicle, trying to clear enough space so they could attach a chain to the front end. It was frantic work, as the sand only continued to blow over everything, burying any work made in a few minutes time. One mechanic was with him, working to shovel the large craft free of its quickly growing tomb, while the other was setting up the chains.

The man calling the shots had agreed to some extent, but didn't wish to wait around while they worked. And now, the rest of the slow moving caravan had broken off, and vanished into the blowing sands beyond. Which left just them now. With any luck, they would be able to catch up soon, with the other Hauler in tow.

Daniel hauled the great chain up to the front of his Hauler, and hooked it up. He and the mechanic backed off, sheltering their protected faces out of instinct as they walked back up to the front of the other Hauler. He slammed on the outer door of the Hauler, and listened as its engines revved against the howl of sand and wind. Daniel and the mechanic looked over to his defunct Hauler, watching as it barely budged against the sand piling up against it. Daniel was quick to grab his shovel and start shoveling once more, the other man coming to help as they frantically tried to loosen up the area around the downed Hauler.

The other Hauler's engines strained as the driver put too much on it, and with a noticeable bang, it too dropped onto the sand. Daniel turned, looking back at the scene as smoke billowed from the inside, and the pilot stepped out, coughing and choking as more smoke followed in his wake. He tossed his shovel down into the sand.

Daniel leaned his head back against the headrest of his seat. Night had fallen, and now, there was nothing to do but wait. They had supplies for this kind of thing, enough for a few solid weeks even. But radio contact, and generally communications of any kind were impossible when sitting in the middle of one of the sand storms out here.

The three men had spent their evening fiddling with the worn down engines of Daniel's Hauler, in some vain attempt to start things up once more. But, in the end it was a useless endeavor that ended in a game of cards, betting whatever remaining money they had for kicks, and long drinks. And now all three had called it a night. It was almost commonplace for at least one, two, and in most cases, three Haulers to give out and fail in reaching their destination. By now the company Daniel worked for had this whole thing set up and fine-tuned as precise as they could get it. Help would come, eventually.

So, for the first few days, all three men stayed inside their Hauler, biding their time and trying to pass it away, occasionally going outside to shovel their doorway free of sand so that they could get out when the time arrived. But, after a week of nothing, the tone of all three became less enthusiastic. And, with the passage of another week, things got tense. And then, halfway through the next week, one man left. Stuffed a pack with supplies, suited up into his sand gear, and walked out the door without looking back.

And the sand continued to blow. There was nothing out there. It was like, beyond the veil of the sand beyond, there was nothing. And Daniel was just here, with another person, the two of them trapped in a metal box, like a tomb. The thoughts eroded away at him, as time passed slower now, and hope whittled away to nothing. Many days and nights had passed, and no one came. And eventually, Daniel was ready. As he slept in his chair, his now noticeably irritable, uncomfortable chair, he said he was going to do it. He was going to grab his gear in the morning, take some supplies, and leave. If the other man wanted to come with, Daniel wouldn't stop him.

Daniel stood at the door, his hand resting on the latch. Something was telling him not to step out there. The other mechanic sat in the back, watching him.

"You know if you go out there, you won't make it right? Nobody makes it on foot out here."

Daniel's hand tensed on the latch. He spoke from under the heavy gear that covered his face and head, slightly muffled.

"It's better than staying here, waiting for nothing."

"You won't even be going in the right direction. You'll get lost and turned around before you know it."

Daniel pulled on the latch, watching as sand blew into the doorway. As he looked out to the world beyond, through all the sand, a light shone out in the distance, like a dim, far off beacon. Daniel slammed the door shut, turning to the mechanic.

"There's a light out there!"

The mechanic perked up, and practically jumped out of his chair, hurrying over to Daniel.

"Show me!"

Daniel opened up the hatch again, and, once more, the light shined in the distance. The mechanic ran back into the Hauler, and frantically started piling on his gear, but Daniel had already absent mindedly walked out, stepping onto the sand outside. Before he knew it, he was trudging through knee deep sand, in a hurried effort to reach the light source. In the distance, the figure of the mechanic could be seen, trying to reach the same destination.

The wind howled, pressing the two back, but they fought regardless, struggling to take each step as sand washed over them, and then, suddenly, the light went out. Daniel stopped in his tracks, and looked back to the mechanic who had also stopped. He couldn't possibly hope to say anything over the wind. But a sudden desperation washed over him, as he looked back, to see their tracks vanishing, and their Hauler was nowhere to be seen.

Daniel pressed forward, keeping the location of the light in his mind's eye, fighting against despair now that it had vanished. Now it really mattered. The mechanic behind him was hurrying as well, and together, the two scrambled against the wind and endless torrent of sand, hope fading as the light did not reappear. And suddenly, relief washed over them as it did. It flashed brighter now, only a few yards away it seemed, and both Daniel and the mechanic hurried, stumbling and falling, fighting and clawing to get up in the sand like maniacs, until at last, Daniel could make out the distinct shape of a machine, not unlike his Hauler, but huge, easily much larger, slowly traveling along.

The light came from one operational headlight mounted on the front, and as Daniel and the mechanic both found the front, they waved their arms over their heads frantically, and to their relief, the vehicle came to a slow stop. The two men found the hatch on the side, and banged frantically against it. In a blur of motion the hatch was flung open, and several guns were pointed at the two, as a voice shouted out above the wind.

"If you're raiders we will kill you on the spot!"

Daniel waved his hands frantically, and ripped his mask off against the howl of sand and wind.

"We're not raiders, for the love of god don't shoot!"

The guns stayed leveled at the two men, as a standstill crept over them, amidst the elements blowing on past them, before finally, they were lowered. A man stepped forward, clad in elegant clothing, which was sharp and crisp, but seemed worn down with in the face of many days and nights. He held out his hand with a smile, as the rest of the crew parted.

"Well gentlemen, don't just stand there! Come on in!"

From out of the sand, Daniel stepped into a whole entire world of strange, from a moment of desolation and despair, to one of awkwardness. The small crew of the craft were, to say the least, odd. But through the introductions of the elegantly clad man, he soon found out why.

"My, it seems you are in good fortunes! We had heard about the disappearance of part of a caravan and its crew. It's a good thing we were both using the same trail no?"

He held out his hands, after tipping a hat that he wore, just as pristine, yet faded and old as the rest of his suit.

"Welcome to my hearty band of brothers and sisters! We are a band of showmen and women, you could say, and we were on our way to our next destination."

He pointed to the various crew members aboard, all a collection odd looking clothed aliens and humans alike. He pointed to a large man who looked solid as stone.

"This is Bartholemu the Titan! A man of great strength, able to lift and carry the weight that only a man born on a 3g world could!"

His hand traveled over to a large robotic suit, standing idle.

"And in there are the Teridian Sisters! They are mostly gases, loose connections of elements that are bound together in the most mysterious of ways. They make great, dazzling performances!"

His hand traveled over to a clothed figure, completely hidden under many, pristine, delicate layers of fabric.

"And here is Nem'Suura. She's relatively new at the moment, but she's our lady of extreme precision and agility!"

And finally the man pointed to the last of the group, a rather small, blue skinned alien, sporting six, bright yellow eyes and a mouth full of sharpened teeth, and sporting four large finned arms.

"And this is our master of technology, a young genius for his age, Mazeki the Sly!"

The man smiled, tipping his hat once more.

"And I am ring master Hugo. Together the five, well, six of us if you count both sisters, put on dazzling shows across many worlds we travel to and from. It is a pleasure to meet the both of you, misters?"

Daniel held out his hand, as did the mechanic.

"Daniel. My friend here is John. We had a third, but... he left before we spotted you."

Hugo nodded solemnly.

"It is a harsh world, this place. And life comes and goes as it sees fit. You have my condolences friends."

Hugo turned his attention up to the front of the craft once more, before shaking hands with Daniel and the mechanic, John, one last time.

"My apologies for the hurried introduction friends, but I must attend to the wheel, for we do not wish to become stuck as well! But please, our home is yours. Make yourself comfortable while we continue on our journey."

Hugo promptly turned and left, headed back towards the cockpit up front, leaving Daniel and his co-worker with the ensemble of strange beings. His co-worker had no troubles, it seemed, and quickly started up talking with whoever would listen. But Daniel wanted some quiet. He just wanted to sit and be alone for some time. And, with some discretion, and a quickly asked question directed at the smaller blue finned alien, Daniel found a quiet spot of the craft he now rode in, out of the way of traffic and people. He sat down in the lower storage levels, against many various crates and packed items, put his head down in his arms, and drifted off to sleep.

Eventually, every nice little moment must end, and for Daniel, that time arrived when he finally noticed he was hungry. But it wasn't his stomach growling that woke him. No, it was the smell of food cooking. Something that smelled, truly homey. And to his surprise, as he roused from his slumber, he was greeted by the form of the blue skinned alien and the other one clad in concealing robes. The two approached him slowly, until he made some motions revealing to them that he was awake. The small blue skinned alien approached him first, a smile across his features, showing slim, sharpened teeth that made for an oddly unsettling smile. But as he held out one of his arms with a bowl of what could be described as a soup of some kind, Daniel extended his hands out to him. The alien nodded happily.

"Yes, zis is good. You must be hungry for something more than caravan rations, no?"

Daniel nodded.

"Yes, thank you. It smells fantastic."

The blue alien smiled once more.

"Ze suit of gases is oddly, a good cook."

The blue alien sat down from across Daniel in the storage bay, while the veiled alien was merely content to stand, and apparently watch. Daniel eyed her up, but could make out no features whatsoever from under the robes. He focused his attention back to the blue one, Mazeki.

"So, you guys are travelers right? And you just happened to pass by our downed Hauler out here?"

The blue alien nodded.

"We heard ze reports of ze missing caravan, yes. In truth, we were hoping to find some free supplies."

Mazeki spread his arms wide.

"But we found you two instead, its own reward!"

Daniel took his first spoonful of soup, and was suddenly blown away by how damn good it was. He simply nodded as he began sending more spoonful's of it down, occasionally stopping to ask another question.

The blue alien, Mazeki, was the youngest member of this strange group, only a child really, and the strange figure that accompanied them both at the moment, Nem'Suura, was completely quiet. Daniel did not ask, but instead focused on the wonderful soup and asking Mazeki more questions. But eventually, things slowed down, and Mazeki decided it was time to retire. But the strange being, Nem'Suura stayed behind. She spoke after Mazeki had left, shifting under her robes. It was the first time Daniel had ever heard her speak, and it was, odd to say the least. He couldn't place how she was speaking, or what she was doing to create her sounds. But it was clear enough to understand.

"The young blue one is good of heart, but not of hand. You would do well to watch over your possessions in his presence traveler."

Daniel perked up, setting his bowl down and leaning back against the crate he was using as a rest. He looked over the strange being before him, leaning casually against the nearby wall.

"So, what's your story?"

"I am a traveler on the winds, as you are. For the time being, I stay with these people, for it seems that is my part to play in things for now."

Daniel simply shrugged.

"What do you think of them all?"

"They are kind. And I appreciate their companionship. They give me purpose in a time when I have none."

"Not far off from me then, I suppose. Stuck here on this little dirtball. I take what I can get."

Nem'Suura clearly nodded from under her veiled head. Daniel leaned his head back against the crate.

"So, you guys are traveling showmen right? How's the reception to your gang?"

Nem'Suura shifted, the fabric of her attire moving by her shoulders and lower down near her waist.

"In general, we are welcomed by the communities. We provide a brief window for people, to relax, and sit down from the strains of life. Forget all the toil, and enjoy the smaller things. Something you and your friend could sorely use, I think."

Daniel looked up to Nem'Suura.

"Excuse me?"

"You, and your co-worker. The strain is there, written across your features. When you move, I can see it all. I know not which plagues you, but it is beginning to weigh down on you. Stress cannot be held back forever you know. I could assist you, if you wish."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I see that which others do not. Acute sensory functions of my people. I know how your entire body structure works, and I know how it will move, and when it will move. I know your weak points, and I know your strong points. I know your buttons, and could no doubt press the right ones to make you relax."

Daniel was suddenly put out of his comfort zone, and shook his head quietly. He wasn't sure what she was offering. And he wasn't even sure what she was either. Nem'Suura nodded in response.

"I understand your concerns. My offer will remain open, whenever you wish. But, I would suggest something. Our destinations are the same. If it would please you, come by on the night of our show. You might have a good time. Entrance will be free for you, and your companion if he so wishes to come along. He seems to hold an interest in the sisters, and no doubt, he would be dazzled by their performance. It will be fun."

Daniel nodded.

"I'll consider it. But I think, now I'll get some shut eye. But thank you, for everything, your hospitality, your invitation to the show, and......"

Daniel rubbed the back of his head, before Nem'Suura shook hers.

"It's okay, I am aware of how odd I may sound to others at times. Do not bother yourself over it. Enjoy your rest traveler, for our journey will take some time yet."

Daniel nodded, but asked something on his mind as Nem'Suura practically glided along the floor to leave.

"Hey, how do you guys keep such a large vehicle like this up and running with all the sand? Not once have I seen any troubles."

Nem'Suura made a sound, of what Daniel could only guess what was laughter.

"The sisters can reach parts of our machines that we cannot. They can remove all the buildup of otherwise obstructive sand. Very handy on this world, and a small fortune to be had, as many others are willing to pay for such services."

Daniel nodded silently. Somebody like them would have been handy a few weeks ago.

The rest of the trip was rather uneventful, and Daniel had his fair share of run-ins with each member of the group, discussing things with them. It was an interesting way to pass the time, as everyone had tales from their side of the stars that they came from. Mazeki was found by Hugo on the streets of some bustling world, after trying to trick him with a "magic trick." Hugo didn't call the authorities, but instead extended a hand to him, realizing his talent for machines and his natural sleight of hand.

The mountain of a man, Bartholemu, was actually born on a 3g world. But due to genetic abnormalities, he didn't develop like a Human would on a 3g world, and instead remained very close appearance wise to his standard kin. The man was soft spoken, and quiet, but had his fair share of tales. He was a fighter, in underground interspecies rings, and had, in his glory days, been quite famous for it. His standard Human looks gave him an edge that often other, bigger species took for granted and mocked, but soon met the man's strength head to head and often lost. Hugo found him one day, after a particularly dangerous tournament. A true underground tourney, where combatants fought to the death. Bartholemu had single handedly survived the entire show, but Hugo recognized the doubt and pain in his mind afterwards, offering him a spot with him.

The sisters hailed from a distant part of the galaxy, from an odd pocket of space known as the warped regions. Gravity, and in general, the laws of physics bent and twisted themselves round and round. Many species from the star systems in this region of space were oddities, and the sisters were no exception. Hugo found them on a space station, on their home world, a gas giant, and quickly realized them for their talents and uniqueness. Of their kin, they were a rarity, for they went out of their way to interact with other species, in an attempt to communicate with them, and even more so, called themselves sisters. Gas and atoms being created in a pair, and growing together to call themselves sisters was truly odd indeed, and as such, on the mining station amongst other species and their own, they were somewhat of an outcast.

And last but not least, Nem'Suura found Hugo on her own one day. A traveler on her own, she had bumped into him during a scuffle with some irate beings who didn't take kindly to Hugo's band of "freaks" stopping by their part of town. Things were about to get ugly, when the veiled Nem'Suura stepped in from the shadows, and fought all of them simultaneously. Hugo, of the group, was the only one to know what lay completely underneath her veil, other than the fact that she had several sets of arms. From then on, it was only natural that he extended an invitation to her.

As for Hugo himself, the man had started life out pretty average. But as the years went on, as he put it, "The stars called out to him, and he was powerless not to heed their call." He traveled far and wide, farther than most in their lifetime. He'd been across this galaxy, and even to others and back, which took an agonizing few hundred years to reach, a painfully slow amount of time, even by today's standards. Hugo had long since forgone his original body, and was now fully cyborg, save for his brain. Where he gained such money for the operations was unknown, but Daniel didn't ask.

The time went by quickly as the tales shared by the group easily passed things along. And, eventually, their destination was reached. The second largest settlement on this world, sporting something along the lines of around thirty thousand or so. Daniel said his goodbyes to the group, shaking the hands of all of them, as his time with them came to an end. Even Nem'Suura finally showed something of herself, a grey, carapaced hand, with four, sharp fingertips that she took care not to snag on anything. The group waved him off as they dropped him and his companion off, and, that was that, for the time being. Daniel never did take the opportunity to stop buy the groups show, as, almost as soon as he got back, there was work to be done.

It wasn't until sometime later, that he would regret his decision, on yet another trek across the sand strewn globe, and since then, the group had moved elsewhere into the howling sands, gone on the winds just as he himself.

3 Weeks Later

Daniel sat in the darker corners of the bar, pouring himself a drink every now and then. He'd just finished yet another grueling trip, but much to his relief, he hadn't ended up stranded. As it turned out, his paycheck wasn't as small as he figured it would be. He'd received a large compensation in return for being stuck out there for so long, as did his co-worker, who was now long gone to other parts of the world on the caravan trails. But that didn't make the current trip any less of a hassle.

And now, here he was. In a common bar for caravaners, trying to get some peace and quiet and time in to relax. But nothing really seemed to be doing the job. As he mulled over his last job, he couldn't help but think back to the sisters, and what Nem'Suura had said of them. God what he wouldn't give to have them along for this last ride of his. At the thought of it, he suddenly found himself somewhat down. For some reason, he almost missed that strange group.

Mazeki always had a smile and good temperament going for him, and was quite the prankster. Several times, Mazeki had shown Daniel "magic tricks," and swiped something of his, but returned it then and there after he was done. Bartholemu had endless stories of his life, a rough one at that, but regardless, they were engaging. And the great mountain of a man was so easy going now, it was a wonder how after all that he'd been through. And the sisters, in their funny suit, designed to keep them all in one place, spoke from under the glass visor, bright patterns of light firing off in the visible shroud inside, as the two would try to speak over each other. Maybe it was because they were free floating elements and could control every last aspect of themselves, but they had an uncanny ability to cook, oddly enough. And it was now that Daniel missed them both, their distinct personalities, and their food, which was made with such care.

And Hugo, a man of high spirits, who always there when you wanted him to be. His eyes were kind, but so very ancient. To Daniel, he seemed otherworldly sometimes, like he didn't belong in this day and age, in his funny old fashioned clothing and his air of civility. But at the same time, he was so..... upbeat and alive. And finally, Nem'Suura, the quiet one of few words, that had such an air of...... something. Daniel couldn't place her. But now, her words returned to him, and her strange offer. Daniel sat in the bar, taking in the surroundings and bustling's of the night, as everything began to slow down. He stood up from his quiet corner, and approached the bartender, who was wiping the counter and getting ready to close up shop for the night.

"Hey, you hear about the traveling show?"

The tender looked up from his task.

"That the one with them aliens? And the huge man, Bartholemu, I think?"

Daniel nodded, a spark in his eyes.

"Yeah, I heard of em' all right. They passed through here about a week ago. I went to their show. Gotta say, that man they got with em' is right incredible! He lifted all the others off the floor with one hand like it was nothin'!"

Daniel nodded happily, trying to move further along.

"Yeah, yeah! Do you know where they were headed?"

The tender shook his head, thinking.

"Can't rightly say I know. They show up in town, spread the word, and start setting up shop. They host their shows for bout' a week, then pack up and roll on out. I think they took one of the trails that leads down to a little place down south of here, a few hundred clicks away I think."

Daniel pulled some credits out of his pockets, and slapped them down on the table.

"That's for the drink, keep the change."

Daniel was out the door before the tender could say anything.

And, before he knew it, Daniel was back out on the trails once more, following a paper trail of ghosts that lead to nowhere. For weeks on end, he joined caravans, listened to local news, and tried to catch up with Hugo and his band. But they were always ahead of him. And try as he might, the caravans he rode on were always late.

He didn't even know why he was doing it. But to him, the thought of the group was so.... enticing. They were all so homely, and friendly. Maybe it was his time on this world finally taking a toll. Maybe he was like Hugo, and he was itching to go out to the stars beyond and explore. Maybe he just wanted a family, or ironically, somewhere to settle down on. But, in the face of all these unknown questions, Daniel tried his best to keep up.

Weeks turned into months, and it seemed like he'd never get it right. Every time he showed up somewhere, he was always late. And it was frustrating to no end. So when he finally arrived in a small settlement, and found that Hugo and his group hadn't arrived, a strange feeling washed over him. Excitement? Worry? Daniel decided he'd stop here. Caravan work was always a very free reign business. So long as he completed his part in the contract, he was free to do as he pleased until the next time he signed up again. With some money in his pockets, Daniel settled down, and waited.

Once more, days turned into weeks, and weeks became months. And suddenly, Daniel was back in the damaged Hauler, waiting for someone to come. But it was of his own doing now. And for months, Daniel spent his days away, in this small outpost of civilization, quietly spending his time away at the back of a bar or in his room at the rest stop. And still, no words or signs of anything. And, for some reason, he began to lose hope. For some reason, he missed all of them like they were far off family that he was cut off from.

3 Months Later

Daniel pushed past the entranceway to the bar, coming in to the quiet evening life and greetings of all the fellow regulars that stopped by. As usual, the bartender greeted him, shaking her head in announcement of nothing new. He ordered his regular, picked a quiet spot in the back of the bar, and drank the night away.

Daniel kept his head down, listening to the idle conversation of the native townsfolk, Humans and various aliens, as they talked about the regulars of life in their small stretch of peace on the sands. And, for the remainder of the night, things remained the same. And by all means, it looked like just another quiet night in his back corner, until a surreal voice greeted him, like it was out of a dream.

"Damn big guy, looks like you got hit upside the head with a sack of bricks."

Daniel looked up slowly, from has half drunken, half tired stupor, to see Bartholemu, the one and only, sitting across from him. The large man tugged on his long draping mustache, and sported a great smile as always. Daniel almost tipped over his drink and stumbled out of his chair, before steadying himself on the table. He looked, awestruck at the giant man sitting across from him.

"Tell me you're real."

Bartholemu nodded, before grasping the table with one hand, and ripped it out of the floor it was attached to before placing it back down onto the floor.

"Does this look real big guy?"

From across the room the bartender shouted, to which Bartholemu nodded.

"It's okay, I'll pay for it."

The only thing Daniel could do was lean over, and suddenly hug the man. He cried out with laughter, as the giant of a man simply sat there, as if Daniel had suddenly gone crazy on him. Daniel laughed, a light in his eyes as he clumsily sat back down on his chair.

"Do you have any idea how long I've been trying to find you guys!?"

Bartholemu shook his bald head.

"Ever since you guys dropped me off, I've been trailing you everywhere, I've been waiting here for months!"

Bartholemu had a great smile on his features.

"Sounds like the road's callin' to ya big guy. Best to heed the call."

Bartholemu stood up suddenly, and placed a hand on Daniel's shoulder.

"Come on then. I came in here to get some drinks for everybody. Why don't you help me carry them back?"

Daniel was speechless, to which Bartholemu promptly picked him up by the shoulders, stood him up to his feet, and dusted him off. The huge man winked.

"Come on, I know you want to. It'll be fun, just like old times."

Daniel was powerless not to heed the call.

It was something out of a dream, really, as Daniel left the safety of the barriers set up around the small settlement, and walked a short distance through the blowing sands, to the staked out area that Hugo's group now called home, just outside the perimeter of the settlement. A simple perimeter of pikes had been driven around the sand, erecting a barrier that kept all the blowing stuff out. Off to the side of it all was the large vehicle the group traveled in, and in the center, was the basic frame of a large structure. That must have been their setup for their shows.

Right away, as Daniel passed through the barrier, a thick fog circled around Bartholemu and Daniel, changing to a shade of purple as sparks and energy crackled within. A voice sounded out distant, but close at the same time, only one, as one of the sisters greeted them.

"Barthy! You brought the sand walker with you! Where'd you find him?"

"In the bar, being all mopey."

Bartholemu tossed a few cans into the air, to which the sister surrounded herself around them, keeping them suspended, before traveling away from them.

"Thanks Barthy! I'm going to go tell everybody!"

Bartholemu opened up a can of some alien brew for himself, before checking what he had for everybody. He chuckled, looking down at Daniel.

"I've got my stuff here, the sisters got theirs, so that just leaves the boss and Nem."

Daniel continued to walk with Bartholemu to the large vehicle.

"What about Mazeki?"

Bartholemu chuckled.

"You were carrying his favorite kind of drink, looks like you got it covered already."

Daniel looked down to the small crate of drinks he was carrying, and found the packaging ripped open, everything missing. Bartholemu chuckled again.

"Little blue bastard's fast. I still haven't caught him either."

The two approached the large vehicle, stopping at the hatch on the side.

"Well big guy, it's time for the crossroads. You can take some stuff to Nem, or you can take some to Hugo. Personally, Hugo makes a better conversationalist. But you're the man of the hour. Your call big guy."

Daniel considered his options. Somewhere, in the back of his mind, was the cryptic suggestion given to him by Nem'Suura. But, right now, of all the people he wanted to talk to, it was Hugo.

Daniel stepped through the doors to the large control cockpit of the vehicle, to find Hugo waiting for him, a smile across his features. He held out his arms wide.

"My, it's been a while Daniel my friend! I admit, when one of the sisters came in all excited, I was skeptical. What brings you to these parts?"

Daniel stood there, a sort of wonderment at being back in a place that felt so comfortable to him. Hugo approached, sliding the packaging of various contents Daniel held away from him. The man tipped his old hat, casually setting off to the center of the control room.

"I see that look in your eyes Mr. Daniel, you don't need to explain much to me!"

Daniel finally took a few steps forward, as Hugo set himself down in chair in the center of the room. He sat there with a smile still.

"Well come on then! Take a seat! No sense standing around in good company!"

Hugo tapped a few buttons on the holographic pads on the arms of the chair, and from the floor, another chair, similar to the one Hugo was sitting in emerged. Daniel approached slowly, sitting down in an awkward silence. Hugo removed his hat, revealing his bald head, creased with lines across it, cybernetic plates, and started rolling up one of his sleeves, revealing the same standard of interlocking plates.

"You'll have to excuse me if I can't offer you a drink my friend. What I take is a different variety."

On finishing his sentence, Hugo's arm opened, revealing its inner workings. Hugo took a small can from the package beside him, and inserted it into a slot in his arm, before resting back against the chair. He smiled casually in the process.

"Need to keep everything running smoothly. The sand on this world plays havoc with all my bits and pieces. I think, this will be our last show on this world."

Daniel perked up now.

"You're leaving?"

"After this show, I think, yes indeed. The winds are calling, and I believe the others wish to travel as well. But, the question is now, why are you here Daniel? I see that look in your eyes, and now you show up on our doorstep, without really knowing why."

Daniel went to speak, before Hugo cut him off. Even in that, Hugo still maintained an air of elegance to it all.

"I've traveled far and wide Daniel. You've the look of one who wants to get away from it all. And, to save you trouble, I'll ask you here and now. Do you wish to leave with us?"

Daniel sat in silence briefly, taken back at Hugo's abruptness.

"I've nothing to offer though. I'm nothing special. I wouldn't fit in."

Hugo held his hand up briefly, ejecting the canister from his arm and closing it all up. Next, the back of his head parted, to which Hugo began fiddling with another canister, inserting it into the back of his exposed head.

"Before you are so quick to refuse, think about things. We all have something special to give Daniel. But that doesn't make us "odd." Bartholemu was a fighter. A hard man drenched in the blood of others. To him, that was normal life. The little blue one, Mazeki? Stealing is common on his world. He was no more unique than you or me. How about the sisters? They were already one step ahead of the curve when I found them. They sought a difference, on a world of things all the same. And Nem' Suura? She seeks to come out of the shadows, to break the cycle of her kin."

Hugo simply smiled as his head closed up, and he reached for his old hat, twirling it in his hands before putting it back on.

"We may seem outlandish because of our talents. Bartholemu can perform feats of strength like no other. Mazeki has a mind for technology and is ever so sly. The sisters themselves are a great mystery both in their inquisitiveness and form. And Nem'Suura can read you like no other. Her precision comes not from uncanny accuracy, but what she sees underneath. But all of us, we seek the same thing. To break out from what we once called normal. And you, Daniel, are no different."

Daniel sat in silence at Hugo's words.

"You live on this world, and work your dues, day in and day out. Everybody does. And, a long time ago, I did too."

Daniel thought about things.

"But what could I offer you? I'd love to join you, really, I would. But what could I do? I'm not strong, I'm not smart, I'm just, a caravaner."

Hugo stood up now, shaking his head.

"It's not about what you can do Daniel. It's about who you are. And who you are is a person that wants to travel. I started all this long ago, because I was looking for other like-minded people. And, over the centuries, I've found them. Many of them. And let me tell you, the most extraordinary ones were the ones like you. So, I offer my hand to you now, to come join us. All I ask, is that you pull your weight if you accept. This life, is not an easy path. But it is, a fun one."

Hugo extended his hand for emphasis, with his usual smile. Daniel stood up. It wasn't even a question. He took Hugo's hand, and shook it. Hugo smiled, an even bigger one than before.

"That's my man! Welcome to your new home!"

Hugo patted Daniel on the shoulder.

"And now, I must apologize, for I lied. I do have something for us to drink. But only for special occasions. And this my friend, is one of them."

Hugo broke the grip on Daniel's hand, before he went off further into the cockpit. Daniel noted, that even though it seemed like this was Hugo's "private area" on the large vessel, the control room was devoid of any possessions or decoration. Daniel let the question come up.

"Is this where you live? Seems a little, plain."

Hugo nodded, before reaching up into the ceiling and opening a panel, before sliding out something truly ancient. A bottle of some vaguely reddish liquid.

"Part of being a cyborg is that over time, you lose a sense of self and the need for possessions. All the sights I've seen, the people and places, are stored in my memory with perfect accuracy. If I so wish to recall any of them, I can. This room may be bare to you, but to me, the sights of once filled it in ages past are always here."

Hugo pulled out a glass as well, before returning to Daniel. He pointed to his eyes for emphasis.

"Like cameras these are. I can overwrite them and replace them with old memories. But enough about all that! This my friend, is something very old, and, as it ages, its value increases exponentially, as does its flavor. From an age so very long ago. This bottle was ancient even when I was young."

Hugo uncorked the old bottle, pouring just a small amount of the reddish tinged liquid into the glass, holding it out to Daniel.

"Go on then! A toast to the man of the hour!"

Daniel looked at the smooth liquid, before sending it down.

Daniel was hit quite hard by whatever it was that Hugo had offered, so, for the majority of the night, he ended up in a drunken discussion of things with Hugo, who was as ever happy to chat. But, eventually, sleep tugged at him, and he left the cockpit, headed for the space he had already made for himself prior. The hangar bay of the craft was his area of peace and quiet. And, along the way, he bumped into more of the others, who cheerfully greeted him and congratulated him. A happy sense tugged at Daniel, of seeing all these familiar faces again, an excitement that he was going to be travelling with them, as he stumbled along the crafts corridors.

He made his way down to the storage bays, and fell easily into a peaceful sleep, comfortable and at ease for the first time in a long while.

Daniel woke to the quiet still of things aboard the large craft, as no sound could be heard, not even those of the engines to keep it afloat as it was parked at the moment. Silence filled the equipment bay, as all around him large boxes and crates strapped down sat, a very thin layer of fine dust over them. Daniel stretched his limbs and stood, and began to make off towards the set of stairs that would lead to a higher level of the craft.

Not long after, he found his way through the various sections, coming across the basic common room that had been set up. There, in the dim light of things, sat Mazeki and the suit the sisters inhabited, at a small table, playing a game of holocards. Daniel approached, to which the sisters greeted him with gusto.

"Good morning to you sand walker!"

Mazeki turned his head, as always revealing his off putting smile.

"Ah, good to see you friend. I take it you tried Hugo's strange brew?"

Daniel nodded. Mazeki returned to his game, looking over a few cards in one of his hands.

"Zee brew hit me hard too, when I first joined."

Daniel scratched the back of his head.

"So, did I miss anything? I think I slept quite a while."

One of the sisters responded now, having placed a card down on the table.

"A big storm rolled in while you were snoozing. We can't do anything right now! Not enough light for all of you beings with eyes!"

Mazeki chuckled.

"You two are zee minority here."

The sisters waved him off with an old gesture.

"Hey! That's not fair! Nemmy sees in the dark, you've got better vision then most because of all your eyes, and Hugo's a robot! That just leaves Barthy and Sand walker here!"

"Not robot, cyborg."

The sisters waved him off once more.

"That's the same difference!"

Daniel jumped when a voice sounded out from behind him, right near his backside.

"For the two of you who take such care in your cooking skills, you should know by now that it's the little things that make all the difference."

Both Mazeki and the sisters looked up to see Nem' Suura standing beside Daniel. Mazeki chuckled once more.

"Now zat zere is four of us, why don't you two sit down and join us? Zeese two aren't good competition."

The sisters crossed their arms with their suit.

"That's not fair! You're cheating. Both of us know it! We just don't know how!"

Mazeki held a small smile once more.

"It's a game from my home world. Why wouldn't you cheat?"

Nem'Suura let out a laugh, again, an odd sound to Daniel as she walked past him to the other side of the table. He could have sworn he saw something sticking out from under the veil she wore, but was brought back to things as Mazeki slid up a chair for him to sit on as Nem'Suura sat across from him. A greyish tinged carapaced arm slid out from under her robes, motioning to the sisters.

"Daniel here, I believe does not know Mazeki's game. But I do. So I will trade places with you two."

The suit the sisters inhabited shrugged, as they handed over their cards to Nem'Suura. She tilted her head under her robes, giving Daniel the impression that she was up to something.

"Now then Mazeki, I can't see your other set of arms under the table. But I can tell when you move your fingers. How about this? One legitimate match with me? If I catch you manipulating the device in your hands, I'll sting you."

Mazeki had his usual smile on, but Daniel could see, there was just the slightest hint of nervousness in his eyes.

"You like to play hard games, no? Okay, I will take your wager."

And so, Daniel and the sisters watched with enthusiasm as in some sense, Mazeki was now playing under the gun so to speak, and was doing horribly. Nem'Suura never broke out her supposed stinger, but never had to as Mazeki didn't last long, as it was apparent that Nem'Suura knew his game all too well. Eventually, the sisters made off to other parts of the ship, and Mazeki folded after his crushing defeat and humiliation, leaving Daniel alone with Nem'Suura.

"So, what made you come back?"

Daniel scratched the back of his head.

"I don't really know. I guess I just liked all of you guys. You're like a family, sort of. Except I don't really have anything special to offer."

Nem'Suura nodded from under her hood.

"Hugo's eyes read people even better than mine. If he invited you to join us, then he did so with good reason. I was shocked when he offered for me to come with him. But he knew what I was looking for, even before I knew myself. The time I've spent here has been enlightening."

"I talked to him, after Bartholemu found me. He said everybody here was after the same thing. Something like, "escaping from the common crowd." Where would you come from that a being like you was common?"

Nem'Suura laughed once more.

"My world, and my people, are harsh. I come from a world not unlike here, arid, but not as sand choked. Our way of life is death. From birth, we fight and kill to become the strongest, and from there, our lives are nothing but contests and struggles to determine everything. And we stayed that way, even after we were uplifted to the stars."

Daniel leaned forward on his chair.

"You didn't have space flight?"

"No. We were discovered by outsiders. They saw the potential we had as assassins and mercenaries, if they could command us. We are natural killers, made that way not long after being born."

Daniel nodded quietly.

"So, what changed? How did you end up here, from where you came from?"

"My species is solitary. The ability to survive on my own is what saved me. I, like all of my kin, was a mercenary. In a large private army even. Owned by some powerful corporate high on the ladders. But, eventually, it was overthrown. By who, I do not know. But I fought my way to freedom, and wandered the streets of that world until I found Hugo, by chance."

"Hugo told me you saved him?"

"That is correct, in some sense. I believe Hugo may have been able to handle himself. But seeing the confrontation, my blood boiled, and charged in as my instincts always told me to. Hugo, in one enlightening moment for me, stopped me from killing them."

"How'd he manage that?"

Nem'Suura chuckled again, creating that odd grating sound.

"The man has more strength in that shell of a body than even I or Bartholemu. But he is kind, and wise to the winds of the universe. And he did exactly what was needed to set me on my path. And for that, I will forever owe my life to him."

Nem'Suura shifted, leaning down on the table.

"But what about you? What are you here for? Why leave a world you have such good stakes in?"

Daniel shook his head.

"I don't know.

Nem'Suura nodded.

"I do. I can still see it behind your face. Every action you make is weighed down. Maybe you don't have enough excitement in your life, although, surviving out here would be enough, I think. Maybe you just want to see the stars, like Hugo. Maybe you just want to get away from the routine you were born into. I don't know, but I can still see that it's there."

Nem'Suura extended a grey carapaced arm out from under her robes, holding her sharpened fingers out to Daniel.

"Once more I call upon the offer I made to you. You need not fear what I ask. You are in total control of how far things go."

Once again, Daniel found himself caught off guard at how open Nem'Suura was. But now, as the idea struck his mind, it didn't seem so far away. It was a state of perpetual night outside as a huge sandstorm passed over them, and there was nothing to do there. And all the others were probably doing their own things. All that really left was what Nem'Suura offered. Daniel shook his head but extended his hand, grasping at the rough carapaced hand in front of him, shaking it.

"I don't really know what you're asking Nem'Suura. But I trust you enough that you won't do anything wrong."

"You have my word. It goes as far as you wish."

Daniel followed Nem'Suura along the corridors, as she led him along to the back of the ship, most noticeably closer to the engines that powered the craft, until they reached a small room off to the side. The doors slid open, revealing Nem'Suura's place of rest, a simple, dim room with various lights, and ornamental beads and other things strung up across the ceiling. In the center of it all was just a simple, all-encompassing bed.

"Why so close to the engines? That ought to make resting tricky to do."

Nem'Suura shook her veiled head.

"Not at all. The hum of the engines makes a resonating sound that I favor. It puts an ease on my shoulders."

She gestured with a hand towards the bed.

"I apologize if my furnishings are simple. This is my place of sanctuary, were peace and quiet are absolute. Take a seat on the bed, and we may start."

Daniel took a few steps forward, hesitant at first, before he set down on the large bed, sinking in around the soft fabric right away, surrounded by the soft material. Nem'Suura nodded, before going around the room.

"These ornaments release special gases and scents that help one relax. These will help you with things."

She reached up, and with a simple twist, one small ornament lit up, and no doubt began creating the scents she mentioned. After Nem'Suura repeated this with several others, she walked back over to the bed, and sat down next to Daniel. By now, the scents had worked their way around the room, and flooded Daniel's head and nose with their somewhat intoxicating scents. She was right, they certainly did put things at ease, and the absorbing fabric around him only helped to lull him into an almost sleep like state. Nem'Suura pulled herself further along on the bed until she was squarely behind Daniel.

"We can start now, if you wish. You can leave your shirt on, or take it off. Leaving it on dulls how receptive you are, but it is not necessary."

Daniel simply nodded in response.

"I think we'll just leave it on for now."

Behind him Daniel could hear Nem'Suura shifting.

"I will begin now. All that is required, is that you relax as you are now."

Daniel remained as he was, and suddenly felt a pair of hands against his backside, followed by another. The instant Daniel felt all four of Nem'Suura's hands press against his backside, he knew he'd made the right choice. Her hands, although sharp and jagged, pressed gently against four spots on his backside, to which he instantly felt relieved. Nem'Suura wasn't lying. Whatever her kind possessed that allowed them to read others body language so acutely was there, because without effort, Nem'Suura changed hands and pressure over various spots on Daniel's back, all hitting with the same result. He was about to lean back and fall asleep.

And suddenly, Daniel did. He fell back all the way into the soft material, only managing to wake himself up as Nem'Suura hung over top of him, withdrawing her hands away. Daniel spoke quietly now, almost on the verge of sleep.

"Wow. You weren't kidding."

Nem'Suura shook her veiled head.

"With other beings that have their skeletal structures on their insides, overlapped by their muscles and tendons, I can read them like an open book. But, this is as far as I go for the time being, unless you want me to continue."

"What...what happens if we continue?"

"Your body is in a relaxed state, and if left as such, you will simply fall asleep and wake up feeling refreshed when you do. But, if you wish to have the full feeling, then I must take more action. Action which you may not wish upon yourself."

"And what would that be?"

As Nem'Suura shifted, something large was lifted up into the air behind her, large and bulbous, with a pointed tip. It was a shade of grey like the rest of her, segmented, long and flexible. That must have been her stinger....

"My species evolved with an array of potent weapons at our disposal. One of which are natural toxins. I can produce a variety of toxins from this stinger, from those that would kill you in a matter of a few minutes, to those that would simply immobilize you."

Daniel looked up at the large tail before him, watching as it swayed ever so slightly. An ounce of fear overcame him as he watched it sway, now slightly afraid of what was underneath the rest of Nem'Suura's veil. But he found himself asking a question.

"What will you do?"

"I will inject you with a small amount of my toxins. Your muscles will become ridged and stiff. But I am aware of where I would need to apply force to get your system flowing again. I will work my way along, bit by bit, until you are mobile again. For that, this would require you to remove everything you are wearing."

Daniel was caught in the middle ground suddenly, afraid of what would happen if he went forward. But, he had to admit, her simple actions so far had done nothing wrong. In fact, he felt relieved.

"Can you explain to me, what it feels like?"

"I do not know. But from people who have ingested our toxins in small doses at professional institutions and had the experience of another who is apt at reading body language, they tell tales of the experience, at how it's almost life changing. They come out of it practically a new person."

Daniel took a deep breath. Nem'Suura had been careful so far. But something else was bugging him. He didn't want to feel so vulnerable.

"If I go through with this next, uh, phase, can you do me a favor?"

"As I said, you choose how far we go. What would you ask?"

"Can you, take off your veil first?"

Nem'Suura's head tilted.

"I wear this as part of a tradition among all my kin, representing who we are. But also, to outsiders, we are frightening in appearance to most."

Daniel looked up to Nem'Suura's stinger.

"I don't want to feel so, vulnerable."

Nem'Suura nodded.

"I understand. If you are willing to gaze upon what I keep hidden, then I will not stop you."

Nem'Suura raised one of her arms up to the hooded veil on her head, before she pulled it off. Nem'Suura wasn't lying. What greeted him was, less than normal to him. From under thick grey carapace, six pairs of pale eyes stared down at him. Nem'Suura's head was shaped like that of a simple triangular shape, and most noticeably, she had no mouth to speak of. But where one should be, Daniel could make out clear creases against her natural armour plating. Nem'Suura leaned closer, the creases of her mandibles opening wide, splaying a section of her armour aside, revealing the inner workings of her mouth, a collection of smaller graspers and two larger, fanged ones on each side. She spoke, things becoming clear to Daniel why she sounded the way she did.

"I see the look in your eyes, but most of all, the will in your muscles to move. But you agreed to this part. So, sit back, and relax."

Daniel didn't even see her move her stinger away to stealthily poke him with it, somewhere on the side of his leg, but almost instantly, he felt one of his legs go numb, and very shortly, the sensation spread to the rest of him, locking him completely in place. Nem'Suura stepped off the bed, and Daniel's eyes followed.

"The poison will need time to reach its effect in full before I can start."

Four arms slid out of the robes Nem'Suura wore, and with a few simple movements, she unwrapped the garments completely, and Daniel watched, with even more surprise, as her body was revealed in full. It was jagged and triangular much like her head, a dark grey with segmented parts, armouring every inch of her. But most surprising was her third, and primary pair of arms on her shoulders.

They unfolded from across her chest, and stretched out in full, revealing two large pincers, about the same size as her stinger that now dangled from her tail across the floor. Nem'Suura was exposed completely now, revealed to Daniel in full for what she was. A living weapon. There was little trace of anything remotely feminine to her, save for the simple curves of her triangular carapace. But there was still something uniquely her own. One glance and you could tell she was a weapon. But she was powerful, and graceful. Her carapace segmented in areas allowing her more flexibility, clearly showing that as armoured and bulky as she looked, she could move. She tilted her head, watching Daniel with all twelve of her eyes, spreading her larger primary arms and both sets of the smaller arms on the side of her torso out wide.

"And here you are. This is who I am, Daniel. I am one who seeks to break free of what my kin are. And here you are, beginning to have doubts about your decision no doubt."

Nem'Suura took a few strides forwards, stepping back onto the bed, before crawling over top of him. She leaned over his face, gently passing one of her large pincers across his cheek. She spoke without revealing the inner workings of her mouth, all of her strange, pale eyes focused on his.

"Let me convince you otherwise of your decision. I know everything about your body. How it stretches, bends, moves. Where it hurts, and where it feels good."

_ _

Nem'Suura slid all four of her smaller arms under his shirt, pressing with her sharpened fingertips in four separate places, letting a gasp of air escape involuntarily from Daniel as she hit every nerve in such a fashion that traveled through his entire core, slightly painful like a small fire, but pleasurable as she then pressed or massaged muscles in response, which quickly relaxed. He inhaled the scents of her room, as the air was thick with a light, smoky fog that made his head spin. He was still immobile, completely, but the wave of pleasure that just passed over him was.... immense. Nem'Suura pulled back off Daniel, letting all four of her smaller arms drag along his chest as she went, sparking one last shiver down his spine.

"I should have removed your clothing first. I cannot risk moving your limbs in this state without hurting you. Do you want me to keep going, regardless of what you wear?"

Daniel couldn't move. But he tried to say yes, unconditionally. But even that was enough for Nem'Suura to read. She leaned down once more, and scraped her arms across his shirt, her sharpened fingers making quick work of it. She tossed the torn shirt away, tilting her head at his pants.

"You're okay with these too?"

Daniel didn't even get a chance to try and say yes before she cut through the worn dusty fabric, sliding everything away until he was completely stripped bare. Nem'Suura, although about as alien as she could be to Daniel, placed her hands on her hips, nodding her head and swishing her stinger.

"Now we are on even footing. And soon, we'll be ready to begin. But in the meantime, we'll have to find something to do with you."

Nem'Suura slipped back onto her bed, sliding around back behind Daniel, before he felt her hands on the back of his neck.

"There's a lot of nerves and muscles at this junction. Just....enjoy things as they come."

Sure enough, more waves of relief passed over Daniel as Nem'Suura poked and prodded, igniting a nerve and then quickly relaxing it by applying pressure elsewhere. She was completely right. It felt like a weight was being lifted off his chest completely. But it was exciting too. He was at the mercy of one whose natural instincts were of killing and fighting, completely paralyzed. It was, for lack of a better term, nice. Nem'Suura made a sound, once again foreign to Daniel. A giggle?

"And to think you were so hesitant. You can feel everything now, can't you?"

Daniel couldn't nod or so much as utter a sound in response, but by now, he had a feeling that Nem'Suura could tell what he was trying to voice. She continued on, putting pressure in all the right spots, making waves of relief and pleasure come and go like waves on the ocean, and Daniel even started to fall back into the soft rhythm of sleep once more, even with his eyes locked open.

Daniel's eyes opened and closed, the first thing he noticed. He was laying back, partially absorbed by the material of Nem' Suura's bed. Twitching his fingers at first, suddenly aware of things, he moved his arms, slowly at first. He could feel everything like it was in perfect detail...... as he breathed, he felt the heavily scented air travel through him down to his lungs, and it caused him to stir now. Everything felt new and fresh, like he could stretch or bend at any angle he wanted, and everything felt strong. It was like this wasn't even his body. It was unreal.

As Daniel stood up, Nem'Suura stepped into her room, the door sliding open for her, as she carried two bowels of something in her hands. Daniel knew it was the Sister's cooking immediately as the smell greeting his nose was one that instantly made him hungry. Nem'Suura tilted her veiled head, making another sound Daniel had come to associate with a laugh.

"It is good to see you are up, and good timing. The Sisters grew bored and decided to cook something."

Daniel sat back down on the bed, sprawling out.

"Wow."

Nem'Suura casually maneuvered her away into a sitting position onto her bed, holding out a bowl to Daniel.

"I take it you feel refreshed?"

Daniel leaned back up, taking the bowel.

"I don't even know how to describe it. It's like everything is brand new. I don't even feel dusty. Thank you."

Daniel sent a portion of the soup down, and watched as Nem'Suura casually did the same from under her veiled head.

"Is there anything I owe you?"

Nem'Suura shook her head.

"You owe nothing. Although I would ask of you, that you do not reveal to the others who and what I am."

"Why not?"

Nem'Suura paused.

"The more they know of me, the harder it will be when things end. Eventually, perhaps even soon, I will leave. The less they know of me, the easier it will be to depart."

"You can't be serious."

"I am. My people are nomads, and the larger a group becomes, the more we seek abandonment of said group."

"So, it's my fault then?"

Nem'Suura shook her head.

"Not at all. In fact, I believe you will fill the void I leave well. You may not be able to replace me in the entertainment I provide for our acts, but, your luck in finding us again, and your good nature with everyone will make up for it."

"I don't understand. Where would you go?"

"Elsewhere."

"Well.... What about me? I know you now. More than any of the others. You just stripped yourself and got closer to me than I've ever seen you with anyone. And, I'm still sitting here naked in your bed. Whether you like it or not, somebody here really knows you now."

Nem'Suura's stinger whipped up in response, as she pointed one of her sharpened hands at him.

"You are quite astute sometimes. This is true."

"Well there you go! See, now you've got a real friend here. And one that owes you a favor too. If this was caravan work, you'd be pretty well off right now."

Nem'Suura finished off the last of her meal before leaning closer. She removed the veil off her head, all of her eyes focusing on Daniel.

"I was right about you."

"Right about what?"

"You're intoxicating to me."

Daniel set his bowl down, having emptied it as well, but was now intently watching Nem'Suura.

"Intoxicating.......how?"

Nem'Suura was suddenly a blur of motion as Daniel found himself suddenly pinned. Nem'Suura's larger arms unfolded out from under her robes, and she delicately pinned his arms in between her pincers, sitting over top of him. Her six pairs of eyes leered down at him, studying him.

"You just are. I see the way you move, and the way you are with everyone here, and it's just, so you!"

Daniel wasn't exactly sure what Nem'Suura was trying to get at, and if anything, was nervous at being pinned down by her so suddenly.

"Whoa hold on here! I don't follow you!"

Nem'Suura leaned in close, one of her smaller secondary arms grasping one of Daniel's cheeks.

"I can see it in you. You're compatible. You're more than compatible! You're something special. I've never had any other species do this to me before!"

"What, you're trying to say you like me?"

"More than that!"

Nem'Suura's jaws split, revealing the pale inner workings underneath them, but something else happened as well. The upper portion of her armoured head shuddered, and like her mandibles, her armoured carapace split down the center, opening to reveal something astonishing to Daniel. Underneath her armoured shell, was another being entirely.

Pale from never having seen the light of day, was Nem'Suura's true face. Her armoured carapace having moved aside on what looked like special muscles, revealing everything in full. Even now, what was underneath looked like it was durable, but it had a softer quality to it. Nem'Suura's skin, or what could pass for it, consisted of softer looking segmented plates. Her face retained the same general shape as her outside, but more features were now present rather than just her multitudes of eyes. Simple holes substituted for a nose, and her lower jaw was revealed among her upper mandibles and her larger fanged ones. She was sleek and almost...... fragile.

Nem'Suura's face hovered close to Daniel's now, and he watched, with a sense of awe as she articulated her words. Her upper mandibles working in conjunction with her smooth, solid lower jaw was like a performance in itself.

"I must apologize Daniel. My people are ones of instinct, and ever since I saw you, I've been fighting them off. I invited you here for legitimate reasons, but I cannot fend them off anymore."

Daniel tried to bluster something out but was cut off when Nem'Suura closed the distance completely. She stopped inches away from his face, hovering close, all eyes on him. Her nostrils flared as she inhaled his scent, and Daniel watched as her muscles tightened on her jaw and mandibles, bringing them together into what could pass for a smile. Something pricked Daniel's neck, and on looking over, found Nem'Suura's stinger nearby.

"Ow! What did you just do?"

Two hands traveled up Daniel's cheeks, rubbing his hair in response. Nem'Suura still held her smile.

"Poison. Your reflexes will be dull now."

Not long after Nem'Suura had spoke, Daniel started feeling the effects of things, as all of his responses were now delayed. Daniel wasn't exactly sure this is what he had in mind for owing her a favor. But, there wasn't much he could do at this point. And he didn't seem to have much of a say in things. But, was what was happening now much different than before? Nem'Suura, in response to stinging him, was absent mindedly making him relax once more by massaging him while practically smothering him. If anything, she still had it in her to make things somewhat enjoyable. Maybe he should just go with it? As if on cue, she cut him off before he sluggishly tried to speak.

"I'm sorry, I can't help myself. But I promise I will make things enjoyable. There is only one time my kin do not fight, and in a moment of peace such as this, it's the only time we are ever intimate. I will not hurt you."

Nem'Suura pressed her head against Daniel's, backing off from him afterwards, still leaning over top of him. Nem'Suura shuddered once more, and with an audible hiss, the front portion of her torso and lower carapace visibly cracked, and began to split apart. Once more, the true extent of how alien Nem'Suura was to Daniel was revealed. Underneath all that armour was a simple frame, obviously partially fused to the armour outside, but it was slender and sleek, now giving Nem'Suura a different appearance entirely. Another pair of arms extended from inside, shaped in the same jagged manner as her other smaller pairs, but softer.

Nem'Suura leaned forward once more, bringing her pincers down to keep Daniel's arms pinned again, while she leaned in close. Her smaller set of pale inner arms trailed across his body as she hovered close. More of Nem'Suura's carapace split down the middle, revealing more and more of her as it split and was pulled aside by special muscles. Her form looked so fragile compared to that of her outer shell, and now had obvious feminine outlines to it. Her upper torso had what looked like two breasts, but small in comparison to the rest of her. They looked more like sacks that could inflate or expand over time, a trait some insectoid species carried when they produced young in a slower fashion.

Below them and her smaller inside arms, were what looked like gills of sorts on her sides, going all the way down to her hips. Daniel was somewhat numb, but now finally noticed what Nem'Suura was doing. Her outside arms were busy poking and prodding near the base of his hips, and were easily eliciting a response from Daniel. Through the numbness he could still feel things to some degree, and as usual, Nem'Suura could push his buttons with ease. Her face drifted closer to Daniel's all the while, her multitudes of eyes watching his. Daniel stuttered something out finally, overcoming his slow muscles.

"I don't think..... I......quite wanted this to happen."

The now visible features on Nem'Suura's face tightened as she drew her mandibles tight.

"The moment I saw you my instincts clawed at me to jump. I don't know about this either. You're..... not my kin."

Nem'Suura leaned in, opening her mandibles slowly, pressing her mouth parts to Daniel's lips. She inhaled, catching his scent and practically taking his breath away as her arms stimulated nerves once more, before she broke off, recollecting herself. Daniel had to admit, she was making him feel better then he'd even known without even being real intimate with him. And his own body reacted in kind, to which Nem'Suura spotted as well.

Nem'Suura shifted, suddenly releasing her pincer's grip on Daniels arms, before suddenly wrapping the large appendages around Daniel, drawing him in close. Her pale inner arms caressed his chest as he made contact with her pale carapaced inner workings for the first time, while her two other sets of outside arms suddenly found themselves coming ever closer to his member. Daniel felt the strange material of her inner form, the strange gill like slits expanding and contracting as she breathed, her chest resting squarely against his, and Daniel was suddenly aware of a distinct heartbeat traveling through Nem'Suura's softer form, as its almost smooth, rubbery chitin grazed against his skin.

Nem'Suura was watching Daniel intently, when her stinger reared up beside her. She spoke in hushed breath, watching Daniel.

"I can end this right now. Sting and paralyze myself. I'm not.... I don't know if this is right."

Daniel weighed things in his head, watching Nem'Suura's alien eyes as they looked over him, seeing how his muscle structure worked through acute sense of seeing movement. She was indeed strange, and foreign to him. But she had stayed true to her word before. Seeing her now, as this strange person before him, exposed completely from her hard outer shell and her need to remain hidden, and even afraid when she would so normally hold an air of wariness and danger to him, was enchanting. Daniel spoke in a hushed tone as well, sluggishly moving his arms up to grasp the soft sides of her hips.

"Don't stop."

Nem'Suura's stinger lowered, and for a brief moment, she merely watched Daniel in silence. But Daniel took the initiative and brought his lips up to Nem'Suura's mandibles. What could have been called a kiss was short, as Nem'Suura brought her smaller arms up to Daniel's waist as well. She chittered briefly, a short laugh.

"You don't know what you've started. But we'll both find out."

And Daniel did find out. He was pinned against Nem'Suura for the majority of the time, held close and locked into place as she wrapped her larger pincers around him and even her legs as her stinger sat idly buy. All three pairs of her smaller arms were making good use of themselves, either massaging muscles or carefully working Daniel's member as they held a tight embrace. Nem'Suura's room was beginning to heat up now, with a foggy layer of relaxing scents having formed a coating of sticky mist.

Daniel, still sluggish from the poison, was slowly running his hands along Nem'Suura's inner carapace, which was now sticky with the damp fog in the room. It was exciting for him to rub against her distinct "skin" as she held him close. For a time it was a simple exchange as the two remained close. Daniel explored the smooth contours of her inner carapace, rubbing along the gill like sections of her skin, feeling as she shuddered visibly from the touch. Over time Daniel got bolder, wanting to see how much he could make Nem'Suura feel anything, now that she was so exposed to him. The gentle poke here, a squeeze there. Nem'Suura would occasionally chatter her mandibles together in the form of a moan or gasp, leaning ever closer to Daniel.

Nem'Suura was already pushing Daniel's buttons with ease, but took notice of his own attempts of exploring her. It was exciting to have such contact, but Daniel wasn't going to accomplish much with his explorations. It was time to show him how far she could really take things. Absent mindedly rubbing herself, Nem'Suura began to excite another part of her body below her hips. She moaned into Daniel's mouth, breaking free of him briefly to speak.

"You want to explore me as I do to you. There is only one way to truly accomplish this."

The carapace at Nem'Suura's hips split apart, and to Daniel's surprise, something emerged. Daniel looked down with some sense of quickly growing worry.

"What is that?"

Nem'Suura grated her body against his, pulling him close.

"My mating appendage. You will dock with me, and we will be linked, inseparable. Both of us will be caught in a wondrous trap."

Nem'Suura reached down, grasping her odd appendage carefully with one of her sharpened hands, gasping in the process, the gill like openings of her body fluttering briefly. She looked up to Daniel, who was merely content with watching in some perverse fashion at the moment.

"You or I won't have to do anything but enjoy ourselves. Relax, and simply let it happen...."

Nem'Suura rubbed Daniel's shoulders, leaning her head in close, as her heated breaths were felt on his skin now. Daniel simply nodded quietly. A crude smile formed on Nem'Suura's mandibles, as she grasped her appendage with two hands, shuddering at her own touch, as she angled her appendage towards Daniel's member.

"We'll go slowly first."

Nem'Suura slid her appendage closer, and pressed it against the tip of Daniel's member. With a little push, Daniel suddenly slid inside as Nem'Suura's appendage overlapped him. Nem'Suura gasped, and suddenly Daniel did as well. The moment he slid into the odd tube like appendage, something gripped him, and was now attempting to pull him along. Nem'Suura bucked her hips outward and pulled Daniel close, only further pulling him along. A noticeable bulge could now be seen as Daniel slid further and further into the appendage, and Nem'Suura automatically grasped her appendage with two hands and started squeezing it slowly, sending the two into waves of pleasure as Daniel's member was overlapped entirely down to the very base of his shaft.

The reaction was instant, as Nem'Suura's appendage started using muscles, pulling and sucking, creating a seal that locked Daniel's member in place. If there was any worry to be had, it was quickly erased as Nem'Suura's appendage flexed and pulled in ripple like waves, trapping both her and Daniel in a constant state of pleasure. All of Nem'Suura's limbs went limp in response, her stinger flopping onto the bed, as she leaned her head down close to Daniel's, now in a state of pure relaxation. The large pincers that had wrapped themselves around Daniel's backside fell idle as well, suddenly giving Daniel the freedom of movement to some degree.

Although he was in a constant state of arousal as Nem'Suura's appendage milked him, he found more in him to move against the sluggishness of his body, and began roaming around Nem'Suura's body with relative ease. She was in a powerless state now, as her mandibles spread and twitched erratically as she let out moans and gasps alongside Daniel himself. He ran his hands along the softer material of her inner body, grasping gently at the small orbs of her chest, while caressing the sensitive folds of the strange gill like openings on her sides as they opened and closed in an increasingly frantic manner.

Every touch Daniel made created a reaction in Nem'Suura's appendage, causing it to flex in some new manner or speed. It was such a tight seal, hot, and warm that engulfed him completely, that he couldn't tell when he arrived at his peak. But regardless, Nem'Suura continued to keep him in her trap, milking him over and over until the two gave in to quiet submission to each other.

The rest of the night was spent in small bursts of movement from the both of them. Nem'Suura would once again become active once more and drape herself over Daniel, pulling him into a tight embrace, the accumulation of sweat and heat creating a distinction between their two bodies as they made contact. Daniel would eventually idly kiss her in a semi-aware state of what he was doing, as they continued on, caught in a heated trap amongst each other.

Daniel wandered the silent halls of the craft, dozy as he haphazardly travelled along in a dazed state. He eventually found himself in the common area, and set himself down in a chair, leaning back quietly. Even now Daniel replayed the images in his lust drunk mind. Nem'Suura had finally started to slow down, and as the grip on him was released, and he slid free of her appendage, a truly amazing feeling in its own right that threatened to make Daniel plunge into that flexible tube once more to start another session. Nem'Suura was barely awake as her carapace began to close itself shut, but in a sudden flash of movement, her tail had reared up, and plunged itself into her softer skin. She drugged herself on her own toxins, putting herself into the very same state that Daniel was now recovering from, as the same feeling of new life greeted his body once more. His thoughts were interrupted as footsteps could be heard, and another entered the room with him.

Surely it wasn't Nem'Suura. Daniel looked up, to see the dusty old Hugo casually passing by, sitting down at a table nearby. Upon seeing Daniel raise his head up, he held a glass of some liquid up with a smile, tipping his old hat.

"Well good evening to you Mister Daniel. I trust you're not having a hard time sleeping? It is a calm night tonight it seems."

Daniel shook his head slowly.

"I'm just, a little dazed is all. I don't know what time it is though."

Hugo stood up, before spinning the chair he sat on around, so that he was sitting backwards against it. He leaned forward casually with a smile on his features.

"Late enough that either of us should be sleeping. It seems tomorrow will hold a day full of work to set things up for our last performance. Well, if I was my old self I would sleep. But for a bucket like me, sleeping's just another silly old habit."

He sent down the glass of his strange liquid before smiling once more. Daniel leaned forward now, a question suddenly forming on his thoughts.

"You say you're the only one that knows what's under Nem'Suura's robes right?"

Hugo looked surprised, but simply nodded.

"Under the circumstances at the time, there was little she didn't reveal. Why do you ask?"

"It's.... hard to explain. But when I first showed up here, I got an offer from her. And I didn't take it at first. But, a little while ago, I did."

Hugo's eyebrows raised.

"My, I didn't think she held such an interest in you."

"What, she's not open like that with everybody?"

"Not exactly. She's quite cheerful in her own right. But an invitation........"

Hugo leaned down on his chair ever more intently.

"Do you mind my asking, what exactly she invited you to?"

Daniel rubbed the back of his head.

"Well, you know how she sees things right? Acute motion detection or something along those lines, what Mazeki told me and she herself did at one point. Well, she offered stress relief. A guess, something like a massage."

Hugo nodded.

"Most strange of her."

The man's eyebrows suddenly raised.

"I do not wish to pry, but, was there anything else afterwards? You were gone all day. Not a sight of you anywhere. A day is a long time for a massage."

Daniel rubbed the back of his head, but said nothing. The expression on Hugo's face said it all.

"Oh by the ancient stars you are lucky."

Hugo set his chair down, waving a finger at him.

"I believe I have a new name for you Mister Daniel. Truly, you are a remarkable man."

Daniel simply shrugged. Hugo chuckled, tipping his old hat once more.

"When Nem'Suura first joined with us on our travels, I looked into the origins of her people. They are very instinctual."

Daniel suddenly nodded.

"Yeah, that's right! She told me she might leave one day. She said her people are nomads."

Hugo chuckled.

"But she might not as well. Because you are still sitting here, talking with me."

Daniel simply watched Hugo as he stood up, and approached Daniel.

"Nem'Suura and her kin are instinctual in their habits. The most noticeable trait of her kin is not that they fight at every opportunity. It is that in their one moment of peace, they kill and consume their partner."

Daniel sat back in his chair as the words washed over him, while Hugo could only chuckle.

"Yes, you truly are a man of some worth Daniel! A man who knows little fear at what he does not know. Daniel the Brave, I believe. Aha yes, a fitting title for our newest member."

Hugo simply bowed, before walking off. Daniel could vaguely hear him as he spoke one last time.

"Don't bother yourself too long mister Daniel! I bid you goodnight. And in that regard, fear not! Your secret is safe with me."

Hugo's chuckles could be heard for some time before he finally left.

2 Years Later

Crowds cheered in a large arena as a lone man stepped out in dusty old clothes, their elegant make creating an odd image of civility yet the oddness of one who traveled so far like him. He looked to the crowds beyond, and held out his arms wide in appreciation, a great smile gracing his features as he spoke, his magnified voice traveling across the entire assembled crowd.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Species of any and all genders and sexes, it is time that I must humbly thank you all for your coming here tonight! For as an entertainer, there is nothing more fine than seeing an appreciation of ones work! But we are not done yet tonight! For my colleagues and I gave a most special event planned!"

As Hugo spoke, the center of the arena parted, a platform lifting up to greet the audience, containing the entirety of Hugo's band of travelers. Hugo spoke once more.

"This was an idea proposed by one of the members of my wonderful friends here tonight. Mazeki the Sly, The Teridian Sisters, Bartholemu the Titan, Nem'Suura the Swift, and Daniel the Brave!"

The crowd cheered in response, yelling the names of their favorite performer. Bartholemu strode forward, along with Daniel, as the two stepped up to a large circular platform. Daniel stepped up to the large wheel, as Bartholemu started strapping him in. Hugo spoke once more.

"This act has never been attempted before by any of my brave friends until tonight. What you see is the culmination of their most extraordinary talents, and the trust they hold for one another as travelers of this vast and wonderful galaxy! Without further delay, I will now stand down and let them run their show."

Hugo stepped out of the spotlight as the crowd began to silence itself as they watched Daniel and Bartholemu work, before having their attention directed to the remainder of the group. Mazeki was the first to step up, the blue alien having grown significantly larger over time, and with a smile showing off his unsettling teeth, he waved all of his arms at the crowd before speaking.

"Ze wheel you see before you is but a simple device. But what we will do with it will be special. With some luck, I think, we will see if it works!"

Mazeki waved a hand, and to the protest of Daniel and Bartholemu, the wheel spun slowly, much to the delight of the crowd. Mazeki slunk his arms back down and rubbed his head.

"Oops. I guess it works better zen I thought!"

The Sisters stepped up in their suit, waving to the crowd, before they stopped beside Mazeki. With a few adjustments, the sisters unlatched sections of their suit, freeing themselves into the air. As they did so Mazeki set free a small cloud that they quickly absorbed into their forms as they flew around the arena in a spectacle of colours and mist. Mazeki spoke once more.

"Ze sisters will now be able to give all of you a first person view of what is coming, while providing a barrier for my friend here."

On cue Nem'Suura stepped up, sliding all pairs of her outer arms from under her robes and her stinger as well. Clutched in her smaller hands, and delicately in her pincers as well, were six sharpened blades. The sisters did close flybys of Nem'Suura, getting a view of the blades she held that was promptly displayed on large screens floating up above.

"These are very real blades. They have been finely honed by master craftsmen at star forges. They will cut through just about anything."

The crowd went silent as Bartholemu gripped the device the wheel was attached to, which Daniel was now strapped to, and hoisted it up above his head with relative ease, before letting out a bellowing cry to all.

"READY!"

The lights dimmed until all focused on the center platform, and at last Daniel spoke.

"Tonight, ladies and gentlemen, we are going to perform what I think may be one of our most dangerous tricks. But I wouldn't be up here tonight if I didn't trust everybody here. Just don't drop me Barth, and don't you kill me Nem!"

The crowd laughed but quickly fell silent as events began to come into place. With a wave of his hand, the wheel Bartholemu gripped and hoisted up into the air began spinning slowly at first, but over time its rate began steadily increasing, so that eventually, even the titan Bartholemu began to have to try and fight to keep himself steady. The Sisters exploded into action, changing their form to that of a dense fog, and shrouded both Bartholemu and Daniel completely. And at last, Nem'Suura faced them, her stinger and all of her dangerously sharp blades raised, as Mazeki stepped forward.

"For zis last trick, I have altered ze wheel to spin at random intervals in random directions. Nem'Suura will have one shot."

The crowd went silent as Nem'Suura stood still, looking into the dense foggy forms of the Sisters as they shrouded everything. They were doing a good job of impairing her vision. But Nem'Suura could still make out the details. Watching the wheel spin and then suddenly, randomly reverse as Bartholemu used all of his strength to keep it steady, Nem'Suura tensed, as the crowd drew hushed breaths. In one flurry of movement as she flicked her wrists, and extended her arms, releasing the knives from her grip and pincers, as she ejected a toxic dart from her stinger.

Through the fog the knives could be heard impacting, and suddenly, there was a cry of pain. The crowd gasped and instantly the sisters dispersed, to reveal Daniel, strapped to the wheel, in perfect condition as the knives and dart had found their mark, mere inches away from him. The wheel slowed and Daniel came to a stop with a smile on his face, as the tension in the crowd finally snapped.

"Just kidding!"

The uproar from the crowd applauding was immense, as the stage lights all lit up once more and everyone began to relax. Bartholemu set the device down, unstrapping a slightly disorientated Daniel, as the Sisters re materialized in their suit, and everybody walked up together, joined hand in hand, as Hugo returned to the spot light.

"Ladies and gentlemen, give these wonderful people a round of applause for pulling off such an amazing spectacle! It is my honour to know each and every one of you all, and without any of you our show wouldn't be half of what it is!"

Hugo lifted his dusty old hat off and bowed to his friends, as the crowd continued to cheer, and then in one clean stroke, everyone bowed together. Through the crowd's excitement, and the air of relief and amazement coming from all in the arena, even the performers of Hugo's group, one would have hardly noticed how close Daniel the Brave clutched Nem'Suura the Swift at his side, wrapping an arm around her armoured carapace from under her robes, content with this band of alien brothers and sisters, and madly entrapped in love with this stranger from a strange land.