Gabriel and Madeline walked out of the workshop to find Taurana waiting outside. She quickly looked them over and pulled at the coveralls, “Everything fits? no pinching?”

“Fine on my end,” Gabriel said and smiled. “Thank you”

“I need a bigger hole for my tail, it’s a bit larger than average,” Madeline said and turned around.

“My apologies, I can get it fixed immediately if you wish,” Taurana said with a bow.

“No It’s fine, just make the adjustments for any other pair, I hope we get more than one”

“Yes, of course, we have planned to give you three pairs each, although the heavy suit we lack the materials to make another.”

“I’ll manage,” Gabriel said and felt his stomach rumble. “Now, how about some food?”

“Yes, right this way” She led them to the same mess hall they had been in earlier, now several Quizeaterans were sitting in there eating. The smells from the food made Gabriel salivate and he grinned broadly. And then promptly stopped when he got scared looks from the eating Quizeaterans.

“Humans display humor and friendliness by showing our teeth, as well as happiness.” He said out loud, and while they did not look convinced it was a start. Gabriel sat at the table furthest from the rest, with Madeline joining him. He turned to Taurana, “Alright I heard I can eat almost everything you do, and I want something that goes well with fire-root, which by the way I want some of” He smiled at Madeline and was getting excited about a good meal. Taurana nodded and turned towards the kitchen. “Oh, put the fire-root on the side, I was warned by the doctor after all” Taurana stopped and gave him a curious look before continuing towards the kitchen.

Gabriel grinned at Madeline who smiled back but shook her head slowly, “I can’t believe you want to try spices that you know will burn your mouth”

“Don’t knock it ‘till you try it” She chirped and shook her head some more.

Before they managed any more conversation Taurana came back with two plates of food, she deposited one in front of each of them, “This is safe for Zilgi consumption and this for humans. The green paste on the side is the fire-root, it is very strong and undiluted. We use that amount for the whole meal”

Gabriel looked down at the food, it looked like a wok or stir fry with strangely colored vegetables. It did, however, smell delicious even though blue and bright red food with white spots screamed poison to him. Regardless he took a small amount of fire-root and popped it in his mouth. Madeline and Taurana both looked on with interest as he rolled it around in his mouth, there was certainly some burn to it but it was not too strong. He would rate it medium. He mixed the rest into his food and took a bite and compared to the nutrient paste this tasted like heaven. He smiled broadly to both Taurana and Madeline, “It needs more fire-root.”

Taurana looked first surprised then changed to amused and she went over to the kitchen to get some more. After doubling the dose of fire-root the food burned nicely in Gabriel's mouth and after two portions he pushed the plate away grinning happily. “That was fantastic.”

After the food was cleared off the table Gabriel just sat there for a while and wondered what to do next. He squinted and looked around seeing Taurana sitting at another table, she had finished eating and was typing away on her tablet. He walked over and sat down opposite her, the other Quizeaterans at the table moved away slightly. “I was wondering, will you guys get into trouble for not reporting the pirates to whoever needs to know?”

She stopped for a moment and squinted, “Yes, I think so, but it will just be a large fine, we will be alright.”

“Hmm, and when we eventually get noticed by authorities or whatever, you know when I, as a new alien get found out, will you get into trouble? I don’t know if having an intelligent alien on board is exactly illegal though”

“It is, as you are intelligent we have to report it and make sure you are treated correctly and such...that will be worse” She lowered her head and folded her ears.

“So...I was thinking, can you sabotage your communications so it can’t be fixed without spare parts? If they ask we can, or rather you can say the pirates broke something”

She looked up suddenly and her ears shot straight up. “Yes, I think I can, It will be a bit tricky but I’m sure it’s possible. We have to talk to the Captain but I don’t think any messages have been sent. Of course, if this comes out that will not be good.”

Gabriel nodded, “If we decide this is a good plan, we should maybe keep the pirates in the cells for scapegoats, the ship I don’t know, or really care what we do with.”

“Scapegoats?”

“Oh, It means we blame them for the sabotage. And when we get to wherever we are going I can pretend to ignore your suggestions about heading to the correct authorities and help the Captain rescue his family. Can you disable or damage my translator if needed?”

“Yes, I can do that as well” She nodded.

Gabriel stood up, “We can tell him now, oh and before I forget, I was in stasis for a long time as you know. Have you heard of humans before me?”

Taurana looked downcast again and folded her ears, “No, sorry”

“I didn’t think so but you never know,” Gabriel said and gently patted Tauranas head, “That solves that, as long as the pirates didn’t damage the airlock too much we...”

“Um...e...excuse me?” His thoughts were interrupted and he looked down at Taurana while he was still gently stroking her head.

He removed his hand. “Oh!, sorry that was rude of me, I wasn't thinking”

“No! don’t worry it’s fine” She said while fidgeting, “I thought you were mad when you reached for my head...”

“The Igris really told you a lot of lies about me” He sighed and gave Taurana an apologetic look, at least he hoped it came off like that. “You guys have not done anything to me, well kidnapping aside but I am not holding you responsible. Despite what they might have told you I don’t hurt or eat just anyone passing by.” He smiled at her.

Taurana nodded and looked more upbeat, but Gabriel had trouble telling most of the time. “I’ll do my best to forget what they said.”

“Sounds good, and sorry about the head touching, shall we go see the Captain?” Taurana nodded as she stood up.

“Yes, and don’t worry about it...It felt nice.” She said a little louder than she intended, her eyes widened a little. “I’ll go ahead and notify the Captain!” She hurried out of the room.

Gabriel looked after her before smiling and walking back to Madeline, “What was that about?” She asked and looked towards the door that was closing after Taurana.

“It was me not thinking ahead and being human” Gabriel sighed and sat down.

“You stroked her fur because you are human?” She asked, not sounding convinced.

“Honestly yes, most humans I think would find many features the Quizeateras have to be cute, frankly I think they are adorable, and she looked sad and I just...” Gabriel just gestured vaguely.

“I see,” She said, now sounding amused, “Humans are weird.”

“Don't you think they are cute? with their big ears and long fur and...” He just gestured around again.

She looked over and squinted at them and after a moment her fur stood up on edge, which was her way of smiling Gabriel had to remind himself. She looked at him and gave him a human smile as well, “I guess they remind me of Bradrils a little bit”

“You see! It's not just me, assuming Bradrils are cute anyways.”

She nodded and waved her fur “They are, at least I think so, but you are still weird”

“Alright then, enough making fun of me and humans, we have some new plans, not that they will change much until we arrive. I feel like I should ask where we are going but It’s not like I’m going to have any idea where it is either way.”

Madeline shrugged and stood up, “Neither will I, but we should ask the Captain about what the place is like.”

“Yeah, probably wise, enjoy your meal guys!” Gabriel waved at the eating Quizeaterans, some of them even hesitantly waved back.

He walked with Madeline onto the bridge and found Taurana talking to the Captain. She turned as they entered and bowed. “I have informed the Captain of the plans you told me”

“Yes,” Captain Kanthua said and nodded, “And I think it is a good plan, we just have to explain everything somehow when my family is safe.”

“Where are we going exactly?” Gabriel asked and Kanthua gestured to a holographic map further down the bridge and walked over.

“We are going to a space station here.” He pointed to a name that meant nothing to Gabriel. “I was told they would give me a dock number and we would drug you and then let them on board to collect you-”

“Alright, but why wake me up in the first place?” He scratched his head and Taurana looked away, her ears turning a bit red.

“I don’t know, they never told me,” Kanthua said.

“It is possible they got me from someone else...have you heard how long I was in stasis?” He asked Kanthua.

He nodded and folded his ears down and Gabriel had to fight the temptation to pat his head. “Yes, I heard, and I think so too, you might have been traded several times. After all, no Igris lives that long.”

“Maybe you were sold as some bloodthirsty animal?” Madeline said and shrugged.

“Grrr” Gabriel grinned at her and received a smile in return. “I guess that makes sense but were you just another purchase then, someone they decided to use as a test subject? we have talked about this before right?”

Madeline waved the long fur on her head “Maybe, and yes we have”

“Alright, Captain how long until we reach the station?”

“We will be there tomorrow at,” He looked to Taurana who typed on her tablet.

“The 14th hour of the day, in your time.” She said.

“Alright, so what’s the plan for when we get there? Drugging me and Madeline seems counterproductive”

“Yes, assuming our drugs even work on you correctly.” Kanthua nodded, “But I have no experience with this, I am the Captain of a cargo ship. The Igris pirates are the first time I have been boarded since starting this job. Other than by proper authorities doing checkups that is” He shook his head making his ears flop around.

“Hmm, well, either way, we need to get rid of the evidence there was a fight already. If they think you have defeated eight? no, nine Igris they might be more on edge or violent.”

“Yes, that makes sense, we can dislodge their ship and repair the airlock, they just forced it open so nothing is too damaged,” Taurana added.

“And we need to clean,” Gabriel said and looked towards the hallway. “Blood on the walls does not send the message of peaceful traders”

“I already have someone on it,” Kanthua said.

“Good, by the way, did they tell you when they would give your family back?” Gabriel asked him.

“Yes, they were going to bring them on board and hand them over after securing you two.”

“Well, that’s good news,” Gabriel said with a smile, a plan starting to form in his mind. “Our holding cell was quite far from the airlocks, right? So we need to take them through the hallways and attack fast to separate them from your family...Then I clean up.”

“...Did you intend for that to sound so...” Madeline asked.

Gabriel realized he had almost snarled out that last line, the crew in the bridge was giving him scared looks. “No, I’m sorry, I just hate that they use hostages of any kind, innocents, even more.” He shook his head to clear it.

“But...” Taurana said carefully, “You can’t fight them by yourself, it is too dangerous.”

Kanthua nodded, “We have put you in enough trouble, please let us at least help”

“You are of course allowed to help rescue your own family, Captain. Do you have effective weapons?”

“No, not so much, our weapons are used for self-defense and the pirates had armor that disperses the energy.”

“What about the pirate's guns? will those help? speaking of which, you said the suit I’m wearing was kind of bulletproof, what will it stop? And can I get head or face protections, I would prefer not to take around to the eye” Gabriel asked looking out to the corridor.

“First, I think the guns will help yes, and I will get someone to make a helmet as best we can and the suit should not let the handgun bullets through, I don’t know about the rifles.” Taurana said and typed on her tablet, “But we have some scrap left of the material so we can find out.”

“Yes please, the pirates had several rifles so while I hope these do not, let’s plan for it. Then again, that is at a station so maybe they will only have small arms they can hide.”

“Small...arms?” Kanthua asked.

“Oh, it’s what humans call weapons for individual use, you know self-defense and the like. Although I guess the Igris rifles would be included, but I’m no expert. Large caliber machine guns and stuff that is more military-grade is called Light weapons, which strangely enough includes grenade launchers and anti-material rifles and such.”

Kanthua gave him a strange look before shaking his head. “Well, we know how to start, let’s get to it. The pirate ship must be disconnected and the weapons overlooked. And Taurana, and I can’t believe I’m ordering this, but sabotage our communications”

She nodded and hurried past. “I hope this works,” Madeline said.

“Same here,” Gabriel said, “I might want a rifle for the fight, and do you by any chance have something I can hit them with? the stun bat or whatever it’s called is too light...And I might have misplaced it somewhere...”

Kanthua nodded, “I’ll see what I can do”