The Moz Lidule was buzzing with commotion after the contest between Yoeke and Widhbo. Lieutenant Cratus shouted aloud when Widhbo won and rushed to collect his bets from the garwolvens and Munaci.

"Time to pay up my furry friends. The bird won it."

"He cheated!" Munaci complained.

"No ground rules on what form he could use."

"You can't touch a paw to the ground if you don't have one," Rovan said. "He cheated."

"But he did touch the ground several times. Widhbo was injured and down to zero points. The bird move was brilliant. In the end, Yoeke lost," Cratus countered. "It’s over,"

"We need a new ground rule, no flying," Borgg chimed in.

Bethon had been looking on as the fight ended and wagers were settled. "This is ridiculous, Anakron. Get your Beldorians in line. I can't have them putting on these crude displays. It's corrupting the discipline on board. Even my officers are getting taken in by this spectacle."

"I'll speak with Widhbo as soon as we have the demon problem under control," Anakron said. "This is simply their way of relieving stress. You will recall that Yoeke was the challenger."

"Widhbo didn't have to broadcast it to the entire fleet," Bethon said. "More importantly he should be concerning himself with the mission. If we fail, the demon will destroy us all. The BakoNaat are in the process of luring it to the black hole. If they succeed, we must be ready to deal with this entity once he is there."

"Have you spoken with Balvendro again?" Anakron asked.

"No. I doubt he will interfere," Bethon said. "It's against the ancient’s directives."

"They let the demon evolve and devour everything in its path. They did nothing to prevent Widhbo from crossing the dimensions," Anakron said. "Imagine what would happen if either of us acted in such a rash manner. You are disciplined for every transgression, appropriately so."

"You speak with Balvendro then," Bethon said. "I'm not in his good graces at present."

"I'd be glad to update him on the situation and see if he offers any suggestions," Anakron said. "The magnitude of the problem is growing. We almost lost Tajlon and the others."

"Yes, it was far too close." Bethon agreed. The viewing screen was still being broadcast live from within Widhbo's magiton and Bethon could see Tajlon on the beach with the ocean waves rolling behind him as the transmission was ending. It reminded him of what Talon's guardchev was protecting and he was glad they were light years apart.

Bethon cursed himself for his weaknesses once again and his craving turned to Etaine. Only Etaine could drive away every peccant thought and keep him out of trouble with the ancients. Balvendro had accepted Bethon's relationship with the Ghost Queen, and for that Bethon was most grateful. Now that Tajlon was a godling, another transgression there would cost him his rank and command.

***

Bethon headed for Etaine's apartment thinking it strange she hadn't been on deck with the others to enjoy the betting and contest. He had given her spacious quarters and modified them exactly to her specifications. As he turned down the corridor, he spied Etaine exiting her apartment with Lotee. He'd almost forgotten about Lotee, but now burned with jealousy the moment he saw them together. He ducked back around the corner.

"Lotee darling, you simply have to come with me. I leave for our home planet in a short while and who knows when I can return. The devourer has interfered with all our plans, but he must be dealt with."

"I'd follow you anywhere, Etaine. How do you know the admiral will allow it?"

"He gave you to me. Didn't I tell you? You're all mine now."

"I can't believe it. I'm free to go with you?"

"Yes, you are. It was part of our treaty. I can't wait to see where the BakoNaat live. I'm sure you'll like it too."

Bethon had heard enough and vanished down a side hallway to avoid detection.

* * *

Etaine had summoned Bethon to her quarters. Her serpentine eyes sparked with fire from anger. The tattoos on her skin came to life, the serpents coiling about as if to strike at any moment.

"What have you done with him?" Etaine demanded. "It is time to leave for my home planet, Erizza. Lotee was to meet me here. He was supposed to accompany me on my voyage."

"I don't know what you're taking about," Bethon lied. "What voyage, Etaine? Why wasn't I notified of your leaving? Or don't I rank as high in your opinion as Lotee?"

"I saw no reason to annoy you any sooner than necessary, but I'm being called home. I want Lotee to come with me."

"Called home? The Moz Lidule is your home."

Etaine glided about her apartment as though reminiscing. She stroked her green velvet sofa which Lotee had given her with tender affection. She turned to the sculpture salvaged from the wreckage of the BakoNaat ship and lavished it with sensual caresses. "These must come with me."

"You aren't going anywhere," Bethon insisted.

"No, darling. You know I'm BakoNaat now. I'm ever so grateful for all we've had together, but I've been asked to come home. As an officer, I know you understand that one must attend to their duties before pleasure. Never doubt that I will miss you terribly."

"Then I'll miss you too, Etaine," Bethon said. "I'm afraid Lotee won't be going with you, however."

"You gave him to me. It's not your choice."

"Oh, but you see it is. In a time of emergency such as this, I must think of my duty to this vessel and all unnecessary personnel have been retired." Bethon informed her. His voice had grown cold and he stroked an invisible tusk out of habit.

"What do mean retired? Bring Lotee to me this instant!" Etaine demanded. Her body shifted in color from green to purple. Her tattoos grew more sinister in appearance, the snakes exposing their venomous fangs.

"I'm so sorry, but he simply isn't any here anymore."

"You have his file. I want him brought back," Etaine said, her voice grated with emotion.

"He wouldn't know you from Munaci. He'll be reborn the imbecile he is."

"You erased his memories?"

"Of course. It's standard protocol for all holograms."

"He's not a hologram anymore. He's solid!" Etaine levitated about the rooms, circling aimlessly as though looking for Lotee to appear.

"He was solid for a while. I let you have your little fling. It's over. You have me now and I plan to keep you more than busy enough," Bethon said. "It's time to forget all about Lotee."

Etaine looked at Bethon and shook her head. "Oh no. No. It doesn't work like that. You can't go back on your word. The treaty is broken. I consider this an act of war, Admiral."

"Be serious Etaine. We're all fighting the demon together."

"Not anymore. From this moment on, the BakoNaat are withdrawing all support from this sector. You'll never see this Etaine again." she wailed. "I only became human for Lotee!"

Etaine's body began to change, her human form dissolving into a snake's body. Her screams of agony crushed Bethon as he realized the full impact of what he'd done.

* * *

Bethon approached Anakron in a corridor of the Moz Lidule on his way to the dining room. "I've been looking for you, Lord Anakron. We must speak privately." Bethon said. He looked unusually pale. His lips were drawn into a thin line and his face etched with pain.

"What's the matter Bethon? You look awful."

"I've made a terrible mistake. The BakoNaat have abandoned their mission to fight the demon and left this sector."

"They're not helping us fight the demon anymore? Why? " Anakron paused. "What have you done, Bethon?"

"I took Lotee from Etaine and it has upset her terribly. She called off the treaty and left for Erizza." Bethon closed the door to his apartment for privacy.

"Give him back to her then."

"I can't. I shut him down and erased his personal memories. I should never have let her have him in the first place," Bethon explained. "It's complicated. I lost Lotee in the last sector contest. He belongs to Sag Leggan now."

"I'm surprised the ancients haven't called you on the carpet for duplication," Anakron said, finding a chair while Bethon paced the room.

"So am I. Balvendro seemed enamored of Etaine and she's a duplicate as well. That enchantress could get away with anything. But that's not why I took Lotee from her," Bethon confessed. "I'm weak, Anakron. I let petty emotions and jealousy overrule my judgement."

"You were jealous of Lotee and Etaine? What are you not telling me, Bethon?"

"I thought she'd choose me over that half shell of a man. Etaine and I had an affair. "

"Sounds like a match made in hell if you don't mind my saying so." Anakron rose from his seat to examine a polished stone on Bethon's desk, flecked with iridescent spiral shapes. It was a fossil from Erizza, a present from Etaine no doubt, very rare and valuable.

"It was heaven for me. She anticipated my every mood and desire. I need her, Anakron and now that she's gone, I'm lost. As long as I had Etaine... " Bethon paused to keep his composure.

"You've been lost for a long time, Bethon. Our main concern is that we can't defeat the demon alone," Anakron said. "We need the BakoNaat and more."

"I don't know what to do. That's why I came to you for advice."

"Recover Lotee's recent existence from the Moz Lidule's memory and activity files. Combined with Etaine's memories there will be enough to reconstruct him," Anakron said. "Petition Sag Leggan for ownership. I'm sure he would sell Lotee for a price and his sector needs to be brought in on the demon problem as well."

"That might get Lotee back, but I worry Etaine won't ever come back to me again? I can't think straight since she left me." Bethon threw off his uniform jacket, loosened his tie and headed for his wet bar.

"What else motivates Etaine? What matters to her?" Anakron asked. He put his hand on the bottle before Bethon could uncork it. "Too early in day don't you think?"

Bethon sighed and started pacing again. "She likes attention of course. She likes being pampered and obeyed."

"She has all of that. What else?"

"She goes where she perceives there is a need. That's why she wanted Lotee freed from his impermanent status," Bethon said wiping cold sweat from his brow. "I see it now. Its why she came to me. And why she became the BakoNaat's Queen. They needed her to rally their citizens. All of their royal lineage had died out."

"We certainly need her help to fight the demon, surely she can perceive that," Anakron said.

"She does, but she hates me now."

"I see the demon as a separate issue from your needs," Anakron said. "Give her Lotee and get the BakoNaat fighting again."

"You know my addictions, Anakron. I need my beautiful Etaine back before I lose control and do something I'll regret. The ancients tire of my licentious behavior and will punish me severely the next time, perhaps suspend me entirely. I certainly can't trust myself around your godling."

"If you go near Tajlon, I'll kill you myself," Anakron threatened. He stiffened and stared at Bethon with steely eyes, a hand on the hilt of his laser.

"Then you will please keep him off my ship. I lost all my human puppets in a contest over a hundred years ago and it's so tedious to cultivate new ones within the new ethical guidelines."

"I believe you are the reason for those guidelines, Bethon," Anakron reminded him.

"I don't deny it. But now that my desires have been awakened again, I'm impatient," Bethon said." You can't imagine how desperate I am."

"You were foolish to gamble them all away."

"I know, but they were rather dull, and I grew bored of them," Bethon said. "Perhaps you could sell me a few of your more agreeable subjects who wouldn't protest my advances too bitterly. I believe you won a group of dociles from Gassot?"

"How do I know you wouldn't mistreat them as well?"

"I'm reformed, Anakron. Before Tajlon, I hadn't damaged a pet in hundreds of years. I was completely caught off guard. You've seen his core files."

"Yes, and you need to forget about them," Anakron said considering the proposal. "How many dociles would you want?"

"As many as you can spare me. Name your price," Bethon said. "I promise I won't harm them."

"They'll have to volunteer to transfer here with full a understanding of what's expected of them."

"You have some who would agree to that in advance?" Bethon stopped his pacing at the thought. A flicker of excitement crossed his face.

"It's in their original contracts, though I doubt any will have an appetite for a voldarkan master in the bedroom."

"I'll gladly stay in human form. Etaine has trained me fully in that regard. I actually prefer it now."

"Make me an attractive bargain and I'll consider it," Anakron replied.

"You'll have it on your desk immediately," Bethon said. The color had returned to his face. I'll send someone to visit Sag Leggan to negotiate for Lotee."

"I'll take Lieutenant Cratus and we'll go as your ambassadors," Anakron said. "Hal and Greyla will come with us also."

"Why?"

"Why do you suppose? The less human temptation on the Moz Lidule, the better," Anakron said before he stood and went to the door. "Gather a few pictures of Queen Etaine for me. I'll pick them up after dinner."

"For what purpose?"

"So the original Lotee may fall madly in love before he ever meets her," Anakron said.

"Of course. I hadn't considered that," Bethon said with a brooding look on his face.

"And since he is not her Lotee, she might reject him. It will be awkward for both. I don't dare to predict the outcome," Anakron warned. "Etaine will of course be jealous of any new companions even while she's denying you. She's not rational you know."

"I know. But she's empathic to a fault," Bethon said. "She knows how I feet about her."

Anakron picked up the fossil from Bethon's desk and pocketed it. "To show your good faith. Sag will love this."

"Anything to get Etaine back."

"You're in love with her Bethon. That's your real problem."