Las'Tai had never eaten like this, she had never even seen food amassed like this. mountains of the coveted egg, having been whisked together and fried on a pan along with the wonderfull bacon she had tried a few times on the ship.

There was tiny sausages, a block of something the Terran's called *butter* which they used as a spread on bread. a brown mass on a plate called *paté* which smelled amazing. Small crecent shaped bread rolls called *croissant's*, different kinds of yellow blocks that smelled slightly spoiled and jugs filled with different juices and a white liquid she didn't know. When she inquired, she was surprised to learn it come from a domesticated farm animal and was not just used for drinking, but for creating both the butter and the yellow blocks called *cheese*.

She ate like she had never seen food before, but her portions were still dwarfed by those of the males around the table. The Terran ability to consume food had her wondering how they could feed a population of more than 35 billion across the universe. It also had her wondering what they used all that energy for.

After Breakfeast Eirik's father called him into his study. Both his parents were there and no words were exchanged as they embraced one another. They all knew this might be the last time they saw each other and despite disagreeing with their son's choice, they wanted him to know they loved him.

"I love you both so very very much" Eirik whispered before letting go of his parents. With that he turned around and walked out of the house, heading to back down the dirt trail, calling for a transport as he walked. Within minutes of arriving back at the field, a shuttle landed to take him and Las'Tai back.

For Eirik, the next few hours passed in a blur. He passed out the needed orders, Recorded a message for Las'Tai's mother naming the place the duel was to take place and the number of allowed honor guards. he had settled on 35. That would allow him to bring his entire assault force along with his command crew leaving a 3 spots open. Las'Tai had taken 1 and the other 2 had not been filled.

It was not the thought of his possible coming death that made his mind absent. It was the look on family's faces as he was leaving. The hope to see him again, but despair at the thought of loosing him. He needed to refocus himself. As soon as time permitted it, he headed to the gym. There would be no one training in the combat training area for a few hours, but he could use a good workout. He needed to work on stamina and strength as those were his main advantages over the Kloxna. When they wanted, they could be deceptively fast.

____________________

Las'Tai was relaxing in the sauna back at the ship, but she could not relax properly. Her thoughts whirled around in her head, most prominently, why did captain Eirik keep bringing her along on his small trips? And when would they have the next talk about slaves?? She really wanted to know more about a society without slavery and how it was possible to maintain, but this fight he had with her mother came first.

She had mixed feelings about the fight. She did not want to loose her mother, but she did not want the captain to die either. Yet, only 1 of those outcomes would be possible. She knew her mother would not rest until Eirik had been cut into ribbons thin enough to be confused with silk. From what she had learned about Eirik, he would give as good as he received, meaning her mother only stood a fair chance of winning.

The Terran was borderline crazy with a frightening disregard for his own safety when it came to combat. She still remembered the smuggler station combat. outnumbered at least 5 to 1, the captain had led the charge into the Plyxii guards where he and his men fought with such a ferocity that they routed the superior enemy force. She remembered him covered in blood as he came back from the pirate ship they had boarded shortly after taking her prisoner.. His light attitude despite being knee deep in blood and gore and entrails.

Not being able to enjoy the heat and humidity, she eventually decided to find the captain and see if he had time to talk.

Her search brought her all over the ship, ending at the gym after surrendering to fate and asking David where the captain was. Outside the door to the gym, she could hear a rhytmic thumping followed by grunts of exertion. Opening the door she saw the captain in the process of swinging a large hammer down towards a rubber tire. Judging from the amount of sweat he was covered in and the heavy breathing, told her that he had been at it for quite a while at this point. He apparently didn't hear her enter because he kept up pace and the rhytmic thumping turned out to be the hammer hitting the rubber tire. After a minute of watching him train without any sign of slowing down she decided to speak "Captain-"

Eirik whirled around with the hammer ready to strike before he recognized Las'Tai and relaxed. His willingness to fight caused her to jump back in shock.

"Sorry Las'Tai, i guess i was caught in my own thoughts" Eirik said.

"It's fine captain, i did not mean to scare you." She replied.

"So," Eirik put the hammer down and moved over to the wall where a water bottle was standing next to a towel, "What can i do for you?"

"Captain, why do you bring me along when you go on trips?" Las'Tai asked, trying to shock Eirik by being blunt like she had seen humans do from time to time.

"Well, if i am to discover the purpose that the Allfather wanted me to bring you along, i have to expose you to as many new ideas and situations as possible. And for some bloody reason, i always find myself in strange situations. Some good, some bad, all interesting. Thats why i offer to bring you along. Besides, i believe all that time in the sauna is what is causing your scales to shine like that. It's the only difference i can think of compared to the previous life you have described to me." Eirik seemed thoughtfull as he spoke, as if he was going through the thoughts for the first time.

"you seem like you pulled that answer out of thin air" Las'Tai said sourly

"I did" Eirik admitted. "But it is the most truthfull answer i can give you. It is not a thing i have thought about before this moment."

"I guess it makes sense, in its own weird way." She replied, still with the same sour tone.

"Come on Las'Tai, lighten up. Don't take life so serious now, you won't get out alive anyway" Eirik said with a laugh. "Now come, join me.. It's always better when you have a training partner and we are still a week out from our destination."

_____

The following week passed in much the same manner. Eirik spent his days working out and training in the combat area, Las'Tai usually joining him in the regular workout, but not the combat training as she was still on probation.

She was astounded at the change in the captain over the following week. He had by no means lacked in physique for the time she had known him, but this week of hard training and combat practice had only defined his muscle tone. From depictions she had seen of ancient Terran warriors, he looked like he would fit right in and she suspected he would be just as deadly in combat. She had seen the injured sparring partners leave the combat training area throughout the week and their injuries had not been light. Broken ribs, arms, a single leg, noses, black eyes and much more. She was also growing worried with each day passing, as it meant she would have to mourn her mother or her new captain and friend

She could feel the change in the air as she awoke on the 7th morning. There was a tension hanging over the ship, one that only predators preparing for conflict was able to radiate, which crept it's way into everyone and everything. When she opened the door to her cabin, Eirik was standing there.

"We need to have a final talk Las'Tai."