How DID she feel about her mother declaring her dead?? Elated, mournful, angry, remorseful, vengeful, sanguine, so many emotions were rolling through her.

"I feel trapped by the freedom..." Las'Tai finally said. "There are many cultural implications, Captain, and should I return after being declared dead by my mother, it would be enough to trigger a conflict with a deadly outcome, with the sister next in line to become the matriarch of the family. I am at the same time, an outlaw and in good standing within Kloxna society.

I would be scorned for the trouble that would follow me, but praised for still being alive, despite news of my death. I would be a hero. But a hero whose arrival is the cause of great lament." Las'Tai stared into the ceiling as she spoke, the full reality of the situation finally set in.

"I know the feeling Las'Tai. I left the military during the height of my fame as a soldier of Terra. People despised me up close, but would still admire me from a distance for my accomplishments." Eirik said softly.

"I guess I should feel happy... I never wanted to be high caste. The scheming and politics, it makes me sick to my stomach." Las'Tai continued, "I am now truly free to do as I please..." She leaned back in thought.

"But, living amongst the high caste is the goal of any Kloxna!!" Krisnu burst into the conversation.

"Do you know why, when a new bloodline is elected to rise to high caste, you never hear about them again?" Las'Tai shot back with a surprising amount of venom in her voice. Krisnu took a stunned step back and bowed towards the ground. "STOP!" Las'Tai yelled. "I am dead, remember?"

Krisnu slowly got to her feet again, staring intensely at Las'Tai. "Why do we never hear about them again?" She asked, her voice challenging and aggressive.

"Because they are not ready to handle the world of being high caste. It's not about being big and strong so you can take what is your desire. It is about being smart enough to outwit your enemies, which will be every other high caste family, especially the one that had to yield territory and power to allow a new bloodline to rise! The slow death of economic bankruptcy and lack of the ability to garner allies!!" Las'Tai almost snarled the words back at Krisnu, "The lack of knowledge of how to collect taxes and how to distribute them properly! Understanding that the safest place in the world is right next to your enemy. That way, they have to make the blade visible to kill you.

The elimination of hidden assassin's amongst your closest friends and dearest family, the casual abuse of hundreds of Kloxna under your control, The daily ordering of dozens of death just to protect your own life!!" Las'Tai was shaking with rage at this point, making it obvious it was the situation she was describing she was angry at and not the Kloxna in front of her.

As she opened her mouth to speak again, however, Eirik jammed his hand sideways into it, forcing a surprisingly large amount of gargling noises and muffled curses from someone whose mouth was being forced open by something too large to fit inside of it, accompanied by an appropriate amount of flailing as she failed to withdraw her head from the blocking hand.

Eirik finally withdrew his hand and Las'Tai shot him an indignant look as she coughed up a storm. As she get herself under control she sputtered between coughs "What the hell, Captain!"

"While I agree with your sentiment about the situation your people are currently finding themselves in, you cannot place any blame on this poor mother. She has done the best she could with what little she could scrape together! I plan to place them with one of Terra's Xenocentric colonies. They will be granted status as war refugees and be offered land to own if they work for 5 years. I will negotiate taxes for them, and make sure they are treated right. Some of those colony leaders are straight leeches!

I could, of course, also offer a different agreement, but I will need a little time to think over the details, and your family will have at least 3 weeks to make their choice, so no reason to hurry." Eirik explained and suddenly a light went on in his eyes "Besides, I wanted to see your reaction to my little idea of shutting you up when you get worked up. I think it's a great system, what about you?" Eirik's shoulders were rolling as he barely kept the laughter at bay, recalling her face when he shoved his hand in her open mouth.

Las'Tai tried to stare him down but failed miserably As she looked around, she saw several faces of barely contained laughter amongst the Kloxna adults and all the children rolling on the ground, barely breathing after having witnessed her shame.

"You better sleep with one eye open, Eirik" She hissed in a low voice while brandishing her claws at him.

"Good luck getting past Freja!" He retorted and crossed his arms over his chest, that punchable smirk plastered on his face.

Las'Tai hesitated. She had heard about Freja's little meeting with Jimmie. Everyone had, except the Captain. No one dared tell him, out of fear of what might happen. While Freja had a calming effect on him, his temper was still legendary. Slow to invoke, but burning hotter than Terra's sun, Sol, once the embers were stoked into flames. With the reaction, they had seen from him after their reunion, the complete lack of care for anything else around him. They were scared of the anger it would invoke in him to hear of the disrespect towards his woman from an already troublesome crew member.

They feared even more what she would do to anyone that hurt the Captain...

"Captain, if I may speak?" Trasti spoke up. He had been sitting silent at the table during this initial conversation. "I wanted to thank you for getting my family away from the Kloxna empire. I would also wish to hear your other suggestion, once you have thought it over before I advise my mother on what must be done. Finally, I wish to say that I now owe a *debt of The Word*, to you. You can freely, at any time and for any task, demand I give you my word to help you see a task completed, risking my life upon failure!!"

Krisnu jumped out of her seat but Trasti spoke louder, "It is done, mother! The promise is made and the choice regarding living standards will be decided later. We owe the Captain to at least let him speak his mind to us!"

This silenced Krisnu who sat down.

"Thank you, Trasti. And you as well, Krisnu, I know, in due time, your thanks will be heartfelt. I will think something over and speak to you and Trasti again tomorrow. For now, Trasti, I believe the 2 rooms across from yours are available at the moment?" Eirik bowed his head to Trasti and Krisnu as he spoke and locked eyes with Trasti at the end of his question.

"Yes, Captain, I believe their previous owners found partners among the crew and requested room transfers," Trasti answered casually. which caused his mother to cock her head to the side. Her son used to be so bashful. "Then again..." She thought to herself. Las'Tai was a beautiful Kloxna woman by any standard. Too old for him to ever have a chance, but a good friend to help him learn how to relax in the company of a beautiful woman. With his newfound confidence to boot, It could secure him a good woman of proper standing.

"Captain Eirik," Krisnu spoke up, "I wish to thank you as well, but for different reasons. When you took my son hostage, you turned a timid but happy young man into a fearful, scared large boy. Then, after you kidnapped him, I now see him as a confident young man with faith in himself. He walks like a Kloxna, secure in the faith of his own claw and wit. Not only that, but he is healthy, well-fed, and in better shape than ever. A fine young man. I have no idea what or how you have done this. I am not wealthy and cannot offer a material reward. But I offer my deepest and most humble, eternal gratitude to you."

Eirik's smile reached his eyes as he responded "It has been a pleasure, your son is quite capable, both as a communications officer and a fighter, and he is very pleasant company as well when he behaves."

Krisnu snapped her head to he son and narrowed her eyes in the manner every son fears, no matter his age. "What did he do?!?" She scowled through tightly pressed lips.

"Captain, please!!" The fear was real in Trasti's eyes as they expanded and he cupped his hands in a begging gesture towards Eirik.

Eirik narrowed his eyes and Trasti saw only the perverse pleasure of sweet revenge in them. "Remember the *Coffee*" you made for me?" Eirik grinned maliciously as he started painting out the details of Trasti's exploits in a minoring prank spree that had hit the ship. It had taken weeks to narrow the culprit down and when they finally found out it was Trasti, the little asshole looked at Las'Tai, who had been the most helpful in their efforts to find the guilty one, or so they thought, and told her to pay up. They had been collaborating!!

Trasti had taken them down every sidetrack and dead-end possible to reach their target, hiding her inability behind an attitude of never-ending enthusiasm. It turned out that the 2 Kloxna had discovered the cache of old Terran movies stored in the database and had watched the JackAss movies.

The concept was completely foreign to them, but they loved it with a passion from day one. Despite their martial culture, the Kloxna loved laughing and having a fun time. And pranks were like a feast for the starving, in regards to the Kloxna.

Before Eirik had made it halfway through the numerous incidents, Trasti was being chased around the cantina by an angry mother that was extraordinarily fast and agile for her age. Suddenly Trasti lunged for the open cantina door and scampered down the corridors, leaving his mother huffing in the middle of the cantina, the rest of those present failed to contain their snickers but wilted under the gaze she swept over them. Even Eirik got very busy working on his shoelaces as she stomped over to him.

"May I get something to drink?" She asked stiffly.

"Of course. What would you like?"

"Ooh, try the prune juice, mother!! It's good for breaking down meat during digestion!" Trasti excitedly said and Eirik groaned. After Las'Tai had discovered prune juice at the smuggler station, he had been forced to have a larger supply at hand than he was comfortable admitting. People might be thinking he was getting old!!!

After Krisnu had tried the juice and deemed it worthy of her family, They were shown to their rooms by Eirik. When she asked for Trasti, Eirik pointed at the door across from theirs. She curiously knocked on it and Trasti, the loveable idiot, opened the door before finding out who it was. A bold move from someone within grappling distance, which is exactly what happened.

Just like Eirik had grabbed him through an open door those many months ago, Krisnu now grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and forced him into his room, closing the door after getting inside. Eirik hurriedly bid his goodbyes to the rest of the Kloxna and left them to divide themselves into the 2 rooms.

_______________________________________

The following morning, as Eirik was guiding the ship into the corridor he had secured by way of bargaining with Sai'Lonis about the crate and shipping manifest. When she had asked about her freedom and the price of such, he had surprised her by saying he did it in exchange for a claim to a future favor. He accepted the risk of her dying in the war when she mentioned it.

_____________

Their trip out was uneventful and on the last day, shortly before leaving Kloxna territory. a message pinged into the ship's computer.

Our agreement is fulfilled and a future favor is owed. Stay honorable, Terran.

Sai'Lonis.

Eirik sent back a reply, just as simple.

To kill a friend on the field of battle is the cause of many sleepless nights. May we never meet there.

Peace and good growth to you, Sai'Lonis. I shall heed your words!

After sending the message, Eirik ordered they set course for the smuggler station. His private datapad had beeped with several messages since he connected back online.