Among the Stars

Chapter Six

By Roofles

Adjusting his arm he’d gotten modified by Samson; Isaac led the group out of the ship.

Digitized onboard their vessel had been several outfits that Raphael had sent them. Isaac refused to pick up the Motha’s laundry for him. These suits had to cost a small fortune. They were elegantly crafted with elaborate embroidery patterns over the front of them. Isaac had a white blazer with golden embroidery along the cuffs, while Typhon had a full suit looking straight from the Victorian era.

Isaac didn’t ask how Raphael had gotten their sizes and decided it was best not to mention such things to the others who were busy complaining about the individual outfits. Raphael had picked everything out for them. From the cufflinks to the other accessories.  

“Now I really need a drink.” Juke spat to the side as he held up a similar, if larger, blazer that Isaac was currently trying to button the front of. The buttons were made of some kind of ivory and Isaac worried if it was legal or not to wear this outfit.

The ex-space marshal matched Isaac, while Typhon and Cyclone stood out for other reasons. Samson suit looked far more casual than the rest and Isaac had to help wrestle the bears sturdy frame into it. The buttons threatening to burst as the two struggled to get them through the small holes.

“Could always stay behind,” Cyclone grumbled to Isaac’s left side. The Saberwolf was trying to fit into the suit he’d been given. It was black, unlike the others, with gold embroidery making him really stand out from the group. Isaac had a feeling Raphael did that on purpose. The metaphorical black sheep of their group.

Cyclone wasn’t pleased by this, and Isaac had to reassure him that everything would be okay and that “they could change” once they were onboard the vessel.

“Raph only cares about making the, uh, let’s say first impression the best.” Isaac rolled his eye at the thought. Cyclone smirked down at the Terran fussing with his outfit.

“And the color?” Cyclone asked pulling on the jacket to inspect the inside. It was a woven mesh of dark maroon and black swirling together into a beautiful blend.

“Who knows what Raph is thinking.” Isaac did laugh at the thought. “You look very handsome, Cyclone.” He added, patting the Saberwolf on the chest. “It matches your eye.” The Terran teased and Cyclone let out a snort.

“Like you’re one to talk.”

“They should’ve called you Cyclops, not Cyclone.” Isaac continued to poke at it and the two shared a laugh.

Unfortunately, Typhon felt jealous that Cyclone’s outfit was unique, instead of missing the point of it being the odd one out of the group. Let alone for the extra attention Isaac was giving him, along with the others. Typhon was still struggling to put on the sock garters meant to keep the open toed socks from slipping down his legs.

Isaac had to come over to help him with it.

“I swear none of you have ever dressed before!” Isaac ended up calling the rest out.

“Why does he get something special!” Typhon whined as Isaac helped him, ignoring the Terran’s struggles with the straps.

“Cyclone gets special treatment because he is special.” Isaac stated and Typhon’s ears folded back. “Not like that, you big stupid dumb idiot of a man.” Isaac sighed, shaking his head. He reached up to press his lips against Typhon, then rested their foreheads together. “Cyclone just needs to the extra attention because I know at least you can take care of yourself.”

“I rather you do it.” Typhon grinned, wagging his tail.

“You really don’t need me to.” Isaac rolled his eye.

“No, Isaac.” Typhon caught his wrist before he could pull back. Their eyes met again. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“Relax,” Isaac laughed. “Where would I even go?” And with a wink, Isaac jumped back to his feet. Planning to lead the group of them into the space station sized spacecraft.

The White Pearl was larger than the fueling station had been. It was large enough to be it’s own city-state. Or spacecraft-state. Something that was far more common amongst The Merchant Barons. Raphael spacecraft rivaled one of the side nations. A worrisome thought in itself.

“Ew,” was the first words out of Typhon’s mouth as they walked down the steps to a fuzzy, red carpet that had been rolled out for their greeting.

 “It feels like a catwalk,” Isaac faint blush filled his pale freckled cheeks as he walked down the carpeted path laid out for their arrival. His arm felt heavier than normal and was questioning what their mechanic had done to it, this time.

Lifting up the cybernetic, he tried to figure it out as they walked. He wished Sphinx had tagged along. The AI was extremely useful with these kind of things. The arm felt several pounds heavier than his old model had been.

Isaac’s thoughts were soon interrupted as the lights began flicking one.

From within the darkness of the docking bay, a red carpet had been rolled out for their arrival. Stopping just before their ship in greeting. It felt more like a tongue, waiting to lure them into the belly of the beast and Isaac shivered at the uncomfortable thought.

Rows of lights flickered on as they approached. Illuminating the otherwise dark spaceport. Within the darkness Isaac’s artificial eye could make out the cameras watching them from above. There was security on standby, hidden within the dark, and the curved bumps on the ceiling were most likely turrets waiting to be turned on if they tried anything foolish.

Even before they reached the door, their weapons were taken from them. Shadowy figures stepping forward blindly, offering white gloved hands for them to place their tools of the trade in. Isaac was just glad they hadn’t asked for his arm.

Juke was the most reluctant of the group to hand over his revolver. Something he said he should’ve left on the ship.

“If she gets even a single scratched,” Juke warned. The guard only gave a silent bow before stepping back with the gun. Vanishing as quickly as they appeared. That inky darkness was like a curtain on the sides of the carpeted pathway. Impossible to see within without an artificial assistance as Isaac had.

Every safety precaution had been taken for their arrival, as with any arrival Isaac supposed. You could be the king of the universe and Raphael would treat you the same as any other peasant coming to his door. Equally. No special treatment or favors were given to individuals. It was both a welcome change of pace and an uncomfortable one to have to deal with.

For when one saw everyone as equal and the same, then there was nothing for Isaac to abuse for his personal advantage in the future. Not even their friendship. When you were all the same, then you were all faceless, nameless beings lost in the sea of other people.

Something Isaac was intimately familiar with.

Just like the guards standing nearby. They came in all sizes and shapes. No two were alike. From all different alien species from across the universe. And yet… and yet, they all wore the same blank, white mask. Each specially designed for their face, but still the same white blank mask that hid their true selves behind an artificial smile design onto the front.

It was unnerving. Seeing all those shadowy bodies with smiling masked faces watching them.

Even for Isaac, it was hard to tell the guards apart from each other as his artificial eye swept over their bodies. They were all larger males, he concluded. That was a very Raphael thing to do. Dressed in nice black suits with those almost porcelain white masks over their faces, striped ties and white gloves.. they all looked the same. They stood rigid as statues. As still as stone. Isaac couldn’t even feel their eyes on them as they passed by.

Just facing towards them with those smiling masked faces.  

“Creepy fucks,” Juke was the one to comment on.

Despite Raphael’s warm welcome, Isaac was still just another contact for the Motha. Oddly, the thought wasn’t as comforting as it should be. Despite their clear differences, Isaac had always felt a familiar bond with Raphael. The two coming from backwater, no named, mud planets in the “sticks” of space that every other major Galactic Nation had overlooked until they couldn’t any longer. They weren’t Celestials bodies. They weren’t special.

They, like their races, were nobodies as far as the major parties were concerned. Mudding up the water for the rest.

No one understood what Raphael had gone through like Isaac had and here his contact, his friend, was giving him the same treatment as everyone else. Raphael should’ve been welcoming them with open arms. Not… not this.

Isaac didn’t point this out. That uncanny, unsettling tingle he was getting on the back of his neck. That something was off here. That something was wrong as an invisible force washed over their bodies. A pressure from above making every step just slightly harder to take.

“I’m beginning to feel itchy,” Typhon scratched the side of his neck, looking around nervously as his fur stood up from the feeling.

“We’re entering the dampening field. It’ll curve all aggressive thought or desire of those within its field. It basically neuters that part of the brain while you’re within it.” Cyclone grunted behind the two. He and Typhon seemed to be the two most effected by the field as the Saberwolves fidgeted underneath it’s invisible force.

Juke mumbled to himself, dipping his hat down over his eyes as he trudged behind them next to Samson who took up the rear. The Ursa Major was marveling at the architecture around them. The design of the ship was marvelous, and Isaac could see twin pillars carved to look like whales in front of them holding up the ceiling above. The lights continued to flick on one by one before them, as the lights behind them flicked off. Never giving them the time to grasp just how large this place was with the constant change.

“He was always one for a grand reveal, but this is excessive.” Isaac muttered to himself.

“We came in through the space whale’s mouth, but I’m sure we went down.” Samson said aloud as he thought it over. The crew decided to leave Sphinx behind to watch over the ship, not wanting to leave it unguarded. Samson would be visiting the ship during their stay here to check in on it and Isaac wasn’t too concerned.

Samson needed to restock some of their supplies anyways. The Ursa Major would be spending most his time searching for supplies the ship needed while on board. Isaac and him would keep in touch just to make sure everything goes swimmingly.  

It was better to be safe than sorry.

Something he and Isaac had privately talked about together, outside the others. Sphinx was only close with Samson and Isaac. The AI couldn’t care less for the others on board the ship. The ship was still Sphinx’s body, and the AI didn’t want to get too far from it. Even if he could take command of the Tigeron war suit inside the vessel, it was still uncomfortable to leave it for long periods of time. It was decided that the best course to take would be to leave him to watch the vessel. That it’d be safer for him to be hidden away from those here.

“Raphael would love to get his hands on something like that. Forbidden tech?” Isaac shivered just thinking of it. “If we had any other choice, I would’ve loved not to come here… again.” Isaac unconsciously reached up a hand to cover his artificial eye.

Whenever he did this, he looked forward to feeling Sphinx’s presence there behind it. The emptiness left him feeling hollow inside. Wishing Sphinx would make a snarky comment or put in his input that no one asked for.

Funny how someone so annoying could be so missed.

“When were you here last?” Samson asked and Isaac wasn’t sure how to answer that question. As he himself wasn’t sure.

“A long time ago,” Isaac shrugged it off, trying not to let that uncomfortable feeling sink in again. He had enough on his plate without having to worry about that. “I was visiting…” Isaac words fumbled. “It wasn’t like this before though. Not like this… Raphael always talked about collecting things. I’m sure he’d love to win a prize like The Stellar Drift.” Isaac poorly tried to turn the conversation away from himself.

“It would be the perfect prize to put on display.” Samson thought it over as he scratched under his chin. White space dust fell from his fur as he did so. “The ship is a marvel.” Isaac agreed and had always theorized that one reason why Samson had tagged along with their group was because of the ship.

Very few people ever got the chance to see a ship like The Stellar Drift, let alone work on one. Samson was as giddy as a child in a candy shop when it came to working with the vessel. Tinkering with it, fixing her up and even mapping out a blueprint of how it worked. Most of it went over the older Ursa Major’s head but the space bear was more than happy to figure it out. They had all the time in the universe to do so.

“No family,” Samson had told Isaac when he asked about it. Isaac felt there was more to that story than he was letting on but decided not to push such a sensitive subject.

“Can’t let it fall into anyone else’s hands.” The two could agree on. The ship was a marvel, but it was also dangerous. They used it for their mission and, mostly, refused to use any of the weapon systems on it. The Stellar Drift was fast enough to escape most threats.

Isaac couldn’t imagine someone getting their grubby hands on it and reproducing such a vessel as a weapon… even someone he called a friend.

Neither of the two trusted someone like Raphael, dubbed The Curator, to ignore their vessel. The Stellar Drift was a one-of-a-kind ship and something like that would fetch a pretty penny on the black market. Something Isaac was sure Raphael would be interested in. Or if only to add such a unique vessel to his collection of other forbidden artifacts the Motha liked to collect over the years.

“He always wanted to create a museum in space, heh. To record the history of the galaxies out there…” Isaac swallowed heavily. “Just, I didn’t think he’d sell them.”

“What?” Samson asked as the others stayed alert.

“Just… Raphael seems… I don’t know, sorry.” Isaac shook his head, holding the side of it. “I think the dampening field is messing up my thoughts.”

“It’ll take time to adjust. Each race, and person, handles it differently.” Cyclone fell back into step to walk beside Isaac. “Just take your time and it’ll pass.”

“You seem awfully familiar with it.” Juke pointed out. Isaac was glad to have the ex-marshal around. It helped at times like this when his thoughts weren’t fully here.

“I’m familiar with a lot o’ things you don’t know about.” Cyclone jabbed right back at the ‘Yote. The two growling at each other.

“We can trust him, right?” Typhon asked, heading dipping down. “This Raph E Al guy?”

“Possibly?” Isaac wasn’t very confident at that moment.

There was that sinking feeling again inside Isaac’s chest and he tried to ignore it, clutching the spot with a hand.

A sort of… emptiness.  

Raphael probably didn’t call Isaac here to talk to the Terran… no, he was most likely here for Typhon or the ship itself after hearing about it. Isaac just so happened to be there, tagging along for the ride, an inconvenience tag along. A consolation prize at best.

Compared to the others? What did Isaac have to offer? He was only a Terran.

“Dammit,” Isaac tried to shake such uncomfortable, unwanted thoughts away. It was this damned dampening field. It was also lowering his defenses he built up over the years. It suppressed his more aggressive thoughts, but such things weren’t always a good thing to lose.

Isaac had always used that anger directed at himself, his incompetence, to push himself forward. Using it as a motivator, instead of the hinderance someone like Raphael saw it as. Without that anger, there was nothing left to keep the darker thoughts at bay.

“Will Sphinx be okay on the ship?”

“As long as no one interference with his connection to it, they both should be fine. His system is wired into the vessel. I doubt anything could disrupt that.”

The others were talking but Isaac couldn’t focus.

The issue was, Isaac needed that ship. For several reasons. If they lost the ship? They’d also lose Sphinx, for starts. The two things had saved their lives countless times up to this point. It would be foolish to hand them over to anyone.  

And… without the ship? What kind of captain would Isaac be? Such a fleeting dream had only been achieved by chance. Thanks to another. And now there were outside forces threatening to take it away from him...

And he couldn’t even get mad or frustrated about that.

Isaac blamed this damned field for these intrusive thoughts.

He didn’t trust Cyclone, either, and was having Typhon and Juke keep tabs on him. Planning to ditch the cyborg Saberwolf here on The White Pearl. As much as he tolerated his presence from the strange familiarity he got from Cyclone, Isaac wasn’t a fool and decided it was best to keep his friends close and his enemies closer. It was the only reason why he had kept Cyclone along with them.

Like Raphael.

At least, that’s what he kept telling himself as they walked down the catwalk and towards the slit of light that appeared before them. Within the darkness a single ray of light broke through. Cutting through the darkness to form a line that split and curved, outlining a grand doorway before them. A single light that split into two, then the panels on the door lit up and it appeared as if out of thin air before them.

Outlined and formed with that soft glowing white light was the entrance. Welcoming them in.

Then it opened.

The ray of light grew in size, expanding as the door slowly swung open in greeting and the crew were bathed by the soft white light. It was far warmer in this room than it had been in the ship bay and Isaac shivered from the strange feel of that light washing over him. It was… comforting. Oddly so and he wondered if there was another field at play here.

It hurt his eyes and it took him several agonizingly long seconds to adjust to the bright glow of it.

“Welcome,” that was the impression he got. The light bathed them in warmth, in comfort and in something that Isaac wasn’t able to place his finger on. It was relaxing, a relief from the darkness now behind them, like an old friend that Isaac had finally met again.

Or maybe a spot a cat would curl up in to take a long nap within.

“It’s… warm.” Isaac kept his eyes closed as he felt it wash over him like a summer’s breeze, but heavier as if it had a weight behind it. Comforting, holding him as it wrapped him in unseen arms as it did with everyone else. It melted away his anxiety and worries and cares… “So, this is what Raphael meant. Everyone is welcome here.”

Isaac opened his eyes, and despite himself, he smiled at such a greeting.

Gold glistened, white cloths swayed, and diamond covered chandeliers hung from the ceiling as they walked into the room before them. The door shut behind and no one cared that their exit had sealed off. Everyone was captivated by the sight before them. Everyone had a smile on their face. Everyone felt welcomed, bathed in this comforting light.

It was odd seeing Juke and Typhon smile at the same time. Isaac laughed and wasn’t sure why that was. His body tingled and he felt… good. Happy. Calm…

“Fuck, did they put something in the air?” Isaac asked, looking at the others. No one seemed able to respond as they adjusted to the feel of the strange glow coming seemingly from somewhere up above.

Such thoughts from before were gone and he was able to drift forward as if carried by that light, into the room with all the others. It took him by the hand. Leading him forward. Guiding his steps. Every dark thought, every concern burned away underneath the lights radiance.

There was a flash of blue to Isaac’s right and then sparks as Typhon shook his head. Sparks jumping off his fur as he snapped himself back into his right mind. Clapping his face several times, Typhon quickly checked on Isaac.

“Heh, yeah. I’m… I’m feeling really good.” Isaac said and Typhon wagged at that, helping lead the Terran forward. It was for the best. Isaac was worried he’d walk straight off these steps as if trying to walk into the air.

Like trying to fly.

Fly towards that comforting light above.

“If I may,” Typhon said properly. His voice brought Isaac back and the Terran, with a smile, took that hand offered to him. Or had he grabbed it already? Isaac’s mind was a in a warm fog, and it was hard to care if he had or hadn’t…

“Please do.” Isaac just wanted to be closer. Closer to that comforting feeling.

On the upper level, they could see down the carpeted steps to the numerous tables gathered below. Spread out in the open room, with plentiful bounties of foods and drinks on each, were numerous tables with white clothes over each. There was plenty of room for the diverse gathering of alien species gathered together here. From all kinds of races and species and different nations, they mingled down below. Some were at war with each other and yet, these people, underneath this light were able to talk and laugh together without a care what their people were doing to each other.

Encroachment of land? Slaughtering of innocent? Attacking each other trade routes? None of that matter. For here everyone was equal and as one. Gathered together, they talked and conversed with one another ignoring their new guests or their problems. Able to forget the outside world and just enjoy themselves here today. In the now.

Isaac should’ve felt uncomfortable seeing all the different races below. Some of which were chasing after them. Their wanted posted circulating those galaxies.

He didn’t. If Typhon wasn’t there, Isaac would’ve gladly ran forward to join them. To talk to these strangers and join in whatever conversation they were currently within. Typhon held Isaac back.

There were several of the higher named races before them, something the Saberwolf steered them quickly away from. The Tigeron’s were the most prevalent gathered today. There were others that Isaac quickly recognized to be of similar rank and standing in the universe. Other Celestial races stood before them. Together. It was something Isaac thought he’d never see. The red fired Pheonix clan, beautiful birdlike creature with feathers that would combust into flames before regrowing from the ash. To the river blue serpent-like creatures that reminded Isaac of Eastern Dragons. Their scales shimmered like a flowing river and their inhuman green and black eyes sparkled like gemstones. Then there were the black armored reptilian creatures that they had seen on the station weeks ago. Black plated armored scales, the reptilians talked with the others without concern.

No one looked at them. No one cared about they were wanted men. Each were giddy and excited about the event. Wanting to bid higher than the others in joyful competition to see who could win.

“Oh.” It dawned on Isaac. “It’s like a casino.” Isaac blinked several times as he finally began to adjust to the feeling he’d been experience.

Some casinos were said to pump chemicals or even oxygen into their air system to put gamblers at ease. To make them feel comforted and welcomed, bringing them free drinks and encouraging them to spend, spend, spend…

That was what Raphael was after. The nerdy Motha had become a savvy businessman it seemed. Inviting all these people, even from the Celestial Bodies, to come onboard of his ship. From their own free will, so they couldn’t complain when Raph created the perfect atmosphere or rather, a perfect habitat to control them all within.

From the dampening field to this comforting light. Even the air itself smelled cleaner than anything Isaac had ever smelled before! It was all an extremely, elaborate trap to squeeze as much money out of these rich, pretensions bastards as Raph could. Only after they left the spaceship would it finally dawn on them that they’d be swindled and by then? Raph would be long gone.

While fewer in number, it was impossible to mistake who they represented here. These Celestials. Isaac could only surmise that each nation had their own representatives here during whatever Raphael had in mind for this event. The ruling powers would have to send their people here to bid on and buy the most valuable of things from the collector. Not wanting other nations to get ahold of them. Planning to return such prizes to their home galaxies, to securely lock away and keep from others.

Like dragons hoarding their treasures. They all might be laughing together now but they were still fighting against the others for the prize at the end. Something that could easily be forgotten with such jovial laughter and playful taunts being tossed around.

It was almost a pity, really. Isaac had seen numerous things that Raphael had collected over the years. To think these echelon of the universe would be the only ones to see or admire such things was such a shame. These lost artifacts were intriguingly beautiful or fascinatingly complex. Magnificent paintings or artwork from civilizations long lost or strange devices that no one knew the true function of. To be hidden away from the known universe to rot in someone’s vault? The thought of taking such treasures and locking them away? To never see the light of day again was a sad thought indeed.

Isaac was looking forward to showing Typhon these things. Glad, in a way, to be here. A strange thought he didn’t expect to have. From his worries and concern outside their ship, to feeling overwhelmingly content and happy? To now just being genuinely excited for this event. Wanting to show Typhon as much of the outside worlds as possible before it was all locked away by these greedy assholes.

“Going to be a big auction,” Isaac said, thinking it over as the group slowly descended the steps.

They had lost Juke and Samson in the mix. It had taken Isaac some time to adjust to the light and feel of this place. He was sure those two would be fine on their own for now. They had communicators for emergencies but underneath this dampening field? Isaac couldn’t imagine something happening.

They had other things to worry about.

Drinks were already being offered to them. Waiters coming by with similar masks and suits on as they offered trays of delicate delights, reminding Isaac of Turkish Delights, and fruity cocktail drinks to them. With a nod from Isaac, Typhon quickly gathered several of the bite size treats up and was stuffing his face with them. Covering his fingers and furry whiskers in sugary powder goodness. Washing them down with three of the cocktails as he followed behind Isaac in a hurried rush after the Terran continued to wander around.

There were displays out. Guarded by sheets of transparent glass, and numerous other safety devices Issac assumed, were pictures. Artwork. Strange plants that dripped delicious smelling sap. Then there were animals. Colorful birds and sparkling lizards that looked as if they were made from gemstones. All exotic things. Ranging from art, to animal, to a globe that represented far more than a planet. It swiveled and turned with multiple planets, or moons, circling around it. It spun slowly within the case and Isaac was transfixed as he tried to record the numbers ticking by on the side.

“Fascinating,” Isaac could spend an entire lifetime looking at these things. They were truly priceless. How was anyone supposed to put a price on something like this? A flower. Made of gemstone. A statue? Made of gemstone. So many of these things were made of gems.

They sparkled and shined underneath the bright glowing white light from above. Sparkling as Isaac looked at one, then the other.

“Are they natural or…?” Isaac wished, again, Sphinx was here. The AI was one of the few people onboard their vessel that he could talk about such things about. When it wasn’t Sphinx, Isaac used to talk with Raphael about them.

“Another successful archeology project?” Isaac would say when the Motha would show him his latest find.

“You won’t believe the history about this one!” Raph would be so excited his furry eyebrows would wiggle back and forth.

How many years ago was that? Was it back at The Flight Academy? Isaac couldn’t place a time or place with the moth. Just that, back then, Raphael was more interested in things than in people. He changed but that was also a part of growing up.

Isaac wasn’t planning on waiting around for Typhon to sate his gluttony and laughed, seeing the Saberwolf quickly bounding after him like a dog trying to catch up to its master. Only after noticing that they’d been left behind.

“They’ll be more at the auction, silly man.” Isaac still felt that tingling warmth and comfort as he booped Typhon on the nose with a finger.

“Auction?” Typhon inquired as the others began to disperse.

“Yeah. I can’t wait for the others to see. For you to see.” Isaac said as he thought it over. Isaac wanted everyone to at least enjoy their stay here. Raphael would make sure nothing bad happened directly to them. His worries and concerns were his own. His own problems he’d have to deal with. Not theirs. They should enjoy themselves-

“They’d be happier without you.”

Isaac felt a cold shudder run down his spine and turned around quickly, breathing heavily. Sweat trickled down his brow as he looked around the crowd, trying to find where that voice came from. It felt like a pair of eyes were on him. Watching him. Staring at him, but no matter how hard Isaac looked no one could care less about a Terran.

The only one in the room.

He should’ve stood out and yet no one even looked at Isaac. As if he were invisible. Or, more likely, a janitor working here. A “help” that had been hired to keep things tidy and cleaned for the event.

“Isaac?” Typhon asked and the Terran blinked several times, holding the side of his head before answering him.

“R-Raphael business is in collecting things. At least, to an extent. Whatever he loses a fancy in, he sells. It allows him to buy new, more fascinating things in the future before pawning them off to repeat the endless process. He’s a very fickle man and his likes can change as quickly as the weather back home...” Isaac took a drink as the waiter passed by. Needing something to stabilize his nerves.

This dampening field was having unforeseen effects on his psyche. He wished Sphinx was here. The AI was someone he could talk to and confide in during these times. Not wanting to burden Typhon with his pitiful concerns.

“Wait…” Isaac took a second. “Didn’t I think that already?” He winced, trying to recall how many times he’d thought about Sphinx since he’d been here.

The waiter handed Isaac another drink, giving a long, elegant bow after before turning towards another guest.

The server caught his eye and Isaac watched them go with a slightly slacked jaw.

“What?” Typhon asked, glaring after the retreating feline. “Did he do something?”

“No. That was… Typhon, that man shouldn’t…” Isaac couldn’t even finish his words as he covered his mouth.

They were a Silken cat; a species Isaac thought had gone extinct ages ago. They were serving up a fruity tray of cocktail shrimp to the guests gathered. The shrimp were the color of a rainbow ranging from reds to greens to purples. It wasn’t the fruity shrimp that had caught Isaac eye, however.  

The Silken Cat was thin and tall with a black spotted pelt of sandy brown fur. They walked a head taller than anyone else there with long limbs and small paws. Looking like a cat that someone had stretched out to a comically long length. They easily moved past them with fluid grace that was eerie to watch. Nothing of that size and mass should be able to move like water, but they did. Gliding between the large crowd like rushing water, offering up more of what they were serving to anyone interest in the gathered crowd. Sliding between one large-bodied rock creature and towards another that looked like a mass of tangled vines that all moved if alive. Their body must’ve been boneless, able to squeeze past several others in the way as they slipped past and vanished into the crowd.

Even being the tallest person there, the Silken Cat vanished from sight.  

“I’m convinced cats are made of liquid.” Isaac said watching the waiter go with keen interest. He thought the Silken cat race had been wiped out. Hunting to extinction because of their strange biology. Others coveting their pelts of fur and near boneless bodies to put on display. “I never thought I’d see one… Let alone alive…”

“Who’s that?” Typhon tried to ask around a mouthful of shrimp. He was promptly shoved out of the way.

“Because they’re extinct?” Cyclone said, speaking up from Isaac’s other side. Isaac jumped slightly and Cyclone smirked at the reaction. “What? Thought I’d just leave you here with this… dumbass.” He added, looking up at Typhon. The other Saberwolf snarled at that. Cyclone ignored him. “Their race was wiped out, as far as our records go. There shouldn’t be any left. Not even strays. Hunted to extinction, if I recall correctly. By the very Celestials gathered here… though, of course, they’d deny that fact.”

“How are they here then?” Isaac was curious, if slightly unsettled again. That uncomfortable feeling was coming back. An itch along the back of his neck. No matter how hard Isaac tried to reach it, he couldn’t. Only Cyclone’s touch, a strong paw on his shoulder, helped settle his racing heart.

“That’s a good question to ask our host,” Cyclone nudged his muzzle towards the far steps in the room. “I think it’s about time he makes his grand appearance before us lowly insects,” Cyclone groaned already seeing where this was going as if he’d been through it before.

Before Isaac could ask, the lights began to turn off. From the outer ring, they darkened one row at a time. Going inwards towards where they stood, then those also turned off. Only leaving the steps at the far side of the room illuminated in that eerie yet comforting white light.

On the other side of the room was a golden staircase leading up towards the heavens. Isaac had mostly overlooked it for being a tacky eyesore. That was until the lights flicked off and the steps became illuminated, glowing brightly as spotlights turned on overhead. Each spotlight circled around the room before stopping, focusing at the top of the stairs as if they’d been searching for someone.

“You have got to be kidding me,” Isaac covered his face. “He wouldn’t possibly…”

At the top of the stairs was a pair of doors that were soon kicked open before the two attendants could open them for their host. A Motha stood there. With a fuzzy pelt of white fur wrapped around his neck like a boa, Raphael greet them dramatically. Wearing pearl bracelets, beads studded the front of the half-cut dress suit he was wearing, and necklaces hung from around his fluffy fuzzy neck. Cut down one side, the dress allowed his creepily long, spindly black leg to kick out. One at a time as he began to walk down the steps.

“The guest of honor has arrived,” Cyclone snorted in disgust, sneering at the sight.

Reaching out a scrawny thin black arm with twiglike fingers, Raph snatched a microphone offered to him by one of the waiters. They backed away, giving Raph the spotlight he wanted. The only one that could be seen. The moth soaked in the feel of it all, as every eye was on him.

The brightest flame in the room. Capturing all their gazes. Raphael didn’t care if they were annoyed by his presence or delight to see him. Good? Bad? Even infamy was still attention and the moth soaked in it. Accepting it all.

“Test, test.” Raph tapped the microphone making several people around Isaac wince from the feedback over the speakers. “Hello? Can you all here me?” Raph asked the question he didn’t even wait for an answer for. “Welcome! Welcome to my showcase! I hope you all had a safe trip here. I did. Oh wait, I live here.” He laughed obnoxiously and several others cringed at his display.

“How long will this last?” Typhon asked around another mouthful of shrimp. The Saberwolf had taken the entire tray for himself, stuffing his face as he looked up at the gaudy display. “Who’s the diva?”

“I think he prefers to be called a queen.” Cyclone snorted with a shake of his head.

“He’ll take as long as he wants.” Isaac couldn’t help the smile on his face as he looked up at the moth. It wasn’t Raph’s display that was amusing. It was everyone else around him forced to endure this pretentious show with him.

Exactly what Raph was after. Forcing them all to be on the same footing, comfortable or not. That was how Raphael, a lower seen race, was able to stand on the same footing as these big wigs. While also taking a jab at them.

This was his ship. His showcase. His event, auction, whatever you wanted to call it. It was Raphael’s and they all had no say in how he handled this.

“Tough crowd.” Raph continued with a glint to his beady black eyes. Isaac knew Raphael was eating all this in.

Isaac was already feeling second hand embarrassment just watching him come down the steps. Raph was taking them one at a time, dragging this out. Kicking out a leg before stepping down, only to kick out another… then back track as if he missed his cue and did it all over again.

And everyone there was forced to watch.

No one spoke up, no one called him out. Underneath the dampening field, they couldn’t feel anger or aggression for his actions. Instead, all they felt was cringe for what Raph was doing.

“I hear we have some out of towners,” Raph kept up the act. “Where are they at?” He looked around the crowd before centering in on the rock creature Isaac saw before. “There!” He pointed and all the spotlights jumped to them. “Come forward sir or madam or other, please tell us your name, why you are here and-,”

Craggs were a silent race that lived within and were part of the planet they came from. Born from rocks, they were actually multiple creatures living together in perfect harmony with one another. The inside of the hard shell they created for themselves; they lived in a perfect harmonious state. Hating anything that might upset that perfect balance within. No change in temperature or moisture, they wanted nothing more than to live on the dust bowl of a planet they called their home. They lived in that perfect homeostasis state within their rock shell. They abhorred anything that broke that state.

Such as a bright spotlight falling on top of them, calling them out in the large, gathered crowd. The rocks began to shake and shudder with displeasure, but even they weren’t able to feel anger towards Raph’s actions.

A cruel game and dangerous game the Motha was playing at, and one Isaac couldn’t help but get behind.

Craggs were known for their isolationism. Keeping apart from every other race when they could help it. Even if others begged or asked for help, it would fall on deaf ears. They cared not for anyone that wasn’t part of their “perfect” group. If this wasn’t such a once in a lifetime opportunity, the race would’ve never bothered to leave their galaxy to come out here like this. 

And Raphael knew that. A jab at a race of people that would gladly abandon the Motha people or even Terrans, even if it benefited them. Their inaction was a cruelty well known around the universe. It was only right for someone like Raphael to take advantage of this.

Or at least, Isaac knew that was what Raphael was thinking right. How he justified it.

“Oh, my bad, I forgot you don’t like attention.” Raph placed a finger on his lips, fuzzy eyebrows wiggling as the spotlights came back towards him. “Well, glad to see you here, nonetheless. Finally managed to get out of your cave for a change, all to come see me. I’ll, try, to keep the attention off you. I’m far more fitting to be under these!” He tossed all four of his spindly arms out, nearly throwing off his fuzzy white jacket before hugging it tightly to his body. The jacket moved and squirmed before forming and fitting back to the moth’s body. “The lights adore me! Just like my fans do…”

Raph said this as he glanced up at the crowd behind long black eyelashes that weren’t natural to his people.

It was Isaac who began clapping first. Raph smiled at that as everyone else, begrudgingly, followed suit. Clapping for the man who wouldn’t continue until he got a standing applause. Even a reluctant one was better than none.

“Why did you do that?” Cyclone groaned. “Don’t encourage that!”

“Oh, it gets better.” Isaac couldn’t help the laugh in his voice as he watched the show. “If you want to get this over with? It’s best to just play along with whatever Raph has in mind.”

“You see, life’s like a sea. We’re all boats in its ocean. Drifting along. Unable to fight the flow. That doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun along the way! Life’s like a cabaret!” Raph began as others stepped out to join him on the staircase that quickly became a stage. Numerous other well-dressed men in white suits, holding black canes and top hats stepped out to join him. Their masks were far more well designed than the guards were, and Isaac could already see where this was going.

Rolling the top hats down their arm, they each placed them on their heads before taking hold of their canes. Clenching the black metal between white gloved hands, they kicked out their legs as the music started up and all of them began to move along with it.

It was perfectly choreographed. It must’ve taken weeks to plan out this single song number.

This dance and song number that soon began as others around Isaac jaw dropped at the display. Some covered their faces with well-designed fans, others just looked away and still all the attention was on Raphael. The lights spun, diamonds hung from the ceiling and all the men in suits moved in perfect tandem with one another as they spun and moved around Raphael as he sung into the microphone.

Poorly. He sung so bad that Isaac couldn’t help the laughter that burst out of him, needing to cover his mouth with a hand at the reaction everyone around them was having from this.  

“Kick out those legs!” Raphael did so. “Stand in the light!” And he was. “Let’s get this show started,” and the lights above them all turned back on.

Isaac hadn’t even noticed the waiters and staff moving the tables out of the way. One of them even took the food out of Typhon’s hand, cleaning up the mess so the show could continue uninterrupted. Clearing out the space to create a dance floor for them all to join in along with this spontaneous, yet clearly planned song number.

The music stopped and new music began to play. A mixture of old school jazz, accompanied by instruments that Isaac had never heard before. Screens lit up all around them on the walls. Showcasing videos of others playing instruments as if they were there within the room with them. Isaac was sure they were live feeds from somewhere else on the ship as the orchestra continued.  

“Come on, my fireflies, let’s all have a good time!” Raphael continued to encourage those around them.

No one joined in.

Celestials had always seen themselves as those above others. They didn’t have an aversion for a party or dance or songs… it was the fact that someone else, someone they saw below their standing, was the one leading this showcase. Raphael, a Motha, an insectoid species, was only able to get away with this because of what he had to offer them after.

Still, they weren’t willing to play along with this game of his. Not wanting to join in and be seen by others that they had gone along with what a Motha had suggested they do. Let alone be the first to do so. It would be an insult to their people.

If no one else here could pull the stick out of their ass, then Isaac would have to do it for them.

“May I have this dance?” Isaac offered a hand to Typhon, giving a mocking bow to the Saberwolf who snorted loudly before cleaning himself up.

Wiping down the front of the outfit he had on off, Typhon wiped his lips on the back of an arm before taking Isaac’s hand in his. Giving an equally mocking bow to the Terran, low enough for his nose to nearly touch the floor, Typhon agreed.

“It would be my pleasure, my good sir.” Typhon said in a snooty voice. “I thought you’d never ask! I’ve been waiting all night.”

“Indubitably!” Isaac said in a stuck-up voice, tilting his chin up so he could try and look down his nose at Typhon. “My word, I never thought I’d be dancing here with such a ruffian. Pish posh.”

“Oh, am I supposed to be the not-fancy one?” Typhon whisper-asked the question before adjusting himself accordingly to fit the part. Messing up his hair with a hand, tossing his jacket off to the side, Typhon sneered at Isaac as he pulled on the overall straps of the 20s inspired outfit that Raphael had picked out for the two. It would’ve fit perfectly in The Great Gatsby and Isaac hate it. “Yeah, yeah. You payin’ for all this shindig, least I can do is give my gal a dance. I’m just here for the grub.” He said, spitting to the side after.

“Oh, heavens to Betsy, I can’t take you anywhere!” Isaac adopted a poor impression of a fanciful woman and slapped a hand against his cheek, gasping at Typhon’s brutish antics. “That’s just another thing that turns me on about you so damn fucking much.” Isaac growled, grabbing Typhon’s front.

“Wait- wha?” Typhon jumped as Isaac pulled him closer.

“Dance with me you big, dirty, stinky buffoon.” Isaac growled into Typhon’s face, making the Saberwolf’s ears fold back, before laughing about it and spinning Typhon around with him. “Remember when we watched Grease?”

“That old movie with the cars and way too much hair gel?” Isaac could practically see the gears in Typhon’s head moving, trying to recall.

“Yes,” Isaac rolled his eye. “Just try and keep up.” He broke apart from Typhon and, without a care for who was watching, tried his best to dance to the music.

String instruments were playing alongside saxophones with some kind of piano in the background. It sounded more like a supped-up harp and Isaac chuckled at such a thought of a harp being tuned to play like a guitar. Yet somehow played with wind blowing over the string instead of fingers.

“You better shape up, because I need a man, and my heart is set on you.” Isaac muttered along, trying to recall the steps for this.

“Wait what?” Typhon asked, utterly confused. To the Saberwolf’s credit, he went along with the absurdity of it all and his tail was wagging the entire time as he shook his hips from side to side trying to follow Isaac’s lead.

“It’s the wrong era, but I’m not too familiar with this,” Isaac said as he moved a couple steps away with Typhon strutting after him from behind, chasing his rear end with eyes locked on Isaac’s ass. “So, let’s just do what we always do.”

“Wing it?” Typhon grinned up at him after getting caught leering.

“Exactly.” Isaac laughed as he turned around and placed a hand on Typhon’s shoulder, dragging it down over his chest to tease it down the Saberwolf’s stomach, just above his groin. Walking backwards, Typhon followed in front of him. “Just do what comes natural.”

“If you insist,” Typhon wiggled his eyebrows before rushing forward and scooping Isaac up.

The Terran laughed as Typhon spun him around, Isaac wrapping his legs around the Saberwolf’s waist before getting dipped several times from Typhon who was still trying to move to the music. Kicking out one leg, Typhon hopped on the other foot before switching it up and brought Isaac back up, so their noses bumped against each other.

“We’re terrible.” Isaac laughed.

“The worst.” Typhon couldn’t help but agree as he spun the two of them around together. “We must look like a pair of idiots.”

“I wouldn’t know,” Isaac grinned. “My eyes are only on you.” The Terran whispered the words as he pet the side of the Saberwolf’s face. Feeling that deep sea blue fur run against the back of his fingers as he smelled the faintest hint of ozone. “You’re eyes are so captivating…” Isaac could see the stars in Typhon’s deep black and blue eyes that sparkled with stars.

“Good,” Typhon wagged. “You can look at them anytime.” The Saberwolf lifted Isaac up easily with two hands, spun around, then dipped the Terran under one arm and then the other with skilled practice as Isaac laughed.

Typhon always picked things up so quickly, it was incredible. “Typhon,” Isaac smiled as he was spun around with an arm overhead, dipped over one of Typhon’s arms before one leg was lifted up and spun around again as the two took up the entire dance floor.

“I know. It’s a little bit frightening, you might as well be playing with lightning.” Typhon winked as his blue fur sparked. “Just try to keep up.” Typhon stuck his dark blue tongue out and Isaac laughed.

Placing his legs over Typhon’s arms, Isaac used the momentum to swing around them. “Up,” all he needed to say, and Typhon was lifting Isaac up again. Using only his hands, Isaac balanced himself on Typhon’s palms, legs sticking straight up into the air.

“Ready?” Typhon asked and, with a single nod, the Saberwolf pushed Isaac upwards, just enough for their hands to part, and easily caught him after in his arms. “We’re fucking awesome at this blending in thing,” Typhon face hurt from smiling so much as he panted down at the Terran.

“I just think we have far too much time to practice these kind of things,” Isaac jokingly hit Typhon on the chest as the Saberwolf nosed down at him. “We also watch way too many shows.”

“It’s never a waste of time,” Typhon whispered back. “If it’s with you.” The Saberwolf stuck his tongue out, wiggling his eyebrows at him again. “See. I’m super romantic. I’m fucking awesome at this, nailing it, and plan to be rewarded with butt stuff tonight.”

“Oh my god,” Isaac rolled his eyes as Typhon set him back down. “I said that once, as a joke, you just won’t drop it.” Isaac acted offended but a nosing Typhon got him cracking and laughing about it.

“Like I could ever forget something you said,” the Saberwolf laced a hand around Isaac’s waist and slowly spun him around to face him. “Even if it’s whiny and annoying, you needy basic white bitch.” Typhon said, repeating what he heard Isaac say once before.

Typhon often copied what Isaac said or did, not having such a rich culture from where he came from. The Saberwolf didn’t seem to have any issue adopting Isaac’s Terran culture as his own.

“You did not call me a white bitch,” Isaac was already getting on him about it.

“Yeah you are. But you are my needy basic whi-,” Typhon tried to say but Isaac bapped him on the top of the muzzle for that and the two looked at each other. Then burst out laughing.

“Fuck, Typhon,” Isaac smiled. “You’re so stupid.” Holding back his laughter, the two bumped noses.

“Not as stupid as you.” Typhon nosed him and Isaac squirmed in his grasp. His nosing quickly turned to snuffling as Typhon pressed his snout against Isaac’s shirt, sniffing him over. “You are already sweaty.” Typhon murred low and deep.

Isaac knew what that sound meant as the warm glow from above continued to make him feel warm around the collar.

“I was ravaged by a dumb dog, what do you expect?” Isaac continued to tease. He squirmed as Typhon rubbed his whiskered snout over the side of his neck, tickling him. “Ah, stop, stop! I’m sorry. You are only somewhat stupid.”

“Thanks,” Typhon rolled his eyes with a huff before setting Isaac back down. “I’m glad I’m mostly stupid and mostly stinky and not fully.” Typhon gave the Terran a harsh look. “Besides I’m only one half of this full idiot,” Typhon stuck his tongue out as he opened his arms as if to show the missing piece was right there in front of him.

“Glad you’re finally catching on.” Isaac grinned. “It only took you three years.”

“Only,” Typhon rolled his eyes again, offered a hand. “Shall we?”

“Continue-,” Isaac was about to ask, taking Typhon’s hand even before he finished.

“If you two are going to fuck, at least let me get my camera first!” Juke called from the side, bringing the two back to the moment they were in and where they were at.

Isaac’s face lit up with embarrassment as he realized that, like Raphael, the two of them had caught several people’s attention at this point. No one had noticed Isaac before, and he had practically forgot the gathered crowd because of it. Now it was impossible to ignore, as if the walls and floor itself had sprouted eyes to stare at them.

Then there was the whispering from the crowd. From all around them. They weren’t even trying to keep it down. Others around the room, looking at them as if they’d lost their minds. Judgmental whispers filled the air around them. Filled Isaac’s ears as he tried to look for an escape.

“Pathetic.”

“Worthless.”

“How can he be a,” Mayhew. “He’s just a Terran.”

“Sham.” “Shameful.” “An eyesore. “Why is he even here?” “Not good enough…”

Isaac covered his ears from words that were and weren’t there, from those gathered and those who were long since gone. Isaac could feel a burn in his left eye, the socket burning as if something hot was trying to seep out of it.

“My word,” a woman gasped loudly as she proclaimed, “why would a Saberwolf touch that thing? A Celestial with it?”

Celestial? Isaac couldn’t focus. He couldn’t think as he began gasping for air, fanning out his shirt quickly.  

“I thought that he was the janitor. Why is he on the dance floor?” Another elderly Celestial scoffed, tilting their beak upwards to look further down at him. “I didn’t know THEY were invited here.”

The worst part was, Isaac knew it was animosity but not anger. The dampening field prevented such aggression, but not their scornful gazes or harsh, yet truthful, words.

“Their kind bring nothing but problems. Wherever they go, whatever they touch. Disease? Poverty? They can’t even settle on a planet without destroying it in a century or two, truly a pitiful race of people. Young. Naïve and simple… Simply disgusting.”

“I might’ve gone a little overboard.” Isaac apologized to Typhon as he pulled away from him, looking down at the ground trying to find his footing. The floor felt as if it were moving, that it wasn’t stable and there was an uncomfortable sound of dripping.

Something was dripping, ringing in Isaac’s ears as something reacted to him as he reacted to them. Leaking. Cracks. Seeping inky sludge that continued to drip endlessly into a fathomless ocean.

“Isaac?” Typhon asked, uncertain what to do as he reached out a clawed hand. Sparks flew from his fingers as he became agitated and the Saberwolf turned what should’ve been impossible, his hostilities on those gathered there.

Typhon would have none of this and, of course, only made the situation worse as he bared his fangs, fur standing up as sparks flew from his shoulders, burning his outfit.

“Ya’ fucks enjoy the show?” Typhon flipped them all off with a loud, booming laugh as he walked around Isaac, curling his tail around the embarrassed Terran protectively. “At least we aren’t ashamed to dance and have fun. Ya’ boring pricks. Too busy thumbing your own assholes to enjoy yourselves.” The Saberwolf, wearing a very classy outfit, turning around and slapped his ass at them. “Why don’t you pull that stick out of your asses before I put my foot in it!”

With a click of his tongue, Typhon turned back to Isaac who was covering his face at this point.

“See? All better.” Typhon wagged and Isaac wasn’t sure where to start. While he appreciated the thought, Typhon was not a classy individual and only proved to make the situation worse as others began to call for security.

Isaac had gotten swept up in the moment, enjoying himself, and didn’t expect this. Any of this.

“Why am I here…?” Words unspoken, thoughts dripping and sizzling like water on a hot pan. “Why am I… anything?”  

About to reprimand Typhon’s behavior, Isaac noticed that others had joined them on the dance floor. The light above seemed to intensify and glow ever brighter. A white glow that filled the room and, as it did, the crowd heckling them began to turn away. Talking with each other, ignoring them. Some went back to their drinks, others continued to ridicule but most had forgotten all about the two in the middle of the dance floor.

Where there had only been the two, there were now others there.

It wasn’t as much as Raphael would’ve liked as the Motha watched from above, but Isaac and Typhon’s action, and resulting embarrassment, had encouraged others to take to the floor. All they needed was some encouragement and Raphael raised his hand ever higher, reaching for the crystal above that responded and glowed.

Isaac felt a warmth wash over him and he shook the discomforting thoughts away as he felt happy again. As he had before. Glancing up, he saw the Motha was gone from the steps. Breaking apart, chunks of the Motha vanished and, in a snap, he was gone.

“A hologram? Seriously Raph?” Isaac was thankful for the Motha coming to his rescue. Somehow distracting everyone there from what had happened.

Eyes only on their dance partner, the other gathered dancers forgot all about them as they moved with their own rhyme and rhythm. The music continued and the glow soften from above as everything returned to normal.

A security measure, it seemed, used against the gathered restless crowd. Isaac wasn’t sure how he felt having his very emotions being played with like this.

“I haven’t done this since I was a young chick,” a female firebird whispered to her partner as they brushed past the two sides. The sight was comforting, and Isaac took hold of it as he watched the elderly couple move with such grace they even fluttered into the air. “You remembered our dance.”

“Of course,” her partner chirped back in reply. The firebird was wearing his best suit, with his fancies jewelry on full display, yet all he had were eyes for his partner. “It was the night your father refused to let us wed, do you recall? And the night I proposed. After we ran away, wing in wing… Like I could ever forget.” The two brushed their beaks against each other, holding one another with feathered arms and forgot all about the others in the world.

While romantic and sweet, Isaac noticed others acting far more erratically to whatever Raphael had done.

There was a blue serpent that was wiggling like a worm on the other side of the dance floor by himself. He looked like an idiot; a fool and Isaac had never seen someone so confident in themselves until he saw a serpentine dragon slithered around like a noodle on a sizzling pan.

Others were laughing louder and louder, stuffing their faces with delightful, sweet treats and food. Gluttony on full display as the food fell from their lips and splattered on their nice outfits without note or care.

The entire place was becoming a zoo.

“Isaac? You good?” Typhon asked and the Terran looked back at him. The Saberwolf’s full focus had returned to his partner and Isaac felt that as much as he saw it in Typhon’s eyes.

“How can you look at me like I’m the only one here…?” Isaac wanted to ask. The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t. For fear of what the answer would be. He was afraid to hear the Truth.

As long as Typhon looked at him with those eyes, Isaac could get through anything.

“Isaac?”

“Yeah. E-everything’s perfect,” Isaac agreed as he took Typhon’s hand in his and began a much slower dance number with him. “Just had to take a moment. Collect myself.” The Saberwolf didn’t seem to fully believe him, but Isaac wasn’t sure what else to say or do.

He wasn’t even sure what was happening to him any longer.

Typhon moved with Isaac’s lead, following in his steps at a slow pace. Despite Typhon being the larger one of the two, it was clear that Isaac was leading them around the dance floor.

“Take however much time you need.” Typhon’s ears wiggled as he cracked a smile. “I’ll wait.”

“Heh, you might be waiting a long time then.” Isaac said, talking about his own insecurities about such things. Typhon spun Isaac around, even lifting the Terran up at the end by his hips before setting him back down.

“However long you need. I have all the time in the universe.” Typhon winked, tail wagging quickly. “I’d steal time itself, to spend only a minute longer with you...”

“I, well, thanks… Typhon.” Isaac blushed faintly. “I’m glad you’re here…” He said truthfully. “I don’t know what I’d do without you…” More truth to his words.

The feel of it. He blamed the strange light above but, right now, Isaac could at least be truthful to him.

“I love you.” The words came as easily as he breathed, and Isaac was happy to know they were True.

Taking one of Isaac’s hand in his, Typhon leaned down without ever breaking eye contact and placed a single kiss on the back of it.

“I know.” Typhon smiled in return.

“You are also one of the dumbest men I have ever possibly known.” Isaac was surprised how easy it was to say that, as well. “Must be true.” He noted but didn’t explain to the confused Saberwolf. “I don’t need all the time in the universe, Typhon, as long as I can spend… what little time I have… with you.” Isaac felt the prick of tears sting his right eye as the burning in his left eye faded away. “However long that maybe.”

“You sound like we’ll be separated someday.” Typhon noted.

Isaac gave him a sad smile. “Oh, Typhon. You really are… dumb.” The Terran said without ever explaining the truth.

Out of curiosity, one day, Isaac looked into Saberwolf biology. Into the psychology. The physiology. Every aspect of them. Looked into who and what they were. Isaac learned one Truth, he would never tell Typhon and asked everyone else on board to neglect to mention.

Isaac would die naturally, even with Terran’s increased medical knowledge to delay the inevitable, centuries before Typhon ever, naturally, would…

“That is something you’ll never have to worry about. I’ll be there until The End, Isaac.” Typhon shrugged such concerns away. “Where else would I go without you?” Typhon repeated what Isaac had said with a grin.

“There are so many places, plentiful amounts of things to see in the known universe. Plenty of places, and people, out there. Worlds that are nothing more than oceans, desert biomes next to dense jungles. Within every planet is a core, and in the night sky you can count the endless stars above…” Isaac smiled knowingly at his dear friend, his lover and his most trusted confidant.

Sometimes, we tell ourselves lies to protect from the Truth. Other times, we tell those we love white lies to spare them from the heartache.

It would’ve been so much easier if Isaac had just fallen in love with another Terran. It was, yet, another reason why races around the known universe didn’t date outside their kind.

It wasn’t the first time they’d discussed similar things. Mostly in the beginning of their very strange relationship. How they could be together. What challenges they would face. Were they even physically compatible…

All these concerns and thoughts and worries? Would’ve been a concern for anyone else. Typhon would just laugh them away with a shrug.

“Yeah, well, you’re here now.” Typhon would say. He would smile and wag his tail, grinning ear to ear. “Why would I look towards a future you weren’t in?”

And that was why Isaac knew he was the dumbest man in the universe. For if love would only, inevitably, bring heartache and pain? Who would willing chase after it. Only a dumb fool. A handsome, furry, blue faced, ozone smelling “fool…”

If love didn’t make you blind, nothing else would. And Isaac? Would laugh about it, fighting back the tears as he teased Typhon about after. Hitting his arm playfully as he got on the Saberwolf as he did his best to smile, to laugh and to appreciate these brief fleeting moments.

For in the grand scheme of things? They were nothing more than space dust, drifting along. They were nothing, immaterial, inconsequential, insignificant… irrelevant… worthless.

“But when you’re here?” Isaac could never say after breaking down, clinging to the Saberwolf. “I don’t… have to think about those things. I don’t have to know the,” Truth, “of everything… and how,” worthless, “we all are.”

Isaac would, did, reach up to touch Typhon’s face as he looked deep into those eyes.

“When I’m with you?” I don’t hate myself. “When I’m with you?” I’m something. “How can your eyes resemble the universe…? But when you look at me, you make me feel as if… as if… I’m the center of it.”

“Because,” Typhon mimicked the action and placed a hand on Isaac’s face, cradling his head in the palm of his hand. “To me? You are my universe.”

“What happens when I’m gone…?” Isaac wasn’t sure if he said the words or Typhon read them on his face.

“Truthfully?” Typhon grinned. “There is no universe, without you in it.”

“What about your people? Your kind…?” Isaac, a Terran Fleet officer, had been indoctrinated with that mindset during his time in The Academy. Whatever he did, wherever he went, he represented Terran kind. That everything he did was for them, no matter the cost.  

“What about yours?” Typhon asked, knowingly. His smile never faded as Isaac felt a new warmth, a new light, in his chest and knew something similar glowed inside Typhon. He felt like he floating in the air as the two spun in a slow dance.

“I want to slow dance with you.” Typhon said and Isaac chuckled.

“You really enjoy the things I show you, huh?” Isaac smiled at that. That what Isaac had to tell Typhon, to show him, to… to share with him meant that much to the Saberwolf.

“It,” you, “are my everything…” Typhon wagged. “Kids shows? Music? Old movies? Those old campy TV series…” Typhon was smiling to the point it hurt his face as his tail wagged ever faster and the glow from their chest brightened and increased to the point Isaac was sure someone would notice.

No one did. Everyone was lost in their own happiness. Artificially brought on or not, it didn’t matter when you felt like this.

“Even if I’m void touched…?” Isaac asked in no more than a whisper.

“Even if you were a worm, yes, I would love you.” Typhon was the one to roll his eyes with a laugh. “Wiggle and squirm all you like. I’ll put you in a terrarium and force you to spend time with me!” He barked a laugh at the thought, grinning ear to ear like a fool.

“My fool…” Isaac knew his words were true. Even if the crystal didn’t effect Typhon as it did Isaac, those words… Isaac knew, Typhon would never lie about.

“My worm.” Typhon stuck his tongue out.

“Please don’t call me that,” and the two laughed as they continued to spin within the low gravity room together, hand in paw, nose to nose.

Typhon was free from his responsibilities to Saber. He could go and do whatever he wanted. Isaac had helped teach him that. Letting the Saberwolf choose who and what he wanted to be from now on... That he didn’t have to be part of those people if he didn’t want to. That savage, barbaric race that hated anything that was seen as “unnatural” or “unclean.”  

And here Typhon was, dancing with some random Terran in the middle of space. That he somehow chose Isaac at the end of it all.

“There is so much out there. I mean, you know I want to see as much as I can.” Isaac hands clenched Typhon tighter and the Saberwolf’s ears perked up. “I’m afraid… I’m afraid of being trapped somewhere, Typhon. In a lab to be experimented on? In prison… somewhere, where I couldn’t see everything.”

“Everything, huh?” Typhon’s ear flicked. “I got my work cut out for me!”

“We already seen a water world,” Isaac’s feet touched the ground, and he led Typhon around. “Saw the vast jungles of Tigeron. I’ve seen multiple Earths… so many stations. Way too many stations,” Isaac laughed. “I want to see the outer rim. I want to see the Collective trade planets. I want to fight for the mothman,”

“Raphael?”

“And I want to see the ocean…” Isaac didn’t clarify which and Typhon knew he needed to try and take him to every single one. “However long that’ll take…”

“Sounds like we’ll need some extra lives to do it.” Typhon wagged.

“Lifetimes, you mean.” Isaac laughed though as he felt more relaxed now, after talking about this. Force to say the Truth could be beneficial at times, it seemed. “When I’m gone,”

“Don’t say that.” Typhon let out a low whine of a howl.

“When I’m gone,” Isaac repeated after placing a hand over Typhon’s mouth. He stopped, forcing Typhon to stop and look at him. “I want you to continue to travel. TO fly. Take the ship, become a captain and see… everything.” Isaac’s eye burned with tears that he refused to let fall as he smiled at Typhon.

Never wanting to forget the way this man before him looked. With his nice suit and handsome smile, black gummy lips, deep blue fur that shifted and flowed as if moved by some unseen current. The smell of him, that strong smell of ozone right before a storm… and those eyes.

“Such beautiful eyes,” Isaac felt the dampness on his cheek but refused to look anywhere else but into those vast galaxies before him. Swirling and spinning with stars in a deep dark void as Typhon’s ears folded back and tail tucked in.

Reaching up, Typhon removed Isaac’s hand from his lip. He held it. Felt the band around his wrist, rubbing his thumb over the smooth moon silver.

“What’s the point of seeing all that, if you’re not there to see it with me?” Typhon asked, the one confused now. Isaac took Typhon’s hand in his own.

“Oh, Typhon…” Isaac didn’t know how to explain any further than he already had.

With a tilt of his head, Typhon looked down at the Terran holding his hands. Carefully, delicately Typhon removed Isaac’s fingers one by one as if opening a precious flower, the Saberwolf didn’t want to hurt. “Things aren’t that… aren’t as interesting as you try to make them out to be,” Typhon snorted as a smile returned to his face. “You just… happen to have a way of making even boring things interesting. That’s all. It’s not the galaxies or the worlds we see. It’s when I get to see them, through your eyes, that I can begin to care about them.”

“Typhon…”

“Isaac… I don’t care about the ship. Or the others, that much.” Typhon frowned as his shoulders scrunched up. “I put up with them, for you. I live in that floating tin can hurtling through space, for you. I go to all these places and do all these things because… well, I get to do them with you. SO, what I’m asking,” Typhon scooped up Isaac’s hands in his own. “Will you be my tour guide?”

He smiled, he wagged, and Isaac let out a laugh, unable to help but feel the overflowing warmth Typhon exuded from his core.

“So, what, I’m your guide to the universe?” Isaac lifted an eyebrow at that, giving Typhon a look. “What are you? Some kind of hitch hiker?”

“Something like that. My small little bundle of a tour guide that I can just pick up and carry along with me, wherever I go!” Typhon grinned, wagging quickly as he scooped Isaac up and spun him around, without a care for whoever else was around them. “I can just point you at something and you know-it-all big brain self can explain it to us dumb, little people,” Typhon’s grin widened.

“Wait, was I upgrade to carry on bags now? Or is that a downgrade?” Isaac frowned and got the Saberwolf nosing him.

“Both.” Typhon grinned at him.

“Thanks,” Isaac grumbled, and Typhon nosed him until he laughed. “Stop, that tickles.”

“I’ll stop when you stop laughing.” Typhon snickered devilishly as he nosed him more. “Your laugh is better than any music.”

Isaac pushed Typhon’s face away. “To be fair, this music is shit.” He laughed as the music began to die down and the two quickly retreated out of the limelight to let others fill the void they left behind. Another song began to play, and Isaac was glad they had gotten out of there when they had.

There was no way he would be able to dance to that. He’d need at least another four legs to try.

Typhon’s hand curled around Isaac’s, fingers slipping between the Terrans as the two headed for the far side of the room. Panting and exhausted from it all, the two snickered to each other as if they’d just done something they shouldn’t have. Typhon nosed Isaac’s cheek and the Terran squirmed at the tongue that followed it, licking him.

“Typhon,” Isaac was breathing heavily. He was sweating. Isaac could smell himself. It was making it difficult to concentrate or focus.

“I can smell it, you know,” Typhon whispered into his ear as he pressed the Terran up against the wall, easily covering the smaller male’s body with his own. “You were so turned on by me. Able to keep up with you, listening to your orders, playing along with all that.” Typhon voice became a low rumbling growl, like building thunder.

“I think you’re the one getting worked up by it.” Isaac gave a quick look around to make sure no one was watching before groping Typhon. The Saberwolf humped against his hand.

“If you call me a good boy, I might just c-,” Typhon didn’t get a chance to finish as, with a startled yelp, he was roughly pulled off Isaac and tossed onto the floor. “The fuck?”

“We’re in public, you horny beast.” Cyclone clicked his tongue before looking over at Isaac. “You alright…?”

“Y-yeah, sorry. Not sure what came over me.” Isaac admitted. Cyclone pointed upwards. Isaac followed his finger before looking up at the ceiling. The massive white crystal jutting from the ceiling had shifted colors and that warm light glowed from its surface. Off it’s surface. Changing all touched by it. “You don’t mean…”

“We’re all being drugged.” Cyclone licked his lips, turning away from Isaac. “Why else would you see that.” He motioned with his mechanical arm and Isaac could see several others making absolute fools of themselves on the dance floor.

Isaac had thought, or maybe hoped, that the two of them had inspired others to dance. That didn’t seem to be the case seeing the new dancers. Their bodies writhing against one another in lewd display. It looked like the artwork Isaac had seen in the cases. Naked bodies pressed against each other without restraint.

“Uh…” Isaac didn’t need to cover his face as Cyclone did it for him. There were so many… many tentacles at play.

“I think your little friend is having too much fun with his power.” Cyclone grunted before flicking his snout to the side. “I located an exit for us to escape out through. Before things get any more…” He swallowed and began to pant. “Heated in here.”

Cyclone gritted his teeth, turning away from Isaac.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think I was the one effecting you.” Isaac pushed against Cyclone front with a hand and was startled to feel the strong muscles underneath. His fingers groped out of their own volition.

“Look,” Typhon was back on his feet. “I might be horny but I’m always like this. Tell him Isaac!” Typhon looked to the Terran who just gave a single, dumb, drooling nod. “Nothing’s effecting me.”

“How are you so… ripped?” Isaac swallowed as the two argued before him. He was sure Cyclone had stepped closer, pushing into Isaac’s wondering hand. “I’m being drugged. Not my fault.”  

With a huff, Cyclone faced Typhon. “Exactly.” Cyclone snarled. Jabbing a finger against Typhon’s chest, he pushed the Saberwolf back a step. “You should be the one keeping an eye on things because you aren’t affected by all this voodoo space shit.”

“Why aren’t you?” Isaac asked, blinking several times to try and clear the fog that had fallen over his eyes. His hand had slipped through the front of Cyclone’s shirt and was busy feeling up anything his greedy fingers could reach.

“I’ve modified myself against such external threats,” Cyclone thumped a hand on his chest. “Takes more than some hormones being pumped into the air to get to me.”

“We should find the others-,” Isaac was about to take a step forward, but Cyclone cut him off.

“Too dangerous. Leave it to this idiot,” he thumped over at Typhon who growled. “His biology protects him from mind altering effects. Have him save your crew mates. I’ll escort you out.”

“Hey,” Typhon stepped forward, but Cyclone closed a hand around his muzzle stopping him from talking.

“Look here… I know you feel all warm and tingly like some horny pup but keep it in your pants.” Cyclone pushed Typhon back roughly. “If you let your guard down, you’ll end up like me…” Cyclone stopped himself, looking away with a low rumbling growl that whirled in his chest like machinery. “You can at least trust me that I have Isaac’s best interest in mind. Even if you can’t trust me.”

“That’s an understatement…” Typhon glared back.

“Typhon,” Isaac stepped up. “If Cyclone is suggesting what I think he is, then Juke and Samson are in danger of losing themselves to these uh… let’s call them good vibes for now.”

“Really good horny vibes,” Cyclone rolled his snout with his eye before spitting thick sludge to the side that resembled chewing tobacco.

“Exactly. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind having some fun, but I know Juke wouldn’t want to share a drink with a Celestial, let alone a bed…” Isaac gave Typhon a look. “If it’s affected me this much, I can only imagine what the others are experiencing.”

“Right…” Typhon showed no sign of moving.

“I have my communicator on me. You can also track me. If you get lost? Return to the ship and ask Sphinx, he can guide you.” Isaac reassured him with a friendly pat to the cheek. “I trust you to always find me.”

“No worries about that.” Typhon smiled. “I won’t ever be able to lose track of you…” He didn’t explain, instead Typhon gave Isaac a strong hug, pulling him away from Cyclone, before letting go. “I’ll be back with the two horny idiots before you know it.”

“Great. Then I’ll have three of you to deal with,” Isaac laughed as Typhon moved back out. Watching him go. With one more wave, Typhon vanished into the crowd as he bulldozed his way through looking for the pair as quickly as he could.

“Elegant as ever,” Cyclone spat.

Isaac glanced over at Cyclone. “Raph set this up didn’t he…?”

“What do you mean?” Cyclone asked, lifting an eyebrow at the Terran.

Isaac lifted his hands. “Didn’t think he’d make his move the day I showed up…” Isaac said as he felt the pistol press against his lower back. “I knew you were fishy.”

“Hah, hah, feline joke. Funny.” A hiss snarled from behind the Terran as the Silken Cat step forward seemingly from the very shadows of the corner they’d been within.

“Were you waiting here… no. It’s the light,” Isaac’s artificial eye looked up. “Cloaking. You used the light to cloak yourself and I was too distracted by a horny Saberwolf. That’s how you were able to vanish so easily in the crowd. Blend in, schmooze some wealthy investors and patrons before finding your target and waiting to pounce… yes, that was another cat joke at your expense.”  

“Master Raphael would like to see you, privately.” The Silken cat purred against his ear as he leaned forward, body nearly winding around Isaac’s own like a serpent. “Alone…” The feline added as slitted eyes darted towards Cyclone and a forked tongue slithered out between the feline’s lips.

“Not part of the agreement.” Cyclone growled back in warning. “I’m the one who brought him here. I’m not losing my investment so easily.”

“Right,” the feline laughed. It sounded like hissing. “You bounty hunters have to keep a firm hold on your quarry or they might slip right between your fingers…”

“Something like that…” Cyclone’s body flexed. The tension between the two was palpable making Isaac sweat. “The kid stays with me.”

“Of course,” Isaac felt the pistol retreat from his back as the alien feline took hold of one of his shoulders with a hand. His nails were long and curved, pricking the front of Isaac’s suit. “I’m not a man that would steal the hunt away from another...” With a flick of his tail, the Silken cat forced Isaac to turn on the spot and head away from where Typhon left. “I’m surprised you got rid of his guardian so easily.”

“I didn’t…” Cyclone glanced at Isaac. “You’d risk your own safety for his, huh?”

“I’d do anything for Typhon.” Isaac said back, not even looking at Cyclone. “Not like you’d understand.”

“Heh, you’d be surprised what lengths I would go to…” Cyclone replied as he followed behind as Isaac was led deeper into the ship.

“Only time will tell.” Isaac answered as he flipped the commlink on without a single press of a button. His artificial eye began displaying everything he saw back to the ship and, hopefully, to the others. “In time…”