Author's Notes:
Just wanted to assure my usual readers that I am still first and foremost a Gwevin shipper and an adamant supporter of canon. But now and again I allow myself to indulge in a crack pairing, even if it's an unknown one. If you do not like interspecies love, like Max-Xylene or Max-Verdona for example, then I suggest you press the back button. This fic is utterly inspired by the fantastic one-shot entitled Aptitude written by Blouper. I demand you all go and read that awesome fic. Reviews and comments are loved and hoped for, but not necessarily expected.

--

Where We Began

"Nothing personal, but I hate you." The female Chimera Sui Generis snarled at the Petrosapien before she stomped past him and into his ship.

"I better not hear word that you're dawdling about in some seedy interstellar watering hole, Myaxx!" The Galvan barked, "Make sure you come back here as soon as you retrieve the components."

"You can stop the nagging, Azmuth! I know what I need to do!" Myaxx yelled from the entrance of the ship.

"If you know it so well then why are you still here?" Azmuth snapped back with a shake of his head before quirking a non-existent brow at the mercenary, "Well? Why are you still here?"

Tetrax grimaced at the exchange between employer and charge. Something told him that he should have asked for more money when he accepted this mission. "We're just about to head off."

"Good, but between you and me I don't mind if you take your time. I can stand to have some peace and quiet for a change. Myaxx's your problem now!" A glee-filled declaration accompanied the noticeable spring in the Galvan's steps as he headed back into his laboratory.

"I'm not the problem!" the female alien snarled before stalking into the belly of the intergalactic vehicle.

The mercenary sighed as he followed after her, deciding that this was going to be a very, very long mission.

--

"This is all so completely unnecessary!" Myaxx spat as she pounded her fist against the ship's interior. "Who does he think he is, hiring someone to play my babysitter? I've done countless of retrievals on my own before and now all of a sudden I can't be trusted to keep myself out of trouble!?" she snarled at the gelatinous pilot who had volunteered to show her to her living quarters for the duration of the mission.

"Well, you did manage to get yourself sent to Incarcecon." Was the translation of the various squelching sounds Gluto emitted, grateful that the tall alien was incapable of firing laser beams from her eyes. But the way she glared at him, the pilot was beginning to have second thoughts on the verity of that statement.

The Chimera's lips pressed into a thin line, "Like I'm the sort who makes the same mistake twice?"

There was something about being able to regenerate from even the smallest trace that inspires bravery that bordered on stupidity. Luckily, Gluto is not one to cross that line with Myaxx or anyone else in general even when pointing out the obvious. "You are still working under Azmuth."

"Don't push it, blob." She warned.

And Gluto has no trouble acquiescing to the towering female's wishes. Navigating interpersonal (or is it interalienal?) relationships is no trickier than navigating unfamiliar territory. But he is skilled in both departments, far more skilled than his partner ever was, which explained why Tetrax only recently discovered Gluto's ability to speak English.

They arrived at Myaxx's quarters, a tentacle tapped the panel and the door slid open. The female stepped in and inspected her room, noting how it hasn't changed much since she had last been onboard. She frowned, the bed still couldn't properly accommodate her length but what can she do?

"Am I supposed to fold myself in half?" she muttered, rhetorical, hands on her proverbial hips. "You guys didn't remodel the ship or anything did you?" An actual question.

Gluto waved his tentacles, signaling a negative on that account.

"Good." Myaxx reached out to withdraw the weapon hidden in the room's bureau. "I'll be letting off some steam."

--

A series of laser blasts tore at targets, celadon-skinned feet smashing through programmed enemies and clawed hands bore into metal to clench viciously at wires. The look of satisfaction on Myaxx's face was evident, but fleeting as the fight simulation was prematurely shut off. The sound of bipedal footsteps indicated it was not the pilot but the Petrosapien captain that interrupted the female's venting.

"You've gotten better at combat I see." Tetrax carefully began.

"You never know when another megalomaniac will suddenly show up looking to capture the Almighty Azmuth." Myaxx's eyes tapered into slits in distaste. "And it's not because I care if the little know-it-all gets squashed. It's just that I always seem to be the first one to get attacked. I'm his assistant, not his bodyguard, damn it!"

Being in such close proximity with the object of her frustration and rage had not been good for Myaxx. Even if working with the Galvan meant better living conditions, she had nothing to vent out her frustrations on. At least back on Incarcecon she could lash out and no one would so much as blink.

Tetrax nodded, trying to recall what Gluto had told him about the female alien's current prickly state. "You certainly do seem capable of fending for yourself."

"Yeah? Then why the hell did you take the job?" She spat, arms folding across her chest.

"A job's a job. I don't see why you have to be so upset over it." Whatever it was Gluto told him apparently had not sunk in.

"Of course you wouldn't understand, you're a mercenary. At the end of the day, you only answer to yourself. You don't have an annoying little gnat telling you that your computations are atrocious or that your designs look like something an underdeveloped specie came up with. You don't have to play nanny, maid, cook and errand boy all at the same time."

She marches up to Tetrax, her height allowing her to loom over him while continuing her tirade. "You get no credit." a prod.

"No respect." a strong prod.

"No trust." a stronger prod.

"Not even a lousy thank you! So forgive me if being treated like a juvenile rather than an equal upsets me!" a shove.

Tetrax has had just about enough of the unwarranted hostility. He plants his feet in response, "Don't take this out on me! I'm not the one you're mad at!"

"Who says I'm not mad at you too? I don't need help retrieving the components and you know it."

"Azmuth would have hired someone else," he countered.

"No, he wouldn't have." Myaxx looked away, not caring how the bitterness in her tone was unmistakable, "He's too paranoid to trust regular mercenaries. It was either you or no one."

Having witnessed the Galvan's paranoia first hand, being told that he was trusted by the diminutive genius was very flattering. And at the same time explained the resentment and animosity the Chimera radiated.

Tetrax reached out to place a crystalline hand on the tall alien's shoulders but decided against it. She'd only shrug him off at best and slug him at worst. Instead he retreated to the threshold of the training room, "You can keep training if you want. I'll just have Gluto send your dinner to your room."

"Whatever." Myaxx muttered.