Animal Attraction

Tammy ran through the halls of Moya, the fact that she was on a living ship lost to her in her misery. "Why can't they just leave me alone," she cried. Between Crighton, D'Argo, and Aeryn, she was convinced that she would never fit in on this ship of fugitives. The woman continued to run, her flab weighing her down, even in space. There were no extra clothes for her to wear; no one -save Rygel- had her girth. And the little alien's robes would never fit her, so she was stuck in her astronaut clothing. She roamed the halls once she was too tired to run anymore. Her mind was full of self-pity and self-doubt so she could be forgiven for missing the person next to her.

"Why are you crying?" a dark, utterly male voice interrupted her musings. She jumped at that sinfully smooth voice even as she shivered. Turning, she gaped at the man standing in the prison cell next to her. He was tall, six foot five at least. His dark skin glistened in the artificial light and his shirtless chest and washboard abs heaved with sweat as if he had just been working out. His legs were muscular under his pants and she could tell he could snap her neck without a second thought if he wanted. The thought both chilled and excited her. The only thing that identified him as an alien were the boneblades on his muscular forearms. Everything else, from his sharp goatee to his waist-length braids screamed human and familiar.

"See something you like?" the man said in annoyance, going back to doing chin ups on the bars of his cage.

"I… Um… Who are you? What are you doing in a cell?"

"I am Tyr Anasazi out of Victoria by Barbarossa, and I am a proud member of the Nietzschean race! You don't smell Sebacean," he observed, continuing his workout.

"I'm not," she said. "I'm Tamika Rundolyn, but my friends used to call me Tammy. I'm a human. Me and my pilot, John Crichton, are from the far side of the galaxy. We got flung here by an experiment gone wrong…" She stopped when she noticed that he wasn't listening anymore. Instead she watched him, wondering if he would mind too much if she licked the sweat off his glistening abs.

"I should… I should get Pilot to open your cell and let you out," she said after her mind rebooted.

"Not unless you want to die," he said simply.

"Huh?"

"I'm dangerous," he said darkly, starting to do push-ups. "The Sebaceans locked me in here because I was too dangerous to be around other species."

"You don't seem more dangerous than the jerks upstairs," she reasoned. "Why should you have to be locked up and the others go free?"

"I have one purpose in life, girl. And that is to kill. I'm a Berserker," he said as if this explained everything.

"I don't get it," she insisted. "D'Argo and Aeryn are killing machines too. But that doesn't stop them from being free. I should-"

"Aren't you afraid of me?" he asked suddenly. "Everyone who meets me is afraid of me."

"You're scarily handsome," the girl said with a blush. "But no. You don't seem more dangerous than the assholes that tease me constantly and treat me like I'm stupid. You're nicer than they are."

"Hmm. Just leave me in my cage," he said at last, finishing his workout. "I'm fine where I am."

"Hold on, I'll be right back," she said at once. When she came back she was holding a tray of food for him. "Working out can deplete your protein and electrolytes. I got you something to eat. I'm not exactly sure if this stuff has those things in them, but the others seem to enjoy it, so…"

Tyr looked over the tray skeptically. "You got this for me?" he asked.

"Of course," she smiled, tilting her head to the side. "You just had a hard workout judging from the sweat. You eat, don't you?"

"Not in days," he admitted, reaching for the food. He ate hungrily through the bars, the girl holding the tray for him. Once he finished, he grabbed her wrist. "I'm no small demon that can be bought with a meal, girl."

"I never said you were," she said angrily, holding still in his grip. "You looked hungry so I brought you food. And what could I possibly want from you locked in a cage?"

The man seemed to consider her words carefully, looking deep into her with his chocolate brown eyes as he did. Finally, he let her go. "You really have no idea what I am, do you?"

"I just got here. I have no idea what anyone is," she shrugged, repositioning the tray to rub her arm where he'd grabbed it. "I wish there was a way to study the different species I've met so far. I'm a nurse; the differences interest me."

"Ask for the Serulack," he said simply.

"The Seru- what?"

"The Serulack," he repeated. "It's one of the most complete guides to alien physiology and culture out there. The Pilot should have a copy; it's standard for all Sebacean ships."

"The Serulack…" she said thoughtfully. "Thanks, I'll ask Pilot about it." She left him to put the tray away.

The next day the girl came back to his surprise. Even more surprising, she was carrying another tray and the Serulack with her.

"I see you found the book," he said, sitting down against the bars to dig into his meal.

"It's fascinating," Tammy gushed. "I never knew there were so many species anywhere. This book is interactive, so I can look up whatever species I want!"

"And what did you find out about me?" he asked.

The girl blushed prettily, but answered in kind. "You're a warrior race, bent on destruction and outwitting each other and those around you. The only other drive you have is for reproduction. You're obsessed with superiority and perfection. Godless breeding machines basically. I couldn't find anything about Berserkers though."

"You wouldn't," he shrugged while eating. "My kind is rare and deadly. I was captured to be studied."

"You still shouldn't be in a cage," she murmured darkly, looking at him from the corner of her eye.

"Why do you keep doing that?"

"Doing what?"

"The sideways glances," he said in annoyance.

"I'm sorry," she said contritely. "But you're… you're way too attractive for your own good. Looking at you is kinda like looking directly into the sun. It's never advisable."

"I'm that attractive?" he asked skeptically.

"Like the ancient Greek gods of old," she gushed. "You're the hottest guy I've ever seen in my life! Like lava hot! I've never seen a more attractive man in my life." She stopped there realizing that she was babbling. "Sorry. It's just… Guys like you are way too hot to be seen with someone like me, much less talking to me."

"I don't see any harm in talking," he shrugged, looking slightly embarrassed. "I've never been described as 'attractive' before. Most people are too busy running from me to notice, I guess."

"Well, buddy, you'd better believe you are one tasty piece of bitch," she laughed, remembering an old show she used to watch with her friends. "And I'm not running anywhere. I doubt I'd be able to escape you if you came after me. I'm too fat."

"You don't have to be," the man shrugged again. "With the right exercises and a good diet, you could look like me."

"I could never," she gasped. "No one could ever look as good as you do."

"Are you calling me a liar?" he said teasingly.

"Oh no! I'm just," she stopped, noticing his tone. "I've always been a big girl. I don't see that changing anytime soon. Thanks for the offer though."

"Drop and give me twenty," the man said sternly. The girl was on her knees getting in position before she realized she had just refused his help. The two went through an entire workout that way, him calling out exercises and her scrambling to do his bidding. An arn later and she was sweating profusely.

"You really are out of shape," Tyr marveled.

"I told you already, I'm hopeless," she panted dejectedly. "I'm not lazy, I just… I've never been a physical presence."

"Give me a cycle and I'll have you whipped into shape," the man said confidently. "I want you to start eating more ganesh though."

"What's ganesh?"

"The purple stuff," he said. "It's full of nutrients and better for you than the rest of the food you brought me today. Make that the better part of your diet and come to see me daily."

"I don't want to waste your time," she demurred.

"I have nothing but time, Tammy," he said, chuckling at her amazement. "Come see me tomorrow. I don't believe you're a lost cause."

Buckle in, guys. This is a long one. It runs through the entirety of the series and the movie too. I'm afraid that you have to have a familiarity with the series to follow this one, people. The first little bit is between episodes to establish my OCs. See y'all next chapter