A/N: Yes, Albel finally gets to appear in this chapter in slightly Albel-ish form…okay, maybe I modified him a little bit….he just has longer fingers and big feet…no real difference…except maybe the clothes he wears.

Disclaimer: I do not own any aliens or the little…freighter ship things…if I did, I would…

Gir: Yay! Make it go splode!

Zim: Get back here, gir! We're part of a t.v. show, not a stupid fanfiction. Zim is too almighty and powerful for such a disgrace!

Me; uhh….-zaps him-

Gir: yay, master went boom!

Fayt scowled viciously at Mirage. "I thought you said the scanners didn't pick up anything," he said bitterly.

Mirage's eyes narrowed at the venom in Fayt's voice. "It must've slipped in with the spare parts."

Cliff sighed. "Probably just a harmless insect. Can you get a visual?"

Mirage studied the screen carefully. "Negative."

Cliff got to his feet wearily. "Let's just find the thing so we know what it is."

Fayt was suddenly worried. "What if the alien came back?"

"If there ever was one," Maria scoffed.

Fayt's hands balled into fists, but he was stopped by Cliff's hand on his shoulder. "We'll check it out and bring stun guns just in case."

Cliff, Fayt, Maria, and Sophia had gone to look for the creature. Mirage stayed behind to continue trying to get a visual and Nel would inform them of any developments.

They walked down the hallway, stopping at the door to the storage room. Maria pressed the sequence on the number pad and the door slid open silently.

The room inside was dark and no one could see much, but they could barely hear a quiet clanging noise and a low serpentine voice, "Tah! Nassi schanazs dar tek dah!"

Fayt glanced at Cliff as the clangs grew louder, the creature shifting through the piles of cargo and spare parts."

Cliff raised his voice. "Whoever you are, get up and get out of our stuff!"

The muttering and metallic clanging stopped as a figure hurriedly scrambled upwards.

"Slowly get up," Cliff cautioned. "And come out here where we can see you."

The figure shuffled to the door and stepped out carefully into the group of waiting people. There was no question that it was alien, if the voice hadn't already convinced them, but very humanoid. It had long delicate fingers with transparent nails, a pale complexion and shoulder length two-toned hair. The alien wore a pink robe that came down to its ankles so all that could be seen were face, hands, and the large feet with small toes.

The alien blink small reddish orange eyes and cocked its head to one side. It reached out one hand in greeting and put the other on its hip. "Your ship very bumpy ride," the alien said disapprovingly.

Cliff grinned and shook the offered hand. "Oh good. You speak universal Basic. Not terribly well, but enough to manage."

The alien gently lifted Cliff's gun from the man's hands and examined it cautiously. "What's this? Portable gumball machine?" It pointed it towards its own mouth.

Cliff hastily took the weapon back. "Not for eating. Say, since you're our new passenger, can we have your name?"

The alien scowled and hissed defensively. "Is this a stick up? Stick up!" It pointed one bony finger into the air. "Just like government, 'State name and purpose. Hmmn, suspicious name. We'll kill you just in case.'"

Cliff sighed patiently. "We won't do that. If it makes you feel more comfortable, we'll introduce ourselves first."

The alien shrugged carelessly. "Yess. Then if you kill me over my name I kill you over yours."

"Trusting little bugger, eh?" Maria grumbled.

Cliff frowned at Maria and pointed to himself. "I'm Cliff Fittir. That's Maria Traydor, Sophia Esteed, and Fayt Leingod. There are a few other people on this ship and we'll introduce you to them as soon as you meet them."

The alien's eyes narrowed. "You can call me D'nxalbelnoxialian."

Cliff looked worried. "Isn't there anything shorter we can call you?"

"Been nicknamed Albelnox."

"How about just Albel?" Fayt tried.

"Faytleingod…" The alien looked at him contemplatively.

"Just call me Fayt."

"Then you may just call me Albel."

Fayt looked thoughtful. "Albel, may I ask you a question?"

"Yess, Fayt?"

"No, don't do that," Cliff said sharply. "It's incredibly rude."

Albel frowned. "Assk me."

"Er, does your species have genders? If so, which one are you?"

Albel seemed surprised. "You can't tell?"

"Frankly…no."

Albel frowned and tugged at his sleeves. Then he brightened. He stomped a foot on the ground with a short burst of laughter. "Oh, I am getting it! You think I am a female. I pardon myself. I have been wearing the wrong clothes." The long fingers fumbled with removing the robe.

The girls screamed, Fayt turned bright red, and Cliff rolled his eyes to the ceiling. "Yup, he's a man."

Hearing the screams, Roger popped into the hallway and pointed at Albel. "He's a real man, alright!"

"Roger, you shouldn't be seeing this! Get back to your room!" Maria shooed him down the hallway, glad for an excuse to get away from Albel.

Albel looked puzzled and he glanced down at himself. "Oh dear, I have neglected my second layer."

"You can borrow some clothes from me or Fayt," Cliff offered.

"Not to worry. I have my means." The alien seemed to grow in on himself and its stomach bubbled and green fluid leaked out and hardened, covering the minimum skin necessary for modesty.

Albel grinned at Fayt and launched himself at the mechanic, giving him a quick hug and then jumping back to look at him solemnly. "I shall choose you to be my mate."

Fayt was annoyed. Although it was no secret tat he dated both men and women and occasionally aliens, (being a lowly ship's mechanic, he couldn't afford to be picky) Fayt disliked Albel's possessiveness.

"You don't see anything wrong with the fact we're both males?" Fayt hoped fervently that homosexual relations were taboo in the alien's culture.

The alien nodded thoughtfully. "Ash, you have a point. I'll wait until that changes."

Fayt groaned in frustration and Cliff grinned. "Albel's not afraid of mechanics? Lucky for you he likes them dirty, Fayt."

A second later, Cliff was sprawled on the floor after a powerful kick from Albel. "You do not insult my mate! He is beautiful and squeaky clean! You are the one licking the floor!" He glared at Cliff angrily.

Cliff held up his hands in a gesture of defeat. "Alright, alright." He rolled his eyes at Fayt. "Lucky bastard. He's already protecting you."

Albel smiled at Fayt cheerfully. "You are unhurt by his nasty words?"

Fayt grinned, feeling much better after seeing Albel kick Cliff's ass. He would have loved to do so himself, but it would probably get him fired. 'Alright, I'll be your 'mate', but that doesn't mean I'll have sex with you. I'm not that kind of guy. I barely know you."

"No problem," Albel said beaming. "Being mates doesn't mean mating all the time. Besides, you don't need to right now. Some time later though, perhaps."