Eros knew John was an odd man. Most of her private customers were creatures of habit. She could almost predict who would be in the room based off the drink she picked up at the bar and the number of tabs Mike gave her to deal with them. But John ordered something different every time. One day it was Rum and Coke. The following week a Tequila Sunrise. And then he wouldn't come in for nearly two weeks before he showed up again and ordered a White Russian. Some times he would be wearing his fleet uniform - other times he'd be in all black. If it was a different outfit she couldn't tell he never wore any colors. Mike started referring to him as 'her stalker'.

"Please don't." Eros pleaded.

"Ro' when you're not here he refuses to get a dance from anyone else. He doesn't even stay to watch the stage shows. He's obsessed." Mike said as he vigorously shook the drink mixer in his hands.

"Those are called 'regulars', Mikey."

"No, I know your regulars. This guy… there's nothing regular about him." Mike said. "Cept' maybe his persistent creep factor. Like he's got ten sticks up his ass. Probably wears lingerie made out of other peoples skin under his clothes."

"And with that image in mind I'm gonna need my kite now." She said and held out her hand.

"Not this time." He refused.

"Come again?"

"You need your wits about you. Something extremely off about him tonight." He said as he poured up the drink. Eros looked at the pink liquid before she gave Mike a quizzical look. He made a face like he knew it was odd and dropped two cherries in before sliding her the tray.

"Seriously, you're not gonna hook me up?" She asked.

"Super serious. He so much as scratches his nose I want you to scream for me or Kevin." He said. Eros let out a long aggravated sigh before she took up the tray and headed back. She figured it wouldn't be so bad to do it sober. John never wanted much contact - it was almost like being on the stage to dance for him. Although a few visits ago she had gotten him to pull the tie to her panties - he spent the rest of the dance with his arms and legs crossed as he recounted facts about an engine he was working on. She'd find his shyness amusing if it wasn't just a little sad. She had met people that hated being touched - they were usually the victims of long term sexual abuse.

"Hello Eros." She looked up when she found herself in the room already.

"Hi John." She greeted him. He made a face at the sound of his own name. He was agitated - his legs crossed and his hands tucked into his lap. His smile was forced and all but disappeared when she said his name. "You okay?"

"Yes." He answered automatically. It was disingenuous. Eros wondered if this was the way he always was - if the drugs just dulled her to it.

"Interesting choice tonight." She said as she handed him the glass.

"I needed cheering up." He took it from her and downed half of it.

"Aww, what's wrong?" She asked as she pressed the button for the pole. She also dimmed the lights to the level she knew he liked and turned on some slower music.

"Besides everything?" John glared at the floor. "I found that I can't trust anyone around me. And that the closest thing I have to a friend is a tab-junkie stripper - who is being paid by my commanding officer to keep me busy." Eros looked at him for a long beat.

"I prefer to be called an exotic dancer." She huffed. John laughed. Actually laughed and it made her incredibly uncomfortable. She wondered if Mike would hear her over the house music.

"I suppose I shouldn't be mad at you. You're so used to doing things for money. Honestly I never asked if Marcus paid you off. All I want to know now is how."

"How what? You know how credits work." Eros was trying desperately to keep up her cavalier demeanor. The drugs definitely gave her a false reading on John. She had been around him when he was moody before but there was something completely different about him tonight. They were both sober and tense.

"No, I mean how - how did you get me to keep coming back here? How did you keep my mind occupied for so long? Even when I stay away I can't stop seeing you - wanting you. So what was it. Some kind of controlling agent in the drinks? Vaporized drugs in the air? What?"

"Nothing." She said as she took the glass from him. She drank some of it to show him there was nothing in it. "I would only get paid from him after you went back—" He put his hand up to silence her. He looked around warily before he stood up.

"What time do you get off of work?"

"What? A few hours. 0100." She wasn't sure why she told him the truth. He was probably going to be waiting somewhere on the street to kill her. But his beef wasn't with her - it was with his boss. And she could see him calculating options - his eyes flicking back and forth quickly as he thought of something.

"We'll talk then." He simply said and left. Eros let out a breath she wasn't aware she was holding. She thought about telling Mike and her manager but what could they do. If they intervened John would break them in half. She was in a haze for the rest of the night. Doing the bare minimum amount of dances. Everyone just assumed she was really high or really tired. She actually got some tabs of kite and considered taking a few as she prepared to leave for the night. If she was going to walk to her doom she might as well be high as hell when she did it. She was raising the tabs to her mouth but someone grabbed her. Strong grip on her bicep nearly cutting off the circulation to the rest of her arm. Before she could even inhale to scream they whisked her away down a back alley.

John pressed Eros against the grimy brick wall and covered her mouth. He seemed a little amused by her wide eyes - smirking a bit as he put a finger to his lips indicating he wanted her to be quiet. She couldn't help the way she was shaking - she was expecting a knife to her throat or a gun to her temple but it didn't come. He looked at her for a long moment before he started searching her clothes. When he didn't find what he was looking for he started tearing them off her like they were made is tissue paper.

"Sto—!" He clamped his hand over her mouth and held her still as a car went by. The headlights shined halfway down the alley before moving on. He kept his hand there as he continued to pull her clothes off until she was completely naked. He even stepped on the backs of her shoes and pulled her out of them. Her head yanked back hard as he pulled off her wig and the cap covering her real hair. He combed his fingers through her packed down hair and moved on when he didn't find anything. He took off his long coat and put it on her - she couldn't remember if he had been wearing it earlier, she couldn't remember much of anything as her mind raced. He closed the coat and pulled her into walking. They went several blocks at a hurried pace - the pavement rough on her bare feet. "John please—"

"Quiet." He growled as he led her to a motel. It was a place that hadn't been updated in decades. Barely any satellites on the roof but they promised three 'Andorian TV channels and sound proof walls'. John opened the door to his previously acquired room and ushered her in. He closed and locked the door before he turned to her.

"Please don't kill me." She pleaded right away. Mona told her if she ever got abducted by one of the customers to talk first. "I'll do anything."

"Good." He said. "Be quiet and listen carefully."

"Fuck you! What was all that back there. Why'd you take my clothes? Why are we here?" Eros knew it wouldn't work in her favor to be uppity with the man that just snatched her up but she couldn't help lashing out. She was scared and her feet hurt.

"I didn't bring you here to copulate." He scoffed. She rolled her eyes when he took her statement literally. "I took your clothes and left them there because I'm not sure how far the admiral's reach goes - he may have every room at your club bugged. Your clothes might have tracker chips on them." He stopped and looked at her. "Have you had any surgeries lately? Anything where you were put under since you met me?"

"No." She answered

"Good." He repeated.

"So why the sudden mistrust of your Admiral? I mean he was a little shady for hiring me but most guys are. I figured he was just trying to keep an eye on your metal state after your accident."

"I was never in an accident."

"What?"

"I got my memories back. All of them." He began. "Everything Marcus told me was a lie." Eros just stared at him.

"Why are you telling me this?" She asked. He looked perplexed for a moment. "I'm just a stripper - military secrets, amnesia, spying - I take off my clothes and spin around a pole so I don't have to deal with the problems of the universe."

"…" His face didn't change but she could tell he was hurt by her dismissal. She must've danced for at least a hundred men a day with the same issues. She didn't care - not in the way she had led him to believe.

"I'm sorry John. I'm sorry this is happening to you but I'd rather stop here than get any deeper into what ever the hell this is." She said.

"You're distance from Star Fleet affairs is exactly why I need you."

"No." She resisted.

"I have no one else - for now my comrades are frozen and in Marcus' possession."

"John—"

"Once I get them you'll be free to return to your pole."

"I just said—"

"Marcus will not hesitate to kill you! If he thinks you're withholding information on me he will pry what ever you do know from your head and make you disappear from this world."

"And you can protect me from that? Bullshit." Eros scoffed.

"I can. And I will." He said.

"Why? Why me? Why can't you go back to the club and find another girl? Gina is always talking about how she wants to be in some grand adventure. Torrid loves anyone in a uniform - she'd jump at the chance to be involved in this. Syd loves white cock - you're just his type. I'm sure if you ask him anything while he's on his knees he'll agree." He chuckled and shook his head.

"Gaining a rapport with them will take time I don't have."

"How do I know you just won't kill me when you're done with me?" Eros asked.

"You'll just have to trust me." At that she laughed. Genuinely laughed.

"Trust? You basically kidnapped me just now. Stripped me down in an alley and dragged me to this flea-bag motel and you're telling me I have to just trust that I won't end up like Sigwey."

"Sigwey?" He asked.

"Another girl from the club. She got involved with one of her clients. Started dating him and dealing with his bullshit. She went from one tab of Kite a day… to twenty. Turned out her client was a gangster that owed a lot of creds to a lot of pissed off people. He stole from them to pay her and when they came looking for their money they found her. They decided to send her boyfriend a message…" Eros said. She stopped pacing and stared at the floor. "She was too high to resist - they violated every orifice she had. More than once - with more than just their dicks. Chopped off her tits, her nose, her clit and finger tips while she was still alive. It's been three years and they still haven't found all her… parts. They never will - she's spread across the universe. Her mother had to essentially bury a pound of ground beef."

"That's awful."

"Her story is practically our bible. A cautionary tale to never get too close. Your clients will always find a way to use you. To place the blame on you when shit goes wrong. And all they'll find of you are pieces because the asshole that dragged you into his drama saw you as everyone else sees you: a disposable whore. No one important. No one to be missed." John knew there was nothing he could say to her at this moment to convince her that he was genuine. "I'm not going to let you use me." She moved to the door and he let her go. After a few minutes he followed.

Eros seemed completely unaware that he was tailing her as she went back to the alley to collect her clothes. Rather than get dressed she just put her shoes on and got in her car. When she pulled off he headed back to the station. He didn't need to pursue her - that would only drive her away. Soon enough Marcus would do something that would make her come to him. All it would take was a little suspicious behavior and a well placed 'slip up' on his part to set the Admiral into action.

John hadn't come back to Foxtrot in over a month and Eros tried to convince herself she was happy about his absence. The only fleet guys that showed up were young ensigns that were too cheap to buy private dances. She didn't feel watched or threatened - it seemed life was going to continue as normal. Until the day she pulled the curtain back to find Admiral Marcus waiting for her in the private room. She thought of pretending she didn't recognize him but that would just earn her his wrath. She knew why he was here - to check up on John. She handed him his scotch and sighed.

"He's not here. Hasn't come back for a while." She said before he could ask. He looked at her over the rim of his glass. Took a second to enjoy the taste of his drink before he tilted his head a bit.

"I believe I payed for a lap dance." He simply said. Eros hid her annoyance and simply pressed the button for the pole. If she resisted he'd just get more pleasure out of it. She did a standard warm up before she shimmied out of her skirt. Bending over slowly in front of him as she pushed it down to her feet. His eye brows jumped up when she smacked her own ass. He sat back and spread his knees thinking she was going to plop down on him. Instead she took to the pole. "You're good at this."

"It's my job. I better be." She said nonchalantly. She locked her legs around the pole as she hung upside down. He was expecting more attitude, more hesitation but she just whipped off her bra and tossed it on him. Marcus let it dangle where it landed on his head for a second before pulling it off and rubbing the fabric between his thumb and index finger.

"And the job I tasked you with?" He asked as he took a sip from his glass.

"I told you he hasn't been here for a while. Maybe he's saving up for something." Eros answered. "Maybe he found a real girlfriend. Maybe he realized he was gay - that happens a lot too." When she bent over in front of him he reached over and took hold of her hip. With a hard yank he brought her into his lap. He squeezed her side to keep her there.

"Don't get cute." Marcus growled. "I don't know what you did but he's been sulking at the station, barely working, making mistakes—"

"To err is human. Everyone makes mistakes." She shrugged.

"You're about to make one now by crossing me." Marcus said before he put his free hand between her shoulder blades and pushed her over. She acted like the rough treatment was normal and ground her ass into him. She felt his body respond and suppressed any sound that might give away her disgust. "John Harrison is a miracle. He doesn't make mistakes but when he does engines explode during tests taking out fifteen scientists." Eros sat upright and looked at him.

"My God. Is he alright?" She asked. She wasn't sure why she couldn't hide her concern for John. He had tried to use her, snatched her off the street and stripped her and yet she still felt for his safety. A moment later she realized how stupid she was being and tried to cover for it. "He tips really well - I'd hate to lose him for good."

"He's fine. Barely registers the mistakes. Spends his time hiding in his quarters - jerking off and looking up 'self help' files on how to apologize to women." He said. "Did he say anything to you?"

"Just the usual insecurities of the men who come here." Eros quipped. "Mommy didn't love him - daddy used to beat him - his life is unfulfilling and dull. Who can tell his complaints from the others?"

"Well here's the new deal. He comes in you make him feel like a King. Let him do equations of your tits for all I care as long as he gets his confidence back and gets them right. Cause if this shit between you two costs me anymore time or personnel I'm gonna require a pound of flesh." Marcus said before he finished his drink. "He says or does anything out of the ordinary you report to me." Eros rolled her eyes until Marcus grabbed her hips with both hands. "You understand me?"

"Yes sir." She sighed.

"Good. Now… move a little slower - I still got you for another twenty minutes."

Eros was stuck between two men that could make her life hell if not end it all together. She briefly entertained the thought of finding another club to perform in but she liked Foxtrot too much. Mona gave her really great hours, Mike made good drinks and good decisions when she couldn't. The other performers were cool. This was her first run in with a problem in the two years she had been there. Her hopes for the outcome were that Harrison and Marcus would forget she existed when Star Fleet gave them some kind of important mission in a far off galaxy. This was way more than just a pissing contest between them.

"Hey baby." Eros said as she entered the room. John gave her an odd look - he wasn't expecting her to be so inviting given their last encounter. His little ruse with Marcus worked - he suggested John unwind and off handedly mentioned that Foxtrot still had a great 'atmosphere' for the troubled mind. John snorted. Marcus really thought he was ignorant of the finer points of seduction. The Eugenics scientist had taught him everything - every trick, every tactic, every underhanded play to gain the upper hand. Using arousal to distract and control enemy forces was War Tactics 101.

"Hello." He greeted her before he tasted his drink. He gave the glass an odd look - more than likely not expecting the alcoholic slushy to be so cold. "You okay?"

"We need to talk." She glanced around the room. "Can we?"

"Yes, I already checked for taps." He answered. "I know you must have questions."

"Yeah, like what the hell is going on."

"If you'll let me - I'll start at the beginning."

Eros gestured like she wanted John to continue. He had paid for an hour long dance. If he wanted to spend that time telling his sob story while she rested her heels then she'd let him. Unfortunately she didn't realize how much his story would weigh on her. At first she was going to dismiss his tale as pure bullshit until he produced evidence of the Eugenics project. It was barely a full page of information - a lot of records from back then had been lost or covered up. The more he spoke the more she heard the truth in his words. That the long tortured past was very real. How confidently he told it - the events he lived through, he would have to have been there to know such detail.

"What do you want from me?" She asked. "I still don't see how I can help you."

"When you spoke of Sigwey I knew you would relate to how Marcus has stolen everything from me. Had you not pressed yourself to me that first time I would've continued to believe my 'discomfort' in this skin was because of my false history. Now that I know who I am - who I really am I don't need you." That statement made her tense and she eased away from him thinking he was going to kill her to keep his secret under wraps. "I want you." Eros snorted.

"You're just horny. You can have anyone." She said as she stood up.

"And so could you. But will they be able to prevent this from happening again?" John asked as he reached up and touched the bruise on her hip. She moved out of his reach and crossed her arms. "You don't deserve his abuse. You're catching it because you were simply doing your job. He didn't tell you his long term plans. Just said a number to you and tossed you into my lap. When he saw it was working he asked more of you to 'earn your keep'."

"How do you know I desire your affection more than his money?" Eros asked. "Maybe I like paying my bills in advance and buying new clothes."

"Because true affection and loyalty are things you have never had before." He answered. She glared at him. "Despite your trepidation you are also curious and hopeful. And you want to believe me - I'm not sure why or what makes me different from your other clients. And you are far more valuable to me as you are than you ever will be to any of them." She wasn't sure when he got up and advanced on her but when she looked up he was looming over her. Eyes focused and sincere as he gazed at her. "Let me drive you home tonight."