A/N: A special welcome to Focus SJS! So glad you have joined us. I believe, my three wonderful reviewers, you all know each other from the previous books.

Anyone else reading (and the 'number of visitors' stat tells me there are several of you) is more than welcome to join in on the conversation. Even just a quick word or two in a review would brighten my day.

This episode – With Volu's healing behind them, what's next? Warren has questions and a very interesting experience courtesy of Volu.

Chapter 5

He was dreaming an impossible blend of Ztar, a living Mi-Lartui, the original X-men, Betsy, and Ettwanae when he realized someone was shaking him.

"Hey, War. You alive, man?"

He bolted upright, nearly knocking the looming stranger aside with one wing in the process. "Who?" he said grabbing the man's upper arm in the fierce grip.

"Whoa, buddy – it's me…Flint!"

Everything came flooding back in a single moment. "Sorry, Flint. Just a little disoriented," he apologized releasing the teen's arm.

"Hey, it's okay. Twae's up and hungry, if you can believe that," Flint snickered while rubbing where bruises would likely form. "She's asking 'bout you."

"And Volu? She's still doing well?"

Flint gave Warren an annoyed look. "Oh, yeah. Back to her uppity self. God, you'd think after all the shit we've been though, she'd appreciate a joke. Just one little joke. That's all it was – swear. But no-o-o… Has to get all bitchy. God, females!"

Warren decided he didn't want to know. He had two priorities. One – getting home. Two – his stomach was growling its empty condition. "How long was I out?"

Flint seemed perturbed that Warren didn't ask for the full story. "Earth time or Imperial time – there's a difference, ya know." The reply came with attitude.

"I know. Spent two years on Sat'rey. Imperial time."

"Only 'bout 10 hours. Some of us was gettin' worried, so they made me come check."

"Some of us were," Warren corrected, not really meaning to say it aloud. Improper grammar sometimes grated the wrong way.

Flint rolled his eyes. "Whatever, gramps."

Warren flung aside the blanket and stood, giving the teenager a cold, predatory glare usually reserved for mortal enemies. "You ever call me that again and I won't be responsible for my actions, kid," he warned into the stunned face with a spread of the wings for emphasis.

Flint swallowed hard, eyes bulging.

###

At the sight of her soulbound looking well and rested, she nearly dove into his arms as he entered the galley, but held herself in check. She wouldn't frighten him away with overly exuberant greetings. "You're looking better, Warren!" she exclaimed instead.

"Feeling better. You?"

"Much."

Warren surveyed the table. It was a feast. Someone had gone to a lot of trouble. He had toyed with grabbing a quick snack and then figuring out the ship's bathing facilities – he really needed a shower, but with food in the offing, hygiene could wait.

"Ettwanae's idea," Gatebi answered Warren's unspoken question.

Flint stood off in a corner, eyeing Warren with remnants of wariness. "She's already eaten two meals just fixing the food. Like I was telling ya, Gabby, with two bottomless pits aboard, we're gonna need to restock soon before they eat everything we got!"

She flashed a disapproving look, but Flint wasn't sure it was for the bottomless pit remark or being called Gabby. Likely both. He smirked.

Warren didn't want there to be any misunderstandings. "As soon as Volu is able, we're returning to Earth, so there'll be only one bottomless pit for you to feed," he said settling in at the table, silently annoyed that he shared yet another trait with the winged alien. Ettwanae and Gatebi followed suit. Flint wasted no time joining them.

Once the worse of the hunger was sated, Warren started asking his questions. He'd begin with simple inquiries to build a rapport with his hosts before getting to the real issues. "Great meal. Thank you. I don't see any typical kitchen equipment here," he commented looking around. "How do you cook?"

"Bio-warmers. Volu can generate a lot of internal heat," Flint chimed in, hoping his two-edge meaning wasn't lost on his audience. Much to his disappointment, no one rolled their eyes or otherwise indicated that was the case.

"So food all needs to be heat-and-eat ready?"

"Pretty much. Vo's got compartments that work like microwaves on Earth. Pop the food in, she nukes it, we eat." Flint eagerly explained with his mouth full. "Pass the amsu?"

"That is a simplification," Gatebi chimed in, handing Flint the bowl of what looked like a strawberry-kiwi hybrid. "We can prepare quite elaborate meals if we choose to. Sadly, the culinary skills are lacking in all of us."

He felt her eyes on him, almost like a physical touch. Sexual heat began to entwine itself around him, making Warren shift in his chair. Pushing down the erotic images tiptoeing in the recesses of his mind of what she'd be like in bed, he refocused.

"And cold storage?"

"Volu uses the cold of space for the refrigeration compartments," Gatebi explained as she delicately cut something resembling Spam ®.

Warren risked looking at the woman sitting opposite him that his body would be all too happy to couple with right then and there. "How did you three end up together? You mentioned earlier your escape from Hydeera…"

Ettwanae swallowed her food, wiping a napkin across her lips. "Yes, while Imperial troops were raiding the labs, the three of us were being taken to the Etagllot escape shuttles. Once the psy-damps and shields were off-line, Volu came for me." Ettwanae waves toward her friends. "They needed help, so I brought them with me. Something just told me to do it."

"My hot looks – she couldn't leave me behind!" Flint laughed. "Ya know, War, being nabbed by Ettwanae ain't so bad. You should really hang with us for awhile," the teen suggested. "Need another man around here, if ya know what I mean."

Warren had to admit, the kid had an odd appeal about him – an irritating sort of charm. Then he began putting the pieces together. "I remember being told a ship was heading our way during the raid. Everyone thought it was an Etagllot ship. That was Volu?"

"Most likely," Gatebi injected.

"That was indeed me," the ship piped in. "I cannot maintain full phase within a strong gravitational well, such as a planet. My approach was quite…spectacular." Volu's voice carried hints of pride.

"After we was aboard Vo, Twae was freakin'," Flint paused to rub the back of his neck with a slight frown, "screaming about saving your ass and not hurting you. Thought I'd been picked up by some sorta lunatic! Me and Gabby didn't know she was doing her telepathy thing half the time with Volu" Flint continued with over-emphasis on the second syllable, "and half talking out loud. You shoulda seen her, War. She was nuts!"

Gatebi jumped to Ettwanae's defense. "She was very concerned, Warren, but Flint tends to see things through a unique perspective. Considering all we'd been through, Ettwanae was very much in control."

Warren leaned back. "Okay, so Volu was the ship charging to the rescue. I was unconscious at the time, but Ztar mentioned a concussion blast. Knocked out the Etagllot guards just before they likely would have killed us."

Ettwanae nodded enthusiastically. "That was Volu! She saved you, but we had to leave you behind. Too many Imperial ships and troops."

"It would have been impossible to reach you and I could not further risk our safety no matter how much Ettwanae wanted to meet you." The living ship's voice was laden with regret. "We had to leave."

Mystery solved. It wasn't the Emperor the ship had saved, it was him. He wanted to comm Ztar to share the news, but that would need to wait. "Thank you both for what you did. And thank you for Ztar, as well. If you hadn't intervened, the outcome of the Hydeera raid could have been tragic. The Emperor may have been murdered." Warren was indeed grateful, but it changed little about the current situation. He would shove his desires and emotions aside to get back to Earth. First, though, he had more questions.

Still a touch hungry, Warren took another piece of sweet sea meat as Gatebi called it. According to her, it was from an ocean-living creature that was a staple in many an Alcab diet. The delicate flavor was slightly sweet with notes of tanginess. Texturally, the sweet meat was similar to lobster, but creamier. 'Quite good,' he noted and wondered offhandedly if there was a way to get some delivered to Earth.

"This Source we tapped into, what is it exactly?" Maybe he could finally get some answers about the energy he channeled.

Ettwanae hurriedly chewed. "It's of the goddess Ozshi'wanae. All living beings come from her. We each carry a small part of the goddess within us. When we die, that piece returns to The Source, which she then sends out again, creating a new life."

"Ozshi'wanae is the lifeforce?"

Ettwanae gestured negative. "No, it comes from her. That's how Volu's memory records explain it."

"And what you and I manifested is this lifeforce?"

"Yes. We call it Aru. Eshaaru channel Aru energy. The higher form is called Ura – lifewill."

'Fascinating.' Warren wasn't sure he was buying the goddess part, but he wouldn't discard it out of hand either. "What the difference between lifeforce and lifewill?"

"Aru is present in all living things – sentient and non-sentient. Ura is what creates consciousness and the ability for self-determination – life will."

"So lifewill equals self-awareness equals sentiency, right?"

"Yes." She nodded with enthusiasm.

"Another name for lifewill, Warren, is soul. Ura is your soul," Volu added.

"And Ura is bestowed to Ozshi'wanae's favored creations, correct?" Gatebi injected, looking to Ettwanae for confirmation.

"That's our understanding, but her ways are far beyond what we can comprehend."

Warren mixed what he'd just been told with what he already knew of lifeforce patterns. It seemed to fit together nicely. Perhaps his secondary lifeforce pattern the scientist on Fjai told him about was merely his connection to The Source. A possibility. Perhaps anyone who channels Aru has a so-called secondary pattern. He decided to file away the theory and move onto other topics.

"New subject," he warned. "Merryth said you were left in Bhenra's care at a young age if I remember correctly."

"Yes, about age three in standard years. He raised me as his own." Sadness clouded the otherwise bright eyes, and she quickly looked down.

"I'm sorry, didn't mean to bring up painful memories."

Ettwanae took a deep breath and pushed down the pain as Gatebi covered Ettwanae's hand with hers. "No, the memories are wonderful. Bhenra was my Baumpa – my father. I don't remember my real father. Bhenra was all I had. We were very close. I loved him dearly."

"Now you have us," Gatebi offered Ettwanae with a warm smile.

Ettwanae's eyes darted to her two companions. "Yes, now I have a sister, a brother, and a mother. The goddess has blessed me."

"Warning! Love-fest alert!" Flint broke in, obviously uncomfortable with the emotional atmosphere. "Hey, War, how 'bout you? What you got for family types?"

Warren cringed at the familiarity coming through in the nickname. He tolerated only a few close friends calling him War. Flint was not one of them, but he held his tongue. "I'm actually more interested in learning more about the man you say attempted to kidnap me."

The perfect Eshaaru face frowned as Flint jumped in. "That dude is total evil. Rounds people up for those freak labs."

"All we know is he kidnapped Ettwanae for that purpose, Flint. We know little more about him than that," Gatebi corrected.

The teen crossed his arms and scowled at the Alcab. "Well, ya put two 'n two together..." Flint turned to lock eyes with Warren, subtle fear reflected in his green eyes. "He's nobody to mess with, and that's fact. 'Specially with that evil Vo twin."

If Warren was a target of the man, he wanted to know everything the foursome knew. The operative came for him once and Warren had to assume he would again. "Does he have any special abilities?"

"He's telepathic and maybe telekinetic." Ettwanae's frown deepened. "It's possible he uses an image inducer."

"You've see these abilities?"

"Maybe."

Her whole demeanor had closed off – eyes downcast, hands clasped, a withdrawn expression. If her body signals were anything close to Human, she wasn't comfortable talking about her abductor. However, Warren needed information.

"Ettwanae, I know this may be bringing up painful memories, but I need to know what I'm up against. The more I know, the better prepared I'll be if he comes after me again."

"You're safer with us," she said in a near whisper, not bothering to raise her eyes. "Volu can help protect you."

Warren shook his head. "No, I have a life to return to on Earth. A life I enjoy – one I've fought hard for." He'd explain no further; it was none of their business. "When Volu's healed, I'm going back. That makes it all the more important I know what you know about this guy."

She remained quiet for many seconds, then sighed and seemed to collect herself. "As we said before, he works for the Etagllot or may even be Etagllot. He is cold and calculating and very sure of himself. He revealed nothing to me while I was his prisoner. What we know is mostly from what little we've seen and deduced."

"Did he reveal his name?"

"No."

"You said earlier the Shozen were after you when you left Sat'rey – it wasn't actually this guy?"

"No, there were several of the Shozen or their agents after me then. No telepaths or telekinetics in that group. I think if he had been with them, they would have succeeded in capturing me. Baumpa said it was the Shozen, but he didn't say how he knew. He-" she swallowed visibly. "He died before he told me."

"I'm so sorry, Ettwanae," he offered gently. Warren could have asked many more questions about other pursuers, but the Shozen weren't his enemy, at least not that he knew. He did have unanswered questions, though, about the mysterious kidnapper. "How did he acquire an Eshaar'ne?" A wave of her hand he interpreted as not knowing. "Is it unusual for an Eshaar'ne to be partnered with a non-Eshaaru?"

"It is not our way," Volu's voice filled the room, a blend of disbelief and ire in the simple statement.

"She's a rogue," Flint pronounced. "Vo hates her guts. A traitor to their kind. Nasty business, War."

"Is it possible she is being used against her will?" he posed.

"An Eshaar'ne has ways of preventing that. She has chosen her path."

The Eshaar'ne's tone was condemning and did not invite elaboration. Warren decided the reasons didn't matter and let the touchy subject go. "So that's all you have on him, right?"

"That is all," Ettwanae confirmed.

'Not much to work with, but more than I had,' Warren concluded silently. The assailant would be a formidable opponent – telepathic, perhaps telekinetic, and possibly in disguise. 'Powerful combination.' As soon as he returned to Earth, he would inform both Charles and Ztar.

"Thank you for sharing what you know – it helps," he extended, pushing back from the table. He realized in silent relief his libido had gone on siesta at some point in their discussion and he hoped it would actually go comatose for the duration of his stay. If not, the next two days could be very long. "Now, though, I'd like to clean up." He looked to the teen. "Flint, will you show me how the shower works here?"

The teen quickly grinned from ear to ear. "Oh, man, you're gonna love Vo's showers! Come on," Flint prompted, getting up.

Warren was intrigued. The teenager was oddly enthusiastic about bathing.

###

As they entered his on-suite bath, Flint pointed out the wide-open area to one side of the room. Warren marveled at the size, not really having paid much attention when he used the facilities earlier. That so much of the bathroom was dedicated to the shower made complete sense – it was designed for winged beings with plenty of room to splay feathers.

"This is one of those bathrooms with no shower door – all open, everything can get wet, if ya want. Or you can do the dry version. Tried it once, don't recommend it 'cept in emergencies."

"Dry version?"

"Yeah, somethin' like ultrasound, extrasonic – shit, I don't remember what Vo called it, but supposedly ya get clean. I didn't feel so clean, but you don't smell after, that's all I know. But the wet version? Now that's one hell of a shower!" Flint moved around pointing out various protrusions from the otherwise smooth walls. Warren quickly counted fourteen. "These here are like showerheads, water comes at you from all directions, or whichever direction you want. To change location, just move them around anywhere ya want, like this." Flint pushed gently against one of the protrusions and it went with his hand until he stopped pushing. "They go anywhere – no tracks to follow. Cool, huh?"

"Indeed." Warren was impressed.

"It only gets better. To change angle, move it just like a regular showerhead." He grabbed it and changed the angle from down to straight out. "If you want, Vo can move them and hose ya down, but that's kinda creepy in my mind – too much information for her." The teen noted with a visible shiver. "Gabby says I'm being self-conscious. I say an alien sprayin' down my bod with her showerheads wherever she wants is a too weird." Flint glanced around the bathroom. "I've never found a visual sensor in here, but that doesn't mean there isn't one. I had to get over that part even if she does. A man can only go so long without showering." Then the kid got a devilish smirk on his face. "Once you get over that, you can really enjoy yourself in here."

Flint winked, leading Warren to instantly get his drift. Teenage hormones had likely figured out exactly what all could be done in a well-equipped shower. Then he wondered briefly about the anatomical compatibility between Humans and Alcabs and Eshaarus and if Flint was managing to get any action with the either of the females on board. That led to some very dirty thoughts about Ettwanae and he snapped himself back from the precarious edge. 'So much for the siesta.' Flint gave Warren an inquisitive look that told him the teen caught his momentary distraction.

"Temperature control?" Warren asked changing the conversational direction.

Flint leaned against the wall, arms crossed in a confident pose. "Oh, that. Just tell Vo warmer or colder and she'll get it right for ya. Same thing for the force of the water. She can pulsate it, too. Anything can be adjusted. I'm telling ya, man, best freakin' shower in the galaxy!"

"Soap?"

"Built in, just say when to start and stop. But it won't be all lathery like on Earth, more…creamy, I guess. Works just as good, though. Vo makes it herself. Same stuff at the sink for washing your hands."

Warren had to smile – the shower was sounding more and more like a car wash. Then another consideration came to mind. "Laundry? Doesn't do a lot of good to shower and then put on dirty clothes."

Flint walked over to a spot on a wall and waved a hand. A membrane door dilated open. "Just throw 'em in here. By the time you're done in the shower, your clothes are done. That same soundblasting business or whatever cleans 'em. Don't know how it works – don't care. All I know is clothes come out clean."

"How do I dry off? Are there towels?"

"Don't need 'em. Just tell Vo you're ready. Some kinda wave moves over you. She told me once it chases the water away from your body, but doesn't dry out the skin. I think she was talkin' down to me when she said that and I got pissed, so that's all I know. She's refused to explain since saying I wouldn't understand. She can be bitchy like that sometimes."

Living within a ship that can be bitchy didn't sound exactly enjoyable. Warren could image all sorts of ways a sentient vessel could make your life miserable if it so desired. "Anything else I need to know?"

"If you do, ask our master eavesdropper. She'll hear and answer. I'm outta here. Enjoy your shower." Flint was almost out the door when he turned back. "Take advantage of all the side bennies, if you get my meaning. Vo, give him a wash with the works!" Then he laughed and was gone.

"Teenagers!" Warren mumbled to himself as he peeled off the torn clothes that definitely needed washing. Immediately after the door to the 'washing machine' closed, Warren detected a steady hum. Likely ultrasonic cleaning of some sort.

As he stepped into the shower area, his spread his wings to test the width, which he estimated at 12 feet – about four feet shy of his full wingspread. 'Not bad! Bigger than my shower at home even.' The last four feet of spread really wouldn't gain him anything for cleaning purposes, so the shower was perfectly adequate. 'This is going to be a treat,' he agreed with Flint. But while the shower was 12 feet in width, it wasn't that in depth, but still quite roomy at roughly eight feet. Then he realized he forgot to ask how to turn it on, but then there were the ship's ears.

"Volu?"

"Are you ready for cleansing?"

"Yes."

"I will start you out at a bit warmer than your body temperature and we will adjust from there."

After a little fine-tuning, the temperature was perfect. Spray hit him from everywhere as he let Volu position them optimally for his body. As warm water soothed and caressed, he realized how tight his muscles were. Not surprising considering what the past day had put him through. As he let the pulsating spray ease the tension, he wondered how difficult the next couple days would be. Constantly battling his Aru-controlled libido was wearing and any relief he got in the shower would likely be quickly undone if the intense mating urge rose up again.

He sighed deeply to release more stress and out of frustration at situation he found himself in. At least instinct told him Ettwanae and her ship would not hold him against his will. Hopefully, intuition was right.

When he was ready, Volu added the creamy soap. It was like the most luxurious lotion one could imagine, gliding under his hands across his skin like silk. The feel of the soft water beating against his skin, its warmth, soothing sound, and moist air joined to relax mind and body as Warren sank into another plane – almost meditative. Then the creamy feel dissipated to be replaced by a cleansing rinse. He stood there for sometime, letting the water work its magic.

"Warren, spread your wings," the female voice floated to him. With a start, he realized they had dropped and the soap needed to be more thoroughly rinsed away. He spread them high and wide. After a minute, something changed in the water pressure and it began to softly pulsate against his feathers and skin. It felt so sensual, wonderful… He closed his eyes and sighed. This was truly a phenomenal shower.

Then the jets moved slightly and pulsating water moved over his wings and body, slowly edging toward certain erogenous zones. It happened slowly, without him realizing fully. Then water began caressing those special points on the wings that Ztar had massaged with such skill.

"O-oh, g-god!" Warren stammered and his hand reached out for the wall in front of him. Water kept hitting the wing bases and waves of delicious sexual heat flowed through the raceways that ran from the wings to his groin and brain's pleasure center. It was like Ztar in a way – and felt so…incredible. His head whirled as his body eagerly responded.

'What does Volu think she's doing?'

"I will stop if you wish, Warren." The offer sounded far away.

He couldn't bring himself to object. Part of him was offended by her actions, while another part didn't want her to stop. When he didn't answer, water began massaging his groin and growing shaft. He groaned as new waves of bliss washed through him. His knees became shaky and he couldn't quite catch his breath. He wanted to move away from the sexual stimulation – he felt violated, yet not really. More like he was caught masturbating and embarrassed.

"This is a pleasure Eshaar'ne have given Eshaaru since our creation. Your body needs a release. You are under much stress on multiple fronts and this will expel sexual tension. Relax, Warren. Enjoy just as Flint, Gatebi, and Ettwanae do."

Her tone was ethereal, enticing. He was being swept away by carnal pleasures the sensual water was bestowing. His wings spread wider of their own accord and the water hit with increased pulsations to perfect spots. With a loud moan, he neared orgasm. His body was on fire, his groin throbbed as it edger closer to that moment of release. Forehead against the wall, hands spread flat against the smooth surface of the shower, he let the ship do what she wished. And it was rapturous – like nothing he could have imagined water could do. His whole body became hyper-sensitized, feeling every droplet that titillated and every stream that caressed. Breaths coming in gasps and heart pounding, his body thrummed with ecstasy as he came, spilling against the wall. Wave after wave of bliss and release rippled through him until he was fully spent.

Then his knees gave out and he slid to the floor. The water followed him down, but now like gentle rain, slowly dropping in temperature to a tepid level. There he kneeled for a couple minutes as the delicious afterglow faded. He so needed what Volu had provided – sexual release. The only thing lacking was a partner, but it definitely was an effective substitute.

He could have chosen to be outraged, but he sensed no sexual overtones in what the ship had done. Volu likely did exactly as she said – provided a service she was designed to perform. Space can be a very lonely place, especially if a lone or unmated Eshaaru was aboard.

When he felt like moving again, he eased himself off the shower floor. "Volu?"

"Yes, Warren."

"You're one hell of a lover," he said with a lopsided smirk.

Two vigorous flaps shed much of the water from the feathers. Then he stood still as the drying wave moved across him, the water running ahead of it to jump off his body on the opposite side. When he touched his skin, it was completely dry, but supple. Pulling a wing forward, he checked. Also fully dry. He redressed in his freshly laundered clothes that smelled almost as if they'd hung out in the summer breeze. They were still torn, but clean.

"Much better," he remarked to Volu. "Thanks."

"I do my best to ensure the comfort of all within."

Warren half expected the ship to suggest he stay to enjoy those comforts on a regular basis, but she did not. He exited Flint's suite to find the others, feeling renewed with the pent up sexual tension in his body gone – for the moment anyway.

###

A/N: Okay, I'll admit the shower scene doesn't exactly move the story forward, but it was fun to write. Actually, the idea came to me after watching a home improvement show a while back about fantastical showers. A tongue-in-cheek comment by the host about all that was possible in such a shower got my imagination going and this scene was born. In a way, it does fit into what a fully equipped Eshaar'ne might offer her occupants. And with the current level of unresolved sexual tension aboard Volu, I thought the scene worked well enough to include, but you're the final judges. Love it or hate it, I'm game to hear your thoughts.

Next chapter teaser: What is happening with Ztar and Gtar-Cro in the desperate search for Warren? And what about Etagllot operative Den-neer?