Notes: Apologies for the very long delay in getting this out. My 'easy' summer turned into being swamped with work; this swamping ended up extending into early October so I haven't had much time to write. Combine that with more family health things and you get my normally wildly inconsistent schedule, yay!

I do want to thank everyone who has reviewed, favorited, or watched this story so far. However, it looks like stats and alerts are broken on FF and have been since mid-September. I'm a little apprehensive about that, so I have branched out and published this story on AO3(under this same username). Any chapter updates will be posted here first, then on AO3 after a short delay.

As far as future chapters are concerned I do have the groundwork written for the next arc(the Iprani transport), so expect more consistent updates until the end of this year.

Chapter 22: Return

Getting used to the controls of a hoverbike wasn't the easiest thing in the world, especially as I had never even driven a motorcycle and it had been many years since I had dealt with a bicycle. Krys and Fay had talked me through the basics, which involved liftcoil charge, thruster output, steering input and my own balance. The latter part was compensated for to a significant extent, but I was far more skilled with four-wheeled vehicles than I was with anything that relied on my ability to balance.

In a reversal of the last time I was on one of these, Krystal held onto me as I slowly threaded my way through the trees outside the mine entrance. The air was cold and crisp but the sky was clear; we could see the towering wreck of the pirates' craft standing like a landmark. I kept the speed down; about 30kph by its gauge. It was far faster than we could have ran, so getting back to the shuttle wouldn't be the slog we had endured getting here.

The other hoverbike was in front of me; Fay piloting it with a competence and confidence I lacked. The passenger section of her bike's saddle was laden with our cargo; both our backpacks and the giant Spellstone strapped to it. She glanced back to me; her mask-clad figure looking downright alien from a distance away, but that didn't stop me from nodding at her as I dodged trees and low-hanging branches via a combination of steering and lift control. The liftcoil charge pedal allowed for increments in altitude change, which was useful for dodging the branches and making sure I didn't catch the front of the bike on exposed tree roots.

A few minutes later the trees cleared out; we reached our midway point which comprised the staging area of the mines. This time I had the ringer of my phone switched on; a wave of nervousness washing over me as we approached the tunnel that led to the 'wild spot' that I suspected somehow leaked signals between Sauria and Earth. Would this work again? I paused for a moment, letting the bike slow to a snail's pace as I pulled my phone out of my pocket, glancing at its display. A quick check confirmed that I somehow had signal, but it was weak.

"Your family?" Krystal's muffled voice asked as her embrace tightened. Fay stopped just short of the tunnel, glancing back at us but I held up my other hand as my bike came to a stop. I opened the messaging application, noting with a hint of surprise that the message I had queued sent. If I had time I would have done other things, but I wasn't expecting my phone to ring. My mom had immediately dialed my number. I had a choice to make, and I had no time in which to make it.

I answered the call, bringing the phone to my ear. "I'm here."

The voice on the other end was as familiar as my own despite the distortion making it sound like it was coming from inside a submarine; my mother's voice full of a mixture of relief and fear. "Adam? Jesus, tell me you're okay!"

"I'm alive, Mom," I replied. "Look, I don't have much time and I can't explain what happened to me. It wasn't a gas explosion at the house; it was something else."

"You can't leave me hanging like this," my mom pleaded. "I need to know! I need to know that you're okay!"

"You won't believe me," I reasoned, "this is about as out there as it gets."

"Try me." I could just about hear tears in her voice. As much as I had been through over the past several days the thought of those back home not knowing what happened was tough to take.

I blinked, looking behind me to my vixen companion. Through the lens of her respirator, her emerald eyes locked onto mine. "Tell her, che. She deserves to know."

"Who's that?" My mom's voice grew confused. "I can't understand what they said. Please, tell me what's going on?"

I took a deep breath as I glanced over to Fay, who was in the process of getting off her hoverbike. "It's a very long story," I relented. "You won't believe me, but there was something buried under the house; some kind of artifact that basically transported it to a completely different planet. There's a very bad situation happening here, and I'm trying to help a new friend of mine make it right."

There was a pause; one long enough that I thought the call had disconnected. "You're serious?" My mom's voice was incredulous, but I could tell that she wanted to believe me. "You're completely, dead serious?"

"I'm not lying to you, Mom," I replied. "I'm completely, one hundred percent serious." I had major misgivings about doing it but I pulled the phone from my ear and switched to the camera. I snapped a quick picture of myself and Krystal, the hoverbike also visible in the frame.

"Damn it, son," my mom's voice carried a tinge of frustration. "I want to believe you, but to say it's a major stretch is putting it lightly." As she spoke I attached the picture as a text message and sent it.

"Check your texts, Mom," I offered, taking a deep breath as I held the phone to my ear. "Tell me if you think hovering motorcycles and blue fox women are something you see on a regular basis." I glanced back up to see Fay approaching, but Krystal held out a hand for her to stop. She did, but I could tell she was confused.

"Jesus," my mother responded. "I'm sorry, son; this is a little much to take in. I'm not sure what to say; I just want you to be as safe as you can. Do you trust this friend? Is she wearing a spacesuit or something?"

"That's a long story, but I trust her intimately," I answered, knowing both my mom and Krys would likely read between the lines on that particular nugget. "Mom, I just wanted you to know that I'm alive and I'm doing as well as I can be considering the circumstances. I don't know when I'll be able to talk to you next, but I will do my damnedest to stay in touch."

"Okay," she relented. "Just… just come home in one piece, son. Don't do anything foolish. I love you."

"You too," I said, reaching down with my free hand to grasp Krystal's. "I'll talk to you when I can." With that I ended the call, a wave of emotions crashing against me as I slid the phone in my pocket. She held onto me even tighter as Fay approached the bike.

Confusion was apparent in the Cornerian's voice, even muffled as it was. "Are you okay?" she asked, motioning to the bike. "You just stopped without warning."

I took a deep breath, figuring that the best option was to tell her the truth. "There's some kind of disturbance here; it's bleeding through enough signal where my communications device can connect to my world. I was able to reach out to a family member and let them know I was still alive." Curious, I thumbed over to the map application; maybe it would give me an idea where on Earth I was somehow transmitting from.

"How would that work?" Fay blinked as I manipulated the phone; compared to holographic displays with haptic feedback I figured a touchscreen interface would seem downright archaic. "Is that your world's equivalent to a wristcomp?" She tapped something that sat on her left wrist; the oversized smartwatch that she snagged from the pirate vessel.

"Something like that, I guess?" I responded, arching a brow as my current location translated to somewhere in northwest Wyoming. Apparently there was a hole in reality not far from Yellowstone; not like it would do me any good. "It's only meant to transmit within a network of broadcast towers, so it's a miracle I was somehow able to reach out." Frowning, I shut off my phone; I had to conserve power until I found a way to safely charge it.

"He's able to communicate through a disturbance inside that tunnel we're about to enter," Krystal chimed in. "It's called a 'wild spot;' something that happens on Cerinia. They are very dangerous, but those highly skilled in our abilities are able to harness them to great effect."

The Cornerian nodded, reaching out to place a hand on the handlebars of the hoverbike. "Is it dangerous for us to go through there?" she asked. "Do we need to find an alternate route?"

Krystal shook her head. "No," she replied, "it's okay for us to go through the tunnel. Just do not go down the path off to the right, no matter how tempted you feel."

Fay nodded at us before turning around for her bike. "I can do that," she remarked. "C'mon. Let's get back to your ship; I'm sure you're about as tired of wearing this LISA as I am."

"I absolutely am," Krystal agreed, snuggling into my back even further. "Let's get out of here, my che."

We ran into a snag getting into the shuttle. Apparently we lacked the ability to pressurize and depressurize the main cargo bay; that meant we needed to leave the hoverbikes behind and bring everything we collected into the airlock. The Spellstone was a heavy bastard, but I figured I'd save Krystal and Fay from having to tote it into the shuttle.

With an audible hiss the airlock pressurized; my ears popping a few times as the process completed with a soft chime. As the door into the shuttle opened both Krys and Fay reached for their respirators, urgently peeling them off their faces. "Gods," Krystal gasped, "How do you wear these stifling things for hours on end? You can't even smell anything through them!"

Fay leaned back, a relieved look on her features as she leaned against the wall of the airlock. "You get used to it," she admitted. "At least we aren't dealing with a hull breach and have to wear them for three days straight; that wasn't fun." Her relieved expression turned into a grimace.

"Three days?" I asked, deciding to make my way to the cargo deck; I didn't want to test how long my arms would handle holding onto the Spellstone. "How the hell did you eat while wearing that thing?"

"The same way you drink water," Fay answered as she followed me up the stairs. "It's called Nutripaste; it's bland but it's meant to be delivered through a LISA's drinking tube for those kinds of situations. It's possible to survive as long as there's enough power to keep a LISA running, but I'd rather not go through that again."

Krystal shuddered as she put away her respirator. "I pray we don't have to go through that ordeal," she voiced from behind us. "For now, I think we can finally leave this place."

"I'm not going to complain about that," I grunted as I reached the cargo deck, making a beeline for the sports sedan that stood out like a sore thumb. I somehow managed to hold onto the Spellstone as I reached for the trunk release. With an intimately familiar electronic beep-beep the trunk popped open, allowing me to shed my load.

"Wait," Fay spoke, a tone of confusion in her voice. "What is that thing? A wheeled vehicle?" She approached the car, a puzzled expression etched on her canine features. "Like your mechanical firearms, this is positively ancient; I think even Ipran makes widespread use of repulsorlift vehicles."

I shrugged at her as I shut the trunk. "It's a 2011 Lexus IS350," I explained, "a mid-tier luxury sedan. Three point five liter displacement V6 gasoline engine, about three hundred horsepower, six-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel drive, and seats four in relatively decent comfort. It definitely beats walking, that's for sure."

"So…" Fay added as we made our way to the main level, "Gasoline engine as in internal combustion? How did you find something like that?"

I blinked as we emerged into the living area, which was still littered with the things I had recovered from my house. We were safe now, so I started divesting myself of things like my jacket and gun belt, setting them on the coffee table in front of the couch. "I bought it off my parents a few months ago," I explained. "It's nothing out of the ordinary where I come from."

After handing me the AR15 she borrowed Fay made a beeline for the little booth next to the kitchenette, taking a seat with a relieved sigh. "I'm starting to get the impression that perhaps you aren't from Ipran, Mr. Strayton. It's a mystery, but not all mysteries are solved in a day."

I unloaded the rifle before setting it back on the table. I was about to take a seat on the couch but arms wrapped around me from behind; a now familiar soft warmth pressed into my back. Krystal's muzzle came to rest against my shoulder as my hands fell to hers; a feeling of overall relief, relaxation, and contentment settling over me. "I figure there'll be time for an in depth explanation a bit later," I offered. "For now, I'm just glad we made it through this alive. I know I didn't do much to the Galdon, but you two kicked that beast's ass but hard."

"Maybe, my che," Krystal murmured as she held onto me, "but you also saved our lives. If you hadn't taken action neither Fay nor I would be here right now."

"Yeah," Fay chimed in. "Boarding actions on a hostile ship are about one of the most dangerous combat operations one can perform. Cornerian Special Forces try to avoid it when possible, so to do what you did took fortitude. Again, thank you. I'm in your debt, both of you."

"Well," I started, "to tell you the truth I was scared out of my mind. I didn't want either of you to die, and I knew that was going to happen if I screwed up. It was either them or us, and I wasn't going to let it be us." As I said that Krystal's embrace tightened; her fingers lacing with mine.

"And that's why we're still alive, dearheart," the vixen pointed out. "You didn't let your fear stop you from taking action. Many would have, so you deserve our gratitude."

"I appreciate your kind words, both of you," I admitted. "I don't feel much like a hero. We're just all trying to survive and make sense of what's going on. Obviously I don't want to lose you, hon; I'm sure Fay also has others who care about her and she wants to get back to." I caught a wistful glance from Fay as I mentioned that; in response she turned away to look out the viewport.

Krys's embrace loosened as she glanced over to the Cornerian. "I apologize if our bonding is making you uncomfortable; we don't mean to impose on you."

Fay shook her head. "No, that's okay," she replied, "As a spacer, it's a lonely life. I know how difficult it is to find happiness and comfort among the stars; it is usually brief and fleeting. We have to take it where we can get it. I have a couple of family members left, but it's been a long time since I've seen them."

I nodded at her before turning around to face Krystal, draping my arm loosely around her waist. "Life can be cruelly short and nothing is guaranteed to us," I agreed. "However, no matter where this leads I'd like for us to survive it. There's been way too many close calls."

"Speaking of," Fay asked, "How are you feeling? You've been out and about in these low-atmo conditions; you weren't feeling dizzy, out of breath, or lightheaded, were you?"

I shook my head. "At most, I've had a bit of a headache," I admitted. "Perhaps we need to check that scanner to see how we're coming along?"

It was a good idea; I also took the opportunity to pull my jacket off and look at how my arm was faring. As Fay ran the scanner over us I noticed that the gray, rubber-like coating over my hand and forearm was doing its job; the jagged bumps of the bullet fragments seemed to be less prominent.

"So," Fay started, "It looks like you're recovering nicely, Mr. Strayton. You haven't developed either type of hypoxic edema, and like you said at most you've had a mild headache. Your shrapnel injuries are healing well, and it looks like a major laceration and a preexisting knee injury is just about repaired." Wait, did this medical kit just fix my knee? "Again, lay off the medi-nannies until they're out of your system. Trust me; you don't want to experience nanny-tox."

The Cornerian turned to my vulpine partner next. "Krystal," the vixen's ears perked as her attention focused on Fay. "Your pulmonary edema is clearing up nicely, but you might have a cough and mild shortness of breath for a few days. Your… broken arm is pretty much healed up, with a warning that due to exertion the recovery time was extended somewhat. I know we won't be able to take it easy, but the same warnings about nanny-tox apply to you as well. Goddess, you two have been through the wringer." Fay looked up at us, a slight frown tugging at her lips.

"It's been difficult," Krystal stated, leaning against the wall. She looked exhausted. "We still have a lot to do; we need to gather the rest of the Spellstones and return them to the Force Point Temples to stop Sauria from breaking apart. On top of that, the Krazoa Spirits have been hidden from Scales; we will have to return them to Krazoa Palace so they can use the Spellstones to restore the planet."

"That's not taking into account what happened to your people on Cerinia, hon," I added. "Being captured by pirates, the attempt at turning you into a personal slave of this Graydale shitbag, and your high priest assisting them? I don't like how this smells."

"I don't, either," Fay chimed in. "Crimson Scourge pirates hovering around this planet, the holed Ipranian cargo transport, and the fact they were looking for Krystal in the first place aren't good signs." The canine sighed and leaned back against the booth's bench.

"I hate to add to the mystery," Krystal added, "but the sensor logs we found seem to indicate the Remnant attacked this Ipranian ship. I don't wish to add more things to our list, but we may need to check it out."

"So, what now?" I asked. "If we're going to try to tackle all of this, we need to figure out what takes priority. I know we've got slightly different goals and motivations here, but we need to decide on a course of action and commit to it."

Fay took a deep breath, letting it out before she nodded. "You're right," she mentioned, motioning to both of us. "I'll go first. My job here was to investigate if Iprani slavers are in bed with Lylatian pirate groups; basically kidnapping and selling Lylatians to be used as forced labor. It looks like that is the case, but I really need to check out that Ipranian wreck in orbit. After that, I think this connection with the Cerinians is worth following, but it's less of a priority than an entire planet breaking apart. We also need to get long-range comms; I need to get in contact with the CDF. They will likely be able to send help."

"They may have taken my people as well," Krystal added. "We have some evidence that may help; sensor logs and videos taken within this shuttle. We should also see if we have the equipment you need. We should probably have you take a look at them, but I will warn you they are hard to watch."

Fay's eyes were hard as steel as she finished reviewing the video evidence we had collected; she was seated at the pilot's seat while Krystal and I were perched on the jump seats behind her. "Sweet Lyla," she hissed. "This is bad. Cerinia is pretty far out on the Rim; if the Crimson Scourge has a base there it's going to be difficult to uproot them."

"On top of that," I added while holding onto my Cerinian partner, "Krys went through some kind of brainwashing meant to turn her into an operative for this Graydale douchebag. The Krazoa here on Sauria were able to reverse the damage done, but I'd wager someone wants to turn Cerinians into living weapons."

Krystal stiffened; her voice full of trepidation as she voiced her own concerns. "According to the sensor logs the Venom Remnant attacked that large ship up there; the pirates who captured you didn't seem all too bothered about it. Did they discuss it?"

Fay closed her eyes for a moment, failing to suppress a shiver before shaking her head. "Nothing I can clearly remember," she admitted. "They kept me pumped full of Zuvex; I don't remember much other than getting pushed around and yelled at. They wanted me compliant."

"Could that wrist computer hold any information?" I asked, pointing to the oversized smartphone she wore.

Again, the Cornerian shook her head. "Not without a full forensics lab," she pointed out. "I plan on wiping it and using it to replace my broken datatab. You got lucky with that account setup issue in this shuttle; what you found is great intel on the Crimson Scourge. Unfortunately, it looks like the long range comms package on this ship is missing." She motioned to a diagnostic readout on the terminal.

"Or damaged," I offered. "We could take a look and see if it's a simple fix?"

"It's worth a try," Fay answered, turning around in her seat. "Would you help me with this access panel?" I reached over as she started undoing a compartment next to the cockpit; filled with electronic equipment that I had no hope of making heads or tails of. I helped her set the heavy metal panel aside as she perused a set of what looked like expansion cards.

After a few moments of poking around pursed her lips and sighed. "Someone ripped it out," she concluded. "The control board is a universal part among Lylatian-made spacecraft and other equipment; the trick is finding one."

"Am I right in thinking that the pirates' starship doesn't have a working part and the wreck in orbit wouldn't work for us?" Krystal asked; a frown cast upon her beautiful vulpine features.

Fay nodded with a sour look. "It's worth checking the Iprani craft as we might find more evidence aboard, but without a working comms module we're going to have to leave for the closest Freeport. Sauria is far enough out of the way that Nebula's End is a week out, minimum."

"I have an idea," I spoke up. "There was a communications array set up on the top of Krazoa Palace; I assume someone left it there so Saurians could reach out to someone in Lylatian government if needed. It was damaged when the Sharpclaw invaded, but it might have what we need to fix this one."

"Do you know what happened to it?" Fay asked, arching an eyebrow.

"Well," I flushed, a sheepish expression crossing my face, "I accidentally put a shotgun shell into it. I think most of the shot pattern hit the console, so we might get lucky."

Fay blinked in response, her voice completely deadpan except for an oddly high pitch. "Discharging firearms into comms equipment isn't conducive to desired operation parameters." Her straight face broke into a smirk before genuine, mirthful laughter filled the cockpit. "Sorry, sorry," she responded after she recovered, a bemused expression cast to us both. "When I was with Star Fox, Slippy would say things like that whenever we accidentally broke something out in the field."

"So," I inquired, "may I ask what Star Fox is? The pirate I confronted mentioned you had a large bounty on you because of them." I knew what they were, but I had a sneaking feeling that it wasn't just Fox, Slippy, and Peppy sitting in a dilapidated Great Fox.

Fay closed her eyes for a moment and nodded; her tone becoming somewhat wistful. "They're a military contractor; think mercenaries but officially aligned with the Cornerian Defense Force and the Lylat Coalition Government. They escort convoys through areas with known Remnant or pirate activity, make raids on their bases, and perform special assignments on behalf of the CDF and the LCG. To make a very long story short, our commander handpicked us from the Academy to head an elite but independent squadron during the Venom War; our efforts were vital in ending the war." She opened her eyes and glanced at us, a slightly sad smile tugging at her lips. "I left the team a couple of years ago. Personal reasons, you could say."

Krystal nodded at her; warmth and compassion in her voice as she spoke. "Answering the call to help others is a selfless and noble act, Fay. It's also an honor to meet someone from Star Fox, even if the circumstances aren't the greatest."

A bashful expression overcame the spaniel; it was hard to tell but I thought I caught the hint of a blush in Fay's ears. "Again, thank you both," she replied. "It was hard and dangerous work, but I like to think we did some good out there."

I glanced over to the doorway, eyeing the stairs leading down to the living room. "Tell you what," I suggested. "After all that's happened I'm sure we could use some food and some time to unwind. I'll figure out something to eat that doesn't get heated in a plastic cup."

That 'something' turned out to be a combination of another boxed meal and canned vegetables; thankfully Fay's stint on Kew gave her some insight on what foods to avoid. I was a little surprised to hear her specifically mention grapes and something called ghahve; a popular Iprani drink that had a distinct smell and bitter taste. It was okay for most Lylatians to consume, but only in small doses. "Iprani drink it like Lylatians drink kano," Fay explained. "They're both stimulants, but ghahve is far more potent. When I was stationed on Kew I had a friend that needed to go to sickbay after drinking two cups after he had been warned to drink only one. I guess I shouldn't be surprised about our excursion today?"

"What do you mean?" I asked as I used the complex, futuristic hotplate to bring the pan of Tuna Helper to a slow boil under my watchful eye. Krystal was content to sit back and listen to our conversation, her ears perked in interest. A smile tugged at her lips as I met her gaze; it was obvious that she was relaxed and content.

"Well," Fay continued as she reclined in the booth opposite Krys, "you did just spend several hours in low-atmo without a LISA and aren't suffering any ill effects. So, a species that can shrug off severe hypoxia, eat toxic berries and drink a borderline poisonous stimulant on a regular basis is rather impressive, Mr. Strayton."

"Putting it that way," I mused as I started to finish preparing our repast, "you do have a point. I'm still confused as to how other humans are roaming the stars, though. Is there any Iprani history I could take a look at?"

"We'd need Hypernet access to find out," Fay answered as she frowned in thought. "Another reason we really need a working comms suite on this ship. It may be worth the risk to search the Iprani ship first."

"What sort of condition is it in, do you know?" Krystal asked as I started fixing plates. "How dangerous would it be to explore?"

"Hard to tell without a close scan," Fay answered as she took a plate from me; a grateful smile and a polite nod cast in my direction as I set the other in front of Krystal, making my way back to grab my own plate and a richly deserved ice-cold stout. "It's holed in a couple of places so it's likely either a no-atmo environment, or at least next to no atmo. We'll need LISAs at the very least, if not hardsuits."

Krystal frowned as she motioned to the window with her fork; the icy, thin-aired landscape around us bringing a chill as our attention was directed to it. "Our flightsuits with proper helmets technically count as a hardsuit, right?" As she spoke I slid into the booth next to her, focused on the conversation.

"Somewhat," Fay answered. "They are classed as softsuits, which should work as long as we're in a structure and not exposed to micrometeors and hard radiation. We can use the hardsuit enviropacks near the airlock to extend our EVA time." She took a bite of the boxed tetrazzini; nodding in approval as she chewed. "Much better than spacer rations or Nutripaste," she commented. "Again, thank you."

I nodded at Fay. This was a relatively quick, easy dinner option; it tasted pretty good and I had enough supplies to make it at least a few more times if I got creative with the ingredients. "You're welcome," I answered. "It sounds like I'll be left out of the party. Is there anything I can do to help?"

Fay looked out the window for a moment, sporting a frown of concentration as she scratched the side of her muzzle. "The Iprani vessel is almost guaranteed to have some form of environmental gear that would fit you," she replied. "Krystal and I could retrieve a set for you before we go exploring. The other option is using the machine room's fabber to make something that would fit you. If we're lucky they have templates for flightsuits and helmets that we could modify."

"By fabber," I asked, "did you mean that device downstairs that looks like it can print objects?" I had been meaning to try that out; even if I could adapt a power strip to the Lylatian equivalent of an electrical outlet I could charge my phone, tablet, or even my laptop. I was on board with that.

"Print is an interesting term to use," Fay responded between bites, "but technically yes. Fabbers are molecular assemblers that work off of patterns you can either create via the console or purchase from third parties. As long as there's enough fab-block material to work with, we can create inorganic objects. Unfortunately complex or patented electronics can't be fabbed, which means we can't make a comms module or anything like that."

"What about those respirators that we found in your friend's belongings?" Krystal asked; a thoughtful look on her vulpine features. "Those could be used as templates, right?"

"You can create templates based on scans of existing objects as long as there isn't embedded microcode that marks it as a commercial template," Fay explained. "It's worth a try. Why don't we finish eating and see what we can do with the fabber."

A short time later we were standing in front of the fabber; Fay's hands dancing over the keyboard as she worked the controls. I stood behind her in rapt interest as Krystal leaned against me. I spared a glance to my vixen companion; she returned a contented smile. Already I was going over ideas; what could we make with this thing?

"We're in luck," Fay affirmed, "We've got thirty kilos' worth of fab-block loaded. It should be enough to make a few items. The highest priority is your envirogear. Do you have one of those respirators? We can make a template from it."

I handed Fay one of the gas masks I snagged from John's belongings; the menacing-looking amalgamation of rubber and plastic dangling by its straps. She stuck it over a light green area that sat in front of the console; to my mild amazement it floated in midair. Moments later the light intensified; within moments a 3D model of the mask popped up on the console. "Looks simple enough," she remarked. "The construction isn't strong enough to be vacuum rated, but it can definitely be modified."

The spaniel went to work; her hands dancing over the console. She reached out and manipulated the 3D model directly as information danced across the holographic display; the profile of the gas mask transforming into what looked more and more like a futuristic helmet. The aesthetics looked a bit like a mashup between something found in STALKER and the Combine from Half-Life 2; I wasn't too thrilled at the thought of wearing it but I didn't have much of a choice. "I'm just about stretching the fabber's capabilities," Fay admitted, "but this should work with standard LISA and enviropack connectors. I just need to run a simulaton based on your recent mediscans and we can fab a matching flightsuit."

"How would the mediscans help?" Krystal asked as she snuggled into my side. She seemed tired, but curious.

"It's good for custom sizing and integration with the helmet," Fay answered, "plus it'll accommodate for Iprani physiology. It's a little different as he lacks a tail." As she explained a second 3D model appeared on the display; this one of a black flightsuit and boots. She started manipulating it; examining it with a close eye. "The scans look good; thankfully there's a universal template that can be tweaked. I think we're almost done. So, what accent colors do you want?"

"What?" I asked, glancing between Krystal and Fay. "You mean like the colors on your flightsuits?"

"Yep!" Fay affirmed, pointing to the screen. "The usual standard is to have high-vis accent colors to help identify someone in low-light conditions or in emergencies. Krystal's suit is a bit more subdued, but that is also common practice amongst smugglers and other types who don't want to attract attention and are willing to run the risk. I chose teal as it's a bit uncommon and I like the color."

I mulled it over a little bit. "Considering what we're up against it might be a good idea to not attract attention; black and dark blue, maybe?"

"That's fair," the Cornerian conceded, "though I am going to add an IR-reflective layer into the blue accents just in case. Krystal's suit likely has the same treatment; we need to be able to see each other if we're going to be exploring a wreck."

"How?" I asked. "I don't have any IR-capable flashlights or night vision equipment."

"Softsuit helmets integrate visible and IR lighting," the spaniel answered, "plus light-amp vision overlays in their visors. They're simple components which use basic silicon processors; well within the fabber's capabilities."

I blinked; apparently Lylatian tech had more underneath the hood than I thought. "How long will the fabrication process take?" I asked.

"About six to eight hours for the environmental gear," Fay pointed to a blinking timer as she put in the final changes to the color scheme. "Is there anything else you think we could use from the fabber?"

"I can think of a couple of things," I was quick to respond. "Could we copy my firearms with this? Having enough rifles to go around would be a great idea. Also, I could use a way to adapt my electrical equipment to run off Lylatian power sources."

"We can absolutely adapt the electrical equipment if you know the specs," Fay explained, "but this is a consumer-grade fabber whose AI is hard-blocked from making any weapons beyond agricultural tools and survival knives. Even if we disassembled one to scan its individual components the subroutines would figure out we're trying to make a weapon."

"Well, a guy can dream, can't he?" I conceded before shrugging. That was met by giggles from both Fay and Krys. "On that note, why don't I grab a couple of devices and see if we can figure out how to adapt them?"

The process was simpler than I thought; at the same time I earned the right to make an interesting bullet point on my resume regarding the integration of IT equipment with alien technology. Most Lylatian devices worked off wireless power transmission, though the voltage and frequency weren't correct. It was relatively easy to make a small set of adapters and queue them up before making the environmental gear, so at least I could charge my phone and possibly do a few other things to make the shuttle a bit more hospitable.

Currently, I was teaching my Cerinian companion how to set up the home theater system I had brought over from my now somewhat derelict house. "Okay, hon," I instructed, "That's the sources taken care of; we'll need to run the speakers next."

"Those have the wires that need to be screwed down to the receiver, right?" Krystal answered with a grin. Owing to her abilities she was a very quick study; she picked up on how to work the fabber almost as quickly as she was figuring out how to run Earth-made A/V equipment.

It wasn't the cleanest installation, considering we had to run wiring to the rear speakers along the ceiling using some gaffer tape I had lying around, but we were able to figure it out. The speakers themselves were mounted to the walls; Krys got a short primer in how to use a cordless drill as a result. The main event lay ahead; we had to mount the TV. "This is fairly heavy," I cautioned, "but all we have to do is lift it into place then secure the backplate to the mount."

"I think we can handle that," Krystal said with a wink before we hoisted the big screen into place. "You said this would be a better experience than watching those holovids on your tablet; going by your surface thoughts this is kind of a ritual for you?" She reached for my hand as we surveyed our handiwork; the warmth and softness of her fur a welcome sensation.

I paused for a moment to mull over her question. "Movie nights are a great way to unwind with friends and those we care about," I explained, gently squeezing her hand for emphasis. "I figure it's a good tradition to bring over, even if sometimes it leads to, well… distractions." I grinned at her; memories of what happened last time we watched a movie together quite fresh in mind.

The vixen's ears flushed bright red as she returned my grin. "We do have to behave ourselves now that we aren't alone," she admitted. "Otherwise…" a series of mental images crossed my mind's eye as my vulpine lover pulled me closer. I had to bite my lip as her arms wrapped around me; her desires teasingly laid bare despite our inability to act on them.

I acted on an impulse, pressing my lips to hers. She responded eagerly; a purr rising from her throat as we embraced, her tongue almost instantly flitting against mine. The world melted away except for her presence and the gentle, teasing thoughts that tugged at my mind. A wandering hand brushed against the base of her tail; my Cerinian lover's purr cut short by a muffled moan and a redoubling of her ministrations.

I felt her hands drift lower; a teasing, insistent tug at the waistband of my pants. Despite her comment we both knew this was heading in a particular direction; an errant thought crossed my mind that we could go to the bathroom and escalate our intimacy. Our lips parted; Krystal's eyes gazing into mine with a mixture of affection and excitement. She gave me a quick nod and a widening smile.

However, that anticipation was cut short by a voice coming from behind us. "The adapters are finished and I was able to test…" Fay's voice stopped as we turned around to look at her; my cheeks blushing as bright red as Krys's ears. The Cornerian wore a bashful, almost bemused expression. "…my apologies. Did you two need some privacy?"

"Uhm…" Krys stammered, "…we got a bit carried away. We didn't mean to cause any awkwardness."

"It's a small ship so these situations are bound to happen," Fay reasoned, a blush rising to her own ears; her bright white fur didn't do a great job of hiding it. "You're mates, and at the risk of sounding crass it's somewhat apparent you are in season. I'd be more concerned if you two didn't try to sneak off at some point."

"That's very understanding of you," I replied after we pulled away from each other. "These sorts of things aren't uncommon on spaceships?" A recent memory of what the previous occupants of this ship had been up to crossed my mind; that couldn't be the norm, could it?

"It varies," Fay explained as she walked up to us. "Military and most corporate ships have rules against intimacy amongst crew members, but considering some long-haul patrols can last over a cycle those rules are generally relaxed somewhat. On freelance ships the rule usually is anything goes, as long as any pairings or groupings don't interfere with operations," the spaniel flashed a bashful grin as she placed a hand on Krys' shoulder. "So, sneaking off to spend some downtime with your mate is rather tame as far as freelancers are concerned."

"Still," Krystal replied, her blush still quite visible, "we do not wish to impose on you. Our… downtime can wait."

"You mentioned something about a test?" I butted in, attempting to change the subject as I noticed Fay was carrying several cylindrical devices with standard electrical sockets on the end.

"Yes," the Cornerian nodded, apparently willing to go along with the subject change. "I tested with the devices you left me and they seem to power on without any hassle. I'm sure they should work for, well…" she pointed to the hastily thrown-together home theater setup we had been working on.

I didn't waste much time in plugging one of the adapters to an empty power strip. It lit up and its internal fuse didn't blow, so it looked quite promising. One by one I tested my devices; everything from my laptop's power adapter to the TV powered on. With a grin I motioned Krys and Fay to take seats on the couch as I finished connecting everything. Having the familiarity of my equipment was a massive comfort; that and I did make a promise to host a proper movie night.

"So," I began as I booted my laptop and plugged in an external hard drive and HDMI cable, "any requests as to what to watch?"

"Is there anything that shows what life is like on your world?" Fay asked; her aqua eyes full of curiosity. "I've seen news broadcasts and other vids from Ipran; I'm curious as to how different your world is."

I mulled it over a little bit. "I have a couple of TV series that would work," I answered. "They're fictional stories, but very popular amongst my people. One was produced when I was a kid and deals with investigation into supernatural phenomena and alien visitation; the other series is more recent and deals with illegal drugs and crime."

"Are these aliens like us?" Fay asked, her curious look intensifying. I shook my head. "Let's go for that one, then."

"Fair enough. X-Files wins over Breaking Bad," I remarked, browsing to the external drive and drilling down through my movie and show collection. The irony wasn't lost on me as I added the first season to a playlist and queued it up; the familiar show opener flashing up on the TV and the sound coming in loud and clear through the audio receiver. "Go ahead and start watching; I'm going to make us some popcorn."

"Popcorn?" Fay and Krys both spoke in unison.

"Yes, popcorn," I replied; snagging my microwave from the pile of things I had brought from my house. Thanks to these new adapters I could treat them to a proper movie night.

I hadn't been prepared at the sheer amount of explanation I had to do, though Krystal's telepathic abilities helped serve as a bridge between 1990s Earth and current-day Lylat. The plot absolutely drew my Cerinian and Cornerian guests in, but they had a lot of questions. A discussion on the FBI became a general outline of how the federal government worked; I was also put into the ironic and highly amusing position of explaining alien abduction theories to actual aliens.

As a result we didn't make a lot of headway; by the time we started getting tired we were a little bit into the episode about the Jersey Devil. On a more positive note I had completely convinced Fay as to Earth's complete uninvolvement with Ipran. However, she brought up a valid point.

"The fact your world hasn't had any official first contact event doesn't mean that your people haven't been visited," the Cornerian pointed out. "Out of the systems in the Core, Corneria was the first to develop interstellar flight. We observed Aquas and Katina before we decided to make first contact, though we didn't abduct Aquans and Katinans."

"That still doesn't explain how other humans, or Iprani, are known in Lylat," I countered. "We haven't done more than send robotic probes to other planets in nearly half a century."

"Perhaps something on the wreck we're going to explore can shed light on that?" Krystal asked in a sleepy voice; I could tell she was tired by the fact she was leaning into me and her muzzle was tucked into my shoulder.

"It's possible," Fay replied with a yawn. "I'd like to check the transport's navicomp; it should have logs that can tell us where it's been."

"Yeah," I agreed as I leaned back into the couch. "I think we need to crash. Tomorrow's going to be an eventful day."

"Which is normal for us," Krystal murmured from my side. "I'm really tired, che."

"Will you be alright on the couch?" I asked Fay as I shut things down, making sure my things were off and my laptop, phone, and tablet were charging. I would have loved to set up my desktop in the corner next to the kitchenette booth, but that could wait until later. "There's a couple of extra pillows and blankets sitting in that pile over there if you need them."

"Yeah," she nodded, smiling to us. "I can tell it's not super comfortable, but I've slept on worse. I'll get you two familiarized with the enviropacks tomorrow; that and we'll get a plan together on what we need to do on the Iprani wreck."

"G'night, Fay," I said as I helped Krystal to her feet. "Talk to you tomorrow."