A Space Story

It's not finished....

“Space, an endless sky of night and an endless map of stars. It’s cold and vast. An emptiness that holds hundreds upon thousands of worlds just waiting for the end…or the beginning,” I was saying to a group of Earthbound travelers.
    “Oye, Danny! The ship’s awaiting!” a voice calls out. I turn to see Lyria waving at me. She is my ship captain, a good captain too. Her white and red hair is pulled into a tight ponytail, showing off her pale complexion and pointy ears. Just looking at her reminds me that this year she will be retiring and it breaks my heart. My home, her ship, could no longer take to the night skies for years at a time, unless she gives it away.
    “Alright, I’m coming,” I say as I pick up my bag.
    “Good luck,” the Earthbound travelers call out when I leave them by their transport. I head down the station platform and nod at other space bound people and creatures.
    “Well if it ain’t Danny,” a well known voice says in front of me.
    I lift my head and stare at the half-breed tiger standing in my path. I stop and let my left hand rest on my pistol. “What do you want Jarath?” I ask with a heavy panther like accent.
    “What every male in this and every other space station wants…you,” he says as he openly stares at me.
    “Danny, love, there you are. The captain and I have been looking for you,” says a male’s voice and boy am I finally glad to hear it for once in my life.
    “Jean-Claude,” Jarath says and steps away from me. Jean-Claude, also a tiger half-breed, walks up and places an arm around my waist. I fight the urge to growl and swipe at him and settle into his body like I was used to it.
    “Come on, love, Captain’ll be pissed if we’re late,” Jean-Claude says and pulls me passed Jarath. “You can thank me later, Danny.”
    “Danny, Jean-Claude!” we hear a female voice call out.
    “Jeena,” I say to her. As she walks up t us, I notice she’s not carrying any luggage. “I guess you aren’t coming with us.”
    “Danny, still carrying only one bag, I see,” she says eyeing my bag.
    “My things have been aboard Blood Red the entire time we’ve been stranded,” I say as I slightly lean against Jean-Claude unknowingly drawing on his strength.
    “Jean-Claude,” Jeena says as she notices his arm around my waist, “did you finally get what the cat of your dreams? You know, Jean-Claude, if she starts to bore you, you know my number.”
    Jean-Claude pulls me closer and leans down to whisper in my ear, “She’s, now, part of Jarath’s crew. Shall we keep up the façade?”
    I feel his other hand cup my right cheek and I let him pull my face to his. I study the forest green eyes and notice the brown flecks in them. Before either of us can do or say anything, we hear, “Oye! Get ova here or I’ll lift off without you two!”
    Jeena smirks at me as Jean-Claude and I walk away from her. I let a low growl escape and Jeena steps back. She is a full-blooded human and I am a half-breed panther. “Have fun with Jarath,” I growl and turn to face a ship that’s been my home for ages, Blood Red. “You can let go of me, tiger.”
    Jean-Claude squeezes me before he lets me go and whistles at Blood Red’s beauty. Captain, she is absolutely the most beautiful piece of craft I’ve ever set my eyes on,” he says. “First Mechanic Jean-Claude Demonian at your service, captain.”
    “Welcome back, Jean-Claude,” Captain Lyria says and she lets him board the ship. I step up and she blocks my path. “Danny, welcome back.”
    I look into her brown eyes and take a deep breath. “First Gunner Danny reporting for duty, captain,” I say for protocol and the ship’s computer.
    “Welcome aboard,” Lyria says and looks out over the hanger. “I saw you and Jarath speaking.”
    I smirk, “Jarath wants to get into my pants, Lyria, that’s all.”
    She looks at me and smirks, “Still not going to give in?”
    I laugh as I walk by her, “Me give in, right!” She seals the door behind us and we walk through the cargo bay. “Cap, how’s Jorge?”
    “He’s doing better. He has to walk with a cane, but he’s doing well,” she says softly. Jorge is her only son, a half-breed panther, like me. “He is on board this time. First door n the left.” I watch as she places a small bag on top of a box. “Hey, Danny?”
    “Yea, cap?” I ask before I take the stairs to my room.
    “He loves you, you know,” she stops and looks at me. “Actually they all do.”
    I shake my head lightly and say softly, “They are all fools, Lyria. I’m not ready for a life mate or for a sexual encounter.”
    Lyria laughs, “I gotta love having you on board.”
    “I’m headed for a catnap,” I say, “Need anything?”
    “Nah, go ahead. Jorge, Jean, and I can handle everything. Go get your beauty nap,” she says as she shakes her head. “A ship full of cats is what I got.”
    I stop and watch her. “There’s more?” I ask curiously.
    “Get your rest, Danny. You’ll meet’em at dinner,” Lyria answers. I nod and head back down my stairs. New people means resetting my dominance over the guns. I growl softly when I hear the swoosh of my door and step inside. I throw my bag onto the bed that lays under a portal.
    I look around the room and take a deep breath. On the stale air, I smell an intruder’s scent, musky and earthy with a touch of spice and I let out another growl. Then I tilt my head to the side and hear my shower running. “Oh hell no,” I growl and stalk into my bathroom. I see a figure behind the curtain and grow out my left hand claws.
    “I know you are there, Kitten,” says the figure in my shower. “I saw you coming before you took your first step into the ship.” The voice is male and slightly muffled by the streaming water and the curtain.
    “Who are you?” I ask and lean against the wall near the shower. I watch as the figure moves in the water.
    “You will know me when I step out,” the figure says.
    “Now listen up, this is my room and my shower. This is my floor in Lyria’s ship,” I growl softly and push myself to the shower. As I reach for the curtain, it moves aside. I freeze with my eyes locked onto the figure standing there, glistening with water. “Mykael?”
    Mykael stands there, completely naked, handsome in all his glory. The familiar long blonde hair glistens slightly in the overhead lights and flows down his thick back. His beautiful deep emerald eyes gaze delightedly into my own. “Kitten,” he says softly and raises his browned skinned hand, “come to me, my darling.”
    “Mykael?” I say softly and stagger backwards. “I thought I left you back on Thurian.”
    “You, my darling, cannot leave me behind,” he says softly as he steps from the shower. I take a staggering breath and try to step away from him.
    “Mykael, Lyria let you onto the ship, didn’t she?” I ask as I turn away from him. I can feel my skin flush as I feel his wonderful gaze upon my body.
    “Captain Lyria? Yes, yes I am under you,” he whispers and wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me against his chest. My breath catches as I melt into his body. “Hopefully in more way than one.”
    “Hey, Danny…oh excuse me,” Jean-Claude’s voice says at the bathroom door. “I didn’t…know you had…a guest.”
    I look up at Jean-Claude and pull out of Mykael’s grasp. I step in between them and look at them both. I can feel the heat of anger rising off of them. “Jean-Claude, I would like you to meet Mykael. Mykael, this is Jean-Claude, First Mechanic.”
    I gulp slightly as I notice both of their fists bunch up. I step forward and place a hand on Jean-Claude’s chest. He relaxes as I begin to pet his chest. I lean into his chest and continue to pet him. I snuggle my cheek against his chest and took a deep breath.
    “Kitten, come to me,” Mykael’s enchanting voice says behind me.
    “She’s with me, leopard,” Jean-Claude’s voice rumbles lightly against my ear. “Get your own feline mate.”
    “She is my mate, half-breed,” Mykael growls.
    “Wow, wait a minute! I’m no one’s mate!” I growl loudly at both of them.
    “Kitten,” Mykael says softly as he reaches for me.
    “Mykael, get dressed and both of you get out of here,” I growl and leave them both alone. I stalk up the stairs and go into the kitchen to find Lyria behind the sink, washing dishes. “Lyria, I must speak with you.”
    She looks up, startled by my voice, and motions for me to join her. “What is it, Danny?” she asks softly as she dips a dirty dish into the water.
    “You allowed Mykael to come onto the ship?” I ask softly as I take the dish from her and dry it.
    “Mykael?” she asks softly and then laughs. “Oh, oh yeah. The leopard man. Yeah, he’s on board.”
    I groan loudly and lower my head. “Lyria,” I moan lightly.
    “Who is his Mykael, anyway? He’s drop dead gorgeous,” she smiles lightly.
    “Mykael,” I start.
    “Kitten?” Mykael’s voice floats up from my stairwell. “Kitten?”
    “If you’re talking about Danny, she’s up here,” Lyria calls out and receives a glare from me.
    “He told me that you were his mate, once. You’ll tell me why someday,” she laughs lightly and leaves the room.
    “Kitten, my love, there you are. Oh, beloved Kitten,” Mykael whispers softly. “I’ve been looking for you for a long way. Beloved, darling, I’ve missed you.” He surprises me by taking me into his arms and presses his lips against my neck. I feel his teeth scrape against my neck and I melt against him. “Come make love to me once more.”
    “Unhand her or you’ll get a face full of claws,” Jean-Claude’s voice growls from behind us.
    “Half-breed, get out of here!” Mykael growls against my throat. I gasp as it makes me shiver against him. I try to move, but my body is lax against Mykael’s chest.
    “Danny doesn’t like to be manhandled like that,” Jean-Claude growls loudly and takes a step forward.
    “Actually she loves to be manhandled exactly like this,” Mykael grabs me and bites down on my neck. I let out a gasp and my knees buckle under me.
    “Danny?” Jean-Claude growls softly. I slowly lift my head and plead with him. “I will go, but this isn’t over yet, leopard.”
    Mykael laughs and picks me up. I wrap my arms around his neck, snuggling into him. I look over at Jean-Claude and see his sad expression. I growl and Mykael places me on my feet. “Jean-Claude,” I whisper softly.
    “Take whichever male you’d like, Danny. I will not have fighting on my ship,” Lyria says from the kitchen door. “I may be elf, but I can smell the scent of sex on the air and I don’t want the others to get involved. Especially Jorge, he isn’t well enough to battle for her affections.”
    “Yes, captain,” I say softly and take a deep breath. I look between Jean-Claude and Mykael. My body aches to be touched and I collapse into a chair. “Both of you, get out of here.”
    “Danny?” Jean-Claude asks softly.
    “Kitten?” Mykael asks and they both take a step forward.
    “Get out of here!” I growl and swipe at both of them. I watch as they both take a step away from me and leave. I take a clearing breath and I shiver against the cold stale air.
    “I’m proud of you, Danny. Turn down two sex filled cat gods. I’m impressed,” Lyria says softly and sits down beside me. “I’m extremely impressed.”
    “I’ve slept with Mykael before,” I blush slightly. “He is a sex god, Lyria, but he wants me to become his mate. I’m not ready to have a litter of kittens and stay at home.”
    “Jean-Claude is also very good in bed, Danny,” Lyria blushes. I look at her and laugh lightly. “What? He’s handsome, sexual and well…deliciously wonderful.”
    “Then who should I choose, Lyria?” I ask softly and watch her.
    “Go with your heart, Danny. Only your heart and your kitty self will know who to choose,” she says softly.
    “Great, two sex gods want my attention, now what’ll happen,” I laugh as we stand up. We both walk over to the kitchen and finish washing the dishes. I tilt my head to the side when I scent another half-breed. This time the half-breed is half-wolf and it makes me cringe.
    “Why do I smell cats, captain?” says a male voice.
    I look over at Lyria. “Did you hire all male half-breeds, Lyria?”
    She laughs and nods. “Gotta love me, don’t ya?”
    “Lyria,” I groan and splash her with water. I jump away from her when she splashes me and hiss lightly. I turn to the half-wolf man and incline my head. “There’s three of us and we all just had a bit of fun in this room.”
    “Disgusting creatures,” the wolf snarls at me.
    “Oh really,” I smirk as I saunter up to him. I can smell the slight disgust and absolute interest in the air. “Then what do I smell coming off of you, wolf?”
    “Alright, Danny. You’ve made your point. Get to your gunners. They need ya,” Lyria laughs lightly. “Danny this is First Medical Jonny. Jonny this is First Gunner Danny. Careful around her. She’s already got three cats and a wolf chasing their tails for her.”
    “She a w***e like the rest of’em, then?” Jonny asks glaring at me.
    “No, wolf-boy, just in heat,” I growl lightly as I pass him. “And I’m just wanted.”
    I hear Lyria laugh and explain to Jonny who and why I was wanted, “Danny is special. She’s more than just a half-breed panther. She’s also a very highly trained assassin and gunner, plus all the little details aside, she’s a great cat.”
    I purr at the appraisal, even though I’m sure I wasn’t supposed to hear that, and keep walking toward my gunning station. I pass Mykael and let out a small growl as he takes a step toward me, “Not now, Mykael.”
    “I just wanted to apologize, Kitten,” he says softly, looking down at me as I walk by.
    “Go fish somewhere else,” I growl at him as I jump over my seat and settle into my control booth. “Ahh, the familiarity of my guns. How are you guys today?”
    GUNS ACTIVATED the computer says out loud.
    “Yay, time to see what she’s got,” I say and squeeze the control buttons.
    GUNS INITIATED the readout says. WEAPONS ONLINE AND READY.
    “Be careful, Danny,” Lyria’s voice says over my shoulder.
    “I’m just getting re-used to them, captain,” I laugh lightly. “Guns point southwest.” The chair swivels to the southwest corner and I sigh as I see Vegas 2. “Such pretty lights,” I whisper as I watch the sparkling of the lights along the several strips that hoard the casinos and teahouses from Japan.
    “Cats, I swear, I’ll never get used to their petty desires,” a familiar voice says behind me.
    “Jorge, if I remember correctly, you’re a cat also,” I laugh and turn off the guns. GUNS DEACTIVATED the readout signs off and I jump out of my chair.
    “Danny,” he says with a blush.
    “Jorge, come here,” I say and hug him when he walks into my arms. “How are you doing?”
    “Things couldn’t be better, Danny. I’m finally walking, even though its with a cane,” he stammers out.
    “Jorge, you know Danny and Jean-Claude,” Lyria says with authority. I realize that other’s have walked onto the bridge and Lyria is standing by her captain’s chair. “Everyone else is new. First Medical Officer is Jonny Wolfe, First Cook is Erick Dimno, and First Navigational Officer is Lyon Gorin. Everyone this is my son, Jorge. He is second in command. Danny, I turn it over to you, now.”
    I step forward and take a deep breath, scenting the different half-breeds and the one full-blooded lion. “Alright, everyone. I am First Gunner and Third in Command Danny. I am the one you come to for discipline,” I growl and glare at them in turn.
    The snickers that follow my speech make Lyria and Jean-Claude step up. I watch from my spot by the guns as Lyria lets Jean-Claude speak, “You may all snicker if you’d like, but Danny is a most excellent punisher. If you don’t believe me, just wait and make a mistake. I am First Mechanic Jean-Claude. I am always looking forward to a little action on the training deck.”
    With our speeches done, I watch everyone else file out of the room. Lyria, Jorge, Jean-Claude, and I stay where we are and wait for the door to close behind the last one. “Well?” Lyria asks as she turns to us.
    “I’ll be glad when they learn respect,” I growl lightly.
    “I agree,” Jean-Claude says and looks at me. “If you get overwhelmed by them, send some my way, Danny.”
    I smirk at him and say, “I can handle it. I’m headed to the training deck, myself. Anyone care to join me?”
    Jean-Claude steps to me, “I’ll go with you. Jorge, you coming? Lyria?”
    “I’ll come and work my leg,” Jorge says and joins us. “Mom?”
    “I’ll see you three at dinner. I’ve got things to do. Danny and Jean-Claude, please, do try not to hurt them too much,” Lyria says and disappears into her quarters.
    “Shall we, gents?” I ask and head off the bridge and through the kitchen. I feel eyes on my and fell them undress me a I press a button to open a door that leads to the training deck. “Care to join us, Mykael?” I ask, knowing exactly who was undressing me with his eyes.
    “Of course, I would,” Mykael says as he steps from the shadows.
    “Oh, I didn’t see you there, Mykael,” Jorge starts softly.
    “I was once Danny’s partner. We were assassins together. Isn’t that right, Kitten?” Mykael taunts.
    “Those days are long over, leopard. I left that path a long time ago,” I say as I move into the training area. Scanning the diverse equipment, I pick out the treadmill.
    “I challenge you, Danleea Domimion, to a fight of First Blood,” Mykael’s voice rings out over the training deck.
    I look at Mykael and smirk, “Mykael, I accept, but the rules are no shape changing the entire body, only hands, and if I win, you wait politely for me to come to you.”
    “And if I win, I take you on a date at the first planet we land on,” Mykael smirks as I walk to the boxing ring.
    Jean-Claude steps to me and grabs my arm. “What are you doing, Danny? This guy could seriously harm you.”
    I stop and look at him. His beautiful eyes show the amount of worry he has for me. I lift my hand to his cheek and smile softly as I say, “Jean-Claude, you don’t worry about me so…” Before I can finish, the ship rocks violently, knocking me into his arms.
    A voice come over the intercom, a voice I hated with a deadly passion. “Captain Lyria, I thought I stranded you on a planet that murders half-breeds like your crew.” I pull out of Jean-Claude’s arms and run to the bridge.
    “…mistaken,” Lyria is saying when I arrive. She sits in her captain’s chair.
    “Ah, I see you still have the wanted kitty. Poor thing must want other panthers around,” the man on the screen laughs. “I truly do not know why I let you leave, Danleea. You are magnificent.”
    “Get in line, demon,” I growl. I walk over to Lyria and stand at her side.
    “Won’t you come back to me?” he asks softly. “I can pay more than that captain of yours.”
    I feel eyes on me and I look at Lyria. “I’ll take this into my quarters if you’d like, captain,” I say to her. She meets my eyes and with them, I let her know my decision.
    “That would be wise, Danny,” she answers softly and I leave for my quarters. I pass Mykael and the rest of the new crew.
    “Going to leave us, Danny?” I hear Jean-Claude ask. I can hear the soft pain in his voice.
    I look at him and touch his cheek lightly. “I owe you a thank you, don’t I?” I ask him.
    I see the gleam in his eye as he nods, “As a matter of fact, yes you do.”
    “You’ll get a thank you, promise,” I say and sigh softly. I let my hand fall and walk away.
    “Hey, Danny,” Jean-Claude’s voice calls out behind me and it makes me stop. As I start to turn, I hear him jog to me. Once he reaches me, he smiles softly at me and hesitantly touches my cheek. “Hey, Danny, I’m sorry.”
    I look up at him, confused at him and myself. Myself because my heart is beating rapidly and I could feel my body heat up. “What are you sorry about?” I ask trying to keep my mind from wondering what his lips would taste like.
    “Earlier with Mykael. I want to apologize. I don’t know what came over me. I guess I’m just not used to the guy, especially since we’re all felines and we’ve already established our territories onboard,” he says as his thumb runs back and forth on my cheek.
    “Jean-Claude,” I whisper softly and hear a throat be cleared. “I have to answer that call.” I smile weakly at him and walk the rest of my way to my quarters. I straighten my shoulders before I pull the demon captain’s call onscreen. “Now what were you saying?”
    “Danleea, my dearest cat,” he says softly, “we miss you and would like you to come back to us.”
    “Fat chance, demon spawn,” I growl at him.
    “Panther, you’re forgetting who found you that night. You were all broken and scarred. Who nursed you back to full health and then gave you a job onboard his ship?” the demon’s dark red eyes narrow at me.
    I growl as the memory fights for the surface. “Damn you, demon. I will not let that night come back to haunt me. I’ve already paid that debt to the fullest. You can’t guilt me into coming back.”
    “Panther, I will have you back,” the demon snarls as I cut him off. Feeling uneasy about those last words, I run to the bridge and jump into my guns.
    “I take it, it didn’t go well,” Lyria says as she watches me turn the guns on.
    “Not exactly as I planned, but, Captain, we’re in for a fight over me,” I say as I swivel around to me her eyes.
    “We’d better win, Danleea,” she growls and calls in the rest of the crew. “Jean-Claude!”
    “Yes, captain,” he says and steps over to her. He leans down and lets her speak to him softly. I watch as he lifts up, his eye meeting mine. I see the determination deep in his eyes and I knew that they wouldn’t lose me or they would die trying to keep me.
    “Let’s get to work. If this is your first flight in space, then buckle up,” Lyria says and pointedly looks at me. “The rest of you know what to do.” I know what was left unsaid to the others. We can’t lose Danny. I incline my head to her and swivel back to my screens and then wait for the first attack.
    The ship shakes violently as the first beam is shot. I fire in return. I watch as it strikes the other ship and nod to the navigation and booster teams. “Punch it and get the f**k out of here!” I hear Lyria call out.
    I take a shaky deep breath as I watch the demon’s ship turn to follow us. Then I hold my breath as I watch them try to fire rounds at us. “Their weapons have been disabled, captain,” I say, letting out the breath. I hear the cheer go up, but stay watching the screen. I know that ship like the back of my hand. I know that they are hiding something, he always is.
    “Captain, we’ve been locked and targeted by a tractor beam,” says the navigation team.
    “Damn,” I say softly and unlock the belt around me. “Captain.” I turn to meet her eyes and look down, unable to meet her eyes.
    “Danny,” Lyria says softly and stands up, “it was a pleasure having you onboard my ship.”
    “What? What’s going on?” Mykael’s voice asks angrily.
    “It was a pleasure being here,” I say as I step out from behind my station. I look around and meet Jean-Claude’s pain-filled eyes. “Jean-Claude.”
    “Leave us then,” he says softly and I can hear the anger and pain in his voice. I start to walk to him to apologize, but he stops me when he says, “Just go, Danny, please.”
    I stop and nod. I turn to go to the escape pod bay and say softly, “Goodbye, then.” I lift my head high and start walking. I fight hard to not cry as the sudden lose of my closest friends hits me full in the face.
    “Danny?” Jean-Claude’s voice stops me dead in my tracks.
    “Jean-Claude,” I say and turn to him. I see him walking to me and my heart jumps, but I fight to keep it under control. “Please, this is hard enough as it is, don’t make it harder.”
    “I’m going to make it hard, Danny,” he says as he captures my face between his hands. “We’re not going to lose you to another ship. Get back to your station, Danny!”
    “Jean-Claude, please. He’ll win, he always does,” I stammer out as he pushes me back towards the bridge.
    “D****t, he doesn’t always have to win, Danleea,” Lyria’s voice says from behind me.
    “Lyria, you know what kind of fight that demon has in him,” I say to them. “He won’t give up.”
    “And we won’t either,” they say in unison. I watch them, my heart racing from the emotion they show me.
    Lyria steps to me and places a hand on my cheek. “Danny, we can’t lose this fight. You know what he has at his disposal,” she smiles lightly. “Use what knowledge you have of his ship against him.”
    I smirk and let the grin follow it. “Let’s go,” I say and walk back to my station. I jump over the controls and strap in. I go into my gunner’s mode and target the tractor beam. With an easy shot, the beam is destroyed.
    “Full throttle and do it now!” Lyria calls out. The ship jumps forward, but I keep my eyes on the ship behind us. I fire out two shots, one shot at the booster to the left and one shot to the right. I smirk to myself as I watch them blow up. I keep my eyes on the ship and feel a slight sadness for it. The demon’s ship is beautiful and I hated to destroy beautiful things.
    I watch his ship disappear into the darkness of space and stay strapped in my seat. I just stare at the screen, too afraid to move from it, I know that ship has some way to follow us. I didn’t destroy all the boosters, unless if a chain reaction started and blew the rest of them.
    
    “Danny?” a voice breaks me out of my concentration and it makes me jump. I turn to see Jean-Claude standing beside me with a look in his eyes. I bite my bottom lip and unstrap myself from the station.
    “I guess I’ll go to my quarters,” I say softly and walk away from him. I chew on my bottom lip as I walk, not noticing the eyes that follow me out of that room. I scratch my head lightly and head down the stairs. The door opens easily in front of me and closes swiftly behind me. I lean against the door and whisper, “Lock door.”
    DOOR LOCKED the computer voices to me and I stay leaning against the door. A tear trickles down my cheek, followed by many others. I slide down the door and sit down. I let the tears trickle and feel the beginning of the change. I let the sweet rush of transformation take over me and I jump up on my bed. I curl up, like all cats do, and try to calm my nerves.
    Someone knocks lightly on my door and rouses me from my slumber. I rise from the bed, still a panther, and send a thought thread to the computer to unlock the door. DOOR UNLOCKED the computer voices.
    Jean-Claude hesitantly walks in when he sees me in panther form. “Danny,” he says softly and opens his hands to show that he doesn’t have a weapon.
    *What do you want, Jean-Claude?* I ask him on a though thread.
    “I wanted to check up on you,” he says softly. “May I sit?”
    *Go ahead and sit. Checking up on me, huh?* I lay my giant head near his legs when he sits down on my bed.
    “Alright, I came to see you,” he laughs lightly and pets my head lightly. “So this is your kitty form?”
    *Yup.* I purr lightly as he strokes my head.
    “Beautiful as always.”
    *Jean-Claude.*
    “What you are?” he laughs at me when I lift my head up.
    *You’re just saying that because you are actually here to remind me that I have to fight Mykael and I owe you a thank you.* I accuse him with a laugh.
    “Alright, you got me, Danny. That’s why I came. It’s not the fact that I wanted to see you or the fact that I find you attractive or the fact that I’m wanting you in every way possible or the fact that I’m attracted to you,” he says as he looks at me and stands up.
    I am left speechless at his voice. I try to gather my mind back to normal and say softly *Wait here, I’ll come back.* I jump off the bed and start to walk to my bathroom when he steps in my way.
    “Danny, please, change here. I want to see you come back,” he pleads with me.
    *Jean-Claude?* I ask him softly and look into his eyes.
    “You still have the tri-blue eyes in panther form. Amazing,” he says softly. “Please, transform in front of me.”
    *Alright.* I resign and close my eyes. The sweet rush of pain, the crunching of bones, and the tickling sensation of fur disappearing make me moan softly.
    “Got ya,” he says as I fall forward. I feel completely weak and I let him hold me to his chest. “Here we go. To your bed.”
    “Thank you,” I say softly as I feel the cushion of my bed underneath me. I sigh softly and lay down.
    “Are you going to be okay?” he asks, brushing hair out of my face with a soft touch of his fingers. I watch his face and feel my heart flutter when I see the amount of care he has for me in his eyes.
    “Yeah, I just need to rest,” I whisper softly, fighting to keep my eyes open.
    “I’ll stay here, if you’d like,” Jean-Claude says in a soft voice. I feel him start petting my head softly and caringly. It begins to sooth me and I no longer fight to stay awake. I nod my head lightly as I snuggle into his hand and fall fast asleep.
    I feel a warmth of a body pressed against me when I wake and I slowly turn in the arm that’s wrapped around my waist. I see Jean-Claude’s handsome and peaceful face. I smile lightly when I see that he is asleep and I slowly pull out of his embrace, making sure that he doesn’t wake. I walk into my bathroom, pull off the clothes I am wearing and step into the shower. “Steam,” I command the shower’s computer.
    WATER OPERATIONS ONLINE, the computer speaks loudly and it makes me cringe slightly. The hot water cascades down my back and I moan lightly from it. I relax lightly and brace myself against the wall as I close my eyes.
    “Danny, where‘d you go?” I hear Jean-Claude’s sleepy voice outside the curtain.
    “Jean-Claude, in here,” I call out and look to the curtain. I watch as Jean-Claude’s sleepy form walks to the bathroom and leans against it’s frame. “What’s up?”
    “You didn’t wake me,” he says softly. “It had me worried when you were gone when I woke.” I hear the worry in his voice. “I thought…”
    “Jean-Claude, I’m not going to leave,” I say softly and turn off the water. I pull aside the curtain, comfortable with my undressed nakedness. I grab a towel and wrap it casually around me when I feel Jean-Claude’s eyes rake my flesh. “Thank you for staying with me, Jean-Claude. It helps to have another feline.”
    “I know,” he says softly as he watches me move around my bathroom. “I’ll let you get dressed and we’ll see you at breakfast.”
    I look at him, frozen. “You stayed with me all night?”
    “Yeah, it looked like you were in pain so I stayed and took care of you,” he smiles lightly. “I’m glad I did. You were scratching yourself. Take a look at your arms.”
    I look at my arms and notice the healing scratches there. “Must’ve been pretty bad, huh?” I ask softly, dropping my arms. Jean-Claude walks to me and wraps his strong arms around me lightly. “Thank you.”
    “You know, you keep saying thank you,” he laugh lightly. “I guess your debt has been paid.”
    I look up at him and smile lightly, “No, not yet, Jean-Claude, now I owe you even more. What can I do to get rid of some of the debt?”
    “You can go on a date with me when we reach our destination. It’s my home planet, Danny. I know the perfect place where we can eat,” he says with a smile and pulls me closer to his chest. My heart begins to pound as his hands roam my back.
    “A date then, the second night of our stay. I hear we’re staying a month, Jean-Claude. You should visit your family and old friends. They’ll be looking forward to seeing you,” I say laughing lightly at his feathery touch.
    “I am looking forward to our date,” he says and kisses my cheek lightly before he lets me go. I watch him leave my room and disappear up the stairs. I shake my head lightly and walk to my dresser.
    I pull out a jumpsuit and pull it on. I finish zipping it up and pull my jet black hair back into a ponytail. I run my hand through my hair and notice, once again, that my hair feels more like fur than regular human hair. I guess that’s what it means to be a half-breed, you can never get rid of your fur coat, I laugh lightly to myself. I finish dressing and look at myself in the mirror.
    Pale tri-blue eyes look back at me from a slightly round face. My skin color is slightly pale and the pattern that marks me as a half-breed is a tribal tattoo that resides on my left cheek and vanishes underneath the collar of my jumpsuit. I lift a slender finger and trace the outline of my thin rose colored lips. I take a deep breath and look down at the tabletop in front of me. I lean against it as I scan the earrings that I have scattered on it.
    Several pieces jump out at me to wear, but I choose three simple hoops for my three piercings in my ears and my diamond dangle for my left eyebrow piercing. I put in each decoration and lift up to look at myself one last time before I step out of my room for the day. I jog up the steps to see Lyria and Jorge in the kitchen. The aroma makes me hungry, bacon and eggs with pancakes. “You two are going to spoil the new crew,” I say as I walk up to them.
    I kiss Jorge on the cheek and give him a one-handed hug while I sneak a piece of bacon from the grill. “Hey, Danny,” Jorge laughs lightly as I walk over to Lyria.
    “Mornin’, Cap,” I say as I kiss her cheek and also give her a one armed hug.
    “Now don’t be stealin’ food before it’s done, Danny,” she says as she slaps my hand when I try to reach for a finished pancake.
    “That hurt,” I whimper lightly and then laugh when she gives me a motherly look. “Alright, alright, I’ll wait.”
    “Go, get some practice in, Danny. It’ll still be awhile,” Lyria laughs as she shakes her head. I kiss her other cheek and then steal another piece of bacon from Jorge before I head to the training deck.
    The door swishes open and I see Mykael and Jean-Claude working out together. I lean against the wall as I watch them lift their weights. “She is definitely beautiful, Mykael. How come you never asked her to become your mate?” Jean-Claude was asking.
    “Because I knew that she wasn’t ready. She’s the type of creature that wants her own life before she can settle down. No sense to try and tame a beast when it’s not ready to be tamed,” Mykael answers and lifts his weights once more.
    I raise an eyebrow and continue to listen to their conversation. “Mykael, Danny is a wondrous feline. She won’t ever be ready to be tamed and you know that,” Jean-Claude says and watches him.
    “That she is,” Mykael says softly. “You are completely right, Jean-Claude. Danny may never be ready to settle down and have a litter. She has too many memories of mother panthers being trapped and I know she doesn’t want to become like them.”
    “What do you mean?” Jean-Claude sits up and watches Mykael.
    “On one of our missions together, as assassins, we traveled to a planet where mothers of all types of creatures were placed in cells and were breeding tools for warriors. If the mother had a girl, that girl would be taken away and placed into another cell, once it was ready of course, and when she grew up, she became just like all the other mothers. Danny was completely angry with how they were treated and appalled with everything,” Mykael begins to explain.
    I walk to them and sit down beside Jean-Claude. “Danny?” Jean-Claude jumps lightly and looks at Mykael. I watch Mykael and shiver from the cold of the memories that had happened on that mission.
    “Finish, Mykael,” I say softly and look down.
    “Danny and I got split up. The next time I saw Danny, she was…being raped by some of the men we were trying to kill,” Mykael continues, meeting my eyes. “You never did explain how they captured you, Danny.”
    I shiver and look away from him. My focus disappears as I start to remember how I was captured. “I had been hiding in the room, you found us in, Mykael. I was hidden behind the big boulder behind that altar. I heard them coming and I changed my nails when I was suddenly grabbed from behind. A strong arm had me pinned against someone’s chest.
    ‘We have a visitor, men,’ the man who had me pinned. That’s when they carried me to the altar and did what they do to the women trapped their. I don’t know how long it was until you came, but the four with me weren’t the ones we were there to kill, as you can remember, Mykael. I don’t know how many men did that to me before you came,” I say softly.
    “But we killed everyone in that building and found the ones who had captured you at first. The killing of those men were done by Danny and the most gruesome killings, she’s ever done,” Mykael finishes for me.
    I am lost in the memories of that battle and how broken I felt afterwards. I had fallen into Mykael’s arms and fainted from exhaustion and the wounds that had been inflicted upon my body. The next time I woke, Mykael said that I had been out for three weeks. I shiver myself from the memory and see Jean-Claude and Mykael watching me. “I’m fine,” I say with a smile.
    “Okay,” Mykael says and gets up to leave. “I’m going to breakfast. Care to join me, Jean-Claude?”
    “No thanks. I’ll stay with Danny. I’ve got a few more workouts that I need to do anyway,” the answer comes from Jean-Claude as he does not take his eyes off of me.
    “No go ahead, you two seem like you’re getting along. Don’t let me interrupt,” I say softly and pat Jean-Claude’s arm.
    “Are you sure?” he asks lightly.
    “Yeah, go ahead. I’ll see you all at the table,” I laugh lightly and walk over to the treadmill. I step onto it and turn it on. And thus beings my workout.
    Fifty minutes later, I grab a white towel and dry the sweat off of me. I move out off the training deck and walk towards the table. I see everyone sitting around, telling jokes and laughing at each other. A smile erupts on my face when I see Mykael and Jean-Claude sitting side by side, sharing jokes and stories.
    “It feels good, doesn’t it?” Lyria’s voice asks at my side.
    “Yeah, finally you’ve got yourself a good crew that likes to laugh and talk as much as Jean-Claude and I, right?” I joke with her as we walk to the table with her. I sit down between Jorge and Lyria’s seat and watch the others with a smile on my face.
    “Pass the bacon, please, Danny,” Lyria breaks my watching.
    “Course,” I answer and pick up the plate of bacon. I grab a handful of slices before I pass the plate onto her. Then I take the plate of biscuits from Jorge and take a few. I keep passing the food to Lyria, grabbing some for myself. Laughter comes from where Mykael and Jean-Claude are sitting and it makes me look at them. They are both extremely handsome men and they both give off the vibe of danger and company.
    “So, Danny,” Jorge says, pulling me from my study of the two men.
    “What’s up, Jorge?” I ask as I look at the young handsome man beside me.
    “What are you planning on doing when we reach Thorian?” he asks as he bites into a biscuit with butter on top.
    “Well the first night, I’m going to go shopping. I need to buy some more clothes,” I answer him. “I’m thinking about taking your mother with me. How about that, Lyria? The only two women on the ship go shopping the first night.”
    “I’d love to, Danny. I hear Thorian has a great shopping district,” she answers with a smile. Breakfast continues on with small chatter, laughter from a few people, and smiles from the rest of us. It is comfortable and easy to get along with the new crew members.
    I finish my breakfast, pick up my plate as I stand up, and walk over to the sink. “I’ll clean up, Lyria. Go do what you need to,” I say when Lyria starts picking up the men’s dishes. “The men can bring their plates to me, don’t spoil’em too much.”
    Laughter comes from the table once more as I start cleaning some of the plates. I being to hum to myself as I dip a dirty dish into the soapy water and begin to scrub it. “Danny, sing for us,” Mykael calls out from behind me.
    “Sing? Danny, you sing?” call out a few others. I hang my head and shake it slowly as I think of a song to sing.
    “Alright, Mykael, what song do you want me to sing?” I ask as I leave the dirty dish in the water. I turn, grabbing a dish towel to wipe the water from my hands. “And choose a good one too. If you’ll have me singin’ to the group, then it better be good.”
    Mykael stands up and walks to me. “How about a love song?” he asks. I raise an eyebrow at him and sidestep his advance, taking his plate from his hand. I turn around and slip it into the soapy water with a soft splash.
    “Another one please,” I say to him, crossing my arms over my chest.
    “Alright,” Mykael smirks and uncrosses my arms. “Then how about a dancing tune?”
    “Dancing, huh? Doesn’t seem right with soo few women on board?” I laugh when he spins me around easily.
    ‘Hmm, then you choose since you’re being stubborn, Danny,” Jean-Claude says as Mykael lets me go in a spin. I end up in Jean-Claude’s arms and he starts dancing with me.
    “What is this? A dancing ship?” Lyria laughingly asks when she steps back into the kitchen.
    “They are trying to get me to start singing,” I laugh as Jean-Claude spins me into another’s arms. I end up dancing with everyone when Lyria is pulled into the dancing fray. I spin away from the last one, I watch Lyria dancing with her crew and hear her laughter.
    “Do they always do this?” Jorge asks me from the sink.
    “Mykael tries to get everyone in a good mood. It’s how he’s always been. Laughter is something he loves and he loves making people laugh,” I say as I watch Mykael being dancing with Lyria.
    “Mykael is a good man, Danny,” Jorge says and it makes me look at him.
    “What do you mean by that, Jorge?” I ask and turn back to the sink to begin washing the dishes.
    “I mean he would do nicely for you. He’s a good guy,” he says, blushing slightly.
    “Jorge, trust me. Mykael may be a great deal of things, but good for me, no way in hell,” I laugh lightly.
    “And why’s that?” I hear Mykael ask behind me as I feel arms wrap around my waist.
    “Mykael, you and I both know why we aren’t made for each other. We thought that once, remember. That was a huge mistake on both our parts,” I say as I splash water over my shoulder at his face.
    I hear Mykael growl lightly and feel him let me go. “Why’d you do that for?” he asks me.
    “Mykael, I don’t feel like being touched right now, okay?” I say and finish cleaning the dishes. “And I’m not going to sing for you guys, ‘kay. There aren’t enough women onboard to have a proper dance. Maybe at the next tavernal stop we’ll go and have a party.” I dry my hands off and walk away from the sink. I leave the kitchen and walk down the hallway.
    I run my hands through my hair and scratch my head lightly. What am I going to do if we find a tavernal spot on the next stop? I ask myself. I sigh softly and sit down at my station. I strap myself in and lean back, trying to relax. I grip the gun sticks lightly and flex my muscles slightly, the chair swivels in response. I close my eyes and let my reflexes go wild.
    “Danny, I need to go over some information with you,” I hear Lyria’s voice on my left side. I open my eyes, letting go of the control sticks, and look up at her. “It’s about the ship.”
    “Sure,” I say as I unbuckle the straps around me. “You’re office or somewhere else?”
    “My office,” she answers and leads the way. I follow my captain, scratching my head lightly behind my ear, and hear the soft murmurs around me. Once inside Lyria’s office, she waits for me to pass and looks out over the bridge to say, “Get back to work or you’ll be fixing dinner tonight.”
    I hide my snicker and choose a seat. I notice Jean-Claude sitting in another one across the wide office space. “Jean-Claude,” I acknowledge him.
    “Danny,” he smiles lightly and inclines his head to me.
    “Alright, you two,” Lyria laughs. “Listen up. As both of you know, I’m retiring this year. Jorge wants to stay with me and take care of me. The ship needs to be in good, caring hands; with someone who knows a great deal about this ship and loves it like home. Both of you fit the qualifications of becoming a space captain.” Jean-Claude and I lean forward and watch her. She is going to leave one of us the ship. Lyria looks down at her papers stacked in front of her and shuffles them around. “I’m going to leave both of you my ship. You are both captains.”
    A smile graces my lips as I look at her, proud of her decision. “You are welcome aboard anytime, Captain,” I say softly as we all stand up. Jean-Claude embraces her in a hug and kisses her cheeks.
    “You will not be disappointed in your decision,” he says as I walk over to them. I give Lyria a hug and kiss both of her cheeks.
    “I should hope not. You are both my best crew. You’ve kept this ship as your homes and have treated it thusly. Blood Red needs captains that are smart and treat this like their home. You  both make any crew worth traveling with,” she says as she places a hand on both of our cheeks. “I am glad to call you both Blood Red’s captains. Treat her with respect like you do now and love her with everything you’ve got.”
    Jean-Claude and I smile at her and watch her leave her quarters. I turn to Jean-Claude, smiling at him, and say, “Congratulations, Captain Jean-Claude. We have a mighty fine ship to take care of.”
    “Congratulations to you, Co-captain Danny. That we do, that we do,” he says and turns to me. “Danny?”
    “Yes, Jean-Claude?” I ask as I face him. He takes a step forward and I hold my ground as my heart and breath catches.
    “You look beautiful,” he whispers softly as he touches my cheek lightly.
    “Jean-Claude,” I whisper, not knowing what to say.
    “Kiss me,” he says softly as his eyes look deep into my own. My breath stops and it feels like my heart does also when he leans into me, slightly closing the distance between us. I can feel my body heat rise as I finish closing the distance. The touch of his lips against my own sends shockwaves through my body as I feel an arm wrap around my waist. I feel his chest underneath my hands suddenly and I pull back.
    “I’m sorry, Jean-Claude,” I whisper softly as I pull out of his embrace. My pulse is racing and my body heat is on overdrive. “I can’t do this, not yet. Please understand.”
    “I understand,” he says softly and runs a hand through his hair. “I do want you to know that I love you, Danny.”
    “Jean-Claude! Danny! Get your asses out here, now!” Lyria’s voice stops me from answering.
    ‘Coming, Captain,” I call out here and leave Jean-Claude in her quarters. I hear him follow me and I stop just before the door. “Jean-Claude?”
    “Danny, please, being in a room with you alone is hard enough without tearing your clothes off,” he says softly. Before he can say anything else, I grab his shirt and pull him to me. I press my lips against his and feel the heat rise up in both of us. Jean-Claude’s arms wrap around my waist and pull me closer. The innocent kiss turns into a dangerous hungry kiss.
    We push each other away when we hear the door open. I turn my back on whoever it was because I know that my face is bright red and my heart is pounding. My lips still burn from the passion between Jean-Claude and I. “Oye, Danny, you comin’,” Lyria says as she pats me on the back.
    “Yeah, give me a minute, cap’n,” I say lightly and lean against her desk.
    “Jean-Claude, let’s give Danny a minute,” Lyria smirks as I feel her eyes on my back. “You two are going to be great captains.”

Author's Note

I'm not finished with this story, thought I'd give everyone the chance to give me their opinions first before I did.

Reviews

[Craig McEwan]

I love the idea of all the human/animal half-breeds, still retaining some of their animal characteristics, that's a wonderful conceit to draw the reader in. When Danny goes on board the ship, and Jean-Claude and Mikael fight over her, I found that all their names were being used too much, and couldn't remember who was who. Perhaps you sometimes refer to Jean-Claude as "the tiger-man" or "the first-mechanic" and Mykael as "the leopard-man" or something, or give each another strong characteristic, or distinctive voice to hang their identity on?

I really want to know why everybody in the story seems to want Danny so much in one way or another... is there a back-story that explains this? What was Danny's history with the Demon-Captain.

Overall, I like the character of Danny, and I like the set-up of the half-breeds on the space-ship. The story meanders along a bit. I'm not really sure what the main plot in this story is. I don't understand Danny's motivation when she seems to choose Jean-Claude at the end, perhaps because not much is shown of her inner thoughts.

A couple of minor niggles that I spotted:

There are places where a word is repeated twice in quick succession, for example I would take out one of the "smirks" in this exchange:
-I smirk, “Jarath wants to get into my pants, Lyria, that’s all.”
She looks at me and smirks, “Still not going to give in?”-

And one of the "naps" in this one:
“I’m headed for a catnap,” I say, “Need anything?”
“Nah, go ahead. Jorge, Jean, and I can handle everything. Go get your beauty nap,” she says as she shakes her head.-

And an "attract" here:
-“Alright, you got me, Danny. That’s why I came. It’s not the fact that I wanted to see you or the fact that I find you attractive or the fact that I’m wanting you in every way possible or the fact that I’m attracted to you,” he says as he looks at me and stands up