While Kam was suffering a major crisis, T-Bone was getting a shock of his own. Tara had shown him around the impressive ship and was now leading him along many corridors and down an elevator until they came to a quiet corridor of doors. She halted at one and it whooshed open without her appearing to do anything.
She stepped in, he followed more slowly. Looking around he saw a very cozy and nice room just like any nice apartment at home except for one very large thing...a window that look out into space.
"It's breathtaking isn't it?" She said warmly, coming to stand close to him.
"Oh its that alright." He said shaking his head, reluctantly pulling his gaze from the sight to look at her. "So why did you bring me to your quarters...that is I'm assuming this is where you hang your hat."
Tara smiled. "Yes, these are my quarters. I brought you here because I really enjoyed my time with you in my temporary home on your planet." She said softly, watching his reaction.
T-Bone blinked and froze. 'Last night? Oh shit!' "You know who we are?" He blurted, half angry, half scared.
"Easy Chance, it wasn't that difficult for us to figure out who you were just from the data we collected. Your people have never guessed because they are too close to you and would not believe the facts before them." She said matter of factly.
"Uh...really...just reading information on my world allowed you to be able to pick us out of the bin and come up with our identities?" T-Bone said, disbelief dripping from his voice, his fists clenched in tension.
Tara sighed, "Here, I'll show you exactly how Genus then Donar figured out your secret." She went to her desk that was in a small corner. Sitting down, she activated a computer that was impossibly small. She asked it to relay the pertinent information and it responded in a pleasant male voice, immediately working on the request.
T-Bone was fascinated despite himself as he moved to stand behind her. Moments later, the computer began to spout information. He listened as it described the paper trail that, if anyone had bothered, had lead right to them. Shock rocked him. If just one person had gotten curious among the millions that handled this data everyday, their secret would have been revealed years ago.
"I stand corrected." He said in a hushed voice.
"No one knows this information except for our team and the command crew. We have no desire to give away such an important secret since you and your partner serve a very important purpose." Tara said seriously as she shut her screen down.
T-Bone gave a wane smile. "Thank you for that. I guess its sorta like we were fated to exist since no one had bother to look closer." He said shaking his head in amazement. "Wait till I tell Razor this."
"Oh, I'm sure Genus is going to do that for you." Tara said with a smirk.
"Uh, yeah that's right, they are lovers. Ah crud! That's what gave you a start in the first place. The Captain said Genus is an engineer. I'm sure just talking with Razor would have made him suspicious." The tabby said ruefully. "No way my bright friend could hide his intelligence under a rock."
Tara grinned. "Well that and the incredible bikes he invented and built. Even I knew the one I rode on was far beyond what your kind has developed so far."
T-Bone snorted in amusement. He reached out and pulled Tara from her seat and brought her close to his chest. "So, what is your true calling?"
"I have dual responsibilities as a member of an insertion team. Communications and Medical Officer. My rank is first lieutenant."
"Nice! I like a fem that's multi-talented." The tabby growled warmly, giving her a kiss.
She rumbled her pleasure at his willingness to accept what was happening and still care about her as well. "And I like big powerful super heroes."
T-Bone snorted at that but continued to renew his acquaintance with her and her luscious body.
As T-Bone and Tara spent some quality time, Razor was like a kitten in candy store. It was an inventor/techie's dream to be able to see such advanced technology up close and personal.
Genus felt a kindred spirit in the small cinnamon tom. He was a bright star in the heavens and he was going to truly miss him when they left.
Such a mind could do unimaginable things in this environment. So much Razor could accomplish if he had access to the tech he needed to spread his wings. Genus couldn't help but wish he could sweep this jewel away with him.
Suddenly, he paused in his rambling thoughts as something struck him. He was falling for this Kat. The sex was amazing, they were so insync with each other it was a little scary, and, though, Razor was definitely much brighter than he, it didn't stop them from being able to carry on endless tech conversations without getting bored. The small Kat was just so engaging and Genus hadn't had such a perfect partner before.
He sighed and shook his head, 'Get your head out of the clouds...he can't come with us, so stop dreaming about it.' He told himself. He pushed the wish to the back of his mind as he gave Razor a thorough tour of the ship and all its wonders.
Finally, after the cinnamon tom had glutted himself on everything, Genus began to steer him toward the crew quarters, the tom still asking a blizzard of questions.
Shaking his head and grinning, Genus answered everything he could to the best of his ability. Only a few times did he have to admit to not knowing the answer as the tom simply leaped intuitively ahead to things Genus had no conception of.
As he reached his door, it recognized him and opened with a soft noise. Razor stopped his questions to stare at it for a long moment.
"Sensors...it recognized you when you approached." Razor said with certainty.
Genus grinned warmly. "Correct. Welcome to my quarters." He said moving to the center of the room and spreading his arms out.
Razor stepped through the door and looked around the room. A huge window showed the starscape outside. Inside were comfortable furniture, a very advanced computer in the corner, a bedroom could be seen through a open doorway to the left. It was very nice and cozy. Some kind of alien artwork was on one wall and alien weapons were mounted on another.
"Really nice place you have here." Razor commented.
"Yeah, much quieter than my temporary apartment on your planet too. Though with you there I can safely say I've noticed only the noise we made." Genus said casually, beginning to count to see how long it took Razor to guess what he meant by that statement.
Razor froze and went still. He eyed Genus carefully as his mind quickly raced through reasons for what Genus was trying to say and how the wolf would have known their closely guarded secret.
"My bike...our discussions...and research of our past and the crumbs that lead to where we are now. As advanced as your kind are, it must not have been hard to put the pieces together and come up with the answer of who your bedmate was." Razor said flatly, tension singing through his body. The real question now was what Genus intended to do with that information.
"It took you precisely twenty seconds to come up with the correct answer." Genus said admiringly. "That steel trap mind of yours is why I like you...a lot. If you let yourself, I'm sure you'd realize that none of us will give away your secret. You and your partner are far too important to your people's survival...at least for right now while the threats still exist...perhaps after..." Genus let that hang as a brief flash of an idea sprang into his mind. But he needed to speak to his Captain first then see if Razor would consider it.
"What about afterwards?" Razor asked suspiciously.
"Honestly, I don't know. I have to speak to a few people first and we have to rid your city of its most dangerous criminals. Only then will I speak of what ifs." Genus said easily.
Razor cocked his head, eyes narrowed. He wasn't sure he liked where his mind was going on this...perhaps, like Genus said...it was too early to say anything more.
Before he could think of anything else to say, Genus moved closer to him and wrapped his arms around his body, pulling the smaller tom against him.
"So now that we've seen everything and we have a little time to ourselves, could I interest you in a little playtime here in space?" He rumbled invitingly, nuzzling the tom's cheek with his own.
Razor gasped and felt heat rise through him. This was why, despite his suspicions of Genus, he l couldn't leave the wolf. He set his soul on fire, he was his mental equal in many ways, and he was very good in bed. With that last thought, he allowed Genus to take him away on a sea of pleasure.
Feral was grateful the bathroom was very similar to ones on his home though far more advanced. The shower was strange though, there were no handles to turn.
Frowning, he grumbled, "Well how the heck do you start this thing?"
"What type of shower do you desire?" A voice suddenly spoke in the air.
Feral looked around sharply but he was alone. He realized a second later that it must be some kind of computer.
"Uh, what do you meant what kind of shower?" He asked the air, feeling a little foolish speaking to a machine.
"It will supply whatever type is required, sand, radiant, water,..." It listed.
"Sand?" He blurted in confusion.
"Sand then..."
"Wait, no...uh...water please." Feral hurriedly corrected it.
"What temperature?"
Feral sighed. 'Geez what a lot of nonsense to take a shower.' "Hmm, eighty degrees." He said hesitantly and was surprised when the perfect temp poured over him. "Perfect, what about soap?"
"What would you desire." It asked patiently.
Feral grimaced. 'Not again.' "Uh, an oatmeal based solution?" He tentatively asked.
Suddenly, a soapy substance came at him from the shower for a moment before becoming water once more. It smelled rather nice.
"Thank you. That works." He said politely as he continued to clean up.
"You are welcome. The data is stored for your use the next time you wish to shower. Simply ask for Feral Shower." The computer stated then went silent.
'Humph. Well that's certainly handy.' Feral mused as he finished. 'I wonder what would need a sand bath? Weird!'
"How do I dry?" He asked the air.
"What temperature?" It asked.
Feral was resigned to being asked multiple questions. "Seventy degrees."
Seconds later a blast of warm air hit him, drying his fur in seconds. Sighing, he stepped out of the stall and put on the incredibly comfortable and decadent robe around him. Walking into the bedroom, he paused to look around more thoroughly.
The bed was large and roomy, there was a bookcase nearby and on the wall was some kind of painting that was just too weird to make sense of. He frowned as he noted there were no dressers but the walls seemed smooth but he had seen Kam pull this from a drawer. They must be set so well into the wall that they were nearly invisible. Interesting.
Feral moved into the other living space. It held a couch, comfortable chair and modernistic table that was a smoky grey color and looked like plastic but when he tapped it with a nail it rang as if it were glass. Shaking his head, he continued to look around. Some interesting weapons were hanging on the wall. There was a recessed area with a light but he had no clue what it was for.
"I wonder what this is for?" He asked aloud.
"It is a replicator. Simply ask for what you want...food...books...personal care items...etc." The voice from the shower told him.
Feral blinked at that. 'Well okay, let's give this a go.' He thought as he approached the recessed area and spoke to it.
"I'd like a roasted tuna sandwich and a glass of milk."
There was a flash of light and when it vanished food was waiting there. Feral just stared at it for a moment before daring to reach for it. It was exactly what he'd asked for and it smelled delicious. Shrugging his shoulders, he picked up the food and took it to the couch and sat down.
He didn't touch his food at first, just stared blindly out the window. He had put on hold what had happened a short while ago but now he was relaxed and needed to deal with it. He'd told Kam he loved him and he'd meant it but how was he supposed to be with his mate, he knew in his heart that's what they were. How could he leave his home? The threat to the city wasn't gone yet but when it was...what then?
He paused at that. Was he really thinking about leaving? No way would he make Kam leave this to be banished for the rest of his life on Aristal. He loved the wolf too much to do that to him so that only left him being the one to leave. He stared at his world. Could he leave? Well actually it wouldn't be forever, especially if a way station was put here then there was no reason why he couldn't visit home. So maybe it wouldn't be such a big deal at all.
The idea intrigued him. It was a major leap to do this...leave ones world to travel space but when you did it with someone you loved, that's just what you did. Wrapped up in his thoughts, he blindly reached for his sandwich and began to eat. He continued to stare out the window at his world rotating below him.
The door whooshed open suddenly making him turn rapidly, a bite of food still in his mouth, the sandwich gripped in his paw.
Kam came in a little agitated but paused at the sight before him. Ulysses had showered and had figured out how to get food. Uly looked ravishing sitting there at an angle on the couch, the robe had spread open in the dark tom's surprise to reveal a long length of leg up to his thigh, his genitals just peeking out. His golden eyes wide and his mouth obviously still holding a bit of sandwich.
The dark tom swallowed his food a little too quickly and choked, he grabbed his milk to wash it down better but still coughed and gasped.
Kam went to his side immediately and sat down. "Easy love. Didn't mean to make you choke on your food. Glad to see you were able to make yourself at home." He said, carefully thumping the tom on the back.
Feral cleared his throat and took a breath. "You startled me is all. I was thinking a bit too deeply I guess."
"Really, what about?"
"You and me...how we can stay together. I can't ask you to give up traveling in space, I wouldn't want you to. But, I can't leave until I know my city will be safe." Feral explained, setting his sandwich down on its plate.
"You have been thinking." Kam said, in pleased surprise. "How generous you are my, love. I would not have asked you to give up your home...I"
"But you see, I won't be that's if your people's plan to set up a way station happens. Then I won't be cut off from my home. I should be able to visit from time to time...right?" Feral ask hopefully.
Kam blinked at his mate. He had been soo worried about what to do about suddenly being mated to a native and here was his beloved already making a decision to leave with him. How had he gotten so lucky?
"You're right. If your world is accepted into the galactic alliance, you'll be able to visit whenever we pass by here. It might be many years in between though, Uly." He warned gently.
"That's not a problem. I have no one I'm close to that I'm leaving. But I would like to keep an eye on my world from time to time."
"You amaze me love. Here I was panicking about this situation and Dr. Tennar was telling me fate would take care of it, then I return here to find you already coming up with a perfect solution all by yourself." Kam said admiringly. "Of course, we'll make sure your city is safe before we leave here. Captain Ing wouldn't dream of leaving you in such a situation anyway."
Feral blushed at the compliment then grinned shyly at his mate. His Dr. Tennar had been right, fate had taken a lonely Kat and found him a mate from the stars and his world was going to be safe and on the space ways themselves. How lucky could he get. He leaned forward and gave Kam a warm, joyful kiss.