The crew stayed in their provided rooms for the next few days, keeping their heads down. Lexi spent much of her time with Serra, trying to talk her into leaving, while Saphina spent a great deal of time alone, by her own choice. She was so wrestling with her confusing feelings. Lexi was here, now. Fun and a "safe bet", but she couldn't get past the lingering longing to see Ginny again. Why was she so hung up on the woman she barely knew?
A knock on her door startled Cali as she sniffled with Il'taira. She reluctantly pulled herself away and answered the door. Finding the head engineer technician smiling and holding a datapad.
"Miss Cali, all repairs are complete and the new engine has been installed. Final calibrations and tuning will still take another 12 hours or so."
"Oh wow! Thank you so much for all your hard work." Cali replied. "You finished so far!"
"We worked around the clock!" He said with a pleased smile. He handed her the datapad and turned away. After she closed the door, Cali fidgeted, and smiled at Il'taira who smiled sweetly.
"Let's go check it out!" Cali smiled at Il'taira who nodded to her. As they exited to the hall, they nearly ran into Lexi and Saphina who were headed down the hall toward the infirmary. They all turned to see Kyree approaching, a stern, determined expression on her face.
"Kyree, we can't express how grateful we are with-" Saphina began to say.
"Enough!" She growled. "Where is Serra?"
"With Katarina in the infirmary." Lexi said. Kyree turned on her heel and stomped away toward the infirmary.
"What the fuck was that about?!" Lexi asked as they watched her March away.
"That can't be good." Cali said quietly.
In the infirmary, Serra sat next to Katarina, who was conscious, but heavily sedated. Serra held her hand and whispered to her. Kyree looked through the doorway and waited till Serra looked up at her. The mercenary motioned her to come out to the hall. Serra patted Kat's hand and set it gently on the bed. "I'll be right back." She whispered. She stood and stepped out onto the hall with Kyree.
"Hey, I'm sorry about earlier, but I wanted to say thank you for-" Kyree held up her hand and shook her head.
"You're welcome, anything for you." Her expression softened, "but now we need to talk... payment." She said,
"Oh... uh..." Serra was confused.
"Don't worry, it's not as much as you might believe it to be." Kyree said. Serra exhaled.
"Okay, let's talk numbers." Serra said.
"No numbers." Kyree smirked.
"Then what?" Serra asked nervously.
"You and me." She said flatly.
"What?!"
"You stay here with me and I let your crew leave, or you refuse and I keep all of you here and take the Naginata." She said, "AND I turn over your Kurn friends to the Ghint.
"Why are you doing this?" Serra asked.
"Because I can." She shrugged. Then she leaned very close to Serra. "And I need you."
Serra shook her head.
"I miss my Starshine." She purred.
"Kyree, you know you and I will never work out. Beside, in with Katarina now." She explained.
"That red-skinned bitch!?" Kyree stepped back.
"I'm sorry Kyree, I just-"
"The choice is yours." Kyree shrugged. Serra sighed, her shoulders slumped.
"What choice do I have?" She said,
"None." The mercenary replied. "I will be in my suite when you decide." She turned and walked away.
The crew had gathered in Katarina's infirmary room to check on her. She sat up, visiting with the crew.
"I will be okay." She said to a worried Saphina.
"I will still worry, my Empress." Saphina said quietly.
"Saphina, I am not Empress, just Katarina." She gave her dear friend a smile. Saphina mumbled under her breath, causing Kat to chuckle.
"I'm glad you're on the mend." Cali said. "I can't wait to get out of here."
"Why?" Kat asked.
"There is some weird stuff going on, and I don't trust Kyree." Cali said. Il'taira stepped forward, "Emp-... Katarina, there is another being with powers here, like me. I worry they have sinister motives." She explained.
"Are you certain?" Katarina asked.
"Yeah, that weirdo gave off bad vibes." Cali added.
"Katarina, as soon as you're ready, we need to get out of here." Cali said.
"I think, if I get something to eat, I'll have the strength to get up." Kat said, looking around at them. "Where is Serra?"
In Kyree's chambers, Serra sat in a large, plush chair while Kyree leaned against a ridiculously large desk. The mercenary smirked at her former lover but didn't speak. They sat in silence for several minutes, until Kyree finally spoke.
"Well?"
"What?"
"Are you gonna fuck me or wear?"
"What?! Why would you think?-"
"Serra... Starshine... if you want your crew to be able to leave here... at all, you're going to stay and be my plaything, until you fall in love with me again." Kyree said. Serra stood and approached her.
"Kyree, this is crazy!"
"You used to love how crazy I was." Kyree said.
"That was a long time ago and I was a different person... as were you? We-"
Serra's words were cut off by Kyree's lips against hers. Serra pulled away. "What are you doing?!"
"You know exactly what I'm doing." She paused and shook her head. "Fine, I will let all of you leave... if you fuck me right here, right now."
"I can't believe you!" Serra scowled. Kyree reached up and took Serra's chin in her hand. "This is going to happen, don't make it... difficult." Kyree whispered.
"Please... don't." Serra whispered. Her conflicting feelings began to tear her apart. Why was she feeling this way? She loved Katarina, but for some reason, just being near Kyree stirred up emotions for the woman she didn't know she still had. Kyree stepped back and pulled her shirt off. She had a scar running down her sternum, a solid 8 inches long. Serra gasped and took a step forward. She tentatively reached out and gingerly touched the scar with her first two fingers.
"What... What happened?!" Serra asked, the words caught in her throat. Kyree gently took her hand and ran Serra's fingers down the scar. "Got into a fight with a Darakian pirate. He got the best of me and nearly killed me. I was laid up for three months."
Serra couldn't take her eyes off the scar. Her eyes began to moisten. "Oh Kyree, I'm so sorry."
"When I was lying on that cold steel, thinking I was bleeding out, I wondered how and where you were. I have missed you so much! I have never stopped loving you." Kyree began to tear up. She released Serra's hand and fell silent. Serra's gaze widened, taking in Kyree's physical beauty. Her abs were toned, her breasts heavy and round. Serra was utterly and surprisingly enthralled by her former lover's body.
"Serra..." Kyree whispered. Serra looked up into her eyes, she saw her past there, she saw the love they once held for one another. Kyree stepped forward. Their breaths were hot and rapid as mouths were open.
"Ree Ree..." Serra whispered, "I..."
"I know my Starshine... I know."
They came together, kissing passionately, tongues twirled around each other. Kyree moaned as Serra gently sucked her tongue. Kyree's hands went to Serra's waist. Then they slid around her, reaching back, she gently squeezed Serra's ass. Serra's hands found Kyree's large breasts, almost as large as Lexi's, but Kyree's were real. She suddenly felt comfort in her former lover's embrace and began to give into her lust. She gently pinched Kyree's erect nipples.
"Fuck Serra!" Kyree groaned. "I have missed you so much!" She slid her hand up to her waist and around the front. She unbuckled Serra's pants as their kisses continued. After undoing them, Kyree slid a hand down Serra's abdomen, under her panties and against her sex.
"Ffffuck!" Serra sighed into her mouth and began to pull at Kyree's pants. Kyree used her other hand to help her. Serra pants fell around her ankles as Kyree pulled Serra's tank top up and off. Her hands went to Serra's breasts. She leaned down and lavished them with kisses. Kyree spun them around and stepped Serra back until she was leaning against Kyree's desk. Kyree kneeled in front of her, pulling off her boots, then pants. She gently pushed her legs open and leaned forward. She inhaled deeply through her nose.
"You still smell delicious!" Kyree whispered. Serra was in a lust-filled haze. She looked down and as her vision cleared and all came into focus, she realized what was happening. She shook her head, "Wait, this is... wrong!" Serra said.
"No, it's not love." Kyree said, grabbing Serra's thighs. "Please my love, just let me."
"Kyree." She reached down and pulled her up to standing. "We can't do this." Her mouth was inches from Kyree's mouth. The mercenary tried to kiss her, but Serra held her back. "No."
Kyree took a step back, her eyes filled with tears. "Please, Starshine, please..." Kyree begged. Serra gathered her clothing and began to get dressed.
"Kyree, please. This can't happen. I don't love you... not anymore." Serra said, pulling up her pants.
"Yes you do!" She cried. "The way you kissed me, the way you touched me... you obviously still want me!"
"Kyree, I said no." She shook her head and sighed. "For a moment, yes, I remembered how things were with us... before it all fell apart."
"We can fix it!" She pleaded. "Just take off your clothes and let me show you how much we're made to be together!"
Serra pulled on her tank top and stepped closer to Kyree. She looked into her eyes for a long moment. Her expression softened for a moment. "I... I'm sorry Kyree, it's over." She said, She reached up and caressed her face. "Farewell Ree Ree, be well." She turned and hurried from the room. As soon as the door closed behind her she could hear Kyree scream her name.
In an alcove across from the bay housing the Naginata, in the shadows stood a group of five beings, whispering quietly. One of the figures got an alert chime and they nodded to the others.
