The Ol Steadfast wasn't exactly a large ship though it could easily carry thirty passengers and crew comfortably. Its real purpose was to tow massively large shipments used for many random tasks in a large, unpressurized barge that followed the ship wherever it went.

They currently were hauling a year's worth of medical supplies along with eleven specialists to Zeta R, a planet so devoid of amenities and remote that it was lovingly referred to as the shit-hole of the galaxy by those that regularly made the trip. Most captains refused to run the route despite the heavy compensation that went along with the easy fares.

But Jenny had her own reasons for taking the job. Ca'ana, a small and frozen planet she was in love with, was smack in the middle of the flight path to get to Zeta R. In fact this planet was the reason she was currently on night shift, so she could catch sight of it as soon as they were close enough. And as luck would have it, the military's distress beacon indicated they were hovering above Ca'ana.

At least the military ghouls had had good sense to break down in a beautiful spot, thought Jenny as the she watched through the spaceport on the side of the docking bay, where she could just make out her planet behind the military vessel as it drew closer.

Her attention was drawn to the beautiful swirling storms in the planet's atmosphere which painted it with vibrant blues and starched whites intermixed with bands of silver as the winds blew through the snow-capped mountains. But it was made all the more beautiful because it orbited a ringed gas giant planet which itself orbited a dwarf star.

She had always desired to visit the planet, to frolic in the wintry wonderland far below, but the it was under strict quarantine seeing as the local life forms were not all welcoming. And despite her annoyance at having to deal with the impending military fiasco that was nearly inevitable, she couldn't help but be thankful that she would get a far better view than usual.

There was something magical watching as the two ships maneuvered together with the military vessel back-lit by the lovely little frozen planet where a storm was brewing in the high atmosphere.

"Captain?"

Miles's staticky voice broke the silence as Jenny continued ogling the planet.

"Yes?"

"We're about to connect ships."

"Proceed."

It took just a few minutes for the ships to properly line up enough for the two docks to merge and become airtight. Jenny paused just outside the airtight door as she still found the process unnerving.

She reminded herself that at least nobody she knew of had been sucked out into space yet and was cheered by the idea of sharing her fear with Benjamin. He wouldn't go near the docks for months.

The docking door gave a low hissing sound as it opened and Jenny faced a very harried looking older man who presumptively stepped onto her ship. He was wearing a meticulously decorated Intergalactic Police uniform which he adjusted pompously so that her attention would be drawn to his many medals as he glared down at her. Jenny suppressed a groan, as these types of people were always insufferably demanding, and greeted him with a curt nod.

"Captain?" he asked in a low grumbling voice. He had the air of a man who would refuse to speak to anyone but the captain, and would take it as an insult if the captain was not there to greet him. It was also clear from the way he sneered down at her before looking about her ship in disgust that he would have preferred more people to have greeted him. Possibly he just hated women, she thought.

"Yes sir, Captain Jenny De Rue, how may we help you?" asked Jenny in her sweetest voice.

The Commander surveyed the surrounding corridor with a disdainful look on his face as he ignored her question. Jenny was tempted to inquire whether they were just there to get to know each other when the sounds of a short struggle echoed down the docking corridor.

"You can call me Commander Jackson," said the military man as he completed his quick survey of her ship. "This is a standard merchant vessel, correct?" he added as he turned his attention back towards Jenny, and adding under his breath, "Not to be mistaken for a well maintained craft I'm sure."

"Yes sir," she said nodding with a quick bob of the head instead of slapping the man for his insolence towards her baby.

"Commander," he growled correcting her.

"No, I'm just a Captain," said Jenny with a genuine smile.

The Commander stood there for a moment as his eyes narrowed on her and his mouth tightened.

"You have a secure brig I assume?" he said instead of whatever was brewing in his head.

"Of course, though we never user it."

He nodded curtly. "Yes well, you'll be using it for the rest of your voyage. You are scheduled to be in Zeta R in thirty days, correct?"

"Hoping for twenty nine but yes, Commander."

"Then we'll be joining you. With my prisoner."

Jenny could now hear more sounds of struggling coming from down the corridor as she sidestepped the Commander to see an alien being pushed toward her ship. He towered over his captors. His legs and arms were shackled together with chains wrapped about his arms, keeping them close to his chest.

And what a chest it was, thought Jenny. In fact, his entire body was something out of one of her erotic novels she kept hidden under her pillows.

His simple black prisoner clothes did nothing to hide his bulging muscles and mouthwatering physique. But it was his skin she found most mesmerizing as it was both a dark shade of emerald and iridescent. It took a moment for her to realize that he was even there for he seemed to have appeared out of nowhere as he stepped from the shadows and onto her ship.

The prisoner appeared inconvenienced by the whole matter as if this was a terrible imposition on his time. Despite a dark bruise spreading across his face, Jenny had to restrain herself from running her fingers over his chiseled features. She chastised herself for thinking about running her tongue along his strong jawline and perfect lips.

It was only as the Commander was thrusting her out of his way as he proceeded down the starboard corridor without her permission that Jenny's agitation overcame her momentary daydream.

"We're not a prison ship, Commander. We have civilians on board."

"Can't be helped," he stated unapologetically. "This bastard disabled our ship. Our engineers are expecting the repairs to take a few weeks at minimum, and yet I have to get this prisoner to Zeta R immediately." He grabbed the prisoner and led him down the corridor.

"And how did he get out of your brig?" said Jenny as her annoyance caused her voice to rise.

"None of your damn business," said the Commander, turning to throw her a look of glaring disapproval. "Now out of my way, and not another word."

Indignantly Jenny turned to the prisoner, about to question whether the commander was always this much of an ass, but paused as she saw that he was looking her up and down with a slow smile spreading over his face. Jenny blushed and felt an overwhelming rush of mortification that he had obviously caught her vividly fantasizing about him.

So she turned her attention back to the Commander. "Commander, we're on a medical supply run. We have a priority status listed with our flight pattern," she said as frustration tinted her voice just shy of outright defiance.

The commander paused and turned on her. He waved his hand negligently in the air as if nothing she was saying was of any concern to him. "This is a military matter, Captain," spat the commander. "We will not hold you up, any longer than is necessary. However, this is an important prisoner. The council desperately needs to interrogate him and I'm sure they'll adequately reward you for the minor inconvenience you have experienced."

"Minor inconvenience?" said Jenny, her voice raised in anger. She knew full well that recompense meant she would get an email with a form letter of appreciation that meant absolutely nothing. Meanwhile she would have to deal with a dangerous criminal on her ship that made her panties wet.

The Commander's voice hardened. "Yes. Minor. And since you obvious lack the ability to follow even the simplest of commands I am inclined to commandeer this vessel for the duration of its journey while bringing on more guards... unless you think you can handle this responsibility?"

He raised an eyebrow at her and also raised his nose in the air. They both knew he could eject her into space and take over with no one raising too much of a fuss. Well, except for her crew maybe but no one would care what they had to say over the matter either.

"No Commander," said Jenny with resignation in her voice. "This is not beyond my or my crew's abilities."

He smirked. "I thought so."

Behind him, the prisoner gave her a lazy smile. Jenny had the distinct impression he knew exactly what she thought of his captor.

"Now," the Commander said as he paused in the middle of a hall, "Most of my crew will stay with my ship to get it fixed and they'll follow behind us as they may. My engineers will need access to your supplies so they can raid it for anything they'll need. Of course, you'll be adequately compensated," he said this last part with unbridled condescension.

She tried not to glare at him even though her blood pressure was rising. "Of course. My crew is ready to assist you anyway we can," she replied through gritted teeth.

"Excellent. Now then. Show me your brig. If we're lucky, it will be in some sort of usable condition."

"Right this way, Commander," said Jenny heading in the opposite direction that the commander had been heading. She gave herself a small internal pat on the back, anything to take that smug bastard down a step or two. Yet when she realized she'd rather be walking next to the hunky prisoner instead of walking ahead of him, left to wonder if he was watching her.

It was only through sheer willpower she could maintain her dignity as she led the small party up several flights of stairs and across the main promenade before taking them down to the other docking bay which was adjacent to the brig.

Jenny pressed her palm to the control panel and the door to the brig slid open. She stepped aside to allow the Commander to enter first and turned to see he had paused at the viewport next to secondary docking port, a calculating look on his face.

"Whose ship is that," demanded the Commander, turning to face Jenny.

"Mine," Jenny said with pride. Despite its small size the tiny shuttle could easily manhandle a bulk a thousand times its size with ease via an intricate system of electromagnetic clamps, though was mainly used for smaller drops when Ol Steadfast couldn't safely land or dock.

The Commander's gaze remained on the skiff for a moment longer before he turned and yanked on the arm of his prisoner, leading him towards the brig. He paused at the threshold and snorted with derision. "Well, you weren't lying when you said you rarely used your brig."

Jenny poked her head into the long rectangular room and saw a giant teddy bear amidst several personal belongings on the bunk staring at her, mockingly, in the nearest cell. She closed her eyes and took a deep, long breath. The first cell along the stern wall was filled with Cadet Benjamin's items, which came as only a minor surprise considering the crew had been slowly moving his belongings around when he wasn't looking; part of an elaborate setup she had concocted to make the cadet lose his mind.

"Apologies," said Jenny brushing her way past the Commander as she walked over to the opposite wall and pressed button to send a message to the bridge.

"Benjamin?"

"Who is this?" replied the voice from the other end.

Turned to face the intercom, as she tried to ignore the judging looks she knew were being thrown her way, "This is your Captain."

"Er... Yes Captain?"

"Come get your personal items out of the brig."

There was a pause that hung in the air like a bad joke dying on delivery. Jenny could only imagine his face scrunched up in confusion as she prayed that the next words out of his mouth did not embarrass her further.

"Um, Captain?"

"You heard me," said Jenny turning off the intercom. She turned to face the Commander who was now glowering at her.

"New guy," said Jenny shrugging.