Before anyone else could respond, Xatah dropped to the floor and grabbed the energy pistol at his feet, shooting the large cat in the head. It flopped to the ground almost on top of Duluth, crushing him.

"What the fuck!" The Private was screaming. "Get this thing off me!"

Commander Jackson stood there with his mouth hanging open and ignored the pleas of his guard as his eyes traveled behind Jenny and Xatah to finally spot the heard of thoratts milling around the area.

Xatah and Jenny jumped down to help pull the large predator off of the guard who was cursing in agony. After a moment's hesitation, the other guard released his weapon and joined them.

"I hate this fucking planet!" Private Duluth yelled once he was free of the large beast.

"Private!" The Commander was halfway up the stairs of the shuttle. "Watch your language and arrest those two criminals.

Jenny looked at Private Draeger who had to half carry Private Duluth who was bleeding from a dozen scratches. "Look, we all know your mission here is to bring that piece of shit in for a court-martial. You can try to arrest us, but I guarantee these thoratts are going to attack as soon as you try."

Xatah nodded to his ship. "Besides, this thing isn't stolen... your Commander doesn't really know what he's doing." He lowered his voice in a mock whisper. "I'm not really a pirate, and I'm not really wanted by the Intergalactic Police."

The two guards looked at Xatah for a long moment before looking at each other. Private Duluth grimaced as he raised his radio to his mouth. "Lieutenant?" he radioed.

"Yes Private."

"Aborting mission. Arrest the Commander. Let's get the hell out of here."

"Confirmed."

"What are you two doing? I said arrest that Kosst. Hey!" Commander Jackson started blustering as they saw hands grab him from behind and haul him back onto the shuttle.

"We never should have let him convince us to go off mission." Private Draeger muttered as he began hauling his companion back to the shuttle. He paused as he reached the steps and turned back to Xatah. "We'll be telling our commanders were you are as soon as we can and I'm sure they're going to send a crew after you."

Xatah nodded. "Of course."

They bent down to pick up their weapons as soon as the guards were no longer a threat and backed up into Xatah's ship, leaving the thoratts to slowly crowd around the exterior.

"They can't get in here, right?" Jenny whispered to Xatah as they closed the stairs, sealing them safely into the ship.

Xatah rotated his arm. "We should take off immediately, just in case."

"In other words, they can totally get in here." Jenny said in resignation. "Alright, let's blow this popsicle stand."

Xatah gave her a strange look. "What does that mean?"

She grinned. "It means let's get the hell out of here."

He nodded as if he finally understood half the things she had said to him. "Ah, human colloquialism, of course."

"Come on, let's get out of here before a thoratt sneaks its way on board and eats me."

He scoffed. "There is only one creature that will ever eat you, y'calla." He wiggled his eyebrows at her while she looked for something non lethal to throw at him.

"Hey," she stopped and turned to him. "Are you really not wanted by the Intergalactic Police force?"

"Of course I am."

She frowned in confusion. "But you just said...." She stopped and blushed as if mortified that she had fallen for his lies.

"Pirate, remember?" he said, grinning at her before leaning down and planting a kiss on her lips. He really did love kissing her.

They quickly headed back to the bridge. They had to protect the cargo and at this point that meant getting the hell off this planet. Jenny sat down at the pilot's station and he took up point at the copilot station. "How many crew does this ship usually run with?" She asked him.

"I believe we had seven on board, but we should be able to do the basics with two. We can pick up more crew on the way. Your crew, if you like." He said, not looking at her as if he could play it casual.

"Interesting proposition... though I don't think my crew would want to give up their bonus for the delivery they're on... but maybe...." She trailed off as they began to bring the ship back to life. "Most of the defense systems were locked out of my access." She told him.

"Yes, I can open them up... all Kossts have complete access to all the controls on the ship."

They worked for about an hour, checking all the systems and ensuring the ship was still flight worthy before they charted a flight path out of harm's way.

And then very carefully, Jenny flew them out of their protected landing pad. Beside her, Xatah gave a huge sigh of relief. She looked over at him and saw him staring at her with an intense look on his face. "I've been searching for this ship for years. Decades. Did you place us on auto pilot yet?" He asked.

She nodded and watched as he got up and stalked over to her, drawing her up into his arms. "And I've been looking for you for even longer. Say you'll stay with me."

Jenny took a deep breath and slowly let it out. She'd worked her whole life for the freedom of captaining her own vessel, but being on this ship, with Xatah? She had the feeling there would be even more freedom... and lots more fun. "Maybe you should convince me." She said, teasing him.

He all but growled at her, and threw her over his shoulder as he stalked from the bridge, heading to the crew rooms. Obviously he knew exactly where he was going, because he paused at the second door he reached and when it opened, she saw it was the Captain's room. This ship was made for luxury. It was large, with a kingsize bed in the middle of it along with all the comforts of home anyone could expect. A viewer was against the wall over the bed so they could watch the stars pass them by, and there were several dressers and closets. To the left, a door opened to the most luxurious bathroom she'd ever seen on a ship.

"Wow." She said as the door closed behind them. He tossed her on the bed and grinned down at her.

"So, how would you like me to convince you?" he asked, his hands on his hips. She took a good look at him, standing proudly in front of her. His uniform was a mess from fighting with the thoratts, so she decided to tease him some more.

"Well, first I think you should take a shower."

His eyebrows raised in surprise as he looked down at himself. "Oh is that the way of it?" He reached down and hauled her off the bed. "If I'm taking a shower, so are you."

He marched her into the bathroom and she saw a shower that was large enough for two. "Fancy." She said, turning to him and pressing her breasts against his chest.

Gipping the back of her neck, he leaned down to kiss her roughly, his forked tongue making her moan in delight as it spared with her own tongue. Slowly he walked them into the shower as her hands drifted up his bulging arms to rest against his neck. Almost roughly he released her and knelt in front of her to drag her pants down her legs.

While he knelt at her feet, she eagerly tore off her heavy sweater and shirt, throwing them out of the shower to pile on the floor. He tugged on her panties and they slid off her body, exposing her to the cool air, making her shiver. He took in a breath at the sight and as she looked down at him and ran her hands through his short soft fuzzy hair, he reached out and ran a quick finger along her clit. It was wonderfully warm, and made her insides clench with need, but still, she pushed him away from her.

"Not yet." She whispered. "You're still dressed and we haven't had our shower yet."

A low rumbling noise filled the air, and she realized it was coming from her new alien lover. He all but tore off his clothing, and she reached up behind her and took off her bra, tossing it into the growing pile of dirty clothes.

She turned on the water, and they rushed into each other's arms.

The warm shower spray added to the erotic feeling as they cleaned each other's bodies, memorizing each other's curves and muscles. She dug her fingers into his muscles as he lifted her up against the shower wall.

Slowly he entered her slowly, and she moaned into his mouth as they merged into one, rocking against each other as they made love.

They came against each other while the water was still hot.

She opened her eyes and gazed up at him and he smiled at her. "One of these days we'll make love slowly... in a proper bed."

Grinning lazily and contentedly up at him she asked, "Promise?"

"Only if you stay with me." He whispered against her ear as he spread little kisses along her jawline.

"Always." She answered, and could feel his grin against her neck.