Aisha’s belly was squirming every which way. It was like someone had stuck a scared cat into a paper bag.

“Jim?” Aisha’s eyes lit up than she drew back slightly, nervous at the fear she saw in his eyes.

“A- aisha?” Jim said weakly, the fear disappeared from his eyes replaced by wariness.

Though he had been sleeping for several hours straight his ordeal had worn him out more than he could have imagined. Aisha hesitantly moved forward than set down on Jim’s bed. She gave him a nervous smile hoping he wouldn’t ask her to get up and leave. He didn’t.

“Are you okay?” She asked, her belly jostled from the frantic struggles of the man within, she punched her belly knocking her prey unconscious.

Jim stared at her belly and she gave him a sheepish smile. At first he wasn’t sure what to feel. He knew what it was like to be in a Ctarl Ctarl’s belly, it was no picnic. The taste of the dead child was still on his tongue. He suddenly felt sick and would have given up every wong he owned for a bottle of mouth wash.

“Jim, speak to me.” Aisha pleaded with him, he looked up at her seeing her eyes filled with concern.

She might have been a deadly predator but he knew she really did care about him, she was practically his big sister.

“I’m fine Aisha.” Jim offered her a weak smile.

It was enough. Aisha flooded with relief. She gave Jim a hug. Gene and Suzuka walked through the door. Gene lit up when he saw Jim was up and stable.

“Hey buddy! I knew you’d be all right!” Suzuka allowed herself a small smile.

Aisha just stroked Jim’s hair as she thought about what Gene had told her.

Ctarl Ctarl rarely ate kids. It was illegal to do so on non Ctarl Ctarl worlds unless consent was given, and it could only be consensual. If they were caught doing a crime they were to be released or turned into the police. On her home world and other planets populated mainly by the Ctarl Ctarl human children were a legal source of food but much rarer. They tended to be eaten only by young Ctarl Ctarl’s just getting big enough to eat terrans, and conosours who considered them a delicacy. It was true they were becoming more popular but due to recent negotiations and peace agreements between the Terrans and Ctarl Ctarl it wouldn’t be good if that info got out. They were also extremely expensive to purchase from Terran correctional facilities. It was the only legal way to obtain them. You couldn’t just snatch them off the streets and ship them back to the Ctarl Ctarl empire. The slave trade probably sprung up due to increasing demand and the need for secrecy during such tense times. With treaty’s being signed by two, up until now, enemies it wouldn’t take much to make one side or the other reconsider.

Aisha thought about what Suzuka had told them. They were being forced to make there own seasoning, it just didn’t seem honorable. Were they being sold behind closed doors to restaurants and grocery stores? Or private families? One thing was for sure, she had to make sure that Gene didn’t let the information go public. Even though she’d refused to eat Jim and Gene to cover up the Galactic Leyline incident she was still loyal to the Empire. Aisha had to give up her rank to become a permanent member of the Outlaw Star Crew but she didn’t regret it.

“Hey Aisha, Suzu, mind if Jim and I have some time alone?” Gene asked

Aisha glared at him but, after playfully ruffling Jim’s hair one last time, got up and left with Suzuka.

She waited for a good 10 minutes for Gene to leave. When he finally did she went in for her turn. She sat back down one Jim’s bed and stretched out.

“Aisha.” Jim giggled as the catgirl made herself comfortable.

“The chair isn’t that comfy.” She confided, Jim just grinned at her.

It was good to see him smile, “Jim……. I was so worried about you. That bi- that evil witch! If I had only stayed with you……..”

“It’s all right.” Jim said softly, but his smile was gone and his eyes looked suddenly vacant.

Aisha sat up, “Jim, what’s wrong? You’re gonna be fine!” she assured him though her voice was filled with worry.

“It’s just….. when I was inside of her……”