“……….Aisha, you couldn’t have known she was pregnant.” Jim whispered to her softly.

Jim didn’t have any regrets about what had happened. Sure, he didn’t like the fact that some unborn babe had died during his rescue, but if Aisha hadn’t of torn open his devourer……..

“Aisha?” the catgirl was still glaring at the floor, lost in thought, Jim placed his hand on her arm.

Her eyes snapped to him….. and slowly her tense look faded, “Sorry.” She apologized.

“A- Aisha, are you going to be all right?” Jim asked, unsure.

“I’m fine Jimmy, don’t worry.”

Aisha didn’t like killing her own. Why would she? She considered every other race in the galaxy inferior in comparison. Still, she hadn’t even hesitated when she realized Jim’s life was in danger. Had she known the Ctarl Ctarl was pregnant though……. she still would have gutted her. Her fellow crew members were important to her, Jim especially. When she finally came to a decision that she would turn her back on the empire she did more than decide not to eat them herself. They were HER friends now and she’d protect them even if it meant…… doing what she did. She had to wonder about the male Ctarl Ctarl who got away. What kind of worthless bastard would run from a fight after his mate was killed? Especially if she’d been pregnant! If left a bitter taste in Aisha’s mouth knowing that one of her race could be capable of such cowardice. Would he try to track her down? Did he even care? Aisha was shaken roughly bringing her back to reality. Jim was in front of her. He’d grabbed onto her arms and shook her as hard as he could.

“Nyagh?! What? Jimmy why-?”

“Aisha! You weren’t responding” Jim sounded a little aggravated but even more worried.

Aisha saw the concern in his eyes. It was strange, Aisha mused, just a few hours earlier it had been her worried about him.

Gene looked a little guilty though she didn’t know why. Suzuka took him by the arm, “Let’s go and help Mel prepare lunch.” She suggested.

“Yeah, good idea.” Gene made eye contact with his younger partner and indicated with a nudge of his head that he should follow.

Jim turned back to Aisha “…. If you want some time alone..” he began.

“Don’t be ridiculous, I’m fine!” Aisha laughed in her raspy voice, “Come on, let’s head upstairs and play some video games.” Without even waiting for a response she grabbed Jim off the ground and tossed him on her back.
Jim’s arms wrapped around her neck and his legs around her waist. Jim smiled, even after yesterdays events she was still his big sister. He blushed when he noticed John staring at him. He suddenly felt very childish but when he squirmed Aisha wouldn’t let him down.

“Do wanna join us? You can watch me kick the crap out of Jim in Redhot Rumble.”

“I’m getting better.” Jim piped up, defensively.

Aisha just rolled her eyes. John was very hesitant. He wasn’t too fond of Ctarl Ctarl. He might not have cared whether he lived or died 2 or 3 days ago but now that it seemed he’d finally escaped the clutches of his slaver captors…… He remembered how Aisha had been eager to eat him earlier. Still, she seemed a hell of a lot nicer than Sarah, at least while this Jim kid was around her.

“Sure I guess.”

Jim gave up trying to dismount Aisha

He smiled down at John “Well, you can play the winner.”

“In other words…. ME!” Jim glared down at the back of Aisha’s head.

“Okay then, lets go……Yah!” he gave her a light kick trying to set her in motion as if she were a horse.

“Watch it Jim, unless of course you’d like to wind up in my belly.” Aisha growled, this caused him to abandon his plans of using Aisha’s pony tail as reigns.

John looked frightened but Jim only laughed. Suddenly Aisha crouched down and bolted for the stairs, Jim laughing all the way. After a moment John followed them.