“Don’t talk about my past like you know me.” Trisha warned, her eyes flashing dangerously.

If Molly was intimidated at all she didn’t show it. Instead she snorted in a somewhat dignified manner. She pulled up her chin and closed her eyes, “But of course I know you. Your kind are all the same. Dirty smelly little vagrants always mewing for a hand out, you’re like flies. Always buzzing around pestering upstanding Ctarl Ctarl; we already have to put up with your offensive odor, but if that wasn’t enough you also try to get your grimy paws on our wallets by pulling our heartstrings. As if it wasn’t your fault you were poor in the first place. Honestly, it’s a truly disgusting display.” She sniffed.

“You little stuck up bitch.” Trisha’s voice was heavy, she was breathing hard even though she was just standing still, “how dare you? How dare you?!”

Jim gulped; he couldn’t help but be unnerved. If Molly kept it up he might end up seeing Trisha transform for a second time. Not something he was looking forward to. Slowly the red haired catgirl set into motion. She walked like she was mechanical. Each slow heavy step brought the foaming at the mouth Ctarl Ctarl further into the room. Molly eeped suddenly realizing the gravity of her situation. She’d made a big mistake. Never pick a fight with someone bigger and badder than you, especially when you’re backs to a wall and you’ve got no back up. Seeing as how Trisha was standing in front of the only exit the scared girl had no choice but to back up some.

“You wouldn’t hurt me…. you’re already on bad terms with the commander….. try anything funny and……” Molly’s voice trailed off as Trisha advanced. She sat down on the bed behind her and scooted up as far as she could go.

“What the hell is this?” A male voice called from the hall; saved by the bell.

“I’m in here!” Molly shrieked suddenly. Soon Christian and the thin stoic Ctarl Ctarl Charlotte filtered into the room, “Someone care to explain why there are two crew members unconscious in the hall?” Christian looked furious.

“Uhhhh….” Molly tried to cook up some bs quick but Jim was too fast for her. He told them what had transpired though he minimized what Molly had done a good bit (Jim wasn’t really the snitching type, that and he was a bit ashamed Molly had been attacked on his account. He tried to make it sound like Molly had come to pull a prank and not to messily devour him).

“Don’t listen to that Terran slave.” Molly spat, “They attacked me….. in Paige’s room…… no….. they kidnapped me and brought me back here for only god knows what! Yes, that’s it! This big brute was planning on doing something vile simply because I come from a respectable blood line and she’s poor gutter trash!” Molly pointed a claw like finger at her accusingly. Trisha lunged, Molly eeped once again, Christian intervened.”

Grabbing her wrists the male Ctarl Ctarl restrained her, “Enough.” Charlotte steeped forward, “Yes, we’re going to have to report this to the commander.”

“Yes, you think scrubbing bathrooms with a toothbrush is bad? Wait till all you’ve got is your tongue!” Molly spat viciously. She was relieved to have Christian in harms way instead of herself. If he got maimed all the better. Trisha’s punishment would be that much worse.

“We’ll be reporting on the little stunt you pulled here Miss Silverpaw, not your fantasy kidnapping.” Charlotte informed her, her voice not fluctuating at all.

“Wha wha wha?! But I…. she…… he…. They’re liars, it’s a conspiracy!”

“Calm down now Trisha or I’ll be forced to take you up to see the Commander too.” Christian whispered, “That yuppie in the hall didn’t knock himself out.”

“He was hurting Paige!” Trisha growled back, she’d walked up to find her little buddy trapped in a devastating bear hug. The large body guard had started off simply restraining her but had then started to try and squeeze the air out of her lungs so she wouldn’t struggle so much. Even with her prey fattened middle he’d squeezed her belly to sickenly thin. Trisha had unholstered her gun and pistol whipped the back of his head. Ctarl Ctarl weaponry was made out of tougher alloys than most, he went down easily enough.

“That may be true, and if it is he’ll pay, but you can’t take justice into your own hands. It’s up to the Commander to decide what happens now.”

Trisha didn’t say anything, she just kept staring at the snobby Ctarl Ctarl who’d hurt Paige, attempted to kill Jim, and insulted her to her face.

“I’m not going to warn you again. She’ll be punished for her actions, her and her attendant. Now if I were you I’d just take a few deep breaths, go out into the hall, and take your friend to sick bay.” Christian advised.

Trisha took deep breaths. Even though the thought of ripping the lippy snots head off was still very appealing It was too late now anyway. Charlotte had already escorted Molly out the door, “All right fine….. I’m good, you can let go…….. you can let go.” Christian released her.

“Come on Jim lets go gather up Paige and take her to sick bay.” She was such a fragile girl, Trisha suddenly felt very weary. Realizing Paige had been hurt in her absence Jim rushed out into the haul.

“Useless peon, I knew I should have brought Hammerspaw instead.” Molly muttered, referring to her other attendant. She’d been shocked to see him sleeping like a baby sprawled out in the middle of the hall. Charlotte didn’t respond. She cared little about what had transpired, she was just doing her duty. Skirmishes among crew members wasn’t tolerated and Molly had to be disciplined. It was clear she had been the instigator. Knocking on the Commander’s door they heard a thick, “Come in.”

They entered the room to see the twitchy leg of a young terran boy slide down Aisha’s throat. She burped into her palm, “Scuse me.” She scratched her now ballooned belly. Damn kids, not one of them had met her standards. Picking out a new slave used to be an exciting affair for Aisha back before she’d met the crew of the Outlaw Star. Now though the only one she wanted to boss around was her little Jimmy. She still had a few more left in her cage but she’d been moving through them fairly quickly. In fact the usually insatiable catgirl almost vomited up a half digested boy corpse earlier. Stuffing oneself silly sometimes had that effect but it was something new for the commander who’s belly could easily be compared to a bottomless pit or a black hole, “So what seems to be the problem.” Aisha sighed eyeing her two subordinates.

“Christian and I stumbled upon on altercation in the hall. Apparently Miss Silverpaw had forced entry into Paige’s room.” Aisha, who had only been half paying attention, suddenly sat up straight, “Is that so?” There was a cry from inside her gut, “Quiet!” Aisha thumped her gut hard probably giving the poor kid a concussion. She usually wasn’t so cruel with her food but she wanted to here this. Paige’s room? Why was Molly there? Was she targeting her Jimmy?

Aisha listened as Charlotte regurgitated the story Jim had told her as well as Paige’s condition and Hojoma’s involvement. It wasn’t hard to see through Jim’s cleaned up version of the events. Aisha knew the truth. Jim had covered for her many times when she’d botched up a mission or done something that would have really pissed off Gene when he found out.

The slim Ctarl Ctarl finished, “Please leave us Charlotte.” Aisha ordered the obedient officer, “As you wish Commander.” She shut the door behind her.

Molly wasn’t sure how much trouble she was in but she was pretty sure she could weasel her way out of it. The Commander hated Trisha and Paige didn’t she? How angry with her could she be?