FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

-Transmission Lost-

-Sounds of Madness-

Chapter Four: Return to Normal

by Havoc

"No matter under what circumstances you leave it, home does not cease to be home. No matter how you lived there - well or poorly."

• Joseph Brodsky

******

Admiral Jin Te'rou was finding himself very bored. Aboard his flagship, the Ascendancy heavy battlecruiser Krisa'la, in high orbit above Lirna, he didn't have a whole lot to do. His orders from the Empress were to see to the defense of the homeworld, but apart from ensuring that the fleets were properly placed that didn't entail much action on his part. Most of his time was spent either on the ship or on the surface of the planet, in meetings with the Empress and the senior admirals under his command. The time spent on his flagship was taken up by tedious monitoring of the shipborne radar and tracking systems, although most of this was not done personally by him. He left the majority of that task to the officers and enlisted personnel under his command, but he did like to sit down at the monitors every now and then just to have something to do. Te'rou had begun his career in the Ascendancy Navy as a radar officer, so he was very familiar with the job. Doing so made his soldiers feel that he was one of them instead of a pompous bureaucrat, which was a valuable effect in itself.

Today, though, he was sitting in his command chair on the expansive bridge, looking down over the rows of consoles that composed the impressive suite of instruments which kept a two-kilometer warship operating. Not a whole lot seemed to be going on. They were on high alert for the first time since the war with the humans had begun, since Lirna had never been in any serious danger from the humans, but now that civil war seemed to have officially begun the homeworld could conceivably be attacked. Being on high alert meant little in the way of change except that more personnel were on duty at once than normally would have been. Every station was manned instead of the bridge bearing the minimum complement required for safe operation. Te'rou needed as many eyes on the instruments as possible to keep the fleet from being taken by surprise. However, apart from the normal civilian and military traffic that could always be found in the space above Lirna, the "skies" were empty.

-Another quiet day.-

Te'rou turned his head, looking at Admiral Grelen, the commander of the First Fleet. While Te'rou led the fleet from the bridge of the_Krisa'la,_ she was the official captain of the ship. Grelen was older than he, and so would have properly been considered a more fitting candidate for Chief Admiral, but she had never expressed much ambition for the top job and so Te'rou had been selected over her by the Empress. She was a good officer and a seasoned veteran of battles with the Pteryd and humans, and definitely would have been Te'rou's choice to lead the First Fleet if she hadn't already been in the job.

-Quiet, yes,- Te'rou agreed. -But let's not allow our attention to waver, Admiral. There is a war on, after all.-

-Two wars, you mean. But you make a fair point. Don't worry, Jin. My soldiers are primed and ready.- She gestured to the multitude of Ailians sitting at their stations. -I don't think anyone is going to attack Lirna while we're here, at least not without our knowing about it. You can relax just a little.-

-Well...I suppose so,- Te'rou allowed. -The reports I keep getting from the Inner Colonies have me a bit on edge. We're slowing the rebels down out there, but they're still creeping along, little by little. I think the war is going to make it here sooner rather than later.-

Te'rou turned his attention back to the forward viewscreens. While smaller ships had physical windows, larger warships instead had electronic screens which projected the view of outside from cameras installed on the outer hull. The view right now was of the blackness of space, dotted with stars. To the right, he could just see one of the other ships in his fleet, another heavy battlecruiser called the Neran'la. They formed only a fraction of the vessels arrayed in the defense of Lirna. The stars were always a beautiful sight to Te'rou. He had spent much of life in space, and found a certain sense of home there.

A small flurry of activity from the crew deck caught Te'rou's eye. He stood up from his chair and stepped forward to the railing separating the raised command platform from the stations below, looking down. -Report!-

One of the radar officers, a lieutenant, turned his chair to address the admiral. -Sir, we're detecting a vessel emerging from hyperspace. Unscheduled. Its shields are active but the weapons seem to be powered down.-

Admiral Te'rou felt his pulse quicken. -Class?-

-Looks like a patrol ship. Could be a reconnaissance craft on a probing mission. It's in visual range now, sir, I'll put it up on the screen.- The lieutenant turned to his console and input a command. Up on the viewscreens, the image of space zoomed in. The screen was filled with the picture of a craft which was familiar to Te'rou, with the exception that it was painted blood red instead of black. The colors flown by the rebel forces.

Admiral Grelen stood up from her chair, hissing softly. -That's a fast-attack craft,- she growled. -It could be a scout, leading the way for a larger fleet.-

-Agreed,- Te'rou said. -Lock weapons onto the patrol ship, then open a communications channel. See if the pilot will respond to our hails.-

The chief weapons officer on duty moved to carry out his orders. -It's not in optimum range yet, Admiral, but our weapons are locked on its approach vector. Opening a channel now. You can speak whenever you're ready, sir.-

Te'rou cleared his throat. -Unidentified patrol ship, this is Admiral Te'rou on board the Krisa'la. Identify yourself and state your intentions or you will be fired upon. You have five seconds to respond.-

Three seconds passed before the response came over the channel. -Admiral, this is the...ah...actually, I'm not sure of the name of this ship,- a female voice stated. -Please do not fire. My weapons are offline and I have no intention of powering them on. My shields are up because I was half sure you were going to fire on me as soon as I arrived. This is Lieutenant Aria Me'lia, and I would appreciate being given safe passage down to the planet's surface.-

His eyes widening, Te'rou exchanged a surprised glance with Admiral Grelen before muting the channel. -Sergeant!- he barked down to the crew deck. A head turned at his shout. -Lock a tractor beam on that ship immediately, and bring it into our main hangar bay. Have a squad ready to greet it when it arrives.- Without waiting for the acknowledgment of his order he unmuted the channel. -Lieutenant Me'lia, you have a lot of explaining to do. For one thing, I'd like to know where you've been for the last week and why you've decided to come back.-

-I understand, Admiral. With all due respect, I'd like to save that until I can speak with the Empress.-

Te'rou resisted the urge to let out a laugh. -And just what makes you think the Empress will see you?-

-She'll want to hear this, and I want to deliver it personally. I have information regarding who is behind the rebellion.- There was a pause, and then Aria's voice came back, sounding subdued. -I...I know this is an improper request, Admiral, but please. I need to do it this way. You'll understand later.-

Te'rou leaned back from the railing, clasping his hands behind his back. His mind was still trying to catch up with this unexpected development, but there was something in the lieutenant's voice that grabbed him. The emotion sounded genuine. Coming to a decision, he looked over his shoulder at Admiral Grelen.

-Admiral, send a message down to the planet informing Her Majesty of the situation. Request a meeting with her. At her convenience, but please express the urgency of the matter.- Ignoring the shock on Admiral Grelen's face, he turned back to the viewscreen. -Very well, Lieutenant. I hope you know what you are doing. Power down your engines and prepare to be brought into the hangar. You're going to be placed into custody and I expect you not to make any trouble for us, is that clear?-

-Very clear, Admiral. And thank you. It's good to be home.-

******

Hours later, Empress Kri'a Solan leaned back in her chair in her palace meeting room, trying to absorb everything that she had just been told. The assorted military officers and counselors sitting around the conference table, including Admiral Te'rou, were in the same state of shock that she was. Though the ceiling-high windows in the room were letting in the bright, hot Lirnan sun, the mood was dark. After hearing everything that Aria had just recounted to them, none of them knew quite what to think. While they had already known that all of the Outer Colony fleets were arrayed against them, none of them could have thought that the Pteryd, their ancient enemies, would be allied with the rebels. Knowing that some humans had chosen to join them was something of a shock as well. Most of all, they were shocked to learn that Ara'lana Me'lia was still alive after three years of her death being common knowledge. None of them could have anticipated just how dire the situation was, when it had already seemed so bad.

-Is there anything else, Lieutenant?- Kri'a asked, just to have something to say. She was still reeling from everything that had been thrown at her.

Aria shook her head. She was flanked by armed guards, there to protect the Empress from one who was still, technically, under charges of being a traitor. -No, m'lady. I think that's everything. I managed to steal the ship I returned in, and I spent the last three days traveling back to Lirna. I knew I had to get this information back to you as quickly as possible.-

With a loud growl, the Empress stood up from her chair, turning away and walking to the window. She looked out in silence, gazing down at the palace gardens. Her eyes drifted up, looking past the palace grounds to the city of Hayikwiir, with its tall metal buildings shimmering in the desert heat. The view from the palace was spectacular, as always, but her heart was little comforted by the beauty of her home. She felt angry, betrayed, and above all terrified at the disaster that she was facing. Now she knew what the Empresses of centuries ago had dealt with, when the first civil war had struck the Ascendancy. This was worse, though, because back then they had not had to face the combined forces of three races.

-I always knew there was a reason I disliked Ara'lana,- Kri'a finally said. -My mother warned me about her before she died, even though she considered her to be a loyal servant. But to think she could be capable of such treason...I never would have seen this coming.- She turned back to Aria, managing to offer the hint of a smile. -Lieutenant, you did well to bring this information to me. And I'm sure that the ship you brought with you will offer even more information.-

-I was only doing my duty, Your Majesty,- Aria said, inclining her head and staring at the tabletop. -Anyone here would have done the same.-

-I'm sure,- the Empress said, looking among the other Ailians in the room. She gazed intently back at Aria. -You could have joined your mother and fought for your heritage. You know that returning here means your trial must continue. You are still under charges of treason, Lieutenant. And even knowing this, you have still decided to come home. With the ship you stole, you could have gone anywhere. I must admit I am curious, so I must ask: Why did you return?-

Jerking her head up, Aria looked at the Empress in surprise. -What else could I do?- The lieutenant straightened up in her chair, her eyes filled with a fierce pride. -When I graduated from officer training and took my commission, I swore an oath to serve you and the Ascendancy until my dying day. My honor demands that I do no less. What my mother has decided to do does not change that. I loved my mother, m'lady, but I love my people more.-

Nodding slowly, the Empress returned to her seat. Her smile had grown while Aria was talking. -I can see now that I was very right to put my faith in you, Aria,- she said. -I could ask no more of a loyal soldier of the Ascendancy. You have proven yourself most admirably.- She turned her head slightly. -Would you agree, Admiral?-

Admiral Te'rou stirred in his seat. He glanced at the Empress, and then looked at Aria with a grudging sort of respect. -I suppose...-

-Then I believe that settles at least one matter.- The Empress waved a hand to the guards flanking Aria. -You may go. You are no longer needed here.- The guards bowed to her and exited the room. -Lieutenant. Stand, please.-

Not sure exactly what was going on, Aria stood up from her chair. She looked around the room at the admirals and councilors, seeing a mixture of emotions on their faces. A number of them had much the same expressions of pride that the Empress wore, while some of them refused to meet her gaze. She looked at each of them in turn, and then she looked back to Kri'a. For the first time since coming back to Lirna, Aria felt ashamed of the state of her uniform. She still wore the same clothes she had been wearing when Major Tal'in had abducted her from her trial, and they were dirty, stained with Pteryd blood, and torn in spots. Aria wished that someone had thought to bring her a change of clothes before coming to see the Empress.

-Lieutenant Me'lia,- the Empress said, pulling Aria away from her thoughts. -You have demonstrated loyalty and bravery above and beyond what can be expected of an officer of the Ascendancy Navy. Your courage serves as an example of what an honorable Ailian should strive to be. In accordance with this, it pleases me greatly to dismiss all charges against you.- Kri'a beamed at her. -You are a free woman, Aria.-

For a moment Aria wasn't sure that she had heard the Empress correctly. As the meaning of her words started to dawn on her, she felt her knees go weak, and she sank back into her chair. She tried to find her voice to say something, anything, but the feeling in her chest was keeping her from getting any words out. Aria was ashamed to discover that she was crying, and she covered her face with her hands. She felt like two months of pure stress had been lifted away from her in an instant, and now that it was gone she couldn't fathom how she had managed to survive. Was this what it was like to feel whole again?

-Furthermore,- Kri'a continued, glancing sidelong at Admiral Te'rou, who was looking rather sour at the moment, -in my capacity as supreme commander over the military forces of the Ascendancy, I hereby reinstate you to active status and promote you to the rank of captain. Congratulations, Captain Me'lia.-

Moving her shaking hands underneath the tabletop where nobody else could see them, Aria looked up at her Empress. She knew that she should get back to her feet, but she didn't trust her legs enough right now to keep her upright. -Thank you, m'lady. I...I don't know what to say. You have given me my honor back...-

-You never lost it, Aria,- the Empress said. -I only hope that you can forgive me for allowing your ordeal to go on as long as it did. If I could have had a reason to dismiss the charges earlier, I would have. You have earned your freedom, Captain, most impressively.- She lowered her head in a brief bow of her own to Aria. -And now, I believe you have a family who will be delighted to see you again. I am sure you are most eager to see Jack.-

Aria nodded once, feeling her heart leap. -Yes, Your Majesty. I am.- She paid no attention to the way that Admiral Te'rou bristled at that admission. The Empress had declared that she had committed no crime. Whatever anyone thought of her and Jack now was immaterial.

-I imagined so,- Kri'a said, a little chuckle to her voice. -And now that you can be a bit...more free, it might be nice for him to experience more of what our world has to offer beyond your family home. Just a suggestion. I believe he has earned it considering everything he has had to endure.-

-Yes, m'lady.-

-And now, if you have no more information for us, I will have someone conduct you to your home. I am sure a week's leave to spend with your loved ones is the least you are owed by now. I have a new assignment in mind for you that I believe you will enjoy, but that can wait for a short time. You are dismissed, Captain.-

******

Early afternoon was usually a quiet time in the Me'lia household. For Jack, he had taken to spending the afternoons with Sami. She had recently taken up her hobby of painting again, having lost her taste for it while Aria had been home and had been preparing for her trial. Jack had been the one to suggest she give it a try again and she was finding that it was doing wonders for her mental health. She hadn't painted much of anything special, but just having the brush in her hand again was enough. The young Ailian was remembering all of the old techniques. It was also a wonderful opportunity for her to continue her English lessons with him, and for Jack to continue working on his rudimentary understanding of the Ailian language.

Currently, Jack and Sami were in a room on the second tier building of the estate, one set aside as a sort of painting studio for her. While Sami was brushing away at a canvas, Jack had a book printed in Ailian, doing his best to muddle through the difficult alien script. He looked up from the book, feeling like his eyes were slightly crossed, and addressed Sami.

"What are you painting today?" he asked her.

Sami kept her eyes glued to the canvas, as the tip of her tail twitched slightly in concentration. "Flowers," she mumbled. "From garden outside."

"You're painting from memory then?" Sami nodded in response, and Jack got up to have a look over her shoulder. "Impressive. I never had any talent for drawing, not that I really tried all that much. But it seems like painting from memory would be difficult."

"Not so hard," Sami said, looking away from the art for a moment to smile at him. "Just need practice. Easy."

Jack snorted, going back to his chair and opening the book again. "If you say so. Now, reading in Ailian, _that's_hard. How you make sense of these squiggly lines, I'll never know. I can still only get a few words here and there. At this rate, I'll be fluent in speaking the language before I can ever read a full sentence."

"Really. Human words much harder. Aria show human book once. Strange." She made a face. "Blocky letters. Small. Strange." They both had a laugh at that.

A knock came at the door, interrupting their conversation. The door opened and one of the family servants came in, bowing to Sami when she was inside. "Lak ma sami, meri a're relen sa tek'shme." The servant waved a hand towards the door.

"A're?"_Sami asked, looking quizzical. _"Sure me le'ri tekra?"

"Da'la're,"_the servant said, shaking her head. _"Dak ze'la tere me son ke ra'nale de'a'kreme. Sa'resh rea'l mote delan."

"Ah...Sute. Me'e re ke son." The servant left, and Sami looked to Jack. "Need me at main house. Not sure why. I come back when done."

Jack got up from his chair again, stretching his back and feeling joints pop. "Don't bother. I'll come too. I've been sitting down all afternoon, I could use a chance to stretch my legs."

"Alright," Sami said. She laid her brush and paints down, standing as well. "Come, then."

They both walked out of the room, leaving the building and making their way through the garden to the back door of the main house. When they got in, they could immediately hear a commotion coming from the front entrance hall. For some reason, Jack felt his heart rate increase. He had the feeling that something very important was afoot, though he had no idea what it might be. Sami seemed to have the same feeling, because she increased her pace, making it difficult for Jack to keep up as they moved towards the front of the building. When they came in to the entrance hall, they saw all of the Me'lia siblings, and their father as well, gathered in a group around someone. Standing to either side of the front door were two Ailian soldiers, watching the spectacle impassively.

"A-...A're kere son le...," Sami said, covering her mouth with one hand as she realized what was going on. She rushed to join her family, but Jack was two steps ahead of her, pushing his way into the group with all the strength he could manage.

When he got to the center of it all, he found himself grabbed up by two arms and pulled into a fierce embrace as he heard a familiar growling purr. He hugged back just as tightly, feeling a wave of relief as the top of his head was nuzzled tenderly. "Aria, you made it back!" he exclaimed, his voice muffled as his face was pulled against her chest. "Where the hell have you been?"

"Long story," Aria purred. She put a hand underneath his chin, lifting his face up and looking at him with shining golden eyes. "I tell later, yes?" The Ailian touched her lips to his, kissing him. "So good see you again. I miss you, se le ch'aa ara."

"This definitely feels like a dream," Jack agreed, grinning from ear to ear. He kissed her back. "Welcome home, Lieutenant Me'lia."

"Captain," Aria corrected him, beaming. "Ah, remind me..." She looked over her shoulder, gesturing to the soldiers standing at the door patiently. _"Suresh le me're za renle."_The soldiers both saluted her, pivoting on their feet and leaving out the front door. Aria looked back at Jack, winking. "Not want them here all day."

Jack gave her a confused expression. "I must be missing something," he said.

"Like I say, long story." Aria looked past him to Sami, reaching a hand out to take one of her sister's. "Sami, is there food? Not eat much for past week...Starving!"

Clearly curious about the circumstances behind her sister's return, Sami took the lack of forthcoming knowledge in stride. She nodded, squeezing Aria's hand tightly. "I make something. But you tell story, yes?"

"Oh, yes," Aria agreed. "For you cooking, I tell anything." With a hand firmly and possessively on Jack's shoulder, she followed her sister towards the dining room, the rest of her family in tow.

******

Later that night, Aria slid into the water of her family's bath house, sighing as she felt the heat through her bare fur. The candlelight inside the bath house created a relaxing, flickering atmosphere that was quite pleasant, and just what she needed. It had been a very long evening, and one that had been just as uncomfortable as it had been cathartic. Over an early dinner, Aria had recounted to Jack and her family everything that had happened since she had been abducted from her trial. They were all overjoyed to hear that all of the charges against her had been dismissed, and everyone was proud of her promotion to captain. The joy was severely tempered, however, by the news that the matriarch of their family, Ara'lana Me'lia, was still alive. The revelation had hit Aria's father, Arn, especially hard. He had only recently come out of mourning for his mate, and everything had come flooding back now that he knew she had not died three years ago. The whole thing had been made ten times worse with the knowledge that Ara'lana was responsible for the rebellion, the news of which was just becoming known to the general public.

Aria tried to banish those thoughts from her mind. She dipped her arms into the water, cupping water in her hands and bringing them up to let it drip over her head. She was a free woman again, and she wanted to at least try to enjoy breathing the free air before she had to worry about the war once more.

Footsteps behind her made her turn her head. Aria smiled as she saw Jack coming up behind her. "You not supposed to be here," she reminded him. "Females only."

Jack smirked. "I can leave if you really want me to," he said. "But I figured you might like a little company. It's not like this is the first time I've walked in on you taking a bath, after all."

"Is good point." Aria extended a hand to him. "Join me."

Jack wasted little time in stripping down to his bare skin, coming over to the edge of the bath and stepping in. As he got deeper into the water beside Aria, he sucked in a sharp breath. The water wasn't boiling, but as far as Jack was concerned it was close enough. He knew that Ailians could handle temperatures a lot higher than was usually comfortable for humans, but he privately thought even this was a bit much. He wasn't about to show any discomfort in front of Aria, so he kept it to himself, figuring that he'd grow used to the heat the longer he was in there.

The water was deeper than Jack was tall, but he found a little outcropping in the rocky basin that he could sit on. "This is pretty nice," he said, laying a hand on Aria's thigh. "I can see why you females keep this to yourselves."

"Mm, yes," Aria purred. She curled her tail around his waist, moving closer to him. "Is one of my favorite place at home. Better now you here." She bent down, rubbing her muzzle against the top of his head fondly. The end of her tail was resting between his legs, though she feigned ignorance for the moment.

"I was just thinking the same thing." Jack, however, had noticed where her tail was right away. He cleared his throat slightly, feeling his cock stiffen as her fur brushed against the sensitive organ. "So, all that stuff about your mother...Pretty heavy, huh? Sounds like the war with my species is going to be the least of the Ascendancy's worries now."

Aria's purring stopped for a moment, and Jack realized she probably didn't want to talk about it right now. "Yes...," she said after a few awkward seconds. "Is true. Empress tell me she trying to end war with humans. Hope it work."

"Yeah..." Jack closed his eyes. "Strange to think about the war ending."

"Yes." Starting to purr again, Aria wrapped an arm around Jack's side. She lifted him up, setting him down in her lap with his back to her front, and hugged him to her. "But if war end, good for us, yes?"

"I guess you're right." Jack grinned, relaxing back against Aria. Underneath the water, her wet orange fur felt silky and wonderful against his bare back. "Now that you're free, I don't give a damn about the war, though. Being here with you, right now, is good enough for me."

"And for me." Growling quietly, Aria brought her hand down between his legs, touching her fingertips to his cock. Jack held his breath as she began to stroke his length, feeling soft tingles of pleasure spreading from his loins. He remembered that night nearly a week ago, the day before her trial was to start, when he'd thought it might be their last night together. He had forced himself to think of it that way, hoping that it might make the pain easier to withstand should the worst have come to pass. Jack was glad that it hadn't been necessary after all.

Jack looked up, the top of his head brushing the undersides of her firm breasts. "You seem eager tonight, Aria," he said, as her fingers gripped his rigid member more tightly.

"I have my honor back," Aria replied. "Have my mate with me. Feel better than in months. Hungry." With another growl, she leaned her head down and nipped the tip of his nose. "Strong females expect much of mate."

"Are you trying to give me an order?" Jack asked her playfully. He reached behind himself, sliding his hand in between them and skimming it down her belly. Even in the heat of the water, he could feel the change in temperature when his palm pressed between her thighs. She was inflamed with desire, and he felt a thundering purr vibrate their bodies as he teased a finger into her sex.

"Captain now. Can give what orders I want." The Ailian, still holding him to her, turned around in the water. She seated him on an outcropping in the water, placing him with his back against the edge of the pool. Standing before him, water dripped down her front, reminding Jack strongly of an occasion months ago when they had been stranded together on an uncharted planet. If possible, she was even more beautiful now than she was then. He let his eyes move down from her feline face, traveling down her front, tracing the line of the scar that ran between her breasts and down to her belly. The flickering shadows created by the candles in the bath house accented her sensuous curves, making his heart race as he took in the sight of her.

Turning his eyes back up to her face, Jack reached a hand out, taking one of Aria's. "So what are your orders to me tonight, Captain?"

Grinning, Aria moved forward, straddling him. "To brace youself." Her tail swishing through the water behind her, she lowered her body. They both gasped as Jack's cock slid inside of her, her weight settling on his lap and driving him deep, though Aria was careful not to crush him under her heftier Ailian frame.

Jack shivered in pleasure at the hot silkiness of her pussy wrapped around him, and he put his arms around the small of her back. "Do my best, love," he managed to say, the intense pleasure of being joined with her making him slur his words.

"Good." Hunching over, Aria captured his mouth with her muzzle, slipping her tongue between his lips as she kissed him deeply. Then she placed her hands on either side of him, on the rocky edge of the bath. As she straightened up again, her furred thighs gripping his waist firmly, she began to move.

The water in the bath started to ripple as Aria slowly and sensuously began to mate him. Jack moaned as the Ailian lifted up, purring as her pussy slid up his length, tight around him. He pushed his hips up to meet her as she came back down, a growl escaping her muzzle as he pulled her waist. They started up a gradual rhythm, thrusting against each other, their movements slowed by the resistance of the water around them. It felt like they were in a lower gravity, the buoyancy of their bodies serving to enhance the experience, and enhance the pleasure.

"I was afraid...I'd never see you again," Jack groaned, rubbing his hands up and down his alien lover's back. He jerked his hips up hard as she came down, eliciting a sharp mewl of delight from Aria. He heard a scraping sound as her claws scratched the edge of the pool.

"I think about you whole time I gone," Aria said in reply, bending down to drag her tongue roughly through his hair. She leaned forward, pressing her breasts against his face. She gave a loud purr as she felt his lips close around one of her nipples, suckling at the sensitive nub of flesh. "Whole flight back...Dream of you, Jack."

The human hugged her tightly, swirling his tongue around her nipple, closing his teeth over it. "I lost count of the dreams I had about you, and about this," he murmured. He began thrusting into her harder, and the water started splashing louder around them. He was feeling steady waves of bliss washing over him like the heat from the bath, and he knew Aria had to be experiencing the same desperation for release.

Gasping, Aria ground herself down on him, almost forgetting how much stronger she was than him. Jack's cock was as deep inside of her as it could go, but she still tried to force him deeper, driven by an instinct to mate him as completely as she could. The inner walls of her sex tightened around him, and air hissed out between her clenched teeth as she began to reach her peak. The Ailian arched her back, letting out a feral roar as she came, her hands coming to the back of Jack's head and hugging him firmly to her breasts.

With a sound grip of his hands on her body, Jack voiced his own ecstasy, frantically working his cock in and out of Aria's tightening sex. Moaning loudly, he lifted up as forcefully as he could, burying himself within her as his seed began to spill itself inside of her alien womb. Her pussy milked him of every last drop. Their pleasured spasms rebounded off of each other, drawing out their climax far longer than it might have lasted otherwise. The two mismatched lovers held onto each other, keeping each other steady as they reveled in each others' comforting presence.

When they came down from their high, and the surface of the water grew still, Aria shakily slid off of Jack's lap. She sank deeper into the water, putting herself level with him, and leaned against the edge of the bath with her head on his shoulder. She curled her tail over and around him, and rubbed her cheek against his. Aria was purring quietly now, a soft, content, easy sound that was quite different from any purr Jack had heard from her since arriving on Lirna. For the first time since leaving their uncharted world, he thought that she sounded at peace.

Jack hooked an arm around Aria's waist. "How do you feel?" he asked her, kissing her damp-furred forehead. He placed his other hand on top of her head, ruffling the fur between her ears.

"Good," she murmured, her yellow-gold eyes drifting closed as she enjoyed his gentle petting. "Wonderful. Perfect." Aria smiled, nuzzling at his face. "Have my family, my mate...Have everything I need." She took a deep breath of the warm, damp air of the bath house, letting it out in a comfortable sigh. "I love you, Jack."

"I love you, too, Aria," Jack whispered.

Maybe the universe was going crazy around them. Maybe the happiness wouldn't last for long. But for right now, in this moment, everything was exactly the way that they had always wanted it to be. Perfect.