Exploration RLA: Part 5: Settled in on April Fools Day

Story by Ryan-masterpaladin-Lewis on SoFurry

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#5 of Exploration RLA


The entirety of the place looked very much the same. All the hallways were metal, which I guess didn't surprise me too much after seeing all the technologies that were shown before. It was all a maze, and I was lost after about half a minute. However, Alduin seemed to know where he was going, and I trusted his judgement. The others had gone elsewhere, and I spoke to Alduin about this. He shrugged.

"The food store is a popular option, the gymnasium, our research and development labs, the VR room, it doesn't really matter," he said it all so casually.

"And is it true that people indulge in sexual jokes tomorrow?" Alduin stopped dead, looking surprised, then spoke.

"Oh, I completely forgot about that, Ryan. Cheers for reminding me. April Fools is an option to make fun of everyone else in said sexual manner, and I would suggest-"

"Alecto already warned me against drinking anything offered." I said helpfully in interruption.

"Sensible," He began, "Also, do not drink anything but water, or any of our own drinks offered to you here."

"Why, what happened?" I asked curiously.

"I drunk what they call medonas, and had to restrained due to my hallucinations. Armed and insane, not a good combination." He answered.

"What was in it?" I asked, ‘Must be powerful stuff, geez.'

"We are very delicate, we can't stomach many things here. Humans are better with food, but even so I had a draconic dessert a couple of weeks ago, Draco dared me, and I was sick for days." After this explanation I pushed it no further, and continued walking down the hall behind him, getting a little more frustrated inwardly about the confusion of the layout. Then my heart stopped completely. As we were walking down the passage, a hovering light appeared around the corner. Easily seven foot tall, and about an inch or so off the ground, they were shaped like a rugby ball, except they appeared to have no body what so ever. The center was brighter, almost fiery white, but the outside edges of the glowing light were a hypnotic gold. Alduin grabbed my arm, and pulled me aside, looking nervous.

"E-Evening, glower." he stuttered.

‘Alduin, stuttering? What the hell?' I thought as the glower pulsed slightly as he approached.

"You have brought another human here?" the glower spoke, "How tiresome. At this rate, Master Alduin, we shall have to make Central bigger." A necklace from nowhere, and Alduin caught it, slipping it over my neck. I looked at the necklace, and then shrugged. It looked much like any regular old necklace, the chains connecting a small square piece of metal at my front.

"Sorry glower," Alduin apologized. The strange creature wafted past me, and I could feel immense power caressing at my arms and pulse through my body. This resulted in quite the shiver. The glower chuckled and pulsed a bit as he spoke.

"We don't mind more scouts, as long as they're useful, it's just scouts need room, and that means us having to work to make more."

"This one is useful, glower." Alduin said, as it continued down the passage. He was sweating slightly.

"Did I say otherwise?" the glower asked innocently, and then it turned the corner. Alduin leaned against the wall, breathing out deeply.

"What was that, Alduin?" I asked, slightly worried, ‘that's the first time I've seen him nervous like that.' Alduin explained after a short minute.

"That, or those, are the glowing creatures I spoke of earlier. They have the ability to short cut anything, create almost anything, and if they get angry, well, I was there when one of them vaporized twelve demonic creatures, it was not something I want to be facing."

"What's so dangerous about it?" I asked getting more curious by the second.

"You've heard of gods, with limitless powers, the power of life and death over anything in the known universe?" He asked me.

"Oh yes." I replied.

"Those creatures are mortal, but they have all powers, and have a mind of their own. To touch one of them is instant pain, to walk through one means agony. Silverine, he's terrified of them, Draco, Val, anyone you care to name." He explained.

"Oh." I said hollowly. I suddenly had a feeling I didn't want to meet one of them when they were angry. These harmless looking orbs of light scared Silverine, just by being there? ‘I hope to god they're mild mannered.' We arrived at a door, which Alduin opened and entered through. A black wolf with purple highlights through his fur and amethyst eyes looked up, he was reading a book. He got to his feet quickly, and stepped forwards, arms wide in an embrace. Alduin returned it, and they hugged one another passionately. They kissed, and I suddenly felt embarrassed so close to their intimate moment.

"Alduin, good to see you," the wolf said.

"Likewise Doran," the human replied, "What are you doing in my quarters?"

"I was going to ask about a prank for tomorrow. Draco says he's got one planned for me, and knowing that dragon, I do not want to know." Doran Explained.

"With the prank I've got in plan, I wouldn't be surprised if Draco was busy all morning," Alduin said clapping a hand in an encouraging fashion on the back of the wolf, who winced slightly. Then he spotted me.

"Oh, we have dinner?" I pondered whether that was a joke or not and backed off a little bit. Alduin laughed, as Doran truly howled with laughter.

"No," Alduin answered wiping a tear away, "Doran, this is Ryan Lewis, he found out about us, and seems to be interested in scouting. I thought we might test him."

"And so what happens when he is not up to Central standard?" the wolf smiled evilly.

"Well, you said you wanted a human sex slave." Alduin chuckled.

‘Okay now their teasing me,' I thought, ‘better get used to it freshman.'

"I do know how to use a sword." I said straightly at the wolf.

"And I know how to use an RPG, swords are outdated." Alduin replied, laughing.

Doran nodded at me with a smile, and then turned to Alduin.

"What did you have in plan for Draco?" He asked and Alduin whispered something in Doran's ear. The wolf looked surprised.

"You evil little genius." he said clapping his paws together.

"If it works, of course, he's not going to be happy, but rather that than half of us getting bondaged before midday," Alduin said in a fit of laughter.

"Talk about sex slave, Draco would keep us tied up ‘til next week." Doran shivered as he said that.

"You mean like you would with me?" I shot this remark at the wolf, and he managed to put on a wounded expression with a grin.

"Now, Ryan, that's all boasting," Doran began, "Draco would, I certainly wouldn't, although I like a bit of domination. The problem is the only humans here are Alduin, who keeps on beating me, and Alex, who's partly draconic and partly magical."

"I warned you the last time, Doran," Alduin faced him, "I wrestle Draco for dominance, you are not a problem." Confidence was definitely a factor in being a scout. I had heard this last line before, from Draco himself. They wrestled to see who gets to top? God help. Doran immediately tackled at Alduin, and the human went down under the weight of the wolf. I made to rush forwards, but Alduin immediately rolled sideways, and the two of them bumped off the table, a wall, and a set of drawers before Alduin ended up on top.

"My pet wolf's not learned his trick?" Alduin put on a wounded tone.

"I am not your pet!" Doran shouted furiously, and Alduin rolled sideways as the wolf heaved himself up. They stood looking at one another in contemplation. Doran was looking at the lithe human in a way I could only describe as ravenous, and Alduin was looking at the wolf with a sparkle in his eye and a chuckle.

"There will come a time when I do beat you, Alduin," Doran proclaimed.

"No doubt there will be, Doran. But until then, you have not beaten me once."

"Call me pet again, I will use my claws."

"Excellent, I always wanted to see what would happen if I shafted someone in my bionic form." Alduin snickered.

‘Bionic form?' I thought confused.

"Alduin, what do you mean by bionic form?" I asked and he faced me.

"I had robotic DNA forcibly inserted into me on one of the planets we visited," he explained, "what I normally look like is a human with steel skin, but I can look normal, and can also change into forms."

"Can I see it?" I asked, stepping forwards. Alduin obliged, and suddenly his skin rippled and turned silver. I tapped a knuckle against his forearm, and it rang clearly. Then with a heavy thud against my back, I fell to the floor under the weight of Doran. Alduin stepped aside like a magician, easily avoiding the fracas, and I tried to get up, the wolf grabbed my arms, pinning me.

"You hit the wrong target." Alduin said, leaning over the panting wolf.

"I want to fuck a human, and as you aren't letting me-"

"Hey, I never said I didn't want to, I'm just not submitting to you." Alduin interrupted and pulled the wolf off me.

"No fair!" Doran protested, but Alduin held him easily.

"The other option is I could do that prank on you instead of Draco." he suggested.

"No, master!" Doran stopped his fit, and Alduin let go. The wolf seemed slightly pale at whatever threat Alduin had suggested, and the human smiled.

"Doran, I've got to prepare said prank, I'm not going to do it on you." He said.

"There's something at least." the wolf said and rolled his eyes.

"Does Alduin ever submit?" I asked, once again in curiosity. Alduin laughed.

"Right now Draco, Silverine, and Javid," Alduin began, "Everyone else I don't mind fucking me, but I can hold everyone else from doing so." He opened a door, and we found ourselves in a room with two nine-foot beds in it. "Draco and Simba's room." He explained, going over to a wardrobe. There were towels and trousers, and one or two shirts. The colors suggested it belonged to Draco and this was also proved because I was looking at the tall long sword in the closet.

‘Holy Shit that sword is huge, it's nearly a foot and a half taller than I am,' Alduin pulled out a spray trigger, and took a step back, aiming the nozzle at the closet's contents. He lifted a hand to cover his mouth and nose, and began spraying the clear liquid. It was odorless, and didn't make any difference to the clothes, but after half a minute the human shut the door, satisfied.

"I'll octobond it later, the job is done." he smiled. We walked out, and Doran was shivering with anticipation as Alduin went into a very plain but large bathroom. There was a shower, a toilet, sink, drawers, towel rail, and a very ornate set of paneling covering every wall and the ceiling. Alduin touched a panel on the nearby wall.

.

"Now, Ryan, this is one of our little creatures we befriended. We call it a tentacle monster, for various reasons. It enjoys sex, and also making others delighted from sex, but listens to our requests. To talk to one, you just have to be holding one of its tentacles." As he finished explaining, a series of panels opened, and about five long, dark red tentacles slid out, they were all about as thick as three inches. One of them gently snaked over to Alduin, one to me, one to Doran, and the other two hung back. One of them coiled around Alduin's arm, and he closed his eyes, as if mentally speaking to the creature. Doran took a careful step back avoiding it altogether. The one coming to me rose and wrapped around my arm several times, the end of the tentacle on my shoulder.

"Alduin, I don't like this much." I said, feeling the tentacle's firm grip through my shirt. I gently pulled at the tentacle, but it seemed loath to let go. Now I was beginning to get really nervous. Alduin opened his eyes, and looked at me explaining.

"It thinks you want to have some sex. We opened the panel, it thinks it is needed, and asks each person what they want. Unless of course you're not concentrating, in which case it thinks you just want sex." I took a firm hold on the eerie texture of the tentacle, and tried to think a message to the creature.

‘You are the tentacle monster I have heard so much about?' I thought, and a soft voice replied.

‘Yes, what is your intention?'

‘I have no wish to have sex.' I thought weakly, feeling it shift.

‘Speak up, I didn't catch that.' it thought back.

‘I don't want to have sex right now, thank you.' I thought a little more firmly.

‘Then why did you open up the panel?'

‘I didn't, Alduin wanted to talk to you, and I wanted to see what you looked like.' The tentacle shivered gently, but it seemed to be uncoiling.

‘And?' it said.

‘I would like to have it off with you, but not right now.' I said, realizing it wasn't something to anger.

‘Very well, Ryan, I am very patient'" the tentacle uncoiled, and retracted. Alduin gently let go of his tentacle, and the remaining tentacles disappeared, and the panel closed, except for one. Doran breathed a sigh of relief, and placed the towel back on the towel rail. Alduin grinned at me. It was late, and before long we had two people arrive, although Alduin disappeared briefly into Draco's room. One was Draco, and the other a fierce looking lion. This was Simba, as Alduin had explained, and his manner and conversation was a lot different from his looks.

"Good evening Ryan, welcome to Central." he said, his voice had a semi purr to it. I bowed slightly.

"Thank you, Simba, it's definitely, um, new." I managed to find a word, and Draco laughed as he walked into his bedroom.

"I'll see you guys in the morning." he called gaily, and shut the door for decency's sake. Simba rolled his eyes.

"Ah yes, I sometimes wish we hadn't heard about April Fools." he smiled at me.

"What's the reasoning for everyone?" I asked the lion.

"The scouts like a good joke, a prank or anything that will make them laugh. April Fools means they can get away with some of the most evil tricks, and humiliate everyone, and be safe after lunch time." He explained.

"I see." I nodded, as Simba yawned, his two larger canines exposed clearly. He looked tired, and walked through the door to the dragon's room.

"If he's tired, why's he sleeping in the same room as Draco?" I asked Alduin. The human laughed, switching into his bionic form.

"Simba and Draco have worked together for countless years, getting each out of the nastiest fixes. If Simba is tired, Draco will let him rest. Their respect for each other in endless." Alduin explained, and I smiled. They were definitely good partners by the looks of it, it reminded me of me and Joe back home, oh the memories.

"Did Simba save the dragon's life?" I asked my fellow human.

"Several times, once quite recently. But the dragon's done the same for Simba, they would hate to explore without the other." I can't imagine why they wouldn't.

"So what now?" I asked, and he smiled.

"It's nighttime, what do people do at night?" he suggested.

"Sleep I suppose. Which bunk is mine?" he led me into his room, which held three beds. He pointed at each bed in turn and explained each one.

"I call bottom bunk, Salbar sleeps on top, and Javid has the single bed." he indicated. It looked quite plain, nothing here really made any distinction over a regular bunk room. This meant they kept their stuff with them most of the time. I noticed the table beside Salbar's and Alduin's beds held a few wooden sculptures.

"Salbar carves them, he did one for me, I wish I had his skill." Alduin replied. The drawer beside the single bed had a picture of a white wolf and a standard old school revolver.

"Javid's a colonel in his army, I don't have to tell you what that means about his tidiness and care. He has a perfectly ironed service uniform in his bottom drawer, and another gun underneath that. He's always looking out for himself, and keeping something to hand."

"So which bed am I sleeping in?" I asked him.

"Pick. Both are away on their home planets, Javid wanted to discuss Covington's secret weapon with the wolf himself, and Salbar is doing a regular prayer day with the Elders, or wise ones on his planet. Not to mention doing his daily ritualistic purification of his swords." He explained.

"Uhhh, Alduin, I don't like the idea of sleeping in either a lizard or a wolf's bed. It's their bed, and being away doesn't make a difference." I explained.

"You respect a person's space, very respectful, but short of sleeping on the floor-"

"What about sleeping with you?" I interrupted.

"I'll go with that. I sleep to the wall, mind you, so I hope you don't roll." he looked perfectly natural about the suggestion. I smiled at the idea.

"I don't roll at all," I said, ‘or at least I think I don't.'

"No problem then. If you can't get off to sleep though, I keep my blaster on the bureau on a two setting, which will easily keep you out for the night." He said.

‘Blast myself into unconsciousness? There's a worrying thought.' I thought as I began stripping down, and noticed Alduin wasn't.

"Do you sleep in your clothes?" I asked him, as I pulled off my shirt. He smiled.

"Watch this." He said and changed. Suddenly there was a huge metallic creature standing there. Easily eight foot tall, it stood on three legs, and each foot was three pronged, one directly at the back, the other two slightly forward and wide apart. These legs were eight foot tall, and then they were joined to a complex joining section, to a shorter steel length that was attached to the body. It looked slightly like a horizontal teardrop, but saying that would probably get me in trouble. His eyes glowed bright red and a nasty looking nozzle like a machine gun hung just underneath the bottom of the front of the hemisphere. Then he changed back, and Alduin was standing there. Furthermore, he was naked!

‘How did he stunt that one?' I thought and didn't bother asking, but I did comment on his form.

"That looks terrifying."

"It's meant to. Just a pity it's vulnerable to intense heat and explosions, and doesn't work submerged in water. And it flies like a brick." he added, as I finished stripping. He got into the bottom bunk bed, and held up the duvet and blanket so I could crawl in beside him. The light went out, and I spoke to Alduin in the darkness.

"Alduin?"

"Yeah?" He asked.

"How on Earth are you used to this? It's all so different." I felt him shuffle, although I could no longer see him.

"I used to be nervous around the larger creatures, but I've been working on Central for a year and a half, I'm used to it." He explained.

"Even Silverine?" I asked surprised.

"Everyone, except when they're angry. We are good natured, and seeing Blake while angry is best done at a distance." He explained more.

"Was Silverine angry at me for finding out?" I asked from an earlier thought.

"Oh good lord no," Alduin replied, "he was just testing to see how well you reacted to him, he does that to everyone. Be lucky he didn't fight you, like he did with me."

"He fought you?"

"I fell unconscious after it." Alduin nodded, I could feel the shifting pillow.

"So what happens tomorrow?" I asked.

"Tomorrow?" He began, "you go to the food store for the first time, we experience various pranks, and then we get down to the business of sorting you into a team."

"With other people right?" I asked remembering what Silverine said.

"Yeah, complete strangers. That's the point, you get to work with people you don't know, find out what everyone is good and bad at." He explained.

"I'm worried, Alduin. What if I am no good?" I asked him, staring down the darkness while he spoke.

"Everyone's good at something. Kodey's 5'4" and meek, yet he gets on well with people. You'll meet him tomorrow. Some are the gems of intelligence, some are magical, or some slightly stronger than everyone else. You are intelligent, you play chess better than me, and while you're weaker than me, Silverine doesn't care."

"So what are you good at?" I asked.

"I?" Alduin laughed, "I am the devious one. I do the plans, execute them with shocking efficiency, and my evil smile has made people run for cover. No one likes my own brand of intelligence at the best of times, and when I am angry or stimulated, I can devise hells for people. You will see a perfect example tomorrow morning."

"And the sex?" I asked again.

"What's wrong with sex?" He asked back.

"Nothing, but is everyone that overwhelming?" I asked once more.

"No," the human began, "its just every race enjoys it, and they like to get involved. Draco broke my virginity, and I his, our bond is stronger than many. You will learn to bond with people, get to know them, their own quirks and dislikes."

"I hoped they all wouldn't be like Draco." I replied, and Alduin laughed again.

"He's extremist." he replied, and he took hold of me. I was facing away, into the room.

"Alduin, what-" I began, and felt his steel cock gently slide into my ass, and the sentence ended on a moan. He went all the way in, and slowly all the way out. The steel was unforgiving, and I prayed he wouldn't go much faster. He didn't, instead I felt one hand go around my body and stroke my own cock. Alduin is possibly the only person I know who would service me and fuck me at the same time. I certainly didn't notice this in Gareth or Draco. It was nice, having this gentle penetration coupled with the equally gentle sensuous manipulation of my cock.

"Don't worry, Ryan. I take good care of my friends and, dare I say it, those I am in control of. Gareth is testament to that, even though I won't let him cook." I felt so loved, Alduin would protect me.

"Control, Alduin?" I asked. He smiled as he continued his soft caressing.

"Gareth wanted me to be his master," He began, "it makes no difference normally, but occasionally we have a master pet night. Doran might want me as his master, but has never gained the courage to ask. That's why he keeps taking me on, he likes my dominance and care of him."

"Care and dominance?" Sounded a bit oxymoronic.

"I care for everyone, and even on top I like being gentle." He said.

"I noticed," I replied, feeling a small surge of pleasure, and a moan escaped my lips, "you are good at this."

"I have had practice," He began, "No one minds losing one on one sex to me, because most of the time I will do this." His other hand removed its grip, and it began playing with my balls and the base of my cock. "I have had Valmeero request me to do this for an hour because he was feeling frisky."

"The name means nothing." I replied, as a stronger burst pulsed through me, and I sighed louder.

"Tomorrow you will probably meet him. He is coolness personified, and drives the ladies wild. But that's all by the by, do you want a master, someone to look after you? I want to look after you, because you're my kinsman here."

"Who will look after you?" I asked, moaning yet again. I wanted to know how this human was so good at this.

"I look after me, although everyone else does too. They like their little human."

"Will I have to call you master?" I asked. Alduin stopped stroking.

"Of course not. If you want a comparison, I'm the bigger brother at the school. You don't know something, come to me." He resumed the stroking, and I got his meaning. I felt humbled to think Alduin was prepared to go out of his way to help me.

"I would like someone looking after me." I replied.

"Don't worry, I'm good at this job," he chuckled, "I'm just glad someone else from my planet knows about Central."

"Well, master, you've got me now." I smiled, and I knew he was grinning too.

"I won't call you pet, that's undignified .I shall have to arrange moving you out of the Y.M.C.A, you're staying at my house, end of argument." He said.

"Did I ever mention how thankful I was that you set everything up?" I asked him.

"Yes you did, and I told you not to worry," he said. I was relieved of further conversation as I felt myself coming to orgasm. It came slowly, but very deeply, deeper than anything before. My breath was caught, waiting for that moment of ecstasy, and Alduin delivered it to me. With a gentle cry, I ejaculated, and Alduin milked my cock with both hands. I let go about four or five bursts, and then settled. Alduin stopped stroking me off, and removed himself. This wasn't fair.

"Master, I mean, Alduin, you haven't gotten off yet." I said.

"And neither do I intend to tonight," he replied, "I need my sleep, which now means I need my blaster or a cold shower." He reached over me, and grabbed at what appeared to be the futuristic blaster I had seen several scouts carrying.

"What does it do?" I asked.

"It sends a ray that can either knock out, kill or vaporize things, except I always keep it on two setting, it's a handy sleep aid."

"You've made me excited about the prospect of tomorrow, Alduin, how am I supposed to sleep?" I asked, and then realized this was a fairly dumb question.

"Well, do you want to do it, or shall I?" Pulling the trigger on myself did not sound promising.

"You do it." I said, waiting for a blast. It wasn't actually painful when it came, I just sunk into a deep sleep with a slight twinge. I even dreamed, although all my dreaming was about this strange new place. I wish waking were as nice.

"RRRRRRRRRRAAAAARRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!" I literally jumped two feet into the air, springing up and whacking my head on the metal mesh that the other bed rested on. Alduin didn't react as badly to the roar, he merely sat bolt upright, looking around terrified. As I opened my eyes, and a blinder of a headache, I saw Draco leaning casually against the bunk pillar, laughing his head off. I rubbed my head, and got onto the floor, holding my head in mild pain. Alduin looked miffed.

"If I wanted an alarm call, I would have gotten my own alarm clock in." He said. Draco was still laughing.

"You should have seen it, you look as though you'd been electrocuted, and Ryan took off like a plane!" he bent double over, wheezing jets of flame from his laughter. I looked at Alduin, and rolled my eyes. Alduin did the same, and Draco exited, laughing loudly. We both got dressed, the pain in my head died, and we came out to have breakfast. Alduin had half a punnet of strawberries and a bowl of cereal. Draco had a cup of strong smelling liquid and a type of food not unlike toast. We ate quietly, while Draco extolled his wake up call to Simba. Once he had finished his food, however, he walked into his room, and shut the door. There was about fifteen seconds pause, and then the sounds of splintering wood, as though someone was breaking their door down. Alduin smiled to himself. Simba looked at Alduin.

"You octobonded his wardrobe door?" The lion asked.

"Maybe." he replied, and we left it at that. Draco arrived back through the door, walking towards the bathroom. Did I mention he did everything naked since he woke us up? He was carrying a pair of trousers, and he paused to tease Alduin, who he had rightly guessed as the culprit.

"Nice try Alduin, is that the best you can do?" he asked, and then shut the door in the bathroom. Alduin went over to the door and octobonded it quietly. Then he sat back down. Simba was watching my fellow human with a peculiar smile. Then there was a hurried shout from inside the bathroom, and a howl of surprise and pain. Alduin looked at the pair of us, and then looked thoughtful.

"No, that is the best I can do."

"What did you do?" Simba and I asked.

"Sprayed Draco's clothes with a pheronome that the tentacles find attractive, and told them he was in heat, and was due a lot of sexual need." I was stifling giggles.

"Which means fuck him ‘til the end of time," Simba stated.

"No, until midday," Alduin replied, as there were thumps coming from inside the bathroom. Faint whines emanated after a few seconds. "I also told it to ignore him, as all of us know his dominant streak, so we shall not be seeing him for a few hours." We left the quarters, and Alduin only burst out laughing when he judged himself far enough away from the room. Simba just looked amused, but I was laughing, because it was funny. We arrived at the food store. This is a short sentence, but doesn't give a description well enough. The room was mostly packed, with various creatures at most of the tables. I recognized Time Dancer talking to a tiger, Blake talking to Gareth, and Alecto talking with a dragon, but everything else, there were so many species! There were cat like creatures, avians, many wolves, dragons, and blends of everything.

Alduin waved to everyone as he entered, and I followed directly behind him to a table. Simba went off and talked to a lioness that looked like him, maybe they were cousins. Everyone looked up at me as I entered; they hadn't seen me before. Alduin had given me a small backpack with some things he thought I might like, and we sat down beside Silverine. Alduin was between the Lupogriff and me, thank god. The table had three others at it, a reindeer with the most superb antlers, who never the less looked very shy of the company. The second was a sleek panther like creature, who I could put a name to due to his very obvious and singular manner. This was Grant, and he welcomed me as I sat down. The third was a god in wolven form. He was part wolf, but his arms were scaled and draconic, as was a tail coiling around his seat. He also had the most magnificent wings, and to top it all off, he looked very handsome. This must have been Valmeero; the one Alduin said drove the women wild. My opinion? He would drive men wild. Every movement was smooth and cool, and it helped he wore no shirt either. Shirts were very much in short supply. The reindeer didn't wear one, for obvious reasons, Val didn't, Grant didn't, Silverine wouldn't. Doran, two tables across and talking to a snow leopard, both weren't wearing a shirt. Alecto was one of the few non-humans that was, he was wearing a very silky and billowy shirt, not unlike the silver runic shirt Alduin was wearing, and frequently wore to and from work. Alduin leaned over the table to shake hands with Valmeero.

"Morning Val, Grant, Kodey. This is Ryan Lewis, he comes from my planet, he had the audacity to find out about us." Valmeero gave a little laugh, and offered a furred hand across the table. I shook it, giving a short nod to him.

"In my defense, Valmeero, if you heard a bang inside your best friend's place, you would be inclined to investigate." I said and he chuckled again.

"I bet you weren't expecting what you saw," he said.

"And this is Kodey." Alduin pointed at the reindeer, who nodded at me from the far end of the table.

"Nice to meet you Ryan." the reindeer looked cute and innocent, and had a very gentle voice.

"Who's he going out with?" I whispered to Alduin. Alduin jerked a thumb at Silverine, who was grabbing a drink from the bar.

"I do not know, nor want to know, how that happened," I hissed. Alduin smiled as the Lupogriff sat down, and slid a covered mug to Alduin. Alduin casually stopped it with his palm, and passed it to Valmeero. Valmeero was half way through a yawn, and he accidentally on purpose batted it to me. I got the drift, and batted it straight back at him. He deflected it to Grant, who pushed it hard back along the table at Val. But he pushed it far too hard, and it skimmed down to Kodey, who grabbed it and placed it in his kit bag.

"Is nobody thirsty this morning?" Silverine said innocently.

"Two to one that's been spiked with a love potion." Valmeero replied, examining his claws. Kodey smiled.

"I know, why do you think I'm keeping it?" he said.

‘Better not accept anything from the reindeer,' I thought.

"So where's Draco, I've been awaiting a prank from him?" Silverine asked.

"He's currently got the tentacle monster set on him, that's my prank from everyone on him." Alduin replied. Everyone looked up and looked at Alduin, who drew a bottle of water from his own bag, and took a great draught from it.

"You didn't!" Grant exclaimed.

"I did, and both Ryan and Simba saw it happen." There was a bang, and Grant, Silverine and a couple of people across the room suddenly were pinned to their chairs by metallic coils. Alduin looked behind the chair.

"I thought so, it says "Gotcha good, and it's signed Time and Takori." He said, then there was a peal of laughter from her, and after Silverine broke the chair to bits getting out of his, he found it pretty humorous. Grant looked quite patiently around until Time told everyone the release code, and Val leaned back to get Grant out of his restraints.

I carefully checked the floor and table soon after that. Both appeared safe. Not even the floor. One of the dragons walking over to me stepped on a panel, and was immediately hoisted into the air by one foot.

"Geez, what took people so long! I was thinking everyone was going to miss it." a bunny said.

"Winslo, only you would set this sort of magical trap," the upside down dragon replied, hanging suspended by his ankle from nothing.

"Nice to see you too Brendan." the bunny replied.

"Can you let me down?"

"Are you prepared to submit?" the bunny inquired, and there was a huge laugh. The dragon considered this.

"Okay, just hurry up, my foot's going to sleep." Winslo chanted, and Brendan collapsed to the ground.

"I hope there aren't others." he said, dusting himself up.

"Using more than one isn't fair, although it would guarantee me someone stepping on one." the bunny replied, as the dragon moved over to him. Then a fox, Tufty tried to sit down next to an elf, only to fall straight through the chair without touching it. Turns out the elf, Felicia, had made a very good illusion of a chair. This looked extremely amusing for those who weren't caught, except not funny for those who were. Also one drink was busy making it's way across several tables, Doran had passed it to Alduin, Alduin gave it to Valmeero, Val leaned backwards and placed it in front of a tiger, who genially slid it over to a wolf, who passed it to Time Dancer. I pointed it out to Alduin.

"Is anyone going to drink that?"

"Do you want to be fucked for the next three hours?" Alduin asked.

"Not particularly," I admitted. It came back this way, and came to me. I held the covered mug, and looked at Alduin.

"How good's your clay shooting?" I asked. Alduin drew his rifle, and pointed it past my head.

"Throw it at the door when I say." He said. I brought my arm back.

"Pull!" He shouted and I tossed it hard at the door, and there was the resultant crack of the rifle. The mug was smacked in the middle of its flight, and there was a spark. Liquid went everywhere, and the mug was knocked against the door. Everyone looked around, except someone by the door who picked up the mug and found the bullet had stopped trying to leave the mug.

"Stop trying to spike me or Ryan." Alduin said out loud. The white tiger behind Valmeero turned to face Alduin.

"I was just about to say that, Alduin." He said.

"Ah, Ryan, meet Ryan. Ryan Lewis, this is Ryan Viper, our tiger from the US Marines. Ryan Viper, this is Ryan Lewis from St George." Alduin explained.

"I know the town by reputation only. Fierce chess team there, correct?" I nodded at Viper's question.

‘He came from Earth?' I thought, ‘Better not ask about it.' "I was one of the leading chess players." I replied. After half an hour of idle chat, we were disturbed. This was not the casual disturbance of a prank, but by the arrival of Draco. The door was smashed off its hinges, and splintered everywhere, and the dragon stood in the doorway, blowing flame heavily. The light flickered eerily on him from behind; he looked almost dark for a couple of seconds. He did not look happy, and he also did not look clean. His body and face had organic ropes of semen all over, and he was steaming with rage. His wings were unfolded, and his facial expression looked set to disembowel. If Draco were looking at me like that, I would have run for it. People had jumped and were looking in fear at this strange apparition. Fortunately, it was Alduin who was receiving this look, and he looked back at Draco standing on the wreckage of the door the dragon had just busted down. Draco was still naked, and even his cock still dripped with cum. Alduin was still smiling, everyone else was looking either scared or astonished.

"What did you do to my clothes?" Draco hissed.

"Covered them with pheronome last night. Once again, Draco, I plan ahead. Be prepared for it." He explained.

"Do you know how many tentacles fucked me?" the dragon shouted as he stalked towards our table, and people in the way hurriedly moved aside.

"I could guess a lot, I told it to," the human replied, as the dragon reached our table, and picked Alduin up by the front of his shirt, easily lifting him by one hand from his seat, until he was almost standing on said seat and looking Draco in the eyes.

"That was not funny." the dragon hissed inches from Alduin's face. Alduin refused to get scared, or in fact react with any emotion at all.

"Oh, and you call waking us up with your god awful roar not funny? I knew you were going to prank us, I just made sure I got one back." Alduin protested.

"That was more than one." the dragon stated and let go, and Alduin fell to the floor, landing hard. Draco hit a panel with his foot, and six occupied seats, Silverine included, suddenly found themselves ensnared with metallic bonds as the floor panels erupted. Silverine had to break a second chair to get out of his, but Draco had already stalked out of the food store, leaving behind five people who were still stuck. Alduin rubbed his foot where he had landed badly.

"That dragon has a strange sense of humor," he said conversationally as Silverine had to find a third chair, checking for traps. Takori and Time Dancer were trying to break themselves loose, as was the snow leopard and an albino fox. The last that was caught was the dragon that ran the place; his seat had done the same. Draco hadn't even bothered to think on it, he just chose six at random. No one was making particular effort to free those trapped, but then Time and the snow leopard had said that they didn't want any help. The albino fox was busy casting fire spells at his own bonds. Also the fear of Draco taking revenge on someone who lended a hand deterred assistance.

"Clever, but not very effective against me," Silverine said sitting down, of Draco's bonds, which had retracted now it had nothing to aim again. I casually swung out one leg and whacked the panel Draco had touched. The spidery coils shot out again, and Silverine looked surprised as they netted across him again. Fortunately no one had noticed my wayward foot, and Silverine sighed.

"How did he come up with this?"

"He got me to engage some under-floor mechanisms." Kodey replied, tapping a computer he pulled from his pocket. "I could crawl through the under-floor space for fixing wires and the air conduits, and he promised I could have it off with someone of my choice we caught." Silverine laughed, his hands were free and he reached over and clapped the reindeer's shoulder, who blushed.

"I see, and who were you going to choose?" He asked.

"I had no idea who I was going to be confronted with." Kodey replied, typing out commands.

"Are you letting me out, or do I have to break another chair?" Silverine asked.

"I'm working on it," the reindeer replied, running a furry finger over the touch pad.

"Tell you what, you stop this damn thing in less than a minute, I'll suck you off. Nothing like a bit of incentive." The Lupogriff said. Kodey was already into it, and it took about forty seconds before all the Lupogriff's tentacles retracted for certain.

"There, I've switched them off. The interesting thing is who hit the panel the second time, Alduin?" The reindeer asked.

"Wasn't me." Alduin replied, he had drawn a pack of cards and was playing patience. I made myself busy ruffling through my kit, and found a chess set on the top of my new backpack. How thoughtful. I put out the fold up chessboard, and the box of pieces on the table, and began with practiced skill setting up the pieces. Grant looked at me.

"You fancy a game?" He asked.

"I don't care who I play, as long as I play someone," I stated.

"Better enjoy it." Kodey replied, "because you touched that panel."

"And so what?" I began, "Silverine could break out of if he tried." I placed the last two pawns and shook hands with the panther to start the game.

"Do it again, I will fuck you," the Lupogriff threatened, but I was already immersed in my game. I found out quickly that Grant was not very good at chess. I ruthlessly and methodically wiped his pieces from the map, and wasn't aware of anything else happening. Grant on the other hand kept looking over my shoulder when I was looking at him move, and he seemed to be hiding sometimes a smile, sometimes a look of surprise. The game went on for about five minutes before there was a loud bang next to my ear, and I looked up, startled. Alduin was pointing his rifle upward, he had just fired, and was looking at me with a grin.

"I asked you twice if you wanted a bottle of Lift." He said. Lift, sounds like a type of energy drink I used to drink called Boost.

"He also clapped beside your ear as well, for good measure." Valmeero said from beside Grant.

"I've heard of total immersion, but that takes some beating."

"On the other hand," Kodey said, "Ryan's systematically beating Grant off the board."

"I wasn't denying that either," Alduin said and looked at the game. Grant was down to a rook, a pawn and his king, I still had three pawns, and about five of my important pieces.

"Yes, behind the lithe frame is the mind of a mastermind," Kodey said.

"It's criminal," Grant sighed.

"Yes, a criminal mastermind," Alduin chuckled, and got the groan he was after.

"You're the criminal mastermind here, Alduin." Silverine said and nudged the laughing human with a grin.

"I'm the devious sneaky one, he's just got logical brainpower, and lots of it," he said. I finished Grant in five more moves, and thanked Alduin for the board and pieces. He dismissed my thank yous, just as Draco got back, clean and in a pair of trousers.

"Alduin, you haven't sent Ryan to Arachno for an ABM yet?" Alduin slammed his hand on the table, sending up a spider web of cracks.

"I didn't, damn. Come on Ryan," He got out of his seat, while Draco was walking over to the albino fox who was still trying his fire spells on his bonds. I followed Alduin out of the food store. "Sorry, Ryan, I completely forgot about this. Not all the planets we visit have an atmosphere that works with ours, and you need to get an ABM implanted."

"What's an ABM, and who does it?" I asked, my curiosity taking over once again.

"The ABM has a filter that changes all the air in coming into what we are capable of breathing. The operation takes a wee while, and is painless, as you aren't awake for it. And as to who does it, he is Arachno." Alduin explained.

"Arachno, sounds familiar." I said.

"Arachno is of course the human translation for his name, but he is a spider, and I do mean spider." He wasn't kidding, and Arachno was scary. He looked at the two of us as we entered, and the many eyes scrutinized us. He was something like a centaur with the abdomen and middle section of a spider, with six legs, and the front was an almost human torso with four 'arms', and a spider head.

"Ah, Alduin, how are you? Who is the visitor?" He asked. Alduin walked up, and clapped one of Arachno's arms in welcome, briefly hugging the spider.

"Good to see you, Arachno. I've been keeping out of trouble, so far, but Ryan Lewis here needs an ABM," he explained.

"Does he?" the spider looked at me, and I shuffled uncomfortably.

"Ryan, before you lose your nerve, you are not the first who finds Arachno intimidating," Alduin started. This didn't really help. As Arachno moved from the operating table, Alduin steered me to it, and lay me down on it. It felt soft, but not too soft. He handed me a glass of liquid.

"Drink up, we can't have you dying from suffocation," He said. I looked at the purple liquid with less than eager intention. But I drunk it and I instantly felt myself falling into darkness. I felt so alone in that darkness, except for a single voice that followed me as I fell.

"I'm still here, Ryan."

With a jerk I awoke, and Arachno was bent over me. I rolled off and landed on all fours, to the sound of laughter.

"He did better than I did!" Alduin was holding onto a cabinet, laughing. Some people have a strange sense of humor. Arachno looked not surprised at all at my panic, and I realized that I was also not the first to spring off my bed at the sight of the spider after an operation. Alduin took my hand, and nodded to Arachno. The spider nodded, and Alduin brushed his teleporter. It was automatic, my eyes shut in reaction, and I fell for half a minute before landing on Alduin's living room floor with very little force. He brushed himself down, and looked upwards, at a panel in the clear roof.

"I have a very good idea where you can sleep." he said, and clapped his hands loudly. A small green light came on, and a steep but solid ladder folded out from the roof and the panel opened. The ladder hit the floor, and he climbed up the ladder. I followed him and found us in a reasonably large attic.

"It's three meters all round, except at the edges, where it's only three feet tall. All the junk that was here has been moved into a glower made series of rooms underneath the surface, made out of concrete and reinforced steel. Furthermore all the rooms downstairs only open to my voice. Up here on the other hand, it works on a clapper system. Or there's a button up here if you think that's too high tech." He explained.

"It's surprisingly warm, I thought attics were cold," I said, ‘and everyone I've been in has been.'

"I've got some fancy air systems that keep it very nice. I'll just see if I can't find a bed."

There was a flash of light as he stopped speaking, and there was a plain wooden wardrobe, a large chest of drawers, and a bed with drawers underneath. There was also a coat stand with hooks for various purposes. Alduin looked stunned.

"Glower, where are you?" he asked to the air, and a glower appeared, chuckling.

"I thought I'd help Ryan settle in," the glower chuckled to itself, and then vanished. Alduin breathed out.

"There are some disadvantages to having friends who can teleport to your house, and especially ones that can turn invisible," he said, and I realized I had stopped breathing, and began again. Of course, this meant a trip down to the Y.M.C.A to collect the gear I had, and Alduin took me shopping to find some more casual clothes and essentials to fill my drawers. Alduin's card seemed to have no limit.

"Where are you getting all that money?" I asked him again.

"I work two jobs. One is Woolworths, the other is Central, and Central pay is lucrative," he said back. We also got enough toiletries and groceries for the next week for both of us. Furthermore Alduin, with his gun license, bought me a modern shotgun, which he promised to teach to learn to fire. He also bought a couple of hundred .303 rounds. Apparently the dealer had seen this before. Thus loaded up with groceries and random stuff, we went into a side alley and teleported back to our house. According to Alduin, there was a special device embedded under the living room floor, which meant everyone teleporting in would land there.

Immediately, Alduin started sorting out the groceries. I was still dumbstruck from my new possession of a shotgun, this guy was unstoppable. I clapped tentatively, and the panel opened to the flash of the green light, and the ladder slid down. It took about ten seconds, which was sensible because you didn't want to brain anyone underneath. It took only four to go back up mind, because it was right beside a pillar, and the sled the ladder traveled on was actually bolted to the pillar. I immediately began sorting out my new possessions, placing my clothes into relevant and organized drawers. The miscellaneous stuff into smaller drawers, and my jacket and my great coat which was full blown black, I had seen a bunny on Central wearing one and wanted one like it, in my wardrobe. Alduin finished with the groceries, and there was a loud bang as a couple of people teleported in.

"Ah, Valmeero, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Alduin's voice asked. The wolf's smooth voice replied.

"Silverine asked me where Ryan was, we thought the group with Doran, Felicia and Orion could do with a fourth member." Now this piqued my curiosity.

"Sounds like a good group," Alduin began, "all intelligent, two magicians, and all capable with weapons."

"I've never seen Felicia with a weapon?" Gareth's voice sounded confused.

"She has a staff, like Winslo, and while it doesn't ice cube the opposition like his, it's got an iron core, and it very strong. I am speaking from personal experience, she is good with it." Alduin explained.

"Since when did you fight her?" Gareth asked.

"She wanted to challenge me when we were on leave, staff on staff," he replied.

"Who won?" the fox asked.

"It was a draw." Alduin replied, as I heard someone climbing the ladder. Valmeero poked his head through the trapdoor, and saw me. I waved to him, and he climbed up into the attic. He clapped his hands, and the ladder went upwards against the pillar and the panel shut. A dim light bulb was the only thing lighting the place and I sat on the bed as Valmeero came over.

"Enjoying it, Ryan?" he asked and smiled. I looked amused at the suggestion.

"Well, except for my drinks were spiked, the pranks were definitely not nice, and everyone scares me." I replied and Valmeero laughed, and spoke.

"I carry an antidote to love potion at all times, and escaped before I got embroiled. The difference between him and Alduin, Alduin's got a lot more subtlety, and Alduin's a lot more evil with his pranks."

"Tell me." I rolled my eyes, "You did see Draco's expression?"

"I saw Alduin's," he replied.

"I thought his ass would have been taken then and there," it was no joke either, I really did think of that. Valmeero laughed and sat on the bed beside me. Trust the glowers, it already had a pair of sheets and duvet. Both pillow and duvet were in matching white cover slips. The bed was as soft as silk too, it was a seriously comfy bed. Sitting next to the wolf dragon hybrid, I felt his wings brush against me in the dimness.

"Don't worry Ryan, today was a day we all were allowed to do some more-than-normal silly things," Val replied. The switch for the light was a dangling cord above the chest of drawers beside the bed.

‘Why am I thinking about the lighting? I have what had been rumored the most gorgeous male on all Central sitting beside me,' I thought. Draco was cool, naught would beat him in my opinion, but I still wanted to have sex with Val.

"It's still fun though." I admitted, as the wolf stretched his arms from his bare chest.

"You work out a lot," I said, looking at his pecs.

"I have had many people say the same thing," Val replied, his wings brushing again as they folded back in.

"So did you come up here for sex, or just to tease me?" I asked, and Val laughed.

"Actually, I did come up to ask about Central, but I'll go with sex, it's much more fun." he took his time working with his trousers, as I stripped, and before long I saw Valmeero in all his naked beauty. And I thought gods were good looking. Not even Alduin looked this good naked. He caught the gaze, and smiled.

"I like what I see too," he said. He leaned over and kissed me. I came closer and placed my hands around him, which he was not slow to copy. He leaned me back onto the bed, and I lay spread eagle on the bed the wolf hunkered over me with ravenous delight. With little delay, he thrust his well-developed member straight into my ass. Valmeero was not of the sedate school, or at least after ten seconds I thought not. He thrust at a very decent speed, and he growled in pleasure. There was a clapping noise from downstairs, and the ladder descended. Valmeero turned to look at the descending ladder, and then clapped his hands, brining it back up half way. It rose fast as usual, and Alduin was standing on the bottom rung, having leapt for it when he realized it was going back up. He surveyed the scene with a critical glance. In one hand he was holding a knife.

"I was just going to ask what you two wanted for lunch." He said. Once again, Alduin managed to keep a straight face in the front of something truly incredible. I didn't rise, but I spoke.

"Sandwiches sound fine." Valmeero smiled.

"Is that mince I can smell?" He asked.

"Yes. I was making a pasta." Alduin replied, spinning the knife into the air and catching it.

"Sounds good," both of us said.

"And to drink?" Alduin asked.

"Juice please?" I asked.

"I want something with a bit more protein," Val replied.

"Well, Ryan won't mind," Alduin replied tastefully. Val laughed, and clapped his hands. Alduin hung onto the ladder, and he disappeared from view. He clapped it, the ladder came back up and the trap door closed.

"What did he mean by that?" I asked, as Valmeero resumed his thrusting.

"He meant that if I wanted lots of protein, I could suck you off," he said, panting a bit. This was obviously something they were all used to. But Val seemed to be in that sort of mood, for after he ejaculated into me, he sucked me until I let go too. We came down the ladder a while later, as Gareth was hovering around Alduin, looking at the human cook.

"Can I have a go?" Gareth asked, grabbing for a measure of salt, and Alduin brought down the wooden spatula on Gareth's knuckle.

"No, you set the oil on fire last time you tried." Alduin replied, as the fox retreated, rubbing his fingers. I guess it wasn't hard to figure out that Gareth was a terrible cook. There was a bang, and Draco arrived in the living room.

"Lunch! Excellent, I'm starving," he shouted.

"Yes, and no pranks, April Fools is over," I said wagging my finger under his nose, and he laughed.

"That doesn't stop me looking for sex," he said.

"Well don't look in my direction," Alduin said, adding the measure of salt to the pasta. We talked around the bar, watching Alduin's culinary expertise. What a weekend, and the thought of work tomorrow. Why didn't Alduin live on Central? It would save a lot of time and effort, not to mention the chance of people like me finding out about him. But then I realized why, the same reason he carried his rifle everywhere. It was home, and I had come to my home, too.

***

That sunset I spent on the roof of my new home, staring off toward the ocean, pondering once more everything that happened. I sincerely hoped that my new life here has finally settled down to a normal life, or at least as normal as it gets. In my hands held a small book, which I had brought with me from St. George. It was a gift from my great grandmother, and it had never been opened once. The book had a side lock on it to help keep it closed, with the word "Diary" typed in yellow over the leathery brown cover. And with a pen in my hand I opened it up to the first page and wrote down my first entry:

"April 1st, 2009"

"Dear Diary,"

"I don't even know where to begin. I'm a simple 18-year-old boy who has found a new life in New Zealand from the other side of the world. At my old home I had found happiness amongst my friends, and tragedy amongst my family. I am the sol survivor and probably the last of my family legacy of a terrible shoot out, and I can only imagine who had done it.

I escaped from the pain that had ensued and retreated here, where I found a heart of gold and a new way of life. That heart of gold is named Alduin Raptormaster, who is a young man who lives his life travelling the universe with Aliens. When I found out he brought me in like I was one of them and embraced me into it, and even became my guardian. I owe him my life for everything he did.

I don't know what the future beholds me now, but now I'm going in with my head held high, this is the beginning of a new Ryan Lewis. Watch out universe, here I come. I'm going to enjoy the moment with everything I got, clash with others, learn in a constant fight to know and to learn. And you dear Diary shall be the chronicles of my travels, and my secret garden."

"Sincerely Yours,"

"Ryan Christopher Lewis"