Shalom

Peace. What does man know of peace? We thought leaving earth would make things different. That was only the beginning of it. How can we have peace with so much ignorance? Thinking we were the only sentient life in the universe. Arrogance is a dead zone when it comes to peace. We found out quickly that humanity was no longer the top of the food chain. We adapted, took hold of what little we had. Ingenuity was why we survived. But peace, we never had peace. Earth was gone in a manner of speaking. There were still some smaller settlements, a few nations that refused to leave. But it was a backwater planet amongst the outer rim of a galaxy brimming with much more powerful races. Earth was a ruined sphere of harsh wilderness. Peace, in the face of the disdain of the mighty powers that dominated the stars we crawled through, peace was a dream. Can man dream without hope? Sometimes I lay awake at night and wonder if I still dream…if I ever could again. Hope, a hope for peace. Where are the dreams and the hopes? What is left for mankind amongst the titans of the stars? If we have one thing to hope for it is hope itself. A hope based on a desire, a longing for peace, a paradise that will never come. Yet we must hope, we must. Mankind, I challenge us to search for that hope, that dream. Search until you cannot go any further. We will not go quietly into the night. We will dream again. We will hope in a dream of peace come to life here amongst the stars. We will know this paradise one day, someday.1

-Eponolel Odunai, President of New Genesis the night before its destruction on January 7th, 76 AE (after earth). 2

It’s said, by young and old alike, that humanity lost hope after New Genesis. No one had seen it coming. Tectonic plates moving about in a sudden violent manner, the planet a floating mass of planetary sized rubble. Over three billion people dead in less than three days. Some had gotten away but no one knew that the planet of not only a new beginning but a new hope was going to do what it did. Now any chance mankind had in building a name amongst the other races was gone. All that was left was to survive. Yet still some people held out, settling on suitable, if rugged and treacherous planets and using mankind’s greatest strength, ingenuity.3

On the outer rim of the galaxy once known as the Milky Way, a system of dark and barren planets floated slowly around a red giant of a sun, their surfaces harsh and far from amiable. Situated in high orbit around the second of the five planets in the system hung what looked to be a hefty chunk of metal floating in the blackness. The station was a dark grey that was nearly as ugly as the construction of the installation itself. Tiny lights that were a myriad of different ships slid noiselessly around the station, some docking, some leaving, but all of them in full acknowledgement of where they were, Safe Haven Station. A place of relatively no order, Safe Haven Station was a remnant of a past long gone, when humans had begun to spread out further into the stars. He turned to gaze out into space, dust and oily smudges marring the heavy glass portal he was looking through.4

“Find something bright and shiny to occupy your tiny little brain?”
His thickly brown eyes narrowed with annoyance.5

“I ask forgiveness, I could not hear you from so high without lowering myself…runtpaw…” he said in a low grumbling growl, his urge to swipe at something with his big furry paw becoming almost undeniable.6

Waleck Jaklamber was a Styrka, like a bear, only capable of interstellar space travel and witty banter, if you ever gave a Styrka the chance to say so. Natan Easl was the one he called runtpaw, not because he was being mean, but because the little styrka was, in fact, a runt. Most Styrka stood nearly eight to ten feet in height, shoulders broad enough to make their bearish resemblance even more so. The Natan, the runtpaw, had the wide-shouldered look about him, but lacked a few hands in height, barely coming a hand taller than those humans…funny little creatures. Their only saving grace was what little fur they seemed to possess.7

Any further contemplation was forgotten as the smaller of the two Styrka launched himself bodily at the taller. The sparse crowd that moved along the fairly cramped corridor did their best to squeeze around the furry scuffle without becoming a part of it.8

“Enough runtpaw! The captain told us to find another one!”9

“Sure wobbleguts, use the captain to save your…GARRR!!!!...use the captain to save your hide!!!”10

The scrapping continued as the sparse crowd became no crowd. Waleck stopped for a moment, Natan’s broad snouted, furry head held firmly under one thickly meated, rug like arm.11

“Nuff done runtpaw, the Rendorseget are…”12

With a fierce yowl of pain Waleck felt Natan’s sharp incisors sink through the thick fur and into the heavy meat of his arm. It was at that moment that the Rendorseget came hastily down the corridor. Now Styrka are renowned throughout the outer territories as fearless fighters, peerless in their ability to do a lot a physical damage with minimal effort. But those who enforced the “peace” on Save Haven were nearly as famous for brutality and a willingness to ignore the greater dignities in life, like the right to not be kicked in the head or zapped with long metal rods that lit up at the end with crackling blue energy, or…well, you get the picture. It was one of those metal rods, affectionately called “stingers” by those unfortunate enough to have come into contact with the wrong end, which was slammed into Natan’s exposed backside. Gritting his impressive jaws, Waleck found that it was more than worth it to endure the gnawing of the runtpaw in order to watch the stinger bite into that furry behind. It was at this time that a stinger hit Waleck between the eyes. 13

The Rendorseget, the elite, brutal, crooked policing force that prowled Safe Haven Station was comprised of a myriad of different races, mercenaries most. They made their living throwing innocent and guilty alike in holding cells and getting as much money or labor out of them as possible. Most people stepped lightly around the Rendorseget on Safe Haven Station. Everyone stepped lightly around an angry Styrka…not to mention two angry Styrka. Waleck was angry about the stinger that he’d had slapped onto his brow, twice. Natan was furious that someone had interrupted his obvious drubbing of the wobblyguts.14

“Truce my mothersisterson,” Waleck said with a growl, his rising rage apparent in that he addressed the runtpaw in the proper formal manner that a Styrka would address a cousin that was the child of his mother’s sister’s son.15

“Agreed, but only until we deal with these nosey weebles,” Natan replied, rising to his feet to join Waleck and barking a deep laughter slamming a hairy footpaw down on Waleck’s.16

Waleck roared in pain and followed Natan with a look of pure murder oozing from his eyes as the smaller Styrka waded into the growing crowd of Rendorseget that had come down either end of the corridor.17

Eirk Saavij made his way through the deserted hallway. It didn’t take any acute sense of hearing to pick up the sounds of screams, and roaring…and, in general, a great shebang of a hullabaloo. Turning a corner he held tightly to wall, peeking around to find a most distressing scene. Eirk watched as two bear creatures plowing about a crowd of very angry, very pummeled bunch of black helmeted, black armored creatures carrying the familiar electric shock batons.18

“Waleck…you’ll probably blame this on Natan,” Eirk chuckled to himself, those great hairy oafs were Styrka, he’d known the second the captain spoke to them before they left that they’d get into a fight.19

Of a height just below Natan’s, Eirk was a rather unassuming human, much skinnier than either wobbleguts or runtpaw, as the two were so fond of calling each other. His hair was a dirty blond and his eyes a soft blue. Eirk Saavij was no stranger to the outer ring of Safe Haven station. He’d grown up in the dark corners and bad places here on station. When his parents made the decision to move planetside he’d stayed behind to try to make money as his parents attempted to assist in the small scale terraforming process that some of the local had been trying for years. Fools. Though he didn’t blame them for trying.20

“The captain’ll love this,” he muttered, silently cursing those two walking rugs with an amused twist to his lips.21

The other inhabitants of cell B5 were crowded towards one side of the room. It had been this way since the two Styrka had been thrown in. Well, they hadn’t exactly been thrown in, more like fought and wrestled down the hall and then beaten back into the cell at the cost of nearly two dozen Rendorseget, but the end outcome was the same. The two had immediately fought each other as soon as the cell doors were closed, eventually tiring of that and falling asleep on the bare steel floor. The oddest part was that one of the prisoners had yet to move to a position of relative safety…22

“Oi, y’tinks’ee nuhs theighz in’eer?” a dirty, ragged dressed old man said to another who was of the same age and tailor as he.23

The other man smiled a toothless smile and looked at the figure in question with a sense of derangement that was quiet easily comical.24

“Y’muusbe rot seesoi,” the first man said, running four grubby fingers and a stump of a used to be thumb through thin, grey hair, “an noman ouldu t’sleepen whenifa barbugger loik dem Styrka bees’eer.”25

The crazy toothless man simply nodded sagely at the wisdom of the first man’s inarticulate speech. With a cautious curiosity bred by long days spent either locked up or working for the Rendorseget doing hard labor, the prisoners stared at the man who was sleeping on the bottom bunk of the triple slabs of steel that stuck out of the wall to serve as beds…right next to the two Styrka who had been sleeping.26

Waleck sat up, trying not to think about how a human would look after taking the beating he had taken from those cowardly Rendorseget. He quickly decided that a human would have died and so, with his self esteem rising, he turned and made an attempt to wake the runtpaw.27

“Why’d you hit me in the face?” Natan said groggily as he came to,” that stinger to my southern estates not enough amusement for you?”28

Waleck grunted a neutral response and look about the cell as if seeing it for the first time. A profound rumbling deep in Waleck’s throat served as his efforts at chuckling in amusement. He pointed at the prisoners huddled in the far corner and grunted at Natan. Natan turned and darted forward a few steps and roared ferociously. Shrinking back as far as they could, the other captives watched the now laughing Styrka with fear. It was then that they noticed the sleeping human on the bottom bunk against the wall next to them. Natan put a single claw up to his mouth and stealthily moved over to the human. As Natan turned and looked up at Waleck with the question 29

“How could playing with this sleeping human be fun?” plastered upon his bearish features, the human sat up and leaned against the wall.30

“What do you need Styrka?” the human said, brushing strands of long, dark hair out from his eyes and sitting up.31

Waleck shrugged indifferently and lay back down on the floor, intent on getting some sleep. Natan, on the other paw, shuffled over and stood in front of the human.32

“Be careful little mancub, a Styrka is a dangerous thing to take so casually,” Natan worked an extra bit of malice into his growled words, a mischievous glint in his eyes.33

There was a moment of silence as the human took a better look at Natan, his pale grey blue eyes giving his visage a hard look. He scratched his stubbled chin and lay back down.34

“A bit small to be a full grown Styrka…” the human said dismissively, his eyes closing.35

Pure unadulterated murder shone from Natan’s bearish eyes, the fire growing hotter at the sound of Waleck’s rumbling chuckles. The runtpaw whirled around and glared at his larger cousin. Waleck was lying prostrate upon the cell floor as if asleep. The only thing suspicious was the fact that his great hairy body was shaking with restrained mirth. Natan turned back around and shook a clawed paw at the human.36

“Do you really think that matters human!!?? I could tear you limb from limb!”37

The human opened one eye, looking first to Waleck and then Natan again. He then shrugged, giving a gentle sigh as he continued sleeping. Natan turned to look at Waleck who, having decided sleeping just wasn’t going to work, stood. By the dangerous glint in his eye, Natan was very well considering the idea of actually killing the human.38

“Leave him be,” Waleck refrained from insulting the runtpaw, the smaller Styrka was not quite done with the wrath of battle,” I like him.”39

Natan snorted derisively and slumped up against the wall, a general sense of disinterest plain upon his features. All they had to do now was wait.40

The two Styrka didn’t have to wait long. It was no more than a half an hour before Waleck smelled him coming. He knew that scent anywhere. Big incisors glinting dully in the light of the palely lit cell, Waleck’s smile made the other prisoners push themselves even further into the corner of the spacious holding room. Walking beside the most beautiful being Waleck had ever seen was a pair of Rendorseget. Eirk Saavij stood in front of the bars, a lazy smile on his face, eyes almost shut as if asleep.41

“So, you guys finish inspecting this cell?”42

“I don’t know, there’s a spot over against the far wall that still needs to be looked upon,” Waleck said, looking to Natan, who shrugged.43

“You find a pilot?” Eirk said, scratching at his stomach, all the time looking like a leopard that was half asleep and yet ready to pounce.44

The human that had been sleeping until Eirk arrived sat up and listened intently as the two Rendorseget made their way back down the hall. Waleck was about to answer when he glanced at the only prisoner in the cell that wasn’t cowering on the far wall.45

“Who are you human?”46

“Who?” Natan asked without turning.47

“The human,” Waleck said, looking down at Natan,” did it tell you its name?”48

“No, it was too busy insulting me and you were too busy laughing…
wobbleguts…”49

“Hold on a second,” Eirk said without a great deal of passion in the request, the two complying as he peered through the bars at his fellow human,” what is your name?”50

The man stood in front of the two Styrka, raising an eyebrow at Waleck as his massive frame shook with bearish laughter.51

“What’s so funny Styrka? I amuse you?”52

"No,” Waleck managed between greatly mirthful chuckles,” it’s just that…”
For no reason readily apparent to the now greatly confused human, a look that was forged in the purest fires of unbelievably violent death dripped like lava from Natan’s bearishly brown eyes.53

“What is it?” Eirk asked with a tone of nearly tangible amusement, as if he already knew.54

There was a moment that would have been silent had it not been for the deep throated guffaws of what people on old Earth would have called horse laughing coming from Waleck…who was now on the floor. Natan’s flexed his paws, claws fully extended. The murderous lava of rage was about to erupt when the runtpaw spoke.55

“Wobbleguts is laughing because…because the human is taller than me…”56

Eirk took a closer look at the human as Natan pounced on Waleck with violent intent. The human was indeed a small bit taller than Natan. He glanced down to watch as Natan was slamming Waleck’s head into the heavy steel floor. Waleck wasn’t fighting back, in fact, he was laughing even harder…Eirk shook his head and turned back to the human who was still staring at the odd scene in front of him.57

“Your name?”58

“Huh?” he mumbled looking up from the strange pair of Styrka to the more familiar human,” my name? Oh, right. Roycol Andeon. I heard you mention…”59

60

“Wait,” Eirk said quickly, cutting him off,” are you related to Oz Andeon…THE Oz Andeon?”61

Roycol sighed and shook his head,” that’s the one alright, bless it Ozzed, you maniac…”62

63

“Are you as good a pilot?”64

65

“Better than my little brother will ever be,” the one who had named himself Roycol said, brushing a few strands of dark, messy hair.66

“Can you fly an Arieh-class freighter?”67

“I’ve flown them before…”68

69

“Why does the aft power coil system overheat during transjumps?” Eirk asked, just loud enough to be heard over the still laughing Wobbleguts and the still raging runtpaw.70

71

The human thought for a moment before answering, taking a few steps closer to the other side of the bars from Eirk.72

“The standard location for the cooling unit is forward and port in these kinds of freighters. That means you’ve got the coolant flowing a fair distance from the main system before it hits the engines’ inner workings, not to mention it runs close to the two main engine exhaust ports just before it gets there. Just rework the cooling unit to fit into the weapons locker just aft of the cargo bay and you’ll double your output. Maybe add a few kicks to whatever punch is in the trunk of the…"73

“You’ll learn the name of our ship after you speak to the captain,” Eirk said with a look of exasperation at Natan, who was now punching a still laughing Waleck in the chest.74

75

“How much do I get paid?” Roycol asked, absent mindedly dusting off his plain black pants.76

77

“The captain will discuss the terms, he’s never given less then five percent of the take along with room and board though…”78

The dark haired human nodded and stuck out his hand. Eirk reached through the bars and smiled as he shook hands with Roycol Andeon. Having the elder brother of the infamous Oz Andeon would help boost the captain’s reputation a bit. It was said that Oz was the only being on the outer rim to have pirated the space lanes of the core worlds successfully. It was also said that the man had a death wish and chased it with reckless abandon. Outlaws were usually that way. Though few made a name of it in the way of Roycol’s younger brother. Rumor, myth, whatever you want to call it, the hearsay was that man was invincible. Eirk frowned as he led Waleck, Natan, and elder Andeon out of the main entrance to the holding area on Safe Haven. He’d had been forced to pay a very steep price for Waleck and Natan, but had gotten Roycol for very cheap. Humans were generally considered to be fairly common on the Outer Rim. It also didn’t hurt that the Rendorseget didn’t know he was the elder brother of Oz Andeon. Eirk sighed as he slapped Natan’s paw away from Waleck’s stubby tail. He was never going to hear the end of this from the captain.79

Safe Haven Station was originally designed to be an orbital defense platform placed as it was to protect a mining operation that had long since dried up dirtside. The planet it clung to was known to the locals as Avliden, which had some meaning in a language that had long since died in mankind’s jump from Earth to the stars. In the grand scheme of things, neither Safe Haven, nor Avliden mattered much. This was why the once formidable, yet now abandoned, selection of military estate had been taken over by any being with the muscle and the resources to make it theirs. As Eirk led the others to find the captain, a single eye watched him make his way down the promenade that surrounded a wide, open area that had once been the station’s main storage bay for the compliment of attack craft, long gone by now. There were plenty of shops and makeshift tents with hawkers yelling out anything and everything they could just to get anybeing to stop and listen to what they were selling. With a dozen rampways and four floors of some kind of store selling some product or service, there was plenty of movement and color to grab the eye and distract. But he had his only eye only for the two Styrka and two humans that were making their way across the walkway across the gigantic bazaar.80

“Betjant, get the boys, I think it is time we speak again with Mr. Eirk’s captain.”81

The one eye blinked as a shadowy figure behind its throne-like seat bowed deeply and backed off of the smallish balcony that sat a good thirty feet above the fourth floor promenade below.82

“You will not cross me Dymen, dirty scavenger…”83

…84

Roycol glanced over his shoulder to see Waleck pushing the shorter Natan away from him, growling something unintelligible. He shook his head as he turned to look forward. This Eirk was a strange fellow. Styrka…what am I getting myself into? His thoughts broiled and floated about in his head as the made their way across the station.85

“So, where are we going? The docking bay is up two levels and in the other direction…”86

“I’m taking you to meet the captain,” Eirk said with a lazy grin, Natan muttering something that had Waleck chuckling as much as a bear creature can chuckle.87

It wasn’t long before they came to their destination. The Bar said “McJunkin’s” and was one of the most dilapidated, haphazard looking bars Roycol had ever seen. Waleck and Natan were grinning, obviously having been there before. McJunkin’s was an ancient old style tavern that had been run by the same family for generations. They had never made enough profit to be bothered by the local thugs, and yet still had a good reputation amongst the lifers on Safe Haven. It was also Captain Mattick Dymen’s favorite place to go to any time they made port on Safe Haven. A dirty looking man came stumbling out the swinging doors as Eirk reached for them.88

“Mornun Saavij,” the filthy looking man offered around a magnificent belch.89

“Morning Idin,” Eirk said with a calm that was beginning to become the man’s trademark.90

They stepped inside and were greeted with a bottle smashing against the wall next to the door.91

“Pologies Eirk!” a very drunken voice called out over the din of raucous yelling and horribly out of tune drunken songs and chants.92

Eirk waved the apology off and made his way towards the back of the place. Roycol glanced around as the two Styrka headed towards the bar. Not wanting to lose track of Eirk in the drunken carousing, the taller Andeon moved quickly to catch up. A tall, thick shouldered man that had to be at least seven feet tall stood against the far wall behind a table surrounded by players enmeshed in some card based game.93

“Is that him?” Roycol yelled over the noise, grabbing Eirk’s shoulder as he did,” is that tall one your captain?”94

Eirk smiled and shook his head. The tall man’s skin was the color of the shadows, and he had an intimidating look about him. Roycol couldn’t help but wonder if the man could wrestle the Styrka and live. As the big man saw Eirk he leaned forward from his place on the wall and reached forward as they clasped hands.95

“What were those two up to?” the man said in a deep, yet animated voice, casting an odd glance across the room at Natan and Waleck who were at the bar…and either roaring or singing…or both.96

“They were in the holding cells,” Eirk said, and a little loudly too.97

There was a loud cursing from the table as the large, dark skinned man laughed in triumph. One of the men sitting held up some money, which was quickly taken. Roycol didn’t even try not to grin. They had actually bet on what would happen to those two. Amazing.98

“Roycol Andeon,” Eirk said with a now familiar, lazy smile,” this is Jerem Argent.”99

“That’d be me,” the large man said, extending a hand.100

Roycol took the hand, startled at how Argent’s hand seemed to swallow his own.101

“Cap’n,” Argent said with a grin,” Erik found us a pilot!”102

Those playing cards at the table stopped for a moment as the man with his back against the wall stood. One of the other men cursed and handed Argent money, it was the same man.103

“How much did you have to pay to get those walking carpets out?” the man that had stood, presumably the captain, said, his eyes wild with a sense of daring, and of mischief.104

Eirk held up some fingers and smiled. Argent laughed again as the same man as before swore loudly and handed the big man even more money. Roycol shook his head. This was a crazy lot. Especially that captain, even if he seemed near a head shorter. An odd man, those crazy eyes. He reminded him of Ozzed, though the fiery red hair and beard were a difference. As the man went to put his cards down, there was a commotion at the door. Argent peered over the top of the crowd for a moment, eyes searching through the smokey haze of the dimly lit barroom.105

“Rendorseget?” Eirk asked as the men at the table tossed down their cards and grabbed chairs, bottles, anything to be used as a weapon. The Rendorseget didn’t mind people resisting, they almost counted on it.106

Argent’s eyes narrowed as a hard look fell over his face.107

“No. Worse.”108

They all stood stock still for a moment. Roycol could see the gears spinning as the moment came and passed. The red haired man jumped up on top of the table, bottle in hand.109

“OVER HERE Y’NANCIES!”110


…111


The smells of the kitchen wafted through the halls of the ship. An absent minded humming thrummed hither and yon as the rolls came out of the oven. They were perfect. Brendun Raash smiled to himself. They would be wonderful with the stew. Despite his portly appearance, he was nimble on his feet as he seemed to slowly dance about the kitchen, humming to himself a light hearted tune. 112

Not too much pepper. A touch of garlic powder. A nice spice to complement the tomatoes and peppers. Raash smiled again. He liked to smile. The stew would be a hearty one. No doubt the extra spice would kick those that needed a touch sobering up. The captain liked his stew spicy. Bare feet tapping almost silently across the heavy rubber floor, the humming Dwern continued to prepare dinner.113

Dwern came from a solar system on the outer rim. An eight world system with plenty of resources, the Dwern homeworlds were renowned for their fine metal work. Some of the heaviest starships were of Dwern make. They were a warlike race that just didn’t have population or multiple system economy to compete with the unreal wealth of the Core Worlds. That suited them fine. The tough living on the Outer Rim served the Dwern well and they were sought after for their services. Few races thrived this far away from the Core Worlds. Though they weren’t the mega cultures of those on the “civilized” planets, the Dwern did quite well for themselves.114

Brendun Raash was an especially odd Dwern as far as the conception of oddity amongst Dwern went. The man stood just a few inches taller than most Dwern at about five and a half feet. He had no beard and not a violent bone in his body, also…quite odd. His parents had loved him, but he had never quite fit in amongst other Dwern. Armed with a love for cooking and a desire to get away from a culture in which he didn’t belong, Raash had jumped on the first ship out of the system. And he’d stayed there ever since.115

The rolls still needed another half hour to cool. Just enough time to put the pies in. A foraging genius, he managed to get his hands on all sorts of organics…creating meals that had kept much of the crew around even when the pay was a few months behind. His cheeks remained a rosy red at all times.116

The peaches he’d found in one of the Rendorseget cargo bays were in prime condition. What watch officer didn’t want to make a little extra on the side? They never counted the crates anyway. The Dwern’s humming, along with the wonderful smells of his cooking, wafted down the hall. They should be back at any time. Hopefully not too soon though.117

The rolls still needed a bit more time before they would be ready…the pies could cook through the meal. Dessert would just have to come after their stomachs had settled.118

A loud clanging and voices rang down the hall from the loading bay. He stopped humming for a moment, absent mindedly stirring the hearty beef stew he’d concocted. They were back. Someone big ran past the door, giggling and breathing hard at the same time. The footsteps proceeded quickly on before they stopped and ran back. Jerem Argent poked his head in the door, his face dripping with sweat, a few blood stains on his simple grey t-shirt. Brendun Raash simply stirred the stew humming to himself as he looked at the big human.119

“Oh Johnny,” Jerem said with a deep sigh and a little more laughter,” run Johnny run. That was amazing. B-Raash, you only wish you could have been there.”120

B-Raash raised an eyebrow and stopped humming, a knowing grin spreading across his hairless face. Argent stepped inside the kitchen and leaned against the counter adjacent to the stove where the stew was stewing.121

“Betjant and the rest of Gorz’s men came to McJunkin’s, and they came aiming to fight…but Johnny wasn’t having any of it!”122

B-Raash, as he was known to the crew, just chuckled knowingly and kept stirring the stew. Argent paused to catch his breath before continuing.123

“And th…then the cap’n just jumps up on the table and yells ‘over here y’nancies!” Jerem jumped up on the counter, just to emphasize his story,” and we all just dove in. By Johnny it was a barfight to end all barfights! Chestur was too busy picking up the money on the floor so he missed all the good stuff. I had me some good fun with those villains, and Waleck and Natan were big hairy and scary…boy Johnny it was fun!”124

“Did Waleck and Natan find a pilot?” B-Raash asked hesitantly, adopting a defeated look as Jerem smiled.125

“Nope,” Jerem said triumphantly as he collected a few coins from the still stirring Dwern,” but Eirk did. He’s a human, Roycol Andeon if I remember right. He gave a good show, but in the end the cap’n was the best. Never seen a human do those kinds of things…I’d follow that man into a vacuum holding my breath if he told me to.”126

B-Raash chuckled, his merry features a perfect fit for the tightly packed kitchen full of wonderful food fragrances. Jerem continued detailing the fight as best he could, dropping a few Johnnies here and then as the mood took. The stew just got stirred some more. A few figures moved quickly past the doorway to the kitchen loud voices and a few bearish growls sounding out through the ship. Jerem paused his recounting, as troubled look on his face.127

“Someone get hurt bad?” B-Raash asked, his face painted with apprehensive concern.128

“Yeah…no,” Jerem shook his head and snorted,” Waleck stepped on Chestur’s hand during the fight and Chestur’s been after him all the way from McJunkin’s.”129

B-Raash laughed at the ridiculousness of the image and looked from Jerem to the door as a red faced Chestur Bolushy stepped into the kitchen.130

“Where’s that ratty bearrug!” the ship’s engineer yelled, a look of murder in his eyes.131

A great furry form ran past the doorway before Jerem or B-Raash could answer. Catching the motion out of the corner of his eye, Chestur ran to the door and looked out into the hall. Eyes widening with furry, the disheveled and unshaven Chestur ran screaming rage filled epithets down the hall. Jerem laughed uproariously as B-Raash shook his head, stirring the stew calmly.132