Gentle little hands massage my cheeks. I open my eyes to see the ceiling of my room in Gemknight. Seated on my chest is a familiar fubby. Chai jumps back with a yelp.

"That feels great. Don't stop," I whisper sleepily.

"Mr. Smalls, you're awake!"

"Hey, how's my favorite fubby?"

She blushes and climbs off of the bed.

"I was just applying ointment to help treat your burns."

"Burns?"

"Yes, you were exposed to discontinued cosmetic chemicals that cause harmful skin irritation."

"I almost died to expired setting spray... what a way to go."

"I'll go let everyone know you're awake."

Chai runs off and I lay staring up at the ceiling. Everything considered, I don't feel that bad. My joints feel tender, my head's a bit foggy, and I have a terrible case of cottonmouth, but all told I'll live, I think.

A few minutes later, my door opens and Colette rushes in followed by Kheelisha and Candi. Before I can ask when they'd arrived in the city, Dido and Sasha join them. Obera and Broom Grimoire bring up the rear. The women gather around my bed, bombarding me with questions. Concern paints their faces in varying degrees. Bandages cover Colette's arms and legs, Obera's missing a few patches of fur, and Broom's hands are wrapped in gauze.

"I'm glad you guys are okay."

Kheeli sits beside me and takes my hand. "Don't worry about them. How are you doing, lover?"

"I'm fine." I study the others. "What happened after I passed out?"

"Wax and I got down there just in time," Broom explains. "You passed me Colette and Obera, then climbed out of the chemical testing room and collapsed. We dragged the four of you out of there,"

"Four of us? What about the vampire, Frost? Was he dead?"

"Who's Frost? You guys were the only people down there. The peacekeepers swept the whole building. They arrested twenty-two conspirators. No vampires."

I glance over at Sasha, who watches me intensely.

"What?" she asks sweetly.

From Obera's face, she's buying the innocent act as much as I am.

"You're a hero, Marlon," Candi says, climbing onto the bed beside me. Her serpent arms tickle as they slither up my body. "You saved Letty and Bearson." She kisses my cheek. "Thank you."

My cheeks warm.

"Candi!" Kheelisha gasps. She kisses my neck. "Marlon, we're just happy, you're safe."

The two bombard me with kisses, each trying to outdo the other.

I look towards the others for help, but they find it all hilarious.

"Thanks, little guy," Obera says, sitting down on the only chair in the room.

"I'll thank you personally when we have some privacy," Colette says with quite a bit of sass.

Kheeli and Candi both look appalled. She merely smirks and starts looking at her nails.

"Where's The Captain?" I ask.

Suddenly no one can look me in the eyes. I sit up and the small towel on my lap slips off. Everyone takes a step back. Not only are my clothes missing, but the flame cap is back.

"What the fuck?"

Sitting on the sink in the washroom, I try to process what they told me, but it doesn't make sense.

"So The Captain is being court-martialed because she saved me?" I ask Obera, standing on the other side of the door.

"In a nutshell. She knowingly put your life in danger."

"To save you and her sister!"

"I know that, but she deliberately broke the rules of the treaty. She also killed protected individuals without a formal judgment."

"What the fuck does that even mean!"

"By Ministry law, any who gather under a registered and identifiable organization are entitled to formal judgment before a magistrate."

The fucking Team Rocket outfits. I bet Ada had the group registered as a subsidiary of her company.

"Those people who grabbed us were apparently dressed in their organization's uniform when Chineelia killed them, thus she broke the law."

"This is bullshit."

"I know, little guy. I know."

It all feels like my fault. Looking in the mirror, I try to think of some way I can help. After a few minutes Obera knocks at the door.

"I'm still here," I say. "I'm just thinking."

"Well don't think too hard, human," Sasha sings. "Brought you some clothes."

I crack the door and reach for them, but she forces her way in.

"Hey!" Obera and I shout in unison.

Sasha slams the door shut behind her.

"I'm not dressed," I say, backing away from the petite vampire.

"Quiet, boy toy. I want to play."

The washroom shutters as it fills with smoke...

...

The darkness fades and we're both floating in the pool, naked in the cool waters.

Why are we back here?

The last time I wanted a piece of you, I pushed too hard and exhausted myself. I was trying to be careful. This time, I'm going to take what I want.

She swims over and places her hand on my stomach.

I can't let them send you back across the veil before I find out why you smell so tasty.

What do you mean, send me back?

After what Captain Chineelia did, Daddy and Atropa have to do damage control. Can't have officials sniffing around too closely. They're going to execute the rogue vainglory officer and send her 'troublemaking' human boyfriend back where he belongs. Clean and easy.

She kisses my chest, then runs her tongue across my nipple. I feel the back of my mind tingle under her attention. I feel her shiver as I let my hands settle on her hips.

You see? This can be fun for us both if you just relax.

Why would Atropa just throw The Captain under the carriage? Why wouldn't she support her?

Atropa support an Azi'Zoro? Don't be silly, boy toy. The Minister hates that family. Daddy says she chose them so that, if things fell apart, they'd have a scapegoat.

She takes a hold of my manhood and starts to slowly stroke me. In this mindscape the flame cap is gone.

You know, looking so young, men run away from me. She pulls herself up and nuzzles my neck. No one cares how old I am or what I want, but I don't have to worry about that here.

I take hold of her face and raise it up so I can kiss the tip of her nose.

Is there nothing The Captain can do?

Why are you worried about her? Her voice quivers as I lick her neck. Okay... If she were to make the court martial public, The Minister's little side dealings might come to light. But The Captain thinks Atropa is on her side and will keep the proceedings quiet out of blind loyalty. Sasha chuckles. She's nothing if not a faithful soldier. How silly of her.

I laugh with her and run my hands up to her neck. She presses close, her breath heavy.

So if she calls for a public trial, they won't be able to just execute her?

Yes, now let's stop talking about her.

I nod and shove her down under the water. She giggles with joy as she goes down, her hands holding on to my forearms. My adrenaline rushes as I tighten my grip around her throat and hold her under. Her smile becomes a look of panic. Her power fights me, pushing and punching, and I resist with everything I have. Thrashing, she claws at my skin. The water churns and the shadows in the corners thicken. They reach for me as her struggles die.

...