There aren't really any tried and true strategies for winning at cards against a six armed alien with a vicious temper and poison spit.

Rip'em Jarkaroo had the reputation of a sore loser, possibly due to a bad habit of relieving his opponents of their limbs when he lost. Despite this, I refused to fold. It wasn't my choice to make port on this back water swill of a planet, twenty light years from the whisper of the law, and I'd be damned if I was going to lose any spank money to a slavering moronic mess like Rip'em.

The bugger couldn't hold his drink, already three sheets to the wind after a couple shots of frontier moonshine. Two of his arms kept grabbing at the unfortunate Vargosian chained in the corner.

It was rare seeing one out this far and judging by the swollen state of her lady parts she would be in heat soon. I needed to be far from this piss hole before she flooded the bar with hormones. Lonely, horny people were good for business. They drank more. If I wasn't on such a tight schedule I might have indulged in a few memorable indiscretions, but my load of goods was due on the Gallows in two days time. Those people didn't appreciate tardiness. If I wanted to leave with my payment and no grievous wounds, I had to reclaim my stack of chips from this drunken idiot without losing my remaining good arm in the process.

"Come on, Hiroshim, call it or draw a card," Rip'em snarled, haucking a dollop of spit on the table. It sizzled, slowly melting into the wood.

Rip'em was ugly even for a Triniad. His normally angular face was dented and scarred from one too many fights. One of his eyes stalks was crooked. His breath reeked of month old garbage and rotting vegetable matter. For all their strength and biological advantages, the Triniads were mostly vegetarians. Angry, savage, vegetarians.

I forced myself to stop looking at the chunk of Rip'em's previous meal wedged between his teeth and studied my hand. It wasn't a great one. Strata was an old game, not like the sleek multi-dimensional games played on the inner ring. It was similar enough to Poker that it could be played with a deck of human playing cards. The terms were different, and the winning hands were much harder to figure out but I studied this game inside and out on the long hours between ports. What else was there to do in space.

"Draw me a card."

Rip'em slid a card from the top of the deck in front of me. I took a moment to peek at it, praying for a face card. A nine of spades. Damn. It wasn't a complete loss. Spades was the highest suit. I glanced at at the Triniad. His other eye stalk was drooping, dulled by drink. The hands that held his cards had a slight tremor while a third errant arm brought another a third shot to his lips. My brow raised at that. Reputation or not, Rip'em was drunk, stinking drink, repent for your sins drunk. Not the sort I could see ripping my arms off if he lost a hand, unless he fell on me in the process.

"I call," I said, giving him a confident smirk as I added my last chips to the pile.

That's when it happened. The six arm, the unoccupied one, casually slipped up from under the table to rifle a few 'new' cards into place. Did he think I wouldn't notice it? Probably too gone to care. That does it. I was willing to do this the tried and true proper way but if he was going to cheat, he needed to be more subtle about it. Two could play that came.

I have one good arm, the arm I was born with. I also have a great one. A bad skiff accident a few years back and a mechanic's refurbishment left me with a replacement. I happen to add a few upgrades myself. Keeping my eyes up on the Triniad, I pressed a hidden pocket of my wrist against the table. The hologram gave off the dullest sheen before settling into place over the cards. A hand full of face cards, with a pair of smiling Royal Ladies to take the pot. Why it was my lucky day.

Rip'em gave me a sloppy grin, with two rows of chlorophyll stained square teeth, and laid out his hand. Even his cheating game was weak. He slipped a couple of Bearded Gentlemen into his hand but nothing to beat what I now held. He was already reaching for the pot when I laid mine down, careful not to unsettle the holographic overlay.

"Hoo ha, thanks for the game buddy," I said reaching for my winnings. The hologram was temporary but it would last long enough for me to collect and run, possibly faster than I originally intended. Rip'em peered blearily at the cards, the realization slowly crawling across his face. He blinked at the cards, a bit of shine creeping back into his inebriated eye stalks.

"You...won....," his lips curled in a sneer of disbelief. A dribble of saliva leaked from the corner of his mouth, sizzling over his vest. You'd think they would invest in acid proof clothing or maybe most Triniads knew better than to get falling down drunk. He staggered to his feet, using all six arms to brace himself as his trunk like legs wobbled. There were calculations playing over his mug. When his fists punched through the table top, it was time to go. Stuffing the last few chips in my pockets, I rose amid the flutter of cards and chips of wood, scooting out of the way as he sent the table flying in my direction. The other patrons of the bar made themselves scarce, practically melting into the walls. Must be used to this sort of thing. The bartender sank through the floor on a swift moving platform, leaving me and the half naked Vargosian to Rip'em's Wrath.

The Vargosian....shite...the poor girl looked on wide eyed, pulling at the chained collar round her neck. The barman couldn't arrange cover for his own slag he didn't deserve to keep her.

Three of Rip'em's fist came flying at my face. I happen to like my face and the few scars I had gave me a certain roguish quality. A tri-fold crater would probably dent my rakish charm. With a duck and a roll, I came up behind him, flipping a chair up and over to smash his thick head. Didn't do much good, but it slowed him long enough for me to grip the Vargosian's chain with my great arm. The piston's creaked but I yanked it from the stud, scooping her up as Rip'em rounded on us. The remains of the table smashed the space we just left, causing the girl to squeak in my arms. Nothing for it, I tucked her close and made a mad dash for the door, listening to Rip'em bellow and curse behind us. Idiot managed to trap himself good between broken furniture. Pretty thing like her didn't belong here anyway...

Damn, she must have released her hormones.

I kept pace to my ship, trying not to imagine what my new passenger looked like beneath the skimpy bits of cloth the barman had her trussed up in.

New plan, throw her in the hold, drop off the cargo for the Gallows, take her home. Would probably be easier if she stopped licking my neck.

I slammed a fist against the hatch of the ship, trying to keep my blood from flowing south as my impromptu passenger started to rub against me like a cat in heat. I didn't even know her name-

"Hiroshim," she purred. Apparently she paid more attention to our game than I thought, enough to pick up my name. The Vargosian swung her legs down to wrap them around my waist. Damn, she had strong thighs.

"Easy there, miss," I said, sliding my free arm under her to lift her up a bit higher. Lovely, I would have to make my delivery with the biggest case of blue balls-

"Hiroshim!" Rip'em roared, bursting through the tavern door.

My manly bits may have retracted a bit there as the ground shook under the Triniad's charge.

I cussed, darting myself and my new lady friend into the safety of my ship. I had to make this quick or Rip'em would make good on his moniker and tear my ship apart.

The hatch slid closed behind us in time to meet a hail of fists. I tried not to think of the dents to my baby as I carried the Vargosian to the cockpit, sliding her into the vacant co-pilot's chair. Nobody sat there since Charlie. More bad memories I didn't want to examine too closely.

"Alright sweetheart, I need you to sit tight while I get us out of here." Her hands lingered on me as I stepped away, pushing buttons as I went. There was not enough time to give the ship a proper warm up. I pulled on the manual controls as Rip'em once again slammed his fists into my hull.

"Ass-wad," I muttered, kicking the whining engines into high gear. The blow back sent the Triniad tumbling away, roaring and snarling the whole way. The ship lifted into the air, climbing up and up through the atmosphere until Rip'em couldn'd even follow my dust trail.

Another planet I had to scratch off my port list. At this rate I was going to run out of places to drink.

Once my ship burst through the upper atmosphere, smoothing into the star currents, I chanced a glance at my new passenger. The Vargosian stared out at the stars in wonder, her expression slightly pained. Her hands cupped her erogenous zones, her dusky skin so flushed it was cherry red in full blown heat. I could smell the hormones wafting off of her, the heavy scent of flowers and warm sugar. It made my skin feel tight.

It was going to be a long flight to the Gallows.

***

Her name was Lililette.

There are a lot of things you can learn in a tight space when you are trying to think of anything but the feel of each others skin. She was in a bad way, but also felt the same reluctance pouncing on a complete stranger for a shag. It was only her second season in heat. Slavers snagged her out in the open as she foraged for food on the plains of her home world. It happens, specially in this part of the galaxy. Money and goods make the rules, and the fastest draw is the lawman. Most of the time I kept my head down and my nose clean, but there were cases, like Lililette's, I stumbled into. I didn't regret getting involved. Imagining Rip'em's paws on her was enough to convince me, hormones or not, I did the right thing grabbing her. If all went smoothly with the Gallows, I could drop her off on my way back to grab my next run.

Lili didn't ask too many questions, a good quality in these parts. I set up her in the ship's shower to release some of her heat and prayed she didn't blow through my water supply before I made dock again. I preferred not to meet my current employers smelling like a shine soaked ashtray.

Thankfully, she restrained herself enough for me to rinse up, though she did roll in my bed a few times while I bathed. On whole, the remainder of my trip to the Gallows was a smooth one despite the addition of my horny passenger.

***

"What is that?" Lili breathed, hugging the back of my chair. Her latest quick shower left her smelling like a spring meadow and she wore one of my shirts. It came part way down her thighs. If I wasn't so pissed scared of my upcoming meeting I would be seriously turned on by the little minx, though my body stood at attention despite itself.

"That would be the Gallows," I said.

The Gallows was a sprawling mess of mining junkers and warships, commandeered by the Freeman's Army, over a few decades, to make a maze-like fortress of rusting metal and radiated warheads. Its occupants were lean and mean-eyed, full of spit and vinegar, and ready to chew the face off of anyone who didn't do things their way. Goregage, the current head of the army, was held together by clever wiring and scar tissue. He'd seen more scrapes and fire fights in his life than a dozen of his underlings combined. I hated this place, and the man, in equal fashion.

Least I would be paid. He was a man of his word, though it didn't do well to anger Goregage or his lieutenants. It was why I made sure my delivery was on time. Didn't mean I would get out of here unscathed. I eased my ship through the narrow docking bay, turning to Lili once the ship settled on the floor.

"Keep the doors locked, don't admit anyone but me, no matter what they say." I said, slipping off a shoulder holster. Goregage frowned on weapons in his presence, especially if they weren't his own.

"When will you be back?" Lili whispered, her dark eyes frightened. It was touching, even with her hormones flooding my cabin, that she felt real concern for me. Of course I was her ride home, but I took her concern at face value. I gave her pointed chin a gentle pinch.

"Let's hope I make it back," I said, giving her a grin. She held her tongue as I prepped the cargo on a hover-board, coordinating it to follow my lead like a stray dog. I tried not to think of her wide eyes as I departed, wishing I could have spent the last few hours in the arms of a beautiful woman.

***

"Ah, Hiroshim, punctual! I like that in my runners." Goregage stumped toward me. Sometime between now and our last encounter, the man lost his entire right foot. The missing appendage was now a sturdy stub of brass coated titanium that made a metallic hollow thunk as he walked.

I nodded to him. "Three crates of preserved rations and four crates of medical supplies as ordered. One case of settler moonshine compliments of Sir Vega of Parlith Prime." Goregage wasn't just a war chief, he was an important client. It took a lot of supplies to run an operation of this size in the middle of the galaxy's colon and he paid handsomely for those services.

That included my fee.

Goregage made a show of thumping around the hovering cargo, inspecting it with a series of hums and haws. The smell of expensive pipe weed wafted off his surcoat. Empire pipe weed. Damn, the other side was trading with him now.

"All seems in order lad. Are you staying for a night or kicking off again for the next run?"

Refusing Goregage's hospitality could be a bit...tricky. I smiled, bowing my head. "Sorry, sir, this is just a drop and run. My contacts have another run lined up for me halfway across the system-"

His interrupted my excuse with a wet coughing laugh that rasped deep in his chest. "The life of a young smuggler, Hiroshim, little time for dalliances. Off with you, boy, though you will have to refuel at the next port. We are a bit light before the next shipment." He held out a cred stick, a standard form of payment. I'd have the credits in my account as soon as I could slot it in the ship's computer. I took it from him with a cordial nod, turning to leave.

Goregage's meaty fingers snapped around my wrist. "I like you lad. You're efficient, punctual, and you have a mean spark in your eye. Bit more muscle on you, I bet you'd have made a good soldier. That is why I am giving you a warning. Plus the drunken cheat is a bit of a putz, but he is a loyal lieutenant."

I paled at the description. He didn't need to say who, there was only one drunken cheat I'd pissed off in recent memory. Goregage almost looked apologetic, as if death on my heels was an inconvenience he thought distasteful.

"I can give you safety until you reach the hold. On deck, it's free space, no rules." Goregage released my wrist. "I hope to do business with you again. I'd run if I were you, boy."

I didn't need telling twice. I bolted for my ship, weaving through the crowd at top speed. I had to beat him. What if he scented Lili's hormones? Stomach twisting, I burst into the docking bay, swiping the sweat off my brow. Last thing I needed was sweat running in my eyes if he came at me here. My nerves were screaming as I bolted for my ship. Nothing seemed amiss. The door was still firmly sealed shut. I could see Lili peeping at me from the cockpit window, a relieved smile on her face at the sight of me.

I was still watching her pretty face when her expression fell, steam rolled by fear. I didn't need her frantic gestures to know I was in trouble. I could feel the metal flooring vibrating under my feet. Triniad's were not stealthy. Tucking my chin down, I put on another burst of speed. I could make it, I had to make it. If he caught me out here, I was a dead man. Lili disappeared from the window. That was bad, she probably didn't want to watch me get slaughtered. I had my hand out in front of me, my fingertips brushing the lock when four arms snagged the back of my shirt, yanking me up and over so I landed in a crumpled heap behind him.

Rip'em Jarkaroo. He smelled twice as bad as the last time I saw him and had a fresh burn across his face. Most likely from my ship's thrusters. He also looked ready to put a serious hurt on me, which he commenced with a swift kick to the stomach that slammed me up against the hull of the ship next to us. I lost the breath to yell, slumping to the ground with a pitiful groan. Rip'em stood over me, his expression murderous.

"Nobody cheats me, punk. And this?" He squatted down, drawing one a hand along his burn while his others curled into fists. "This you will die for." The fists raised, ready to come crashing down. I wanted to close my eyes but everything hurt to much. I was going to watch my death come at me full speed. Didn't even get to collect my payment. Through Rip'em's overpowering stench I thought I caught a hint of flowers.

She dropped on him from the overhanging ship, wrapping those beautiful thighs around the Triniad's thick neck. She spun in a graceful arc, the hem of my shirt lifting to give a tantalizing view of her bare lower region before the crack of bone soured the moment.

Rip'em Jarkaroo fell limp to the floor beside me, his ugly mug lolling, and eyestalks gone sightless. I turned my gaze up to Lili, the bay lights haloing her red skin. She glowed like a vengeful demon. Her hands slid under me, helping me up as her dark eyes looked at me with concern.

"You okay?" she whispered, slipping an arm around my bruised waist.

I coughed, leaning on her. She supported my weight without trouble. Vargosian's were much stronger than they looked. "You saved me," I said. Part of me wanted to kiss her. The other part wanted to leave her here and run. She did smell pretty damn good.

A smile lit up her face, blasting me like a ray of sunshine. "Seems fair. You rescued me first."

My lips twitched. "Let's get out of here," I said, letting her help me onto the ship. She took her seat in the co-pilot's chair. Truthfully, she looked pretty good sitting there. Lili didn't say anything as I maneuvered the ship free from the Gallows. I didn't worry about Goregage coming after us. He gave Rip'em one shot at me. Not my fault the Triniad died. They certainly wouldn't blame Lili for his death. The whole episode would likely make the big man laugh. I might consider taking another run for them...in a few years.

Lili was fidgeting in the corner of my vision. I set our course, putting the ship on auto-pilot to turn to my passenger. "I can take you home now."

She chewed on her lip. "What if I don't want to go home?"

I sat back, folding my arms over my chest. The movement made me wince. Rip'em must have bruised my ribs. "What skills can you bring to the table?"

Lili raised a brow. "What skills are you looking for?" It was an honest question. I looked her over. She was pure sin wearing nothing but my shirt. No one would guess she could snap a Triniad's neck with her thighs.

I grinned. "How do you feel about being the muscle?"

That blinding smile again. I could used to that. "I think I can work with that." She stretched her hands over her head, delivering another memorable view. Her nose crinkled. "I smell rotting vegetables."

I sighed. I was going to have to expand my water supply to accommodate her. "Go head, grab a shower."

Lili rose, sauntering across the cabin. She paused at the door, turning back. "You know, you could use a good cleanse too. Not enough water for two showers. You should come help me conserve water." She winked.

Didn't have to tell me twice.