“Munaci?” Anakron was incredulous. “Munaci wants to keep Cerra?”

“It’s the aranga way,” Bethon replied. “Apparently intercourse equates to a marriage for them. He sees Cerra as his mate now and won't let me touch her."

“You shouldn’t have given her to him in the first place. I admit you're treating the girls well enough. They’ve registered no complaints against you, but you should have cleared it with me first."

Bethon shrugged. "The moment was ripe."

"First you smuggle Valorah down to Erizza. Greyla informs me she wants to stay with Kage," Anakron said confronting Bethon. "Kage has petitioned for her immortality, and I'll need to provide the permit since you have none left. Now Cerra's mated to an aranga."

"I would think commissioning a new starship for your Beldorians would be compensation enough, Anakron. It cost me small fortune."

"I suppose it will, but in the future, I will negotiate all payments in advance," Anakron relented. "At least two of the girls will have good home."

“I’m surprised at my own generosity," Bethon said and laughed. "It appears Munaci doesn’t hate humans so much after all. I think he might have been jealous all along. Arangas have a reputation for that.”

“And you are down to one companion, Bethon. Are you happy with Madelene?”

“Yes. She’s very special and we're getting along splendidly. I'm always happy to take more off your hands. Are you not tempted by the dociles, Anakron?”

“I don’t pretend to be above carnal desire. It’s what one does in the face of temptation that matters, Bethon.”

“I embrace my depravity. Life is much simpler that way.”

* * *

Things were very busy on Erizza with the decision to have a double wedding. The BakoNaat adepts accepted Valorah as Kage's second mate without reservation and anointed them as their new royals which would permit Greyla to leave Erizza. The cloning project was even bigger news and already underway, although the populace still held daily ritual offerings to their beloved Queen Etaine.

Greyla looked in the mirror one last time. She felt strange getting married with her skin tinted green and wearing tribal tattoos, but the wedding was being hosted on Erizza and it would make the BakoNaat happy. They had spared no expense to decorate the capitol and she heard the festivities starting when she left the dressing chamber. She was wearing a new green gown with a fitted velvet bodice that showed off her bosom over a full skirt layered with soft ripples of silk, accented with lace.

Hal was waiting for her along with Tajlon and Anakron. Hal looked quite handsome in uniform, wearing his Moz Lidule jacket, his hair tamed and combed back from his face.

"You look beautiful, Greyla," Anakron said.

"Thank you. It was a gift from Sag Leggan."

"Nice ink sweetheart," Hal said kissing her cheek and pointedly ignoring the dress.

"Promise me you'll still be this charming after we're married, darling," she said.

"Always."

"Where's Kage and Valorah?" she asked.

"They're already in the Grand Hall waiting for everyone to arrive," Anakron said.

Tajlon and Nova headed over to meet them. Nova was mobbed by a crowd of admirers before he could get there.

"Nova's quite the celebrity." Anakron noted.

"He handles adoration well," Tajlon remarked with a chuckle. He turned to Greyla. "You absolutely look like a queen, Greyla."

"It's not exactly how I envisioned my wedding day, but I'm getting used to the idea."

"I have to warn you," Tajlon said. "There's been a last-minute addition to the ceremonies."

"Let me guess, Bethon's coming and demands wedding night privileges with both brides," Hal said.

Tajlon laughed. "No. A third couple. Munaci and his mate."

Hal's mouth fell open, speechless for once, and Greyla said. "Good one, Tajlon."

"No. Seriously, see for yourself. They came over with us on the Sora."

Munaci was in his human interface and wearing a crisp dress uniform. Cerra walked beside him wearing a dark red gown that matched her hair, adorned with pearls and ribbons.

"Not in my wildest dreams," Greyla said staring at the two of them.

Hal had recovered enough to respond. "This is the sort of thing that signals the end of the universe as we know it, am I right?"

Greyla nodded, still processing the scene before them.

“I’m a man who keeps his promises, sweetheart.” Hal plucked a flower from one of the bouquets and ran over to insert it in Munaci’s lapel.

* * *

They were preparing to launch the Sora II on her maiden voyage. On board were the files salvaged from the original Sora before they were forced to abandon ship. In time they could regenerate those crew members who had been lost. At present there was only a skeleton crew and Tajlon would rely on mechs for the most part. The galley was well stocked in advance of leaving. The BakoNaat technology would allow them to mine resources and transmute them to whatever purpose required along the way.

"We've got rats! Or worse, lizards," Widhbo said from his niche on the bridge. "Probably picked them up here on Erizza."

"What makes you think that?" Tajlon asked.

"I was taking inventory before we go. We're missing some rations."

"Nova probably ate them. Don't worry. We have plenty of everything."

"I asked him. He denied it."

"And that proves exactly what? He eats in his sleep."

"I'm preparing to run a scan of the entire ship for alien life forms."

Tajlon laughed. "You won't have to look very far."

"I don't appreciate your attitude, Tajlon. I'm trying to run a tight ship here and this is the thanks I get."

"Ok, I'll have a talk with Nova and see what I can find out."

Tajlon found Nova asleep on his bed, surrounded by pillows, one paw hanging over the edge of his throne. He sat down and scratched Nova behind one ear, rousing him.

"What do you know about the missing rations?"

"You woke me up to ask that?"

"Widhbo thinks we're infested with some sort of pests, perhaps from Erizza."

"Oh, we're infested alright, just not from Erizza. He thinks I don't know he's here."

"Who?"

"Yoeke. He smuggled aboard."

"Why would he do that? I told him he was welcome to join us. I could use an extra crew member."

"Probably didn't clear it with Bethon."

"Let's go find him. then."

"Not necessary. Come on out Yoeke. I know you're hiding under my bed. I heard you snoring earlier. Bring my pillow with you."

Yoeke crept out from under the large BakoNaat throne Nova used for his bed and apologetically returned a silky pillow to the pile on Nova's bed.

"I don't want that pillow after you've drooled all over it. You can keep it. Consider a gift," Nova said.

"What's going on Yoeke?" Taljon asked.

"I couldn't find Bethon, so I stayed. I was afraid you might leave without me," Yoeke said, his fur rumpled from hiding in the cramped space.

"I'll send Bethon a memo. He's on the Moz Lidule. We'll be leaving as soon as the wedding celebrations are over. You should have joined us."

"Yes, Yoeke. You really should have been there," Nova added. "Munaci stole the show. He even danced with the BakoNaat.”

"Munaci was at the wedding?"

"Munaci took a wife at the wedding," Tajlon said. “A human wife.”

“Surely you're not talking about the Colonel Munaci we all know and don't love?” Yoeke quipped.

“No. The new and improved, pussy whipped Munaci,” Nova said.