Las'Tai had become a permanent hangar guard during excursions. her smaller size compared to the Terrans made her perfect for a raised position and after a bit of arguing with Jesper she had managed to secure one of those rotating guns from the armory and was currently overseeing the installation in a custom alcove situation at the far end of the hangar with a full view of everything and everyone below

This would give the ship defenders a massive advantage over any boarding party that tried to invade the ship in numbers. And since the only way up there was scaling the wall or using one of the scissor-lifts near the large bay doors, on the other side of the hangar. This meant moving halfway across the large open ground, away from the large caliber weapon of death destruction, to move a lift straight across the hangar, toward the incoming fire. So it was in essence, impossible as long as she had ammunition. And they were stacking the boxes deep inside her little hiding hole.

As soon as they got the armor plating up there and the tripod mount got installed, she would be good to go. As it was, she just had her rifle laying up there, ready for her to go on the defensive. Not that she expected it, there were multiple layers of defense between the hangar and everything from the outside But it never hurt to be prepared.

Her datapad beeped and she saw a message from Trasti informing her of incoming prisoner transports. She gathered some of the soldiers among the crew and got ready to receive the shuttles. She was not shocked to see mercenaries exit the prisoner shuttle, but the woman that followed behind them. She was not much taller than Las'Tai, but she carried herself with a dignity and authority she should not possess, considering she was in chains and walking to a prison cell. She walked past the soldiers and Las'Tai as if they didn't exist.

Who was she, to carry herself as if she was Las'Tai's mother on a parade? She was looking around, more like she was on a tour than a prisoner! The second shuttle disgorged its cargo and the soldiers in PESSA suits took over transportation of the prisoners, allowing the hangar crew to return to their normal duties.

Las'Tai was already scrambling to write a message to Trasti, determined to find out more.

____________________

Eirik and the Freja returned to the ship with the rest of the soldiers, after talking to the Glorpil once more, informing them that they would come back with other Terrans that would help start the changes that were already being planned back in the heart of Libertalia, Lasse sending daily angry messages to Eirik to inform of the progress. A ship had been dispatched a few days after Eirik had left, bound for the same system and it would not take long for it to arrive. In the meantime, Eirik had things to do. He carefully avoided another argument with Freja by leaving the choice of Sif's dress to her.

He was confident she would pick the least flattering thing she could dig out, which would make his life so much easier. He got Old Pan started on a menu and sent a private message. He finished by going over the initial interrogation reports from the prisoners. Sif was not on the list, on his order. A commander was afforded the privilege of having it treated more like a de-briefing rather than a full-on interrogation. He would take care of that during the dinner and he had already informed Freja, so she didn't get any suspicious thoughts if it took a little while longer than the anticipated 1½ hours.

When he couldn't put it off any longer, he took a shower, brushed his hair through, and picked out a modified version of his empire's black uniform with the gold broderie writing. This one contained every medal and military honor he had ever received, both from Terra and other nation-states. The appropriate black dress pants and shoes, and a captain's hat to finish it off. He may be his own kind of emperor, but there were standards to be held. It most certainly had nothing to do with the fact that his dinner date was a very attractive woman. Nothing at all!

He made his way to the prison, arriving 1 minute before the time she had specified, and dropped his jaw. She was standing next to the guard, hands folded neatly in front of her, looking absolutely gorgeous Wearing an evening dress in a simple, yet very elegant style that gave her an innocent look without taking away from the fact that she was a fully grown woman. The dress was bright red to match her hair and with a slit on one side, starting at her right upper thigh.

"May all the gods curse you, Freja!! Of all the nights to test my loyalty!" Eirik thought to himself as he forced a professional smile, trying his best not to act like the guard who was all but drooling over her temporary charge. This HAD to be a set-up. What was with Freja anyway? She had never felt intimidated by another woman like this before. And losing control of herself when they took her prisoner, almost attacking her. It was not like Freja to let her emotions rule her so completely.

He gathered himself and offered an arm for Sif to take as he walked her to the conference room that had been changed to a dinner location. He was not about to risk taking her back to the planet. While Eirik did not have a sidearm on him, for fear of her stealing it, he did have a hidden blade and a panic button that would summon a group of guards. He could think of multiple reasons he wanted to use that escape method and only 1 of them involved her attacking him.

They said nothing as they walked through the ship, and they attracted many stares as they walked through the corridors. She barely made it above his chest, so that in itself would have attracted some looks, but her beauty and the knowledge that Eirik and Freja was a steady couple sparked many conversations and question to rise. When they finally arrived at the conference room, he opened the door and stepped aside, letting her enter first and he could have sworn she made an effort to brush up against him.

The table was set and the dinner was already ready, steaming as if it had just left the kitchen, which was most likely the case. The old man had outdone himself. New, boiled potatoes still in their peel, a large piece of flank steak, already cut and laid out on a tray, red wine sauce and bacon-wrapped green beans as a side dish. it was simple, but there was plenty and it made for an inviting atmosphere. The knives and forks were, on Eirik's request, real silverware.

Freja had protested this by saying it was too much to roll out the silverware for a prisoner, but Eirik had retorted that the regular cutlery was made of stainless steel and could be used as weapons. The silverware was delicate and easily bent. From a security perspective, it was the safest thing to do, and Freja could not disagree.

"I appreciate being thought of so highly, even if it is by an adversary." Sif broke the silence as she waltzed over to the far end of the table and stood next to her chair with an expectant look on her face. Eirik sighed inwardly and walked over to pull out the chair for her. He had a feeling he was going to sigh quite a lot during this.

He got seated and poured them both half a glass of wine. He did not want to be influenced by alcohol right now, but half a glass was nothing. "Happy you could make it," Eirik said with a hint of sarcasm. He couldn't have her thinking she was running this show.

"Wouldn't have missed it for anything!" She replied sweetly. "You were wearing so much armor last time we saw each other and I wanted to see if what the gods had chosen for you... They chose well!" Sif's eyes roamed over Eirik as her voice turned to silk.

Eirik hurriedly took a bite to eat to avoid having to respond and get a moment to gather his thoughts. When he had swallowed, he turned his attention to Sif. "You do not seem the type for mercenary work. What gives?" He asked, wanting to change the subject.

Sif smiled slyly before answering "I guess I just like to play with fire. And it turns out I am good at it as well. Want to see?" She winked at the end, hoping to find a way through the defenses he must have built up.

"So you don't want to answer. That's fine. How long have you worked for Dalle?" Eirik remained professional, hard as it was.

"Ever since the goddess put him on my path. He is an idiot that obsesses over you, but he pays well for what is essentially no work at all. But enough about business. I would rather spend our short time together in a much more... Enjoyable manner." Sif's eyes held promises of rare pleasures and her voice snaked its way around inside of his head as he felt her foot move up the inside of his leg. The shock of sudden physical contact made him jolt back in his chair, putting the target of her efforts out of her reach.

Eirik quickly got up and moved over to a side table to get himself a glass of water. "Why do you insist on this behavior? You saw earlier that I already have a woman that I call mine. And why do you mention the gods and goddesses? Are you a believer?" Eirik asked between gulps of water.

"I mention the gods and goddesses because I am a worshipper of Freya, goddess of love, beauty and war-" Sif began but Eirik cut her off

"I know the gods and goddesses!" He hissed. He did not need a lecture from this infuriatingly attractive woman that knew how to press his buttons.

"...And I insist on this behavior because we both know it is going to happen. You want me. It has been written plainly across your face ever since we laid eyes on each other. I want you because you are a man after my taste. So why fight it? She wouldn't even have to know" Sif continued as if she had not been interrupted as she got up and walked up to Eirik. Her last words were barely a whisper in his ear.

"ENOUGH!" Eirik exclaimed loudly and whirled around. "You forget your place! This is not a flirting session for you to try and drive a wedge in between me and my woman! This is me, paying the price of getting the decryption key! Now, we can sit down and have dinner between us as adults, or we can stop it right now and I will find another way to get the information. Make your choice!"

Ssif looked at him for a few seconds before shrugging and walking back to the table. "Can't blame for me trying" She said as she sat down "But who are you trying to convince Eirik?? Because it is not me. And it most certainly not your woman. She saw the writing on the wall, why else would she bear such animosity against me? Even she knows that you and I will find each other at some point. I'm just curious how long you will be able to deny yourself." Sif did not sound accusatory. She was merely stating facts as she saw them.

"I wouldn't hold my breath!" Eirik retorted and returned to the table as well. "What do you think of the food? I know my cook took great care in making it"

"It is a delightful meal. My compliments to your cook." Sif said politely. The rest of their dinner was spent in a relatively civilized manner without Sif only making a few more moves on Eirik. Her frustration was growing by the minute as the man seemed almost immune to the charms that had him looking like a schoolboy in love when he captured her. She would have to make the first move!

At the end of the dinner, Eirik got up to escort her back to her cell. "Before we go back, you have a price to pay for tonight!" Eirik said and Sif nodded. "I do. But there is one final thing tonight before you get it."

"What could that possibly be?" Eirik asked, slightly annoyed. This had not been easy. Rejecting her throughout the evening was going against every instinct in his body, but he also knew that nothing good could come of it.

Sif walked over and looked up at him. "Let me whisper it in your ear" She demanded. Eirik bent down and she grabbed his face and planted her lips on his.