“Those bastards must have amnesia – they forgot that I’m him. I’m the man, I’ve got that dog in me. I couldn’t care less if I lose my eyes; I haven’t seen a price tag in years. When I’m with my hoes, it’s always for 127 hours because I'm in this skank and I can't get out. This sort of thing ain’t nothing to me man. I’ll tear out my own drug-lined tattoos and lick ‘em like some kind of mushroom. This shit ain’t nothing to me, man. I see the wolves howl and make them my bitches. No enzyme is escaping my sight until I see dawn’s light. I’m am an official doctor of him-ology, because that is me. I am him, in case you forgot. Oooh… Valti, get me more of that Cambiar hallucination extract, I’m starting to come dow- *sound of an internal biomonitor reporting a code blue* Uh oh.” – Tepet ‘The Count’ Dracul, Deceased Clanlord, 2259. Reported last words from the clanlord prior to his fatal overdose the night before a planned engagement on Separatist forces in the Yangxi sector.

  Elias woke up feeling like death had taken a walk in his skin. Resisting a groan, and admonishing his sleeping mind for producing such a realistic dream about a particularly sensual Tylas partner, he rolled to avoid the glare of Kral-Thul’s sun streaming the window. It was far too early for that sort of thing, especially with such a pounding hangover. What time even was it? A blurry look over his shoulder at his alarm clock, one he was thankful he had not set the night before, apparently, told him it was closer to noon than dawn.

  Damn. Though the scientist within him urged him to return to the lab, knowing that his work’s future had been secured following the committee’s approval, the ache in his mind forced him to shuffle back under the covers. In fact, he was agitated by how little they were covering. With a clumsy grasp, he reached to his side, tugged at the duvet to his side an-

  “Hmm?” Chel-Lin mumbled, blinking once, twice.

  Uh, what was she doing here? Why was the alien in his bed, scarves tossed haphazardly to the room’s corner. Why on earth wa-

  That had been no dream. Huh.

  “Uhh, morning?” Elias said.

  A still blinking Chel-Lin soaked in the view, looking his face up and down, as her eyes snapped wide. She attempted to rise in a flurry. However, just as she began to correct her position, she screwed her eyes up and flopped back onto the mattress, covering Elias.

  “Ow! Barald’s wrath, my head…” Chel-Lin said.

  “You good?” Elias said, reaching not his colleague’s mantle but for the actual covers.

  “Yes, just didn’t think I could even get a headache.”

  “Well, puffing a whole canister of fuzz might do that to you.”

  “I suppose so. Either that, or something else rocked me about all night…”

  The conversation died as the two of them laid in silence, the awkward aftermath of a struggle the two had inflicted on one another. Elias considered some witty one-liner, or maybe an apology of sorts, but he couldn’t find the right words to say. In the end, he decided to simply say whatever came to mind.

  “Chel-Lin…” Elias started.

  “Yes!” Chel-Lin practically interrupted, desperate to crack the veil of silence that had covered the room.

  “About, uh, well everything last night. I… don’t really know what to say but… thanks. And sorry, I guess. The whole ‘having primal sex with you’ thing.”

  “I’m… not really sure how much there is to be sorry about.” She sat quiet for a moment before speaking up. “I think it was fair to say that it wasn’t exactly one-sided, right?” Chel-Lin had practically buried herself under the blanket. Only her glowing eyes gave away her presence from the bedsheets.

  “Heh, I guess so. I have to say those straps of yours were rather grabby last night.”

  With a nervous chuckle, Elias looked away, slightly wincing at the memory of the night before. Had he truly intended to go that far? All he wanted was a drink with a friend, right? Just a standard, one on one bit of time with a friend. Hell, had it been Kurt or any of the others, it would have felt no different walking into that laboratory. At least, that was what Elias told himself. In truth, he knew that the urges towards his alien partner had been far from innocent, though the prospect of them going as far as they did was far beyond his dreams.

  As a man, Elias felt some responsibility as to make the situation right. Did Chel-Lin actually like the night before? Did she have regrets? Elias knew he would feel unchivalrous without addressing her thoughts.

  “Chel-Lin, about what we did… are you alright?”

  “Elias, if you having doubts about it, know that I have been wanting to do… something… like that for some time.”

  “And I didn’t hurt you?”

  “Aside from my view on what I thought ‘big’ genitalia was, based on my research, nothing had been shattered, if that’s what you mean. I was more worried for your sake, truthfully.”

  Elias let out a sigh. The lack of burns on his meat let him know that she had at least been watching the temperature for their session.

  “Chel-Lin,” Elias started. “I know my feelings towards you, and how I feel about us. I can’t exactly say whether it was right or wrong, but I know I wanted it. But, what about you? I mean, I expect Barald doesn’t look to favourably on what we did last night.”

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “Oh, that? Well, I’m pretty sure the tenants of Barald don’t exactly point out having sex with other species, especially well-hung primates from the stars, but I get the feeling the High Speaker would not think so kindly of it. Then again, I’m past the point of worrying about such little things.”

  “Fair enough.” Elias dared a look towards her. He expected a penitent expression of guilt, but was slightly startled to see a familiar expression of hunger in her glowing eyes. “Sorry. What I mean to ask is…”

  “Elias, I liked it. I like you. I wanted it as much, if not more, than you did. Barald damn me, if we could go back, I would only make it so I did less fuzz.” She screwed up her eyes. “I don’t think I like this feeling of a hangover. It sucks”

  “Alright, cool,” he murmured. “That’s… good. But for now, it might be best to…”

  “To what?”

  Elias wished that Barald, even if he hated his guts for banging one of his followers, hoped that the god really existed so the deity could give him some much needed support right now. “Maybe we try to pretend this didn’t happen.” When Chel-Lin’s eyes went wide, Elias quickly stammered out an elaboration “J-just so the others don’t know! To keep it quiet, and for the project.”

  “Oh, right. The project. That makes sense.” Chel-Lin’s eyes had turned downwards. “Yes, we should probably not announce our little fraternization. But what about just between the two of us? Not about hiding, but… oh coldest hells.” Chel-Lin scowled as she tried to think. “What I mean is this – Elias, are you happy with last night? You asked me, so it’s only fair I return the question.”

  “I mean… do you really like me – the arrogant stupid ape who you’re stuck with?”

  Emerging from the covers and spreading herself wide to take up the entirety of his field of view, she leaned towards his face.

  “Elias Savage, my sweet, sweet, primitive: do you really think I would have let you bend me over and pump me over and over if I didn’t like you, idiot?”

  “Yes?” Elias sweetly smiled.

  That earned him a dragging off the bed and into the bathroom by the alien. Definitely worth it. Once their hijinks had ensued and concluded, they resigned themselves to getting ready. After realizing the mess they’d made of each other, both of them needed showers. To make things quicker, and for that reason only of course, they took one together. After some scrubbing, and other activities, they were in the middle of redressing when Chel-Lin spoke up.

  “Elias, I wish to ask you something.”

  “Sure. Don’t think there’s much we can hold back from one another after last night.”

  “What exactly does this whole situation make us? I know humanity has various categories they love to put their relationships into, all needlessly complicated, so I feel I must follow suit. What am I to you?”

  “Good question…” Elias rubbed the light stubble of his chin as he considered the question.

  “Do you have a good answer to go with it?” Chel-Lin had donned the last of her scarves, frowning upon seeing that one of them had been slightly torn. Elias recalled he might have pulled it off in a somewhat aggressive manner mid-session the night after saying something along the lines of ‘making up for strip poker’. Oops.

  “I suppose we can go with something like ‘good friends with extracurricular activity sessions’, if you’d like. Unless…?”

  “Unless what?” Chel-Lin arched an eyebrow in speculation.

  “Unless…” Damnit Elias, find the right words you imbecile! “Well, do you like me as just some monkey meat to stuff you when you feel kinky or do you think there could be more between us than that?” Well, those were definitely not the right words, but they were spoken nonetheless. Chel-Lin looked down with as ripple danced across her mantle.

  Carefully tapping the tips of a pair of straps together, she spoke slowly, “Honestly, before I even met a single human, I think I might have weighed up any thoughts about such interspecies interaction as a sinful, but exciting prospect. And after meeting you, I think I’m done holding back. For the rest of my life I want someone like you next to me, standing beside me.”

  “As well as inside you.”

  “Shut up, I’m trying to be serious here! Anyways, after a while, when I realised I could trust you, I finally started to feel you as something more than just a colleague to work with. Because, and I hope you understand, I don’t think we’re that different – you and I. So, Elias, I think I like you not just as a toy for me to vent my… urges with, but as whatever you humans and the Cambiar have…. termed it… in a way…”

  “Yes?” Elias began to smirk.

  “I think I like truly you Elias. I want to me your partner, your love. As someone you can trust. But how about me? Can you love me in the same way?”

  She drifted close to him, face close to his. Elias tried to keep his smug expression plastered on, but was unable to hold the fa?ade for long. With a nervous cough, he rubbed the back of his neck.

  “Well… uh…” Elias said.

  Chel-Lin graced his cheek with a tendril. So close! Considering everything they’d done so far it felt ridiculous to be awkward so late in the game and yet, Elias could help but feel a familiar knot churn in his gut. What would be the easiest way to describe the tumultuous impact Chel-Lin had on him? She was both loveable and annoying in the best ways possible. No one else he knew could even stand him long enough to consider him trustworthy. She had a mind that was as sharp as a tack and could easily go toe to toe with his own, dazzling intellect. But, most important of all, having closed off his inner thoughts to everyone else in his life, Elias knew that for the first time ever, he had found someone to trust. And so, there were only two words left to say.

  “Y-you too.”

  Fuck. Great job, Elias. Still, Chel-Lin didn’t seem to care at his sloppy admission. as she moved closer to embrace him in a kiss. A strap gently supporting his cheek, she pressed an opening slit against his lips as her inner core roared with power. Spices and tingles all along his tongue, he felt warmth flow inside his mouth.

  “To a long and fruitful partnership then, my dear Elias.” Chel-Lin said, giggling.

  Following the embrace, they both rechecked the time and scrambled to return to the lab before anyone else caught on. There was plenty to do and check before they could even think about work, such as whether EXCAL or Kurt had gotten wind of what had happened. Chel-Lin made her way to the door, leaving a few minutes before he did to reduce suspicion, she turned to look at him.

  “Elias, one last question – did that happen to be your first… encounter?” she said.

  “W-why? Worried I’m such a playboy that I can steal any Tylas I can get my hands on?”

  “Nope. Just wondering if I was able to steal something as valuable as one of humanity’s brightest minds’ v-card. By the look on your face, I can tell those hussies back at Titanlock missed out. See you later, monkey.” With a wink, she was gone.

  Elias reached up to feel his burning cheeks. Damnit! It wasn’t that clear he’d been a virgin, right? And what did she have to be smug about? He was certain that Tylas probably just argued at each other until one of them popped out a baby, so as far as Elias was concerned, he had returned a favour no Tylas probably could. What was undeniable, however, was the mild shame of getting a half-erection as the speciesist slur his new alien girlfriend had used. Crap, that felt like the start of a bad habit forming.

  With a tired smile, he looked out his window to once more see the gleaming towers of Urestior. So far, and yet so close. Only a few more months, and he could finally touch a city that looked closer to something out of Samson’s fantastical stories than real life. Now that he had developed his relationship with Chel-Lin to something more complex, but far more fulfilling, Elias could tell the time leading up to the IGS would be fun – in more ways than one.