Season Content notes: (explicit) sex

Three weeks out of port, Zdenko barely kept his focus on watch rotations and ship function. Empty. That’s how his head and genitals felt without the alien parasite. His heart no longer beat in time with its demands. Was this normal?

Then there was Moira. After everything he’d done to her, she refused to stay home and heal. No, she had to charter his ship to ferry students all over the galaxy. In doing so, she’d arranged to get the parasite removed. It had been one of the most uncomfortable and invasive experiences of his life.

He probably deserved that second part.

Did he deserve the hard-on he got every time he saw her, though? Every time they shared a bed for sleep? He wanted to have sex with her. Not just a random, need-induced fuck.

How the hell was he supposed to manage that after everything he’d done to her? Still, they’d agreed on a second chance, but what by all the stars did that even mean?

He pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. Maybe a shower would keep him from exploding with this thought train of guilt. As soon as Efe relieved him, he headed for quarters. Moira would be with her students right now so he’d have the shower to himself.

Leaning on the console in his quarters, he ran a hand through his hair. One thing stood out in this whole mess. Without Moira’s intervention, he may have had six months to a year if he hadn’t found another sex slave to satisfy the Verda. Now?

With a huff, he stripped for the shower. It didn’t stop his mind, but at least now he was clean. His stomach made itself known while he dressed. Time to see what Ezra had cooked up in the common area.

A couple of students chatted with Ezra as Zdenko came into the common area. One was a skinny young man with bright green eyes. Damn it. There was also a stout young woman whose wavy hair bounced when she moved. Once they had their plates of food, Zdenko served up his own and moved to the other side of the table.

Tableware clanked against plates and emphasized the sudden hush that settled on the students and Ezra. Shit. This was awkward. Maybe conversation would help. He coughed lightly and turned to the students. “So, uh, how are studies going?”

“Pretty good,” the young woman said. “The Prof’s okay. I wish I’d been able to get off at Nazrule, but Prof says only two of us at a time. So I get to explore a bit next stop.”

The young man mumbled something into his plate and took another bite.

“Two at a time planetside makes sense,” Zdenko said, nodding. “Easier to track you down if something goes wrong. Especially if you’re sticking together.”

The young man’s brow creased. “I don’t get what the big deal is. It’s not like Nazrule is a wilderness or something. We trade with them all the time.”

Zdenko raised an eyebrow. Did this kid seriously know that little about traveling between planets? “You trade with Golika too, but I doubt you’d want to stay planetside there very long.”

The creases in the young man’s brow deepened. “I mean… I know how to use an enviro suit.”

The young woman gave him the side-eye, nearly dropping her fork in distraction. “Lucky you.”

“Enviro suit is all well and good until you insult a local and end up in ritual combat. It’s why we’ve got armored enviro suits. It may only be til first blow, but if it tears the suit?” The captain shrugged. The atmosphere was toxic to anyone with human-like lungs, and the locals loved a good brawl.

The frowning kid’s green eyes went wide, but his fellow student dropped her fork. As it clattered to the floor, she spoke fast, “That’s right! Golika was settled by some of the New Life sect. I did a paper last year comparing their traditions to the /holmgang/ of the old Norse. Have you had a chance to see a formal /natchsen/?”

Ezra laughed. “Seen one? He’s been in one!”

Zdenko couldn’t help himself and laughed as well. “My first time planetside there, I learned exactly why you need an armored enviro suit. Don’t remember exactly what I said to insult the lady, but she kicked my ass.” Maybe he shouldn’t swear around students. Eh, they were adults. They’ve probably heard it all.

The young man rolled his eyes at his fellow’s excitement. “Come on, Mac, they’re pulling your leg. Every spacer has a tale or two for in port, right?”

Mac retrieved her fork and huffed. “Just because your uncle runs a shipping line doesn’t mean you know everything.”

“Runs a shipping line, huh?” The captain snorted. “Does he actually make the drops?”

“Not anymore,” came the mumbled reply.

“Bet he’s got stories from the days he was, though. Trust me, kid, the galaxy is far bigger than one planet. But isn’t that what you kids are studying?” He was pretty sure they had some kind of classes on culture or something like that.

“I guess.”

Mac laughed. “Grover’s a fuddy-duddy before his time. He’s just here to get away from Mama.”

“Can’t blame you there.” Zdenko smiled. “Space is a good place to get away from, well, almost everybody.” He nodded to Ezra.

“Woulda liked to get away from you a few times,” Ezra grinned. “But you saved my ass one too many times for me to leave you high and dry.”

“I guess I’m just too nice sometimes.” The captain shrugged and grinned back.

Grover perked up a bit at the lessened tension. “So how’d you keep the ship? Uncle Raz says most free traders get repossessed within a couple years, but Prof says you’ve been going for over a decade!”

Zdenko leaned back in his chair. He hadn’t had a captive audience for his stories in a long time. It was time to regale these callow youths with the realities of space travel and the details of exactly how to keep a ship as a free trader.

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