I lied under the grated walkway of the ship's corridor, biting down on the handle of a wrench. My right wing was occupied with the turning of a socket wrench against the module before me.

Light from the ceiling overhead beamed down through the small rectangles in the floor above me, only dimming my scenery. My mane kept the area lit enough to actually see what I was doing.

Funny enough, now that I was free, I had discovered from many other races that the atmosphere I found myself in was reminiscent of a prison cell; many of which had an unfortunate experience with one. But me...? I loved it down here. I found peace, comfort, safety...

What I didn't like was over the top clean facilities, with shiny, white, light reflecting floors from the florescence above. A little dirt and grime reminded me that I was safe now...

Bipedal footsteps traversed the corridor overhead, and a shadow moved past as I finished twisting the nut into place, securing the housing of the unit.

"Yo, boss!"

"Mm!" I removed the wrench from my mouth with my free wing, tapping the panel twice. "In here!"

The head of a Human under my employ peeked down into the crawlspace. His eyes glued to the reveal between my legs, frozen in place.

With a giggle, I tossed the wrench at him.

"Eyes are up here, Floyd."

He blinked and shook his head, finally meeting my gaze.

"R-right... sorry. Just... uh... Hard not to notice when your... nethers and teats literally glow..."

"You had something you wanted to tell me? Or you want an excuse to a free show?" I raised a suspecting brow at him.

"Right. It's lunch time, boss." He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck in a nervous manner. "The boys are gonna play a round of Texas Hold 'Em. You interested?"

With a grin, I replied.

"Ante up." I proceeded to scoot toward the opening, to which he backed up.

I hoisted myself up, tossed my tools in the red box near the entrance, and following him down the corridor for the exit of the ship as I wiped a rag over my face, partially cleaning it from the machine oil that found itself on my hide.

Music of an outlaw western aesthetic blasted from the radio as me and my crew sat around a few steel crates pressed against each other on the tarmac, out in the open of a pleasantly warm summer day. Some of the guys puffed on cigars or had a bottle of beer glued to one hand as they studied their hand of cards.

"I'll raise you two cigs." One of them - Fenix - said as he slid two onto the table.

"Calling." Revol knocked on the crate twice before putting his due on the table.

"Raise you." Floyd put a full pack of cigs on the table, to which the others, myself included, laughed or whistled.

"I call your bluff, and I raise." I spoke in a wicked, fanged grin, throwing down a tin of cigars. The premium stuff, imported from the outer rim of Dimension G-19735.

"Gah..." The next player, a dark purple coated pegasus with grey cybernetic wings by the name of Iris tossed his cards face down. His eyes, evidently, were cybernetic as well, considering the digital violet nature of his iris, and the black shade of what was once the whites of his eyes, though we never actually talked about it. He always seemed uncomfortable whenever it was brought up. His mane, always disheveled in a fashionable way, was a dark violet purple, while the bangs were a slightly lighter shade of blue, as was his tail. He owned it. The messy mane look was good on him. The scars across his eyes gave me an idea why he didn't like talking about whatever happened, though...

"Fuck you guys, I fold..." He said in a pout.

"Chicken shit." I stuck my tongue out at him in a playful manner.

"Volcano tits." He smirked.

The group chuckled, and I was no exception.

"Yeah, fuckers are pretty swollen..." I said as I glanced down at them. "Little one ain't drinkin' as much as I'm producing."

"Why not have Flame take some off ya?" Floyd asked. "Everyone knows how active you two are at night. Damn hard to sleep with all the screaming."

The group shared another laugh as a deep shade of crimson grew in my cheeks.

"Well, to answer your question... He has been. Still got too much." I slammed my cards down on the crate, face up as the song on the radio came to an end, and a new one began. "Now read 'em and weep, bitches!" I shouted with an ecstatic, confident rise in my chest as I grinned.

The first two groaned in protest and put their cards down. One of them was an obvious bluff, a pair of two, the rest, junk.

The other was three of a kind 8, but it still wasn't enough.

Floyd put his hand down and sighed. "Motherfucker..."

Two aces, rest was crap.

I put down dual queens and kings. And a five.

"Hahaaaaaaaaah!" I wrapped my wings around the bounty and shoveled it in to my side of the crate. "Suckers!"

"Alright then, hot stuff." Floyd said, grabbed the deck of cards and shuffling. "Cool your jets, Black and Red."

"Black and red?" I raised a brow as I regarded him, to which he nodded his head to the radio that blasted such.

"It's your song."

I stared in a deadpan at the crew, but they all just nodded silently.

"You dedicated a song to me based on my color?"

"How could we not?" Iris smiled.

I chuckled and shook my head. "Well... at least it's a song I like."

The group fell silent as Floyd dealt the cards, save for the music and the birds that sang in the open, oxygen-rich atmosphere of the outdoors. The sun's light beamed down on us pleasantly, mixing in with the cold chill of the planet's naturally lower but not unbearable temperature.

After a moment of studying our hands, Fenix spoke.

"Wonder what it tastes like..."

"Hm?" I raised a brow, and his eyes shot open wide.

"Shit, sorry, Phoenix! I didn't mean to say that aloud!"

"What are you going on about?" I asked, chuckling under my breath.

"I... was wondering what your... milk... tastes like..."

The others looked to one another for a moment, before all turning to me.

"Come to think of it, I'm kinda curious too." Floyd filled in.

"Yeah, same." Iris nodded.

I chuckled and leaned my back against the chair I sat in.

"It's smoky. Tastes like it's been hardwood smoked. I'll give ya each a bottle later, if you really wanna taste it. Or you can drink straight from the source now, if you want. I need to lose some anyways."

The others looked at each other with surprise, before Fenix spoke up.

"Y-you sure that's okay...? Flame wouldn't be upset or anything...?"

"Why would he?"

"I dunno... could be seen as cheating, maybe...?"

I shook my head, smiling. "Flame and I don't understand the idea of cheating. And we don't want to. We were raised as sex slaves. We've fucked so many others before and during our time together. Hell, we don't even understand the idea of relationships or marriage. We know we love each other, and that's all we need. I let him fuck others, he lets me fuck others. Sometimes we join in on the action of the other."

"Sounds... slutty... No offense..." Revol said.

"Eh." I shrugged my shoulders. "Call it what you want. But we don't let our actions muddy our love for one another. You could all take turns fucking me right now, and if he showed up during, he wouldn't bat an eye. Hell, he'd probably want a turn."

"Are you... offering...?" Floyd asked with a nervous smile.

"Maybe."

"Damn it..." Iris muttered. "I'm gonna be up all night thinking about plowing my boss now..." The others murmured in agreement.

"Officer on deck!" Dancing Flame shouted as he walked alongside the familiar face of a Human.

At once, everyone except me shot up from their seat, stood firm, and saluted.

There had been a lot of arguments about me not standing whenever an officer was 'on deck,' but I didn't respect Humans fully yet. I sure as hell wasn't ever going to live up to their expectations ever again. But the officer before me understood that, and even accepted it. He was far more different than the others... I admired him for that.

It was astonishing I could still fuck Humans, after everything that happened. Let alone be around them.

"At ease." Sven said, smiling softly.

They relaxed and sat back down. Floyd glanced at Flame and smirked.

"Hey, Flame... We were just talking about fucking Phoenix's brains out."

"Okay." He said simply. "And is she interested?"

"She said maybe."

"Well, if she says yes, then go ahead."

"See?" I jumped in, smiling at their shocked expressions. "We don't give a fuck if we mess with other people. We're comfortable and confident with each other."

Sven sighed, pinching the space between his eyes as he closed them.

"Found the perfect time to visit... Always find the perfect time to visit... Zev would love you two..."

Everyone chuckled as he recovered from his regret.

"Well, sorry to break it to all of you, but I need to steal Phoenix away from all of you for a while." He then turned to me as I tilted my head. "Firebright's brother is able to talk to you now."

"Charger?"

"Mhm."

I exhaled deeply as my heart pumped aggressively in my chest. I hated being the bearer of bad news...

I slid all my treasures off my side of the crate and on the tarmac we resided on. "Everything I dropped is mine. If I find anything out of place, I'm gonna find out who dun it, and I'm gonna bite you. Hard. In the ass." I pointed down at the pile of treasures and smiled faintly. "No touching."

"Yes, ma'am." Floyd saluted. "Good luck, boss."

<>

"How are you liking it here?" Sven asked as he walked alongside Flame and I.

"It's peaceful." I smiled appreciatively. "Thank you."

"I'm sorry I couldn't arrange a living situation at the Hub. People are still freaked out that we have Nekkra living under our jurisdiction now."

"It's no problem." Flame said. "I think I speak for both of us when I say we both prefer living out here than in an industrial complex."

"Right." He nodded as we stopped at a door to a building not too far from our ship and the tarmac she rested on. "I suppose a past such as yours would do that to just about anyone."

He opened the door and waved a hand in.

"After you."

I stepped in first. Then Flame, and lastly, Sven.

Sitting around a table were various holographic projections of ponies I've never seen before, with the exception of one.

Charger Surge.

He sat at the far end of the table, regarding me behind a faint smile.

"Firebright was right..." He sat up straight, looking me up and down as his lips curled into a fanged grin much like my own. "You are hot." He then waved a hoof... claw exactly like Fire's to the seat across from him. "Please, have a seat. I don't bite... as hard." He spoke in a sultry tone. Well... it seemed winking ran in the family.

"You do realize I'm your granddaughter, right?"

"Eh." He shrugged. "Fucked my sister. Fucked my brother. Dreamt of fucking my mother. Many times. In a way, I... did..." His face twisted into disgust as he shook his head. "Gah... don't wanna think about that..." He turned to a white coated mare with a black mane and two white stripes. "I meant Hollow. Not my biological mom..."

"I know, darling." She smiled and turned to me. "I'm Bullet Storm. Mare across from me is Dream Catcher. Mare beside me is Sora. And the stallion that looks like a mare is Charger Surge."

"Oh, come on!" He blurted, glaring at her.

She giggled and pointed a hoof at me as I sat down.

"And you must be Phoenix Feather and Dancing Flame. I've heard a great deal about you."

"Polarity couldn't join us, I'm afraid." Sven stated as he stood near the closed off exit. "She's caught up in a supply run. And Firefly kinda went his own way... with some harsh words for Phoenix..."

"Don't remind me..." I muttered.

"That's fine." Bullet said calmly, regarding my lover and I. "I take it your satisfaction have been met thus far?"

"Very much so." I smiled.

"Good! Sven is such a sweetheart taking you in. Stars know the Dream Walkers would see you dead if it wasn't for him..."

"Well, that's reassuring..." Flame deadpanned.

"But!" Bullet intervened quickly before more ideas ran through our head. "That's not gonna happen! You're a part of a plan. Charger's plan."

"They're more than a plan." Charger said, looking from me to Flame with a faint, yet warm smile. "Firebright, is she there with you?"

Looks of dread washed over me, Flame, and the rest of the council, save for Charger. He was the last to know...

"Oh..." He whispered. "I... see..." He hung his head down.

"I'll show you her message after this conference..." Bullet whispered, regarding him.

He gave her a hurt, confused look, but said nothing. Eventually, he cleared his throat and regarded the two of us again.

"May I ask your occupations? I want to make sure my..." He froze in thought for a moment. "I want to make sure you're under conditions to your liking."

I nodded. "Well, I'm an engineer and a co-pilot for frigate-class vessels. Flame here is a doctor."

"And a damn great one, too." He smirked. "Part time exotic dancer as well."

I blushed and rolled my eyes as Charger looked him up and down, smiling faintly once more.

"Polarity is our main pilot. Likes to go on deliveries a lot though, so we only get to see her once every so often. And Firefly... well..." Looking past his harmful tongue, I smiled. "He's doing what he loves. He's free. And he went his own way. To explore the multiverse. I don't expect he'll be joining us again, sadly. But I'm happy for him."

He nodded slowly. "And what about the rest of you? Are you all happy with your arrangements?"

"Fuck yes." I grinned. "I got my own crew, a beautiful home, a wonderful lover, and-"

"Mama!"

The door opened, and my two little sweethearts came through, one of which rode on the back of the other.

I giggled as the dark orange, glowing filly rammed into me with a tight grip around my waist. Her mane, a charcoal black, and her eyes, a heterochromia of red and green.

On her back was the foal Flame and I made together. Black and red striped wings, along with her body. A mane and tail of fire, like mine, and fiery rings for eyes.

"Daddy!" The oldest let go and rushed to Flame. "I missed you both! Are we still gonna go on that camping trip tomorrow!? Are we, are we!?" She bounced up and down giddily as our foal babbled and giggled, hanging on to the back of her neck, so as to not fall.

"Of course, dear." Flame chuckled, holding them close. "We didn't forget."

Charger smiled softly as he studied the situation.

"Firebright, love...?"

The oldest swung her head to me, smiling brightly. I pointed a hoof at Charger.

"This is your biological father."

"Oh! I remember you!" She grinned as surprise crossed his face. "I dream about you and my mom a lot. Er, your sis, I mean. Though, they might be memories..." She shook herself from the ponder on what it could be, then giggled. "It's great to finally meet you! She said I'd see you soon!"

The room fell in a puzzled silence as we regarded each other.

"I'm sorry, she... said?" Bullet Storm questioned.

"Yep!" She beamed. "Firebright did! My other mom. She talks to me in my dreams. She calls it the Mountain Sound, though."

"That's... fascinating." Sora quickly began to pull out a journal and wrote furiously through the pages. "The birth of a Nekkra, it's gotta be a paradox. A contradiction to itself. The only thing that can be dead and alive, all at the same time. In between realms. Stuck between plains, channeling through them. I'm going to be in my study." She stood up, still writing, though she took a moment to adjust her glasses, all while keeping her eyes on her book. She flapped her wings and took lightly to the air, still writing. "Don't bother me. I have much to contemplate and study." It was then, that her hologram dissipated into particles of light.

"I'm interested too..." Flame ran a hoof through her mane. "Bullet Storm, was it?"

"Yes?"

"Have Sora contact me later. I want to study this with her."

"You got it." She smiled.

"Mama!" Comet reached her forehooves out to me, whining. "Ma!"

I scooted closer and took her in my wings carefully, cradling her softly. She looked up at me, smiling and giggling as her tiny hooves ran around my muzzle.

Charger smiled wanly and nodded.

"Firebright... a beautiful name..." He ran a claw along the back of his neck and took a deep breath. "I'm afraid I have some matters I must discuss with my council..." He sneered at Bullet Storm, whose ears wilted as she recoiled a little. He turned to both of us again, smiling slightly. But deep down, I saw his anger.

"Next time we meet, I hope it'll be in person. You all look wonderful... Welcome home. I trust Sven to keep home safe. He's been a great help."

"Thank you, sir."

"Nonsense." Charger smiled wider, regarding our mutual friend. "I should be thanking you."

"Until next time."

Charger looked over at Dream next, and at once, the holograms of the meet and greet vanished.

Author's Note

First song: Reignwolf - Electric Love
Second song (Phoenix's song): Reignwolf - Black and Red