AL4 Ch1

Previously…

Zander led his crew through the first-ever mecha tournament, sweeping the top spot in every event. That catapulted Zander, his crew, and Fractured Dreams into becoming household names on MX Hub, but it also generated some bad blood with people who didn’t like the way Zander did things.

It also saw the bookie, Trenton, refusing to pay them; he wasn’t about to let them bankrupt him. However, Trenton made a fatal mistake when he kidnapped one of the new mecha pilots under Zander’s banner, and the ensuing conflict left Trenton and his flunkies dead. Zander was arrested, but his lawyer— courtesy of Lavella— had him free in a few hours.

If that wasn’t enough, the Terran delegates arrived. They met with Zander twice, and Zander wasn’t buying what they wanted to sell him. His warning to them about respecting the “Cult of the Spork” fell on deaf ears. When the Terrans were accosted over their lack of respect for the Antecedents, it started a brawl. That, along with Trenton’s death, turned public opinion firmly against Zander.

The bad news wasn’t done there, though, as an even bigger event came to the forefront. A level-five containment breach by the Entoma had them landing behemoths on a dozen worlds, and in a few cases, two or even three behemoths were sent per world.

With Dreams out of commission because of upgrades, Zander and his pilots were given over to the Assembled Fist to help with the breach. Zander had to prove to Nato, the lead pilot of the ship, that he was the best option to lead them into what everyone saw as a death mission. After claiming the lead pilot position, Zander still had to prove himself to the captain and mecha tech, but even they eventually understood why he’d taken over.

When the mission ended, two of the thirty pilots on Assembled Fist had died; the rest were alive, making a first in Assembly history. Zander was told he’d be called in front of the Galactic Assembly to explain how he’d managed what he had, but that would come after a stop back at MX Hub.

Chapter One

Zander came awake when he felt someone shifting beside him; the ragged breaths and shaking told him all he needed to know. Sitting up, he gently touched Kayo’s back. “You okay, my vixen?”

Kayo shuddered as the nightmare faded. “Yes… sorry, my tod.”

“Nightmares come with the job. I’ve never seen anyone who lived combat not have them. Post-traumatic stress can be a bitch. Do you want to talk about it?” He moved over to put his arm around her waist.

Kayo leaned into his side, taking deep, slow breaths. “I’ve never had one as intense as that before… I’ve had nightmares about being a pilot, but nothing like that.”

“Talk to me. I’m here for you.”

“It was about you…” Kayo whispered as she rubbed her head against his shoulder. “Mostly a flashback to when you went after Tlaza. But then, it got far worse. Everything started to go wrong… the squads broke apart, running from a massive swarm. I found your broken mecha as I ran. Your body had been pulled from it and was being eaten by the smallest of Entoma. Only your head was still intact until they burst out from your eyes.” She grasped him, shuddering at the nightmarish image.

“I understand,” Zander said softly. “I’ve had nightmares like that before. Can your AI help you with them?”

“What?” Kayo asked.

“They aren’t as advanced as I am, Zee,” Selda said from the room’s speakers. “If you want, Kayo, I can try helping yours understand what I do for Zee.”

“If it’ll help me not experience that again, please…”

“I’ll do what I can, but it’ll take some time. I’ve been working on plans to help all of your AIs since I helped Dreams. There are a myriad of problems that I have to solve for it to work, but I am working on them bit by bit.”

“Thank you, Selda,” Zander said, still holding Kayo. “Are you feeling better now, my vixen?”

Kayo exhaled slowly as she nodded. “The terror’s passing. Your closeness helps.”

Zander scooted a bit, Kayo moving with him, so they were resting against the headboard. “We’ll be back on MX Hub soon.”

“And there’s a lot you want to do before the Assembly officially requests you to attend them.”

“Yeah… I told you about the virtual marriage with Selda. That’s a big one for me and her.”

“If Selda wasn’t your AI, I might feel a little bad about her marrying you first,” Kayo snickered. “Though Sage did steal that step on everyone else, didn’t she, Tender?”

Zander chuckled. “It was shocking as hell. I fell into one of my old habits of distancing pain by fucking someone, only for that to become what Sage and I have together. I wouldn’t change a thing about it, though. Sage helped me see that I craved lasting relationships.”

“You lost Selda, so you grasped onto Sage, then held onto her tightly, not wanting to lose another again,” Selda said. “Then came Lavella, and she made you want to expand that.”

“That started out rougher, having to kill people to keep her safe,” Zander chuckled. “But she’s special to me now, delicious prey that she is for me.”

“She’s your prey?” Kayo murmured. “I’m unsurprised yet shocked at the same time, my tod.”

“Don’t spread that around,” Zander said. “To anyone but me, she’s a predator. If someone stupid tries anything, she’ll eviscerate them either financially or physically.”

“I will keep our skulk’s secrets safe.”

A skulk is a group of foxes, Selda told Zander silently, using his implant.

Zander thanked Selda back silently before saying, “Thank you, Kayo.”

“Besides the virtual marriage, you said Crish made their choice, too,” Kayo grinned.

“They agreed to wait until after Selda’s moment, but Crish’s going to have their own shortly after that.”

“I’m intrigued by what they might become,” Kayo giggled. “Your tastes are so diverse that it’s hard to imagine how they’ll change.”

“It’s something I’ve been pondering, too,” Zander sighed. “It’s supposed to be subconscious perfection to me. Crish will completely change, not just physically but mentally and emotionally, as well. I mean, if it were a conscious choice… even then, I’d be really torn.”

“I bet,” Kayo snickered. “You already have me, Sage, and Lavella, but you also want Veldiami, Gravtina, and Arlizarista. You might want even more later, too, because you’re a hungry tod.”

“I’ll tell you what I said before: I don’t want drama, so everyone will know about everyone else. If those currently involved in a deeper relationship object, then I’ll pass on adding a newer woman. I’m an asshole, but I’m not the kind that would cheat on my partners.”

“I know,” Kayo sighed happily as she snuggled closer to him. “It was one of the reasons I finally admitted my defeat to you instead of just giving up. I knew you’d be respectful.”

“To be honest, I didn’t know biting both your ears was the sign of a deeper relationship when I did it,” Zander murmured. “I’ve been happy that I did it, though. You’re certainly the most vocal, dirtiest vixen in the universe, and I’m proud you’re mine.”

Kayo squirmed against him before she turned enough to claim his lips with hers. The nightmare had passed and his words made her frisky— there was no reason not to do as she pleased.

Zander chuckled into the kiss, his arms wrapping around her to drag her onto his lap. His interest was clear as she rubbed against it. When the kisses broke, they met each other’s eyes. Kayo’s vertical pupil golden eyes shone with lust, and Zander knew she saw the same in his. “I guess I can remind my vixen who bested who.”

Kayo’s three black-tipped golden tails fanned out behind her as she ground herself against him. “I’m not opposed to you firmly reminding me, my tod.”

“Firmly, hmm?” Zander grinned. He lifted her hips enough for her to find just the right spot to slide back down. “Haven’t done this sitting up in over a year, but I bet we can have some fun.”

~~~

Kayo and Zander eventually got to the galley to eat— the rest of the pilots of Assembled Fist were finishing their meal when the couple strolled in. Crish’s eyes found them first and raised their hand in greeting. His squads greeted them as they sat down at the table.

“Guess I shouldn’t be surprised that you’re smiling so brightly,” Arlizarista said to Kayo. “Considering you two coming in late, the reason’s obvious.”

“We woke up early, but time got away from us,” Kayo smirked.

“It’s always sex with this group…” Havu snorted.

“Not always, sadly,” Petnamia sighed. The Dryad looked at Kayo and Zander wistfully. She’d hoped to at least get in for some fun with them, but it hadn’t happened.

“Not all of us want to be included,” Slate coughed.

“Some of us have our sights set elsewhere,” Friggen said.

“Can we get off the sex talk?” Havu sighed.

“Breakfast, sir,” Sigma, one of the cooks on Assembled Fist, said. He was coming toward the table with the food for both Zander and Kayo. “Is it going to be possible to play the game some more before we get to the Hub?”

Zander chuckled as he took a sip of his coffee. “There’s nothing slated between now and then, so it should be. After I finish eating, I’ll jump into a pod so my AI can connect easier.” He looked at all the pilots who were paying attention. “We can play for the rest of the day.”

Those already finished eating cheered, getting up to go get ready. The pilots of Fractured Dreams, plus Petnamia and Olivert, stayed at the table while the others left— the Dryad and Gnome had been shipless when they got thrown onto the ship for the emergency.

“Zander,” Olivert cleared his throat before continuing, “I wanted to broach the topic of staying with your crew.”

Zander chewed, but nodded, motioning for the Gnome to continue.

“I thought we were dead, but you led us not only to victory, but also out alive. If there was ever a pilot I wanted to lead me into battle, it’s you.”

Swallowing, Zander sipped his coffee before answering, “I was going to speak with Veldiami, the captain of Fractured Dreams, about offering you and Petnamia the last two open berths for pilots. That would fill out our two fingers, but both of you would likely be in scouts.”

Petnamia licked her lips. “Before I agree— and I really want to— would there be possibilities of… fun?”

“See? It’s sex again,” Havu sighed.

“If you could smell him the way I do, you’d understand,” Petnamia said.

“Funny, that,” Zander said. “Dryads and Vampires both say I’m special in flavor to them. Another race has mentioned that I… solve a problem of theirs, too. So it’s not just sex. Well, for Dryads, it is, but not always for everyone.”

Havu’s snakes hissed lightly, and she glanced at her own hair for a moment. “I can accept that.”

“But to answer your question, Petnamia,” Zander said, turning the conversation back to the point, “it might happen, but it might not. Even if it does, I won’t be your Tender. I already have a very special Dryad: my tasty peach. We have invited other Dryads in for fun a few times. Can you accept it being something that’s a rare occurrence?”

Petnamia licked her lips before she exhaled slowly. “Yes, I think I can.”

“Anyone object to adding Olivert and Petnamia to the squads?” Zander asked the others.

No one spoke up.

“I’ll ask the captain, but will you both be okay with scouts?”

“If that’s the mecha we pilot, then it is what will be,” Olivert said. “I’ll hold on to my trust in you as our leader.”

“Actually,” Crogam said, “I’ll step into a scout, Zander.”

“Really?” Zander asked before taking another bite.

“You said before that you think I had a knack for surviving. I know scouts better than any other mecha. I think I can excel in them if we use the tactics you’ve shown to us.”

“Okay. Rasisar and I will decide where Petnamia and Olivert end up on the squads. Whoever ends up with me won’t be in a scout.”

“Since we’re already talking about squads,” Crish said softly, “I was hoping to switch over to yours, Zander.”

Zander chewed his lip for a moment. “Are you sure about that, Crish?”

“Yes. My choice has been made.”

“Okay, but we’ll talk about a full rebuild of the squads later,” Zander said. “After we get back to the Hub. If any of you want to switch around, this is the time to consider it. That does mean that both of you,” he motioned to Olivert and Petnamia, “will be the last two given a slot, but at the moment, you’ll likely end up with Rasisar.”

“I’m fine with that,” Olivert said.

Petnamia looked disappointed, but bowed her head. “I understand, Zander.”

“I’ll meet you all in the capsules as soon as I finish breakfast,” Zander said.

“I’ll lead them down there,” Rasisar said. “Come on, everyone.”

Kayo and Zander continued to eat as the others headed out. Changes were coming for the squad as a whole, but also for specific people in the squads. Zander was sure everything would work out, even if a few people weren’t thrilled with the outcomes.