In the darkness, Ubel felt something heavy and bouncy touching his cheeks. As Ubel stirred from his slumber, he was welcomed by a grand sight of muscles and two mounds of fat sandwiching his cheeks. He realized that Ursa was using him as a body pillow and pressing herself against him. He blinked sleepily, his mind still hazy with the remnants of dreams, before the reality of their shared intimacy flooded back to him. He couldn't help but smile as he pulled on his clothes, relishing the lingering sensations that lingered on his skin.

Probably finding comfort in his warm body, she locked him in her arms and legs as if not wanting to let him go. Although her warmth was also enveloping him like a comforting embrace, he realized that they may have spent too much time on their rest.

With a soft groan, Ubel shifted slightly. Trying to ease the discomfort of his position. But as he moved, he felt Ursa stir beside him. Her arms tightened around him possessively as she snuggled closer, her bare skin brushing against his own. Ubel couldn't help but stop for a moment to marvel at the sight before him, the gentle rise and fall of Ursa's chest as she breathed in her sleep. Her features softened by the light of the morning sun filtering through the curtains. He couldn't deny the surge of warmth that filled him at the sight, a feeling of contentment settling over him like a comforting blanket.

For a moment, Ubel was tempted to simply lay there, basking in the simple pleasure of being close to Ursa, of sharing this intimate moment with her. As he closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep, he quickly remembered what he must do.

Then he started looking around and he became more aware of his surroundings—the faint scent of their passionate encounter lingering in the air, the warmth of Ursa's body pressed against his own, and the soft light filtering through the window, casting a golden hue over the room. He enhanced his hearing senses as he judged the noise below the establishment, telling him that they may become late if they don’t move now.

With a gentle sigh, Ubel shifted slightly, careful not to disturb Ursa as she continued to sleep peacefully beside him. He opened his Holo, blinking away the remnants of sleep as he opened the several unread notifications. And he was greeted by a flurry of calls from Creed. He realized that their night of passion had kept him blissfully unaware of the passage of time.

Creed left him messages after failing to raise him earlier. He told Ubel that the crew already cleaned the canteen as per his orders. Then as if he couldn’t endure it any longer, Creed laughed at the message and told Ubel to also wake Ursa up. Revealing that Creed knew what happened between the two. Then in the last message, he told Ubel that they would all wait for him at Blitzkrieg’s docking bay where he will prepare the crew as Ubel had left him to do.

Ubel couldn't help but chuckle at Creed's message. Then he felt the stickiness on his skin. Their wild night did a lot on both of them as Ubel shook his head in amusement again.

Then when he was about to wake up her partner in crime, Ubel realized that Ursa was already awake. Her blinking sleepy eyes were caught as she tried to hide her face on the pillow. She groaned heavily as she struggled to raise her body. But then he sensed that something was wrong with her. Concerned, Ubel carefully inspected and scanned Ursa's body, searching for any signs of injury or discomfort on her implants. Despite his thorough examination, he found nothing amiss with her implants or her physical condition. However, the unease lingered, gnawing at the back of his mind like a persistent itch.

"Are you feeling alright, Ursa?" Ubel asked, his voice laced with genuine concern as he met her gaze when she turned her head. He sat beside her and patted her bare back.

Ursa blinked in confusion, running a hand through her tousled hair as she tried to shake off the remnants of sleep.

"I'm fine, Ubel," she replied, though there was a hint of uncertainty in her voice. "Just a little tired... that's all."

But Ubel wasn't convinced. There was something off about her demeanor, a subtle shift in her usual confidence and composure. Ubel's concern deepened at her admission and he reached out to gently cup her cheek, his touch gentle and reassuring.

"Tell me what's wrong," he urged, his voice soft but insistent.

Ursa hesitated, her gaze searching his for a long moment before she finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Maybe it's my implants," she confessed with a mixture of frustration and worry. "Something feels... different."

“But I just scanned and nothing was wrong,” Ubel revealed to her.

“R-really?”

“Yeah, I just scanned you again and found nothing.”

Silence lingered between the two until Ursa sighed and answered.

“I can’t… move.” She said. “My hips… are aching every time I try to move them.”

Ubel blinked a few times until he swallowed what was the most probable cause of her discomfort and laughed lightly but was met by a glaring Ursa.

"Sorry, here… let me take a closer look." He inspected the part where she pointed with her hand to the source of pain. Then secretly using his nanomites to send a pulse through the flesh of her hips, searching for any signs of injury or inflammation inside. Then after several pulses, it gave him a clear picture of the state of her muscles.

But then he also saw the blood on the sheets which made Ubel even more shocked. Many questions started flooding his mind after knowing what such a sight meant. He pinched the bridge of his nose as he tried to make sense and he remembered how her only partners before him were females. Then he asked his past knowledge about how female-to-female sexual activity worked and wondered if it had any penetration or not. His intrusive thoughts started making tangents but were thankfully interrupted by a questioning voice of Ursa.

“Well? What is it?” she asked.

“W-wait… I still haven’t finished my deep scan.”

He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to find a way or an option on how to tell her this as he didn’t want to offend or insult her. Ubel's expression shifted as he identified the cause of Ursa's discomfort. He sighed softly and considered for a moment before replying, his gaze thoughtful as he formulated the best response.

"It looks like you might have strained a muscle," he explained gently and he decided to skip the other and probably the real cause of her pain. "We probably overdid it. I’ll get you some pain relief medication later. I’ll have a droid send it to you."

She shifted uncomfortably, trying to alleviate some of the pressure on her aching hip as she met Ubel's gaze.

"I should have been more careful," she murmured, her tone laced with self-reproach. Then she gave him another glare. “And you’re too wild.”

“Hey, you know me already.” Ubel teasingly argued back. She also consistently fought for domination over him a few times, and he was tempted to accept the contest. “I won’t deny a challenge… even on the bed.”

Then seeing that Ursa couldn’t move her body and both of them needed to leave, he lifted her from the bed that was unlike to that of his small stature. Cradling her in his arms with a mixture of concern and tenderness.

“You are an enigmatic boy with an enigmatic body.” Ursa once again was surprised at his capability to carry someone taller than him with ease. Then she asked quizzically. “And… where are you taking me?”

“We both need a bath, we enjoyed each other so much that the amount of bodily liquids we had exchanged with one another is still stuck to our skin. And no, I only intended to help you clean up. Don’t worry.” He shook his head slightly and giggled at her accusation, his voice low and reassuring as he met her gaze. As Ubel carried Ursa toward the bathroom in his arms, she couldn't help but feel a mix of embarrassment and gratitude. Despite the discomfort in her hips, being held so tenderly by him made her feel oddly cherished. Something that she never felt before.

“By the way, I don’t mind if you want to continue in the bathroom. We still have time anyway.” Ubel laughed, teasing her again which earned him another scowling face of Ursa.

“No.” she sighed and shut him down immediately, knowing that she was too exhausted after their wild adventure earlier. But she felt a tugging feeling inside her that she found herself trying to contradict what she said. Despite the fatigue weighing heavily on her, there was a lingering sense of contentment in her expression, a testament to the connection they had shared during their intimate encounter. “Although… I don’t mind doing it with you again.”

Ubel chuckled at Ursa's response, recognizing her exhaustion after their night of passion. He nodded in understanding, realizing that they both needed some time to recover from their wild escapades. With a playful grin, he assured her that he wasn't going to press the matter any further.

"I'll hold you to that," Ubel said with light teasing and added a statement laced with anticipation. "We can save that for another time. But don’t make me wait for too long though. Because I am not a person who would wait."

With playful banter exchanged between them, Ubel and Ursa disappeared behind the doors of the bathroom, leaving behind the warmth and intimacy of their shared moment earlier.

Then both Ubel and Ursa arrived in the docking bay where Godright was docked beside his other three freighters. Ursa was now walking beside Ubel after several instances of almost falling to the ground on their way here. It seemed that the medicine that he bought for Ursa was now taking effect.

Both separated as they got closer to the gathering Ubel went to address the entire crew that was waiting for them while Ursa joined the others who greeted her with mixed reactions of giggles and teasing. Revealing that what happened between the two was now an open secret, much to her annoyance which she decided to ignore as her body was still aching.

Then Aela and the others greeted Ursa with playful teasing, and the atmosphere lightened. They exchanged banter about Ursa's unexpected night with Ubel. And how the boy, Ubel was able to melt the cold, brutish tomboy of their group, prompting Ursa to roll her eyes in response.

Her group’s curiosity about Ubel's prowess in bed was about to become the topic of their interrogation of Ursa when their commander's voice cut through the chatter, drawing their attention to the makeshift platform of droids where he stood. Ubel's presence commanded immediate respect as he addressed the crew from atop the platform, his words carrying authority and purpose.

Ubel stood at the forefront of the assembled crew, as he scanned the faces before him. The crew members looked up at him silently and expectantly, their expressions a mix of curiosity and anticipation.

"Good morning, you scallywags!” Ubel began, his voice resonating with authority. "I hope you all had a restful night."

A chorus of murmured responses greeted him, some more enthusiastic than others.

"I know last night was a bit... eventful." Ubel began, his voice carrying a note of authority of those assembled before him. A playful smirk tugged at the corners of his lips as he glanced around at the knowing expressions of his crew.

"But now it's time to get back to business." Ubel declared, his tone shifting to one of seriousness as he addressed the task at hand. "There is something we must first tackle."

In his loud voice, his crew knew that this was the real beginning of their new life as pirates under him. But first Ubel must also restructure their command tree.

"We need to assign the captains and your new roles in the fleet to ensure that we have strong order in place," Ubel announced.

The crew nodded in agreement, understanding the importance of having capable leaders at the helm of each vessel. They listened attentively as Ubel began to announce the assignments, assigning a commander to each ship based on their skills and experience.

“Because the three freighters still have no human crew, they will be temporarily under the control of the droids instead,” he ordered then he dropped them instructions. “So, you all will remain as crew of Godright.”

"First up, we must rename Godright. We aren’t part of the Demonic Monkeys anymore. So, this ship should be christened with a new name. And I want to crew of the to decide.”

“We already did have one in mind, commander,” Creed said.

“Oh, finally.” Ubel was impressed at their speed to decide the name. “So what is the name?”

“Leviathan.”

“Can I ask the meaning of why you decided on such a name?” Ubel was curious about the reason. Then suddenly remembered something that caused him to feel secondhand embarrassment yesterday and laughed lightly that he stopped Creed. “Ah-nevermind. Nevermind. We’ll make do with what you decided.”

“Then it shall be known as the Leviathan.” Ubel nodded, his gaze sweeping across the assembled crew of that ship. "I'm appointing Creed Astefalt as the captain of Leviathan. Creed has proven himself to be a skilled and capable leader, and I have full confidence in his ability to command your ship."

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

The crew murmured their approval, acknowledging Creed's leadership qualities with nods of approval and words of encouragement.

"Next, we have the first mate of Creed." Ubel continued, his voice steady as he moved down the list of ships. "Bastille, you will take the role of first mate. Your tactical acumen and experience in combat make you the perfect choice for this role."

Bastille stepped forward, his expression determined as he accepted the responsibility entrusted to her. He knew that this role would require courage and resilience, but he was ready to rise to the challenge.

As the crew celebrated the formalization of their organization, Ubel turned his attention to Creed Astefalt, the newly appointed vice commander of the fleet. Astefalt stood tall, a sense of responsibility evident in his demeanor as he prepared to fulfill his duties.

"Creed, I'm entrusting you with a crucial role," Ubel resumed. "Should we ever lose communication with me, you will assume command of the fleet in my absence. Same as you Bastille."

Creed nodded solemnly, understanding the weight of the responsibility placed upon him. He knew that he would need to be prepared to lead the crew in Ubel's absence, ensuring that they remained united and focused on their goals.

"I won't let you down," Creed replied, his voice firm with determination.

“As I will, commander.” Bastille also added.

Ubel nodded in approval, knowing that he could trust Astefalt to carry out his duties with integrity and resolve.

“I will also rename the three freighters; Suisei, Hyuuga, and Hiragi.” Although he would always name his ships in the game with English or Western names, he wanted to change it this time by using Japanese names. The crew wondered about his reason but didn’t mind the names he chose.

Then Ubel proceeded to assign droid commanders to each remaining ship, carefully considering the strengths and abilities of each number as he divided his droids to the rest of his ships as he made his decisions. The crew listened intently, their anticipation growing as they awaited their assignments. After much deliberation and rearranging the roles of his crew, Ubel reached the end of the list, his gaze sweeping over the assembled crew with satisfaction.

Ubel turned his attention to the next matter at hand: establishing a code of conduct for their piracy operations.

"Last but not least, I will remain aboard Blitzkrieg as the commander of our fleet," Ubel declared, his voice ringing with authority. "And finally, I want to lay out a set of rules that we will all abide by as members of this fleet. These rules will govern our conduct as pirates and ensure how we will operate."

The crew’s attention remained focused as he began to outline the rules of conduct. They started wondering what it was as it was their first time to be under such a thing. Ubel spoke with clarity and conviction, emphasizing the importance of each rule and its role in guiding their actions. He sent them a digital list of the rules through their holos.

“These shall be called the Accord under the Black Star.”

It stated:

I

Unity in Gold

All crew members shall stand united in the pursuit of wealth and treasure.

The spoils of our endeavors shall be shared equally among all who sail under the fleet.

First, a third of the plunder will be cut for the fleet’s maintenance and resupply.

Every ship is part of the crew and must be treated as part of the crew.

Then for two-thirds of the plunder, one percent will be given to all participants of the raid.

II

Primus Authority

The commander holds absolute authority during battle, with the power to make decisions for the good of the crew and the fleet during conflict.

Mutiny and insubordination during battle shall be met with swift and severe punishment.

Every ship crew has the right to elect their captain, once every thirty days while in port.

Only the crew of that ship is allowed to vote for their next captain and any decision for their ship, with every crew including the former captains, having the power of one vote.

The captains have the voting power to decide the raids and how they will be handled by the commander.

And each ship captain has the right to dismiss themselves from a raid or plunder, under the vote of the crew of their ship.

In times of the untimely death of a ship’s captain, the commander has the right to choose a captain from the ship’s crew until the next election.

III

Fairness and Respect

All members of the crew shall treat each other with respect and dignity.

Disputes among crew members shall be settled democratically, with every crew on that ship having a voice in matters of importance.

Justice shall be administered fairly and without favoritism.

Any grievances or conflicts between ships within the fleet shall be resolved through peaceful means under the judgment of the commander whenever possible.

IV

We Never Give Our Blood to the Void

Conflicts and disputes among crew members shall be left aboard the ship.

No fighting or quarreling shall be tolerated while on port leave and docked, as such behavior may attract unwanted attention from authorities.

V

Covenant of the Cosmos

This fleet recognizes no boundaries or jurisdictions in the quest for dominance and wealth, whether in the depths of space or on distant planets.

This fleet recognizes no religion or any corporation.

VI

Oath of Silence

The crew shall maintain strict secrecy regarding the ship's whereabouts, activities, treasures, knowledge of our operations, alliances, and strategies.

Loose lips sink ships endanger the success of our endeavors and compromise the safety of our crew. What happens among the crew stays aboard the ships.

Former crew members are also expected to maintain confidentiality about their activities and operations to protect their former crewmates and their interests.

And any violator and those who breach the confidentiality shall be met with severe consequences.

VII

Plunder, Not Pillage

The fleet may raid and plunder ships and cargo, but the fleet does not engage in wanton destruction or unnecessary harm to others that may cause unwanted attention from the authorities.

Any acts of kidnapping or forcibly recruiting a person that was not warranted by the crew or not decided by the fleet and the commander shall be punishable by expulsion from the fleet.

VIII

Laws in Gambling

Wagers that involve credits create risks of discord and chaos within the ship and could cause sabotage of the ship’s performance.

Any acts of gambling, betting, or game of chance that will involve credit, assets, or real wealth aboard the ships while in the black will be punishable by confiscation of their properties and will be kicked out of the fleet on the next docking.

IX

Roles in Battle

Every crew is responsible for maintaining his or her weapons and equipment.

Every crew shall demonstrate courage and valor in the heat of battle, fighting fiercely against any who dare to oppose them.

Any crew that failed to maintain his weapons and caused severe damage or hindered operations would be subjected to ten raids with no share.

Any crew member found guilty of cowardice, insubordination, or disloyalty during a battle shall be viewed and marked with the Paint of Disdain and Dishonor then will be expelled from the fleet.

And worse offenders shall be given the choice of embracing the vacuum of space or facing enslavement. Our fleet is no place for the weak-hearted or the traitorous scums.

X

Brotherhood of Corsairs

The crew’s loyalty is to our crew and fleet alone. The entire fleet must stand as brothers and sisters in arms, united by the common bond of survival and the pursuit of profit.

A pirate's word is their bond, and honor with the crew is their most valuable possession.

Betrayal, deceit, and treachery among crew members shall be met with the harshest of penalties, including marooning, expulsion to deep space, enslavement, or death.

XI

Respect for Fleet Property

While the fleet may involve the seizure of goods and valuables, private property belonging to fellow crew members shall be respected and left untouched.

Food, rations, air, water supply, ammunition, and spare parts shall be provided at no charge to the crew. Any request or concerns of inadequacy shall be referred directly to the captain of the ship and he or she will also raise the concern to the commander of the fleet.

Thievery and stealing from the coffers and storage supply of the ship or fleet will be met with summary punishments. Any violators will suffer dismemberment and shall be cast off into the dark space.

XII

Act of Parley

When encountering other pirate crews or vessels that request diplomacy, we shall observe the tradition of parley, allowing for peaceful negotiations and the exchange of information or trade.

Crews of captured vessels have the right to call for a parley and apply as a crew of this fleet. His or her application will then be tested in a Trial of Thieves.

If he or she passes the Trial of Thieves, his or her application will then be discussed and the decision for the entry will voted by the captains of the fleet.

XIII

Freedom of Choice

This fleet values the crew’s freedom above all else.

As such, every month before an election of their captain, every crew has the right to leave the fleet with their assets after swearing to the Oath of Silence.

XIV

The Code of Torture

Captured personnel may be subjected to interrogation and torture to extract valuable information or as punishment for resistance.

However, unnecessary cruelty shall be avoided, as it serves no purpose beyond sowing fear and discord among our ranks and damage to potential products to sell.

Any unwarranted torture and interrogation will be met confiscation of assets as a reimbursement for the damage to the fleet’s property.

XV

Wrathful Retribution

In this vast expanse of space, this fleet bows to no laws but its own. It answers only to itself and to the unwavering pursuit of its interests.

Those who dare to oppose this fleet shall learn the true meaning of fear. Any act of aggression against its crew or vessels shall be met with proportional retaliation. It shall show no mercy to those who dare to challenge its authority or impede its pursuit of wealth and power.

The fleet will raise several Red Flares once the pursued vessel or enemy ship remains its resistance which will cause deaths or large casualties among the crew.

Under the light of the Red Flares, the Act of Parley will not be considered and the fleet will consider the crew of the enemy vessel to be subject to the most brutal retaliation.

We do not forgive, and we do not forget.

XVI

Blood Pact under the Black Star

All crew members shall abide by the above articles of piracy set forth by the commander and agreed upon by the entire crew and the fleet.

Violations of the articles shall be punishable by marooning in space, dismemberment, revoking your status as part of the crew, enslavement, expulsion, execution, or other forms of discipline.

All of the above are immediate in effect and any violators shall be judged by the crew, the fleet, and the commander.

The crew’s faces were illuminated by the dim glow of the ship's interior lights as they heard and read the proclamation. Ubel, now officially claimed the role of their commander, stood at the center, his gaze sweeping over his assembled crew with pride and determination.

"From this day forth, you are no longer the Demonic Monkeys," Ubel declared, his voice resonating with authority.

"We are now known... as the Blacklist!"

A chorus of cheers erupted from the crew, echoing off the metal walls of the docking bay. They had shed their old identity like a snake shedding its skin, embracing their new name with fervor and excitement.

Ubel raised his hand for silence, and the crew gradually quieted down, their attention focused on their captain.

"We bear a new name, but our purpose remains the same," Ubel continued, his voice steady and resolute. "To plunder, to conquer, to carve out our destiny amidst the stars."

He reached for a small insignia from his digital storage – a stylized image of a fearsome Grim Reaper with his Great Scythe and a long scroll of the list – and held it aloft for all to see in their digital sight. Then it slowly appeared on the hull and bow of the Blitzkrieg, the three freighters and Leviathan. Baptizing their ships as their new fleet.

The droids that were arrayed around them suddenly beat their chest and stomped their feet, creating a loud echoing chant, a war chant.

"This shall be our symbol!" Ubel proclaimed, his voice ringing out with authority. "A reminder of our power, our coming, and our lust to dominate the void!"

But Ubel was not finished yet. He stepped forward, his gaze piercing as he prepared to utter the Blacklists' mantra – a vow that would bind them together in purpose and resolve.

“No laws below, no gods above!”

“Death’s embrace holds no sway on our fate!

“For we live our life unchained!”

“Defiant souls, answer our call!”

"Bound to the void and gold, we will forever reign and sail!"

Ubel intoned, his voice carrying the weight of centuries.

The crew echoed his words, their voices blending in a solemn chorus. The mantra reverberated through the ship, a powerful declaration of the Blacklist's commitment to their cause. And as the echoes faded into the silence of space, the crew stood united – ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, with Commander Ubel leading them into the unknown.

Then just a Sol Day later, the Union of Great Terran Republics had posted a new bounty.