Alen was defending himself to the captain. "But you told me to find crew. That's all that I did!"

The captain didn't seem swayed. "Human crew! I didn't spell it out because I didn't think anyone would be stupid enough to make such a basic mistake! Do you even know what they eat? How much they eat? Maybe their way of celebrating a job well done is to pick some poor crew members to fight to the death!"

Alen made a face. "I doubt it's anything like that..."

The captain cut him off. "But you don't know, do ya? Neither do I! That's the problem!"

There was a knock on the door, and Erik poked his head in a moment later. The alien's accent was still thick, but it got easier to understand the more Alen heard it. "Got the cargo all loaded, boss. What do you need done next?"

The captain didn't look pleased. "Who said you could use the powerlifter?"

Eric looked...well, it was hard to say, but if Alen were to guess, it would be confused. "Powerlifter? You didn't have anything out there that weighed more than two or three hundred pounds. Not really an issue for Vanessa and me."

That seemed to derail the captain's line of thought. "Well then... I guess you can get yourself a bite to eat... You do eat normal food, right?"

Erik grinned, which was more than a little unsettling, given his many very sharp teeth. "If by normal food you mean human food, yeah, mostly. I just like it a bit more rare than you do. Oh, and no sweets; they all just taste bitter to me."

Alen grinned. "See captain? Nothing to worry about!" Then he turned to Erik, "Oh, and you don't have any traditions celebrating a job well done by fighting crew members to the death, do you?"

Erik's expression changed to one Alen assumed was offended. "What? No! Of course not! Killing people over something so petty would be crazy! That kind of thing is reserved for holidays only!"

With that, the hulking alien left, leaving Alen reasonably confident that the last bit had been a joke.

*  

Erik set down a platter of food between him and Vanessa. She regularly insisted flavor didn't matter. So long as it had calories, she could make do. So Erik usually just got her a bunch of whatever he was eating. His ever-present companion spoke up as he took his seat. "So I take it we haven't been let go already? This might mark a record for length of employment."

Erik grabbed a "steak," probably made of something he didn't want to know, and nodded. "Yeah, see? I told ya it was just a matter of time! You an me are too strong and tough for people not to take notice! Sure, they might be scared at first, but when they realize how much we can do, which usually means more coin in their pocket, they'll come around!"

Vanessa tilted her head as she examined him. "I find your perspective to be optimistic, mistress. However, so long as you persist in insisting we work for these people rather than making them work for us, I will respect your decision."

Erik shook his head. "Forcing people to work with us is doing the same thing as was done to us. I wouldn't mind doing that to any of the people who enslaved us, but we didn't leave many of them breathing. These people didn't do anything to deserve that kinda life yet, and I'm not about to assume they will! Sides, wasn't it you who told me about the humans who helped your people out all those years ago. Established diplomatic relations with the rest of humanity and all that?"

Vanessa hesitated but nodded. "Yes, and in the years since, we've found that the kind of humans who will really stand up for us when it counts are few and far between. Most are small beings, concerned only with their well-being or the well-being of their immediate family."

Erik shrugged. "And what's so wrong with that? The way I see it, looking out for your family first don't make you a bad person, so long as you ain't taken' food out of other people's mouths to do it. Hell, when it comes down to it, I'll fight for you harder than anyone else I know, and that's just cause you've been there for me for as long as you have. That makes you my family. That puts me right on par with them 'small beings' you were talking about."

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Vanessa replied hesitantly, "Perhaps..." but was cut off from debating further when the human who hired them set down a tray beside them.

The human, Alen, was all smiles. "Good work getting all that cargo loaded in short order! That was a good way to show the captain what you're capable of!"

Erik shrugged. "Eh, wasn't nothin'! I handled the bulky stuff, and Vanessa here got all the small stuff. She can't lift the stuff I can, but I can't work as long as she can, so splitting up the job like that gets it done fast!"

Alen nodded. "That makes sense." Then he looked at Vanessa as if he wanted to ask a question. Erik grinned at the little man, though, to be fair, all men were little men to him. "Out with it, boy! What you want to ask?"

Alen grinned like he'd been caught. "Well, I was just curious about you two, but I didn't wanna pry too much. After all, I'm sure you two get inundated with questions all the time. It's gotta get old answering the same thing over and over!"

Erik made a show of looking around at the empty tables immediately surrounding their own despite the dining hall otherwise being packed. "They'd have to get close enough to ask questions, and no one seems brave enough to do that, so as a reward for joining us, ask away! Don't mean we'll answer, but I promise not to tear your head off just cause you ask the wrong question!"

Alen seemed to stop and think momentarily, looking at Erik this time. "Well, I guess I'm wondering who and what you are. Vanessa, here is a weaver...er vitexrā. I know that much, but how is she here without a hive? I thought they, er, I guess you," He nodded at Vanessa, acknowledging her presence before turning back to Erik. "needed a nearby hive to function, and I've never seen or heard of anyone like yourself!"

Erik shrugged. "Don't know!"

That seemed to make Alen hesitate. "I'm sorry? You don't know?"

Erik shook his head. "Nope! As far back as I can remember, I'm the only one of my kind. Near as I can figure it, I was either grown in a test tube somewhere, or I was taken from my people at too young an age to remember. I'm hoping to find out more once I get enough cash to look into it. As for Vanessa, I suppose that's up to her to answer."

Vanessa nodded as both turned their attention to her. "It is true that most Vitexrā require a 'hive,' as you put it, but I do not."

Alen didn't look any less confused. "Is there a reason you don't require a hive?"

Vanessa nodded again. "Yes, there is."

After another moment of confusion, Alen smiled. "But you don't want to share that reason just yet. I suppose that's fair! After all, I'm just some guy you recently met! But I'll tell you what, if anyone does give you two a hard time, you come to me. Not that I have enough pull to do much about it, but I can at least make it so they have to give all three of us a hard time!"

Erik laughed and slapped the small man's back. "Ha! Good on you, lad! I like you! When it comes to a holiday battle royal, I'll keep ya safe!"

Alen laughed nervously at that before looking up at the much larger Erik. "Um, yeah, you're just joking about that sort of thing, right?"

Erik grinned, enjoying the effect it had on humans. "Not at all! I promise to watch your back once the blood starts flowing!"

*  

The first thing Carter did upon waking was get annoyed to realize it hadn't all been some crazy dream. He was still aboard the "ghost ship" populated only by insane AI, who apparently existed long before AI was even a thing.

The second thing he did was sneeze. Sure, he'd taken the bedding out into the hall to give it a good shake, but he'd stirred up so much dust that the air was still filled with it. If he was going to be stuck here for the long haul, this place would need to be cleaned. Not that he'd ever been all that obsessed with cleanliness, but this ship was beyond even his tolerance.

A moment later, the girl appeared in the room, making Carter jump. "What the hell! You can't just appear like that! Give a man a warning next time!"

The girl didn't look at all abashed. "You're awake, and you said we could talk once you were awake. We've got some decisions to make!"

Carter sat up on the edge of his bed. "Like if I get to live or die, right? Not a whole lot of choice there. I pretty much have to accept your demands."

The girl shrugged. "Well, I want to hear it from you anyway. Now, if you come to the bridge, you can discuss this with all three of me."

Carter looked at the girl oddly. "Why is that necessary? If you're all one...er...person, can't I just speak with one of you and it be the same?"

Finally, the girl hesitated. "Well, yes...and no. We all share the same memories and experience everything we do, but a long time ago, I agreed with myselfs that we all could have our own voice and representation. It cut back on internal fighting over who was in control at any given time."

Carter just shook his head. "You're crazy! All of you!"

The girl smiled. "Maybe, but to paraphrase you, you have to accept me as we are."

Carter frowned and sighed. "Just what the hell kind of flying loony bin am I stuck in here?"