Hazel was eating alone in the dark corner of the habituation section of Isis’s temple ship. She was sitting on the indent by one of the view ports. She stared at Uranus She’d kept the quarter’s lights off to get a better view of Uranus. It was odd and grey-blue. Not that she’d seen many planets from orbit. She absently took a bite of her rare steak. Her plate sat beside her on a chair she’d pulled over. Her knees were folded to her chest. She didn’t feel comfortable with the rest of the crew. They got quiet when she showed up and seemed uncomfortable by her presence. She had only herself to blame, she could have easily said yes to Isis’s offer, but it felt wrong to mess with people’s minds. No matter how hard it would be on her. She was starting to muse it was better that Miles and she had a clean break so she could find a nice spirit or wolf born to have children with eventually when her mother sorted out her aging issue. She heard the telltale hiss as the cabin’s door opened. She could see Mile’s silhouette backlit by the gangway lights. He hesitated and moved forward. Her contacts enhanced her night vision as she tried to focus on him. He came out of the shadows and without asking sat down in the viewport and leaned against the glass-steel as it was called. Heavily armored and built to withstand punishing capital ship weaponry. He looked at Hazel who finished chewing her latest bite of steak. She met his gaze with her ice blue eyes. He looked over his shoulder at Uranus then back to her.

“This is the first time I’ve been in space. And now I’m orbiting a whole new world. This must be pretty normal to you… I guess.”

Hazel shook her head.

“No, I don’t come to space often and when I do its usually to visit my Aunt and she’s out by Pluto. Though compared to Pluto, Uranus is boring.”

Miles kicked his legs and folded his hands over the edge of the viewport’s frame. Hazel could see he had a dressing on the burn mark from the plasma bolt that hit him. He looked back at Hazel.

“Uh… we found the case. So, uh, we’re going to get paid. If we can ever get back to Earth.”

Hazel nodded and took another bite of her steak. She chewed while staring out at Uranus. Miles hopped up stood there looking at her. He rubbed the back of his neck and shifted his foot like he was going to go to the door.

“Uh, I’ll let you be.”

Hazel nodded. She figured this was how it would go. Heavy petting and French kissing replaced by awkwardness and long silences. He started to walk towards the door and paused as it opened glancing over his shoulder.

“Uh, we… you know. Its not you, we’re just processing stuff. Like you can join us…we’d like it if you did. I mean you saved our asses. You tried to warn us…”

Hazel nodded in his direction.

“I’ll be out in a bit. I’m just…trying to cool off.”

Miles nodded and walked out of the door letting it slide shut. Hazel turned back to the grey-blue ball of icy hydrocarbons in front of her. Earth looked very similar now, though it was more white then grey. She finished her food and picked up her ridiculously expensive looking ceramic plate and walked to the dining area. Dimi noticed her and stood up. He walked up to Hazel and offered her his hand. She shook it firmly.

“You were amazing. We would have been toast without you. And if that is you when you’re really angry, I didn’t see anything wrong with it.”

Hazel smiled at him. Zebra hugged her tightly. Pinto gave her a nod and Miles smiled at her. Though she could tell there was a still a distance between them. Hazel put her plate in the dishwasher and sat down at the table with the group. She pulled two bottles of hundred-year-old scotch out of her pack. When they looked at her wide eyed. She shrugged.

“There’s also an antitank railgun in here. Mom is a hoarder.”

Pinto grabbed the opened bottle and pulled the cork. Dimi grabbed five glasses and put them out. Pinto empty the bottle into the glasses and put it down. He lifted his glass.

“To Hazel for saving our worthless asses.”

Everyone including Hazel raised their glasses and downed the scotch in one go. Hazel was sure there was an entire planet worth of scotch loving people rolling over in their graves somewhere. She opened the next bottle and poured out more for everyone. Dimi took his glass and sipped it.

“Shit Hazel. I have seen some shit but the way you ripped through those ‘bots. It was glorious and what the fuck is that sword made of?”

Hazel took a sip of her own whiskey.

“So…like uh. Its from Atlantis. Same as my armor and my mom’s bag.”

That got everyone’s attention. Hazel shrugged and took another sip.

“A long time ago…”

Hazel related the tale of Atlantis and her mother for the group as they polished off the last bottle of Whiskey. By the time they were done she had to carry them all to their rooms one at a time. Finally she put Miles to bed. She was about to leave when he grabbed her arm.

“Where you going?”

“My room.”

“Stay.”

“Are you sure? You’re drunk…”

“I want you.”

Hazel nodded and started to peel off her Atlantean armor. She snuggled into bed next to Miles and she kissed him. His hands started to roam and so did hers. When Miles woke up, he saw Hazel sitting on the viewport in his room looking out at Uranus again. She was in her bra and underwear, her arm hanging over one of her knees which she had drawn up to her chest. She noticed him moving and smiled at him. He tried to pull himself out of bed but then collapsed back down into his pillow.

“I am so hung over.”

Hazel motioned to the half a liter of water she’d left out for him along with some painkillers.

“Drink some water goofball.”

Miles took the quick acting painkillers and by the time he was feeling up to moving he’d drank half the water. He shifted and tugged on his boxer-briefs and joined Hazel on the viewport’s ledge. He brought the water with him. Hazel smiled in his direction.

“You were pretty drunk last night.”

“Didn’t hurt my performance.”

Hazel smirked.

“No, it did not. I liked it better, you were a little rougher.”

He blushed.

“I uh, thought you might, like…”

Hazel shook her head causing her white braid to bounce back and forth.

“Don’t need to discuss it babe.”

Mile’s cheeks were still fairly flush, and he decided now was a good time for another mouthful of water. Hazel poked his foot with hers and smiled at him. He poked her foot back. He looked out at Uranus.

“You could have told me about… the fur. I would have understood.”

Hazel nodded and shrugged. She took a drink of her own bottle of water.

“Hey boyfriend I’ve been with for a year, I turn into a wolf. You wouldn’t have believed me.”

He gave her a half smile and shrugged.

“Uh, like we’ve been doing…it for a while and like not using protection does that mean I’ll…”

Hazel laughed and shook her head.

“You have to be born a wolf-born.”

Miles nodded and looked slightly relieved.

“I don’t make you use protection because I can’t catch diseases and I can’t get pregnant. My body is stuck like this. Has been for a while.”

Hazel took another long drink of her water and Miles quirked his head to the side.

“How old are you?”

Hazel shrugged.

“Twenty-seven? Maybe thirty? I don’t know I’ve lost track. The years blur together…”

Miles blinked at her.

“You thought I was your age.”

He nodded.

“In many ways I am. I can’t grow up. At this rate I’ll never mature, and I’ll never be an adult. Kind of stuck like my mom is. Still have the brain of a teenager. Still make stupid mistakes. Like agreeing to the heist.”

He shook his head.

“You told us it was dumb. You warned us. I know you only came to keep me safe. And without you, it’s like Dimi said we’d be dead or worse.”

Hazel put her water bottle down and crawled across the viewport to Miles and leaned over his legs and kissed him full on the lips. Her returned the kiss his hand going to her left breast and playing with her nipple. She fell back into her position and smiled at him. Miles smiled at her.

“Kissing you is like heaven.”

Hazel nodded.

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“I know, its what kept me sane.”

Miles took another drink of water and poked her foot with his again.

“How do you know Isis? I uh…she’s a vampire I guess. Uh is she keeping us here as a blood bank?”

Hazel laughed.

“No, I think she probably drinks Synth-O like the rest of them. I uh…”

“She said when she saved you in Egypt she was saving her own daughter. What did she mean?”

Hazel looked out at Uranus again and sighed.

“So…I was born in like 160 AD. Dad died just after getting mom pregnant and…uh well, look if you tell anyone what I’m about to tell you…like you’ll wish the robot had killed you… do you understand?”

Miles nodded.

“Mom got stuck in the past and was trying to get home… I was fifteen going on sixteen and as much as I didn’t think I needed my mom anymore when I realized I’d never see her again… so hitchhiked through her time portal. Anyway, like mom never got home, she’s from 2027. We ended up here, mom got married and we kind of made it our home time. But like, stuff is still going wrong in the past and mom is trying to fix it. I’ve gone back twice… the first time was… like a while ago. You remember when I was kind of cranky for a few months last year?”

He nodded.

“That’s cause I was stuck in prehistoric times with only my mom, who was stuck as a wolf and my horny ass werewolf brother and a bunch of dinosaurs. It was like a long time. Then we ended up in stone age England. Then I got back. And uh…this last three weeks, I was in the past…. First was like, Scotland in… just 100 BC or something. Then like Germany and Rome in 60 BC…and like… Do you know the story of the plagues of Egypt? The Jewish exodus?”

Miles nodded.

“Sure, saw that movie with you.. Prince of Egypt?”

“Ya, so that really happened and we were there. Mom was pretty wrecked about my baby sister dying… Anyway, the transit to…that time was rough, like were yanked there. We got separated and like Isis took me in. I was there a bit longer than mom and Isis, she kept me safe, made sure I had food. So that’s how we met. She’s older then…well she’s older than my mom’s memories. Mom always told me she was cold hearted, vicious and enjoyed tormenting and enslaving humans. But, I think mom just didn’t know the real her.”

“Why did she call you for help?”

Hazel shrugged.

“She called my mom. She… my mom used to be a doctor. She’s always been a healer and she can… well she can almost bring people back from the dead. Isis was afraid her baby was going to die. So she called my mom. But mom… she’s in a coma right now.”

Miles crawled towards her and leaned over her legs and gave her a gentle kiss he put his hand on her thigh.

“I’m sorry Hazel.”

Hazel shook her head.

“She’ll be fine. She just did something to save Olga and I… used a bit too much of herself.”

“Uh Olga…she’s from Egypt? I thought she was Russian.”

Hazel laughed.

“No, she’s from 1965. The Soviet Union. We met while…well we were training to be spies with the KGB, its how I know how to fly and drive now.”

“Wow they had shuttles back then?”

Hazel shook her head and laughed.

“No, nothing close. I’ll be honest, I have no idea how to fly something from the 29th century. I was using an app and my contacts. When it got dicey Apollo took over and did the evasive maneuvers. Though I guess after this I can probably get from point A to point B. Apollo is the one who saved us, you know. And Isis. If she hadn’t asked for help no way Apollo would have opened a wormhole. Mom told me that was the one thing Maria told her she could never ever do was use his wormhole generator.”

“Why?”

Hazel shrugged.

“I’m not sure. The only thing I know about them is they need a precise exit point. Mom has been dropping wormhole beacons all over the galaxy so they could use them. It’s how the colonies are getting materials and goods. I guess it’s like Apollo said its dangerous and if you hit the edges of it you can end up anywhere… or just nowhere.”

Her wrist started vibrating. She was wearing her own holo-tablet again. She tapped it and looked at who was calling. It was Amee. She tapped Amee’s picture and the video call started. Amee was frowning. She didn’t say anything she just sent a picture of a familiar silver werewolf in the midst of tearing apart a robot. Hazel winced.

“Any idea who this might be hon?”

Hazel was glad this was a remote call because Amee was as good a lie detector as her mother was even without a supernatural gift.

“I honestly don’t know mom. I don’t hang around other wolf-born.”

“What color is your fur?”

“Red…like mom’s.”

“And how are Isis and her baby doing?”

“Umm they were fine before I went to bed.”

“When will you be home.”

“Uh, soonish probably?”

“Good we need to discuss how reckless you were opening a wormhole. I have reports that a transport followed you through. Do you know where it is? Or who was on it?”

“Nope. I noticed it but like Isis was in trouble. Maybe her scanners picked it up?”

“No, she has no record of it.”

“Maybe they hit the edge of the wormhole?”

“That’s even worse. Call me when you’re leaving for home.”

“Yes mom.”

“I have a meeting. Take a picture of the baby.”

“Sure mom. Have a good meeting.”

Hazel disconnected the call and frowned. No way she bought any of that. She must have had company. Miles looked at her.

“So, uh I guess you’re in trouble?”

“I hope not. My lie will only last as long as my mother is in a coma. No way she doesn’t tell Amee what I look like in wolf form.”

“Sorry I got you in so much trouble.”

Hazel shook her head.

“Nothing’s going to happen to me. Mom has done so much worse.”

“Like what?”

“Never mind. You really don’t want to know. So…are we okay?”

Miles shrugged.

“If you think we are? This is who I am. I steal stuff from Corps for money.”

Hazel shrugged.

“I’m a time traveling werewolf. I guess we all have our problems.”

Miles smiled.

“We should get dressed.”

“I think I’d rather do something else first.”

Miles smiled and tugged at the waistband of Hazel’s underwear.

*****

By the time Miles and Hazel had finished their morning tryst Pinto and the rest of the crew were sitting in the dining area looking dehydrated and hung over. They were all drinking water. Dimi noticed them and grinned. He elbowed Zebra.

“Someone got lucky.”

Zebra groaned and kept holding her head.

“Grow up Dimi.”

Hazel sat down and Miles sat down across from her. In the center of the table was the case they had been hired to retrieve. Hazel poked the armored container.

“Do we know what is in here?”

Zebra shook her head.

“Encryption is too good for me. I’d need…well I asked Apollo and he said he could crack it if he had a few decades.”

Hazel nodded and leaned on her elbow. Pinto looked at it.

“Fifty million credits on the line and there is no way we’ll make our meet. Transport is too hot and it isn’t even FTL capable.”

Hazel was playing with the beads on her braid and gave Pinto a look.

“What are you talking about? Isis said she’d let us use her FTL transport for everything and her private warehouse landing port.”

Pinto blinked at her.

“What?”

“I told you all this last night, man you guys were wasted.”

The group said in unison.

“You were too!”

Hazel laughed.

“I’m immune to poison, hence immune to alcohol. Sorry. Can’t get drunk.”

Miles looked at her as realization dawned on him.

“No wonder I can never win a drinking contest with you. You cheater!”

Hazel shrugged.

“You never asked if I could get drunk.”

“I assumed…oh I feel so betrayed.”

Dimi started laughing but then swiftly groaned and held his head. Hazel looked at Pinto.

“When is the meet?”

“Its in four hours. And we’re at least six from earth.”

“Not with Apollo’s FTL drive. He can do it in six minutes and not kill me. Not sure about normal humans. I can do the drop and get the payment.”

Pinto perked up.

“Shit. Yes. We can do this.”

He pushed the case towards Hazel.

“Meet is at the Piranha Palace. Room six. Code is: Latex is in. Their response should be: Only if it’s in pink.”

Hazel wrinkled her nose.

“Who thought fun conversation up?”

Pinto shrugged.

“Charlie?”

“Sounds like him. At least as my mother tells it.”

Hazel grabbed the handle of the case.

“Meet up at the Harbor?”

Everyone nodded.

“See you tonight.”

Hazel stood up and Miles reached across and grabbed her arm and stood, and pulled her close for a passionate kiss, which she returned.

*****

The Piranha Palace was a strip club. Hazel could not for the life of her figure out why it was named after vicious fish. She made her way to the room and sat down with the case between her legs. She waited for several minutes before the door slid open and to her surprise Olga walked in. She looked shocked to see her friend as well. She sat down and looked at Hazel.

“Did Amee send you?”

“Nyet Comrade.”

Olga smiled at Hazel.

“I guess we should do the thing?”

Hazel sighed and nodded.

“This is such an embarrassing conversation.”

Olga nodded.

“I’ll go first, Latex is in.”

Olga rolled her eyes and spoke her countersign.

“Only if it’s in pink.”

Hazel gagged slightly.

“Here is your case, where is the money?”

Olga reached into her pocket and pulled out ten black cred chits.

“Ten times ten million. As agreed.”

Hazel checked each one on her holo-phone confirming their value.

“Any idea what is in the case?”

Olga shook her head.

“Only that Amee said it is very important I take it directly back to her and under no circumstances can it fall into the hands of the church.”

“Sounds fun.”

Olga put her hand through the handle and looked at Hazel again.

“You know I underestimated you again. Amee has no idea you do this sort of thing does she?”

Hazel shrugged.

“She will soon as mom wakes up. But hey it was fun while it lasted.”

Olga laughed.

“See you at home?”

Hazel nodded the pair hugged and Hazel stuck the credit chits into a pouch then into the dimensional space of the bag. She let Olga leave and waited several minutes before walking out herself. She glanced at the strippers and the drooling men. She found herself deeply disgusted by the whole scene so she hurried out of the club and headed to the Harbor in the car she’d bought only a few hours before. She’d chosen a black sports model. It was futuristic looking and battery powered. She pulled into one of the parking spots and walked inside. The bartender was familiar looking, it was the woman she’d given the massive tip too. She waved when she saw Hazel. Hazel approached the bar and leaned in so the pair could hear each other over the music.

“Is Charlie here?”

She nodded and motioned to a booth in the less noisy part of the club.

“Can I get you something gorgeous?”

Hazel shook her head.

“No thanks, on both counts. Thanks though.”

The bartender looked a bit disappointed and nodded. Hazel made her way towards Charlie. He was talking to a couple of burley looking men. When he saw Hazel he waved them away and Hazel sat down across from him.

“Damn it, I was just trying to send someone after you lot. Wasn’t sure if you got caught or what. Blowing up starfighters in Earth Orbit are you fucking nuts?”

Hazel reached into her pack and pulled out the pouch. She put five credit chits in front of Charlie.

“Only as crazy as my mother. I think you know her. Sarah Young?”

Charlie went pale again.

“Jesus you really are related to that madwoman.”

“Don’t use my cousin’s name like that, not cool dude.”

Charlie tugged on his collar and checked the chits for the value. Hazel put the pouch back into the dimensional space of her mother’s pack.

“She didn’t tell me she was a werewolf.”

“She’s not. She’s an ancient vampire who makes me look like a cute little puppy. I suggest you do not mention our arrangement with her. She doesn’t like when people put me in danger. Lose our number because I swear to God if you drag my boyfriend into your shit again, I’ll do to you what I did to that robot.”

Charlie went pale again and nodded. Hazel stood up and started to leave. She waved to the bartender before exiting the Harbor. She went to her car and left the windows opaque set an alarm and decided on a nap. Next thing she knew her alarm was going off. She yawned and went back inside the club. The vibe was different at 9pm then it had been midafternoon. The bartender was the same. She pointed to a private room and Hazel nodded and when she entered found the crew drinking beer and chatting. She slipped in beside Miles who kissed her as she sat down. She pulled off her leather jacket and without missing a beat pulled the silk pouch of credit chits out and tossed it on the table. She’d already removed her cut.

“Meet went fine, credit chits are good. Charlie’s got his cut. And we were working for the SA. Recognized the agent.”

Pinto picked up the silk pouch and emptied it out. The other four picked up their chits and Pinto tossed the pouch to Hazel, then poured her a beer. Hazel lifted her beer and the rest did as well.

“Glad you’re all alive.”

The all chugged their draft. Hazel’s wrist started vibrating and she saw on her HUD it was Maria this time. She put her hand over her glass when Pinto went to pour her one.

“Gotta get this. Might have to go.”

Hazel squeezed Mile’s thigh and left the room to take the call. She went to the balcony overlooking the reservoir and answered the call.

“Hazel. Isis told me what you did for her. Good work. Your mother’s awake, and asking about you and Olga. Someone took her pack with her holo-phones in it.”

Hazel blushed.

“Uh ya. I forgot to leave one. She heading to Earth soon?”

“Yes. We have some details to sort out. Just wanted to let you know. Also, Apollo’s enroute here, so don’t expect to use him in anymore hairbrained heists.”

Hazel blushed an even deeper crimson.

“How did you know?”

“I know my work. I haven’t said anything to your mother or Amee but I will if you don’t, am I understood?”

“Yes Aunt Maria. I will talk to Amee tonight.”

“Exactly what I wanted to hear. Your mom will be on Earth soon. Good bye and what are you still doing out at a club, you have school tomorrow.”

Hazel sighed and nodded.

“Heading home now.”

“Drive safe, just cause your car says it can do three hundred doesn’t mean you should.”

Hazel nodded again.

“I love you too Aunt Maria.”

Maria disconnected the call while shaking her head leaving Hazel to head home to Amee to face the music.