"Hey, Andrew!" Andrew had been kneeling, but at the sound of that beautiful voice, he perked up and quickly turned from the rock he had been staring at with an embarrassing level of focus. As he stood up, he awkwardly brushed the debris from his clothing and then inwardly cursed himself for not being able to act even remotely normal around this woman.

The voice belonged to Linnie and like last time her outfit was expertly put together, even though it was hiking attire. She was backlit by the sun, her dark auburn hair ablaze with the sunlight. Her eyes seemed more like shining emeralds from this distance. She walked up gifting him a smile. A smile that in Greek times would have launched a thousand ships.

"Hey Linnie!!"

"Sorry for being late, my phone died again." She said while holding up her ancient cellphone.

"It's ok, but you know once you get your implant you will have to come up with a different excuse," Andrew said, a silly grin plastered across his face.

"Ummm, my implant died??”

“I think it’s a bit extreme to claim you died just to get out of a date, don’t you?”

“What?”

“They’re charged by the heat of your blood, so the only way it ‘dies’ is if you do.”

“Hmmm that might be a bit much, but I’ll have to come up with something I guess. A girl has to have her reasons for being late, other than washing her hair or some other lame excuse like that. By the way, what's your last name?" she asked.

"Oh, Lather and you?"

"O'Lather? I take it you're Scottish?" she said with an impish grin.

"No Lath……it's going to be like that is it?"

“You bet it is O’Lather, “ she said her grin widening.Andrew was so enthralled with her smile that he was almost startled when Linnie said.

"Ardbei"

“huh?”

“My last name is Ardbei.”

"Do your people eat ants? Who has the last name of Aardvark?"

She scowled a bit "Come on Lather if you're going to be cheeky at least be good at it."

"Cheeky huh you British now?" Andrew smiled trying to bring things back to levity.

"Nah, I'm originally from Texas, and I don’t know about you, but so far, nowhere here on Yuta 2 feels like home yet." sighed Linnie.

"I feel you. I'm actually from Texas as well, but yeah definitely haven't totally settled here yet. So much to do here, it's hard to even date. Even with all those annoying silly announcements at work.” They both laughed and Linnie braced herself lightly on Andrew's arms as she did so "Oh god,” she said before she continued, her voice taking on a robotic sound she said "Citizens should remember, while establishing our industrial base is our primary goal, good citizens will find the time to find a partner. A growing strong society starts with you!"

Again, they both laughed, her hand still resting on his arm.

"Though honestly, that is why I took this date. " She said.

"Umm, to help make a strong society? I guess that's one way to be forward about it. I know the O leaves soon, but I think a strong society can wait for its return, don't you?" He said with a sly smile.

She turned red almost instantly and slapped him playfully on the arm while they both laughed.

"No you perv, while I want kids, it will definitely not be on the second date. Let's get hiking before you make me change my mind about this date."

"Oh yeah, that's what we're here for after all," Andrew said while picking up his backpack.

They hiked down the trail for a bit in a slightly awkward silence. Andrew desperately tried to find something to talk about that wasn't possible to take sexually.

"So, is Linnie short for something?"

"Oh yeah, it's short for Leanna, though it's not a lot shorter. I think my parents just wanted to have a cutesy nickname for me and it stuck. Does anyone call you Andy?". Linnie's face ticked slightly when she mentioned her parents.

"Yeah my dad does, but nobody else really."

"Not your mom?"

"Well if she had come to Yuta she would, but she and my sister decided to stay on Earth. "

"My family stayed too. God did they beg me not to go. All they could talk about for weeks was how it was too dangerous for a young woman to go, especially alone. Claimed I owed it to Earth to stay and used my big brain to try to fix the issues there. When that didn't work, they pulled the old I owe to them and my siblings, but they're wrong. I very much believe I owe it to the human race and myself, to make sure we're successful out here. To help ensure that no single cosmic joke could end our race. I feel I can also help ensure we don’t mess things up on Yuta the way we did on Earth. Get things going on the right foot, ya know?"

"That's right. I would have loved to have helped Earth too, but how? What am I single-handedly going to topple corrupt governments? Am I going to clean up all the waste? I tried that for years and it got me nowhere. Hell, if you listened to my mom, she made it sound like maybe I could have found the next King Arthur and put him in charge or something. I’m glad she thinks highly of me, but some realism would have been nice. I agree with you, here we have a chance to make a difference. Like you said to get things going so hopefully someone doesn't have the same issues here."

"I'm really glad you understand, I was honestly a bit worried I came off as arrogant."

"No Linnie, not even slightly. Why is it a bad thing to believe you can make a difference? And from what I can tell you’re more smart than beautiful and I have never seen anyone more beautiful than you."

They both blushed, Andrew from the realization that he had said what he was thinking outloud and her from the fact that she could tell he genuine in that praise. She slipped her hand into is and for a mile or so they walked in silence, hand in hand.

They had stopped at an overlook but found themselves staring at each other instead of the vista. Andrew considered kissing her, as he wanted to do nothing more at that time than that. As she stared into his eyes his mind raced, the negative thoughts like "Omg she might move away from me just because I'm such a sweaty hot mess right now", "Would she even be open to a kiss?", "Is she expecting one and will be disappointed if I don't?" Then the moment passed, and they started to hike down the trail again. Both tried desperately not to look disappointed or like the boiled drowned rats they felt like. As they turned to leave the outlook Andrew got up the nerve to at least take her hand again and they silently walked back toward their vehicles.

When they were about halfway there, Linnie stopped and turned to Andrew.

"I’ve always liked the name Andy, so if you don't mind, I'm going to call you Andy. That is of course if you don't sweat to death before we make it back."

Andrew did mind. He hated being called Andy, but he really liked this girl and didn't want to ruin things over a nickname. Man his friends wouldn’t ever let him live it down though if they heard her calling him that as he had always made a big deal about being called Andrew.

"For you that's fine, but please not around my friends. They’d never let me live it down that I let you call me that when I insist, they don’t. As for the sweat, well you might have missed that it’s kinda hot out here."

"So, I get special treatment huh?" She said in a playful tone, almost hopefully.

"Truthfully, yes you do. I meant what I said earlier…." He said, but before he could finish, his sentence she kissed him.

Then she turned to him to say, "Mr. LATHER, I do not have time to waste. You will awake now" in a male voice.

******

Andrew awoke on the bed in his cell. Looking around he found Biaobel sitting in the darker chair again.

"Please join me, Mr. Lather." Signaling him to sit in the chair with the light shining on it.

"Man, can I guy just enjoy a good dream around here without getting rudely woken up?" Andrew said with a slightly annoyed tone.

"Mr. Lather I will not ask again," Biaobel said in a similar tone.

"You can't make me. "Andrew said in a tone of mock defiance, but he was already moving to the chair.

"We both know I could, but I'm happy to see there is no reason for less pleasant methods. So, Mr. Lather were you dreaming of Linnie?" Biaobel said in a slightly jovial tone.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

"You don't get to call her that!!" Andrew barked, anger rising in his face.

"And what will you do about it, yap like you’re some little dog barking at a bear? The difference in our power levels isn't well represented by that analogy. A more apt analogy would be that you’re like a bacterium threatening an Elf. It's not even worth noticing." Biaobel said with a smirk looking like he almost patted Andrew on the head.

"Don't forget that even bacteria can kill a person if they find an entry," Andrew said sternly.

"That and a few million of their friends and family. Where are your millions?" Biaobel chuckled this time reaching out to pat Andrew on the head.

Andrew moved to block, but as he did a ribbon of crystal snaked out from Biaobel's hand and then to Andrew's outstretched wrist. Suddenly, that ribbon of crystal wound its way around Andrew’s entire body pulling his arms and legs together again. Making him appear like the victim tied to the tracks in the old cartoons. The ribbon tightened, immobilizing Andrew, right as Biaobel’s hand reached Andrew’s head to pat it.

"Don’t worry little one, everything will be ok. Here you will live longer, and mate more than you ever would have back on your own planet. One with your talents will gain a prime spot in our breeding programs?" Biaobel said smugly.

Andrew tired of being bound and being pushed around. So concentrated his will on trying to break his bonds. Unfortunately, they didn’t bend nor break. He tried a few more times before feeling too mentally exhausted to continue. Biaobel smiled at Andrew like he was a steak and Biaobel a hungry wolf.

"So, your powers do have limits."

"First, what is it with your culture and your inability to follow even the basic rules of consent? I mean seriously stringing a man up naked like this just so you can touch him. If this is how their gods act no wonder, I’ve been having so many issues with your followers. Second, can I get some clothes? And Third, Do you think sex is all we want?"

"Do you ask a cat to pet it? As for the breeding programs, yes, that is all, it seems you apes need to be content. Are you claiming there's more to it than that? " Biaobel replied.

"Yes, we need friendship and love to name a few. As a matter of fact, yes, I do ask a cat to pet it because I'm not some creep forcing themselves and their wishes on those who are weaker than themselves, " Andrew said with a tear forming in his eye at first only to morph to a scowl by the end.

"Mr. Lather I've been studying your species, as we have established, for longer than you've been alive. I can tell you that you believe too highly in your race." Biaobel said in a smug but thoughtful way. "Maybe, but how can I know you're not just messing with me? That Linnie isn't just in the other room?” Andrew said through the pain of losing his wife.

"Mr. Lather, what do I gain by lying to you? Either you traveled through time, or she did. " Biaobel stopped and thought for a second " Now I can't tell you for sure that your Linnie is dead, she was one of the few who did make it out of this facility in the early days. That was before we knew what your race was capable of and how worthwhile you'd be to study. When the slave tribes helped a few of your kind escape, they inadvertently showed us why your race would be worth studying. See yalls ability to weld both magic and tech energies far exceed anything we had seen before yall showed up in our Galaxy. While the Trolls can use both magic and tech energy, they can do neither well. Your race might not be able to wield magic like an elf, yall come uncomfortably close." Biaobel said in slight disgust.

"Wait so Linnie could be alive?" Andrew looked up hopefully.

"She could be, though again age likely caught up to her Had she stayed she'd likely still be alive today. This planet extends lives and gives regenerative properties. That is why I said what I said about her yesterday. Though I guess she might have found refuge on a planet such as this one or one of the more wonderous ones. That is highly unlikely as there are only a select few and I doubt any of them would allow a human to live there undisturbed. " Biaobel said as he slowly walked around to where Andrew thought the door might be.

“Thank you for that. Can I ask one favor?”

“And what favor would you ask of me?”

“Can I Please get some clothes? I get y'all are all non-sexual or whatnot, but it's just awkward being tied up talking to a stranger like this. "“If you promise to stop your useless struggles, I will untie you”“Well that’s better than nothing, I guess. I’ll do my best to stop trying make you respect my body autonomy.”

“Thank you”

With that the crystals vaporized and Andrew landed on his feet. With a gesture from Biaobel to sit, he got back into the lit chair so whatever this was could continue. He did his best to hide his modesty.

The door opened, reminding him again of an arterial valve, and in walked an elderly human woman. She looked to be in her late 70s or early 80s and was dressed in a non-descript elven smock. Andrew immediately somehow felt even more naked.

"Umm your Gealdship, I'd really appreciate some clothes right about now,"

She looked very familiar, but Andrew couldn't place where he knew her from. That was until she spoke.

"Andrew Lather? But how is this possible? You look just like you did more than a century ago. How is that possible?" said Captain Eliska Waarheid captain of the Orinasa while trying desperately not to make him feel self-conscience about his nakedness.

"This isn't possible the Orin only jumped away just over 2years ago. You look as if you're in your 70s."

"2 years ago? No Mr. Lather we jumped in over a century ago. I am over 200 earth years by now. Excuse my lack of precision, but it’s been so long that I can't exactly remember how to calculate earth time," she said in an almost reminiscent tone.

"Point of fact you're 208 humans years old" corrected Biaobel.

"As always you're correct my Geald," she said in a very deferential tone.

"Sorry Biao……Geald Biaobel, but how am I to believe her with that purple line going into her head." Andrew said in an accusatory tone. Though he was surprised it wasn't going directly to the elf, but to somewhere outside his cell.

"What purple line are you talking about?" queried the captain.

"Oh, they hav….." At a look from Biaobel, Andrew's mouth continued to move but no sound came out.

"Mr. Lather, I'd ask you not to speak of things you don't fully understand. Though we both know it likely won't matter if I ask. As for what you said, I do see how that seems less than honest. "

Andrew didn't see any pulses leave the elf, but with so many lines it would be next to impossible to tell if he was actively controlling this person. Ziggy who is this woman in front of me?

[Voice patterns, facial structures, and visible scars match Captain Eliska Waarheid. Age inconsistent with expectations.]

"Well my Kata agrees it's her, but with your magic, I can imagine this wouldn't be a hard thing for y'all to imitate a human. Also, I find it odd that in 150years she hasn’t gained a new scar," Andrew challenged.

"Wait! He still has his implant?" Captain Waarheid blurted out.

"You don't?" Andrew said with some surprise.

"We take that trash out of your heads as it generally inhibits any innate magical abilities. Except in your case where it seems to have enhanced them somehow. At first, we didn’t care as it made yall easier to manage, but we found a significant increase in brain cancer in those we left them in. So, we started to take them out to increase the longevity of our breeders. As for her lack of new scars, I would think you’d understand that we have healing magic by now," Biaobel said in his standard emotion low way.

"Man Linnie is never going to let me live this down." sighed Andrew.

“Is this more of our prattle to try to control our interaction?” Biaobel said with a raised eye.

“No my wife was one of the last humans to get a kata and she said it was because she was sure it would give you brain cancer. Apparently, she was correct.”

"Sorry about Linnie, Andrew. I begged her to stay, but she left with Jack and those horrendous Trolls." the captain said. Andrew noted that the purple line going into her head was no longer there.

Andrew's eyes went a bit wide and he took in a deep breath, "Of course, she followed Jack. So these trolls have been around a while?"

"Yes for millennia. They were the third of the original races. First came Elves, then Dwarves, and finally Trolls," Biaobel commented.

" Sorry but this is really starting to feel like a dream again, that our you read Tolkien and you are the one messing with me. Let me guess Elves are magical and in touch with nature. Dwarves are technical and covet wealth. What do trolls do? Hide under bridges and extract money from travelers? "

"That's not totally wrong actually. If you were trying to describe our reality like you're an elephant trying to finger-paint a Da Vinci" Biaobel said in a derisive tone. "Yes, we elves as you have seen weld magic and are the undisputed masters of it. We are also the master race, and we rule the galaxy you're in, Chennon. You're also correct that we work with nature. Growing our tools and even our ships from animals or plants. The grimy little dwarves do not. Instead, they exploit and pollute nature to create their technological horrors. The dwarves are the primary race in the Volundr galaxy.

The trolls until recently were a slave race to both of the primary races. It is not known to many why only the trolls were found in both Galaxies. In the end, it will matter not. While all three races currently have a truce, it is only a matter of time before I control the both galaxies. Just as it's inevitable that our galaxy will consume theirs and magic will be the only energy left" Biaobel said in a tirade that he had obviously gone on many times before.

"That was a lot. Do you feel better having gotten that all off your…….." Andrew was cut off as a pale tan ray shot from Biaobel to Andrew, and the air in his lungs was forcefully sucked out.

[Warning You are currently hypoxic, find oxygen within 2mins]

The Captain winced knowing what was coming. Andrew fell to his knees grabbing his chest. Trying to get the air around him to act normally and enter his lungs. Though try as he might it wouldn’t move. His lungs started to burn, and his vision started to narrow.

"I have warned you of your prattle and how I will not deal with it. If you continue in this way, I will just kill you and reanimate your corpse, so that I can study it without all the distractions. Do you understand me, Mr. Lather? Nod if you do. Speak if you do not." Biaobel said in the most authoritarian tone Andrew might have ever heard, though his mouth quirked up slightly at the end.

[Warning You are currently hypoxic, oxygen saturation reaching dangerous levels.]

Andrew stared at Biaobel trying to decide if he was bluffing or not. Thinking about how this man is likely responsible for the suffering of countless members of the human race. How if he's not stopped, who knows how many more humans will be born, tortured, and die here for their study? "Please stop you are kill…" Eliska pleaded but was cut off with a glance.

[Warning Oxygen saturation has reached dangerous levels, syncope is imminent]

"Well Mr. Lather, you are a singular person. I have not met many who would risk everything on the chance that a heartless immortal being is bluffing. I would say it was nice to have known you, but we never really got the chance to know each other. I'm sure someone will mourn your passing." Biaobel said in an almost distracted tone.

---------

"Andrew Lather, I am happy to inform you that you have been selected as Director of Implant Technology on the Orinasa. You will lead the implant team and report directly to the Senior Director of Medicine." the recruiter, the one whose Andrew could never remember their name, said proudly over a voice connection.

"Thank you for your support, Y'all will not be let down by your decision" Andrew responded.

------

[You have entered a state of syncope.]

[Consciousness restored. Oxygen saturation at optimal levels]

"I have to say Mr. Lather you play a very dangerous hand with me. I cannot remember the last time someone was successful at it. " Biaobel said with some respect in his voice. Then turned to look at Captain Eliska. "Mr. Lather, are you thoroughly convinced yet that I am not lying about how long we have had your old crew mates?"

"I mean no. It will take a bit more than just a single human that you have brainwashed and might have magically aged. No offense meant Captain" Andrew shot back. Saying that last bit to the Captain.

She nodded and fell over dead.

"Well, that was unfortunate. Over the years I almost had respect for that one and the way she sacrificed for her crew." Biaobel said with a disconnected nature that disturbed Andrew.

"WHY DID YOU DO THAT" Andrew screamed at the god, balling his fist before thinking twice.

"Well, it's nice to see you….." Biaobel had started but was cut off.

"WHY?! WHY DID YOU KILL HER? YOU WILL ANSWER THIS. OR" Andrew said in a rage.

Biaobel stopped and turned around. "Or?"

"I might not be able to do anything to you right now but trust me one day you'll wish this went another way. Why….did….you…kill….her?" Andrew said in a tone that would have both melted ice and cut through steel.

"I killed her because you embarrassed me, and I'll not have a witness to corroborate your story. You’re lucky I have plans for you, though if you continue like this, I'm not sure you'll have the time to follow through on your threat. Today has been less than productive, so excuse me if I take my leave. Please do not be offended if I do not lose any sleep over our threat," Biaobel replied and in a miniscule magenta flash, was gone. Where Biaobel had been there was a pile of clothes.

As Andrew started to put them on, he noticed the shirt had text on it. "I'm with stupid" and there was an arrow which pointed up.

"Oh, he has jokes. Yeah, one day I'm going cause that man's death" Andrew said with a chuckle to his empty cell. Unsure of what to do with the emotional energy pent up in his body, he paced the room. Once he had calmed, he noticed that he was next to the tube device that Biaobel had called a Plasira. He picked it up and sat on his bed to try figure out its purpose. After an hour or more he got bored of it and set it down next to the bed before falling asleep.