Page 11 of No Strings Attached

She repeated the word, “extra,” like she could taste it and looked disgusted. “Your families sell you. Seriously, sell you into slavery?”

The giant snake spoke up behind her, “The galaxxxy isss teeeming with them. Like vermiiinnn.”

Vi didn’t turn around. “Are you loyal to Qlu?”

“Loyal?” He seemed to think about it. “Uh, I don’t really know how to answer that. Qlu is my first master, and I’ve only been here two days. But I feel pretty committed to continued existence, so I guess that has translated into behaviors that look about the same as loyalty.”

“Bobby, I’m not really looking to have anexistentialdebate here. Will you help us or are you going to have to be dealt with? Why don’t you think about it while I inspect the peanut gallery?”

With that, Vi turned and walked out of the cage. She stopped right outside the door and turned back around, pointing at him with the shock stick. “On second thought, give me your clothes first.”

Vi was basking in the body warmth retained by Bobby’s coverall. She had half-interestedly observed the details of his naked body as he carefully undressed under Mister Beastly’s hold. He was covered in short, shiny, dark brown fur over his whole body, including his testicles and penile sheath. He stood on his wide-splayed, webbed toes and had an ankle mechanism like a cat’s or dog’s. He stood about six feet tall and had a muscular build on the slim side, like hers. She found her eyes going back to his warm amber ones.

She had laughed ruefully when he handed her the coverall and she realized that there was a huge hole in the back for his thick tail, a hole that now left her posterior charms quite visible and well ventilated. Well, it was the least of her worries.

Now she stood in front of the snake’s cage, holding his gaze.

“I’m Vi.”

“Yesss.”

“And you are?”

“Not innnteresssted in conversssing with feeemalesss.”

Vi just looked at him, shook her head, and moved on to Conan’s cage. He spoke first, smiling, “Vi the Fierce and Triumphant! I have enjoyed watching your games and their outcomes enormously. To befriend and utilize a Garoxian so quickly!” Then he said quietly, meditatively, “Such a short name for such a fearsome warrioress.” Then, coming back tothe present and booming, “I am Acken, legendary warrior of Estrania!”

“Hi Acken. Vi is actually short for ‘Violet’.”

“Violent? Now that’s a fitting name for you, indeed, little she-beast.”

She didn’t react to the “little she-beast” moniker. “Vuh-eye-o-let. Like the color? You know, purple?”

“Oh.”

“I’m glad that you’re not too much of a dumb ass to talk to me,” she said, eyeing the snake’s cage, “seeing as I have the shock stick and control of our only means of escape. What’s your story?”

The snake interrupted, “Youuu dooo not controlll any meansss of essscape from thisss asssteroid, jussst releassse from thessse caaagesss.”

She shrugged, “One is the first step to the other.”

“She speaks truth, Ophidian. So, uh, my…story? Do you wish to hear of my rearing, triumph over the manhood trials, and ascension to warriorhood?”

“Um, no. Maybe some other time. Let’s just start with this: are you going to work with us to escape or fuck us over? If I let you out, will you kill, or rape, or…eat…any of us, or leave us behind? Or will you be trustworthy?”

“It is not likely that I would confess to planning any of those things, little she-beast, even if they were my intent, as it would cause you to leave me in this cage. Is that how you plan to approach this—by simply asking each of us and taking our word?” He eyed her with incredulity.

“Well…at least it’s a fucking start. I can’t do this on my own. I can’t fight off a horde of Trallians or fly a fucking spaceship. And it’s not like I’m not learning anything, you know. Like the fact that snake guy is probably staying in his cage.” She placedher hands on her hips and glared at the Ophidian, then back at Acken.

“Hmmm…I think…yes, I think youcouldfight off a horde of Trallians. You are quite crafty and ferocious. And it is true that Ophidians are best kept caged.” He thought a moment, then said, “I regret brandishing my cock at you earlier; that was not worthy of me. Very well, I give you my word. I, Acken, legendary warrior of Estrania, do pledge to serve as a trustworthy member of your crew.” With that he knelt, fuckingknelt, at the front of his cage, head bowed.

Vi was dumbfounded and discovered the only thing she could say was, “Um…great…thanks.”

Acken stood and nodded down at her. Vi tried very hard not to make eye contact with The Destroyer and was happy when they were interrupted with “Vi! Vi! Vi! Vi!” from the next cage.

“Hello?” She said, stepping in front of the dog. “Are you a talking dog?”

“I’m a talking trawg! My name is Friend! I love you.”

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