They had discussed at length about who they we're going to hire on as crew. No to be speciesist, Michael thought the only ones out here worth a damn were either Gaoians or Chennash, and honestly, Gaoians had the better reputation. Chennash tended to go with the highest bidder, mid job or not. The main issue with most Gaoian males was the fighting, but Michael had come up with an idea on how to deal with it and not step on any paws. One of the smaller storage rooms would be converted into a boxing ring. Any disagreements among the crew would be settled there with Michael acting as the referee. He was the only one with the strength to break it up if it turned lethal anyway. Still, going over all the crew they would need was a job in and of itself. They would need technicians, maintenance crews, bridge crews, medical staff, cooks, the works. Not to mention a way to pay all of them. It shouldn't be too hard to find them though. There were always plenty of clanless males looking for any chance to impress a female, and crewing on a mercenary ship was a tempting offer. But that was all for a later time. First things first, the needed to turn in the bounties on the Twisted Suns, and to do that they needed to find somewhere to dock the Requiem and send word to Irbzrk so they wouldn't be caught off guard when Michael brought a captured Hunter ship to their doorstep.
They were still pretty far from anywhere civilized, the Gateway being the only station for half a parsec.so they had plenty of time to plan their next step.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Earth, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
Daniel Mackovich
He was starting to move on. Having Michael disappear like that had rally shaken him up. He didn't believe for a second that Michael had skipped town at first, but as time wore on he was beginning to doubt. They searched the local area for days and finding nothing, concluded that he must have gotten a ride from someone else and skipped town, leaving all his stuff behind. It got to the point that his parents even came up from Georgia to go through his apartment and take care of the things he had left behind. Daniel was lucky in one regard though, before those “people” got their mitts on Michael's stuff he had gone through the apartment before they got there and saved the truly valuable stuff. Namely, his computer and all the files, containing things he would have rather not have Michael's parents see. He also took the bottle of bourbon that Michael had promised to share with him in celebration of his new job. Said bottle was hidden away on the top shelf in his pantry, his last hope that Michael would show up out of the blue. For now though, there was no sense in waiting any longer for someone that might not come back. He had a good job in Pittsburgh, his “hobby” was taking off nicely, and damn did he look good in stockings.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Date point: 4 months 15 days BV
Goralin
Going by what Michael called Earth standard time it had been a full ten-days since he woke up, and he was finally healed up enough that he was willing to go through with his demonstration. Ever since Michael had first offered Ralthin had been acting strange. It was like he had a mating contract just waiting to be signed. Which wouldn't be very odd if the other party was a Gaoian female, but seeing that the party in question was a male, and a human one at that, was a little concerning. They had some time to kill while Michael got everything ready and he had pulled Ralthin into their room to talk. Ralthin was laying on their nest-bed nervously fidgeting with his tail. Goralin checked that the corridor was clear and closed the door, leaning against the wall next to it.
“It seems that you're excited about Michael's demonstration.” Goralin said, levelling his gaze at Ralthin.
“So are you,” Ralthin said defensively, sitting up a little straighter.
“Of course I'm excited,” Goralin said, flicking his ears toward Michael's room. “I've been interested in deathworlders ever since Kevin Jenkins made the news all those years ago, but you've been acting like you just got a mating contract with the mother supreme herself.”
“No I've not. You must be seeing things!” Ralthin growled back.
“I've seen plenty,” Goralin said, “ like the way you look at him when his back is turned,” He mimicked the most “in love” face he could, “and I know you've been spending every chance you can with him. Not to mention your endless questions about human male to male mating practices. I know you have a thing for athletic females, but don't you think this is going a bit too far? I mean, he's not even Gaoian.”
Ralthin sagged, “Is it really that obvious?”
“If it were any more obvious you'd have a sign around your neck.” Goralin said with a playful tilt of his ears.
That threw Ralthin for a loop, “Wait...yer gonna let me? With…” he trailed off.
“Well, I can't stop you.” He said shaking his head. “it's not my place to say who you can or can't mate with.” He paused, adopting a truly devious expression, and stepping away from the wall, “Besides it just means more females for me and Thorain when we get back to Gao.”
“Okay, now you've done it.” Ralthin chittered and pounced, pinning Goralin to the floor. “Just because I'm willing to have som-”
Michael's voice came over the intercom, “Okay guys, I'm ready. Yinz can come over to my room now.”
“We better not keep him waiting,” Goralin said, standing up as Ralthin got off of him.