TO UNDERSTAND AND TO PROVE

Lucianna stood next to Rivra. She had just woken up and, so far, refused to face her captain. Faith hunched over one of her many screens. One displayed an array of health stats, represented by numbers, pie charts, and bars. To Lucianna it all seemed like gibberish, but her technophile medic studied the readings as if nothing was more important.

Faith leaned back in her seat and sighed.

"Good news. Rivra's vitals have returned to normal. Though from what I can tell, some of her hormone levels were above normal."

"Hormone levels?"

"For Scrapsters, they possess a special hormone that regulates their urge to fight and reproduce. Unfortunately, as you have witnessed, this can lead to some rather…"

"Screwed up shit?"

"That is one way to put it. But her hormones have returned to a normal level. After some rest, she should be fine."

Lucianna patted Rivra on the shoulder.

"Geez, if you were horny, I could've gotten you a magazine or something, Riv!"

Rivra grunted.

"How can you be so chummy?"

Lucianna chuckled, leaning back against the wall.

"Can't I be chummy with you?"

"I nearly killed your little boyfriend. And you're acting like nothing happened." Rivra clenched her fists. "I can't understand it. Why am I not being punished?"

Lucianna leaned over Rivra and smirked.

"I think you got your punishment, no? We knocked you out with one shot. And that wasn't even one percent of my power! But if you insist, I can get Milo in here and…"

Faith coughed.

"About that. Captain, your vitals show you are strained at the musculoskeletal level. My guess would be you and Milo have little to no experience performing that fusion. Is that correct?"

Lucianna pursed her lips.

Rivra chuckled.

"So it was just a fluke, then? I don't know if that makes me feel better or worse."

"H-hey, we did it, and that's what counts!" She pushed off the wall and moved toward a console with a plethora of buttons. After clicking away, one of the large screens attached to the console lit up with footage of the fight.

"It was like we gave each other permission to use each other. And whenever we do, it's like throwing off a heavy weight each time. But, you're right, we don't know how it works. And our fusion only lasts so long."

The screen flashed, and Milo's naked body fell to the ground. His pride hung in the air.

Lucianna grinned stupidly.

"A-along with other side effects."

"I heard his bare flesh hit the floor," Rivra said. "I've also…felt it, on the back of my neck before."

Lucianna raised a brow.

"Ohhh~? How did it feel?"

Faith punched a button, and the screen displaying Milo's manhood went dark.

Lucianna groaned.

"Hey! I was admiring art!"

Faith rested her chin on one of her fists. "While you appear strained, it is not life-threatening. More like the strain one experiences after an intense workout. My working theory is that training will improve this skill."

"Ugh, training?" Lucianna said. "Sounds sweaty…"

Rivra kicked her legs over the edge of the bed and sat up. Her snow-white hair fell in a curtain around her face. She ran one of her giant hands back through and turned her head toward Lucianna. A small grin played at her lips.

"Sweat shows effort. Can't be good at everything you do right away, captain."

Lucianna harrumphed.

Faith cleared her throat.

"I would ask Milo to train, as well. According to my knowledge of humans, he is…"

"Cute? Chonky? Adorable?" Lucianna said.

"A fatty," Rivra said.

Lucianna wheeled on Rivra, her eyes narrowing. "He's not fat! He's just big boned!"

"Why are you defending his weight?" Faith said. "Regardless, if you want that fusion ability to improve, both of you need to train."

Her neon eyes trailed over to Rivra. "And I suggest you train them."

Rivra cocked her head. "After what just happened, you want me to help train Milo? What if I try to eat him again?"

"I have developed a tranquilizer. I believe it will not be necessary, but you seem troubled by the prospect, so I figured a back-up plan would assure you."

"Unnecessary, huh?" Rivra shook her head and turned toward Lucianna. "And what do you think, captain?"

"Hey, if it stops you from wanting to go crawling back to your father, I'm game."

Rivra crossed her arms over her well-muscled stomach.

"I still think it would be better to contact Father. After all, who do you think put those bounties on our heads?"

"I would not bet on it," Faith said.

She turned toward the crumple robot in the corner.

"Things are more complicated than that."

***

Faith had prepared Milo's new suit during the fight, just in case he'd torn it up or worse. Milo thanked her. Being wrapped up in Lucianna's cloak, in her scent, had made him light-headed. He also had trouble walking with his shoulders held high. Not because of pride. At least, not the emotional kind.

He'd worn his new duds no less than five minutes when a knock came at his door. Tereine entered, a hand over her eyes. She peaked out between two of her fingers and smiled at him.

"Aye! Didn't want to walk in and get smacked in the face by the monster!"

"W-what exactly are you talking about?"

She giggled and handed Milo something. He took the small brass card and turned it over in his hands.

"It's a keycard. Brass-level gets you into a few of the rooms on the ship. Doesn't work on any other crewmates' room, though. But if you ask nicely, I could grant you permission for my room." She winked at him, and Milo's stomach tightened. Tereine slapped him on the shoulder. "Just kidding! Aye, it looks so fun when the Captain teases you!"

He rubbed his shoulder. Holding up the keycard, he saw one side had his picture and name inscribed on it. (When did they take my picture? Maybe Faith had something to do with it. She seems pretty aware of what goes on…)

"Something wrong?"

He cleared his throat and stashed the keycard in a pocket in his suit.

"Can I ask you something?"

Tereine's smile widened. "Aye, what you need to know?"

"Do you know how Rivra's doing?"

Her shoulders slumped, and she cocked an eyebrow. (Is she…disappointed?) Tereine crossed her arms.

"Rivra? She's fine. It'd take a lot more than that to kill her." She leaned closer to him. "But why do you care? She tried to turn you into a lollipop, aye."

Milo stroked his chin. She wasn't wrong; if he and Lucianna had failed to combine when they did, Milo would've been digesting away in Rivra's stomach. His own stomach sunk when he thought about it. But he tried to look at it from Rivra's perspective: he was a complete stranger and the son of the thief who'd stolen Lucianna's arms and her eyes. Did she go overboard? (Absolutely. I feared for my life!!! But…I kinda understand.)

A dark hand waved in front of his eyes, and Milo blinked. Tereine giggled.

"Aye, just 'cause you're in space doesn't mean you got space out." She placed a hand over her chest. "But I suggest you steer clear of Rivra for now. I'd heard from Faith she's…not quite herself right now."

"Who's not themselves?"

Milo and Tereine snapped toward the door. Ducking through the frame, Rivra stepped into Milo's room. His heart squeezed in his chest. A faint whiff of chicken and sweat tickled the back of his nose, flashes of Rivra's throat dancing across his mind.

Tereine stepped in front of Milo. "Aye, what you want, Rivra? Shouldn't you be in the infirmary?"

Rivra held up her hands. "Apologies. I came to speak with Milo."

"That doesn't sound—"

"Let her talk," a voice said.

The screen on Milo's wall flickered on, and Faith appeared, contemplating them from her lab.

"Faith?! What do you mean, let her talk? You know what happened!"

"Indeed. But in order for us to continue on, we must let some things go. There were circumstances beyond our control, and I caught on before they could worsen."

"Caught on to what?" Milo said.

Her eyes drifted to Milo. "Do you remember the robot that tried to abduct you?"

He nodded. Faith clicked a few buttons, and a diagnostic blueprint appeared on the screen. It showed a cross-section of the four-armed bot.

"These robots are made and sold as weapons. They can be modified, either by the creators, or in the aftermarket. They programmed this robot to emit a pheromone that increases production of a certain hormone within Scrapsters."

"Scrapster? That's your people, right, Rivra?"

She nodded. "The hormone in question greatly enhances strength, anger, and…other things." She coughed. "The amount of pheromone pushed out of that robot caused a sudden shift in my mood. I was irritated, frustrated."

Milo scratched his head. "Okay, but why did you try to eat me? Wouldn't it just be enough to kill me?"

Riva bit her lip.

"Scrapsters lose self-control in such a state," Faith said. "Also, it was once a tradition for female Scrapsters to ingest their mates."

Milo's mouth dropped open.

Rivra's cheeks turned a dark shade of emerald.

"Forgive me," she said.

She dropped to her knee and bowed her head.

"None of these reasons excuse what I did. And I understand if you want nothing to do with me. But…you have potential."

Tereine crossed her arms.

Milo's brow knitted together.

"Potential?" he said.

Faith nodded and held up a finger. "Milo, can you recall that very first punch Rivra threw? At the beginning of the battle?"

(How could I not? I thought my brain paint the walls…)

Rivra cleared her throat. "A punch like that…there are only three people who have dodged my full-force punch: my father and Lucianna are two of them." She pointed a finger at him. "You make number four. Even if it was dumb luck, a human with no training shouldn't have been able to dodge my fist."

His eyes widened. Tereine threw up her hands.

"So he dodged your punch? What's your point, Rivra?"

Rivra bowed her head. "To make it up to you, I would…I want to train you. Even if it was dumb luck, you being able to dodge my punch means you have a potential that can be honed. And with the mischief this crew gets up to, you'll need to be prepared."

Faith leaned back at her desk. "We understand if you hesitate. After all, Rivra tried to slay you. I am sure learning from her would be—"

Milo straightened his shoulders. "I'll do it."

Rivra's head shot up. Faith and Tereine stared at Milo as if he'd grown an extra head.

"I-is something wrong?"

A small grin worked at Faith's lips. "No. Just…from the Captain's tales, I figured you would have rejected Rivra outright."

Milo held up his right wrist. The diamond there sparkled as he turned it over in the light. He took a deep breath.

"I don't want to be dead weight." He looked at Rivra. "Besides, it's not like you're the first one to try to kill me. I rejected Lucianna at first, but…we get along fine, now!"

Tereine rolled her eyes. "Aye, you call what you lovebirds do, 'Getting along fine?'"

Faith cleared her throat and glared at Tereine. She slipped her hands into her pockets and grunted. Faith motioned for Milo to continue.

"A-anyway! I'm the stranger here. I…I have to prove myself." He walked up to Rivra, flinching from the warmth radiating off her. As he gulped, Milo extended his hand and laid it on both of Rivra's. "If anyone can train me, then I think it's you! Just, uh, warn me if you're hungry! So I can make myself scarce!"

Rivra laughed, a big, full-bellied laugh that made Milo's chest flutter. She gently wrapped her hands around his and smiled.

"Thank you, Milo. I hope to earn your forgiveness."

And so Rivra stood and walked out of the room. After she'd gone, Faith clicked away on her machines.

"Also, Milo. Everyone on the job serves a role: Lucianna is the captain and navigator. Rivra is her bodyguard and pilot. I am the medic and engineer. Albany is the cook. Tereine cleans. As you might imagine, doing all these jobs can be tiring."

"Sounds like it," he said. "I can pitch in, if that's what you're hinting at."

Faith blinked, and her small grin grew wider. "You catch on quickly. Hm, it is as the Captain says. You are very interesting, Milo Moody."

"I welcome you to the Herald Crew. Congratulations."