Tarin, Silver and Amber where waiting outside Admiral Tovar's office. The reception room had rather little in it. There was two couches a chair and a transi-steel table. The receptionist a young tabby sat behind a small deck. She wore a blue confedrtaion uniform. The main diffrence between a fleet uniform was that most of them where a bright scarlet and white. A heads of the three friends in the office was the Pesident of the Confederation. This cycle's president was a white Tigress, as with Confederation law she could only hold the office of President for a term of four years. This was known as a cycle, voting for President was left to the Confedreation coucil. The door to the inner office opened and the Tigress left the room with her personal gaurds. She nodded to the tree friends and they responded with a bow.

"If you'd all like to come in now" commented Tovar as he beconed them inside.

The tree slipped inside and Tarin was suprised to find General Anyo waiting for them.

"I think you all know Admiral Anyo" said Tovar.

"Yes sir, we've meet before" replied Tarin.

"Well onto other matters, first of all may I congratulate Tarin and Amber on their promotions. Tarin to full commander and Amberleigh to Lt. Commander. Secondly, the ship you found we've looked over from your computer archive. The ship database can't find a corrosponding match. We're left with the rather unpleasent thought to the ship being from one of the legendry ancient races. From what we can gather from your bridge auto recording devices we've identified the Captain of the ship you fought to be from a hybrid of a Fox and dragon. Where this places us, we're unsure if it is one of the fabled elder races we might be in for some problems. Thirdly Admiral Anyo has been put in charge of the Ranger fleet within this sector. The sector includes, Foxarn, Crios, Ganar and Warran. Anyo for the moment will bve your direct superior. He asked for both Ghost and Reaper Squadron's himself. The more serious news we have is that the Allaince is once again probing the neutral zone. It's thought that they are trying our resolve over the zone. They have picked a bad time at the moment. Most ships are on deep space partol or in dry dock under going refit. Reaper squadron is being deployed to our side of the neutral zone. That leaves only Ghost squadron to attend to our visitors, any questions" asked Tovar.

"Just one sir, what will happen to the crew of the Genesis?" asked Silver.

"For the moment they are being assinged to help you all with our guests. As soon as the ship yards on Beron two are clear of refit work they will get back to ship building. First ship out the dock will be for the Genesis crew, that includes yourself, Tarin and Amberleigh. Many in the Confederation council think it is time we got back to exploring" answered Tovar.

"Thank you Sir, I don't think we have any more questions. I guess we pick up the people assigened to us up from central proccessing" Tarin said softly.

"Thank you, dismissed" answered Tovan.

The three where leaving the office, Anyo slipped out behind them and nodded to them all. He went ahead and waited for the group to catch up.

"A moment please, your to report to Captain Melly in cenrtal prossesing, she has something to tell you" adviced Anyo.

"Thank you sir" answered Amber.

The central sqaure of Confederation plaza was just over a mile in all it's dimentions. The great seal of the Confederation was in layed into the stones of the plaza it's self. It was one of the things that where able to be seen from orbit. The seal mozaic was made up with stones from all the planets that where in the confederation. The buildings lay back from the central staircase and great seal. Silver, Amber and Tarin had just finished crossing the plaza. In front of them was the central processing building where two gaurds stood. Both wore full dress uniform, they as all fleet members where drerssed in a white and red tunic with black pants. The friends came upto them and the first guard brought out a hand held scanner. He swept the device over each them the decvice bleep and showed a red light.

"I'm afraid you'll have to surrender your weapons. You can have them back as soon as you leave the building" explained the first guard.

The three slipped their hands to a belt around their waists and unbuckled their blasters. They handed the belts and weapons over to the guard who slipped them into a silver tray which suddenly transported them away. The guard gave them a ticket to reclaim the belts later. The other guard again swept the device over the three and this time a green light showed.

The nearby doors to the building opened with a click and the three entered. They already knew where to go. The corridors where lined with pictures from planets and starships, along a huge hall way where pictures of legendry starship commaders. Tarin was suprised to find a picture of a much younger General Anyo. After a little more walking they found the right section they where looking for. Silver went to the door and pressed the chime there. The door opened and a young collie dog came to the door. She was wearing a green tunic with blue shouder flashes. Behind her was a white room with a window and a vase of flowers sat on the windowsill. Silver noticed they where fresh, there was also a card with the flowers. The room was furinshed a little more than Tovan's office. There was a couch and several seats and a desk. Across the room was another door.

"Yes what can I do for you?" the collie asked.

"We're here to see Captain Melly" replied Silver.

"I'm her, please don't call me Captain. I'd rather you called me Sara or Prof Melly if you like. You must be Silver, Tarin and Amberleigh right?" she asked as she pushed the glasses up back onto her face.

Amber grinned a little and smiled as she hid her face as she gulped down a laugh.

"Hmm, yes I've heard the joke already. 'Smelly Melly' that one's being doing the rounds for what six years. It's not offended me for nearly the same time it's done the rounds. Oh and the glasses, well I'm allergic to Retinal so this is the best way for me. Please come in and take a seat a momment" Sara said with a smile.

The three entered the office and took a seat facing the desk. There was a picture of a large home some where south of the main square from what Silver could tell. The picture hung at the rear of the room.

"There's a few things I need to tell you first. All of the people you found are very much broken of their own will. We're going to try and find out why this is and work from there. All of them to some degree are suffering what we term mild Coran-Marl syndrome. Each has a over bearing need to.... well please people. Some are in a worse situation that others. Most of our work will be as needs basis, there's a few who will need more help than others. As you know each is to see a councilor every so often. For the moment we think once a week should be enough. This may increase with how well you and our teams do. We know very little if anything about them, talented psi officers will work with them also on a weekly basis. As you know mind probes such as the ones used in the past on none allinged worlds are banned within the confederation. The two individuals we're placing into your care are named Mia and Tia. We know very little about them as we've said. For reasons we all know we won't remove the cloths they are wearing for the moment, both Mia and Tia feel safer with them on. We've already listed them as living with you Silver, Tarin and Amberleigh. We have to take this a set at a time, we're already making I.D and such other needed systems for both of them. We also think they will be able to help each other after a while. It really all depends on each case" adviced Sara.

"Are they all as.., disturbed for want of a better word?" questioned Amber.

"To varying degree's but mostly they have a overwelming need to please others. We're just about ready to release the pair into your care. You'll also be given appointment cards for the two. I must stress this that all apointments must be kept. All we need now is a thermal thumb print of the three of you" said Sara.

Sara passed over what looked like a clear padd made from what seemed to be a plastic. The three gave a thumb print and Silver handed the padd back. Sara stood up and walked over to another door and opened it. The four went into a small hall way and made their way along. In the walls where large peices of one way plexi-glass. Inside the rooms where some of the furs that the Genesis had rescued. Each was either talking to a councilor or each other, a few where just sirtting in the room while someone was gently talking to them.

"Is this all of them?" Silver asked as she looked through the windows.

"No these seem to the worse off cases, for the moment we're just talking to them and taking things slowly" anwsered Sara.

"What if you can't help some of them?" queried Tarin.

"Well we do hope that won't happen, but if it does they will become wards of the Confederation. They'll live out their lives with each other and with all the support that we can give" Sara said softly.

To Silver and Tarin it was obvious that this wasn't what she hoped would happen. The group walked the length of the hall. It ended in another door with a coded lock. Sara placed her hand on the pad and it made a slight noise and the door clicked open. The four passed into the room, on a couch nearby where Tia and Mia.

"Tia, Mia these are the people that we talked about. They are going to help you both and with help you'll be able to join outside life. You'll be living with them for now" explained Sara.

The two mares looked to the three and then to Sara. Tai held out a hand and Mia took it gently. Tai slipped her other hand out to Tarin and pulled it back while she looked the three over with inquisitive eyes. It was obvious she was working out what they where and what was going to happen. Tai stood up and Mia followed, the two circled the three and suddenly Tai shot her other hand and quickly slapped Tarin's cheek. She jumped back expecting some sort of reprisal when none was forthcoming she looked quite suprised.

"I think you best take them to where they are going to live with you" commented Sara.

"Alright, Tia and Mia will you come with us?" asked Silver softly.

Tia nodded and the two mares took up a postion behind three.

"Silver, take Tai and Mia to the care with Amber I want a word with Sara please" asked Tarin.

"Alright, this way" said Silver softly.

The four soon left the room and only Sara and Tarin remained. He looked around and looked at his feet for a few seconds before speaking.

"How old are they, I mean Tia and Mia?" questioned Tarin.

"That's the thing, we're not sure. We do know they are over thirteen, more than that we cannot be exact. Both from their medical scans we've found out that they both have been subjected to growth hormones. That's why their breasts are so over developed, it seems that mares are prized posessions. We learned that from their first talks and psi meetings we've had from them and others. What has exactly been going on we're not able to determin at the moment perhaps we can when we have more to go on" replied Sara as she sat down on one of the couches.

"So now we just let nature take it's course?" questioned Tarin as he looked to Sara.

"There's not much else we can do except give treament where we can. It's just that their hormonal glands have been hyper accelerated. That we've been treating hormonal balance has been brought under control. Other than that it's just talking and finding out what happened to them" answered Sara.

As Tarin and Sara where talking Silver returned to the room. When she did she patted Tarin's shoulder. Sara handeed over a small padd with her personal com frequancy to Tarin.

"Sara horse morphs have been missing from this area of space and others for over a thousand years. I doubt Mia and Tia can tell us much about that" exclaimed Tarin as he turned around.

"That I don't doubt" Silver smiled and laughed softly and grined a little.

"I think it's time for a colorful metophor" Tarin said softly.

"You better not, it's time to go anyway" replied Silver.

Both waved to Sara and made their way to the ground car. Amber and the two horse morphs had taken seat and Tarin and Silver got in. The journey home wasn't to bad for a while the three friends thought about things. There was a lot to go over and it seemed that Tia and Mia had only really basic education. Silver had brought out a hand held com padd. Both Tia and her sister showed that they could use it to a degree. It seemed that the two knew much less than Lyra had.

"We'll have to sort of sort of schooling out. It's obvious that Tai and Mia know only enough to get around and that's about it" commented Amber.

"It certainly seems that way, Sara gave us her com frequancy so we could contact her about that" said Tarin as he looked over what shedule they had been given.

"Alright we'll get sorted and see if Nightwalker can help us any. Night knows more about where things are. It's been a a month or more since we where last with hir" replied Tarin.

The ground car pulled up outside Silver and Tarin's home. Silver walked to the front door and pressed her right thumb to a small plate near the door. The door unlocked and Silver opened it and slipped inside. All the furniture was covered in dust cloths, it was obivous that Nightwalker had been looking after the place for the two. Silver quickly passed around the ground floor rooms and opened the windows. She smiled as she spotted one of Nightwalkers brothers and waved to him. The foxtaur waved back to her and she slipped back outside to the ground car.

"Well everything is ready we just have to let Mia and Tai chose their own rooms" commented Silver as she rubbed her hands clean of the dust.

Tia and Mia looked around the street, just up the road four foxtaur cubs where playing with a large ball. They passed it between them there where squals of laughter as the four where having fun. Both Mia and Tia looked to Tarin and then back up the street. They were obviously watching the four and not quite understanding.

"Master Tarin, are they hurting each other, they seem to be sequaling" said Tia softly.

"I.....what....just call me Tarin. I'm not your master Tia, the cubs are playing not hurting each other. They are having fun" replied Tarin with a slight look of shock on his muzzle.

Mia looked to Tarin and then to Silver. A look of puzzlement crossed her face. She rubbed at the gold bracers on her arms and looked to Tia. The two exchanged a look of sheer confusion.

"But....you bought us didn't you. You where on the other ship we seen you there" answered Tia.

Tarin rubbed his nose and sighed, he looked to Silver and got a smile back. Silver took Mia's hand in hers and lead her towards the house.

"I think we best explain this inside don't you two think so?" asked Silver.

Amber and Tarin nodded and the group entered the house. Silver started pulling dust sheets from the couches and chairs and foleded them away and took them to the washing room. She dumped them into a small pile and then went back to join the others. Tai and Mia where standing and looking around. Silver took a seat near Tarin and Amber.

"Tia and Mia, first we don't own you. It's not allowed we have rules against such things. We know that it goes on elsewhere but here it's very much against the law to own another sentient person. We do want to be your friends though and we hope we can get you through all this. That way we can help you run your own lives" explained Tarin.

"We're here to help you to ajust to living your own lives. That way you'll be able to do as you want to not what someone who owns you says. Do you understand that?" Amber said softly.

"I think so Miss" replied Tia.

From the window of the main room the single sun of the Foxarn system named Nurn slowly set to the horizion. Rooms where found for Tia and Mia, the beds were comftable enough for them both. Not long afterwards there was a knock on the door. Silver got up and wlaked over to the main door and opened it. Framed by the doorway was Nightwalker, she carrried a large pot of something that smelled rather good to Silver. Silver stepped back from the doorway and smiled. Night noticed the skunkette had visitors.

"Come on in Night, how are you?" Silver asked gently.

"Not to bad, I've kind of missed you and Tarin. I see you have visitors" pointed out Night.

"Yes they are well visiting for a while, let';s go the kitchen" answered Silver.

"I heard what happened, little gets by me right now. I'm working on one of the commications relays in orbit"

"I see Night, did you ever get that promotion?" Silver wondered.

"No not this time but maybe soon, I've put enough work in of late" Night replied as she set the huge pot down on the table for a few moments.

Silver murred softly as Night removed the lid from the pot, she gently snapped back the restraining pins on the lid with a snap and steam escaped from the seal.

"That smells great Night, one of yours or your sire's?" question Silver as her nose twiched.

"One of my Sire's so it's a little hot. You know him he likes things hot and spicey" Night said as she collected some bowls.

"Are you able to stay Night?" Silver said as she collected the spoons.

Night nodded that she could stay and smiled a little. She straightened up and streached a little. The taur had something on her mind and she grinned a little as she thought about it.

"Starstreak is preagnant again" Night said softly.

"Hmmmm Starstreak, isn't shi your well third sister?" asked Silver.

"Yes shi is, I guess it's kind of funny for none tauriods from Foxarn. There's my sire and mother for a start, my sire is male and my mother a hermaphrodite. It's thought that the males born on Foxarn are a genetic throw back to the times where the sexes where male or female. Then something happened naturaly and only herms where born but for a few thousand males and females in ever generation. We're not sure why I turned out female" answered Night.

"Certainly helps in some ways" Silver said with a slight giggle.

Night started serving the meal into the bowls, she smiled a little as she watched the Skunkette danced a little.

"Sure you don't want to put some music on?" teased Night.

"I don't know what would I put on, there's music from over two hundred worlds. Each diffrent that the other. Just the classical stuff runs to a few million tunes let alone the songs" Silver said as she placed some of the bowls onto a tray.

"Why don't you have the computer choose something at random, it might find something you'll like"

"Alright Night, computer music random choice. Loop music" said Silver.

From the speaks in the kitchen and main rooms came a melody it seemed a rather peacful one and a haunting tune at the same time. It filled the house as Silver and Night picked up the two trays with the bowls of casserol on into the main room. They placed the trays onto a low table and the others helped themselves. They ate quitely while the listened to the music. Silver. put down her bowl and licked her lips.

"Computer identify this compostion, it's composer and planet it comes from" ordered Silver.

"Searching database, composer unknown. Music picked up coming from somewhere with the Salar district of the outward spiral arm of this galaxy. Please search again under legendry planets"

"Let me try something Silver" Night comented as she placed her bowl down.

"Alright" Silver replied as she picked up her bowl.

"Computer identify the musical instrument used in the peice" oreded Night.

"Musical instrument used is a pipe organ"

"Alright, identify localised spiral arm Salar district and search under legendry planets"

"Working, localised spiral arm Salar district, subheading legendery planets. Planets included in this sector are as follows. Ninteen planets including Toven, Errani VI, planerty systems also covered thirty five do you want these listed?"

"Computer list only major planetry systems"

"Planetry systems include Dovan nine, Selon VII, Faron and Sol"

"Computer list all planets in the Sol system"

"Please be aware that these are legendery planets. The sol system includes Pluto, Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Earth, Mercury and Venus. Main star reported to be a class six type G single star. Signals picked up by commuications array Epsilon XI, the array could not pinpoint the exact trans-galatic co-ordinates of where the picked up radio waves where originating from"

"Hmm so much for that" commented Tarin as he sat bak to watch the holonews.

The entertainment systems could show just about anything. They where much like the old style system of television on Earth. However this system spaned over two hundred planets, there where also over a million channels. To be honest the Confederation had only maped about sixteen percent of space. At the moment Tarin was watching ISN on the holonet. To give it's fullname Inter Species News was one of the largest newscasting networks within the Confederation. It normally brought up newsflashes and fast breaking news on the hour ever hour. The presenter was a young green and white rabbit. Her name was Holly Macer, for the last few months she had worked as incident reporter. However she was now the new anchor as the last had retired to bring up a family.

"Once again fighting near the neutral zone has reached a climax. Several Alliance ships have been destroyed. Their main fleet has been pushed back beyond the zone. However it is this reports sad duty to report the destruction of the Confederation flagship Hazardous. From reports that are coming in the ship has been lost with all hands. Many within the Confedration council are calling for war with the Alliance. At the moment the Confederation President and the security council are in sesion. It is hoped by many with the Confederation starfleet that this is just a test of our resolve to the neutral zone"

"What do you think Night, will it be war?" asked Tarin softly.

"I really don't know I hope not Tarin, we've had our fill of wars" replied Night as she took a seat near a couch.

Tarin turned his attention to the holonet, whatever way it went there had been loss of life. Sometimes that was enough to cause others to do things they normally would not do.

"Now news closer to home, Foxarn welcomes the return of the crew of the border cutter Genesis. The ship while out on partol found a slave ship. We at ISN would like to welcome our new visitors and hope they have a great time here. At the moment we're unable to speak to the ship's commander and first mate. However we will bring you a interview with them as soon as we can"

Silver looked at the holograpgh projector. She sighed and licked her lips as she sat down in a nearby chair. She wrapped her tail a round her and drummbed her fingers on the chair arm. She made a face and grimmiced a little as she thought things through.

"Is something wrong?" asked Night.

"There could be, it's not a good idea we, I mean Tarin and I appear on any holonet programme. We've just got things settled down from the first round of lunatic bounty hunters. A second round isn't what I'd call fun" commented Silver.

The Skunkette's ears where up and she was alert it was obvious to Night what she was saying was true. Perhaps there was a away, she'd need to use the videophone. She padded into the next room and contacted Admiral Anyo. The screen came to life and shoed Anyo in a large office.

"Good evening Admiral, I'm officer Nightwalker. I've recently joined the Rangers from the police force of Foxarn. You have seen the ISN netcast?" she asked softly.

"Of course Miss Nightwalker, I've already talked with ISN and there will be no interviews from any Ranger officers unless they are of the rank of Sector Captaion or higher. Please let officers Isard and Talanta know that no press will be approching them now or ever. From time to time officers may have to go undercover it's better that no one but high ranking officers been seen on any holonet newscast for any newscaster" Anyo said as he picked something up off sceen.

"Thank you sir" replied Night.

"Ranger base one, out" said Anyo the screen then went blank.

Night smiled and turned around, she made a small turn for her body and reentered the main room. Silver was lightly chewing her bottom lip a little. Both Tia and Mia had gone to bed. Amber was takiing a nap in one of the couches. She did seem a little strange to Night but there was'nt much she could say about it anyway. She knew she was strange to most of the population of Foxarn. It was because she was a female and a hermaphrodite like the rest of the population. She smiled a little as she watched the strange rabbit/hare hybrid twich in her sleep.

"Silver, Tarin Admiral Anyo has talked with ISN no press will be approching you now or ever" she informed the two.

"Well I can't say I don't welcome that" replied Tarin.

The fox was flicking through the channels and sighed softly. Night smiled and looked outside it was rather dark and she needed to get back home. She turned to leave as Silver tapped her shoulder.

"Will you be coming with us on our little trip out tomorrow?" she asked.

"Of course I will if you want me to Silver" replied Night.

"Of course we do, the more normal things look the better for Tia and Mia" said Silver as she stood up and brushed her cloths down.

"I'll see you all tomorrow then" said Night as she slipped out the front door.

The door clicked behind Night and Silver padded into the kitchen and started on the dishes. Tarin padded in after her and started drtying them with a a small drying towel. The dishes where soon done and Silver watched the fox and smiled as she slipped behind him. The skunkette's hand flashed out and Tarin jumped as she goosed him. He drop a plate that smashed on the tile floor.

"Silver.....um..." he said softly.

Tarin bent down and cleared the broken crockery into small covered shoot. There was a small noise as the bits where turned into atoms. Silver grinned and slipped her arms around Tarin. He sighed softly as she lent over his right shoulder and kissed his lips softly. He murred very softly in the back of his throat and he gently stroked her outer left thigh.

"Look Silver just give me a little while and I'll be with you real soon" said Tarin as he lightly smacked Silver's thigh.

"Alright but be quick" she replied.

Tarin finished putting the plates away and sighed, he licked his lips ande returned to the main room. There he sat down in a armchair, from a pocket in his cloths he removed a small white data padd. He turned it on and read the comuinication, it was from Tarin's father Simon. Simon Isard was everything he wasn't and to be quite honest he wondered why he wanted to see him. The man was a liar, vagabond and theif. The two had never got along with each other at all.

"Why now what's the rush I don't trust you father. You abbandoned us when we needed you most. What for to find something that fools look for never finding it at all. You couldn't even turn up for your daughters memorial service. I don't want you back in my life I hate you!" Tarin shouted.

The noise of his angry screm didn't disturb anyone. Tarin's face contorted in anger, anger at himself and his father. His sister was dead, and nothing could remove the stains of blood on his hands. Tarin threw the padd at the wall where it shattered and landed in a small pile. The occasional spark could be seen from it's destroyed electronic components as it lay on the floor. Tarin was sucking in brearths of air, what had happened he wondered. He blushed softly and licked his lips as he looked into the mirror opposite the chair. He knew that one day he would have to tell Silver, he hoped he would not have to all the same. He was not proud of his father or what he had become because of him. He'd spoken to his mother a few moments before going to see Admiral Tovar. She'd said that she wasn't going to welcome him back. He sat back down and for a few moments closed his eyes. He just knew he needed a few moments peace.

Tarin woke to find a hand on his chest and another on his sheath, he moaned softly as he opened his eyes. As he did so he found Tia stroking him, he jumped backwards and the chair went over onto it's back. He gasped a little and blushed very deeply as he stood back up. He made hisway to another chair and sat back down.

"Have I offended you master or displeased you?" asked Tia.

"Nooo, you've not offended me it's just that... well you shouldn't do that to me. I have a mate and well that's just kind of wrong to let you touch me in that way. There's rules you see and like I said before your not my slave or no one elses. You are your own person. I guess we need some ground rules sometime. I'm not upset or that, just suprised that's all. One day you'll understand I promise you will, but for now please go back to bed, it's really late Tia and I'm about to go to bed myself" commented Tarin.

The Fox was rather flustered by the advance of Tia and what she'd been doing. He watched as she returned to her room and he sighed.

"I just hope Silver you know I just thought alot about you.....I was kind of tempted" Tarin said to himself.

The fox made his way into Silver's bed room, she'd fallen asleep and he gently slipped into the bed with her. She felt warm to his touch and he snuggled down with the skunkette and sighed and then not that long after fell asleep himself.