Amid the sprawling mist-shrouded canyons of buildings, the small ship slid between manmade peaks and pillars until finally setting down on an isolated landing pad. Steam from the heat sinks and spent gasses vented from ports in the vessel as it powered down and the crew inside stretched wearily. For the past three weeks in this system the crew had been doing hardware upgrades on their patron's satellites. A few had strayed and had to be tracked down, which meant more time lost. Apart from one instance of frightening off a pair of would-be illicit salvagers, it was slow and tedious work. Now they were planetside and within the hour they'd be paid. Now was the time to unwind. As Bilksun gave one last check of an annoying relief valve before heading out for his own diversions, two of his crewmates were tying to convince the third to join them with mixed success. "Oh can we just go already?" exasperated Chiina, the ship's Alphan pilot. "I've been looking forward to this for two weeks and if I don't get some relief soon, then I'm outta here and you wimps are on your own!" The diminutive pilot's 4'3" height was inversely proportional to her temper and she fumed impatiently as Sapphire, the navigator, ignored her urgings and continued to attempt to convince their technician, the exotic Dias'aa to join them for their special 'girls' night out'. "Come on Dias'aa" soothed Sapphire, "you'll really enjoy it. Trust me." "I am apprehensive, Sapphire." cooed her Femsu crewmate in her soft, musical way. "I am trying to understand your human vice, but none of my race has ever partaken in such a thing. It does not seem.... natural." "Trust me, Dias'aa," reassured Sapphire, "there's nothing more natural than this. I know you like you relax with your crystals and focusing your mind. Believe me, this will relax parts of you never knew you had. Now come on and let's go before Chiina gets so frustrated she gnaws off one of the landing gear...." [[[ other credits include: SkyDeck, Urban Future, Urban Future 2 by Stonemason. Evolution for Femasu by Ensary. Skinsuit, Skinsuit Plus by Xurge 3d ]]]