An impatient Vuula stands outside the Place of Tacos and Understanding. "Found you." She states more officially than aggressively. "Follow me."
 

"For how long?" He mutters to himself as he attempts to keep pace with the hurried Guvaan.
 

"I heard that." She scolds, leaping to the balcony, headed straight for the service ladder he and Ka'len had taken earlier. "The tribunal requests your presence."
 

"Who are the Tribunal anyway?" Donovan asks, having heard the name dropped multiple times since his arrival.
 

She whirls around to confront Donovan at the base of the ladder, but thinks better of it and hoists herself up several rungs at a time; the stretchiness of her form not hindered by the large reach required for such a task.
 

"They are a group of four individuals who have been dispatched to deal with a situation on your planet." Vuula stops as Donovan reaches the top of the ladder, leaving him with three stories worth of space behind him and a very frustrated-looking faceless being inches from his nose. "It is not my task to talk, it is my task to guide. This way."
 

"All you need to know is they are to be treated with respect and listened to." She stops at a dead-end, turning to face Donovan. "Do not speak until spoken to. Do not raise your voice. Do not point fingers. And above all else, do NOT lie or intend to misinform." With that, the wall behind Vuula slides open with a crack of light, revealing a glass panelled chamber beyond. The faceless figure moves to the side, allowing the man to pass.
 

"Thank you." Donovan bows slightly to Vuula as he walks past. Brushing himself down and taking a deep breath, he enters the room. The wall he just walked through is made from the same metal as the hallways behind him, but with the ambient light turned up significantly. Ahead of him lay an area the size of a tennis court, rounded at the far end and - save for the glass - open to space. Donovan realises he is standing on a glass floor, and far below, the half-moon stares back at him. Above is the same overwhelming view of Africa that he had so little time to view in the market.
 

"Please, sit down." The calm, almost melodic voice drifted over from the group of figures seated a ways in front of him. In the center of the space, a circle of the same beanbag-like chairs from the Taco place he'd just left are arranged with five on one side, four on the other and a tenth added afterwards between them. It is the tenth one that is empty. Donovan calmly walks over to the gathering, his bare feet silently padding across the floor until he pulls himself up next to the military man from before, and the massive fluffy-pug-cow form of a Kagash.
 

"Thank you as well, and good..." He looks up at the Earth, tilting his head to read the ships position in relation to the shadows. "-Morning; I think..." He looks around at the people and aliens making up the rest of the circle. The internal display popping up several names above the council members heads. Starting from his left, the military gentleman - Major Jeffries according to the tooltip - is sitting somewhat uncomfortably and red faced. Next to him a smiling, tanned woman in her mid forties wearing dress pants and a blouse, her jacket folded neatly on her lap under a satchel bag. Above her the name Dr. Marian Katsaros.  Dr. Ensoleillé Janvier is next to her, grinning madly though Donovan is not sure exactly why.
 

The last two humans are both men. The one seated next to Dr. Janvier is Asian, middle-aged, balding and wearing a tweed jacket with elbow patches. Dr. Richard Lee fiddles with his glasses as he battles his nerves. The other is a much younger man of possibly Indian descent, wearing what appear to be traditional robes and cradling a laptop. Suresh Bhatnagar is the name floating above this man's head, and to Donovan everything about the man screams 'student'.
 

Aside from the small gap, next to the young man is the first of Tribunal members. The Naga-like being sits more curled around the beanbag than on it with many of its scales either adorned or replaced with what appear to be precious stones and metals; the N'gaa's  white and cream patterning starkly different from the others Donovan had seen so far. Next to it sits a Shylar, her - judging from the breasts - jade-coloured coat of fur shimmering iridescent in the light as her tail's bright orange puff flits back and forth on her lap.
 

Next to her a robed figure sits silently, hidden entirely in shadow beneath the creamy-white hood. Donovan Realises the robe is almost identical to that worn by Ka'len, and the deformation around the shoulder all but confirms his suspicions. He smiles lightly at the thought and turns to the last member of the Tribunal. The massive furred Kagash sits a good few feet taller than Donovan, hands clutching an assortment of blinking devices while her long legs stretch out; almost taking up the space in front of him.
 

It was the Shylar who chose to speak first. "Donovan Lane." The pyjama-clad man nods in recognition of his name. "You should not be here, yet you are. Why?" The question was not what Donovan was expecting, and it hung in the air over his head like a sack of bricks. Aside from being a very straightforward and somewhat accusatory query, it was also delivered in English rather than the previous conversations which he could tell the translator had been working overtime for.
 

"I really have no idea... Your Honour?..." He had stumbled with names and of course realised he was not privy to any.
 

"No formal titles here, just refer to all four of us as Tribunal." Came a deep melodic voice above Donovan's right shoulder. He turns up to nod at the snub-nosed face peering back at him and returns the kind glance.
 

"I have no idea, Tribunal." He repeats to the alien quartet. "I had woken up and went to get a glass of water. There was a flash, and then I was in a metal box."
 

"Did you not signal this craft?" The Naga-esque individual asks, each 'S' pronounced from the back of the throat.
 

"Signal? No, I didn't signal anyone. I was barely awake enough to find a clean glass."
 

"Our instruments show," the Shylar was speaking again, attempting to enunciate every syllable properly "-that no command within the ship was given to retrieve you. Which means an external signal must have been given." She taps her fingers against the side of the seat, thinking. Then with an overly questioning tone she stares at Donovan and asks "What occupation do you have?"
 

"I'm an artist." Donovan replies half proud, half cautious. "I draw, photograph and use artistic computer programs to create… um, art." The Kagash groans as the rest of the tribunal stare her down.
 

"So you are not knowledgeable of Aether-edge transmission systems or quantum-relays?" The large furred being next to him asks, though the man senses at least some level of sarcasm and humour in the lyrical tone.
 

"Of course not!" The Major grumbles from his other side. "No-one on Earth is."
 

"Yet!" Comes a shout from the robed man seated across the circle from Donovan. "I have already told you; my team have discovered trace elements of the Aether, and were developing capacitors to store the energy prior to testing its use. Who knows, in a few years we could have-"
 

"See, no-one!"
 

"Please," the N'Gaa raises its hands. "Humans, cease your bickering, it is trying the Tribunal's patience." The being turns back to Donovan. "You have been brought here for a reason, though it seems nobody knows it yet. Perhaps in time the solution will present itself, but for now we must decide if you should stay on this ship, and if so in what capacity."
 

The cat-person looks at the man critically. "Do you wish to stay, or return to Earth?"
 

"Um..." Donovan had just started getting used to the slightly different gravity, the strange aromas and the interesting beings, and already they were asking him if he wanted to leave. The truth - he thought - would be better than anything else. "Well, yes. The people here seem pretty groovy, and this ship is amazing!" A stifled chuckle causes him to look up to the right, to be met with a grin and a wink from the massive being seated there. He thought about his family, how they grew apart over the years and didn’t really stay in contact. His friends are all online and he has no pets to take care of. Aside from rent, there’s no real ties preventing him from staying a while longer. "I'd like to stay." He says, smiling as he turned to face the alien Tribunal and human Council.
 

The Major is clearly not impressed. "In regards to security, we don't know why he's here or what could come of him being here. He should go back, as soon as possible."
 

Without missing a beat the N'Gaa replies decisively to the Majors opinion, to the slight grins of all in the room; with the exception of the mysteriously hooded Tribunal figure and the Major. 

"Donovan Lane stays, that is the decision of this Tribunal. Perhaps it would be best if we end this session early; it would give the Humans a chance to rest and perhaps regain composure before our next meeting." The four alien figures bow their heads respectively, met with the same action from the council members, though some more heartfelt than others. The Council and Donovan stand to leave, with Dr. Janvier motioning for him to come with them.
 

"Mister Lane," the N'gaa's voice firmly draws the man's attention away from the mademoiselle "-if you would please stay behind, we request to talk with you privately." Dr. Janvier smiles and nods, exiting through the gap in the wall with her fellow council members. With the last one through, the gap closes and Donovan is left alone with the four figures. He turns back to them and sits. "You are welcome to join your people later, but we must discuss your intentions."
 

"Thank you, but I told you already; I had no intentions bar getting a glass of water before I arrived." Donovan wasn't pleading, but his tone was edging towards it. "As far as being on this ship is concerned, my intent is to stay out of everyone's way and experience as much of your cultures as I can, while I can. It’s not like I get beamed up into an alien spaceship every week." He sighs, trying to force the thoughts of his cultural exhanges so far from his mind. Then a thought pushes its way to the front. "Why is the 'Council' here in the first place?"
 

The tribunal exchange glances and words muttered under breath, stopping only to scrutinise Donovan as he raises an eyebrow; trying to hear what's being said but not 'look' like he's eavesdropping. The cat-person addresses the man. "Donovan Lane, you have arrived at a most delicate time. The council was formed by your Authorities, though Doctors Janvier and Bhatnagar came at our request."
 

"Your Council was chosen to enter talks with this Tribunal in secret." The Da'Jen states, her tone lowers as though she were worried about anyone listening in. "And it is their decision alone as to whether you are to be included in our talks."
 

The Kagash chuckles, leaning down to half-whisper into Donovans ear "Personally, I'd like to know what an average human would think of the situation." The rest of the tribunal turn to glare at the large furry being. "What? It would be educational to view his reaction." She smiles revealing some very large and well maintained teeth.
 

"We've already taken precautions to prevent human culture-shock." The Shylar says, glancing sideways at the Da'Jen.
 

"You're a Da'Jen, right?" Donovan's query causing an unexpected reaction amidst the quartet. "I met one of your people in the market. Ka'len."
 

"Was she covered?" The man didn't need to see the robed figure's face to know it had been said through gritted teeth.
 

The man's blushing cheeks seemed to have not been noticed by three of the four as the Kagash breaks into a laughing fit. "For the most part, yes. She disrobed when we had tacos.
 

The Da'jen whips off her hood, revealing a similar face to that of the scarlet woman Donovan had only moments before shared an intimate moment with. This Da'Jen has two sets of horns, the lower thinner and shorter than the upper. One pair is situated roughly where ones ears would be and one pair at her temple, curving towards the rear of her head, the back of which had a bundle of tendrils tied back like hair. "Damn Ka'len!" Her balled fists became wreathed in dark red and purple flame. "She had explicit instructions to not reveal herself to you humans!"
 

"Well if it's any consolation, she was robed in public." He knew it was a half-lie, but Donovan didn't want to get the woman in any more trouble than she may already be in. The flames sputter and die as the red-skinned being takes a deep breath, though two to three more are required before she could open her eyes. "It is amazing how close a resemblance you have to our - ahem - 'Demons'..."
 

"We are creatures of the Aether." She replies with a sigh, fidgeting to get out of the robe. "Much better." Dark red wings are unfurled dramatically as she stretches, outlining her fiery red - and otherwise human - torso. "We come from the Aetheric plane, not this 'Physical' plane. As such we draw on the Aether; something which we are beginning to run low on. We are generally the first species a civilisation encounter when they are Uplifted."
 

Donovan leans to the edge of his chair. "You keep mentioning this term; Uplifted. What does it mean?"
 

"It is the term used for indicating when a species discovers 'Warp' travel; as you humans like to think of it." The Shylar taps a small device pulled from a pocket and proceeds to move and alter shapes until a large display of the Milky Way galaxy is shown. "To the naked eye, our galactic structure appears like so. But a secondary reality intersects with it, comprised of significantly more energy; this space is called the Aether." She taps the picture and it shifts, showing what can only be described as the galactic equivalent of a satellite image with clouds removed being changed to one with clouds showing.
 

"That was mentioned earlier..." Donovan hesitantly states, his interest in the subject growing by the second.
 

"Yes, around Earth there are inhibitors that prevent the two realities from co-existing in the same space, which is why Mr Bhatnagar is having trouble with his research; and why we are so interested in it." Replies the Da'jen. "My species need it to survive. My sister and I were brought here to be part of negotiations, and as such - in this area of space at least - cannot travel back to our plane of existence without the use of their technology." She indicates the other tribunal members. "Mr Bhatnagar's invention would allow us to stay longer, and with the right tuning, indefinitely."
 

The fluffy Kagash female activates her own hologram, displaying a detailed schematic of some piece of technology unknown to Donovan. "This is the primary part of his research," she says "-for lack of a better term, it is a Capacitor that stores Aetheric energy." With a large paw, she swipes the blueprint away, replacing it with a more alien-looking hologram. "This is what we have currently helping to power this craft and 'feed' the Da'jen; it is a tenth as efficient as Bhatnagar's design and four times the size."
 

"So you're here to trade for our technology?" Donovan postulates, wondering what amazing alien tech he could end up with in a few years time.
 

"To some extent, but that is not our reason for being here." Responds the serpentine being.
 

"Why are you here then?"
 

The Tribunal exchange serious glances before the N'Gaa turns to Donovan. "We cannot reveal that as of yet. Your council must first approve of your inclusion in our talks."
 

The Da'Jen speaks up. "I think perhaps it best if we break for now, the Tribunal has much to discuss. Perhaps the council will decide to have you join their talks with us, but that is for them to decide. Feel free to observe the social areas of this craft. I believe you have already spoken with Dusty?" The man nods "Good. Any further questions you can just ask the communication interface. And if you see Ka'len," she smirks "-tell her she's a 'Dai-Kol'."
 

"Dycol?"
 

"Dai-Kol. She knows what it means."
 

"Dai-Kol. Got it. Thank you, it's been... uh... uplifting." Donovan smiles sheepishly as he gets up, walking swiftly enough to the door that the bottom of his robe flares out. The thought of him looking badass sweeps through his mind, until he reminds himself that he's wearing pyjamas and a bath robe; far from a dashing hero. As soon as he passes through the gap in the wall it closes behind him with a whir and click. "What have I gotten myself into?" He mutters, head in hand as he sighs.
 

Walking back towards the various active areas of the ship, Donovan feels a familiar sensation in his bowels. "Damn," he says, slowing down "where's a loo when you need one?" 

 

The nanotechnology in his head takes a few moments to properly decode the query before stating its response in info-box form. 'Relief of bodily functions requires privacy granted by state rooms assigned to individuals.' The ship's map expands to fill his view, showing Donovan the location of his room, and the best path to get there. As it turns out, he's not too far away and decides his wandering can wait a little longer.
 

After a short while the white lines pulsing their way along the walls change direction and colour, bathing the shiny space in a cool blue. Reaffirming his sketchy memory, a small info box pops up with the title 'Market District' and an arrow directing him in the general direction of the district's hub, with a second arrow directing him down a nearby hallway to his temporary dwelling. With his stride growing more urgent Donovan finally arrives at the door, opening automatically as he approaches.
 

The room itself has very little space, a hair's breadth smaller than the first room he arrived in. And it is completely bare. "Ummm..." The man looks about, starting to panic as he wonders why there is no sign of a toilet anywhere. 

 

Another block of text appears in his display. 'Hygene facilities can be enabled at the panel indicated.' A section of wall glows faintly blue as Donovan turns to look. Stepping forward out of need more than curiosity at this point, the panel slides down to reveal two tubes with what appear to be chromed material at the end, both the size and shape of a doughnut. The tubes turn to face him like perturbed Cobras as their silvery-metallic rings stare at him with their eyeless holes.
 

Not wishing to wait further and ignoring the rather strange appearance of the equipment before him, Donovan ensures the door to his room is closed before removing his pyjama pants. He approaches cautiously, and as he gets within a yard of the hoses they move quickly towards him. Frozen in both shock and curiosity, the man allows the two rubbery ends to press against both his clenched arse and embarrassingly growing erection. The one in front of him was now sliding around the head with little friction, as though it were simply rolling around his member like a ridiculously thick condom.
 

Donovan sighs as many hours of retained water is finally set free. As the last few drops are milked out of him by the machine the nanobots pick up on his contentment and rolls the silver doughnut off him, the one pressing against his rear passage also returning to the wall cavity. The man looks at his clothes, how they are beginning to get a bit grubby and stained with -among other things - sweat. Then he looks at his somewhat raw pecker. He grins, laying back against the wall as he remembers the intense heat of Ka'len's faux-pussy. However the feeling of the cool metal beneath him and the bleakness of the space reminds the man of meeting Galfa earlier that day.
 

"Galfa. Damn, I didn't get any contact details from her." He mutters, annoyed. Moments later an info box appears in his display.
 

'Guuvan retain a supply of nanobots to communicate with superiors and fellow Guvaan, but the system is separate from regular communications due to bandwidth necessities.'
 

He ponders this before sighing again. "Well is there any other way of contacting her?" He asks nobody in particular.
 

Another info box - a little bigger and more official in an odd sort of way - pops up. 'Guvaan designation: Djerra Galfa Nolvera has been notified of your request and duties transferred accordingly.'
 

"Umm..." Donovan stares at the display inside his vision. "What?" It seems whatever software decided to pluck Galfa from the job she was doing is either not smart enough to answer a simple query or not caring enough to consider one necessary, as the display returns to its normal 'hidden' mode. He remains seated, wondering what 'Duties Transferred' meant, and desperately hopes he hasn't caused the Guvaan any trouble.
 

It only takes a few seconds before he finds out however, as with a click, beep and a whoosh Galfa is distributed into his room via a small tube. She forms up into her humanoid figure almost instantly, slightly confused until she sees Donovan. Seeming very happy to see him, she remains standing there.
 

"Hiya." He says and gives her a perplexed wave.
 

"It is good to see you again How may I serve?" The last line seems sincere, but also somewhat forced, as though it is a standard line of dialogue in her programming.
 

"Well, I just said that I wanted to get in contact with you because Vuula kinda broke up our conversation, then I got sidetracked with getting my communications package, the whole Tribunal thing and..." The memories of Ka'len flash past his mind "and kinda lost track of time."
 

"So you don't need me to do anything?" Galfa asks, confused.
 

"No, I mean, I have no idea." He leans back against the wall again. "I just wanted to see you again, is all. I didn't expect to have your 'duties transferred' or whatever that means."
 

"It means I am your servant until I am dismissed." She responds kindly, taking a step towards the man. "I am primarily trained in hospitality services but all Guvaan are required to learn the basic medical packages as well, so I can aid you with any minor ailments. Otherwise-"
 

"Stop, stop." Donovan begs, holding a hand up palm out to the Guvaan."It's okay. I get it." A shocked look of being freshly scolded crosses her face. The man sighs. "You're not in trouble. I do want you around, I'm just not sure if there's anything I want you to do." Galfa smiles, relieved. "You can relax, no need to stand all prim and proper."
 

"You have no pants." The comment caught Donovan entirely by surprise. He completely forgot about his lack of attire due to the rush of events, and began turning a bright shade of red in response. "Are you okay?"
 

"Just a little embarrassed." He replies, crossing his legs and appropriately placing his hands. "The whole thing kinda caught me by surprise."
 

"So you think I am cute." Another blindsided comment, but this time the man's brain cannot respond fast enough before Galfa explains. "Your last words to me were that you thought I was cute." She takes another step forward. "Is that truth?"
 

Donovan tries to remember back, the blur of events that led him here blending together in parts. "I can't remember if I did or didn't," he says looking to the ceiling as though the memory he sought was there "but I do." He shrugs, smiling, before covering himself again.
 

The blue figure grins ecstatically at his response. "I've not been called cute before, and those feelings you're giving off feel so good." She takes another step closer, indicating the empty spot on the bench next to Donovan. He nods and she takes a seat, placing a hand on his leg. "There is an issue that has been consuming my thoughts lately. I am hoping you might aid me in answering some questions?"
 

Donovan wasn't sure how much more from left field he was willing to take, but Galfa seems so nervous that he cannot deny her his time. "Sure, ask away."
 

The Guvaan turns slightly more indigo as she speaks "What is your view on social status?"
 

Donovan just stares at her. "Social status?" She nods. "Well, I suppose I don't really care about it. On earth its both an incredibly outdated and bigoted way to look at those around you. We have some classes, yeah, but for the most part I don't really care where you're from, it's your actions that define you. Manners Maketh Man, and so on."
 

Galfa seems quite pleased with his answer and continues. "What is your view on Personal Space?"
 

Ready to roll with the questions, the man barely takes a moment before responding. "For most people growing up in the country their ‘personal space’ bubble is about 'this' wide." He holds out his arms out as wide as possible, brushing past Galfa's locks as he does so. "Whereas in the city, it goes to about 'here'." He holds his hands round elbow-length from his body. "For me, it entirely depends on my mood and whether they're strangers or not." Large blue eyes glance down at the man's now uncovered genitals. He blushes, covering his bits once more with large hands. "I have no bubble for friends."
 

The Guvaan giggles at Donovan's repeated embarrassment due to his nakedness. "How often do humans mate?"
 

This one caught the man entirely off-guard. Coughing a little, he regains his composure after a few moments before requesting clarification. "How often do we, or how often do we want to?"
 

"There is a difference?"
 

The man sighs, figuring he's here, he's already slept with a completely different species than his own - from another plane of existence entirely - and given there are very few around knowledgeable enough to mock him, he decides to tell Galfa everything she needs to hear. "Most humans for the years relating to their adult and late adolescence are probably capable of mating several times a day, but often cannot find a mate who is willing, or are prevented by formal situations such as work." He feels a little depressed at his own words, realising he'd spent sometimes up to a week with no human contact other than the few messages on various Internet forums and social media, let alone the months between any physical interactions.
 

She squeezes his leg comfortingly, her hand's latex-like surface causing a slightly painful stirring in his loins. "Last question, how would you react being solicited for intercourse?"
 

Despite the intensely worded question, Donovan feels more at ease answering that than talking about his so-called mating habits. "Depends on who's doing the soliciting. In most countries it's illegal if payment is involved," hoping he's connected the dots correctly, the man takes a leap of faith "but Earth law has no hold up here. So it would entirely come down to whether the person asking were cute or not." Feeling he may have gone a step beyond subtle, he lets out his held breath.
 

Galfas turns a deep blue. Her face is a strange miss-mash of emotions as she tries to break thousands of years of programmed status restrictions and social sensibilities, and the toll on her mental state is becoming more and more obvious by the second. Donovan leans in, placing a finger beneath the gel-woman's chin, forcing her to turn her eyes to his. "No matter what you say next, I will not demand you leave, punish you or in any way or tell anyone about it. You can tell me what you're thinking, it's okay."
 

Galfa's eyes light up, her body quivering, lips trembling as she utters her question. "I want you to mate me." Donovan smiles. "After what you said when you arrived, I thought maybe you humans would be different than the rest and allow a Guvaan to have a first hand  experience with intercourse. When I told the others what you said, they all started talking about it, and now they all want to know if one of you would-"
 

Donovan holds out his hand again for her to stop, which she does. Now entirely a deep-indigo colour, Galfa sits patiently while Donovan finds the right words. "Not all humans are open to the concept of mating outside their species." He says, careful to make each word defined and purposeful as the next. Galfa loses some of her blue, turning the colour of faded jeans as she expects the reply she had heard every time she had gotten too close to a mating couple. Donovan puts both his hands on hers, attempting to comfort her. "But I am. And if you want to, I'd be more than happy to 'mate' with you."
 

The Guvaan immediately flushes a neon blue, glowing slightly as her hands wrap around Donovan's. "Really? You really would?"
 

Donovan smiles, surprised by the quick change in colour and mood. "Yes, yes I would. Will, even." He continues smiling until a slight grimace crosses his mouth as his member finally reacts to the news of having another being want to sleep with him. "Well, after I heal up first." He chuckles, trying to laugh off the slight sting from what was literally the hottest sex of his life.
 

"What is wrong?" Galfa sounds concerned as she begins to look over the man's body.
 

Having no real reason to hide it anymore, he opens his legs a little to show a slightly red cock, with a minor friction burn along the shaft and what appears to be a bruise near the base. "The days been a little... rough." He offered, smacking his forehead as he realised how much of an arse he sounded when putting it that way.
 

Galfa didn't see it that way though, and immediately provided a solution. "My body contains nutrients and enzymes that would help with healing such injuries, if you allow me." The pause before that last part was a little longer than Donovan felt it needed to be, and wondered if it was the Guvaan's hesitation towards the conversation they just had still lingering in her mind.
 

He felt he needed to make his position absolutely clear. "Galfa, you have my permission to be as close as you want to be."
 

"How close-"
 

"You decide." Galfa's neon blue shifts and changes, like indigo dye drops swirling through a vial of glowing water. Except this time it doesn't return to one state or the other, it just remains a roiling, marbled pattern.
 

Galfa never stops staring at the man as her hand slides from his, almost frictionless across his leg and towards the now semi-hard member. The large blue eyes so intently peering at the man drives his arousal higher, causing more twinges of pain as his cock attempts to get ready for a new challenger. Her hand stops just near the base, then to Donovan's great surprise, she moves it up and against his prick, the flesh pushing against her own outer skin until it entirely disappears within the blue wrist.
 

Donovan breathes in deeply as the cool latex-like skin envelops his cock wholemeal. Even Galfa seems to be struck by the sensation, though the man reasons it's probably mostly her being so close to a male appendage combined with her picking up his emotional state. "That- that feels-" he doesn't get to continue his sentence, as the skin-like coating around his member feels as though it snaps free and is replaced by the cool gel-like sensation that Galfa's insides give off.
 

Galfa shudders again, taking a moment  before looking to the task at hand. "Should have you fixed, soon..." She manages, powering past the man's emotions to concentrate on flooding his skin with the right chemicals.
 

The two sit there, not saying a word as the Guvaan does what she can to aid in Donovan's recovery from the days ordeals. But with every passing second, the man's arousal grows more and more until his fully erect cock is tingling with new cells and a need to be relieved. And then Galfa shifts her arm. Slowly Donovan can feel a trickle of her material push down his urethra, and his heart skips a beat.
 

"Galfa..." Her motions stop as she turns up to him, worry on her face. "Are you inside me?" The sensation was intense, like nothing the man had ever felt before.
 

"I need to repair one last bit of tissue..." She says, though the man can tell it's just an excuse.
 

Loving every moment of the surprising new sensation, he allows her to continue with a warning. "Okay, but if I ask you to stop, you need to stop, okay?" She nods, already sliding more of herself into him. As he expects, Galfa slides down to where the base of his cock is, then straight past, pushing further and further into him until dramatically she reaches his prostate. His erect member can hold back no longer as the cool touch of the Guvaan's body sets off a powerful orgasm. Both figures lustfully cry out as Donovan fires the first load of jizz straight up Galfa's arm.
 

The shock of sensation causes Galfa to lose her grip on the man, her arm slipping off him as his next load strikes her chest and cheek. Donovan can barely control his body, let alone his overcharged genitals, as the next salvo splatters itself across the blue woman's belly. With hardly anything left since his time with Ka'len, the last few pulses barely dribble from him.
 

"So..." Galfa seems barely able to contain herself. "That's what it is like?" 

 

Donovan laughs, disconcerting the Guvaan as he tries to calm himself. "Djerra Galfa Nolvera, that is what we call a quickie." He half lies knowing that for him at least, the pleasure is in getting there, not finishing. Galfa beams as he uses her full name, obviously she is used to it only being used in an official manner. But Donovan's cock - despite the empty balls below it - seems ready to continue, and he sighs disappointedly. "Body is willing but I need time to... recharge."
 

"Do you require your fluids to achieve orgasm?" Galfa asks innocently, driving the man even more wild.
 

"In my experience it seems to help."
 

"Well," for the first time, Donovan notices a slightly wicked smile cross the Guvaan's face "perhaps I could help."
 

"Hhhhoooooowww?..." He questions, unsure if he even wants to know the answer.
 

"What if you use some of me?" Donovan sits dumbfounded at the idea. The mere concept alone both weirded him out and turned him on. "I fill you up again, and then you empty me back into myself."
 

A voice in the back of his head was urging him not to, but it was being out-shouted by every other one screaming the go-ahead. "When am I ever going to get this chance again?" He asks rhetorically. Galfa readies herself to answer, but Donovan beats her to it. "Go ahead, Fill me up."
 

Without hesitation, the blue-lady pushes her palm back down onto the head of his cock, driving it all the way down until her thumb presses against his balls. And no sooner than the arm is in place than he can feel her cool gel sliding into him, pushing further and further until once again it reaches his prostate and stops. "Hmm..." She mutters.
 

"What?" He asks between breaths, hoping nothing is wrong.
 

"There appears to be a part of your anatomy preventing me from going further."
 

The man thinks long and hard. The body is sure to have plenty of valves and openings and such, but not knowing which way things go beyond a high-school health class on sexuality made him nervous about suggesting an action to take. Then his own devious idea struck. "If you make me climax," he waits a second to let the translation software do its thing "then everything should open up, and you'll have a bit of time to get yourself back there."
 

"I can do that." Galfa says happily. She begins undulating the gel in her arm against Donovan's member. He shudders before chuckling a little and placing a hand on her arm.
 

"Wait, wait..." He smiles, still giggling. "Can we try something a little different?"
 

"Yes, what would you like?"
 

Donovan tries to word his next sentence better in his head, but manages to come up short. "I want you to suck on it." He feels so dirty saying it, but Galfa only looks at him confused.
 

"I thought that's what I was doing?" She says, once again making the appropriate motions with her arm. Donovan rests her motions again.
 

"I want you to do it with your mouth."
 

"My 'mouth' is only for appearance and does not actually function as-"
 

"I know," the man says, wondering how much harder it will be to get his point across. "Can you just pretend?" He asks, still searching for words "Pretend like you have a tongue, then lick and suck my - ahem - cock, until I cum." The feeling of talking dominantly had always been alien to the man, which given his current situation seemed all the more fitting.
 

Galfa, wanting to be useful, keeps her hand where it is, but manoeuvres herself off the bench and into a kneeling position between his legs, "like this?" She asks before plunging her entire head onto his member. The sensation ripples across his body as he feels the call of an orgasm a short way off.
 

The Guvaan's mouth is warmer than her hand, and it takes no time before she begins suckling the engorged cock. She looks up at him with deep indigo eyes and moans as his pleasure flows into her. Galfa pulls back from him to speak "I see why you like this so much." Then with no hesitation she returns to giving him the strangest and most amazing blowjob of his life.
 

Just as he thinks it can't get any better, Donovan feels a rubbery tongue push through the gel to wrap around his cock head. It pushes against the glans and slides around it before moving down to the shaft. He knows Galfa can tell whenever she hits a good spot, as his sharp intake of breath signals repeated licks and focused sucking there. It's not long before the man can take no more.
 

"I'm cumming..." He breathlessly sighs, balls twitching with emptyness. Then it happens. As his pipes open up, a surge of Galfa flows into him. She fights the flow of muscle and pushes herself all the way down to his balls. Donovan's testicles at first ache with the sudden fullness, but as Galfa works her healing magic, soon they tingle with the promise of one massive orgasm soon to come.
 

With a couple more thrusts into the Guuvan's mouth Donovan's current orgasm comes to a close. Giddily, Galfa stands. "That was intense, being so close to you twice."
 

"This next one will hopefully blow those two away," he says, stumbling to his feet as legs give way to the pleasure just endured "though a bed may be best." As he looks to the floor of the room it changes in texture and composition; starting soft and somewhat lumpy like a dry sponge placed under a running tap, until it eventually feels like a plastic-coated mattress. "Okay, unexpected..."
 

"Is that appropriately comfortable?" Galfa asks, concerned for the man's well being given his uneven stance. "You should lay down." Donovan does so, his body taking to the floor much easier than he'd thought, as the cool metal warms and softens his every move. Galfa looks at the man's slowly deflating member in subtle confusion. "I thought you said you could mate multiple times per day?" Her lips pout a little, disappointed in the man's stamina.
 

"It may take a few minutes to get hard again." he says, trying to keep his statements as factual as possible to prevent his mind from getting too dominant. It doesn't take long for the Guvaan to throw that out the window.
 

"What can I do to help, Mister Lane?" She is bouncing slightly, kneeling next to Donovan as his mind pours through thoughts and ideas, some turning his face bright red. There are so many things an entirely goo-based body structure can do that would be fascinating to experience, yet also residing very deep on the Taboo end of the scale for normal human beings. Not that it mattered much given Galfa's last sexual action was to pump the man's balls full of herself. Thinking of that gives the man an idea.
 

Throwing all semblance of formality out the window, Donovan takes a deep breath "Play with my balls." He sees the Guvaan think as the translation software tries to catch up. "Like this." He reaches out, taking the woman by the wrist and placing her neon blue digits so as to cup his sack. She squeezes them gently, savouring their odd malleability and the intrigued notion of squeezing herself without feeling it. "Just don't squeeze too hard."
 

"It is strange to be separated from myself," Galfa muses "I'll have no idea what I'm feeling until I re-coagulate."
 

Donovan looks curiously at the marbled neon-indigo lady before him "What about the nanobot things? Can't you talk to yourself through them?"
 

She shakes her head. "They work together. As a cluster gets smaller, so does its list of abilities. Too small a cluster and they are unable to perform basic functions." The man looks concerned. "No, I don't suffer the same problems with my structure, I'm more advanced." She grins proudly.
Galfa manages to hit a nice spot, causing Donovan's member to jump. He moans, signalling her to continue the gentle assault on his privates. Her fingers are both sticking and sliding in alternation against his skin as she manipulates his softness, his cock ceasing its deflation as the stirring in his loins grows.
 

Donovan's breathing quickens as the entirely alien sensation of those cool tactile digits fondle his balls gently. "This seems to be working." Galfa says, smiling as she observes the man's member become more erect with every move of her fingers. "Working very well indeed." Her fingers work with the grace of ballet dancers across the man's artificially inflated sack, gently prancing and never ceasing movement.
 

"It feels incredible..." He stammers, well past half-mast by this stage. His member seems almost glorious as it rises; unbruised, flush with energy and glistening from Galfa's previous ministrations. Donovan sighs with mixture of relief and need as in very little time, his pecker stands firm and proud once more.
 

"Is it time?" Galfa asks hungrily. The man nods, sparking the Guvaan into a blur of motion. Releasing the Galfa-filled balls, she kneels at first then stands, then kneels once more, not knowing what to do with herself. She looks to Donovan for help.
 

"Calm down," he says, grinning "legs either side, like this." He holds his hands out for hers as Galfa positions her feet either side of his knees. "Now, kneel down." Her body descends until the marbled blue knees press against Donovan's waist. Galfa is starting to get the gist as her groin sits mere inches from the man's rigid member. "This is called the 'Cowgirl' position." He states matter-of-factly. "It's pretty popular on earth, and my personal favourite."
 

"So do I just?" She looks at him inquisitively as she slid forward, ready for her body to envelop the cock from the base up. Donovan puts a firm hand on her thigh, halting her movements.
 

"Hold on," he says, almost lost in pleasure as the Guvaan's body lets go of his balls. "As phenomenal as that feels, let's do this the human way."
 

"What is the human way?" Galfa asks, understandably ignorant of Donovan's meaning.
 

"Well, Humans aren't built like Guvaan; our skin doesn't just shift and slide around things." Galfa's face was displaying a strange collection of emotions, not quite hurt, nor sad, curious or embarrassed but somewhere between them. "It's okay, I love the way you feel, and maybe later we can explore your unique... abilities." The man tries to halt the flood of erotic images flowing through his mind, but a few still seep through and almost spill to his tongue. "However, for now I want to show you how it feels when humans have sex."
 

Galfa nods, accepting his statement and the future fun alluded to. "What do I need to do?"
 

"Well, this may be a bit odd, but I need you to make a thin but stretchy tunnel right here..." He presses his fingers against the Guvaan's crotch.
 

"Like this?" To Galfa, it was a simple process of reorganising her molecular structure to continue her outside skin texture into a passageway within her body. To Donovan it looked like someone had stuck an invisible pencil into some Jell-O and was continuing to push it deeper. The newly opened space was going further and further into the Guvaan's body, now extending beyond her belly up into her chest.
 

Donovan laughs "You can stop there. I'm not that big." The two chuckle at that, the blue skin vibrating on the man's thighs causing his pecker to twitch with excitement. "Now a woman's... passage..." He felt too wrong trying to describe it more formally "also varies in texture. It's a little bumpy, ridged and, well, not really perfectly straight."
 

Galfa looks straight into Donovan's eyes as the lower half of her body shifts and changes once more, the newly formed passageway distorting to the man's set of requirements. Decidedly inhuman in shape and length, let alone whatever small changes he couldn't tell just by looking at their difference, Donovan watches as eventually his lover's concentration breaks. "Is that more to your liking?" Galfa asks, smiling hopefully.
 

"I'm sure it will be." Donovan answers, his own smile more like that of a wolf just prior to a big meal. "Time for the fun part." He guides the Guvaan's hips until his cock rests just at her entrance. The sensation is odd but pleasurable, the pressure and texture feeling like he is about to put on a condom. With a firm grip he slowly lowers Galfa onto his meaty prick, but stops after only a few inches.
 

"What is wrong?" Galfa senses the man's discomfort and looks through her own belly to the blurry shape of the cock within her.
 

"Is it possible to, uh..." He sighs, realising he's come too far to let politeness and formality hold the two of them back "I need more lubrication to slide in."
 

"Oh." No sooner had Galfa understood his hesitation, than the walls of her artificial pussy moistened with juices. With next to no friction left, Donovan's cock shoots past the remaining distance until she straddles him to the hilt. Both figures shudder at the sensations rolling through them. For Donovan it is an entirely unique experience; in lieu of muscles there seems to be a pulsating ripple guiding his cock deeper, while the walls of the passageway massage every inch of him with microscopic suckers. For Galfa it is the intense sensations flowing off Donovan that has her own mind trembling with need.
 

"Galfa, you feel..."
 

"Use my full name. Order me." In any other context that request would have seemed less fetishistic and more code of conduct, but Donovan can hear the lust behind each word and knows Galfa needs to be told what to do; not from inexperience, but through her own developing sexual need.
 

"Djerra Galfa Nolvera, slowly lift yourself off of me." She looks almost hurt at the order, but still sighs contently after her name, doing as she's told. Then just as his head is about to pop free, Donovan signals her to stop. "Now back down, slowly." She lowers herself, revelling in the emotions emanating from her lover. This time Donovan gets to feel every artificial bump and ridge as the Guvaan's gel-like body pushes back down upon him, noting several spots that feel just blissful as his glans slides against them. "Repeat."
 

Galfa comes to the realisation that unlike most species on this craft, the Humans gain significantly more in the sensation prior to release. As she rises, she notes how Donovan reacts to each move she makes, and while still obeying his words, seeks to grind herself against the man in more pleasurable ways. Pushing back down for the fourth time, she rotates her torso forward, pressing the underside of Donovan's cock against a particularly ribbed section inside her. He lets out a staggered moan as the sensation shoots electric lust up his spine. Knowing the answer, but wanting to hear her taskmaster say it aloud, Galfa asks "Am I performing adequately?"
 

"Galfa, don't you dare stop..." The Guvaan loses some of her blue glow at that, and returns to her original - more robotic - movements. Realising his mis-speak Donovan grabs the blue woman tightly, pulling her down onto his chest as his cock impales itself in her tight pussy. His nose grazing Galfa's face as their gazes meet with extreme intensity, Donovan all but growls "Djerra Galfa Nolvera, you are performing more than adequately. Now continue to fuck me."
 

The room flares with colour, the marbled indigo from Galfa's body giving way to the bright neon blue behind it as her synthetic body courses with both Donovan's lust and her unprogrammed desires. The man's grip on her has not shifted, so instead she bucks against him; hips slapping together as her agile gel body distorts to pull the man's cock out to the tip before slamming down again. Meanwhile her faux breasts press against Donovan's chest as the man savours all the sensations piling upon him.
 

The sensations break beyond the man's own limits, as he readies to empty his load within his glowing lover. "Not yet," he grumbles "Not yet."
 

"Say it louder, Mister Lane." Galfa moans into his ear, almost overtaken by Donovan's mounting orgasm.
 

"Djerra Galfa Nolvera," he shouts, "In a few seconds I will cum, but you are to stay in my balls until I tell you otherwise! Clear?" Realising the ridiculousness of the situation as he is effectively shouting orders at his genitals to behave, Donovan lets loose a snigger. That is until his aforementioned gonads vibrate in understanding. That sensation drives him over the edge, as he Rams his cock deep inside the Guvaan, placing a firm hand upon her arse to keep himself as deep as possible. "Aaaaaaahhhhhhh-ungh..." He groans, emptying a non-existent load into his lover.
 

"YeeeeeEEEEEEEEEESSSSsssss..." Galfa screams, Donovan's orgasm coursing through her like a jackhammer. A few instinctive thrusts and the man releases his partner, laying both hands on her shoulders before leaning up to kiss her. Galfa reverts to her instincts as well, mimicking what the man does before feeling the pleasure rise from him like heat lines on a desert highway. After a few seconds she stops copying and begins her own exploration of Donovan's mouth with a tongue-like appendage.
 

Donovan moans as his friend slowly learns another skill. He wonders if this entire thing is ethical, but as she begins to writhe on his cock once more, the question gets pushed to the back of his head. Somehow the prevention of his seed being spread - artificial in its existence or not - has prevented his cock from deflating. And having been given a moment to lie at rest while Galfa does all the work, has managed to push the man through the wall of exhaustion into a second wind.
 

Pulling back from the kiss, Donovan looks into Galfa's lust-filled eyes and breathlessly orders "Djerra Galfa Nolvera, you made me cum riding Cowgirl." His hands squeeze the gel-woman's ass cheeks. "Now I'm going to ride you, Doggy-Style. And this time, I'm going to cum properly."
 

"Dog-ee Style?" Galfa asks hesitantly.
 

"Get on your hands and knees."
 

"I am."
 

The man mentally facepalms. "Over there." He points a few feet away as Galfa shifts gracefully from one position to the other, allowing his cock to pop free into the warm air. Donovan shudders at the sudden change in temperature before pulling himself up. Moving around behind the curious Guvaan, he kneels down and lines himself up to her still tight passageway. "Are you ready?"
 

"Ready for what?" She barely gets the words out of her mouth before Donovan slams home his rock-hard member. The man gasps at the sensation of Galfa's passage clamping down upon him while simultaneously sucking him as deep as possible, which only drives his want to pull out even greater. "Noooooo..." She moans as the man pushes her hips away from his, her pussy walls appearing to prolapse as tiny little suckers try to hold on.
 

Donovan raises a hand, letting it fall hard with a smack against her wobbling buttocks. Galfa initially recoils in shock, causing her grip on the man's cock to falter. Then a new jolt of pleasure shoots through her from Donovan as the convulsing passage twists, turns and pushes against the member in new and exciting ways. As his cock pops free, Galfa turns to look up at him, shock in her eyes. "What did I do wrong?"
 

"When I pull back Djerra Galfa Nolvera, I expect you to let go of me." Donovan was getting more comfortable with the dominating path this situation was taking, and decided he might as well own it while he can. "Because if you don't, then how can you feel this?" He thrusts hard and fast, penetrating the glowing blue figure once more.
 

Galfa screams in pleasure as Donovan loses his breath from the amazing sensations assaulting his cock. "Yes," she quivers, her outer skin alternating between trying to suction onto Donovan's hands and legs and becoming virtually frictionless "I want to feel that again." Donovan plays with his lover, gyrating deep within her artificial pussy as his balls press against her mound. With each movement of his sack against her skin, jolts of erotic energy shoot through the man's cock and into the Guvaan's mind.
 

Donovan pulls out once more, this time not held back by Galfa's needy snatch. But as he slams back into her his balls are grabbed by rubbery fingers. With his heart skipping a beat, the man looks down to the woman's hands, which are both still planted on the ground. The sensation is intense as his earlier gyrating was now being mimicked by Galfas constantly shifting arse.
 

The first pre-orgasmic throb pushes through the turgid cock as newly-skilled fingers find their mark. The intense pleasure seems more than the Guvaan can handle though, and her concentration finally breaks with a guttural moan and a snap. The moan sends ripples through the glowing blue figure, while Donovan quickly discovers the snap was that of Galfa's pussy walls collapsing like a burst balloon. He fights his instinct to pull away from the briefly painful assault on his nethers and is rewarded with the breathtaking sensation of his cock being surrounded by the Guvaan's warm, gooey insides.
 

He can feel himself reaching climax, so Donovan leans down close to Galfa's head and whispers "I have something special I want you to do." The Guvaan simply moans in agreement. "I want you to jack me off. Can you do that?"
 

"Mmmmuuuuuhhh, nnnngh, what... What is-" she begins, barely able to concentrate given Donovan's mounting orgasm.
 

"Use your hand to bring me to my finish." Galfa pauses her gyrations, whimpering as she prepares to pull herself off him. But Donovan just grabs her hips and pulls her back against him, this time his balls following suit behind his cock and slipping past her outer skin into the gel-like substance beneath. Galfa squeals in pleasure from the thrust as he explains "No. I am ordering you - Djerra... Galfa... Nolvera..." With each word in her name, Donovan's voice was growing quieter until it was but a whisper "to do this." And with one firm and fluid motion he slid one hand down from her hip to the Guvaan's belly, pushing hard against the surface until it gives way and his hand slips in much like his cock; the skin sliding around his hairy hand, then arm as he reaches inside her.
 

Finding what he is looking for, he grasps his cock, hand barely able to circle the throbbingly erect member. Donovan knows he will last only a few moments more, so gives his lover a single stroking motion as reference before pulling out. Surprisingly his hand comes out slightly moist but in no way dripping with goo; a surprise he was welcome to see, glad he hadn't damaged his partner.
 

It only took a moment for Galfa to respond, as the man feels a slimy hand wrap itself around his cock. Buried deep inside a gel-being, who is giving him the most intense handjob that he has ever experienced, is too much for Donovan. "I'm going to cum..." He growls, hands back on the Guvaan's hips as he gyrates out of habit. "You hear me?" His raised tone is met by a stuttered vibration within his balls. "Good. I'm cumming just for you Djerra Galfa Nolvera."
 

Donovan's vision explodes with colour as the climax that had been building finally overwhelms him. The hand gripping his cock almost squeezes too tight for his spasming balls to release their load, but even that clench cannot stop the inevitable as the pent up Galfa streams into her larger self. In one of the strangest sensations he had felt up until this point, the entirety of fluid in his artificially inflated balls shooting out at once. No separate spurts separated by a throb of the taxed veins that line his engorged member, just one continuous stream of gloriously pleasurable goo-cum.
 

Donovan rightly assumes the unconnected sensations are being immediately shared as Galfa Bucks wildly at first before collapsing into a pool of syrupy blue liquid glowing brighter than the man was comfortable to look at. His cock twitches in midair as the situation finally makes its way to the man's brain. "Sh-shit," he stammers "Shit, SHIT! Galfa! Galfa, are you okay? Shit!" Kneeling in a puddle of his former lover, panic befalls the man. "Shit, what do I - what do I do?"
Then something happens that almost makes Donovan jump through the roof; a barely formed hand pushes its way out of the mess to squeeze his knee. After the shock wears off, he realises the squeeze is not of one requiring aid, but of providing comfort. The man breathes a sigh of relief, his naked arse falling backwards to sit on the ground, but instead finding more of his recently melted lover. Hairs on the back of his neck stand straight up before he utters a very soft "Sorry."
 

Almost rivalling his tone, a near silent whisper wafts up from the pool. "Lay."
 

"Lay down," he pants, heart still racing from his thundering climax "on you?"
 

"Yeeeeesssssss......"
 

Not wanting to disappoint, Donovan does as requested and shifts his stiff legs out from under him. The man groans as he straightens his joints to lie in the neon-blue pool of Galfa, finally resting his head on its side where her head had splattered to the floor.
 

His heart skips a beat as the Guvaan shifts her goo towards his naked form. She slowly wraps her way around him, pulling herself up his sides and over every inch of exposed skin. Until - with the exception of his face - Donovan is encased in a slowly hardening goo-cocoon. "Do not worry." Galfa's voice was stronger, but still quiet. "I know humans hug differently, but I wanted to hug you my way."
 

Donovan finally lets his breath out, smiling at the display of affection. "I think I like your way better." He closes his eyes, relaxing as Galfa solidifies around him. Slowly he feels her form pull further upwards until her entire weight is once more atop him. Eyes blinking open he finds Galfa staring down at him, literally beaming with happiness. Donovan squints to stop from being blinded by the glow. "So?" The Guvaan's face twitches questioningly at the man’s words. "What was it like?"
 

"Like nothing I've ever felt before..." She begins, her inability to find the right words like a teenager trying to describe a kiss from their crush. "As though I was experiencing everything all at once. I've never..." Donovan can see again as Galfa's colour shifts to a deep opaque indigo. "I've never deconstructed like that. Ever." Her legs lift up from his, as they shift to straddle his hips, her hands landing beside his shoulders. "But I want to again."
 

"You are incorrigible." Donovan laughs. "I definitely don't want this to be a one-time thing." Galfa ripples with joy as she half-hugs the man's waist with her legs. "But for now, I need food and sleep. A stretchy arm reaches past his head to the pile of pyjamas near the wall, retrieving the nutrient cube container moments later. Galfa slides it open, browsing the contents before selecting one. She prepares to put it in the man's mouth, but grins with an idea; placing it in her own mouth instead. Then with lightly parted lips she leans down.
 

Donovan moans into the kiss as a rubbery tongue explores his mouth, revealing a strawberry and chicken tasting morsel hidden within. The man smiles as he ignores the food in favour of playing with his lover's tongue some more. Eventually the kiss breaks, as Galfa rolls off her newfound friend. Donovan breaks the cube apart in his mouth before swallowing. "I hope they let me stay for a while." Donovan sighs, rolling to wrap an arm around the blue lady.
 

"So do I." Galfa responds before looking up at the soft lighting around the room. "But for now, sleep."
 

Donovan chuckles. "Now that I can do." The two remain in their embrace until Donovan's exhausted body finally gives up on consciousness.