"Where to, Dix?" Jev asked in a hushed tone. 

"I'd like to get to the cargo hold to see if they're after anything in there. Might be the best chance to ambush them if we can take them by surprise."

"Are we carrying anything of value?"

"Not a lot. We may be able to hide Lo and Nibbler and move on from there."

They were halfway down an access corridor when footsteps and voices sounded ahead of them. Dix noticed a storage room beside them. He opened the door and ushered the younger two inside. Then he and Jev squeezed in and shut the door behind them. 

Jev was pressed up against Tan Kade who was panting and jittery. Lo was stone faced and silent. The physician knew that Tan was hyperventilating and it could cost them. He place his hands on the young cook and framed his face with them. 

"Nibbler," he whispered. "Take a deep breath. Come on. Just one deep breath." 

He took a shaky breath that helped negligibly. The sound of the footsteps were very close now and Tan needed to quiet down more. Jev then firmly braced the cook's face in his hands and kissed him. At first Nibbler resisted but Jev's mouth explored Tan's forcefully at first then his intensity diminished and his lips and tongue lingered. The cook, who had been tense in Jev's grip, relaxed and all but turned limp. As their mouths parted Tan expelled a long and slow sigh. He stood there staring at Jev. 

"That wasn't necessary." Lo stated flatly after a moment of silence, watching how compelling Jev’s contact was on Nibbler.

"I think there were only two of them. We can take them out!" Dix nudged Jev. 

"Stay here ok?" Jev told the youths. He caressed Lo's face briefly before his hand was swatted away. 

The two men stepped out into the corridor. Lo glanced at Nibbler in the dim light. Though they were the same age Lo seemed much more mature. He never was jealous of anyone before but seeing Jev kiss the cook so suddenly and in such cramped quarters was a shock. 

"I'm sorry Lo Qyun. I didn't mean for Jev to do that." Tan Kade's apology was breathy and wistful. 

"It's ok. You had no idea Jev would do that."

After a moment of thought, Tan asked, "You guys are together, right?"

Lo nodded and shrugged dismissively. 

"If he kissed me like that I can't imagine how he kisses you! He must be amazing. Oh! What else does he do well? He must be so passionate-"

"Nibbler! Now is not the time ok?" Lo was trying to move beyond the visual of Jev’s kiss in his mind, which both irritated him and excited him.

They remained quiet for awhile. Lo was listening in case Jev and Dix called for them. He also was watching Nibbler out of the corner of his eye. He seemed to have a perplexed look in his face and he seemed oblivious to the situation on the ship. 

"What's wrong, Tan?"

The young cook gave Lo a tentative sidelong glance. "That was my first kiss."

"Really?"

"Truth."

"But I thought..." Lo realized that he had never seen Nibbler close to anyone before. "So, no one on the ship?"

"No. Never."

Again, more silence.

"What did you like about Jev's kiss?" It took a bit of nerve to ask that question. 

"I don't know. It was a surprise—exciting." He brought his hand up to his lips. "My lips felt so alive when his mouth touched mine."

"Yeah, that's what I like too." The words slipped out before Lo could catch them. The dreamy look on Tan's face prompted Lo into action. He stepped into Nibbler pinning him against the wall and then he placed a kiss onto the cooks lips, first soft and tender and then quickly he slid his tongue into Nibbler's thin mouth. Next he sucked Tan's bottom lip and bit it playfully. Finally just as he slowly pulled away he let his wet tongue glide lightly along his top lip licking the corner of his mouth teasingly. A soft moan escaped from Nibbler's throat. 

"Now you have a comparison." Lo smirked. His pang of jealousy seemed to be tempered after giving Tan his own rendition of a passionate kiss. However, it only added to his arousal.

Footsteps approached and a voice called out. "Hey boys, it's clear." Dix used a low tone but loud enough to hear from the storage unit. Lo shoved the door open. 

"What happened?" The mechanic asked the engineer. 

"We got them in the engine room! Jev got grazed by a shot but he's got it under control. They're tied up now. We need you guys to stand guard so we can go find others."

Dixon looked over at Nibbler as he stepped out to stand behind Lo. He noticed that the young cook was blushing and kept his hands in front of himself. "C'mon."

He led them back. Jev had a flesh wound on his right leg near his hip. He was tightening the restraints on the marauders laying unconscious. Both were bound tightly. When he stood, Jev glanced at Lo and motioned that his injury wasn't an issue. He nodded to Dix who then addressed the boys.

"You both have weapons. Use them if they move." Dixon was stern. Both Lo and Tan nodded. The men left them and headed down the corridor. 

The cook turned and stared down at their captives. Lo held his pistol out in front of himself and pointed at the two men at his feet. Tan then pulled out the gun from his pants and cradled it.