“I'd love to take a look at some Alien tech, I've never worked with any before."

Alyssa smiled at her friend's enthusiasm, then asked curiously, "Who exactly are the ‘Ashanath'?"

John took a big breath, then explained for the Listening girls, "They live in the Ashanath Collective and it's very close to Terran Space. Actually, most of the Terran Federation's territory used to be part of the Ashanath Collective. They were one of the first alien species to develop FTL drives and they claimed a vast number of worlds completely unchallenged. Terra was one of those worlds and the Ashanath were the first race to make contact with humanity."

Calara was quite well versed with the major alien species, but this was all new for Alyssa and Sparks and they were fascinated as they listened to his tale. All three were familiar with tales of legendary Terra, the birthplace of humanity, but none of them had ever visited the planet.

“So how did the Terran Federation gain all that territory if it used to belong to the Ashanath?" Alyssa asked curiously.

"Well the Greys are basically pacifistic scientists and they don't really seem interested in colonising lots of worlds or fighting to hold territory. Humanity is obsessed with those things though, so the Terran Federation has annexed sector after sector that used to belong to the Ashanath Collective. The Greys have agreed to all their demands, probably just to keep the peace."

Sparks frowned, and asked, "The 'Greys'?"

“Oh, sorry. Terrans nicknamed them 'Greys' and the name has stuck for over 70® years," he explained with a smile. John Looked thoughtful as he tried to recall anything else he could remember about the mysterious aliens, and he added, “The Ashanath are obsessed with cataloguing and studying all types of flora and fauna and that's how they first made themselves known to Terrans, with abductions and cattle mutilations.

“Have you ever met one before?" Sparks asked John.

He nodded, then replied, "Yes, a few. They're happy to trade with almost anyone, and their FTL drive tech is second to none, but their tech is expensive. I used to courier parts from Ashana, the Greys homeworld, to a few specialist buyers in the Core Worlds."

“What do they look like?" Sparks asked, leaning in and listening avidly.

He thought about the last time he'd seen the strange aliens, and replied, "They have grey skin, big black eyes, are short and thin, and they can be pretty strange. In all honesty, they creep the hell out of me."

“I can't wait to see one!" Alyssa gasped excitedly.

“I'm not sure you'll feel the same way once you've been around them for a while," John said with a wry smile. "Their homeworld is fascinating though, you should enjoy seeing that."

“What's so special about it?" Sparks asked, her curiosity peaked.

“You'll just have to wait and see!" John replied teasing her with a wide grin.

The girls tried to get him to tell them, but John was resistant to their interrogation techniques. The teenagers eventually resorted to trying to tickle it out of him, but once those gloves were off, he gave back as good as he got. The girls eventually begged for mercy as they lay panting and giggling, strewn about the sofas.

“Come on ladies, time for bed I think," John said, and helped them up. They retired to his quarters and snuggled in to the big bed, where Alyssa and Calara watched Sparks blow him eagerly. Once she had been topped up, the redhead curled up on John's right side, with Alyssa behind her, stroking her distended stomach comfortingly and Calara settled into her usual position on the left. Feeling satiated and relaxed, John settled into a deep sleep and the girls all joined him shortly afterwards.

Coed

John descended into blackness as his consciousness slipped away, but tonight something new and different happened. He began to dream.

He'd never experienced dreams or nightmares before, sleeping Like the dead every night for his 40 long years and always waking completely refreshed. Tonight though, the darkness began to fade, as random thoughts and emotions began to swirl around in his mind; insubstantial, fleeting things, that he tried to hang on to but they were elusive and slipped through his fingers. In the swirling maelstrom of his unconscious mind, an image began to coalesce and he concentrated with all his will to try and discern what it was. It suddenly snapped into sharp focus with shocking clarity.

He stood over a world like a colossus, proud and mighty, as legions of women surrounded him worshipping at his feet. Rather than revelling in their adulation however, he felt jealousy, rage and resentment at unseen figures who might covet his minions. The anger and thirst for power were blinding in their intensity, and he felt all consuming hate towards his rivals. He would crush them all and take what they had for his own.