Atreydes shook his head, sighed again, and made his way back to Traci. The thought of having locked her in the scavanger tickled his fancy, but if what Ty had said was true, if Mardi and Doni were still after his skin, he could always use her as a human shield. It was only a thought.
Reynolds settled for a particularly cutting glare at tehm both. She had heard of the language smugglers used to talk privately, but had never heard it. And noone had ever cracked the code either. That tehy had had the _nerve_ to use it in front of her-effectively cutting off her ability to communicate was more than annoying. She was going to make him pay.
Scott grabbed her elbow and forced her walking, when she began to rpotest he squeezed her arm, not gently and hissed in her ear. 
"Shut up and walk ok? We aren't alone, and this place has more ears than a tribeskian slugbeast." 
Traci's mouth formed an "oh."

"Bonnie" he subvocalized, not bothering to hide what he was saying "can you scramble any listening devices in the area?" 
=^Not reliably, you'll have to be closer to my main processor for that to work. Unfortunately, that's back on DSDN. This portable you downloaded me into doesn't give me room enough to swing a neuron.=^ 

"I will take care of our comfort." Ty assured Scott as the human looked up and shook his head. "Smugglers have some honor. And more than enough greed to buy us some privacy." 
"Not to mention enough greed to sell you a scrambler of the highest quality?" He returned. 
Ty grinned, clear fangs sparkling in the dim light. "You've not forgotten everything cub."

There was a general tide of hugs and good natured jeering once they recognized him. Although his leaving had seemed to them a betrayel, time had washed away most of the insult from the wounds, and his returning with a starfleeter only seemed to justify their beliefs that he failed in his new life.
 So because they were gracious winners, although poor losers, Bonnie noted, the overall feeling was of quiet acceptance. And monstrous smiles that said "I told you so." 
"Say the word." Urged Tweety, a willowy andonesian. "We can have her on teh next transport out."
 ::My Gods.:: he thought, as she hung on him, no not hung, _draped_ ::She gets longer limbed every time I see her...and heavier handed...if what she has can be considered hands...::
 "Or even..." Tweety continued, her words dropping lower and becoming more sensual "not on a transport at all." 
::Latrines.:: Scott thought firmly, tempted by more than the thought of Reynolds leaving through the nearest airlock ::Outhouses. Duke's potty training.:: 
It was fortunate that Ty rescued him, thinking about such things never seemed to work when his hormones were concerned. 
Ty laughed his shaggy hide jingling.
"It cannot be healthy for you to still be untouched cub. Even young adolescents of your species mate." 
"_Will you keep your voice down?!_" Trey demeanded in a harsh whisper, scandalized. "Tell the whole world that I'm a virgin why don't you? That will really blow my image." "Well well..." Traci drawled "And to think I figured all you arrogant pirates kissed the girls and made them cry."
 Scott groaned.
"Of course I guess you stopped at the kisss Trey." She continued "And took to just leaving the girls."
 =^uh oh...=^ Bonnie warned
::That again. Mardi and Doni don't have teh corner on grudge holding that's for sure.:: "Your image is already shattered Scott." Mardi challenged angrily "Not only by leaving us, but by returning on your shield in the thrall of the Federation." 
An uncomfortable silence fell at the words. Many of Treys' old comrades murmurred in agreement, others moved neare or further to Atreydes. 
"Now is not the time for petty bickering." Ty answered in a growl "we have buisness to discuss."
 "We _had_ buisenss already." Doni came to Mardi's defense "Or have you forgotten our next mission is already off schedule?"
 "It is not." Announced Gavin "We traded off our flight against the Dragons debt. They're making our run for us, and it cost us nothing but their favor owed us."
 "Which was a valuable assett to have." Countered the other. "We could have held that-" "But we did not." Ty overrode, reminding them all who was in charge "And although you may choose to forget it, Atreydes _saved_ your life. And the lives of many others. _He_ was the one that ended up in the Garidian salt mines sufferring under forced labor and lashings while you escaped-"
 "Ty please..." Scott begged, yanking his arm "not here, don't make a scene." 
"Do you call me a coward?" The words whipped cold from his mouth.
 "I call you rash." He answered, shaking off the arm that clutched at him.
 "Come on." Urged someone from teh crowd "you mentioned buisness?"
 It was as good an escape as any, Mardi melted into the crowd. 
"And profit." Traci assured them all "And for a good cause." 

Ty met Atreydes eyes and shook his head. This was not over, and he was losing control over the two smugglers. 

=^He can't keep you safe much longer there Trey.^= Bonnie fretted =^Mardi and Doni were never this bad, what has happened?=^
 "I'm not sure. Unless they kept magnifying my alleged sin until its taken on larger proportions. But Ty shouldn't have brought up Garidia."
 =^It brought attention to you leaving them yes. But it also brought them to remember you were part of tehm too. As well as holding off those two.=^ 
"They can pack up their insults and drag 'em up after I'm gone." he said softyly as Traci laid out the plan "If they don't kill me first"
 =^And if they let you leave them a second time...I noticed Tweety still has all three eyes for you...and you poor celibate dear...=^ 
"Not you too?" he sighed. He seemd to be doing that alot.