An Intergalactic Mate Swap

Nick looked at Val and they both smiled and nodded. "Yeah, that would be great. Is your number still the same?" Nick asked Mike.

"Yup, same old," he replied.

Nick nodded. "Alright well, maybe we can catch up again soon. Me and Val have to go check in to our hotel before we head out into the city later."

Liz and Mike nodded. "Yeah, same. The four of us have a couple apartments already rented out in Upper Manhattan so we're going to check them out, maybe kick back a while until tonight," Liz explained.

"Alright, well, take care, guys," Nick said, before turning toward the tiger and tigress, "And nice meeting you too."

Mike, Liz, Rajah and Akaya waved and said their goodbyes to the human and violet-skinned alien girlfriend.

"Take care of him for me, Val. Who knows when he may need to be saved from a falling satellite dish again," Mike chuckled.

Nick rolled his eyes and smirked. "Very funny, Sanborn."

They waved each other off one last time before Mike and his three companions slung their bags back over their shoulders and continued off in one direction of the bustling terminal while Nick and Val continued off in another.

As they were walking away, Liz looked over her shoulder at Nick and Val with a smile. Nick had a slight limp in his step as he walked but his loving girlfriend was more than happy to maintain the pace and help him along when needed. She had her hand intertwined with her human lover's as they walked away.

"Are you hungry yet? You know I'll let you at any time, baby," Nick said to Val, which Liz overheard.

Val gave Nick a playful smack on the arm, saying, "Shhh, not here."

The two hooked their arms around each other and their conversation faded off as they rounded a corner and were gone. Liz turned back to her husband and two companions.

"They're a cute couple," Liz said to the three, smiling.

Akaya nodded her striped muzzle at the human. "I agree. Anyone who claims that interspecies matings don't work can take a look at those two," she replied.

Akaya and Rajah gave each other a quick knowing glance after that comment, smiling at each other oddly as if they knew something that Mike and Liz didn't. Mike looked at his wife with raised eyebrows for a brief second before shrugging and continuing on through the spaceport.

As they continued on to security and the baggage claim beyond, Mike and Liz walked close to each other, the two humans both just glad to be back home with each other. Their hands entwined together and they simply smiled and gazed at each other even as they winded their way through the humans and aliens alike that shuffled around them.

At one point both Mike and Liz cast their gazes behind them to look at Akaya and Rajah. They too had been walking close together as dedicated mates would, but they also appeared to be debating something with each other as they walked. Akaya had leaned over to whisper into Rajah's ear as the two seemed to be looking at their human friends ahead of them. Only when they took notice of Mike and Liz looking back at them incredulously did they cease their hushed conversation and pretend like nothing had happened.

Liz turned back toward Mike with a slight frown.

"Have you noticed that they've been acting a bit strange since the shuttle flight? I keep noticing them having hushed conversations with each other, like they're hiding something from us," she whispered to Mike.

He shrugged. "Cmon, we've been friends with Rajah and Akaya for longer than you and I can remember. They wouldn't deliberately hide something from us. It could be they're nervous about being on Earth for the first time." His eyes then lit up as an idea came to him. "Or, could be that they have some sort of New Year's surprise planned for us tonight. I bet that's what it is; maybe they are actually hiding something from us like you said," he laughed.

They continued on for another few minutes until they arrived at the baggage claim. Liz spun around and abruptly shoved her duffle into her husband's arms with a smirk.

"You're on suitcase duty. I'm going to head outside and see if I can find us a hovertaxi to the apartment," Liz said.

Mike nodded in acceptance before Akaya and Rajah looked at each other a moment. Akaya ran up after her friend as she was walking toward the exit doors.

"Liz, may I come with you?" Akaya asked, propping her paw up on the female human's shoulder.

Liz looked at her a moment and shrugged. "Sure, why not?"

Mike and Rajah looked on as their wives made their way out the exit doors before they turned to face the baggage claim. Mike looked at his comrade who was idly tapping the claws of his feet (Kataarans wore no shoes) on the conveyor belt of the baggage claim.

"So, how you find Earth? I mean I know we haven't left the spaceport yet but how so far?" Mike asked Rajah.

Rajah wrinkled his whiskers and looked around at his surroundings, rubbing the back of his neck. "Quite a lot of people. Kataara isn't nearly this populated. It's something to get used to," he replied.

Mike nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it probably is a lot to adjust to at first. I spent my childhood growing up in this city before I moved out to the colonies so I'm used to it. Don't worry though, the whole planet isn't like this. We'll be visiting less populated areas in a few days," he assured his friend.

Rajah shook his head. "No, no, I'm not worried. It's because Kataara had such a small population that me and Akaya joined the marines to visit other places and meet new people. It's fascinating to see so many people in one area," he replied eagerly.

Mike laughed at the other marine. "You'll definitely fit in with New York then. And just wait until we visit China."

By now the bags had started flowing down the baggage claim for the shuttle passengers to begin retrieving them. Mike and Rajah however were at the very end of the baggage claim away from everyone else; therefore they'd probably have to wait some time before they could retrieve all four suitcases.

Mike turned back toward Rajah, who appeared to be twiddling his paws as if he were nervous about something. After a few more moments of the awkward silence, Mike finally decided to press him about it.

"Rajah," he said, causing the tiger to look over at him. "Is there anything you need to get off your chest, bud? I couldn't help but notice that you and Akaya seemed to be in a heated discussion about something."

Rajah gulped and looked down at the conveyor belt. "Unless, you'd rather not talk about it," Mike then said.

Rajah then shook his head, replying, "No, in fact I really need to 'get this off my chest' as you put it," he said, turning to the human. Mike gulped, readying himself for what might be said to him now.

Rajah looked around to make sure no one was near enough to eavesdrop before he began.

"First off, let me just say that me and Akaya are both grateful that you brought us with you on this furlough, we're both very honored to be visiting your homeworld."

Mike smiled. "No problem, man. I told you before, we're glad to have you here with us. That's what friends are for."

Rajah nodded. "It really does mean a lot to us though. Still, recent circumstances have me...dwelling on things. Me and Akaya both," he continued.

Mike frowned. "What things? And what recent circumstances?"

Rajah took a deep breath to calm himself before going on. "Well...as you may have figured out a long time ago, Akaya and I aren't very much involved with many of the more dogmatic traditions of our own people. It's yet another reason for us leaving Kataara and joining the marines. Don't get me wrong, we are proud of our species, but we just consider some of our more rigid customs to be a bit of a hindrance," he explained.

Mike nodded with a smirk. "I can understand that. Me and Liz have never been ones for the religions of our own species either."

Rajah nodded. "But, as much as we try to avoid a lot of those customs, we do have to adhere to them to a certain degree. And I fear that one of the most important customs of our species has finally caught up with us after all these years."

"What is it?" Mike asked.

"It's a ritual called Sahaia. Essentially, at least once in a Kataaran's lifetime, one must undergo a social experience of sorts with another sentient being. Early in our people's history, this started off as a way of strengthening bonds amongst clan members. Now though in recent centuries, as Kataara has run low on resources and we've had to resort to diplomacy with the other races to attain a livelihood, Sahaia has become far more than that. Now, at least once in our life, we Kataarans must have a bonding social experience with a member of another species, in order to be considered a fully contributing member to Kataaran civilization," Rajah thoroughly explained.

Mike took this all in before he slowly nodded. "Well that's good, because isn't that what you're doing now? You and Akaya are bonding with me and Liz by visiting our homeworld and spending time with us, right?"

Rajah rubbed that back of his neck again and let out a brief laugh. "Yes...err, well, there's a little more to it than that. The ritual I mean."

Mike frowned and his eyebrows rose. "What does Sahaia actually involve?"

Rajah frowned and his pointed ears drooped with embarrassment. "This is where it becomes terribly...awkward for me," Rajah said with dejection.

"Come on dude, you can tell me. We've been in combat together; after all that you shouldn't be afraid to tell me about some ritual," Mike chuckled.

Rajah looked back up at him. "Promise me you won't be angry. And give me some time to explain myself before you jump to conclusions."

Mike looked at him with a rather nervous frown before he slowly nodded. "Ok, I promise."

Rajah stared at him intently before he nodded and continued. "Very well; Sahaia, as I said, involves a social experience shared with a member of another species. However, the social experience in question is one of an...intimate nature," Rajah said before cringing after the words left his maw.

Mike froze up and his eyes grew larger with lethargic understanding. "You...mean?"

Rajah nodded as they both made the same connection. "Yes...a Kataaran must mate with a member of another species."

Mike was practically speechless at hearing this. "Every Kataaran is expected to do this? How does that even work?" he gasped.

"Please understand that the ritual is meant to be an acceptance and trust ritual. After all, it takes a great deal of trust for one person to expose themselves physically and emotionally to another being. It's not merely a...what is the human term, 'one night fling.' Becoming friends with the other species of the Federation has become an essential part of our culture; without it, our entire way of life may have well crumbled without the support of our alliance with humans and galkrons and vithians and all the other Federation races. Sahaia is merely a way of bonding with friends of another species and extending our gratitude that we value their friendship and cooperation," Rajah said.

Mike nodded before a revelation hit him like a flying brick. His eyebrows rose and he looked at Rajah with a frown.

"You've got to be kidding me...you don't mean, you and me...and THAT! We're both married and friends and..."

Rajah's laughing drowned out his outburst. He waved his hands to put Mike's argument to a halt.

"It's not like that, Michael. I didn't mean that you and I would be doing it," he laughed.

Mike relaxed and wiped a sweat from his brow. He then laughed too, thinking of how foolish he'd been by thinking that. "Phew, that's a relief," he chuckled.

Rajah frowned again though. "You were partially correct in one regard though. The fact that Akaya and I are already mated does complicate Sahaia for us. Ordinarily, a Kataaran would undergo this mating ritual in their adolescence and prior to mateship in order to prevent infidelity and mistrust between mates. However, me and Akaya have foolishly pushed this ritual off for too long and now we really have a problem on our hands. We love and cherish each other with all of our hearts and souls. The last thing we would want to do is deceive the other for the sake of this ritual."

Mike frowned with concern. "What happens if you go your adulthood without performing Sahaia?"

Rajah shrugged. "Akaya and I will basically become pariahs of our own species. Some Kataarans who have forsaken the ritual have been permanently exiled from Kataara as a result. They are considered dead weight in our people's diplomatic relations with the Federation, since they are not willing to sacrifice for the sake of friendship. Ordinarily this wouldn't be an issue in our case because we haven't been back home on Kataara in years. But...permanent exile is something else entirely. The thought of never being able to visit family on our own homeworld because of this ritual is something neither of us relish," he grimly stated.

"Exile? That's pretty harsh, and all because of some supposed mating ritual!" Mike said.

Rajah nodded. "Some think so as well. However, our people take the ritual very seriously. To partake in this ritual means that you have cast off your selfish shackles and have opened yourself up to friendship with another being fully and completely. It's actually, in a way, the lifeblood of our entire culture as we know it today."

Mike nodded with understanding. "I see. So, what are you two going to do? If you're already married, how will this work?"

Rajah shook his head to himself. "We...have a solution in mind already. Me and Akaya have both agreed that we will both not pick up a random person each to fulfill our commitment with. That is not trust and that is not a true bonded friendship. We have both decided that, in order to fulfill Sahaia, we will both bond with close friends...friends who we would trust our lives with."

Mike sat back and once again felt his cheeks redden with embarrassment as the situation finally dawned on him, as well as a full understanding of how he and Liz factored into this.

"Mike; Akaya and I need your help. We need you and Liz's help with this. We don't want to be ousted by our own people because we are considered noncontributory to our species' well-being. So...what I am asking of you, the burden that I ask of you personally...is to mate with Akaya. As shocking as this will sound to you, I need you to open yourself up and have sex with my mate," Rajah concluded.

Mike was still at a loss for words. He looked around to see if anyone had overheard them. It was then that he realized that most of the people had already left the baggage claim and that they hadn't even retrieved their suitcases yet.

He couldn't believe this. His best friend had essentially just asked him to have sex with his wife, and a member of another species at that. But then it just hit him: Liz. Surely that meant that Liz had to come into this somehow.

He turned back toward Rajah and gulped. "And...Liz?"

Rajah bit his lip and rubbed his arm. "Mike...I'm sorry...I don't know what to say. Please know that Akaya and I don't take pleasure in laying this burden on you."

"Liz would be your mate for Sahaia, wouldn't she? This is what you're proposing: a wifeswap. Am I right?" Mike asked in all seriousness.

Rajah looked him in the eye briefly and sheepishly nodded. "It is."

Mike shook his head, flabbergasted at what he'd been told over the past few minutes.

"Rajah...I don't know what to say...I," his voice trailed off.

Rajah shook his head. "Forget it. Me and Akaya will find another way. We should never have forced this pressure on you, especially after you welcomed us onto your planet and everything. Please forgive me and forget that I ever mentioned this. If you so wish, we can go back to the way things were before and never bring this affair up again."

Rajah frowned sorrowfully and picked up his suitcase as it passed by the conveyor belt. Just as he reached out for the next one, he heard Mike softly curse under his breath and turn back toward him.

"Rajah," he said.

Rajah looked back up at his human friend with glistening eyes. Mike didn't look angry but actually appeared to have understanding on his face.

"Look...I still can't believe what you've told me...but...something else that just occurred to me is that, you and Akaya truly do love each other. He looked into his tiger-like, striped face and asked, "You do love her don't you?"

Rajah didn't even have to hesitate to answer that. "With every fiber of my being. She is my love, my life; I'd do anything for her," Rajah affirmed shamelessly.

Mike nodded, hearing the truthfulness in his voice. "I feel the same way about Liz. She is literally my entire life. I'd be lost without her in my life. I'm just as faithfully devoted to her as you are with Akaya," he said.

Rajah nodded. "Yes, you're right. I've yet to see a couple as utterly devoted to each other as you and Liz are with each other."

"Which brings me to my next point; as long as I am in love with my wife and you are in love with yours, then...what is really the problem with this? You don't see this coming between our marriages or friendships, do you?" Mike asked Rajah.

Rajah immediately shook his head. "No, absolutely not. This will never come between the bonds that we have for our mates. And I assure you that this can just be a one-time ritual and after that, everything can fall back to the way it was, if you and Liz so wish."

Mike nodded as he still reconciled this entire situation with an open mind. Truly he found Akaya to be attractive, even despite the obvious differences between their species. Still though, the thought of actually mating with one was...daunting. Not to mention of course, the thought of his beloved wife doing the same with his best friend was... He didn't know what it was.

With a little more optimism, Mike's mouth spread into a grin. "So...Rajah, what do you think of Liz?" he asked.

Rajah's eyes widened as he raised his hands as if to defend himself. "Mike, please...I meant no offense. I swear that I would never want to come between the two of you! I have the utmost respect for you and Liz!" he gasped.

Mike chuckled. "Relax, Rajah. It was a sincere question. What do you really think about Liz?"

Rajah relaxed when he realized that Mike wasn't angry, but was rather asking him out of all honesty.

He sighed and said. "She's a very good friend, an honest person at heart, very intelligent and strong. I dare say that I don't know of another female that I'd more depend on, besides Akaya of course," Rajah replied.

Mike smiled and his eyebrows rose. He leaned and close and whispered. "Is that all? Surely you must think something else of her."

Rajah gulped and looked away in embarrassment, the fur of his cheeks standing up on end, almost like a human would blush.

"Well...alright, I must admit that...she is quite slender and with a very pleasing face...and soft skin," Rajah sheepishly said.

Mike couldn't help but burst out laughing after this. "Oh this is rich, Rajah! You totally have the hots for my wife!" he joked.

Rajah shook his head quickly. "No I don't! I was merely pointing out her positive attributes!" he defended himself.

Mike gave a mock nod. "Uh huh...sure," he joked.

Rajah laughed along with him. "Well, if it's any consolation, Akaya has told me several times that she is actually quite attracted to you."

Now Mike shut up and gulped as he was put under the spotlight. "She...is?" he croaked.

Rajah nodded, crossing his arms and grinning. "That's right. She told me that she would have mated with you in a heartbeat if she wasn't already mated with me," he said with all honesty.

Mike blushed, picking up his conveniently-passing suitcase to ease his awkwardness. "Geez Rajah," he replied shyly.