'Feels so good Doze.' Daniel replied as he arched his back, flung back his head and angled his stroke.

Sweat was pouring down both their bodies, glistening in the moonlight. The satin sheets beneath them crumpled and lay testament to their earlier lovemaking.

Daniel couldn't remember the last time it had felt this intense, every fibre in his being was burning, burning for the beautiful man who writhed beneath him, urging him on with a series of breathy moans, cries and whimpers.

Hands clawed at his taut back, fingernails digging in deep as Darren lifted his hips up to meet Daniel, to take him deeper, deeper than Daniel had ever thought possible.

'I love you so much.' He panted as he licked the tiny salty beads of perspiration from Darren's forehead, found his lips and consumed him in a passionate kiss, their tongues dueling for dominance in Daniel's mouth.

He felt light-headed, all the blood long since departed for another part of his body, the muscles in his upper arms strained to support his weight as he pounded relentlessly into the tight warmth of Darren.

'Arghh, yes, harder...harder...oh Dan...'

Darren's head thrashed from side to side, his dark hair plastered to his forehead, his mouth parted as he struggled to draw in enough air to satisfy his needy lungs.

Daniel was close. He could feel it growing, knew that Darren was close too.

'Darren...' Daniel closed his eyes, stars beginning to form, 'I'm going to...'

'Captain.' A crisp voice came over the intercom.

'What?' Daniel replied irritably, slowing his movements but continuing to penetrate his lover.

'The long range sensors have detected an 'A' class UNSC scout ship heading our way.'

'Computer freeze program.' Daniel said with a groan and instantly Darren stilled under him. Withdrawing Daniel forced his brain back into command mode, moaning softly as his climax erupted all over his hands and thighs instead of where he had intended it to.

'Captain you ok?' The voice became concerned.

'Perfectly.' Daniel snapped back then taking a deep breath asked, 'How long until it is within hailing distance?'

'54 minutes sir.'

'Ok, I'll be there. Jones over and out.'

Sighing Daniel leant his head back against the silky pillows of the bed, one hand reaching out to caress Darren's cheek. 'Duty calls my love. I'm afraid you'll have to wait until another night.' Kissing the full lips of the unmoving image Daniel rose from the bed and retrieved his scattered clothes, pulling on trousers and top that he had selected along with the program.

Exiting the holodeck he paused. Waiting until he heard the doors gently swish close behind him before continuing to his quarters. He knew that once the doors were in place no one could open them without his own private security code.

Half an hour later freshly showered and attired in something a little more 23rd century, Daniel was standing on the bridge of his ship curious to see who else was journeying this remote sector of the galaxy.

'I have established a visual captain,' the comms officer informed him.

'On screen.'

Immediately the viewing screen that dominated the front section of the bridge was filled with the image of another vessel. Smaller than the one Daniel commanded but bearing the unmistakeable insignia of its own captain.

'Shit.' Daniel cursed under his breath as he caught sight of the bat surrounded by entwined roses.

'I'd say.' Ben, his second in commanded echoed, knowing exactly what the insignia meant.

'What?' A young ensign hissed, looking from the screen to the stonily set face of his superior officers, noting the way his captain was subconsciously clenching and unclenching his fists as they hung by his side. 'What is it?'

Daniel heard and turned to answer him. 'That, Zorban, is the 'Exotica'.'

'The question is,' his second spoke again, 'what is it doing this far out?'

'Only one way to find out Ben.' Daniel said, impatient to find out the answer to that very same question himself, 'Mr Novak, open a hailing frequency.'


~Chapter Two~

The view screen went black then after a brief burst of static was filled with the image of a young man.

First impressions dictated that he was most probably of a similar age to Captain Jones, his hair was also blond although a little lighter and fell in gentle waves to rest upon his shoulders. He was dressed in a regulation pale blue jumpsuit of the United Nations Space Corp but as ever it was his eyes that drew everyone's attention. An intense deep blue that currently reflected the steely gaze displayed by their own captain.

'Captain Jones,' he said, 'what an unexpected surprise.'

'Captain Hayes,' Daniel replied, 'the pleasure is all mine.' Although his words were polite and civil his tone betrayed a barely suppressed anger.

'You're a long way from home Daniel.' Hayes continued.

'I could say the same for you. What brings you this far out?'

'Routine patrol. The Corp has had reports of smugglers supplying guns to the Valdorian rebels. I have instructions to board and search any vessel found in this sector.' Hayes smiled benignly, a smile that didn't quite reach his determinedly set eyes. 'I take you have no objections to a search party boarding your ship...?'

'None at all. We are a peaceful exploration team but are willing to offer whatever co-operation to the Corp that we can.' The ensign noticed that his captain's fists had recommenced clenching and unclenching themselves of their own free will.

Like everyone else he had heard of the rumours surrounding the captain and this Hayes character. Best friends at the Academy they went up through the ranks together before falling out in spectacular fashion over no-one-knew-quite-what. Daniel had decided to go freelance, acquiring his own ship and crew, taking whatever commissions came his way from deep space exploration and scientific expeditions. Hayes meanwhile had remained with the Space Corp, his exploits growing ever more legendary as his fame rose. He was one of the best, the ensign knew that and right now despite the outwardly friendly exchange he couldn't shake the feeling that what he was witnessing was some kind of stand-off between the two men.

'Good, be ready at 16:00. Myself and a search team will transport over.'

'As you wish.' Daniel's reply was curt and brief. He made a small movement with his hand directed at Novak and the visual link was severed.

'I want them supervised at all times.' Daniel informed Ben as they walked down to greet their unexpected guests.

'No problem Dan,' Ben replied, 'they're Corp. I wouldn't trust them further than I could throw them.'

Ben had been Daniel's second in command for the past four years. He knew his captain and could interpret most of his moods, he also counted as the closest thing Daniel ever got to a confidante and friend and thus was allowed a certain degree of informality not granted to his fellow crewmates.

'What about Hayes?' Ben asked as the landing bay doors hissed open revealing their visitors just alighting from their shuttle craft.

'Leave Darren to me.' Daniel said, the icy tone in his voice indicating that this was not an order he would permit to be questioned.

'Gentlemen,' Daniel advanced towards the five man search team, 'Captain Hayes,' inclined his head in the direction of his former friend, 'welcome.'

'Captain Jones.' Darren nodded his acknowledgement of Daniel's greeting. 'This is Mr Lewis my chief security officer, he'll be supervising the search.'

Lewis stepped forward, 'Captain.' His expression at least seemed to appear slightly more relaxed than Hayes's.

Daniel then introduced Ben, informing them that he would be their escort for the duration of their stay upon his ship.

Formalities dealt with Ben lead the team away leaving Daniel and Darren alone.

'So...' Daniel said as Darren just stood there, his eyes roaming around the docking bay.

'So...' Darren echoed.

'Would you care for a guided tour? If my ship is to be your home for the next few days permit me to familiarise you with it.' Or rather permit me to familiarise you with it so that you won't feel the need to snoop around later, Daniel thought.

'But of course. It would indeed be of interest to look around such a handsome vessel.'

Again with the false politeness but what had Daniel expected? Although he had been the one to walk away Darren had been the one to push him and both men knew it. Time may have passed but some wounds never heal completely.

'Then I suggest that we start with the bridge.' Moving to the door Daniel stood back to allow Darren to pass into the corridor and then led the way through his pride and joy.

To Daniel's surprise Darren appeared to be suitably impressed by the kind of operation that he was now running. Admittedly it may not have been so tight as that demanded by the Corp but the ship ran smoothly and crew were loyal. The respect and esteem that they held their captain in was self-evident.

After showing Darren where the guest quarters were Daniel suggested that perhaps Darren would care to join him in his quarters for something to eat.

Obviously having relaxed a little in Daniel's company or maybe just mindful of the need to maintain good relations between his host and the UNSC, Darren agreed.

As had been the case throughout his tour Darren was full of questions for Daniel as they made their way up to senior officers' level. But as had also been the case the questions were purely of a professional nature. Not once had Darren asked how Daniel was nor had either man spoken of the rift that occurred between them.

'And what's in there.' Darren indicated a door off to the right of Daniel's living quarters.

'Storage facilities.'

'Storage facilities?' Darren raised an eyebrow expressively, 'I don't think so somehow. You know that console over there looks awfully like the control panel to a holo suite to me. You have done well for yourself if you can afford to have your own private holo installed. Us mere mortals have to share three between the entire crew.'

Darren moved to the console attempting to gain access.

With a shock Daniel realized that when called away earlier he had merely frozen the program instead of terminating it, fully intending to return to the scenario at the earliest opportunity.

'What's up Daniel? You've gone awfully pale. Something in here you don't want me to see? Some illegal guns perhaps? Well my orders are to search every inch of this ship...' Darren tapped a few commands into the console and then frowned. 'Ah, a security code.' He turned to Daniel with a cold smile on his face. 'Let's see if you are still as predictable as you have always been shall we?' Without a moment's hesitation he tapped in a series of digits, repeating them out loud as he did so. 'Zero Eight Zero Five Two Two Seven Two.' The doors beside them slid open. 'Sometimes Danny you just don't present me with a challenge.' Smirking triumphantly Darren stepped into the holo suite.

Pulling himself up to his full height and determined not to let Darren gain the upper hand in what was bound to be an explosive situation Daniel followed him in, noting with glee the look of absolute shock on his companion's face. Whatever Darren may have expected to find in the suite, Daniel would bet his ship and all it's crew that it wasn't this.

Darren meanwhile was slowly pacing round the room, his eyes wide, hiss jaw slack, all professionalism drained from his body. Daniel watched him as his gaze took in the black drapes hanging in the floor to ceiling windows, the satin sheets upon the bed, the moonlight, the candle light all suspended exactly as there were when Daniel departed earlier that day.

Eventually his gaze returned to the figure lying on the bed, legs and arms akimbo, head thrown back in a vision of ecstasy, the naked body a grotesque parody of recreated passion.

'What the...?' Darren began, whirling 'round on Daniel, his eyes giving away no clue as to the emotion he was feeling. The words died on his lips and he tried again. 'This is...' He swept an arm out to encompass the room, 'I know this place, this is...'

'Venus.' Daniel supplied carefully, still studying his face for any indication of which way this was going to go. Was Darren angry, amused? The face that once was so open to him now remained resolutely closed.

'Venus,' Darren repeated nodding his head and glancing around once more, 'yes Venus, you've fucking recreated fucking Venus.'

And Daniel held his breath waiting for the inevitable meltdown to occur.


~Chapter Three~

Daniel didn't know whether to be relieved or concerned when the anticipated explosion didn't happen.

Instead Darren retraced his steps and went over to the window, parting the curtains to look out upon the swirling green and grey miasma of vapours that made up the artificial atmosphere.

'Good,' Darren said, turning 'round and nodding slowly, 'very good. You've done an excellent job on it...'

'Well it was your program in the first place, I've just 'adapted' it.'

Daniel wasn't sure whether he wouldn't be happier if Darren had blown up at him. He was taking it all very calmly, too calmly for Daniel's liking. He knew with Darren that the slightest little thing could set him off and yet here he was, walking 'round the room, touching the candlesticks, letting his hands run over the silken bedding.

'You know you didn't get it quite right.' Darren indicated the figure still frozen on the bed, 'I think your memory must have failed you.'

'Huh?' Daniel was at a lose as to what answer Darren required of him. So his hair style had changed but they say you always remember the better times. Darren's hair when they had been together had been black so black if had been when Daniel had written the program.

'Daniel, Daniel, you need to add at least two inches onto your program and make it,' Darren waved his hand around, 'slightly thicker.'

Daniel could not believe what he was hearing. But there again Darren had always been very proud of his assets why should he expect otherwise now?

'..and sort out the hair.' He twirled one finger in Daniel's own blond locks, Daniel's heart speeding up involuntarily at the close proximity of their bodies. 'Now if you will excuse me,' smiling condescendingly Darren pushed past him, 'I have a search team to attend to.'

Dinner that night in the officers' mess was a strained affair. Both crews were making a genuine effort to get along. Swapping space stories and catching up on news from other areas of the galaxy, but the tension that existed between the respective captains was palpable. Barely a word was exchanged between them besides the diplomatic niceties expected of a host and his guest.

As soon as it was polite to do so Darren excused himself and departed for the guest quarters.

A little while later Daniel also made his apologies. 'I fear I too must bid you goodnight gentlemen...Mr. Carey a word in my study please.'

'Captain.'

Once there Daniel sat for a few minutes contemplating his steepled fingers, he knew what he was about to ask was highly irregular.

'Ben do you think you can hack into the 'Exotica's' mainframe?'

Ben flexed his fingers theatrically. 'It'll be easier than persuading a Keraki to sell his own sister.'

Daniel laughed.

'Can I ask what I am looking for?'

'I want you to download Hayes's holodeck programs.'

'Any program in particular...?' The second in command fished.

'Bennnn.' Daniel said warningly.

'Sir.' Ben understood. Informality only went so far. Standing up he nodded in deference. 'I'll have it for you by 14:00 tomorrow.'

'Thank you.'

 

Listlessly Daniel scrolled through the list of downloaded programs.

Light-saber_1

Light_saber_2

Jedi_1

Jedi_2

Jedi_3

Daniel could see that Darren's obsession with late 20th/early 21st century Earth culture hadn't diminished over the years. He knew exactly what those programs would contain.

UNSC_345_a_572

UNSC_910_h_299

Daniel shrugged. Corp training programs.

Gamma_6

Daniel stopped scrolling. Gamma? Gamma? Now why did that name ring a bell?

He clicked on the file to open it...and was not terribly surprised to see that it had a standard Corp six digit encryption access code on it.

'Well Darren,' he said out loud, 'let's see if you are as vain as you always were.' His fingers flew over the number pad as he mimicked Darren's actions from the previous day. 'Zero Four, One, Nine, Zero, Eight.' With a satisfied sigh Daniel slunk down in his chair and watched as the view screen in front of him came alive with a scene.

A palatial open plan villa on a warm summer's day. A babbling fountain in the background and in the foreground an area covered with shimmering golden fabric and dozens of large reclining cushions made of a similar fabric.

He recognized this program.

Gamma of course, it was...'Ganymede.' Daniel said with a smile. As he continued to observe the unfolding scene before him memories came flooding back. This had been another one of his and Darren's favourite programs. Even now Daniel could feel the warm, gentle breeze on his skin as he and Darren had lain on the cushions, sipping honey mead from a love cup, basking in the sunlight and the glow of each other after their lovemaking.

Daniel checked the access log. Darren had last activated this program only five weeks ago.

So it would appear that he wasn't the only one still revisiting old scenarios, scenarios that they had created together, researched and programmed with the sole intention of creating somewhere beautiful they could escape to, where they could be alone, undisturbed.

Daniel also had a sneaking feeling that if he let the program run on for long enough he would soon see an image of himself appear. It was time to confront Darren.

Walking back out onto the bridge he enquired of Novak as to the whereabouts of captain Hayes.

Lee pressed a few buttons on his console trying to locate Darren's body signature. 'I'm afraid I can't get a reading, sir.' He answered.

'Well keep trying, he's on the ship somewhere, find him.' Frustrated that Darren appeared to have momentarily disappeared Daniel turned on his heel. 'And when you do, notify me immediately. I shall be...' He thought for a few seconds, why not, if he couldn't have it out with the real life Darren, he could at least finish what he had started with the holographic one. 'I shall be in my holo suite.'


~Chapter Four~

Slipping into his preferred 'costume' of a pair of loose-fitting deep green silk trousers and an equally loose tunic of the same colour, Daniel reactivated the program and entered the suite. The naked holographic Darren was lying there waiting for him, his head propped up with one hand.

Seeing Daniel he rose off of the bed and came over to greet him.

'Danny my love, I've missed you.'

'I've missed you too my angel.' And Daniel drew him into a deep kiss, his hands tangling in Darren's dark hair sighing audibly as an eager tongue thrust into his mouth, hot and passionate, dueling with his own, each seeking out the sweetness of their lover.

Pulling back Darren smiled and held out his hand. 'You look tense, let me ease your pain for you.'

Willing Daniel let himself be lead to the bed and gently undressed, Darren then rearranging the pillows on the bed and encouraging Daniel to lay so that he was on his stomach, his head rested on his folded arms.

Not for the first time Daniel was glad for the way the holodeck had been designed, the features that allowed the program to response to his mood, to inject an element of randomness into the proceedings. Many an evening he had come down here and done nothing more than merely talk with Darren, telling him about his day, the places he had seen, the far-flung destinations that the ship had visited. As much as he missed the physical side of his relationship with the real life Darren he also missed the closeness they had had, the being able to talk about anything, to share what was going on in their lives.

Sighing Daniel sunk his head down further onto the pillow and gave himself over to Darren as he felt something warm trickle onto his back and then skilful hands begin to massage the knotted muscles of his shoulders.

'So why are you so tense tonight?' Darren asked, his hands moving slowly down to work on Daniel's back.

Daniel smiled. How to explain to the holographic Darren that his real life counterpart had shown up after all these years and that said counterpart wasn't quite so compliant as he was? And how to say all this so that the recreated Darren wouldn't get in a strop and throw a temper tantrum.

Although Daniel had concentrated on Darren's finer qualities when complying his program he had also left some of the not quite so attractive features in, namely his penchant for pitching hissy fits and acting like a complete Diva. Well it kept the program interesting and made for great make-up sex.

Finally Daniel settled on, 'An old friend has turned up and let's just say we didn't exactly welcome each other with open arms.'

'Anyone I know?' Darren's hands glided up and down the length of Daniel's left arm.

'No.' Daniel replied truthfully, 'It is someone I knew before I met you.'

It wasn't a lie. It wasn't until later, until after they split that Daniel had started incorporating his ex-lover into his holodeck programs. After all when they had been together there had been no need for holographic representations. He had had the real thing. Had it and lost it.

The hands stilled. 'An old friend or an old lover?'

Okay, leaving the jealous streak in may have, in hindsight, not been the wisest of moves but along with the jealously Daniel had also retained the possessiveness, the caring, the feeling of belonging. Now it could all backfire terribly on him.

Hang on, what was he on about? If, by the conclusion of this session, the hologram was pissed at him, he could just simply wipe his memory log and start again with a 'fresh' Darren.

Yet that kind of defeated the object for Daniel. He had been 'running ' this Darren for the past year and had become used to just picking up where they had left off each time.

'It doesn't matter,' Daniel told him rolling over, 'it was all in the past. What matters now is that I am here with you.'

'No, I want to know. Was he better than me in bed?'

'Darren!' Daniel grabbed him with both arms and pulled him tight flush against his body.

'Well?' Darren demanded presenting Daniel with a very divaesque pout which just made Daniel burst into laughter.

'I'd say you were about the same.' Daniel said trying very hard to keep a straight face.

'Humph!' Obviously Darren wasn't very impressed with his reply, 'I'll just have to try and do something about that. I'll prove to you that I'm better than any lover you've ever had.'

'Oh yeah and just how precisely do you intend to do that?' Daniel lips ghosted over Darren's neck.

Darren smiled mischievously and reaching down took Daniel's cock in his hand, squeezing gently, Daniel instantly moaning gently.

'I'm going to make you feel so good my love.'

Daniel nodded and smiled. At last he was going to get the kind of tension release that he enjoyed the most.

Repositioning himself Darren poured some more of the oil over his fingers, letting the excess drip onto the sheets below.

Moments later those fingers were carefully massaging Daniel's most sensitive area before one tentatively slipped in.

'Ahhhhh.' Daniel let his head fall back and closed his eyes, the heavenly sensation washing over him.

Opening his eyes, his hands found Darren's shoulders, slid up to stroke the raven strands that now fell over Darren's face, tenderly tucking them back behind his ears only to have them fall forward again.

'Now Darren, now... '

Obediently Darren complied, supporting himself on his forearms either side of Daniel's head, slowly and carefully he pushed in, waiting, observing.

Running his hands over Darren's shoulders Daniel let him know that he should continue and moments later Darren was fully sheathed within his body.

Daniel gazed into his dark eyes. 'I love you so much.'

'Is. That. Right?' Darren questioned, his lips brushing over Daniel's forehead, eyelids, cheeks, jawline before once more finding Daniel's own and thereby cutting off any answer he may have been about to give.

So instead Daniel raised his hips, grinding himself against Darren, effectively trapping his cock between their bodies, moaning from growing need as it throbbed hard against him. Briefly he thought back to what real life Darren had said the day before regarding the need for Daniel to 'amend' his program. He didn't see what the problem was himself, Darren's cock had always served him more than adequately in it's current dimensions, in fact more than adequately. Like the rest of Darren Daniel thought it was just perfect, beautiful and strong and just perfect.

Thoughts of the real Darren quickly dissipated as his doppelganger withdrew and then thrust back in, this time with a little more force.

Very soon they were moving together as one entity, Daniel groaning with each thrust forward Darren made, his own arousal aching, begging for release. Without being prompted Darren lowered his body, altered his angle, increasing the friction between their sweaty, glistening torsos.

Daniel wanted to make this last, he didn't know when he would next get the opportunity to use this program and there was something special about tonight, he could sense it but not quite identify what it was. Maybe it was the knowledge that the real Darren was still loose on the ship somewhere and could come bursting in on them at any moment. Maybe it was this added frisson that heightened Daniel's senses, made him more aware of his surroundings, made him explode with such force when Darren came within him.

When Darren cried out his name softly with such tenderness. As if the syllables were something to be savoured like a rich, ripe exotic fruit.

Afterwards they both just lay there, fingers lazily tracing over sated bodies, tracing contours, Darren scooping up Daniel's spent seed and licking it delicately from his fingertips.

Daniel knew that sooner or later he would have to tear himself away, go have his delayed talk with real life Darren, sort out what lay between them. Find out why Darren was still running the Gannymede program. Maybe he should have studied it for a little longer, maybe Darren wasn't running it with him in mind, maybe he had programmed a completely new lover into the scene. Maybe, maybe. Maybe's were not going to clear the air nor heal the rift, if indeed Darren did want to heal things.

Turning to the hologram Daniel drew him down for one last heated kiss, drawing back he let his fingertips linger on Darren's perfect, full lips. 'I love you Darren.' Even if he could never say it to the original he could at least express the love that had never left his heart to his imitator.

'I love you too Daniel.' Darren replied, sucking Daniel's finger into his mouth, his blue eyes sparkling, still slightly hazy with afterglow.

Daniel sighed. Oh well at least one of the two loved him.

'Captain.'

Ben's timing was gradually improving.

'Yes?' Both men replied automatically.