Chapter 9: Planning Ahead Part 2

Scott resided in Veleshar’s quarters. He sat on the couch as he typed a letter from his projected hand.

It was a grueling task. The man’s right finger would tap on the little keyboard. While simple to do, it was as if his fingers were made of lead. The look of pure anguish resided on his face.

The email message so far read out as “I wish to go home. I formerly request to retur...,” but he froze. He couldn’t type another word as his hand fell to his legs. He looked straight ahead, hands ready to clench shut down while he fought with his emotions. He didn’t seem scared but frustrated.

The door slid open as Veleshar stepped inside. She turned her head and immediately saw the man sitting there.

“Scott?” She called out to him.

The door closed. She froze a little bit before a look of concern could be seen on her face. Scott said nothing to her as his hand trembled a little bit.

“Scott, talk to me,” she politely told him. “Please...”

She kneeled down to the ground, her fin tail neatly wrapping around her knees and touching the man’s boots.

It was enough to distract the man from what he was typing. Veleshar began to read it.

“Oh ... Scott,” she said with discernment in her voice.

The man took a deep breath before closing his hand, shutting off the message he was typing. He closed his eyes before he recomposed himself.

“You know...” He explained. “I should have known what I was stepping into when I came aboard this ship. Coming aboard ... putting myself in danger ... no excuse. I would return home, and the others would say, ‘I told you so.’ Maybe they would just tell me that I was on some fool’s errand. Others would just expect me to lay with the Itreans and retire from military service, be the good boy, and make babies.”

“Scott...,” she remarked.

“You did this on purpose, didn’t you? You waited for me to come onboard before you planned out one of the most dangerous missions to ever come into existence ... something that would get us all killed.”

“That isn’t true,” she said, shaking her head. “What you did was wonderful in helping me out earlier. Thank you for speaking on my behalf.”

“I was protecting you from them ... but I know that one ... five? Five ships ... against an entire armada? It doesn’t take a genius to know that we would be walking straight into a hornet’s nest ... no ... make that dozens of hornet’s nests.” He chuckled a little bit. “Sure ... why not? The human needed a little joy ride. Let’s just fly around the Aksren capital ... hope nobody shoots us down in the process.”

Veleshar gripped the man’s hand. “Would it make you feel comfortable to know that I’m scared, too?” she explained with sincerity. There was a hint of fear in her voice that seemed to take the man by surprise.

“Why then?” he asked her. “Ok ... so ... let’s go and ... let’s just try to do what we did before. The bad guys send a few ships, and ... we go after them ... yeah. I patch up your holes ... make your guns work ... all good.”

“Because this war needs to come to an end, Scott.” She stood up, while holding the man’s hand before sitting down next to him.

“Then let’s have a better plan, Veleshar ... one that won’t get us blown to bits in the process.”

“There is no other plan,” she explained. “The T’rintar wouldn’t accept it. They’re too scared to engage in offensive operations unless they absolutely know they will win.”

“I know...”

“I’ve thought long and hard on this, beloved mate. I remember when this ship was designed. I pictured that it would be able to slip through most defenses if it was done correctly. Gular’shel wanted this warship to be the ultimate anti-Emphra ship. He got his wish ... I believe this ship can protect us from the Emphra, but it can do so much more. He never wanted to admit it to me, but he felt that this ship design ... if the Itreans built enough of them, could force the enemy to surrender. It can shape all our destinies.”

The man took a deep breath. “But that’s the problem, isn’t it? There’s one of us and all of them.”

“Yes, but it was no different than the Emphra. They came in so many numbers ... hulls that blackened the skies of planets. The Itreans had to fight against those odds. Because of that, we became stronger and smarter and defeated them. It was what Gular’shel told me.”

“I just don’t know enough about the Emphra to say much.”

“Me too. But I know this. I’ve been formulating this operation for a very long time, for as long as my former mate passed away in my arms as the disease took him away from me.”

“But I don’t understand. How is this going to allow us to win a war? Your people, all of the Itreans ... you have hundreds of worlds ... thousands. Knocking out one ring platform isn’t going to stop the Aksren.”

“No, but it will be a blow to them, regardless. The Aksren clan are a people that are blind to what is happening around them. The propaganda is so strong they don’t know about what’s happening with the T’rintar and humans. They don’t know about the fact that baby boys are being born again.”

“And?”

“I know this because I felt the same way as they did, Scott. The Aksren don’t just feel that way, but the Shal’rein as well. Years ago, I would have never believed it ... it would have been impossible. Aliens? They were little more than T’rintar pets two years ago. If I never found the truth, I would still fight for the Shal’rein cause. I would follow the orders of my Autarch, use this ship to raid and damage T’rintar worlds..., and maybe even use it to assault Mars or Cebravis.”

That was a horrifying thought. Scott kept note of that.

“I see,” he said.

“Many Itreans don’t know about the truth,” she continued. “But for now, I have to focus on the present. Do you know of the Magneirpa Paradox?”

“The ... what? No ... I’ve never heard of it.”

“It is a widely discussed topic in the Itrean echelon ... one that scares the T’rintar, is accepted in the Aksren, and disbelieved by the Shal’rein clan. However, it all relates to one inevitable conclusion ... the T’rintar clan has about... 1000... 2,000 years of life expectancy left.”

Scott gave a confused look. “What?”

“Even before the Emphra War, the Yutilians felt that they would be next after the Alara’jal were decimated. A ... Yutilian, by the name of Magneirpa, studied for years, compiling data and information. He concluded that the Aksren and Shal’rein clans would slowly wipe out the Yutilian clan.”

“How?” he asked. “It looks like the Yutilians ... the T’rintar are still doing well.”

Veleshar smiled and looked forward. “There are ... new elements that Magneirpa hadn’t known, of course ... things that he didn’t know today.”

“If the T’rintar are wiped out, we get wiped out...”

“And eventually, the Shal’rein clan. The Aksren clan will rule the galaxy without any hindrance from us. I didn’t believe it at first. Gular’shel did ... a few of the Shal’rein Adjuncts, but...”

“They didn’t want to believe that they would be exterminated.”

“But ... it’s as you feel,” Veleshar continued. “There are many things that happened between Magneirpa’s time and today. He didn’t know about the Emphra, the United Itrean Republic, Zilik’s Disease, and meeting humanity. The fact is, Scott, that humanity has been a great moment for T’rintar history. It’s not a matter of when the T’rintar clan will be wiped out, but ‘if.’”

“In other words, we have a fighting chance...”

“Exactly,” Veleshar said with a smile. “The Aksren clan are the only true threat to our survival, and that’s only on the surface. Many of their people are good. They just don’t know about our sacrifices. They’re forced to fight by their leadership. I believe that by doing what we do now, we not only damage their will to fight but show the Aksren that war has come to their home. Many of the elite will panic and fear seeing a part of their infrastructure can be damaged. Others will sue for peace. The results won’t be immediate, but even if we convince a few, it might be enough...”

“How? Their home is being attacked. Wouldn’t that just anger them?”

“It can,” she explained. “But, it’s a risk that we have to take. We have to give our people hope. Hope can carry us to great lengths. It can convince the T’rintar clan to commit to more offensive actions and hit other areas in Aksren space that they can undoubtedly win if they only commit to. Today, they have greater reason to fight. It’s no longer just survival, but actual faith in a brighter future for all Itreans ... one that will outshine what the original United Itrean Republic struggled so hard in trying to achieve.”

Scott sighed as he considered it. He let go of Veleshar’s hand before standing up. Slight anguish could be seen from him as he walked over to the nearby bulkhead and put his hands over his face.

“I just...,” he tried to explain before his hands down. “I don’t want to die based on something that ... looks quite obvious is ... suicidal. There’s a difference between protecting one’s homeland and invading another.”

“You feel like the T’rintar?” she asked.

“Yes ... no ... I don’t know. Look, I’m no coward, ok? Like, I’ll fight, but...”

“It’s ok, Scott. Compared to how you felt, you still defended me against the other Yutilian Adjuncts. You probably did more in those few minutes than what took me months to achieve.”

“Yeah ... something that can get us killed. Maybe it’s because I’ve been let down so many times in the past. I’ve been ... fucking betrayed by the people that I loved. A part of me almost wishes to go on this mission of yours. If I die, then so be it, but I know the moment that I see the others, see their faces, I know that there is something else going on. You purposely waited on doing this mission until I came aboard. I imagined a possible battle during these couple of weeks ... I get it ... you’re at war, but we aren’t meant to be tossed into the meatgrinder on some feeling.”

“I don’t view my crew ... you, or Yui’to as meat,” she replied. “It ... almost sounds like you’re having doubts ... about me.”

“Maybe ... maybe you’re right,” Scott frowned. “I haven’t seen enough ... know enough about you. But, I don’t believe you can pull this off, Veleshar ... I’m sorry.”

There was a long pause as Veleshar looked down. She didn’t seem overtly sad or disappointed, but she knew her lover was being pushed to the limit.

“You are right that I haven’t considered your feelings in this manner,” she explained to him. “It was wrong for me to put you into this ... you chose to be here after I convinced you to do it. For that, I’m sorry. For that, I give you an offer ... you may choose to return back to your home.”

Scott took a deep breath. Was this what he truly wanted? Veleshar was giving him an option. A part of him hated the idea almost immediately. His heart began to pound a little bit. To be separated from the woman that he loved was like a knife shoved into his chest. This time, it wouldn’t be the past girlfriends who left him; he would be the one who left her. However, participating in this mission was certain death. The Aksren clan were sure to do everything in their physical power to kill him. But, even if he went home, it may only delay the inevitable.

“I ... don’t know...,” he said in slight frustration. He could see a momentary pause before Veleshar confessed to him.

“ ... Yui’to is pregnant,” she told him.

The man froze in place. His reaction was one that Veleshar observed carefully.

Scott was quiet at first when he heard it. In reality, he was completely shocked. It was like someone zapped him with a stun gun.

It couldn’t be true ... yet it was. No, it had to be a lie, but it wasn’t. The emotions were everywhere. Joy, frustration, surprise, anger, happiness, it all hit him at once. It was pure chaos in the man’s mind.

He became lightheaded. His hand went to his head as he was on the verge of collapsing.

“It ... how?” he finally said.

Scott’s brain was quick to provide an answer.

“I was given ... the treatment,” he said.

“Yes,” Veleshar answered.

“The shot ... when I first came on board.”

“Yes,” she answered.

“ ... I ... why?”

Veleshar took a deep breath through her nostrils. “Because...”

“Because?”

“Because I want to become a mother again.”

Scott put his hands to his sides as he huffed. “You ... didn’t tell me about it! Let me guess. You got my medical file from the UHN and created it. You didn’t ask me ... you just did it!”

“What did you expect, Scott?” Veleshar told him. “If I were human and didn’t have birth control, you would have had the same chance of getting us pregnant.”

The man tried to control his emotions. “I...” he lowered his voice. “I feel like I was violated.”

“But, you wanted to become a father...”

“I do ... I do...”

“Then you have everything here, Scott. We have care, doctors, food, supplies, babysitters, and everything to take care of Yui’to’s child. Don’t worry ... it isn’t like a UHN ship. Family comes with us.”

“Till a torpedo finishes off,” Scott scuffed.

“No different than being on a planet and the enemy drops bombs on your home. No place is safe, but at the same time, the safest place for children is with their parents.”

Scott had to remind himself of the Itrean way. His mind went to the Gersin onboard. The warships were generational platforms. Veleshar was right. One nuclear warhead dropped from orbit, and his family would have been cooked. He could understand a little bit of Itrean philosophy and why they brought their closest family on board. Even then, his mind was reeling from the sudden news.

“Yui’to is pregnant...,” Scott said. “You absolutely mean that? This isn’t some feign practical joke?”

“No joke,” Veleshar replied. “Yui’to found out this morning. She was going to tell you herself, but I felt it was best that I told you now ... before you made a decision you might regret later on. Scott, sit down ... it’s ok.”

The man was still befuddled. His anger was starting to fade as reality sank in more and more. The fact was that a part of him felt that something was off about that shot that he had back in the medical bay. He should have known.

He looked at Veleshar. There was no anger, anguish, or ill intentions from her reactions. To him, she was purity. She extended her hand to him almost as if she were like an angel beckoning him to approach the gates of heaven. Finally, he caved in. He walked over and sat down next to her. He plopped down on the couch almost as if he ran a three-mile run.

Veleshar extended her arm and pulled the man’s head and torso to her side. She cradled him, pressing his cheek to her shoulder. Her shark-like fin caressed his legs as if she were trying to enfold him.

“There...,” she said with the quietest calm and beauty to him. “How does that feel?”

Scott could feel his heartbeat slow as he felt himself grow more and more calm. “A lot of emotions...”

“Heh ... that’s how I felt when I found out I became pregnant with Shira. So many emotions ... A part of me felt exactly like you did.”

“You wanted to go home?”

“ ... Yes. I remember telling Gular’shel that I wanted to be closer to home. He insisted on staying on the ship ... pressing forward with his ideas of trying to find the Emphra. From the stories that I heard ... I was scared ... but ... everything was fine. I trusted in my mate, the people around me.” She paused. “Life finds a way, Scott. I understand your frustrations ... your feelings. I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you what I did. It’s my fault, but I want you to be happy ... just as Yui’to.”

The man paused as he considered it. “I just wished it was you that got pregnant first. You should have been pregnant, not her.”

Veleshar smiled. “Me too.”

“You really want to have children?”

She did a slow nod. “Yes ... no doubt. It’s a new beginning ... I want to be a part of it. I feel it ... and I want you to experience it, Scott ... my beloved mate. But ... you have to do me a favor.”

“What?”

“Don’t lose faith,” she explained in a soothing tone. “I promise you that we will survive ... after we accomplish everything, my fertility is yours.”

Her words were like magic. Even with the threat of a suicidal mission looming around the corner, Scott felt himself relax more and more to Veleshar’s proposal. Was it wrong for Yui’to to be pregnant? Was it a disaster?

No ... Scott looked deep into his soul. He had his answer. A wave of happiness melted into his soul more and more.

“I’m going to be a father...,” he said.

“Yes,” she happily replied. “And I promise you as many children as you want.”

His hand found hers as he gripped it hard. Veleshar closed her eyes and pressed her snout to the man’s forehead. Then, she brought his hand to her stomach and held it there.

“Fine...,” he quietly told her. “I guess we stick it to the Aksren, then.”

The door slid open as Veleshar slowly lifted her snout away from the man’s face. Yui’to walked in wearing her gym clothes. It was clear that she had spent time working out prior to coming in.

“You missed another day of working out with me,” Yui’to said to him.

“Well, being told of a possible suicide mission does things to you,” he replied.

She seemed like she was in agreement but did her best to remain firm.

“No excuses,” she happily told him.

“That and finding out that I’m going to be a father...”

Yui’to’s bottom jaw seemed to cringe a little bit. The shark-like woman took her thumb and wiped the edge of her lip.

“I told him,” Veleshar said.

“I can tell,” Yui’to replied. “Yeah ... Don’t know if it’s a boy or girl, but...”

“Were you in on it?” Scott asked her.

“ ... No ... I just remember Veleshar asking me when my next cycle was going to begin.”

“I take responsibility for this,” Veleshar replied. “Yui’to speaks the truth.”

“If I would have known...,” the man tried to say.

Yui’to held her gray hand up as a gesture to stop. “My ... only fear is that having children in no mateship brings no honor.”

“Yui’to,” Scott told her. “You will not bear dishonor. I’m looking for a mate.”

The tall shark-like woman nodded. “Thank you,” she replied. “I, too, am looking for a mate. I currently hold mateship to the Greater Adjunct. Do you agree to become mates between Veleshar and me?”

“Yes,” Scott said.

“Don’t leave this ship...,” Yui’to firmly told him. “Even if there are some ... disagreements,” she resisted, bringing her shark-like eyes to Veleshar. “Do you agree to raise our child and to bear mateship?”

“Yes,” the man said without question.

A gentle smile appeared on Yui’to’s face. “Then our child will be born into an honorable family ... a true mate ... worthy of my fertility.”

It was based on old traditions from her that a sense of relief could be seen. Even if Veleshar had pushed some form of progressive change, Yui’to still felt ties to her past. No doubt in Itrean society, to be doing what Scott and Yui’to had been doing earlier had still bothered the tall Shal’rein to a point. Being pregnant was the final trigger for her to realize that.

With Veleshar, her eyes lowered a little bit, almost as if she were acknowledging what she had heard. Finally, she did a few quick nods and smiled.

Yuito’s face showed some contentment. She began to take off her clothing, starting with her sports bra. She was on her way to the restroom.

“I feel like celebrating in the pool,” she told them both. “You two can sit there or join me.”

Veleshar looked over to Scott. She gripped the man’s hand and began to stand up.

“Come on, Scott,” she told him. “Your reward for being with us ... for staying with me...”

The man stood up as he felt himself being guided to the restroom. He could see Yui’to was already topless as she was in the process of pulling her stretchy shorts off of her. Veleshar and Scott were next. They began the long process of taking their uniforms off. For a brief moment, the man could see the naked, tall Shal’rein as she stripped herself completely nude. She used her tail to help balance herself before standing up, her hair laid down to her shoulders. Her bare back showed her muscular frame that ran down to her tail and firm buttocks. She headed toward the restroom before disappearing.

“How do you Shal’rein keep up such good shapes?” the man asked.

“Years of forced and natural evolution, Scott,” Veleshar answered as she took the top portion of her uniform off.

“Still ... It’s amazing how you two look.”

She seemed happy to hear of it. “What do you think is the most beautiful part of me?”

The woman lifted her shirt, causing her to expose her breasts. Her bountiful bosom showed a hint of white and gray. It caused the man’s eyes to naturally look toward it.

“Your hair,” he told her. “It always looks like your hair is made of rope.”

“You don’t like it wrapped up?” she asked.

“It’s ok, but ... I admit, I like Yui’to’s straight hair.”

“I hear a lot of talking in that room!” Yui’to yelled out past the restroom in the direction of the bathtub.

“She’s a little ... aggressive with the patience department,” Scott tried to quiet down.

“I heard that!”

“Damn you guys and your sensitive hearing,” Scott smiled and shook his head. “How does anyone get away with not keeping secrets?”

He tossed the shirt to the side and exposed his bare chest. He was in the process of yanking his boots off when he saw Veleshar pop her bra off. Her large breasts plopped free, seeing them bounce a little bit before coming to a stop.

How was a man supposed to fight against seeing such a large bust? The fact was that it was simply impossible. Scott still remembered the topless Gersin. Of course, she had larger breasts, but Veleshar was still quite huge. He could already feel a growing erection before reminding himself to undress.

Yes ... he thought to himself. He pulled his pants off before starting with his boxer shorts. The man knew that he had to stay on this ship. Even with the threat of the battle being planned ahead, this had to be a trial for him.

In fairness, there was much for him to argue to stay. Besides the obvious reality of being a father, Scott knew that the attack on Renlar was a test. He always felt that most men were spoiled by the countless women that they could receive. A part of him almost felt like it was unfair to the others who used to be so desperate just to find a good woman out there.

Now ... he could have every woman out there, all available at his fingertips. He could very well knock up every Itrean woman on the ship if he wanted. But there had to be a price. There was always a price. Maybe it wasn’t that much for the others, but in his mind, Scott took things into consideration that if he could have all of this, he needed to do something about it. He needed to provide something in return.

Yes, he was going to stay. This time, he meant it for real. No more complaining. No more fear. There was no looking back. His next letter to the UHN would be his resignation. He had a place on this ship, and it would be at Veleshar’s side. However, he would have little time to reconcile his final decision completely.

He took a deep breath, exposing his muscular frame to her. Despite her taller size, she seemed impressed by his studded naked frame. The more and more he admired the Shal’rein body, the more and more he felt drawn away by naked human women entirely. There was something about them. It wasn’t necessarily that they were bigger or more robust. They were simply just better. They were more robust, more likely to survive against the ravages of nature, and lived longer. It all translated into beauty that he admired.

They had almost finished undressing. Veleshar tossed her panties to the bed as Scott had a glamorous shot of her backside and rear end. He was increasingly reminded about the goddess he fell in love with. She was the center of the universe. He took a deep breath and wrapped his hands around her back. Passionately, she received his embrace as she lifted her head up, feeling the man’s hand against the base of her tail. The fingers flowed down, feeling the edge of her ass crack. Meanwhile, his other hand went up and tried to cup one of her large breasts. His fingers inter-lapped around her nipple before he applied pressure to the tip, feeling a dribble of warm milk land on it.

“Mmmm...” she lightly cooed. Come on,” she opened her eyes and grabbed Scott’s hand. Let’s go to the pool...”

They both moved to the pool with a slight hint of haste. It didn’t take them long before they entered past the restroom.

The pool awaited. Yui’to tapped her hand to the panel, activating the water jets. The bubbles activated, and a hint of a smile could be seen on her face. She was sitting in her familiar corner, water splashing against her breasts. Meanwhile, Veleshar and Scott looked at the rim of the tub.

“Ah...” Veleshar said as she extended her webbed foot into the large tub of warm water. “No matter if it’s a busy day or an easy day, a dip in the water always feels refreshing.”

“Can’t deny that,” Scott replied. While Veleshar emerged into the pool, the man was next, dipping his legs into the pool. He member was still in a semi-rigid state.

Once again, the feel of the warm water was revitalizing. Any anguish, hint of anxiety, or frustration melted away the moment his foot touched the warm water.

There was splashing. The sound of moving water filled the scene. He watched as Veleshar sat down not far from Yui’to. It was the first time seeing the two women naked together. He couldn’t deny his level of excitement over seeing the pair together.

“Damn,” he remarked as he fully emersed himself in the pool.

Yui’to wrapped her arm around Veleshar’s shoulder, watching the spectacle of the human that was waddling through the water. They noted his full erection.

“About time...,” Yui’to said.

“I would say the same thing in reverse,” Scott said. “About time having the both of you in here.”

“It is true ... Greater Adjunct, we need to set up our watches ... I believe Greater Centurion Gaba’terka is ready to take up the command watches.”

“Hmmm...,” Veleshar remarked. “Perhaps you’re right ... give you more of an excuse to be together with us...”

“Yes...”

Scott closed in on the two women, almost tripping on one of the women’s tail in the process. Veleshar lifted her head, exposing much of her neck. He watched as Yui’to turned her head to face Veleshar. Her nostrils flared as her snout was brought close to her neck. Finally, she slowly opened her mouth, exposing her teeth before biting down upon her captain’s shoulder and neck.

“Mmm...,” Veleshar remarked, closing her eyes to relish in it. “Scott, my other shoulder...”

“What?” he asked.

“Bite my other shoulder...” she gestured to her neck.

Scott understood. He wasn’t used to the idea of biting another woman, but Shal’rein were built to be stronger. He could watch as Yui’to would shift her jaws and teeth. It looked like she was strong enough to break Veleshar’s shoulder and collarbone with her bite, her teeth seemingly piercing into the flesh. However, the man couldn’t see any blood being drawn. He saw Yui’to’s hand go to the woman’s breasts, bracing it as she continued to latch onto her.

The man responded in kind. He leaned down and kissed Veleshar on the side of her snout before opening his mouth. His teeth were exposed as he brought his jaw closer and closer to Veleshar’s other exposed side. The warmth of her gray, scaly skin was present. He could feel his lips press against her skin before he also bit down upon her. His teeth pinched down hard.

“Ah...,” Veleshar quietly remarked as her body felt like it was going limp. “That’s perfect...”

Scott leaned more and more into the woman’s body, his hand also bracing against the other exposed breast. Veleshar lifted one hand and neatly wrapped it around the man’s member. Her other hand seemed to be going towards Yui’to’s crotch. Instinctively, Scott stopped playing with Veleshar’s breast and brought it closer, feeling her smooth, warm, pale white belly before bringing it down to her nether regions.

The man felt a growing desire. As Veleshar pumped Scott with her hand, the man bit harder. How hard could he bite? From his thoughts, he knew he could be as aggressive as he wanted. Human teeth weren’t that strong enough to really hurt her. He used more force into his bite as the woman slowly gasped.

“Harder...,” she beckoned. “No ... not you, Yui’to ... I mean Scott.”

Using his left hand, Scott repositioned his teeth before biting harder into the woman’s neck. He knew that he couldn’t pierce her skin, no matter how hard he tried. The warm, smooth body pressed against his. Scott could feel his member being manipulated and pleasured. At the same time, the man could also note that Yui’to was feeling pleasure from Veleshar’s fingers.

It was like Veleshar sat on a throne as her subjects pleasured her. Perhaps that was how she even viewed herself. Scott wondered if that were the case. There was nothing really wrong with the concept. She was the captain, after all. However, the man felt there was more to it. Veleshar preferred to be the center of attention. She might have been acting friendly and compassionate towards others, but there was still a hint of control that she was exerting towards others. Scott had seen her as an outgrowth of a Yutilian, being that of a manipulator. Of course, it didn’t weigh too heavily on his mind as he was more enraptured in the sexual event.