After that strange nightmare



Chapter 1: Foreword

Galaxy at War

Book II in the Roy Master Cycle

A Galactic |Chronicles Story by

Vanessa Racencroft

©2013 Mc Cullough County – Texas

The year is 4930 (Old Terran Time); Earth is now generally known as Terra. It is only a small part of a gigantic mega society officially called the United Stars of the Galaxies, but by everyone simply refered to as the Union.

Roy Masters, born on Green Hell, one of the most dangerous and deadly worlds in the known Universe, just turned sixteen, lost his parents to a Pirate attack and helped foil a scheme of the Kermac that almost destroyed his home planet. He and his alien pet, an Imperial Fury Beast are now on their way to Sares Prime, where he supposed to go to College. While he travels to the exotic home system of the Saresii, the Galaxy prepares for war.

Roy is about 6'2" and has very athletic body with steel hard muscles. He is quite strong and has lighting fast reflexes.

A unique sense of danger and quick wits make him an opponent to be recognized.

Chapter 1: Red Alert

Only eight days had passed since the Kermac attacked Green Hell, trying to excavate and secure an ancient Saresii space ship, buried there for over a million standard years. Events that culminated in the revelation that the president of the United Stars himself was a Kermac Spy.

Roy had been at the very center of these events and some of it was still hard to understand. He was just a teenager of a backwater world after all.

Green Hell did not develop into one of the most dangerous planets in the known Universe on its own, but was the result of a bio weapon program of the Old Saresii. A sentient machine left behind had developed into its own entity and acted as a protector of the planet and its diverse and dangerous biosphere.

The machine represented by the projection of a woman with the name Qaroniel wanted him to learn

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<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Less than ten hours ago, Cara, Partner and Roy had boarded this exotic looking Saresii space ship at the space port of Harper's Junction.

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<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Not able to sleep after that strange nightmare he had. In that dream he saw his mother and his father in a cave like place, dirty and wearing rags and being prisoners of someone or something.

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<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">While the Saresii Ship was quite fast, it still had to cross almost the entire Upward Sector and then cross into the Spinward Sector from Green Hell to Sares Prime. In terms of distance almost 35,000 light years and even though the Saresii Ship traveled through Quasi Space at the incredible speed of 42,875 times the speed of light, it would take over 298 days to reach the destination if his calculation was right. Yet Cara had told him they would make it in less than 20 days. In moments like this he knew he should have paid more attention in school and not skip the Neural Upload sessions like he did so often. He wondered how this would be accomplished.

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<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He took a cold shower and got dressed in his usual camo- pattern Bio seal suit. His quarters were spacious and had an alien feminine character, well everything except that huge black beast, still lying in the big bed. Partner raised his head and blinked with his glowing eyes as if to say. "Is it time to get up?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy went over and rubbed the animals chest."Don't get up. It's still too early, but I can't sleep I had a weird dream. I see if I can scare up some breakfast."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Partner sneezed, licked over Roy's arm and squeezed his eyes shut.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I bet you are the laziest sleepy beast of them all." He gave his Pet a hug and received a wave of warm emotions from the beast.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Then he went to the exit. The door of this bubble like room without any straight walls or sharp corners, was a five leaf iris and it made a turning motion and chirping sound as it opened.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The corridor behind his door had a cross section of a wide egg shaped oval and the walls were made of a smooth white plastic like translucent material. A a soft bluish light behind the material gave all a clinical antiseptic atmosphere.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara had shown him to his quarters as they left Harper's Junction yesterday, so far he had seen little else of the ship.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Not knowing which direction to go he hesitated for a moment and then simply went to the right.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">It didn't take long and a long legged, very female shaped Saresii wearing a white cat suit, with fine black lines down the sides. Her ample chest was clearly defined underneath that shinny white material and on top of her left boob the Union Flag, while a series of alien writing on the right side most likely identified her name. If it was a her of course, despite the fact she looked like a fashion model with a killer body, long shiny black hair and a beautiful face with large eyes and voluptuous lips; she could very well be a Saresii male. From what he learned from Cara there were no visual differences."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She smiled at him "Hello Mr. Masters. I am Doctor Seniie and the CMO of this vessel. I am surprised to see you up at this hour."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Nice to meet you Doc. I had a nightmare and could not sleep so I decided to find the galley and some breakfast and then look around a little,if that is okay of course." "Of course, there are no areas of this ship that are restricted to you, this isn't a Union Navy Vessel. There are verbal serve-matics in your quarters and there is a Galley on Deck three. Easy to find if you take the next IST and tell it where you want to go."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I suspected there would be, but I wanted to walk a little."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Why don't you accompany me to Sick Bay. I begin my shift with a good cup of Terran Coffee and a few donuts. I can't stand this weak Saresii Tea we supposed to love."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"A donut doesn't sound to bad. Got any Boston creme?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I am sure the Serve Matic can print one if we don't."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy changed direction and followed the medical officer and decided she had to be female. No man would have such a nice behind.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The doctor sighed and then said. "Cara told me you did not have much exposure to other Union members on Green Hell, but I have to disappoint you. I am a male Saresii."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy blushed and remembered that Saresii were all psionic gifted and almost all of them were Telepaths. "I am sorry for..."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Don't be sorry and don't worry we don't dig. That is against the law and we take those Psi laws very serious, if you are curious I don't mind answering your questions." "How is it you have female hips then and fill out that skin tight thing..without..uhm.." "We do this for a very long time and perfected it, it is still sort of a disguise but after millenia it is very natural to us. To all this there are Saresii Body-shapers,machines able to rearange the molecules of your body in many shapes."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Ah that explains why you are all tall legged super beauties."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Indeed and if you want you can try it too."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Maybe some other time. Right now I am sort of okay with what I got and all that."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"But maybe we could look into your Nightmare, only if you want, but that is sort of a Saresii specialty."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">They reached a IST tube and stepped in. The Saresii Doctor asked the System for Sickbay and Roy said. "Sure I don't mind that, since it was such a weird dream. You do tell me before you do any Psycho Surgery right?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I wouldn't perform it on anyone if my life depends on it. I am very much against these procedures."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I thought you Saresii invented it." "We did, a very long time ago like so many other things but it was the Terrans who took it to a new level and it is a very controversial issue among the Medical professionals all over our Union."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The IST car stopped and released them into a corridor looking exactly like the one they had left, except it was bigger. They did not have to go far and reached a transparent iris door with the standard Union symbol for medical services on it, a blue star like cross with a snake in the middle. The door opened and the Doctor led him into bright office and gestured towards a visitor chair. "Make yourself at home while I get the coffee going." He pointed to a blue and chrome contraption. "This is the Serve-Matic. Check if they o have that Boston creme thing and order two. I like to try too."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Aren't you going to use it for the Coffee?" "Oh no, I have a an old Terran Coffee machine. With real ground coffee. There is no Serve-matic that can reproduce the real aroma of Coffee, you'll see."

<p lang="en-US" style="widows:2;orphans:2">Roy turned to the artistic shaped Serve-Matic. "System, do you have Boston creme Donuts?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The blue field turned red. "No such item on file, one moment please. Accessing GalNet, 233 Replication Files found." "Check if they have Dunkin Donuts." That was Ranger Solomon's favorite and Melissa's parents had a Dunkin Donuts dedicated Replicator in their Restaurant.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Selection accepted, Molecule pattern downloading...Processing,"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Behind the transparent section of the Replicator, the Molecule printing arm started spinning and begun to print the Donuts molecule layer by molecule layer. It spun so fast no human eye could possibly see it but underneath he could see the donuts grow. Roy always loved to watch Food printers.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Suddenly there was a heavenly invigorating scent in the air followed by a happy gargling sound. Of course he knew coffee and how it smelled, but this was different.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He turned and saw the doctor filling two mugs from a bulbous carafe and said. "Milk, Sugar?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Uncle Sam drinks it black. So I try it that way first."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Good choice."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">For a small while the didn't say anything. Eating the fresh donuts and the bitter, hot oh so delicious coffee. For the moment the world was perfect for both of them.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The doctor finished his donut. "They are my favorite kind from now on."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"And I will never think of Coffee the same way. This stuff is the Whamo."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Doctor got up and Roy wondered why a man with a set of such nice breasts would not try to..he pushed the thoughts away and was surprised by them. He hoped he hadn't noticed them.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I would not get done anything all day, that's why." The Doctor grinned and took a small device from a shelf behind him. "I am going to perform a basic health scan and then check your cerebral activities for any abnormalities first. Simply to make sure your Nightmares are not caused by any physical condition."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy nodded."I never had any nightmares before and most certainly not of my parents sitting in a prison like cave with rags."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The doctor waved the device over Roy and raised an eyebrow. "Are you able to remember your dream in details?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Very much, every detail. They were in a cave like room, with metal bars on the open side. There were nine others with them, six humans, two Pan Sarans and one Klack. All wore tattered and ripped Uniforms. The Klack had a name tag with the name H'thkjik."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He looked at his scanner. "Physically you are a picture of human health, but your Pineal Gland is very active, and it appears your HPI has increased to by about 100 points."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Doctor still looked at his device and Roy said. "Anything I need to worry about?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Medic looked up, his face was unreadable as he said. "No not at all, but I would like to do a few more tests, if that nightmare ever re-occurs."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Just then Cara came in and closed her eyes while she inhaled. "They may be barbarians, those Terrans, but nothing compares to their Coffee."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The doctor gestured to the coffee maker and said. "Help yourself,I made a whole pot."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She smiled at Roy and and filled a mug. "I think this stuff is the real reason we Saresii joined the Union."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy said. "I never had any coffee like this."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She sat down and said."You are up bright and early?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He told her the same story about his nightmare and the doctor handed her the scanner after he had finished and said. "Nothing to worry about but as I told Roy if it occurs again I would to run a Meissner – Norrlu test."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She glanced at it and then at the doctor and Roy had the feeling they had a psionic conversation and said aloud. "That would be advisable." To Roy she said, "It was rude of us and looks deceiving, but the psionic way of conversation is simply faster." She looked directly at Roy. "There is nothing to worry about, but I promised myself to be honest to you,you saved my life after all and I treasure your friendship. We have , well he has a theory about your nightmare and its cause"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy straightened in the seat. "Should I not know about it?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She sighed. "We didn't want to cause you emotional distress, but your mother was psionic gifted and that could have been a telepathic residue projection when she died and it finally made its way to your mind. Things like this are very rare but not unprecedented, especially among next of kin."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy frowned. "I actually had a notion it might be something like that."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The doctor leaned forward. "The Meissner-Norlu Test is made by a device that is basically a psionic energy detector that searches for the source of psionic induced dreams, but it works only when it occurs or very shortly after."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The possibility that his now dead mother had sent out psionic messages to him was quite unnerving and did affect him emotionally more than he thought it would. "He quickly took a large sip of coffee to fight the knot in his throat and said. "I guess sometimes it is better if a patient doesn't know all the details. I am sorry."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She put her hand on his and said. "You are among friends, even if some of us are weird Cross Dressers in your mind."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy shook his head. "I didn't think like that. It's just not so easy to understand. I mean the Doctor looks almost as good as you and if he didn't tell me, I never guessed."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The doctor crossed his arms and gave Roy a smoldering look. "Gee, thanks Roy, almost as good? I spend almost an hour this morning on make up." then he laughed. "I am just kidding of course, we are all a little jealous of Cara, because she is blessed with her looks all natural."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara actually blushed and that made her even more attractive and a little more human in Roy's eyes. She said, clearing her throat. "Your reaction is quite normal for any member of the Terran Human race as the gender roles and appearances are clearly defined. We Saresii have been the same way, but that was a long time ago."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy said."I read up on Saresii before I went to bed."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara got up. "Care to accompany me to the bridge. I want to introduce you to the Captain."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy thanked the doctor for the coffee and the donuts and got up, following Cara.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Outside he said. "What I wanted to ask is, how can we make the trip so fast? Would it not take over a year to get to Sares, unless we take a train?" "We going to take the HHW once we reach Blue Moon."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"The HHW?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She stopped at the IST and called for a transport and then said to Roy. "You never heard of the Hyper High Way connections between Core worlds?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara and Roy stepped into the IST and he said with a sheepish grin. "I wasn't the most observant student in school."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"You do know the difference between ISAH drives and Hyper Jumps right?" "Not exactly. I know that Hyper Jumping was a trans light technology of the Sarans before Dr. Isah discovered the Isah Drive and Quasi Space."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Hyper Jumping as it was done before the ISAH drive technology, was very dangerous, unreliable and limited to jump from gravity well to gravity well. System hopping it was called. You may want to read up on the details if you are interested."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The IST had reached its destination, the door opened and in the same moment a terrible jolt lifted us of our feet, throwing Roy against the wall. Cara fared no better colliding with the door frame. Red lights replaced the bluish illumination and a very male voice repeated the phrase: Red Alert, Red Alert.."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm;widows:2;orphans:2">Chapter 3: Salvage

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Salvage

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy's uncanny sense of danger, warned him less than a heart beat of impeding danger. However it dit not give him enough time to consciously react; his sense did not tell him what the nature of the danger was; he only knew the ship was in danger and that he could tell even without his danger sense. The blinking red lights and the voice made that very obvious.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He checked on Cara. She was rattled and even looked scared for a moment, but seemed unharmed. "Are you okay?" She nodded as he helped her up. "Yes I think so, I just bruised my shoulder."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Do you know by your telepathic powers what is happening and what we are supposed to do?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She closed her eyes for a moment and then said. "We are under attack., Kermac and Nogoll ships approaching the Kappa Andromedae System, where we had a planned fuel stop." Her face showed distress. "We are in no imminent danger, but the system is home to the Bellebees."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy remembered something about the Bellebees, if he recalled correctly they were some sort of gas bag life forms living on a Jovian planet. They had some similarities with the Lighting Dragons from Green Hell and he remembered his mother had mentioned them a few times.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara said. "We should return to our quarters, as we are in the way," She stopped in mid movement. "but the Captain just told me that he wants us on the bridge."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy grunted under his breath. "I wish you guys would use normal intercom or something."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara didn't respond to his complains but led him to a more solid looking Iris door that opened and gave them access to the bridge.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Saresii bridge reminded Roy of a fancy hair salon and not the bridge of a war ship. Nine Saresii beauties looking very much alike and only individually identifiable by minute differences you had to look for very closely, sat in reclined in comfortable bubbly looking furniture. Flimsy semi transparent command consoles floated before them. In the central located recliner sat the first blonde Saresii he seen so far. Her skin color was more like Roy's and her eyes weren't as big nor purple as most Saresii seemed to have.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She was the only one not wearing a pastel colored uniform but hers was solid black, except for a white triangular bib like lapel.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She turned with a smile and said. "No reason for alarm. Those cursed Paper Faces caught us off guard, but our shield went up in time."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara said. "The Bellebees!"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I wish we had something to fight with but this is a Saresii Vessel designated as a Union Explorer. We have no weapons." The Captain pointed to the main viewer. "But no worries, neither the Kermac nor the Nogoll brought enough assets to get even close to our thinker friends. We just wait, watch the fireworks and then go for our planned top up."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Captain then got up and greeted Roy. "I am Captain Loran Watson, I wanted to welcome you aboard earlier but you seemed tired and I was a tad busy."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Somewhat stunned about the relaxed acting Captain, despite the Red Alert lights and the attack, Roy shook the presented hand and said. "Thank you Ma'am."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Why don't you have a seat, Mr. Masters. It isn't every day you can watch a space battle from a front row seat."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy sat down in a chair that inflated out of the floor following a gestured command of the Captain.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">One of the Saresii officers below the main viewer said. " The Nogoll are in range of the Planetary Defense Batteries, and the 45th has just dropped out of Quasi. Not that there is much left, the Wolfcrafts launched by System defense have already destroyed many of the Intruders." Cara rubbed her arm. "We should still worry about the Kermac able to strike so deep into Union Territory."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy watched as Union Battle Ships fired on T shaped ships and each salvo completely obliterated an enemy vessel.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">It wasn't a space battle, it was slaughter.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">While he was there when the Kermac attempted to destroy his home world and this incident being the cause for this war, he could not help it; there was a part in him who felt sorry for the crews of these ships that turned into brief and bright miniature suns every time trans locator bombs detonated deep inside their hulls.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">It was this part of him that now understood why the Kermac tried to excavate the old Saresii ship and gain the secret of Translocator cannons. He also realized how utterly important it was to guard that secret

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara rubbing her sore shoulder said to him. "You are a wise young man."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"With you I don't mind, but I wish I could think without everyone and their uncles listening in what I am thinking."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Once we are on Sares we going to take care of that. You get a fine Saresii shield and the necessary training how to use it. No one listens in but we can't overhear what you transmit. It is like trying not to hear something"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Captain said. "There goes the last one. Fleet didn't even bother sending boarding units or surrender messages." There was a tone of approval and joy in the Captain's voice. "Science, scan for survivors anyway."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara whispered. "He's half Terran and his father's side is the dominant one."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The lights of Red Alert faded and the Bridge was lit in the indirect bluish light from the translucent white walls. The Captain sighed. "Ah that's better. Cara we are going to stay a little longer at Belle Station just to make sure our shields are fine and to check for micro damage. I don't want to go on the Jump with any leakages or tech problems."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"How long do you think are we going to be there?" She asked.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Captain shrugged. "Depends on what they find but I doubt it will last longer than three days."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara turned to Roy and said. "That's not so bad. It will give you a chance to go down to Planet Humongous and visit one of the most unusual Union Member species, the Bellebees."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">-""-

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy learned that the ship he was on was designated as a Saresii Research Ship and operated under charter of the Science Council.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">It was a Henjiitah Class cruiser and 600 meters long. It had the outer appearance of an elongated bulbous plant leaf and reminded him of the thick water filled fleshy leaves of the Glow bush. The ship was not green however but had an iridescent color of pearly pale orange. The ship was called the Gayimeera and since it was not a Union Fleet unit it did not carry the USS prefix.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Gayimeera approached a tremendous space station, and passed into a hangar where Union Battle ships found room to spare. The Gayimeera appeared tiny and like an exotic bird or some piece of art compared to the Union Battle ship that was serviced in the next berth.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara explained to him that this was a Gigamon Station and it had a diameter of 36 kilometers. Roy could not really envision anything that big being man made, especially after they had debarked and he stood on a slide belt looking up a 3500 meter Uni Design Battle ship, it was bigger than the highest mountain on Green Hell. It blew his mind when Cara said that this was only one of sixteen currently serviced.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Only Partner remained pretty much unimpressed and sat behind him on the Slide-belt, enjoying the ride.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">A green uniformed Klack apologized for checking their CITIs and explained that this was a procedure required due to the current war condition.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara stopped for a moment as if to orient herself and Roy could not blame her, They had entered what was called the outer Ring Concourse and according to a sign he spotted, it went all the way around the stations equator for almost 114 kilometers.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Slide-ways, People movers, Ride Bots, Taxis and Inter-station transports moved troves of beings in both directions. There were civilians, but far and few between. Union Fleet black was predominant, perhaps the crew of the battle ship getting shore leave explained the dense crowds.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara pointed to the left. "I booked us rooms at the Sheraton, lets get settled and then I am going to report in and you are free to explore the station if you like. Tomorrow we go down to Humongous ,where I like to introduce you to a friend of mine, it is eager to meet you."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She was technically his guardian and he promised Uncle Sam to behave and take the the great and rare opportunity to go to college on Sares.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">While he really liked Cara, he wasn't so sure he would enjoy Sares, if the ship was any indication of the culture he was about to experience.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Sure sounds like a plan. "He said aloud and added, "Is there some sort of Saresii outpost here?" She approached a Taxi stand and said. "No, we are full Union members there aren't any Saresii embassies or outposts. I was ordered to take you to Sares, however I am still a PSI Corps officer and there is a field office here, it is common practice for an operative to report in to a local post."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She hired a larger open Taxi that also allowed room for Partner. Roy followed his big animal onto the hovering transport flyer and said. "Who ordered you to do that?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"You have an important appointment with the Wurgus on Pluribus and since I care about you, Command decided that I accompany you to Sares and pick you up from there for the Wurgus meeting. We tried to go there even before all the events as you recall."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He suddenly realized she would not be there on Sares while he was going to College there. "Where will I stay? I don't know anyone."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"My parents have eagerly offered to take you in. No worries you feel at home there in no time."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">-""-

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara was gone to report to whoever and went ever she had to go. Roy had taken a long shower in the hotel room and was now standing with Partner outside the Hotel and wondered what he actually wanted to see or explore. The station was big and impressive and certainly had great recreation facilities but nothing really attracted him.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He felt a lit forlorn and a wave of homesickness came over him. He longed to be outside in his beloved jungles.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">A group of teenagers perhaps his age spotted him. They were all dressed in something like a Space suit armor combination. One of them came over in a relaxed manner and grinned with an open friendly face. "I'm Sobyr and I noticed your side arm and simply had to get a closer look, its a TKU 9 right?" "No, it's a TKU 12 and I am Roy by the way."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The boy was about his age from the looks of it perhaps ten centimeters shorter. He had a bright blue skin and coppery hair.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr turned to the other four teens and said. "That Dirtsider carries a genuine T12, how whamo is that?" To Roy he said. "Don't take offense calling ya a Dirtsider. It's how we Insiders call pretty much anyone not from Belle Station."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"No worries, I wasn't ." The open way the other guy acted appealed to him.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The other four also came closer."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">There was one that looked like a green skinned lizard and was taller than the others, he had a long tail and muscular legs.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Then there was a cute olive skinned beauty with black shimmering hair cut to a chin length bob and an adorable upward pointing nose.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The third had an all chrome skin and looked like an android and Roy wondered if he was an X101 or a Stellaris. He didn't know how to tell the difference, but the silvery guy was clearly not an adult.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The final member of the group was the most alien and had the appearance of a Burrow Digger centipede keeping about one third of its body upright. Unlike the the centipede life forms of Green Hell, the upright half lacked the many small feet the rest of the body had., instead there were two quite human proportioned arms but with hands of only two very long fingers tapering in sharp claws and a similar long thumb. The face of the alien being was split horizontally and vertically almost like a pie and each section had a bulbous red pupil less eye.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The blue skinned teen said. "You and your silent huge friend look lost. We know this station like no one else."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy shrugged. "Not really lost, just I have no clue what do do. The ship I came with has a three day stop over and I am supposed to keep myself busy until we go on to Sares." "Why don't you hang with us? We are about to go on a little adventure and it might even make us all a few credits too."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The blue skinned guy said. "That lovely sheila here is Aat Amenemhat. Her family is from Saran and her father is the Station Security Chief. Then we have Ncchsi, she is a Maggi-Suron all the way from the Spinward Sector, her mother runs the Med Center here. Alejandro Rivera is a Stellaris , just got his new skin and is probably the only Stellaris insisting to be Puerto Rican."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The chrome skinned teen said. "I am not the only one, my family roots are from Puerto Rico Terra and my dad says that is very special. We Stellaris are made of human DNA after all and ours came from there."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr smiled and then pointed his hand at the centipede. "Finally meet Pictfram. Perhaps he is the first Xiptin you talk to,as they have joined the Union only very recently."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr tapped his thumb against his own chest and said with a sigh. "Yes I am Thauran and what makes matters worse of a Noble family but don't let that scare you off."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy greeted them all and said. "I am Roy Masters from Green Hell and that is Partner, he isn't really sentient but a very smart pet. He's a Fury Beast."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Xiptin crawled closer to Partner and its truly alien face split four ways as he said. "It is a magnificent animal and I heard lot of stories of Green Hell. From what I have seen it must be paradise with wonderful mud pits."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy could not believe his ears. "There was a member of a species he had never even heard off, saying nice things about Green Hell. "There is a vast stretch of many square miles of bogs and mud pits to the east where I used to live."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Xiptin's voice did not seem to fit the being, it sounded almost like a singing voice of a trained opera singer and the centipede intoned what he said in a melodic way. "We only have a Mud tub in our home here, but then I probably would not survive the competition that resides in those bogs of your planet."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy actually smiled from ear to ear now and said. "Green Hell is dangerous yes, but if you don't disturb the balance and go with the flow instead against it, I am sure I could find you a bog you could enjoy."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Saran girl had a fine smile and held up her PDD."Guys they declared the System open again. Let's go out there before the professionals pick all the good stuff."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr nodded. "Want to come along?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Sure, it isn't anything illegal right?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr made an insulted face, "Her father is the security chief, mine is the Station Commander. We might not always be angels Roy, but this is a Union Military installation and not a Civilian world. Even the world Illegal is illegal here."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Stellaris said. "Marines are the police here."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy apologized. "I am sorry, I just promised to stay out of trouble and this is pretty much my first time off planet. Yes I would love to tag along."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr had long lost his frown and smiled again. "It's all good. Just follow us. We need to get you an EVA suit as well."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">-""-

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy and Partner followed the group to a large Inter Station transport access point and they all boarded the next tube car. There was plenty room for them all.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Lizard said. "I think we need to tell Roy what we are going to do."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Alejandro agreed with a nod and said. "There was a space battle just a few hours ago. However the system was declared save,meaning all enemies are either gone or destroyed and we are taking our Bison out there and see if we can scavenge some debris. Space ship metal scrap is valuable and sells good on our Xchange."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Aat sat down and crossed her legs while looking up from underneath her black bangs. "Sometimes you can find even artifacts and things still good to use. Space law allows salvaging and anything floating out there is free for the taking . A few hundred Credits extra isn't so bad you know."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I saw part of the battle as we came in, and I sure could use a few extra credits, but I never been outside in a space suit."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Pictfram spread his arms. "It took me quite a bit to get used to, but you humans seem to have a natural skill for it. We going to show you the basics and you be as good as we all are by tonight."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr nodded. "The suits will do most of it and the rest is like diving in a real big ocean."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">According to Sobyr they where almost at the bottom of the Space station now after the ride with the IST half around the station and a descent with an express elevator. He was told tey were just above the big green glowing ball shaped gravo anchor. It was here where they had a private storage hangar.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">What Alejandro called a small docking bay was still a very big cavernous room to Roy and in its center stood an old rugged and tough looking rectangular and somewhat ugly space ship of sorts. It was perhaps sixty meters long and 20 high. It had large flexible manipulator arms on one end.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Stellaris opened boarding ramp. "All aboard, the Calypso. We are leaving soon."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy made wide eyes. "You guys have a space ship of your own?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Passing by Roy to climb aboard the Saran girl said. "It is an old surplus Long Range Bison. It was used by the engineers who built the station. We restored it."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Alejandro was next climbing in. "It has ISAHs but only for in sytem flight. It can't go FTL. By law any Ship with a Union registration able to go TL must be piloted by someone who passed the skipper test. But no one would even call a brand new Bison a ship."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Nosy as he was Partner stomped right on in and Sobyr made an inviting gesture. "You're next unless you changed your mind."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy went over the short belly ramp into a small cargo hold. Sobyr right behind him said. "No it isn't a ship officially but to us it's the Devastator.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Pictfram was all excited and wiggled his long fingers and his tail."Roy, your Partner beast has licked over my tail pincers, they are very poisonous. We need t get it to a Vet right away."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy received nothing but friendly excitement and happiness from Partner ."Not to worry Pictfram, he can eat and swallow pretty much everything and poisons won't harm him. When Partner licked you he meant to express that he likes you."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"What an amazing life form, indeed."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Partner now felt even more happy as he was the center of attention and the Saran girl started to pet him. He raised his head so she could scratch his throat. She coed."Oh isn't he adorable and so soft."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy grunted. "Keep that up and you need a bigger cargo hold, for him swelling with pride."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Alejandro and Sobyr had climbed up a metal ladder with railings and sat behind the controls of a small command deck.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Ncchsi held out a space suit and said. "This should fit you. We don't have an auto dresser but you can use our tiny hygiene cell to change."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Alejandro said. "It's a good one, Roy. A genuine SII – EVA Engineer 7 . Father insisted we had all suits checked by the Suit Technician before he allowed us to use them."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy thanked them and went to get changed. Somehow his mood has improved greatly. This unexpected little adventure and these five beings he felt were well on their way to become friends of his was of course the reason. He also looked forward to go EVA and wondered how it would be.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">-""-

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">They were almost 4 light hours from the station and near the orbit of the second most distant star of the Kappa Andromedae system. So far their external cargo bay held a few pieces of twisted metal scrap, collected with the manipulators, but according to Sobyr they were now in the area of the main engagement.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Out here in the small ship Roy got a real sense how big space really was and to find some scrap was actually not that easy. Especially since the little bison had only the most rudiment sensors.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy didn't mind. He learned lot about the Xiptin, the Sarans and how it was for teenagers to grow up on a space station. In turn he had shared with them how it was to be on Green Hell and of course they asked him about the most recent events as they were the reasons for the war after all.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The most reliable sensor they had were actually Alejandro's eyes. His engineered eyes could see further and make out things in space no normal human eye could. He interrupted Ncchsi who was just about done explaining Roy the features of the Space suit. "Sobyr drop us to 20 km/sec and turn a little towards Galactic North and about five dots up on the Z axis. I think I saw a reflection, high albedo."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">It became quiet in the small craft and everyone was gripped by a sense of anticipation, even Roy.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">After a few minutes, Sobyr the Thauran teen said. "I don't know how you do it but I got a substantial piece of mass on the scanner now."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Alejandro leaned forward and was starring out the forward view port. "It's a big section of a T cruiser, the T bar is gone but most of the forward section is still there."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">After about six or seven minutes of more silence, Sobyr said. "I read some very faint energies."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy asked "Could there be still alive Kermac Warriors?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr actually turned and said. "Highly unlikely, can see the thing now, there is a gaping hole where the bridge was and engineering complete with life support is gone. Besides we don't have life sensors. If we can tow that thing to the station we might get enough credits to afford a Base Set."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy went back to the Hygiene room and detached his PDD from the Bio seal suit he had left there and then with it climbed up to Sobyr. "This is a SII Science Scanner with PDD function. My mother gave it to me before she left. I don't think it has a terrible good range but the finest sensors you can fit into a hand-held, according to her at least."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Alejandro took it. "And you've been jealous of our Bison . "That's a genuine Science Corps – Mark 16. Sell it and you could afford a working Surplus Bison for sure." He activated the thing and played with the controls ."Let's see the sensing distance can be increased by reducing sensitivity. To do that activate Sensor Program GS..."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Xiptin raised more of his body of the ground and demonstrated just how long his usual curved and coiled body really was and looked over the shoulder of Alejandro without using the ladder. "Our Stellaris is a genuine Science Nerd. He probably dreams about your gadget ten weeks after you're gone and on Sares."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Alejandro protested without taking his eyes of the Scanner. "That is simply not true, nine weeks max." The chrome skin covered Stellaris voice trailed of and then said. "Well I can't detect any life, but I think there are some active energy sources, nothing bigger than an emergency computronic or emergency lighting."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr pulled up the soft transparent hood from his helmet color and said. "Well let's check it out before the professional Salvagers come and take it from us." Then he closed the helmet and the thing became a rigid bubble.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">They divided the cargo hold with an energy curtain and Roy said to Partner. Sorry you got to stay behind. There isn't a spacesuit that fits you."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Partner blinked, then sneezed and the emotions he got from Partner were a little confused but he sat down on his hind legs. Xiptin patted the beasts side. "No worry I keep you company as someone has to stay behind in the ship and that is me this time."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy also folded his helmet up and he could feel his own pulse rate go up as Sobyr opened the cargo bay doors. The Thauran was the first to push himself out and Roy took a deep breath and then pushed off right after the Girl. Space seen through a view port was spectacular, but seeing it through a refraction free space suit helmet was overwhelming and no word in Roy's vocabulary could describe what he saw, it was so completely different toany experience he had before. Even sitting on the balcony bubble of the Silver Swan. His mind had lost all sense of up and down and even though a short burst of his suit thrusters had accelerated him towards the ominous dark shape only noticeable because it blocked out starlight behind it he had the distinct feeling as if he would fall, but he had no idea if he was falling up or down. His stomach felt very queasy and he had to swallow hard to keep it down, but as he neared the shape he could now see details inside the razor sharp circle of light from his chest mounted lamp, he forgot about his stomach and he no longer felt sick. He saw a twisted and torn hole in an otherwise smooth metal surface. Alejandro, only wearing a thruster pack as this was the environment his kind was designed for shot past him and so did the lizard. They had reached the hole, Roy was still about 20 meters away as he watched Sobyr use the hull breach to enter the wreck. Suddenly he felt imminent danger. His unusual awareness made his entire body tingle and he somehow knew they weren't alone.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm;widows:2;orphans:2">Chapter 4: Hidden Package

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Hidden Package

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">-""-

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The sudden feeling made him touch the thruster controls, the wreck became bigger and way too fast. He remembered the instructions they had given him and pulled the joystick to activate the counter thrusters. Breaking speed so rapidly caused g forces to bang his forehead against the helmet plate and then he flew backwards away from the wreck.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He noticed something black and ominous right next to him,keeping perfect pace with his noob attempts to fly a space suit. He also noticed the last of his new friends disappeared inside the wreck.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Finally he managed to stop his momentum into a slow drift, then tried to pull his TKU but the darn weapon would not come out of the holster. A red light he never seen before blinked at its butt.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The light of his chest lamp illuminated a big black four legged beast with fangs and glowing white horns. Only now he calmed down enough to notice the waves of excited emotions,Partner was floating right there without any protection, moisture and traces of atmosphere in form of ice in his neck fur. Neither the radiation or the frigid airless conditions of deep space seemed to faze his friend. "I should have known that you don't need a space suit." His voice rang hollow in his helmet. His neck hair were standing on end, the feeling of something or someone hostile had not subsided. His own PDD, not that it would him any good was still with Alejandro. Aat had shown him how to activate the Helmet Comm. You had to press two control stubs of the wrist control panel at the same time, but which ones again?

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He pressed two and loud music pounded his ear and a voice proclaimed. Thank you for tuning on to Channel 9988 Pertharian Terror Metal all day long..."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He managed to turned it back off. His friends were in some kind of trouble and he could not even get the helmet comm. Going, or pull his own gun.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He had to find out what was going on and help them if necessary. He planed to regain a little momentum, approach the hole and take a peak inside.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Without any reference point to his eyes he completely miscalculated the true distance to the wreck and again was way to fast, missed the wicked looking torn edges of the torn metal by less than a centimeter and collided hard with someone wearing an alien battle suit. The Impact had enough momentum to throw the other being hard into a bulkhead, Roy tasted blood, cursed his decision to participate without a little more training and passed out.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">-""-

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy saw his mother and she wore a steel collar around her neck, except for a few rags she was naked. She was covered with dirt and her beautiful hair chopped ,not cut by someone who wanted to hurt and humiliate her. She was sitting against a rock wall eating what looked like a raw onion. There were dozens of humans all around her looking the same. The filthy individual staring into nothingness next to her was his father.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She suddenly looked up and directly at him. Her mouth formed the word. "Roy!" He tried to reach her get t her but he didn't notice his own arms, or legs and somehow he knew he was dreaming.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">With this realization he woke and recoiled in horror as a decapitated, mutilated body of someone floated right before his eyes,

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr was right next to him looking down with a concerned face and talking behind his helmet.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy pointed to his and shook his head. Now Alejandro came into view and pressed two studs on Roy's underarm. "...tivate the helmet comm like this, before the system takes verbal commands."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy got up and almost floated away but Ncchsi caught him and then his boots connected to, what technically was a wall, but up and down became meaningful again. There were at lest five dead Nogoll and the terribly mutilated body belonged to a Kermac, at least that what Roy suspected.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr looked sick and frightened. "Your beast saved us all, but I never seen anything like that. He ripped Nogoll in shielded battle suits to pieces while it ignored blaster fire head on."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy still tried to get his bearings.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Ncchsi said. "Your move took a lot of courage too. Ramming that Nogoll like that, he was about to shoot me."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy finally managed to say. "What happened?" Sobyr pointed town the corridor. "This segment had survivors after all. Shielded in suits that' why we didn't pick them up I guess. As we came in they waited for us and wanted the access code for the Calypso."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He made a guilty face. "I gave it to him as the Kermac came in."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy knew the feeling and said, "They did the same tome with their Psionics, not so long ago." Alejandro said. "Two of them took Aat to the Calypso and said they would kill her if your beast didn't stop or if we call for help."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy looked around and said. "I don't see Partner."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Alejandro pointed to a spot where a dead Nogoll floated. "It simply disappeared just a few moments ago."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy wondered if Partner was gone to get his special kind of help again, he closed his eyes and could feel partner he appeared a second later right next to Roy. Looking at his friend and master and the emotions Roy felt were like a question.. "What do you want me to do?" Alejandro had moved to the ragged hole. "The Calypso is gone."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Thauran tried hard to stay calm, as his chin trembled. "Sorry for getting you all in this mess."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy said with a fatalistic grin. "At least it isn't me alone who always gets into the middle of things. We do need to tell the authorities, they will know what to do. There is fleet and a Psi Corps post at the station."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I wish we could but we pulled the GalNet modules from all suits, yours too and tossed them."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Ncchsi hissed. "Even I was not immune to the Kermac influence."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy looked around. "And I even a little felt sorry for those Paper skins. The Galaxy is better off without them. I just wonder why they let us live."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr pointed to Partner."They were afraid of your animal and could not control it. I think they knew it would shred them to pieces if they killed us, at least that is what I think."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy wondered how far Partner could teleport. His animal did leave the Silver Swan and re-appeared on Green Hell many light years distant. Partner seemed to understand his thoughts and transmitted the images of the station and that it was able to get there.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy said. "Sobyr, your father is the Station commandant, right?" "Yes, and he will ground me for the next twenty years if we ever get out alive. Not that there is any chance they find us out here."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Partner can teleport to the station but he can't tell them what happened and I can't tell him where Carla is since I don't know., but he can take you there and you will be able to get through to your father. He will know what to do."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I won't let you two behind. I let you into this mess so you go." "I will not get through to your father or anyone fast enough. Aat and Picfram's life are in danger., Who knows where they go with that ship of yours, since it can't go Trans-light."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Alejandro said. "He's right. We are reasonably safe, just hurry up."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr wanted to argue, but Roy managed to explain his plan to Partner with easy to understand mind pictures, Partner nudged Sobyr into the back and both disappeared.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">-""-

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Ncchsi stood by the hole and said. "They are gone for about a standard hour now. Do you think they made it to the station?" Roy had walked deeper into the corridor turned and said, "I don't feel Partner very good but I know he doesn't feel any distress, he just feels tired. I am sure they made it." Alejandro walked up to Roy and he too shined his light down the corridor."What is it?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I don't know, but I had this feeling that there was something dangerous nearby when I was still outside and even though the Kermac and the Nogoll are either dead or gone, I realized I still have this feeling."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"It's your first time in space and we are in anything but a prefect situation. There are dead bodies that creep me out; it's normal to feel that way."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy tried to pull his weapon still without success. "I am a Greenie we have an ability to sort of sense danger. I still feel it." Then he cursed. "I wonder what happened to my TKU, it feels as it was glued to the holster."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Alejandro looked closer and said."The TKU holster is in deep space mode. The mag-lock has engaged so it won't float away."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Alejandro opened the a little compartment on the weapon and retracted a band ,locked the flexible thing around Roy's wrist and said. "It' looks like you haven't customized the settings yet. It is in lanyard mode now."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The red light went off as Roy tried and the weapon could be pulled easily. "I should be called green and not Greenie. I never checked the weapon for anything other than if it was charged.." He did feel a whole lot better with the TKU in his fist pointing at the sealed door down the corridor. "I think check the rest of this wreck just to make sure there aren't any more surprises."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Ncchsi said. "There is one already, we're moving."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Alejandro pushed himself off and floated to the hole and went outside. His voice said. "Sure enough this wreck just grew a set of Kermac engines, two pods and they are active."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He came back in, I can't be sure but I think we are accelerating with about 500 klicks to the second."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"You mean like FTL engines?" Roy asked.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Kermac Version of Isah Pods. My Stellaris senses could be off as we are inside the field but if I am right we will hit the threshold in about an hour."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"This isn't a wreck either, "Said Ncchsi. "that hole hasn't been made by a weapon,there is no damage behind it to suggest a TL load going off in here and any other weapon would make a hole with tears to the inside."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy went to the door. "Why would they leave a ship capable of going trans-light in exchange for a shuttle that can't leave the system? I think we better find the answers before the answer finds us."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">His effort to get to the bottom of this was stopped as the door would not open. It was a solid metal door and the simple enough looking controls were inactive and the handle didn't budge.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">So he went back as far as he could dialed his TKU to Twelve fired.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The recoil was enough to break the mag field bod of his boots and push him back into another wall and a thick blinding bright bolt hit that door with many million degrees of heat and a few hundred tons of kinetic energy. Whatever the Kermac designers hoped the door would withstand, they did not include a TKU 12 .It was ripped out of the frame, partially melted. Not waiting for the others, they weren't armed anyway he rushed through the corridor as fast as his boots let him and stormed into the breach. There was no one and he was certain now they were alone on the ship.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The room he breached was in his opinion as big as the rest of the wreck. As alien as they were he recognized several fuel tanks and the the machinery all the way in the back looked like the part of the wreck ships engines. The rest of the room was occupied by an elongated oval object. Even though he had seen Wurgus writing and symbols only once and very briefly. He was certain the writing was Wurgus.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Alejandro and Ncchsi had now also entered and Alejandro stared at the writing and said. "This is a Wurgus Sun Bomb. Ten or twelve are enough to make Kappa Andromedae go Supernova."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Stellaris went to an asymmetric shaped screen displaying lowing symbols and then he said. "This one is set to go off in 58 minutes, two seconds after it goes trans-light."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Would the station not be able to detect us now?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Ncchsi spread his arms. "It is accelerating very slow. It didn't jump into the system. They probably think its a Scavenger, unless your Partner and Sobyr made it."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"We are no longer where we have been" Alejandro said still looking at the Controls. "According to this there are 12 similar ships all accelerating towards the sun. Once they go trans-light they can't be stopped, they re enter space inside the sun and..."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy understood that the entire attack was just a cover to get these bombs in place. The Union so confident in their weapons,they underestimated the Kermac. They didn't have Translocators but that didn't mean they were impotent. They were second only to the Union in the Milky Way Galaxy and didn't become so big by being complete fools.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Ncchsi was obviously thinking along the same lines. "They took a page out of the Terran book, this is what United Terra did with the Xunx and the Freons. Maybe what happens here happens in more Union systems right now."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Alejandro said. "Operation Steam Roller."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy felt stupid despite the situation and said."What kind of roller?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Earth send fleets of robotic long range bombs to every known Xunx planet and obliterated a few hundred planets at the same time. What if the Kermac do the same and try to blow up a few hundred suns. Fake space battles,bringing fake wrecks like this into the systems...no Quasi space signatures then slowly accelerate. If they take out core worlds like Terra, Blue Moon, Thebes and so forth that could break the Union."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy somehow knew that this was exactly what was happening, the Union would be severely crippled or perhaps even destroyed in one single sweep, in less than 49 minutes."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm;widows:2;orphans:2">Chapter 5: Belle Station

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Belle Station

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy still stared at the control read out of the bomb. Alejandro pointed to a small screen showing a three dimensional graphic of the local system, with its sun in the middle and elven other green dots that approached that sun, now passing the orbit of the eight planet. If Alejandro was right there were less than 20 minutes left for the bomb carriers to reach trans light speed and jump into the sun.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Can we stop it?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Alejandro did not take his eyes of the controls and said. "Wurgus Tech is considered TL 10 and that is way beyond me."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy looked at the bomb and said. "Maybe I can make it detonate and thus warn them.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">There was no hesitation or arguing, the Stellaris and the Maggi Suron nodded, knowing that this meant their certain death. Ncchsi said. "Do it!"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy didn't want to die either but if it meant they could stop this bomb and thus show the station that there was a serious threat, then it was worth it.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He pulled all spare energy cartridges he had in his belt and glued them with Space suit emergency seal tape to the huge bomb.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He was just about to aim his TKU at the cluster when Alejandro said. "Wait!"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy lowered the gun and said, "You're right! You two go outside they find you. No need for all of us to stay. I can blow this thing alone."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"That's not what I meant. Three of the other bomb ships just blinked out, and now two more."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Blinked out? Did they jump already?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"No I think they are being destroyed. Three more just went."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy still held his blaster. "We need to be sure they are being destroyed the longer we wait the less time they got to react."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Alejandro rushed to the Fuel tanks and yelled. "Roy, don't shoot the bomb. Shoot at that Distributor junction I am highlighting with my chest light."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy did not ask why he simply did. The TKU bolt slammed into the contraption, his new friend had pointed out. The effect was spectacular and frightening. Whatever it was melted to slack and open pipes started to burn with a bright green fire. Roy and his friends were wiped of their feet, tossed at least 30 meters across the room and then slammed into the machinery at the rear of the ship. This time however Roy managed to twist and turn his body so he collided with his feet first and was able to lessen the impact. Alejandro however tore a rip into his chrome skin and blood appeared freezing instantly. Roy pushed himself off and pressed his hand over the wound. "Everyone alright?" Ncchsi appeared next to him holding a roll of Suit tape and said. "I think I broke my tail but other than that I am alright. Let me get some tape over Alejandro's wound. Underneath that skin he is as vulnerable as you and me."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Alejandro tabbed his ear and then his voice came on. "I am sorry but I had to stop us. The safest way was to cut the fuel supply at the distributor before it goes to the antimatter generator. I knew we would decelerate fast but not instantly as that would have surely killed us."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"That saved us but what about the rest?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Because I am receiving Standard radio. I needed to make sure they don't shoot at us."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Ncchsi said. "We are not save yet. We are still near a bomb that goes off very soon."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Then we should leave as fast as these suits go, Partner can find us out there I am sure."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">At that moment Union Marines rushed in and it was due to their training that they didn't shoot the teenagers. Their transmitters dialed in on the radio frequency of the suits and one of them said. "United Stars Marine Corps, let's get out of here."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Partner also appeared next to Roy, feeling exhausted but proud.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy padded his Partner. "Good Job."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">One of the Marines simply grabbed him and instead of walking flew in this confined space with a speed that made Roy dizzy. They were free and the Marine went Super luminal with his suit and Roy a few seconds later. Roy yelled. "Partner!"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">-""-

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">As they came out of Quasi Space a few seconds later they were near the station. The Marine pointed into space and Roy looked and saw a bright new star appear and linger for a few seconds, then it twinkled back into nothingness. Roy at the same time lost all contact to his animal. It was like before, when Partner went to get help, there was a sudden emptiness in his mind. However Roy did feel the exhaustion of his friend. He didn't even have a chance to tell Partner to get out.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Did anyone see Partner?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">-""-

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy and the other teenagers, all of them stood in the big office of the Station Commandant.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Commodore Sybor, the Thauran father of Sobyr, Cara and a bunch of officials faced the Teens. Roy was close to tears and had to use every ounce of self control. No one had seen Partner. An alien bomb strong enough to kill a sun had been simply to much for even his formidable friend. Cara had told him just moments ago that the psionic power of teleportation was the rarest and most energy consuming of all Psionic powers.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Commodore said. "Thanks to the heroic acts of these Teens we were able to prevent a war changing catastrophe. Especially thanks to Mr. Roy Masters and his remarkable teleporting beast.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">I was torn between scolding you for doing such a foolish thing, but the deed far outweighs any wrongdoing. Now I understand that, the beast has been lost in the blast of the last Sun bomb. There is little I can say to this, but as helpful and instrumental this animal was, it was still and animal and we can be glad no sentient life has been lost."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy had tried to be brave and collected but that was too much. He jumped forward and punched the Thauran in the face. "Thanks to this animal your blue butt is still attached to you and you can make speeches. Partner was not just an animal. I loved him and he was my friend!"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Two Marines seemingly out of nowhere grabbed Roy and the Thauran came up with a bleeding nose and two teeth missing. "Your actions of today do not condone your behavior. Marines take him to the hold, while I consider charges!"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">They Marines manhandled him rather roughly and stripped him his suit and things and threw him into an Auto-dresser that fitted him with a transparent suit and then marched him to a holding cell. He noticed a Kermac and four Nogoll dressed the same way in a similar energy curtain secured spartan holding cell. One of the Marines said. "Punching the Commodore was a stupid thing, boy. He's going to rip you a new one. You must be nuts, doing that for a teleporting dog."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy tried to punch the Marine as well, but the suit held him and his effort was in vain. "You are a stinking coward. Making insults while I am tied up."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">They pushed him in the cell and the Marine said. "Oh shut up, you seem to be a trouble maker. So cool of in there. If you're lucky he let you go after 30 days, and then I wait for you and show you what it means to insult a Marine."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The two activated the curtain and walked off.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy was emotionally down to his last nerve. He should have never left Green Hell.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Nothing went his way the second he had left Green Hell. From the Kermac plot to destroy his planet to the stupid idea to go to Sares to college.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">No one really cared about him out here. Cara only followed orders so he could swoon the Wurgus. He meant nothing to her. She didn't even say a word as he was dragged out.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Partner was dead and he was in jail. What would Uncle Sam say if he heard that he was arrested and sent to jail for punching a Union Fleet Commodore. Everything was so much bigger than him and so beyond anything he knew about. Oh Partner why did you come back for me? You already have been save!

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He sat down on the smooth cod and started crying. He did not know what to do, who he could turn to for help. Partner was gone and so was any illusion of a future that held anything for him.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He was utterly alone.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">-""-

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He did not know how long he had cried and he must have fallen asleep. This time there was no dream of his mother. He was certain he imagined things but there was a warm heavy arm on his shoulder and as he looked up a man sat next to him, the energy curtain was gone and the marine that mocked him stood there with a black eye and with a face of pure fright.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Everything is going to be alright, Roy." The man next to him wore an all black uniform, his calf high boots polished to a mirror shine. He was tall and had a physique as if he could go toe to toe with a Pertharian The man's face was rectangular, with a very pronounced chin and jaw line. There was a scar from his left eye to his mouth .The blonde hair cut high and tight.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The man's eye were gray as steel and there was an eerie inhuman quality to them. Next to him sat Admiral Richard Stahl the eternal Warrior. The living immortal legend.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">None of his legends however reported that he had a warm and caring voice and a very human heart. The Immortal still had his arm on Roy's shoulder and then produced a piece of white cloth out of a pocket. "It's an old fashioned handkerchief, but I have found no high tech alternative that really substitutes."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy felt suddenly very embarrassed for his tears and his conduct and took the handkerchief and wiped his eyes, "Sir, I don't belong out here. In my Jungles I knew what to do. Out here I can't even fly a spacesuit without making a fool out of myself."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"This is just how I felt,the first time I left Earth."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy looked up with disbelieve in his face, "Sir,not you! Everyone knows you are..."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I was a young Marine Lieutenant on a planet that knew nothing of Aliens or Faster than light travel. A trip around our planet, aboard an airplane back then took many hours longer, than it took me to get here after I heard what happened.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">When I saw the first Xunx, I almost shit my pants. Even today I wonder if all this isn't simply too big to a simple Pre Astro Marine. They did not teach Faster than light weapon tactics at Parris Island or at Quantico and because I am blessed and cursed with immortality, I saw more friends die than I can count and yet everyone of them left an empty spot in my soul. When the day is over Roy I am as alone as you feel right now, my last relative died 2800 years ago."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy completely forgot his misery for a moment."Sir, I had no idea. You can come to Green Hell anytime. I am sure Uncle Sam would be delighted!"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">A deep smile parted the chiseled features of his hard face. "Thank you Roy and might just do that too, but first let's get out of here."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Am I not charged with something?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Nobody filed any charges and the Commodore clearly understood the errors of his ways. You are the Unions biggest hero after all."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I don't want that. It was Partner and not me."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I know Roy. I made sure your name and the details were kept out of the news, but that does not mean I and a few others don't know about it and we won't forget it either. Twenty Five Star Systems could be saved. You saved Billions of lives by sending Sobyr and Partner to the Station. Thankfully we have instantaneous communication and the magnificent Bellebees who instantly sent out the correct orders to every System Defense."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"And Partner paid for it with his life." Stahl got up."Then I have a surprise for you."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy also got up and followed the Immortal Admiral. Stahl pointed his finger at the marine with the black eye. "Mocking a prisoner, any prisoner is simply not acceptable behavior for a Marine."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The stout marine trembled at Stahl's gaze and gasped. "Sir, no Sir it is not. I volunteer to run the Concourse twice with full gear, Sir and I will correct my behavior."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Accepted."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Kermac in the other cell came to the field screen and waved at Stahl.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Stahl pushed the the two way audio and barked. "What do you want?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I recognize you. You are the one they call the Immortal Warrior. You are our greatest enemy but they say you are integrity personified. Tell me what will happen to us?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"As despicable your act was, we are at war and you are now a prisoner of war."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I knew our lives were forfeit the moment we stepped aboard the bomb carriers. I mean what will happen to all of us, the Kermac?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I am no psychic. I can't predict the future, but I assure you I will do my part to retaliate in kind."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Kermac looked distressed and defeated, "We know of you. No Wizard will ever admit to it but we fear you."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"If you have something to say, say it now. I am wasting time."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I know of another plan and I am willing to reveal it, for certain concessions."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Sorry I don't make deals with enemies."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Stahl tabbed his Wrist Com. "Alycia can you come down to the Prisoner hold and talk to our Kermac inmates. He has something about another Kermac Scheme."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">To the Marine he said. "Make sure they can't lift a finger or kill themselves before General Lichfangh was here."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Stahl waved Roy and said. "I still need to show you your surprise."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy was once more dressed in his Bio-Seal Suit and had his belongings back. A marine handing him his things told him that the Immortal himself ordered them to get it all.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">As he stepped out of the Security Office he saw Stahl talking to a pretty woman in an Us Army Uniform. He waved Roy over." Alycia I want you to meet Roy Masters a very resourceful young man,I greatly respect."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Woman had a Cara quality to her and while she had some similarities to a Saresii,he had the distinct feeling she was not of that race.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Nice to meet you indeed Roy."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">In all the misery he still felt, he could not deny the uplifting effect of the Eternal Warrior treating him like a friend. "It is an honor, Ma'am."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Her eyes had an even more penetrating quality than those of the Admiral. "No one has told you yet?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Told me what?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"The station went under a Saresii Psi Shield as the last bomb exploded. It was feared there could be Kermac Psionic attacks to follow."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy had no idea what that supposed to mean.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Woman glared at Stahl. "Go take him to his animal!"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Take me to my ani..PARTNER is alive?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Thew woman said, more to Stahl than to Roy. "The boy and the beast have a very strong Psi bond. The Shield has severed it. They both think the other is dead. The Brig down here is even stronger shielded." Stahl grunted. "I still hate Psionics I the first place."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy grabbed the arm of the Admiral. "Sir where is Partner?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"They found your beast floating in an almost catatonic state. He is with your new friends. I take you to them."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">-""-

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The second he stepped out into the corridor he could feel Partner again and a heart beat later a loud bang. Partner appeared. Roy immediatley slung his arms around the big neck and kissed and hugged his friend,while he was licked. It was the second time today Roy could not keep back his tears. The waves of love and emotions he received from his partner had never been as intense.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Universe simply wasn't as big or as scary while he had his friend and was not alone after all.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Stahl interrupted him after a while."I am sure glad you two are back together, but I do need to go back to my duties." Stahl pointed to Roy's PDD. "I added my personal call code. If you ever need me, call."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Stahl padded Partner and then turned and walked away.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Only now he noticed Cara and his new friends standing a short distance down the corridor.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He did not let go of Partner as he walked up to them.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara gave him a scolding look. "I said explore the Station, not half the Galaxy."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy said. "I am nothing but an assignment to you. Stowed away on Sares till it is convenient for the Wurgus Conference. I promised Uncle Sam to be good, but no one ever asked me if I even want to be here." It came out like a flood. "I thought you be there at Sares and now I know I am orders and you decided to put me up with your parents. I don't know them, could you not told me that and asked me?" He pointed at partner and said. "And then you let that prick talk like that when I thought Partner was dead?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She took an actual step back. "I am sorry Roy. I know things haven't been easy for you since I met you, but I thought we were friends. I called the Admiral to let him know what happened and he actually left his ship and took a space train half across the quadrant to come here personally. You physically attacked and wounded the Commandant of this base. No matter how insensitive and callous his comment was it was a serious thing.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Yes I understand your emotional state at that time, but everything went so fast you gave me no time to react or even say anything."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She looked sad and a hurt and added. "I volunteered to help you from the day I heard you parents got killed. If my help was not adequate then I am sorry. Go back to Green Hell or whatever."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr looked troubled. "I came to apologize for what my father said and did and for the mess I got you in. I really am sorry, we all felt enriched by your presence and would like to thank you for everything you did, saving our lives and all."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Aat, also made sad eyes. "If you go back to Green Hell we won't have a chance to get to know you better."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy suddenly felt rotten for snapping that way at Cara. What she said was true of course and she had his best in mind and never was anything less than a friend.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara stepped forward and simply gave him a hug and pressed her soft cheeks against his. "I am sorry Roy. I don't know what it is I can do but I will try to be a better friend."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">What do you say if you wished you never said something that hurt a friend in the first place? He wanted to say something but she said. "Telepathy has its good sides too, apologies are easier because we can feel if they are sincere. Can we forget what happened and simply go from there?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy was on the verge becoming a man and Cara felt lovely, soft warm and had a faint but heavenly scent. He said." Yes please. I did not mean what I said. It was just so much. I think I still want to go to Sares. If everything I experienced was a lesson then I learned that I have to catch up with what I missed in school"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She held him at arms length. "I said it before, deep down you are wise young man, Mr. Masters."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She actually looked a little embarrassed and added. "Why don't we all got to Arthur's and have pig out dinner and we all catch up. You and your new friends and of course Partner."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">-""-

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy learned that Sobyr went to his father right away and thanks to the presence of the PSI corps they found the Calypso right away and had no problems to use Tech Stop and Paralysators to overwhelm the Kermac and the Nogoll and free Aat and Pictfram. Sobyr's father alerted the Bellebees and they issued the detailed orders to ten thousand Union Fleet posts where Kermac battles happened instantaneous and thus Union forces were able to avert a terrible catastrophe in the proverbial last minute.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara explained that the Bellebees had no natural eyes or ears, no arms or faces still were a tremendous important member of the Union. Bellebees had the ability to remember collectively every little detail over thousands of years and easily co-relate the most minute detail with a million other details and come to a sensible solution. They were as efficient as any computronic but added intuition, creativity and a certain level of emotional response to a solution. For this ability the Bellebees were a part of Fleet Command and able to react to a wide spread problem in a fast and decisive way.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">This was the reason the Kermac attacked this system as well, as they correctly identified the Bellebees as powerful asset member of the Union.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr's father was a true Thauran and could not appologize directly to a "Non Thauran" but he expressed his appologies to Roy via his son. Sobyr assured him that had nothing to do with Stahl coming during a war and despite all the events half way across the Galaxy to intervene. It was primarily the fact that Roy was instrumental in saving Sobyr's life.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Of course having the Immortal Admiral breathing down his neck made more than just a deep impression on the Station Commander and just about anyone. That Stahl had been on Pluribus at that time and only a Space Train ride away from Belle Station was beside the point.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">They had all a great dinner at an Arthur's Swine and Dine and even Partner participated by eating the wrappers, entire cups of soda, cup ice straw and all, two pepper shakers and an entire napkin holder Pictfram tossed in Partners direction, much to the delight of the others.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The plan they agreed on was that Roy would visit Humongous with Cara the next day and then he would have a whole day with his new friends before they had to resume their journey to Sares.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm;widows:2;orphans:2">Chapter 6: Humongous

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Humongous

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The next morning, bright an early Cara, Partner and Roy met at the hotel lobby after breakfast and ran into Captain Wilson. The Captain of the Gayimeera was out of uniform and wore a short white dress and carried a sports bag with a long handled thing sticking out one side. "Colonel Halvagh and Mr. Masters. I was just about to call you but running into you is even better."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">While two Klack Insects stopped at a respectful distance and pointed at Partner, Roy remembered that Cara's last name was Halvagh and that she was a Colonel. He still thought it was a bit deceiving for a Saresii man to look like a real hot looking blonde with legs to the sky and a skirt that barely covered his round behind. The Captain continued. "The Gayimeera does need a new bow shield projector after all. The Nogoll missile that hit us overloaded the coils. Nothing serious but they are short of projectors and have none that fits in stock."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara said ."So how long will that delay us?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"They ordered one from Ross 123 and it is already on a Post ship and should be here on Eightday and since we got Threeday, it will be here in five days. Fitting it is a matter of hours and we should be on our way to the HHW on Sixday latest." She sighed. "I hoped to be on Sares for the Silver-Cat festival so Roy could experience something that happens only every five years and get a good first impression."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"O I think we still make it to the festival, Colonel. We just ditch the planned stop at Blue Moon and fuel up at Intergalactica SW 1 and that will get us to Sares Gate on schedule."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy had no idea what they were talking about but he understood that they would be here for five more days but still somehow manage to reach Sares without much of a delay.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara seemed pleased with that and thanked the Captain for the information.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Captain Wilson held up the sports bag. "I am using the stop over for a few Tennis matches. Are you two care to come along?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara spread her arms."We are on our way to Humongous and besides I am not very familiar with this Terran sport."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy also had no idea what Tennis was. "I don't know any Terran Sports really."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"What a shame, it is a great activity and they have excellent facilities here. Well maybe some other time."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Captain left and turned the heads of a few human males, not even suspecting anything as Wilson did not look very Saresii.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara did not say anything but rolled her eyes and then smile.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">A taxi ride later they boarded a local shuttle bound for Humongous.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The shuttle was packed to the last seat.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara leaned over and explained to him that Belle Station was located about 12 Light minutes above the local Star and Humongous was the 4th planet of the system. The planet had 14 larger moons and all were occupied and utilized by the Union and there was a large floating city.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">As they approached the planet he noticed how different it looked to the planets he had seen so far. She said. "It is a Jovian planet. Jovian means actually it is a planet similar to Jupiter. We Saresii have a completely different name for giants like that, but for some reason the classification Jovian stuck and now the entire Union is using it."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"An Jupiter is where?" "It is a Gas planet in the Sol System. You know where Earth is, the home system of the Terrans. Humongous however is much bigger than Jupiter or pretty much any other Gas Giant. "

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"If you say Gas giant. Does it not mean it is made of Gas and thus just a puff of nothing solid?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"You really skipped a lot of school it seems. Many Gas giants do have a solid core but technically no solid surface. Pressures and conditions change the properties of such basic elements like hydrogen and helium to such dense material that you can indeed walk on it, given you wear the right protection."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He frowned. "Yes I did skip some classes, but I did promise I will catch up on Sares."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She pointed at the dark red ball that was getting bigger by the minute. Humongous is a little different than most Jovian planets and scientists argue to this day if it a Super Jovian or a failed Brown Dwarf. The planet is right at the threshold of becoming a star. Conditions there are even more extreme than on other Jovians and Surface temperatures right above the metallic helium layer hover at around 1600 on the K scale or about 1326 degrees on the old unscientific C Scale,so many Terrans still prefer."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The red ball had little in terms of features and appeared more like a dirty glowing sun with some orange swirls.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy kept looking at the planet and said. "How can they have a city on a planet like that? How could life develop?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She smiled. "The Union has Cities on the surface of Star, a research station near the Galactic Center and many hundred thousand floating cities on Jovian planets. The temperatures outside Bright Star City on the sun the Non Corps call home are many thousand times hotter than here, the radiation conditions near Galactic Bar 1 are so intense they could even kill a Non Corp and yet we have a research station there. Out Union is perhaps more fascinating than the Universe, if you think about it." She turned her head. "How life evolves and exists on planets like these were questions scientists like to answer. Your later mother was one of the foremost authorities on energy consuming and energy transferring life forms."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He looked away. "I know, she tried to tell me about the Bellebees and I remember only fragments."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She put her hand on Roy's knee. "The Bellebees we are going to meet is eager to make your acquaintance because he was a good friend of your mother and he knows about you."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"He knows about me?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Yes, your mother might have mentioned you and you must know the Bellebees do not forget anything, not the smallest detail. They can remember every word ever spoken to them, they know the names of every Union Fleet Crew member since there is a Union Fleet. They remember every bolt, screw or piece of Equipment." She gestured towards the now sight filling image of the planet. "They are Union Members for quite some time now and because out technology allows them to actively participate they take membership as serious as a religion."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The shuttle's view ports closed and the passenger view was replaced by view screens. Roy noticed that the shuttle extended wings and as it dove into the planets atmosphere, despite compensation some shaking and bumping motion came through. The pilot ensured the passengers that this was perfectly normal as they entered a 1600 miles per hour storm layer. Air and matter particles pounded the shuttles strong shields with supersonic speeds. The view sensors compensated for the strong glow and an artificial structure became visible, floating in a fantastic swirl of every shade of red. From the finest pastel pink over saturated orange to deep red and dark violets. The structure featured an illuminated Union flag in its center, proudly proclaiming that this construct was of Union origin. It had the appearance of a star like wheel with sixteen spokes and at the end of each spoke was a pine cone shaped appendix. At the center of the wheel a sphere like hub.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">As they approached he could see hundreds of softly glowing pumpkin shaped things float around the cones and settle into spoon shaped tubs. The cones where dotted with these indentations and many were occupied by a glowing pumpkin.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">As one of the floating pumpkins passed close by, he realized how big those things were.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara said. "This is Ukdu Aigs, he is one of the Old ones and about 800 meters across."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"You can tell them apart and know them by name?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She tapped to her ear. "I am a Data Head. I tuned my internal PDD to the Belle-frequencies. He floated by to say hello and wanted to know if you are aboard."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Is he the one who knew mother?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Not in person, no. that would be Moke-Die. He has already docked in his spoon-tub. However they do share all the species memory. Ukdu-Aigs is excited to meet you as well because, you and Partner did save all their lives. Trust me this is one species who will never ever forget your deed. They will sing your name ten thousand years from now."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy had no response to that. It was another one of these huge events that were so much bigger than him and something he simply wasn't prepared for. He sighed. "I hope I won't make a fool of myself."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I think you will do just fine."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Do you think I should get myself such a Data Head thing?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I would wait if you are still serious about becoming a Marine. They get their own implants."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The shuttle approached the hub of the big wheel and slipped through an energy membrane.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Inside it was just another high tech dock. Smaller of course than on Belle Station. The same activities, robots,beings and slide belts. The only difference were huge view ports showing the swirling colors outside.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Along with the other passengers they debarked and again Carla seemed to feel right at home and knew where to go, but they didn't get far. A committee of uniformed officials and even a band was there, as well hundreds of fist sized Bellebees, floating like a lively moving cloud behind the welcome committee.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara whispered. "Those are size reduced Avatars of actual Bellebees." A human sized Bellebee Avatar actually wearing a black Uniform with the Union Flag, established itself in a central position. " Hail and welcome Roy Masters of Green Hell; hail and welcome Partner of Green Hell. May the winds lift you always to rich feeding grounds. I am Ukdu-Aigs an Elder of the ones you call Bellebees. The one of Highest Respects has told us that you are humble and honest and not out for glory. That you do not wish to be celebrated, yet being the core cause why 234,405,403,003.05 beings still live is certainly not a deed that should pass without any recognition of those who you saved."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy wished he knew what to day and how to address the alien correctly. "Mr. Ukdu-Aigs, I am really just a teenager from Green Hell. I was only a small part of the events that unfolded. The others who where with me deserve praise. Alejandro the Stellaris and Ncchsi the Maggi-Suron didn't even hesitate a second when I wanted to blow up the bomb. Sobyr delivered the message without him there would not been enough time and then there is my animal Partner who teleported Sobyr to the station. I had the smallest part in all of this."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I am long enough among humans and other beings to understand the fine nuances of human emotions presented in facial expressions and tone of voice. Even though my eyes are artificial and so are my ears. I can sense your embarrassment. The Eternal Warrior was right when he said you would be uncomfortable if we tried to celebrate you."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The band seemed to have received an unspoken command and left without playing and the Bellebee floated closer. "We will heed the Immortals advice and your unspoken wishes, yet we want to express our gratitude."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy felt better already after the band and half of the officials left and he waved his hand. "No worries your Highness, it's just that I feel its a bit over my head." Then he rubbed his chin, "Just one thing I do like to know. How did I manage to save half a being? I mean the point five number means there was half a guy?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">There was a moment of silence and then one of the officials started to giggle and someone else started a suppressed laugh.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The male voice of the Bellebee also sounded amused. "No,Roy Masters not half a being, but we Bellebees have access to quite precise numbers and there where 3,434,112 births and in correlation to the precise time when the last bomb was intercepted, one mother was at the exact moment of giving birth so technically her child was not entirely to be counted as an individual."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">That statement clearly impressed Roy. "Wow that's whamo. You knowing all that I mean."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"There is an earth tradition where one can become a honorary member of groups and institutions and we like this tradition. In this tradition we like to pronounce you and your partner to be honorary members of the Bellebee civilization. It must be an alien and strange culture to you, but Humongous will always welcome you in ways no outsider ever will be."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"That's sure a nice sentiment, and you are not all that strange. We got something like you right on Green Hell. Of course not as smart or as big but the gas bag bloating part I mean."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I read your mother's papers on us and on the Lightning Dragons of your Home world. She was a remarkable scientist and understood us. Do you know that her work was instrumental in improving our health services and developing a medical treatment for a disease that plagued my kind for a long time?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy pressed his lips together and then took a deep breath. "No I did not know. I did not listen as much as I may should have when she talked about her work, I don't have the same interest in science as my parents had."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"We observed that the offspring of humans not always chooses the same career than their parents do. It is not necessary that you follow your mother's path. It is however important you follow your own and it appears that your families path is already intertwined with ours."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">One of the human officials stepped forward. "I am the City manager of Humongous One and while I can understand your sentiment not to bask in glory or expect much fanfare, I hope you allow us to celebrate the fact that we still have a sun and our lives. You are of course a guest of honor not just for today but as long as you and your partner live. I make sure the same invitation goes out to the rest of the individuals you mentioned."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Thank you." Was all that came to Roy's mind."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">There was a a big dinner after all, in a spectacular restaurant, with view ports showing the colorful swirling outside. He wondered if looking at that all the time would drive people crazy and Cara explained that most residents didn't even see it anymore and most view ports could be blocked out or show any scenery desired.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">After the dinner, which was actually pretty good and since he had a few formal dinners in recent history, he did not feel totally out of place.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Especially the lessons he got from Cara while he was aboard the Silver Swan were quite useful now.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">To his delight he saw the others: Sobyr, Aat, Ncchsi, Alejandro and Pictfram. The City manager had kept word and made sure they were invited too.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He didn't have much chance to talk to them, as they all got the grand tour of the City and the Manager himself did the tour guide bit.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr as much as he tried, could not completely deny the fact that he was a Thauran and he did enjoy being at the center of attention.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">While his new friends continued with the tour, Cara and the Avatar of Ukdu-Aigs took him through one of the wheel spoke connections to meet Moke-Die.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The IST dropped them in one of the cone shaped appendixes and Ukdu-Aigs said. "Would you care to go outside? Union Technology developed special flight suits allowing a Human to leave the city and share our environment."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I made a fool out of myself in a space suit just recently and I sure don't want to meet my mother's friend bumping into everything."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"You can meet Moke-Die. Just like me as an Avatar of course, but this is not free space. Up and down do have meaning if that was the problem in space, besides the Suits do have computronics that do the flying."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy agreed but had mixed feelings as he stepped into the Auto Dresser.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He had to laugh as he saw Partner, also wearing a flight suit. Tailored to his shape and size. He was certain that Partner didn't need a suit but, his four legged friend looked very proud having a suit and his mental pictures seemed to say. 'this time I got a suit so you don't have to let me behind.'

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara was right behind him as he stepped through the Airlock membrane and into the atmosphere of the huge planet. The Bellebee Elder Avatar blinked out still inside the station, two of the humongous balloon shaped beings were hanging right outside.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Ukdu was right, this wasn't deep space, this was much worse! Yes there was an up and down, and the suit kept him stationary with grav projectors and positioning jets; at least for the moment. For some reason his mind told him that he was hanging a few hundred kilometers above a swirling storm. A storm they had told him was raging with wind speeds at over 1600 kilometers per hour and that storm created a whirlpool like vortex that appeared to look like the maw of a gigantic monster.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">While his sense of Danger was silent, he still could not completely ignore a feeling of fear. So he decided to not look down to much, get the meeting over with and leave Humongous. He was certain becoming an honrary member of the Bellebee society was a great honor and all that, but he did not exactly wanted to spend much time here. The floating city was nice, but it was just another enclosed space. He preferred a planet with a surface and forests, preferably jungles. In other words a place just like Green Hell. He realized that he was a little homesick again.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He almost missed the radio signal, the reason he was here in the first place and he told the suit to connect him.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Welcome, Roy Masters. I am Moke-Die and I am a friend of your mother."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Nice to meet you, Sir. I have to tell you however my mother is dead. She and my father were killed in a pirate attack, a little while ago."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I am a very old Bellebee and I still get confused using the Avatar technology. This is why I wanted yo meet you like this, young Masters. Let Cara and Ukdu talk while I show you a few magnificent sights."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy carefully adjusted the thrusters and slowly followed the huge being."Alright Mr. Moke-Die. I a right behind you, at least if that dark orange colored section counts as your behind."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"We don't really such designations. Come up and sit on my top, that way you do not have to concentrate on flying that contraption."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy did follow the advise and the invitation and Partner followed as well, he did not use the suits thrusters yet he managed to steer just fine

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">While sitting on the surprisingly hard surface of the beings upper side, it said. "Those suits are marvelous as all Union technology, but I assure no Bellebee has ever failed to fly while it was alive."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">That was actually quite reassuring and Roy relaxed a little. "Yes sir, I believe that right away."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">" I am one of the last Bellebees that came to be before we were Union members. As you know we have none of the senses you have, senses that are needed to interact with Non Bellebees. I have no ears, no eyes and this Avatar technology all the younger Belles loves so much gives us simulated ears and eyes, can you imagine how confusing sight can be to someone who never saw anything?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy nodded and then realized the Alien could not see his nod and said. "Yes Sir, I think I can imagine, sort of at least." He wondered why the Bellebee was telling him all this, but then it appeared that as alien and strange they were, their old people acted not so different from human seniors. He also noted that they were a few hundred kilometers away from the City. The huge majestic balloons that appeared to move so slow actually traveled in wind currents of super sonic speed.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The old Bellebee seemed pleased with that answer and continued. "Your mother has been here on Humongous for a year, working on her thesis. While she wasn't the only Union Biologist who studied us; there are always ten to fifteen around at any given time; she was one of those who really cared about her work."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Again Roy nodded inside his helmet. "Yes being a scientist was everything to her." "She discovered that some of us could get sick from Ozone when it passed through a weakened food membrane. She developed a food supplement, much like you humans need vitamins and eliminated a problem that plagued us for ages and was the cause for the premature death quite a few Bellebees."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I will add this to my memories of her."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I am telling you this, to explain to you why I dedicated whatever live I have left to her and that self-elected task of course extends to you and I did that long before you decided to save us all."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy sighed and looked to partner who sat next to him behind a shimmering force field bubble of his suit that automatically created a perfect aerodynamic lens shaped bubble. Roy was certain he had one around him too, "It was not just me."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I analyzed the events and I came to the conclusion we would all be turned to Supernova ashes without your intervention; but let us not talk about this."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Thank you!"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">" When the news of your mother's death reached Humongous, I was mourning her passing indeed. However I am Bellebee, young Roy Masters. I collected every bit of data I could find. Fleet Reports, intercepted Kermac telepathic messages, flight plans and mission parameters and that is only a small selection of information topics. While I analyzed the data, I discovered that a clerk on Pluribus had leaked the mission plan of the UES Zheng He. She and her Kermac sponsored Spy handler have been apprehended and will receive the punishment spies deserve."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy no longer felt bored by the sermon of the old Bellebee. The UES Zhen He was the Explorer of his mother and it appeared the Kermac deception he thought was over ran much deeper. He clenched his fist and said. "If there is one thing I learned not to like,it's spies and clandestine missions and all that."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">\The Bellebee elder went on. "Yes, I have collected and analyzed everything I could find and due to my security clearance I was able to analyze your recent adventures as well, as you and any data you created are of course relevant to my dedication to your mother."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy watched as they passed two other Bellebees, one of them appeared fleeing from a greenish glob with tentacles and what looked like a round mouth full of teeth. While he wanted to hear more what the Elder had to say, he interrupted. "I think one of your fellow Bellebees is about to get eaten or something."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Oh how wonderful eyes are. Yes I noticed the Belsnap. They are our natural enemy, but they are rare now. We Bellebees have never been completely helpless against them, as we have the benefit of sentience. We used to gang up on them and crush them, but the Belle out there just play with the poor Belsnap. They both are Union Citizens and carry shield generators and weapons."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">A bright bolt of energy glared across the violet sky and pierced the green glob and it instantly fell and disappeared beneath the swirling colors of angry clouds.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Old Bellebee said with sad regret in his voice. "There are voices who say we should preserve the Belsnap and we elder can see wisdom in this, but the young ones like the two you are seeing want to be like Terrans. Do not understand me wrong, young Roy Masters. We are Union Citizens and very proud of this fact, but I wish the young ones would also listen to the Elders and not trying to emulate Terrans too much."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy frowned and said. "I don't like this killing for sport and no real reason either. Off Worlders try to stomp through our jungles in Armor suits and think the answer is to burn, shoot and blast everything in sight, yet they disturb the balance and at least on Green Hell, pay the price for doing so."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Cara described you well; you are an impulsive teen as the young of humans and Bellebees have been since time begun, but you do have a quality of deep perceptiveness and wisdom that makes you quite different. Your mother was a lot like this and that is why I always considered her a real friend."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"How about my mother, there is more to what you wanted to tell me, right?" "Yes there is more." The Old Bellebee did go on. "The UES Zhen He was attacked by a Pirate Ship called the Green Snake, commanded by a pirate known as Captain Coldblood."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Bellebee paused for a brief moment and said. "When I say I am analyzing information, I use the collective knowledge and memory of all Bellebees and I co-relate info to other information based on meaning, impact and relationship. While a Computronic can do the same and even faster than us, these machines cannot see the significance of a rumor about a pirate transmitted via Tachyon radio..." He paused again. "I am trailing of the subject and it isn't important for you how I do thing."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"You are talking about events that affected and killed my parents, so I am eager to hear whatever you know, but that does not mean I should not know how you alien floaters do things. I kept myself ignorant and did not learn what I should have. Nothing I learned in the Jungles has any meaning out here."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"If you look at your life and all the events that occurred to you, all the decisions you made the Bellebee way, you will realize that everything you did and learned was important in the forming the person you are. The sum of it all influences all decisions you make and will make. You don't want to hear about it, but your decision to trust your big animal instead of running away forged the first bonds that allowed you to save billions of lives. If you could see the net of connections I can see, you would be amazed what even the most minute event has on the great whole."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Yes Sir, I think I understand, but could you go back again to the Green Snake and that pirate?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Seamlessly the Elder Bellebee continued: "Analyzing this pirates patterns I concluded that he is acting under Kermac direction and the Pirate identity and behavior pattern is a cover.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Captain Coldblood knowing when and where the Zheng He would be at given time, strengthens this conclusion considerably. Checking many sighting and scan reports, the Green Snake is not armed well enough to take out a Union Explorer under shields, therefore I ordered a detailed trace inspection of the area where the Zheng He was destroyed."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"You can order something like that?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I carry the rank of Rear Admiral in the Union Fleet and I am attached to Fleet Operations, like many other Bellebees are, so yes investigating the demise of a Union Ship falls within my authority and I can dedicate assets within certain limits and frame works of course."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"What did that inspection find?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"The detail sweep of the region resulted in two specific findings. One is the use of Nul Gravo Mines, that had to be set up prior by a bigger ship, and the other result was the discovery of much of the Zheng He's debris and her log book drone. Furthermore we concluded that the bridge module that can be jettisoned as an emergency craft was missing."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy's mouth became dry and he completely forgot that he was floating in a violent killer atmosphere. "Tell me everything!" He yelled.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Slaver activity, the recent sale of a Union Bridge module on a Golden Bazaar, reported by a NAVINT operative, the content of the log book and your recent dream where you correctly identified the name of a Klack that was part of the Zheng He crew leave only one conclusion: Your mother is still alive and held as a slave at an unknown location."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy unconsciously had known it the entire time and now as it was said, there was no doubt in his mind that this was true. "What is done to free them?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"There is nothing done, Roy Masters. Your parents are most likely sold as Slaves and all known Slave markets are in Freespace."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Are we not at war? Is the Free Space treaty not voided?" "And have the Shiss and the Nul enter the war as well? No, Roy. The Union will not break the treaty now. We are winning this war, our calculations are correct I am certain, but it is better we concentrate on one enemy at the time."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy became angry. "My parents! The others, I saw other humans in my dreams as well! They are held in terrible conditions."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"We must first know where they are."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"And then? Will the Union Fleet get them, before they are dead for real?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I can not give such orders and even your remarkable friendship with the Immortal himself won't change the fact that the fleet or the Union can not help you. The slavery issue is an old one and a sore spot that is discussed at the Assembly at least twice a year."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy wanted to strangle the 800 meter sized life form beneath him. Not that this would have been possible, Bellebees had no necks."Why tell me all this then?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I said the Union can not help you, but that does not mean I won't help you. I will do whatever I can to assist you as long as it does not interfere with my oath. The rest is up to you, Roy."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The words made it clear, Roy needed to postpone Sares, the marines and everything else. He needed to find his parents. "Cara knew about this, didn't she, Stahl knew it too!"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Young Roy Masters. I can not claim to know what the Immortal Warrior knows, but I can assure you that even if the Universe will try to deceive you, he will not."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Bellebee changed course and headed back to the City.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy knew of course that Stahl would not deceive him. The Immortal left everything in the middle of a war to come to help him personally, but he was angry."How about Cara?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"She is your friend I am sure, but it is you alone who must make the decisions who you can trust with what."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Sir, how would you try finding a pirate?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I am an Officer in the Union Fleet. If I knew the whereabouts of any Pirate within Union territory, that Pirate would meet with a Battle ship instead with a merchant ship, but Free Space is beyond our reach and the Intel assets we have there are few and I can not jeopardize them for you, but if I were you I would talk to the Wurgus. They get around."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">-_""-

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm;widows:2;orphans:2">Chapter 7: Leedei

<p style="widows:2;orphans:2"> Leedei

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Back at the floating city Cara greeted him already back inside and asked. "Had a good time out there?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy decided to keep his new knowledge to himself at least for the time being until he had time to form a plan as how to find his parents. He said. "Yes I learned a few things about the Bellebees and watched them blast some sort of predator beast."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"There aren't too many humans who can claim to have ridden on the oldest Bellebee." She gestured to the IST tunnel. "In the light of our ships delay, we are not in a particular hurry. Your new friends should be done with their tour. I for one will take advantage of the VIP status we got thanks to Partner, your friends and you. They have great SPA facilities at the local Sheraton."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I am sure they have."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Don't knock it before you tried it, you and Partner can join me of course or you can go off on your own and see if you find something to pass the time. Of course I would appreciate if you try to call me before you decide to go on any unplanned adventures."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Partner sneezed and sat next to Cara and Roy said. "Are you serious? SPA is like sauna and mud bath and massage and stuff like that."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara laughed with her clear voice and scratched Partners side. "He is a very smart animal after all."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Partner really liked hearing that.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"You are the most vane, sleepy beast in the whole Galaxy. Go ahead get pampered. I see if I can find Sobyr and the others if they are still here."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">-_""-

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">While Roy left Partner and Cara at the hotel spa he actually could feel the comport and joy his animal felt and he saw images of a dozen exotic beauties all cooing about him. Roy smirked and was glad his friend enjoyed himself.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He had no plans to relax, there was nothing else in his mind than his parents and what he could do to find them and rescue them.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">If he told Cara, she would watch him even closer. As much as she claimed to be his friend, he still felt she had an agenda that superseded the friendship part. Of course there was the Wurgus meeting and the recent events showed how potent their technology was. So him being at that meeting by request of a Wurgus Patriarch was important to the Union and Cara was more or less there to make sure he made it to that meeting.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">If he called the Immortal admiral, he would tell him the same as the Bellebee admiral. Not even Stahl would risk widening the war for a few human slaves.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Perhaps Uncle Sam would know. He was hunting pirates and all that before he settled on Green Hell."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He found a GalNet terminal in the hotel lobby and sat down after activating the privacy screen. "System, connect me to Sam Brown, Green Hell."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Requested party has a GalCom account but is not listed to have a private terminal. Do you wish to leave a message?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Knowing Sam, it could be month before he went to Ant Hill to check his messages. "System, new request. Connect me to the Union Post Office."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Accessing, Union Post Office interface active."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He selected the record option and said. "Uncle Sam, it's me Roy. I really need your advice in an urgent matter. Please contact me on my PDD as soon as you can."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He then had the message put on a physical chip and send via Union Mail to Green Hell. The chip would be delivered to Ma Swanson and she would send one of her employees with a flyer to Sam. A bit slow but at least he was certain he would get it.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"System what is the charge?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"All charges have been covered by the Bellebee Society account. Do you wish to use a different account?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"No."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">As he left the booth he was greeted by Aat,or more precisely pointed out as she raised her voice. "Guys I found him."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr and the others gathered around him and the Thauran said. "You are hard to find, but we sure appreciate the sentiment. State Dinner, guests of honor. Not to mention that the Station Engineers updated the Calypso for free."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Aat hugged him. "Thank you for saving us, I had no chance to thank you yet. I thought those nasty Nogoll and that slimy Kermac had us for good."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Pictfram crawled closer. "That goes for me too!"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Alejandro padded Roy's shoulder. "Yeah with you punching Sobyr's dad we had no time talking to you."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy looked guilty towards Sobyr and said. "I am sorry about that."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr looked around as if to make sure no one else could hear. "Roy, I pay every credit I owe to see that again. I don't dislike my dad, but he is a Thauran through and through and he deserved that one for a thousand reasons."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"What is it with that Thauran thing. I don't understand."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Aat laughed. "I guess they don't have any Thaurans on Green Hell then." She smirked I Sobyr's direction. "They are known to be the most arrogant, self serving beings in the Universe. Able to teach even the Kermac how that is done."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr spread his arms. "Worst part is we know that is the case but it is part of our culture and we made a science out of it. I try real hard not to be too much Thauran but sometimes I can't deny my roots."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Alejandro looked around. "Where is Partner?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">|Roy closed his eyes and could see his big friend submerged to his eyes in a big tub of steaming mud. Cara and several other girls sharing the tub. Roy sighed with a smile. "He's taking a mud bath with Cara and enjoys every minute of it."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Pictfram's alien face split like a fruit and a purple tongue like thing appeared for a second. "Oh that sounds awesome, I love mud baths too."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Ncchsi agreed."Me too!"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">They were still standing in the Hotel Lobby and Sobyr said. "So what are your plans for the rest of the day?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy shrugged. "I was planning to do some research."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr blinked surprised. "Thanks to you we are honor guests in a Lux Hotel till tomorrow, that means free food, free snacks, entertainment and all that. You didn't strike me as study nerd like Alejandro, besides School won't start for another month. What are you studying?" Roy really wanted to share the news he got with someone so he said. "I just found out that my parents are still alive and kept as slaves somewhere in Freespace." Sobyr pointed to a seat group island in the hotel lobby. "Why don't we sit down and you tell us all about it." Aat nodded. "I remember you telling us that they were killed by pirates."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">They all sat down and Roy more or less told them, what the Old Bellebee told him and when he was done, Sobyr said."We need a Ship and a fair amount of money of course. I think I can scratch 50,000 together, what about you Aat?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy raised his hand. "Ship? Money? What are you talking about?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr said. "We going to help you of course to find your parents. We need a ship to get to Freespace and we need money for weapons, supplies and bribes to find that Green Snake and then find out where the Pirates sold your parents."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Alejandro leaned forward. "I bet we find information at Alvor's Cove."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy felt deeply touched by the reaction of these five new friends. There was no hesitation at all, they were clearly willing to sacrifice money and future to help him. "Guys, I appreciate your sentiment and there is nothing I would like to do more than to jump into the next space ship and search for my parents. I even think with all your help I would have a chance, but I can't accept your offer. You would throw away your future and going against Pirates and Slavers is too dangerous, what if one of you gets hurt or dies?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr looked at him as if he spoke Nul. "You're a friend, doesn't matter if you a new friend or an old friend. Helping a friend is the highest calling and the cost is irrelevant."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy said. "Alright then, I am in no position to reject help but we need to plan this before we run into the blue. If we fail my parents are doomed for sure and if we spend the next ten years searching space, we will be to late."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Alejandro said. "Then let's do the research together."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Aat got up. "We need to find out where this Green Snake and Captain Coldblood usually strikes, where pirates like him hide out and sell Slaves. There is a captured Pirate Crew on Kappa II, I am sure we can talk to them."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy sighed. "You know this is probably the dumbest thing we ever do, part of me doesn't even want to wait. I feel every moment we waste could mean the are coming to late.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Maybe they are dead already." Ncchsi said. "I call Inklung, he's a Leedei. I will be right back."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Maggi-Suron rushed to the GalNet Booths.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Pictfram said. "That's a great idea, maybe Inklung can get us access to a Telelistener"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Can you explain to me what a Leedei is and who is she calling?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr shrugged. "I have no idea, I never heard of the Leedei either."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Alejandro tabbed the coffee table between them. "System establish field screen above table, access GalNet display Leedei."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">A gray somewhat humanoid being was displayed and Alejandro said. "They come from Dwarf Galaxy M32 and are quite advanced and have Psionic talents on Saresii levels and perhaps the best Psi Tech of anyone."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr snapped his finger. "Oh right, those are the guys who accidentally discovered the Bridge."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Alejandro half obscured by the projection said. "They discovered the Bridge by using a Psionic Telescope, called the Telelistener."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Ncchsi came back. "Let's go. Inklung has access to a Tele-Listener and he lets us use it and his Sip Sap helps us set it up." "What are we doing exactly and what is a Telelistener?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Alejandro turned to Roy. "The Leedei discovered the Bridge because they pointed something like Psionic telescope y accident on a region of space between galaxies they thought empty, but received lots of brain and thought activity. If I understood Ncchi's friend correctly, you can find a known brain, using that Telelistener clear across the Galaxy. Since you know your mothers mind you connect to the thing and we find out if your parents are still alive and maybe even find out where they are."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Now that was the first concrete plan and it raised much hope in Roy. "Where does this Leedei live?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The lizard said. "Inklung said we can come right away. He and his family live on Kappa VIII ,that's the outmost planet of this system, but there is a shuttle connection leaving from Belle Station every 5 hours. "

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Aat ordered herself a drink and said. "And on our way back we try to talk to the Pirates on Kappa II. By then we should know much more."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy felt like sitting on needles and he wanted to go right away. "Could we visit your friend with Avatars?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Ncchsi declined his head. "Sure we can but Psionics won't work with Avatars. You need to be there physically. Inklung doesn't know your mothers mind."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy pulled his PDD and said.. "Connect me to Cara."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She answered right away but did not activate the visuals. "Your friend is alright, Roy. The SPA girls argued for ten minutes who would be allowed to massage him. Now they are all petting him and even though I have no Psionic connection with Partner, I can tell he is really loving it."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy felt his animals emotions and she was right, Partner was very relaxed and loved every minute of it. "I am calling because we wanted to go Belle Station and visit a friend of Ncchsi."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"We are in the system for at least four more days. Go right ahead, but keep in touch and please let me know if you plan to get into any unusual situations."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He knew she was sensing some of his thoughts and he didn't want to lie to her so he said. "I will let you know." He planned to tell her what he was planning as soon as he had an idea what that would be. Preferably from a GalNet terminal and already halfway to his parents.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Partner popped into existence right before them in a cloud of perfumed air. No matter how much he liked where he was, Partner felt that Roy was about to leave and there was no place Partner wanted to be more than at Roy's side.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy dis stop in his tracks. "What in the world did happen to you?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Partner's usually coarse and black neck fur had been brushed and there where pink highlights and a Rhine stone encrusted hair clip sparkled between his glowing horns.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Partner sneezed very proud and happy.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I have a feeling you won't have any problems fitting in on Sares Prime. You sure don't look like an Imperial Fury Beast."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Aat cooed. "Oh but he looks so adorable and he smells so nice."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Partner gave Roy a defiant look and sneezed.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">-""-

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The trip back to Belle Station was event less and so was boarding another long range shuttle to the out most planet of the system.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The inter system trip would take only 35 minutes as the shuttle did have FTL engines and would bridge most of the six light hours in Quasi space.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr did not even bother with finding the seats and went straight to the shuttles small lounge for a burger. Roy was to excited to eat or feel hungry, so he opted for a glass of water. "What are they doing so far out? I mean what is on Kappa VIII?" Sobyr munched happily on his burger and waved to Alejandro who only had a coffee. The Stellaris said. "This is a Member species System and every rock and floating real estate is either occupied or under construction to be occupied. Like most Union Star system, the outmost planet is first and foremost used as a long range listening and scanning outpost. On Kappa VIII is a large Union Army Post with a compliment of Gunships. There is a System defense battery with Loki torpedoes and the regions GalNet repeater station. Those large repeater stations usually have a crew. Kappa VIII also does the maintenance for all GalNet Buoys in the region."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Ncchsi ate his raw uncooked burger. She did not chew but devoured the burger in fast snapping motions and swallowed the pieces whole. Roy could picture how she would sink her teeth filled jaws into a prey animal and it was clear to him that the Maggi-Surons developed from a fierce predator life form. Despite her somewhat frightening appearance, she was a nice person and she said. "SII has a factory there making GalNet buoy parts or something. All in all I think Kappa VIII has a population of 200,000. That isn't very big but far from small. Inklung's Sip Sap is a Union teacher there.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr wiped his mouth with a napkin. "I love those White Castle Burgers, they only serve them on Shuttles but they come all the way from the Sol System. Not printed but Zero Stasis."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy still wasn't hungry and said ."Maybe I have the stomach to try one on our way back. Did they got attacked during the battle?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr shrugged ."I don't know but unlikely. Kappa VIII is currently on the Galactic South side and the Kermac-Nogoll fleet came from the North side, that is Core ward in Sector terms. Even if they were, they have Loki Batteries and not just one. The Army Gunships probably didn't even launch. They are useless in an all out space battle."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr checked the time and ordered another burger from the Lounge waiter. "The slide caves on Kappa VIII are worth a visit. If we are successful with our attempt locating your parents, we should visit them. Four Kilometers of a steep ice cave tunnel, you can slide with a Duro Plast board. Great fun I tell you."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Kappa VIII didn't look like much from space. It was a dark dull gray ball without a visible atmosphere. The local sun was nothing but a bright star among many other stars.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">But as they descended, Roy noticed bright lid dome in the otherwise stark and featureless gray landscape.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He hasn't really traveled all that much and seen only a few other places, but so far none of them could hold a candle to Green Hell.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sure enough the town on Kappa VIII once they had landed was no different than Anthill inside. The same bright corridors. He was quite happy to see that the corridors and the main concourse featured quite a few green plants and open water.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">A weird looking semi humanoid being, gray from head to toe waited for them. The being was about as tall as Sobyr and had two legs and two arms, but arms and legs had at least one more joint. The head was completely smooth except for three darker almost black areas where eyes and mouth would be. The being appeared as if wore a tight fabric semitransparent fabric over his head that smoothed any facial features into a vague representation of a human face,

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Aat noticed Roy staring at the being as they approached. "The Leedei developed on a planet with three suns and there is never any darkness or night. To protect their eyes they and many other life forms of their planet developed a second skin like cover over the actual eyes that is semitransparent and filters out most of the bright light and harmful radiation."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Ncchsi performed a complicated greeting ritual with his hands and Roy noticed the Leedei hand had eight fingers and each finger had at least six joints and looked almost independently alive and more like many legged insects than hands.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Ncchsi turned and placed her scaled hand with sharp claws on Roy's shoulder. "This is Roy Masters and the big black thing answers to the name Partner." Then she pointed to the being. "This is Inklung, he is a good friend of mine and its Sip-Sap was my Basic School teacher. Inklung is like many Leedei a formidable Telepath."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The being had a muffled whispering voice. "Nice to meet you Roy and Partner. Your connection to the beast is amazing indeed."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy didn't even try to repeat the greeting Ncchsi did and simply shook the beings hand. It was as if a bony spider crawled half up his wrist and he said. "I am too glad to meet you."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The being gestured to the exit gate of the shuttle landing berth. "Let us go to my home, where you can tell me in detail how I can be of assistance."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">-""-

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The home of the Leedei was located deep underneath the surface, a house carved into a rock alcove. One of many such homes lining a long tunnel wall. To Roy's surprise and delight he noticed that some of the houses had front yards with green grass and even flowers and bushes. A gaggle of kids two humans, a furry black being and a small Version of a Maggi Suron chased after a ball. A Klack guided a hover cart, wearing the green Uniform of a Union Post employee greeted them clicking his mandibles and then carrying a package to a door.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">A woman with a large hat was clipping a bush with a pair of scissors. Roy somehow had not expected this idyllic peaceful scenery underneath the ice and rock of a distant outpost planet and he recalled Cara's words. She was right in these aspects the Union was quite fascinating.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The interior of the Leedei home was very dark. Only dim strips of red light provided the faintest of illumination. There was very little in terms of furniture.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Their host led them into a living room where sitting furniture had been added, and from the looks of it in anticipation of their visit, as it appeared out of place.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Inklung gestured to the seats. "Please make yourselves at home. I know Roy is eager to come to the point and we shall as soon as my Sip Sap can join us, Knunging will be here any minute now. My Sip Sap is in contact with G 6783, our home world to gain permission to use the Telelistener."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">A S-10 robot in domestic service configuration came in and asked with the same type of whispering voice. "Welcome to the Ging-Lung household, this unit was summoned to provide refreshments. Please state the type of snack or drink you like to consume. This household is attached to the Kroger groceries Network and we can provide virtually any desired refreshment."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Ncchsi was not very shy and said. "I like a Grobil blood squeezer."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Inklung said."Please do as our common friend did. Serving guests as good as possible is a Leedei tradition and it makes us very proud and happy if guests do avail to offerings."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Ncchsi was obviously here before as she switched on a little light above her seat, "Yes do order something, serving guests is like a religion to the Leedei."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr found the little contact and also turned on a light above him. "Well in that case, Robot get me some Thauran Grape Juice."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Aat ordered Saran Beer. Alejandro wanted a coke with ice and Pictfram asked for a small bag of snack grubs. While Roy really wanted to get started, he did ask. "Got any Hell Ade?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The robot took the orders and Inklung sounded very pleased. "Thank you, friends of Ncchsi. You made this home a happy one and yes we can provide almost everything. We got a Matter Radio enabled GalNet terminal." There was a tone of pride in the Leedei's voice.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy had heard about this technology. It was among the newest developments. He knew the Institute on Green Hell had received one only recently. The technology allowed the transmission of actual matter over GalNet. It was limited to 1000 grams and the Matter Radio enabled Terminals were ridiculous expensive.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He was getting very nervous as the anxiety was killing him. First her heard his parents got killed in a pirate attack. The news affected him more than he thought. His life had changed so much since then. His carefree days roaming the jungles seemed ages ago, and yet it was less than a year; and now he was sitting in the dark living room of strange aliens hoping they could tell him if they were still alive. He wished it would be all over soon so he could simply go back. Deep down he even regretted giving Uncle Sam his word to become a Marine. While he still wanted to do that, it was no longer his first choice. He was smart enough to know that his depression was caused by the uncertainty of his future, the forceful uprooting caused by the very parents he now wanted to save. Maybe he should simply let them rot, where they were. It wasn't him who wanted them to go on an expedition and abandon the only place he knew as home.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He was a homeless drifter if you really looked at it.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Leedei reached out for his arm. "I promises we will do what we can to help."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Just then a second taller Leedei entered the room, right behind the robot who served the refreshments. Despite his state of mind he could not take his eyes of the plastic bag, the robot handed Pictfram. He was certain the little things inside moved.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The second Leedei said. "I am pleased to see you have availed yourself to refreshments. My home and name is blessed by guests and their comfort."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">They all thanked the Leedei for the refreshments and then the taller Leedei said. "I am Knunging, and I am a Union teacher, but right now I am a Leedei and a Union Citizen. I am honored that you came to us in search for assistance in this grave matter. However there seems to be some misconception. The device we call Telelistener is a huge machine and only one exists. It is located at our Home Planet and generally not available to Non Leedei. Usually not even to most of us."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy's feelings and hopes sank to the bottom.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The taller Leedei held up both hands. "No, do not loose hope, Roy Masters. The Council of my people have decided to allow you to use the device and they are eager to see if the device can indeed be used like that. Our Council believes if it works, it could be used to locate many missing persons and some of our thinkers already dream of building many more Telelisteners and make them available to the Union Police. Of course there are also voices who do not want us to share this technology this way as it could be abused . You must know we take the Union Psi Laws very serious and it is those laws we find are the greatest gift of the Union to us and to all thinking beings.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Psionics are rightly so feared and mistrusted as these gifts can be abused."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy simply listened, hoping the Leedei would come to the point. From the corner of his eye he saw Pictfram stuff thumb sized maggot like things into his four way split mouth. Despite his alien face that allowed no human emotion to be displayed it was apparent the Centipede greatly enjoyed it.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Knunging sat down and continued. "While my people decide the larger implications we have, as I mentioned decided to let you use it, first and foremost to see if it actually works like that. In theory it should, but it has never be used to locate a single mind. Despite the idea of your friends, it was never more than a theory.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Your try will be also a scientific experiment. So to assure you, we will help you, but we can not promise any results." Roy was okay with that, no one could possibly ask more of them and to find out if his parents were still alive would be an important first step in planning any sort of rescue.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The taller Leedei slowly nodded. "Indeed Roy Masters, that would be the logical first step. For me as Union Teacher to know about your plan, six teenagers planning to run away to Freespace wanting to contact Pirate; and not doing anything to prevent it would go against every oath I took and frankly every shred of common sense. So our help comes with a price. I hereby invite you you all to our home world and you Mr. Masters are welcome to use the Telelistener in the manner described, but it cannot be secret. Your guardian Cara needs to know about it."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy again felt as if he was riding a roller coaster. Every time there was progress there was a new hurdle. "She will not allow it."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Assuming things is a trait that appears to be common with many young beings, including humans and the Leedei. She can't deny you to try rescue your parents. The old Bellebee told you the Union can officially not help you and that is true, but your circle of friends has increased and they all are willing to assist you. All we need to do is find a way to do it right and with a plan. You five running off to Freespace will result in you joining your parents as slaves, if you are lucky and more likely cause your death. Both outcomes are not going to help your parents one bit."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy had to agree there was a lot of truth in that, part of him had the same thoughts the moment his friends and him decided to go. He could not possibly be responsible for Sobyr and the rest to lose their lives or their freedom in a fools errand. "Thank you Sir, I know it was a foolish idea from the start."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Wanting to come to the rescue of your life givers is not foolish, the way you wanted to do it however could be classified as such. Coming to us however was quite smart and talking to the Pirates we have in custody might also be a good way of gaining information. I shall accompany you there. These individuals are not Union Citizens and therefore I might be able to use my telepathic gifts to the fullest extend."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy sighed. "So what are we going to do?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"We are going to inform your Cara and then we make arrangements for you to come to our home world."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"From what I was told G 6783 is in another Galaxy, close to Andromeda. Will that not take month to get there?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Aat put her arm on his shoulder and said to the Leedei. "He is a smart young man, but he didn't like school to much."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy felt embarrassed by that, mostly of course it was true.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Leedei said. "By conventional means it would take many years, but there is a Space train connection. We can be at G 6783 in four days. Like your Cara said, the Union is quite amazing."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Inklung said. "I am going to be part of whatever rescue mission you guys plan. That is a given."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm;widows:2;orphans:2">Chapter 8: The Brick

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Brick

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">It turned out he could not really keep a secret of Cara, despite her, and every other Psionic gifted person he had met so far, claim that they weren't prying or digging. She knew more or less what he was up to and was all excited about the Leedei experiment, saying that it would be a historic experiment and a chance to learn more about the Leedei and their Psi Tech.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She said she would organize the trip to Blue Moon and the Space Train ride to the Leedei planet.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">After he had talked to her, there was little else to do than to wait for the next shuttle. Aat had also made a call and reported that her father had arranged it with the Security Chief of the Federal Stockade on Kappa II, so they could talk to the Pirate captain incarcerated there. According to Aat and her research this Pirate was supposed to know Captain Coldblood and could perhaps provide some information.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr insisted that they passed the three hours until the Shuttle was scheduled to leave in one of the ice corridors. Roy at first did not understand what the big deal was.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">They took an Inter Planet Mover and exited it halfway across the small planet inside the thick permanent Ice mantle of this world. They were, according to Sobyr only five hundred meters underneath the surface and about 3000 above the rock core.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">They were not the only ones at this destination, there where hundreds of kids and adults of all ages. Wearing colorful thick padded Thermo suits and standing in line at a metal gate. The line moved quickly and Sobyr rented Thermal suits at that gate for everyone, except Alejandro and Partner. The Suits were supplied by a worn looking Auto Dresser and Sobyr explained from beneath a padded mask that kept only his eyes uncovered. "The caves have standard atmosphere pumped in ,but since they are made of ice, there is no heat supplied. So it is going to be very very cold. Put on your goggles before you sit on a sled. It's a wild ride so hold on to your dinner as well."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy, wearing a similar mask stepped through a second automatic door right behind Alejandro and the cold hit the few inches of exposed skin around his eyes like a fist. He immediately lowered the goggles and cursed."This isn't just cold, this is space type of death freezing cold."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Alejandro shook his head. "No not really the temperature of space out here is about minus 270 on the C Scale and due to the many people using these caves temperatures down here reaching only about minus 210 degrees.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy nodded. "Yep that sure makes a difference, I mean it takes an entire 5 seconds longer to freeze to death right?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Aat right behind him pushed Roy in a friendly manner. "Don't encourage him, he's a nerd he won't shut up about temperatures for the next three days."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">While they talked they had moved on the platform and now Roy could see the actual Cave.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Everything was bluish white and many light elements had been attached to the ceiling, the Cave was about ten meters wide and had a more or less perfectly round diameter and it went in a steep angle down winding and curving.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">A robot asked. "Expert, Solo or beginner sled?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr sighed. "Beginner sled." A mechanical arm lowered a bright orange plastic contraption into the that pipe like declining corridor and Sobyr climbed into simple plastic seat molded out of the same material."Your turn, Roy. Don't hold up the line."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy climbed behind Sobyr and just as he sat down the robot arm released the sled and it began to slide picking up speed. Roy found hand holds and held tight. Right after the first curve the floor declined even further. They did not simply stay on the floor but skirted along the walls and left and right in a breakneck speed.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Suddenly they were passed by a big black thing, Partner was sliding on his belly, legs folded forward right past them and Roy could hear his animal sneeze in excitement.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sobyr yelled against the wind. "Of all wonders of this Galaxy, your partner takes the cake."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy who had his mind on his parents and what was ahead of him had not found much joy in the wild slide so far,but seeing his big animal tanking in steep curves, sneezing and sending waves of child like excitement to Roy lifted his spirits considerably and he laughed.."Yes he does."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The ride ended in as the sled came slow to a stop and got caught by another robot arm.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">An open conveyor like contraption with bucket like compartments carried them back up in another ice cave.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Taking the second slide sitting on Partner's back was even more fun and was a bit of a show of stunt as it was cheered and applauded by strangers and his friends alike,.

<p lang="en-US" style="widows:2;orphans:2">– ""-

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Kappa VIII and the ice tunnels were far distant, as they approached Kappa II a several hours later. Kappa II was very close to its sun and in terms of environment the opposite of the cold Ice planet. Temperatures hot enough to melt lead prevailed on this world, and it did not have a big colony, just a stark and foreboding Prison Complex and a small sub surface mining colony at the other side of the globe. The civilian shuttle of course approached the civilian side first.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">There they were greeted by Carla and a tall Saran in Union Fleet Uniform, He had the same hair cut as Aat and there was a striking resemblance in his face. He was without question Aat's father.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara smirked at Roy. "If we stay much longer I this system, you going to visit every last rock that floats around this sun for sure."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"What would you do if you get news that your parents are most likely still alive and held as slaves?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Tell all my friends and see what can be done. Do research what is done in such cases and then move heaven and earth to get them free." She then shook her head. "That is what I supposed to say, but frankly I don't know. I don't blame you. I just wish you would trust me more"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The tall Saran had quietly exchanged a few words with his daughter and then said. "It is an unusual request and not exactly within protocol. These individuals are criminals and awaiting their trial, but then I understand the reason. Now technically we can allow private investigators access to the prisoners, but they have to agree to see you. Strangely enough they did."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He led them to a special IST. The doors looked massive and there were two Ultra Marines guarding it. A sign read. "Military Stockade Access- Authorized Personnel only."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Marines checked his credentials and said to Roy."Sorry but the animal and the weapon must stay here."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Aat's dad said. "I am only a guest here, it isn't my command and they do have strict regulations., but no worries we won't be long and your animal can stay right here."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy undid his gun belt and strapped it around Partner's neck. While he tried to put it into mental images he said to his friend. "Please wait here, I will be back as soon as I can." Partner licked his arm and sat down, indicating that he had understood.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">One of the Marines, a Pertharian said. "It is a fine animal you got there, we will take good care of it while you visit the Brick."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The IST turned out to be a surface mono rail with a boxy, very sturdy looking vehicle riding the track. It had several Stasis boxes inside a prisoner transfer compartment. It smelled of a strong disinfectant and was neither comfortable not appealing.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Another Marine in full battle dress was standing behind the controls and greeted them with the most minimalistic gestures and then accelerated the vehicle.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Mr. Amenemhat swiveled a seat from a wall compartment and indicated the rest to do the same. He then said. "Captain Toeclipper and seven members of his crew, the beings you are about to meet, hoped he could use the distraction of war to raid a colony. To his misfortune they ran into the USS Saladin as they left the Colony and they surrendered. The Saladin dropped them of at the Station." He pulled a PDD and tabbed on it. "It is an unsavory bunch of individuals. Two Human Non Cits, two Togar Cats, three Jooltar and an exiled Kermac, they face the death penalty of course."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Aat said. "We hope they know something about a pirate named Coldblood, he was the one who abducted Roy's parents."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"They might, this Pirate rubble usually knows of their kind. If they listen to the Eternal Warrior we don't stop with the Kermac but wipe the Nul and the Shiss from existence and then there is no more Freespace and no more places they can hide."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The vehicle approached the prison complex, a drab massive looking complex with high Duro-Crete walls and a Central tower. The local sun looked gigantic in the sky and the landscape was nothing but cracked surface, big boulders and rock. The marine at the Controls made a sweeping gesture. "800 degrees on the C scale, only a faint trace of atmosphere. This is better than walls."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Mono rail car stopped before an all black gate. Purple energies flickered and then the gate sank into the ground. The Marine that was so quiet for most of the trip pointed at the gate as he guided the vehicle through. "Seven Meters molecular compacted Ultronit, Para Dim Shield reinforced. There is no known life form that get through that." There was a certain pride in his voice, almost as if he helped design it.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Behind them the Gate closed and they had arrived in a clinical white Chamber with brilliant light from every ankle. Four ten meter tall robotic creatures stood on each side of the tracks. Again the Marine provided the explanation. "Enroe Corp Guardsmen, equipped with the finest sensors and an array of weapons designed to stop anything from Nanites to Y'All Battle Drones." The Marine got up and opened the door and then said. "Oh sorry you aren't prisoners. I usually give new inmates this little tour, just so they know that any thought of escape is useless. There are only two ways out of the Brick and one of them is quite final."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Aat's father said. "As you noticed, Marine, we are not prisoners."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Marine shrugged and remained with the Mono rail car while Roy and the rest stepped on a steel grating slide belt that carried them to a second smaller gate. The Guardsmen robots followed them with their weapon arms and not even Cara or Aat's father felt to comfortable.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Next to the Gate was a black viewport that only showed their own reflections, but a unfriendly rasping computronic voice said."ID scan, weapon scan and Micro scan in progress, please remain standing still."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">After almost three minutes the second gate opened.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The room and corridor behind was as sterile and austere as the Gate area, but instead of white everything was orange. Part of the wall split, revealing a previously invisible door and a Quadiped and a Chrome metal human appeared. Roy noticed several distinctive differences and was almost certain this was an X101 and not a Stellaris. The X101 wore a black Union Fleet Uniform and the Quadiped a dark red uniform. The chrome skinned Union Officer spoke first. "I am Commander Resitar I am the Warden of this facility and this is Hally Brownroom my civilian Colleague from the Justice Department and I must say I am somewhat opposed to the whole affair, but how can I ignore the simultaneous requests of PSI Corps Command and a request from you Commander Amenemhat? This is a High Security prison operated jointly by the Fleet and the Justice Department and we usually do not have School class tours."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara took the lead and said. "This is not a School Class, we are here investigating the abduction of Union Citizens and the attack on a Union Science vessel. The inmates we requested to see might have important information."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Quadiped of the Justice Department said. "The prisoners received their sentence just an hour ago. We have moved them to death row and they might not be as cooperative as you wish, but they have agreed to be interviewed by you. So let us proceed, my Colleague and I would like to return to the day to day business running this facility."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Two Ultra Marines and two Cerberus Robots in Security Configuration appeared. And they all walked down an orange corridor. They had to pass several security gates and there was a scan at each gate. Then after a elevator ride of at least five minutes, they were led into a bright lit room with a large black reflective wall.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The X101 said. "Wait here, the prisoners are taken out of Zero Stasis right now. This will take about six minutes. Both the X101 and the Quadiped left the room."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara whispered to Aat's father, but loud enough for Roy to hear. "I wonder what the real purpose of this facility is. The security measures seem excessive."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Aat's father agreed."I have seen Union One, this place is not far behind."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The black, reflective wall slid with a fine humming noise to the side and revealed eight beings. They all wore the transparent Prisoner Plastic suits, Roy had experienced just recently. The Collars were attached to metal cables that in turn were attached to the ceiling.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">While Roy could not read any emotions in the faces of the Togar or the Jooltar, he could see the misery in the faces of the humans. The Kermac, even though he had a human face did not display any emotion Roy could identify.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy simply begun and said. "I am Roy Masters, my parents have been abducted by a pirate called Coldblood. Do you know where he usually sells his slaves?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">One of the Togar answered. "Coldblood is not one of us, he only acts that way. He isn't too welcome at the usual places ever since he attacked that Union Explorer,everyone knows to leave them alone. It's hard enough to eek out a living without poking into the Razbuzzer nest."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"It is that Explorer my parents were on. Do you know where he took them?" "Human, I don't know the detailed business of other Pirates and him running covert action for one of the Big Four makes it even less likely. But he isn't doing much business as every Cut throat, assassin and head hunter is after him."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy blinked surprised, "Why is that?" "Because of your cursed Justice Department. When it became known it was him who busted that Explorer, he was put on the Top Wanted list. A bounty of 20 tons Polo Chips on your head, makes it a wise move to lay low for a long time and not show your face in public places. The only place he would be reasonably safe is Alvor's Cove,if he paid the Local Lord a decent protection fee."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Togar said. "If you go after him you need someone who knows Freespace and since I have nothing to do and an appointment with one of your dreaded Red hoods I rather postpone I would be willing to help you find that bastard. I could help you find many Union Slaves, I am a Togar after all."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy wanted to tell the Togar that this was not within his power, when Aat's father said. "The recovery of Union Citizens from slavery is a paramount task laid upon us by the Assembly, While we can't go with war ships into Freespace to smoke out these nests. We are tasked to explore any other venue. Togar you will of course have to make the trip as a prisoner and only after you proven your worth a pardon could be arranged. I will contact Justice Central."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">With this the Saran officer left.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy suddenly felt his sense of danger warning him, but it was not like he felt it ever before, it was faint, just a tingling feeling in the pit of his stomach that something wasn't right.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He knew that the prison was psionic shielded, his connection to partner was severed the moment he had passed the main gate and maybe it influenced his ability as well.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">It didn't take long and Marine Guards detached the control cables of the prisoners suits from the collars,but only the Togar Pirate captain and the Kermac. One of the human prisoners said with a slight panic in his voice. "What about us?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Togar was a huge cat like being and Roy could not read his emotions but his forceful voice sounded suddenly meek as he said. "Sorry comrades, the deal is only for me and my first mate."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The human was about to say something and his face was full of fear and anger, but then his facial expressions changed and all his emotions seemed to have faded away. "Yes Captain, we are murderers and must face our destiny, good luck."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">This was the weirdest exchange, Roy had ever witnessed. Those pirates faced the Executioner and suddenly they accepted their fate, even seeing two of their friends get off.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy thought the whole idea of having two Pirates getting off, while the rest of the crew had to remain and die, extremely unfair. Okay he hated pirates and he had no objections if a Pirate ship was blown out of Space, but having to sit in an inhuman place like this waiting to be hanged was cruel in his opinion, then having two mates getting off. He would scream bloody murder. There was something going on here, something behind the obvious.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He leaned over to Cara and said. "If that pirate can help us find my parents, I don't mind that but doesn't it strike you odd that they let the Kermac go, but not the others?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Her eyes seemed to say something else, as she responded. "There is an Assembly Decision of file commanding any Union Official, civilian or military to find alternative ways to free Union Citizens, as long as it does not violate the Freespace Treaty. If such a way presents itself,it grants extraordinary powers to the official in charge. Commander Amenemhat has taken charge of the situation and has the power to release a prisoner that way."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Yeah I somehow understood that part, but why not all of them?

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Only one is needed as a guide. The others are not necessary and they are still convicted and sentenced felons."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy did not know Cara too well, but somehow that didn't sound like her.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Pirates that had to stay were taken out and three others were marched in, another Kermac and two Nogoll. "Cara what is going on here? I think I have seen that Kermac before."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara stood there and said nothing. He now noticed that his friends all simply stood there with blank expressions on their faces.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The two Leedei who had did not say a word since they had landed on Kappa II, looked as if they were in pain. The older one, Knunging folded his hands in a complicated manner and then with a pressed sounding voice said. "The Kermac are influencing everyone."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Kermac that had just been brought in smiled coldly. "Impressive display of Psionic Defense,Leedei Union slave, but useless. Thanks to Commander Amenemhat we were able to influence these marines and and the Saresii Agent."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">One of the marines handed the Kermac false beards and they attached them to their chins.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy leaped forward and decked the Kermac with a right hook, the Kermac groaned as he sank to his knees. The Togar grabbed Roy by the shoulder pulling him back, as strong as the Cat was he underestimated Roy's strength and speed, Roy spinning around and hammered his palm against the lower jar of the Togar.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Someone yelled. "Stop him!"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">A prickling sensation flashed all over his body and none of his muscles responded to his mind. The Togar, thrown back, spat blood stumbled to keep on his feet.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">As Roy toppled over, unable to move a single muscle, he saw one of the Marines aiming a Paralysator at him,

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The other Kermac fumbled with his false beard and retrieved a small pill like thing. "We still need you, but when this is over, I make sure you end up just like your parents as Togar food.." With this he forced the pill between Roy's teeth. He was still conscious as he felt something with little legs crawl down his throat. He wanted to gag and scream but then everything became a haze. Roy's head was filled with a numbing fog and he remembered the same thing happened to him as the Kermac abducted him. In his daze he noticed Aat's father calling for the Quadi Ped.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Mr. Amenemhat produced a small chip and said. "Make sure the X101 Warden is occupied as my masters can not control him.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Quadiped spoke as slurred as the others. "I sent him on a errand. He won't interfere and the rest of the Guards will follow my orders."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy wanted to scream and ask what was going on but his lips kept sealed. The Kermac prisoners laughed and one said to Cara. "Can you imagine what stroke of luck it was, when I realized we caught the daughter of the Security Chief and we had her for hours in our control? You Saresii think you are so superior to us, your Psionics are so much more advanced. We Kermac have built a galactic empire on the ability to control others. Oh yes your station was under a Psi shield formidable at that, but we had plenty of time to program little Aat before we got caught, And she in turn programmed her father. I would love to see the face of that Eternal warrior of yours when he hears we escaped. Have you not wondered why little Aat insisted to come here? You are all so naive."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">One of the marines asked Aat's father. "How are the prisoners transferred?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"We have a ship waiting at the Mining Port, we will use the Monorail."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">-""-

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">It went all in perfect Union precision, the prisoners were shackled in the Mono Rail and it carried them all back to the Mining Colony port.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Partner was still there and looked at Roy. "Roy could not even speak to Partner, but he managed to send him a mental command to follow.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Partner felt confused as Roy did not pet him and he could feel that something was wrong.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Keeping up the charade, the prisoners were marched under guard to a waiting Barracuda Destroyer.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Commander Amenehat said to the Lieutenant who had brought the Destroyer. "Special NAVINT mission, you will remain here at the Colony and talk to no one until tomorrow."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Yes Commander."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Inside the Ship, the Kermac and the Nogoll took off the prisoner suits and while Aat's father prepared for lift off, the Kermac said to Cara. "When this is over we will take you to Kermac Prime. You know we always like to dissect Saresii.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">But for now we stick to our new plan. "We will all take a trip to the Leedei planet. Thanks to our suggestions we planted in the Lizard and the helpful Leedei they will expose their Telelistener device to us. Can you imagine what we Kermac can do with a Psionic device that reaches over millions of light years. Combined with our Psi Suggesters, we can convince the Assembly to vote on anything we wan, Union Citizen become our Thralls and the war you think your winning will be over . We studied the capabilities of this Telelistener but it has been carefully guarded by the Leedei."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He gestured over Roy's friends. That beast and the rest however is useless, and we will space them as soon as we have cleared this system."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">In this strange haze of psionic induced hypno suggestion, Roy knew he was to far away from Green Hell, this time there was no green Goddess who would save him. He did not see this one coming and it was so unexpected. Yet even in his haze he knew one thing, never leave a Kermac alive.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Partner felt Roy's anger at the Kermac...

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm;widows:2;orphans:2">Chapter 9: Hyperspace

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Hyperspace

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">-""-

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The ship must have gone trans-light, so far they had not spaced anyone. They all had been left behind in one of the destroyers cargo holds. As Cara walked by Partner he saw something his four legged friend has never done, he flashed his formidable teeth and growled deeply at the Saresii woman. From his animal he received emotions of confusion and anger towards Cara. She hissed at Partner. "Be silent brute." Then she walked out the door. Partner liked Cara, he saved her life and until know he thought she liked Partner too. From the reaction of his beast and her something was terribly wrong.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The older Leedei, Inklung still held his spidery hands folded in what looked like a complicated knot, his strangely diffused face underneath that second layer of semitransparent skin appeared as if he was suffering.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy suddenly felt very sick to his stomach, as if he had eaten something really rotten and he started to heave, as if invisible fingers were crawling through his insides. It was the most frightening and horrible experience of his life so far. He could feel spidery bone fingers inside his throat and he heaved again and along with a gush of vomit a black ball like thing with legs plopped on the floor.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The same time his head became as clear as a bell and more out of instinct than anything else, he stomped his heavy all terrain boot on that thing and is squished like a Scare Bug.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Leedei leaned forward in a nodding fashion and his voice sounded as if he was under a lot of strain. "Young Roy Masters. I was able to extract the Smilak from your body before it made its way to your spinal cord, they are good but so are we Leedei.. I am sorry for all the pain and discomfort." Roy pulled his TKU. "Never mind the discomfort, Sir. I am making sure these cursed Kermac swallow a pill of my own."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The teacher shook his head. "No young Roy, don't show them yet. There is more to this game than Kermac. I am a Union Teacher now but you know what the requirements are to become a Union teacher?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy shrugged not seeing what the Leedei wanted to tell. He was eager to roast the Kermac, but the teacher had freed him. "No Sir, I never really thought about it too much." He laughed weakly. "Aat was right, you do need to catch up a lot, A Union teacher must have a service record in one of the armed forces. I was an officer in the PSI Corps."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Just like Cara?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">While the Leedei talked he realized that all the others still in the room were still in this dazed state. His friends, the two Leedei and the Togar Pirate Captain. Aat's father, Cara and the Kermac were not there. Partner came happy as a camper over, he felt Roy was back to normal and Partner forgot all his confusion. He liked Roy and sneezed and he send mental pictures of him tearing through the Destroyer crew, the Kermac and to Roy's surprise Cara.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Leedei said."No not like that person you call Cara. She is perfectly shielded, but does not respond to a secret contact technique all PSI Corps agents now. Whatever she is she is not one of the PSI Corps."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy could not help but gasp. "But she is, she used to protect the President and Admiral Richard Stahl has talked to her."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Sit down next to me, I cannot unfold my hands, as this is how we Leedei maintain certain Psionic disciplines. It will make it easier to to talk to you."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy still full of anger and wanting to vent it, preferably strangling one of the Kermac, sat down reluctantly. "Alright, but I think we should, I should.."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Please keep your emotions a little better under control, I know it is hard for a human but I am right now making them believe you and I are still under their influence."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I got Partner and I got a loaded TKU!"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"We are on board a Union Destroyer, there is a crew. Right now wed don't know who is behind all this or who is a victim and who is pulling the strings." "The Kermac of course! They did something to Aat and she did it to her father and from there they controlled everyone."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Leedei actually sounded angry for a moment. "Please, keep yourself under control. It is very hard to fight the Smilak they attached to me, talking to you and maintain a base wave for you if you spike with so much emotions every time. I freed you first because I hoped you would listen."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy holstered his gun and made Partner sit down and took a deep breath. "I am sorry." "That is better Young Roy. Do you really think the Kermac did all this? There is a Psi Corps branch at the station Granted the Smilak can circumvent most Psi shields as they use tactile Psionics, but they don't work in a Union Prison that uses psionic dampers. Someone had to turn them off and it could not have been Aat's father. He has no command authority at the prison and there is no way to infest a marine with anything while they are suited, these marvelous Auto Docs take care of such things."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"You mean the marines are the traitors?" "We Leedei are Union members for not very long and generally we do not believe in absolutes, but finding a way to turn one marine is already very unlikely, leave alone three or more."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy's thoughts started spinning, yet he could not really make sense of it. "Is it like a traitor president? There was one after all."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I don't know who or what is behind all this but it isn't the Kermac and that is why we need to stay put. Once we are on G 6783 we have means to reveal the true source of all this."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy frowned. "That means you want me to do nothing?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I don't want you do anything before you think it through. impulsiveness is not always the best course of action. There is a power, a force capable of doing all this and we must identify it."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"And then?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Then you use your PDD and call for help, after all not everyone carries a direct call code for the Eternal Warrior." "You know this?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Young Roy, I am a Leedei . The second you mentioned the Admiral all was laid open to me. You can file charges for me breaking the Psi Laws after all this is done, but I had to know who I can trust."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy glared at the Leedei. "I begin to really hate Telepaths, not you but in general."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Me too, and that is why we think these PSI Laws are so important."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The cargo hold door opened and Cara looked in. "Roy come and help me get the food. Our masters decided to let us all live for a while longer."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Leedei teacher was acting like he was under the influence of the Kermac and only one of his spidery fingers moved and it seemed to signal. "Please..."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy got up and followed Cara into the Corridor.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She didn't say a word until they reached a small mess hall and she pointed to a row of Serve Matics. "Go and serve the others. You might have to do several trips. Once your done stay in the Cargo Hold." She said nothing else and left him. Roy selected burgers and and drinks, for Aat and Sobyr ,a raw one for Ncchsi but had no idea what Alejandro, Pictfram and the Leedei would eat. So he carried the first load back, halfway in the corridor he heard voices and quickly slipped into the next door. It turned out to be a storage room with stacks of strapped down crates. Along with his tray of food he crawled behind a double stack of Plasti-crates and not a moment to soon as two Union Navy personnel walked in. One was human and the other a Klack. "The human said to the Klack. "I know what you are saying T'ypikt but doesn't it strike you odd that we can't use GalNet at all; that we are not supposed to be down here and I swear to you I think I saw a Kermac slipping into the Captain's ready room."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"We are at war, Mitch. We are most likely on a secret mission NAVINT perhaps. That Saresii woman is a Colonel after all and I bet she's PSI Corps."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Well no matter how much she doesn't want us down here, we still need to get the replacement coupling to the Chief and we only store them here."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The two opened a crate and the Klack started digging through plastic film. "Now that strikes me odd, us digging for replacement part for the number two intermixer, while we are in reach of at least 20 stations and five bases. I mean engine repairs like this are not done in space unless we really have to."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Why they pulled the ship out of dock while our annual maintenance wasn't even half done and most of our crew still on shore leave fits right into that."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Ships on maintenance are of the Active roster, Fleet probably doesn't even know we are on our way to Blue Moon. That means we are on a secret mission." The Klack's segmented body was halfway inside the crate. "Those parts are certainly well packed. I finally found it." "I get the Grav-Handler."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy sitting behind his crate wasn't sure what to make of this when the the door opened and Cara walked in." What are you two doing here? I told you the Cargo Deck is off limits for all personnel."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Klack struggled with a large piece of plastic and said."Colonel this isn't the Army or the PSI corps. We need this spare part or the Chief will shut us down. You don't want to go asymmetric into Quasi."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Under no circumstance are we to drop out of Quasi before we reached the HHW Gate. Go take your part to the Chief Engineer."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The two man handled a shiny piece of machinery out of the crate, attached Grav Handler grips and left the storage room. Cara looked around and directly into Roy's direction. It was Cara he should not need to fear her, but she was of course under the influence of the Kermac and that is why Partner growled at her, this had to be the reasons.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She pulled a PDD of her belt. This was odd, as Cara was a Data Head. She usually didn't use a PDD.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The woman spoke into the thing. "Secure protocol Preset 5 activate."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">From his hiding spot he could not see what she saw, but he could hear a voice saying. "This call is unexpected, are there complications?" "Uncertain at this point. Pulling the Palomino out of a maintenance cycle was perhaps not the best decision. It appears the Barracuda did need maintenance indeed."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Unimportant, the Palomino has the spare parts and a good Engineer. The ship will not be needed after this." "You think destroying a Destroyer will be wise?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Of course, you do it at the right spot at the right time and the right parties get blamed, while it makes heroes out of the crew. You did check there aren't any Terrans in that crew?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"There was one but he remained at Kappa II. I reported this before."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Old habits die hard and one of them is checking everything at least twice."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"We should make it to the HHW in eighteen hours, if that engineer is worth his pay."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Be careful, the Union Guard dogs are already stirring and you must be on your way to the Leedei before they connect the dots."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"You said you will keep them of our trail."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"I do my best and there are plenty of false leads for them to follow. Now get back to your task and I will continue mine."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy was now convinced the Leedei was right. He wasn't even sure this was really Cara, but whoever she was, she wasn't under anyone's mental control. She was running the show.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She put her PDD away sniffed the air and said to herself as she walked out. "Strange I suddenly have a craving for burgers,"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy waited a few minutes and then sneaked back out and returned to the Cargo deck. The Leedei teacher, still sat where he was before and Roy's friends looked the same. They wordlessly accepted the food. Roy said ."I don't even know what Stellaris, Leedei and Xiptin eat."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The teacher said. "Don't worry about the food right now. I managed to get rid of my Smilak and was able to free Inklung. He is now helping me and I am much stronger now."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy had many questions but they could wait and he told him what he overheard and then said. "What is it we are doing now? Will you free Sobyr and the others?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"No not at the moment, simulating their brain waves would be to much for the both of us. Our captors thankfully don't know much about us Leedei as we have not revealed it all. We have two psionic organs and one is in our hands. The Smilak could only control one."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy shuddered. "What are those things?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">An old non sentient life form that has been used by the Saresii and also by the Kermac. They are genetic altered and can break down even the most sophisticated Psi shield as they attach themselves physically. They are quite illegal in the Union by the way."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy filed that under nasty and shivered as he remembered the thing crawling down his throat. I still have my PDD, they took nothing away from me. I can call Admiral Stahl now. He knows what to do!"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"And they detect your transmission and they get rid of all the evidence and that would be us, before he could come. I assure you once we are at our world, I can summon help instantly and we know who is behind this all."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Do you still allow me to use that device and search for my parents?"

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">"Of course Roy, but please remember what I said. It has never been used this way and it might not work as you hope it will."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">-""-

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Roy checked his PDD for the time and it was almost eighteen hours ago that he overheard the woman. Everyone had eaten and Roy, leaning against Partner even found some sleep. Again there were no dreams, at least none he remembered. The others were sleeping except for the Leedei teacher, who simply sat there with his hands folded.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He liked to trust the teacher, but he hoped the Leedei knew what he was doing.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He got up and sneaked out the door, the person who acted like Cara had shown him where the hygiene facilities were and that is where he was headed.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The Corridor was empty, but he knew the IST and the access doors to this deck were locked.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He was just done relieving himself when his PDD hummed with an in coming call. To his surprise and utter relieve it was Uncle Sam!

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">He took the call and before Sam could say anything, Roy told him breathlessly what had happened to him. He liked to trust the Leedei teacher and hoped he knew what he was doing, but this was Uncle Sam.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Sam didn't interrupt, Roy was afraid he could get caught or they were able to detect the transmission, so he wanted to be done as fast as he could.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Finally when he was done, Sam said. "I take care finding your parents, that is what I did for years. You hang in there and I will alert the Old Man himself. No matter if your parents are alive or dead, if they are tortured or safe and sound, we are at war and your first and foremost duty is to the Union."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">His sense of danger tingled and the bathroom stall was opened, by Cara! She glared at him. "Who are you talking to?" She held a weapon in her hand. He did not hesitate, she was not Cara, he hit the woman with all his strength and right into the face.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She was thrown back, and the weapon she had flew in a a wide arch across the room. Roy did not want her to call for back up and pounded her again. "Whoever you are, you're not Cara.."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">She gargled and spat blood.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">A loud alarm tone followed by a voice made him turn."All hands prepare for Hyper jump."

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Then everything changed. It was as if his very inside was turned outside and the entire bathroom behaved like an elastic band and expanded into a long corridor. Cara lying on the floor also stretched. He felt nauseated and disoriented.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">The bathroom contracted a heartbeat later.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Cara was suddenly back on her feet, and raked her boot in a spin kick across Roy's jaw. Still somewhat dizzy and disoriented, he failed to block the kick.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">It hurt like hell and made him stumble back. "I had about enough." He spat and drew his TKU. "You tell me where Cara is and who you are or I start roasting body parts." Her face looked horrible, her chin dangled almost at her chest, the nose was shoved into an odd wrinkled shape. It was, so he realized a mask of some kind, there was another face beneath, partially revealed. She stopped in her next attack move and said. "I don't know how you managed to get rid of the Simlak, but you have no choice. We got your precious Cara and she is not aboard. She dies if you don't do what I tell you to do."

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm;widows:2;orphans:2">Chapter 10: NOTE TO MY READERS

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">Due to the recent Comments. I am putting this story on ice, and will return to the rewrite. I see the points made and have to agree with some.

<p lang="en-US" style="font-weight:normal;widows:2;orphans:2">So please note that this Story as it stands ends here and I will soon delete it and replace it with a rewrite. I am keeping it up for a little so my readers and friends have a chance to read this note and now what is going on.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">