GC1 Tales of the Union -a-a

"Of crimes and felonies"

A Phil Decker Story

(c) 2017 V. Ravencroft

Prologue

-1-

It was First Day of Red Week in the 7th Month of 5105,OTT and like every other federal employee, Shabil Nolux received the wages he earned during the 6th month of the year.

While it was technically just like any other workday, Shabil expected to leave work a little earlier today; looking at the remaining schedule it looked promissing that this would be possible.

Shabil was the assistant to the representative for Shill planet, who was also the president of the  planet's chamber of Commerce.

Shail were mollusks, and without their hover sleds  literaly as slow as snails and unable to interact with a modern technological society.

Shabil who was connected with his neuro linked hover sled since birth, never really wasted any thoughts about this fact and used his artificial manipulators, that were part of the sled just as efficient and agile as human used their natural hands.

The representative floated into Shabil's office and while he wiggled his antenna and excreted communication scents, these physical gestures were only genetic based residiual behavior.The representative used his voice box that allowed him to hear and verbally communicate.

Verbal communication was still among the most efficient ways to convey information between individuals especially of different species.

The representative  was a 'True Brown', a member of the largest Shaill species. Recognizeable not only by their size of course but by a moist shimmering, milk chocolate colored unibody.

A True Brown could expand its body, if used for locomtion to over seven feet. Larun Lorbat, the True Brown however, just like Shabil almost never separated from its  hoversled. Larun's body looked  like a fat slug, retracted to only about five feet. Shabil, who was a 'Spotted Yellow' only grew to about five feet at maximum, but his kind was the most common one.

Larun Lorbat  was a well liked individual with a good business sense and an excellent feel for market trends. Both very good traits to have for a president of the chamber of commerece. Especially for the home world of an Union member race.

"Nebulous sweetness to you, my good Nolux."

"Wafting delights may come your way." Shabil completed his part of the traditional greeting. At first it had been quite difficult to translate traditional emotions and conditions expressed in body scents into acoustic equvalents and even phrases that could be spoken. But after almost 1500 years being Union members and taking an active part in its collective society, almost all traditional Shailisms had found an adequate verbal expression.

Sure enough Shabil's olfactory senses detected the sweet greeting scent moments later.

Larun directed the hoversled towards the window front that was part of the 200th floor of the old Shail and Shaill representation building and looked outside, not that Shail eyes where developed enough to see much details at greater distances or percive more than pale and basic color information. But  gazing outside a window, or having buildings with windows in the first place was a very humanoid thing. Larun liked to copy human behavior as much as it could.

"It appears we had a good week at the Assembly, lots of work got done. There aren't any looming crisises on the horizon and the Union is humming along just fine. I decided to leave the alcove to Mirke."

"That is good news for me then," Shabil resonded."it's is wage distribution day after all."

"Oh right, my friend, you are an Union employee after all. Now don't let me stop you and have fun as the humans say. Any particular plans?"

"Yes, I decided to check out the Zorgo cave that has just recently opened  in the Luminous district. I was told Shaill can go on a Zorgo trip just fine."

"Oh how exciting, let me know how it was, I might try myself."

--""--

Ten minutes later Shabil had left the S&S building via the Andromeda Blvd exit. He decided to have lunch at a Shail speciality restaurant, featuring no less than six hundred different kind of molds from sources  as far as the Andromeda galaxy. The restaurant 'Infinite Molds and Spores' was a quite expensive eatery, but then everything on Pluribus was expensive and especially so here at the Assembly Sphere district on Government island. But the mollusk indulged itself to some fine Terra sourced black mold and a generous helping of farm raised algae coming all the way from Ever-Wet. It was the same on every payday, Shabil just indulged itself a little more.

That Shabil was not the only Shaill with similar ideas was evident by the tightly packed eatery. Shabil knew almost every one present. Most of the patrons were just like the restaurant staff Shaill or Shail of course, but there were always a few Nurglin present.

These blue flourescent beings that emitted a pretty blue light in dark conditions, had very similar tastes and nutritional requirements as the Shail. Nurglin were a very rare sight even on Pluribus, as their society was relative small and a relative recent Union member and compounded by the fact that their place of origin was somewhere in the far distant Silver Veil galaxy. Until recently Shabil had no idea there was a Silver Veil galaxy and never heard of Nurglin, but the frequent visit of these blue multi pedal annelids to its favorite eatery had of course made it curious and thus it came that Shabil knew Tit-8, a Nurglin developer.

Tit-8 had just entered the place when Shabil was about to leave and immideatly approached the table that doubled as a Shail grazing surface where the Shaill molusk had parked his sled."Nebulous sweetness, I believe is the correct Shaill greeting, at least I hope so."

"Wafting delights to you. It delights me that you remember our traditional greeting, even though it isn't used as often even among Shaill as I remember it. The greeting was always associated with the corresponding pheromone scent, but the younger Shaill much rather use the standard Union phrase of  'greetings Citizen'. But I must confess I don't recall what the Nurglin say to greet a friend."

The twelve legged five foot long bluish glowing being with its semi transparent skin showing some of the bigger organs as darker shadows appeared to many like an earthworm on legs, with seven button eye pairs and a never closed ring mouth also used a voice box to communicate. He said. "Nurglin  communicate with a combination of light signals and accoustic noises that baffled Union translators and linguistic experts for month after we have made first contact." The Nurglin used its first leg pair  with manipulator gloves and pointed to the coin sized device next to its brain segment ." These difficulties are of course in the past. This marvelous small voice box translates what I want to communicate in easy understandable Union standard. To answer your question, we don't technically say anything. We simply shine a little brighter when we like seeing someone and shine less when we do not like the person, but we to started to use the Greetings Citizen phrase quite a while ago and you can hear it even in the lumi fields among the old."

Tit-8 curled the front of his body down so his eye pairs could see the table surface better. "I seem to have come late, you already ate."

"I don't mind spending some more time and order a light after meal. The very idea of communal meals and eating for the purpose of entertaininment and pleasure are concepts that are not of Shaill, but have been adopted for a very long time and enjoyed greatly."

Tit-8 ordered Black Mold for himself and insisted on putting an portion of intense Vingis mold on his tab for Shabil. After the Klack waiter had taken the order, it was a fine eatery where emphasis was on personal not automated service, the Nurglin agreed."It is a similar foreign concept to us and yet the very first business concept we understood was that of a restaurant and the idea of selling food and consume it in the company of others for the purpose of joyful gatering, was easily adopted. The very first real Nurglin business was a communal eatery."

The Shaill lowered its head on the grazing surface and started to consume the Vingis mold with its rasping tongue. It was indeed very intense and so very good.

Shabil did not stop until he had eaten it all and was pleased to see its alien friend to enjoy the excellent Black Mold."Communal eating with others, especially positivley received ones does indeed cause pleasure."

"It is one of the small but powerful wonders that Union membership brought to our respective societies. I gather by your earlier than usual presence that your office business allowed you to finish earlier. I further deduct by the unusual busy restaurant that you, like all Union employees received pay."

"Your deductions are quite correct Tit-eight."

"I almost stayed with the Justice department after my twenty two month and thus had a chance to become a Union employee too. I liked being an assistant to a court clerk and might have even advanced to clerk by now, but our society is still quite new and developing our civilization is a paramount task."

"I am certain it is, but hardly the task of one being alone and there are many Union resources availale to a fledgling society, right?"

"Oh yes there are and it is the very reason I am here on Pluribus, assisting our representative identifying the most appropiate resources. Union development specialists want to go slow and most of my people can't go fast enough. I am sort of finding the best approach between both ways."

"It certainly does not appear an easy task."

"I am enjoying it, but I too have decided to take a break. What are you intend to do today. I always wondered what Shail might find recreational."

"This is another concept that was alien to us before Union membership. Without hoversleds we are as slow as, well as snails. Even the most mundane tasks take a very long time, but with the advent of hover sleds and manipulators we not only were able to move and do things, we were able to do them fast." The Shail paused to lick up a small morsel of mold he had apparently missed and continued as he noticed the other being still listening. "Entertainment options on GalNet are most likely the most common choice. Many Shail and Shaill I know love to read literature. I would say sports are on the opposite end and I hardly know any of my kind that participates in any sort of sport, with the exception of board strategy games like Namm and Pier, Chess and Grubbs and Eggs. I am lucky to be on Pluribus and I can never get enough visiting the culture pavilions around and underneath the Assembly grounds, but today I decided to go and check out the new Zorgo Cave that opened in the Luminous district."

"To visit culture pavilions is admittedly my most favorite past time." Tit-8 responded. "Nurglin are a very competitive lot and we do love sports. even the one we can not participate. I personally love Vac Ball and I am a fan of the Terran Terrors."

Shabil's voice box translated the complex stalk eye moves correctly as open laughter and he said."Even a blind Shail would have guessed that, with you having Terran Terror fan logos stuck to your torso."

"I am that obvious, I assume. But how would a blind Shail notice and what is the difference between a Shaill and a Shail?"

"These fan stickers have a very distinct smell, easy to discern to beings with arguably the finest sense of smell of all known life forms."

Shabil moved a little to the side and said."Would you maybe come along and enjoy a Zorgo trip with me?"

The Nurglin didn 't hesitate very long."I am not imposing on you?"

"No of course not."

"I am curious about Zorgo Caves and trips indeed so yes I gladly come along."

"Welcomed decission indeed. Come then Tit-8 let us make our way by slide belt then. I have three days off and like to do things leasurly. On the way I can explain you the difference between Shail and Shaill."

"I have no appointments till the day after tomorrow. Please take the lead."

The two beings left the restaurant. Tit-8 had insisted on paying for all of it and approached the Andromeda Boulevard south bound slide belt.

Nurglin noticed the pink flashing panels at every info sign, while he also received an automated psionic and acoustic warning. "Pink rain to commence in 100  minutes. Citizens who do not wish to get wet are encouraged to seek shelter or use repelent measures. Citizens to whom water is harmful must now engage whatever protective measures appropiate."

"It rains often and very frequently on my homeworld, Tit-8 responded and I find rain and moisture very welcome."

"Then our homeworlds share aspects indeed. Moisture and maintaining body moisture is vital to us and I too enjoy rain. Especially here on Pluribus where it is announced, never lasts more than thirty minutes. The water is pleasantly scented and today it is colored pink."

They both went over the acceleration ramp and onto the main slideway of Andromeda Blvd. going south.

Shabil said to the system: "Luminous district, Zorgo Cave."

"Citizen, please use slide way decleration ramp One twentyfour. The requested destination is 122 meters on the West side of the Andromeda Boulevard. Time of arrival 11 minutes and 19 seconds. I will alert you."

The Shail lowered his hover sled to the black surface of the slideway tile while Tit-8 watched a big Pertharian drop a big box onto another slide belt tile."With all the transportation choices, one would think Slidebelts are obsolete. Not that we have anything compareable on our home world, at least not yet."

"Slide belts have come a long way since they became a standard feature of Union mass transportation. If I understand correctly, the first one were indeed nothing more than mono directional conveyor belts. This is still evident in the language. Some call them slide ways others call them Slide belts, but I wager there aren't many more sophisticated ones anywhere in the known Universe than right here on Pluribus."

"I am certain you would win such a wager and I find them very fascinating indeed."

"This slide belt has eight different speed lines in both directions, and you can stay on it and travel all around this maginificent world on its pole axis. Not that I think anyone would actually do that." The Shaill pointed out the box the Pertharian had left on the slide belt." Slide belts are still the most economical and very efficient transport option. Used not only to convey beings but physical mail and freight. These tiles are intelligent and change  to different slide belts to bring you as close as possible to your destination."

The Nurglin agreed."It's just another aspect of this incredible efficient society we are all part of."

Their slide belt tile moved to the Assembly Sphere under pass tunnel. The gigantic white dome shaped structure ahead of them was actually only the visible part of the assembly sphere, and the very heart and brain of the mighty Union. It was here where representatives of all member societies met daily and around the clock to discuss issues and vote on resolutions.

The slide way underpass plunged in a steep ankle into a tunnel that took them deep underground and underneath the Assembly so they could continue their above ground journey south of the sphere. While they rushed by the deceleration ramps for Assembly visitors. The Shaill said."Are you still curious about the Shaill and the Shail?"

"But of course."

"I can of course only give you the short version as our journey is not long enough for a more detailed one."

"I understand. I will consult GalNet for details, but I prefer hearing such things from a member of the actal society rather than from a recorded file."

"Once there were only the Shail, a species of large snails occupying a world in the outer part of the Sagitarius arm in the Upward sector of this galaxy. Why or how we gained sentience is still unknown even though there are speculations about an external source influencing our natural development. The Shail relied on scents and touch for communication. We only became aware of another Shail if we were close enough to smell or touch each other. The transfer of ideas and concepts is very difficult, actually almost impossible. Not only did we lack the the most important sense to develop a civilization, we lacked the manipulators to even utilize the crudest of tools."

"I begin to see the difficulties of such a species to become a civilization."

"It is impossible." Shabil said with a sound out of his voice box that sounded like a human sigh."How can you gather a crowd of fellow beings with communciation that relies on scents and touch? Scent's travel with wind and air currents. You can never answer to a scent received as it would travel away from the individual asking. If there is a crowd, scents mix and take one complete new meaning or no meaning at all. We were basically a society of hermits, intelligent beings trapped in the worst possible body.

This is why we can change sex in an instant by the way. We used to meet another shail by simply running into it. If two males run into each other one becomes female. Same holds true of two females meeting. I am currently identifying as male, but that can change several times a day depending how close I come to another Shaill. Thus we all use gender neutral pronouns."

"Ah that makes sense." The Nurglin said.

"Long before there was a Union we were invaded by the Shiss, who loved to eat us and actually raise us in breeding farms.

A Shiss scientist discovered our sentient nature and experimented with Shail DNA and crafted crude visual receptors to our bodies and linked them with our stalk feelers.

To a species that was blind since its conception, even seeing just shadow and light was a culture shock, like none you can imagine. It opened an entire new universe for us. Over the decades and more experimental DNA crafting. Our eyesight improved.

To this day there are the original Shail, those who completley lack eye sight and then there are the Shaill who are able to see."

"That is an interesting story indeed and I shall delve into it in greater detail. Are there any Shail left? I imagine all Shail want to have eyesight."

"The Shail population is very small compared to the billions of Shaill that now exist within Union space, but there are still plenty left. Union technology provides their hover sleds with field extensions to their feelers allowing them to preceive their environment just fine. There are over ninety Union member species that do not have any sense of sight, by the way."

"I think this diversity is the true strength of our Union."

"I believe that too and so does almost everyone I know."

A melodic voice announced."Please be ready, Off ramp One Twenty four in 2 minutes."

Both beings got off  the slide belt tile, exposed themselves to the deceleration field of the off ramp and seconds later stepped onto the busy side walks of the Luminous district.

Here just ten klicks south of the Assembly sphere, and right after the most expensive shopping district in the Union just south of Saresii Avenue, begun the famous Luminous district. About 20 square klicks of bars, casinos and entertainment venues. Offering everything considered legal entertainment to the afluent crowds of visitors and residents of Pluribus Unum, the heart of the Union.

Of course it was an open secret that for the right kind of money all the illegal forms could be had as well.

Tit-8 and Shabil soaked in the busy life and the diverse crowd for a moment and then Shabil pointed with his left stalk eye towards a large building sized, most likley artificial desert mountain. If it weren't for the bright project-a-signs and colorful lights above a cave like entrance, the thing would have looked quite out of place. "There it is, the Zorgo Cave."

Both approached the place and queued into a short line of beings. While they both slowly approached the main entrance, they looked over the advertisement displays mounted onto the occer colored rock.

The signs promissed an hour of unequaled bliss and sheer exctasy without the use of drugs."

"Do you know what it actually is?" Tit-8 asked.

"I only know it is an old Kermac entertainment form, that is legal  on most Union planets and recently found its way to Pluribus. I heard there were Zorgo caves all over the Sub districts, but this is the first one that opened right here in the Luminus district. It is some kind of virtual trip, if I understand correctly."

Tit-8 wondered if he should get more information before he joined his new friend.To their surprise there was another Shaill, wearing a colorful tube and helping visitors with directions and information.

Shabil asked the smaller 'Pale yellow' "Can a Shaill go on a Zorgo trip?"

"Oh yes." Was the answer."You made a great entertainment choice tonight, citizen. Any being receptable to psionics can go on a trip. Unfortunatley it does not work on Klack, Nul, X101's and a few others. Some psionic gifted individuals might find the experience more intense and are encouraged to abstain."

Tit-8 simply blurted out."Can you tell me what it actually is?"

"Of course, this is the reason for me being out here." The Pale Yellow explained. "Zorgos are psionic gifted, non sentient parasites that lure their prey with mental images of pleasure and keep them in a dream like state while they place their prey in a cocoon sac and eventually liquify and devour their prey."

Tit-8 didn't like what he was hearing."Liquify and devour?"

"Not to worry, visitor. These Zorgos are farm raised and their mouths are glued shut, they can not devour anything. It is very pleasurable and quite safe, no one ever got devoured going on a Zorgo trip. Besides the venue is approved by the science council as adult entertainment." The Pale Yellow pointed to a blue seal attached to the lower right corner of a display case. It read "Science Council approved"

That convinced both Shabil and Tit-8. Shabil asked."So how does it work?"

"You go to the ticket office buy yourself a trip; I recommend the Peach Delight for both of you and for starters; then simply follow the instructions of the attendant and the Zorgos do the rest."

At the ticket office, Shabil glanced over the displayed menu and found the Peach Delight for 98 credits. It wasn't by far the most expensive menu option. The ticket booth was not automated but occupied by a Blue skinned human and handed Tit-8 and Shabil a pastel colored plastic card. "Good choice, the Peach Delight is a perfect trip for first users and very liked by Shaill."

"What about Nurglin?" Tit-8 asked.

"Sorry I never heard of your species, but according to my list your kind is not excluded. Peach Delighty is great for everyone."

After passing through a tunnel that appeared as if hewn with crude tools out of brownish rock, they emerged in a cavernous chamber with hundreds of white things hanging under the domed rock ceiling.

A blue pelted being approached Shabil."I am Ronga your Zorgo assistant. While I process your trip request, would you please get of your sled and into this cocoon simulation bag?"

Shabill hated nothing more than to be seperated from its sled. It was attached to it ever since gaining concious thought. Without it the Shaill was virtually helpless, immobile and unable to affect the environment."

"Is that really neccessary?"

"I am afraid so, but no worries everyone is more or less in the same state and we keep your sled right here.

The attendant helped the mollusk and Tit-8 into a white cloth like sack with only their heads sticking out.

A winch pulled the sack in an upright hanging position. Ronga applied a clear oozing slime like substance to about a meter of the thin steel cable attached to the sack and then the winch pulled Shabill  fast upward and right underneath the cave ceiling. The Shaill noticed Tit-8 about six similar cocoon sacks removed.

Shabil also felt a soft relaxed feeling taking hold. It wasn't even overly concerned as it saw a meter long slug like life form, not completely unlike a small Shaill slide down on the steel cable but stop where the ozing slime had been applied to the cable.

Thanks to the Shaill ability to independently move eye stalks it looked up and saw the creature had its mouth indeed glued shut.

That was the last thing Shabil really remembered of the Zorgo itself. the Shaill found itself in a pastel colored dream. It had no care in the world and could virtually feel every worry melt away. Even being seperated from the hover sled was no longer a terrible condition.

Shabil ate peach colored clouds that tasted wonderful and the next thing it remembered was the blue pelted being helping it out of the cocoon sac and back on the hoverseld."

"I want another trip!"

"We are delighted that you liked your experience, but  to prevent Zorgo trip addiction, federal law allows only one trip every two days.

It was simultaneously angry being deprived another trip and and proud of the Union for making sensible laws like that, because Shabil understood the potential for an addicition was quite real.

The Shaill met with T-8 at the Exit. "I would be hard pressed to describe the experience, but it was very pleasurable indeed."

The Nurglin wanted to say something when a bag like object impacted with his new friend and a white powdery substance was engulfing them in a dusty cloud. Three more of these projectiles impacted with the Shail and one with the Nurglin. The Shaill screamed in agony.

The Nurglin felt no ill effect. The crowd around them reacted in panic. Someone screamed ."Salt bombs!"

--""--

The small hover lectern before Sergeant Armar 'Wirebrush' Drexer whined in protest as the seven foot Botnaar giant leaned on it with all of his impressive bodyweight. The tiny artigrav generators integrated into the lectern  normally worked completley noiseless.

Sergeant Drexer didn't pay any attention to the compensating whine of the lectern as he looked over the assembled patrol officers of the third shift. His small red eyes fixed their gaze upon a small framed human female in the first row. Wearing dress blue, white gloves, her side arm in a completely impracticable flap holster. "Paint me an Ult we have ourselves a rookie. Aren't we supposed to get rookies always on the last day of blue week?"

"I am not a rookie, Sir." The female officer said pointing at her two corporal chevrons."I am a transfer from Splish-Splash, planet 11,334th precinct."

"Listen missy. This is Pluribus and not some back water colony planet somwhere in the cold fringes. No matter from where you came here you are a rookie until I say otherwise."

He rubbed is massive lantern jar with a hand that could crumble granite rock."Why am I always the last one to hear about transfers and such."

"Because you scared the Lieutenant senseless last time he announced rooster changes." A tall Andorian with Captain rank on his collar said, sticking her head into the briefing room."Sergenant Drexer, this is Corporal Graham, please assign her to an experienced patrol officer. She will be with us for a few weeks for field experience before she goes to detective school."

Drexer rolled his eyes."Ah one of those, needs a baby sitter and all. Well who do I stick her with?"

The Bootnar looked at the only being in the room that made him look weak. Golor was a full size Pertharian, and member of one of the toughest and strongest warriors species within the Union.

To the four armed giant with six yellow glowing eyes he said."Golor, you need a partner don't you?"

"Oh no Sarge, Wrener is back and I have the best partner there is."

Only now did Drexer notice the half meter tall furry being riding on Golor's wide shoulders.

Drexer palmed his face."If I ever find that joker who decided to pair a 8 foot Pertharian with a Holdian..."

"No need to look further than a mirror sarge." The Pertharian said,"It was you! Besides Wrener is an excellent officer, he has yet to fail to get a confession out of a perp."

"Yeah they all talk if they see his partner show up." Gemsen, the White Nogoll said in the third row. His comment caused laughter and similar sounds as it was not too far from the truth.

Sarge Drexer pointed at a human in the last row. "Gordon, don't you try hiding behind Golor's bulk again and pretent just once to pay attention. The rookie is with you, until I say otherwise."

The slanky patrol officer collected himself into a more upright position and nodded."Aye, Sarge."

Drexer straightened out, much to the apparent relieve of the hover lectern, as it returned to noiseless operations."Well now that we have this sorted out we can finally come to the shift briefing. Today is, as you of course now payday for Union employees. That always means a more than the usual schemes and trickeries to seperate those employees from their well earned credits. As usual keep your eyes open for Gal Drifts, don't hassle them unless they panhandle agressivley. Finally have a safe shift. Now get your bioframes of those cushy seats and keep earning your pay."

Seven Seven Six, a Non Corp rose from his chair with a fluid move."Sarge I don't have a bio frame or bio anything, does that mean I can remain seated?"

"Now that you mention it, Sarge,"a Blue made himself heard."those seats are anything but cushy. Do we ever get those vari form seats you keep promising us? We are the First Precinct and we should have them since about 3000 years or so."

"And have you all sleep through my briefings, just as Gordon?"

Gordon, the tall human approached the new officer. "I am Corporal Ben Gordon, and I guess I am stuck babysitting you for a while."

"I am Paige Graham, nice to meet you."

"Out of uniform and in a bar I might have said the same, but I dislike new partners, almost as bad as I dislike rookie partners from back water planets."

Drexer the big Botnaar, stepped down from the podium and gave the female a long look."So you are a transfer from...Knish-Knash?"

"No Sir, Splish-Splash, 2nd planet in the Wixamroo system, Large Magellanic Cloud.11,334th Precinct,to be exact."

"Well they had to name it something, I guess. I had no idea whe had 11,334th precincts, no less some of them in the Large Magelanic Cloud. As it may be you are no longer on Mish-Mash but on Pluribus and whatever you think you know forget it and start with a clean slate, maybe in a few year segments or so you be ready for detective school. Until then stick with Ben, he might have some issues but overall as experienced as they come."

He was about to turn."Oh Ben, first thing I want you to take her to the quartermaster and get her real gear and out of that last century recruiting poster outfit. Otherwise we get complaints about someone dying of laughing."

Drexer stomped away.

Paige looked after the big being. "Everyone here is overflowing with charming personality."

"He might be as abrasive as his nickname, Corporal Graham but he always has your back. I am just abrasive. I did tell you I don't like partners right?"

He then made an inviting gesture. "If you would follow me, so we can get our work day started."

They left the squad briefing room and stepped on the mezzanine of the second floor above what the first precinct called the 'loonie-pen'. A rectangular room with the booking cube, work desks of the beat detectives and the holding tanks for those in line for PMaT (Prisoner Management and Transport). Every Union police precinct had such a pen, but she was certain none as loud or as busy.

Towards the main entrance arguing with an Info bot, a group of beings all wearing the same top shirt, clearly a travellers group from another world, perhaps for the first time at the very center of the Union. Two uniformed officers guided a Sojonit sister to a desk, she was wearing a few pink veils and not much else. A Kilonian centipede was arguing with a Xiptin, a similar multi segmented life form, both were supporting whatever argument they tried to make with most of their legs.

An almost visible cloud of smells and noise above it all.

Ben said."You will have plenty of opportunity to gwak at loonie pen chaos. Either at processing or later as third grade detective, listening to yet another story of someone's pockets picked or souvenirs stolen. But let's move on shall we?"

Paige did not expect sugar sweet treatment,but she had to admit her new partner seemed to get out of his way to be rude in a subtle sort of way. Every gesture and sentence appeared to underline his extreme dissatisfaction to being stuck with her.

He more or less pushed her into the next Inter building transport tube and stepped right after her in the spaceous capsule."Quatermaster's"

While the IBT car shot down through the vacuum tube. She took a closer look. Ben Gordon looked four times her age from the way he looked. Not that looks and physical age had much in common, but he didn't seem the type who cared about cell renuvies. She estimated him to be at least 100 years of age. He had short cropped dark hair and brown eyes and his cleft chin sported that faint bluish tint, hinting on the next crop of beard folices soon to penetrate his skin. Still a common sighty with  men who did not use beard grow control or opted to permanently eliminate facial hair grow altogether. He was taller than her and she had to admit quite handsome in a no nonsense kind of way.

He wore dark blue unifrom pants, calf high black polished Terran All terrain boots, his upper body in a black turtleneck sweater and a dark blue uniform jacket over it. On his left leg, low riding and attached to his utility belt, the auto draw holster for a McEnroe LawmanIV .In a similar rig on his right leg, a military grade sidearm. She was certain the handle belonged to a Union Army Springfield Thermo Bolt. The belt also held a Nul Shock baton and other closed pouches.

He had taken the short moment to take stock of her as well. "Just as she, he had a hard time pinpointing her age, but judging by her rank and overall feel he didn't think of her as much older than perhaps thirty. She had a light complexion, her hair was hazel brown just as her pretty eyes. She wore it in a short bob that suggested she might had some Saran blood in her anchestry.

As they exited the IBS on the seventh sub floor of the six hundred meter tall spindle shaped building, both were almost stomped to mush to  by a monstrous APE, worn by a bald headed man who's head looked small inside the bulky armor and only exposed to his nose.

The seven foot ten Armored Police Exoframe was basically a para military version of the space marines Quasimodo destroyer battle suits. It was painted shiny midnight blue and hads the letters PUPD in bright yellow across its enormous smooth chest and back.

Ben yelled."Hey Bowser, watch where you step in that thing. You almost mashed my new partner. Getting her all bruised up before we hit the streets might cause her to go back to Swish Swash, and we woudn't want that now would we?"

"Don't get all uptight, Ben. I seen her and you. There was plently of room, at least ten centies. Besides she seems alright, it's you who's doing the complaining as usual."

"What you doing down here at this hour anyway? Aren't you supposed to stomp some law and order in your friendly neighborhood?" "I am on my way to collect Dent my partner. Tech fixed him up good and gave it an upgrade as well. Better take care of your partner, she l00ks like a noob rookie even at ten clicks distance during evernight on Pitchblack."

"That's why we are here, take care Bowser."

The man wearing this serious hardware waved with his agumented huge arm and disapeared through the armored doors of the robotic department.

Paige looked after him. "I have heard about APE-frames, but I never believed they are actually fielded or used, especially not on Pluribus."

"Believe me, where he patrols this isn't too much protection."

Her face fell and her eyes glared at him in disbelieve as they approached a door marked Weapons & Equipment. "This is Pluribus! The very center of the Union, we are a lawful society. What kind of law is he enforcing, his?"

"Missy, you are indeed in for a ride. Yes this is Pluribus and yes this where the Assembly meets every day. Yes we are a lawful society, perhaps the most lawful and content in known history.Only about one percent of Union citizens ever breaks the law. Even less do it deliberatley but this damn ball has a permanent population of almost fifty billion beings. Add to it millions more that commute daily from other places to work here. Not to mention the streams of visitors and tourists coming and going. One percent of all this is still a very big number. Bowser patrols the Subzones where you can hire a Connector to get everything you ever wanted,especially the fringe legal and illegal stuff." He snapped his finger. "Oh and I did forget to mention the Union residents and the Non Cits who are also part of the population but not part of the official crime statistics."

She swallowed."That sound's terrible!"

"It is and it isn't. I was born here, to me it is just the way things are."

Again he shoved her with gentle persuation through an opening door. "Hey old insect, we got us a tranfer from a fringe world. She needs real gear."

The room behind that door was utilitarian in character. The floor was duro crete and the walls perforated steel plates. The facing wall had a big opening and a counter. Beyond that counter floor to ceiling shelves. from underneath the counter two antennae appeared and then the triangular head of an ant like Klack. That this Insectoid was of advanced age was apparent by the dullness of its red chitin armor. The being held a plastic box in one appendix and a set of charge cells in another."Greetings Ben. Is that the rookie?"

"I am not a rookie." The female protested, but then, Paige sighed."Yeah I am new alright."

Ben took the box right out of the insectoids's manupulator and said."Finally, I am down to my last two charge cells." To Paige he said."This is T'Thching an old and gnarly Klack who should have retired decades ago, but he knows weapons better than a Terran and has the memory of Bellebee when it comes to details about them."

She greeted the Klack who tried to mimick a face palm as he looked at her. "You are not serious, female? A Bofors Zephir II in an actual pseudo leather flap holster?"

"We hardly use the official sidearms on Splish Splash. We carry Nuc Flamers everywhere, but they did not let me bring mine."

"The queen groans! Nuc Flamers? What kind of criminals are you roasting on that world of yours?"

"We have very little offenders that need to be controlled by force or with weapons. Actually none as far as I recall, but we got slimerbugs everywhere and the best way to control them is a short burst of Nuc flame."

Ten minutes later Paige was wearing tight leggings and a body hugging dark blue top made of flexy armor micro mesh, over it a black syntho leather patrol jacket. In an autodraw leg holster slaved to her Neurolink a modern Enroe Lawman IV, with eight non lethal and one quite lethal setting. A shocker baton, a can of Sticky net and a multi utility tool in belt pouches. She also receivced a very good flash light and a robo drone center. Able to deploy a variety of drones.

Ben put on his patrol helmet, identical to the one she had reveived and nodded approvingly. Now you basically have the same stuff I carry. Over time you will know what works for you and what doesn't and each officer gravitates to his or her own mix of equipment items.Of course high and mighty detectives don't need any of this stuff."

She had thanked the helpful Insectoid and followed Ben all the way to the roof of the building. Which was, as buildings went on Pluribus not very tall or big.

Here on the roof she heard the mental message announcing rain in the next five minutes. She had heard of automated Psionic messages, but this was the first time she received one.

While she still marveled at Utchat's voice in her mind, a Sunblazer patrol flier was pushed from beneath a trap door into the open.

Ben said."No better way than learning your new patrol area than flying yourself, so hop behind the controls, disengage auto flight while I take a look at the call board. You are cleared on cruiser operation right? If you screw up it might convince the captain I don't need a noob partner" "Yes. All we have are two old DeNoir Prowlers but I am cleared. You object me being your partner, Sir?"

"Very much so. I need a partner, especially one that is as wet behind her ears as that planet you call home, but you saw and heard our Sarge. he won't give me a real partner until you either screw up, shove of to detective school or ask for a transfer. My personal bet is option three is the most likely posibility."

Just as she had taken off, Ben said."We are called to assist at a 44-40 at the Luminated district."

The computronic took over controls. She glanced over to her new, angry at everything partner. "44-40 is homicide is it not?"

--""--

It had been a while since he had been on Pluribus. Even after living for over 3170 years, this planet spanning city at the heart of the Union, was a sight with few equals.

Even after all this time travelling to truly exotic, alien worlds and mind bogling places, Phil was a New Yorker at heart. He had grown up at the lower eastside of that now so quiet city back home on distant Earth.

He felt most at ease within a concrete and asphalt jungle of a big city, and while there were a few bigger cities within the Union. None was as all inclusive and spectacular as Pluribus, at least in his mind."

His personal space ship, the Jolly Blue was small enough for one of the planets space ports and he had touched down only about an hour ago.

His presence was not completley random of course. In all his long life, he never wanted to be anything else but a police man and detective. He had begun his career as a beat cop in the concrete and glass canyons of New York City, advanced to homicide detective for the NYPD and now served almost three thousand years as detective for the Union police.

Unlike the tremendously popular Admiral Richard Stahl or the somewhat less popular Fleet admiral McElligott, he was virtually unknown to the general public, however every Union police officer had heard about him, not in least because he was always mentioned during training at one of the academies. He had even thaught at the academy for a number of years, but teaching classes wasn't his style. So he roamed Union space more or less cherry picking interesting criminal cases. This time he was heeding an invetation to the opening of a new museum exhibit, promissing to showcase aerchological finds of pre astro Earth times.

He always found it very amusing to see the puzzled faces of modern Union citizens starring at something as mundane as a cork screw and hear the aerchologists explanation about a exceptional crude surgery tool.

The exhibits official opening was not until the day after tomorrow.

With no particular hurry to be anywhere, he stepped out from the North Continent space port building and onto the slidebelt that would carry him due south, and eventually to the Government island and the Assembly sphere.

The system asked."Citizen, destination please?"

"South, Assembly district."

Utchat the planet AI recognized his voice and CITI."Welcome back to Pluribus, Phil. Any particular destination?"

"Glad to be back, Utchat. No I am quite too early for my reason to be here. I am in no rush, but while you there. Is the Mel's dinner still there? Right at the entrance to the Luminous district?"

"It certainly is, Phil and they are open at all times."

Hearing this, Phil realized he was hungry and was in the mood for a real New York style patty melt with french fries. While Mel's was far from Earth, the proprietor offered many real Earth food specialities in an American style diner facility. So he switched to the fastest express lane and gave the tile new directions. "Mel's Diner. Luminous district."

The system warned him of a rain shower that was about to commence,"

"Just splendit." he muttered and adjusted his old fedora and closed his trench coat. Even after such a long life he hadn't changed his personal style one bit.

He reflected on that very fact for a moment. That seemed to be a common theme among those humans that, for some purpose or another became immortals. Richard Stahl was never seen without his sunglasses and his mirror shine polished boots and the McElligott the old highlander wore a kilt whenever possible. Peter Baker still wore his stetson and jeans. He nodded to himself, as he knew the answer. The longer they lived the farther they moved away from being human and these little anachronisms are were perhaps nothing else than anchor points to hold on to whatever humanity was left inside.

He himself didn't feel much different than he had felt back then when it all begun; when he had chased abdominal alien monsters through the sewers and subway tunnels of New York City preventing them from self replicating and causing much death and mayhem.

But Phil knew he was far from the same person he had been. Back then neither he nor the majority of humanity believed in sentient life on other planets; no one thought it possible to travel faster than light or stay alive for over 3000 years.

It had been a wild ride and so much had happened since those days back in 2015 on good ol' Earth.

So many friends and of course his entire family had fallen to the relentless mercyless march of time. Even his beloved Saresii wife was long gone.

Deep in these brooding thoughts that overcame him ever now and then, he had stepped of the deceleration ramp and without noticing right through a yellow police barrier.

The barrier had of course detected his badge and made iteself insubstantial so he could pass through.

--""--

Ben and his new partner had arrived at the crime scene just as the rain started. While command had called weather control to stop the down pour. some of the evidence had been washed away no doubt.

But he would not be part of the actual investigation of course, and neither was  Paige. Both were unifroms and had been called to assist with securing the crime scene and redirecting the crowds to the other side of the side of Andromeda Blvd.

But even here at the entrance to one of the best and most diverse entertainment districts of the known universe, nothing drew the attention of onlookers as an accient or the scene of a crime and in this case murder.

Ben stood by the barrier projector, having his shock baton drawn just for visual deterence of course and scanned the crowd behind the bright yellow ribbon of hard light with the pulsating words 'Police barrier do not cross' flashing in Union standards and several major sub languages. There was an age old saying that the perpetrator of a crime often returned to a crime scene to check out the handywork while being just another face in the crowd.

The victim was an assembly assistant, a Shaill assigned as an aide to the representative of the Shaill homeworld no less. What was left of the poor mollusk was a pile of wet glistening guts and organs, the ME was kneeling right beside it.

Not to far away one of the homicide detectives of the first precint, a Kilonian multi pod named Worx was interviewing the closest witness to the incident, a Nurglin. Now in the onset of night, the being was glowing in a variety of very beautiful blue, white and red fluorescent shades of light. Ben had never heard about or seen a Nurglin but GalNet central had provided him with a basic education regarding this recent Union member species.

Bowser appeared from a less illuminated side street, a service alley behind the Zorgo cave building that was shaped like a small desert mountain. He stomped in his enromous APE suit right onto the scene, closely followed by a Centurion, the civil service version of the famous Fenris battle robot.

Bowser held a human male between the fingers of his left hand, while the Centurion carried an inflated Null sphere with a human female inside.

Ben snorted with a smile."Looks like our friend Bowser has caught someone apparently connected to the crime."

Paige his new partner was quite green around her nose as she eyed the revolting heap of a partialluy disolved Shaill. "This has to be a targeted assassination."

"What makes you think so?" Ben asked rolling his eyes with a smirk.

"Who would bring a weapon that is harmful to a Shaill alone, if the Shaill wasn't the target. A weapon that can be purchased without any trace just about anywhere"

"I am glad you are going to detective school. I better call detective Kilkit over and let him in on your insight."

"No need to be sarcastic, Corporal Carson. This is my first patrol and an assassination right away. Who would have thought that Pluribus is such a violent and dangerous place?"

"It is not, that's the first homicide this month for our district." Ben stopped as he saw a human man pass through the yellow barrier field. "Hey you, get back behind that line. I also want to see what kind of hardware you carry to circumvent a police barrier!"

The man held out his hand."Oh it had stopped raining." To Ben the man with the hat said." Would you please restate your question officer? I was admittedly a little pre occupied by my own train of thoughts."

"This is Pluribus, buster. You can't just stroll across police barriers and expect me to repeat everything twice! Now hold it right there and let me see some ID."

"I am not inclinded to show you ID. I just turn around and go my way."

Ben padded his shock baton."Mister, last warning. ID now and some explanations or you face arrest."

Paige was not so sure the approach was warranted."Corporal, the citizen has not broken any laws. He offered to retreat behind the line."

"You be quiet and learn rookie! And we will talk later about you second guessing a partner in the field."

To the man in the hat he said."I still see no ID. Paige put him under a restraining field and call a bot."

The man touched his wrist worn PDD and a golden  Police Detective shield projection popped up above it. "Will that do for ID?"

Ben nodded."Yes detective, but if you are from another precinct, you should have identified yourself to command. This is a precinct One investigation."

"Corporal, we do not have a law that requires anyone to show ID on public venues just on the whims of a police officer. You acted extremely rude and unprofessional. I will make it a personal matter to assure myself that this is an exception and not the norm for precint One."

Carson was no longer as blustery and and hardboile acting as he had been moments ago.

Especially since he saw his captain, the almost four meter tall Andorian step out of his unmarked Sunblazer and come over with large steps.

"Detective Decker, what an honor! Seeing you here, makes me think this homicide is  part of an ongoing high profile case you are working on?"

Paige raised the visor of her helmet and mouthed the word 'Decker' silently towards pale Carson, with a big surprise in her face. She whispered. "Could it be?"

The man with the hat shook his head as he looked up to the Andsorian."I really only stumbled  onto this crime scene by accident. If I had paid more attention I would have switched to the other side of the road just to stay clear. However I must comment on the rather rude behavior of this corporal."

Captain Yarom Tunte, sighed deeply. "Coropral Ben Carson, Sir. he is a good man and one the beat for over 28 years. There is a reason he is still corporal, Mr.Decker His mother is Thauran and he was born right here on Pluribus, if you get my drift."

"I get your drift Captain Tunte, but I always believe every being is responsible for its own actions, after that long on the beat he should not jump to conclusions so easily. If he treated a regular citizen like that, would we talk about excuses and heritage?"

"I see your point, Mr. Decker. Corporals Carson  and Graham you are to report back to the precinct."

Decker waved at the female."Not her, she wasn't rude and tried to rein him in."

Captain Tunte switched subjects."Anyhow no matter the reason why you are here. I am glad you are here. This is a high profile case and I was about to call head quarters for a senior investigator. Luckily the most senior of them all stomped right onto the scene."

Phil sighed and  stated that he was here for a museum opening and that he was confident in the abilities of the local detectives, but the eternal police man inside him had already hoped they asked him.

He also noticed that the young female was shyly and with a few feet distance following them, trying to hear every word, as he approached the remains of the Shaill. The ME had stopped the CSI robots from gathering the remains and or doing anything else for that matter.

The ME was humanoid but had a metallic silvery skin, was completley bald and had no visibnle earlobes, nostrils. His mouth featured no tongue and no teeth. He looked more artificial than most robots. Yet the Medical examiner identified as male and he listened to the name of Bloodclod. He was a Centmac and member of the X1o1 society. It also appeared that he knew the immortal detective as he got up."Lord and behold, the legend himself, Phil Decker decides to mess up my crime scene." He actually hugged the man. "Good to see you, Phil. The crime scene is all yours."

"You got the most goulish name of any MD in the galaxy, my shiny friend. Fill me in and then let's get that poor sob of the sidewalk. I came to have a bite across at Mel's diner, but seeing a mostly melted Shaill made those plans a distant priority."

"According to the CITI this was Shabil Nolux, aged 42 standard years and he died of rapid dehydration and body liquid crystalization, the result of three salt bombs. It is about as nasty and painful as can be for a Shaill to die that way. Poor mollusk suffered for several minutes. Med bots came too late, even though there are med bots prowling the promenade."

"This was a full grown Shaill, right?"

"Yes, it was a healthy, if slight overweight individual of the Spotted Yellow subspecies. About five ten when stretched and I say  196 pounds."

Phil tugged on the fabric of his pantlegs and crouched down looked into the direction of the Zorgo Cave exit and noticed the female corporal listening and taking whispering notes to her PDD.

"You might as well get closer and get yourself a clearer picture, Corporal. So how long have you been transfered from Splish Splash to Pluribus and how do you like your first day on the beat?"

Her chin dropped to her chest."Sir, I am here for six days and this is my first shift."

The Kilonian multipede detective clicked with his mandibles and out of his voicebox came a well modulated laugh."He does things like that all the time, rookie. This is famous  Phil Decker. Normally I would object someone taking lead in a case of mine. In his case I am glad and honored. How did you know she transfered in and from Splish Splash of all places?"

To the MO Decker said."Can you send me an estimate how much water is contained in the average Spotted Yellow and are there areas on their bodies that are more sensitive to salt than others?"

"I am contacting Paracelcus right now and I am going to perform a detailed post mortem. Are you done or do you need more time?"

"No my friend your tin heads can scoop up Shabill Nolux now." He held up an index finger to indicate that he had not forgotten about the Kilonian's question. "One second Detective Worx."

To the CSI specialist he said."Have you secured the hover sled?"

"No Sir. We just collected micro debris around the victim. I am directing my bots to do that now."

"Perfect. Have someone who is familiar with these sleds check it out." Then said without turning his head."You keep tooting my horn and I start to believe all this nonsense. You are a good detective, Worx. A damn good one and you do not need my help."

The Kilonian swooned. "I am going to mold tonight, far ahead of schedule. Your praise just made me grow three sizes."

"As for you Corporal Paige Graham, you wear a brand new Enroe Lawman in an auto draw holster. The weapon is so brand new in fact, it still has the factory inspection tag on it. The spray can of sticky net is also still factory sealed. No beat cop would ever go on the prowl with the can sealed. Takes forever to get it open, especially if you want to restrain an angry Nul or a drunk Pertharian. Meaning you just stepped out of the armory. You addressed your partner with his rank,and not by first name and the exchange was not too friendly. He is your senior by years but not much by rank, also speaks of someone stuck an off world noob with a seasoned, but grumpy local veteran."

Worx raised his four upper leg pairs and said."He does that all the time. When he explains it everyone goes: Duh of course."

Decker smiled and shook his head. "Anyone can do it, all it requires is keeping your eyes open and put things together."

The Kilonian said."That brings us to this case. To be honest, if you can take the lead on that one,I would be very happy. I got two more cases still on my desk and this one is already on every news outlet. You coudn't pick a more public venue to kill someone and such a high profile case is bound to bring all sorts of scrutiny."

"Just what I need in my old age." He pushed his Fedora straight and pulled something  out of a coat pocket. A small black rectangular thing. Phil flipped it open and used a stylus to make notes.

Paige looked at it with interest and the Kilonian reached in his belt and produced one quite similar. "It's a No-tech PDD if you will. It is called a note pad. He's using them so I started doing it too."

"Sir, but how do you know I am from Splish Splash? No one here can even keep the name straight for one sentence or would know where it is. Are you a telepath?"

"No I have none of these handy psionic gifts. All your gear is brand new, except for your all terrains. Those boots are well broken in and worn in the fashion people of very wet planets wear them. With the bioseal flipped up and your leggings tugged inside. These are duty issue boots and not private, while I knelt down, I could see the the marking for the 11,334th precinct. Which is on Splish Splash."

The Kilonian had of course heard and said before Paige could respond."I told you, 0nce he explains it..."

Phil took a few steps and approached the Nurglin. Paige looked at the small property tag on her boots."I never really noticed it to be there. Would that not mean he knows all 14,000 or so precincts?"

The Kilonian detective digested that conclusion for a moment. "Aparently so."

The immortal detective who had been born on far distant Earth in a far distant time was now standing by the Nurglin. As utterly alien the being was to a human  its distress was clearly evident. Worx said."This is Ti-8, he is here on Pluribus on behalf of his people, the Nurglin of the Silver Veil galaxy. He visited the Zorgo cave with Shabil and witnessed it all. We have his statement and according to the Poly-Analyzer his statement is eighty eight percent accurate. No records of any kind, Phil."

Phil looked around and pointed towards a hip high duro crete planter."Would you mind joining me over there? So I can sit down and we can talk and we are out of the way for the neccessary tasks to be performed."

The glowing being immideatley agreed and Phil sat down at the rim of the planter."So you are from the Silver Veil galaxy. That is the the 34th galaxy on the spur to Avondur is it not?"

"Yes, Citizen. We are the first member civilization of that galaxy."

"It's quite a long trip hopping from Gatehouse to Gatehouse. I made it as far as the so called Alien Gatehoue in the Clusterball galaxy. I think that is number 28 on that spur right?"

"Yes, Citizen, but things are steadily improving. There are now Space train connections from twenty nine on downward. I am trying to develop more business and..." The Nurglin turned his flexible body end with the eyes and watched as a robot sealed the duraplast container holding Shabil's remains."He was such a pleasant person. I learned quite a bit about the Shaill and now he is dead. Killed no less!"

"It is an event no one should witness and I hope you do not take the demise of your acuaintance as a core impression back to your home world. Murder is not the norm."

Tit-8 glowed fainter."Unfortunatley it is a crime not unknown to my kind. We don't have many anymore, but murder does happen and almost always for reasons of passion and rivalry."

"Yes, that appears to be a common reason among many species, but murder one, or the planned killing of another individual has been virtually unknown within the Shaill society. When the salt bombs hit were you close to Shabil?"

"Yes, I was engulfed in some of the salt dust myself, but the robots tended to my eyes and I was unharmed otherwise."

"Does your species consume or use Sodium Nitrate for anything?"

"No."

"That should be all, Tit-8,thank you for your time."

Bowser stomped up."No need to involve a famous detective and all. I already solved the case. He presented a very pale young human and all dressed in black, still dangling in the grip of his fist like a weightless rag doll. "This is Mortim Housen, he is a very frequent guest of the Crimson Velvet night club, which happens to be right next door to the new Zorgo cave."

Bowser motioned up and down the bright lit boulevard, while still holding the young man in the same humongous suit hand."This is the famous Luminous strip, Detective but behind those buildings is the second tier, where the hard boiled gamblers and toxers go."

Decker got up from the planter and said."Why don't you put the man down and explain it all to me and we can all go to do our business."

"The Crimson Velvet is a Neo Vamp hang out, a very exclusive one for rich kids and such."

"What kind of Neo Vamps?" Decker's face and voice did reflect concern.

"Both kind, Mr. Decker. The kind only pretending and the kind thinking they are real vampires and go hunting. No law allows us to shut down the club or prohibits their choice of life style." The APE equipped patrol officer sighed in frustration. "We are keeping an eye on them and over the years we caught a good number  that went hunting so to speak and we know they do have ties to the Necros as well."

Phil nodded."All serious stuff, no doubt and I am aware of the Necro menace but what does that have to do with the Zorgo cave?"

"The Zorgos of course!"

"Care to elaborate?"

"The Zorgos are vampiristic and the crowd next door worshipping vampirism  feel that these telepathic worms are tortured and exploited. We have had complaints about Mortim harrasing Zorgo cave patrons before. Fact is that the Zorgo cave has two Shaill employees and it was them Mortim planned to kill and set an example, that Shabil came out the door was unfortunate but he was not the planned victim!"

Mortim spat."I have your badges for that! My father is Magador Housen."

Bowser sighed."Spare me the litany. I caught you in the service alley hiding behind a shipping  crate, you still have salt all over you and your poly analyzer explanation of things is less than 20 percent truthful." Bowser leaned forward and said loud."You have been seen running from the victim!"

"I have nothing to do with this."

Decker said."Book him, for the attempted rape and physical assault on a minor after administering Psychopehn, but I doubt he killed the Shaill."

"What?" Both Bowser and the pale man said more or less simultaneously.

The female your robot partner carries in the stasis ball, is a girl at most fourteen or fifteen years of age. She has a torn skirt, bite marks on her neck. His pants are still open and he has the characteristic blue stains of opening a pack of Psychophen without the auto dispenser on his finger tips. This is why his Poly results are whack. He tried to cover a what really went on behind that shipping crate. "

"But the salt is on him and he has been seen running away by a Klack."

The young human man yelled."I try to help that disgusting snail! His glowing friend was all red with fear and hiding at the entrance. I try to help him, alright?"

"That is  commendable." Decker said. "Why don't you give a statement to Corporal Bowser's robot partner while they  getting you booked?"

Phil waved a medic over."When you treat the female in the stasis balloon do it with potential crime activities in mind."

"Yes, sir."

--""--

Paige was standing there, not knowing what to do next. Her partner was sent back to HQ and he had taken the Sunblazer patrol car. The crime scene activities were winding down, the victim had been recovered and was on his way to the morgue.

Her captain was mobbed by a small crowd of news people with camera drones and lights.

She was close enough to hear him speak."We are not prepared to release the victims name or many details at this time. Please understand that this is an active investigation, but we will keep the media informed as soon as we can divulge any details,."

A Saurien towering over most of the other reporters with the GalNet Channel Three logo on a shash across his torso was the first to bark a question."Captain Tunte, can you at least elaborate on the arrest that has been made? Is it true you have the killer already in custody?"

"Yarl, you know I can't comment on that. As I said this is an ongoing investigation."

The Kilonian detective had scurried next to Paige and said."That's why I am glad he is the captain and not me."

"I know that Saurien. That's Yarl Mugni, one of the most famous anchors and the captain knows him."

"Yes, he knows them all, that is part of his job. Media relations and all that. This is Pluribus after all and a murder like this might even make the off planet news. "

"I think I am more a rookie than I wanted to admit. Things are different here for sure."

"So you want to be a detective right?"

"Yes, Sir. That's why I am here on Pluribus."

"Then instead of listening to the captain speaking to the news media, you should follow Mr. Decker. You learn more by watching him than in all of detective school, I did."

"I don't even know what my current assigment is. I can't just tag along with the most senior cop there is."

"No one is going to object and you be the star at the precinct and the school later on. Go on, follow him and don't worry about hours or anything. Just keep your human eyes open."

The Kilonian pointed towards the Crimson Velvet."I tell the Captain. No worries. You follow Decker. He went that way."

She gave the Kilonian a thankful smile, not knowing if the being could read human facial expressions and quickly followed the human detective who was about to enter the Crimson Velvet club.

She had of course heard so much about him. Back at the police academy they had buildings named after him and there were lessons and stories about Detective Decker, Union's oldest police man. She never really expected them to be more than that or would have ever thought he actually existed.

Everyone knew about the existence of Immortals. Human beings that had been around since Earth ascented to the Galactic Stage. There was of course the most famous of them all, Admiral Richard Stahl. The one they called the Eternal Warrior. There was McElligott, the Admiral of the Fleet and a few others, but like many she more or less considered them legends.

Yet, if the stories were true, the man right before here had been a police man of over three thousand years.

That he was able to deduct her origin and how long she had been on the beat, by observing small details was nothing less but amazing.

She brushed a set of heavy fabric curtains to the side that obscured the entrance right after the entrance doors and found herself in a posh lounge in dark red and polished brass. The light came from dimmed chandeliers, hanging from a vaulted ceiling. There was a long bar on the oposite site, a two tier dance floor and a number of small round tables with candles flickering in in red glass holders.

She counted only about twenty beings in a room that could easily hold more than hundred. She also noticed that they all were humanoid.

She caught up with Decker who was approaching the bar. He said without turning. "The Captain addressing the media wasn't as informative as you thought it would be?"

"Sir, I am just a Corporal. I can't just follow detectives without being told."

"I see. Well what would you do if this would be your case?" She blinked."I...uh. Maybe interogate that young man. Maybe he seen who threw the bombs."

"Okay, we are going to do that next."

"Sir, aren't you investigating and I will be lucky to make notes and learn?"

"The best way of learning is doing it. There are different ways of approaching an investigation and who knows I might learn something from you."

"You are mocking me. What is there I could teach you?"

"We will never know if you just keep making notes." The old detective sat down at one of the empty tables.

Paige followed his lead with a surprised look."Aren't you going to ask the barkeeper something? This is why we are here right?"

"Not really, he will come to us in  a short while and he will ask us all sorts of questions. Asking him won't yield much in terms of useful information, but one can learn quite a few things about the questions he will ask."

"We don't have Vampires on Splish Splash. What are they?"

"For the most part just bored young people who like to feel empowered and special. It has its roots in many usually human societies and is about a legendary class of supernatural beings with supernatural powers that sustain themselves by drinking the blood of others. There are Saran legends, the famous Thauran stories and of course stories and legends form good ol' Earth."

He sighed."But as with everything, there are people who take these stories and legends serious and elevate them to religions. These people do not just act and dress a certain way but really believe they can attain supernatural powers and status by biting others and drink their blood. No one has ever turned into a real Vampire as far as I know, but  people have been killed."

Her face showed disbelieve."How come I never heard of it? It should be discussed at the Assembly and erradicated."

"The Union prides itself to provide religious freedom. As long as the religion isn't hurting others, there can not be any laws regulating believes. The Neo Vamp subculture is strongest on Thauran planets and small communities like this one can be found on major population centers like Pluribus."

He smiled and added."There are fifty billion beings resident on Pluribus and there are no more than maybe twenty thousand of them. Most of them just expressing a dark life style, hardly something the Assembly needs to discuss. Some of them do more than just dress up and alter their appearance and that's where the laws come in."

"But you mentioned people getting killed."

"I did, but sadly there are many life styles  with a spectrum that reaches from harmless and lawful to harmful and illegal."

She understood and nodded. "I get that, Sir. It is just amazing to me what people do."

"Corporal, I am really as old as they say I am and every time I think I seen it all, there is something new."

The barkeeper, a pale man in a black velvet suit and a blood red body hugging vest had approached the table."Would you want to see the manager?"

Phil shook his head. "No, not really."

The man had his black hair slicked back and Paige was certain the eyebrows were cosmetics. Only Dai had arched eyebrows like that naturally. His complexion even in the dim light was very pale. His canines were extended to fangs.

Paige could almost see the man's brain working."We are a respectable venue and we have never condoned any violence or anything like that."

Decker smiled at him."I am sure it is."

Again there were several moments of silence. A second man appeared from behind a curtain next to the bar and approached."Jerry, does there seem to be a problem? I asked you to show the police officers to my office."

"Uh, Gary he didn't want to see you."

The second man, apparently the manager looked very much like Jerry his barman. He was a little older perhaps, but was dressed almost identical and also wore his hair slicked back and had oversized eye teeth, that looked quite sharp. He turned to Decker."You are a Union police detective, I assume?"

"Indeed." Decker activated his shield for a moment.

"We are of course fully cooperating with any investigation. What happened is awful. Would you not want to ask your questions in the privacy of my office, detective?"

"I don't have any questions at the moment."

"You don't? Then why are you here?"

"Getting a feel for the place."

"There is no law that prevents us from expressing our life style choices."

"That is indeed the case."

"Listen, detective. I don't know who you try to fool. I know you want to hang something on us so the authorities can close us down. It is a religious choice. We hold that Vampirism is a natural force separating the weak and the strong."

"I see."

The manager became agitated."That fool Mortimer, you trying to use his stupid act to justify whatever you going to do. Aren't you?"

The manager kept talking and getting louder."He is a pretender, not even a real Vamp. He is the spoiled son of a rich man, nothing more. "

"You are a real vampire?"

"Of  course!"

"Real vampires hunt. Isn't that what separates you from the pretenders?" "Damn right!"

Decker got up and turned to the door."Well. Corporal what did I tell you. They reveal more when you don't really asks questions." He tipped his hat and smiled."Have a pleasant evening."

--""--

The crime scene had been cleared and the crowd had dispersed. There were new customers standing in line at the Zorgo Cave. Pedestrians of all shapes and species milled across the pavement. Nothing reminded of the crime that had happened just a short while ago.

Phil shoved his hands into his coat pockets thinking about what to do next, when his eyes caught the bright red and yellow light sign of Mel's Diner. "How about dinner Corporal. The reason I came here in the first place still exists, I am hungry."

She was right behind him."You think it be alright?"

"Yes I do."

Mel's Diner was quite busy, every table and booth was occupied, but there was room at the counter. Phil pressed the selection switch and rotated a counter stool for human anatomy in place and with a smile of anticipation sat down. The aroma and smells that came out of the kitchen, were mouthwatering familiar and evoked memories from a far distant place and time.

Most of the clientelle was human, as the food offered was mostly for human consumption, but there were enough non human patrons that evoked his illusion of being back good old pre astro New York City a short one. He sighed and took of his hat.

Paige took a seat next to him. "This place, a little smaller and  less busy could be right in Steady-Pour, outr main city."

Phil had taken the menu, an actual printed thing instead of a projection and said."Then I know where to go, if I ever find myself in Steady-Pour."

A

The bombs were not thrown but launched. He didn't see the culprit, he rushed out of the alley to see what the screaming and yelling was all about and retreated into the alley as he could not escape unseen."