November 1997 Story

[Bachanda Trees in Park Dome, G15 on First Landing Underground Map]

Listening to Cimmy in the dim hovel, Urugg feels a deep sympathy for the old woman--reduced to hiding out in a patch of forest under the hard metallic sky of Metrosphere. Inconspicuously, he picks up the half-burned ID card as Cimmy recites her story of the Shadows. He burns the name on the card--Simeonne Arielle--into his memory. He half-listens to her chanting words, his mind working furiously. Surely Cimmy had some relatives or friends here before she disappeared; perhaps they never realized where she disappeared to.

Before leaving, he motions for Tork to wait outside a moment.

"Cimmy, it is plain from your eyes that you speak the truth about the Shadows. We. . ." He gestures briefly with his head at Tork outside. ". . .have come from the skies to cast out the Lord of Shadows. . .and perhaps the Dark Lord as well.

"But we have been here only a short time, and are not wise in the ways of the Sphere. I would ask of you priestess if we. . ." Again he gestures towards Tork outside. ". . .seek you out when we have need of your wisdom. You plainly know much of the Sphere and its truths. In exchange, I can offer only small things--I have some knowledge of the ways of medicine, and a Human friend knows yet more. Perhaps he and I could come to you again in secret and minister to your health?"

The wise woman's face softens. "You is kind, kind to Cimmy. The Spirits of Light will blesses you, they will. The Shadows fears not light, but as you learns to see. . ." She lifts her finger to her eyes as she continues. ". . .without seeing, then will you finds the Shadows."

Urugg respectfully bids goodbye to the elderly Yazirian, double-checking to make sure the burned ID card is still in his pocket. As he and Tork leave the tangle of Bachanda braches and vines, he asks Tork a simple question.

"How can one see without seeing?"

"Huh?"

"Cimmy said we could find the Shadows by 'seeing without seeing.'"

Tork stops briefly, crouched on a flat branch, and tilts his head. His cat-like eyes blink in the heavy shade.

"What is it?" asks Urugg.

"I just recalled something said in one of my investigations. Just before being attacked, the Yazarian supervisor of the Food Production Plant said he could have sworn he heard footsteps and voices, but no one was around. The Shadows may be invisible, but they are not silent!"

[Team Meeting in Park Dome, G15 on First Landing Underground Map]

Fantastic. Just the kind of luck I should have expected, Syzygy thinks to himself as he sits on the grass in the park dome. Knocked on the head and taken for a ride just as I was getting somewhere.

Syzygy looks around carefully, trying to read the faces of his team mates without being too obvious. T'Klkk is standing before the group, preaching something or other. Taanik, Zane, Urugg and Tork are sitting on the grass with Syzygy, all listening attentively. . .although Tork seems slightly distracted.

The grass is soft beneath Syzygy's bruised thorax, and the surrounding greenery is admittedly therapeutic. But the ringing in his head is playing to beat the band, and no amount of foliage can salve his wounded ego right now.

He checks the others' faces again. T'Klkk is droning on about something, but it's background noise to him.

"We have other pressing business, so let us continue. We have gathered a lot of information, have come across several leads, and have heard some great suggestions from one another. But, we do not have a clear, focused plan of action. If we are to succeed, it is necessary that we formulate such a plan. Each of us brings strengths, and we are starting to learn how to rely on one another. We are a good team, and we can become a great team.

"Team-mate Syzygy has commented that he believes the colony's law enforcement is not sharing all the information that they have available to them. 'Keeping us in the dark' were the words he used, I believe." T'Klkk nods her head slightly at Syzygy and clicks in acknowledgement of him. "I must agree. In fact, I believe that we are. . .um. . .in the dark on several fronts. At one point Syzygy was trying to run a program which failed because of a system error. The supervisor at the Computer Spire, Rejj, indicated that there was a problem with the security algorithm even though Syzygy did indeed have the appropriate authorization. When Syzygy asked if this problem occurs often, Rejj responded with a standard line used by all the help-techs. As you know, Vrusk are able to discern subtle nuances in social patterns because of the intricies of Vrusk society. Well, it was obvious to me that Rejj did not want to admit that these problems are apparently occuring with some degree of frequency. We should keep this in mind when using the colony computer. In fact, as far as I am concerned, nothing that we store on-line is secure. I suggest that we all approach our work with this perspective.

"I suggest that we make a list of all the facts we know. A list of all the leads we may have. A list of all our suspicions or guesses. And, from those lists, we should formulate our plan."

Tork enters the conversation. "Urugg and I just spoke with a Yazirian spiritualist named Cimmy. Urugg thinks Cimmy may be a little--hmm, what was that medical term? Oh yes, 'not playing with a full hyperdrive.' This may be true, but there is an air of truth to her story.

"Cimmy talked about a Great One who built a Great City in a place called the Sphere. An Evil One rebelled against the Great One, taking a fourth of the Great One's followers and setting up a dwelling called the Realm of Shadows. Then someone called the Lord of Shadows came to the Evil One and gave his people power to become Shadows and defeat the Great City.

"Things fit if you think of this moon as the Sphere. Selson Streel could be the Great One."

"Or Maxim Zek'et," says Urugg.

"Snarr is the Evil One," continues Tork. "And Lost Point is the Realm of Shadows. The only question is: who is the Lord of Shadows? It would have to be someone who hates Streel enough to. . ." Tork's voice trails off. He wants desperately to ignore his thoughts and their implications. But his mind keeps shouting the same name: "Blackjack!" Kare's former colleague.

T'Klkk resumes the conversation. "We know that the saboteurs are able to move undetected, probably using a holo-screen of some kind. Thanks to Syzygy, we know that it is highly likely there are people at Lost Point. His attackers appeared to be going in that direction. We know that most of the raids have been to gather survival equipment: food, clothing, blankets, water, some weapons. We know that there have been minute changes to the computer systems which allow for remote access and control of key systems. We know that a number of suspected Star's Arm members have given up their apartments but have not left this colony and are, assumingly, unaccounted for. We know that the Red Eye epidemic was brought here by contaminated Ixiol sold by a Dralasite in the far west recreation area. So, what do we do with all of this information?

"Team-mates. I have called us together so that we can all touch base and come to a common agreement on how this team should proceed. So far, I have managed to locate everyone but team-mate Kare."

Taanik speaks up. "I'd be willing to go undercover as an Ixiol buyer, if we want to flush out the guy that sold the cook a bad batch. Since Ixiol is produced in Dramune, a Dralasite like myself might be the most convincing being to pose as a buyer."

Urugg looks around, as if searching the lush green bushes. "Where is Kare, anyway?"

Tork and T'Klkk make eye contact. Both look concerned.

"I don't know where she is," says Taanik. "She must have turned her chronocom off. I can't trace her."

"I may know why Kare is not here." Tork's voice is almost apologetic.

"It is time to tell them," agrees T'Klkk. "Team-mate Tork discovered that she may have had past involvements with the Gypsy Moon Corporation, a well-known enemy of Streel. And, she may have been involved in actual raids against Streel holdings. Team-mate Tork and self-T'Klkk met with team-mate Kare to discuss this finding. She did not comment one way or the other, neither confessing to involvement nor denying it. In fact, she was a bit hostile. . .er. . .more hostile. . .when she left the room, and that is the last we heard of her."

"I confronted Kare with the report," says Tork. "She never acknowledged the information, but. . ." Tork's voice and eyes drop as he continues. "She also did not deny it."

"Self-T'Klkk is reserving judgement until there is more information," interjects T'Klkk. "Team-mate Kare has contributed to this team and should be given our support. If she is innocent of treachery, then we should defend her. However, if she is guilty, then self-T'Klkk has no reservations about dealing with her personally. It is a horrible crime in my culture to sabotage one's own team.

"In the meantime, team-mate Urugg has suggested that at least part of us return to the site where Syzygy was found to look for more clues. I concur."

Syzygy sits silently during the meeting, listening for short stretches until his mind wanders back to ideas of his next move. He cannot take the shame any longer and stands. "You guys go on without me--I'm feeling a bit dizzy. Think I'll go lie down for a while."

Urugg is the next to get up. "If you're looking for a place to lie down, I suggest the nearest medical center. I'll go with you."

Taanik rises as well. "Hey, Urugg, I'll go with him to the medical center if you'd like. You should be with the team that investigates the site where Syzygy was attacked."

The Dralasite and the broken Vrusk pass through the trees to the nearest accelerator strips.

"Syzygy, what's eating you, buddy?" Taanik inquires cheerfully, but not overly so--being careful of Syzygy's bruised ego. "Really, if you need to talk stuff over, I'll listen. I'm good at that. I don't have any psyche skills, so I won't pull any of that psycho-babble B.S. on you. I respect you, Syzygy; you're a free thinker. You don't let convention get in the way of a good idea.

"Just make sure you take some backup next time you decide to have your ass handed to you."

[Selson Streel's Executive Office, I7 on First Landing Surface Level]

Appearances, appearances. . .

Kare's mind races. Damn! She knows this won't look good for her. If she is caught, Tork and T'Klkk will believe that she is guilty of working for outside forces. Kare knows that she is not guility but concedes that she is definitely not innocent.

Kare decides that shooting her way out would hardly repair her image of innocence. With lightning speed, as soon as the door closes, Kare removes her chronocom. She shuts off the answering feature and raises the input sampling volume to the maximum possible. Then, placing the chronocom in her pocket, she waits for the guards to enter.

The Yazirian security officers open the door to find Kare leaning casually against a shelf of office supplies, her ID card in hand.

"Gentlemen, my name is Kare and I'm with Mr. Streel's Special Ops Task Force. We're looking into some security issues dealing with the Star's Arm terriorists. Mr. Streel can verify my idenity."

Followed by the Yazirian guards is the familiar Human form of Selson Streel.

"Mr.Streel. So good to see you again. I was attempting to determine the depth of the Star's Arm's penetration into the city. I'm ordering these tunnels closed. It's our belief that the terrorists are using them to gain access to sensitive areas."

The guards look nervously to Mr. Streel for confirmation. He raises a hand and nods. "It's okay, gentlemen. She's with me. Good work, Kare."

With that Kare smiles to herself; this is the big set up. "We believe that they may have had access to your computer. I advise you to check through your most sensitive files to ensure that they were not accessed, tampered with, or altered in any way. I'll have the work crew close that tunnel first thing in the morning."

She follows Selson into his office. While he and the guards are looking at the computer, she stands with her back against the door and tries to plant her chronocom with a good view of the computer.

[Kare DEXTERITY: 70; Rolled: 61]

With careful slight of hand, she hides the chronocom among some supplies on a shelf near the door. No one seems to notice.

[If Kare wants to record what the chronocom sees, she will need to buy a holographic recording device that can tune into the chronocom's signal. Ruben, let me know if she wants to do this.]

Having accomplished her task, Kare politely excuses herself.

"Have a nice evening."

[Outside Monorail Tube, I16 on First Landing Surface]

The spacesuited forms of Urugg and T'Klkk are already investigating Syzygy's attack scene as Zane and Tork approach.

"We just finished checking out both sites that were hit by raids," says Zane through his space helmet speaker. "Nothing new to report."

"They were sloppy jobs, but there were no eyewitnesses," says Tork.

Zane notices that Urugg is closely examining the ground. "Did you find anything here?"

"Yes," says Urugg. "Look at these." The ground is scarred with heavy indentations of what look like feet--only larger. "Not only do the invisible raider make sounds; they leave some pretty big footprints! Whatever passed through here was bipedal, and from the size of these marks was wearing very large boots. From what I can see, there are at least five distinct sizes of prints, which would suggest that at least five bipeds with large boots tromped through here recently."

T'Klkk explains the rest. "We have found what could be glove prints on the monorail tube and inside the airlock that Syzygy used. But no fingerprints. Whoever attacked team-mate Syzygy didn't seem to drop anything or leave anything behind. Urugg has collected a number of soil samples for further analysis."

Urugg follows the black ground with his flashlight. "Where did you say those last raids took place?"

Zane points with a gray spacesuit glove. "Over in this storage pod to the west, and this other storage pod to the east."

The narrow white beam of Urugg's flashlight glides over the rocky terrain. "Look at this. The same bootprints head out directly towards both storage pods." Urugg looks up. "T'Klkk, I think we'd better make a visit to Syzygy's recovery room and get more information about what he saw."

[South Medical Center, I13 on Underground Level]

Syzygy is sitting with his abdomen and thorax supported by a well padded medical cot. A blue paper sheet covers the top of his abdominal section. Dozens of lights and electronic graphs monitor his vital signs. Overall, he seems to be doing quite well.

Taanik stands vigilant at his side as both hold a conversation with the holographic image of Fle'xx Tredd.

"I told you," says Syzygy, "I lost the equipment in the line of duty. I can't perform my function without it."

Fle'xx twists his mandibles uneasily.

The door to the recovery room whisks open, admitting Urugg and T'Klkk.

Urugg barely catches the last of the conversation. "We're going to need more than that, Mr. Tredd. Syzygy has verified--at great cost to himself--that the raiders are using some sort of optical or holographic camouflage. We need to equip ourselves with countermeasures, both for our safety and the colony's. I suggest infra-red goggles for the whole team, although I suspect the holo-screens of these raiders may be able to block non-visual spectra as well. Syzygy didn't see anything, and Vrusk have near-UV spectrum vision. What we really need are a few military or police broadband radio-frequency scanners with linked audio recorders. The raiders must be using suit radios--unless they maintain complete radio silence. With any luck we might pick up a transmission."

Fle'xx slowly begins to shake his head. This is getting worse. "That's all well and good, but I really don't know if there's room in the budget for these things."

Urugg appears to be taking this much more calmly than Syzygy. "Acknowledged, Mr. Tredd. But try to understand. Our team has requested very little so far. Without adequate tools we may be unable to prevent potentially expensive acts against the colony. Just how much did the Red Eye lockdown cost Streel per hour?"

Fle'xx begins to fidget and look around. "I--I'll have to confer with Mr. Streel himself." And with that, his insectoid image vanishes.

The room is silent for a moment, until T'Klkk remembers why she and Urugg have come.

She advances gracefully to Syzygy's bed. "Eight degrees of concern that you are feeling better, team-mate Syzygy. Self-T'Klkk is not here to scold or reprimand, but rather to gain enlightenment. Your actions going out of the sphere alone were irrational, dangerous and totally unexpected.

"Although you bear the mark of Zed, I know that you are not Zed. I have seen the extreme competence of your performance when focused on a task. Even a Zed would not have done such a thing as to enter a dangerous situation without getting assistance from team-mates. What you did demonstrates bad judgement, but cannot be explained away by you being Zed.

"So, if the reason does not lie within your ability to reason, then the only explanation is that this team is at fault. Tell me, team-mate Syzygy, how has this team failed you?"

Syzygy sighs. "It's not you, T'Klkk. It's none of you. My actions were my choosing and had. . .zero degrees of correlation with the team.

"I. . .am unaccustomed to working with others. Especially with others on whom I can count. My mark has branded me as an outsider, and I have always known if I wanted to succeed, I had to act alone. This new concept of. . .relying on each other is. . .foreign to me. I don't know if I'm comfortable with it."

Urugg steps forward. "You took an important hit for us out there, Syzygy. They may have taken you by surprise and made off with your gear--but we got something much more valuable in return. Now we know for sure that the thieves were using holographic screens to camouflage themselves; not only that, but we know exactly how they look at close range should they show themselves again. Not only that, but they are obviously using the monorails to move their teams--something they will be a lot more careful about now that we know about them. Hopefully they missed your rail counter and it's still monitoring the tube. Just because you got worked over out there doesn't mean you failed your mission--on the contrary, you've picked up some very important data on our opponents. And we'll make that data cost them dearly before this has all shaken out..."

Syzygy changes the subject. "That reminds me. Let me see your chronocom."

The wounded Vrusk runs a series of adjustments on the wrist device and nods. "Well, my. . .team-mates. You're looking for more information? I've got it. According to this, the wire-whip counter in the monorail has been passed. . .twice. And out of curiosity, let's see where my own chronocom ended up. I configured it for easy tracking before I visited the monorail tube." The chronocom bleeps slightly as it tracks the signal. "Hmm. Just as I thought. Lost Point. Let me get out of this bed--"

Taanik stops him. "You're not quite ready to go exploring again."

Urugg smiles. "I have to agree with our gelatinous colleague, Syzygy. There's plenty to do here. I brought you some pistachios, although they may be a little tough to eat with a cracked mandible. And Zane told me you broke your Dralasite puzzle. Voilà! Here's a new one."

Taanik grabs a remote control device from the side of Syzygy's bed. "And there are trivid movies to watch. I hear this place has 'Sathar Stepmother!'"

A three-dimensional message fills the air. "VALUED CUSTOMERS: OUR MEDIA ON DEMAND SYSTEM IS TEMPORARILY OFF-LINE FOR UNKNOWN REASONS. WE APOLOGIZE FOR THIS INCONVENIENCE."

"Well," says the Dralasite, "normally there are trivid movies."

"You've got a computer, too," says Urugg. "I was wondering if you could check on something for me." He pulls out the remains of the ID card from Cimmy's dwelling. "Could you check the personnel files in the Spire and look for someone named Simeonne Arielle?"

Syzygy goes to work.

[Syzygy Operate Recovery Room Computer: 100 (base) + 40 (skill level x 10) + 10 (LOGIC modifier) - 20 (computer level x 10) = 130%; No roll needed (see AD rules p. 12)]

[Syzygy Interface Local Computer to Spire Computer: 30 (base) + 40 (skill level x 10) + 10 (LOGIC modifier) - 60 (computer level x 10) + 40 (computers already on same communication network) + 20 (Syzygy has done this before) = 80%; Rolled: 65]

[Syzygy Display Information: 80 (base) + 40 (skill level x 10) + 10 (INTUITION modifier) - 60 (computer level x 10) = 70%; Rolled: 76]

"I can't find anything."

"Let me try," says Taanik.

[Taanik Display Information: 80 (base) + 20 (skill level x 10) + 3 (INTUITION modifier) - 60 (computer level x 10) = 43%; Rolled: 69]

"Nope."

Urugg puts the card back in his pocket. "Well, I'll hang onto this just in case."

"While we're at it," says Syzygy, "I was curious about that guy you mentioned earlier today."

"What guy?" asks Urugg.

"When we were in the spacer bar you mentioned that you and Zane saw a report about a high-tech criminal who had just escaped from a Star Law correctional facility."

"Oh, uh, Dakka Syte was his name."

"Okay. Let's see if Metrosphere has had any recent visits from one Dakka Syte."

[Syzygy Display Information: 80 (base) + 40 (skill level x 10) + 10 (INTUITION modifier) - 60 (computer level x 10) = 70%; Rolled: 07]

"Ah, here's some information on him. Dakka Syte. Notorious computer hacker and technological saboteur. . .bla bla bla. . .multiple charges of murder. Taken into Star Law custody in the Fromeltar system. Transported to Morgaine's World. Given a life sentence in a maximum security detention unit on asteroid D-17 in the Dramune system. And looks like he escaped just last month.

"No new immigrants or visitors on record have matching names, fingerprints or retinal patterns. No matches among recent arrests either. The Spire has taken on a lot of new employees in the past month, but only for very low security positions. Besides the problem I had with a few undocumented changes to a security algorithm, nothing at the Spire seems out of order.

"You can breathe easily, Urugg. Nothing I can find suggests that Mr. Syte has come to Metrosphere."

Urugg nods. "Somehow, I don't know if that helps. But let's get on to other matters. Do you remember anything about the beings that attacked you?"

"Hmm. . .not really. It seemed. . .there was some sort of distortion around me. Then something started taking shape. I really can't remember more."

"You may remember more than you know," says Urugg. "You just went through a pretty traumatic experience. Your mind might be blocking some of that out for you. I was wondering if you would agree to undergo hypnosis, in case there's some vital clue hidden in you subconscious mind."

Syzygy changes position in the bed, betraying the fact that he is uncomfortable with the idea. But Urugg has so far proven to be caring and trustworthy. "If you think it will help."

"Very well. Taanik, can you reduce the lighting?"

The Dralasite stretches a pseudopod out an extra half meter until he can reach a nearby touchstrip. He runs a finger down the strip, dimming the room to a deep amber.

Urugg gently takes hold of Syzygy's arm, looking for the right pressure points. "Now Syzygy, I want you to visualize yourself on a paradise planet. You don't know the name of the planet, but you are stunned by the beauty of its forest landscape and calm ponds. You can hear insects chirping in the night, and above you glows a bright, silver moon. Your attention focuses on the moon--only the moon."

Syzygy calms to an almost sleepy state. Urugg chooses just the right moment to yank on Syzygy's arm, activating the pressure points in a technique known as shock hypnosis.

[Urugg Hypnosis: 15 (base) + 30 (skill level x 10) + 5 (LEADERSHIP modifier) = 50%; Rolled: 58]

"OW!" cries Syzygy. "What are you doing to my arm?"

Urugg frowns. "I don't think this will work right now. You're in an unfamiliar environment, and you're still suffering from the trauma of being attacked. Maybe we can try again later when you've returned to your apartment."

The room's holo-panel announces a new call, followed by the holographic image of Selson Streel. "How is Syzygy doing?" he asks, eyebrows knitted with concern.

Taanik explains the Vrusk's status. "Quite well. He's gone through a number of minor surgeries, all successful. He should back to new by morning."

Selson lets out a sigh of relief. "I've spoken with Fle'xx about your progress. It sounds like you've gotten straight to the heart of some serious threats to the Metrosphere project. In light of this, I've decided to take Fle'xx out of the loop. From now on, your team will report directly to me.

"We need to do whatever it takes to see that these threats are eliminated before they do more damage. I've already arranged to have Syzygy's full inventory replaced. Urugg, I'd like you to formulate a complete list of the supplies you'll need to track down these raiders. I'll do whatever I can to get you what you need."

[Residential Section, L10 on Underground Level]

"So where are we going?" asks Zane.

Zane and Tork have traveled dozens of moving walkways past hundreds of doors.

"Syzygy did an excellent job of tracking down the whereabouts of 27 suspected Star's Arm members," explains Tork. "We're going to call on a few of them and visit. Ah, here it is. Four Star's Arm activists are supposed to live here."

Tork and Zane single out one of a long line of doors. Tork activates the door's call chime.

"Yeah, whatcha want?" asks the Yazirian man who answers.

"Crayman Heit, I believe?" says Tork.

"Yeah. Whatcha want?"

Tork and Zane show their ID cards. "I'm Peter Tork, and this is my associate, Billy Slayne. We're here as part of an official investigation force, and we'd like to ask you a few questions if we may."

[Tork PERSONALITY: 65 - 0 (racial modifier) = 65%; Rolled: 29]

"Sure. Come on in."

Zane is astonished at how crowded it is inside the apartment. There must be twenty people: eating, talking, walking about. "I thought only four people lived here."

"That's right," says Crayman with a hint of a snarl. "We're having a party. Wanna join us?"

"Mr. Heit," says Tork, "let's get back to the subject. We understand that you. . .have an association with a group known as the Star's Arm."

"That's right," says Crayman in a bold voice. "I'm not afraid to admit supporting a good cause."

"What exactly do you hope to accomplish?"

Crayman throws his hands up in the air, shaking the flaps that hang from his arms. "Streel's raping this place. Just because he and his cronies got here first, he thinks he has the right to grow fat consuming Metrosphere's natural resources."

"You're talking about the mining operations that are going on."

"You're damn right. Rip enough of the precious metals out of this moon and soon there won't be anything left but a violated husk that he'll throw away just like everything else the Streel Corporation has wasted."

Tork's brow wrinkles. "I don't quite understand. If there were natural life on this moon it would make more sense, but there's nothing out there but sterile rock with no atmosphere."

"Exactly why someone has to defend it. If we don't stop Streel, who will?"

"Hmm. What is your occupation, if I might ask?"

"I'm a teacher at Streel Second Level."

"So you're a Streel employee."

Crayman bursts out laughing. "Oh, you're catching on quick. Here on Metrosphere, we're all Streel employees. There's no one else to work for. We can only buy Streel products. We can only live in Streel housing."

"So why do you choose to stay here?"

"Who else is going to stop what Streel is doing?"

Tork lets out a deep breath.

Zane sees that as his cue to take his turn in the tag-team. "Don't you think taking over the city's life support systems was a bit extreme?"

The Yazirian hesitates. "Maybe. Spider seemed to think it was a good idea. Something spectacular to get everyone's attention. We were never planning to shut the systems down."

"Who's Spider?"

"He's a new guy on our team. He's pretty bright. A lot of people like him even more than Loer."

Tork picks up on that. "And where can we find Loer?"

Crayman smiles. "Oh no. I know this routine. You find her; you put her in binders; she goes into a correctional facility. I'm no idiot. I know the police have been looking for her."

Tork and Zane frown. One more obstacle in their way.

[Residential Section, O15 on Underground Level]

"Do you really think Kare would sell us out to get revenge against the Streel Corporation?" asks Urugg as he and T'Klkk pass along one of thousands of moving walkways. They step off the walkway upon reaching the door to T'Klkk's apartment.

The lights of the hallway have dimmed to simulate the late hours of night. The walls have darkened to midnight blue, and are now speckled with thousands of phosphorescent "stars" that barely illuminate the walkway.

"I do not want to think so, team-mate. But my preferences will have no bearing on the reality of the situation, whatever it may be."

The lights in the apartment have been extinguished, and its confines are opaque with darkness as the Vrusk and Yazirian enter.

"I'd better be heading back to my apartment," says Urugg. "It's going to be a big day tomorrow."

"Out late?" The female voice comes from the darkness behind T'Klkk and Urugg, causing them both to jump in surprise.

The lights come on, revealing a Human female in a tight-fitting jumpsuit--caked with dust.

T'Klkk and Urugg speak in unison.

"Kare!"

Referee's Comments

For this day of hard work (in game time) everyone has received one day's pay (minus 1/2 for living expenses). Because there was so much action in this day, everyone got a 200 credit bonus. Selson Streel congratulates each of you.

Syzygy is fully healed by the time the next turn starts. His spacesuit has been repaired, and Selson Streel has personally seen to it that his equipment was replaced.

Ruben, let me know if Kare wants to get a recording device to use with the chronocom she planted.