Early October 1997 Story

[Kare and T'Klkk's Apartment, O15 on Underground Level]

"You're pissing me off, monkey shit for brains! EAT SPIKES!"

[Urugg check for surprise: INTUITION: 75; Rolled: 65]

Urugg dodges instinctively as Kare opens up with the needler.

[Kare fire needler: 35 (RW) + 10 (skill level x 10) - 0 (PB range) - 20 (Urugg dodging) = 25%; Rolled: 59, 67, 84]

Needle clusters bite into the far wall.

As Urugg comes out of a roll, he draws his stunstick--set on stun--and rushes her, hoping to strike before she can fire again.

[Roll for initiative: Urugg: 7 (IM) + 4 (1d10) = 11; Kare: 7 (IM) + 10 (1d10) = 17; Kare wins]

Before the Yazirian can reach his target, Kare lets off a fourth shot.

[Kare fire needler: 35 (RW) + 10 (skill level x 10) - 0 (PB range) = 45%; Rolled: 15 -- Urugg takes 7 points damage, but 4 of that is absorbed by his skeinsuit]

[Urugg withstand anesthetic: STAMINA: 40; Rolled: 47]

Urugg crumples with pain to the floor. His eyes roll back in their sockets as the anesthetic from the needle burst turns his world to a numb black.

Zane casually walks into the living room. "Hey guys, I want to make sure that none of us are infected, so I'd like to. . . What the hell?" He stands in the doorway, confused, until realization sets in. "Oh no! Not again! Where's my gun?"

Kare raises her pistol with an annoyed snarl and squeezes the trigger.

Click.

Out of ammo.

"Hey, somebody grab her!" cries Zane, running back into T'Klkk's room for his medkit.

Zane's shouts have alerted the rest of the team. Tork arrives as if on cue, accompanied by Syzygy and T'Klkk.

T'Klkk runs to the side, where she can observe from a safe distance and watch her companions' backs. "Hurry! She's going for her knife!"

In simultaneous, fluid motions, Tork lobs a tangler grenade and Syzygy fires his gyrojet pistol.

[Tork lob tangler grenade: 33 (RW) + 10 (skill level x 10) - 0 (PB range) = 43%; Rolled: 52; Bounce: forward and to the left]

[Syzygy fire gyrojet pistol twice: 38 (RW) + 10 (skill level x 10) - 10 (short range) = 38%; Rolled: 04, 94]

The timing with the grenade is slightly off, rolling too far before it explodes. Gooey threads smother the wall.

But the first of Syzygy's two tangler shots hits its mark.

[Kare dodge threads: REACTION SPEED: 70 + 20 (hyperactive due to adrenaline) = 90%; Rolled: 95 -- have to say you were lucky there]

Kare twists and dodges with inhuman speed--but it is not enough. Gray threads bind her arms to her sides. She crashes to the floor, kicking and screaming.

Zane finally edges his way in and sprays a staydose into her forearm. The effect is delayed, due to her hyperactive state, but eventually her kicking slows and she phases into unconsciousness.

"I'll stay here with Kare," says Zane. "It shouldn't take me long to cure her. In the meantime I'll contact the medical centers and inform them of a possible outbreak of 'the Rage.' If you're going to take on the rioters at the life support buildings we'll need to revive Urugg. Some of those rioters are obviously infected, so you'll need him to treat the illness."

"Agreed," says T'Klkk. "And since both Tork and I have training in dealing with riot situations, it is logical that we both be involved in the team that takes the life support centers. It would not hurt to have a tech support member stay here with Zane and Kare, since team-mate Zane is Human and may be susceptible to this virus."

"I'll stay," volunteers Taanik. "Gotta keep your eyes on these Human-types."

Zane injects himself with a precautionary dose of antibody plus. "This should boost my defenses, just in case." He then runs a quick check on the other team members to verify that no one has taken the virus. It normally only affects Humans. . .but you never know.

[Zane uses 1 dose of antibody plus on himself and another to cure Kare. He has used 1 staydose on Kare, and uses a stimdose on Urugg.]

Urugg's cat-like eyes flutter to life in response to Zane's shot of stimdose.

"Where am I?" says the Yazirian.

"You just got volunteered to take on the rioters in the life support buildings. Here, you'll need this." Zane gives Urugg four of his remaining seven doses of antibody plus. "Use this carefully. We're almost out. We'd better buy more quickly. If word of an epidemic breaks out, there's going to be a shortage of this drug pretty soon."

[West Life Support Building, G9 on Surface Level]

"We should have ample 'sniping' opportunity from here, as you requested, team-mate Urugg." T'Klkk waves her arm over a swimming ocean of protesters only five meters below. The narrow ramp on which T'Klkk, Syzygy, Tork and Urugg have perched themselves was originally intended as a path for law enforcement hovercycles. The 8-meter-wide ribbon of steel wraps around the massive room's interior.

"But we still don't know what they want," says Tork.

[Tork INTUITION: 51; Rolled: 50]

Tork notices some of the hand painted picket signs below.

"NO MORE MINEs" (with a backwards "s")

"EqUAL RiTES FOR DRALASiTES"

"DONT KILL THE XXXXX THE HARVEST-WORMS"

"NO alcohol on METROSPHERe"

"put religeun BACK IN SCOOL"

The Yazirian glances at his team mates. "Whatever they're protesting, they don't seem very much agreed. . .unless they're protesting everything." He notices a few armored police officers and a large number of security robots, all waiting near the perimeter of the crowd. "We'd better contact Ap-Harrow."

Tork activates his wrist chronocom and calls on Captain Karmen Ap-Harrow, the Yazirian chief of police. "We've dispatched four of our team to the site of the rioting," explains Tork, "and three more of us are posted at our home-base, waiting to assist. What can we do to help?"

[Tork: PERSONALITY: 65; Rolled: 84]

The police captain smiles politely--for only a split second. "I have sufficient riot control agents and robots on the scene, ready to move in. I assure you, we have the situation under control, Mr. . .Tork? Please, calmly leave the area. I don't want to see your team get hurt."

Urugg shoulders in next to Tork. "Captain Ap-Harrow, you have got to listen."

The captain's eyes focus in an instant of recognition, and her mouth drops. "Oh. . .you again."

"Some of those men down there are not in control of themselves. They've been infected with a virus strain known as the Laconian Red Eye."

"We can attend to any medical needs once the crisis has been extinguished," assures the police captain.

"This isn't a simple medical need. The Red Eye causes loss of control and fits of unstoppable violence. Those men aren't fighting because they're angry--they're fighting because they're sick. If we don't act on this immediately, that scene's going to turn into a blood bath!"

[Urugg: LEADERSHIP: 60; Rolled: 54]

"Laconian Red Eye," echoes the captain. "You've seen other cases of this in the city?"

"Two so far. Many more could be on their way."

"Can you cure it?"

"With antibody plus and adequate medical skill, the disease is easily curable. But we have to hurry!"

Captain Ap-Harrow frowns in contemplation, and then turns the situation around. "What can we do to help?"

"We have to stop any infected persons from leaving the area. Also, judging by the size of that crowd, we're probably going to need more antibody plus."

Tork re-enters the conversation. "In the meantime, we have to get these life support stations back. Do we know what the protesters' demands are?"

"We're working on that," says the police captain. "I'll keep you posted."

"That didn't sound very satisfying," says Tork after the communication has closed.

Syzygy eyes the boiling crowd. "I know when I've had enough. It's time we got some answers!"

"Who are you calling on your chronocom?" asks T'Klkk.

"The monkey that runs this circu--uh. . ." He smiles nervously at Tork and Urugg. "Uh, no offense, guys."

Selson Streel's blond Human head appears in the small viewpanel of Syzygy's chronocom.

"Syzygy," says Selson. "I was expecting one of you would call."

"What's going on here, Mr. Streel?" demands the Vrusk, cutting past any friendly greetings.

"I thought you were briefed--"

"Oh, we were briefed. But every time we ask what the Star's Arm's demands are, all we get is a big 'I don't know.' Is this what you meant when you said you'd do everything you could to help us with our job?"

The Human nods with calm, understanding eyes. "If Fle'xx didn't tell you what the Star's Arm's demands are, it's because he didn't know. None of us know."

Syzygy's voice is drenched in sarcasm. "Is it common practice for the Star's Arm to march without telling you what they're protesting?"

"No, it's not common. The Star's Arm leader, Loer An-Tehr, is mainly concerned about the consumption of this moon's resources, especially the mining operations that are going on. Up until now she has always been very specific in her demands, and very vocal at every demonstration. The fact that we haven't heard from her yet is. . .not typical."

[Kare and T'Klkk's Apartment, O15 on Underground Level]

PFFFT!

The hyposprayer releases a stimdose into Kare's neck.

She blinks, but can't see a thing. Colors swirl and mix about her, gradually stabilizing and taking shape.

An annoying splotch of color materializes into Zane's head. "How are you feeling?"

"Where. . .is everyone?"

"Taanik's here with us. The rest of the group has reported to the life support buildings to address the protest crisis."

Kare grunts, forcing herself up. "Cr. . .ripes! They left without me."

"You weren't exactly in any condition to go saving the planet."

Kare tries to rub the headache out of her forehead. "How's it going over there?"

"Ask Taanik. He's on the chronocom with them right now."

Kare stumbles out of her bedroom and into the living room, where the Dralasite team member is speaking into his wrist communicator.

"We're not going to be able to take the building over by force of numbers," says the miniaturized face of Urugg in the chronocom viewpanel. "We need you to try to hack into the life support computers, lock out the local control panels so that the protesters can't do any harm."

"Roger dodger," answers Taanik. "But you realize that life support has to be one of the most heavily protected systems on this installation. I'll have to do this one with my pseudopods crossed."

"Just try to do what you can. Urugg out."

"Sounds like they could use all the help they can get," says Kare.

"You up to helping out?" asks the ameboid with a smile. "This could be the crime of the century!"

Meanwhile, Zane makes use of one of the holographic communication panels.

The three-dimensional image of a Dralasite in a lab coat appears. Ids voice is high-pitched and nasal. "I'm Dr. Pool, director of Streel Medical Services. What's so important that you had to pull me out of my board meeting?"

"Dr. Pool," says Zane, "there's been a recent outbreak of Laconian Red Eye in the city. I'm not sure of the range of the infection so far, but we have to take immediate action to keep it from spreading."

[Zane: PERSONALITY: 60 - 0 (racial modifier) = 60%; Rolled: 35]

"That's a very serious claim. I assume you have proof to back it up."

"I've got plenty. But we need to act fast. We don't want to put 200,000 people into a state of panic, so I suggest we announce a city-wide disaster training drill. All citizens can be informed of the drill and sent home with instructions to stay there until further notice."

The doctor is reluctant. "Shutting down all industry in the middle of the day. That's going to be pretty costly. I don't know if I can get approval for such a drill."

"Think about how costly it's going to be if Metrosphere is seized with a Red Eye epidemic!"

"How many confirmed Red Eye cases have you found?" asks the Dralasite.

"Two so far. Plus we suspect there are more among the Star's Arm activists at the life support buildings."

"Were any of these people in the carrier stage of the illness?"

"No. The two that I treated had been infected for only a few hours."

"It seems then, that our first priority should be finding any carriers and putting them in quarantine. I want to do everything I can to help, but I don't think I can convince the 'Powers That Be' to lose millions of credits by shutting down all industries planet-wide, especially if it's based on only two confirmed cases of the illness. Even if I do agree with you, we need to find a less costly solution."

"How about a temporary lockdown. Everyone stays put. People keep working in their offices and factories, but they can't leave until we say so. That might give us the time we need to locate any carriers."

"Hmm. . .that might be possible. Might. But it could only last a few hours. If there are any carriers out there, we need to find them within that time frame."

"If that's the best we can get, we'll have to make due."

"What can I do to help?" asks the doctor.

"I'll have to think about that."

[Taanik operate apartment computer: 100 (base) + 20 (skill level x 10) + 4 (LOGIC modifier) - 20 (computer level x 10) = 104%; No roll required]

[Tannik interface to life support computer (via spire): 30 (base) + 20 (skill level x 10) + 4 (LOGIC modifier) - 60 (computer level x 10) + 40 (computers on same network) = 34%; Rolled: 39]

"I can't get through," says the Dralasite.

"Scoot over, blob," says Kare, butting Taanik aside with her hip. "Let me try."

[Kare operate apartment computer: 100 (base) + 20 (skill level x 10) + 3 (LOGIC modifier) - 20 (computer level x 10) = 103%; No roll required]

[Kare interface to life support computer: 30 (base) + 20 (skill level x 10) + 3 (LOGIC modifier) - 60 (computer level x 10) + 40 (computers on same network) = 33%; Rolled: 19]

A message scrolls across the screen. "ENTER AUTHORIZATION CODE."

"I should have known," grumbles Kare. "I don't have time to defeat their security, so I'll have to bypass it. Hey blob, where's your robcomkit?"

[Kare bypass security: 30 (base) + 20 (skill level x 10) + 3 (INTUITION modifier) - 60 (security level x 10) = 5%; Rolled: 28]

An alarm goes off, and the connection to the life support computer is severed.

"It's impossible! There's no way I can get through this kind of security with so little time! There has got to be another way to stop those rioters. If we can't get control of the computers over there, what else can we. . ."

Kare's eyes land on the holographic communication panel on the nearby wall.

[West Life Support Building, G9 on Surface Level]

Tork frowns over the quarreling masses. "It's starting to get bloody down there, and our advantage has gotten about as good as it's going to get."

The crowds suddenly seem distracted. They turn and begin to part as a team of armed Humans in uniform advances into the thick of the trouble. The angry masses encroach on the Humans' space, ready to pounce and smother.

"What are they doing?" demands Urugg. "They're going to get themselves killed!"

"No. . ." says Syzygy slowly. "They're not."

Urugg gives the Vrusk a puzzled look.

"They're not Humans," continues Syzygy. "I remember seeing those characters in a holographic video game that Kare was playing during the voyage to Metrosphere."

"They're holograms?" asks Tork.

"Holograms from a video game. Kare must be using the holographic communication system to send them across." Syzygy's mandibles curl into a grin in appreciation of the woman's ingenuity.

T'Klkk has already dismantled a flexible water main. "Team-mate Kare's plan seems to have them preoccupied. Now is the ideal time to take action. Could you help me with this, team-mate Urugg?"

The two sever the flexible pipe and a flood of ice-cold liquid gushes forth in a glistening arc. Hundreds of protesters are splattered, and dozens and knocked down by the sheer force of the water.

"Cease and disperse!" hollers the female Vrusk.

[T'Klkk: LEADERSHIP: 71; Rolled: 49]

The citizens begin to back away, some on their hands and knees. Picket signs are forgotten as the area is almost instantly cleared. . .except for four Humans.

The four Humans roar in anger and defy the authority T'Klkk has taken with her mighty hose.

Seeing these four as a possible threat, T'Klkk aims at them directly. One of the Humans is hit square in the chest, knocking him back, but the other three manage to lean forward and defy they force of the water stream--although such a feat must be humanly impossible!

The three remaining figures charge towards T'Klkk and her team-mates--at such a speed that it wouldn't be surprising to see them leap aboard the overhead ramp!

T'Klkk snatches a doze and a tangler grenade, one in each ambidextrous hand, and casts them in the agressors' path.

[T'Klkk throw doze grenade: 41 (RW) + 20 (skill level x 10) - 0 (PB range) - 10 (throwing two weapons) = 51%; Rolled: 52; Bounce: back towards thrower]

[T'Klkk throw tangler grenade: 41 (RW) + 20 (skill level x 10) - 0 (PB range) - 10 (throwing two weapons) = 51%; Rolled: 17]

The doze grenade takes a bad bounce and lands directly beneath the ramp where T'Klkk and her comrades are perched. Heavy fumes curl upward, enveloping the team. Luckily, the four of them are prepared with gas masks, and are not at risk.

The second grenade hits dead on target. Greedy tangler threads slurp two of the attackers into a sticky prison.

The final assailant dives free of the grenade's blast and continues his approach.

The other three team members act in unison, Urugg firing his needler pistol, Tork firing his automatic pistol and Syzygy firing his gyrojet pistol.

[Urugg fire needler pistol: 33 (RW) + 10 (skill level x 10) - 0 (PB range) = 43%; Rolled: 73, 87, 34]

[Damage: 4]

Only one of the three needle clusters hits. The Human, turned juggernaut, seems unaffected by the anesthetic in the needles.

[Tork fire automatic pistol burst: 33 (RW) + 20 (skill level x 10) - 0 (PB range) = 53%; Rolled: 22]

[Damage: 18]

[Syzygy fire gyrojet pistol: 38 (RW) + 10 (skill level x 10) - 10 (short range) = 38%; Rolled: 100]

Cli--thunk! Syzygy's pistol jams at the worst possible moment!

The charging Human makes a single bound and reaches the ramp with ease. His right hook singles out T'Klkk and nearly cracks her mandible. He follows up with a left jab that knocks her cold.

[T'Klkk has taken 8 points of damage, 4 absorbed by her skeinsuit, and she is unconscious.]

Urugg jumps in with his stunstick.

[Urugg attack with stunstick: 33 (M) + 10 (skill level x 10) + 5 (weapon modifier) = 48%; Rolled: 71]

The struggle is moving too fast, and his weapon misses its mark.

Tork carries through with a second burst from his automatic pistol.

[Tork fire automatic pistol burst: 33 (RW) + 20 (skill level x 10) - 0 (PB range) = 53%; Rolled: 46]

[Damage: 34]

Bullets rip into the Human's back, splattering blood on the entire group. Wounded as he is, the Human should be dead, yet he persists like a demon on steroids.

Realizing that his pistol is useless, Syzygy follows Urugg's lead and strikes with his stunstick.

[Syzygy attack with stunstick: 38 (M) + 5 (weapon modifier) = 43%; Rolled: 23]

[Since the stunstick setting was not pre-declared (to my recollection) it was randomly determined to be set to shock.]

[Damage: 15]

The Human collapses to his knees and lets out a cry that would put a warrior to shame. But the wounds are too great. He trembles uncontrollably and falls lifeless to the ramp's cold surface. Blood trickles from his mouth and his eyes glaze over and stare into emptiness.

Urugg kneels next to the body and examines it. "His hyperactive condition caused him to sustain more damage than it would normally take to put him down. If we preserve him with a staydose, a medical center may be able to revive him. . .but just barely!"

The Yazirian pulls out his hyposprayer and administers the drug.

By this time, police are storming the area.

"I think I'll let the medical centers treat the illness these gentlemen have aquired," says Urugg. "Our own supply of medicine is low and needs to be conserved. Tork, let's help out the police down there and make sure those Humans are treated properly."

The two Yazirians extend their skin flaps and glide gracefully from the ramp to the watery floor below.

T'Klkk slowly shakes her head. "Ohh. . .what happened?"

The first thing she sees is Syzygy's demented grin.

Wherever she is, it's not heaven.

[Kare and T'Klkk's Apartment, O15 on Underground Level]

Syzygy uses the nearest holo-panel to connect to the all-too-familiar tech support department at the Central Computer Spire. Rejj the Dralasite listens to the Vrusk's colorful complaints.

"This is the second time I've tried to access the personnel management program and the second time some flub-up has locked me out!"

As soon as Syzygy begins his interaction with the poor Dralasite on the other end of the vid-link, T'Klkk's antennae twitch twice as if shooing away a fly before pointing in Syzygy's direction. A bystander not accustomed to Vrusk behaviour would assume that her action is nothing more than a tick from too many hours in front of a computer screen and that she is totally oblivious to the entire exchange between the cavalier male branded as a 'Zed' and the work-a-day-drone of a Dralasite. Her multi-lensed eyes remain focused on her own screen as she pours through list upon list of raw data, tirelessly trying to locate a pattern which will give her team-mates an edge. Occasionally she reaches over to make a note before scrolling further through the list.

"Thank you for bringing this to our attention," replies Rejj. "Your access rights have now been modified to comply with the new security algorithm. You should be set. We at Streel regret any inconvenience that has been caused by this oversight. Please understand that the programming of the Computer Spire is the work of over two thousand individual--"

"You already played that song, Rejj. In fact, I think I've heard the whole album. I'll need to see the records on who has had access to, and who has operated on, those particular algorithms in the last several weeks."

Syzygy displays his ID card, noting his authority on the special investigative team.

"I am on an important mission for Mr. Streel himself, working through Mr. Fle'xx. You will concentrate a probe into that program's development and trouble-shooting for me immediately to find out why my authorization was altered. I want personnel, times, workstations, everything related to that access change. I'm relaying my authorization codes and will require you dump the information into a secured data bank as instructed. I will be in touch again, and hold you personally responsible for this task--what is your personal computer node address?"

Rejj ignores Syzygy's irate tone with the brazened indifference of a professional tech support operator. "I'm relaying that information to you now. Have a nice day."

The holographic image of Rejj poofs out of existence.

"All this just to create another fake ID. Here you go, team-mate and third-level friend...ack! Now she's got me doing it! (ahem) Gotcha a primo cover ID as some schlep named Yalua Chacuub." Syzygy hands a newly printed ID card to Tork. "Carry this around, and you're a new man." Syzygy's voice drops to an inaudible mumble. "Hope you don't notice the fine print I added about urology tests and impotence."

"What was that?" asks Tork.

"Oh, just talking to myself. Enjoy!"

Never moving her eyes from her work, without so much as an interruption to the rhythm of her scrolling and note-taking, T'Klkk clicks her mandibles together in a Vrusk expression of satisfaction. "Seven degrees of admiration and respect, cell-mate-Syzygy, for the way you handled that interaction. Clear, efficient, effective. You are not Zed."

"Why T'Klkk, that's the nicest thing you've said to me? Too bad about your shiner." He motions to a dark blue bruise around her right eye, where the crazed Human hit her. "Why if I had a chance to get my hands back on the guy that did that. . . Well, anyway. I thought these might cheer you up."

From beneath his desk, the male Vrusk produces a plethora of flowers, confections and bodily aromatics. "I had these imported all the way from Terledrom, your homeworld, especially for you!"

"Terledrom," replies the female Vrusk. "You have proven your ability to study a background file in the personnel management program." She raises an antenna in acknowledgement. "Impressive. And you have put yourself to great expense, team-mate. Perhaps this is an apology for trying to sabotage the holo-panel in my bedroom?"

"Me?!? Why, I wouldn't think of doing something like-- You know, I wondered what Taanik was doing in your room. . ."

Meanwhile, Tork and Zane have stepped into the kitchen where they are already in a holographic conversation with Police Captain Ap-Harrow.

Captain Ap-Harrow is busy describing the aftermath of the protest. "After the incident in the west building, the protesters began to break up and we were able to regain control of both life support buildings. It was a lengthy process, but we just finished running all of the protesters through a viral scan. Of the hundreds of rioters, only four were infected with the Red Eye disease." She shakes her head. "Apparently the violence of four people spawned violence in those that were not infected. Typical behavior for a mob. The whole situation was a dry bundle of weeds just waiting for a spark. Your team's assistance was greatly appreciated."

"What happened with the four infected rioters?" asks Zane.

"They have been placed under security in the north med center. None of them were in the contagious stage of the disease yet."

"What about the other rioters?" asks Tork.

The police captain exhales heavily. "We had to let them go. We couldn't determine who had instigated the protest, and there simply isn't room for another two or three hundred people in our detention block. We were hoping to find Loer An-Tehr, but she wasn't in the group."

"Were you able to find out what their demands were?"

"No. I think a bigger priority would be finding any carriers of this Red Eye disease. We're in the process now of organizing the lockdown that you requested Mr. Slayne. This should limit the risk of spreading the disease further, but we can only get away with maintaining the lockdown until the next work shift, four hours from now."

"That should help at least," says Zane.

Tork brings up the final issue of the conversation. "We know you're very busy, Captain Ap-Harrow. We appreciate you taking the time to talk with us, but we understand you probably don't have time to continue dealing with us personally. We were wondering if someone on your force could be appointed to us as a liaison."

"Thank you for your consideration," says the police captain. "I will assign Lieutenant Dimmer that responsibility. You should be able to contact him directly. Ap-Harrow out."

Tork wanders into the main room. "After all this action, I'm thirsty. Anybody up for a quick break at the local pub? I hear they have excellent Yazirian food, Urugg."

"After what we've been through?" says Urugg. "I welcome the chance!"

"Count me in," adds Syzygy.

[Recreation Area, M9 on Underground Level]

Mel's Bar.

A simple name.

Smoke fills the dark room, its dark wisps bathed in countless rainbow colors from fluorescent lights of every hue. The air is burdened with a mix of hickory and salt. Dark pseudo-wood tables are packed to capacity with every form of life imaginable. Dozens of conversations mix into an almost deafening pandemonium, so that the Dralasite brass band can barely be heard. To aid in the cheer, there is an overabundance of nuts, sweetened popcorn and drinks that seem to glow in the multi-colored lighting.

A green and black monitor glows in Syzygy's face. "Computer terminals built right into the tables. They thought of everything here!"

"Don't you ever take a break?" asks Tork.

[Syzygy display information: 80 (base) + 30 (skill level x 10) + 10 (INTUITION modifier) - 20 (computer level x 10) = 95%; Rolled: 51]

"Something bothers me here. Look at this. The source code of the personnel management program is carefully controlled. Every version of the software back to day one is stored in its complete state, and every time a programmer has modified the software, the programmer's name has been logged with a date, a time and a complete list of changes made."

Tork can't make sense of the hundreds of lines racing across the computer screen, and doesn't want to try. "Heh, I'm sure that's. . .very interesting. Hey bartender! One more round!"

"And more of that popcorn!" adds Urugg. "I'm sure it's synthetic, but it tastes good."

"That's not the interesting part," resumes Syzygy. "Look at these versions of the code, these reported changes, and these subsequent versions."

Tork removes his sungoggles to see in the dim light. "What does that mean?"

"Minor changes were made to the program code but weren't recorded in the version logs. Look at this one for example. Between versions 2,147 and 2,148 of the personnel management system a programmer named Kar Scykes modified 212 lines of code, in order to add a number of new fields for storing information in the database. Every change he made, down the character, is documented in the version log. Yet when I do a comparision between versions 2,147 and 2,148, I find that 218 lines were changed. Why aren't the other six lines accounted for?"

"What was altered with those other six lines?" asks Urugg.

"Mainly references to security modules that manage access control. The changes are almost insignificant, and hardly noticeable. But what I don't understand is, if they went to so much trouble to document every little change, why weren't the changes of those six lines of code documented?"

"Maybe that programmer guy just forgot," suggests Tork.

"I've found four similar cases where program changes are undocumented," replies Syzygy. "Each one is in association with a different programmer, but the undocumented changes are all related to program access control."

"What's wrong, Urugg?" asks Tork.

"I was just thinking back on something Zane and I saw in the last starport before coming to Metrosphere. There was a news report on a dangerous computer saboteur that just escaped from prison. The report mentioned that he would most likely go into hiding on a distant planet somewhere. But the odds of him coming to Metrosphere are hardly worth considering. If we're looking for a talented computer hacker, somebody ought to look up Snarr Ap-Rewann, the guy that set up Lost Point."

"Speaking of Lost Point," interjects Tork, "there might very well be a connection between it and the raids that are occuring at the south edge of the city. Syzygy, is there a list of everything that the invisible raiders have stolen? I'm working on a list of supplies that would be needed to set up a base camp somewhere. If we can anticipate what these guys will try to steal next, we may be able to work it out so that we're there, waiting for them, when they show up."

"Everything they have stolen seems to fall in the same category," says Syzygy. "Techkits, survival supplies, some weapons and a lot of food--mainly light-weight food like survival rations. It's going to be hard to predict what they'll take next. . .except that they're always after food."

"If we do set a trap," says Urugg, "Fle'xx has provided a supply of infra-red cameras and non-toxic dust particles that could come in handy. But enough of work. We came here to relax."

"Ahhh. . ." says Syzygy, leaning back. "If only T'Klkk were here. You know, I think she has the hots for me. Why I wouldn't be surprised if she were looking for me right now."

"Hey Syzygy," says Tork. "Isn't that T'Klkk over there?"

The three amigos turn and see the female Vrusk heading toward their table.

"What did I tell ya?" says Syzygy, not even trying to hide his grin.

But the male Vrusk is in for a disappointment.

"Greetings, team-mate Urugg," says T'Klkk. "I was thinking that perhaps you and I should discuss further my use of the term 'cell.' Would you join me for a meal so that we can continue this discussion?"

"Uh, sure." The Yazirian gets up.

Syzygy watches T'Klkk and Urugg silently, following them with his eyes all the way to the door.

The instant the door closes behind them, Syzygy is sprayed by a mouthful of beer as Tork loses control of it. Freed of the liquid in his mouth, the Yazirian rolls his head back and shakes the bar with raucous, heart-felt, untamed laughter.

"Excuse me," says the Vrusk bartender. "I'm going to have to ask you two gentlemen to leave."

Syzygy sets a jointed elbow on the table and supports his head in his hand. "Don't mind my friend here. He's just enjoying life at my expense."

"No, it's not that," explains the bartender. "We've just received orders for a city-wide lockdown. They're doing a drill, or some such nonsense. Employess need to stay here. Customers need to go to their homes and stay there until the drill is over."

[Airtube, Heading North, M8 on Underground Level]

T'Klkk and Urugg head northbound on the innermost accelerator strip.

"Sixth-level appreciation for your cooperation, team-mate Urugg," says T'Klkk. "Team-mate Kare mentioned to me that you and she noticed a Human female with sungoggles in the cafeteria where she and the infected rioters took nourishment earlier today. Kare's assertion was that this woman may be a carrier of the disease, and worse, may be spreading it intentionally. I asked your assistance so that you could point out this female."

"If she's intentionally infecting the population," says Urugg, "then she's probably traveling from place to place. She may no longer be at the cafeteria we saw her at this afternoon."

[Recreation Area, K7 on Underground Level]

The cafeteria is locked. Urugg knocks insistently at the door until a short Yazirian with a dirty white apron replies.

"I can't let you in," says the Yazirian with the apron. "We're under a lockdown drill. Come back tomorrow."

"We did not come here for nourishment," answers T'Klkk, showing the man her ID card. "We are here on official business."

The Yazirian squints at the card. "Whatever."

He is in the process of opening the door when a crash of broken dishes snatches everyone's attention.

Urugg and T'Klkk turn towards the back kitchen to see a Human woman running out the back door.