THE LAST FRONTIER

"One Hundred Over Ten"

By Marina Twelve and Thomas R.

 

PART 6

 

Leslie had to think fast. "What were the REPs doing here?" she wondered. "Are they here to take delivery of the Hermes? Have they "sensed" Captain Galvin’s double cross and have decided to intervene or are THEY double crossing Galvin himself.?---Or is it something else entirely?—-and what do they think about the presence of the other ships?"

Whatever was going on, it didn’t look good. The Rep battle cruiser could destroy them all. Yes, there was the QUELL, on the Retribution, but Morris couldn’t risk using it. Neither The Space Command Ship nor the Retribution was capable of jumping just yet. Given the proximity of the Battle cruiser, the resultant explosion of a fission reaction with fifty thousand tons of matter would take ALL of the ships out.

Perhaps they could run? Leslie could jump while the other two ships could run in opposite directions and hope that the Rep could only destroy one of them. Leslie didn’t like that idea either.

Leslie would not abandon her people to the REPs. SHE would have to lead them away herself. The REPs want the Hermes, and possibly also Galvin and Enforcer Twelve, more than the others. If she can get the REP to chase her, it would give the other ships time to get away---either to get to QUELL use distance or to buy enough time to recharge the jump capacitors.

"Who is aboard the Hermes?" Leslie asked the Navigational Officer.

"No One", the man replied, "Captain Galvin ordered it abandoned before he was to deliver it to the REPs."

"I’ll have to run it by remote." Said Leslie, "What’s the unlock code?"

"I don’t know. Ask the Captain"

"I AM the Captain of this ship now. GOT THAT? Not only by virtue of my commandeering this ship in the name of the Terran Confederation Space Command, but by interstellar space law." Leslie responded. "I just want to remind you of that fact."

"Oh, no problem here, Captain, but Galvin should have the codes".

Leslie pressed the communicator button to open a channel between her and Galvin’s escape pod/prison cell.

"GOD DAMN YOU WEBBER!" were the first words Leslie heard. Galvin was not at all a "happy camper".

"Galvin, I need the Unlock codes for the Hermes’s computer."

"Do you actually THINK that I would tell YOU?" Galvin angrily replied. "You figure it out."

"I thought that you would like to know that Your Scaly friends have parked their Battle Cruiser a few clicks forward of our bow. Something tells me that they want more than the Hermies"

"What? What are they doing here? We were supposed to meet in REP space, near the primary transfer point."

"I suppose that they sensed some treachery on your part. They all have strong BT abilities, you know."

"BT ability? You’re kidding right? Damn your mind games! . . . If they. . . Oh Shit!"

"It’s no shit Galvin, I don’t know how long they will just sit there observing us, but we have to do something quick, I’m looking down the tubes of at least four LX weapons here. They’re coming after us, Galvin, we don’t have time to fuck around."

"Just Leave the Hermes there and get out of here, Damnit!"

"They want YOU just as bad as they want the Hermes. There is no way we can out run them. I know. I had a BT officer on my ship when I went after Konstantin, they will be able to match us jump for jump until they finally catch up with us. I want to use the Hermes as a diversion---Now give me the codes damn it!"

"Shit! I don’t have the codes! Only Admiral Miller knew them—and you killed him---Damn it! NOW we are all are as good as dead!"

Leslie was shaken to reality for a moment. Her plan had suddenly evaporated. There was NO way she was going to get the codes unless she could get a BT on board the Hermies. She thought about sending Zee, but such activity might trigger the REPs to take action. No, everyone had to lay low and make no threatening moves. So far, the Reps had not responded.

But Leslie was a BT herself, at least sort of. But she too, needed to have been in contact with the ship though to get any "readings" from it. Leslie had never been aboard the Hermes. "Wait a minute!" She thought. She suddenly realized that she didn’t need to have contact with the ship at all. "Admiral Miller!" She had been in physical contact with Miller and he KNEW the codes---even if he was NOW dead, the quantum links to the data still existed.

Leslie didn’t want to leave the bridge. "Computer! Search files for Random Field Screen software. Put on Captain’s primary bridge com-screen."

"Software found.—Loading"

Leslie concentrated on the pattern of colored dots that churned about on the viewing surface. She remembered the "trick" to see the numbers as "shapes" rather than digits—so the organs in her right brain could perceive them. It wasn’t working! The numbers seemed to change and jump around—she couldn’t get a handle on them.

"Damn!" Leslie cursed to herself. She had done it before—but then again, she was under extreme duress at THAT time. She had just lost her wife and son just hours before, she was on the verge of insanity. Even "normal" people often have BT moments under those conditions. It wasn’t going to happen. Leslie needed a TRAINED BT –NOW!

"Melissa, go fetch KORA! Bring her here."

"Who will guard the bridge crew?" Melissa replied.

"I still have my gun, besides, I don’t think that we have anything to worry about—DO WE, PEOPLE?"

"No Captain!" several replied.

"They know I am the only one here who has half a chance to save their butts."

 

A few minutes later, Melissa pushed the still bound and gagged Kora Horst through the door. Kora’s face was Red with rage.

She glared at Leslie and muttered incomprehensible curses behind her gag. Leslie directed Kora to the Forward Com Screen. The sight of the REP battle cruiser did a lot to change her attitude.

"We are ALL in deep shit, Kora, and we need you to co-operate. Quite frankly I don’t think that you will make a pretty Half Mute---if you survive at all."

Now Kora looked frightened. Leslie pulled loose the gag. "What can I do about it! I’m only a BT."

"We need to read the Hermes’s computer unlock codes from Admiral Miller’s body. I can’t do it, so that leaves YOU!"

"But I never met the man", Kora replied, "I would have had to touch him first to establish a link. . . Oh NO!"

"He’s down in the sickbay morgue. Let’s go! Melissa, Take over for me on the bridge."

"I won’t have to worry about you if I untie your hands, now will I, Kora?"

"No I think we both have greater concerns at the moment."

"Just remember, no funny business. You may be a trained BT, but I am a trained soldier. I KILL people, that’s my job. Don’t think that having an identical body makes you my equal in physical strength. I work out. I can easily take you down if I need to."

The ship’s Doctor greeted them at the "sick bay" door.

"I take it you read my com-screen message?" Leslie asked the man.

"Yes, . . uh. . . Captain" the doctor replied. " I have the Admiral here."

The doctor pressed a panel and a drawer slid out of the wall. A cold draft wafted over Leslie and Kora. Kora gasped. She was shocked at the blue-gray color of the dead man’s skin. His face still bore the wide-eyed look of horror and disbelief that Leslie remembered when she skewered his heart with her long steel pin.

"What’s the matter, Horst, you never saw a dead man before?" chided Leslie.

"Well. . . I’ve been to funerals. . ."

"Not the same is it? That’s what happens to people who fuck with ME or my friends. You know what to do. Do it!"

Reluctantly, Kora placed her hand on the Admiral’s cold forehead. "Write this down, Webber!"

"You don’t need the Screen?"

"No, I’m in direct contact, I don’t need an assist device. Five, five, three, six, seven, zed, vee"

Leslie wrote down the numbers. "This better be right, Horst."

"That’s what I get anyway. I have no reason to lie, both our asses are in the same sling."

Leslie and Kora returned to the bridge. Melissa looked a bit disturbed to see Kora untied and Leslie apparently a bit lax in her supervision of her.

"Don’t worry, Commander", Said Leslie, "Kora fully realizes the situation and what can happen to her if she isn’t a good little girl."

"Helm! What’s inertial damping set to on this ship?"

"Two point-zero" the helmsman replied.

"Reset it to zero point-five---Get ready for a bumpy ride"

Leslie entered the unlock code into the com link to the Hermes---It worked! "Hermes computer! You are now under control of Captain Leslie Webber of the Terran Space Command." Said Leslie.

"Confirmed" the computer replied back.

Leslie punched some numbers and codes into her com screen.

"Morris! I’m going to draw them off!" Leslie announced into the com-link to the Retribution.

"No, Captain!" Morris replied "Let me distract them. I . . ."

"Shut UP Morris! This is no time for chivalry. I have a plan---They want THIS ship and the Hermes. We’re gonna take off! You and the Janus Run like hell as fast as you can the other way! Try to get off a shot with the QUELL when you have distance. . ."

"But. . ."

"DO IT! That’s an ORDER!"

Immediately both the Enforcer Twelve, and the Hermes shot away from the group on a parallel course. The Rep cruiser was taken by surprise. Leslie’s ships were three hundred Kiloclicks away before The Rep ship, as expected,

began chase.

Morris, as directed, ran in the opposite direction while the Space Command Cruiser, TCS Janus, ran for all she was worth at 90 degrees.

"An ORDER?" Morris thought to himself, as he was well under way. Leslie had got to him again.

Leslie continued to put distance between the Enforcer Twelve and the REP. The Hermes remained just to the port side of the Enforcer.

Soon the Rep began to close the gap. It had a lot more acceleration capabilities than either of the other craft.

"Force Shields up!" Leslie ordered.

WHAM! The ship was shaken hard. The Rep was firing its LX weapons at them. Much closer and the shields would not hold at all.

"OKAY Hermes, drop back!"

The Hermes slowed down slightly and fell behind and farther to port of the Enforcer.

Leslie Swung the Enforcer’s Point-Five Turrets around and began firing volley after volley of massed photon cannon fire. Against the armor and Shielding of the Battle Cruiser, she might as well have been firing peashooters. It was hard enough to score a hit with a One point-five meter cannon. Which the enforcer did not have.---But at least Leslie got the Rep’s attention.

"They’re closing in!" Kora screamed in near panic as the Rep ship began to fill the view screen.

"Watch and learn." Said Leslie as the Battle cruiser began to pull past the Hermes.

SUDDENLY, with a burst of acceleration, the Hermes cut directly into the path of the REP ship! WHAM! The concussion of the explosion could be felt on the Enforcer. Leslie saw part of a wing structure bearing a LX turret tumble by.

"JUMP!" Leslie ordered.

ZAP! A blue flash of light. The view screen now showed only empty space. The Bridge crew spontaneously cheered! Leslie had earned some new admirers.

Leslie couldn’t be sure the Rep Battle cruiser had been destroyed. According to Morris, those ships were quite tough. It was obvious though that the vessel had been seriously damaged and likely had broken off the pursuit.

About twenty minutes later, the Retribution appeared. Zee was able to find the cords. The Janus soon joined the other two ships.

"Well, did we get them?" Leslie asked Morris over the com link.

"I tried to get them with the Quell, but they were gone", Morris replied.

"Don’t tell me they jumped!"

"Okay, I won’t tell you that, but the core of the ship must have remained intact. Judging from what I found in the debris field, you damaged it quite heavily, though. It will need a lot of repair work before it is ready to go back into battle again."

"All right, then first things first", said Leslie. "Have the Janus join spiders with The Enforcer Twelve and install a new command crew. I personally have Kora Horst and Captain Galvin in custody."

The Space Command officers from the Janus wasted no time boarding the Enforcer. It would be taken to the nearest Space Command base, where the ship would be confiscated and crew would be processed.

Only those crewmembers who were wanted on outstanding warrants and who were thought guilty of specific crimes, however, would be detained, the rest would be released. Galvin and his officers would certainly be arrested and charged with several crimes against the Terran Confederation, including salve running and illegal transfer of technology.

The Retribution would transport the virgin slaves back to Terra Nova. Leslie herded them into the two spare staterooms, ten to a room, accommodations would be tight, but with the Retribution’s jump capability, the ride would only be a couple of hours.

Four armed Terran Confederation Army soldiers, headed by one Sergeant Jefferies, were brought along also, should there be a need to protect the Retribution and its cargo upon landing. Leslie seated them in the back of the bridge area.

"Has the Confederation established an outpost in the Terra Novan system yet?" asked Leslie.

"No", Morris replied, "We are going to be the first Confederation ship to make official contact, and YOU have been designated the first acting ambassador"

"Why me? I’m certainly no diplomat".

"I suppose it’s because you are the highest ranking officer that speaks Remonian. And I also think that we have not seen the last of the Reps."

"Who’s going to be in charge?" asked Leslie. While Terra Nova was to be a part of the Confederation, it still might be considered "rep territory". Leslie and Morris’s power sharing arrangement had not allowed for this contingency.

Morris didn’t want to answer Leslie’s question. "You handle the people and I’ll fight the Reps." He finally replied.

Leslie thought about it. Yes, so long as each had their own job to do, there would be little opportunity for arguments. She could conceive of no situation where a difference of opinion would cause problems. There were no Syndicate or Confederation criminal forces there, and Morris WAS the agreed "Rep fighter". "Okay", she replied, "You let me do my job and I’ll let you do yours."

Two hours later the Retribution was orbiting Terra Nova.

"Where do you suggest we land? Asked Morris.

"Hell, go for it!" "Let’s set her down right in the forum, next to the Emperor’s Palace. Let’s impress the shit out of them. And let’s not forget our dress uniforms."

 

"Do you plan to make them think that we are Gods?" Morris asked.

"By no means. These people are superstitious enough as it is. We’ll be straight with them from the outset. Greet them as military officers. They are a warrior people. From our bearing and appearance they will recognize us as soldiers. Despite two thousand years difference in technology, some things about us military types are timeless and universal."

Retribution began its descent. Soon the street pattern of Remos became visible on the view screen. And the elongate square, near the center of the city resolved itself.

As the ship descended lower, the people in the forum became visible. Their milling about soon stopped as they all looked up at the huge black tabular object that hung in the sky.

Soon a crowd was beginning to gather directly beneath the ship. The landing struts deployed. As the ship descended lower still, the crowd became frightened and scattered in all directions. Whatever it was looked as if it would fall on them.

When Retribution finally touched down, the area seemed deserted. The pavement was littered with overturned carts, merchandise and the occasional sandal lost by a fleeing citizen, who did not care to go back to retrieve it.

The ship remained silently parked for several minutes. A few brave individuals crept from behind and beneath overturned stalls, and side alleys and cautiously approached.

With a whir, the loading ramp began to deploy, the sound startled the people and a few ran off, once again, to the safety of their hiding places. But most stayed, transfixed by the huge ‘iron monster’ in their midst.

A few soldiers cautiously approached the ramp. They practically ran over each other, to get away when the door latch released.

The door slid open. Leslie and Morris stood at the top of the ramp, resplendent in their dark blue Space command uniforms. Their chests glistened with medals and red capes hung over their left shoulders. Leslie was all business, she had her hair in a tight bun and a stern look on her face.

She surveyed the Remonian "welcoming committee" with a look hat suggest that they were beneath contempt. When they looked sufficiently awestruck, she and Morris, walking side by side, proceeded down the ramp. They were closely followed by the four army soldiers who walked in perfect step as they carried their automatic rifles across their chests.

In a line, between the soldiers, the virgins walked out with them. They surveyed their surroundings, both amazed and overjoyed that they were once again in their home city.

Bainbridge, Doc and Bill stood at ready blocking the door to the ship. The Remonian soldiers only stood and stared.

Leslie walked up to the nervous Remonian officer who looked to be in charge. "We are envoys of the Terran Confederation --- Empire. We demand audience with your Emperor, Kieser Klaudius Maximus, immediately." She said in Remonian.

"Si! Si!" the man excitedly responded and managed to line up his men once again. He sent one man ahead, and after about a minute, led Leslie, Morris and their party to the doors of the palace courtyard.

If Sergeant Jefferies and his men were nervous they did not show it. Overwhelming numbers of Remonian soldiers now surrounded them on all sides. Leslie and Morris both knew that they all had to keep their cool. If someone on either side panicked or if they were considered to be a threat, it would be all over, despite superior fire power.

Sure, Leslie’s people would kill a lot of Remonians, but the hundreds of soldiers would still quickly overwhelm their meager party of six.

The doors swung open. The group marched across the courtyard and into a large reception area. A short, dark haired man, wearing a purple cape trimmed in gold and a small gold olive leaf crown, stood up to greet them.

"Are. . . Are you gods?" the man managed to stammer.

"No!" Leslie replied. "We are humans like yourselves. I am Captain Leslie Webber and this is Captain Gideon Morris. We are Envoys of the Terran Confederation Empire."

The Emperor looked puzzled. "Why, I have never heard of such an empire."

"It is far away from your own realm" Leslie Replied.

"Behold, as a sign of out good faith and also of our power, we are returning the virgins taken by the Demons on the last full moon."

Leslie directed the young women to present themselves. Klaudius’s eyes widened as he recognized a couple of the girls. Indeed, these WERE the virgins!

"You. . . You took them from the Demons?" Said Klaudius both in awe and terror. Either these strange people were indeed as powerful as the gods themselves, or their bold feat might have served as a mere provocation of the Demon’s wrath which might soon fall upon all of humanity.

Leslie sensed the Emperor’s concern. "The rule of the Demons is over. Remos and the entire World is now under the protection and jurisdiction of the Terran Interstellar Confederation."

Klaudius was taken aback by Leslie’s remark. After all, HE was "The Ruler of the World", the part of it that was of any consequence anyway—The Great Remonian Empire.

"Don’t worry, great Kieser," Leslie continued, "You will still retain your throne and your position as Emperor. Only you will ultimately be responsible to US."

Klaudius could hardly believe his ears. He was now being offered the same deal that the Remonion Empire offered its vassal states. "Loyalty and alliance to Remos and those in power will be permitted to retain their posts"

Leslie calmly watched the man’s face turn red with rage and then as purple as his cape. Klaudius fought every instinct within him to contain his anger at the impertinence of these arrogant strangers.

He wanted to order his personal bodyguards to arrest them, and possibly execute them on the spot, but the assured confidence reflected in Leslie’s and Morris’s faces caused him to hesitate. They appeared as if they KNEW they had the upper hand. Action against them could be unwise. After all, they arrived in a flying. . . "What ever it was," and standing before him, as evidenced by the virgins, was evidence that they were quite capable of vanquishing even the demons.

Suddenly a man ran up to the Emperor, Two guards rushed up and stopped him, but a nod from Klaudius indicated that it was all right. It was Antonius! The guards released them and he was allowed to approach the emperor. "My Liege!" Take no action against these people. They have the powers of the gods!"

"You know them Antonius?" asked Klaudius.

"Yes, She alone was responsible for the deaths of eleven of my men.---It was my fault! I, in my ignorance, forced her to defend herself. She can control the power of thunder and lightning."

Kladius looked incredulously at Leslie and then again at Antonius. "It’s true!" Antonius continued. He pulled up his robe and showed the healed wound on his leg. "She only wounded me. She spared my life and later had one of her companions heal me."

"So you ARE gods?" Said the Emperor.

"We told you the truth. As hard as it may be for you to believe, we are only humans, but from an Empire much more powerful than your own. Sorry if we might have initially mislead you, Antonius, but you would not have understood."

Leslie addressed the emperor. "Antonius’s help was invaluable in our rescue of the virgins from the Demons. He allowed me to infiltrate the group and turn the tables on their captors."

"And she risked her own life to save my niece, Lucia", Antonius interrupted.

Now Klaudius looked confused. He did not know what to make of the situation. As he struggled to figure out what questions to ask next, Leslie explained.

"This is the way it is. Those "Demons" of yours are no more GODS than we are. They are intelligent BEASTS. They are keeping and controlling you and your people just as you raise cattle. It is only fitting that HUMANS rule humans. We are their enemies. We have power over them, soon your people will too, but you must remain under the protection of our group, the Terran Confederation, until you can be assimilated into and are able to participate into the true human society".

"The Reps—Demons have kept you away from you brothers for over two thousand years. Just as the mountains isolate the barbarians from the glories of Remos, the Reps have isolated you from the glory of your fellow humans. A new era has dawned in Remos, and you, dear Klaudius, can play a major role in it if you cooperate."

Morris whispered to Leslie in English "Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Webber. You know as well as I do that the Confederation does not tolerate dictatorial states."

"He can’t be deposed until our educational and assimilation programs are well under way. We need the organization, initially at least. By then it will be perfectly clear, even to Klaudius, that the age of empires and Emperors is over."

Leslie Let the Emperor think about her offer. She and her party took their leave and returned to the Retribution.

Several minutes later they emerged, now dressed in the more standard dark blue Space Command Jumpsuits, ready for action. They had a Job to do. They ignored the curious mix of Remonian Soldiers and civilians that hovered around to gawk at the ship.

The crowd jumped with surprise at the whine as Bill pressed a button, and the loading wench motors came to life. Seeing that there seemed to be no danger, the people converged in again as the ATV, suspended in its chain harness settled to the ground beneath the ship.

Leslie, Bill, Jefferies, and his men climbed into the ATV. The curious Remonians gathered around. Bill climbed into the driver’s seat. Several of the people gathered outside jumped and ran off as Bill started the engine.

BRAPP! Bill blew the horn, scattering the remaining gawkers that stood in front of the vehicle, and pulled slowly away.

"Which way Captain?", asked Bill.

Leslie looked at the aerial photograph in her hand and counted blocks. "Turn left at the next intersection"

The vehicle slowly made its way up the steep hill via the narrow street. "Stop here" said Leslie when they were at least two blocks from the Temple of the Demons. "No sense risking damage to the ATV.

Bill guarded the ATV while Leslie led the Sergeant and his men to the Temple compound. "Listen, we are not going to fuck around," said Leslie. "We’ll just make sure that no innocent Remonians are inside and get out of here quick. If anyone gives you any trouble, shoot them, use your best judgement."

Two sword-carrying guards met them at the door. "Stand aside" Ordered Leslie in Remonian, "The building must be vacated. Get out now or die!" The guards looked at each other and went for their swords. P-P-POW! P-P-POW! Jeferries’s corporal nailed both of them with two three shot bursts. "Thank you Corporal." Said Leslie.

The party marched up the steps and into the temple itself. Over the altar loomed a twenty-foot high statue of a REP with its mouth agape. Leslie shivered at the sight as she recalled memories of the fight in the REP ship.

Three Priests approached. "What is the meaning of this intrusion?" said one of them angrily.

"The rule of the Demons is over. Get out before we destroy the Temple or die yourselves." Leslie replied.

The men smirked at Leslie’s impertinence. Leslie merely nodded her head to the corporal. He raised his twenty-millimeter automatic rifle and BRAAAAAAP! Raked fire across the upper half REP idol. Marble chips flew everywhere. The head broke off and-- SMASH!, fell onto the altar, shattering into thousands of pieces.

The priests stood awestruck with their jaws agape, unable to move. Leslie drew her gun. "Run!" she ordered in Remonian and BRAPPP! Fired a burst of automatic fire just over their heads. They cringed as the marble chips flew off the wall behind them. They ran for all they were worth, towards the doors.

"Quick, search the place!," Leslie ordered. "There are two rooms on the other side."

Two of Jefferies’s men carefully entered the doorway on the left of the remains of the altar while Jefferies, took another man to the door on the left. Leslie checked behind several of the columns just to make sure that no one was hiding in the great room itself.

"SHIT!" someone yelled from the back. RAPPPPPPP! RAPPPPP! RAPPPPPPP! Automatic fire echoed loudly off the walls. Jefferies and Leslie ran to the back of the hall to the left doorway from where the sounds had emanated.

The Corporal and his partner stood wide-eyed holding their rifles at the ready pointed at some shadows on the opposite wall. BRAAAAP! The man fired again. "Hold it, I think they’re dead." Said the Corporal. "GOOOOODDDD DAMMMMN!"

Leslie didn’t have to see what the soldiers had shot, she knew that SMELL. Her suspicions were confirmed when she saw what lay on the floor of the small room.

The walls looked like they had been spattered with blue paint, only it wasn’t paint, it was Rep blood. Two Rep bodies, cut nearly in half, and full of holes, lay nearby.

"WHOA!" exclaimed Sergeant Jefferies as he realized what he was looking at. He jumped back. "REPs?" he asked Leslie. She nodded.

There was something else, a white rag spattered with purple, No, it was the remains of a linen tunic. She saw a pink, football-shaped head lying nearby. "They got a half-mute too." Leslie said sadly as she bent over the chopped up body and examined it more closely. "A female by the looks of it." Leslie bit her lip. "It’s for the better I suppose. Let’s get out of here."

As Leslie turned to leave, something in the far corner of the room caught her eye. "My GOD!" She thought. she had seen it before, about a year ago at Konstantin’s offices. "THE MACHINE!" It was the same device or one similar to it that she had been put into. The device that had changed her DNA.

Leslie walked around and closely examined the machine. Yes! It was identical to the device that Konstantin had used to change her into a twin of Kora Horst. For the most part it consisted of a cylindrical glass or plastic tank, about eight feet tall and a bit over two feet in diameter. It was filled with a greenish, glowing liquid.

Attached to one side was a metal box, with red and green lights and switches, about the size of a large suitcase. Flexible tubes ran from both sides of the box and mated with fittings on either side of the tank. The fluid appeared to be the key. The box obviously pumped the fluid through it where it was "programmed" or somehow impressed with the desired DNA code and pumped back or re-circulated back into the tank.

It was time for Leslie to do some hard thinking. Yes, she had samples of her own former DNA she had collected from her personal items and had been saving for such a chance. The machine would be destroyed along with the temple if she just left it here, but it was too bulky to conveniently move. Besides, neither she, nor anybody else around knew how to operate it. Perhaps they could figure it out?

But then there was another problem, lying on the floor next to it were five dead bodies, most of them grossly misshapen. One could tell that they had been humans—once. Yes, the Reps had been making "half mutes" here. These represented the "failures".

Konstantin said that there was a 75 percent chance that any human put into the device would be killed. It looked as if he knew what he was talking about. Leslie was lucky indeed to still be alive, even if she did now look like Kora.

Was she lucky enough to survive it once again? The thought made her shiver. The temptation was very strong, but it would be like winning a game of Russian roulette with five rounds in the chamber---Twice! No one could be THAT lucky. No one would be so foolish . . .

Leslie brought the com phone to her mouth. "Morris! I need Doc down here. Set down in the courtyard"

"Is anyone hurt?" Morris replied, a tone of concern in his voice.

"No, thank God, but I need his expertise. I found something that he needs to see."

Five minutes later, the RETRIBUTION was parked in the Temple courtyard. Doc climbed down the ladder, followed closely behind by Commander Connor. Leslie met them at the main entrance and guided them inside.

"What are you doing here, Melissa?" Leslie asked as she showed them to the room. "I only requested Doc."

"I thought that Doc could use my advice. If you don’t want me here, I’ll go back to the ship."

"That’s all right. I didn’t say NOT to come did I?"

"Ok Doc, there it is. What do you think?"

Dr. Havelock examined the machine. His opinion on how it worked closely paralleled Leslie’s. "You know we won’t be able to move it out of here intact, don’t you?"

"Yes, I figure we can remove the instrumentation, take a sample of the fluid for analysis and try to re-assemble the apparatus on one of the more civilized worlds." Leslie Replied.

Leslie climbed the ladder on the side of the tank. "Hey, Melissa, hand me that vase over there so I can take a sample of this green stuff."

"Hold on!" interrupted the Doctor. "That fluid could be extremely dangerous. I wouldn’t go near that stuff without a hazmat suit."

"If this stuff does is what we think it does, then it will change the DNA of the cells on any part of your body it touches." He explained.

"You mean I might have a few patches of Half Mute cells if I get any on me?" asked Leslie.

"Yes, the cells will mutate where the fluid touches, but that’s not the worse part. You body’s immune system will reject the areas with the foreign DNA. The affected area will die, and you might get left with an necrotic ulcer, or worse, depending on the size of the affected area."

Leslie drew back. "Shit! So it ultimately would be as bad as coming in contact with raw hydrofluoric acid."

"Yes, unless your entire body, including the immune system were changed into the same DNA. If you get any of that on you, you might as well take a bath in it."

"Wow, that’s nasty stuff," Leslie replied. " If the process isn’t complete you could die a horrible death even if you survived the initial conversion to start with."

"You sure you want to take this thing with us?" Asked Doc.

Leslie looked at Doc as if he had asked a dumb question. "Tell Bill to bring us two of the hazmat suits. You don’t understand do you? This represents the only hope I ever have of becoming my former self again."

"Why would you want to? Is it worth the risk?" Doc seriously inquired.

Leslie began to speak, but hesitated for a moment.

Melissa suddenly signaled for silence and pressed her ear to her com phone on her left wrist.

"Leslie, Zee needs to talk to you immediately." Said the commander.

"What does she want?"

"She wants you to meet her in the telemetry room, Now! She says it’s of extreme importance."

"Why didn’t she call me on my own com?"

"I don’t know Leslie, perhaps it is malfunctioning."

"Great!, just what I need. Stay here I’ll be right back."

Melissa watched Leslie leave the building. The Commander then walked up to one of the troopers. "Soldier! Give my your gun!" she ordered.

"Yes ma’am" Said the young man as he complied. He handed Melissa his 20mm automatic rifle.

Doc seemed as puzzled as the soldier.

"Doc! Get over by the altar." said Melissa as she pointed to the far side of the room. "You too, kid".

"What’s this about Commander?"

"That’s right Doc! COMMANDER! In the absence of the Captain, I am the superior officer here, and I order both of you to comply with my instructions immediately!"

Meanwhile, Leslie walked into the telemetry room. "Okay Zee, what’s going on? What is it that is so important that you have to see me?"

Zee looked confused "What are you talking about, Leslie, I never sent for you?"

"Then what -- ?" BRAAAAAPPP! BRAAAAPPP! The sound of automatic rifle fire was unmistakable. It came from the direction of the Temple.

"Bill, Morris! Come with me!" Leslie shouted, the three slid down the ladder and rushed into the temple.

Doc and the Soldier stood by the altar. Melissa held the still smoking 20mm rifle. The floor beyond was scattered with shards of the clear plastic fragments of the tank. The shot up remains of the mechanism lay in the center of a large puddle of the greenish fluid.

As Leslie’s jaw dropped, Melissa handed the gun back to the soldier.

Leslie was beside herself in both shock and rage. "MELISSA! WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO!" she screamed hysterically.

"Careful," Warned the Doc, "Don’t step in the fluid!"

"I just saved your life." The Commander calmly replied.

"What?. . . What?---" Leslie sputtered and fumed. Her hands twitched. If Melissa weren’t her friend, Leslie would have strangled her. She was too angry to say anything.

"You would have killed yourself, Leslie. You wouldn’t have been able to resist the temptation" Said Melissa.

"Who are you to---? What right have you--? Damn it! It’s MY LIFE! MY decision!"

"Quiet!" Melissa shouted "Dead Leslie! You would be DEAD!"

"Well, I know the odds would be against me." Leslie sheepishly replied, cooling down somewhat.

"You would be DEAD Leslie. The odds were bad enough even if you KNEW how to operate the machine. I removed the threat. The temptation no longer exists."

Leslie’s expression changed somewhat. "You CARE about me don’t you? You have no emotions and yet you care about me." She wiped a tear from her eye.

"Yes, replied Melissa, "I care. I don’t know if my care is an emotion or a logical expedient, but I care. The entire crew does."

Leslie turned away, so that the others could not see her face while she recovered her composure. "All right," she said with outturning, and headed for the door. Let’s get on with it and blow this place."

There were a few stragglers left in the courtyard, but a few shots fired over their heads, got them to running and out the gates they went.

Morris, Doc and Melissa returned to the ship. Leslie, Bill and the soldiers went out to the streets and drove what people were still hanging around the temple area away.

Soon Leslie and her party were a safe distance down the street. The small, distant silhouette of the Retribution hovered overhead. "It’s all yours Morris!" Leslie said over her com-link phone.

Morris was the perfect man for the next phase of the operation. He was an expert when it came to the use of the One-point-five meter Photon cannon. He knew what it could do and knew the safest distance to fire it from.

He looked at the beautiful, Parthenon-like structure on his com screen. It would be a shame to destroy it, he thought. But then again there was the equally grand Temple of Zeupater half a block away, which would still remain.

He thought again about how the Reps had killed Sarah and any reservations he held for what he would do next melted away. Ranging marks and crosshairs appeared on the screen. Morris centered them on the roof of the structure.

WHAM! The roar of the cannon, heard in the ship, was magnified five-fold by the presence of an outer atmosphere. BOOM! A six-meter hole was blasted through the roof and WHOOMMM! An internal explosion took out the remainder of the interior of the structure.

Only a few columns and the front façade remained standing. POW! POW! POW! POW! POW! POW! Doc, manning the lower one-point-five made short work of the remaining architectural elements. The Temple of the Demons was now a smoldering pile of rubble.

The Remonians standing near Leslie were dumbstruck. This group of strange people had defied the gods themselves.

Leslie’s wrist com phone beeped. It was Morris.

"I have just been hailed by the TCS MONOCEROS. They are in high planet orbit. I am sending them a status report."

Leslie felt a bit better, now. She could tell by the name. The Confederation had finally sent a battle cruiser to protect them.

"Oh! Morris added, They have also placed two J-com relays along their course. We now have direct communications with the rest of civilization."

Leslie dropped in on Antonius a few hours later and asked him to set up another meeting with the Emperor. This time she needed to be a bit more "diplomatic" and not simply "crash" the party any time they felt like it. As a sign of respect, she let Klaudius himself choose the time and place.

This time the meeting was less public and took place in Klaudius’s private banquet room. Morris and the rest of the Retribution crew attended. The emperor also brought along several of his senators and advisors, including Antonius.

The Scene resembled closely, the Roman feasts often depicted in literature and the visual media, save for the Space Command people who wore their best uniforms.

"So when does the orgy begin?" asked a bemused Doc in, English, to no one in particular, as he surveyed the room.

They were directed to all lay down on couches, set around the banquet tables.

Leslie, Melissa and Bainbridge were the only ones that could speak Remonian, so they sat closest to the emperor.

Leslie quickly got down to business. Before they could have any kind of meaningful conversation, Klaudius and his people had to be informed about the state of the real universe. Bainbridge conducted an elementary astronomy class. The only problem was that the Remonians refused to believe him.

"So you say it is the Earth that circles the sun and not the other way around? Are we not to believe the evidence of our own eyes?" Klaudius laughed.

"No. . . The Earth goes around the Sun only once a year. But it turns on its axis once every day. The movement of the sun is but an illusion." Sputtered Bainbridge out of frustration.

His Remonian audience roared with Laughter.

"Your fool is quite entertaining, Lady Webber," said Klaudius as he leaned over to Leslie. "Though he does makes us think---how DO we know that some of his nonsense isn’t so?"

He laughed and applauded, much to Bainbridge’s chagrin.

Leslie tried a different tack. "Are you willing to believe that the stars of the heavens are really other suns?"

"It’s as good an explanation as any of the other philosophers have come up with to explain their nature." Klaudius replied. "That idea has been proposed, but there is no way of proving it as any of the others."

"Believe this, Klaudius." Said Leslie. "Not only are those other stars suns, most of them have other Earths. And people live on them, just as they do here."

"That may be possible, but where is the proof?"

"Why, WE are the proof!," replied Leslie. "That is where we are from. My home is on one of those other Earths."

"Yet you say you are not gods?"

Leslie, in frustration, picks up a knife from her plate and nicks her thumb. "I am just as human as you are, Klaudius! See? I bleed blood. Red just like anybody else’s."

"I have a flying ship. That’s how we can travel from world to world, and it is no more magical than one of your chariots or that organ thing they play in the arena."

"Hydralus?"

"Yes! We both know it has no magic, but the barbarian visiting from the mountains is enthralled by the machine that sings."

"But it is only the product of the cleverness of human hands." Klaudius replied.

"Exactly!" Leslie replied, "As is my ship. My people are just cleverer than yours. Bainbridge, show them your head."

"Are you sure that’s wise?" Bainbridge asked.

"Don’t question me. Do it!"

Bainbridge unwrapped the turban that concealed his head. Several in the audience gasped as the shinny titanium surface was exposed. Klaudius’s mouth dropped open.

"My man here, sustained an injury that should have killed him." began Leslie ", but our surgeons were able to fashion him a skull out of metal, and replace the damaged parts inside of it with other . . .machinery."

Bainbridge reached up and slipped a metal card out of the side of his head. The Remonians present all let out a collective gasp. They gasped again when he slid it back in. Several of the men walked up to him and examined him more closely.

"Why, his skin is partly grown into the metal, said a bearded man in a white robe. Another snatched another card out of a slot. Bainbridge quickly snatched it back and replaced it.

"Hey, don’t mess with my mind man!" he replied.

"It is not as perfect as the work of the gods," one of the men replied, "yet it also seems beyond the work of men."

Leslie nodded towards the Doc. He slipped off one of his gloves revealing an almost skeletal hand comprised of shinny, metallic "bones" interwoven with wires and fiber optics and actuated by a complex network of thin steel cables.

"My surgeon’s hands were cut off by his, . . . our enemies. They have since been replaced, as you can see." Remarked Leslie, as Klaudius stared, transfixed by the spectacle.

"Men on this world cannot do this kind of work," said Leslie. "They can on the other worlds though. You people have been separated from your human brothers on the other worlds. The Reps. . . DEMONS would not let you travel from world to world as other humans do." Leslie told the Emperor. She was starting to get through to him.

"The lightning! How do you control that?" Klaudius asked.

Leslie slowly drew her pistol, as the Remonians closely watched and POW! Fired it into a pillow. The feathers flew, All the Renonians, to a man, jumped in surprise, but recovered and drew closer as Leslie fished with her hand through the debris, and pulled out a bullet shaped projectile.

Leslie removed the magazine and shook out several half-folded strips of a soft gray metal. Klaudius picked a piece up. "It looks like lead, but seems heavier" he commented.

"That what it is, mostly" said Lesley "Lead and a bit of another metal we call uranium, to give it more weight."

Leslie pulled on the handle of her gun and detached the propellant case. "The stuff in this container burns rapidly and produces a lot of smoke that builds great pressure in the small closed chamber above the handle. One of these lead strips blocks the only outlet, through the tube to the front. The pressure forces the lead through a shaped hole and down the tube at great velocity. That is what makes the thunder sound and the lead does the damage to whatever it strikes."

"Amazing!" Said Klaudius, "Yet I now understand it. . . Somewhat. Do all the other humans fight with such weapons?"

"They are as common to us as swords are to you."

"I want one! Give it to me!"

"WHOA!" Leslie exclaimed "These weapons are extremely dangerous. You have to learn how to use one first. Let Antonius tell you what happened at his camp, when I wounded him. Eleven good men were accidentally killed by a man who did not know the power of these weapons, including the man himself. We cannot let that happen to you, can we?"

Klaudius looked at Leslie and then at Antonius. He did not seem as enthusiastic any more.

"As I said, Klaudius, we are humans from other worlds. Your world is about to join the others under the protection of a common supreme governing body we call The Terran Interstellar Confederation."

"The name of your empire?"

"Not an empire, a confederation. A loose alliance of self governing worlds that all support a central government established to regulate transworld commerce and defense." Leslie explained.

"And if we choose not to join?"

"You have little choice. You need protection from the Demons. Only we can provide that. And if---"

Morris’s wrist Com began to beep, interrupting the conversation.

Leslie glared at him "You should have turned that damned thing off----"

"It’s the Monoceros calling. It’s a code red! They have detected two large ships approaching the system from Reptoid space."

"Shit! If those are battle cruisers, Monoceros might not be able to hold both of them off." Said Leslie.

"Captian Morris has received a message---Don’t ask me how, I’ll explain later. The Demons are returning and we must go off to fight them---NOW!" Leslie told the emperor.

"Speak of the devil and there he is" quipped Doc. Leslie flashed him an icy glance and turned back to her host.

"Sorry, to have to leave so abruptly, Klaudius, I was beginning to enjoy the conversation. Perhaps we can get back together again when this emergency is over with?"

Leslie’s party practically ran out of the banquet hall. Klaudius looked almost insulted, but then sighed. What could he do about it? Indeed, should he do anything about it at all? These strange rude people were his only protections against the Demons, who would really be pissed off now if they knew what happened to their temple.

The crew boarded the Retribution, and Leslie parked the craft in a low planetary orbit

Over the com-system, Captain Hilliard, of the MONOCEROS, briefed Webber and Morris on the current situation.

"Two REP craft are approaching from two forty seven on fifty six. One is definitely a battle cruiser, the other is a bit smaller and of unknown type. And one more thing--- There wasn’t anything within seven parsecs of the planet when we arrived this morning."

The implication was obvious. BOTH of these ships were jump capable.

"Damn!" exclaimed Leslie.

"You were on the Enforcer Twelve, Webber." Asked Morris, "Just how many of the jump systems did Galvin and Miller sell to the REPS?"

"One,. . . I thought, perhaps two. I really don’t know, now that you mention it. Have they been able to interrogate Galvin yet?"

"I don’t know. I have received no word from HQ since Tuesday."

"But we might have two Battle Cruisers out there right now to worry about." Leslie replied. "This is your show Morris. You are the REP fighter. What do we do now?"

"We need to see what we are up against first. Connor! Check the televiewer!"

Melissa looked into the eyepiece of the device and turned the focusing knobs.

"Got them!" she said. "I am putting image on auxiliary forward com-screen."

Both of the ships were indeed Reptoid Battle cruisers. The "Smaller" craft, however, seemed damaged. Its entire starboard wing was missing, along with the double turret that held two of its LX weapons. The array of LX’s on the other wing was quite intact though. Recently repaired damage to the front of the fuselage was also apparent.

"It’s the craft that I damaged with the Hermies" Leslie observed.

"Then they only do have two jump ships." Said Morris. "They wouldn’t have sent out the damaged one otherwise."

"Do we have a chance against them?" Asked Leslie.

"In theory. I was jumped by two of them in the FORMALHAULT, when Sarah was killed, but I barely escaped. Captian Hilliard is going to need a lot of help."

"Shall I have Bainbridge power up the QUELL?" Leslie asked.

"Yes, we will need all the firepower we can get---Whoah!"

The ships suddenly took off in opposite directions. Almost as if they could read Leslie’s mind---But then again the REPS COULD!

"They’re breaking formation." Said Leslie. They know that we can only get ONE of them with the QUELL if they maintain sufficient distance from each other."

"They’ll charge the MONOCEROS with the intact ship." Said Morris, "And with the other they’ll swing around---"

Morris points to the ranging com screen. "and Come after US! Forcing us to fire the QUELL and rendering us ineffective against the other ship."

"A good plan" Leslie remarked. "And with jump capability the remaining ship will be more than an even match against both us and the MONOCEROS. Are you sure that’s what they are going to do?"

"The other ship is wheeling around now to set up it’s run against us. Like I said, I know how these guys think, if I didn’t I would have been killed years ago."

"Helm! Control to command!" ordered Morris. Saunders, the Helmsman engaged command mode. The controls swung out in front of Morris and Leslie.

Morris now grew nervous. This situation reminded him too much of the last time he faced a REP battle cruiser. He looked at Leslie. Would she share Sarah’s fate?

"Concentrate Morris! Do your job!" Leslie’s words snapped him out of his reverie. Leslie was certainly NOT a Sarah Braden.

"What the fuck!" Leslie noticed that both ships had suddenly stopped. Out of both LX and One-Point-Five range. "What’s going on? Did they read you Morris?"

Zee’s image appeared on the Bridge Com-Screen. "Captain!" said a puzzled looking Zee. "They want to talk."

"Talk? That’s a new one." Said Morris. "Since when do REPS ever want to talk?"

"They say that they know Leslie, as the official Ambassador to Nova Terra is an authorized representative of the Terran Confederation Government." Said Zee. "This is the first time they have had access to any Confederation Officials. They want to talk about the status of Terra Nova and the intentions of the Confederation."

"What frequency are they on?" Asked Morris.

"None! The communication is biotelemetric. If you want more direct contact, open channel fourteen."

Leslie switched the auxiliary com to fourteen. The familiar looking football shaped, pink head of a half mute appeared on the Screen."

"We want to ssspeak wiss Webber" Said the creature.

"Webber here," Leslie replied. "We neeed to talk. We need to tell you our concerns and learn of your own intentions. Perhapsss we can come to an understanding? Perhaps a bargain?"

"REPS coming to an understanding? Making a deal?" quipped Morris, "That’ll be the day."

"Quiet Morris! This is government business." snapped Leslie.

"We propossse a meeting on board one of our ships or perhapsss one of yourzz. Do you agree?"

Leslie looked a Morris and thought about it for a few seconds. "Okay we can meet aboard the MONOCEROS in one hour, Terran time. Will that suffice?"

"Yess, There will be two Half mute translators and three Reptoid, as you call us, Representatives. You may bring along as many advisors and helpers as you like."

"Shouldn’t Captian Hilliard be told about the party arrangements you made at his own house?" asked Morris.

"I am sure he will co-operate" Leslie replied. Meanwhile, you keep watch in the Retribution should our scaly friends try to pull off some funny business"

Leslie, Zee and Doc reported to the MONOCEROS at the appointed time. Leslie thought it would be a good idea to bring along a BT. She brought Doc along for "moral support" and because he had proven himself to be the most competent "voice of reason" among the rest of the crew of her ship, herself included.

The Rep Party had already arrived. Two Half-Mute translators sat behind a table on the far side of the large conference room. Three REPS, their mouth’s closed this time, stood silently behind them.

The noses of the humans cringed as they entered the room. The distinctive odor of the REPS was quite evident. Apparently, smell was yet another sense they did not share with the humans.

Leslie and her party sat behind another table on the opposite side of the room. She spoke first.

"How do we know that you have the power to speak for your p. . . race?" she asked.

"The REPS are all as you sssay, sssPsychic. Zey are in mental contact wisss our leaders."

"First off," Leslie began, "Let me begin by stating that it is the policy of the Terran Confederation that human populations be only ruled by humans, and that humans should only live in human controlled space."

"It would not be a practical prosssspect to move the human population from Terra Nova to a world in Terran space." Replied the half mute.

"I know, That is why we have decided to put Terra Nova under Confederation jurisdiction. That we be able to do this is all that we ask."

"Ever since you Terrans have developed space travel you hafff expanded the zone of your influence. You haff encroached into what was once our domain and have continued to push us back. SSSo far we havve permitted you to do ssso. Weee do not want war. But we can no longer tolerate this intrusion. Our space grows smaller and ssmaller."

"We understand your concerns," Leslie replied." It is our present policy not to intrude into Reptoid Space beyond the presently established limits, but we must accommodate the Terra Nova world into our Confederation."

"We cannot let the Terrans advance any furzzzer." The Translator replied.

"You are correct!" Zee interrupted. "If you keep giving into them, you will eventually be destroyed."

"Zee! What are you doing?" Leslie angrily shouted. "You are supposed to help us, not undermine the negotiations."

"You don’t see the parallel, do you Leslie?" said Zee. She turned to the translator. "The predecessor of this same Terran civilization nearly drove my own people to extinction, by the same policies they propose now."

"Their "Western civilization" encroached on our lands and pushed us farther and farther back until it became apparent that we would eventually be destroyed if we failed to resist. As now, they had superior weapons. Yes, we were able to manage to arm ourselves with some of their own weaponry, but we woke up too late. Our numbers had been so reduced so as to render our resistance useless."

"ZEE!" Leslie stood up. "I can have you court-martialed for this!"

"Isss it too late for usss?" asked the translator.

"No," Zee replied. "your people and civilization are still strong. If you do not let the Terrans take advantage of you, you will survive and prosper. I cannot sit idly by though and watch you make the same mistakes my people did."

"What do you recommend," asked the Translator, "Do we fight?"

"No, that was the first mistake we made against the intruders. They had superior weaponry. They still do in your case. They can move a warship to anywhere in your territory in mere seconds. It is only by the good graces and conscientiousness of the majority of the Terran Peoples that you have been allowed to remain in existence."

"SSSo what are we to do?"

"Give them what they want, for now. And give them ALSO what they could reasonably demand for the future. Then stand your ground."

"First you tell usss not to givvvve in to their demandzzz, now you tell us to comply. You make no sense."

"Both the Terrans and the Reps have to learn how to share the same universe. Each party must accommodate the needs of the other, come to an agreement and stick with it."

"The Terrans need to have jurisdiction over all planets occupied by humans. If you have any more, human planets in your territory, you had best come clean now or this problem will get only worse."

"There are no more. Nova Terra isss the only one."

"The Terrans are an outwards moving, race of traders and explorers. You will also have to provide for several established transport routes through your territory. If you do not do this they will TAKE them themselves—and even more. Trust me. Review the history of my people."

"When this is done, NOTHING ELSE will be negotiable. Hold on to ALL you have left after that. STAND FIRM! Give them no more. No matter how much they plead. They will have only what they need from you."

"The Terrans also have a bad habit of breaking Treaties and agreements. Don’t let them get away with it! Learn from my people and our experiences. Make a good deal with them from the beginning, something that doesn’t make you vulnerable and something that will buy you time to catch up with them in weapon’s technology. By the time they decide to "re-negotiate", you will be powerful enough to enforce the terms of the first treaty."

The translators mumbled some gibberish to each other and communicated with the Reps in attendance, by whatever means.

Leslie sat glaring at Zee.

One of the translators spoke again. "It issss agreed. We will let the Terrans hafff jurisdiction over Nova Terra and a connecting corridor to Terran space."

"You will ssssubmit proposed transport routes through our territory for our review. Make your choicesss wisely, as they will be the last concessions to our space we will ever make."

Leslie looked surprised. Zee flashed Leslie a quick glance and a smile.

A new era was about to dawn in this side of the Galaxy. There will be at least a resemblance of peace between the Terrans and the Reptoids. The space beyond the Repoid territory would be opened to further exploration.

"Yes," Leslie decided then and there, that as soon as she had permission, she would resign her diplomatic post at Terra Nova. She would be among the first Terrans to venture out beyond Rep space, into the unknown. And hopefully find, perhaps ---Herself.

 

THE END

 

Look For The latest Stories in "The Last Frontier" Series, In progress

"THE FIFTH VECTOR"

 

An emergency repair of the Retribution’s Jump System has unexpected results. Leslie and the gang find themselves in a parallel reality where the PROTEUS ambush and Leslie’s DNA change never happened. The situation gets "interesting" when Leslie encounters her former MALE self, who still Commands the PROTEUS and has a vendetta against KORA HORST.

 

"DARK NOISE"

 

Told in first person. Some of Leslie’s latent BT abilities kick in "big time" one morning. Either that or she is finally losing her mind. Not only does Leslie Learn something about herself, so does ‘Marina Twelve’, an early 21st Century author who somehow has gained access to her mind.

Both Marina and Leslie have to figure out what is going on--and fast. The crew suspects that there is something "wrong" and Leslie has to be in top "mental condition" if she is to survive an encounter with a powerful enemy.

This story has an interesting metaphysical twist. I can’t give too much of it away. (No, it’s NOT TWO souls in the same body—you’ll have to read it to find out ;-D)

 

 

 

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© 2001 by Marina Twelve. All Rights Reserved. These documents (including, without limitation, all articles, text, images, logos, compilation design) may printed for personal use only. No portion of these documents may be stored electronically, distributed electronically, or otherwise made available without express written consent of the copyright holder.