WoW 24

Written by Steeler, Meister P, Amber and Fjap.

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7

Amber stood nervous in the main hangar waiting for the shuttle of the Wing commander. Desmo checked the lock of the pink cabinet twice. He shortly returned before Flamey arrived: " All is ok Amber. Piett decided to stay in the pink cabinet too because maybe they will search for him too. It’s not too hard to guess that he helped Rooks to escape. Thanks god nobody saw me or Gin or the pink cabinet would be full in no time. "

Amber asked: " Is Rookie sleeping by now? "

Desmo nodded: " He fell for the trick twice, I don’t think he will ever touch the special tea again. Anyway he sleeps like a baby now and Piett watches him. " Then the shuttle landed. Flamestrike left his personal shuttle followed by Jodokast and some other Royal Guards. Amber gulped she didn’t expected the RGs, now it became close.

Flamey smiled: " Well meet Amber. I guess you already know that Commodore Rookie escaped from Coruscant. "

Amber tried to look surprised: " He is escaped? How? Please don’t fool me! "

The Vice-admiral smiled: " But Amber you were always a bad liar. And guess who helped Rookie to escape? No idea? Well, it was Navy Captain Piett. Do you maybe know where he is? " Amber forced herself to stay calm but it wasn’t so easy, these RGs were really scary.

She gulped again but suddenly O’Drick stepped next to her: " My Royal Guard brothers, welcome at the El Pollo Diablo. " Flamey moved his concentration over to the other RG:

" Greetings OD. I want to know if Rookie and Piett are here. You know what happens when you lie to us.... "

OD answered: " There is no need to remind me of the rules of the RG, I know it by myself. I can only say neither Rookie nor Piett are here. Do you really think they would be that mad to come here where you would search them first? "

Flamestrike: " Well, who knows... I think you will not mind when we take a look by our own? "

OD nodded: " Of course, feel free to waste your time here. "

At the home planet of the Dark Brotherhood of the Sith, unknown location somewhere in the Outer Rim. It was a rainy day but Steeler didn’t feel it. Not long and the Dark Fleet will finally arrive, not long anymore and the prophecy will be fulfilled. The human part in her was nearly dead, the dark side became stronger and stronger with every passing day. With big interest she watched the Phoenixians in the last weeks, they are so busy with themselves that they will not notice the big danger they will facing soon. Phoenix wasn’t a danger anymore, not a bit, but why the human part still protected the Phoenixians. It would be easier to kill them then keep them busy in the last weeks. Well the Sith part will never understand this.

Sunghi the second in command of the Brotherhood stepped next to her: " How long do you think it will take to build the gate for the fleet? "

Steeler watched some lightning and then she said with the force voice: " Not long. We have nearly enough Lycrus, Fritz works great. "

Sunghi smiled: " And he really thinks he sent it to the Emperor? "

Steeler only nodded: " Yes. It’s so easy to get those freighters when you manipulate some brains with the force. "

Sunghi laughed evil: " And the fools of rebels build our gate right? "

Again Steeler nodded: " Savage is a worthy allied till now. He doesn’t ask much that’s good. Soon Sunghi.... Soon. "

In the meantime at the rebel prison Bogoslov Tobi thought about an escape plan. Bogoslov was a normal prison somewhere at the end of the galaxy. Sadly the rebels separated him from Apocalypse and so they couldn’t work together. The work Tobi had to do was very boring, it was glove sewing. The Master Chief Pilot hated to help the rebel troops but he had no other choice. Tobi already heard some rumours in that camp especially about the close war and of course about Savage. He noticed there were some ex rebel soldiers as prisoners too but they were separated from the normal prisoners. One of the guards became his friend, his name was Jedi Knight. The rebel told him he was in Eagle squadron before. Tobi normally would judge the rebel because of treason but he could need his help. Right now it was night and in the barracks all where quiet as JK came over:

" Listen Tobi, when this Savage is really such a bad guy then you have to stop him. I will risk to let you go but you have to promise that you stop those officers. "

The Master Chief Pilot was surprised: " You know the rumours about Savage yourself. You know he’s very dangerous. When he ever finds out that you let me go you are a dead man. "

JK smiled: " I still have some good friends in the TFA, mainly I will help you because of them. Believe me it was a hard decision but my destiny leads me to the Rebel Alliance. See, now I’m the XO of these camps and I’m a pilot in Wolf. Well not pilot I’m also the XO in Wolf squad and have a Navy Captain but I had to help out here. "

" How comes? " asked Tobi.

JK lowered his voice a bit more: " Savage asked for help and he’s my superior officer. I simply took it as an order. "

Tobi answered: " Well, hope he never finds out that you are an ex imperial or you will end here like some of your mates. "

JK nodded: " Yes, there are too many traitors or better declared traitors. I ‘m not so sure anymore after all you told me. Anyway come with me, we haven’t much time. Follow me but be quiet, it’s a dangerous way. "

" Of course. "

At the same time in Abalone, Savage was still there to prepare the war against the Empire. His Stingers worked great with their hidden attacks, shortly they killed one of those Phoenixians. Savage still remembered his name, Goldthunder and now they brought the news that GPZ was still alive. Well Savage already thought his Stingers had killed him on the patrol but somehow GPZ managed to escape. The rebel Captain planned already his new capture. As more Phoenixians he could eliminate as better would be his revenge to Rookie. He looked up and saw his new secretary PJ. But Savage didn’t know PJ was Ensign Raider, Phoenix squadron. Raider had a lot of luck as he arrived at Abalone. He got the feeling that Steeler would know that he was there and after all he wondered why she didn’t betrayed him like Apo and Tobi. To get a fake identity was hard, Raider decides to play an orphan who lost his family through an imperial attack. Savage liked him and allowed Raider to get his personal secretary. But now Raider heard that Savage hunted for GPZ and he felt that he must leave his post and warn his friend. As Raider returned to his quarter he faced a person in a black robe with a lightsaber. He knew immediately that it was Steeler and she wrote at the wall: " Stay at your post here and be my eyes and my ears. "

Raider stuttered: " You here? But... "

Again the writing: " Don’t ask or try to understand. Trust me! "

Now Raider became furious: " Trust you?! After all that things I should trust you! Not a bit! "

Suddenly he get pushed very hard against the next wall, he could read the next words: " I know what I have done and I know what I will do. "

Raider rubbed his hurting shoulder: " You will only destroy all. Heck Steely, we were friends. We both went to the same flight school class. What happened? "

The answer was a short: " You know nothing. "

Raider shouted: " I know enough! I will not sit around and look how Savage kills GPZ. I lost Goldthunder because of him. Now it’s enough. "

Steeler wrote: " When you don’t do what I say I will execute GPZ by personal. "

Now Raider was shocked: " You try to blackmail me? You would kill your teacher and friend? "

Steeler’s answer was simply: " You know what you have to do. GPZ’s life lies in your hands. "

Then the vision went away. Raider took a cup and threw it to the location the vision was before: " You damn Sith! If I ever catch you alive.... "

Flamestrike inspected the Diablo in the meantime but he couldn’t find a sign of Rookie or Piett. Amber was the whole time around him, she acted strange like a human wanting to hide something.

He turned around to Jodokast: " All ok here? "

Jodo nodded: " We RGs didn’t find Piett and Rookie. I don’t think they are on board of the Diablo. "

" Ok, then return to the Titan with the others. I have still some things to discuss with Amber. "

" Yes, Sir. "

As soon as Jodo was away Flamey turned around to Amber: " And now the truth... where they are? "

Amber’s answer: " But Sir, they aren’t here. Why you don’t believe me? "

" Because I feel that you cover them, anyway... I offer them two possibilities. Listen carefully, first when they can avoid that war or better end it very fast we will overlook about their actions and maybe there will be no punishment. The other possibility is that they surrender and both will end in a prison but in a more secure one then the last. Clear Amber? "

The Lieutenant gulped: " But Sir, they aren’t... "

Flamey waved his hand, impatiently he said: " They are here I know it. I’m not stupid Amber and I’m not in the mood for jokes. I risk already too much to cover you and them. Tell Rooks I do this because we are friends but now it’s his turn to sort this thingy out. If he fails he will not only be hunted by the rebellion. "

Amber got pale: " You mean... "

Flamey nodded: " The price to his person will be that high that he can never visit a system with intelligent creatures again. He will be a hunted person with no home, no family, no friends. Now I have to go, don’t forget what I told you. "


P dreamt, well not dreaming it was more a remembering. He saw Rookie, Shadow Warrior and Battledog in the interview. Oh yes, the Jag’s forced Rookie to tell the whole truth about the happenings in the last weeks also P’s real background as Jedi. The Commodore tried to defend him and P still had to smile when he remembered that. As the RGs stepped into the room to take him with them Rookie started to fight. P even had to smile more as he remembered Rookies face as he took his lightsaber out and threw it in front of Shadow Warrior. P also remembered the words he said: " I hope this is proof enough, that I am no harm to the TFA. " Next was that Rookie jumped up from his chair and shouted: " Boy what are you doing? They don’t know you, you will be locked away faster than you can imagine. " P kept calm when the guards led him out of the room. "Someone told me that defence is the best choice this time, don’t worry Sir!" he shouted before the doors closed again. This was the last time he saw a Phoenixian. Suddenly he knew they would come to rescue him, somehow he knew it. P had to smile as he remembered Rookies words: " One time a Phoenixian always a Phoenixian. " Meister opened his eyes and saw Binky and Eryn who looked at the Missile boat.

P said: " We will wait here. "

Binky looked at P: " What? Have you lost your mind? They will search for us! "

" Calm down. I have friends coming. "

" Friends coming? " asked Eryn.

P smiled again: " Yes, you wouldn’t believe it but shortly after your leaving I joined the imperial navy, the TFA and luckily I was placed in one of the best squadrons ever, in the Phoenix squadron. "

Binky asked surprised: " The legendary one? "

" There is only one. Well anyway they will come and take me out here and you too of course. "


In the same hour Fjap and DuKaal arrived at the Matjua system again where they found the mysterious TB parts and some other things with Phoenix origin. The rebel leaded Fjap to the casino of his old friend Brutus. Fjap liked casinos there he can get a lot of Duvels without the warning view in Rookies eyes. The booze rules on board of the Diablo were still very strict, too strict for Fjap.

He looked over to DuKaal: " And you say we are welcome here? Are you sure? "

The rebel nodded: " Brutus is ok, he’s one of my schoolmates. He’s a bit crazy but ok. Trust me Fjap. "

" I never trusted a rebel and I don’t think I will start it yet. "

" Then you have to learn it now. We have to work as team Fjap or we will never find out what happened here. Then we can’t help Phoenix and also we can’t help Steeler. "

Fjap sighed: " Steeler is gone. I don’t think we can reach anything with her. She is the hunter and we are the targets. Anyway at least we have to try to help Phoenix. "

DuKaal said: " A Phoenixian never gives up right? So don’t start with Steel, even when it’s hard. Don’t give up the hope Fjap, maybe we can reach more as we can imagine now. Anyway Brutus waits and he isn’t very patently. "

At the same time Amber walked into the pink cabinet, well besides the pink picture of Fjap there weren’t much pink things around. Desmo sold most in the Heir system. Rookie was still sleeping and Piett read a book.

He looked up as Desmo and Amber came in: " Is it over now? "

Amber smiled sarcastically: " Over? Nope, it’s only started. "

" What do you mean with that? "

The Lieutenant: " Well Flamey knows you are here. I think he knew it before he came here. "

" Oh dear... " was Piett’s comment: " What is his plan now? "

Amber sighed: " You should try to stop that war as fast as you can. If not you will have a lot of bad guys on your back in no time. Or you have to surrender to him immediately... "

" So he challenged us... more or less. "

Desmo jumped in: " I would say blackmailing is the better word. The choice between the electric chair and trying to stop a war is a real heavy decision. "

Amber smiled again sarcastically: " You can’t stay here, I think Flamey will return and look through the whole ship then. "

Piett nodded: " That’s for sure but first we have to rescue that Jedi. Then we can think over that war. "

Desmo nodded too: " I will come with you. Amber, you will be in charge of the Diablo but watch the keys. Piett and Rookie you will need every help you can get and I’m only a guest here. We will take a shuttle and fly to Bikkev to get Meister. Finally I can pay him for rescuing my life. "

" You and your damn Wookie pride. We have more important things to think over, to summarise it in one word... Steeler. "

The Wookie looked at Piett: " I start to get mad with you, she will return to us. Do not try to execute her you would fail. This plan would never work but we need P to get her back. We haven’t much time, so let’s go. We wasted enough time. "

Piett sighed: " You are right. Well I will wake Rooks. "

Desmo shook his head: " Let him sleep, a bit sleep is good for him. He’s way too overworked. "

Piett sighed: " If you think I carry him again, you are wrong. I have enough after Coruscant. "

" Weak human. "

With these words Desmo put Rookie over his shoulder: " Let’s go. " Piett shook his head and followed the Wookie. On one hand he was happy to have the Wookie with him at the other it would cost him some nerves. Amber was the last walking in the hangar, deep in thought. She could only hope Piett, Rookie and Desmo can solve the problems.

She watched them climbing in the shuttle then: " Piett wait! " Amber took out one more bottle of special tea: " For Rookie, but this time narcotic free. " Then the shuttle left the Diablo with course to Bikkev to rescue Meister P.


A few hours after FS and Jodo had left, Amber left the ship on auto pilot while she took a break. With Raider away, and Katarn still in the medical bay, there was nobody to take over control of the frigate. She left the engines on standby; after all, an out of control frigate would not be a good thing. Back in her office, Amber left the data pad with a live connection to the computer on the bridge, so she could keep an eye on it while she entered to her diary…

1700

The visit of the WC and his XO went kind of well. Jodo and his RGs didn’t notice anything, they went back to the transport without knowing that Piett & Rookie were hiding here. Flamey wasn’t fooled though, he knew they were here, probably even before he came. Or maybe it was my bad lying that gave it away. Either way, he knows. He gave me 2 options to give to Rooks & Piett. Either they stop this war, or they turn themselves back to custody, when they will face a worse punishment, I know it. Then I will be in trouble too… with Rookie & me both in trouble, & Steeler, well, who knows where Steeler is!! That would mean trouble for Phoenix – who would lead the squad?!

Anyway, Rookie, Desmo and Piett have left to try and rescue Meister P… I really hope they are successful, I can’t act on my own!! I just hope Katarn is out of the Medical bay soon, and that Raider comes back from wherever it is he has gone!!

1800

A transmission from Bob has come in. I don’t know who this guy is, but he knows good information. He already knows that we are sending a shuttle to rescue P from the Bikkev prison. He also has told me where Tobi is being kept. At some prison called Bogoslov. Bob says he knows someone there who might help Tobi to get out. I hope so, we really need the pilots. This war is taking a lot of pilots from other squadrons… I think we should get closer to the action, maybe that will promote some of our pilots to get into their ships and fight!!

1830

A new course is set, for the border of the unarmed zone. This way we can have involvement in the war as well as keep a patrol watching for any incoming rebels. Damned Rebels, they don’t know where to stop. Can’t they just give up for once? Anyway, the new course is set. I’m putting the frigate on a high alert, just in case we get any renegade Rebel squadrons trying to attack us.

1900

I just received a transmission from Flamey. Its coded, it says that I must remind the guests on board that they mustn’t outstay their welcome here. I guess he’s talking about Rookie & Piett… Maybe he means that they are at risk here, or maybe he just means that he doesn’t want to get in trouble. Another transmission is coming…

On no… Jodo and the RGs are coming back here, alone. Without FS to look over them there is no chance I can lie… And they will be here in 2 hours!! They want to search the ship more thoroughly after they have no more leads to look at. Damnit!! They must have heard something… but why am I worrying, Piett and Rookie aren’t here! There’s no point worrying when they’re not even here. But those RGs can find anything, a scrap of evidence and they will find it. There has to be a way round this…

1915

Katarn is out of the medical bay, finally, with a fetching pink bandage across his nose!! The medic-droids must have been playing a trick on him! I wonder who could have programmed them to do that?! Anyway, he looks very… silly with that pink bandage. I will be sure to get a picture for the photo album! He’s got to keep it on for a week I think, I can’t remember what he told me exactly. I can’t be mean though, I will need his help. I think there is only one way to distract Jodo and the RGs from looking through the frigate…

2000

This had better pay off… I’m sending Katarn out on a mission, and he will take some pilots with him. What they need to do is go in to the battlefield and attract the attention of Rebel fighters. If they can get a few hits then draw them back this way, the RGs will have no choice but to defend the Diablo, after all, we are understaffed and at risk on the border of the unarmed zone! So if the are then leaving the frigate, without finishing their visit, maybe they will forget about it, because of the battle. I just hope that Kat & his team don’t attract too much attention!! Then we would be in more trouble than with the RGs. One thing that would seal our fate is if they find out about the plan to distract them… Then we really would be in trouble… hang on, we? I mean me. I’d not only be in trouble for hiding Piett & Rookie, but I’d be in trouble for lying, and for putting pilots at risk to cover the lies.

Damnit, the RGs are here. I’d better tell Kat to take his team out from the small hangar… The RGs can’t see them leave… End of entry: 20:05

The days events seemed to be getting more complicated. The success of her plan to distract the RGs was absolutely vital… if it failed, she would be left acting as FL to 3 FGs, an XO and an SL, alone, with no help. Not even Desmo to help. There had been no word from the shuttle the two fugitives and Desmo had taken to rescue P from Bikkev. Amber hoped sincerely that they made it. She needed their help back on the Diablo, where there were pilots missing and on leave, and Raider had vanished to nowhere anybody knew. There was still the threat from Steeler, what would be her next move? This was a long time worry for Amber and most of the squad, but the more immediate danger was the visit of the RG and the plan to get rid of them. As Amber and OD (she took him with her for support) ran to meet the RGs in the main hangar before they started their search, all she could think was how uncertain everything was… What would become of them all?


After the debate in the hangar the three fugitives walked to a door on the opposite side. It led into a room with some beds and cabinets.

"Hey, this must be for the freighter pilots, who are staying here for a longer time." Binky said, "Why don’t stay here for the moment, I think the "rescue party" won’t be here in the next two hours, and why don’t we sleep for a while."

P and Eryn looked at each other, and Eryn answered: "Bink...how many doors do you count? There is only one. Does the term "mouse trap" mean something to you?"

"But we can’t return due to this strange metal, and this place looks quite abandoned..." But Eryn had already left the room.

Over half an hour passed before they found another way out of the hangar. It was an old ventilation shaft that was a straight connection between the surface and the lower levels of the complex. Surprisingly there was no security system inside the tube. It needed none, because the fans were spinning with extreme high velocity, but the man who planned this, somehow forgot to remove the off-switch right next to a maintenance ladder. P leaned out into the shaft to switch the fans off, when his fingers touched the controls he felt a small piece of paper. He grabbed it and read it when the fans stopped slowly. "Hehe, this says 'To Engineering: Please remove this switch.' And someone wrote 'To the author: And lock me here you bugger?' on the back."

The ascend took less then 10 minutes and P was the first who hauled himself over the rim. After he helped the others, he had time to have a look at the planets surface. Old ruined buildings were scattered over the landscape, and the few visible bits of plants looked all brown and black. He turned around and his view wandered over the few visible installations of the Bikkev-Prison, a few other air intakes, the main command tower for the freighters and two hangars. No place, where a man wouldn’t find them in less then an hour.

Eryn stepped next to P and said:" OK, where do we go now? Those ruins seem to be a good hideout."

P turned and looked at an old industrial complex between some black-brown trees. "Yes you are right, those ruins really seem to be a good place to hide."

The groups of Stormtroopers looked like white ants, when they moved between the ruined buildings and over the dark hills. P stepped back behind the com-array, where Binky and Eryn were lying to keep out of the wind.

"It seems our friend Fritz also thinks that those ruins are a good place to hide. We fortunately made it up here before the troopers came out."

Binky opened his eyes and said: " Up on the tower... P this reminds me of the old days...do you remember the week we spent on that trash transport? "

Meister placed himself next to the pair. "How could I forget that? We found our first speederbikes there."

"HA! Yes, and we spent three days until we managed to repair the engines."

"Yes! And the captain was always pestering that we spent more time with those bikes than with our work."

"But it paid of, after the first test-drive, and after we built in the small shield generator in YOUR bike, the captain was so impressed that he sponsored our first race."

"The first race...Junkstation...we made first and second there..."

"YES! Against those stupids..."

"Oh, the old days." P sighed.

"They called you 'Bounce-Man'. You really needed the shield, hah, you still need it! I don’t think you changed your style."

"And then Treyon...and your accident...the next race was the first one I flew alone. It was inside some asteroid, and in a tight corner I skidded against the window of the V.I.P.-Lounge. Nobody has been injured, but when the big-boss of the local underground wanted to inspect the bike, he stepped on a squid that dropped of the buffet, and somersaulted through the broken window."

"I heard of that, it almost dragged the Syndicate in an internal war. The son of the Boss was still too young, so the "Assistant Director" was in charge now. He really did a great job in balancing out all factions."

Eryn opened her eyes. "My dad was always excellent in these matters, but as a father he always disappointed me."

Binky suddenly jumped up. "Your father was the assistant of the big-boss? You never told me!"

Eryn kept calm and said: "Why do you think he sent the Syndicate after us? Because he loved me so much, that he addressed the Syn? HA! He feared that I would reveal all his activities, and nothing other."

P touched Binky on the shoulder and said:" Calm down Binky, don’t tell me you wouldn’t have loved her if you knew the facts. Sleep now, I don’t know how far we have to go to reach our transport."

They got together as close as possible and P returned to his observation point. Hours passed, and then there happened something strange... The troopers had almost checked the whole area, when they suddenly all hurried back to the gates they came from. P was still surprised, when a sudden thought crossed his mind...Tea in a pink bottle, and then a feeling of warmth, despite the sun was already setting.

He got on his feet and hurried to Eryn and Binky.

"Hey! Wake up! They are here!"

"Who, what?" Binky mumbled and he and his wife got on their feet.

"My Friends are here, I can feel it."

Eryn was still sceptic. "How do you know that?"

"It’s the force, you sometimes can feel strong emotions through it."

"The force again? Ok, let’s hurry."

They pulled Binky with them and climbed down the way they got up the Tower.


Fjap and DuKaal walked into the casino. Fjap looked around with pleasure.

"Ahh this is much better than the damned desert. I think I'd better go get something to drink, just in case I got too dehydrated," said Fjap with a straight face.

DuKaal snorted, "Huh well if you must."

Fjap grinned and ambled towards the bar while DuKaal went to talk to his friend, Brutus. When Fjap got to the bar he ordered a Duvel and gulped down half a bottle in a single draught. Then he looked around and slowly finished the bottle. He noticed a tall man that sat at a table and played a game of Sabbac with a strange creature. The creature looked like a small version of a Wookie, although fatter and with larger eyes. Just then the little creature won the Sabbac pot and jumped up on his chair and shouted in a strange squeaky little voice:

"Yub yub. I win, you lose. Yub yub," and he danced a small victory dance on his chair. The tall man counted out a large sum of credits and placed them on the table.

"I hope you know what this means. Now you have cleaned all my money away from me. That means that we really have to find our merchandise."

The little furball sat down and fingered the sum.

"Yes that’s true. Keep it, I don’t want your money. By the way, do you have any leads that could tell us where our stuff ended up?"

"No not really. All I know that a Wookie showed up in the Heir system with a large part of it but we never found out if it really ours. It must have been though, I mean who else deals in these kind of wares?"

Fjap put his bottle abruptly on the bar. A Wookie selling stuff in the Heir system. That didn’t sound good enough. Maybe he should try to find out what they were talking about. Fjap stood up and was about to go over to them when a third man joined them. He was slightly overweight, wearing a expensive suit. Fjap turned as fast as he could. The "brothers" sprang to mind and that looked like the cousin that came and visited. Fjap went back to the bar and got himself another Duvel while he screened the conversation. The fat man said:

"We have found the Brothers, they were retired by a professional. My guess was that they had found something out so I checked out their last moves. They were last known hanging out with a guy called Fjap from Phoenix squadron. If we find this Fjap character we might know something. Fjap lowered his head on the bar. Again the pink things were haunting him. When would they ever stop. He stood up and looked around for DuKaal. He found him across the room talking to a very shady person. "

"Ahh Fjap sit down. Makker here does have some information that you might find interesting."

Makker looked at Fjap.

"Fjap? Weren't you in Phoenix Squadron? Onboard El Pollo Diablo?"

"Yes I was," answered Fjap, "why?"

"I was once onboard your frigate, looking at the markings on your starfighters."

Fjap looked sharply at him. "Why were you doing that."

"Well a man paid me a good sum of credits to do it."

"Can you remember who it was??"

"Not clearly, you see I can’t remember anything. But I am in nature a very cautious, even paranoid person so I implanted a miniature recording device in my optical nerve and my ear and these implants download their data into a databank. In that databank is almost everything I have seen and heard, just in case someone kills me or, in this case, brainwashes me. I was checking the inputs when I came across that little deal. Someone erased six months of memory from my brain and put in something else."

"Just out of curiosity what exactly was put instead?"

"Uhh well," Makker squirmed," I was on holiday."

"Well that’s nice," said DuKaal.

"Uhh yes I guess..." Makker squirmed some more.

"I take it it wasn't a nice holiday," said Fjap.

"No you could say that. You see the guy who was responsible hasn't got any idea how a holiday is. I mean he knows the concept but not the moves. So I spent six months on some backwater planet looking at architecture from a civilisation long gone, and enjoying company of women that were intelligent, talking about the revelations of the day."

The horror was visible in Makker's face. It was obvious that he considered females a lesser race and even a different species. Talking wasn't something you did to them. Fjap and DuKaal looked at one another and grinned. They both thought of Steeler whose logic surpassed the average astrometric droid and could quite possible kill capital ships with her wit.

"Is it possible that we can see the sensory tapes from you?" Asked DuKaal.

"Yes you can. I don’t remember any thing and this guy is a total stranger to me. Maybe you can tell me who it is. I would like to have a word with him about that memory swap. I would like to have some happier memories of this so-called holiday, maybe something more like a holiday. This was very well done though. Crystal clear memories of domed buildings, I mean if I'd ever go to that planet I could show you some nice mosaics and frescos, along big mausoleums. That guy really must have access to some heavy weight equipment to create these memories."

Makker stood up and told them to follow him to his room. The sensory tapes were kept there. Together they crossed through the casino and headed to the hotel room Makker had rented.

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7


Authors: NCp Steeler, Ltn Amber, SP Meister_P, CP Fjap

Editor: Ltn Amber

The Authors and Editor have done their best to ensure the accuracy and currency of all information in this story. All information is current to 24/06/2000 and we can accept no responsibility for any loss or inconvenience sustained by any reader as a result of its information or advice.