1010001

May 30 - Destiny, Hale's Moon

"On two occasions I have been asked, 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' In one case a member of the Upper, and in the other a member of the Lower House put this question. I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." - Charles Babbage

-----

This place really needed a new sign.

From all outward appearances, Alliance Lab 81 had fallen on hard times.

Two operating rooms. One reaver cage. All collected in what amounted to a store front in a refugee colony.

A far cry from the revamped facilities on Caliban, before the fire and subsequent decommissioning.

I walked directly to the far wall. I ran my finger tips along the edges of the bulletin board, gently probing.

The wall slid away with a satisfied hiss, revealing a pristine blue corridor.

Just as 'he' said it would.

The mainframe was in one of the side chambers. Smuggled off Zenobia during the upheaval that followed the Aberdeen Incident, it ended up here.

However, there would be no covert mission to reacquire the mainframe and risk an interplanetary incident.

No messy bribes and the owing of favours to unsavory characters.

No.

Because sometimes it is best to let things take their natural course.

-----

"Hello Hal," I said, addressing one of the two primitive AI's known to be stored within the machine.

The Artificial Intelligence whispered in reply, "Sure, Dave, what's up?"

I started probing.

I tried passwords and simple voice commands.

He answered with mathematical constants, dates and figures.

Nothing useful in return.

I did, however, managed to get him to sing.

"Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do."

It was erratic, odd, very ....

The AI suddenly sprung to life.

"Strange Quarks is one of the six quarks that compose subnuclear material. Ultradense macroscopic clumps of the strange quarks passing thru a planet would not be detectable by interactions other than their gravitational wake which would register on seismographs....."

Quantum physics. I pressed the line of questioning.

"Alpha Magnetic Spectometer," I said.

Nothing.

"Cosmic Ray Detection."

Silence.

Again another series of words and phrases, but no further response forthcoming.

Finally, as I am inclined to do when interviewing a person, I repeated what he had said to me, word for word.

"Strange Quarks is one of the six quarks that compose subnuclear material...."

Hal began to chatter.

"Strange Quarks is one of the six quarks that compose subnuclear material. Ultradense macroscopic clumps....

"Strange Quarks is one of the six quarks that compose subnuclear material. Ultradense macroscopic clumps....

"Twinned seismic events are seismic events recorded on opposite sides of a planet several seconds apart....

"Certain twinned seismic events have been classified....

"Strange Quarks is one of the six quarks that compose subnuclear material. Ultradense macroscopic clumps...."

I echoed the AI. Feeding him his own data.

Like two throat singers, we chanted back and forth.

I was his partner. Intoning his lyrics. Matching his rhythm.

"Twinned seismic events are seismic events..." I sang.

"Twinned seismic events are seismic events recorded on opposite sides of a planet several seconds apart....

"Certain twinned seismic events have been classified....

"Certain twinned seismic events have been classified....

"Twinned seismic events are seismic events recorded on opposite sides of a planet several seconds apart.....

"Certain twinned seismic events have been classified...."

And then, at last, having traced the patterns of his thoughts, I said a single word.

Files began to download.

The Daughter of the Witch

Oct. 25 - Caliban

"The stiffly held weapon will not conquer.
Hard wood will fall to the axe.
The tall and stiff is of inferior rank.
The supple and weak is of superior rank." Tao Te Ching, LXXVI

-----

The Weyland Futani technicians had gotten to work on Krenshar immediately after we arrived at the Command Carrier. They soon had him in pieces... probing, inspecting, downloading, uploading and doing whatever it is that they do.

I refreshed myself with a light meal and a nap then waited for the inevitable. Krenshar had allies and beyond that was simply valuable, whether whole or in pieces. Someone would be responding soon.

The inevitable took the form of a broadcast on a private channel. I recognized the voice immediately.

The message: You have something I want. I have something you want. Perhaps we can arrange a mutually agreeable exchange. I want the replicant, unharmed and intact. Are you interested?

I replied: I am always interested in mutually agreeable arrangements.

This time we would meet on my ground, not some pleasant cottage on a grey moon.

-----

"Ms. Zhangsun... good to see you again," I said with a smile.

"I'll get to the point," she answered curtly.

"Yes please," I replied.

"I want the replicant," she demanded.

Krenshar was not himself at that moment. His head was dettached from his body and in a specially prepared laboratory in the aft of the ship. The headless body was here with us.

Ms. Zhangsun offered me a piece of paper.

"I see," I replied. The paper indicated Ms Zhangsun was employed by Weyland Yutani at the time Krenshar was created.

"I have a special interest in him," Ms. Zhangsun added.

I folded the paper.

"I believe any claim you may have had to intellectual property rights will have been declared null and void when you left their employ," I said with some finality.

Ms. Zhangsun continued, "You are no doubt aware I did not complete my internship with the Alliance. One day short." She looked at the replicant. "My family owes you. One day. I will trade myself to you for one day in exchange for him."

"For one day..." Was she serious?

"Yes."

Then Ms. Zhangsun handed me a photograph.

"And this?" I asked.

"Open it," she demanded.

It was a picture of River Tam.

"My mother," she explained.

I raised an eyebrow. It took a lot to surprise me.

"Let him go. You have what you want. One day."

"And that is your offer?" I asked. "There is a little matter of accounting too... the cost for our facility on Caliban."

"Your facility?" she asked.

"The damages caused by your genetic construct LilyBell. Alliance Laboratory 81," I explained.

"Damages being exactly?"

"The fire she caused destroyed the research we were sponsoring there."

"My family has supplied your leaders with everything they agreed." Ms. Zhangsun said.

I fingered the photo again.

"My 'payment' to you will end any obligation between Blue Sun and The Alliance. One day. That is my offer."

"Oh come now Ms. Zhangsun," I began "... the relationship between Alliance and Blue Sun has been long a fruitful."

"It will be renegotiated. Things have changed," she said.

"I would rather this be the beginning," I countered,"... the beginning of something vibrant and new."

"There will be no further obligation. However, I will be continuing the research."

Trooper G. watched her carefully.

Ms. Zhangsun looked at the trooper. "Don't", she warned, "I will deal with you."

To my surprise, the Trooper nodded.

She turned back to me and continued as if nothing had occurred, "There is one other thing. A favor. I would consider it a...personal favor."

"Go on," I prompted.

Ms. Zhangsun handed me a card. It read: 'Cody Winterwolf. Remove the chips. From him and his brother which yes, I know about.'

"This is an interesting request," I replied. Small beer compared to Krenshar.

"As I said, a personal favor."

"Well," I answered "This I can accomplish... as a personal favor...and someday I may ask you for something similar."

She nodded and looked around the room." I think you will find our new labs...far superior to the last ones you may have toured. And, it is already staffed with scientists and 'volunteers'."

"I would enjoy seeing them," I said pleasantly, "and how is Mindo by the way?"

"It will be some time before they are open. My main scientist is going to be .. Ah. Yes. Mindo is being kept....busy."

I nodded.

She looked at her hands, but didn't try to hide the slight marks from where she obviously been slapping someone.

"I am having him returned to the institution, until he is safe to be around the population. Then he will be working in a secured area of the lab. He is...making good progress. Both in his socialization and in his work."

"I'm glad to hear that," I said.

"The Replicant cannot be disassembled like this for much longer. Of course you wouldn't know ..but..if you agree, it needs to be done now. If you trust me to return that is."

She looked at me directly in the eyes "...which you do," she added.

"Of course I trust you Ms. Zhangsun," I replied. "I am just considering the equations...."

There was nothing about this woman that I trusted. Everything about her screamed that she was bargaining in bad faith. She appeared to be trying some form of psychological manipulation on everyone in the room. Krenshar was exempt but that could be because he had no head.

However, if she was indeed who she claimed to be and was truly offering one day of service, a lot can be accomplished in one day. People can disappear. Governments can fall.

"And?" she waited.

"Very well ... one day plus our facility costs... in exchange for the replicant... and with the understanding that we will continue to work towards our common goals."

Ms. Zhangsun looked at the trooper with a slight smile. Did she not think I would see that?

"We will work toward our common goals, with a renegotiation of terms. One day." She places her hand on the headless replicant's shoulder very gently. "Please. I'd like to take him how, before its too late. Of course, I will verify that he is intact. Not modified."

"Naturally," I said.

"And I will know," she said softly, "As would he."

"This trooper needs to get to his bunk," she said suddenly.

"That trooper is fine," I corrected.

Trooper G. looked at Ms. Zhangsun oddly.

"Yes, he is," she said.

"Do you need laboratory space to reassemble Krenshar?" I asked.

"It depends what condition his...how he has been disassembled?"

"By Weyland Yutani scientists," I answered.

"Your technicians could put him into one piece, and I can activate him."

"Very well," I said.

x0x0 Zhangsun looked at the trooper again, started to say something, and then didn't. She smiled slightly, looked at the me, back to the man, and then stood looking at her own hands.

This one is dangerous and unstable, I thought.

"Troopers... please take the replicant to the laboratory on board," I ordered.

Once we were alone, Ms. Zhangsun turned to me. "About the boy. The favor."

"Yes?"

"He will be suspicious."

"If my reports are correct the chip is misfiring," I said.

"But he is in agony. The chip is failing. He has....yes. Are you capable of removing it? Or do I need to bring him in."

I nodded, "We have a facility waiting."

"I think I'd prefer to have it done somewhere neutral....I'm sure you understand."

"I'm sure he would too," I replied, "Where are you suggesting?"

"Hale's Moon surgical unit in West Town," she said "It's fully equipped."

The troopers returned with the now assembled replicant saving me from answering. Instead I said, "Ah, here is Mr. Krenshar."

Ms. Zhangsun studied him. She knelt down and did something to his left foot - what it was exactly, she did quickly so it was impossible to see what she did. The color of his lights changed from purple to orange.

"Is everything in order?" I asked.

Ms. Zhangsun whispered something in the replicant's ear.

"We will find out," she said

"The papers I gave you. I trust you will destroy them?" Ms. Zhangsun looked at me.

I said nothing. I promised nothing.

"System running at 100% what job is required of me," said Krenshar.

"Hello Krenshar," answered Ms. Zhangsun.

"Good day," replied Krenshar.

"We will expect financial compensation as we discussed," I said.

She smiled, so consumed with looking at the replicant that she did not appear to hear me. "We can go now, Krenshar," she murmured.

Krenshar said "System has found 137,236 corrupt files, shall I proceed?"

"Wait 'til we are onboard the ship. I would like to take a backup of them, even though they are corrupt."

Krenshar replied, "Orders received and understood."

Inwardly I sighed. So much for the Post Human Future.

"Please prepare interface for neural network," she instructed.

"System ready," supplied Krenshar.

"I will....begin as soon as we are in the air." She turned to me, "Major."

"Ms. Zhangsun," I said.

"Thank you," she nodded.

I inclined my head and smiled.

She addressed the replicant, "Krenshar. Please set course for ...Anywhere. Let's go for a ride."

He answered her, "Anywhere is not a known system in my database."

x0x0 Zhangsun smiled "I see". She led her prize away to her waiting craft.

-----

Once they departed the ship I nodded to the troopers, "With me."

From the bridge, we watched as the small craft complete its descent towards the Dome.

"I think the saviour of Caliban has arrived on the surface," I said dryly, "...with his prophet...x0x0 Zhangsun."

"She's planning something, Major?" asked Trooper G.

"Oh, I am certain of it."

"What can we expect?"

"Did you notice the color of his lights?" I asked them.

"Yes," Trooper G. added, "I had noticed."

Trooper F. remarked, "Rust orange."

"There were purple... Alliance," I explained.

"Things have changed," replied Trooper G.

"Things always change, Trooper," I said, "The secret ...is directing those changes."

The Hollow Man

Oct. 24 - Caliban

Kurtz: Are you an assassin?

Willard: I'm a soldier.

Kurtz: You are neither. You're an errand boy, sent by grocery clerks, to collect a bill.

"Apocalypse Now"

-----

The doors over the landing pad slowly slid shut and the air hissed into the chamber to pressurize to life sustaining levels.

I flicked a switch on the transmitter and broadcast a message: *static* Mr. Krenshar... This is Major Siamendes...I have your bear... do you have my wolf? *static*

I did not wait for a reply. I climbed out of my X-313, opened the inner blast doors and began my ascent up the long ramp.

Someone times it's good to walk in unannounced. Surprise folks. Catch them with unaware. Other times a warning is in order. Draw people out. I had broadcast the message on the general channel. Anyone with their radio on would have heard that. My voice would have thundered across the dome.

I had Captain R ____ tracking Cody Winterwolf. It was she who contacted me to tell me that he and LilyBell had been captured and taken to Caliban. I decided to move fast in order to preserve the package. Winterwolf was worth more alive than in pieces.

I did not know what to expect on Caliban so for the first time in a while I was armed. I wore a breathing apparatus as I figured the immediate risk was someone cutting off my oxygen in the tunnel leading to and from the dome.

I came to the main airlock door. As I stood weighing the option of making my way to the surface and using the sewers to gain entrance, Alliance Door 7243 opened. There stood the replicant Krenshar Magic.

"Good day Ms Pepper," he said.

"Your bear," I said as I tossed it to the floor of the airlock. I wanted my hands free.

Krenshar looked at the bear, "I have nothing to pay for this with."

"You have Winterwolf. A bear for a wolf. A fair exchange."

Krenshar sighed, "I don't have him anymore."

"Oh?" I asked.

Krenshar continued, "I could not let the one I love be unhappy. I will find another path to take."

"Then perhaps you can get him for me."

"That would hurt the one I love and I cannot do that."

"I see," I added. I picked up the teddy bear and slipped it into the pouch on my leg. "So where is Winterwolf now?"

The inner door of the airlock slid open revealing a small crowd gathered just inside the dome. I recognized JJ from MacLaren's Drift.

She gasped. "Kren... just.... oh my God..."

She looked back over her shoulder as the door slid shut, tears running down her cheeks.

Krenshar continued, "It would be best to just take me now because I will not be able to pay for any of this.."

"Very well ..." I said.

"I will not struggle," declared Krenshar, "I will except my fate without a fight."

"Come along then," I said.

I opened Alliance Door 7242, and let my prisoner pass. Together, we walked down the long, dark tunnel back to the landing pad and my waiting craft.

Bear Hunt

Oct. 23 - Hale's Moon

“Give me a place to stand and with a lever I will move the whole world.” -Archimedes

-----

With x0x0 Zhangsun visiting Krenshar on Caliban I had a brief margin to search the settlement on Hale's Moon sure that I would be uninterrupted. I needed to find Aurora's bear for Krenshar.

More and more Blue Sun is exerting it's presence here. It seems they are the masters of corporate crawl and could teach the Zenobian Trade Association a thing or two.

In the Blue Sun compound, there was a swing set, a slide, a play land for children ...but no stuffed toys. I headed into the town itself and found my way to Lily's coffee shop.

Where are you Lily?

....and what are you looking at?

Following instinct more than logic, I traced the line of sight from the sign over Lily's coffee shop to the boarding house next door. It was there, in a room behind a purple privacy door, that I found the toy.

I could only guess at what significance it held for Krenshar.

Clones, Replicants and Other Duplicities

Oct. 23 - Caliban

I had three objectives for coming to Caliban.

First, on behalf of Deputy Lilybell, I wanted to try to convince Krenshar to stop 'cutting up cubs'. She approached me and her good favour would be useful. Besides, despite her eccentricities, dubious acquaintances, and shadowy origins, I found that I liked her. She was a fellow law woman, of sorts. My plan had been to speak with her about her request first, but then she and Cody Winterwolf had torched the laboratory on Caliban and had gone to ground. I would have to approach Krenshar directly.

Second, I wanted to inspect the damage for myself. It was a little known fact that the Alliance has been funding the laboratory and Krenshar's research on Caliban. Most people believe that the Alliance left Caliban after the Miranda Incident. It was more of a downsizing and outsourcing. I had UAP funds with me to restart the operation.

Third, I wanted to ensure that Cody Winterwolf if captured was unharmed.

As I approached the dome, I monitored Caliban radio traffic.

-----

**Mercedes Celestalis: Are there commercal flights to Caliban?**

**Krenshar Magic: This is Caliban control, we have not got any yet, the new ion cannons have just been installed.**

**Mercedes Celestalis: You have not paid for them, you naughty boy.**

**Krenshar Magic: This is Caliban control, may I ask your rank before I answer that question?**

**Mercedes Celestalis: I did not ask you a question that requires rank. Heard you are in the market for some cloning equipment. No warranty, you are a high risk.**

**Krenshar Magic: Yes I could be. I am not sure how I will be able to pay for them.**

**Mercedes Celestalis: We could make a trade.**

**Krenshar Magic: If you would like to come to Caliban and talk about your equipment I am sure we can work something out.**

**Mercedes Celestalis: Be there tomorrow. I will have arranged transport by then.**

**Krenshar Magic: We will expect to see you soon. Over.**

**Mercedes Celestalis: It's a date.**

-----

**Xzariya Khandr: Caliban control, this is Shephard Khandr. Do you know of any shipments arriving your station in the near future?**

**Krenshar Magic: We have a new shipping office opening next to the Cortex building: Sorrowman Shipping Ltd
He is very proud of his fleet of ships.**

**Xzariya Khandr: Thank you Caliban, Blessings upon you and yours.**

-----

I entered the dome and proceeded directly to Alliance Lab 81. I climbed the stairs until I came to the charred laboratory. The walls were blackened, the cloning tanks cracked.

"Mr Krenshar," I greeted the replicant has he entered the laboratory.

"Are you here under orders?" he asked.

"I am here to inspect the damages," I replied

"Under orders?" he pressed.

"And to talk with you," I added.

"Are you here for me?" he asked.

I did not confirm or deny anything. I was not ready to make this official. "I am here to talk. Was all the research destroyed in the fire?"

"Everything, what wasn't destroy was taken."

"What do you need to rebuild?" I asked as I tapped the surface of the growth tank.

Krenshar sighed. "To pay the Alliance, I owe them for two ion cannons and all the equipment in here."

"I have seen the notice on the wire... for LilyBell and Winterwolf..."

"Yes," said Krenshar, "The dome computer and two eyewitnesses have proved they where the ones to start the fire."

"...what do you plan to do next?" I asked.

"Fix Lilybell and Aurora as I have always been trying to do."

"She is concerned that you are 'cutting up' the cubs. Will you put her mind at rest?"

"You know where Lilybell is?" Krenshar asked.

"No," I said truthfully, "She sent me a message on a private channel."

"Aurora has been here with me for some time. Since she ran away everyone thinks I am dangerous but they don't really know me if they would think I would kill my own child.

"Mr. Krenshar...," I began.

He continued undeterred, "I mean they didn't ask me when they shipped her off. Why should I tell people when she comes to me crying and asks if she can live with me?"

Was that despair that I heard in his artificial voice? or some trick of my mind?

"Then why is Lily convinced...."

I stopped as in walked the ubiquitous Jai Raghilda. She really does get around.

"Well, well," I said, "Ms. Raghilda."

"Major," she acknowledged and stood off to the side.

Krenshar did not seem to notice the new arrival. He did however answer my half-formed question.

"Could be the unborn fetuses she stole from my lab. That is the last time I was her."

"Mr. Krenshar ...as a sentient machine... you could possibly be the next step in evolution. Why are you pulling the wings off flies?"

I glanced around the lab at the cracked growth tanks, aware of the dissection lab on the floor beneath us.

He didn't understand.

"Why would I pull the wings off of flies? They wouldn't be flies anymore."

"Lily asked me to tell you to stop cutting up the cubs."

"It's a metaphor," explained Ms. Raghilda helpfully.

"You want to cure your child..." I continued.

Krenshar interrupted, "I have the solution, but I don't have much time."

"Oh? Tell me what is your solution." I insisted.

Krenshar was resistant to elaborate. "I am not sure I can trust you with that uniform on. I owe the alliance way too much to mess up all I have worked for."

"I see," I replied.

"Is Mindo cooperating?" asked Ms. Raghilda. Her question surprised me. Good question.

"No, just x0x0." answered Krenshar, "She won't let me have Mindo because I would pull his wings off."

Ah, the machine that learns.

"Is this not an Alliance uniform?" I asked, returning to the original line of questioning.

"Yes it is," he replied, "That is why I asked if you came for me."

"Would you come if I asked?"

Krenshar sighed. "I would not fight you, but I need more time before I can come. I will come without a fight but I need more time. Once Aurora and Lilybell are repaired you can do what you want with me.

"Very well..." I decided "You will have your time..."

"I know this," continued Krenshar, "I sleep on the floor next to her bed every night and watch her get worse everyday."

He paused.

"There are 2 things I need to finish the job."

"Go on," I said.

"I need Aurora's teddy bear and 10 pieces of junk that are not really junk but they where sold by Lilybell."

I blinked, "I see." Actually it made no sense to me. The sudden absurdity set my mind momentarily spinning.

"Teddy bear?" asked Ms. Raghilda,"Like robot babies?"

"No," replied Krenshar, "It's her teddy bear, stuffed animal."

"Okay," said Ms. Ragihilda, "What about this junk?"

Krenshar explained, "The junk is really parts that are the same as my necklace."

"And how will that help?" I asked regaining my presence of mind and rejoining the interrogation.

Krenshar sighed, "x0x0 must merge then with Lilybell. This will fix what I have messed up.""

Fine, I thought. "Tell me about the necklace. "I took a closer look.

"It was a gift from Lilybell a long time ago."

"You care a great deal for her," I remarked.

"It makes us very close," said Krenshar.

"She is hurt by what you are doing," I pointed out.

"She made me who I am today. If she would just ask me I would tell her but people feel they need to guess at what I am doing and then spread rumors. I don't really care what people think, but ask if you want to know something..."

Jai Raghilda suddenly decided she needed to be somewhere else. "You will excuse me, I have a meeting. Mr. Krenshar, Major."

"Ms. Raghilda," I said as she departed.

Krenshar continued "...she understands me better than most, she just didn't bother to ask me. She took my subjects and ran and I haven't seen her since."

"Tell me about your subjects," I said.

"They were genetic tests on Aurora's DNA so I could figure out how to fix her."

"You grew clones of your child?" I admit I was horrified.

"I never let them develop they where because I wanted to make sure I was right, I couldn't hurt Aurora."

"But the clones were fair game..." I said following his line of logic.

He nodded.

"Don't you see how this would upset Lily?" I asked.

"No, she was worried about how much coin I was going to make. Aurora and Lilybell do not like each other."

I found this hard to believe. But you never know.... families, eh?

"Let me play back the message for you...from Lily then you can decide." I played back the recording

LilyBell Snoodle's voice echoed in the burned out laboratory: **Mercedes taked cubs and brain too. Not let Krenshar cut up no more cubs name Aurora. Thank you**

Krenshar was puzzled. "By you own organic laws, they where not alive yet, I do not see the problem."

I looked up at Krenshar, "Oh the problem is not with me... your problem is with Lily. I told her I would help."

"She will be returned to me soon or the order will just keep increasing the reward," Krenshar added with certainty.

"I see."

Krenshar continued, "I am not the only one to vote on this everyone of my brothers voted. I am just one of the 248 replicants on the moon."

"248."

"Yes, any replicant that seeks freedom is allowed to come to Caliban."

I nodded. "And what of Mr. Winterwolf?"

"I just want answers," said Krenshar,"If he is honest then nothing should happen, but if he tries to lie the order is not as forgiving as me. In my eyes he tried to destroy my family."

Time to get official.

"You are not to harm his eyes or the chip in his head," I instructed.

"These are Alliance property?"

"They are," I confirmed.

"Chip?" asked a mechanic working quietly in the rear of the laboratory and obviously listening in.

A big smile came to Krenshar's face.

I asked him again about the teddy bear.

"Do you have this bear?" asked Krenshar.

"I can get it," I promised. "Then perhaps the bear for Mr. Winterwolf.... unmolested."

Krenshar laughed.

I smiled.

"I can not say what the bounty hunters will do to him." said Krenshar.

Hands on my hips I looked about the laboratory. "Now.... looking at this lab.... what can I do to help you get back up and running. The Alliance wants it's research continued.

"I have found a way to get more DNA but I have nothing left to pay for new equipment."

"I can help with that," I said, "How much do you need?"

"I need a new one of these to grow my clones... and at least one of the large tanks. All three are for growing different parts but I can work around most of it."

"Now," I circled back,"... how are we .. you and I going to put Lily's mind at rest."

"Bring her to me and I can do that."

"That will be difficult ... she trusts me less that she trusts you..."

Krenshar proclaimed, "We are one. She is in me and I am in her."

"I see," I replied.

Krenshar frowned a little and looked at the floor, "I would give it up to save them both and it looks like the only way."

"You may have to find another way to fix your child. She makes no distinction between Aurora and the clones."

Krenshar suddenly stopped. "The dome is telling me there is a dangerous person in the dome to use caution. Did you send for more troops?"

"I did not. Like I said I came to talk."

The dome talks to him. Good to know.

"Unsafe," chirped the mechanic.

Krenshar paused, "hmm wonder what has the dome so spooked."

"Then we must be quick...," I said and I handed him some money.

"What is this for?" he asked.

"Use that towards restarting the lab," I replied.

"Is this money?"

"It is."

"I have lots of these papers," said Krenshar.

"Good, then you should be fine."

Exactly at that moment x0x0 Zhangsun walked into the room. She stopped and blinked.

"Ms x0x0," remarked Krenshar, "I see why the dome was spooked now."

"Ms. Zhangsun...," I said cheerfully, "A pleasant surprise."

x0x0 Zhangsun looks at me, then back at Krenshar "When you have a moment, I'd like to speak with you. I'll wait outside."

"A friend of yours?" I asked Krenshar.

"I am working with her, yes." he replied. "I will do as you ask."

"Thank you," I said.

The mechanic stopped his repairs and glared at the wall as though he could see Ms. Zhangsun standing behind it.

"Then I hope to see a report of the research once your lab is back up and running. I will in the meantime get the bear."

"If you have the proper clearance I will be happy to share it. Thank you Ms Pepper."

"Thank you Mr. Krenshar."

The mechanic nodded to me.

On the landing I passed x0x0 Zhangsun. I nodded in greeting, "Ms. Zhangsun."

"Major is it?" she asked.

"Yes," I replied.

"Good day," she said curtly.

As I walked down the stairs, I could hear them.

Ms. Zhangsun's voice: "Close the gorram door!"

Krenshar's voice: "Ms xOXO,"

Ms. Zhangsun's voice: "What in the hell are you doing putting a bounty on Lily?"

Their voices faded as I walked away.

Cri du Pas Chat

Oct. 21 - Zenobia

Another paperwork day, and while not as pleasant as the last one, it was, at least, as productive.

I took a call from Trade Association Delegate, Jai Raghilda.

"I have someone that can help you," she began. "I have located the salvage broker. Mercedes Celestalis."

"You mentioned her on Gateway, yes, and do you have a location?"

"She is back on Eavesdown in Persephone."

I nodded, "Thank you, that is useful. Did you find Cody Winterwolf?"

"He was in MacLaren yesterday."

No surprise, I thought, that is where I saw him last. "And did you get the information that you wanted?"

"Yes."

"Good."

"After the arrests are made I will trade you for the file." She referred to arresting those responsible for black market organ harvesting. The file was the data disk Winterwolf had had in his possession detailing reaver control experiments.

"That is agreeable," I said. "On another matter... have you been to Splintered Rock?"

"Not lately, but soon."

"I have to meet the Governor. I know you are a good negotiator."

"I have some good luck," she conceded.

"I wonder if you would like to join me on that trip."

"I would. What is the objective of the meeting?"

Straight to the point. I was beginning to admire this one.

"At this point, we need to make formal introductions... learn a bit about their world ... who is who, that sort of thing."

"They have a lot of factional politics."

"Yes, and all the more reason to meet the people involved before establishing any kind of formal relation." I left details out. She could do her own math.

"Agreed," she replied.

"Very good then."

"I am not letting Mercedes know that you will be looking for her." She drew us back. This was important to her.

"I appreciated that."

"She is the link to the organ leggers. I am hoping that you can get her to flush out the organ leggers and you can maybe get your contact with Ardra."

This was her price it seems.

"That would be helpful," I admitted.

"But she is the best hope for you to get in touch with Ardra."

"Thank you again for your help."

"A pleasure doing business with you, Major."

"And with you Madam Delegate."

And so ... an understanding after all.

-----

Oh, and then there was this message waiting on my private channel:

**static** This a message for Alliance. **Mercedes taked cubs and brain too. Not let Krenshar cut up no more cubs name Aurora. Thank you**