Rim Space Campaign

040627 (27.June.2004)          Dancing Around

Day 290, Thurs., Neon Pig System.

The Sorcerer lay in orbit around the planet Banker and Eddie had called "the Right Place" but which, on the star charts, was called "Neon Pig." Art ventured out to replenish himself with the rays of a "good" sun and to attempt again to refuel the ship.

Banker hunted up the engineer for a private conference. "Eddie, I've noticed that when decisions have been coming up as to where this ship's going, Jamie seems to be making a lot of the calls. That's ok. But we ought to establish some order. I know we, you and I, own this ship fifty-fifty. But I'm thinking that we ought to offer these people shares. After all, we couldn't be as far along as we are without them. We can't refuel without Art; Jamie's learned to read all sorts of stuff about the ship that we couldn't; and, well, Janni has saved my life several times. At any rate, I think we owe them. What do you think? Maybe 5%?"
Eddie: "We've not earned much of anything yet, so shares aren't worth too much. But maybe they will be. And, yes, this crew's useful." He shrugged. "You're the pilot. This ship goes where you want it to. I'm willing to go along with you."
Banker grinned crookedly. "Yes, I'm the pilot. And if anything happened to me, well... Janni's been working with the trainer, but, if I'm dead and Janni has to fly the ship, make sure you have life pods."
Eddie: "Don't go dying 'til we get one."

From the journal of Jannisett.
Day 290, Thurs., Neon Pig System.
I am still remembering things about NRW - about Home. Jinan has not been doing her katas; she's been "doing homework instead." Perhaps that is why she does not wish to be a protector; without practise one loses ones' edge, and without that edge, one is dangerous to oneself and ones' charge, unable to meet the challenge of an assassin. But - she should not forget what it means to be a Marr. Perhaps Jamie will help me send a message Home so that I can tell her.

Jinan should be full-grown at age eleven, in a couple of years. But the first thing I noticed when she'd been sold to Korak was that she had not been growing as fast as she ought. And that is something I noticed again, this time at NRW. She is just not the right size for her age. It seems wrong - and yet, I do not think that the other children at Sam's ranch are their full size when they turn eleven. Is this like the bleeding? Did the - Owners - do something to us, to our people, that hastens our growth? I cannot ask Annie, but, perhaps, Art would know.

Roks: "Art is not doing well."
Jamie: "I've noticed."
Roks: "Art needs help from all of you. It'll be uncomfortable for you at best. You have become accustomed to Art's habit of leaning on people and seeking physical contact. But Art's people were accustomed to shared emotion, mind-to-mind. Art's sense of loneliness is nearly unfathomable and difficult to overcome. In lieu of an established mental rapport - which Art does not seem able to have with any of us - it would be beneficial if you would spend time as close to it as possible - even laying down next to it. I don't have the body mass to make a difference. Even lying on top of it, I think it cannot feel my presence. Your minds are more comfortable for Art as well. Can you do this?"

I was sure that I could do it and Banker and Jamie also agreed. Eddie was very hesitant.
Eddie: "I've had to share bunk space before..."
Banker: "That's generally been on a crowded ship where crew slept in shifts, not in the same bunk at the same time."
Eddie, with what I thought was a slightly dreamy tone: "The very best of times I've shared at the same time." Then he went back to being reluctant. "It'll take some getting used to."

Banker looked at Eddie: "Should we tell 'em?"
Eddie: "Uh. Hunh?"
Banker: "Eddie and I were thinking..."
Eddie, with insight: "Oh, yeah!"
Banker continued, "That without any one of us, this ship wouldn't be around and we wouldn't be alive --without each of us. So we think you should all be part owners and have a say in where we're going."
I: "I have a ship."
Eddie: "You can have more than one ship."
Banker: "I hate to say this, but you might never get that ship back."
Roks: "It would be best if I didn't have an interest in any ship; I have a lot of creditors."
The others all seemed to smile and agree. This is a happier thing than Grey giving me his ship; Eddie and Banker are alive. I want them to stay that way.

Day 291, Friday, Neon Pig System.

He awoke with the weight of a big heavy animal on top of him and a fringe of something - tentacles, he realized with some revulsion - dangling in his face. Tentacle-face seemed to be dead; at least no breath moved the fringe. He scrunched his face up at the notion of how that would have felt. Ugh. He shoved to get the thing off and sat up.

For a moment the carcass seemed to hang in mid-air and then it thumped to one side. He saw that a vaguely familiar blue-skinned girl had caught it and deflected its fall. Something like a doll made out of rock had been in its original trajectory. He asked, "Where am I?"

Suddenly a Voice pounded in his head. < There's another! Success! >

A small brown-haired woman rubbed sleep out of her eyes and cried, "Croy!"

The Voice punched into his skull even louder. < Welcome back! > He reeled from the mental impact as it continued blaring, < What's your last memory? What can you remember? >

He gasped, "I don't know."

An older man sat up. The mental Voice insisted, < Do you remember Banker? >

The room seemed filled with bodies, all of them stirring and looking at him. The blue-skinned girl was vigourously shaking the carcass - which was clearly alive, its golden face peering close to his own. "Art, what is happening?" she said.

He could hear the Voice in his head, followed, out of sync, by the rocky thing chattering in common: "He has the functionality of my race's communication. The repairs have been effected and the ship has allowed consciousness."

The mention of the ship stirred something in his mind. He tapped into that knowledge. The ship's intercom asked, "Can you hear me?"

Shepherd: "Where are we?"
Eddie: "Above a planet called Neon Pig."
Shepherd: "How long have I been out?"
Art: "A.. short.. time."
Jamie: "Art's notion of time is different than ours. To us," she said to Art, "that was a very long time." She faced Shepherd again. "You were out for the better part of a year." She paused for a moment, "What should we call you? Do you recognize Croy?" He nodded. "Or Shepherd?"
Shepherd: "What's shepherd?"
Jamie: "Croy it is."
Shepherd: "You can call me what you like - Croy or Shepherd, it does not matter to me."
Banker: "If you were going into hiding from someone, it might matter to them - and to you."
Shepherd: "I don't remember."
Eddie: "You came onto the ship as Shepherd."

Shepherd: "Where are we going?"
Eddie: "Down to the planet; we're tired of being shipboard."
Jamie: "And we're meeting someone down there in a couple of weeks."
Shepherd: "Will you show me around the ship?"
Jamie: "Sure."

Shepherd was unsteady for a moment but otherwise seemed in good physical shape. Art expressed amazement at his motor co-ordination retention. I had to remind Art that that was why I had insisted on exercising Shepherd's limbs even while he was unconscious. Art still does not understand human muscles, I think. Nonetheless, in my opinion, Shepherd was in better shape than I expected. Is it possible that Art's treatments do more than Art is aware that they do?

I pointed to the gooey pile in the corner of Art's room. "That's your exo-suit. We had to take it off of you so that Art could take samples and properly treat you." I remembered how surprised I had been at how much older and more massive the suit had made him look. And how the others had been sure, when I told them of Art's and my discovery, that Shepherd must "be on the run" to have worn such a disguise.

Jamie showed him to his old room. I had not looked there before. He had some armor and weapons [some low-key kinetics and a couple of energy weapons] ; he seemed concerned that there was no computer. Perhaps this is one of the things he does not remember correctly.
Shepherd: "Is there an exercise room?"
I: "You can work out with me. I do katas in the hold."

Shepherd: "I remember the fight and her," he looked at me again, "putting my head back together. Where was that?"
I: "On Trinkal."
Jamie: "A lot has happened since then." She went on to explain that after leaving Trinkal we'd gone to Froddelberg and she'd used the 'hedron which had created a StarGate for the ship and transported us to another galaxy. There we'd found the ancient alien installation and she'd talked it into releasing Art."
Shepherd: "Was I with you?"
I: "You went back with Banker to protect the ship."
Jamie continued filling Shepherd in on our past, telling how Art's race brought Roks' race to sentience and how she got the star maps from the facility before it shut down. Then she explained about our heading for the one StarGate in that galaxy and how Art could re-fuel the ship. By then Shepherd was looking a little overwhelmed with information.
Shepherd: "Where was I?"
Jamie described how he had been attacked by the ship's cable. "And Art and Jannisett have been taking care of you for the last nine months."
Shepherd did not seem happy about all that. He asked for a mirror and looked at the holes in his forehead. Then he found a piece of cloth and wrapped it around his head. We can no longer see his forehead decor.

Jamie took her energy pistol, Eddie had his big kinetic weapon [Had 26 total rounds; one has been fired.], Shepherd had a couple of his weapons strapped on, and I took my sword and staff. Just as we were prepared to disembark, Shepherd said to Banker, "When we leave, you should be aware there are two anti-craft missiles out there. The launch platforms are undercover and not prepped yet." He looked at the rest of us, "Everyone got weapons?" I told him, "Art does not use weapons and we have nothing the right size for Roks."

There was a cluster of people in uniform at the exit gate.
Shepherd, under his breath: "Warburtons. Amateurs. Dangerous amateurs. Just waiting for us."
Eddie: "There're only eight of 'em. Maybe they're not waiting for us."
Shepherd: "Art moves real slow. Why don't we build him some sort of skate board, a carriage of sorts, so we're not stuck when we have to move fast?"
Eddie, happily: "I didn't know you liked to build things. We can do that!"

Warburton: "Welcome to the City of Yellow Bacon. The law abiding 'folks' of Yellow Bacon are a peaceable people and strongly urge you not to bring weapons into their fair city."
Eddie: "How strongly?"
Warburton: "You can't bring weapons in."
Shepherd: "Is it possible to purchase permits so that we can carry them?"
Warburton: "Not in this city. Other cities allow it. You can purchase a permit and turn over your weapon and we will take it and see that it is delivered to you on the outskirts of this city." He looked at me. "Swords, too; that's clearly for killing people."
Eddie snickered [at the thought that Jannisett needed a weapon to kill].
Shepherd and Jamie gathered our weapons - although they left Art and me with our staves and the Warburtons did not seem to mind - and took them back to the ship. The ship door opened.

Jamie, knowing that Eddie had the control device, asked, "Did you do that?"
Shepherd: "I think so. That whole thing about being part of the ship's communication...."

Jamie chose a hotel and then we all followed Banker and Eddie to a bar. Banker "chatted up" the bartender and then others joined in.
Barman: "Whatcha drink?"
I, as others were ordering: "Are we on guard?"
Jamie: "We're being careful, but we can relax." I put in an order.
Shepherd, sotto voce: "We should be always on guard."
I heard him, so I just played with my drink when it came. I remembered going out with Becca on FRW: drink affects my edge seriously. I can't afford that if I'm on guard. And the others didn't have weapons; I did.
Shepherd: "Why does this city hire private guards to confiscate guns?"
Barman: "The Founding Fathers hired these people three to four months ago. It's cut down on murders but not on violence. Not that most people have guns, so it doesn't matter."
Shepherd: "What about outlaws with weapons?"
Barman: "Not that many've been caught. There was a lucrative amnesty program for a while where the city traded money for people's guns. But I don't know how long the peace can last."
Jamie: "Why?"
Barman: "There are lots of people who aren't the type to give their guns to anyone but want the use of this port. None of 'em have run the blockade, yet."

Art was interested in the other humans in the bar. Although it noticed what might have been auras of distrust, Art managed a few moments of "closeness" with new people. Shepherd had to warn it, "Keep your distance. Two feet away is a good rule."

Eddie got impatient and decided to go to another bar. As we were supposed to stay in pairs, I went with him. I think he really wanted to get away from everybody from the Sorcerer, but he made the rule. I tried to be a quiet, inconspicuous asim.

Day 293, Sunday. City: Yellow Bacon, Planet: Neon Pig.
Two days later. We have settled into the hotel. Art spends most of its time sunning itself next to the pool. The water looked very pretty and I wanted to experience it. But Eddie told me I would have to learn to "swim", otherwise I would "drown" and if someone tried to rescue me, being a "drowning" person would make me hurt them. I really, really don't want to hurt people. Maybe someday Eddie will have time to teach me "swimming." I asked and he said, "We would have to get you a swim suit." Then he got a very peculiar look on his face. "That would cause a lot of trouble." I think that means no. I will look out the window and watch Art and the water in the pool.

Art has had its share of disappointment too. It wanted to investigate this planet's flora and fauna. So Jamie inquired about the possibility of "going camping" and reported back that it would be too difficult when we are not allowed to carry weapons. [Some locals tend to follow rental vehicles out to the bush and ambush them.]

Roks has booked passage on another ship but is waiting to see what our next route will be, in case it is more optimal for his intended travel.
Jamie: "How long before Art will be able to recharge our ship?"
Roks: "Not for another week or two."
Art: "Now. But.. not.. same.. level."
Art definitely seems to be putting on mass again. I think its strength is recovering too.

The others seem to be enjoying themselves shopping. Jamie promised to teach Art about human commerce so, sometimes, it accompanies her on her "shopping trips." She seems very fond of food flavourings. I admit that flavour would be a nice addition to our "goo" aboard the ship. Food in this city, however, is also a welcome change. It has colour and texture and flavour - very different from goo and, as well, from traditional fare at Not-Home.

In addition, Jamie regularly takes Art in the "taxis" back to the ship to check on his experiments.

Shepherd does not seem to be uncomfortable with his current 'self.' He has asked us to tell him about his past so I tried very hard to repeat what old-Shepherd had told me about being a "shepherd with his flock". It seemed to make very little sense to now-Shepherd. I had thought it to be about being an asim for a group of people, but now I am not sure. The fault may be in my lack of understanding his original teachings

Shepherd has shopped for a new computer. Eddie haunts "junk shops" for parts for his "tinkering".

Banker and Eddie both claim they've been enjoying the "night life."

I think I am bored. I do not have a job off the ship either. The hotel rooms are smaller than the Sorcerer's hold. Sam was right.

Shepherd, mentally: < Art, can you show me what's wrong with Jannisett? The zot box? >
Art: < It is a spinal attachment that is triggered by a StarGate signal to cause unconsciousness. I am trying to devise a temporary blockage of such signals. Also to eliminate the signals that cause death and extreme pain. >

Shepherd tried inputting the information Art had given him into his new computer, but determined that he had insufficient data. However, with Eddie's cooperation, he considered building a remote control device for which Art knew the frequency range.
Shepherd: "Can we build a jammer?"
Eddie: "I'm getting pretty good with frequency stuff. But jamming a signal - particularly a trigger - is tricky business. You can set off the device in doing so. I could stop it with a field after it has hit. It couldn't be on all the time if she's to walk around; there'd be too high power requirements. She'd have to take the hit before the field could jam it. I'll think on it." He paused a moment. "Hey, it doesn't make sense that this same thing is triggered by a StarGate. A StarGate doesn't use lots of frequencies."

A group of four very large men who clearly had what Eddie has taught me is "augmentations" worked their way up to the front of the crowd on one side. Then a group of six very pretty and very tiny "Asian" women went up to the front on the other side; the crowd moved to make way for them. I was feeling very "in tune" with the music when the largest of the augmented men came to our table and looked at me. "Dance?" he said. I smiled and said, "Yes, I do" and heard Jamie say almost at the same time, "We should...." Then another of the big men asked her, "Dance?" She said, "I don't know how," but he was already asking the others, "You mind if we dance with your dates?" I didn't hear any more. It was so much fun to be out dancing again.

Eddie: "Those girls are heading towards the guys with our women. We should be prepared."
Banker: "That one big guy has been shadowing Janni and her partner from about 10 feet away."

The song ended and Jamie looked around, but Jannisett was out of reach. The brunette tried to excuse herself but was, conveniently, escorted by the man she now knew was called Sundown to the Ladies Room.

Shepherd thrust his hand at Eddie, "Don't get caught." The engineer found himself holding a pistol. Both men threaded their way into the crowd that was backing off the dance floor.

Emerging again, Jamie saw that Jannisett's partner was now seated. Sundown guided her to that table and asked her, "Drink?"
Jamie: "White wine spritzer."
Sundown: "Champagne cooler?"
Jamie, firmly: "White wine spritzer."
Within moments she could see Jannisett dancing with one of the Asian women, whose two "satellites" stayed close. Two more of the Asian women stayed not too far from the big men's table. Jamie muttered to herself, "If I survive this, I'll kill Banker. This was his idea." Then she turned to Sundown. "Do you know those women?"
Rabbi answered, "Yeah, they're trouble. This is their territory."
Jamie: "So you guys left my friend with them so that they can hurt her!?"
Rabbi: "I don't think they mean to hurt her. What's your friend's name? She's very pretty."
Jamie: "Why are these other - women - near us?"
Rabbi, a tad uncomfortable: "A sign of respect."
Jamie: "I don't think so. Who are you?"
Rabbi: "We're most of the Vandals. There are three others of us. I'm called Rabbi."
Jamie: "We're just here for a couple of days, then we're heading out. We're trying not to get hurt and not get anyone else hurt." [PERSUASION by 5, attempting to get the Vandals to allow her to leave safely when she decides to.]

As the dance finished, I saw one of #1's - her name was Kim - friends leading Banker out the door. So Kim and I hurried to follow. I was a little surprised and hurt that Banker had not waited so that we could all go together.

Banker over his chip: "Heading to another party. See ya!"
Eddie: "Taking somebody with you?"
Banker: "Oh yes!"
Eddie: "One of us?"
Banker: "Jannisett's coming too."
Jamie had left her large companions: "Those women are part of a gang!"
Shepherd: "Let's follow to see if it's ok. So far there's just been dancing."

Shepherd and Eddie found that the new "party" had obvious bouncers, one outside and two within the semi-abandoned building. Its appearance was decidedly ramshackle.
Shepherd: "Eddie? Window? Door? Talk your way past the bouncer?"
Eddie: All kinds of places we can climb in on the upper floors. I'm not the guy to talk. Do you have money?"
Shepherd: "Don't think money's the answer in this place."

Meanwhile, back at the first dance club, Jamie had finally extricated herself and Art.
Shepherd chipped her in, "We just got here."
Eddie added, "We've got to help Janni and Banker."
Shepherd: "We're going in."
Jamie: "Art and I can't help from here."

Jamie chipped in: "We're outside the 'party'. We're conspicuous out here."
Shepherd: "See if they'll let you in. We're on the 2nd floor."

Jamie and Art walked up to the entrance.
Bouncer: "Who do you know?"
Jamie: "My blue friend's here. Her name's Jannisett."
Bouncer: "OK." Then he looked at Art. "Should that be on a leash?"
Jamie: "He's housebroken. Not dangerous at all. He'll hang out with you here if you want."
Bouncer: "No, not while on duty."
Jamie, entering: "Have fun."

Art, enthralled: "This.. is.. where.. humans.. congregate. We.. must.. visit.. many.. dance clubs."
Jamie, intending to mingle and explore, said, "Have fun. Stay out of trouble." She led him around, pet-like, and the other partygoers took to the huggable alien like a party teddy bear. Shortly she decided he could be left with his new friends.

Kim was standing on the far side of the room, talking to a young man. I placed myself near and waited for their conversation to finish. However, the man noticed me first, "May I help you?"
I: "I wish to offer Kim an apology and I do not think you can help with that."
He smiled slightly and Kim turned towards me.
I: "Your friends tell me that I upset you and insulted you. I meant to do neither and do apologize for seeming to."
Her face stayed cold. "OK," she said and turned back to her conversation.

I thought, 'Perhaps that is the custom of this place in accepting apologies.' I had hoped she would seem happier. I decided that talking seemed to be a path to trouble so I went back to dancing, trying to stay where I could watch the passageway from which Banker would emerge.

A few dances later I noticed Kim approach the man who was my partner. I realized that he had been the man who was with her when I apologized. She threw a martial kick towards his head. That made no sense, but I did not want another fight. So I caught her foot before it could land the blow. "Would you like to dance," I invited her. The man stepped back and away. Unfortunately, Kim did not seem to want to dance and I found myself blocking her blows and backing away as two of her friends tried to flank me.

Shepherd and Eddie had worked their way out of the air ducts and down the stairs to join the party - in time to see the crowd spreading out, getting out of the way of the combatants.
Shepherd: "Are you any good in a fist fight?"
Eddie: "If Jannisett can't handle 'em, I won't be of any use."
Shepherd: "You can shoot 'em!"
Eddie: "You said fist fight."

The Asian woman landed a good blow to Jannisett's back shoulder.
Art felt something. < One of my friends has been hurt. >
Shepherd could see one of the Asian girls nearby readying a throwing knife; he covered her with his hidden gun.
Jamie picked up a chair and started edging towards another of the Asian outliers.
Eddie stayed near the wall watching for anyone but the Asian girls who might be considering getting involved.

The leading Asian woman made a well-placed kick to the blue-skinned girl's torso, stunning her. Jamie noticed that the crowd was murmuring in wonder at the "superb choreography" of the "floor show" but the brunette could tell that her friend's defense had failed. "Well, it's time," she broadcast over her chip.
Shepherd: "Let's make our way to the door."

Then the others watched Jannisett "come to" and in a smooth swift right-hand punch, fling her opponent 30-feet into a half-dozen people, all of whom took damage. Everyone else halted in amazement [42 PRE] as Art headed towards the pile of bodies and Eddie chuckled into his chip, "I told you if she couldn't do it herself, I couldn't help her."

Shepherd guessed the alien's intent: "Good idea, Art. Heal her." However, his target re-aimed her knife and threw it at Art. The knife seemed to stick deeply in its clothes [7 BOD, 21 STUN] and then dropped to the floor.

Jamie swung her chair, hitting her target in the back of the head. The woman dropped heavily to the ground. The irate attacker shouted, "Is the requirement for being in this gang to be terminally stupid?"

The audience's mood swung from amazed to horrified as the carnage spread. Someone shouted, "It's eating her! Ahh-h-h-h!" as Art examined the first fallen fighter.

The two Asians facing Jannisett backed away a few steps and then fled.

Shepherd: "Can't we all get along? We'll leave. Enjoy your party." The knife-wielder turned part way in his direction with another knife.
Shepherd: "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" as he hastily tried to keep his gun concealed.
The knife-girl turned back and ran towards Art. Shepherd ran after her.

Jamie surveyed the confusion and spotted a scantily-clad woman sprinting down a back corridor towards the conflict. The brunette's command went over the chips, "Tell Art we need to leave. No more playing with bodies." As Shepherd conveyed this to the alien, Art thought back, < It is of no use. She is beyond my ability to resuscitate. > But Shepherd, too, had spotted the new arrival and doubled back to check on Banker, cursing the man for having deactivated the receiver in his chip.

The knife girl stabbed Art in the back [7 body, 21 stun] . Jannisett, too late to prevent the attack, punched the knife girl away, limp but still living - at least until she hit the wall.
Art shuffled over to his attacker's crumpled form and attempted to revive her - but discovered she was "dead". [Badly blown paramedic roll.]
Shepherd called over the chip, "Banker, Banker. Are you alive? Are you well?" as he tried the closed bedroom door.
Eddie and Jamie each made their way out of the rapidly-emptying building, the latter muttering under her breath, "Stupid fucking people. They want to die."

As the scantily clad Asian arrowed towards Jannisett, the blue-skinned girl called to her, "I did not want this fight!" but the other screamed something incomprehensible about "killing my friends" then swung on Art. Jannisett swiftly blocked the blow. Art started towards the door. Jannisett struck the girl in the chest and the unconscious form landed at Art's feet. The alien again stooped to assist and, again, failed.

Shepherd heard a scrabbling in the air duct above the corridor and grinned to himself. Banker was making his exit the way Eddie and the communicator had come in. He poked a hole in the ceiling in the direction he knew Banker should go, trying to indicate the direction to the older man. Banker turned his chip back on and Shepherd was able to give him directions towards the exit.

Outside, Eddie removed yet another data crystal from the cameras he had spotted recording the on-going excitement.

Jannisett, examining the injured not-courtesan, realized that with proper care, the girl could be saved. She thumbed on her communicator, "Jamie! Call a medical facilitator! This one could survive if help comes fast enough!" Jamie answered, "I will if you get our people out of here." The blue girl turned to see Art pull a spine from Kim's splintered body. For the first time in her life she suppressed the gag reflex and gasped out, "Art?" It answered, "Need.. fresh.. for.. research."

Exiting the back to meet Banker, Shepherd noticed a hidden camera.
He growled over his chip, "They got cameras in this place."
Eddie: "Yeah. I'm taking care of it."
Shepherd: "Erasing or destroying?"
Eddie: "They won't get it."

As I escorted Art out the front door, Shepherd had already assembled the rest of the Sorcerer's crew.
Shepherd: "Some Warburtons are going to show up at the ship looking for Art or Jannisett. Are we abandoning ship?"
Eddie: "Not!"
Shepherd: "We're one of the few groups in this city who are armed."
Eddie looked at Shepherd, "Remember what I said?" and then he glanced at me. I felt horrible; I had been a very poor 'pair'.
The group managed to find a bag to wrap Art's research subject in; I saw that the skull had come with the spine. I felt odd again; Kim had danced so well. Art seemed to be generating some sort of protective field around it and muttered something about "still.. almost.. living." While we were doing that, Jamie and Shepherd left and got the truck from our ship so that we could get Art back safely and speedily.

In the truck we talked a little.
I: "The last time I got in trouble like this, I had to get on a ship and go away."
Eddie: "I don't think it'll be like that."
Jamie: "They were gang members. Perhaps no one will care." I thought about her words and realized that she was wrong: I care.

As I helped Art to its room/laboratory in the ship, I noticed that the knife wounds had made deep dark scores in its hide They did not seem to ooze; I do not think that Art has blood. But I offered to get the medikit stapler to close its wounds. It had already spread the spine out for analysis and said, "No. No. Must.. work.. immediately.. while.. still.. fresh. Lie .. down." Shepherd was near and, after a moment, told me, "Art thinks that he can use what he has learned from his - specimen - to deactivate your zot box. But it must be done soon. Now. He wants you to lay down so that he can get started." Somehow Shepherd seems able to translate without Art speaking. I trust Art. I wonder if Kim would mind; she did not give permission to be a thing. I still do not understand why events went so very wrong this night. Life was simpler when I did not know it was wrong to kill in defense. I laid face down.

Eddie and Banker proposed leaving the ship again. That started a heated discussion about Banker shutting off communication, to which he replied with a graphic description of what it was that Jannisett and the ship communications had interrupted.
Jamie commented coldly, "Maybe going to bed with a gang-banger was not a good idea."
Banker: "I won't argue that point with you, but I think you're wrong."
Jamie: "And it was right leaving Jannisett alone in a room full of them?"
Banker: "That wasn't part of the plan." Slowly, "I think I was shanghaied. They may have slipped something in my drink."
Jamie, scornfully: "It takes something in your drink in order for you to bed a woman?"
Banker: "I didn't want to leave Janni. But I did; I don't know why. If people had been talking about imminent danger, I wouldn't have turned it off. Guess I won't talk to Janni about all this later."

Eddie and Banker did leave and joined Roks back in the hotel rooms.

Day 294, Monday. City: Yellow Bacon, Planet: Neon Pig.

Jannisett was unconscious amidst Art's manifold experiments. The rest of the group gathered to discuss their problems.
Jamie: "The people at that party were 'way freaked out. They thought that Art was eating them." She turned to the alien, "They'll try to kill you and us."
Art: "Why?"
Jamie: "They think you are a monster!"
Art: "This is your definition of a crime? Is not truth on my side?"
Jamie: "It doesn't matter."
Eddie: "When it comes to fear, humans are irrational. When it comes to something they fear, they behave irrationally."
Banker nodded at the young engineer.
Art: "Such mis-perceptions should be corrected."
Jamie: "They can't be corrected. It's irrational."
Art: "Then bring them with us. They will see that I don't do what they think I do."
Jamie: "They will think that if you are not doing it now, you are simply trying to hide doing it."

Banker tried to break the tension. "Art, how is Janni doing? Will your experiment have her up and around soon?" He turned to Shepherd, "Despite the fact that a year is a long time, Art got you working really fast. We thought there'd first be a little clone of you running 'round the ship."
Shepherd: "Clone?" He thought at Art: < Clone? You trying to clone me? >
Art: < No. >
Shepherd: < Parts of me? >
Art: < Yes, in the lab. >
Shepherd: < May I have them back? >
Art: < The group ceded them to me. They are combined with others. >
Shepherd: < Oh, no! What are you trying to create? >
Art: < I'm trying to understand your race, its development. Returning presents problems in the future. >
Shepherd: < Not returning presents problems now. I will find you replacement parts. >
Art: < Your parts are part of experiments; they are beyond your reach. >

That night, Shepherd searched the ship for Art's so-called experiments. He ended in Art's room while the alien seemed to be sleeping, its tentacles pressed into Jannisett's white hair. Shepherd could see liquid from various organic apparatuses dripping into Jannisett's azure body. All of Shepherd's nudging and pushing could not seem to wake her keeper.
The communicator dropped into mental contact with the golden alien. < I'll get you other parts. >
Art's somnolent mind replied, < That would be nice. But your parts are inextricably linked. >
Shepherd: < I want to see what you've done with me. >
Art's brain flooded Shepherd's with unintelligible images, all of which seemed organic and none even vaguely human or fetal.
Shepherd: < Matter still exists. What form and what location? >
Art's mind seemed to point Shepherd's attention towards several different piles of goo. The two minds argued with the intensity of children for some while with no effective result, one insisting on ownership, the other on the impossibility of return.
Shepherd, finally: < I have a request. In the future. No more parts from me. >

Day 295, Tuesday, City:Yellow Bacon, Planet: Neon Pig.

Art: "Group.. meeting!"
Banker looked at Eddie, "We're five minutes away."
Eddie: "He called, we should go."
Banker: "If you're going, I'll go."
As the group assembled in Art's room, Jamie looked at the still blue form, "Is Jannisett ok?"
Banker: "Why is there a red tennis ball attached to her back - and why is it pulsing?"
Art: "Because [unintelligible]."
Shepherd: "If that wasn't there, her autonomic responses would not work." He turned to Art, "You called this meeting?"
Art: "Croy has said.. he cedes no decision making.. regarding his biological parts."
The group broke into several protesting voices: "Your brain had no chance of recovering...", "We said 'save him'...", "We assumed that...."
Shepherd: "That is different from saving samples for future experiments."
Eddie: "He needed to study samples in order to determine a treatment."
Banker: "We all said go ahead and do it."
Shepherd: "Other than a matter of life and death - don't do it again."
Eddie: "In the same circumstances, should we do it again?"
Banker: "You would have been just a vegetable."
Eddie: "Janni had to water you every day."
Banker, drily: "She did more than water you."

Art: "There are many processes.. of the human biology.. that are.. beyond me still."
Banker to Shepherd: "It's likely that your brain is still not working quite right."
Shepherd: "My brain is working fine."
Eddie: "Where were you born?"
Shepherd: "I don't know."
Banker: "What if you're married and have kids?"
Shepherd: "It's been a year. They'd think me long gone."
Art: "Why.. did you wear .. second skin?"
Shepherd: "I don't know!"
Eddie: "Who are you trying to save yourself from?"
Shepherd: "I don't remember much! And maybe it's better that way!!"

Eddie: "Art is studying your samples in order to help you."
Art: "Would help.. if I could monitor your brain.. at times."
Shepherd: "No!"
Banker: "How does monitoring your brain hurt you? I could see if he wanted to poke in a scalpel and swish it around. But he doesn't need to poke in you to monitor you. He put you back together awfully damn well so far. At least let him look."
Shepherd turned to Art: "Were you the one who removed my chip?"
Art: "No. It had already been removed. And it wasn't chip. It was large implant."
Shepherd: "How would you monitor my brain?"
Art: "Use staff. No poke. Just look."
Eddie: "Like he does Jannisett during Jumps."
Shepherd: "I don't know that there's harm in it, but I don't want it."
Eddie: "But we're to do the same thing we did in the same sort of circumstances. Seems to be status quo."
Shepherd: "Meeting's over."

As Banker, Shepherd, Jamie and Eddie readied themselves to return to the hotel, Banker took a moment to place something in Jannisett's room.

---

As they approached the hotel, they noticed some very large (7' plus) people casually hanging out nearby. Jamie recognized some of them. She hung back, suggesting that her companions stay out of view.
Jamie: "They don't know any of us but me."
Eddie: "You can introduce us."
Jamie: "You stay here. I'll go across the street to talk to them."
Rabbi looked up as she approached and gave her a pleasant smile. "Buy you a sandwich?"
Jamie: "Were you waiting to talk to me?"
Rabbi: "Let's go inside. I want to know what exactly happened last night." Seated in the small eatery he added, "The stories say that your monster and the blue woman killed 20-30 people."
Jamie: "It's not a monster, it's an alien, a doctor. And she didn't want to kill anyone, but I think three of the women died."
Rabbi: "You mean he didn't walk out carrying someone's skull? I had it from a very good source..."
Jamie: "He hurt no one. He tried to save a couple of lives. And my blue friend's lived a very sheltered life. She doesn't understand people and their motivations."
Rabbi: "She's a good dancer!"
Jamie: "A really good dancer." The brunette gave her eye-witness account of the fight and the fate of the six Asian women.
Rabbi: "So you didn't see the 7th? Tell your friend to be really careful. The one who wasn't there is the most dangerous."
Jamie: "Jannisett didn't want that fight. She told them so again and again. But she's deadly and she can't pull her punches."
Rabbi: "Whew! I tell you what... I can arrange a meeting to work it out so that maybe your friend won't get hurt, won't get hit from behind."
Jamie: "We weren't going to be here long. We could just lay low."
Rabbi: "That's OK if you're leaving real soon. But be careful about what could be loaded onto your ship. She's got connections."
Jamie: "No. You're right. The meeting's a good idea."
Rabbi: "That club'll be pretty safe for a while. But I won't be there Friday night. Don't know how much of the trouble will rub off on you. It wasn't hard to find out where you were staying."
Jamie nodded her understanding. "What is the name of the 7th one?"
Rabbi: "Her street name is Medusa." He looked around and lowered his voice, "Her real name is Mimi -- you don't want to call her that. Heard she's from the good part of town. Don't know her family name."
Jamie: "If she's as bright as her friends, she'll want to find Jannisett and kill her."
Rabbi, noncommittally: "Uh, huh."
Jamie: "Are you planning on taking over their territory?"
Rabbi shook his head in the negative: "We're not into extortion."
Jamie: "It doesn't take a lot of brains."
Rabbi, drily: "We'd be naturals."
Jamie, recognizing that he was not the moronic tank she'd originally thought him: "You're brighter than that."
Rabbi smiled and got up to leave. "Maybe in the future, you'll buy me that beer you owe me. For now, take care."

Jamie rejoined her shipmates and briefed them. "We're going to have to move out of this hotel."
Shepherd: "Where is safe when we know no one and she knows everyone?"
Banker: "We could go to the city where we're supposed to have our meeting."
Jamie spoke over her chip: "Art? How's Jannisett doing?"
Art: "I anticipate full recovery. Any minute - day? - she'll be getting up."
Jamie: "Right." To the others she added, "If we must keep the ship at this spaceport, then we should set up that meeting Rabbi suggested."
Shepherd: "Would be nice if Jannisett was awake for it."
Eddie: "They'll set up an ambush. We need to counter it."
Shepherd: "They'll come to the meeting and they'll turn it into a fight. We'll have to kill this Medusa. Jannisett would like a one-on-one combat."
Banker: "I'm not sure of that."
Eddie: "Jannisett doesn't think of herself as needing protection. And she was trying real hard not to kill those women. I could tell. Why do you think it took her so long to attack? She didn't want to hurt them."
Shepherd: "It doesn't matter what she thinks as long as she does it."
Jamie: "So we set up the meeting and when she attacks Jannisett, Jannisett kills her."
Shepherd: "Explain it straight up to Jannisett; explain it's a life or death situation."
Jamie: "In the meantime, we wait for her to wake up and we bring nothing onto the ship except us."
Eddie: "Does that mean we can't sleep off ship any more?"
Shepherd: "You look rested enough for another year in space."
Eddie: "Smile when you say that!"

Shepherd searched the baggage the group then retrieved from the hotel. He lifted up an item. "Anybody recognize this?"
Eddie: "Mine."
Shepherd: "What are you doing with a demolition timer?"
Eddie: "Thought we might need it sometime."

There were no explosions or incidents of note en route back to the Sorcerer.

That night Shepherd, wearing his old skin, and Jamie went back to the dance club to meet Rabbi and Sundown. Jamie bought the drinks and the four of them had a fun evening, even though the main purpose was to ask Rabbi to set up the oft-discussed meeting with Medusa. When Jamie declined the late night party, Rabbi asked, "Were you followed when you left port?"
Shepherd: "We weren't followed, I don't think."
Rabbi turned to Jamie: "A few people here have certainly recognized you. We'll give you a ride back. You've been here long enough that hangers on - or even Medusa herself - might be near."

After a short period of travel, Shepherd asked, "Do you guys know we're being followed?"
Jamie: "Is it bad for you guys to be known to..."
Rabbi: "Were already 'known to' and it's not going to be good. I'd advise having that meeting sooner rather than later."
Jamie: "Three days from now."
Shepherd observed that their tail was quite skillful, despite Sundown's attempts to shake it. He kept his observation to himself.
Rabbi smiled ruefully, "I 'spect I'll be having a meeting with Medusa real soon now. I'll tell her."

Utilizing the ship sensors, Jamie spent difficult hours, finally observing a blond non-Asian woman in the company of two men, one of whom had been the man Kim had first tried to kick in the head. Bingo. She watched them enter the fatal nightclub during the day and examine something that might have been floor plans or any other sort of schematic. Eventually the group separated, the woman taking a motorcycle and crossing town to enter a large mansion within a gated community. Jamie smiled grimly, "I know where she lives." But the place was not to be found on a search of the public net.

My shipmates seemed so grim that I mentioned the plan I'd been considering. "I could go out, into the city now. They would find me and the meeting would happen sooner..."
Jamie: "They could shoot you from a distance."
Eddie: "And you're not 100%"
Art: "If they were to hit the [unintelligible] it could cause a set-back .. You could be incapacitated.. like the zot." That stopped me. I would like to bring all this tension to closure, but if Art's whatever gives Medusa the advantage of an Owner, I would be doing my friends a disservice in return for all the care they've taken of me.

That night Jamie called Rabbi. "Did you have your meeting?"
Rabbi, yawning: "All set."
Jamie: "When?"
Rabbi: "Sunday night."
Jamie: "Setting aside the meeting, what are your feelings?"
Rabbi: "Now that her cronies are gone, it's likely she won't be hanging around very much. It's probably good."
Jamie: "I know where she lives."
Rabbi: "I wouldn't want to do anything with the information, but thanks for the offer."
Jamie, smiling: "Go back to bed."
Rabbi: "See you Saturday night."
Jamie: "But you said Sunday..." but he had already disconnected. She had a date.

Day 297, Friday, City: Yellow Bacon, Planet: Neon Pig.
The discussions and arguments started again.
Banker: "I don't see any need to put Jannisett in danger. We could lift ship or take the truck and leave. We'd be giving Jannisett an example of avoiding a fight."
Eddie: "That's a good idea."
Banker: "Besides, this Medusa obviously has resources. That's scary."
Jamie: "But this is the spaceport. If we leave we could never come back. And it seems to be a place the Scorpion uses."
I: "I do not want Medusa troubling James Grey. I do not want her to find out that we are meeting James Grey."
Eddie: "I don't give good odds that she won't find out about Scorpion."
Banker: "Wait a few more days and Grey can help us deal with this."
Jamie: "It is naïve to think that someone else will deal with our problems or that it will go away if we ignore it."
Eddie: "But Scorpion's rep is based on more than one fight in a dance hall. Maybe he'd be able to have her calmed down enough to listen to him."
I: "Maybe she will listen to me."
Shepherd: "I don't think she'll listen to you."
Jamie: "If we don't go to that meeting, we'll have absolutely no credibility with anyone here."
Shepherd: "Is credibility important?"
Eddie: "It might be, depending on Mr. Grey's plans."
Shepherd: "Well, if there's gonna be a meeting, I want to be there first." He looked around at the group. "So I guess she's got to go. So what's the issue?"
Jamie: "It's inconvenient."
Eddie: "That's pretty cold."
Banker: "Do you want to do this, Jannisett?"
I: "I don't want to kill her. And I don't want anyone else hurt." Rabbi and Sundown and their friends have to stay on this planet. For all I know, James Grey has a place and friends here. None of them - no one else - should have to suffer because I couldn't keep to the rules. Eddie and Jamie were right about the Island Planet; I must trust they are right about this meeting. I must make Medusa see that I want no more people hurt.

Jamie did a complete sensor check of the meeting location: a tall building in a business sector. No taller buildings nearby. The roof, sniper-proof save for close to the edges. Shepherd did some light hacking to obtain the floor plans; the owners' identities - there were five, all rich; the area maps. The building was still partially under construction.

As Shepherd was intending to go out to deal with his information gathering, he noticed an unmarked van at the edge of the port, scanning all ship frequencies. As the Sorcerer's frequencies were closer to that used by chips, it seemed unlikely that such a scan would immediately pick up the crew's communications. But, if it twigged on chip frequencies, all plans would be in the open.

Jamie checked the van with the ship sensors and determined that there were 3 janitorial types within.
Shepherd: "Jamie, go talk to the Warburtons. See if you can't put a bee in their bonnet about that scanner."
Jamie turned on her charm [Conversation by 6] and, after some jawing, the Warburtons managed to roust the van.
Eddie: "They'll just set up somewhere else."

At the meeting site, Shepherd set up his hidden cameras (including two obviously hidden ones just to throw off people who'd expect there to be hidden cameras) and examined the place in detail. The elevator, for instance, ran off a portable generator; most of the building's power had not yet been accessed.

In the afternoon, Jamie put in another call to Rabbi.
Rabbi, yawning: "Hi, Jamie. Gotta street name yet?"
Jamie, smiling: "Not yet. I was thinking though, that this might not be a good night to go out to the club."
Rabbi: "Yeah, I thought that too. We can wait 'til Monday."
Jamie: "That would be nice."
Rabbi: "Cool! Thanks. Want a little extra muscle tomorrow?"
Jamie: "I don't want you guys mixed up in this."
Rabbi: "I'm not sure you can keep us out of it anymore."
Jamie: "I'd like to try."
Rabbi: "Do you need the help?"
Jamie: "It's never a bad idea to have help."
Rabbi: "OK. Where you want us? How soon you gonna be there? Early for the blue chick is not the best plan. We'll do a run through 2 and 3 hours ahead of time, then meet you at [he gave a location]."

That night, Shepherd stayed in the monitoring rooms he'd set up. He'd not told even the crew where he was.

Day 299, Sunday. City: Yellow Bacon, Planet: Neon Pig.

Shepherd's cameras watched some men place two non-descript packages in poor places for bombs but where they would have a good field of view if they were sensors. The communicator contacted Art and asked him to send Roks to a specific location (some 2 blocks away from the monitoring location.)

Roks managed to sneak up on the waiting Shepherd, who, once recovered from the surprise, asked him to investigate the packages in the meeting building. Shepherd fitted Roks (um, slapped him on the shoulder) with a transmitter-receiver and the hesitant little being managed to sneak his way into the appropriate location.
Roks: "It's a box. It's a black box. With 3 buttons - all black - like the box."
Eventually, Shepherd realized that the box was a monitor; he listened to it transmitting: his conversation with Roks. "You should leave." Roks pounded on the box and the transmission ceased. As Shepherd tried to trace the signal, it too stopped. Then Shepherd noticed that Roks' transmitter had gone silent as well. He mentally contacted Art to give him a FYI.
Art: < You put Roks in danger!?! >
Shepherd: < I will take care of it. > The communicator broke contact, noting the locations he'd spied for 3 groups of Bad Guys. Then he left the monitor room, heading for the meeting site.

Jamie then told Rabbi about some boxes somewhere. He asked, "Want me to step on 'em? Things don't work so well after I step on 'em." I could tell that Eddie had started thinking about Ferdinand back on FRW.
Jamie: "They're monitors."
Rabbi: "Then we'll leave 'em be to show 'em that we're not messing around."

Jamie turned to me: "Who do you want to go with you?" As I hesitated, she said, "I will." I don't think that Jamie can defend herself without her gun; but then, if they intended to hurt us, any of my friends left alone on the 29th floor would be at risk. I wished that no one would come with me, but I did not know if that would be an insult. I have already upset enough people.

I left Jamie on the 29th floor with a dangerous-looking man packing two guns in the open. I thought that guns were illegal in Yellow Bacon. He lounged, back against the wall and hips thrust out. I could hear Sam's voice in my memory, "Gun-slinger."

Jamie tapped into her chip: "Shepherd! You didn't let us know this guy had guns! And you didn't give me one of yours!"
Shepherd: "I thought I might need 'em."

A hard blond woman waited for me on the roof. I tried to move to a non-threatening distance towards her. She raised her hand, showing two fingers. "There are two ways this can go. You can join my gang and help do what two of the girls you killed were going to do. Or we can fight. If we fight, one of us dies. But," she held up her hand as though I was going to interrupt her, "you have to decide. I won't answer any questions about what it is you'd do with my gang until you decide."

I: "May I ask other questions?"
Medusa: "Yes."
I: "I don't want to fight you..."
Medusa: "Then you'll join my gang?"
I: "I don't want anyone else to die. I didn't want to fight your friends. I tried not to hurt them. I am sorry that I could not help it. If I help your gang, will you be wanting me to kill?"
Medusa, carefully: "If everything goes well, no one will get hurt. But if things go badly, people will get hurt, people will die. I can't say they won't."
I repeated, "I don't want to kill again."

I thought for a moment, then asked another question. "Why was Kim so upset with me? What did I do wrong?"
Medusa: "I don't know. You killed everybody who might have known. Her boyfriend muttered some things but I don't pay attention to anything he says. If I ask him and find out for you, will you join my gang?"
I: "I would like to know. I don't want to make the same mistake again."
I did not know that Kim had a boyfriend. I am so sorry for him.

Questions seemed to come so slowly to me. "If we fight, and one of us dies, will my friends be allowed to leave safely?"
Medusa: "If we fight and you die, I do not know what your friends will do. I do not know and so I cannot say that they will not be hurt."
I thought about the gun-slinger and Jamie. I wished she had not come with me.

I: "Is what your gang plans to do illegal?"
She stared at me as though I'd lost my mind. "That depends on where. By the local laws?"
That stumped me. I wanted to say "by Grey's laws and Sam's" but I knew that would sound nonsensical. So I confessed, "I do not know."
Medusa: "I can tell you that the people we intend to hurt deserve what's coming to them, if that makes any difference."
Kim must have thought I deserved it when she came after me. I do not understand how these people think.

I: "I do not know what your gang is to do. I do not know if your plans are good so that nothing will go wrong. I will not kill for you."
Medusa, assuming a martial stance: "Then we will fight."
I continued standing, balanced but non-aggressive. "But if I join your gang, you will let my friends leave, safe and in peace?"
Medusa looked at me and I could not tell if she was puzzled or not. "You must promise to help my gang."
I: "I will."
She stood straight and smiled oddly. "Will you swear? Swear on a family member that you will do as you're told?" I looked at her, puzzled myself. I did not understand her ritual. Her voice got harder. "Or do I have to keep one of your friends as a reminder of your good behaviour." That startled me too. I had thought that this agreement would make my friends safe, yet she was threatening them again.
"I have given my word," I told her, feeling myself go stiff and cold.
"Ok," she said. "You can go tell them they can leave. Make your good-byes. You'll be back in a week."

I tried to work out the numbers. Would that mean I would be back in time to see Grey?

(EPs: 0, total: 5; Peter: 0, total 4)
(In addition, Michael is allowing a +1 for a skill deliberately practiced, and +2-4 EPs for skills gained in cross-training amongst the PCs for time spent in the other galaxy.
For instance, Jannisett now has the +1 EP in piloting (not that it does much :)), and 1 EP each in cooking, philosophy, and sociology. Michael said I could choose another as well which, I think, should be in laboratory science or practical genetics (Art-style), depending on what Michael thinks of the time Jannisett has spent helping Art with his experiments.)

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