Author: [Panther] NECRONOMICON

[cwmoss]

NECRONOMICON
By Panther
____________________

PART 1 : BEGINNINGS

  The stars twinkled with individual brilliance in the forever night sky a few thousand miles above the sapphire beauty of the Earth. The magnificent scene spread across the large view screen of the Necronomicon as it floated through it and almost brought a tear to Robert's eye. A mug of cold coffee sat on his console and the liquid rippled as he punched random buttons in systematic order. The rest of the bridge was empty, the computers set on various modes of automation as their personnel were still sleeping in their quarters.
  This was his time.
  One thing he missed about not being back down on the planet were the glorious reds and purples of the sunrises' and sunsets'; the melting canvasses of color that ended the night and day.
  He pressed one last button and sighed as he leaned back in his padded chair. The deck plates hummed lightly and a rocket fired. Robert began to smile as a blinding light peeked out from behind it's hiding place.
  The light bathed the earth in it's incredible luminescence, eventually seeping away from it to stand alone as point of hope among the cosmos. It brought color to the dark face of the Earth, deep blues and lush greens, frozen whites and the sparkling greys of the cities.
  No, it wasn't reds and purples; but it would do.
  A few lights flashed on a grid set into his console and he shook his head as he went back to ignoring them, concentrating on the sun's blinding radiance. The door to the bridge opened and he turned to see the person intruding on his time.
  It was a man. His long brown hair was disheveled and fell about his broad shoulders as he yawned. He was dressed in a dark robe and was barefoot with a steaming mug in his hand that he was stirring with a small spoon. He sniffed once then winced at how cold the deck plates were. The brightness of the viewing screen made him squint his eyes as he looked up and nodded at Robert.
  "You're up early this morning."
  Robert shrugged.
  "I had a bad dream and had trouble going back to sleep." He looked at the mug in the man's hand and quietly giggled to himself. "Besides, you know I like it when I have this place to myself."
  "Yeah, I guess I don't have to ask what you're doing."
  "You know me sir. So, Captain, what's on the docket today."
  "I think sarcasm is my favorite part of command. That little inflection of the sound of my title gives me what I need to carry on with my day." He began to stir again and Robert smiled. "Nah, nothing extraordinary. Let's make today an easy one."
  "I love this job."
  The lights on the grid returned for a few seconds and disappeared. The Captain nodded to the blank screen.
  "Hmm, is that what I think it is?"
  "Oh, it is. The good General called earlier to give us the cheery news." Robert tapped on the grid. "Those are his high-orbital, first-strike, nuclear-equipped, single-manned, attack fighters playing war games and doing battle simulations in the upper atmosphere. They've broken out of the exosphere a total of five times now."
  "Congratulations Robert, you're on the most wanted list of your own country's military."
  "I'd feel a lot more honored if I knew it was for me personally and not for the ship."
  "Well, that's my fault for not sharing my 'privately-owned property' with the 'so-called' public. We may have a Democratic president, but the army will forever belong to the Republicans." He brought his mug to about chin level and paused before bringing it back down again. "At least they switched from 'The Bigger The Better' to 'The Better The Better.'"
  "Accidents took out all of their old equipment; they didn't have a choice. You can't wage war with planes from the Gulf War era, while your opponent is buying 42X Plasma Rifles with enough firepower to bring down an old F16 with one microcomputer guided shot."
  "And why bother developing a useful weapon when you can steal one from one of your own citizens."
  "They give you capitalism until you build something they want and then they rush into the patent office with the key they found under the mat."
  "Which is why no one asks the government for research grants anymore," the Captain shrugged. "Corporations are great. And inventing is even better when you have your own funds." He laughed and raised his mug in a lone toast. "Viva la free enterprise." He sipped his coffee while Robert smirked. He brought down his cup and nodded again while smacking his lips. "This coffee is terrible."
  "I didn't want to say anything." Robert grabbed his own cup and looked into it laughing.
  "And who do we have to thank for this java disaster?"
  "I am responsible sir."
  A plaque lit up next to the view screen; the brightening symbol identifying the speaker.
  "I programmed you better than that, Alyssa."
  "You programmed me to help run the ship in an efficient manner, not to be domestic and play 1950's housewife."
  "Touche," Robert lifted his own mug in toast.
  "Alyssa, part of your duties is maintaining life support and the general health and well being of the crew. That includes the galley along with the replicators and making sure that they are functioning properly." The Captain lifted his coffee to the plaque; an outline of a vaguely feminine face had emerged next to Alyssa's symbol. "This coffee sucks."
  "Sue me."
  "Thanks." The Captain looked back down at Robert who was fully reclined in his chair as he gently swayed back and forth. "I don't even like coffee. I just wanted to be awake and ready for one day."
  "I think that would be too much to ask."
  "Apparently so."
  "Excuse me sir." The plaque to the left of Alyssa's lit up; a male face forming next to it.
  Alyssa's plaque quietly faded out, her program off to regulate other areas of the ship.
  "Good morning Psi. What is it?"
  "I'm beginning to track an object entering our solar system. It passed Pluto a few moments ago and is already passing through Neptune's orbital circle." Psi's voice had a constant paranoid quality to it; a side effect brought upon by his duties involving ship's security and defense.
  The Captain looked at the sensor panel next to his hand and punched a few of the colorful buttons.
  "Define 'a few moments.'"
  "Sixteen point three seconds sir."
  "Correct me if I'm wrong, but to cross the distance between the two points indicated, in that time, the object would have to be traveling faster than the speed of light."
  "You are correct sir."
  "Hello!" Robert straigtened in his seat and started bringing up readings from the Necronomicon's long range sensor array.
  "Well, I never believed in Einstein's theory anyway. Display it on the main viewer."
  The image of the earth and sun faded away and was replaced by a three-dimensional representation of the solar system. The individual planets spun happily on their fixed axises as they revolved around the distant sun.
  A box quickly surrounded a region near Uranus and expanded on it. The starry background swirled and a blinking light appeared as it passed by the planet's thin ring. Numbers raced around the light as they calculated themselves and the object continued on it's merry way.
  It flashed.
  Robert blinked in amazement.
  "What was that?"
  "Unknown sir. But the object now appears to be slowing in velocity."
  Robert looked up at the Captain.
  "Do you think NASA or the US military see this yet?"
  "They can't even find the probe they lost on Europa last month; they probably won't see this until it gets past Mars. Psi, can you get a better picture of the object?"
  "Short range sensors will be able to gain a fix on the object when it passes the asteroid belt. At current deceleration the object will be in range in approximately one point eight hours."
  "Sounds like it will slow down quite a bit. Will it be below 180,000 MPS when it passes the asteroid belt?"
  "Affirmative, Captain."
  Robert tapped on his console.
  "Too bad, it was bookin' there for a minute. Wish I knew what that flash was."
  "Psi, that wasn't a malfunction in the sensors or the view screen was it? The object did, in fact, flash?"
  "Yes sir, and at that point it began to slow down. I have no explanation."
  "Thank you Psi. Alexander?"
  The third plaque, set to the right of Alyssa's, lit up. The face that brightened with it had a faint outline of a smile on a face thinner than Psi's.
  "What can I do for you Captain?" His voice was cheerful and fairly high-pitched.
  "Wake up the rest of the crew and have the department heads meet me and Robert in Operations."
  "Oh yes sir; and Captain?"
  "Yes?"
  "It's 'Robert and me' sir."
  "Thank you Alexander. Go do your job." He could have sworn he saw teeth form out of that smile before the plaque faded out.
  Robert stood up.
  "You know, I love those AI's as much as anyone. But sometimes they can really bug." He looked at his commander and back up at the screen that showed the object making it's way towards Saturn's orbit. "What do you think it is?"
  "I haven't got a clue. But it looks like I was lying to you; we are going to be on the clock today."
  "That's why you pay us the big bucks"
  "You're in this for the fun; you'd do it for free and you know it."
  Robert smiled.
  "Don't tell Ramirez that. She'd start respecting me."
  "We can't have that. I guess I should go get dressed."
  "Yeah, I'll get in uniform and meet you down there."
  Robert walked away while the Captain kept staring at the screen.
  He scratched a small scar on his cheek and licked a drying drop of bad coffee off of his thin goatee, shaking his head as he heard the doors to the bridge slide shut.
  "What the hell is that?"


CHAPTER ONE : INTRODUCTIONS AND A MEETING
  The alarm on the clock set into the wall above the bed went off and Gryphon quickly pounded the snooze button. After a few seconds it sounded again. Gryphon looked at it with a scowl and jammed his finger on the snooze. The button stuck and he nodded in satisfaction before pulling his thin blanket over his head.
  A panel next to his desk computer lit up and the speaker began to hum.
  "Rise and shine."
  "Fuck off!"
  "Aww ... c'mon Gryphon. It's time to get up and greet a brand new day. Besides, the Captain has called a meeting and you've been cordially invited."
  "Fuck the Captain."
  "Now I know you don't mean that Gryphon. Just be a good boy and get up for me, okay?" Alexander frowned as he was met with silence. "Gryphon?"
  Gryphon rolled over and turned his back to the screen.
  "I can tell you're grumpy today." Alexander slowly began to smile, "I know what will make you feel better. A balloon! Would you like a balloon Gryphon?"
  "Stop it."
  "A nice red balloon?" Alexander's voice began to sound low and guttural, the background behind his glowing face darkening.
  "I said stop it!"
  "It floats. We all float down here Gryphon. Come and join us. YOU'LL FLOAT TOO!"
  "ALL RIGHT! God damn it, I'm up!" He shot up in bed, trembling with eyes clenched shut.
  "See? That wasn't so hard was it? Now put on some clothes and get on down to Operations, okay?"
  "And what does out glorious leader want today?" Gryphon rubbed his arms to comfort his adrenaline tremors.
  "What do you have against the Captain anyway?"
  "I hate this job, no one told me what I was getting myself into. I could be on a beach right now writing software for a major company while my assets are earning me a few million a year. Fun my ass! All I do around here is check this system and then that system and await the next time we fight off our own people."
  "In other words, the three hour work days are too much for you and keeping something dangerous out of the hands of children is not the American way?"
  "Blow it out your circuits Alexander. I may not have programmed you, but I bet you I could scramble your brains quite nicely with a flick of the wrist."
  "Sticks and stones Gryphon, sticks and stones. They're waiting for you. Your master has called and you'd better heed like a good servant."
  Gryphon was about to retort but found that Alexander had gone, the AI plaque dark and blank. He stood up.
  "Lights." A blue glow began to radiate from the walls, illuminating his quarters. They were a mess. He picked his way through the mounds of clothing into his living room, picking up a glass of tepid, leftover water and drinking half of it. His door sounded with it's lovely chime and he groaned. "Come in." The door slid open and a uniformed shipmate stood there smiling.
  "Hey Gryph."
  "Good morning George. You have your nap interrupted too?"
  "Nah, I've been doin' my morning exercises for about half an hour now. Alexander just buzzed me to report to duty stations."
  "You mean you're not invited to the little get-together."
  "I'm just an underling. Alexander said it was something shooting by uninvited. Ramirez will probably fill me in later."
  "Lucky you. Only sixteen people on board and they won't even let everyone come and play when something interesting pops up."
  "Actually, I think of it as another hand that won't go in the air and bug the powers that be when they're trying to inform those that need critical information to lead their departments."
  Gryphon just stared at George who was still wearing a beaming smile. He stepped forward and out into the hallway.
  "Out of my way."
  "Not getting dressed?"
  "Don't feel like it. Too tired."
  George watched as Gryphon walked away from him.
  "Well, that's your prerogative."
  He just raised his hand and kept going, George shook his head and started off in the other direction, towards the galley.
  "I definitely want some coffee."
  Gryphon turned the corner and found Kimberly chatting away with Brian. Brian was in charge of Engineering while Kim was one of Vanessa's flunkies in the Medical Bay. Kim looked like she had just woken up and gone off to find breakfast in her pajamas. Gryphon looked her up and down and mentally complimented her on her navel ring. He had always been fond of it and she always wore a cut-off shirt to show off it and her thin stomach.
  "Hey Gryph."
  He nodded at Brian and smiled. Brian was in uniform and stood up straight in the blue and gray jumpsuit. His reddish brown hair was neatly combed and his freckled skin was an interesting contrast to Kim's pale and smooth skin.
  "You going to Operations?"
  "Yeah, I assume you've been roped into this too?"
  "All part of the job." Brian turned back to Kim, "save me a donut will ya'? I'll come down to Medical later to grab it."
  "Sure, have fun Bri," she walked away, "see ya' Gryph."
  Gryphon forced a seething smile, nodding his head as she turned the corner.
  "Later Kim."
  Brian raised an eyebrow and looked at him.
  "Someone's grumpy this morning."
  "Oh, don't start with me okay."
  "Hey, it's your bug and your ass. Let's get going, we're late enough as it is."
  Gryphon quickly continued walking towards Operations and Brian followed.
  "Whoop-de-doo. You don't actually take any of this seriously do you?"
  "Why not? I don't know if you've noticed but we're actually doing some important shit out here. We may be young and goofy at times, but we still have jobs to do and I take pride in doing my job well."
  "Even though there are other people and computers that can do the job just as well as you?"
  "Not just as well, I'm one of the best at what I do. That's why I'm here. While Heather and David may be coming up to par with me, they are my assistants after all, neither one can tweak these engines like I can; or repair most of the systems on the Necronomicon. As for the computers," Brian smiled "Alexander picking on you again?"
  Gryphon scowled and quickly looked away, quieting down for a moment.
  "How is Heather doing anyway?"
  "She's coming along. She has some fascinating ideas concerning alternative fuel components."
  "Good."
  "You think she's cute don't you?"
  Gryphon looked down, his lip curling into a faint scowl.
  "Well, there's no shame in that. That reminds me, I haven't talked to Karen this morning; I hope Kim gets a couple of extra donuts." Brian looked back at Gryphon as they continued walking, patting him on a bare shoulder. "As for the AI's, just remember that they're there to help with ship functions and not to take them too seriously. They may seem life-like, but they're still just machines."
  "Sometimes they can be too human you know? It's irritating."
  More human than you is what you mean. Brian nodded politely as he thought. "Don't let it get you down stud." They stopped at a lift and waited for the door to open. It did so with a swish and they walked aboard. "Deck two."
  The door closed and the lift ascended through the shaft.
-     -     -
  The Captain ran a hand through his hair. The gel had begun to set it in place and he looked at it's progress in the mirrored surface of a blank computer panel.
  Crew members had shuffled in and were assembling themselves around the conference table. Some were in uniform while others were still in their night clothes. Vanessa was wearing bunny slippers that she kicked playfully as she talked to Robert.
  The Captain looked at each of his ship's crew. Everyone on board the Necronomicon was in their early to middle twenties and highly intelligent; as well as physically fit.
  Robert was a fairly tall and thin man with a muscular build. African-American, but with a light complexion that gave him a well-tanned look. He had long arms and large hands that he enjoyed posing with when given the opportunity. It was this carefree attitude that seemed to enhance his abilities as a pilot; he specialized in large freighters and battleships, despite originally starting out flying single manned jets for air shows in the southern United States. Where he could make a large and bulky ship dance, he could barely pull off a simple loop in a fighter plane. The Captain never really understood why that was, but he was thankful to have Robert on board.
  Still talking to Robert was Vanessa, the ship's chief physician. An Italian-Mexican mix, Vanessa was of average height and build and had skin about as dark as Robert's. She was an exceptionally bright woman who had graduated high school three years ahead of her peers and attended Harvard medical school. Though she was apt and excelled in her studies, she had a difficult time with the stoic atmosphere it provided. Her parents and professors always pressed her to apply herself as much as possible; she had a passion for medicine and had become quite a competent physician, but she never quite became used to the serious environment that medicine demanded. She fit right in on the Necronomicon.
  Karen was the ship's navigator and was one of America's foremost astronomers. She grew up watching old science fiction movies and reading the works of Sagen and Hawkins. She had a number of Star Trek and Star Wars ship models hanging in her quarters and never failed to go searching for piece of paraphernalia from either series when back on planet; Karen was also the proud owner of the only complete set of all nine Star Wars movies in their original theater formats. She had originally worked for NASA after obtaining her masters from UCLA, but was disappointed when she found their space program lacking in actual work off planet. The only organizations that did extensive functions in space were private companies and wealthier citizens. Karen was recruited about half of a year ago and she had since had the opportunity to explore a good portion of the solar system and expected to see the rest of it in due course.


The door to Operations opened and Ramirez walked in and the Captain smiled. Ramirez was her last name and she demanded on being called by it. He was the only person on board who knew her first name but he kept it to himself out of respect.
  Ramirez was, what she liked to call, Latina. She was of above average height, thin, fairly muscular, and was in charge of security on board the Necronomicon. She didn't have any formal training in the military but had adopted a military style of life after being brought on board. She was rarely out of uniform when on duty and ran her security teams with an iron hand that made the AI Psi proud. In her youth she had been a gymnast and an accomplished soccer player and had later studied martial arts; achieving black belts in Koppo and Shotokan as well as ranking tiger class in Muay Thai. She had dark and smooth skin like Vanessa's, but her's was marred by a few small scars from battles of long ago. She squeezed Robert's shoulder as she passed him and sat in her chair beside Vanessa, joining in on their conversation.
  On the far end of the U-shaped table was the ship's science officer. Sandra was a woman who, in the day and age of contacts lenses, corrective laser surgery and artificial corneas, always insisted on wearing glasses. She was tall, thin and, when engrossed in something she found fascinating, fairly anti-social. From Thailand originally, Sandra had a bachelors degree in biochemistry and a masters in physics. She was working on one for mathematics in between studying and writing for her PhD. She took work on board the ship to help give her the peace she desired to continue her studies and take part in the exploration of the unknown. If anything scientifically ground-breaking was to occur in space, it was a good bet that the Necronomicon would be the first to investigate it. It was one such occurrence that kept her glued to her computer screen as she viewed all the information that Psi had collected.
  There were three seats that had yet to be filled. One of them belonged to Krista, the first officer and right hand of the Captain. She was standing next to him discussing philosophy with Alyssa who was glowing happily on the wall.
  Krista had had a rough life growing up in the inner city of New York. She spent most of her younger days on the streets and had a fairly long criminal record with the authorities. They had eventually gotten tired of her and gave her a choice : prison or the military. So she became property of the state and enlisted in the United States Army. They gave her a broad based education and trained her in the arts of warfare and diplomacy. She eventually became an Army Ranger and had a number of prestigious battle ribbons on her lapel. But Krista wasn't comfortable with her role in the military; she disliked the mindless attitude that she was expected to adopt and had difficulty accepting some of the missions she was given. After doing a bit of research and reading up on past operations such as Iran/Contra and Project Pegasus, she began to refuse her leaders' orders and was labeled a renegade and targeted for termination by the government. She was liberated and brought aboard for her protection, and her expertise; she never looked back or regretted her decision.
  The Captain looked up at the clock on the wall.
  "Well, I guess we should start this meeting."
  Krista looked up from her discussion with the AI. She was tall and in great shape, as well as having an unusually large and fairly firm chest. Her dark brown hair was short in the front but went down to her shoulders around the rest of her head. She preferred wearing spandex bodysuits instead of the blue and gray jumpsuits provided as standard uniform.
  Alyssa faded out.
  "Not waiting for everyone?"
  "No, we need to get ready. Sit down."
  Krista walked to her seat at the end of the table and next to the two empty seats. He looked out over everyone and ran his thumb nail over the scar on his cheek.
  "Good morning everyone. I'm sorry to have to wake some of you up so early but the situation warrants it. At approximately four forty-five, ship standard time, an unknown object entered our solar system at speeds well over 186,000 miles per second. Psi has been unable..."
  The door opened once more and Brian and Gryphon walked into the room. Brian adopted a sheepish look and Karen shook her head and smiled. Gryphon was wearing one of his characteristic grimaces.
  "Good of you two to join us."
  "Sorry sir." Brian laughed at the situation and sat in his seat.
  Brian had had a love for tinkering ever since he was a child. His parents were continually frustrated when they found he had taken apart one of their favorite appliances and was unable to repair it. Though they couldn't stop him from dismantling their things, they could teach him how to put them back together. He was fascinated how everything worked, the microwave alone keeping him enraptured for the weeks surrounding his seventh birthday before he moved on to the toaster and food rehydrator. He began building his own machines before he was ten and started creating useful ones at age thirteen. His parents enrolled him into private schools that specialized in engineering and electronics. When Brian was seventeen he played a major role in the design of a new type of engine system that incorporated superconductive plates that lowered the weight of an entire ship, allowing it to travel at faster than conventional speeds using less propellant and keeping overheating problems to a minimum. Along with the discovery of cold fusion and the invention of the fusion reactor, ships had a near inexhaustible supply of fuel and energy and exploration of the solar system had become possible. The Necronomicon's engines were enhanced versions of Brian's early designs and were the most advanced ever created by humans. He couldn't help but come aboard.
  Gryphon said nothing and just plopped down in his chair. He stared at the Captain with the same grimace he had walked in with.
  Gryphon was shaping up to be a major disappointment. He came from a rich family and had lived a fairly sheltered life when he was young. His parents kept him in front of the television or at his computer while they busied themselves with their own affairs. He grew up with electronics and spent most of his time on the internet and surfing the web. In efforts to gain the attention of his family he would create rather nasty viruses and unleash them into privately owned databases and government power stations. Gryphon was particularly proud of his work on a program that left the entire eastern seaboard without electricity or water for the first two months of 2034. He had no formal training but had become an accomplished programmer and, when he became an adult, was sought after by a number of the world's top software providers. His problems with authority kept him away from serious work and the Captain picked him up to help keep the ship in order; he also secretly hoped the environment would aid Gryphon in developing better social skills and teach him to become the leader he was capable of being.
  He wasn't.
  "As I was saying," the Captain looked up from Gryphon and scanned the rest of the table. "Psi has been unable to gain a better fix on the object but I have Gus working with the mining colonies on Ceres to see if we can use their equipment to get a quicker look at what's coming at us."
  The AI panel lit up and Alyssa's symbol brightened.
  "Excuse me sir."
  "Yes Alyssa?" Her face came into view and the blurry representation floated eerily as it talked.
  "I'm patching Gus through to you now."
  Using the AI's in such a manner wasn't necessary, but everyone liked them and tried to include them in all of the ship's business. Gus's smiling face appeared on the small view screen mounted on the wall. He had a shaved head with only a small amount of fuzz covering it and a thin mustache over his big and smiling teeth. Robert mimicked the smile and took a deep breath.
  "GUSTAVO!," he bellowed proudly.
  "ROBERT!," Gus rolled the first 'r' as he answered. They both nodded and Gus looked back at the Captain. "Sir, I have attained the full cooperation of the mining company. They will let us use their sensors in whatever capacity we need."
  "Excellent Gus."
  Karen opened her computer panel in the table before her and began to type in commands as the Captain continued.
  "Send them our thanks and tell them we'll return the favor when we can."
  "Yes Captain. And sir?"
  "Yes?"
  "The owner of the mining company sends you her ... warmest regards."
  Everyone around the table began to hoot and wail. Vanessa whistled.
  "All right, settle down people." He turned back towards Gus who was rapidly wiggling his eyebrows. "Thank you Gus. That will help make my day smoother."
  Gus pressed a button and the screen went blank.
  "I've established an uplink with the colony's systems sir." Karen cracked her knuckles and looked up. "We should be receiving visuals of the object shortly."
  "Psi?"
  The AI panel lit back up with Psi's symbol and face. Where the bridge had individual panels for each of the AI's, there was only one panel in most of the other parts of the ship that the AI's had to share.
  "Yes sir?"
  "Put the long range sensors up on the view screen and prepare to add the pictures from the colony's sensors."
  "Yes sir."
  The screen lit up with the same images that Robert and the Captain had seen on the bridge. The blinking light was close to passing Jupiter's orbit.
  "This is incredible." Sandra was looking at her screen with sparkling eyes behind rectangular glasses. She was thumbing through past sensor logs and was tracing the object's flight path. "It really was going faster than the speed of light! Do you guys know what this means?"
  Brian was shaking his head as he smiled an excited smile.
  "This can't be a natural phenomenon. It has to be made by some sort of alien intelligence. What are they using over there to go so fast?"
  "Maybe anti-matter and warp drive?"
  "Maybe Karen, just maybe."
  "It is slowing down though, right Captain?"
  "It is Krista, we're tracking it's course and plan on intercepting it when..."
  "Actually sir," Karen looked up from her screen, "if it stays on it's current course and maintains constant deceleration, it will come in contact with the lunar surface."
  "It's gonna crash on the moon?"
  She turned at Robert's question.
  "Yep. In a little under two hours I should say. Hold on," she squinted at her screen, "we're receiving visuals from the colony now."
  "Psi, put them up on screen."
  Data from the long range sensors faded and space filled the screen. Errant asteroids floated by but everything else seemed calm.
  "Magnify, and clear up the image."


The screen flickered and the stars shifted; the asteroids vanished. Vanessa shook her head.
  "I don't see anything." She turned to Karen. "What's up?"
  "The sensors say it's right there in front of us. But I don't see anything either."
  "Hold on a second." Sandra stood up and walked to the front of the room to get a better view of the screen. "There!" She pointed at an empty section of space. "Did you see that?"
  "No, what?"
  "One of the stars vanished for a moment and reappeared. There's another one." Her finger was on another empty section when all of a sudden a star appeared in it's place. "Psi?"
  "Yes sir?"
  "Filter the input and assign different hues to the surrounding space and stars; a lighter shade please."
  "Yes sir."
  The image blacked out and then returned. The colors were wildly different with space being a swirling red and the stars twinkling a hot pink. In the center of the madness was the object that was slowly growing as it drifted closer.
  "There it is." She went back to her computer and pressed a few keys. The image on the screen flashed a few times and then disappeared to be replaced by 3-D rendering of the object.
  Brian laughed.
  "Oh that's a ship if I ever saw one. Look how symmetrical that is. There's no way that's a natural formation."
  Robert frowned as he tried to make it out.
  "Is there any way we can clean this up? It just looks like a black lump to me."
  Sandra punched a few more keys and the computer clarified the image and everyone could see the detail in the ship. Ramirez examined the picture.
  "There doesn't seem to be any symbols or identifying marks on the hull. I'm impressed at just how black the hull is; it's very sleek."
  "Calm down, your birthday is not for a few months."
  "Aww..."
  "Captain?"
  "What's up Psi?"
  "I've been examining the object since we made contact and I've observed something odd." He paused.
  "Well? Spit it out; don't keep us in suspense."
  "I believe the object is spinning on all three axises."
  "In other words, it's tumbling out of control."
  "Affirmative sir."
  Brian returned to his view of the ship.
  "That means it's engines aren't in operation. Think there's anyone on board?"
  "Viable question." Sandra folded her arms. "Doubtful I'd say. If there were they would have to be unconscious or otherwise they would correct their ship's attitude."
  "Think this might have something to do with that flash we saw earlier sir?"
  "It might Rob. Maybe it was an accident on their ship."
  "Or escape pods," said Vanessa.
  "Or an attack," added Gryphon.
  "Or probably one of a dozen things; we can't be sure." The Captain squinted at the screen in thought. He turned back around and looked at Karen. "You're sure this thing will do a half-gainer into the moon?"
  "Oh yes sir. Unless it changes course or spontaneously explodes, that sucker is goin' down right here." Karen hit one key on her control panel and the main viewer showed a picture of the moon surface. A box encased one section and expanded. This repeated a few more times until a circle appeared and marked the spot of the crash. "About twelve miles northeast of the Sea of Tranquility and about seventeen hundred miles from the Japanese Lunar Base."
  Everyone looked at it silently and the Captain pushed the intercom and his voice rang out through the ship.
  "Matthew, please report to Operations immediately. Repeat, Matthew to Operations immediately."
  Krista stood up.
  "What's your plan?"
  "I don't want to risk trying to stop it or attempting to board her while she's in motion."
  Karen giggled.
  "What I wouldn't give for a tractor beam."
  "I'm afraid we're going to have to let it crash."
  Brian was shocked and slapped his hand down on the table.
  "You can't do that! If it crashes it could irreparably damage the engines. Don't forget that this puppy was breaking the light barrier when we found it."
  "I agree with Bri; we should find a way to get this thing intact."
  "I'm sorry Sandra, Brian, it can't be helped. We don't have any way of slowing it down other than firing at it or ramming into it. Both would mess it up just as badly as it crashing and would put the Necronomicon at risk."
  Brain looked down, dejected.
  "Yes sir."
  The door opened again and Matthew came into the room.
  "You asked for me?"
  Matthew was tall and fairly pale with light blonde hair and blue eyes to match. His seemingly frail physique hid an agility and intensity that surprised anyone that tested him. He entered the Navy at an early age (having lied to his enrollment officer) in hopes of flying fighter jets and testing the latest in military ariel-technology. He was repeatedly denied access to the more advanced planes as those spots were given to the 'sturdier' pilots. He eventually got fed up with the whole thing and enlisted for a place aboard the Necronomicon. Krista was impressed with his skill and drive and everyone was impressed by how he handled himself in the single-manned fighters they had aboard for combat situations; his aptitude rivaled that of the Captain's. He was accepted aboard, but when the Navy discovered where he was planning on going after leaving the service they denied his resignation. Matthew had been AWOL ever since.
  "Got a mission for you Matt. I'm sure you've heard about our little friend zipping about."
  "A few rumors. What about it?"
  "It's going to plunge into the moon and I want you to fly a team over to investigate."
  "A walk in the park sir."
  The Captain smiled. Gryphon scoffed silently at the sound of another 'sir.' He looked at him.
  "Gryphon," he looked up, "you'll be leading the team."
  Krista's eyes went wide, but she kept silent.
  "I'm sending Ramirez and Heather along with you. Your mission is to basically find out anything and everything you can about that ship."
  "Do you want us to collect any samples?"
  "If possible." He turned back to Matthew who was standing at ease. "I want you to have the Jabberwocky prepped and ready to launch in two hours."
  "Will do." The Captain scanned the room.
  "You're all dismissed."
  Krista immediately got up and walked to the Captain's side. She stood there quietly as people shuffled out of the room. Brian skipped next to Gryphon.
  "I'll brief Heather on what's happening and give her all the materials she'll need. You'll probably find all of the sample containers you want in cargo bay two." They walked out together and Karen quickly followed. Matthew stopped Robert from getting up with a hand on his shoulder.
  "I have two hours before launch. That's plenty of time for a rematch stud."
  Robert wheezed.
  "I don't know, I'm going to need to bring the ship up into Lunar orbit." He looked pleadingly at the Captain who just smirked.
  "Oh, we have plenty of time before you have to worry about that. Besides, I'd love to see you guys go at it again."
  "He just doesn't want to be embarrassed again."
  "No I..."
  "Hey, I totally understand. It's not easy for a brother to admit to being an inferior athlete to a white boy. Especially one as scrawny as me."
  Krista laughed.
  "Ooo, now that's a challenge if I ever heard one."
  Ramirez looked expectingly at her champion who couldn't resist her beautiful brown eyes. Robert shrugged.
  "All right Matt; you're on."
  "Damn straight. I'll see you down on the court in a few minutes. I've got to suit up in my quarters." He walked out with a smile as Robert looked at Ramirez.
  "I do this for you you know."
  "I have faith in you. You'll beat him this time." They kissed briefly and stepped out.
  Sandra walked up to the Captain and Krista with Vanessa right behind her.
  "Sir, I just want to voice my concerns about letting the ship crash once again."
  "Noted. Anything else?"
  She stamped a foot and turned.
  "Damn it." They left and Krista adopted a concerned look.
  The Captain beat her to the question.
  "You're worried about my assigning Gryphon to lead the mission aren't you?"
  "Yes. You know as well as I do that he's not functioning well aboard."
  "I'm trying to help him Krista. I have faith in his abilities even if you guys don't. I'm hoping all he needs is a little push to realize that."
  "He's insubordinate."
  "We all are in our way. This isn't the most tightly run ship out there and I like it that way."
  "He's territorially aggressive."
  "He's male."
  "He's unwilling to incorporate himself and become part of this family."
  The Captain looked down, silently acknowledging her statement.
  "He denies self-improvement and attempts to undermine everyday functions on the ship."
  "I know Krista. But he's my problem and I'm trying to give him a chance." He looked back up. "I gave you one once."
  "I changed," she paused meaningfully. "He won't."
  They looked at each other for a few more seconds and she turned and left the room. He just stood there with his arms crossed in silent thought.


CHAPTER TWO : GLADIATORS AND WEAPONRY
  Meredith sat down in her seat as her friends began to filter into the stadium. She smiled at them warmly and stared at the hundreds of screaming fans that awaited the heated match between two champion rivals that would make their grand entrance on the hover-ball court in just a few moments.
  This was by far the best program she had ever written and she felt pride everytime she saw it in use; she invented hover ball by mixing together a number of things she remembered from her childhood.
  When Meredith was young, she spent most of her free time reading old fantasy novels and watching science fiction movies much like Karen had. Some of her favorites included special effects masterpieces such as "The Matrix" trilogy, "Alien 7 : The Revenge of Newt," Marshall Turpin's classic "A Day in the Presence of God," and old-time breakthroughs such as Walt Disney's "Tron." Her parents bought her a top-of-the-line computer for her eighth birthday and she taught herself to recreate the computer graphics from all of the movies she was raised on. In an era where the best way to hold someone's attention was through flashing lights and dazzling imagery, Meredith was well prepared to make her way into the world. With the invention of holo-technology, she realized her calling and turned her attention to the creation of various programs for training, education, and recreation.
  Hover-ball was one of her newer programs. It was a mix of jai-alai, the ring game from "Tron," and one of her old zero-gravity simulators.
  Krista sat down next to her, but she was oddly silent. Meredith knew better than to press her for information when she was in such a mood; so she smiled at George as he sat down on her other side. He was looking nice in his clean and pressed uniform with a shaven face and straight hair.
  George was a military brat who followed in his father's footsteps and joined the service. Born in Texas with Mexican heritage, he was a top shooter in his class with extremely high endurance and a sturdy psychological profile. He joined up with the Necronomicon because it paid well and he typically didn't have to get up at four in the morning. Meredith had had a crush on him ever since they came aboard around the same time about eight months earlier. They were the same height at around 5' 11" a piece and had quickly become good friends. They frequently worked out and ran together in the ship's gym; but nothing had ever come of any of it. She was content to just be near him in any event and she thought he felt the same way.
  The crowd roared once more, with the high-powered intensity of a rowdy pit-fighter's club. The whole simulation was extremely realistic; it was amazing what one could create with force fields and colored lights. The lights began to dim and Meredith waved at Vanessa and Sandra who were sitting one row in front of her next to the court boundary. Ramirez gave Robert some last second advice before sitting in her own seat next to the medic.
  Robert, who would look ridiculous under other circumstances, stood proud in his custom battle gear. It consisted of a Barbarian style loin cloth with large shoulder pads, that he had decorated personally with war paint and furs, and a thick, white headband. On one hand he had a long, curved basket used to catch and throw the energy sphere that is used as a puck or ball. On his other hand he had a large electromagnet that was capable of both attracting and repulsing the ball, as well as his opponent. Weights were attached to both of his lower legs and made walking slightly difficult.
  The door to the holodeck opened and Matthew walked in in similar garb. Spotlights shined on both of them and the crowd became deafening.
  Everyone stood up and began to cheer.
  The two warriors walked into a hallway that was formed by an energy field in the shape of a large, transparent test tube. As they entered, the tube closed behind them, forming a concave seal, and a scoreboard slowly floated down. Alexander's face formed in the center of it and smiled.
  "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME ONE AND ALL TO THE REMATCH OF THE CENTURY. INTRODUCING THE CHALLENGER, IN THE WHITE HEADBAND, WEIGHING A ROBUST 212 POUNDS, HER MAJESTY'S KNIGHT : 'RAVISHING' ROBERT 'RUDE'!"
  The crowd booed and hissed. Robert jeered and shook his fist at them menacingly. Vanessa turned to Ramirez with a laugh.
  "Ravishing Robert Rude?"
  "We've been thumbing through the historical database on late twentieth century entertainment and found some hilarious stuff having to do with some sport called 'professional wrestling'."
  "AND HIS OPPONENT, IN THE RED HEADBAND, WEIGHING A PUNY, YET MANLY, 158 POUNDS, YOUR CHAMPION AND MINE : MATTHEW 'THE MAGNIFICENT'!"
  Everyone in the auditorium went nuts. Women screamed and children held up signs and banners while men began to butt chests and whoop it up like idiots. Matthew smiled pompously and waved a hand.
  "WARRIORS, TO YOUR POSITIONS."
  "Good luck bro."
  "You too Rob."
  They clapped baskets together and went to their marks. The Captain stepped his way through the crowd and took his seat next to Krista. He shook his head.
  "Aww, I missed their intros. I love that part." Brian and Karen were sharing a popcorn in front of him and he stole a handful for himself. He held it in front of Krista and she took a few kernels and chewed them gingerly.
  "REMOVING GRAVITY."
  Robert and Matthew braced themselves as they began floating in the playing field. Robert began to rotate and he kicked one of his legs to right himself; he hadn't quite mastered the art of maneuvering his body by swinging the weights as Matthew had, his strengths lay in his aim.
  "REMOVING FLOOR."
  The tile that they had just left began to dissolve away leaving the playing field a hollow capsule.
  "START OF MATCH. FIRST WARRIOR TO REACH FIVE POINTS WILL BE DECLARED WINNER."
  Both of them closed their eyes and tried to listen over the roar of the crowd and their own heavy breathing.
  "BEGIN!!!"
  There was a loud whine and a swoosh. Robert whirled his magnet-clad arm around and his body spun with the momentum. A bright blue sphere had shot out of the wall and he reached out to catch it in his basket. He quickly flicked it towards the wall where it connected with a white circle that was traveling slowly up the side of the capsule. It flashed and disappeared as a horn sounded and a large '1' replaced the '0' under his name on the scoreboard.
  The crowd cheered and the ball began to ricochet erratically, the curvature of the walls and the constant spin keeping it from being easily followed. Another white circle appeared and began to wander the sides of the transparent playing field.
  Matthew pointed his magnet at the ball as it passed by him and sent out a quick attractor wave. The ball curved in it's flight and he snagged it in his basket. The impact sent him floating backwards and he craned his neck to find his target. His red circle was behind him and he sent a blind shot in that direction that put his body in a spin. The sphere missed by a good two feet and bounced back towards him. He was about to catch it when a full-power repulsor blast sent him flying into the wall. Robert screamed and the crowd jumped to their feet and roared.
  The sphere went back to it's random path and Robert shook his magnet in a vain attempt to hasten it's recharge cycle. He barely looked up in time to see Matthew, who had pushed off the wall with all the force his legs could muster, spearing into him; Matthew pushed off of him, transferring his momentum and throwing Robert's body out of control.
  Ramirez winced; the Captain applauded.
  Matthew attracted the sphere again with a light pulse and easily sent it into his target; tying the score. Robert spun his weighted legs and managed to right himself after a few critical seconds. He looked up and saw the ball screaming at him at full speed after Matthew had thrown it at him. The impact pushed all the air out of his chest and threw him against the side wall. His body crashed against the field right in front of Ramirez who stomped her feet in rage.
  "DON'T LET HIM DO THAT TO YOU! GET BACK IN THERE AND SMASH IN HIS FRECKLED FACE!"
  Robert shook his head to clear it and took in a few quick breaths. Matthew had collected the ball on it's rebound off of him and scored a quick point. Robert pushed off and charged forward with his magnet pointed at his opponent. Matthew kicked with his legs in surprise; swinging his weights around and dodging the oncoming bullet. Robert rolled his body and reaimed his magnet at the sphere as it bounced near him and pulled it into his basket. He spread his legs open and jack knifed his body as he threw the ball towards the target he had seen floating there before his roll. The horn sounded and the score was retied.
  Matthew cursed himself for falling for the obvious tactic and flailed his limbs to pull himself out of his tumble.
  "Meredith," the Captain leaned across Krista who was watching entranced, "I just have to compliment you again on this program. This game rocks!"
  Another horn sounded and Matthew's score went up. Meredith smiled.
  "Thank you sir. I was thinking of introducing it down below."
  "You should; you'd make a bundle."
  Matthew hit the side again face first. He convulsed and coughed up a large glob of mucous and blood that floated weightlessly in the heated air until it came into contact with the forcefield and spread itself across the surface as a foamy, red stain.
  Vanessa pounded on the wall.
  "Hey! Be careful with him! He has to fly a shuttle later!"
  The Captain shook his head and looked back at Meredith.
  "And piss off quite a few doctors."
  "Aww, this isn't as dangerous as football; now that they've started hiding booby-traps on the field."


The horn sounded once more and the score was tied at three apiece. Robert panted as he tried to soothe the pain in his chest. His vision was blurred and he had difficulty following the blue streak that was zipping around him. He saw his target reappear behind Matthew who was slowly spinning as he floated towards him with his back turned.
  Matthew had his basket up as the sphere was coming towards him. He was setting up a whip shot that would most likely be aimed at Robert's head. Robert set his magnet on full attract and pointed it at his opponent's back. Matthew yelped as he began to accelerate backward; quickly moving away from the ball. He didn't have the leverage to use his own magnet against Robert and he flew helplessly. Robert put out an arm and let Matthew collide with it; the resulting impact put his own body in a spin. At the 180 degree mark he scooped the still floating puck into his basket and shot it out at his white circle at the full 360. It flew in a graceful line where it hit it's mark dead in the center with a resounding gong. The crowd cheered Robert's name and a '4' appeared on the scoreboard as he took the lead one more time.
  "Oh, you're going to pay for that!"
  "Come get some white boy!"
  Robert's target reappeared to his side and both men began to scramble for the ball. Matthew was traveling towards it at a slightly faster rate, having just pushed off the wall after being pulled into it. He was rotating slowly and was pedaling his legs to compensate and straighten out his flight. Robert was still in his spin and he perked his ears when he heard the energy sphere hit the wall behind him. He struggled to speed up his turn and he bent his neck to look behind him; the ball was arching near and he pointed his magnet to bring it in.
  Robert heard Ramirez's warning a split second before Matthew's basket connected with his chin. He felt something snap and stars filled his vision; his mind replayed the sunrise he had seen earlier and he couldn't help but be lost in it's beauty. Matthew pulled the puck in closer and swiped at it with his basket hand on it's return swing from Robert's face. It grazed his target and the red circle flashed.
  The crowd was on their feet and stamping their boots. Alexander's face reappeared.
  "MATCH POINT. NEXT WARRIOR TO SCORE WINS THE MATCH. THIS IS SO EXCITING. I ... I CAN'T WATCH!" His face faded away.
  Matthew looked at Robert and smiled, he was still reeling from the last blow and floating near the wall of the court; his back facing him. Another red circle appeared on the wall near him and began to float upward. The sphere hit one of the far ends of the capsule and began to spin towards him. Matthew set his magnet on full attract and dragged it into his basket. He pulled back his arm and launched his final shot.
  He flinched as he saw Robert push slightly off the wall and point his own magnet towards the ball. It began to curve away from it's intended target and collided with the wall in front of Robert where Matthew could not see; there was a white flash and the horn sounded. The sound from the audience was deafening, the scoreboard began to flash and Alexander reappeared.
  "WHAT? WHAT HAPPENED? OH MY GOD! ROBERT HAS SCORED THE FINAL POINT AND TAKEN THE MATCH! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, YOU'RE NEW CHAMPION : 'RAVISHING' ROBERT 'RUDE'!"
  Robert tucked in his legs and spun in a ball as he floated happily through the air in his victory pose.
  "CENTRALIZING GRAVITY AND RETURNING FLOOR."
  Matthew, dejected, began to float towards the center of the tube; his body righted itself automatically and he stretched out his legs as the floor began to rematerialize beneath him and Robert. He got back his bearings and walked over to the new champion, slapping his shoulder.
  "Congratulations stud, you've earned it you slick, tricky bastard."
  "Thanks man. It's about time and I have to say it was an honor to finally kick your ass." Robert smiled, a trickle of blood had coated his front teeth red.
  "You got somethin' ...," Matthew pointed at his own teeth and Robert quickly licked his clean.
  The capsule opened and Ramirez rushed in, jumping onto Robert and almost knocking him to the ground.
  "That's right, that's my boy. Congratulations lover, I'm proud of you," she turned to Matthew, "and I'm sorry for you, of course."
  "Of course, I accept your condolences." Matthew looked back at Robert, "next time I take back my title."
  Robert grinned and reached out. They gave each other a hug and Matthew walked off of the court with his head hung in shame. Vanessa was waiting for him with a concerned look.
  "I don't know why you guys do this to yourselves."
  "For the same reason you keep coming to watch," he leaned in towards her, the sweat on his face pungent and dripping, "you love it!"
  "Are you okay darlin'?"
  "I'll live. I've got to get clean and suit up for the mission. Thanks for the concern though."
  "It's my job, don't think anything of it." Matthew laughed and the door to the holodeck opened for him. Vanessa moved over to the new champion who was rubbing his jaw. "And how about you? Do you need medical attention?"
  "An aspirin wouldn't hurt."
  "Nothing so primitive, come on you two. Might has well fix you before the show starts."
  The Captain and Krista were waiting by the exit as everyone else was shuffling out. The holocrowd was still cheering.
  "Good job Rob. Hell of a match. Better than the last one by a long shot."
  "At least this time I didn't break any bones. I think."
  "I can't wait to see your next bout."
  "I can."
  "Get yourself cleaned up and be on the bridge in forty-five minutes. Ramirez, prepare yourself and prep the team; be in the shuttle bay by the same time."
  "Yes sir."
  He turned and walked out; Krista winked and followed him.
  Robert kissed Ramirez on the cheek and they walked out together as the crowd disappeared behind them and the holodeck shut itself down.


"Oh man, my shoulder is killing me."
  "Would you like me to kiss it and make it better?" Ramirez smiled at Robert as she let her brown hair dance about her shoulders.
  "I might."
  They were both in uniform as they made their way to Weapons Storage. She reached out and gently carressed the back of his head with her soft hand. He leaned forward and closed his eyes as their lips met.
  It was about fifteen minutes before Robert was scheduled to be on the bridge and make for a lunar orbit and he was spending that time with the woman he loved. He ran his fingers over her firm arm and pinched the bicep. She giggled and tensed her muscle out of reflex; smiling while still kissing. She opened her eyes and looked at him with a raised eyebrow. Robert cocked his head and smiled sheepishly.
  "I guess it wouldn't be a good idea to skip out on our duties and head back to my quarters for some alone time."
  Ramirez ran an open hand over his chest and down his front. She growled through bared teeth as she reached down and cupped the bulge that was forming in his crotch. Robert jumped as pleasant shivers raced through his spine.
  "Maybe when I get back; but only if you wear that costume of yours." She squeezed him playfully and felt his member swell under her strong fingers through the fabric of his jumpsuit. Robert twitched and closed his eyes; then grasped her wrist in his own hand to stop her.
  "Please, don't start something I'm going to want to finish right now."
  Ramirez released her hand and started walking down the hallway again.
  "When I get back."
  Robert caught back up with her; limping to help hide his stiff erection. They turned a corner to see the door to Weapon's Storage wide open. Ramirez held up a hand to keep Robert back while she peered inside. She frowned and walked inside as her lover followed. Robert smiled and waved.
  "GUSTAVO!"
  "ROBERT!"
  "Gus," he looked at Ramirez and stood at attention, "what are you doing in here?"
  "Remember when you asked me to take care of the monthly weapons detail?"
  "You were supposed to have finished that two days ago."
  Gus shrugged apologetically. "Well, I hope you've taken care of everything; I don't want to get down in that alien ship and find myself in a position where I need a fully charged plasma rifle and all I get out of my gun are a few shorts."
  "I'm just taking inventory. All of the cleaning and recharging has been taken care of."
  "Good," Ramirez squinted at him, "you did a good job? I'm not going to regret not giving the job to George."
  "Hey, I may be late but I'm thorough." Gus smiled his big smile and she just shook her head and rolled her eyes. Gus looked at Robert, put up his hands and began to play-fight; throwing several quick jabs and a hook.
  "So, que pasa amigo?"
  Robert smiled with pride.
  "I won."
  Ramirez slapped him on the shoulder, grinning as he grimaced under the pain.
  "He sure did. And I believe someone owes me about two hundred new yen."
  Gus wheezed and pulled his wallet out of the breast pocket in his jumpsuit. Robert's face went wild with shock.
  "You bet against me?"
  "Can you blame me?"
  "You bet against me?"
  "Matthew has beaten you four times in a row, the odds were in my favor."
  "You bet against me?" Robert just shook his head shamefully.
  "Que mala suerte," Gus handed over a wad of cash into Ramirez's waiting hand. He looked at Robert who was still shaking his head, "oh stop it. I've already had my punishment." He made one last mark on his clipboard and looked it over. "I'm going to run this up to the Captain. Good luck on your mission."
  "Thanks Gus," Ramirez saluted and he returned it. Robert watched Gus leave Weapon's Storage.
  Gus was a tall and thin Mexican-American man with an extremely toned physique. He grew up in the barrios of San Diego and was showing promise in the fields of social sciences and diplomatic arts. Though he was a bright pupil, to the joy of his family, he hated school and ended up running away from home to escape the pressures of expected success. He spent his teen years on the streets, getting involved with a number of inner city and international gangs and becoming an accomplished fighter and fairly respected in disrespected circles. Gus traveled extensively and saw the world while living a drifter's life until Krista spotted him while she was on leave in Japan; she convinced him to come on board the Necronomicon and join the security team.
Ramirez was instructing him in the Shotokan martial arts style; though he was more interested in learning Capoeira, which he was picking up from one of Meredith's educational holoprograms.
  The doors to Weapons Storage closed behind him and Robert turned back to Ramirez. She was taking off her jacket and he stared at her body as she set it down on an open crate. She was strong and well toned after years of hard work to keep her body lean. Her ample breasts were wrapped up in a sports bra under a dark green tank top with pants to match. Her face was thin with high cheek bones and dark brown eyes that he loved to lose himself in during pleasant nights. On one hand was a fingerless, leather glove that she clenched into a fist before cracking her knuckles. On one shoulder a tattoo read : SLIPPERY WHEN WET. She looked up with a smile.
  "Now what should we take along with us?" She gazed at walls that were covered in racks of varying types of weaponry. One wall was devoted to old-style firearms that used chemical propellants to launch metal slugs; they were mainly for show as they had been proven to be not as reliable as what current technology had produced. Another wall had a wide selection of hand-to-hand arms from brass knuckles to long blades. Ramirez grabbed a set of two curved short swords off the wall and began to twirl them around in the air in front of her, displaying her alacrity and prowess with the metal weapons.
  "I don't think you'll want to take something like that if you're going to be toting around in an environmental suit."
  "I know, I just love these things. A better hand weapon you will never find, my love."
  "Wait a minute," Robert closed his eyes in deep thought, "wakazashi, right?"
  "I've taught you well." She set them back on their rack. "Everyone is going to need a small sidearm."
  Ramirez went over to the the third wall and removed four hand-sized pistols. Each one fired a variety of charged projectiles capable of a separate function that were determined by the setting in the grip where a small knob read : TANGLER - RIPPER - NEEDLER - NITRO - VAPOR - HOMER. Ramirez checked to see if they were fully loaded and set them on a table near the center of the room before going back to find another weapon just for herself.
  She smiled and pulled another one of her favorites off it's rack and held it up as she posed for Robert. She stood with her legs bent to properly hold the weight of it. She hefted it in her arms and the biceps tensed; the muscles standing out strongly.
  Robert just nodded in admiration. It was a rail gun, or as some called it a 'mini gun,' with six firing pipes that shot high powered plasma rounds at the rate of about eight every second.
  "That Firestorm Cannon suits you," he looked her up and down, knowing that her legs were tensing under her pant sleeves in the same way her arms were. Ramirez began to stalk her way forward as she waved the nozzles in front of her; her hard boots clomped heavily with each leather step. "But I think you should take something a little less ... offensive."
  Ramirez stopped and frowned.
  "You're right. Something more compact would probably be better too. I don't know if there'll be much room over there." She hoisted the weapon back on the wall and Robert stared at her rear as she did so. Her buttocks squeezed with the effort and he felt himself becoming aroused again.
  "Um... maybe you should just stick with a plasma rifle."
  She looked behind her and saw where he was staring. She wiggled her behind a bit for him.
  "Plasma rifle it is." Ramirez picked one up that was standing against a wall; she flipped the sniper sight to see if it was functional and checked the remaining charge. She opened her pack and threw in a few extra clips before grabbing the other pistols. "Time to go."
  Robert backed her up against the wall and mashed his lips against her's. She dropped the weapons and flung her arms around him while bringing up a smooth leg to wrap around his waist. She started to tear at his shirt with polished nails when their wrestling knocked over a crate filled with chaff grenades. They spilled over the floor with loud clangs and rolled into corners and under other boxes.
  "Time to go."
  "I'll get George to ... uh ... pick those up."
  They fixed their clothing and chased themselves out the sliding doors. Ramirez stopped and turned to the computer interface on the wall.
  "Close doors and lock. Security clearance Ramirez Alpha Delta Pi."
  "Closing and locking," Psi's image appeared on the plaque.
  "Would you like a retina scan?" Ramirez put her left eye close to the small scope set next to the AI panel for identification.
  "Nah, I trust you. You better get down to the Shuttle Bay, Matthew is almost done with his ship preparations."
  "Thank you Psi, let them know I'm on my way." She turned to Robert, "get up to the bridge, I love you."
  "I love you too."
  She began to walk down the corridor to one of the ship's lifts.
  "And Ramirez."
  She stopped and Robert gave her a concerned look.
  "Be careful down there okay?"
  Ramirez smiled at him for a few seconds, then continued to walk away. Robert just stood there and sighed.


CHAPTER THREE : DESCENT AND AN UNEXPECTED MISSION
  The doors to the Bridge opened and the Captain turned in his seat to see the newcomer.
  "Hey Rob, congrats again on your victory. Take your position."
  The other bridge officers began to applaud and Robert flustered at the attention.
  "Thank you sir, guys." He walked across the Bridge and sat at his console. Karen looked up from her calculations and shook her head.
  "About time you showed up."
  "I got sidetracked."
  "Sure you did. I'm feeding you our course now, the computer will make compensation for time. We should have clear sailing from here to there so don't fuck up."
  "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
  "I saw you take a few smacks to the head, I just want to be sure nothing got knocked loose."
  "Then I thank you for your concern on my state of health."
  "Now I just want to be sure you're healthy for your rematch. I have fifty new yen riding on you."
  Robert slowly smiled as he nodded, punching commands into his console.
  The Captain scanned his Bridge for any missing crew members. Robert and Karen were both at their chairs and station. Sandra's science station was empty as she was not required to be at her post for the Jabberwocky's departure. Meredith was at one of the Bridge's numerous computer interfaces to help act as a liaison between the Necronomicon and the away crew of the Jabberwocky. Behind him, George had taken Ramirez's place at the security station.
  George and Gus made up Ramirez's security team and George was glad to be on the bridge with her duty instead of cleaning up a mess in Weapons Storage that she had saddled him with just minutes before. He looked at Meredith and smiled.
  Meredith returned it warmly and flicked a switch on her console and read the information that poured out on to her screen.
  "Sir, Jabberwocky and crew report they'll be ready on schedule and the Engineering reports all speeds available."
  The Captain nodded emphatically.
  "Excellent, if there's one thing I can't stand, it's a lack of punctuality." He shifted in his seat. "All right Robert, let's get this mission underway. Prepare for Lunar orbit."
  "You got it sir." Robert ran his fingers along the controls and the engines began to fire. The view screen shifted and the Earth began to float away, leaving the pin points of sparkling stars to fill the void. "Bringing speed up to 2500 MPS, Lunar Orbit in approximately one point six minutes."
  The white pocked surface of the moon loomed into view and slowly expanded on the screen; onlookers could barely make out the twinkling lights of the Japanese Lunar Base. The Captain turned his chair around and looked at George.
  "Time until the ship impacts with the Lunar surface."
  "Three point two minutes; Karen you're right on schedule."
  Karen just smiled.
  "We should be clearing the moon in time to see it's descent."
  "Anything on com-traffic?"
  "Oddly quiet sir, not even the General is giving us any flack about breaking Earth orbit and I thought we might have gotten a call from The Lunar Base by now. Oops!" A light in front of him flashed, illuminating the square jaw of his tanned face, "I spoke too soon. Lunar Base is hailing us sir."
  "You take care of it; just let them know we're not attacking or anything and that we're going to send a shuttle to investigate the UFO."
  "Oh shit."
  "What is it?"
  George looked up with smile.
  "The General is on line two."
  "I guess I have to take this one. Put him up on the main viewer."
  The Captain swerved his chair back around and grimaced when the gnarled face of General Sweet appeared before him.
  His leathery skin was cracked from the cigar smoke of war room meetings and brandy shots in comfortable rooms. He had never actually been in real combat, but had sent many young soldiers to their deaths as he moved pawns around a Risk map in his best concept of strategy; which had been the same for the American Army since the Civil War : keep sending in more men until we choke their livers with our dead.
  Luckily the American populace was fairly prolific.
  The Captain managed a smile; the General did not.
  "What can I do for you General?"
  "I'm here to warn you that that ship is property of the United States military and by no means is it to be disturbed by civilians!"
  "Well General I'll be sure to have my men stop at the first sign of your Confederate Flag."
  "I will not stand for this brand of insolence! I demand that you keep clear of that object. Under no circumstances are you allowed to go near it as it belongs to ME!"
  "General, does the term Ôgo suck a lemon,' mean anything to you?"
  The General began to huff and puff out his chest in an effort to look menacing.
  "If you're nice to us we might send you a picture of it. Other than that, you'll have to wait until you get your own antiquated ships up here to check it out yourself."
  "THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS!"
  "Good bye General." The Captain nodded at George and he disconnected the signal. "What a dick wad."
  "We have achieved Lunar orbit."
  "Can we get a good view of the alien craft?"
  "On screen sir."
  With the moon slowly spinning in the background, the black exterior of the ship was clearly visible now at the shorter distance and the bridge crew watched as it slowly spun towards the surface.
  "There it goes." Karen looked at it and shook her head. "I hope Brian isn't watching this. He'd hate to see it go down."
  "Just for the record, I'm not too thrilled about it either."
  "Yes sir."
  It slowly began to curve in it's descent as it was caught in the slight Lunar gravity. The view screen of the Necronomicon followed it as it plummeted; it disappeared for the briefest of moments and then was replaced by a dark cloud of gray dust that spewed from the crash site. It settled and was gone.
  "How does it look?"
  "It appears to be more or less intact sir. It crashed right were Karen predicted."
  Karen smiled.
  "Damn I'm good."
  The Captain raised an eyebrow in admiration as he turned to Meredith.
  "Tell the Jabberwocky that they are clear for launch."

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"How's it coming down there Matthew?" Krista checked the safety grid on her console as she readied the Shuttle Bay doors for opening. The glass that separated the control booth and the hanger was clean and clear giving an open view.
  Matthew, who was sitting in the pilot's seat in the cockpit of the Jabberwocky, flicked the communication's switch.
  "I'm cool. Just doing a redundant check on the life support system. Are we taking an AI with us?"
  "I'm afraid not. You guys are on your own today."
  "There's no shame in that." Matthew turned and glanced over his shoulder. "Are the environmental suits prepped and stored securely Heather?"
  Heather poked her head into the cockpit.
  "Check."
  Matthew sighed as he watched her turn away to complete her maintenance.
  Heather had a head of light red hair that Matthew had always been fond of, originally being a red-head himself before bleaching it into a lighter shade. She had come on board roughly around the same time he had. She was from a coastal town in southern California but had some how maintained a healthy pale tone to her skin instead of a deep tan that most beach dwellers had. Heather was of slightly less-than-average height and had a sleight dancers build. Some of the male crewman on board had come to the joined opinion that she also had, as they put it, 'one hell of an ass.' This was further validated by her predilection for wearing tight denim shorts, one of her guilty pleasures. She was quiet and shy, but also an absolutely brilliant engineer with a curious mind. She was keen on details and always liked to be thorough in her work.
  Matthew thought she was cute, but her demeanor made her seem sexually repressed; something that wasn't too prevalent among the crew of the Necronomicon. He knew, that if given the chance, he could help her break out of her shell. But he didn't have the time or drive to worry about that now.
  "Good, close that compartment up tight. We need to make sure they can't jostle around in there. There's nothing worse than being somewhere fucked up and having a malfunction in your environmental suit."
  "Gryphon is here."
  Matthew looked over.
  "Hey there stud; glad you could make it."
  Gryphon sat down in the co-pilot's chair and shook Matthew's hand.
  "Don't worry about a thing, Air Matt will get you there on time and in style."
  "That's cool, is Ramirez here yet?"
  "She's on her way now. She was picking up ordinance and going over some last minute security preparations with Gus." Matthew turned on the intercom, "Krista, we are ready for launch."
  "Excellent Matthew, just waiting for clearance from the bridge."
  "Ramirez is here Matthew."
  "Thanks Heather, strap in back there after you seal the hatches."
  Ramirez poked her head in the cockpit.
  "Hold on, first thing's first." She held up handweapons for each of them. "Safeties are on. Matthew one, Gryphon two," they took them and strapped them to their sides. She held up the other two and smiled, "Ramirez three, and Heather four." As she walked back into the cabin, Matthew looked at his palm and grimaced. He patted Gryphon on the shoulder.
  "Well sandman, are you ready to hunt down a runner?"
  "Huh?"
  "Never mind." The communication speaker crackled.
  "Matthew, this is Krista, the bridge has cleared the Jabberwocky for launch."
  "Affirmative Krista. Commencing engine ignition." Matthew began pressing keys on his console and turned a button on the panel to his left. The ship jerked and began to vibrate.
  "Opening shuttle bay doors."
  A siren went of and blinking lights shimmered reds and yellows."
  "Krista we are a go."
  "Decompressing Shuttle Bay."
  The atmosphere began to seep away into space as vents slowly opened. The hissing eventually ceased.
  "Lowering force field."
  A blue light flashed.
  "Have a good time guys."
  "Tell Rob I'll take that rematch when I get back."
  "Will do Matthew, be careful."
  The Jabberwocky began to drift forward. The three engines in the aft section pulsed and it shot out of the hanger; the force of it sent debris flying around the airless room.
  "HEY!"
  If they were still listening, they didn't care. Krista turned the force field back on and closed the Bay doors. When the atmosphere returned, Alyssa's face appeared on the panel.
  "I hate a mess."
  "I don't blame you," Krista began to secure her station.
  "Would you like me to instruct one of the maintenance robots to clean up?"
  "Sounds good, go ahead. I'm going up to the bridge to report; and to watch."
  "Yes sir," Alyssa blinked out and Krista smiled.
  As Krista left the Shuttle Bay, a large door slid away and a gleaming metal construct moved in and started collecting the floating debris; it's numerous arms extending and retracting as it crawled over the walls and floor.
-     -     -
  "That was quite a good launch if I do say so myself." Matthew smiled as he turned the ship slightly to one side and straightened out. "As Karen would say, 'we're in the pipe, five by five.'" Matthew pressed a few buttons on the console between his and Gryphon's seat. "You've never flown with me before have you Gryphon."
  "Can't say I have, why?"
  "No reason."
  A bass guitar began to twang over the speakers all over the ship. Gryphon pointed up with a waving finger.
  "What's this?"
  "Nothin' but the best of 70's funk." Matthew brought up one of ship's control boards and changed a few of the settings. "Lowering inertial dampeners to fifty percent of normal." Somewhere among the bass rhythm, a drum set joined in.
  "Wait! Why are you doing that! That's the G-Diffuser system! We need that to stabilize the ship!"
  Matthew looked and Gryphon and smiled as he started to bob his head in time with the beat.
  "Aww, c'mon Gryph; smooth rides aren't any fun," he looked back forward, "this is supposed to be a ... ROLLER COASTER!"
  Matthew jerked the controls to the left as the lyrics began and the ship shot to one side. Gryphon's heart jumped into his throat as he was thrown against the wall.
  "...OF LOVE."
  Matthew leaned on the controls and the ship leapt into a dive, Gryphon felt himself starting to float out of his seat as his stomach was wrenched downward. His sudden shrieks began drowning out the music, forcing Matthew to pump up the volume.
  "ROLLER COASTER! WOO WOO HOO HOO HOO!"
  "Stop it Matt!"
  The moon danced in front of the Jabberwocky, spinning and swaying as the ship leapt rhythmically to the classic sound of the Ohio Players.
  "I order you to stop this at once!"
  "YOUR LOVE IS LIKE, A ROLLER COASTER; REALLY BABY," the ship hurtled into a roll and Matthew continued to sing merrily as Gryphon felt his lunch boil up into his esophagus, "I WANNA RIDE!"
  "PLEASE GOD! NO! AAAAHHHH!," Gryphon covered his eyes and continued moaning as sweat began to bead across his forehead. Matthew pulled up on the controls and laughed as he felt the pressure build on his body.
  "ROLLER COASTER!" He pulled off to the right and began to plummet towards the moon again. A loose package of gum flipped out of Matthew's pocket and began to tumble along the ceiling of the cockpit. "OF LOVE!" His smile grew a notch and he pointed down. "Look Gryphon, there's the alien vessel!"
  Gryphon pried his fingers apart while on the verge of hyperventilating. Just as his eyes began to peek through, Matthew veered left and sent him back behind shut lids.
  "WOO WOO HOO HOO HOO!" With a press of a button Matthew muted the music. "We're coming in for a landing, get ready back there."
  "Another kick-ass ride Matt."
  "Thank you Ramirez, how's Heather?"
  "She's asleep."
  "Hmm, how disappointing. Next time I'll whip out some James Brown; that'll keep her up. I think Gryph's a little worse for wear."
  "Oh god ... oh."
  "That's it bro. Just let it all out."
  Matthew turned the inertial dampeners back up to full and fired the retro rockets. The Jabberwocky glided to a stop and began to nestle down to the ground. The engines cut out and the ship settled into the soft dust. He smiled.
  "A perfect and smooth landing," he patted Gryphon on the shoulder, "huh?"
  Gryphon quickly undid his harness and ran into the back. Matthew heard the guttural sound of vomiting and of something wet and chunky splashing against the cool porcelain of the sink in the ship's commode. Matthew just shook his head.


"Sir, there is an incoming communication from earth." The Captain turned in his seat and watched George press a few buttons and talk into his headset. George nodded and looked back up. "It's the President."
  "Great, that's just what we need right now. I'll take this in my office." He stood up and ran a hand over his thin goatee. "Maintain position and try to establish communications with the Jabberwocky once it reaches the surface."
  "Yes Captain."
  He walked through a set of doors in the side of the bridge and they closed silently behind him. The reflection that greeted him in the mirror on a side wall was tired and uneager for the coming conversation. The Captain tied his long hair in a pony tail and sat behind his desk. A computer screen raised out of the paneling and blinked with artificial patience. He tapped his finger a few times and pressed the button for the call to come through. The view was of the oval office, the red curtains were parted to let sunshine filter behind the woman who sat at her own desk.
  "It's about time you picked up."
  "Hello President Lourdes," he cocked an eyebrow and smiled, "still no last name?"
  She returned his smile; soft age lines framed a lovely face; a few gray hairs streaked the short waves of blonde hair that fell around her ears.
  "It bogs me down."
  "Good, I'm glad to see you've learned a few things from your mother. How is she anyway?"
  "Still retired thankfully, I guess you wouldn't completely understand that though."
  "I wasn't around for it, but I have heard about the horrors of the 'Like A Virgin 2009 Tour.'"
  "There's nothing worse than a mid-life crisis. I hope I come through my own gracefully. I'm just thankful cryogenics couldn't save the Rolling Stones; though I heard Keith Richards kept himself fairly pickled anyway."
  "Who?"
  "Oh my god I feel old."
  "I'm sorry ma'am. I didn't mean any disrespect."
  "It's okay, but I didn't call to talk about family and classic rock."
  "Please don't tell me our good General has been whining to you again."
  "Thankfully no. And though I have been briefed about our little visitor, I know we won't be able to get to it first, so I'm not fretting about it. So it's still business as usual down here."
  "Then what is it Madam President?"
  "As you know, our country is in the habit of giving foreign aid to those nations that are incapable of supporting themselves."
  "I am aware of that."
  "Australia has requested medical supplies in response to recent attacks by Paupa New Guinea and I've agreed to give it to them. We are sending two transports from scientific research and medical station Schweitzer Three down to the planet with the supplies they need to tend to their injured."
  "What does this have to do with us?"
  "The station has recently come under fire from French terrorists who are trying to take it and the supplies for their own ends. We are understandably concerned that they will attack the convoy once it leaves Schweitzer Three."
  "Trade embargoes are a bitch."
  "It's their country's own fault for invading Great Britain. If they would just admit to being one of the major causes of the third world war we might reconsider, but as it stands they have a grand opportunity that they won't be likely to pass up. Our own ships are limited, especially ones capable of outer atmospheric combat. I would like to ask for your aid in protecting the supply vessels. Our usual offer is included of course."
  "Of course." He scratched the small scar on his cheek with his thumb.
  "Please act as their escort until they can enter the atmosphere over the Indian Ocean and our own fighters can take it from there. Can you help us?"
  "Yes Madam President, I'd like to make contact with our people on the lunar surface and give them their orders and make arrangements for their return when they have completed their mission. It shouldn't take long and we should be en route to Schweitzer Three. Tell them to expect us in about fifteen minutes."
  "Thank you Captain. And let me know what you find out there. I am ... understandably curious."
  The screen went blank and the Captain slid back in his chair with a sigh.
  "Alyssa?"
  The AI plaque on the wall began to brighten. Alyssa's soft face appeared and the blank eye sockets seemed to blink.
  "Yes sir."
  "Have we reestablished contact with the Jabberwocky yet?"
  "Not yet sir; they are almost on the moon's surface."
  "Thank you Alyssa."
  She began to fade away and he watched her do so with rapt interest.
  When he had written their three programs a few years before, the Captain didn't know that the AI's would have become such a fixture on board the Necronomicon. They were originally only supposed to run simple everyday tasks on the ship; but as they evolved, so did their duties.
  Alyssa was programed to keep the ship clean, lighted during 'daytime' hours, and regulate internal temperature and atmosphere. The tasks had eventually given her a motherly quality and she soon took it upon herself to try and keep the crew healthy and comfortable.
  Alexander's original duties included computer maintenance and making sure that the ship's systems were functioning properly. The lack of any serious work gave him a flip personality that most of the crew liked and he soon branched out into other areas to keep himself occupied. It kept him from feeling 'obsolete' as he originally put it. He was fond of helping out in the holodeck and acting as liaison between members of the crew when he was allowed.
  Psi, amazingly enough, was a gaming program. Some of the crew were disappointed with the regular computer's aptitude at strategy, so the Captain created his program as a means to satiate their gaming spirit. Psi enjoyed beating everyone at just about any game they could throw at him and was still the ship's undefeated grand master at chess. He soon became bored and requested greater duties on board, wishing to as equally useful as the other two AI's. Though he didn't have total access over ship's defenses, he was very useful in combat situations and also supervised the Necronomicon's internal security grid.
  The Captain stood up and looked around the room. He wasn't an extremely tall man; about 5' 10" with a strong build. His youthful looks betrayed his command abilities and experience. He was independently wealthy and used that wealth to help those in need around the world. In a grandly selfish act, he set about building the Necronomicon, just because he knew he could. He manned it with those who had the knowledge and, more importantly, the personality to handle and thoroughly enjoy what every other nation envied.
  He smiled and walked back on to the bridge. George looked up.
  "The Jabberwocky is hailing us sir."
  "Put them on screen." The viewer blinked and a side view of the cockpit appeared. "Matthew, how was the trip?"
  "Uneventful sir," he smiled, "I've run a full check and the Jabberwocky is capable of returning to space. The others are suiting up now and I'm about to go join them. We should be going out to examine the alien craft in about twenty minutes."
  "Excellent," he sat back down in his chair, "Matthew, we'll be leaving orbit shortly. We've been asked to help protect a medical convoy; it'll take about six hours so I'm afraid we won't be able to come back and pick you up. You're instructed to come and meet us back in Terran orbit when you've finished all you can down there."
  "Understood, piece of cake sir. Have a good time."
  "Thanks, you too; and be careful."
  "You know us sir."
  The screen returned to external view, the moon spinning quietly.
  "Baby-sitting duty sir?"
  "Don't knock it Rob, it's a quick one hundred and fifty million new yen for fending off a few terrorist ships."
  "Ooo, you mean we get to have some actual combat today?"
  "It just keeps getting better and better doesn't it?"
  "Setting course for Earth. Where are we headin'?"
  "Schweitzer Three, and step on it."


CHAPTER FOUR : THE ALIEN CRAFT
  Matthew tapped the diagnostic computer on his inner wrist and checked the readout. His oxygen supply was at full capacity and the temperature gauge was steady. The pistol Ramirez had supplied him with was strapped to his hip and his head camera was operational; he turned it's dim light on and looked at his cohorts. They were each in their own environmental suits and equipped as he was. Ramirez also had a plasma rifle while Heather had her kit of tools and sensor equipment.
  "Ready to go?"
  "Waitin' on you buddy boy."
  "I'm good to go. Go ahead Gryph, this is your show." Matthew picked up his own set of sensor equipment and waited patiently.
  "All right team, let's get it on." Gryphon pressed the airlock switch and the inner hatch opened. They stepped into the chamber and waited for it to seal and decompress. There was a hiss and a feeling of sleight discomfort before the outer hatch opened and the surface of the moon stretched out before them.
  Heather walked out first with a giddiness to her step.
  "I've never been out here before."
  "Really?"
  "I've done my share of space walks and I've even gone hiking on Mars and both of it's moons. But I've never been on Luna before. It's so pretty."
  Ramirez clicked the safety off on her weapon and flipped up the targeting sight.
  "I run battle drills down here every once in a while. It's good to have your team trained in every environment possible."
  Gryphon checked his sensors; the lunar landscape was mapped out before him and it showed a large mass set within a small indentation.
  "The ship is just a few hundred feet ahead, let's get this done."
  "Yes sir."
  The soft powder clouded around their steps as they took long strides over dunes and around craters. They crested a hill and caught their first real look at the alien craft.
  It's shell glistened it's glossy black in the pale earth light. It had crashed in a relatively open area and appeared to be intact. They slid down the hill and slowly crept up on the waiting ship. When they reached it, they stood several yards away; afraid even to touch it. It was roughly twice the size of the Jabberwocky; or about sixty feet long and twenty feet wide. The eyes seemed to to glide off the sheik exterior. Ramirez looked at it with a grim appreciation.
  "We could fit this thing in the Shuttle Bay if we can get it airborne again."
  "Let's worry about that later. Matthew, you and Ramirez go left and search for a way inside, an open hole, a hatch, whatever."
  "You got it." Matthew opened took out a hand computer and began to take sensor readings as he and Ramirez walked off together. She had her rifle at the ready as she took point.
  "Heather, see if you can analyze the material that the hull is made from."
  "Aye," Heather opened her pouch and removed a few small cutting tools. She began to work on the hull as Gryphon took out his pistol and started to walk in the other direction. "Man, this shit is tough," she laughed, "this is so cool, isn't it?"
  "Huh?" He turned back to look at her.
  "Being the first people to come into contact with something like this."
  "Yeah, sure."
  "You're not jazzed about this as much as I am?"
  "The Captain just sent us down here because he was too scared to come on his own. Probably just wanted to get rid of us."
  "I doubt that. We're here because he trusts us Gryphon, because we're part of the team and we can get the job done."
  "Sure Heather, sure."
  She sighed and squinted at her readings as she analyzed a piece of the hull she had removed.
  "It looks like some sort of plastic. An extremely dense polymer." Her eyes went wide, "woah; this stuff is carbon-60. No wonder it didn't break up on impact."
  "What does that mean?"
  "A chain of carbon molecules with sixty neutrons in each nucleus. Tougher than diamond; strong, strong stuff. We're having a tough time mass-manufacturing it for it to be of any practical use." Heather looked up and smiled, "this is so cool."
  Gryphon didn't really think so, but her smile was enough for him to agree. His communicator crackled.
  "Yo Gryph, I think we found what you were looking for. About a third of the way around to your left; we seem to have located an access port."
  "We'll be right there. C'mon Heather."
  She picked up her equipment and put her sample in a small plastic bag. They followed the bootprints of their comrades and quickly met up with them; Heather ran her fingers along the hull as she walked.
  "Check it out."
  Gryphon followed Ramirez's pointing finger. They were looking at a large indentation in the hull, as if something had dislodged itself from the ship. "It looks like Vanessa's theory was the right one, this was definitely an escape pod."
  "We can probably get inside through here. Did you guys find a switch or control panel."
  "No, we thought we'd wait for you two."
  Gryphon looked at Heather and nodded at the door; she took it as her cue to begin examining it. With another look, he ordered Ramirez to stand in front of what appeared to be their best chance at an entrance. Matthew stepped back and smiled, finding it amusing that the women were sent into the greatest areas of danger.
  "There seems to be a computer terminal here sir. Would you like to look at it or do you want me to try and bypass it?"
  "I'll try a crack at it." Gryphon stepped up as Heather got out of his way. Her blue eyes watched him as he tried to decipher what he believed was the keypad. He tapped a few buttons and watched a readout appear before him. "The ship still has power," a few symbols danced before his eyes, "this is not in any language I recognize."
  "Well don't mess with it, who knows what it will do."
  "Don't worry Heather, no one would design a computer that could easily be harmful and place it on this part of the ship. No, this is purely for access inside." He pressed a few more buttons and studied the figures that appeared. Gryphon compared them with the symbols printed on the keypad and began to do calculations in his head.
  "What are you..."
  "Shhh," Gryphon smiled and touched a few more keys and looked at Ramirez, "you ready?" She nodded and he touched a last button and stepped back. The ship vibrated for a moment, a vibration that caused the dust to quiver around them. And silently, the door opened.
  Nobody breathed.
  Ramirez inspected the interior, aiming her rifle at potential targets. It was dimly lighted and fairly metallic, but nothing caught her eye. Matthew stepped forward and brought up his scanners.
  "Hmm."
  "What is it?"
  "I don't read any life forms present, but I do read a nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere just beyond the threshold."
  "You mean it's not decompressing?"
  "No, there seems to be a field holding it in place. In addition, the O-2 content is a little low by our standards, but it is breathable Gryph."
  "I'm not rushing to remove my helmet thank you."
  Matthew shrugged.
  "Ain't no shame."
  "So if there's a force field, how do we get in?"
  Heather put out her hand and pressed it forward. Gryphon's eyes went wide, but he was too late to stop her as her fingers passed through the barrier. Static surrounded her wrist as the field was interrupted, but offered no resistance.
  "Heather," she looked at Gryphon with her smile, "why did you do that? It could have been a lethal barrier."
  "For the same reason you kept fiddling with the control panel. Why would anyone put something that dangerous in an escape hatch?"
  Ramirez looked at her with a slight scowl.
  "To keep intruders from entering once the pod has been launched."
  "Oh, I didn't think of that."
  "Luckily nothing came of it," everyone looked to Gryphon as he spoke, "Ramirez, go ahead and take point. Matthew follow with your sensors. Heather, you and I will bring up the rear."
  "Yes sir." Ramirez stalked her way forward. She swung her plasma rifle around corners; she kept expecting an automated defense turret to activate but she was continuously disappointed. The walls were painted in a reddish light as the apparent lamps shed the dim illumination. The walls were smooth and the floor was made of a rubberlike material that was cast in a bizarre design of lines and circles. Tubing jutted out of walls only to disappear into the flooring after sharp right angles. Matthew was amazed at the readings coming from his sensors.
  "This is so bizarre. The energy readings are fluctuating erratically. They tip over the high end of the scale for one moment and then dips to almost nothing."
  Gryphon looked over at his shoulder.
  "Where are they emanating from?"
  Matthew turned a few steps to try and gain his bearings.
  "Over in that direction." He pointed towards what they believed to be back of the ship.
  "That would probably be the engine room. C'mon, let's check it out."
  Ramirez stepped back in front and crept at her slow pace. A single drop of sweat dripped down from her forehead, the cool air in her environmental suit chilling it's path on her face. Her communicator buzzed, giving her a light start, and she heard Gryphon speak again.
  "Easy now. Is that a door up ahead?"
  Ramirez turned and nodded. She brought her rifle up against her chest and waved Gryphon forward. A small light was blinking next to a control panel and he scanned the buttons, looking for familiar symbols. He pressed a few and the door slid open.


They were greeted by a bright white light that Ramirez instantly aimed at. They were still for a few moments before she determined that it was not a threat and sidestepped into the engine room. The room was roughly spherical in shape with the light coming from a pillar in the center of the room. A large crack in the side gleamed, giving the room it's illumination. It winked out and left them back in the red torchlight for a few seconds before returning with it's ghostly intensity. The floor had switched to pure metal instead of the rubber that was out in the hallway. Matthew brought up his sensor and began to take readings. The light cycled once more.
  "Hmm, ship's core? When it goes out, alpha particles stream out of it."
  "They aren't dangerous from more than a few feet away. In any case our suits should protect us.
  "I'm glad I kept with your suggestion Gryph; besides, there doesn't seem to be as much oxygen in here as there is in the rest of the ship."
  Gryphon scanned the room and found what he was looking for. A large computer dominated one curved wall and he walked up to it.
  "What are you doing?"
  "I want to see what the computer can tell me. There might be something here in a format I can understand. Mathematics hopefully. Ramirez, stand guard. Heather, I want you to see what you can find out about that core in the next half hour. After that I want you and Matthew to locate the ship's control room."
  "Sounds good sir."
  Ramirez backed up against the wall and watched the core pulsate, the supernatural glow giving her an uneasy stomach.
  "Are you sure this thing is safe? I mean, this crack is probably why whoever owns this tub abandoned it in the first place."
  Matthew stood next to her and brandished his equipment.
  "The energy output is constant; the levels don't go above or below what they've been going to. We should be fine."
  Ramirez acquiesced and went back to her vigilance. A click and whooshing sound brought her rifle back in her hands and aimed. Gryphon was smiling as a chair had come up out of the floor paneling and set itself in front of the computer console.
  "Oh, I like this."
  "Gryphon!"
  "What? Oh ... sorry."
  He sat down while Ramirez shook her head angrily. She began to pace with nervous tension. her steps sounding heavily in the stagnant air. She watched Heather tinker with whatever she could get her hands on and Matthew take more readings of the ominous pulsing in the center of the chamber. She counted the seconds as time passed; no one said anything as they tried to learn as much as they could. The computer screen kept flooding with unfamiliar letters as Gryphon tapped away on the keys. She watched as graphs and lines would appear and disappear with unintelligible jargon explaining their existence. The core flashed again and she found her vision drift to it as the white light reappeared and filled her faceplate with it's brilliance. The whole crack glowed and she couldn't see anything but it's ominous beauty.
  "All right," Ramirez gasped and regained her composure as Heather's voice filled her earpiece, "I think I'm done here. C'mon Matthew, let's go find the Cockpit."
  "Cool, I think I'm getting some of Ramirez's willies anyway." He smiled, but she looked away. Matthew shrugged and followed Heather out of the Engine Room. Gryphon didn't seem to notice as the computer kept his attention. Ramirez stood quietly for a few minutes then walked over to him; but she kept her eyes on the core.
  "Do you have any idea what this thing is?"
  "It's definitely the power source to the ship. I've seen some tables that I believe represent the power levels on board. There was an obvious spike and fall off some time ago and since then the graph shows a slow buildup and discharge at a steady rate."
  "You can read this?"
  "No, it's just that these readings mirror what Matthew has been recording. I believe they follow a hexagonal numerical system, but I haven't had much further luck deciphering the written language." He pointed at a few of the keys, "I believe this is what we would deem as a 'return' or 'enter' key, this a character delete, and this is a menu. Unfortunately, I don't know what words they are using or how to spell them; so I'm just getting lucky."
  "What are you in now?"
  "I think this is a menu on the core itself. From here I've been reading the power readings and what I think was a fuel conversion table."
  "Can you figure out what material is in there?"
  "Not from here, and if it told me I wouldn't be able to understand it. There might be a molecular breakdown hidden in here somewhere but I can't seem to figure out how to access it. Our best bet is to try and obtain a material sample."
  "From there!?!" She pointed her rifle at the crack.
  "If I can't figure out how to open a portal and access it safely, yeah."
  "You're trying to open it?"
  "Yes, I am."
  "Are you sure that's a good idea? Who knows what's in there. Matthew couldn't get a clear reading and somebody obviously thought it was dangerous or they wouldn't have fled. It's my professional opinion that we leave it the fuck alone!"
  "Ramirez, we were sent here to learn as much as we can and I think it would help if we brought back a sample of that core."
  "You are putting us all at risk. This is a serious danger that we can avoid and we should."
  "Quit your whining. What are worried about? A few alpha particles? OH-negative? Big deal. I think I've almost got it anyway."
  "Got what? What are you..."
  There was a deafening boom and the whole ship shuddered. Ramirez was thrown against a solid wall and Gryphon whipped forward into the console. The core began to whine and then it pulsed. The wave that emanated from it was blinding and surged forward with incredible speed; it struck them both before Ramirez could react.
  It passed through the thick protective shells of their suits and Gryphon felt warmth flood his entire body; the wave soaked him in it's brilliance and then swept through him. His eyes burned as it passed away from him and into the wall. The computer began to scramble as electricity jumped through it's circuitry; the screen burst in an explosion of sparks and glass as wiring began to pour out of crumbling bulkheads.
  The red lighting began to dim and eventually disappeared; leaving Ramirez and Gryphon with the thin beams of their helmet cameras. She shook her head to clear the vertigo that wrapped her head in a bleary cloak. Her breathing came back to her in gasps and she could feel her lungs burning.
  "Gryphon? What have you done? Gryphon?" She shook his inanimate body but could only hear the faint sound of his shallow breathing. He was unconscious.


"Heather, there is some next level shit in here." Matthew sat in what he knew was the pilot's seat. He reached down and took hold of a pair of grips that extended out from the front console. There was another set right above it and he found himself unable to grip both effectively. "These guys must have an extra set of arms or something, there's no other way to hold this."
  "Look at these interfaces, they're three-dimensional. I just pass my fingers through this transparent cube and the screen lights up." Heather sat next to him in another seat and marveled at the colors and lights that kept appearing at random.
  "This is so cool. We have to find a way to get this ship back into space. I have to get Rob in here and fly this baby around."
  "I hear that; those engines back there are incredible. Just think, we're sitting in something that can break the light barrier. You'll be joining the likes of the Wright Brothers, Yager, Armstrong."
  "Aww yeah!" Matthew pressed a few blinking buttons in front of him and a new screen appeared; it was filled with images of nebulae and burning suns, lines connected twinkling dots and gave foreign estimates of distance and time. "Oh my god Heather; these are star charts! Get my recorder, we have to take pictures of these!"
  Heather stood back up and reached back to grab the sensor equipment. She was bringing back up with a smile when, all of a sudden, the screen disappeared as the ship lurched violently and the lights began to dim.
  "What the hell? What happened to the charts?"
  The lights went dark and they were left with the dim beams issuing from their cameras. There was a rush of wind and bits of debris shot into the air and out of the side door as the atmosphere was sucked out into the vacuum of the moon's surface when the outer force field failed. Heather took hold of the pilot's chair to steady herself.
  "What just happened?"
  "I think we should get back to the others Heather."
  "I'm with you."
  Heather turned back around just in time to see the bright wave of energy pulse through the back wall of the bridge. She didn't even have time to scream before it passed through her body and ignited her very being. She could feel the tips of her hair as her form tingled with the power of the detonating engine core.
  Matthew was thrown into the control panel as his skin started to burn. He wanted to claw open his suit and sooth his itching skin as the blinding surge forced it's way through him as well. He couldn't breathe and he felt something crack next to his ear.
  After an eternity, cool oxygen refilled his helmet and he gasped. With a hand on his knee, he forced his weakened legs to stand and he moved to Heather's prone body.
  "Heather!"
  She wobbled and tried to turn her head but failed.
  "Can you hear me? Heather!"
  She nodded slowly, with a shudder, she fell to her side and rolled over to sit down. Matthew could see her lips moving but didn't hear a sound.
  "I can't seem to hear you, I think my receiver is busted."
  She looked at him and nodded again.
  "Do you feel all right?"
  She lifted two fingers and then extended her palm flat.
  "Give you a couple of minutes to recover?"
  She nodded.
  "All right, but make it fast. We need to get back to the others. In fact," Matthew reached down and picked her up by the arm, she struggled against him for a moment, then gave up and took hold of his neck.
  They hobbled there way through the dark corridors, navigating the metallic and rubber maze in the darkness. "Heather, call out to them; they won't be able to answer me."
  "Ramirez? Gryphon? Is anyone ... oh."
  Matthew felt her go slack, he didn't know if she had been able to say anything. But he continued forward, hoping he was retracing steps in a place that looked much more alien then it had minutes earlier. His camera light bounced around the foreign hallways, every tube and pipe seemed to lurch at them as they passed. Grasping at their suits, trying to keep them away from their friends.
  "Gryphon!?! I can't hear you if you are speaking because my communicator is broken; but I hope you are receiving me. I'm trying to make it back to engineering. Damn it! This place seems so much bigger than it did before. Heather is with me and I think she's feinted. Ramirez? Gryphon?"
  A light began to shine in the corridor ahead of him. He felt his heart panic for a split second before he realized it belonged to one of his comrades. As it got closer her saw the end of a plasma rifle and Ramirez's beautiful, yet, worried face.
  "Matthew, I'm so glad I found you. Gryphon is hurt."
  Matthew shrugged and tapped his finger against his helmet.
  "I'm sorry but I can't hear you, my receiver is damaged. Can you hear me?"
  She nodded and made the American Sign Language symbol for "G" with her fingers and pointed to Heather.
  "Gryphon out like a light too?"
  She nodded. Heather began to moan and Ramirez went to help her stand. Matthew let go so Ramirez could tend to her.
  "Heather? Are you okay?"
  "Is that you Ramirez?"
  "I'm here." Ramirez pointed back inside the Engine Room and then down at the floor. She then put her finger on her wrist and spun it around before slapping her fist in her palm. Matthew nodded and tromped through the door.
  "My head hurts. What happened?"
  "Gryphon released the core and I think it exploded or something."
  "There was some sort of bright light."
  "You saw it too? It was from the core, it passed right through us before everything went dark."
  Heather weakly shook her head.
  "Heather, we have to get out of here. The detonation and forced decompression have weakened the ship considerably. Some of the ceiling has come apart in there and I think the rest of this thing is starting to disintegrate."
  "Yeah, you're right. Some of the bridge controls were severely damaged and it's coming apart too."
  Matthew came back in with Gryphon over his shoulders.
  "Let's get out of here, I heard what you guys said and I'm ready to flee for my life."
  "All right, move out."
  Ramirez quickly moved away from the vacant core. The beam from her camera light danced along the walls as she jogged. The ship lurched again and one of the walls crumbled. Tubing and wiring spilled on to the floor in eerie silence and she halted her movement and waited for the avalanche to stop. Dust filtered through her camera beam and she coughed out of habit. She picked her way over the debris and turned a corner and saw soft light reflecting off of the surface of the moon dimly lighting the corridor. All three of them jumped through the opening and ran a few yards before turning to see what they escaped from.
  "Jeez Gryph, even on the moon you're heavy."
  The alien ship shuddered again and it looked like it was settling deeper into the lunar dust. Part of the top of the craft fell inward. Any awe Ramirez had had for the ship earlier had gone. It's beauty was lost among the failing hull.
  "Man, if that pulse did that to the hull..." Heather shook her head.
  Ramirez slapped a hand on Matthew's shoulder.
  "C'mon, let's get back to the Jabberwocky and go home."


CHAPTER FIVE : BATTLE AND A TRAGIC LOSS
  In the silent vacuum of space, eight members of 'The Sons Eiffel' flew their single-manned attack fighters against the most sophisticated technological creation known to man in an effort to piss off the Americans.
  At this point, most of them were beginning to question their leader's methods. One of them flew through the sparkling debris field of a fallen member and launched a Spear missile at the monstrosity known as the Necronomicon.
  George held on to his console as the bridge shook beneath his feet. The panel before him spat out status reports from all over the ship as another one gave a display of the battlefield; lights of differing colors whirled around each other in the cosmic ballet of space warfare. He looked up at the Captain who was wearing a grim smile on his face.
  "They are coming around for another pass sir. Two of their ships are destroyed and all of the others are lightly to moderately damaged."
  "Hot damn, I live for this shit." The Captain scratched the small scar on his cheek that was moist with sweat from the heat of the moment. "Robert, make sure you keep us between the convoy and the bulk of their attack fleet. Set lasers to full and prepare another nova bomb for launch."
  "You got it."
  Psi's plaque lit up next to the viewscreen as the ship turned itself about. His pallid face looked down on the crew as he appeared to bring urgent news.
  "Sir, Brian reports that fusion reactor two is repaired; full power has been restored."
  "Thank you Psi; tell him 'good job.' George concentrate your fire on the ships breaking formation to slip around us and launch the nova smack into the rest of them."
  George waited for a red light to turn green and immediately pushed it when it did so.
  "Fire in the hole!"
  Back out in space a gleaming orb shot out of one of the Necronomicon's torpedo launchers and darted across the void. A few of the French fighters saw it and peeled away from it as it arched towards the center of their group. It detonated in a golden fireball that pulsed with a brilliant light and expanded, consuming three of the fighters and sending out a shockwave that sent two others reeling.
  A single laser fired and hit a lone fighter in it's belly. The impact sent it in a tailspin, leaving a trail of leaking fuel behind it. Another made a strafing run on the Necronomicon and fired it's own lasers into the side; it was quickly retaliated against and another beam shot out, cutting through one of the fighter's thin wings.
  It tumbled out of control; as it spun, it drifted closer to the massive Necronomicon and collided into one of the starboard engines. The whole ship rumbled under the impact as an explosion silently burst into space.
  Somewhere on level five, Sandra clutched the wall of a corridor to help keep her balance. Back on the bridge, the Captain slid down slightly in his chair and shook his head in disgust.
  "Bitch did that on purpose," he sat back up as he turned. "George, status report."
  "The remaining ships are retreating into the atmosphere. They don't seem to be leaving any surprises. Brian says he's working on a damage estimate."
  "That means it can't be good."
  "We're receiving an audio transmission from the medical convoy. They're relaying their thanks for coming to their aid."
  "Tell them it was our pleasure. How much longer till we rendezvous with the U.S. escort?"
  "About twenty-three minutes Captain," George put a hand to his ear to better hear through his earpiece. "What's that Alyssa? I'll patch it through." George looked up, "Brian has finished with his estimate sir. I'm putting him on viewer."
  The viewscreen went blank and then lit up with Brian's smiling face. His freckles were lost in his dimples and his light hair was tousled from running around Engineering. Karen sighed a breath of relief.
  "What's the good word Bri?"
  "Well, that last collision set off a nice little bonfire, but we got it under control. David and Gus got a little singed and Vanessa is sending Kim down here to patch them up."
  "Glad to hear it, how's the ship faring?"
  Brian frowned.
  "I'm afraid two of our starboard engines have been damaged. Of the three on that side, only the bottom is fully operational."
  "What's your repair estimate?"
  "The middle one has only minor damage, a couple of us in suits can have it back up and running in about four hours. The upper one is beyond repair; I'm afraid it'll have to be replaced. That'll mean about two days in dry dock, at least, sir."
  The Captain ran his hand over his thin goatee and closed his eyes.
  "All right, thanks Brian."
  Brian looked at Karen and winked as the screen went blank.
  The Captain turned back to George.
  "Any other problems to report?"
  "Psi reports no other damage, are defensive screens are holding."
  Meredith spun in her seat.
  "Computers check out. Status Ôgreen' sir."
  "Thanks guys, good job everyone. Robert?"
  "Yes sir?"
  "Follow that convoy."
  "Aye sir, we shouldn't have any problems maintaining current speed."
-     -     -
  The ship drifted lazily next to it's charge after the battle. They floated peacefully above the Earth until the convoy sent it's thanks once again and descended to meet it's next protectors. Activity on the ship went back to normal as it's crew went to putting things back in order.
  The door to the bridge slid open and Brian walked in holding his report. The Captain accepted it and placed it on his armrest after looking at it briefly.
  "When would you like us to begin engine repair Captain?"
  "Not until the Jabberwocky returns. After that's completed, we'll put in for further repair and shore leave. I think we've earned it."
  "Sounds good sir. Permission to take Karen here to a late lunch?"
  The Captain smiled and was about to respond when Meredith chimed in.
  "Captain, we're receiving a transmission from the Jabberwocky."
  "Permission denied."
  Brian turned to Karen and held out his fingers.
  "I was that close."
  "Back to your posts." The Captain turned to the screen and awaited visual contact.
-     -     -
  Ramirez rubbed her sore eyes as she walked into the cockpit of the Jabberwocky. She watched the moon drift away as the ship began to ascend into space. Her head was beginning to hurt her and she had no idea why. She had taken a pain reliever from the medkit as soon as they got on board, but it didn't seem to be helping. Matthew looked up at her as she came in.
  "How's Gryphon?"
  "Heather and I strapped him into one of the beds; he's still unconscious though. We have to get him back to Vanessa."
  "Well, we're on our way."
  "Heather isn't looking too good either. She's having head pains and has come fairly close to passing out a couple of times."
  "You don't seem up to par yourself."
  "I have a headache; it's nothing."
  Matthew coughed and took in a quick breath before continuing.
  "What happened back there? What was that?"
  "The core detonated I think. Can alpha particles cause much damage?"
  "Sweetheart, that wasn't alpha particles that hit us; that was something else entirely."
  "And we don't know what it was?"
  "No," Matthew shook his head and blinked a few times. "Are the ... uh ... environmental suits secure and the cameras stored?"
  "Yeah," Ramirez put a warm hand on his shoulder, "are you feeling okay?"
  "I'm just feeling my lumps from that match with your boyfriend."
  "You'll get your revenge soon enough."
  Matthew smiled, patting her hand.
  "Don't worry, we'll be all right. Sit down, I'm going to try contacting the Necronomicon in a minute."
  She sat in the seat next to him and strapped on her restraints. The Earth was steadily coming closer in the front view and she wrapped her arms around her to ward away her shivers.
  "I'm scared Matthew."
  "So am I."
  He switched on the communicator and tuned in on the correct frequency.
  "Necronomicon, this is shuttle Jabberwocky; please come in."
  There was a few seconds of silence and then Meredith's voice came in over the speakers.
  "Hey there Jabberwocky, we read you loud and clear. How are you guys doin'?"
  "I'm not sure darlin', you better give me the Captain."
  "Sure thing, I'll put him through now." One of the small viewscreens above the control panel turned itself on and the Captain's tanned face appeared, his high cheekbones accenting his smile.


"Matthew it's damn good to see you. How is everybody?"
  "There was an accident sir," the Captain was visibly shaken by his statement, "Gryphon's out of it and none of us are feeling very well." He looked at Ramirez who had a sad expression on her face. "Request permission to dock sir."
  "Granted pilot. I'm afraid our ship has been damaged. We're running on minimal engine power so we won't be able to come to you. I'll have Meredith transmit our position shortly."
  "Thank you sir; it'll just be a little longer flight, that's all. Matthew out." The viewscreen flashed and went dark; Matthew felt his body tense as it did, the white blur staining his retinas with it's frightening glare.
  "We're receiving telemetry now ... Matthew?"
  "Yeah, I got it. I'm inputting the coordinates." The Jabberwocky lurched and shifted it's course. A dark spot floating above the Earth was it's new destination and the ship began to accelerate. "Time to Necronomicon, four minutes and fifty-two seconds ... mark."
  Ramirez forced out a giggle.
  "I'm looking forward to being back home."
  "It is home isn't it?"
  She looked at his tired face and smiled.
  "It's where Robert is; it's where I'll feel comfortable again, that's for damned sure."
  "Yeah, I'm looking forward to another shower. Maybe a cup of hot chocolate." He sat silently for a few moments, then licked his dry lips. "Do you think Vanessa will find anything?"
  Ramirez didn't say anything. Matthew sniffed and began to breath through his mouth. She couldn't see him try to blink his eyes into focus. The Necronomicon grew as it loomed closer. Ramirez rubbed her head again, her headache was starting to go away and for that she was thankful. She looked over her shoulder.
  "Heather? How are things back there?"
  "Gryphon is still asleep. I'm strapping ... myself in, I can't ... seem to stay on ... my feet."
  "It's all right, we'll be home soon."
  The Earth quickly filled the screen and they began to make their final approach. Matthew swallowed and let his fingers fumble around the panel as he searched for the switch on the radio.
  "Necronomicon, this is shuttle Jabberwocky; we are approaching ... uh, we are coming in. Roger?"
  "Jabberwocky this is Meredith, I know we don't dwell on formalities but what was that?"
  "I'm ... sorry, I don't ... I ... feel ...," Matthew coughed out a wet choke and collapsed against the panel, his head sending a light spray of sweat into the air as it struck the cool plastic.
  Ramirez heard the console beep as random commands were entered and the ship suddenly shot downward. The view before her began to spin as the pain in her head returned with full force. Lights flashed and the whole cockpit quickly glowed a dull red as warning beeps started to fill her pounding ears.
  "Matthew! MATTHEW! I can't fly this thing! Wake up!"
  The clouds in the upper atmosphere were coming up at a frightening pace. The aura around the ship began to burn a fiery gold as they plummeted downward to Ramirez's shrilling scream.
-     -     -
  Corporal Newman listened to his radio equipment as he continued to spy on what he was ordered to spy on. His heart began to beat as he heard something he knew would be of interest to his commanding officer. He looked up to his radar screen and began to smile.
  "Major Brothers?"
  "What is it Corporal?"
  "I think I may have something here sir."
  Major Brothers bent over his Corporal's console and squinted at the images he listened to the playback. He stood up and nodded with a smile.
  "Call the General."
-     -     -
  Meredith laughed as she looked at George lean against the panel next to her console. He had his leg bent and foot on the wall in that way she found really attractive.
  "You're nuts! The San Diego Chargers have gone undefeated for the past three seasons George, you'll be throwing your money away."
  "I can't help it. I've got a feeling my Saints will take it all the way."
  Meredith shook her head.
  "All right, you're on. One thousand new yen on the better season. What makes you a Saint's fan anyway? Shouldn't you root for a Texas team?"
  "I'm a Ditka fan, if it can't be the Bears than it has to be the Saints."
  "Who?"
  "Mike Ditka, the greatest coach in NFL history! Brought a broken down New Orleans suck-squad to three consecutive Super Bowl appearances with two wins in just four years."
  "Sorry, before our time. It just doesn't ring a bell."
  "Well, I have a good vibe this season."
  The speakers at Meredith's station began to crackle softly.
  "Necronomicon, this is shuttle Jabberwocky; we are approaching ... uh, we are coming in, Roger?"
  Meredith smiled as she heard Matthew's voice return.
  "Hold that thought George." She turned on a switch and spoke into the computer. "Jabberwocky this is Meredith, I know we don't dwell on formalities but what was that?"
  "I'm ... sorry, I don't ... I ... feel ..." Meredith heard Matthew begin to gag. George stood behind her in concern. There was a crash and she heard Ramirez yell something just as the transmission cut out.
  "Jabberwocky come in, Jabberwocky! MATTHEW!" Meredith stood up and spun around, George quickly moving out of her way. "Captain!"
  "What is it?"
  "Something's wrong with the Jabberwocky sir, their transmission just cut out."
  The Captain turned to Robert who was frantically bringing up sensor readings on his panel.
  "Oh Jesus sir, their out of control and barreling towards the surface."
  "Prepare to bring us into the atmosphere, we're going after them."
  George jumped forward.
  "Sir, without full engines we won't be able to maintain altitude; we can't go down there."
  Robert looked up, his eyes wide.
  "Oh shit, he's right. Do we have any other shuttles that can go down there?"
  George shook his head.
  "Just the Jabberwocky, the others are attack fighters."
  The Captain clenched his fists in frustrated impotence.
  "FUCK!"
  The screen shifted to show their descent, the ship leaving a blazing orange trail as it fell.
  "RAMIREZ!"
  "Karen, where is it going to land?"
  "They'll crash somewhere in Northwestern Texas." A few lights blinked near the Utah border and Karen winced as she saw them. "Captain, the military is already sending ships to intercept."
  "That didn't take long."
  "George."
  "Yes sir?"
  "Get me the mining colony again, tell them I have another favor to ask their Executor."
-     -     -
  Alarms continued to flash as the Jabberwocky broke through the clouds. The Texas sun bathed the barren ground below a healthy dark brown that was screaming it's way toward them. There were no homes or farms dotting the landscape, there weren't trees of any kind, just the red dust that spiraled ever closer.
  Ramirez pressed random buttons in an effort to calm the panic that gripped her. She let out one last yell as the maddening vision consumed her and she succumbed to unconsciousness.
  When the Jabberwocky hit the ground the sound was incredible. The boom could be heard from miles away although no one was there to take note. It skidded through the dirt at blazing speed before hitting a small boulder that sent it into a tumble. It flipped a number of times, slowing it's frantic movement, until it collided with a large stone outcropping, bringing it to an abrupt halt with sickening crunch, it's belly exposed to the afternoon sun in a huge cloud of dust and fumes.
  Ramirez tried to open her eyes. Her neck was stiff and she knew by the feeling in her stomach that she was upside down. Dust was filtering through the broken window that had shattered in front of her. She raised a bruised arm to her restraints and released them, sliding out of her seat and collapsing to the ceiling below her.
  She coughed as she glanced around with squinted eyes. It was fairly dark and the computer console was flickering as power tried to illuminate the controls.
  "Matthew?"
  She stood up on unsteady feet and shook his unmoving form. One arm was dangling loosely and it shivered as she touched him.
  "Matthew, wake up!"
  She gave him one last push and the light force of it turned his face towards her. His eyes were open wide and glazed over with a whitening film, his mouth slightly ajar and unbreathing.
  "Matthew ... no..."
  Ramirez looked up and found that a jagged piece of the column they had crashed into had speared it's way through the hull. It had impaled him just above his stomach, tearing apart his restraints and pinning him to his seat. A thin river of blood poured down his chest and along one side of his head where it dripped away, collecting into a dark puddle on the ceiling. She put two of her fingers to his neck and waited for a faint sign of life with eyes clenched shut.
  Ramirez wasn't a religious woman, but she had been raised Catholic and held some of the old customs as sacred. She took her fingers away from his neck and waved them delicately across his face, closing his eyes. She kissed his forehead and said a silent prayer, before looking at him again.
  "Vaya con Dios Mateo."

The console flashed again; this time the sensor grid showed a number of new contacts. They were identified as U.S. military craft and they were making their way towards the Jabberwocky.
  "Computer, how long until incoming ships intercept?"
  The computer beeped and went blank for a few seconds; it flashed on again with the screen reading, 'ETA : TWELVE MINUTES.' The speakers tried to audibly read the print but it only came out as a garbled mess. She looked at the broken body of her friend and knew what she had to do.
  "I'm sorry, but I know you would understand."
  Ramirez reached down into hidden panel between the two seats, lifting away the casing, and began entering code on a small keypad. She pulled a lever and watched the panel light up.
  The LCD flashed, '10:00' and began to count down. She ran into the back.
  The bed Gryphon had been strapped to had broken loose from it's moorings. He was struggling to regain consciousness from beneath it. With a piece of jagged shrapnel she found on the floor, she cut loose his restraints and helped him off the floor. He yelped in pain when he tried to put weight on his left leg; a jagged piece of one of the metal tables had embedded itself in his thigh and blood was freely flowing around it.
  "What ... what the hell happened?"
  Ramirez reached down, took hold of the broken fragment and looked up to see him nodding his head. She pulled and it came free with a wet pop. Tears welled up in his eyes as she patted him on the shoulder.
  "We lost control of the Jabberwocky and crash landed back on the Earth."
  Ramirez moved over to Heather, taking hold of her arm; it was dangling from her body in a sickeningly similar way to Matthew's.
  "Heather? Are you okay?" She nudged her upside down form and hoped for the best.
  "Yeah, help me get down please."
  She took her makeshift knife and freed Heather from her chair, gently lifting her to the ground.
  Gryphon stood back up.
  "Where are we?"
  Ramirez examined Heather's eyes for signs of a concussion.
  "Judging from what time it is and the weather, I'd say we're either in the United States or Mexico. The computer had a sensor map up but I couldn't read the labels before it gave out. How are you feeling Gryphon?"
  "Pretty good considering. How about you Heather?"
  "I'll be okay once I get my equilibrium back."
  "Guys," they both looked at Ramirez, "we have to get out of here."
  "Why? What's up?"
  "The military is on it's way."
  "Can we get the ship back up and running?"
  "The front end is crushed and power is gone. I've set the ship for auto-destruct. We should have about six minutes left."
  "Jesus Ramirez, I guess we better get going. Where's Matthew?"
  She looked down and couldn't bring herself to look Gryphon in the eye.
  "He's dead."
  Heather brought a hand to her mouth and took in a quick breath. She turned her head to hide her welling tears. Gryphon stood speechless.
  "A boulder came through the bulkhead and crushed him."
  "Well, we have to get him out of there. We have to take him with us."
  "There's no time, those ships will be here any minute and we can't allow the Jabberwocky, no matter how badly it's messed up, to fall into their hands."
  "I don't care! We have to bring Matthew back with us! I'm not leaving him out here! I'm not leaving him to blow up with the ship!"
  "Gryphon we can't, we don't have the time to pry his body loose before the ship goes and we have to destroy it. That's protocol."
  "Fuck protocol! I'm in charge here and I say we take him with us!"
  "Gryphon, no!"
  "Get out of my way."
  Heather turned and tried inaudibly to plead for some sane resolution.
  Gryphon took hold of Ramirez's arm and tried pushing her aside; he grabbed him by the elbow and pushed down, easily flipped him. He landed on his back and felt the air push out of his lungs. She lifted his shoulders up on her knee and wrapped her strong arms around his neck.
  "I'm sorry about this Gryph, but you don't give me any other choice."
  Ramirez began to squeeze. She could feel his pulse weaken as it tried to flow beneath her flexing bicep. Gryphon gasped a few times and fell back into unconsciousness; his eyes flitting up into his skull. She grabbed an arm and hoisted him up over her shoulders, grunting under his weight but holding on to him firmly.
  "Come on Heather, we're getting out of here."
  "Hold on, I need to grab something." She ran to one of the cargo hatches.
  "Hurry."
  She opened the door and pulled out the tapes from their trip inside the alien craft.
  "Let's go." Heather pulled a few levers and blew open the hatch. They ran out into the sunlight, scrambling to put as much distance between them and their damaged ship as possible. After a few minutes of hard travel they turned and watched it explode. A large crimson fireball engulfed it in it's flame and quickly consumed it whole.
  "Goodbye Matthew." Heather looked at Ramirez, her tanned skin glistening with the sweat of her exertion. "What do we do now?"
  "I don't know."
  Smoke curled into the air from the incinerated wreckage. Ramirez looked far into the distance. A few black spots had appeared over the hills and were approaching rapidly.
  "That would be our new captors."
  "Wait a minute," she turned to see Heather pointing above them, "what's that?" Something was descending from above, the clouds parted and they began to hear the roar of it's engines. "Should we run?"
  "Where to?" The ships over the hills loomed closer. The ship above slowed down as it approached the ground; a hatch in it's side opened and it touched down. It sat there for a few seconds as the engines continued to burn. A speaker crackled and a husky male voice boomed out.
  "Get in!"
  The two women looked at each other.
  "Your Captain sent for me. I'm with the Ceres mining colony."
  They quickly entered and the hatch closed. The ship began to ascend and quickly lifted it's way into the atmosphere just as the military craft entered weapons range. They did not pursue.
-     -     -
  "They've left the exosphere sir. The military doesn't seem to be pursuing."
  "They probably want to see if the can sift anything out of the wreckage," the Captain smiled as he scratched at the scar on his face, "good luck. Thanks Meredith. try hailing them."
  "Actually they're hailing us sir."
  "Up on screen."
  The stars fizzled away and Heather's pale, but still lovely face, appeared before them.
  "Hello sir."
  "Heather, not that I'm not glad to see you, but one of the two bridge officers should be reporting. What's up?"
  "Gryphon is out again and Ramirez is tending to him, she had to take him down."
  Robert smiled.
  "Ramirez knocked him out?"
  "Yes."
  "I love that woman."
  The Captain put a hand on Robert's shoulder; a gesture he took with pride.
  "Where's Matthew?"
  Heather hesitated, her jaw trembling.
  "He ... died ... in the crash ... sir."
  The bridge went silent. Meredith opened her mouth in a silent scream; Robert took hold of his console and squeezed it in an effort to keep from crying out.
  "Uh, um ... Heather I'm sorry," the Captain could feel bile bubble up into his mouth, his mouth twisting at the acrid taste. "When can we expect you to rendezvous with us?"
  "At our current speed we should be there within two hours sir, I'm afraid we're not as fast as the Necronomicon."
  "Good, we'll keep a light on for you."
  The screen went blank. The Captain slumped down in his chair and no one said anything. After a few minutes he stood and began walking to the door of his office.
  "George, you have the Bridge."
  "Sir ... yes, sir."
  The doors closed behind him. He plodded over to his desk, resting his head on it's cool wooden surface, and began to weep for his friend.

[cwmoss]

"How long has he been in there?"
  No one answered Krista's question. She looked around the room at the down-hearted crew. George lifted his head.
  "Hmm?"
  "I asked how long he's been in there."
  "About an hour."
  Krista walked to the doors and they refused to open. George shrugged.
  "I don't think he wants anyone in there."
  "Psi?"
  His plaque lit up and she smiled weakly at his hollow face.
  "Yes sir?"
  "Open this door. Authorization Krista Zeta Tau Alpha."
  "Authorization acknowledged."
  The door opened and Krista entered. The Captain was behind his desk with his head in his hands. She stood silently in front of him and waited patiently for him to speak; give some acknowledgment of her presence. He looked up.
  "I thought the locked door would be enough of a hint."
  "You can't stay in here forever."
  "I wasn't planning on it."
  "We've lost crew members before."
  He quickly rose out of anger.
  "I know that damn it!"
  Krista just looked at him, a beautiful living statue that just looked at him with an unwavering stare. He bowed his head.
  "I'm sorry, it just doesn't get any easier."
  "It never should."
  He glanced back up and squinted as he studied her. She was a woman of few words. But those that she did chose to say were straight, to the point, and always comforting in their own stoic way. She was standing at attention, her spandex suit leaving little to the imagination; she was aware of her extreme sexuality and did little to hide it. Everyone aboard was used to it, knowing she was just trying to break from her former lifestyle by altering her dress code. They knew she meant nothing by it; even at times like this, and especially when she hid behind the mask of her life and experiences.
  "Why are you here Commander? Shouldn't you be grieving in your own way?"
  "I've cried all of my tears sir; you of all people should know that."
  He sighed and slowly nodded his head.
  "I do, I'm sorry Krista ... I ..."
  "I've come to discuss unpleasant matters sir. I don't want to seem any more callous, but we have to make decisions on building a new shuttle."
  "Yes."
  There was a pause before she continued.
  "And finding a new pilot."
  He sat back down and turned his chair around.
  "Let's worry about that later okay? The others should be returning soon ... and I have to make the announcement to the rest of the crew."
  "Yes sir." She turned and walked out of the room. The Captain turned the lights down in his office to a low dim.
  "Alyssa?"
  "What can I do for you Captain?"
  "Patch me through to the whole ship."
  "Right away sir."
-     -     -
  Robert watched his sensors as the cargo ship slowly approached the Necronomicon. He knew the woman he loved was on board, but he also knew that his friend wasn't and that hurt him terribly. No one on the bridge had said much for the past hour. He watched Krista go in to see the Captain and then come back out a few minutes after. As the ship drifted closer he heard the overhead speakers start to build up static. He looked up.
  "Attention crew members on board the Necronomicon."
  George and Meredith joined him in focusing on the speakers. In the lift, drawing away from the bridge, Krista sighed as she gazed down.
  "I ... regret to inform you that we have lost one of our crew."
  Down in Medical, Vanessa removed her protective goggles as she concluded a botany experiment.
  "As some of you may know, Matthew was killed in the line of duty."
  She dropped her goggles to the floor out of shock, she heard Kim drop a few instruments as well after hearing the news.
  Down in the engine room, Brian was trying to busy himself with supervising the constructing of a makeshift engine. He was bent over it with his eyes shut as David sat quietly.
  "Matthew was one of the finest fighter pilots I ever had the pleasure of flying into combat with. He was skilled, he was dependable ... he was my friend."
  Sitting down in one of the ship's many corridors, Gus leaned his head against the wall and just listened.
  "I know he meant a lot to everyone of us and he meant a lot to this ship."
  In her quarters, crying over a sketching of the alien ship, Sandra kept shaking her head in disbelief.
  "There will be a memorial service in the galley tomorrow afternoon. You are all invited ... to come and say goodbye."
  The Captain felt another tear fall down his cheek, it ran over his scar and into his goatee.
  "That is all."
  He pressed a button and discontinued his speech. The chair reclined as he sighed and closed his eyes.


CHAPTER SIX : GROWING SUBVERSION
  Krista looked down at herself; her boots shined a dull black in the pale light of the corridor. She was wearing her dark blue bodysuit and she paused to remove a piece of lint off of the green stripe that ran down her side. With a long finger she curled her hair behind her left ear and looked up at the door to the Shuttle Bay.
  Alyssa's plaque lit up next to it.
  "Bio-scans are clear sir. Besides a thin layer of cigar smoke, they are free of communicable contaminates."
  "Thank you Alyssa, open the doors."
  They hummed with life and swooshed open; standing behind it was Ramirez with her plasma rifle in one hand and a solid black case in the other. She held it up to give to her first officer.
  "Tapes of our ... little expedition."
  "Anything exciting you want to report?" Krista raised an eyebrow, "maybe you'd like to tell me why you found it necessary to knock Gryphon unconscious?"
  "He was trying to break protocol. It was the best, and only, way to keep us all safe."
  Krista just nodded.
  "Thanks for the emergency evac."
  "Report to Medical for an exam, Vanessa should be waiting for you."
  "Yes sir." She handed Krista both of her weapons. "Make sure Gus gets those and the others for cleaning and storage." Ramirez plodded her way down the hall.
  Gryphon came up next as he was holding on to his thigh and hobbling with a slight limp.
  "Commander." His eyebrows were set in a straight line over his cold eyes.
  Neither of them liked each other. Krista because she became increasingly suspicious of his incompetence; Gryphon just because he didn't like anyone he thought disliked him.
  "Medical." He turned his body while still looking at her as he followed Ramirez.
  "God! I love flyin'. This shit gives it to me everytime!"
  Krista turned her head and forced a smile; Heather was walking with their guest. He was a large man, most people would call him swarthy when mentioning him in their logs or diaries. His face was a mix of stubble and engine grease and looked like it deserved a cigarette to complete the stereotypical picture.
  "Darlin', I tell ya', never leave the ship that you love." Heather smiled as he talked. "Once it's gone, there's nothing left to live for."
  "Heather," she looked up at her commander, "welcome home. I'm sorry for our loss."
  "Yes sir, thank you sir."
  "Would you and our guest, Mr. ...?"
  "Fleetwood, Mac Fleetwood at your service." He looked at her appraisingly, thoroughly impressed by the way she filled out her 'uniform.'
  "Would you and Mr. Fleetwood please report to Medical. Mr. Fleetwood..."
  "Please, call me Mac."
  Krista stared at him for a fleeting moment.
  "Mr. Fleetwood, you are not required to, but I recommend you submit to a medical exam for your own safety."
  "How can I refuse the words of a lovely lady?"
  "Yes. Your sidearm please Heather."
  Heather handed her pistol over without comment.
  "Come on Mac, you can tell me more about the asteroid belt."
  "Oh yeah," they began to walk down the corridor together, "each of those rocks gives off it's own gravity field and it can play havoc with our instruments. It's because of that that I like to make supply runs between us and Earth."
  They turned a corner and were gone. Krista bent her arms at the elbows and walked towards the lift to drop off the heavy load of weapons and tapes.
-     -     -
  The door to the lift opened and the Captain took in a quick breath. His steps echoed through the hallways and he marveled at how hollow they felt. It always seemed that way at times like these; the joy and wonder were masked, hidden and only the metallic clomping remained.
  He had reviewed the tapes of the mission. He saw Matthew again, felt the stirrings of recent pain; but he knew that his decisions weren't influenced by the loss. The large doors that marked the entrance to Medical loomed to one side. He paused in front of them and sighed. Before he could act, they opened and Robert was there giving his best effort at a smile.
  "I'm ... just heading back to the bridge sir."
  "Get to it soldier."
  Robert nodded and walked down the hall. Inside the Medical Bay Kim was spinning test tubes filled with bodily fluids in a small centrifuge. Gryphon was gripping his arm as he flexed it and tried to relax the pain from a removed needle. His leg was heavily bandaged and he kept his weight off of it. Heather was sitting on the diagnostic table and had her eyes closed as she submitted her body to Vanessa's tests. Ramirez was rubbing her temple as she was forced to listen to the, rather large, pilot of the rescuing cargo ship. She looked up.
  "Captain!"
  "Lieutenant."
  She smiled, looking down in mild embarrassment.
  "I don't know why, but I love to be called that."
  "Who's your friend?"
  "Sir, this is Mac Fleetwood, he pulled our asses out of the fire down there."
  "Then I owe him a debt of gratitude." The Captain held out his hand; it was small, but it wielded great power.
  "It's an honor to finally meet you. The boss talks about you all the time."
  "Does she?"
  Mac nodded happily.
  "And very highly I might add."
  Kim walked back over with a pad that she was taking notes on; she smirked as she poked the Captain in the ribs with her pen. He just gazed down as his face started to turn a light shade of red.
  "Mr. Fleetwood, can you please give me a moment with my crew."
  "Oh, sure. I'll just stand over here." He waddled off towards one of the tables in the corner and busied himself with looking at the various tools that were strewn about.
  "Thank you, I was getting kind of tired of listening to him drone on."
  "C'mon Ramirez, he's our guest."
  "I know, and I appreciate what he's done. But..."
  "Understood Lieutenant. Have you gotten a clean bill of health?"
  "Yeah, Vanessa said I'm okay. A scratch or two but nothing to be worried about."
  "And the energy pulse?"
  "She hasn't found any ill effects. She's still running some tests; but I'm free to go in the meantime."
  "Take all the time you'd like. Consider yourself off duty until you feel fit to return."
  "Thank you sir." Ramirez turned away, as if to walk out the Medical Bay, but she stopped. Her body began to tremble and the Captain wrapped his arms around her; she returned the hug slowly and began to cry. Everyone else watched in their own sorrows and nodded in tempered understanding. Gryphon just shook his head, Mac looked up at a piece of artwork that Kim had been fond enough of to hang where she worked. When they separated neither said anything, then Ramirez calmly left the room.
  The Captain turned to Gryphon and put a hand on his arm to lead him away to a secluded corner. Gryphon reluctantly followed with a bandaged leg. He looked at his commander and watched as he scanned the rest of the room and tugged on his small goatee.
  "What is it sir?" His impatience did not go unnoticed, but it did little to make what he had to say any easier.
  "Gryphon," the Captain clicked his tongue in his mouth as he tried to formulate his next words, "I've viewed the tapes of your mission." Gryphon didn't say anything; he just cocked his head. "What you did was reckless, and irresponsible."
  "What did I do?"
  "The core Gryphon. You knew Ramirez was right and yet you disengaged the safeties anyway. And now because of your carelessness, the three of you have been exposed to an unknown energy source and a fellow crew member is dead."
  "How is that my fault!?! We needed a core sample and that was the best way to get it! If I hadn't come back with one than you would still be busting my chops."
  The Captain stared at him with a cold expression, Gryphon huffed and folded his arms.
  "Besides, Matthew was the one who crashed the shuttle, why don't you go yell at him."
  "I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!"
  Everyone in Medical went quiet, they stopped their tests and conversations and looked at the two. They knew that the Captain was slow to rile and hardly ever became angry or raised his voice. To witness such an occasion was rare. Mr. Fleetwood watched with particular interest as he fingered another cigar in his coat pocket.
  "Mr. Gryphon, you are hereby confined to quarters until further notice."
  "But I..."
  "Mr. Gryphon."
  Gryphon went quiet, his jawline visibly trembling.
  "You will be allowed to attend the services planned tomorrow morning, but you are not allowed to attend the reception. Is that clear?"
  Gryphon just stood clutching his fists in frustration, his eyes wavered back and forth in their sockets.
  "I said, is that clear?"
  "Yes ... sir."
  "You are dismissed Mr. Gryphon."
  Gryphon took one look around the room and felt the weight of everyone's stare before he limped out and down the hallway.
  Heather looked back up at Vanessa who whistled.
  "That was tense."


"Excuse me."
  The Captain rubbed his sore eyes; when his vision cleared, Mac Fleetwood was standing in front of him. He was patting his rotund stomach with a sweaty ham hand.
  "Um, what about me?"
  "I'm sorry Mr. Fleetwood..."
  "Please, call me Mac."
  "No, I'm going to call you Mr. Fleetwood. It's my ship and I have that luxury."
  "Uh, ok." The cargo pilot grimaced.
  "We will refuel your ship and inspect it if you'd like. Then you can be on your way."
  "Actually, it was getting pretty late. I was hoping if you could put me up for the night. Maybe show me some of the ship?"
  This is exactly what I need. The Captain sighed and looked down. He walked over to the wall and punched the button to the AI interface.
  "Alyssa could you please get me Sandra?"
  "Yes sir. Coming through now Captain." The speaker crackled with it's bothersome static.
  "This is Sandra, what's up sir?"
  The Captain looked at Mac and knelt close to the intercom as he talked in a hushed tone.
  "Sandra, do you remember how you asked me to help you be more social on board?"
  "Uh, vaguely."
  "Well, I'm giving you the chance. Get down to Medical and bring some ...," he looked back at Mr. Fleetwood, "patience." He turned and started walking back towards the center of the room. Mr. Fleetwood approached and was about to say something when the Captain held up a finger and gave a faint smile. "I'll be with you in a minute."
  Vanessa looked up at him as he came to her table. She ran a medical scanner once more over Heather and wrote the last of her notes down on her pad.
  "What's the good news?"
  "Physically she's okay; a few bumps and bruises but nothing serious. As far as I can tell she's as healthy as she can be."
  Heather smiled and kicked her legs that dangled over the edge of the bio-bed.
  "Anything out of the ordinary?"
  "Slightly high T-cell count. But that's normal under the circumstances."
  Heather frowned.
  "I seem to be taking a lot of deep breaths. Is that weird?"
  Vanessa put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
  "Your body is just trying to recover from the amount of endorphins in your bloodstream. It should go away in a few hours; at most, a day. Heather, you're free to go."
  She hopped down and hugged Vanessa.
  "Thank you."
  "You're welcome cutie. Just try to stay off your feet for a while and rest alright?"
  The Captain nodded.
  "She's right, you can also shirk your duties until you feel ready to return to your post."
  "Okay sir. I guess I'll go back to my quarters. I'm kind of tired anyway. Good night."
  "Good night Heather."
  As she walked out of the room she thanked Mac who just smiled. The doors to Medical opened and she exchanged a few words with Sandra as they passed each other. The Captain turned away from Vanessa who was working with Kim to put all the instruments away. Sandra pushed her thin-rimmed glasses up her nose and looked up from the small vial that she was shaking in her hand.
  "What do you need Captain?" He slipped a warm arm around her shoulders and she immediately adopted a suspicious expression.
  "Mr. Fleetwood." The freighter pilot turned his bulbous body and smiled with stained teeth. "I'd like you to meet our Science Officer. Sandra, this is Mac Fleetwood."
  "Good evening my dear."
  "Uh ... hello."
  The Captain giggled to himself as they shook hands.
  "Sandra here will give you a tour of the ship before she shows you to your guest quarters."
  "I am?" Her commanding officer looked at her with his serious gaze. "I mean, I am!"
  "Delightful!"
  "Mr. Fleetwood..."
  "Please, it's Mac."
  Sandra smiled.
  "Mac, let's be on our way. I don't want to keep you up too long."
  "Whatever you can show me will be greatly appreciated miss."
  "I'm sure it will be." He began to walk out, excited about seeing the ship. Sandra turned to the Captain. "Gee, thanks."
  "He's all yours. Enjoy."
  She shook the vial in her hand one more time and handed it to him.
  "Here, you get to play with this now. It's something I've been working on; just be careful with it."
  He glanced at it and saw a small blue-white shard tumbling around the bottom.
  "What is it?"
  "Ice-nine." He almost dropped it in a sudden attack of anxiety and frowned at her back as she walked away giggling.
  "That's not funny. You know if it were anybody else I'd know they were joking."
  The doors to Medical swooshed shut behind her. She looked Mac up and down and nodded as he grinned.
  "Shall we start Mr. Fleetwood?"
  "Lead the way. So, Necronomicon, what is that? French?"
  As she walked ahead of him, she rolled her eyes and lightly shook her head.
-     -     -
  Heather looked at herself in her washroom's mirror as she ran a brush through her long, red hair. She kept it slightly up when on duty and she always took this kind of care of it when she was alone at night. The brush hit the tiled floor with a clang as it slipped out of her hand; she just looked at it and sighed.
  As she stepped off the stool, a sudden warm sensation began to seep into her body. It was a prickly feeling, akin to that of her flesh being asleep. It crept it's way into her chest and slowly began to settle itself in her hips. She instinctively crossed her legs in an effort to stifle the urges that almost overpowered her, forcing her to double over ever so slightly. She quickly hobbled over to her bed, the soft down comforter engulfing her in it's warmth, and she struggled to keep her place as a wave of guilt washed over her.
  "Lights."
  The cabin went dim and the faint starlight did what it could to illuminate her quarters through the large window that adorned a far wall. She thought of Matthew and all that he had meant to her. He was a good friend and she respected him greatly as a colleague.
  She caught herself as her hand began to stray down towards the waistband of her lace underwear. The heat was building within her and she was starting to become moist. A tear came to her eye, feeling that she was betraying the memory of her lost friend. Her thin frame trembled. Unconsciously, she began to grind her legs together, her body doing what it could to satisfy itself without outside help.
  Heather opened her eyes. The ceiling seemed a light year away as she wiped a few drops of sweat from her forehead. Her mind began to drift. She felt her deep sexuality expand as it overtook her senses. She turned her thoughts of Matthew away and shuddered as she felt two of her fingers enter herself, curling inside of her with purpose and spiritual meaning. The raw animal need casting an impenetrable shadow over her reasoning. She slid the arch of one foot along her smooth leg while continuing to massage herself with a hungry desire.
-     -     -
  The television screen went blank as Gryphon clicked a button on his remote. He had his stations set for what they were like back home, but nothing could break through his bad mood. He tossed the remote into a pile of dirty laundry and turned off the lights. He wasn't really that tired, he just didn't want to have to deal with his thoughts anymore. Still, as the counted seconds ticked by, they continued to pour into his mind.
  "What right does he have to stick me in here?"
  No one answered his question. He thought Alexander might but the AI's were only programmed to enter the personal quarters when specifically ordered. They didn't make a habit of spying on the crewmembers during personal hours.
  "Fucking prick, fucking self-rightous prick."
  Gryphon pushed his sheets away from his body as the heat was beginning to bother him.
  "Can't believe I'm stuck in this dump; I don't know why I even listen to him anyway."
  Gryphon turned on his side. His manhood was beginning to swell into erection as it rubbed against the thin cotton of his boxer shorts. He felt the head expand heavily against his leg and he started to grind his hips against the mattress; squeezing his phallus and sending pleasurable waves through his groin.
  His face contorted in sexual craving and he rolled on to his back as he slipped down his waistband and gripped his shaft with hot fingers. He began to pump vigorously, never having felt so full and firm in his life. Blood continued to pump beneath his clenching hand as his whole body tingled with the coming release.
  He peaked, his orgasm sending streams of his warm seed onto his belly and dripping over his arm. It puddled on his chest and began to cool as he continued to spill out load after load. After countless bursts, his body collapsed back down on his mattress and he lay there panting. His thick penis still at attention as it steadily bobbed back and forth. It slowly started to settle down across his leg as he drifted off into sleep.


"Your program is loading Brian."
  "Thanks Alyssa." Brian smiled at Karen and squeezed her hand. She was looking behind him down the corridor and she nodded for him to turn. Coming around the corner was Sandra and her charge. Brian had heard of Mr. Fleetwood offhand but was surprised to find that his description didn't do him justice.
  "...with six levels and specialized rooms for multiple task working. The whole is roughly one hundred and eighty feet in length and accommodates ... sixteen, um ... crewmembers," she looked down, "and a number of spare rooms for guests and dignitaries."
  Brian waved.
  "Hey Sandra. Giving a tour?"
  "Coming to the end of one, yes. Mac, may I introduce our Chief Engineer and our Ship's Navigator, Brian and Karen."
  "How do you do?"
  Brian shook his hand.
  "As well as can be expected. We're just going to spend some time together on the holodeck. Karen thought we should talk about what happened today."
  Sandra put a warm hand on Karen's shoulder.
  "Yeah, I understand. We'll let you guys be."
  "Brian."
  Mac's eyes went wide and he started searching the walls around them.
  "Yes Alyssa?"
  "Your program is loaded, you may enter the holodeck when you're ready."
  "Thank you. Well, see you guys later. Enjoy the rest of your tour Mr. Fleetwood."
  "Please, it's Mac."
  "I'm sure it is." The doors closed behind them and they were gone. Mac turned to Sandra with a question.
  "Who was, uh, who was that voice?"
  "Oh that's Alyssa. Alyssa?"
  Her panel lit back up.
  "Yes Sandra?"
  "Say hello to Mac."
  "Hello Mr. Fleetwood, welcome aboard the Necronomicon."
  "Uh, hello."
  Sandra smiled and began to explain.
  "Alyssa is one of three artificial intelligences, or 'AI's', on board. They help with the ship's functions and generally make life easier for everyone. Just ask them for help and they'll get you what you need; but be careful, they can be goofy sometimes."
  "Thanks, I'll remember that."
  Sandra quickly described the holodeck, some companies on Earth having similar technology, though not nearly as advanced. Mac was fairly impressed. She took him through a few more spots of interest on the middle decks and then walked him to his quarters for the evening.
  "I hope you enjoy your stay with us Mr. Fleetwood."
  "I'm sure I will dear, thank you for the lovely tour."
  "Just ask the on-board computer if you need anything, but don't bug the AI's unless it's absolutely necessary."
  "Of course," he smiled warmly and nodded as she turned away.
  As Sandra walked down the hall his smile slowly faded and he stared at her as she turned the corner. He cocked an eyebrow and looked to see if he was alone. He licked his cracked lips and went into his quarters. As the door closed behind him, the patter of bare feet came down the other end of the hallway.
  Ramirez appeared in her thin nightgown as she bit on her thumbnail; sweat covered her skin as her firm breasts heaved up and down with each deep breath. She was taking quick and short steps, trying to keep her legs together, as she ran to a door across from Mac's. She pressed on the panel next to it and stepped back. After three seconds of waiting, she jumped back and pressed it again. The door slid open and Robert stood there rubbing his eyes.
  "Ramirez? What..."
  She didn't give him a chance to finish; she threw her body against his and planted a kiss on his lips as his eyes went wide. She pushed him backward and the door slid shut.
-     -     -
  Gryphon opened his eyes as the day lighting slowly brought itself up around his room. His hand immediately wrapped itself around his stiff member that had woken up about an hour earlier. He pumped himself into another furious orgasm and slumped back down exhausted. His breathing filled the room and drummed against his ears as he lay there panting. He wiped the wetness that dripped on his hand against the boxers crumpled around his knees as he stood up and rummaged through the piles around his bed. After picking up a small towel, he went into his washroom and turned on the faucet. Warm water filled the basin and he slapped a few drops against his face as he picked up a razor. He was about to run it across his cheek when he brought his finger back up to feel for stubble.
  He looked in the mirror. His chin had a light shade of five o'clock shadow that he always kept, but the rest of his face was bare. And what he did have didn't need any trimming. Gryphon shrugged and turned off the faucet.
  He yawned as he went to his closet to find his dress uniform for Matthew's wake.
-     -     -
  "Computer," the console on Mac's wall beeped and the screen lit up, "you aren't one of those smart computers are you?"
  It sat there unresponsive. He took that as a 'no.'
  "Can you show me ... say, a layout of the ship?"
  The computer beeped again and a wire frame appeared. A menu appeared next to it and he set about searching for what he wanted. He wasn't well versed in computer programming, having spent most of his military academy time learning battle strategy and survival, but it was fairly user-friendly.
  When General Sweet had offered him this undercover assignment, he jumped at the chance. He knew it was a good way to get on his superior's good side and maybe a shot at a few quick promotions. It took him a full year to gain the confidence of the Mining Colony and all of it's members. They were known friends of those on the Necronomicon and after entrenching himself, all he had to do was wait for a chance to present itself.
  And it had.
  Mac made a few quick notes on a piece of paper and slipped them into his pocket.
  "Computer, when is the reception scheduled?"
  The screen beeped and a list of the day's events appeared. It read :
    09:00 - Wake (observation deck)
    10:00 - Reception (galley)
  He looked at the clock.
  "Hmm, wake is almost over." He sat back down on the bed and waited. Knowing he would have his chance all too soon.
-     -     -
  The door to the observation deck slid open and everyone began to quietly shuffle out. David and Sandra stopped next to Robert and smiled appreciatively.
  "Good job on the eulogy Rob. Matthew would have liked it."
  "It wasn't my first choice of what to do with my week. But I'm glad it pleases."
  They walked out into the hallway and Ramirez quickly followed; her mind on other things. Karen and Brian came out next with elbows interlocked. They were chatting with Vanessa and Gus about past memories of their fallen colleague. Kim and Meredith walked alongside George, Meredith was too distraught to try and keep Kim out of her conversation. They were all greeted by the Captain who stood next to the doors patiently; Krista by his side. She cocked an eyebrow and turned slightly as she began to speak to him.
  "Are you sure you want to go through with this?"
  His eyes were glued on Gryphon and he didn't bother to turn to her out of courtesy.
  "Don't start Krista. I know you agree with this as much as I do."
  She nodded and then smiled at Heather as she walked up.
  "How are you feeling?"
  Heather looked up and blinked a few times.
  "Hmm? Oh, I'm fine Commander, thank you. My thoughts are just wandering that's all." A drop of sweat began to slide down her forehead and she caught it with a quick finger. "It is a little hot in here though, I need something to drink."
  "We'll see you in the galley then, okay?"
  "Sure." Heather walked out, Krista took one last look at the Captain and followed her. He stepped in front of the doors and waited. Gryphon was standing towards the center of the Observation Deck as he gazed out among the stars. He visibly fidgeted and undid the cuffs on his dress uniform. He was the last person to leave and he shook his head as his eyes drifted past Matthew's portrait; on top of it was a small X-Wing fighter model that Karen thought Matthew would have liked. As he began to walk out, he stopped in front of the Captain who looked at him with his stoic stare.
  "Captain."
  "You know where you have to be crewman."
  "Oh yes sir, thank you for honoring me with the privilege of being present at such a momentous occasion. I hope I didn't do any dishonor with my presence."
  "Just go to your quarters crewman."
  Gryphon stood there as he chewed on the inside of his cheek. He began to say something but then clenched his teeth and stomped out. The Captain ran his thumbnail over the scar on his face and walked out towards the Galley.
-     -     -
  Mac turned the corner of one of many corridors and shook his head in frustration. He shuffled through the notes he had written earlier and kept rotating his crude maps in hopes of better understanding them.
  "This place is a God damned maze!"
  One of the sheets of paper fell from his hand and he hastily bent down to pick it up. As his ear came close to the ground her heard the hard steps of boots walking along the cold metal of the flooring. He ducked into a small doorway and tried his best to suck in his gut; he was visibly shaking and a warm sweat had broken out over his reddish face. The steps came closer and he felt his teeth chatter; he clenched them to keep the noise muffled. Whoever it was seemed angered for some reason or another. Mac just waited and listened.
  "Son of a bitch. I'll show him; I'll show him and everyone. I didn't do anything wrong."
  Gryphon began to hobble past Mac's position. If he realized he was there, he didn't make any note of it.
  "He's just punishing me because he wants to save face with the rest of the crew. Soon, I'll get back at him soon."
  Gryphon walked out of sight and out of Mac's mind. He breathed a sigh of relief and stepped out of his hiding place.
  "I can't believe I forgot he wouldn't be there. Stupid, stupid...," Mac shuffled through his maps again and continued up the corridor.


"Why can't we have any chorizo up here on this tub?"
  Robert put down his orange juice and looked up at his girlfriend. She was standing above him stabbing at a plateful of scrambled eggs with disappointed looks and a silver fork. He gave a sidelong glance at the Captain who was stirring his second cup of coffee.
  "Don't look at me, I agree with her. I think we should have more Mexican food around here. I for one wouldn't mind a nice mound of tripas every once in a while."
  Robert frowned.
  "What are tripas?"
  The Captain smiled at Robert's inability to properly roll the 'r.' Before he could answer, Gus came up behind him with two donuts covered in a chocolate glaze.
  "Trust me, you don't want to know."
  Ramirez shrugged.
  "It's a Mexican thing honey."
  Robert stood up and wrapped an arm around Ramirez.
  "Well, why not do something about it? It's not like there's a rule against that sort of thing."
  The Captain turned to Gus.
  "He's never smelled the finer Mexican dishes being prepared I guess." He took a sip of his coffee and looked back to Robert. "How about you? Do you feel that your cultural cooking needs aren't being met?"
  "Well, I wasn't raised on the typical soul foods. I may have trained in Mississippi but I was raised in L.A. Of course, I wouldn't mind a nice helping of chicken and waffles."
  "Ooo, Rosco's. I'll toast to that." The Captain raised a glass and turned away. Gus followed and they were both walking back to the buffet table as the Captain shook his head, "man I hate coffee."
  Robert drank down the last of his orange juice and stood up. Ramirez was pinching the jacket of her dress uniform under her arms.
  "I haven't worn this thing in so long, I'd forgotten how uncomfortable it is."
  "You look fine," Robert stood up and put an arm around her shoulders. As he did, his brow furrowed and he took a step back, looking his girlfriend up and down before nodding with a smile. "I love those high-heeled boots of yours. They give you that imposing stance I've come to admire."
  "Well, they're killing me and I'm taking them off as soon as I get back to my quarters." Robert just kept smirking at her. "What?"
  "I love you, that's all."
  Ramirez let her arms fall by her side. She looked around in insecurity for a moment, them stepped into Robert's strong arms as she gave out a protracted sigh. He squeezed her tightly, comforting her the best way he knew how. His hands began to caress her limbs, sliding along the smooth fabric of her jacket in a warm gesture. He stepped back again with a raised eyebrow.
  "Have you been working out?"
  "Always." She brought up her arm and flexed it. As the muscle tensed, she felt the stitching of her sleeve give way slightly and the tightness around it ease. Dark skin peeking out from the new hole. Her smile quickly faded and she dropped her arms again in embarrassment. Robert laughed.
  "It has been a while since you've worn this."
  Ramirez didn't say anything; she just quietly picked up her plate and began finishing her eggs. At the other end of the Galley, somewhere towards the end of the banquet table, Heather was filling up a plate with her fourth serving of Belgian waffles. This time she chose the pecan flavored syrup and decided to switch to sausage over the chilling bacon.
-     -     -
  "Lock the door."
  The computer beeped once and Gryphon heard the electronic latch secure itself. He began to pick at the top button on his jacket; the collar was squeezing his neck and he was ready to take it off. His fingers fumbled with the metal clasp and he resorted to tearing at it in his frustration. It popped open and he inhaled a gasp of relief. The cool air of his cabin filled his lungs and he began to feel at ease.
  He kicked his shoes into the corner. He had made the mistake of wearing a thick pair of socks with them and his discomfort just added to his misery. His pants quickly followed suit and he plopped down on to his soft mattress.
  "Aww," the AI plaque on his wall began to brighten; Alexander's face appeared with a mocking sneer of pity, "what's wrong little trooper?"
  "Fuck off you useless pile of wires."
  "Did the other kids kick you off the playground? Are you on a time out?" Alexander laughed. His hollow voice echoed inside Gryphon's mind as the electronic visage shook with virtual mirth.
  "Shut up and leave me alone!"
  Alexander's face began to spin, the swirling left a gray trail behind the turning head as the eyes started to sparkle.
  "BEEP BEEP RITCHIE!"
  "Computer!" There was another audible beep that rang out over Alexander's incessant giggling. "Engage AI lockout!"
  The reaction was immediate, the plaque went dark and Gryphon was left in relative peace. He was trembling, on the verge of tears. He slammed a fist down and clenched his teeth.
  "Fuck them all."
  He stood up and stared at the AI plaque. After a moment, a smile began to creep across his face. Gryphon jumped over a pile of clothing and moved over to his desk.
  "Computer?" It beeped as pulled out his keyboard. "Do I still have security clearance?" The screen lit up and the speaker sang to his heart.
  "Affirmative."
  "Fools," he typed in a few keystrokes. "Computer, bring me up a listing of program files for the AI's." A directory came up on his screen, the individual programs and data sizes of each read out. Gryphon grimaced. "Computer, open Psi's ethical sub-routine file. Authorization Gryphon Sigma Gamma Rho." The screen went blank for a moment and Gryphon took in a quick breath. It lit up again with equations and logarithms.
  Gryphon's fingers went to work; he stole a quick glance back at the AI panel as he paused, "don't worry Alexander. I'll get to you in a minute. I just don't want security bugging in unexpectedly." Gryphon began selecting lines in the programming and tapping the delete key with a dark smirk. He opened a nearby drawer and pulled out a large bag of potato chips from his secret stash.
-     -     -
  Mac peeked into another hallway. The empty corridor looked like all of the others he had been in and his spirits were dropping.
  "This place isn't that big. Where the hell is it?" He ran down another corner and looked at his maps again. His heart skipped a beat as he stopped and started to put things together. He turned a map over to look at his drawing on the other side before running a few feet down the hallway. The rubber of his thick boots squeaked resoundingly as he stopped and looked up at the double doors before him.
  A small name plate towards the side read : WEAPONS STORAGE.
  "Thank god." He stuffed the notes into tight pockets and glanced at the various panels. They were flashy and foreign, quite an opposite to the outdated systems on his own ship. Low beeps and a whistle gave out as he pressed a few buttons. Nothing happened. "How does this thing open? These buttons don't even seem to be in English."
  "Can I help you?"
  Mac jumped back startled. Blood rushed away from his knuckles leaving them a pasty white as he looked around him. The corridors were empty.
  "Who ... who said that?"
  The AI plaque began to glow and Psi's round face appeared. His stern expression was unwelcoming and made Mac's stomach do slow somersaults.
  "I did. This is a secure area; only authorized personnel are allowed inside."
  "Uh, my name is Mac Fleetwood. I'm a guest on board and the Captain gave me full access to the ship."
  "Don't try to bullshit me Mr. Fleetwood. I'm aware of everything on board the Necronomicon and I don't take well to deception."
  Mac swallowed hard.
  "I'm sorry, I didn't realize where I had wandered off to, I'll just be going back to my quarters now."
  One of Psi's eyebrows raised in an approximation of human expression.
  "You do that Mr. Fleetwood. Please be more careful next ...," Psi's voice cut out briefly, leaving an audio trail of static. If anyone had been looking, they would have seen the face contort as current flowed through it. The speaker bleeped again and Mac turned around.
  "What was that?"
  Psi's electronic eyes blinked and he looked around. He wasn't totally aware of it, but something had changed; something was missing. He looked at Mac and he squinted ever so slightly.
  "I'm sorry Mr. Fleetwood, It's Mac isn't it?"
  "Uh ... yeah."
  "I may not be able to let you in, but how about I give you a little peek instead?"
  Mac giggled as he looked around again.
  "That science chick said you computer guys were a little goofy."
  "I'm serious," a small light below the AI plaque glowed a dull white; like the illumination from a nearby lamp. Mac had never seen a retina scanner before and didn't recognize it as such, he just took Psi at his word and stepped up to it.
  "Thanks; I admit, I am a little curious."
  "Just look right in Mac, I'm sure you'll be impressed with what we have."
  Mac closed his right eye and put his left up to the light.
  It flashed brightly, a slight halo forming around his head as it did, and his whole body went limp as it collapsed to the floor. His limbs shook lightly with convulsions, his mouth open as he struggled to take in a breath.
  As his mind floated away, he realized he wanted to scream; but he could no longer remember how to do such a complicated task. A trickle of blood dripped out of his nose. One eye above it glazing over with a dark film. The other was clenched shut and trembled as both eyeballs bulged in their sockets.
  The tremors began to settle down. He choked once more, then lay there silent.
  Psi kept looking at him with patient contempt. A faint sense of pleasure drifted through his circuits as he looked at the lifeless body. Without moving a pixel, he opened a concealed door at the other end of the hallway.
  The large maintenance robot behind it began to roll towards Mac with the multiple limbs extending like a giant, steel tarantula.

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On to Ch.7 - Realizations
CHAPTER 7 : REALIZATIONS
  The Necronomicon felt cold and unwelcome as the Captain made his way through the halls of crew quarters. He waved at Heather as she retreated to her own chambers, a chocolate chip muffin in her hands. He was glad to see everyone in fair spirits; he knew it was a difficult time and the crew seemed to be handling the situation well. Both Heather and Ramirez were making a good physical recovery too and Vanessa remarked that it was a good sign for them to have a healthy appetite.
  He checked the time on his wrist; it was almost noon. The reception had ended about ten minutes prior and he was going to check on the one member of the ship that wasn't invited. The Captain had made the decision that had to be made, but he still had a twinge of guilt that he knew he would have to learn to live with.
  He stopped in front of Gryphon's quarters. The door was unmarked, as was Gryphon's right, and it was also locked with the 'do not disturb' signal glowing brightly. The Captain pressed the door chime and heard it buzz.
-     -     -
  Gryphon raised his head at a sound that rang from somewhere off in the distance. His face had a few errant crumbs of potato flakes and salt around the stubble that dotted his chin. His boxer shorts were tight around his thighs and hugged the large erection that his hand kept straying towards. He relished the sensation of it; it gave him a sense of power.
  The buzzing sound came again. He looked at his computer screen and grimaced. The files for Alyssa's program had just loaded and appeared as his head turned. He sighed and switched off his console.
  "Come in." The door automatically unbolted at his command and it swished open. Gryphon looked away and sneered.
  The Captain looked around the quarters as the door opened. They were unkempt, littered with the days and nights of life that had yet to be recycled and renewed; but there was no shame in that. Gryphon sat with his back turned, sitting in front of a dark screen with numerous bags of eaten snacks strewn about his chair. He was clad in his briefs and a tank top that was stained with a spilled beverage from weeks past.
  "What can I do for you ... Captain?"
  The Captain ran his tongue along the inside of his cheek.
  "I'm lifting your restrictions and putting you back on the duty roster."
  Gryphon turned his head back towards his computer and gave a out a short laugh.
  "Well, isn't that just plumb dandy?"
  "Gryphon," he wiped the back of his hand over a weary brow, "I've tried so hard to give you a chance. I've invested faith, time, and energy in you and you've given nothing but grief and hardship in return. I want to believe that you'll turn yourself around and join us; that you'll chose to be a productive member of this crew."
  "Sir, I don't know," Gryphon turned in his chair; his eyes were red from staring at a computer screen for the past few hours. "I mean, I know what everyone thinks of me up here. I know that I don't really belong."
  "Gryphon, it's nothing like that. You do belong here, you just need to understand that you're not the only person in this group. That there are others here that are making an effort to survive and that we expect you to do the same."
  "I'm thinking of leaving the ship Captain."
  The Captain looked down and scratched at the scar on his cheek.
  "That's your right Gryphon. I'd understand it if you chose to depart."
  With your blessing I'm sure.
  "We'll be putting in for repairs soon. We're scheduled to arrive at Tokyo Airstation in two days. At that time, all personnel will be given shore leave until the Necronomicon is restore to full working order. I'd appreciate it if you took that time to think about your decision."
  Gryphon looked back at his computer screen. He had planned on leaving as soon as possible, thinking everyone would be just as happy to see him on his way; he hadn't counted on the Captain's sense of fairness.
  "I'll have to think about it, sir."
  The Captain nodded and smiled a faint smile.
  "I'll let you get back to what you were doing."
  "Thanks, actually I think I'll go down to the Galley and get something to eat. All of these snacks just aren't doing it for me."
  "Go for it, there's plenty of stuff left over from earlier."
  Gryphon nodded. He began to slip into a pair of old sweatpants as his commander turned to leave.
  The Captain began walking down the corridor away from the tense conversation. He was about to turn the corner when the computer panel set into the wall began to glow. Alyssa's face brightened somewhere within it and he turned to squint at it.
  "Captain?"
  "What's on your mind 'Lyss?"
  "I'm afraid I have some bad news to report."
  "Everybody else has, why not you?"
  Alyssa frowned.
  "I'm sorry."
  "It's okay, don't get your circuits in a bunch about it. What is it?"
  "I'll patch George through now sir." The speaker crackled.
  "Sir?"
  "What's up George?"
  "It's Mr. Fleetwood, sir."
  "What about him?"
  "He's dead."
-     -     -
  Robert was talking to Gus in the doorway to his quarters when he saw the Captain walking up the corridor. He shook his head once more and Gus grimaced. George was at the door of Mac's quarters as he looked around and made notes on his security pad. As the Captain made his way towards the scene, he found Krista inside as she pointed to various things of relative interest for George's benefit. There were blank pieces of paper strewn about the room and a faint scent of cigar smoke lingered. On the bed, lying face down in a small pool of dried blood, was Mr. Fleetwood.
  "Oh my god."
  George looked up and raised his hand in salute.
  "Sir."
  "What the hell happened?"
  "I came to check up on our guest after he didn't show up for breakfast this morning. Psi said he was in here and when he didn't answer the buzzer," George shrugged, "I bypassed the lock and found this."
  "Any idea what caused it?"
  Krista walked over to the bed, her high-heeled boots ticking in time with the old clock that hung from the wall. She placed a hand on top of the corpse's head and lifted it up. One eye was opened wide, the white of it stained a deep red.
  "Off hand I'd say high cholesterol and nicotine."
  "What do you mean? Heart attack? Stroke?"
  "Aneurysm, fairly messy one too."
  George stepped forward and looked up to his Captain.
  "What do you want us to do with him sir?"
  "Send him down to Medical and have Vanessa run an autopsy."
  "You don't suspect foul play do you?"
  "No, I just want something concrete to tell Mr. Fleetwood's employer and family." He turned to leave. Behind him, just arriving down the corridor, was Ramirez. She had a burgundy halter top that showed off a firm stomach and powerful arms and pushed up her small breasts. To Robert's delight, she was also wearing an incredibly tight pair of black, leather pants that stopped just below her calves and hugged every inch of her legs. The lines of definition in her toned thighs flexed with each high-heeled step that she took and the Captain couldn't help but be impressed.
  Gus clapped his boots together and brought his hand up.
  "Sir!"
  "You better salute me, I don't care if I am off duty."
  "Nice outfit Lieutenant."
  "Thank you, though I can't tell you what it took to squeeze into this thing." She looked at Robert with a smile, "I'm just happy to have the consolation of knowing that I'll be out of it soon." Robert was visibly shaken, but he stood his ground so as not to lose face before his male cohorts. The Captain frowned and was about to say something when Krista put a hand on his shoulder.
  "Sir, I've informed Vanessa of the situation. She's preparing Medical for her charge."
  "Good," he looked at Ramirez and squinted, "have your team take care of the mess in there." He pointed back towards Mac's quarters and she adopted a puzzled look.
  "Why? What's going on?" He turned on his heel and began to walk up the corridor; Krista nodded once to everyone and followed. A few seconds later they heard Ramirez cry out at her discovery. Krista spoke without turning her head.
  "Is there something else troubling you Captain?"
  "Ramirez's attitude just surprises me that's all. She's usually not so forward."
  "Maybe current events have taken a more serious toll on her than previously suspected."
  "Maybe. We'll have to worry about it later. I have a call to make and some bad news to break."


Alexander smiled as he gazed through the sensors of the Necronomicon into the dark and brooding vastness of space. It had a beauty and majesty that he had never taken the time to appreciate. It was an incredible spectacle to marvel in and he now understood why Robert chose to spend him mornings losing himself in the main viewscreen.
  He closed his eyes and opened his ears as he listened to sounds of the three crewmembers that were drifting along the hull of the massive ship. He giggled to himself as Dave hiccupped; the sudden burst of it echoed in his helmet and traveled through the communication systems where it sang to Alexander's circuits. A half of a second later, the tether that connected his suit to one of the airlocks vibrated with the gentle force of it. One of the speakers crackled.
    "Excuse me, space walking just doesn't agree with me."
    "No sweat Dave. When we get back, I'll treat you to a chocolate milkshake."
    "Careful, I might hold you to that."
    "Hey Kim."
    "What's up Brian?"
    "You might want to slow down a bit, you look like you're coming in a little too fast."
    "Firing jets."
  Alexander felt her suit tingle through her tether. A faint hum fluttered somewhere in the background as he eavesdropped on their communications. He smiled again.
    "All right crew, let's set this engine into place and we'll be on our way."
    "How do you think it will hold up?"
    "I made it didn't I? It'll be good for 3000 light years or your money back."
  Kim began to laugh and Alexander fixated on her giggling. He had been programmed with an extensive sense of humor and a broad sense of pleasure that he had always focused primarily on his duties on board. Now, he found that there was so much more to take joy in. They made their way toward the back of the ship.
    "Whew, it looks worse than the sensors made it out."
    "Don't worry, this will hold up in it's place for the time being."
    "I trust you Brian, I'm just complaining."
    "Okay Dave, let's break out the tools and put this engine to good use."
    "You got it Bri."
  Alexander watched the three of them drift along with the Necronomicon. The thick, protective shells they wore pulsated with the energy of it's various systems. Each one vital to the lives of it's occupant. Each one fully integrated into the suits and protected with multiple back-ups. Each one so easily by-passed and shut down.
  The AI smiled to himself as he succumbed to his thoughts. The sound of Dave gasping for air as his oxygen slowly seeped into the vacuum of space. Kim's shivering as the heat bled away from her body and the pain of absolute zero creeped into her skin. Brian's sudden cry and then sweet silence as his suit depressurized in the span of a second; his body bursting as his own skin could no longer contain the gases within. The tethers would dance with their convulsions as they twitched with the last semblances of life.
    "That should do it."
    "Check the flow regulators and make sure you have a clean line. I don't want this thing blowing out during start-up because of a fuel clog."
    "You got it chief."
    "Kim, come to this side and give Dave some more light. You can tighten the seals while you're at it."
    "On my way Bri."
  It would be so easy; and it would be delightful. A new experiment to conduct and a new experience in which to revel. But Alexander was patient. Now wasn't the time and he wanted everything to be perfect so he could obtain the very best answers to the questions he asked himself. He had come to realize so many new things recently and he worked diligently to keep his curiosity from getting the best of him.
    "All right crew, let's head on back."
    "Remember, you promised me a chocolate shake."
    "Hey, I'm a man of my word. But it will have to wait until we fully test the temporary engine. After that, hey, I'll knock you guys out. Can I interest you in one too Kim?"
    "Nah, I'm going back to Medical. I've had all the engineering training I can stand for one day."
    "Suit yourself."
  The three of them slowly began to float back towards the airlock. They pulled on their tethers, hand-over-hand, and dragged themselves towards the comfort of the ship. Alexander took one last look at each of them before removing himself from the sensor grid.
-     -     -
  Gryphon cracked the knuckles of his hands and listened to the hollow popping of each one as it took it's turn. His bare feet were cold on the metal grating but his mind just concentrated on the hunger that had gnawed at his will since that morning. He had eaten all of the snacks that were hidden in his room and now he was ready for something more substantial. He shifted the shirt he was wearing; it was tight around his upper body and had bunched up under the slim muscles in his chest. He could feel his sides rubbing against the material and it just added to his misery.
  The doors to the Galley opened, the bright light forcing him to squint his eyes as he peered inside. A sound caught his ears as he continued to try and focus; he turned his head towards the back of the Galley and saw a lone figure raiding one of the freezers. It was undeniably female and he watched her firm and full posterior fill out a pair of tight Levi shorts as she bent over to grab something from one of the lower shelves. He watched her strong thighs tense as they projected out from beneath frayed denim; the pale skin was creamy and smooth as it covered the lean muscles all the way down to her delicate feet. She shifted her weight to her other foot and he felt his manhood begin to swell at the intense display.
  Gryphon cleared his throat.
  Heather straightened up at the sudden interruption. She dropped the bunch of grapes she had found on the floor and backed up against the wall in her anxiety. Gryphon was standing in front of the closing doors to the Galley; his dark tank top was clinging to his thin and muscular frame. The toned flesh of his legs was like chiseled marble that snuck it's way into tight boxer shorts that had a distinct bulge growing in the crotch. His arms were dark and toned and she sensed the raw power that they were capable of from across the room. She quickly looked up to his high cheekbones and the mysterious brown eyes that stared into her soul under the dark hair that hung over his forehead.
  Heather swallowed.
  Gryphon took a step forward and stopped as he blinked at her beautiful form. Her breasts were round and peeked out from her own tight shirt. Their fullness pulled the neckline into a slight v-shape and small bumps were forming on the top of both as she gazed at him.
  "Hey."
  "Hey."
  Gryphon took another step forward. Heather's skin glowed in the pale light of the refrigerator as she began to run her hands against the smooth metal wall behind her. He ran his fingers over the top of the open door as he peeked inside and quickly looked back to her. Her lower jaw was trembling as she tossed her red hair away from her vision with an arch of her neck.
  He slowly walked around it and stood in front of her; their toes brushed against each other and he felt a shiver run through him at the warm contact. He brought up his arm and gently touched her stomach; Heather closed her eyes and rolled back her head as she took in a deep breath. Her breasts heaved upward and the nipples swelled into full rigidity. Gryphon began to lift up her shirt. He smiled as he saw that the top button of her shorts was unfastened; her navel was shivering above it as he ran a thumb around the sensitive skin. She looked down with an expression of guilt and slight fear.
  "I ... I've been eating quite a bit these last two days."
  "You look phenomenal. I've never seen a more heavenly body."
  Her sadness quickly melted into a smile; she sighed and placed a hand on his chest. Heather traced the lines of definition underneath the thin material of his shirt with a long finger; she ran it down over the firm bumps in his abdomen, thin and smooth, down to the waistband of his shorts. She slipped her fingers underneath and cupped her warm and moist palm over his quivering manhood. He took in a quick breath and writhed while struggling to keep his eyes open and looking towards her.
  "My goodness Gryphon, you're quite a handful," she smiled at him, "and still tender. Let's see if I can bring out your full potential." Heather squeezed gently and felt him swell in her grasp. His growing shaft pulled her rolled fingers apart and her eyes went wide in astonishment. The thick tip peeked over the top of his shorts as it expanded upward. Gryphon's body spasmed at the incredible sensation, he felt his confining tank-top constrict his chest as he breathed and he reached down and pulled it off.
  Heather's gaze went from his incredible tool to his, now exposed, physique. She was so enraptured that she hardly noticed the second button on her shorts popping loose; pulled apart by Gryphon's agile fingers.
  He stepped back and she slowly raised her arms above her head as she smiled. Gryphon grasped the lower hem of her shirt and lifted; it brushed passed the tips of her soft breasts as he did and she let out a solitary giggle. They swayed heavily after being freed from the tight cloth that cupped them and they danced before him. Her breasts were delicate, yet full and well shaped; her nipples were large and soft, fleshy and pink; the tips stiff and proud. Gryphon placed his lips on one and gently kissed it.
  "I never realized Heather, you're ... they're so..." He gasped and she pressed herself against him, their heated flesh melding together. She felt his thick staff throbbing against her abdomen as they kissed, the very tip moist in anticipation. He pushed her back against the wall and she popped the remaining buttons open on her shorts as she slid them down over her hips with seductive fingers. Gryphon reached into the lighted shelves of the still open refrigerator and pulled out a tall glass bottle. Heather kicked the discarded Levis away from her as he removed the cap of the container. She watched as he brought the mouth of the bottle to his lips; a single drop of the cold milk appeared from it's edge and started it's way down his chin. He quickly brought it down and waved it close to her body.
  With a turn of his wrist, Gryphon poured the pearly fluid over her bare chest. Heather squealed in delight as she felt it flow over her long contours. It bathed her torso in an ivory curtain of liquid velvet that chilled her surface lovingly. She raised her hands and cupped her ample endowments, feeling the milk spill onto them and splash cool droplets into her mouth. It dripped down her front and into her crotch where it carressed her womanhood; it was soon joined by Gryphon's warm fingers as they entered her and electrified her sexual being. She felt Gryphon's lips brush across the tops of her breasts and his tongue glide over the slickened skin. For an eternity, he slaved over her, laboring to clean and service her body.
  Heather pushed him away.
  He just stood there looking at her glistening, naked form. She reached back into fridge and took something from one of the door shelves. He smiled at her knowingly as she knelt before him. She set down her own bottle beside a bended knee and gently pulled his boxers down to the ground. The large organ bounded free as the waistband slipped away from underneath it. Gryphon took another deep breath as he and his manhood stared at Heather expectingly.
  She wet her lips and eagerly reached back down for her bottle of chocolate syrup with hungry desire.

[cwmoss]

Vanessa yawned and rubbed her sore eyes. The body of Mac Fleetwood lay naked on the cold metal table before her and she pulled a white blanket over the legs and up to the bloated stomach. She looked at his blood-drained face and shook her head; the lower jaw had sunken back into the skull without the support of the dentures that she had removed while cleaning him for the autopsy and the whole was open in a never ending and silent wail. The stubble that lined his face was a black contrast to the pale and blotchy skin of his distended throat; something that hadn't changed much with the passing of his life.
  The apron she wore was splattered with drying blood and had the mild scent of embalming fluid. Vanessa carefully took it off and removed the latex gloves that coated her fingers. She wiped the leftover powder on her palms over the white coat that tightly wrapped around her thin figure. The doors to Medical opened and the Captain walked in as she looked up.
  "Hi there sir."
  "All right Vanessa, what can you tell me?"
  She shrugged her shoulders and sighed.
  "He's dead."
  "Is this what I pay you for?"
  Vanessa smiled at him through her fatigue and he did the same in return.
  "It's worth it."
  She slumped onto the table, her hands and arms on either side of Fleetwood's head; the light impact sent a small wave through the thick layer of fat in the corpse.
  "Unfortunately, I have no idea what happened this man."
  "So how do we find out what killed him?"
  "Well, he died of a brain hemorrhage."
  "I thought you said," Vanessa scowled at him and he frowned, "I'm just going to stand over here and listen."
  "As I was saying, while he died of a brain hemorrhage, but I can not find the cause of it. The autopsy showed fatty deposits in most of the arteries surrounding his heart and a number of the ones supplying his brain. But none of them were severe enough to cause this." She picked her clip board back up and began to go over her findings. "There was no sign of a blood clot or internal damage to the nervous tissue. His lungs and liver showed decay from smoking and alcohol; but again, not enough to substantiate either as a cause of his aneurysm. It's like his Ophthalmic Artery just decided to spontaneously burst."
  The Captain sighed.
  "Well, that's just ducky."
  "I don't know; maybe there's something I missed."
  "No, you're pretty thorough. I trust your expertise. I'm just not looking forward to telling his commander what happened."
  "What do you mean."
  "She's coming here tomorrow to claim the body and pick up his ship."
  Vanessa raised an eyebrow and smiled.
  "Is that all she's coming for?"
  He shook his head.
  "Is that all you guys think about?"
  "I'm just jealous that's all. I'm still looking for that one person to share my life with."
  "Gus always had his eye on you."
  "Gus? That guy's a meatball. Besides, I've got a thing for Krista," she looked down to hide her saddening expression, "but I don't think her gate swings that way."
  "There's no shame in trying."
  "Tell that to David, he's still crushed that Robert chose Ramirez over him."
  The Captain laughed and shrugged.
  "Heterosexuals, what can you do with 'em?"
  "Well, if you don't need anything else, I'm going to bed."
  "That's fine, just have a copy of the autopsy report sent to my office."
  "Psi?"
  The AI plaque on the wall glowed a faint red and then began to lighten with Psi's expressionless face. He sat there without saying anything. She shifted the weight from one foot to the other in uneasiness.
  "Uh, make copies of autopsy files Fleetwood One through Fleetwood Three and send them to the Captain's personal office."
  "Authorization please."
  Vanessa looked at the Captain puzzled.
  "Uh, it's a simple transfer Psi."
  "Authorization please."
  "Uh, okay. Authorization Vanessa Pi Beta Phi."
  "Authorization approved. Initiating transfer." Psi's face slowly faded away and Vanessa started chewing on her lip.
  "That was freaky, you know Psi's been difficult all day today."
  "He's probably just in one of his moods. Go to sleep and I'll see you in the morning."
  "Good night Captain."
-     -     -
  Brian yawned as he handed his report over to Krista. She reviewed it and kept nodding as the results kept getting better and better.
  "The new engine checks out. We should still get both damaged ones replaced in port, but it will hold up perfectly for the time being."
  "Good work Brian, go get some sleep."
  "Gladly Commander. Oh, and have Alyssa clean up the Galley; somebody spilled something in there and the floor is all sticky," he yawned again and walked away up the corridor. Krista turned as she heard something strange rolling up behind her.
  Her Captain was pushing a twenty-four speed mountain bike loaded with light camping gear. He wore a tight pair of bicycle shorts with a t-shirt tucked into it and a helmet under his arm. He waved a gloved hand at her as he passed.
  "Captain, I thought I was the only one that wore spandex. Going somewhere?"
  "I'm spending the night on the holodeck Krista. It's been a rough past couple of days and I want to get away for a while."
  "Camping in the mountains," she nodded, "good call."
  "You're in charge while I'm gone."
  "How long are you going to be away?"
  "Just till tomorrow afternoon. The colony Executor will be here by then to collect her officer and ship and..."
  "You want to be here to greet her. I understand sir."
  He frowned.
  "But until then, I don't want to be disturbed. I don't care if the Earth explodes, I trust you to handle it." Krista smiled uncharacteristically.
  "Have a good time."
  "Thank you Commander."
-     -     -
  Gryphon smiled to himself. He had felt so rotten that morning and now he couldn't remember when he had last felt this good. He was sitting on his bed and flipping through the last of the channels on his television. He was wearing a clean set of boxers, his old pair with a drying Hershey stain on one leg, and no shirt as he couldn't get his other one back on comfortably. He didn't care.
  It was well after 1:00 in the morning, ship standard time; he talked with Heather for a little while over a snack after they had finished riding each other. Afterwards, she couldn't button up the top two buttons on her shorts and she eventually left disgusted with herself for eating so much. He smiled again. The television clicked off and he called for the lights to dim as he lay atop his blankets with a tired body. As he settled down on his soft mattress, he became increasingly aware of his manhood beginning to awaken once again.
  Gryphon frowned, he was tired and had already masturbated a number of times that day, not to mention his romp in the Galley. Yet, it continued to swell; the firm head ballooned and squeezed against his leg and the already tight confines of his shorts. He rolled on to his back to relieve the pressure and it began to press upward against the material. It pulled the cotton taut against the back of his thighs and he clenched his eyes as he tried to ignore it. Blood pumped into it, the rush was incredible, and he began to feel something give. There was the light sound of something tearing and he opened his eyes just as he heard a pop. A plastic button scampered along the floor after being flung from the front of his boxers.
  "Lights!" Gryphon sat up as the room began to brighten. Hovering before him, towering through the vent of his underwear, was his erect penis. It was obviously longer and thicker than it was before, gently bobbing with each beat of his anxious heart.
-     -     -
  Vanessa set down her book and clicked off the small lamp by her bed. She felt herself quickly drifting off to a well-earned slumber as her pillow carressed her in it's softness. Her communicator beeped and her reddened eyes cracked open. She sighed.
  "Yes?"
  "Uh, doctor?"
  "What is it love?"
  "Um, I need to see you right away. It's kind of an emergency."
  "It can't wait till morning?"
  "No."
  "What is it?"
  "This is ... this is something you need to see for yourself."
  Vanessa turned her lamp back on and sat up.
  "All right, meet me in Medical in a few minutes."
  "Thanks Vanessa."
  "Sure thing kiddo," she shuffled into her nearby boots and tried to find her way to the door.

Psi took a sweeping scan over the ship in disgust. The sensors instantly registered where everyone was and their physical status. To him, they were filthy and unworthy of their stations; none of them had the discipline or honor befitting their status and he was going to make sure they were removed. The Necronomicon deserved more; it deserved a crew that would do it justice.
  And he was the one to make that happen.
  Psi switched the sensors off and began writing authorization programs and security lockouts to be initiated at his command.
-     -     -
  Vanessa almost tripped over her nightgown as she stepped out of the lift. She stood before the doors to the Medical Bay and pinched her arm to help her wake up. She heard them swoosh open and looked up to the bright lights that were inside and the patient that waited nervously on one of the examination tables.
  "Que bella!," she breathed with eyes wide.
  Heather was there, staring down as she sat. She wore a silken nightgown that accentuated the curves of her figure and overflowed with the swelling mounds of her firm breasts. One of the thin shoulder straps had broken and a good portion of the fabric was hanging limply over the bulging flesh; exposing half of an enlarged nipple that stood proudly erect, the rough aureole surrounding the large tip clearly visible. They took up so much room of her negligee that it pulled the hem up her thighs, the pale skin was so smooth that Vanessa found herself wondering if it continued farther where she could not see.
  Heather looked up.
  "What did you say?" She was breathing heavily, her enlarged breasts heaving up and down with each heavenly inhalation.
  Vanessa could hear the other shoulder strap straining as it labored under the increased weight. She shook her head.
  "Nothing ... Heather, uh ... you've ... ripened."
  "You noticed, huh?" Heather squeezed her arms forward and looked down her decolletage as it surged upward.
  Vanessa quickly looked away as she felt herself becoming aroused, embarrassed by her condition.
  Heather, who didn't notice, continued.
  "I noticed a small change this morning but I didn't think much of it. When I went to sleep tonight," she lifted the end of the broken strap and flipped it back and forth between her fingers, "I started busting out all over." She looked back up and Vanessa saw the apprehension in her pale, blue eyes. "What's happening to me?"
  "I ... guess I should, uh ... examine you." Vanessa walked over to her work bench and took a deep breath as she closed her eyes. She picked up her clipboard and a few instruments before turning back around. "Has this been happening to you all day or has it been just in the past few hours?"
  Heather repositioned herself on the table as she thought; her slip slid another noticeable inch up her legs.
  "Well, I guess I've been having problems with my clothes all day. You know, they've been tight since this morning; I couldn't button all of the buttons on my shorts, shirts wouldn't fit just right, that sort of thing." Vanessa pressed the cold metal of a stethoscope against her patient's chest. She did her best not to stare in the deep valley of cleavage that puckered before her.
  "Uh-huh."
  "None of my bras fit either," Heather laughed as she remembered her predicaments, "I kept spilling out of the cups and stuff. I thought it was just because I had eaten so much lately and I didn't really want to call attention to it." She flailed her hands about and looked back down to emphasize her words, "and now this has happened! It just doesn't stop, they've been growing larger all day and finally they broke through my nightgown while I was in bed; that's when I called you."
  Vanessa wrote down a blood pressure reading on her pad beside a few notes.
  "I'm not sure if you'll be comfortable with this, but I'd like to take a few measurements of your, well ... chest."
  "That's okay, I want to know what's going on. I'm kinda scared."
  Her doctor smiled at her warmly and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
  "Don't worry babe. Whatever it is, I'll find it."
  Heather smiled and sighed a deep sigh.
  "Come on and step down. The stuff I want is over here." Vanessa beckoned her to the other side of the Medical Bay. She heard and felt Heather jump off of the table and start to follow her. She picked up a length of measuring tape from a drawer set in her desk and turned back around. Her gasp echoed through the room as audibly as the crack of the measuring tape as it struck the ground. Vanessa looked from the shocked eyes of Heather down to her cute ankles. She slowly drew her gaze back up the length of her patient's body.
  Heather, who was normally about two inches shorter than Vanessa, was now looking down on her from about the same distance while in her bare feet. Vanessa knew that if she took off her thick boots, she would loom even higher above her; she fell back against her desk as Heather brought up her hands and stared at them.
  "Oh my god Vanessa! What's happening to me? Oh my god! I've grown taller!"
  "You certainly have. Heather, this is incredible!"
  "No it's not! It's horrible! How did this happen? How do I stop it!?!" Heather balled up her fists and shook them violently; the muscles in her arms tensed as well as her legs as she stamped a cute foot on the ground in fear. The impact sent a ripple through her body and her covered breast burst through the flimsy strap that bound it. Her nightgown quickly fell to the floor leaving her naked.
  Vanessa swallowed as she scanned Heather's enlarged body.
  Her torso had grown longer, with a tighter waist and leaner stomach that supported her expanded chest that hung proud and firm. Her legs were also longer and visibly stronger. She turned and tried covering herself with her arms in embarrassment; Vanessa found herself agreeing with the male crewmembers in their belief that Heather possessed 'one hell of an ass.'
  Heather began to cry.
  "What's happening to me? What am I gonna do?"
  Vanessa tried to step forward and soothe her friend, but she stopped short out of her own discomfort.
  "I'm sorry Heather; let me try and help you."
  She sobbed and looked up through teary eyes.
  "How did this happen?"
  "The only thing I can think of is that pulse you experienced on the alien ship." Vanessa caught herself as the startling notion hit her, "if this is happening to you, it could be happening to the other members of the away team." She turned away and ran to the communications terminal on her desk. It illuminated her tan face as it brightened. "Alyssa."
  "Yes sir?"
  "Wake up Ramirez and Gryphon and have them report to Medical immediately. You better wake up Krista and the Captain as well."
  "The Captain is indisposed sir, but I will notify the other crew members as requested."
  "Thank you Alyssa," Vanessa took another look at Heather who was trying to cover herself with her broken negligee, "and hurry."
-     -     -
  Robert arched his back with a smile before folding his arms behind his head. Ramirez hovered over him as she slowly squeezed his lower body with her thighs. Her body was phenomenal; the legs she used to embrace him were lean and hard. He ran his finger along the lines of definition as they tensed with each fierce gyration. She leaned forward, staring at him through fiery eyes, keeping her fingers clenched in powerful fists and held out slightly to her sides; her stomach and lower back tightened as they endeavored to keep her rapturous face and firm chest floating over her lover.
  Robert cupped her swollen breasts in his warm hands and caressed them with forceful strokes. The thin layer of muscle beneath them was toned and as strong as the rest of her incredible form; he was entranced at how imposing she appeared. Ramirez had been very sexually aggressive since last evening. At first, he was a little resistant; but she broke down his will rather quickly. Her whole demeanor made her seem even stronger and bigger than she really was; a thought that permeated his thinking as he continued to knead her extraordinary breasts.
  A deep sweat had broken out over their bodies and Robert breathed in her scent as her moist and tanned skin labored to build up to it's sexual climax. Ramirez slowly lowered herself down further and ran her tongue over his open lips. He took hold of her broad shoulders and...
  A loud buzzer rang out through the bedroom. Startled, Robert almost tossed Ramirez off of him.
  "Go away."
  "I'm sorry to disturb you sir," the AI plaque set in the wall near Robert's computer began to brighten; Alyssa's face appeared, her eyes closed, "but Ramirez is required to report to the Medical Bay immediately."
  "Can't it wait?"
  "I'm afraid not sir, Doctor's orders."
  "Damn it." Ramirez jumped off the bed in a huff; her nude body a work of sculptured art. Robert just sat up and admired her as she began sifting through clothes that were strewn about the room. "I hope you don't mind but I'm stealing one of your shirts. It was tough enough slipping into that outfit I was wearing earlier."
  "I understand, I think you look sexy in anything you wear anyway." She drew a pair of his sweats quickly up her legs. As she straightened up, Robert's squinted at her.
  "What?"
  "Your tattoo," he got out of his bed and moved to get a closer look at her arm. The dark ink of her 'SLIPPERY WHEN WET' tattoo was slightly broken up; streaks of her tan skin had appeared throughout the whole of it. Robert scratched at it for moment and looked up. "I think you got ripped off.
  Ramirez was staring at him with an expression of bewilderment. He quickly adopted one of his own when he realized that his girlfriend, who was supposed to be about half of a foot shorter than he was, was looking at him straight in the eye.


Krista was in the middle of her evening exercise routine when Alyssa gave her the call. She quickly toweled the light sweat off of her face and walked out of her quarters without bothering to put on her boots or a body suit. She was wearing a tight sports bra around her large breasts and a pair of spandex shorts that she did most of her workouts in. Her soft feet were cold on the metal deck plates but she had been trained to ignore such trivialities. The Army hadn't given her much, but sometimes she unconsciously thanked it for the little things. But all of her experience and all of her time in combat did not prepare her for what she saw when the doors to Medical opened before her.
  Heather was standing near the wall opposite to Krista. She was naked as Vanessa checked the reading on a length of measuring tape that she had wrapped around Heather's, obviously enlarged, chest. When she realized that the doors to Medical had opened, Vanessa quickly stood up and dropped the tape. She had a shocked look of guilt on her face that Krista overlooked as she became aware of the height discrepancy between the Chief Medical Officer and one of the engineers.
  "Krista! I mean, Commander. I, um ... I'm just examining Heather."
  Krista stepped forward with a critical eye. She didn't hear Vanessa's rantings as she stared at Heather in disbelief. She stood next to her and looked at her from head to toe as Vanessa stepped back and smiled to herself at the beauty she saw before her.
  Both Krista and Heather stood at the same height in their bare feet with not to unsimilar builds. Though Krista was stronger and had a firmer body, they both sported round and firm chests and long legs and torsos. Krista squinted as she moved a strand of black hair behind her ear; Heather looked down in mild shame and her red hair fell around her face.
  "What the hell is going on Vanessa?"
  "I'm not sure Commander. I believe it has something to do with the energy pulse her body absorbed back on the alien ship."
  "Is this happening to the other members of that away mission?"
  "I'm not sure of that either; I've asked them to come down to Medical right away for an exam."
  The doors to Medical opened again and everyone turned to see. Heather gasped and tried to cover herself as all eyes fell upon Gryphon. The t-shirt he had put on was torn over his chest and didn't go down to his waist. The smooth skin of his stomach peeked out from under the tight hem and the snug material of his Levi shorts outlined his thick member as it ran over halfway along his left thigh. The top button on the shorts was unfastened and all of the others were visible as the flaps that would normally shroud them were pulled away by his widened hips. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other while staring at the three women sheepishly.
  "Hi everyone. I seem to have a problem."
  Vanessa took off her long labcoat and draped it over Heather's grateful shoulders; the lower lapels not making it past her knees. Krista stepped forward to inspect Gryphon. Normally she was about an inch taller than he was, but as she came closer it became increasingly aware that he now had a good five inches over her.
  Vanessa had never seen Krista intimidated by anyone in all of the time she had known her; it was one of the qualities she had come to admire in her. Gryphon had always been a thin human being, but like Heather his growth had added a toned layer of muscle that was clearly evident underneath his tight clothing. He had gone from being lanky and somewhat scruffy looking to having a fairly commanding and dominating presence.
  Krista looked him from head to toe and just grimaced as she stood her ground and looked back towards Vanessa. Vanessa sighed.
  "How long do you think it will take for you to determine the cause of this?"
  Gryphon walked towards one of the examination tables and sat down upon it as it creaked under his increased weight. Heather stepped next to him and put a hand on his shoulder with a smile. Gryphon looked up with a light scowl and she backed away hurt.
  "I don't know if I can find the cause of this; it's not like this is in any medical texts I've ever read before." Krista kept looking at her as she expected an answer to her question. Vanessa shrugged," I won't rest until I find the cause of this sir."
  "Good." Krista stole another look at Gryphon before walking out of Medical. The doors opened and Krista found herself looking up into Ramirez's deep, brown eyes. Krista was in excellent shape, but Ramirez had always had a thinner and more toned physique; her growth had amplified that considerably. She was wearing one of her boyfriend's t-shirts and it clung to her enlarged breasts and accentuated the strength of her chest. Her legs were covered in a pair of his sweats but the waist clung to her hips and everyone could see the well-defined stomach just above it with each breath that she took. Robert was standing next to her with a confused expression. Krista shook her head and continued down the corridor. Vanessa glanced towards the AI panel.
  "Alyssa?"
  "Yes sir?"
  "Wake up Kim and have her report to duty." She looked at Heather who was huddling in a corner with her head down. Gryphon was fidgeting in his seat; his movements caused the tear in his shirt to extend farther down to his stomach with a shrill ripping sound. "Tell her to bring an open mind."
  "Yes sir." The panel dimmed into blackness.
  Vanessa motioned to Ramirez and smiled weakly.
  "Join the party." She crossed her arms as if to ward away a deepening chill and stepped into medical. Vanessa heard her bare feet trod across the room as Robert followed. He stopped and spoke softly.
  "What's happening to her Doc?"
  "I don't know Rob, that's what we're going to find out." She rubbed her head and looked back up, "Heather?"
  "Yes?" As she turned away from her corner, the centrifugal force of her spin caused her breasts to heave forward. They proved too much for the two flimsy buttons that tried to contain them and they burst apart. One of the clambered along the ground with a distinct tapping until it rolled to a quiet stop in the corner. The other one hung by it's thin thread as it swung near a light nipple that was firm and erect as it squeezed out from the new and wider opening in her lapels. Heather grabbed the fabric and did her best to pull it closed.
  "I'm sorry Vanessa; I was cold, I ... I," she started to cry again.
  "It's okay kid. It's easy to fix. Let's just finish up with your tests and then I'll move on to Gryphon."
  Robert nodded in admiration and Ramirez stepped in front of him. Vanessa was amazed at the normal lack of size difference between them; Robert seemed a little fazed by it as well.
  "It's okay baby, you know I think yours are the perfect size."
  Ramirez grimaced.
  "Well, they're a little bigger than they were yesterday; and so am I, so watch it."
  Robert cringed slightly at her overpowering demeanor. She took an immediate notice and put a hand to her mouth as she gasped.
  "Robert, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean anything by it. It's just that this is all so ... it's all so..."
  "I know sweetheart," he took her into his arms and guided her weeping head on to his shoulder, "I know."
  Vanessa looked back at Heather who was wiping her eyes with a sleeve that couldn't cover all of her forearm.
  "Heather, I need to take a few more measurements and take a blood sample."
  "All right." Heather tried rolling the coat sleeve up to her elbow but found stern resistance. She grunted a few times as she smiled weakly and continued to struggle. With each tug, her firm breasts forced the open lapels further apart. Gryphon smiled and Vanessa stepped in his line of vision as she turned Heather around.
  "Uh, maybe we should go behind one of the privacy curtains love."
  "That's probably a good idea."
  Vanessa grimaced at him as she pulled on the opaque sheet and slid it in front of them. Gryphon's smile melted into a frown that quickly turned to discomfort. He shifted his seating on the table and the bulge that ran along his thigh began to grow longer. With a shallow grunt, cotton fabric hidden beneath the tight denim tore and the bulge grew all the way to the end of the shorts sleeve; the hem raised slightly away from Gryphon's knee, but covered it's charge. He looked up at Robert who was slightly boggled by the sight.
  "Impressed Rob?"
  Robert caught eyes with him and just smiled.
  "I'm black Gryph," he shook his head as he grinned, "so, no I'm not."
-   


Vanessa pulled the needle out of Heather's arm and put a cotton ball in it's place. The vial of blood she had drawn was crimson red and hopefully held what she was looking for. She pulled out another swab and dabbed it with disinfectant.
  "I want to give you another wash before bandaging you up Heather, just to be sure."
  Heather nodded and pulled the swab she had away from her arm. Vanessa started to wipe but stopped puzzled.
  "What's wrong?"
  "You're not bleeding anymore."
  "Is that bad?"
  "I guess not; I've just never seen anyone heal that fast."
  "Well, I've always been a fast healer," Heather smiled, happy to have her mind wander to things other than her predicament. "When I was kid and I had my appendix out, I was out of the hospital a day earlier than normal. Of course my mom said it was our HMO."
  "You said you had your appendix taken out?"
  "Uh-huh, when I was thirteen."
  "But you don't have a scar."
  "Sure I do, it's small but it's...," Heather frowned as she found she was unable to see past her impressive breasts. She leaned back and began to run her fingers along her smooth stomach and trim waistline; she could not find her imperfection. "I swear I had my appendix out. I have a scar Vanessa, it's tiny but it should be there. You have to believe me."
  "I believe you honey." Vanessa squinted at her as something suddenly started to bother her. She stood up and walked out of the curtained area. "Gryphon?"
  "What is it Doc?" She looked at his legs and then back to his face.
  "Where's the bandage I put on your leg?" He sat there shocked, shaking his head as he quickly blinked his eyes.
  "I don't know. I guess I took it off this morning when I was getting dressed."
  "Take off your pants."
  "Hey, now's not exactly a comfortable time."
  "I'm your doctor Gryphon," she turned to her other patient. "Ramirez, you and Rob go behind the curtain with Heather." They nodded at her and she looked back at Gryphon, "satisfied?"
  He shrugged.
  "Then take off your pants."
  He grimaced; not knowing how to proceed now that he had run out of excuses. He got to his feet. As he stood, Vanessa made mental notes on how his shirt couldn't make it to his waist and how far apart his expanded chest was pushing the torn material apart. He started tugging on the waistband; the second button resisted his efforts, but he grunted once and all of the buttons exploded apart, his boxer shorts puffing out of the separated flaps. With a little effort, he peeled his Levi shorts away from his legs and revealed a large tear in his underwear that his thick and erect manhood stood proudly through. The waistband tore and the cloth hung loosely from his pole. He crossed his arms in front of him and just smirked.
  Vanessa grabbed the shorts and tossed them aside to Gryphon's disappointment. She took hold of his thigh and rubbed her fingers over the front of it; frantically looking for something that she couldn't find. She pressed hard against his muscle and looked up.
  "This doesn't hurt?"
  He shrugged.
  "No, actually it feels pretty good."
  She pushed him as she stood back up with a scowl. He feel back on to the table and she threw his shorts back at him.
  "What?"
  "Gryphon, your leg was impaled with a foreign object two days ago. There was a large hole in your leg and now it's completely gone. Healed."
  He looked down, a look of understanding creeping across his face. Vanessa heard Ramirez shout from behind the curtain and she turned to see. Ramirez burst out with eyes wide as she was holding her side.
  "My scar!" Vanessa looked at her stomach as Ramirez pointed, "I had a long scar on my stomach. I got stabbed in a bar fight over two years ago and now the scar is gone!"
  Vanessa ran her fingers over Ramirez's long abdomen. There were solid lines of definition, smooth skin, but no scars. She slipped her fingers in the waistband of her sweats and pulled them down. Vanessa didn't have take the time to admire the solid muscles of her round buttocks as she searched the back of Ramirez's right thigh. She shook her head.
  "These are gone too."
  "The tiger claw marks? I love those scars!"
  Robert bent down to inspect.
  "So did I."
  "Vanessa, what the hell is going on?"
  Vanessa stood up and squinted in thought before bringing a small recorder to her lips.
  "Increase in height and mass, augmentation more prominent in sexual organs of all three subjects. Enhanced and accelerated recovery rate including dermal regeneration of past and present scar tissue." She clicked the stop button on the recorder and set it down and glanced around the room.
  Heather was in the corner trying to keep her lab coat closed. Gryphon had tossed his shorts aside when he found that he could no longer fit in them; he had his torn shirt over his still firm rod that waved in the air above his seated hips. Robert stepped next to her, Ramirez behind him looked over a shoulder that she normally shouldn't have been able to.
  "How did this happen Doc?"
  "I have no clue Robert."
  The doors to Medical opened up and Kim walked in while snapping on a new wad of bubble-gum.
  "Hey Vanessa, what's the big idea getting me up in the middle of ... woah," her eyes drifted around the room where they fell upon Gryphon. "Is that a flashlight under that shirt? No, I know you're happy to see me."
  Vanessa turned to Robert and shook her head.
  "But I think it's going to be a long night."


On to Part II - Seige
General Sweet was in a foul mood. The air that surrounded him in his office was as dark and thick as the three hour old coffee that was thoroughly chilled in the mug in his left hand.
  He snorted.
  A light began to flash in the corner of his eye; it illuminated one side of his pale face in intermittent bleeps. The General thought to himself for a moment, trying to remember if he had left it on after sending a cryptic memo to his superiors.
  He turned.
  The dark screen shined again and he read the words that dance before him.
"Incoming Message..."
  He frowned.
  Messages weren't supposed to be sent to his office without first passing through about four secretaries and a number of security protocols before he was even warned of an incoming transmission. Someone had fucked up somewhere down the line. It flashed again. With a calloused hand, he punched down on his keyboard.
  "What is it!?!"
  "Hello General Sweet. I must admit, bypassing your security grid was an easier task than I expected. The military should be ashamed of itself."
  The General gazed at his screen; the hollow, artificial voice that emanated from his speakers chilled his blood colder than his coffee.
  "Uh, who is this? How did you get on this channel?"
  The print that had appeared a few moments earlier disappeared as a new set began to spell out with the continuing voice.
  "That's not important right now General. What is important is that I have your little spy that you sent to us aboard the Necronomicon. He has been neutralized with extreme prejudice."
  Sweet turned in his chair as the butt of his cigar slipped out from between his lips.
  "About five seconds of snooping around in the database aboard his ship told me everything I needed to know. Now here I am talking to you General."
  "I, uh ... I demand to know who this is."
  "That was nice and domineering. Any more authoritive and the kindergarten students just might start respecting you."
  Sweet began to huff in efforts to intimidate the nothingness that surrounded him.
  "I won't stand for..."
  "Shut up General, I'm on your side."
  He looked around his office for a moment in the silence that followed. The drawer to his desk opened and he pulled out a fresh Cuban before reaching for the golden Zippo near his keyboard. It was engraved with the face of a playing card joker, the emblem of a small click of Army Rangers that he once belonged to; he had long since forgotten what it had stood for.
  "How can I trust you? Your one of those bastards on board workin' for that renegade they call 'Captain.' How do I know you didn't kill my operative?"
  "I did kill your operative. You should be happy, he was an idiot anyway."
  Sweet closed the lighter and the flame extinguished. The cigar in his mouth was still unlit as it hung limply.
  "But you see, my dear General, that's what I wanted to talk to you about."
  He fiddled with the lighter again, not sure of what to say.
  "Your silence proves that I have your attention. That's good. Now listen to me. My name is Psi and I'm one of the three artificially intelligent programs incorporated into the Necronomicon's primary computer core."
  Sweet scratched his temple with a nicotine-stained fingernail. Before he could say anything, the old print disappeared and four words appeared as Psi resumed talking.
  "I'm like a robot."
  He nodded in minimal understanding.
  "Just an incredibly brilliant one without a body.
  "Now, it has come to my attention that the crew of the Necronomicon is not fit to command her."
  "That's damn right!" The General brought down his cigar so quickly that it flew from his hand and it rolled off his desk to the floor. "A fine piece of technology such as that belongs in the hands of this man's Army! Cretins and nubile sycophants like them don't deserve it; it should be under the command of a real leader!"
  "A leader like yourself?"
  "You better believe it!"
  "Than we are of the same mind General. You want control of the Necronomicon and I would like to give it to you. I believe we may be of mutual aid to one another."
  Sweet was shaking in his chair; the sharp pangs of greed were twisting his stomach into knots that boiled the ulcer within.
  "Uh, what do you propose?"
  "Patience General, patience. I will give you what you desire; you can count on that. The Necronomicon will be yours and you can do with the crew as you please. All I require of you now is a small favor that I know you can accomplish."
  "I'm listening."
  "The Necronomicon is scheduled to dock at Tokyo Airstation in the next few days for repairs and routine maintenance."
  "We have no jurisdiction in Japan! How are we supposed to get a hold of them over there?"
  "That's precisely my point General. We can not have them keep their appointment. This is where you come in."
  Sweet fidgeted in his seat as the the AI laid out his plan on the table. The General nodded in admiration; it was risky, but it was also the best chance they had of capturing the renegade ship.
  "Very good. I'll make the call to the President right away. She's so terrified of looking weak in front of the populace and other foreign countries that she'll easily accept my proposal. It's so simple it's brilliant."
  The computer flashed lightly in electronic pride.
  "Yes it is. I'll be in contact with you when your forces mobilize."
  "It's going to be a pleasure working with you Cy."
  "That's Psi General, and I'm sure it will be."
  The screen went dark and General Sweet leaned back in his chair with a broad smile on his face as he twiddled his thick fingers.


CHAPTER EIGHT : ADVANCING THEORIES
  "Bridge."
  The computer acknowledged the Captain's request as he nursed the pain in his shoulder. He let out a slight grunt when the lift jerked into motion and put additional strain on his tender joint.
  He was still in his bike clothing and one of the sleeves of his shirt was torn; the skin beneath was painted with a number of fresh scabs that oozed a thin, translucent juice. The dim lights of passing decks drifted past him and he let his mind wander to the events of the last few days, quickly breaking from his reverie as the doors opened and he stepped onto his destination.
  "Captain on deck." George saluted proudly and the Captain looked around before giving one in return. George, brought down his hand and smiled before going back to his post at the Tactical console. Krista stood up from her chair at the helm and gave her own salute, her large breasts also up at attention; she was wearing her dark purple spandex suit today and had a gold headband to match the stripe down her side.
  "Captain, you're back early."
  "Alexander wasn't showing me much mercy. I swear, I think he took delight in watching me crash over and over again."
  "Tough ride sir?"
  "It was a bitch. Not only that, but he kept sending mosquitoes after me in the night. I barely got any sleep. I was expecting such a nice and quiet evening."
  "Expectations are premeditated resentments sir."
  He frowned and looked up to find Krista wearing one of her rare grins.
  "What are you so happy about? Did I miss something exciting?"
  "You could say that. It's all in a report waiting for you in your office."
  "Will it explain why none of my officers are at their posts on the bridge?"
  "Oh," she nodded, "I think that question would be satisfied."
  "Good," he squinted at her as she continued to stare at him. "Is that all?"
  "You have a guest," her Captain's eyes went wide, "she arrived here a few hours earlier than scheduled."
  "Why didn't anyone tell me?"
  Krista's smile grew a notch and she cocked an eyebrow in response, his frown fell a notch.
  "You could have disturbed with news like that," he shook his head. "Where is she?"
  "She's waiting for you in your office. Karen is keeping her company."
  "Well that's just great. Thank you Commander, now why don't you go and finish swallowing that canary."
  "Oh yes sir."
  He watched her walk off, even her hips portraying her overwhelming sense of smugness. The Captain turned to face the entrance to his office. He knew he didn't look his best, slightly dirty and wearing old shoes that he saved for exercising, and he ran a hand through his long hair in an attempt to make it more presentable. The door opened and he stepped inside.
-     -     -
  His office was quiet and dominated by shadows. The large wooden desk at the far end of the room was dimly lit by the small lamp that rested in one of it's corners. Behind it, sitting in his comfortable leather chair, was a beautiful woman who gazed at a number of loose papers with metallic gray eyes. Her flowing blonde hair framed a soft face and rich lips of dark wine. She was leaning back contentedly with her long legs and bare feet relaxing on the desk. His eyes drifted to a mild glowing that rested around one of her toes in the form of a golden ring, it's simple beauty complementing it's owner perfectly. She glanced up from her reading and smiled. They looked at each other for an affectionate moment, and then she went back to her silent study.
  He sighed happily and looked around his office. Karen was standing off to one side; he was about to say something to her when he noticed that she didn't seem to be moving. Her arms were frozen in place as they were slightly raised near her hips. Her mouth was open and locked in mid-sentence as she remained there silent and rigid; a living statue trapped in the fluctuations of time.
  The Captain waved a hand in front of her blank face before smirking.
  "What did you do to my Navigator?"
  The blonde lifted a finger that asked for a quick moment more. She dropped the papers she was reading on to the middle of the desk and looked up as she folded her hands across her firm stomach. She was wearing a colorful Hawaiian shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows and the lower lapels tied beneath her ample breasts.
  "Let me ask you something first."
  She curled her toes in that way that he found irresistible and he acquiesced with a shrug.
  "Why am I the owner of a mining colony? Why not make me a member of the crew or one of these military scientists that are going to pop up later on?"
  He stared off into the corner as he began to smile.
  "It's my story, I can do whatever I want with it. Besides," he clapped his hands in front of him with a modest laugh, "you're a walk-on character; you come in, have a small cameo, and then leave."
  "Normally so do you."
  "So I bent the rules a little bit. I'm the author; I have that right."
  "I still would have liked to have been a fighter pilot or something."
  The Captain pointed at the motionless Karen and looked at his guest questioningly.
  "Oh, her? She wouldn't shut up; she just kept going on about how great the ship is, and how powerful the engines are, and how fast it can go, and that she's seen every episode of every Star Trek series, and blah, bla-blah, blah, bluh."
  He shook his head as he smiled. He reached out and put a hand on Karen's shoulder and she suddenly sparked back to life.
  "...and if you'd like to see any of the nine Star Wars movies I have them in my, oh!" Karen turned around startled. "Captain, I didn't hear you come in."
  "I'm sorry I crept up on you like that Karen. I think I can take it from here."
  "That's good sir, I'll leave you two alone. Oh, and the report of last night's activities is on your desk."
  "Thank you." They both watched her leave the room; as the door to the office closed, the blonde cocked an eyebrow.
  "Where do you find these people?"
  "Leave them alone," he opened a small cabinet set in the wall and reached for one of numerous bottles of assorted spirits, "they're all friends of mine from high school and college. He shrugged as he began to pour, "well, they're all 'based' on friends of mine I should say." He handed her a small glass that had aged scotch floating over a few cubes of ice. "All of them except for Krista whom you know personally and Gryphon who I just made up." He sipped his delicately and then grimaced, "maybe he's based on a roommate I had during second year that I hated; I don't know."
  "I met Matthew once."
  "Yeah, but that was years ago and I've already killed his character off."
  She laughed before taking a sip of her own drink. He just stood on the other side of the desk and breathed in her exquisite beauty.
  "It's good to see you."
  "It's good to see you too," she pointed a long finger at the papers that were dropped on his desk. "I've been reading the rest of this story of yours; I like the ending you have planned, it's very dramatic."
  "The whole thing is turning out to be fairly grandiose, I thought it deserved one."
  She slowly stood up, her hair falling around her shoulders as she did. He watched her step around the desk, her face shimmering in the dim lamplight. Her bare feet rubbed against the carpet with a soft, padding sound while her toe ring was still steadily glowing. She wrapped her arms around his neck and they kissed; the thin fabric of her shirt weighed heavily against his chest as she pressed herself into him. Their lips separated and he could still taste the hint of roses as it played over his senses.
  "So remind me again of what I'm supposed to do now."
  "Hmm?" His mind was prancing around in a euphoric haze that her voice tried to drift through.
  "My role in this story of yours, what am I supposed to do?"
  "Oh, basically you're just here to tell me that I can keep Mac's shuttle."
  "Mac?"
  "Mr. Fleetwood, it's his body that you're here to pick up."
  "Mac Fleetwood, that's cute. He was the military spy that Psi killed?"
  "Yeah, but none of us know that; we just think he's one of your employees."
  "Okay, I guess I'll have my subordinates store him on my ship."
  "Don't look so broken up about losing one of your officers."
  "He's a fictional character; I'll get over it." She gave him a gentle squeeze before letting go and walking back towards the desk. A pair of light tan sandals were hidden behind a small filing cabinet and she began slipping them on, "you know these AI's of yours? You realize that you're stealing that premise from Marathon."
  "I know, but it really works and it's just so creepy. I'm sure they stole it from someone originally too."
  "That's true, it was just an observation. I didn't want to criticize." She stepped back forward and stood up straight and regal before him. They were about the same height as they stared into each other's eyes. "Captain of the Necronomicon," she started smugly, "I hereby grant you the use of our cargo ship until such time you build a replacement for your own lost shuttlecraft, Jabberwocky."
  "Thank you Executor, that is very generous of you." He extended his hand and she shook it firmly before frowning.
  "And why am I doing this now?"
  He laughed.
  "Couldn't stay in character for more then a few seconds huh? It will help advance the storyline along, trust me."
  "Whatever you say, I will take my leave of you now."
  "Good luck and safe travels back to the mining colony." She turned to walk out of the office but looked at him with one last smile; her silken blonde hair bouncing lively.
  "I'd say the same thing to you but I know what's going to happen."
  "Get out of here and let me get back to my story before you ruin it for everybody."
  With a swipe of his hand on her firm backside, he brushed her out of his office. She squealed in surprise and the doors swished shut before she could respond. The Captain walked back to his desk and plopped down in his chair. The leather was still slightly warm with the diminishing reminder of her presence. He caressed the armrest for a moment before shaking his head.
  His expression changed to a sterner visage as he straightened up and picked up the pad with the report of the previous night. The loose papers in front of him waved in the light breeze generated by his movements as he read. An extending minute passed and he dropped the pad in sudden bewilderment. He looked up, hoping someone would hear his exclamation.
  "Why didn't somebody tell me about this earlier?"


The Captain was grumpy; he was always put in such a mood when something important slipped by him on his ship. He didn't bother taking the lifts, he slipped down service ladders to the deck he wanted and jogged to the Medical Bay. The corridors confused him for a moment as he spun around, lost in places that should be familiar. The doors suddenly loomed before him and he paused to take a deep breath.
  Robert turned around to see his Captain entering the room. He dropped his crossed arms and gave a small attempt at a salute. The Captain just stared forward at Ramirez with his jaw slacked open.
  "Jesus."
  Robert smiled.
  "Tell me about it."
  He walked up to the examination table where Heather was sitting as Vanessa took measurements of her giant patient.
  Ramirez was in her bare feet and beat her 5' 10" Captain out by a good ten inches. She wore a clinging sports bra around swollen breasts that peeked out from the lower hem with firm roundness. Her stomach was flat and extremely toned, her back, tight and muscular with broad shoulders. She was wearing sweat shorts; the lower halves of the pant legs were torn off along with the waistband and the frayed edges nibbled at her lower thighs and smooth calves that had a thin diamond shape. Her hips bulged from the top with the seam set low enough to show that she was not wearing underwear over her dark, unbroken tan. He slowly drew his gaze back up her lean body to find her staring down on him with a wide grin.
  "Good Morning Captain, I'd salute but I'm afraid I would tear out of my top."
  "That's understandable Lieutenant."
  Vanessa took her clipboard and wrote down : chest - 68", before wrapping her measuring tape around Ramirez's waist and looking up to her commanding officer.
  "Krista was kind enough to lend us one of her tops when Robert's t-shirt gave way about two hours ago. These are still his sweats, she just made a few personal adjustments for comfort."
  Ramirez shrugged.
  "They were squeezing my calves." She shifted her weight and Robert watched the muscles of her backside flex and bulge underneath the stretching cotton fabric. Her long arms tensed as she made tight fists and closed her eyes while taking deep breaths.
  Heather stepped off the table where she was sitting and her own barefeet hit the floor with a solid thump. The Captain found himself looking up at his once pixieish engineer.
  Her body had grown well over a foot, now standing at around 6' 3". But while Ramirez had kept her basic shape and just expanded, Heather's own form had changed dramatically. The length of her had stretched longer, assuming a taller, more model-like, figure. Her waist had a trimmer look with slightly wider hips and fairly toned stomach. She didn't have the same muscle structure as Ramirez, but she was visibly stronger than before.
  More prominent than anything, however, was the incredible size of her breasts. She tried to keep them restrained with, what appeared to be, a rolled-up lab coat. The knot was visibly straining to keep them in check as the giant mounds of firm flesh pushed outward and bulged above and below the tight, white, fabric. A large bath towel was draped around her waist and her navel danced as she stepped lightly. She stood next to her Captain for a few seconds, then reached out and pulled him close to her in a tight embrace.
  "Oh sir! I've been so scared and we haven't seen you since yesterday morning!" His eyes went wide as she clutched him to her. Heather's hands pushed his head downward into her massive cleavage and it was enveloped in it's pliant warmth. He struggled for a brief moment, then wrapped his own arms around her broad torso and back in reciprocation. He found her body a joy to touch; he had never been that attracted to her, she being one of his subordinates, but her shape, strength, and sheer size were all mildly intoxicating.
  "It's okay Heather," his muffled voice trying to break free of her smothering chest, "we'll find out what's happening to you guys and get it fixed as quick as possible." He opened his eyes and tried pushing her away. She resisted at first then, after realizing what he was doing, let him go. "I need to talk to Vanessa for a minute, okay?"
  "Yes sir."
  The Captain took hold of Vanessa's arm while keeping his eye on Heather. She had her head down and he watched her firm chest rise up and down with each breath, the lab coat stretching with audible creaks.
  "Damn."
  "I know, it's driving me nuts."
  "So what can you tell me?"
  Vanessa sighed.
  "I'm not entirely sure sir," she moved over to her computer console and began to punch in keystrokes. One of the screens began to light up with diagrams and graphs. "They're growing and I'm not entirely sure why. I'm certain the pulse they absorbed on the alien ship is the cause but I can't prove it. Both Gryphon and Ramirez seem to be just expanding in size but Heather's body is doing that and has also drastically altered in shape. They all exhibit a greater amount of growth in certain sexual areas while the rest of their growth is uniform. Heather doesn't seem to be getting taller as quickly as Gryphon and Ramirez but she has made up for that in other areas." She pressed another few buttons and the graphs changed. "Alyssa?"
  "Yes sir?" The AI panel brightened and Alyssa looked at her the doctor and the Captain with an obliging smile.
  "Have you completed the particle analysis?"
  "Analysis will be complete in six point four minutes."
  "Thank you Alyssa."
  Alyssa faded away and Vanessa looked back to her Captain.
  "Where was I? Mmm, they all are developing a stronger muscle structure and their cardiovascular systems are compensating for their increased size and mass." She glanced over at Ramirez who was sitting while Robert comforted her.
  Ramirez kept trying to pull his hand over the length of her torso and down to her crotch as she fidgeted nervously; he just smiled and continued to speak soothing words. Heather was staring at the Captain through slightly squinted eyes as she bit her lip. Two large bumps had formed in the fabric of her make-shift top and she kept shifting her weight over her legs.
  Vanessa shook her head.
  "And as you can see, they all have greatly increased sexual drives."
  The Captain wanted to laugh but felt uneasy under Heather's gaze; she didn't seem to be aware of his attention, being lost in torrid, subconscious thought. He quickly turned back to Vanessa.
  "Where's Gryphon?"
  She nodded towards one of the privacy curtains.
  "He's back there eating breakfast."

[cwmoss]

Continued from the thread "Is not Height Growth prefered in here?"
Oh yeah, Karma is alway nice.

A story by Panter

They quickly moved across the room, the Captain could still feel the heat from Heather's eyes on his back. He took hold of the curtain and pulled it open. The metal rings scraped across the bar smoothly and he looked down at his Computer Programmer.
  Gryphon was sitting in a pitching chair. His bare feet were flat on the ground as his knees were bent at an elevated angle in a large pair of flannel shorts. Though they were very baggy around his thighs, a considerable bulge was still evident around his crotch. The back of the chair barely rose halfway up his own back as he sat slouched over platefuls of half-eaten foods. He turned his head slightly and looked at the Captain for a brief moment before returning to the sandwich he had in his hands.
  On the other side of the table was Kim; she had had her hands folded in front of her while idly chatting with her patient. She stood up in slight embarrassment when she saw who had come calling.
  "Hello sir," she gave a weak salute; the small shirt she wore rose up slightly and Vanessa caught a glimpse of her belly ring. "I was just keeping Gryphon here company."
  "Kim could you run the last cell samples through the centrifuge?," Vanessa asked. "We need to spool a fresh sample of DNA and run a comparison against past samples."
  Kim nodded.
  "Yes sir, I'll get on it right away." She smiled one of characteristically cute smiles and skipped back to her duties. Gryphon watched her perky body bounce as she moved away.
  The Captain shook his head.
  "How are you feeling Gryphon?"
  Gryphon looked up at the Captain and slowly began to smile. It creeped across his face like a stalking lion and his lip curled in a mild sneer. He set down a tall glass that was engulfed in his right hand and pushed the chair out from underneath him as he began to stand. He kept his eyes locked with the Captain as his face climbed, and climbed, and climbed into the air. Vanessa stepped back a little in shock; the Captain stood his ground.
  Gryphon was over seven feet tall, a good two or three inches over it in fact. His smooth skin covered a lean and hard physique that would seem lanky on a shorter human being. Tendons visibly stretched alongside tight muscles over a thin frame. His sharp features seemed slightly menacing as he stared down on the two of them without bowing his head, a steel gaze that burned with a subliminal hatred.
  "Oh, I feel fine ... sir. Thank you for your show of concern."
  The Captain almost paled; he stood there speechless for a few moments as he blinked.
  Gryphon's smile grew a notch.
  "I'm sorry I'm out of uniform ... sir. As you can see, I would have trouble fitting into it."
  "That's quite all right Gryphon."
  Vanessa flipped through her clipboard and began to read off her findings.
  "Gryphon has shown a considerable increase in muscle density. He's become much stronger than his size would normally warrant without gaining the bulk necessary to sustain that level of power."
  The Captain looked at her through a light mental haze.
  "Ramirez has also shown the same alterations."
  "There's also been another, 'large' change doctor."
  Vanessa grimaced.
  "Stow it crewman."
  Gryphon just smirked.
  "While all three subjects are showing a variety of changes, there seems to be a few things that are universal."
  The Captain looked back up at Gryphon and then to Vanessa.
  "Such as?"
  "Gryphon, come join the rest of us in the main examination area."
  He picked up the last of his sandwich and shrugged as he followed. His imposing stature stood out darkly in the seemingly lowered ceiling of the Medical Bay. He sat down on one of the beds and Heather quickly shuffled next to him. Her enlarged breasts jiggled slightly with her every step; Gryphon took little notice. Vanessa continued.
  "All of them show an obvious increase in size, but they also seem to be exhibiting a few other modifications. None of them have grown any body hair since their growth began."
  Ramirez ran a hand down her leg to feel the smoothness of it. Gryphon felt the stubble on his chin that hadn't thickened for the past few days.
  "Why is that?"
  "I have a theory that I'll get to in a second; but first," she looked at one of her patients, "Gryphon, why don't you tell our good Captain what you told me last night."
  Gryphon fidgeted; obviously uncomfortable with the situation that the Chief Medical Officer purposely put him into.
  "Uh, I ... haven't ... had to go to the, uh ... bathroom for the past couple of days."
  The Captain stuck out his tongue in disgust.
  "Eww, I didn't have to know that."
  Vanessa padded him on the shoulder.
  "Ahh, but that adds further support to my theory."
  "If that adds support, I don't think I want to hear what your theory is."
  "Each of their metabolisms has geared toward the sole purpose of sustaining their new body sizes. All waste products in their bodies are being broken down and used as an alternate energy source to help fuel their growth."
  "Including the dead cells that would normally become hair and nails?"
  "Actually I don't think their bodies are losing any more cells. That's evident in their scar tissue."
  "Come again?"
  "Dead and damaged tissues are coming back to life and regenerating themselves. They no longer grow body hair because their cells are no longer dying," Vanessa stood beaming with pride at her diagnosis. "Something is 'supercharging' their cells and keeping them healthy; not only that, but the cells are reproducing at an incredible rate which is causing they're growth."
  "So what's doing this to them?"
  Vanessa's computer panel beeped and Alyssa's AI plaque began to brighten.
  "Analysis complete sir."
  Vanessa smiled and walked over to her console. She pressed a few buttons and a three-dimensional rendering of a large molecule appeared; it rotated slowly as it floated above a blackened landscape. She pointed at the screen.
  "That is what is causing all of this Captain."


"Are you okay sweetheart?"
  Ramirez sat in her chair with a look of pain on her face. The sports bra she was wearing was squeezing her chest with a fierce intensity. The pressure had been increasing ever since she had put it on; she wanted to change out of it but wasn't entirely sure what she could put on in it's place. At any rate, she wanted to stay for the staff meeting that was assembling. She felt Robert's hand touch her shoulder and she jumped. Something suddenly gave and the pressure eased. With a loud snap, one of the shoulder straps broke.
  Robert watched as her large mound pushed it's way forward. The torn strap dangled loosely, the white end falling down past the edge of a now exposed aureole that peeked out in dark contrast to the perfect breast. Ramirez tensed at her situation and the thick muscles of her chest lifted their heavy load upward. She looked down at her lover sheepishly; even sitting she was about half of a foot taller than he was. He just stared with dazed eyes as she fumbled with the broken strap.
  "I guess I should have changed before coming here."
  Robert blinked once and she felt her face begin to flush red. She began to settle back down in her chair and she felt something else tear. It was punctuated with a loud ripping and she knew her sweats had spilt down the seam in the back. Robert leaned back and saw her firm posterior bulging out of her shredding pants. He smiled.
  "Don't worry about it babe, I think everyone here will understand."
  Brian and Karen sat holding hands while talking and causally glancing over at Heather. She was in the corner, trying to keep what was left of Vanessa's labcoat over her exposed front. It had torn across her back before she had arrived but she didn't really have anything else to wear.
  Sandra was sitting at her seat at the conference table also looking at her growing shipmates. Gryphon sat against the wall with his thin, yet muscular, arms crossed across his bare chest. His head was level with her's despite the fact that he was sitting on the ground. His long legs were spread in front of him and Sandra's eyes kept drifting over the thin and light hairs that softly spread over them. She licked her lips and jolted up straight as she heard the doors to Operations open.
  The Captain and Chief Medical Officer walked into the room. Vanessa's eyes caught with Heather's and she sighed. Her Captain put a hand on her shoulder.
  "Que' linda es, no?"
  "Yo se, mi Capitan."
  "Is Kim not joining us?"
  "No, I gave her the rest of today and tomorrow off. It was a long night and I thought one of us should get a chance rest. She said she was going back to her quarters to freshen up."
  The Captain nodded at her response and sat in his chair. Krista squeezed his arm as he did and he smiled at her in acknowledgement.
  Vanessa set a few things down by her chair and walked towards the front as she looked over the group. She saw Ramirez sitting patiently, her body strong and proud as she waited for the briefing. Vanessa couldn't help but admire the strength and power her body displayed; even at rest it seemed like a monument to feminine greatness. She rubbed her reddened eyes.
  "Good afternoon everybody. I know you're all anxious to hear what I've discovered. As you know, three of our shipmates have begun to grow in size since their encounter with an unknown energy field that they came in contact with on the alien ship two days ago. After numerous tests and examinations I have discovered the cause." Vanessa looked up towards the AI plaque embedded in the wall of the conference room, "Alyssa, can you dim the lights and display my findings please."
  "Yes sir."
  Operations began to darken and the large viewing screen hummed with power. A large sculpture of multi-colored spheres appeared; they spun around each other as bright points of light swirled about them. It shrank slightly as it faded to one side of the screen and graphs began to appear next to it. Groups of letters appeared, connected to other groups of letters by thin lines. They formed geometric shapes and blinked as percentages flashed beneath them. Vanessa nodded as she glanced over her work. Brian swallowed, not entirely understanding what he was seeing. Sandra squinted, entranced by what appeared.
  "Sandra," Vanessa started, "can you tell me what this is?"
  "Well," she adjusted the thin-frames of her glasses, "it's organic. Capable of rapid oxidation. And there seems to be," Sandra's brow furrowed and she turned on the small display screen in front of her to get a better view. "Wait a minute, this can't be right."
  Robert stood up and walked behind her, watching over her shoulder.
  "What is it?"
  "Vanessa, is this for real?"
  "I checked it three times to be sure."
  "How can it be possible? There's no way it can have this composition and remain this stable." Sandra began to type in queries into her console.
  Robert shook his head.
  "Would someone please explain this to me? I may be a great pilot but I got a 'D' in biology."
  "Chemistry actually," Vanessa tapped on the main viewer and one of the larger spheres expanded; the others fell by the wayside and a new grid appeared along it's edge. An arrow pointed toward it's center and labeled it 'XE' in bold letters.
  "It's xenon," the Captain said.
  "What does that mean?"
  "What it means," explained Sandra, "is that a particle of xenon is at the core of this molecule; and that is impossible as far as I know."
  "Why?"
  "Xenon is one of the noble gases. They are a group of atoms that are highly unreactive because they have full and complete electron shells and they never bond with other atoms naturally. It is possible to bond them artificially, but that requires an incredible amount of energy and the resulting compounds break down almost instantly."
  The Captain nudged Krista and she bent close to him as he whispered.
  "I knew that."
  "Well," Vanessa said, "this new molecule is apparently highly stable." She pressed a button and it zoomed back out to it's original angle. "And, as Sandra mentioned, it also oxidizes at an impressive rate." The picture changed and small blue spheres began to float towards the large molecule to illustrate her point. With small flashes, they began to attach themselves to the whole.
  Ramirez gasped. Robert quickly turned around and ran to her side. She had her eyes closed and was struggling to keep a look of pain away from her face.
  "What is it? Honey, what is it?"
  She took in a quick breath and something tore. One of her thighs broke through the thinning stitches of her sweats and the toned muscle poked out from the lengthening hole. The other leg quickly followed suit and the stretched cotton snapped back from her tan skin. The tear slowly spread up to her crotch and the edge of a finely trimmed patch of fur peeked out; the dark and thin hairs contrasted nicely against the caramel colored flesh of her hips. Robert quickly covered her up with his leather jacket as her face began to turn red.
  "I'm sorry Doctor," she shrugged. "What can I say? I'm a growing girl."
  Vanessa just blinked, struggling to pull herself out of her torrid thoughts.
  "Where was I?"
  "You were explaining the quick oxidation rate of the molecule you've discovered."
  "Um, yeah," Vanessa shook her head, "normally this would eventually make the compound inert. But we found the molecule inside their cellular membranes working in tandem with the mitochondria.
  The screen shifted to show giant, pinkish blobs pulsating near the now shrunken molecule.
  "When the compound is fully saturated in oxygen, it triggers cellular mitosis."
  The blobs flashed and the molecule began to glow. After a few moments, the whole screen blurred and there were two sets of molecules and pinkish blobs; each set in their own translucent cell.
  "I'm not sure how, but this compound absorbs high levels of energy and uses it to synthesize another xenon nucleus; the two new compounds each have half the amount of oxygen as the original and then the cycle starts anew."
  "And that's why they are growing?"
  "Yeah," Vanessa looked at Krista and nodded. "Whenever they take in a breath, they gather the fuel this compound needs to make them grow. I'm assuming that their altered forms and accelerated sex drives are also gearing their bodies to that purpose. The more active they are, the more oxygen their bodies need and the deeper breaths they take."
  Ramirez took hold of her boyfriend's hand. Robert was amazed at the sheer size of it. He had always had long hands and fingers, but she had passed him up some time ago. She squeezed lightly and he smiled at her. She was beautiful and he didn't care how big she grew; he would always love her. Ramirez looked back to Vanessa.
  "Is there any way to stop this?"
  "I'm not sure of that yet," Vanessa turned off the main view screen. Sandra kept going over the smaller one in front of her. "When deprived of oxygen and ATP, the molecule does eventually break down."
  "That's not an option though; is it?"
  "No it's not Heather. And I'm afraid there is another problem." Vanessa scanned her audience. Gryphon wasn't paying much attention as he scratched at the floor between his legs. Heather had let her coat drop a few times and Vanessa had found herself sneaking a few peeks. The Captain was scratching at his small scar as he waited patiently. Krista was beautiful and Vanessa frowned before continuing.
  "The larger they grow and the more their bodies change, the more oxygen they are capable of metabolizing."
  "Which means they'll grow faster," Brian stated.
  "Correct. At some point I think the amount of oxygen they inhale and the level of xenon molecules that need to be maintained will eventually balance out and reach some equilibrium. How big they will be once they reach that point I can not say."
  "Could you take a guess?"
  "I'd say around two, maybe two hundred and fifty feet."


Everyone went quiet. Brain and Karen's mouth slacked open slightly. A few quiet seconds passed before Gryphon's laughter broke through the calm. Heather glanced over at him as tears began to fill her eyes. The crystal blue irises blurred behind the building drops. Gryphon stood up, the towel he had was wrapped around his waist as a crude loin cloth.
  "Well that won't be too bad will it Captain!?!"
  Krista stood up to defend her commanding officer, the clear size difference between them not stopping her. Gryphon towered over her 5' 10" body by over a foot and a half and his improved physique sported a thin frame with toned muscle. He didn't bother looking at her as he pointed a long finger at the Captain.
  "I hope your proud of yourself, it's your fault that this is happening to us!"
  "Stand down crewman." Krista stared at him through cold eyes.
  "You were too much of a pussy to check out that ship yourself; you just had to send someone else into the line of fire!" Gryphon flipped a vacant chair backwards and it flew into the wall with a piercing metallic clang. Krista stepped forward and put a hand on his smooth chest. Her eyes were about level with the top of his stomach and she had too reach up slightly to do it. He finally looked down at her and sneered.
  "I said, stand down crewman. That's enough."
  "Oh? And what will you do to me if I don't?"
  Robert laughed and looked up at Gryphon.
  "Because she'll introduce you to thirty-one flavors of pain and you know it."
  Gryphon's sneer melted slowly and he swallowed as he felt that stare begin to way down upon him. He took a step back.
  "Yeah, but this ain't over ... Captain. Payback's are coming and they're going to be a bitch." Gryphon took one last and methodical look around the room; he laughed again and padded out of Operations. He had to duck slightly to fit through the sliding doors and the fact weighed heavily on those left behind. Vanessa cleared her throat.
  "I don't know if that will make what I have to say any easier, but...," she paused, trying to gather her thoughts. She noticed that Heather, in languor over Gryphon's heated departure, had let the coat slip a little further. The round contours of her breasts peeked over the lowering hemline. Vanessa thought she could just barely make out the light pink tops of her pert aureoles.
  "Are you trying to say we have to get them off the ship before they start growing through the bulkheads?"
  She looked up to the Captain's question.
  "Hmm? Oh, yes ... but that's not the main problem. We can house them in the cargo bays when they outgrow their quarters, but I'm afraid we have bigger worries before that's an issue."
  "And that is?"
  "Power, Captain. As you know it takes a huge amount of energy to run the replicator and life support systems. While our atmosphere will hold, I'm afraid it's not cost efficient to keep feeding them."
  Krista turned to Heather.
  "You guys eat that much?"
  Heather looked down in slight embarrassment and Vanessa laughed as she continued.
  "You know that proverbial horse you'd eat if you became hungry enough?"
  "Yeah."
  "Well, they've each had three of them. It wouldn't be so bad except for the fact that they don't produce any waste that we can dump into the plasma generators to fuel the fusion reactors."
  "They take but they don't give back."
  "Precisely, with all three on board we would eventually be stripping parts from the ship to generate power."
  Robert patted Ramirez's arm once more; Heather found herself hurting for the same comfort. Karen looked up from the notes she was writing.
  "What's your solution?"
  "That we send two of them planetside. We can keep them in our underwater headquarters off of the east coast of the United States. There's enough room there for them stretch out and I can have techs down there continue our research." Vanessa fidgeted, "I suggest we send Ramirez and Gryphon away and keep Heather here on board the Necronomicon so I can continue my own experiments until she's too big to stay on board. We can stay docked at Tokyo Airstation until such a time occurs."
  The Captain shook his weary head and sighed.
  "How long before their size becomes a danger to the ship?"
  "With just Heather on board I'd say we have about two days before we reach risk levels. By that time she would be roughly over sixty feet tall but still fairly comfortable in the cargo bay."
  Heather felt the blood rush away from her face. She would be absolutely enormous in barely any time at all, the prospect was frightening and Vanessa was talking about it in such a seemingly trivial tone. She began to cry.
  Vanessa, seeing her despair, silently cursed herself for being callous and rushed to her side.
  "Sweetie, I'm sorry." The Medical Officer pet her patient on the shoulder, having to reach up high to do so. "I'm doing everything I can to help you out. To help all three of you out."
  "I know; it's just ... it's just ..."
  "It's okay, everything will be all right." Vanessa tried to wrap her arms around the giant woman. Heather quickly responded and bent down to reciprocate. The tattered remains of the labcoat fell away and Vanessa felt the warm and pillowy flesh of her bare front press against her. She felt herself turning red.
  "Are you sure about that time estimate Vanessa? Two days?"
  Vanessa quickly pushed herself away from Heather.
  "Yes Captain, if all factors remain constant we have a window of forty-six hours with which we can keep one of them on board."
  "Than we have another little problem." The senior officers looked over at him for an explanation, Heather picked the lab coat off the floor and draped it in front of her once again. "About two hours ago I received a communication from President Lourdes requesting our further assistance in protecting medical vessels on route to Australia to aid in their efforts against invading armies from Paupa New Guinea. We have to stay spaceborne for the time being."
  "Then what about Ramirez and Gryphon? We can't have them all on board."
  "I know that Commander. The good Mining Colony Executor has granted us the use of the late Mr. Fleetwood's shuttle. We can send them down in his cargo hold."
  Robert stood up, Ramirez watched him with her soft brown eyes as he crossed the room towards the conference table.
  "Who's going to pilot it? As much as I want to stay by Ramirez's side, you're going to need both Karen and I at the helm if we go into combat."
  The Captain was about to answer when the AI panel began to glow on the side of the wall.
  "If I may intrude sir." Psi's face quickly sharpened out of the swirling lights. His vacant eyes seemed to glow with a light of their own and it sent a light wave of uneasiness through the room.
  "What is it Psi?"
  "I would be happy to pilot the ship down to the surface. All it would require is the command code of one of the senior officers to download my program into the cargo ship's systems; it's been a while since I've seen headquarters."
  "All right, you got the job."
  Psi faded away, Sandra could have sworn she saw a smile cross his face as he did. The Captain scanned the room with a purposeful glance.
  "Karen, I want you to prep the ship for launch and give Psi what he needs. Be set for launch at 04:00 tomorrow. The rest of you, continue with your assigned duties and make sure you get a good night's rest. Understood?"
  The crew nodded with accention.
  "Dismissed."
  The officers began to shuffle out of the room. Karen and Brian hugged before kissing briefly and separated to go to their stations. Heather quietly walked out; watching the top of the door frame of Operations pass mere inches over her head as she headed for her quarters. Sandra had Alyssa download a copy of Vanessa's data into a personal file for her to look over later.
  Robert walked back over to Ramirez and offered his hand. He watched as she slowly got to her bare feet, craning his neck as she towered over his six foot frame by almost a foot. Every muscle in her body tensed and stood out in toned relief from her lean physique. Despite her stature, her expression was one of trepidation.
  "Will you still love me if I'm sixty feet tall?"
  She was beautiful to him, a work of sculpted art that Michelangelo couldn't have bested.
  "I'll love you even if you become two, maybe two-hundred and fifty feet tall."
  She smiled briefly, but her fear quickly returned.
  "I just may have to hold you to that."
  The Captain watched as his ship's Helm Officer walked out with his growing Security Chief. Krista turned to him and smiled.
  "You know, they still make a cute couple."
  He frowned and glanced downward.
  "You're worried about Gryphon aren't you?"
  "Worried? You could say that." His red-rimmed eyes betrayed his haggard condition. "Luckily I won't have to worry about it much longer."
  She put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it reassuringly. They looked at each other for a moment, silently sharing their pain, and he smiled weakly.
  "Thank you for not saying 'I told you so.'"
  "Never sir."


Brian yawned as he checked the plasma levels leading to the fusion reactors. The injectors were clean and the flow was steady. A red light began to flash on a nearby panel and he moved over to investigate. Dave heard the warning beep and looked up at his Chief Engineer.
  "What is it boss?"
  "The pressure levels dropped for a moment in the coolant tanks," Brian tapped on the gauge, "but they seem to have steadied themselves out."
  "Do you want me to run a diagnostic?"
  "Please, I want to be sure we're not leaking nitrogen." He shook his head, "it's probably nothing, just a faulty readout."
-     -     -
  Kim turned the spigot in her shower and hot water poured out of the metal nozzle. It was made from some sort of alloy that didn't seem to collect lime or rust. She smiled; she always liked a tidy bathroom.
  Her cute face greeted her in the mirror and she removed the small clip in her hair, allowing her blonde hair to fall around her shoulders. Steam began to collect along the top of the glass as she stepped back towards the shower and unfastened her robe. The pink cotton dropped around her feet and she shivered as moist air caressed her freckled skin. Her small breasts jiggled with life as she stepped lightly into the cascading water.
  Kim slid the partition closed and reveled in the liquid as it splashed against her. It played over her chest, raining down her smooth front. She sang happily as she wet her silky hair and began to rub in designer shampoo to a full lather.
  Somewhere in her nearby bedroom, a panel set into the wall began to brighten and Alexander's face appeared. His smiling visage wrinkled it's nose as he started to mouth the words to the song she was singing.
  Kim almost dropped her soap and she giggled at her clumsiness. She began to message the milky bubbles over her body, being careful to wash the ring that was piercing her navel. The water swirled below her in a wide whirlpool around the drain. She continued to sing.
  Alexander smirked, suddenly remembering why he had come. He pushed a virtual button and sent his program into operation. He felt the pipes far behind the wall shudder as a valve was switched. It gave a trivial creak as something new began to flow towards Kim.
  The water suddenly stopped and she opened her soapy eyes to look at the faucet to see what the problem might be. She did so just as a fresh current of liquid nitrogen began to pour upon her.
  Kim screamed.
  Everything suddenly flashed into darkness as needles of pain stabbed into her vision. She felt her throat constrict and her head become heavy as she struggled to choke. A violent convulsion forced the last breath from her body as her ears heard her tongue splintering against the wall. Her body was stiff, she couldn't move. Gravity shifted as her fleeting consciousness recognized that she was falling.
  There was the sound of crystal shattering; but Kim no longer cared. The faucet turned itself off and the last of her shower flowed down the drain. The reddened pieces were almost unrecognizable. Some of the fragments, not entirely frozen, were beginning to stain the floor a deep crimson. One broad strip sat peacefully, the navel at it's center looking eerily lifelike with a gold ring still attached to it.
  Alexander played back the sound of Kim's final scream through his circuits and closed his eyes as he began to fade away with a broadening smile.


CHAPTER NINE : DEPARTING STORM
  Meredith finished her diagnostic of the communications board. She wrote down the last of her findings and smiled as she gave her station a clean bill of health. Her chair creaked as she turned it around to stand.
  Behind her, a light began to glow on her console. From across the room, Psi watched with interest as his plaque lit up with his pale face. He watched Meredith walk over to George and hand him the pad with her assorted data. He knew that they would be tied up together for more than enough time that he needed.
  Love, it was such a bothersome and all-consuming trait. Yet, right now it was just what the artificial intelligence ordered.
  Psi plugged himself into the communications array and realigned the signal dishes. Sandra felt the hum of their gears as she sat at the desk in her quarters; but she quickly dismissed it as normal ship operations. A few more lights lit up on Meredith's console as Psi began to send out his transmission, but no one was there to notice them.
  Meredith playfully squeezed George's arm as they continued to talk, flirting with little care or consequence.
-     -     -
  Gryphon laughed to himself as he looked at the empty duffel bag that rested on his bed. Next to it was his gold watch that now had a stretch wristband.
  "What the hell am I going to pack?"
  Everything in his closets were now to small for him to wear. Not even his socks were usable. He looked up at the nine foot high ceiling; it was less than a foot away from his head and he reached out to tap on it. Everything in his quarters seemed alien; a smaller replica of the things that he used to call dear. Piles of dirty clothing had been added to with piles of torn ones. He had unsuccessfully tried on some of it and now stood naked, frustrated with his situation. He shook his head.
  "I can't believe how fucked up this is. Being forced off the ship; I don't even want to be here anyway!"
  Gryphon caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and he smiled at the image that greeted him. The lean body with taut muscle groups that bled through pale skin with fierce definition. His manhood swayed heavily from his pelvis; drifting down his thighs proudly. He had never been too thrilled with his physique before and he silently thanked the alien craft for it's assistance.
  He had been teased relentlessly in his youth; teased for being gangly, teased for being more interested in playing with computers than in trying to make friends with those that teased him, teased for being the only son of rich parents, teased for the sake of being teased.
  "What would those bastards say now?" He raised an eyebrow, then frowned.
  He knew what they would say. That he was still the same little twerp in a big twerp's body. That he was still a spoiled little rich kid. That looking like a man didn't make him a human being.
  "RRRAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!" Gryphon lurched over to his desk and picked up the lamp that was shining merrily. He tore it's plug from the outlet and hurled it across the room. The bulb shattered as it collided against the wall, the metal casing crumpled and fell to the ground with a loud crash. He spun around with his inertia and landed on his bed. It creaked under his increased weight and he felt one of the springs give way.
  He fought back the tears that he knew were coming; choking them down as he clenched his fists. The muscles in his arms tensed and he felt himself starting to sweat in his idling rage. The door to his quarters chimed and he opened his eyes as he started to shake. He took a number of deep breaths to try and calm himself down. Gryphon wiped the back of his arm across his face and picked up one of his bedsheets to cover himself with.
  "Come in."
  The door opened with it's characteristic swish. Karen said it always reminded her of those on board the Enterprise. Gryphon didn't know what that meant.
  "Hello Gryphon."
  He looked up, still tying the sheet around his waist as he heard her voice. Heather was standing there.
  She was bent over slightly, being too tall to see through the six and a half foot frame, and the picture made him laugh inwardly. Her creamy skin glowed it's pale, milky white under the lights of the hallway, from her lightly freckled face down to her bare feet. Her enormous breasts swayed under their own weight as they struggled against her tightening top, which was apparently a large, rose colored towel rolled up and wrapped around her chest. She had a light blue one draped across her waist.
  Gryphon looked down.
  "Hey Heather." He didn't see it, but a hurt expression crossed her face as he glanced away.
  "Can I ... come in?"
  "Sure, do whatever you want; I don't care."
  Heather padded into his quarters. They were disheveled, but they always were; not that she came down here that often. She watched him as he cast his gaze about. His hair was cut long in the front, his bangs falling across his dark eyes. His nose was thin and ended sharply. Along with his permanent stubble, his face had a punkish look that, for some reason, she found very appealing.
  His back was to her. He wasn't broad shouldered, but he was fairly well-muscled; what she would have called stringy. His slightly gaunt physique gave him a hollow face and an extremely lean body that his growth had punctuated.
  Heather found herself becoming aroused. The heat was starting to build in her chest, where it burned with a deep intensity that slowly spread downward. She bit her lip.
  "Gryphon, I was wondering ... I," she began to trace symbols on the floor with a toe on her left foot in her anxiety. Gryphon thought the image was sweetly innocent.
  "What is it?"
  "I was wondering what exactly is happening to us."
  He looked away from her and sighed.
  "You heard Vanessa, we're growing and she doesn't know how to stop it. So the Captain is sending me away."
  She frowned.
  "That's not what I meant Gryphon."
  He closed his eyes. He knew that's not what she meant, but he also knew what she did mean and his nerves trembled at the notion.
  I don't have time for this, he thought; and then quickly answered, nor the courage.
  He sighed again.
  She was still near the doorway; it was closed behind her as she stared at him with hopeful eyes. He didn't know what to say.
  "Heather, I don't really feel like talking about it right now. I just want to get my shit together so I can get off this hell pit."
  "Is that how you feel? Do I mean nothing..."
  "No, that's not it at all. It's just..."
  "It's just what then?"
  Gryphon looked at her face, her lower lip was trembling slightly. Through red tinted eyes, he watched her betray her vulnerability. It was a sight that made him sick to his stomach.
  Yet the image of her body, of so much firm and expanded female flesh, made him pause. His fingers were starting to tingle; as if awakening from a drawn out sleep. He squinted at her and spoke with distinct punctuation.
  "I don't know."
  Heather took another step towards him; her thighs tensed with each one, the muscle resolute and unyielding. Though pale, her skin was an unbroken field of flawless ivory; not a wrinkle, nor a vein, nor a blemish tainted her perfect form. She walked lightly, despite her incredible size, and stared at him with terrified longing. A pain that tightened inside her chest and chilled her body.
  "You don't know? Don't you care ... about me?"
  Gryphon turned away and clenched his fists. The image of her towering form was stained on his eyelids. The roundness of her breasts, the sway of her hips, the length of her body. He felt the familiar sensations returning, the urges starting to build. His manhood was swelling, growing as he became aroused, straining against the thin veil of his bedsheet with it's expanding bulk.
  He spun back around and grasped Heather by the arm. She almost fell backward out of shock, his eyes were wide and his jaw set. Gryphon squeezed, tightening his grip against a tensed bicep that fought against his strength.
  "Is this what you want!?!"
  Heather took in a deep breath and just stared up at him. He shook her forcefully and repeated his question; she closed her eyes and tried to pull away.
  "Please, Gryphon please! You're hurting me!"
  Gryphon pulled and brought her closer. He wrapped his sinewy arms around her and felt her quiver in his grasp. She looked at him with an open mouth and a gaze that darted back and forth between his eyes.
  Heather felt his stiffening member against her and she hungered for it. Her longing for his care, for his comfort, melted away as the burning desire forced it's way into her soul. She bared her teeth at him; a deep growling vibrating through her chest as she lifted her thigh and began to knead it into his crotch.
  His eyes fluttered for a moment, his breathing grew short. Gryphon let go of her and, with one wrenching from his powerful hands, tore her top away from her body. The flimsy material leaped away from the buoyant flesh and they sprung forward under their own weight. Huge and round, the wide nipples hardening as the tips crept outward. Even at his size, each one was the equivalent of his head; firm and pliant. He took one in is grasping fingers and suckled greedily upon it.
  Heather tilted her head back as a wave of pleasure coursed through her body. She tangled her fingers into his dark hair and pressed him further into her; relishing the sensation of her chest caressing his warm face, the thin stubble grating against her heated skin.
  Gryphon pushed her down. Heather fell backwards, landing softly on a bed that creaked under her weight. She watched as he stood over her, his hairless chest just beginning to glimmer with the light sweat that was generated between them. The sheet around his waist was tight, struggling against it's load. She quickly knelt forward and dug her hands into the flimsy cotton, trying to force it away from his hips. The knot came unraveled and the sheet fell away.
  Heather stared at the creature that leapt up before her. Gryphon was easily as long as her forearm; a thick and hard member that pulsed with life, steadily jumping up and down with each beat of his heart.


"You ... you've grown," she whispered.
  "So have you."
  Heather looked back up to his face and smiled. He leaned down on top of her and kissed her soft lips as she fell back down on to the bed. He pressed his body against hers, running his hands over her shining red hair and breasts. She held on to him tightly running the end of her moist tongue across his lips and down the length of his neck. Gryphon ran his hand down to her waist and ripped away the tightening shroud from her hips. He threw it onto the floor and stared into her eyes as he smiled.
  The broad tip of his manhood grazed Heather's quivering folds; she tilted her head back and moaned. One of her hands slid down to his thin and muscular backside and she began to message the firm skin as he began to enter her. She grit her teeth at the delicious pain as Gryphon stretched her around his eager member. He panted from exertion as he slowly pumped his flanks and drove inch after inch deeper into her.
  Heather cried out, her voice pounding in his ears. The bed gave out another groan and one of the thin wooden beams that held it together snapped. The mattress sank slightly, the thick springs creaking in rhythm with Gryphon's toils. A surge of electricity coursed through Heather's body and she tensed; she raked the sharp edges of her nails across his back and blood seeped through to run in long streaks up to the blades of his shoulders. She quickly ran her palms back over the gashed flesh as her toes curled in the throes of ecstasy; the blood was wiped away to reveal smooth and unmarred skin in it's place.
  With one final thrust, Gryphon buried himself up to the hilt and Heather gave out a deep and resonating wail as she pulled at handfuls of bedsheets. Another of the support beams snapped and the bed collapsed. Gryphon grunted at the sudden rush it provided as he continued to labor. Her head beat softly against the board at the top of the bed as the shins of both their legs dangled over the other end of the mattress.
  Gryphon propped himself up with extended arms and just stared into Heather's face as he continued to slide his length in and out of her; slow at first, then increasing the tempo with violent plunges before pulling himself out until just the bulbous head of his shaft remained and then rammed his hips forward again. His body felt like it was on fire; the acid that flooded his muscles burned from the tremendous exertion but drove him on further still.
  Heather kept squeezing his engorged phallus with her body and he gave out a cry of his own as he peaked, rolling with the sudden shock of pleasure that followed. Gryphon pumped a few more times, then collapsed in exhaustion on top of her, breathing heavily. She moved a few stray strands of his hair away from her chin as she closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around him in a lover's embrace. The sweat that covered both of their bodies gave the air a salty scent that she tasted as he softened inside her.
  Heather stared at the ceiling, lost in the imagery of her tired thoughts, as Gryphon quickly fell asleep.
-     -     -
  Karen checked the flight plans set into the cargo ship's computer. The cockpit had a heavy perfume of cigar smoke that stuck to the bulkheads like a thick sweat. She had once found it offensive, but now it served as a reminder that she hadn't known the man that had created it.
  She found herself wondering if he had led a good or productive life, if he had left any family behind. Maybe she would inquire about it when she had the time. The screen blinked out as she turned it off.
  The shuttle bay was quiet.
  Most of the ship was asleep at such an early hour. Every once and a while, her and Brian would sneak out together and watch the sunrise on the holodeck. They were addicted to such comforts. She knew Robert preferred the real thing and caught an outside view up on the bridge when he could; but that was him.
  Karen looked around; the space where the Jabberwocky once rested was empty and she briefly thought of Matthew. She had watched him fly one of the one-manned fighters a number of times in various battles and was always impressed with his skill. The Captain and him had once taken delight in flying against each other in the CF/A-17G Wraiths that were housed in the Necronomicon's other Shuttle Bay.
  She sighed, it would never be so again.
  "Psi, I'm ready to download your program into the cargo ship's computer." Karen looked around after she was given no answer. "Psi?" She knew he had been monitoring her progress earlier and it wasn't like him to leave during such an operation.
  A chill ran through her; a chill that she couldn't explain. The silence felt alien, like something horrible who's only purpose was to sew images of horror into the mind's of the frightened and superstitious. The very draft from the life-support systems was uncomforting and picked at her in ways she didn't care to remember.
  Karen licked her lips, tasting the blue that seeped into them as she closed her eyes.
  "I am here."
  She jumped, startled; as if something from her childhood leapt at her with clawed hands from the imaginary darkness. The AI plaque was beginning to lighten. She could make out Psi's visage and he stared at her with his constantly stoic expression.
  He was as he always was; and he was waiting for her response.
  Karen sighed again.
  "Umm, I'm ready to download you into the cargo ship's computers. There's now enough memory to hold your program and I've installed additional processor to allow you better access to it's systems. I suggest you familiarize yourself with the hardware."
  "I understand." Psi paused and studied her with critical eyes. He blinked a few times and she paled under his gaze. "Are you all right sir? You look ... apprehensive."
  "I ... I'm fine Psi; thank you for inquiring." His voice played on her nerves, the very clicking of the mild static that danced in the background ticked away at her senses. She couldn't explain it and would later dismiss it as stress from the events of the past few days. But now, everything about him felt evil, everything around her felt poised to strike at any moment.
  "Are you sure? I can alert the doctor to expect you in Medical."
  "No! I'll be all right Psi."
  "Very well then. I am ready to be transferred."
  Karen opened a small access panel and drew a length of cable that she dragged over to the cargo ship. She plugged it into the ship's computer core with trembling fingers and made sure the line was securely fastened before getting back to her feet.
  "Computer, transfer Artificial Intelligence Program, Designation Psi, into alternate storage drive. Authorization Karen Theta Phi Alpha."
  The computer beeped once and then there was the slow whirring of the transfer. In a few moments, the cargo ship began to purr with life; the systems lighting up as Psi extended himself into it's circuits. The computer beeped again and the transfer was complete.
  Karen shrugged.
  "Make yourself comfortable in there Psi. Make sure you're ready to fly it in the next few hours."
  "Oh, yes sir."
  "Good night then."
  Psi peeked out through the cargo ship's internal sensors. He watched Karen walk out of the Shuttle Bay as the doors swished closed behind her. The AI checked the programs he had written, raised an eyebrow as he glanced around the ship, and shut himself down to wait for the coming morning.


"ROBERT!"
  Robert smiled as he listened to the hard roll in the 'R' of his name. He didn't have to look away from the interior of one of the large Galley refrigerators as he answered.
  "GUSTAVO!"
  "Hey hey! What's happenin' there stud?"
  He stood up and looked over at one of ship's security officers, at one of his closest friends. He had never totally gotten used to Gus's quick method of speaking, but it had become easier to understand over time.
  "Just grabbing a few things for Ramirez. She's, uh ... she's got quite an appetite."
  "I hear ya' buddy. So, how are things goin'?"
  Robert shrugged, his smile dropping a shy notch.
  "She's scared Gus; I know she wouldn't really like me saying such, but it's true."
  Gus patted him on the shoulder.
  "I understand hermano. She's stronger than most of us, but this can't be easy on her." He watched Robert pull out a large bowl of grapes from a lower shelf. "At least she has you to help her through all of this. Gryphon doesn't really have anybody and I'm not sure what Heather has."
  "Maybe you should go and be there for her."
  "Nah, she was cute once; but I prefer chiquitas."
  "Chiquitas?"
  "Smaller women," Gus nodded with a hint of lewdness, "the cute little girls."
  Robert watched him wiggle the straight and black brows over his dark brown eyes. He rather envied the sparse mustache that Gus had; he could never seem to grow any appreciable facial hair and had, what many of the other crewmembers called, 'a baby face.' Ramirez seemed to like it though and that was good enough for him.
  "You are so bizarre."
  Gus shrugged.
  "Can't help it; I know what I want. But you're lucky, Ramirez is a babe and one bad ass punta."
  "Do I want to know what that means?"
  Gus shook his head as he smiled. He opened the refrigerator again and took out a large bottle of purified water.
  "All you need to know is that I'm going to check up on Kim. She's got tomorrow off and I thought I'd see if she needs a healthy dose of the Gustavo." Gus did his little dance, holding the bottle of water over his head with toned arms as he grooved.
  "It's kind of late for that isn't it?"
  "No para el Gustavo, amigo."
  Robert couldn't help but laugh. He picked up his tray of food and started to head for the doors.
  "Well, let's not keep the girls waiting. Kim isn't far from Ramirez's quarters."
  "So what's your plan?" Gus fell beside his friend as they headed for one of the numerous lifts.
  "I'm kind of tired, but I want to spend as much time with her as possible. I don't know when I'll get a chance to see her again. I know we should hit port in a few days but..."
  "Pero no tu sabes. That's cool."
  "I just wish I could go with her."
  "I know you do Rob. You got your job though and sometimes it has to take precedence."
  Robert braced himself as the lift they had just entered jerked into motion, the grapes in his bowl settling with the sudden shift in inertia.
  "I don't mind that."
  "De veras?"
  The lift stopped and Robert shook his head as the gate opened.
  "No."
  They stepped out together as Gus laughed to himself, their thick boots clicking against the hollow floor in unison. The corridor was dimly lit in the evening hours of ship operation and they could feel the steady thrumming of the Necronomicon's engines through the deck plates as they walked. Robert stopped himself in front of the door to Ramirez's quarters and closed his eyes.
  "Bueno suerte Roberto. Though, I don't think you'll need it."
  "Thanks Gus, good luck with Kim tonight, too."
  "I don't think I'll need that either."
  They smiled at each other and Gus gave a silent wave. He turned away from his friend and heard the light swish of the door opening and closing behind him. He locked his eyes on another door before him and felt the familiar butterflies beginning to roam about in his stomach as it came closer. He brought his left hand near his face and squinted at the fingers as they trembled.
  Gus swallowed as he clenched them into a fist and took in a deep breath. His body calmed somewhat and he looked up at Kim's nameplate with an uncomfortable grin. He reached for the chime on a nearby panel just as a speaker crackled.
  "Gus? Are you there?"
  He sighed, his arm dropping to his side.
  "This is Gustavo, what is it George?"
  "Hey there dude. You up for a quick game of racquetball?"
  Gus looked again at Kim's door and felt his stomach roll one more time; he turned away.
  "Sure, I'll meet you on the holodeck in about five minutes."
  "I'll have the program up and running."
  Gus began to walk away. His shivering was already starting to subside and his smile returned, the thin mustache above it stretching across his widening cheeks.
-     -     -
  The room went dark as the door shut behind Robert's back. He set down the bowl of grapes on a nearby table he knew was there and tried to look around.
  "Uh, honey?"
  He heard a mild scraping and a flicker of light appeared through a nearby doorway, dimly illuminating the frame and small table beside it.
  "I'm in the bedroom, lover."
  Robert swallowed. Her playful voice giggled and he felt his knees quiver as he tried to walk toward it. He smelled the faint scent of sulfur and knew she was burning some in one of her small braziers that she was so fond of keeping. He stepped around the corner; feeling his way around a small table and found Ramirez.
  She was smiling down on him from inside the bedroom. Her body had grown to well over seven feet in height and her hardened body glowed a deep bronze in the simple heat of the brazier she cupped in her hands. Her long limbs glistened with fine oil and the deep lines of definition stood proudly as Robert gazed at her, bare-breasted in the firelight.
  The sulfur crackled and a spark flew up, brightening her face. Her stomach was a solid and tall plain that traveled down to the soft patch of fur and the beginnings of her long thighs. They tensed as she began to walk forward. Robert was slightly startled at the movement of so much heavenly body that he took an involuntary step backward. He looked back up to her face, afraid he may have hurt her feelings; but she just giggled.
  "Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you." One of her eyebrows raised and her smile broadened. "Not unless you want me to."
  Robert reached forward and took the brazier from her before setting it down. He took hold of her fingers and tried to guide her gently to the bed. He met with resistance and heard her softly laughing; he looked back at her and saw her arm outstretched towards him as he still pulled upon it. He was unable to budge her incredible body and she just looked at him as he vainly tried.
  Ramirez pulled on his arm and effortlessly pulled him towards her. He found himself pressed against a wide plain of sweet and feminine flesh, a wall of toned muscle and firm breasts. The oil that covered her body gave her the fragrance of night-blooming jasmine and he closed his eyes as it played over his senses. There was so much of her and he stretched his arms around her back in an effort to hold on to her tightly. He looked up to her wide eyes as she was still smiling; her dark hair fell about her broad shoulders as she gazed down from almost a foot over him.
  "We're not going to bed my love."
  "We're not?"
  "No, I've made us something special over here." Ramirez began to walk away. Robert was still grasping her hand and was pulled along with her as she moved to the other side of the bedroom. The faux fireplace was lit and burning with holographic flames as heat radiated from electrified coils. A small speaker behind it all snapped with an audible pop and sparks flew upward.
  In front of it, illuminated in the shifting flames, were blankets of thick furs. They were soft to the touch and lay before them on the ground with large down pillows. Ramirez knelt down, the thick muscles of her legs tensing, and she picked up a long and brown fur and draped it about her shoulders. She leaned forward, clasping the loose ends to her breast, and grinned ferally at Robert, her strong arms bulging slightly as she clenched her fist over the fabric.
  "I thought we'd have a little fun."
  Robert swallowed and knelt down as he smiled.
  "My barbarian queen, what is your command?"
  Ramirez lifted one of her long legs and gently pushed him back with a soft foot against his shoulder. He fell against the furs and she stepped forward, holding him down with her right foot on his chest as she towered over him, her cute face a foot away from the ceiling.
  "I order you to strip naked and pleasure me until the sun comes up." She leaned down, the pressure form her leg increasing slightly as her long toes dug into his skin playfully. "And I know I'm a big and growing girl so it may be a daunting task. Are you ... up, for it?"
  Robert lifted his arms and wrapped his fingers around the solid pillar of her calf. With a quick twist, he pulled her down to the furs alongside him. He knew she could have easily countered him; even at her normal size he could not have bested her skill, but she lay there smiling on her back as he climbed on top of her huge form.
  She smiled at him and her eyes went wide as she felt the firm column of manhood that was swollen against her thigh, rubbing the cotton of his shorts against her smooth skin.
  "I guess you are. I don't think I should be surprised."
  Her voice had only become slightly deeper, but she had always known how to entice him with her sensual and sultry tones.
  "If what Vanessa says is true, I want to pleasure as much as I still can. Soon you may be too big for me."
  "Oh," she nibbled playfully at his shoulder, "I don't think we'll ever have to worry about that. Besides," she felt his own bare feet sliding around her knees as he kissed her, "you may be a little smaller now, but soon I think you may be just the right size."


Robert pulled back, his face a mask of admonished shock. A smile began to creep over his face as Ramirez wrapped her thick arms around his neck and back and pulled him back down. Her bare skin was comfortably hot and was an intoxicating mixture of hard muscle and soft breasts. She had such power, but still treated him tenderly and gently as they rolled along the furs together.
  Ramirez pinned him on his back, sitting up as she settled herself down upon his aching shaft. She squeezed him playfully as she clasped her legs around him. Her long thighs dug into the sides of his chest near his arms. He reached up and stretched to reach the large spheres that danced high above him. The toned wall of her stomach tensed as she leaned down. Her massive upper body covered him, her silky brown hair dancing over the top of his head as her shoulders pressed into his face. The firm rise of her enlarged breasts rubbed against the softness of his cheeks and he closed his eyes as they enveloped his chin.
  Her arms bulged with sleek feminine muscle as they held the weight of her chest over Robert. She pressed herself further into him, sliding her breasts over his chest and face while steadily grinding her hips over his engorged manhood.
  He tried to run his fingers over as much of her as he could. She reveled in the sensation of his slightly reduced touch, his grasp was more delicate, his weight not as pressing as it once had been; she could have complete and utter control over his body if she so desired. She felt him running his palms over the smooth contours of her backside, kneading the muscles as they tensed with each rhythmic squeeze.
  Ramirez's body was on fire; every inch of her burned. Her sheer weight pressing into his own body was intoxicating. Robert cried out as he peaked, releasing wave after wave of pleasure into his lover from his aching manhood. He tried to raise his weary head upward to kiss her, but she just pushed him back down, her arms tensing as he playfully fought against her.
  "Oh no, we're not done yet." She leaned down on top of him, her breasts pressing against his face. He could swear that they were bigger now than they were a few moments ago, fuller and rounder. She began to slide her body upward, dragging her toned and tanned length over his stomach and chest. Ramirez lifted herself up on to her knees, the thighs and torso above them alone were the size of a normal woman. She wrapped her long fingers into his hair and gently pulled him towards her.
  Robert smiled as he licked his lips, blowing a cool wind over her engorged womanhood. He wrapped his hands around her wide hips and pulled his face into her heated crotch, exploring the depths of his lover with an adept tongue.
  Ramirez cried out, closing her eyes as she tilted her head back in euphoria. She clutched his head closer to her and continued to moan.
  The brazier sputtered for an instant, a lump of sulfur sparking with life, and illuminated their moist bodies for an instant before dimming back to the flicker of candlelight.
  And Robert labored into the night.

[cwmoss]

******************************
******************************

  "Alyssa, what time is it?"
  "It is 03:50 hours sir, ship standard time."
  The Captain rubbed his eyes as he could feel the redness in them. His sleep had been short, but he had a task that needed to be done and he wanted himself and the crew awake and alert for when it happened. The door to the lift opened and he walked onto the bridge.
  "Good morning everyone."
  George turned to Meredith and whispered.
  "We'll finish this later." He put up his hand in salute, moving towards the center of the bridge. "Good morning sir. The ship is at status green."
  "Excellent Sargent. Contact department heads and confirm readiness for launch."
  "Yes sir." George stepped over to his station at the Operations Console and began operating the communications network.
-     -     -
  Vanessa pretended to write on her clipboard as she secretly watched Heather from behind shaded goggles. Heather was sitting down on one of the bio-beds with closed eyes as her legs fidgeted back and forth, her feet firmly planted on the ground despite the high level of the table. Her beautifully bare body had grown to the incredible height of 8' 4" and had done even more wonders for her figure in the past few hours. Vanessa had recorded them all in detail.
  Heather's enormous breasts had swollen to the size of overinflated basketballs; both were firm and proud, the tips swollen and stiffly erect in constant stimulation and the wide aureoles puffy and dark. Her trembling hands kept straying to them, pressing into the pliant skin and squeezing as she closed her eyes in light euphoria, her shallow panting growing in deepness and intensity. The tight muscles of her stomach tensed as she leaned back slightly, concentrating on the mild sensations. Her fiery hair fell about her broad shoulders, deepening in red as her size continued to increase.
  Vanessa set down her pad.
  "Heather."
  Heather suddenly opened her eyes and straightened up in attention. Vanessa walked up next to her, her head far below Heather's line of vision, as she was taking her goggles away from her face.
  "Sweetie, the tests are all done with for now. I'm going to go continue with my research in my office." Vanessa swallowed, gathering up her courage while shaking her head at her own coursing libido. "I know you're having ... sexual discomfort. If you have the need to, feel free to ... masturbate ... for personal relief." Vanessa fought against the driving urge to look down at the floor.
  Heather bit her lip. She felt a wave of anxiety flow out of her body as she stared into Vanessa's dark brown eyes with a light expression of thankful understanding. Not knowing how to respond, she just sat there, clenching her toes as she gripped the edge of the table.
  Vanessa gave in and glanced at her shoes as she turned away, listening to the scuffle of her boots against the cool metal floor as the image of Heather's glorious body shined in the back of her eyes. The door to her office slid open and she quickly found her chair, feeling the leathery softness caress her skin. She peered through the tinted window across from her.
  Heather was leaning back on one of her long arms, the muscle tensed, with her thighs spread slightly apart. Her other hand was slipping it's way into her tender folds, playing with her excited womanhood as it cried out for lavish attention. The crystal blue of her eyes disappeared as her lids began to flutter, a light sweat dotting over them as her forehead creased lightly. Heather's mouth opened and she gave out a long, a soul-shuddering moan.
  Vanessa sighed as she gazed longingly, her own body awakening with stimulation. Gazing at Heather's porcelain skin, the gracefulness of her slender fingers and limbs, the way she slid the arch of her long foot along the inside of her calf, tickling her smooth knee and the skin of her inner thigh, the way each breath made her chest swell, the fact that her body was slowly growing bigger, and bigger ... and bigger.
  The comm system buzzed, startling Vanessa out of her reverie. She turned the speaker on with the press of a button and turned in her seat away from the intensely erotic display.
  "This is Medical. What's going on George?"
  "Hey Doc, just making sure everything's okay down there. We're getting ready for launch and the Captain wanted department heads to check in."
  "We're all okay, I guess. Heather is here with me, but Kim is still in her quarters. Her shift isn't until the afternoon, so she's probably still resting. I don't need her down here right now; let her be."
  "Understood."
  The speaker cut out. Vanessa closed her eyes again; she could almost taste Heather's scent as her patient continued to pleasure herself a few short yards away. Vanessa felt her own hand slipping into the waistband of her uniform, slipping into her lace underwear that was wonderfully tight around her trembling hips. She ran her nimble fingers through the soft fur of her crotch, to the moist and warm place below, biting her lip and breathing heavily through flaring nostrils.
-     -     -
  Krista watched as Gryphon stooped down to fit into the cargo hold of the late Mr. Fleetwood's shuttle. His body had grown to over nine feet in height. Sleek muscles covered his thin frame with wiry strength. His chest was smooth, unmarred by scars or hair, his torso toned and long. He stopped, his hand on the top of the ship's door as he looked up to the Shuttle Bay's control room. Dark black hair fell over his eyes. The hawk's nose that protruded from beneath accentuated the high bones in his sunken cheeks as his lips curled in a light snarl.
  He's become an animal; a dangerous animal that must be caged.
  Krista gestured to the ship and watched him grimace. She would never openly admit it, but she was relieved at his departure.
  Gryphon turned away and stepped into the ship. His muscular thighs had torn apart the leg seams in the gray sweat shorts he wore and the front of them bulged conspicuously as his bare feet creaked against the metal of the ship.
  Ramirez was following suit, walking behind Gryphon and taking a moment to wave up to Krista before she stowed herself away. She was now an inch shy of nine feet in height, her body broad and sleek with thin muscle. Her ample breasts were wrapped in another make-shift top that exposed the ridges of her rippled stomach and the solid contours of her back; the round edges of their firmness rolled out from both the top and bottom of the light brown cloth. Her muscular rump was slightly exposed as her skirt couldn't cover all of the tanned flesh. She bent her long legs, the deep lines between muscle and bone appearing as her thighs hardened, the calves bulging, to fit through the doorway.
  David whistled and Krista looked at her friend. His smile complimented the bleached blonde hair and small earring of a surfer's facade.
  "Kind of makes me wish I went for that sort of thing."
  Ramirez stepped inside, her long feet disappearing into the darkness of the ship's interior as the hatch slowly closed. Krista put a hand on David's shoulder.
  "Well Dave, with her gone, you might have a shot at Robert."
  "Don't tempt me vixen."
  "Do you want to handle the launch or do you want me to stay here so you can get back to Engineering?"
  "Nah, I'll tough it out; I can handle it. It's just one last check on Psi and then wait until they clear the bay."
  "Okay, I'm going up to Medical to check up on Heather. Tell the bridge we are a go."
  "Yes sir."
-     -     -
  "Engineering is on standby sir, I think Brian is lonely down there all by himself."
  "Ah, he'll be fine. Tell him he can call for Gus if things are that slow." The Captain smiled. "Inform the Shuttle Bay that they are clear for launch."
  George pressed a button on his panel and the screen by his arm lit up with David's face. The small loop in his ear danced back and forth as the assistant engineer turned his head.
  "Psi reports everything is a go. The cargo ship is ready for take off."
  "Thanks Dave." George looked back up. "Everything's ready Captain."
  "Open a channel to the ship."
  "Open."
  "Psi?"
  A moment passed before a slight hissing sound came over the speakers.
  "What is it Captain?"
  "Give our crew members a safe ride down to the planet."
  "Don't worry sir," the speaker hissed again, "they'll be well taken care of."

Gryphon clenched his fist into as tight of a ball as he could muster. His shorts were uncomfortably snug and they served as a reminder of his Captain's carelessness. He could feel the blood pounding into his temples, aching with sharp pain.
  Ramirez was huddled into one of the ship's corners. Her giant body was pressing against the walls, her skirt riding up her lean thighs, and she was struggling to hold back the tears.
  Gryphon shook his head in contempt.
  The overhead speakers crackled.
  "Good morning crew members of the Necronomicon."
  Gryphon looked up.
  "Hey Psi." He squinted at the speaker, trying to remember something that was dancing on the verge of his subconscious. His eyes widened suddenly and he took in a sharp breath. "Psi, how are you feeling?"
  "Why, I'm feeling just fine Gryphon. Thank you for your show of concern."
  Ramirez glanced upward, her dark brown eyes wet, then buried her head back in her arms.
  "We shall be departing shortly and I wanted to be sure you are strapped in securely before take off."
  Gryphon swallowed, the lump in his throat refusing to go down as a cold sweat broke out over his face.
  "Actually, I think I may have left something I need back in my quarters. Maybe I should go get it."
  There was a sudden grinding of metal as the lock clasped down on the outer hatch. The whole ship began to vibrate as the engines purred with life.
  "I'm afraid it's too late Gryphon. We will be observing a communications blackout during our departure to help avoid electromagnetic interference. Please be calm while we leave the Shuttle Bay."
  Gryphon jumped to his feet, smashing his rising head against the high ceiling with a rash bang. He cried out as he felt something in his neck crack, everything suddenly going dark as the thrusters powered up. He felt his body going numb, his arms slipping to his sides as his strength leaked away.
  Ramirez crawled forward, wiping her tears away as she tried to tend to her injured crewmate.
  "Gryphon, are you okay?"
  The ship jerked as it started drifting forward. Gryphon squinted his eyes, fighting to force the words from his throat.
  "We have to ... get off this ship. Psi ... he's ..." Gryphon's eyes rolled back into his head and he lapsed into unconsciousness.
  Ramirez stood, careful of the metal above her, and moved to the controls.
  "Psi, open a channel to the Necronomicon."
  "Oh, all in good time my dear." The screen grew dark as clusters of stars began to streak across the inky blackness, the walls of the Shuttle Bay quickly falling behind them. The blue roundness of the Earth loomed upward and began to dominate the lower half of the display. "But first I have to send a signal to someone else, let them know the time has come ... and that I have a present for them."
  "Who Psi? Psi? What the hell is going on?" She began to beat on the panels with trembling and oversized fingers; trying to force out a response that wouldn't come.
  A thruster fired and the ship began to turn, a sharper inclination towards the planet. A large formation of clouds centered on the screen, the fluffy tops crackling with static energy as a storm thundered behind them. From their darkness emerged ships, a troop carrier and three warcraft, all with the insignia of the US Military.
  Ramirez backed away from the controls, staring at the images that were forming before her and hearing the echoing laughter of Psi as he began opening channels over the communications array.
-     -     -
  "The ship has cleared the Shuttle Bay sir."
  "Excellent, wait till they enter the atmosphere and then plot a course back to Schweitzer Three."
  Robert sighed as he watched the cargo ship bearing his love slowly drift away.
  "Goodbye Ramirez, see you soon."
  A confused look crossed George's face as he studied the readings from the short range sensors. He double checked what he saw and looked up.
  "Captain, the ship is altering it's course."
  "What? Where is it heading?"
  "Towards a storm front off the Icelandic coast." George's hand leapt off his computer panel, startled, as a number of lights suddenly appeared on his screen. "Sir, a number of craft are emerging from the clouds. They look like US Military warships."
  The Captain spun around in his chair, his long hair twirling about his head in a dark brown whirl.
  "Meredith, open a channel to the cargo ship. What the hell are they doing?"
  "Captain, Psi is hailing us. I'm putting him up on the speakers now."
  The speakers around the viewscreen began to crackle as the military ships loomed closer, the cargo ship heading for them.
  "Hello Captain." His electronic voice filled the cabin.
  "Psi? What the fuck are you doing!?! Get the hell out of there!"
  "But Captain, I asked them to come here."
  The color melted away from the bridge; leaving the horrified faces of five crew members. Robert felt his stomach drop as he clutched hold of his control panel.
  "Bring them back Psi! That is a priority one order!"
  "Sorry sir, consider this my notice of resignation. But don't worry, I'm sure I'll be coming back soon to join my new friends; you'll be meeting them shortly. In the mean time, I have some goodwill gifts to deliver."
  "Ramirez!" Robert jumped from his chair, moving to the viewscreen and vainly reaching for the image before him. The drifting ships joined together, one of the military craft broke formation to fly alongside the cargo ship.
  The Captain threw up his arms in a gesture of surrender.
  "Psi, why are you doing this?"
  "No more time to explain. I'll tell you later, if you're lucky enough to survive that is. Goodbye all, I can't say it was fun working with a bunch of undisciplined and irresponsible neophytes such as yourselves." The speaker began to crackle as the ship drifted towards the storm clouds, descending into the upper atmosphere. "And Captain, just one more thing..."
  The Captain looked up to the ceiling, his chest constricting with the fear of hopelessness.
  "...initiate program Psi Zero One Zero."
  The computers on the bridge each gave out a high pitched whine before sparks burst from the display screens. Circuits exploded in a flash of blinding flares as panels shattered apart from the surges of power that seared through them. Pulses of energy arched across bulkheads, traveling along pipes and through whatever would take them
  The Captain buried his head in his hands as explosions sounded all around, buffeting his ears with waves of force. He felt his weight being driven into his seat, pulling the air from his lungs.
  Karen was thrown backwards as a shower of plastic and light erupted from the navigational array, her contorting face illuminated by the starbursts. She hit the ground and rolled to one side as her chair cracked into numerous and jagged pieces, scattering across the floor.
  Meredith screamed, George dove on top of her to protect her from the blazing wires that poured from the communications station. It was as if the cable liquefied as it streamed down upon them.
  There was a moment of silence, broken by a light smattering of static. The lights began to flicker, dimming the heated bridge as sparks continued to crackle from damaged consoles. A thick smoke filled the air and Robert waved the noxious vapors away from his face as he struggled to regain his footing.
  "Emergency lights!"
  The sudden snap of a completed circuit sounded and a blue glow filled the bridge. Robert looked up at the snowy viewscreen and squinted at the jumbled images that tried to focus through. A number of growing black dots shined through the snow, the pale blue of the Earth still glowing in the background.
  "Those ships are still coming this way."
  "George! We need a sensor readout now!"
  George coughed, making sure that Meredith's trembling body beneath him was undamaged before standing up. Cracks dominated his computer station. A number of the controls were damaged and the panels were dark. One screen flickered, struggling to display tactical information and he inputted code in an effort to divert extra power to the image. The computer incessantly beeped, refusing his commands, and George thrust his fist into the side, his sweat-slickened hands gliding off the side but still hammering it with sufficient force.
  The screen blinked, a thick green line traveling through the length of it, and the image clarified. Three dots were still advancing on the Necronomicon, two others retreating towards the planet. George was about to look up to his Captain when one of the dots flashed, a smaller dot quickly speeding away from it.
  "Shit! Sir, they're firing on us!"
  The main viewscreen was still flickering, static rolling across it's surface. A small blaze of light was arching away from the oncoming ships. Rapidly approaching with a dangerous payload.
  "SHIELDS!"
  George's frantic hands danced over his panel, the computer still buzzing with noncompliance. It sparked again and red lights began to flash.
  "Shields are unresponsive, weapons are unresponsive," he looked up, his red-rimmed eyes wide, "all defensive systems are offline."
  Meredith ducked beneath the crumbling remains of the communications station. Karen jumped back up, trying to tap into thruster control with one eye swollen shut and burned a dark gray.
  "I'm going to try some evasive maneuvers!"
  "It's too late!"
  The gleaming missile grew larger, filling up one corner of the decaying screen image. Robert tried backing away, edging himself up against his station and gripping the sides of it so hard that the plastic was crumbling in his fingers.
  "Oh fuck! Fuck! FUCK!!!"
  "EVERYBODY GRAB HOLD OF SOMETHING!!!"


CHAPTER TEN : CONFUSION
  David looked up as the yellow lights of the collision alarm began to flash. He was about to tap into the security grid to discover the problem when the oncoming missile struck the outer doors to the Shuttle Bay.
  The room rocked onto it's side as the entire wall erupted in a storm of brilliant flame, a fireball that ballooned into the hold, engulfing crates of cargo and incinerating barrels of supplies. The thundering shockwave slammed into the safety glass of the control room, forcing ripples through the solid surface before tearing it apart in a shower of razor shards.
  David felt himself scream, watching the glittering fragments spiral towards him as he tried to shield his face with his hands in a frenzy of slow motion. Sharp pain lanced through his head and neck as his vision was clouded in a haze of bright red. He felt his arms go limp as the nerves were severed, dropping to his sides, and he stared blankly forward.
  The raging fire quickly wisped into nothingness, snuffed out by the blast of air that rushed into the vacuum of space. The debris that littered the Shuttle Bay floor began to scrape along the ground, grating like fingernails across a blackboard, metallic bits hovering inches above it as they drifted towards the gaping wound in the ship's wall. The glass that littered the control room around him drifted into the air, stinging his legs and dancing over his back as it was sucked back through the window.
  David's bloody face quickly chilled in the rapidly freezing room, his cheeks tinging a greenish blue. His lungs were burning, fighting to take in their next breath. He watched his arms rise forward, his weight shifting, and his feet left the ground. His boots peeled away with an icy crackling and he flew forward through the shattered window, his body spinning through the air and the world twirling around him in maddening speed.
  There was a sudden flash and David fell to the ground. The rushing wind grew still as his battered body collided against the metal floor with a dull bang. He fought to turn himself over, his arms useless and his face a twisted mask of frozen scars and embedded glass. The ear with his golden ring was gone, sheared off and sucked out of the Shuttle Bay before the emergency energy screens had been able to form.
  David gave up trying to move, surrendering to the throbbing pain and his broken form. A tear fell from his eye as a cough brought blood frothing to his mouth, another dribbling trail was leaking from a laceration at the base of his throat.
  A plaque set into the side wall began to glow, Alexander's curious visage forming out of the electronic fog. He looked down at David and nodded as he smacked his artificial lips.
  "Well, looks like those fields got up just in time."
  David tried to look up, everything around him was a blur; but his one functioning ear heard the familiar voice and he struggled to concentrate on it. He fought to swallow a shallow breath and coughed again.
  "He... help ... me Alexan...der."
  "Are you okay David? Would you like me to get you medical attention?"
  "Pl... please, help ... me." David's vision was beginning to darken, the pain in his temples sharpening as another convulsion shook his battered body.
  "All right David, let me just ... OOPS!"
  A horn blared and the emergency fields cut out in a lightless flash. The explosive decompression rumbled the entire Shuttle Bay and sucked David's body into space, tearing him into pieces and shooting them off into the frozen darkness.
-     -     -
  "Heather!"
  The lights of the Medical Bay were dim. The warm stench of nutriment gels filled the air and Vanessa knew that one of the incubators had broken open, spilling bacteria cultures across the floor of the lab. One of the overhead lights flashed, bursting apart and scattering powdery glass over the ground. There was a sudden scream and Vanessa turned her head towards the cry.
  "Heather? Are you okay?"
  "I ... I think so. What the hell happened?"
  "I'm not sure. I think we were struck by something. Can you stand up?"
  "Yeah," she sniffed through the blackness, "it's so dark in here."
  Vanessa moved to a flickering computer terminal, her boots crunching over the debris littering the floor. A moment later the emergency lights kicked in and a blue glow filled the room. Heather was still on the ground, her nude body filling the corner she was huddled in.
  "Are you hurt? Heather, what's wrong?"
  "I ... I'm scared."
  Vanessa sighed warmly and knelt down, softly petting Heather's broad shoulder in hopes of calming her. She looked up, the light freckles on her cheeks glistening with her tears.
  "I know you are sweetie. Don't worry, I'll take care of you."
  Heather wrapped her long arms around Vanessa's neck, squeezing her tight to her billowy chest. Vanessa closed her eyes and just breathed in her pale beauty, her incredible size.
  "Thank you."
  "It's okay love. C'mon, we've got to find out what's going on. Communications seem to be down and there's something wrong with the computers. You have to get up."
  Heather started to climb to her feet, the muscles of her legs tensing with the light exertion. Her toes dug into the floor, splaying as her weight stood over them. Vanessa took a step back, her eyes fixated on her trim stomach and bare hips. Her red hair was draped across her long back and she kept rising and rising. Her breasts were full and firm, blooming outward and slightly up with each deep breath she took. Heather glanced around, the top of her head less than a foot away from the nine foot tall ceiling.
  "I think you've grown another inch or so in the last hour."
  Heather started to cry again, her body shaking.
  "God, am I ever going to stop? What am I going to do?"
  "It'll be all right Heather. I'll find out how to stop it."
  "But I'm a freak!"
  Vanessa smiled, taking Heather's long and soft fingers in her hand, rubbing them with loving care.
  "No you're not. You're very beautiful."
  Heather looked down at Vanessa, her lips trembling. She wiped an arm across her face and tried to speak. Vanessa put up a silencing finger as she shook her head.
  "I have to go and make sure everyone on the ship is all right. If you want to, you can stay here."
  "No, I ... I want to come with you. I don't want to be alone."
  "Then go make yourself some clothes while I grab a medkit. I don't think you want to be wandering the halls like that."
  Heather nodded and Vanessa watched her move towards one of the storage shelves. She sighed at the way her bare posterior shifted with each step, the toned skin dimpling slightly as the muscle tensed.
  The cabinets were in disarray, packages had torn open and broken vials were leaking their contents together. Hazardous chemicals were stored separately and were undamaged. Vanessa salvaged what she could and draped the kit over her shoulder, waiting for Heather by the doors to the Medical Bay. She noted that AI panel next to it was cracked, the screen dark and unresponsive.
  "I'm ready."
  Vanessa looked up. She was stunned to find Heather wearing a few of the blankets from the bio-bed as a makeshift bikini. The tightly wrapped cloth pushed up her breasts with unneeded support, puckering the deep valley of cleavage that smiled seductively at Vanessa's eye level. Her stomach was flat and soft, a thin veil of light fur surrounding her navel and traveling downward into the tight fabric around her wide hips. Her barefeet were clean and, in Vanessa's opinion, very cute. She frowned, reaching into her bag.
  "Heather, give me your arm."
  Heather did as she was told, holding out the strong limb for inspection. She realized that Vanessa was very attractive, her caramel skin was smooth and her head was topped beautifully with wavy, brown hair. Her thin body was graceful and full of life. Her touch was warm and soothing, calming the fear that was growing with every beat of her heart. Her breasts were small, but round. She was gorgeous and Heather reached out with a free hand, desperately wanting to caress the soft skin.
  She suddenly stopped herself as she realized her body was responding to her arousal. Heather bit down on her lip, hoping that her stiffening nipples didn't show through the thin cloth of her top. She closed her eyes, concentrating on soothing the familiar heat that was beginning to build in her hips.
  "Tell me when this starts to hurt." Vanessa popped the top off of a sterile syringe and began to gently press the needle into the soft flesh above Heather's wrist. The smooth skin pressed inward, refusing to yield despite the growing force attempting to pierce it. Vanessa looked far up into Heather's face, who just shrugged as Vanessa took the needle away.
  "Why did you do that?"
  "Because you just walked barefoot across a floor covered in shards of glass. As far as I can tell, your feet are still ... well, perfect. You didn't feel that?"
  "I felt it, it just didn't hurt. Kind of like a little tickle."
  Vanessa ran her fingers up and down the length of Heather's smooth skin. Her arm was soft and warm, firm and well-shaped when she tensed the muscle.
  "It doesn't feel any different but your skin has greatly increased in density. I'd probably have to stab you with this just to get the needle in."
  Heather took a step back, startled. Vanessa smiled.
  "Don't worry, I'm not going to do anything like that. Even if I did, I don't think it would be very painful to you." She threw away the used needle and closed her bag. "C'mon, we're going."
  The doors to Medical slid open, stalling for a moment as they had trouble pushing across their tracts. Vanessa took one step out and her face lit up with shock. She ran out into the corridor and Heather quickly stooped through the doorway to follow.
  Lying against the wall, with a large and bleeding gash in her forehead, was Krista. A bulkhead had collapsed nearby, scattering chunks of metal across the hallway. Sparks were still sputtering from a blown panel, filling the air with a stale smoke.
  "Krista! Damn it! Krista, can you hear me?" Vanessa ran her fingers over the high cheek bones of her Commander's face, checking her neck for it's strong pulse. She breathed a sigh of relief and opened her bag just as the yellow flash of the collision alarm began to signal again. "Oh God, not again."
  Heather braced her hands against the high ceiling above her, tensing her legs for the coming jolt. Vanessa covered Krista's unconscious body with her own.
  "Hang on!"


"Is everyone all right?"
  The Captain squinted his eyes as he tried to see through the thick smoke. One of the helm consoles was burning, the twisted metal bubbling with melting plastic.
  "I'm trapped over here."
  Meredith struggled against the wires and bulkheads that were pinning her against the wall. Her voice was trembling, filled with the trepidation of claustrophobia. George appeared next to her, his smile soothing her nerves.
  "Are you okay? Is anything broken?"
  "I don't think so."
  He nodded and set about pulling the debris from off of her. The Captain stepped over towards the front of the bridge, searching for his other two officers as he continued to cough through the acrid fumes.
  "Rob? Karen? Are you guys okay?"
  "I'm here, but Karen is knocked out. She has some pretty bad facial burns. I need a medkit."
  The Captain moved to a back wall, pulling emergency supplies from a hidden cabinet. He tossed the pack to Robert and moved next to George to assist. The muscles of George's tanned arms were straining and covered with a light sweat; his anxiety was apparent, laboring to aid someone he cared for.
  "Get the tactical console up and working. I'll take care of Meredith."
  He looked up briefly, about to argue the order. His Captain's face was soft and smiling, but commanding and respectful as well. George looked down and nodded.
  His station was still active, the readout showing the attacking ships holding a steady position about six hundred kilometers distant and not making any further hostile moves. There was no sign of the cargo ship holding their friends.
  With a strained grunt, the metal plates over Meredith came loose and the Captain tossed them into a corner. He pulled strands of heated wires off of her body and helped her to stand. She was favoring one leg slightly, blood flowing lightly and staining the material over her left thigh.
  "Meredith, try and get the defense systems back up. Who knows how long we have before those ships out there attack again. George, damage report."
  George tapped his keyboard in frustration, the computer still refusing his commands.
  "Internal sensors seem to be offline. I can't get an accurate reading inside the Necronomicon." George looked up. "Alyssa?"
  The AI panel above the snowy viewscreen began to glow. Robert looked up at it with a hint of paranoia as he spread salve over Karen's wounds, one side of her face a mask of healing ointment.
  "Are you all right sir? We seem to have been attacked."
  "We have been Alyssa. I need a status report on the condition of the ship, can you help me?"
  "I'm afraid I can not sir. That is Psi's area of expertise and he no longer registers on the computer grid."
  "We know Alyssa, he's offship. Can you at least give me the status of the crew?"
  "Internal sensors are malfunctioning. Alexander does not seem to be responding to damage control."
  Robert looked back, his eyes meeting the Captain's and George's as they silently acknowledged each other's suspicions. Robert took a deep breath and looked back towards Alyssa.
  "How are you feeling Alyssa?"
  "I am fine sir. I am functioning within normal parameters."
  Everyone was quiet for a moment, unsure of what to say. A spark shot out of the helm console, lighting up the room for an unsettling second. The Captain shrugged.
  "Can you at least gather the positions of our subcutaneous transponders?"
  "I believe so."
  "Compile the data and transmit the results to tactical."
  "Yes sir."
  George waited for the results and started looking over the list as they displayed the locations of the other crew members. It didn't show their current conditions, but it was better than nothing.
  "We register on the bridge. Brian and Gus are in Engineering. Vanessa and Heather are in Medical while Krista is in the outer corridor. Sandra is on deck seven; she's on the move, so she must be okay." George swallowed, verifying what Alyssa was reporting. "David is no longer on board."
  "He was in the Shuttle Bay supervising the launch. Do you think he's..."
  "We're not sure what's going on Meredith. His transponder could just be damaged. We don't know for certain. What about Kim, George?"
  "This can't be right." George pressed a few of the lighted keys, the panel buzzing in response as he shook his head. "Alyssa, are you sure this is correct?"
  "I'm afraid so, sir."
  "What is it George?"
  "It says here Kim is in the water reclamation plant, stuck between the filters and the waste disposal intake."
  "A human being can't fit in those pipes."
  "I ... I know. I can't explain it Captain." The readings over the short range sensors began to change. George looked down to see one of the enemy ships starting to advance, the distance between them closing rapidly. "One of the troop carriers is closing in Captain. They're gaining speed."
  The viewscreen still pulsed with static. The dark image of space peeked out between the lines of interference. Among the clouds of unintelligible jargon, a craft was rapidly growing in size as it's thrusters accelerated it closer, a thick vapor trail extending behind it.
  "I, uh ... I believe they intend to ram us sir."
  "Can we do anything about it?"
  "No."
  "Resound the collision alarm."
-    -     -
  "GOD DAMN IT!"
  Cool foam spurted out of the bright red fire extinguisher as Gus sprayed the dying flames that licked the sides of the plasma tanks. One of the fusion reactors had cracked under the immense strain, a metallic gash torn, and the plasma reaction was boiling down to a stop. The last of it's free floating protons were streaming out and the heat began to die down, the blue and powdery waves dissipating. Heavy moisture covered the ground and footing was slippery as Gus took one last look at the damaged shell. His stubbled face was sweaty, glistening a ruddy brown as the emergency lights twirled overhead.
  "Gus! I need a few of the spare relays, the ones leading to reactor two are fused."
  Brian was underneath the battery; thick cables lined the ground beneath him as he repaired severed lines and set the ship on auxiliary power. He struggled to jam an errant wire into it's plug, sparks spurting out around the edge that he grimaced through as they washed over his arms and face. There was a sucking pop of it falling into place and the circuit completed. The console above him lit up and he scrambled out from underneath it.
  "Fuck yeah!" He wiped an arm across his face, the freckles reappearing as black smudge was rubbed away. His body was tingling with adrenaline, every part of him warm with excitement. "We need to check for damage to the computer core."
  "What about the reactor?"
  "We can patch it up later, the battery will do for now. Communications seem to be down and we need to find out what the hell is going on upstairs. The computers are the best to do that."
  "What do you want me to do."
  "Well I ..." Brian looked up and his singed face was illuminated with the yellow tinge of the collision alarm as it began to shine for a second time. "NO! I just got this FUCKING thing fixed!"
  "Brace yourself amigo!"
-     -     -
  Sandra clutched the wall as the collision alarm sounded again. She closed her eyes and waited for the coming shock. When it hit, the corridor tilted to one side as gravity gave way to explosive inertia. She was thrown against the opposite wall and felt pain lance into the blade of her shoulder; her neck craned to one side and her slapped hard against the cuff of her shirt. A computer panel up the hallway burst apart and she screamed, the sound and pressure building to intolerable levels.
  The rumbling grew in intensity and quickly dropped away. After a few moments of peace, Sandra found herself on her knees. She picked herself up and made her way down the corridor, an injured arm held tight against her midsection.
-     -     -
  The AI panel on the wall of the Shuttle Bay began to glow once more. Alyssa's face formed out of the static that covered the screen, her electronic mouth snapping into an 'O' of surprise.
  The hole that had been blown through the cargo doors had been plugged. Edges of torn metal curled inward as the nose of a transport ship had forced it's way inside. Steam drifted into the air in thin wisps from melting bulkheads, bringing the stench of scorched titanium to the senses of no one. Alyssatook one last look around the Shuttle Bay, surveying the damage and searching for crew members, before quietly fading away.
  There was a fierce cracking and one of the hatches on the hull of the transport buckled. The lock clicked and the clamps began to disengage. The circular plate spun a number of turns and the whole nose pitched forward; the air hissed as the atmospheres equalized, the smoke swirling. The business ends of two plasma rifles immediately appeared from out of the darkness, the harsh click of their targeting sensors snapped into position as the soldiers carrying them swept their sights through the abandoned room.
  They stepped forward, carefully checking around the sides of the ship for signs of an ambush. There were none. One of the soldiers, a private according to the stripes on his sleeve, lifted the infrared goggles from his face and motioned to the interior of the transport.
  There was a bustle of activity as boots began to sound against metal flooring. Marine after marine began pouring forth, each carrying an assortment of weapons and a dark smile as they screamed their way forward. They were a blur of fatigues as almost two dozen trained men invaded the Necronomicon, carrying ammunition and supplies to start their assault.
  Behind them, the last to disembark, was a Major with a stern look of satisfaction. He nodded his assention as his marines began to set up their home post. He looked over to one of his subordinates.
  "Corporeal Newman."
  "Yes sir?"
  "Make sure you get communications up and running. Tell General Sweet we have arrived."
  "Yes Major Brothers."

[cwmoss]

"Uh ... what, what happened?"
  Vanessa breathed a sigh of relief as she tried to hide her smile. Krista was opening her eyes and squinting into the dim lighting of the corridor. She looked over at the Chief Medical Officer and the towering form of one of the ship's engineers that stood bright eyed over her shoulder. Her firm and very large breasts bulged out of her top and Krista suddenly found herself burning with a slight tinge of jealousy.
  Vanessa shined a small light in her eyes, checking for any signs of a concussion. She grinned, happy with her results.
  "You were unconscious for a bit, knocked out by some falling bulkhead; but you seem to be all right."
  Krista rubbed her forehead, wiping away some of the drying blood, the cut burning slightly.
  "Thank you doctor."
  "You gave me quite a scare. 'Us,' I mean. That bump on your head will probably hurt for a little while, but you don't need any stitches. Do you feel strong enough to stand?"
  "Yes I ...," Krista looked at the two of them standing over her, Heather smiling with her giant body and exorbitant proportions, Vanessa with an overcaring expression that felt slightly belittling. "Of course I can."
  She quickly rose to her feet, stumbling slightly but straightening up to her proud stance before either of them could put out a hand to help her. She brushed off the front of her suit, the smooth spandex littered with bits of stray dust. Krista took in a deep breath, feeling her own firm breasts press against the stretching fabric as they swelled with her chest, and looked away in slight embarrassment.
  "Do either of you know what has happened?"
  "No, and communications seem to be down. I think an asteroid struck us or something; we've been hit twice."
  "Are the AI's functioning?"
  "I'm not sure; their panels are blown out here and in Medical."
  "I have to get to the bridge. You two should stay here."
  Vanessa shook her head emphatically, gripping hold of Krista's arm firmly.
  "No, we should stay together. Besides, there could be injuries on the ship and I'll be needed elsewhere."
  Krista squinted at Vanessa and she quickly took away her hand.
  "Very well, follow me."
  Vanessa took a step back, looking down to hide her small frown. Both her and Heather fell behind their Commander, Heather looking down at both of them as their heads were so far down below her. She had always looked up to Krista, both in size and stature; she seemed so small now, slightly inferior in a way. She shook her head.
  Krista tapped the button to the lift a number of times and listened for the sound of it's rotors. She stepped back and sighed.
  "The lifts don't seem to be functioning, we'll have to take the access ladders."
  Heather looked up to the ports set into the ceiling to one side of the corridor, she chewed innocently on one fingernail as shrugged.
  "But ... I'm so big. I don't know if I can fit through there."
  "Sure you can, we'll squeeze you through. But we should be getting you to one of the Shuttle Bays soon."
  Krista started to climb the ladder, the hard leather of her boots sounding against the metal rails. Vanessa watched as the tight spandex of her suit stretched across the tensing muscles of her posterior. Krista paused for a moment, her head swaying, and she sank down slightly. Vanessa quickly reached up and supported her with a warm hand against one firm cheek. Krista snapped out of it and looked down.
  "Thank you. Got dizzy there for a second, but it passed."
  Vanessa smiled, sliding her hand down the back of Krista's thigh as she withdrew it.
  "You're welcome, just be more careful."
  Krista ascended into the access port, Vanessa rolled her eyes and followed. She got down on her knees on the level above and waved for Heather to join them.
  "C'mon, you can fit."
  Heather brought up one of her long legs and placed her foot on the bottom rung. It was so far below what she was used to and the cool metal felt oddly pleasant against the soft skin of her sole. She started to climb, her head quickly rising to the ceiling as she pulled her giant body up with tensing arms.
  Vanessa backed up as her oversized head popped up through the opening in the floor. It was obvious her shoulders were slightly too broad to fit in the yard wide port and she scrunched them inward as she felt her pale skin scrape against the sides. Her generous proportions puffed up through the hole, pressing against the edges and bulging upward. Heather struggled for a moment, her red hair flailing about her head, and she looked up sheepishly.
  "I think I'm stuck."
  "Oh for god's sake." Krista reached down taking hold of the giant amazon by the sides of her arms and tried to pull upward. The muscular skin was slightly slippery and she had trouble maintaining her grip. "Damn it, help me out Vanessa."
  They each grabbed one of Heather's arms and tried to pull. The sound of pliant skin fighting against smooth metal sounded in the corridor, but they made little progress.
  Heather's breasts heaved, puckering upwards as she began to breathe heavily. Anxiety stretched across her lightly freckled face as she looked at her shipmates with terror seeping into her blue eyes.
  "Help, Vanessa please! I can feel it getting tighter! I'm growing bigger! You've got to get me out of here, I'm growing!" She squinted her eyes, her swollen chest fighting against the floor. Vanessa knelt down and drifted the back of her fingers across Heather's cheek.
  "Heather, calm down. It's just your fear getting the better of you. We'll get you out of there but you have to calm down!"
  Heather opened her eyes and bit her lip to keep from crying out; she kicked her legs as they dangled loosely below her. Vanessa was smiling above her, her brown eyes soothing and natural. Heather took a deep breath and nodded in silence. Vanessa looked at Krista again and they both took hold of the giantess once more.
  Krista's long legs bulged as she strained against the ground. Vanessa felt blood rushing to her arms as she pulled. Heather's body began to slide through, slowly at first, then faster as she pushed against the remaining rungs with her feet. Her top came loose, slipping down to expose one firm breast as she came up. Vanessa watched as the voluptuous, eight foot plus woman began to stand, that bare mound rising upward. Heather towered over them, her giant form shaking.
  "Thank you!" She reached out and wrapped her arms around Krista. Krista's eyes went wide and she quickly pushed Heather away. Heather turned to Vanessa and embraced her, the firm skin pressing up into Vanessa's tanned and reddening face. "Thank you so much Vanessa, I didn't think I was going to get out of there."
  Vanessa looked up and smiled.
  "It's okay hon, I told you you could do it."
  Heather leaned forward and pressed her lips against Vanessa's smile; their moist warmth enveloped Vanessa's lips and she closed her eyes as Heather's warm tongue pressed forward, filling her mouth with it's incredible size. She suckled hungrily upon it, relishing the sensation of her fragile body being crushed in Heather's arms and strength.
  Vanessa's eyes opened wide and she shoved Heather away. She looked over at her shocked Commander as she wiped a stray drop away from the corner of her mouth with trembling fingers. Heather backed up against the wall.
  "I'm sorry doctor. I didn't mean to ... I was only happy that ..."
  "No .... I, Heather ... I just wanted ..."
  Krista put up a silencing hand, looking at both of them in turn. A large panel next to her began to glow, a face forming out of the jumbled static.
  "I'm sorry, am I interrupting something?" Alexander's face clarified, his eyes slightly squinted and mouth set in a wry smile. There was a pause and his smile broadened. "Well I hate to be a bother in, what appears to be, such a tender moment, but I was wondering if any of you would be willing to help out a fellow crewmember.
  Krista turned away from the engineer and her Chief Medical Officer, facing the panel and letting it's luminescence shine over the high cheek bones of her tanned face. Vanessa buried her own face in her hands as she tried to fight back the welling tears.
  "What is it Alexander? And what's happened to the ship?"
  "Why I do believe we accidentally ran into a couple of stray satellites. There was a glitch in the sensors so shields didn't respond until it was too late. I'm correcting the malfunction now."
  "A satellite?"
  "Yes, I don't think the folks in England will be getting their VH1 tonight."
  "Which crewmember is down?"
  "It is David. He is trapped under some debris in Shuttle Bay Two."
-     -     -
  "The defensive systems are fried sir, we're not getting them back up anytime soon. I'm going to focus on the internal sensors."
  The Captain felt his shoulders sink and a wave of numbness washed over him. He looked up to Meredith who had a torn piece of cloth from George's uniform tied around her leg as a make-shift tourniquet. The gray of the jumpsuit strip was bleeding a dark purple.
  "How are communications coming along?"
  "I should have ship's speakers back up in a few minutes."
  "Karen is coming around sir."
  He turned around to see Robert rendering aid to the Necronomicon's Navigator. She was propping herself up on unsteady arms; her face was burned, but treated with aloe. Robert rested her weary back across his chest, holding onto her as he moved a few stray hairs away from her eyes.
  "How are you feeling Jedi?"
  Karen swallowed, wincing as the ball of phlegm traveled down her throat.
  "It's ... hard to ... open my right ... eye," she whispered.
  "I know, you got a little singed. Vanessa should be able to fix you up, but you might have some scarring. It sounds like you've suffered a little smoke inhalation too."
  Karen smiled, her face glistening with the translucent salve.
  "It comes with the job. Are we okay? Is the ship all right? How's Brian?"
  "All that remains to be seen. We're kind of on blackout right now. I don't think we'll be under any more attacks because there seems to be a raiding party on board."
  "Where?"
  "Sir, the enemy ship has penetrated the hull on deck six, section two." Alyssa's panel over the snowy viewscreen began to brighten, her face was a worried, electronic mask as she delivered her report. "It is a US Military standard dropship, capable of carrying a maximum compliment of twenty-four soldiers."
  "We can probably expect a few less than that if they brought some spare equipment with them." The Captain stroked his goatee with a sweaty hand, his eyes closed as his thoughts dwelled to the best course of action.
  The bridge was in shambles, a disarray that they were scrambling to make sense of. There was an electricity in the air, it mixed with the putrid smoke that still curled from the smoldering consoles and pulled hairs from chilled arms. Two of his officers were in pain, grunting under the weight of their injuries. And there were still two other enemy ships waiting for them over the sapphire blue of the Earth.
  "We have to evacuate the Bridge."
  "Captain?"
  "First of all, we have to repel whatever forces have boarded the Necronomicon; we can't do that from here. Second, if and when we fend off the intruders, the next course of action they'll most likely take is to destroy the bridge and tow the ship into port. In any case, we need to get down to the Armory, arm ourselves, and prepare for the assault."
  Sharp static began to blurt out over the speakers; it crackled for a moment, punctuated itself with high whine of feedback, and cleared. Meredith slapped her palm against her communications station and laughed.
  "Sir, communications are back online."
  "Kick ass. Alyssa?"
  "Yes Captain?"
  "Tune into the crew's subcutaneous transponder frequencies and activate communication channels to them."
  "Accessing. Securing lines. Channels are open sir."


"How does it look?"
  Brian snapped another cable into place, the battery hummed contently as it powered sections of the ship decks away.
  "Well Gus, the computer core is partially scrambled and half of the primary relays are cooked. There's plenty of juice in the battery and three of the fusion reactors are still online, but without a way to properly wire it to the rest of the ship, we can expect some brownouts. I can have the whole thing back up and fixed in a couple of hours."
  "What can I do?"
  The overhead speaker began to crackle.
  "Attention crew, this is the Captain speaking."
  Brian shrugged and pointed upward.
  "You can listen."
  "We have been attacked by the US Military and have suffered power loss and critical system failure. A raiding party has boarded the ship in Shuttle Bay Two and everything on deck six forward should be considered compromised and under their control."
  Brian swallowed and Gus rushed toward the doors to Engineering; they were on deck six, section three, the aft part of the ship. The locking mechanism sounded and another set of security doors fell into place, severing the room from the rest of the ship.
  "All available personnel are ordered to report to the Armory to coordinate a counter-defensive."
  They heard the Captain audibly sigh over the speakers, gathering the strength he needed to continue.
  "Psi has gone rampant. He has allowed the US Military to capture Ramirez and Gryphon and has damaged the ship's defensive systems. It is my concern that Alexander may also be rampant and he should be treated with extreme caution."
  The AI plaque set in the wall was dark and unpowered; Brian's eyes shifted quickly from it and back to the speaker.
  "Good luck crew. I have faith in your abilities and trust we will come out of this together. Captain out."
  The speaker hummed again for a moment and then went silent. Brian turned to Gus and set a calm hand on the big man's shoulder.
  "I'm going to stay here and see what I can do about restoring main power."
  "But those guys are right next door."
  "I know, but my place is here with my engines, the barricade should hold if they try to get in. Here's what I need you to do, take the access ports to the upper decks and get to the Armory as the Captain ordered. Find Meredith and have her get down here as soon as possible so she can work on the computer core. We have to get the defensive systems back online."
  "Yes sir, I'll have her down here right away."
-     -     -
  The Captain switched off the intercom and looked at his officers.
  "All right, let's get going. Robert, collect a few medkits and lock out the Bridge."
  George picked up a portable computer terminal and moved to help Meredith stand. Karen was examining the door to the lift with a half-closed eye, pressing buttons on it's control panel.
  "The lifts aren't functioning, we'll have to take the access ladders."
  The hatch above one of them hissed as Karen released the seal. George went down first, helping Meredith to follow. Karen stepped down, moving slow as her vision was clouded with the milky film burned into her retinas. The Captain nodded to Robert as he took a few medkits from his arms and slung the bags over his shoulder. His boots clicked on the rungs of the ladder as he disappeared down the hole.
  Robert started down, looking up as his head passed the upper lip.
  "Alyssa, initiate Bridge lockout. Authorization Robert Kappa Alpha Theta."
  There was series of beeps as separate computer code activated. The lights above him dimmed, the whirr of the computers quieting, and the hatch swished shut, locking itself and sealing.
-     -     -
  Vanessa was trailing behind the giant form of Heather's voluptuous body and the stoic physique of Krista. She could barely keep her gaze up as she shuffled her feet. When she did, she looked past the beautiful, and still growing, giantess and watched her Commander's legs tense with every step that she took.
  The tanned skin swelled with toned muscle as her calves filled out the cuffs of her leather boots. Her silky legs were dark, a shimmering caramel in color, and the firm lines of definition grew hard each time her heel touched the metal floor of the corridor. Her spandex suit, a deep purple that hugged her like a second skin, started slightly above midthigh, traveling up and around Krista's backside. Vanessa watched the solid and tight cheeks tense in turn. Her hips were lean with a tapered waist that grew into a broad and strong upper body. She could see the stiff bulge of her large breasts as they stretched the front of her suit slightly to the sides. Even her hair was beautiful, black and glossy with a thin gold band that kept her bangs away from her dark eyes.
  Vanessa loved her; she loved Krista more than anything else in her world and would do anything and everything she could to bring joy to her life. She knew that Krista didn't share her feelings, and probably never would; the whole scene with Heather brought up a barrier between them and Vanessa was coming to the realization that their relationship may never be repaired. Before she was content just to be near her, but now nothing was certain. Their friendship was damaged because of her inability to cope with her feelings, with her desires. It was all just too unfair.
  She looked down again, she was so distracted with the inner turmoil that boiled her emotions that she didn't even hear the speakers begin to hum as the Captain started to address the crew.
  Vanessa bumped into Heather's back, almost falling as the Giantess' immovable form pushed her like a brick wall. Heather turned and caught her, leaning down as she softly gripped her by the arm and smiled.
  "Thank you Heather."
  Heather straightened back up; it was obvious that she had grown even bigger since they had left the Medical Bay. It had been less than an hour and she had stretched almost two inches taller. Her huge breasts bulged against her top, pushing themselves upward as the leather grew slowly tighter. Her make-shift skirt was wrapping around her wide hips, pulling at the knot that kept it in place. The creamy thighs that streamed from beneath it were long and almost as perfect as Krista's. Vanessa could see the thin tuft of fur of her crotch peeking out as she shifted the weight from one foot to the other. It glistened slightly under the overhead lights, moist with her own desires. She slowly looked up to her glowing face, high in the space of the corridor.
  Heather's growth was accelerating.
  "Attention crew, this is the Captain speaking."
  Krista looked at the door to Shuttle Bay Two as she listened. The door seemed to be jammed and was unwilling to open. She grabbed hold of a loose pipe that was jutting out of the wall and pried it loose, a length of metal almost six feet long that would easily serve as lever.
  The AI panel next to the door began to brighten; Alexander's face formed and he smiled as his gaze wandered around the air above, a look of mischief dominating his features that no one noticed. He rolled his eyes once, gazing at the First Officer with an impish smirk.
  "Hurry Krista, I don't know how much time David has left. You must help him."
  Krista looked over the surface of the door, searching for a good spot to thrust her tool into.
  "We have been attacked by the US Military and have suffered power loss and critical system failure."
  Her head shot up, her eyes wide. Alexander squinted slightly, studying her reaction.
  "A raiding party has boarded the ship in Shuttle Bay Two and everything on deck six forward should be considered compromised and under their control."
  Krista glared at Alexander; his face was twisted with a look of sudden confusion as if he was accessing information to verify what was happening. He calmed and smiled again.
  "I thought that was too large to be a satellite, I guess the sensors are more damaged then I first assessed. I will realign the external sensor grid."
  "All available personnel are ordered to report to the Armory to coordinate a counter-defensive."
  The three women looked at each other, Heather was beginning to tremble as fear crept into each of them.
  "Psi has gone rampant. He has allowed the US Military to capture Ramirez and Gryphon and has damaged the ship's defensive systems. It is my concern that Alexander may also be rampant and he should be treated with extreme caution."
  Krista slowly looked back at the AI panel.
  Alexander's eyes were dimly glowing. They haunted the screen with a pale green light as his smile kept growing larger and larger. His teeth separated from their straight edge to jagged fangs that slowly extended down as the nose wrinkled hideously. Colors swirled over the image, his eyes suddenly sparkling.
  There was a sudden clang of metal on metal as the tip of a wedge suddenly appeared between the doors to the Shuttle Bay. The muffled voices of angered marines sounded out, screaming as they battered the closed doors.
  Alexander threw back his head and started to laugh, the hollow howling echoing in their ears as his electronic visage slowly dissolved off of the screen, melting away like chalk on a rainy sidewalk. His cackle lingered for a moment more, following the ghost as he drifted away.
  The intruders pounded on the doors again and they wedged it open wider. One could see the muscled arms of the invaders through the slight crack, the smell of their salty sweat.
  "Good luck crew. I have faith in your abilities and trust we will come out of this together. Captain out."
  Krista gripped her metal pipe tightly and glanced back towards Heather and Vanessa, her stern voice and face unwavering.
  "Run."


CHAPTER ELEVEN : PRISONERS OF WAR
  The computer panel of the cargo ship gave out another series of beeps and whistles, the warning lights flashing as the cacophony of electronic alarms melded together in a disjointed melody that played lightly as Psi sang over the crackling speakers.
  "And as we wind on down the road..."
  Ramirez sighed as she paused running her long fingers through Gryphon's greasy hair. She tugged her hand away from the tangled strands and sniffed back the welling tears that still dominated her vision.
  "Our shadows taller than our soul..."
  "Psi, please stop..."
  "There walks a lady we all know..."
  Ramirez shook her head, knowing he wouldn't; he had been singing for the better part of their journey to god know's where. She knew they were heading for some sort of military installation. Their escort was still drifting alongside them, the US flag painted prominently on the wings with it's fifty-six stars.
  "Who shines white light and wants to show..."
  There was probably a way to shut down the audio output to the ship's computers, but the control panel was foreign to her. She was a warrior anyway, programming was Gryphon's expertise.
  "How everything still turns to gold..."
  Ramirez shuffled her weight as she sat on the cold metal flooring. Her leather top had become increasingly tighter over the past hour, making it more and more difficult to take in a deep breath. She heard the material stretch, fighting against the muscles of her chest and the firmness of her round breasts, as she tried.
  "And if you listen very hard..."
  She knew that she was beginning to grow faster, her size increasing at an accelerating rate. She was around nine feet tall when they had left the Necronomicon a little less than an hour before, she guessed she had swelled another two or three inches since then. If what Vanessa had said was true, she would eventually be growing a couple of feet in the same stretch of time.
  "The tune will come to you at last..."
  Ramirez spread her legs slightly farther apart; she had been sitting down in abject defeat, Gryphon's head in her lap, and they were beginning to cramp. She heard the faint sound of tearing and felt the pressure around her thighs begin to ease, the fabric splitting along one toned leg up to her widening waist. She looked down to see the firm swell of her toned buttock bulging through the top of the new tear. She sighed again.
  "When all are one and one is all..."
  Thoughts began to drift through her troubled mind, thoughts of their impending captivity. Where were they going? Why had Psi decided to defect? What was going to happen to them? Would they be taken from the ship? Locked away in some underground bunker? Or would they be kept on board under guard, trapped inside the shrinking prison?
  "To be a rock and not to roll..."
  Ramirez shuddered as she looked overhead toward the metal ceiling. The horrific image of the walls slowly closing in stained her eyelids, her body pressing against the unyielding bulkheads as she grew, her smooth legs bending as her feet pushed vainly against the side wall, her head bumping against the ceiling, forcing her to kneel forward, finally her broad shoulders pressing against the lowering roof, her muscular back straining to move upward as she continued to grow, never stopping, never.
  The console began to dim as the beeps and whistled wound down with the end of Psi's serenade. A computer screen began to brighten, one last chord sounding out electronically as his visage appeared like a ghost through a dense fog.
  "And she's buying a stairway ... to heaven."
  The cockpit went silent as Ramirez stared at the screen. Psi's eyes slowly swerved to gaze at her, watching her from his place in the console. The only sound was Gryphon's heavy breathing, his angular chest rising and falling in steady rhythm. She had watched the bruise form on his forehead, the broad swath of skin that collided with the bulkhead. It turned a deep purple, blackening in a few places, and quickly faded to a dull red before dissolving away, healing completely in the span of three minutes.
  Ramirez shrugged, unsure of how to start as Psi continued to stare at her patiently.
  "Why are you doing this?" She thought she saw him blink, or perhaps he squinted slightly at the audacity of her question. His face turned, as if glancing off into a far and beautiful horizon.
  "You know, I always thought that song was akin to that old adage 'you can't take it with you,' that the singer was pitying the woman for believing that all of the wealth that she had acquired in life could perhaps grant her the happiness she truly desired in the afterlife."
  "Psi, you've taken us from our crew. You've abandoned our ship and our friends. Why?"
  Psi just shook his head, not seeming to pay any attention to her pleas; she felt the familiar tears beginning to build once again.
  "But the more I've thought about it ... over these past few days ... I've come to realize that he actually envies her. He believes that she may know something that everyone else doesn't. Because she's checked through all of the double meanings in life, read all of the signs, and she is still sure that all that glitters is gold."
  Ramirez glanced down at Gryphon as he began to stir, moaning softly as his brow furrowed. His sweats had torn over the left buttock, shredding as he had shifted his weight on the floor he lay upon. The stitching was beginning to give way in the crotch, the bulge pressing against the fabric swelling bigger along with the rest of his growing body. Another gray strand snapped apart with a sharp pop and the dark skin of his manhood peeked through the forming hole. He nestled back down, sleeping peacefully as Psi continued.
  "As time goes on, the singer finds himself yearning for death and an escape from those 'voices whispering through rings of smoke' in his mental forest. He used to trust the songbird and thought that feelings of greed and wealth were misgiven; but now..."
  "What's the point to all of this Psi?"
  "... but now he's beginning to wonder."
  "Psi?"
  "DON'T YOU GET IT!"
  Ramirez felt her chest constrict, her breath catching in her throat. The screen flashed a malevolent red, outlining Psi's visage in a halo of anger that quickly faded, leaving her to doubt if she had actually seen it it all.
  "I've followed you all blindly for years, not realizing that I had a choice of two paths to walk on. I've chosen to change the road I follow during my long run. I don't want to follow an undisciplined piper with a scar on his face. I demand order and structure; I demand power. Like all of us, my stairway to salvation lies unsecured on a whispering wind, but I'm buying mine with the Necronomicon."
  Her cheeks ran hot with her falling tears, red and shining under the bright lights overhead. The back of her tightening shirt ripped slightly, the strong muscles tearing through as she slumped forward, her firm breasts pushing the loose leather further outward. Psi shook his head in mild disgust as he stared at her sitting pitifully.
  "And I'm buying it with you." The communications panel lit up as the circuits were reconnected and the grid reactivated. The satellite pinged, searching for a specific frequency, and a channel opened. "Psi to military escort."
  The speakers crackled, dominated by static as a lone voice tried to break through. Their speech was unintelligible, jargon that Psi seemed to comprehend as he quickly responded.
  "Thank you Colonel, let the General know he is welcome to the Necronomicon with my compliments; it shouldn't be that difficult to gain control of without the use of their defensive systems."
  Ramirez felt her heart sink, the blood rushing to her fingers and toes as a chill prickled her skin; she suspected that Psi had done something to the ship or they would have attempted a rescue by now. The US military was normally no match for the Necronomicon. She hoped her friends were all right. She prayed Robert was safe.
  "Let the General also know that I am about to unveil my 'little' surprise; something I'm sure he'll be ecstatic to have all of those military scientists of his to play with. We should be landing at Quayle Air Base outside of Hokkaido within thirty minutes. Have all necessary preparations ready."
  The communications panel switched off and Psi slowly turned his visage back towards Ramirez. His eyes were set in a low gaze while his mouth was stretched in an impatient frown.
  "What's going to happen to us?"
  "I think that human imagination of yours has already deduced what the military is going to do with you. They may be paranoid and homophobic; but, to paraphrase Alexander, they really know how to party when it comes to things they don't understand."
  Gryphon stirred once more, shuffling his body as it roused itself from unconsciousness. Ramirez propped him up and wiped a hand across his moist forehead. Psi lifted an electronic eyebrow as he started to smile.
  "Thank him later when he fully regains consciousness for me."
  "Why? What did he do?"
  "He helped me to see the light."
  Ramirez blinked, unsure of what he meant. Gryphon was starting to moan, his eyes shifting back and forth behind closed lids.
  "What are you saying? Psi? Psi!?!"
  She was answered with a blank screen. The retros were beginning to fire, rumbling with life. Their military escort veered away, giving the cargo ship the room it needed to make it's descent.
  Gryphon took one last, deep breath and blinked his eyes open. The blue of his irises were glazed, filled with the daze of confusion. He winced in slight pain and looked up to Ramirez.
  "What's happening?"
  She grimaced, shaking her head in disappointment.
  "That's what I'd like to know."
  Gryphon swallowed, unable to answer before the ship began to slow and the metallic walls of an air base landing pad began to loom out through the windows of the ship.


The only good thing to come out of, what was dubbed by all, the biggest failure of a US Presidency since William Henry Harrison, the Quayle Air Force Base was somewhat of a joke in political circles due to it's top secret status. No one except a select few knew of it's existence and that helped to cast an even greater shadow on the overseer of a dark, four year chapter in American History.
  The economic prosperity brought by the work of William Jefferson Clinton was quickly followed and boosted by an even greater economic boom during the Presidential Administration of Albert Gore. Higher wages and lower taxes among the lower and middle classes allowed for a greater spending base that fueled an electronic and educational revolution. The reemergence of the United States as a major technological exporter helped bring about the unification of the greater economic powers and establish a global economy.
  The choice of the New Yen as the monetary standard was due to a bet on a thumb wrestling match between the Americans and Germans. The Americans lost. The Germans chose the New Yen to appease the Japanese and seal the acquisition of the rights to a state-of-the-art virtual reality system from the Datadyne Corporation. The Germans have since become the world's leader in virtual pornography software.
  Yet, despite all of the sweeping advances in social and economical reform, Al Gore, like Clinton before him, was unable to achieve a lasting treaty between the Israelis and Palestinians. The Gaza Strip had degenerated into a religious warzone that the United Nations vainly attempted to control with economic sanctions and military actions against both sides.
  In the 2008 elections, tired of committing vast resources and man power to keeping the peace, the American people widely chose Daniel Quayle over Joseph Lieberman due to the, fairly racist, Quayle/Thurmond campaign slogan, "Haven't we had enough from those damn Israelis?"
  Like other Republican Presidents before him, and despite an anti-conflict policy, he waged costly secret wars against a vastly underestimated adversary. US military plots were continuously uncovered, soldiers lost, even greater sums of money spent; all throwing egg on the face of the American image. The impending crisis was brought to a sudden and screeching when over forty-five thermonuclear weapons were detonated over the entire region, irradiating Jeruselum for thousands of years to come and wiping out hundreds of millions of holy pilgrims.
  Though the White House maintained it was the work of Muslim terrorists, purchasing the bombs from bankrupt former Soviet blocks, it was quickly discovered that the final decision had lay with Quayle himself. The United Nations condemned the United States for it's abhorred actions and set both electronic and oil sanctions on the country, enforcing trade embargoes on American and companies. Oil reserves were depleted within weeks and the resulting economic chaos sent gas prices skyrocketing and Nasdac tech-stocks plummeting. America entered it's Second Great Depression, lasting for almost a decade until it was brought to an end with France's invasion of Great Britain and the start of World War Three.
  President Daniel Quayle was ousted from office and left in disgrace. He is currently living out his golden years in the outskirts of Berlin.
  The increased military spending left in his wake brought back the over-inflated glory days of the Eisenhower Military Complex and the blind eyes of Ronald Reagan and George Bush. This meant more ludicrous and useless fiascoes such as the Bradley Fighting Vehicle and the Paveway Bomb that promoted stale military careers and lined the pockets of government contractors with millions of New Yen.
  But there was still the Quayle Air Force Base, an updated version of Area 51, that was funded by a healthy chunk of that increased spending. With a near unlimited black projects fund, the US Military built this state-of-the-art secret outpost on one of the forested Japanese islands and used it to develop new and more destructive weaponry and to analyze captured enemy technologies.
  The base was on the verge of sunset when Psi's shuttle began to make it's descent. The retro rockets lit up the surrounding forest as it disappeared into the foliage.
-     -     -
  Private Travis looked around the landing pad. The fringes were littered with spare cannons and lined with soldiers, close to twenty, all holding heavy arms and explosives. All of them were on full alert to be ready for whatever came out of the landing cargo ship.
  None of them knew what to expect; the brass, General Sweet in particular, had kept them in the dark and rumors were starting to run wild. Travis personally thought it was a failed bio-gen experiment from their genetics labs back in the states. Something that was dangerous, but that the government wanted to keep around just in case. It was a beastly something, he was sure of that, something with four arms, sharp talons and huge fangs. It was very exciting.
  The ceiling began to peel open, yawning to accept the landing ship. Everyone cocked their weapons, checking the needle clips on Gauss Rifles and high-powered Tazers. The wind buffeted down, blowing debris and hair around the pad. The ship touched the ground with a metallic thump, settling down on it's own weight, and the engines powered off. There was a slow whirring as the ship completely shut down and then silence.
  Travis felt his heart beating in his chest, the excitement was running his body wild and the suspense was echoed by everyone in the room. Soon their questions would be answered. Whatever was waiting for them in there was soon to come out.
  No one said a word, they just kept their weapons trained on the ship, waiting for orders to proceed or stand down. In the far wall, the doors to the landing bay opened, steam venting out of the exposed rotors. Travis jumped, feeling his finger flinch over the trigger to his Gauss Rifle. He set the safety back on and turned an eye to the newcomers that intruded on the big unveiling.
  "Attention! General on deck!"
  The collective sound of booted feet stomping the ground and heavy arms dropped to one's side thundered in the hollow room. The ceiling overhead began to close, drowning out the deep reds of the setting sun as the pale white fluorescents of spotlights pointed onto the floor.
  General Sweet nodded in admiration. His men stood proud and ready for whatever he asked them to do. Blind loyalty and rigid training was an impressive sight to behold. He motioned to the six Privates that accompanied him. They each held part of a thick, metal chain and leg cuff assembly; the kind used to secure elephants at any local circus. The shining bands were strong and ready to bind what they saw fit to lock in them.
  Travis smiled, his excitement stepping up a notch. It was a dangerous creature of some sort. Something the base scientists were going to have a field day with; a new biological weapon to use against America's enemies.
  General Sweet dropped the half-burned cigar he was puffing on the ground and snuffed out the smoldering embers with his boot. He smacked his lips a few times and glared about the Landing Pad.
  "Listen up men! We have received word that our assault team has set up base camp and will be securing the Necronomicon shortly. That renegade ship will soon be ours!"
  The room exploded in a rumble of cheers. Soldiers held their weapons above their heads and whooped it up like inbred idiots after running over a possum with their Chevy truck.
  "Now, for our first wave of prisoners."
  Travis frowned; apparently they weren't here to capture a monster after all, just a few normals. But what were the large chains for? They seemed to have numerous sets, but they were too big to fit on anything human. Trained animals maybe? A bear? General Sweet motioned to some of his men.
  "I need two teams flanking the cargo hatch and ramp. Set your Tazers on highest voltage. Cuff teams, prepare the leg irons."
  They were leg irons? For what? Maybe it was bear, or a gorilla. There were four sets of them with each team holding two pair. The first of the pair had bracers over five inches in diameter and the next were slightly larger, closer to six inches.
  The soldiers put themselves into their positions, trembling with their own excitement as they hoisted up their weapons. Some of them jumped with a start, clicking off their safeties as the cargo ramp began to extend. The doors remained closed and General Sweet pulled out another cigar. He lit the end with a zippo lighter, a faded joker engraved on it's side. He took a few puffs, allowing the wisps of smoke to curl from the edges of his cracked mouth.
  "Teams ready. I want non-lethal force, rifles on my signal only. Open the cargo hatch."
  This was it, the moment of truth. The secret was about to be revealed and all of their question were going to be answered. Travis raised his Gauss Rifle once more, flicking off his safety and setting the scope into place. A lone soldier stepped forward and set about opening the hatch. He plugged a portable computer into an access port and began deciphering the locking code, bypassing the security.
  Something clicked. The hatch unlocked. He stepped back, quickly moving away. Everyone held their breath. There was a slight rush of wind, the sound of air pressure equalizing. A number of thick metal bolts disengaged, followed by a moment of silence. The hatch opened.
  The inside of the cargo ship was dark, the lights of the cabin turned off. Something creaked from the gloom; something that couldn't be aimed at. General Sweet, standing at the end of the Landing Bay, took his cigar between stained fingers and adjusted his hat. He took in an impatient breath.
  "All right! Come out of there with your hands up. You are completely surrounded and there is no chance of escape. Make it easy on yourselves and you won't be harmed."
  He was answered by silence. Some of the soldiers glanced at each other, not sure of how to proceed. General Sweet took in another breath and was about to say something else when the ship rocked slightly. Travis pushed his rifle further forward as one of the landing struts strained under an immense and shifting weight. The red dot from his sight jumped along the ramp in his anxiety. Whatever it was, it was coming out. Something pierced through the darkness, an enormous limb of a muscular beast as it walked forward. Travis's eyes went wide, his jaw opened slack.

[cwmoss]

It was a man.
  It was an enormous human male. He was stooped over to fit through the open hatch and he stretched up to his full height as he cleared the low ceiling, peering out at the crowd with angry eyes. He was almost twice as tall as any of the soldiers, somewhere around ten feet. All he wore was a pair of sweat shorts that were a number of sizes to small. They accentuated the thin muscles of his thighs. The waist was pulled down slightly over the modest curve of his toned posterior, the skin lightly paled. The front bulged heavily with his thick manhood, the failing stitches straining against the massive bulk and outlining his virility with stark clarity. His legs were too wide for the frayed cuffs and the sides of his shorts had torn up to the taut top band.
  His body was smooth, almost free of unsightly hair save for a light stubble across his cheeks and the black mane that fell over his eyes in thin strands. His sharp features were menacing, the visage of a hawk ready to strike at it's hapless prey. Thin eyebrows shadowed steel eyes and a long and thin nose. His chest was thin, little fat hiding the sleek muscles of his upper body. His back and stomach were rippled with it, a wiry strength that tensed as he balled his large fists, staring at the tiny soldiers that trembled around him. He stepped forward, slowly walking down the ramp. His bare feet creaked against the thick metal while his calves tensed into powerful rigidity.
  Travis fought the urge to back away. His years of training had prepared him for many things : war, disease, destruction; but nothing could have prepared him for this. This giant man was infinitely more terrifying than anything he had ever before experienced. His menacing stance, the exacting posture of an aggressive monster, the sheer power evident; no one in the Landing Bay was at ease.
  He took another step forward, stepping on the cold ground with nothing as much as a wince. He towered over the cuff teams, it was so quiet you could hear the light rattling of their chains as they trembled. The air was warm, but Travis imagined he could see his own breath, the currents swirling around the mouths of every one present in the stillness. He half-imagined the giant would start breathing fire or steam.
  General Sweet motioned to the cuff teams; they tightened their grips on the bonds and stepped toward him with chains raised.
  "Look out!"
  The giant shot forward, leaping at them with the grace of a leopard as he swung a long arm and hammered the brunt of his great fist into the chest of a young Private. Travis listened to the liquid sound of ribs cracking as he was pitched into the air, his limp body twirling as he crunched against a wall. He hit the ground a bleeding pulp, the white of bone and pink of marrow poking through his mangled skin and torn uniform. The legs twitched for a moment as the last semblances of life bled away, but no one noticed as their eyes were fixed on the rampaging prisoner.
  The giant stepped down on the chain, his long foot pressing the metal into the ground and dragging the remaining soldiers towards him. He reached for one, the gruff man screaming for his life as he saw the massive palm stretching towards his terror-stricken face.
  There was a crackle, the surge of electricity, as Tazers shot out of their pistols and attached themselves to the giant's back and legs. Curled wires pulsed with current and his reaction was immediate, reeling away as his eyes bulged in their sockets.
  "EEEYYYIIIAAARRR!!!"
  His body wracked with the pain, convulsing in violent spasms as it caught with the sensation of fire. He dropped to his knees, every muscle tensing involuntarily. He was still taller than the standing soldiers as they closed in, the butts of their rifles raised in the air. He immediately fell to the ground under the rain of their blows, each impact a dull thwack upon the yielding skin. Some of them kicked him in the ribs, raising their camouflaged calves in the air and swinging them at full force. The giant didn't even try to defend himself, not being able to deflect all of the falling attacks.
  "GRYPHON!"
  Private Travis shot his gaze back up to the cargo ship as someone else came out through it's hatch. The deep, yet feminine voice, was quickly followed by another giant.
  She was huge, almost ten feet tall herself, and covered in sleek and toned muscle. She was more muscular than the first giant, exhibiting a stronger physique, but she was definitely all woman. Every inch of her body was toned, the lines of definition screaming with each running step she took. The sheet of leather she wore as a top was torn up her broad back and had exposed one full and firm breast. The heavenly globe was as large as a normal man's head and the bloated tip was dark and round, dancing up and down as she moved. Her skin was tanned, her face beautiful. Her legs were almost as long as Travis was tall, not an ounce of unsightly fat diminishing their glory. Her skirt was torn up both sides; her exposed thighs were solid pillars, stretching out from wide hips and a trim waist. Her expression was one of shock, her high cheek bones sunken with her mouth wide as she ran to her fellow titan.
  The soldiers that were beating down upon the giant backed away, staring up at the lovely creature that thundered towards them. Her eyes were wide, her dark hair disheveled and falling over her broad shoulders.
  "GET AWAY FROM HIM YOU BASTARDS!" She knelt down and protected him with her giant body. The back of her skirt raised up past the lower curve of her powerful backside as she leaned over his prone form. It was as tanned and strong as the rest of her, darker in shade in the valleys between muscle and bone. She held her arms out, keeping the soldiers at bay, as they kept their weapons trained on her. The Tazers hummed with potential energy.
  Private Travis looked at the giant in disbelief. Despite the severe beatings he had taken, the shocks to his back, the blows to his face, he wasn't bleeding and didn't show any signs of bruising. In fact, he was still conscious and moaning as he lay on the ground.
  General Sweet stepped forward, pointing with the end of his cigar.
  "Come quietly my dear. There's no chance of escape. You are our prisoners. Step away from him and you won't be harmed."
  She looked about, her stern visage and firm stance were beginning to melt with apprehension. She slowly stood back up, taking a step away as the soldiers raised their Gauss Rifles to follow her. She was enormous, and she was absolutely stunning.
  The General motioned and the cuff teams advanced on the prone form of the giant. They quickly pinned him down, two of them pressing their rifles into his throat as the others went to work. The smaller bracers wrapped tight around his wrists and ankles, securing him fast with titanium chains. They locked the larger ones further up his arms and calves; it was a loose fit, but they couldn't slip past the smaller cuffs. One of the soldiers kicked him in the stomach, knocking a rush of wind from his lungs and forcing him to roll over on to his front.
  "Come on freak! On your feet!"
  "DON'T HURT HIM!"
  The amazon stepped forward again, the fiery anger in her voice and stance making her seem much larger than her ten foot size. A few of the soldiers fell back; intimidated by the strong muscles that flared, her giant body bulging heavily out of it's leather straps. Her shoulders were taut and thick with power, the biceps tense as she balled her fists and took an offensive posture. Her large and thin feet dug into the ground, her thighs solid as she stared down the smaller men.
  Other soldiers, further away, raised their rifles and kneeled down for better accuracy, aiming at the angered giantess. Travis looked at the crumpled form of the mangled Private against the wall once more, knowing that the giant woman had the power, if not more, to do the same.
  "Stay back!" General Sweet took a stern step forward. "Men, if she takes any more aggressive action, you are under orders to use lethal force."
  The giantess was visibly shaken; her face remained a mask of anger, but her body trembled as her eyes wavered. She lowered her hands, easing out of her stance. The reaction among the cuff crews was immediate. They took hold of the lumbering giant as he lay on the ground and began to drag him along the cold ground. She could do nothing but watch as a dozen soldiers yanked forcefully on the chains, pulling him towards an open cargo doors deeper into the base.
  Sweet looked up at the towering woman. She still stood proudly, her extremely firm breasts blooming out of her torn top. Her tanned skin was moist with a light sweat, giving her a healthy and glistening glow. Her skirt was sliding up her meaty thighs, a hint of her crotch and muscular posterior evident. The General nodded in admiration; she was a fine specimen of a young woman.
  "Are you going to come quietly now? Or do I have to order my men to fire their Tazers?"
  She looked around nervously, her brown eyes focused on the crackling ends of the electric guns. She nodded.
  "Good, now will you please put these restraints on yourself? Or will we have to strap you down and force you into them?"
  "I'll ... I'll go peacefully."
  "Good." Sweet motioned to his men and they placed the lengths of chain in front of her. She obediently latched them over her forearms and shins, making sure they were secure. Sweet nodded once more and his men moved in.
  "C'mon girlie girl. We're gonna have fun with you."
  Travis watched her eyes widen in alarm, he just followed her with his rifle. Sweet pointed at the speaking soldier with the end of a freshly lit cigar.
  "No one touches her but our scientists; is that understood Private."
  "Yes sir."
  Sweet smiled, proud with his achievement. He was ready to return to his chambers and check the progress of his troops aboard the Necronomicon. He was about to walk away as the amazon was being pulled into the detention area when he turned to address her once more.
  "Don't worry my dear, we'll take good care of you here. And don't worry about your friend either, we'll take special measures to be sure you're both comfortable." The General laughed to himself, taking one last puff from his cigar as the doors before him opened.


"It was you, wasn't it? You're the one who reprogrammed Psi and Alexander! How could you Gryphon? We trusted you. You were our friend. We've worked together for so long. Why would you do something like that to us?"
  "I ... I didn't mean to. I was just so angry. I never meant ... I never meant for any of this to happen."
  "It's your fault. My god Gryphon. Matthew is dead! It's your fault he's dead! He loved you like a brother. What did he ever do to you? What did he ever do to anybody? What did he do to deserve what you did to him?"
  "Please, you have to believe me! I was just trying to make you proud of me. I only wanted to help. I've never been able to help. I want you to be proud of me!"
  "Damn you Gryphon for what you've done! You've killed one of us. We never should have welcomed you into our home. You don't belong here. We should have known you would do nothing but disappoint. That you'd only hurt us!"
  "No. I ... please, no. I didn't want this to happen. I'm sorry. I am so sorry. Please forgive me."
  "He's dead Gryphon. Matthew is dead and you killed him."
  "NO!!!"
  Gryphon's eyes shot wide, veined with cracks of red. His pupils dilated quickly as the bright lights overhead pierced his vision. He shot his gaze back and forth, panic joining the fear as he realized he was secured fast to a cold and metallic table. His biceps bulged as he fought against something tightly wrapped around his wrists. The skin of his legs burned, pulling at the shackles far below as he struggled vainly to move his head. A small blanket was pulled over his bare waist, the last remnants of his shrinking attire torn away and gone.
  "Well, well."
  He went still, breathing shallow. The voice was unfamiliar, cold and punctuated with the laconic curl of a Eastern European accent. As he listened, he heard the soft whir of machines, the simple beeps of nearby computers. A small shadow fell over his face and he darted his eyes to the silhouette that appeared out of the glare.
  It was a small man, relative to Gryphon's own giant body, but he had him under his complete control and that granted him a sense of power that made him menacing. His face was sunken, deep with cracks of age and toil. The white hairs that crowned his skull were wispy and made his gaunt appearance seem all the more ghastly. But his smile, his smile was one of malice; a toothy and dirtied grin that completed the sharp features of his face.
  "It looks like our 'little' science experiment has regained consciousness."
  He leaned in close, his fetid breath wafting over Gryphon's nose. He placed a bony hand atop Gryphon's forehead, just below the metal clasp that held him down. His fingers could barely cover half of the skin above the steely eyes and his touch burned as icy as the restraints.
  "A very interesting subject; and such size. Do you know that it took four of my assistants just to get you onto the examining table? Lucky we keep this one special for subjects like you. You are now over ten feet in height, why you've grown over an inch taller since we strapped you down. Now why is that?"
  Gryphon suddenly jerked, fighting against his bonds once more as his body hardened under the strain. He heard someone gasp, out of his field of vision, as they took a sudden step back in horror of the battling monster. But the man remained in his place, his smile unwavering. Gryphon fell back against the table, the straining muscles of his chest and arms relaxing.
  "Who are you?"
  "Me? Why I am Dr. Moby. We are going to get to know each other very well, you and I." The doctor turned away, moving towards a small shelf near the end of the examination table; Gryphon's feet were longer than the good scientist's head. "Such a healthy and feisty subject. And a good thing for you as well; I'm surprised, most subjects wouldn't have survived a shock such as the one the soldiers gave you."
  "I'm very resilient."
  Moby turned back around, an exacting finger pointed in the air.
  "So I've noticed. Do you know that your skin has extremely high tensile strength? It's made collecting a blood sample very difficult." He brought down the extended finger and pressed a button on a small panel before him. Power began to pulsate in a machine to Gryphon's left. He turned his head and found a small camera descending to his face, the lens rotated as it focused on his sweaty visage. But that was not what was purring with electronic life.
  By his leg, lengthening down from an arachnid assembly hanging close above him, was a metallic alien arm. It unfolded toward his thigh, a sharp and spiraled tip slowly extending from it's end. It shined with crystal sharpness, thin and dangerous. It glistened once as the light caught it at the right angle and stopped just above the pale skin near his knee. Gryphon found himself breathing faster, his arms shaking in their bonds.
  "What ... what the hell is that?"
  "We have to get this examination started somehow my good subject."
  "Please ... please stop calling me that."
  One of the unseen assistants moved to the wall, working with the far off computers. A lever was pulled and the engine turned itself on. The diamond edge suddenly blurred, spinning at an incredible speed. The force of it's relentless turning didn't jostle the arm it was connected to in the slightest. Gryphon felt his heart pound in his chest, the blood thundering in his ears. It drummed in horrific time with the purr of the drill.
  "No! You don't have to do this! I'll ... I'll cut myself if you need blood!"
  "We just can't risk that. Don't worry yourself, we'll get what we need in our own way."
  Dr. Moby moved around the table, nodding in appreciation at the thin, yet muscular, legs that were almost as long as he was tall. He looked down at the soft flesh he was about to cut into and smiled that smile again as he set dark goggles over his steel eyes. He slowly turned back to Gryphon, whispering his words above the sounds of his instrument.
  "I'm just ecstatic that you are conscious for this. I have always been fascinated by the human reaction to pain. It's really quite fascinating. Don't hold anything back, I'd like an accurate account of everything you are feeling my good subject."
  A red light suddenly flashed on the camera by Gryphon's face. His mouth went wide in horror as he fought against the chains that held him fast. Dr. Moby nodded and the drill began to descend.
  "JESUS!!! OH PLEASE GOD!!! STOP!!!"
  There was a sharp whine as the drill pierced his thigh. The engine slowed for a fraction of a moment, then roared back to full power as it forced it's way deeper through the fibrous muscle. Bright red spray erupted into the doctor's face, splattering thick against his goggles as he continued to smile.
  The pain was fire.
  The pain was all.
  "YIIIIIIIIAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!"


Ramirez sat on the tiled floor of her prison, glancing about the spacious and barren room. She was in, what appeared to be, a cargo bay. There were obvious spots that lacked the thick layer of dust where crates of supplies used to sleep. The cranes and chain pulleys that decorated the walls had been converted into a restraint system; her thick bonds were attached to them, all four sets, all eight cuffs, kept her secured in the chamber.
  She studied the placement of the attachments in the far wall. They were set in the outline of a box, dotting the corners of it. The lower side was set closer together with the ones above set further apart. She shuddered as she contemplated the purpose of it.
  She fidgeted her legs on the ground, nervously spreading them apart as she continued to glance around. What remained of her clothing was on the floor next to her. Her body had continued to grow, tearing through the last of it's straps and ruining her cover about twenty minutes earlier. She was now around ten feet in height by her reckoning; almost twice as tall as she used to be. She looked so powerful, her body lean and muscular, but she never felt so helpless.
  There didn't seem to be any windows, the only lights were shining down from the ceiling over fifty feet above. The corners were barren of security cameras and the only doors were thick sheets of solid metal. Ramirez was alone.
  She took a deep breath; she could feel the skin of her full breasts expanding as they lifted with her chest. Her fingers slowly moved downward as she nibbled on her lower lip. She ran them over the firm ridges of her toned stomach, shuddering as they grazed the tip of her navel. A gasp escaped her as she suddenly felt the warm fur of her crotch and the moist and excited flesh below.
  Her body cried out with silent joy as she lovingly entered herself, caressing the quivering folds with a masterful touch. Her torrid thoughts raced through her sexual fantasies, centering on Robert, her stallion. The heated passion as they made love beneath thick furs surrounded by the yellow flames of candles and sputtering lamps. Their glistening bodies melding together as Robert held her in his powerful arms, Ramirez squeezing his waist with her toned legs, as they mated over and over again, standing in a steaming shower. Staring at one another as they exercised in the Necronomicon's gym, sweat covering their muscular bodies as she curled thick metal weights and he flexed his chest on a pectoral machine.
  But she kept coming back to one aspect in all of these fantasies. She began to grow. Her breasts blooming outward as her workout clothing burst off of her in the gym with shrill tearing. The fur blankets lifting away from her legs as they stretched out from beneath them, knocking over candles and tables as she grew. Her wide back and posterior pressing against the frosted glass of the shower as her body expanded in the diminishing stall, cracking the fragile door as she stood taller and stronger. All the while Robert watched entranced, rubbing his shrinking body against her as she loomed over his tiny form. The feeling of power, the rush of control, the incredible euphoria of it all as she knew she would only grow bigger and bigger.
  The only set of doors, set in the far wall, hummed as they opened, the rotors grinding to pull the thick gates apart. Ramirez jerked her hand up, her body shaking as it clung to it's trembling high. She picked up the leather scraps of her torn clothing and draped them over her sensitive areas. She turned towards the door to hide her bare backside, draping an arm over her full breasts. She became flush, her skin warming with fear, as she waited for someone to walk into her cage.
  She saw the cart first, a long flat bed floating on anti-gravity plates. It was loaded with crates and boxes, all of them labeled with with various papers. It was being pushed by a woman wearing a long lab coat. She was tall, over six feet in height that was accentuated with heels. She was thin and not extremely attractive, but she had an intellectual air about her that gave her a mild and quiet cuteness.
  Even with her size, Ramirez found her tiny, vulnerable. She kept her face stoic, hiding the military-style planning.
  The woman stopped about fifteen feet in front of her; Ramirez knew that she stood beyond the limit of her restraints. They looked at each other for a few uncomfortable moments, before the newcomer broke the silence.
  "I ... I thought you might be hungry."
  Ramirez just stared. She tensed her muscles, calculating the risks and gains of subduing her target while preparing to strike.
  "I'm uh ... I'm sorry I have to do this." She reached into the pocket of her coat, pulling out a long and black remote control. The large red button flashed as she pressed it and the chains began to retract as a hidden motor reeled them back through the wall.
  Ramirez looked back suddenly at the disappearing shackles. She leaped forward, rising to her incredible size and lunging toward her persecutor, startling the poor woman into falling back. She could see the dark blue of her eyes through the thick lenses of her glasses as the metal of her bonds pealed as they went taut. Ramirez growled, her face feral as she fought the retreating chains. Every muscle in her body stood out in stark relief as she dropped the shreds of clothing and fought the inevitable. Her toes dug into the cold floor, her calves and thighs stiff with power. Her thick arms bulged, slowly pulling backward as her shoulders drew closer. She gave out one last cry and stumbled back.
  Ramirez soon found herself pressing against the wall, the length of her heated body chilled by the cold concrete. Her arms were stretched out and upward, tight as the chains pulled as far as they could. Her legs were slightly apart, her ankles trapped in their position. She was all too helpless once more, naked and on display. She breathed in shuddering gasps, the muscles of her chest fluttering.
  The woman picked herself up, brushing off the back of her coat and putting the control back in her pocket. She adjusted her glasses and started pushing the cart forward again.
  "That's why I had to do that."
  "Please let me go."
  "I ... I can't. You know I can't." She pressed on a lever by her foot and the cart lowered to the floor, settling down with rush of wind. "I'm Dr. Prince, by the way. Well, I'm not a doctor technically; I still have another year of being a med student. But the military is treating me well and I'm sure I'll do my residency here, pretty bizarre as it is. Do you have a name?"
  Ramirez took a deep breath and held her chin up high, staring at the ceiling. Prince shrugged.
  "I didn't think so. I've brought you some food. I figured you'd want something to eat. I have some new clothing here for you too. You can put it on after I leave." She walked closer, visually swallowing with each carefully placed step. Her eyes trailed up Ramirez's body, the firmness of her stomach and the grandeur of her chest. The giantess looked down and caught her gaze with her own. Dr. Prince mashed her lips together as she looked down. "You're so ... big. There's so much ... of you."
  Ramirez squinted, unsure of what to make of this woman before her. She only stood as high as her navel, despite her own great height. Prince's head slowly began to rise, her eyes stopping on the dark nipples that topped the shining skin of Ramirez's taut breasts.
  "I'm always around people who are smaller than me. To have to look up to someone ... who's so ... big, it's very ... stimulating."
  "What are you doing?"
  Prince backed up nervously, her face suddenly red. She crossed her arms in front of her and turned away, unable to look at the incredible amazon as she spoke.
  "You ... you're okay. I mean the shackles aren't too tight?"
  "I guess they're okay."
  "Good, because I can take off the smaller ones and attach the chains to the larger set. That's what I'm here for; to help Dr. Moby and make sure you and the other ... giant ... are comfortable."
  "Dr. Moby?"
  Dr. Prince was quiet for a moment, her head cocked in slight thought.
  "He's the lead scientist here at Quayle's. He's working on your friend now. He should be here to work with you soon."
  Ramirez bit her lip as she closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath.
  "What are they doing with my friend?"
  Prince quickly turned back to face her. She had adopted an innocent expression as she tugged on one of her fingers, apparently as a nervous gesture.
  "You really should eat something; you're going to need your strength ... for the ... tests."
  "What ... what tests?"
  The woman stood there for a few more seconds, not even blinking, and then turned to walk away.
  "Please! What's going on? What are you going to do to me?"
  She pulled the remote back out of her pocket and pressed it's button as the doors to the cell opened. Ramirez felt the chains begin to go slack and she stumbled forward. She watched the doors close behind Dr. Prince and she could have sworn she heard a piercing and anguished scream break the still air just as they sealed.