"Rise and shine," he said to Cistatia, shaking her shoulder lightly, then planting a kiss on her cheek. "Nap's over."

A few minutes later, they strolled onto the command deck. "Easy streaming, I trust, Arkady?" Malachi asked, checking a status panel on the commander's station.

"I guess I'll deliver the wakeup call and general summons to make sure everyone's ready to go, for the next jump," he said, keying a few commands into the panel.

He pondered the situation as he worked. The Guild hadn't much impressed him yet, but they hadn't gone on a real mission yet, either. One thing he did know; they lacked serious leadership. He knew Lilac fancied herself a leader, but saw all the signs in her of an unstable personality. He was certain the time would come when she was more liability than asset. When that happened, he would be more than ready to deal with her.

The console bleeped; the firewalls were re-installed. He finished the uploads and replaced the backups in their secure hiding place, then flipped the comm and called the command deck.

"I'm set down here, whenever Arkady's ready..." He called.

IC: Tira woke up suddenly, rolled out of bed, and dressed into a light blue coloured catsuit. She left her quarters and returned to the command deck to see that some of the crew were already there.

She was about to say something to them when she noticed a little blue glow hovering in mid air near the back of the command deck. Curiously she looked as it as it opened into a large door shaped rift. She was a little surprised when a person stepped through it. The person was smaller than Tira, with gold highlighted skin, pointed ears, and a tail. She had brown eyes and long light red dreadlocked hair. She was wearing a tight fitting brown leather catsuit. She also appeared to be unarmed. The gold pixie smiled slightly. "My name is Tioa. You're needed through there." The gold pixie said simply, gesturing to the rift.

Tira nodded. "I wasn't expecting this but, okay." She leaned forward and spoke quietly to Tioa, introducing the Guild to the gold pixie. Tira then turned her head to look at the rest of the Guild. "I have to go, but don't worry, she's another member of my species, everything will be okay." Without waiting for a response, Tira walked through the rift and it closed, leaving Tioa standing in the corner of the command deck, looking at the Guild members curiously.

[This message has been edited by Tio (edited June 28, 2002).]

"Well let me be the first to welcome you Tioa. Tell me something....... will you..... being a new and possibly improved gold version.....be less irritating than the just departed purple one?"

She circled Tioa slowly, looking her up and down

"Mmmmmmmm you still have a tail I see, how unfortunate"

[This message has been edited by Tio (edited June 28, 2002).]

She looked over to the golden girl suspiciously. There was no anchor to there guild to many variables were coming up. If these situation kept arising, chaos would take over for sure. "If you will excuse me." She didn't wait for the golden girl to answer her question. She just left and headed off to a secluded area of the ship.

She would have to make better preparations for survival if she wanted to keep the guild together.

[This message has been edited by Tio (edited June 28, 2002).]

"Oh yes, that's Lilac .... charming as ever. I haven't been here that long, but as far as I can tell ..... yeah she's always like that ... she's one cranky avatar.... my advice stay out of her way for a while"

"Well now what can I tell you ..... mercenaries, thieves - very good ones I might add, assasins, paranoid androids .... you get the picture. As for the ship"

She shrugged

"It's just a ship....... personally I'm just along for the ride... oh and the company, of course. Talking of which .......... I wonder if Cain is still on board the Final Darke... I didn't get a chance to say goodbye or good luck"

She smiled at Tioa

"Listen to me .......... I must be getting sentimental in my old age. Now if you'll excuse me I have hidden treasures to unearth"

She looked over at Malachi and grinned

"Anyhow, the plan is fairly simple. We jump into the system, and see if its the one we're looking for. If it is, we drop the Final Darke off, and jump back out to the rendesvous point, where Cain will meet us when he's finished doing whatever scouting he intends to do. Then we head in."

Malachi looked around the deck. "Sound easy enough?"

The avatar sighed. She was sure that the guild didn't completely trust her after the incident at the pleasure palace but, she still cared for them. She was very protective of them and didn't want to see any one get hurt.

Lilac felt like she was about to pop. Her circuitry slightly fizzled under the emotional stress of what was right and what was wrong. She needed help. Lilac hated to admit it, but it was true. She couldn't talk to Arkady. He was to busy with his daughter. Malachi was busy trying to keep everyone together, and the new gold trancer was still not trust worthy. Cain and Camile were to new to the pride and still not trust worthy. Plus she didn't want Cain to see any weakness on her part.

Kabel was untrustworthy as well. There were to many variables with him and the new girl Karen was just that, to new. That left Cistatia. She was unpredictable at times but she was good with people.

"Hmmmm, Cistatia, can you meet me as soon as possible?" Lilac sent her the message from her tiny display in her quarters.

“I’m sure you have all your property too well hidden for an amateur thief like myself to find…..”

She walked towards him slowly, smiling all the time. As she passed, she ran her hand lightly up his arm

“And I know that flattery and seduction won’t work on you which is a shame……… so I guess you’re treasure’s safe ….. for now…… but you know Malachi everyone has a weak spot, an Achilles heal, it’s only a matter of time before I find yours”

She made her way to the other side of the deck and leant against the wall, listening as Malachi outlined the plan

“Forgive me for saying so …..but this plan…. It’s all a bit sketchy….’if it’s the one we’re looking for’….. ‘when he’s finished whatever scouting…’ I’d prefer a more definite plan myself…. But yeah it sounds easy enough ….. I mean what could go wrong with a plan like that”

He and his ship were ready to go; just one thing was missing. He opened the comm.

"Hey, Arkady. You coming or what?" He called.

IC: Tioa looked at Karin for a moment. "I'm called Tioa. I'm of the same species Tira, just a little older." The gold pixie introduced herself. "We swapped places because Tira's medical skills were needed where I came from, so you're stuck with me now." Tioa explained quietly.

[This message has been edited by Tio (edited July 03, 2002).]

Karin glanced at Tiona uncertainly. "What do you mean where you come from? What are your skills?", the young woman asked. She was suspicious about this new arrival but so far she had no reason to consider her a threat. "My name's Karin.", she added, "I'm a smuggler. I'm sure you've heard about the rest of us by now."

[This message has been edited by Tio (edited July 04, 2002).]

Cistatia checked her bracer, finding that Lilac needed her in the avatar's quarters. The young thief didn't want to leave; she didn't know what to make of this new golden character who had just switched places with her old friend.

And she didn't like Cami. She knew Malachi wouldn't betray her, but that didn't mean she had to like the way Cami talked and touched him. It also didn't mean she didn't expect Cami to try and stab them in the back. A smile tugged at her lips as she thought of just what would happen if the female tried to do so.

Sighing, Cistatia made her way to Lilac's quarters, knowing it wouldn't be polite to keep the avatar waiting.

[This message has been edited by Tio (edited July 05, 2002).]

Cistatia made her way to Lilac's quarters, pressing the chime when she got there. "Hello? Anybody home?"

The door slid open to reveal no one. Lilac automatically opened the door for the young girl. "Come in." She called from her seat.

Cistatia entered the quarters, looking around, a bit surprised about how...quarter-like they were. She pulled out a chair and turned it around, leaning on the back of it. "So what's up?"

Lilac clicked off the computer screen. "I am afraid our guild is falling apart and I don't know how to keep it together. I can't read people's emotions as well as I thought I could." Her nervous fingers tapped slightly on the table.

"Welcome to the club." Cistatia studied the android. "Reading people isn't like reading a flexi. Reading thieves, assassins, and smugglers is even harder. We've been trained to hide or disguise our emotions. Some do it better than others."

"I mostly try and read body heat and other changes in the body. Many times they allow me to know what the person is thinking and feeling, but as of lately, I am having trouble with my own." She glanced down at her tapping fingers.

"Too much floating around in that head of yours?" Cistatia asked. "Oh right, the guild. Sorry, but you're not the only one with thoughts of her own. If you're worried about the two new members, I don't blame ya."

"I just dont want us to break apart. Just when we started trusting each other again...things become shaky. I think Cain and Camille have a lot to add to the guild but I am worried that they will back stab us."

Cistatia rubbed her temples. "I haven't had a chance to chat with those two yet, but it seems to me that they're just like the rest of us when we started out. They've been thrust into teamwork after working alone most of their lives. They've learned trusting is bad and frankly, they don't want to work with others. At least they don't think they do."

Lilac nodded. "Oh and Cistatia, you have to talk to Arkady for me. Please convince him that I need this suit. It helps me stabilize my emotions better. He wants to take it back away from me now." She gently reached out and touched Cistatia's arm.

"I'm not one to argue about mechanics, but how does a suit help you stabilize emotions?"

"It was made to prevent my circuits from over loading with either electricity or some other high voltage." She tugged on the black rubber suit.

"Ok, I'll talk with him when I get the chance, although he's not exactly in the best shape with his own emotions right now." Cistatia fingered the suit lightly. "I know I'm not Miss Wisdom, but I gotta tell you, it's just a suit. When it comes to emotions, you're really the only one who can control them."

"Ok, I'll talk with him when I get the chance, although he's not exactly in the best shape with his own emotions right now." Cistatia fingered the suit lightly. "I know I'm not Miss Wisdom, but I gotta tell you, it's just a suit. When it comes to emotions, you're really the only one who can control them."

"Mind over matter, my friend." She winked. "You may be made of metal and all that tough stuff, but as far as I'm concerned, you still have what counts. You wouldn't have held this guild together for this long if you didn't."

"Thanks," She gave Cistatia a friendly slap on the shoulder. "I knew I could talk to you Cistatia." She smiled. "Well, then, I suppose we should get back to everyone."

"Hey, that's what I'm here for. Well, I also nab things, make the jokes, and make Malachi happy, but I also listen as well as I talk." Cistatia stood up and walked with Lilac towards the door.

The two ladies left the avatar's room and headed back up to command with the others..

Cistatia entered Command behind Lilac, glancing over at Cami before turning her attention back to the guild's newest member who was talking with Karin. Cistatia hadn't had a chance to get to really know either. "Hello. I hope I'm not interupting."

Tioa turned her head to face who had just spoken to her. "You're not interrupting anything." She assued her.

"It doesn't matter, I would've butted in anyways." Cistatia smiled. "I'm sorry, but what was your name again?"

Tioa blinked at the human's directness. "I'm called Tioa, and you are?"

"I'm Cistatia." Cistatia held out her hand. "So you've...um...switched places with Tira?"

Tioa shook Cistatia's hand. "That's right."

"Oh. Is this a temporary thing or what? I heard that her medical skills were needed where ever it is you came from, but once she's done fixing what needs to be fixed, she'll be back, right? From where ever."

Tioa shook her head. "No, I'm sorry to say it's not temporary. These switches...take place very rarely. You're stuck with me, I'm afraid." She gave a little shrug with a apologetic smile.

"And Tira? If her medical skills are needed, I'm guessing someone was hurt. People don't ususally get that injured in calm situations," Cistatia stated the obvious. "Now I know she can take care of herself, but...I mean did you two even think of the consequences of your actions?!" Cistatia suddenly exploded.

Tioa blinked in surprise and automatically drew herself into a fighting stance, her tail whipping up. The gold pixie blinked, and realised what she was doing, quickly returning to a normal standing position. "What consequences are you talking about?" She asked sharply.

Cistatia shifted nerously when the golden one went into pissed-off mode. "Tira was my friend, and a part of this guild. You are a stranger, someone we don't even know we can trust anymore. I'm sure whatever it was needed the medical attention badly, but there are other ways to fix things besides whatever the hell you just did."

Tioa folded her arms thoughtfully. For a moment she considered telling Cistatia to mind her own business, but dismissed it. She wasn't trusted yet, and shouting at one of the guild would not help at all. "Perhaps that's true." She conceeded. "But it seemed like a good idea at the time, and I can't change it now." She said as gently as she could.

TBC

As she watched Cistatia and Tioa she smiled to herself, their body language told her all she needed to know, neither one of them trusted the other. She couldn't help but think that Lilac's little Guild was unravelling at the seams. She laughed to herself

"Things could get very interesting around here"

"Most ideas seem good at the time." Cistatia knew she was being such a hypocrite but didn't care. She was mad. "But there are times when things need to be done, and times when they need to be thought out."

Tioa sighed, things were going to be more difficult than she had anticipated. "What do you want me to say? That we were wrong to do this, that I'm sorry?" She asked tartly.

"No. I just wanted you to know." She ran a hand though her hair. "I just had a discussion with Lilac. Now she is trying really hard to hold this guild together, but things have been happening so fast that I can barely keep track of all the names of people, let alone who to trust."

Tioa looked briefly at the other guild members and then back at Cistatia. "It might not seem like it now, but, I can be trusted. I have good intentions."

"Anyone can say they have good intentions. Whether you can prove it or not is another thing." Cistatia saw they had a few audience members. "Look, I don't mean to sound mean, and frankly, one of the leaders should be giving you a speech or whatever. It's just I don't being hurt or having my family hurt."

Tioa nodded. "I think I understand. You've just lost a friend."

"Good." Cistatia saw Arkady across the room. "I have to go ask someone something, now. Um, welcome to the guild I guess. I hope it works out."

Tioa nodded. "I hope so too." She said quietly as Cistatia left to talk to Arkady.

[This message has been edited by Tio (edited July 07, 2002).]

IC: Tioa shifted her weight from her left foot to her right. She glanced at Arkady, Cami, Karin, and Malachi with a slightly puzzled expression on her face. "Are we waiting for something in particular?" She asked.

"Waiting for something, we are always waiting for something! I know Cain is ready to go, looks likes we're just waiting on Arkady, can't do anything or go anywhere until he's ready.....unless of course...."

She smiled at Malachi

"You have any other brilliant plans Malachi?"

"Lilac, send me a list of the systems we still have to check, please...." He called.

When the list came up, he strapped in and started the launch sequence. He used Lilac's carrier wave to piggyback and override sequence for the hangar bay doors, and the Final Darke threw itself out into space. By the time he'd cleared the ship, Cain already had the slip coordinates entered, and by the time anyone could react to his abrupt departure, the Darke was swallowed up by the portal....

"Sorry, Arkady.....I hate having my time wasted..." Cain muttered to himself...

"Not the most patient of men is he?"

[This message has been edited by Tio (edited July 13, 2002).]

Arkady meanwhile, viewed Cistatia with a calm air. "I know you mean well, but now is not the best time to be asking me to give Lilac her suit full time. I have my family, my only daughter, to think of."

Arkady saw the sensor readings indicate that the Darke had jumped out of the system. "Bospor. Well, I guess it may be best that I wait for him to return with news of which system we're heading for. No temptation to go off without the guild."

Malachi drummed his fingers on the panel in front of him. "Well, with Caine off, the best we can do for now is wait for him to return with news of where to find Gethsemane."

[This message has been edited by Harper's (edited July 14, 2002).]

"Oh Malachi....I'm no lady"

She winked at him and turned her attention back to Tioa

"Yeah, all this standing around doing nothing gets to you after a while doesn't it"

She saw that Cistatia had finished talking with Arkady and decided to see if she could ease the distrust she seemed to have for the Gold Pixie. Tioa wandered over to Cistatia, deciding to start with a simple question. "So, how long have you been with the Guild?" She asked casually.

[This message has been edited by Tio (edited July 16, 2002).]

"Let's hope he at least looks at the information he has..."

He reached over and grabbed his mug of coffee. Arching his eyebrows at Malachi.

[to those who've been a little impatient: i have been away because i have been with shelley, who injured herself a few weeks ago, so i've been over there helping her as much as i can.

sorry for my absence but RL issues take precedence.

D']

[Edited because i'm not nearly as angry as i was...]

[This message has been edited by D'Monix (edited July 17, 2002).]

The Darke exited slipstream at the first system on the list. Cain immediately vectored 90 degrees from his heading, so as to throw off anyone anticipating his course, then checked his sensors for a reading on the system, looking for any signals or traces of a Nietzschean presence....

When she was satisfied that no-one was in the least bit interested as to where she was going she altered course and headed for the crew quarters

He looked around the deck, suddenly noticing something amiss. "Jubilee, find Cami, and if she's poking her nose somewhere its not likely to be welcome, please give her impetus not to continue."

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

The Final Darke's sensors swept the system discreetly. Dispersed ion trails pointed inwards toward the system. Further checking revealed an earthsize planet, covered richly in fauna. No craft were immediatly detectable, though Cain was sure that to turn on active sensors to find them would be an invitation of sure response from the Mantis pride likely on the surface already.

But there could be no mistaking this planet for anything other than what it was: Gethsemane.

He projected a course that would take him close enough to gather readings of any settlements or activity on the surface, then slingshot him around the sun where he could slipstream out without being detected. His Genite-based sensor cloak would keep him undetected, but he didn't want to alert them with another slip portal so close. After all, he wanted them still here and fairly complacent when he returned with the Guild.

With the comm system set for wide band, in order to pick up any and all transmissions, and passives set to maximum sensitivity, he set about collecting data and waiting for the long, slow orbit to bring him to his extraction point.....

"So, I am aware that Cain has gone off on his own." She looked over to the others. "Wonderful." She muttered stepping up to Malachi.

"Have we received any information from him or has he already back stabbed us." Lilac crumpled her fingers into a fist. She knew she should have invaded his ship better.

"That's odd" she thought to herself. She looked up and down the corridor, but there was no-one in sight. She shivered, turned back to the access panel and continued her work

"It's possible..." He said finally.

He looked at Lilac, letting his thoughts go unspoken.

"I'm going nuts sitting around here waiting, whenever you have the chance Lilac i'd like to recheck your circuitry one more time, I have the feeling there is something I missed.."

D'

It occured to Tioa, as she leaned on the back of the command deck's wall, that she was not armed, and didn't have any money for the upcoming mission to Gethsemane.

She stood up properly and looked around the command deck before approaching Arkady. "Excuse me." She said, tapping his shoulder lightly.

Arkady turned his head, regarding the tiny gold pixie tappping on his shoulder. "Yes?"

Tioa smiled slightly. "I was wondering, I need to collect some things from Tira's old quarters, and arm myself. Would you come with me so I don't get lost?"

He rasied his eyebrows slightly, "Don't see why not.." Turning his head to Lilac "Meet me in my lab space when you have a chance, and if anything comes up let me know immediately, ok?" turning back to Tioa he swept his black arm out. "Shall we?"

Tioa took his arm as they exited the command deck. "Thank you. I think I'll need to go to Tira's old quarters first. Which way?"

"B deck, one level down, I know the way to it.." He said as they walked, regarding her again with a look. "Never a dull moment with this bunch is it?"

Tioa smiled. "I haven't been here that long. But from what I've heard, it sure sounds interesting."

Ark laughed. "It is at that, blasting the bad guys, looting treasure.. When we're not trying to shoot each other, that is." As they came to the elevator he keyed the deck request, stepping in. "I guess I haven't introduced myself, my name is Arkady.."

Tioa nodded. "It's nice to meet you, I'm called Tioa." She stepped in after him. "There seems quite a bit of mistrust in the Guild, though." She noted.

Arkady smiled as the elevator doors closed. "More than a little at times, like all families we're tight-knit and though we have our fights at the supper table, we're still a family I guess... So if they seem aloof, don't take it personally, Tira was with us for a while, they'd have to get used to you.."

Tioa glanced down at herself. "Oh right, purple to gold, I guess I can understand that." The elevator descended to B deck and the doors opened.

"Yep.." Arkady stepped out of the elevator. "This way... It's something i'm getting used to as well I must admit.."

Tioa smiled as Arkady led them down a corridor. "But, I still have a tail." She said, waving it about slightly.

"Were you not supposed to? I've never met your species before.." He smiled as they turned a corner.

Tioa laughed as they reached Tira's old quarters. She opened the door and looked inside. "Well, some of my kind loose their tails if they're not careful." She explained as she rooted around the quarters.

Arkady leaned against a wall. "Yeah, I know about losing parts." He said as he looked at his arm. "And family."

Tioa paused looking and glanced over her shoulder. For the first time she noted his synthetic arm. "We're going to Gethsemane to find your child, aren't we? I'm pretty sure you'll find her." The gold pixie said and she looked around a little more and found a pouch.

She dumped the contents into her hands and smiled. It was the money that Tira had found while looting on the Mirror Swan. She put the money back in and slid the pouch under her clothing. "Okay. Now to the weapons lockers."

Akrady nodded as they left "Two levels below this one, right below the med-deck and laboratories... What about that purple man who is onboard? kabel? have you met him?"

Tioa glanced at Arkady quickly. "No I didn't even know he was on board." She admitted.

She explained as they went back to the elvator to go down two floors. "I've only met those that are on the command deck at the moment." They got on the elevator and it began it's descent.

"He's an odd one,apparantly shorts out anything he touches.. Last anyone saw of him was in hydroponics though.." He remarked as the elvator doors opened, a large security door was in front of them. stepping up to it, he keyed in a sequence and laid his flesh and blood hand against a recognition scanner. The door opened.

"Here we are..."

"Alrighty." Tioa said, grinning a little as she selected a pistol from the weapon's lockers and clipped it to her thigh, packing some spare ammo. After that, she found two knives, one she stuck in her boot, and the other she concealed next to her pouch. "Ok, I'm ready now. Thank you for guiding me."

"No problem.." He waited until she stepped out, then closed the security door again, and opened the elevators. "You ever need to find a place around here, just give me a yell.. What deck you want?" he said as he keyed in a request for the med-deck.

"I think I should probably return to command." She said thoughtfully.

The elevator took them to the med deck and the doors opened. "I guess I'll see you later then." Tioa said.

Arkady smiled as he stepped out. "Anytime.."

Tioa smiled at him quickly before the doors opened and returned her to command. She stepped onto command and resumed her position, leaning against the back wall, feeling better now she was armed.

"I don't want to kill you but if you force me to. I might have to maim you a little. You have no idea what its like to deal with emotions that you can't understand. When your whole life is supposed to be one logical deduction"

Arkady looked at her in surprise, mentally he gauged his chances, and they were pretty much slim to none against her speed. "Lilac, I'm not saying I'm taking the suit off, I want to take a look at you. There might have been something I missed, some circuit malfunction.." He backed against his worktable, holding his hands up.

Lilac processed the statement with lightning speed. "Okay, that is acceptable." She pulled the gun slowly down. "But if you can't fix it..then I get to keep the suit." She raised it for a moment before dropping the pistol back down again.

Reaching slowly, Ark picked up a tool from the workbench, holding it up so she could see it. "Just a diagnostic tool, okay?" He approached her slowly. "What are you feeling Lilac?"

"I don't know...." She suddenly burst into tears dropping the gun on the floor. "I don' t know anymore."

Ark's expression softened, gingerly he reached out with his flesh and blood hand and laid it on her shoulder. His right hand touched her hair, slowly. "Let me help you, we'll find out why this is happening.."

Lilac nodded sobbingly. "I just want to be stable again, and happy." She breathed placing herself on the med table.

He looked at her as he helped her get in position. "I promise I'll do whatever I can..." He looked at her as he brought up the scanner, she no longer looked like an android, but a woman scared, confused, and in pain. Reaching up with his right hand, he brought down a scanner module, his left hand, the natural one, stroked her hair as he punched a switch. "scanning..."

He decided to occupy her mind a little "what's it like being an avatar?"

"Its difficult at times. Just imagine you were born an adult never having the social adjustments as a youth but thrown directly into adult society. Your mother was over bearing and controlling to wear you had to follow exactly in her footsteps. When you finally get the courage to finally break free. You realize that you might have made the worst mistake in your life."

He ran the scanner over her body, watching the readouts as he went. "do you ever think you made a mistake?"

"After watching all the humans grow and make there own decision...no, but I become lost sometimes and have no where to turn for guidance. Its very lonely sometimes."

Arkady nodded. "Sometimes at night I wonder if things would have been better if I had stayed a slave... If I wouldn't have lost jess, or cassie... sometimes anyway.." He continued running the scanner. "I know what being forced against your will is like though..." touching her hand with his, he whispered back. "As long as one person cares you are never alone Lilac.."

Lilac smiled with a nod. "Does that mean you care, Arkady?" She asked.

His face cracked in a grin as he squeezed her hand "I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't... We may not get along all the time, but the crew is the closest thing i have to a family.... But don't tell them that.." He looked at the readouts again, noticing a flashing area "well isn't that interesting?"

"What is it?" She looked over to the screen.

"You have a damaged energy pathway into your cortex, it's causing minute power surges, by the readouts on your suit it looks like the suit is pulling that extra surge power away into itself..." He looked at her intently, "gonna have to dig around in your head to find and fix it tho.."

Lilac frowned, that didn't sound so good. "I don't know if I am comfortable with that. That's like someone operating on your brain. This is what makes up me." She breathed.

"I will be..." He sighed slightly, "Look I have no idea what the surges are doing to you, should you not be wearing the suit, they could do damage... " He looked in her eyes. "Do you trust me?"

Lilac tightened her lips. "I think...yes I do...I trust you.." She whispered.

He held on to her hand, "I'm not going to let you get hurt, just hold on to me, okay?"

"Okay," She breathed quietly with a smiler. Her delicate avatar fingers folding gently over his for reassurance.

Arkady smiled, putting a scope over his eye, keeping his flesh hand in hers, guiding the tool with his other hand inside. He watched through the scope as he threaded it through pathways. "almost there." He squeezed he hand as he found the pathway and rerouted it through the others nearby, then removed the damaged part. "Got it..." He looked own and smiled. "how do you feel?"

"Better, a little tired but better. I don't hear a crackling noise any more." She smiled. "I wasn't sure if it was me or my sanity." She smiled.

"Everyone's a little crazy.." He said as he helped her sit up. "It doesn't show a power surge anymore, but to be sure we may have to test it without your suit to draw anything off.. " He held up his hand. "But, whenever you feel ready for that.."

"You want me to take off my suit now?" She asked looking over to his hand.

"Only if you want, if you don't feel ready then we don't have to.. But if you do then i'll be right here with you.." Arkady smiled, squeezing her hand again

"Well, I am not wearing anything underneath it. I need you to leave the room." She blushed with a smile.

"I said I wouldn't leave you and I won't, but..." Arkady turned his back to a bare wall and studiously looked at a light fixture there...

She laughed for a moment. "Very well, do you have a change of clothes for me?"

still looking at the light fixture, he motioned to a set of robes hung on a rack. "nice craftsmanship" he remarked as he faced the wall

She laughed heartedly. "I will be quick." Before Arkady knew it Lilac tossed the rubber suit onto his shoulder. "Here." the tight white robe clasped her body tightly.

Ark turned, looking her up and down, and smiling. "How do you feel?"

"Better, thank you." Lilac suddenly leaned forward and gave Arkady a soft kiss on his lips.

Arkady returned the kiss, letting his flesh hand run through her hair by reflex. When they parted he blushed slightly. "Anytime.."

She smiled softly to him. "I will see you later in command." She waved to Arkady with her delicate fingers before heading out of the room.

Arkady, still holding his tools, waved as he watched her go, then turning he began cleaning up, Lilac on his thoughts as he whistled while he worked. He stopped, looked at the door again, and smiled...

"Damn it Malachi, there's secure and there's secure, this is ridiculous...I'm going to need some more specialised tools if I'm going to break this code.... but I will do it, I have to do it now...I'm a woman with a mission!"

She made her way back towards the hangar bay and the Ignatious, all the equipment she needed was on board

It took a few more hours to get close enough to the system's star for it's radiation to mask the Darke's thruster exhaust....when it was safe, Cain powered away and transited to slipstream, heading back to the Guild with the location of Gethsemane....

"Sometimes Cami you are a slob, you really should put things away when you've finished with them, then there's at least a slim chance you might actually be able to find them again"

She kicked the bulkhead in anger and continued to berate herself. She went and sat in the pilots chair and stared out into the hangar... she felt so despondent, so alone....more alone than she normally felt when she was on her own, she doubted her ability to fit in with the guild, wasn't sure if fitting in was what she wanted. Perhaps she should just leave.... go back to her apartment, spend a little of her money...have some fun. She had just about made up her mind when she noticed the hangar bay doors opening........Cain was back

"Lilac, have everyone meet on command. Time for show and tell..." He called, and headed out of the bay.

He glanced over at the Ignatious, and saw Cami in the cockpit window. He gave her a little smile and a wink as he passed....

She secured the Ignatious and made her way back towards command, eager to see what he had discovered

He looked over at the crew as they came in.

"Good of you to come...." He said, with a snicker. "What you're looking at is an enhanced view of the surface of the planet Gethsemane....specifically, the compound where your pals..." He indicated Arkady. "..have set up their operation. To the right, you can see the RF emanations from this location; radio signals that could not be naturally occuring." He explained.

"The heat signatures are a cluster of ship, all grounded. No indications of any orbital defenses or patrols....in fact, no defenses of any kind. Which says to me, they're well hidden......the location of the camp itself is judicious, as it's surrounded by rocky and mountainous terrain....the only landing areas are either within the camp itself, or here...." He pointed, and a red crosshairs highlighted an area some distance away. "Over 50 kilometers away."

The view changed to a schematic of the planetary system.

"The entire system appears uninhabited with the exception of that planet....and only the area where your friends have set up shop." He continued. "Isolated, remote, topographically defensible....sounds like a perfect candidate to me..." He folded his arms across his chest.

[This message has been edited by Tio (edited July 27, 2002).]

"Arkady's the expert on these people.....what do you think?" He asked, looking over at Arkady as he asked the man. "Would that work?"

He took a closer look at the display, putting his black hand on his chin.

"I think the way to go is not to be seen at all or as little as possible... Just a matter of finding that way.."

"That's it ...... we're just going to go? You're awfully trusting aren't you...tell me Lilac what do you know about Cain...do you believe that he or his information can be trusted....how do you know he's not leading you...us into a trap? You've already admitted that his ship is incredibly advanced, so is his technological know how...he could have falsified that information"

She looked over at Cain and smiled

"Of course I'm not saying that he would betray us...but I think you should do a little more research before you go charging in"

Tioa climbed into the pilot's seat, buckled herself in and read the co-ordinates that Lilac had set. She transited to slipstream, and a short time later the ship appeared in the Gethsemane system. "Well, we're here." She announced.

[This message has been edited by Tio (edited July 28, 2002).]

"You can always go look for yourself..." He said. "You got a ship..."

He heard Karin's comment about assigning jobs, and was about to comment when the new girl took the initiative and transited the ship to slipstream. He put a hand on the console for additional support during the transit.

"Looks like the matter's been decided..." He remarked, as the ship came out in the Gethsemane system....

For the moment.

As they entered Slipstream Cami frowned

"This Guild....how has it survived? it is unstructured, undisciplined, each individual appears to act on their own ...surely as a Guild you should act as one, think as one...move as one. Certainly decisions such as when and where you are going need to be decided by the entire group"

She looked at Karin and smiled

"Your suggestion is the best one I've heard since I've been on board... I agree completely...we should be assigned specific roles...at the moment we're running around like 'headless fowl' too many people trying to do the job of one"

She looked over at Lilac and grinned

"So what do you think?"

Finally Tioa's gaze stopped at Lilac and she waited for the avatar's reaction to the flight through slipstream and to the other's comments.

"And, Cami as far as Cain goes. I trust him to give me the correct codes because I don't believe he would endanger his own life by being present on the ship. He is to Nietz type for that." The ship shot out of slip stream. Its trajectory was only a few feet from the planets sensors.

"We should be okay out here for now." Lilac turned her head slightly towards Karen. "In the mad chaos of interchanging guild members we have yet to replace many of the responsibilities of the group. Jobs would be a good idea. I suggest we do that now. What experiences do you have?" She looked to Karin first before the others. "We need a new medical personal, that's at least one replacement we need." She glanced over to Tioa.

The gold pixie held up her hands and shook her head. "No Lilac, I'm not a medic." She said seriously. "If no-one else has medical skills, we might have to hire a medic from somewhere else." She said. "But, I'll be happy to serve as ship's pilot." Tioa added with a little smile.

"I have some medical training...if no-one else has...well then I guess I'm the woman for the job... although I'll warn you now...my bedside manner leaves a lot to be desired"

"Covert ops...definitely more my style... consider the position filled Lilac"

Malachi glanced around the deck. "I'll do whatever needs to be done. Basically like I have been."

"Work Faster Monkey!" The Mantis Pride Nietzchean shot out with his whip and slashed Daybreak on the back.
Daybreak flinced from the immediate pain seering through his back but kept the load of wood in his hands and dumped it on the pile. Around the pile more slaves were rushing the wood back and forth to construct an makeshift wooden building, all equally being harrased by Nietzchans.

"Now, get back to collecting food!" The Nietzchean behind him shouted.
"You know" Daybreak began. "It would be a lot more efficient if you and you kin with there enhanced strength were to help..."
"Shut up you purple deformity!" The familiar crackle of the whip was followed by more pain.

"Gandene!" Another Nietzchean standing next to an huge log fire shouted. "Get yourself over here and supervise the kludges working on the fire, I need to check on the Hunting parties."

Gandene growled at Daybreak before wandering off. Daybreak had a chance to look around at all he and his fellow slaves had accomplished. They had managed to clear a huge area of tree's from this lush garden, and had now built huts, fires, food pens... all themselves with the Nietzcheans just forcing them to do it. He was now no longer with anyone to talk to, his only friend, an Persied had recently disspeared. He assumed the Nietzcheans must have killed him, but he couldn't see why - he never did anything wrong.

Daybreak suddenly whelped from the massive pain of an heavy iron boot stamping on his tail.
He shot around to be stared down by an huge Nietzchean who was rubbing his foot over his tail. Daybreak yelled with pain.

"Please, you just have to ask!" He said quickly in between sharp breaths from the pain.

"If whatever in Drago's name your race is chose to keep this stupid tail in there Gene pool..." He stamped on it again. "They really must have been stupid. I imagine someone killed them all, which is why I have only ever seen you."

"Some race's don't like to tinker with there own bodies." He snatched his tail out from underneath the Nietzcheans boot while he had lifted it to get ready for another stamp.

"Which is why some races are inferior!" He grabbed Daybreak by the hair and threw him towards the woods. "Go and clear away four trees in that corner to use on the fires!"

"But... I don't want to cut down the trees."

The Nietzchean armed his guass rifle and pulled it up to his shoulder.
"This isn't an discussion, inferior! Get to work!"

OOC: Hi Everyone...

[This message has been edited by Tio (edited July 30, 2002).]

Shaking his head, "looks like we're committed whether we're ready for it or not, we'll have to keep the dropship off their scanners, we can insert on the nightside of the planet and then we'll leg it in once we're at the landing area... Cain? what do you think?"

He turned to his sensor readouts along the back wall, trying to hide his emotions, his glance catching Lilac's.

D'

Nietzcheans were walking around outside kicking the curled up bodies of the slaves to get them to move again and Daybreak decided he wouldn't fight them today so got up in an single leap and walked out of the tent.

He was met by a large Nietzchean with his guass gun leavled at him.

"Where is Gandene?" Daybreak immedietly asked. Gandene had been his supervisor over the past few days, and though he still made enough degeratory comments and insults, he was yet to actually physically hurt Daybreak.

"Shut up purple freak" The new Nietzchean said, slightly nervously it seemed.

"I just want to know where he is!"

"I said shut up!" The Nietzchean used the butt of his rifle to whack Daybreak in the temple causing him to stagger back a little. This attack felt almost different - motivated more by fear more than anger.

"Your in the Hunting party today, Monkey." He told him. "Im sure your used to it, being as your race seems to be primate deformities."

He nudged Daybreak with a few others past the main Nietchean cabins down into the works. As he passed Daybreak overheard a few Nietzcheans conversations.

"..We lost another one, Ganade last night."

"Ganade was a fool. He had it coming to him." The other one replied.

"Thats the third in so many nights..." The other one began. "What are we going to do?" He whispered loudly.

The men then dropped out of earshot and Daybreak was assembled in a small crowd and given hunting instructions.

"You seem to know this Pride, Arkady....how do they operate? Any specific methods they commonly use that we can exploit, tactics we should be on the lookout for?" He asked.

"And you can forget me for medic..." He added, glancing over at the others discussing jobs. "I kill people, not heal them.."

[This message has been edited by Tio (edited August 01, 2002).]

"The Mercado is one of seven major families, or bloodhouses, of the Pride, there's smaller families but they fall under one house or another. The Alpha's house, holds the most prominent position of the Pride, of course it changes with Alphas."

"Mantis society is very ritualistic, every house is bound by rules outlined in the Codices, sort of their tao, their rules for society. Out and out killing amongst the pride is frowned upon, so they do everything by the Codies. Of course a lot of times the Codices are twisted to suit their needs.
Every Mantis has his first loyalty to himself and his house, and the houses are constantly in a struggle to outdo the others, where a Kodiak might read Nietzche and go work out, a Mantis reads The Art of War, and Machivelli, and then puts it to use...

Expect their leaders to be thinking three steps ahead of everything, because that is how it's done in their society. And never, ever underestimate one, remember what they prize, stupid, brash and foolishness have no place in their society, and nietzcheans like that have no chance of mating - ever."

He lifted his hand, showing the black fibers. "I know that from experience."

"We have a few advantages, the first being is that slavery was outlawed more than a century ago, it still goes on to a smaller degree, and depending who is Alpha and in control it has, for the most part, a blind eye turned to it. The current Alpha is a Zhao, and would look the other way until it became too obvious, a threat to the harmony of the pride, or an advantage to use against the Mercado. Other houses see it the same way..."

"In other words they won't risk their operation, or do anything too overt."

Arkady leaned against the console.

"The other advantage we have is that the Mantis are so used to seeing plots behind everything that sometimes they are slow to react because they are considering all the options. If they are taken off guard sometimes they are also slow to adapt to rapidly changing situations. This is not true with their best leadership, and sometimes when you think they are being slow to react they have already got you in position for the kill. But in general with the lower ranks of officers the reverse is true..."

"To deal with them you have to think like they do, suspect everything, look at every situation, and think ahead. There's a reason they've survived as long as they have and stayed off the radar of the other prides and most other races. Most Prides believe the Mantis were destroyed in the Fall, they're that good at it."

D'

[This message has been edited by Tio (edited August 01, 2002).]

*****Time passes, flying, blah blah blah*******

The dropship touched down softly at the landing site, and the group filed out.

"According to sensor data, the compound of interest is just 50 km that way," Malachi said, pointing. "And we're about an hour from the sun going down here. We best get a good move on before dark."