Another view of Gene Starwind's 'Outlaw Star' which shows part of the cockpit/bridge room. Yeah GS's 'real' 'OS' starship is pretty small. but my version gives it four decks and makes it about he size of the 'USS Defiant' from ST/Deep Space 9.

ANGEL WINGS

DISCLAIMER: OK Saiya, it's all yours. First I wanna thank Mr T for the use of his Angels and stuff. Then I wanna thank everyone else who has been allowing us to use their creations here like Thom Beers for the use of his ice road truckers Hugh, Drew, Rick, Eric, Alex and Bear. I took the liberty of naming the 3WA academy in Furool City on Shimougou after Mr Haruka Takachiho in honour of his creations- the Angels. How was that, Yuri? Great, kiddo. Oh hai it sure was, Kei! Now since we left ya up in the air last time let's get to Ch 37 without any further meandering, shall we? Why is Zack Zero back and oro does he want with Suba Marina Oki? Who will reach the 'safe house' first? We'll find out momentarily gang. Here 'tis:-

CHAPTER 37

'The Siege That Never Was' or 'Heaven Is A Quiet Holodeck'

Kei was beginning to get a 'Hydroxylein' headache and exploded. "Shut the Hell up! The pair of ya! I've caught 'Black Ghost' three times already so I think I can nab him again, don't you? It's your Fxxxing toys he's gonna be after so the sooner we use 'em the better, right?" yelled the firebrand angrily. The Boss was clearly pissed off.

Sally shook her head while Kira sobbed quietly. "No way, Marshall. We will not allow anyone to use our 'time sights' as long as 'Black Ghost' is still at large and that, ma'am, is final." stated Sally Mimoru.

"You're durn tooting, ma'am!" agreed Kira Gordon and she dabbed at her aizu (eyes) with the hanky Sally had handed to her.

"And ya can't make us neither!" yelped the schoolkid defiantly.

Kei bristled. "Oh I can't, can't I? (Kei balled up her fists until she noticed Sally was looking worried) OK, we'll just leave that for now, shall we? As soon as we rendezvous with my ship, I'll send out search parties to find 'Ghostie' and bring his ass back here. Will 'that' satisfy ya?" snarled the Boss.

Sally and Kira nodded.

"OK by me." said Sally.

"I g-g-guess so, ma'am." sniffled Kira. Meanwhile--

Despite having had to move her 'LZ' (Landing Zone) Yuri and her crew had still managed to land Kei's huge Mother ship ('Lovely Angel 2') a full hour before Kei glided her smaller shuttle ('Raphael') onto her own 'LZ' half a kilometer from the ancient Terran Swiss style ski lodge chalet where Kei had taken shelter with Baby Keitarou a couple of years before. Yuri loaded up a few skysleds with the requested personnel and some necessary supplies. Leaving the ship in Kiva Nerese's capable hands Yuri took her seat beside Legato in the leading skysled. Like the 'Raph' the 'LA2' remained under 'cloak' when the small group of skysleds lifted off for the two kilometer hop to meet up with the Boss and her two newest passengers.

While they were gone Lt Sandra 'Tigress' Sandoval of 'Starfleet' who was Kiva's 'navvie' on the 'USS Coriander' was busily 'showing the ropes' to novice 'space navvie' Nami Richards who was eager to learn even though she was already an accomplished ocean navigator back on Terra.

Yuri's teams arrived first and moved all of their gear, personnel and sleds inside the lodge. A half hour later another skysled touched down with a redhead at the controls. Riding 'shotgun' beside her and cradling a plasma rifle sat a kawaii ash blonde. Behind them sat a cute little brunette schoolgirl and a mammoth two and a half meters tall white neko (cat). Kei hopped out and motioned for Sally to take up her position on one side of the chalet's door and for Kira to take cover behind the sled.

She drew one of her twin Mark XIII's and entered her personal vidcode into the door's control panel. Nothing happened! Again she tried with the same result. Now worried Kei drew her second cannon and used it to rap on the door. "O'Halloran! 3WA! 'UG'! Open this shimatta (damned) door or I'll blow it open, dammit!" she yelled and a demure giggle was heard from the other side of the door.

'Who is it, please?" asked a soft willowy voice.

"Ya know damned well who the Fxxx it is, ya vacuum-headed dodobrain! Now you open this Kami shimatta (God damned) door or else!" roared a very angry Boss Lady.

"Hi there. I'm Yuri. C'mon in, Miss and please bring your tomos (friends)." said Yuri to Sally when the door opened. Yuri totally ignored Kei.

"Kira! Get your little ass over here and get inside! Mugghi! Quickly! You too, Doc!" growled an impatient Kei, hustling all of them inside. Then she sealed and bolted the heavy oakenlike door.

"Yuri, we've got some 'time sight' crap about half a kilo from here on the 'Raph'. Where the Hell's my ship?" demanded Kei.

Yuri pointed. "About two kilos over that rise but it's still 'cloaked', Boss." replied Yuri. Now she was beginning to get worried. Kei wasn't usually this panic prone.

"Galdonte, the 'Beast of Krull' is dead and so's 'Morbius' but I've lost track of 'Trigon'. I---" began the Boss.

"Relax, worrywart. Raven told us her daddy isn't with Berringer anymore so our troubles are over. That's why I deactivated the damp--" reassured Yuri before Kei's fist caught her on the chin and rocked her backwards into the wall.

"You brainless baka idiotic moron! The Fxxx with 'Trigon'! I figurd with 'Morbius' and the jolly green giant both being 'roshii' (dead) he'd go back home! However, 'Black Ghost' won't, will he? He's after the 'time sight', airhead! He put the 'Scarecrow' in place at Kira's school because he knew she was experimenting with the 'time sight' gadget! I told Anton to send Lee (Chan) and 'KR' (Keitarou Riff) to 'Jakotsu Academy' on 'Klaes 4' to grab him and impound any of Kira's stuff she'd left there. Send 'Dog Boy' (InuYasha) and 'Wolf Cub' (Kouga) to bring back Sally's 'time sight' crap from the 'Raphael'. Here. Give 'em my remote tracker. (Kei handed Yuri a small device like an ancient Terran TV remote control box along with her set of vidkeys) My skysled's outside. Tell 'em to hurry back with that shit. Activate that 'dampening field' again, stupid! "Ghostie's got one of those control systems' toys like he stole from 'Q' two years ago- ya remember? Take Sally and the kid to the sub-basement and guard 'em. They're both in real danger. Let's go, dummy! Move your ass and that's a Fxxxing order, Donovan!" yelled Kei who was already the chalet's arsenol of weaponry and explosives which she had stockpiled there last year.

"Shit!! Mark XXs and Mark XXis but no Mark XXXs or XXXIs here dammit! Guess these'll just have to do. Rally! Rukia! Start loading up these cannons. Ryuuk! Light! Start handing out hand blasters, ion cannons, laser swords, plasma rifles and disruptor guns. 'Bomber Mae'! See oro (what) the Fxxx we got in the way of explosives. Look guys, I got absolutely no idea oro (what) the Fxxx 'Ghostie's up to nor oro (what) his capabilities may be now so don't take any chances with him! Shoot to kill! Kira! (She tossed the kid a plasma rifle and some extra magazines for it) Take these and get below with Sally! Ivy! Harley! (Lord Ivanhoe and Jonathan Harlock were beside her in an instant) Get those two downstairs and lock yourselves in with 'em. Guard them with your lives. Anything comes near that door that don't say 'Midoriko Kaede' you open fire! Everybody listen up! The password is 'Midoriko Kaede' and don't forget it because it could cost you your life! Where's 'Dog Boy' and 'Wolf Cub'? They should've been back here ages ago! Can't trill 'em either. Blue (Legato Bluesummers)! Cover the upstairs! Neko! The roof! The rest of ya prepare for a siege! (Kei snapped her fingers) Nyssa! I just remembered. We got a transport room back ther somewhere. (Kei pointed to the rear of the chalet) Find it and beam those two baka assholes back here with Sally's junk stat! That equipment'll work even with Yuri's 'dampening field' in place around us. (Nyssa ran for the 'beaming centre' and a few minutes later both hanmyou and youkai materialized. They were each trying to lift an antigrav trolley filled to overflowing with Sally Mimoru's 'time sight' prototype and all of her research stuff) You two! Stop fighting over that trolley and get below! Defend Kira and Sally to the death! Harley and Ivy are already down there with the kids. Password's 'Midoriko Kaede', guys. Use it first or they'll start shootin' at ya! Yo! Somebody rep us up some grub! It's gonna be a real long night, tomos (friends)! Leona (Ozaki the tank gal from AD Tank Police)! You, Ichigo (Kurosaki the substitute soul reaper who was better than all the Seretai put together and then some) and 'Dynamo' (the Triceraton raptor dinosaur thing that ran the 'LA2' as 2nd Engineer) take a Mark XXI- one for each of ya and defendt the front door! Hand out those Mark XXs. I think we got five of 'em. Defend the back door with 'em! Yuri! Did ya bring any Mark XXXs from the ship?" barked Kei like a storm trooper.

"Hell no! How the oni (devil) was I supposed to know that you were planning to start 'Galactic War Ten Thousand'!" howled the violet-maned minx vixen officer.

"Wait! The 'Raph's got a 'God Gun', don't it?" cried the Boss.

"Yeah, GI Josephine but did ya forget that we need both Kome and Mar to fire it and we can't relay 'em from here?" advised Yuri who was slapping in power packs and handing out cannons as fast as she could.

"Hey, 'Bomber Kitten'! Take the Ninja turtles ('Mikey', 'Leo', 'Donnie' and 'Raph'), their brother and sister (Casey Jones and April O'Neal) with ya! Go out and mine the grounds as best as ya can! Let's move it, people! Move it, move it, move IT!" said Kei. She pulled off her flightsuit and began unloading the contents of its pockets. Then she began strapping on battle armour and weaponry. When she was done Kei looked so much like the ex-CIA ops leader in 'Commando' that Arnie Schwarzenegger would have been envious of all of the 'Red Marshall's goodies. Kei stuck a cheroot between her teeth and charged up a Gatling impulse beam gun after slapping in four ionic energy power packs. Each pack contained enough energy fo four to six thousand plasma discharge bursts.

"Where are you off to, Rambo?" demanded Revy Roberts.

"I'm gonna recon our perimeter. Ya wanna come?" growled Kei and Revy smiled. She drew out both 'Cutlass' automatic pistols.

"I'm right behind ya, Boss." she said, lighting her cigarette and Kei's cheroot. "We'll be back later, Rock so don't wait up." teased Revy.

"Open the door, Kouga and don't let anyone in unless they know that password!" snarled the redhead. Then she and the 'Black Lagoon' babe disappeared into the hillside- literally!

Both of them were wrapped in 'Chameleon Cloaks' which automatically matched themselves to the background thus allowing their users to 'blend' into the scenery making them virtually invisible.

"As quiet as a tomb out here, man. Ya sure that old 'BG' is coming here?" asked a dubious Revy.

"He'll be here, kiddo. Sure as Hell he will. I guarantee it. (Could the Boss Have guessed wrong for once? We shall see, my tomos) I'm certain he's been tracking my shuttle and my ship all across the cosmos. By now he knows all about those 'time sights' and he knows he'll need both the Doc and Kira to use 'em. I think he still wants a 'God Gun' to boot! Ssh!! I think I just heard something. Aw shit! It's just Mae with her noisemakers. C'mon Revy. Nothin' going on out here. Let's get back to the house." said Kei disgustedly. Like Revy she too thirsted for action.

Meanwhile--

Unknown to any of them 'Black Ghost' was busily keeping his part of the 'bargain' he'd made with the redhead. He was orbiting a small world called 'Dantoonine' halfway across the 'Aquarian Galaxy' and upon the morrow he would begin his new life as a 'GPI'- a galactic private investigator. So with John Berringer and his other cohorts safely under lock and key their mission was indeed almost over- or was it?

All that remained was to activate 'time sight' and send everyone back home.

The next morning an intergalactic space 'trucker' named Victoria Terpsichore reported sighting the 'Tondo' a small shuttlecraft, docked at a space truck relay rest point at 'Morabito Junction' in the 'Yusuke Peninsula' on a backworld called 'Dantoonine'. Further investigation by the 'ISSP' (Inter Solar Systems Police) revealed the issuance of a galactic private investigator's enquiry license to one 'Blake Togutha' and thus the whereabouts of 'Black Ghost' was at long last confirmed.

Since 'BG' seemed to be starting a new life for himself the 'UG' considered him to no longer be a threat to the cosmos so his name was taken off the 'Cowboys' 'Wanted' lists. No more would Punch and Judy show his mug shots on 'Big Shot'. Finally Garner decided he had to break the news to Kei that her 'siege' was never going to happen.

After four fruitless hours he realized that the 'neutralizing barrier' was still up meaning of course that relay signals could not get through to the mountain lodge. Territorial Sector Chief Charles Augustus Garner called a 'think tank' vidcom relay meeting of all the chiefs, leaders and representatives of every major law enforcement agency and peace keeping entity in the known Universe. He explained his dilemna and asked for suggestions. Bad move, Chuckie!

"Just send out someone to tell the old girl the good news, chaps. Nothing to it, what?" suggested a jovial James Bond of Terra's MI5 organization formerly known as British Intelligence.

"Didn't you hear oro (what) Charlie just told us, Jimmy? She is still expecting a siege and an attack from 'Black Ghost' which means--" began Chif of the 'Aquarian Galaxy' Andre Francis Gooley.

"She'll annihilate anyone or anything that comes anywhere near that chalet. Volunteers to go out there and tell our Katie the good news personally?" chuckled Chief of 3WA Unit 237 Donald 'Mr Popo' Poporo.

"Well if that is the only way to tell her then just do it. Draw straws, play tiddley winks, have a 'Karaoke' contest or something but send somebody out there to tell that Gaelic guttersnipe that the war's over and to come back home tout sweet and that's an order, dammit!" roared Vittorio Francisco Xavier Galadriel, the 'God almighty' of the 3WA and the 'UG'.

Every person on those vidconference relays shuffled their feet and looked nervous. Suddenly a new voice shook them all out of their reveries.

"It's OK, gents and ladies. No need to get your knickers in a twist. I'll do it. I'd be more than happy to go up there and tell this 'Reds' the good news for ya." offered Captain Zacharias Zero of the 'EDF' (Earth Defense Federation) with a twinkle in his merry aizu (eyes) which were the same colour as 'ice in a polar dawn'.

Everyone looked at this guy like he had just escaped from the mental institution on 'Kalibri 9' and then they all started shouting at the same time.

Zach Zero ('Cosmic Warrior Zero', an old one which was part of the 'Harlock Sagas') looked on amusedly from his pilot's seat aboard his starship until 'Mr Popo's stentorian roar to "Shut the Fxxx up!" silenced the lot of them.

"Just give me the coordinates and leave the rest to me. Don't worry, lads and lassies. I do have an ulterior motive for helping ya out. You've got my former executive officer (Marina Oki) working for your 3WA and 'UG' and I'm gonna do my damnedest to woo her back over to my crew. OK, how's about it? Do I get the job or don't I?" demanded the devilish 'EDF' officer.

"Of course you do, sir. Sector 9 Chief Gustav will give you proper directions. He and Unit 237 Chief Poporo, 'Aquarian Galaxy' Chief Gooley and Territorial Sector Chief Garner will be glad to accompany you and your crew, Captain. You can tell Katie er Marshall O'Halloran and Bridget er Wing Commander Donovan that I will be reassigning both of them at the conclusion of this mission. Domo arigatou (Thank you very much), sir and the best of luck to you, Captain Zero." said 'Uncle Vito' Galadriel.

Zero grinned and saluted the 'God of the 3WA' who smiled and returned his salute. Later--

"Welcome aboard the 'Liberator', Chiefs. I'm your Captain- Zack Zero. Glad to have you along. If you'd please give those coordinates to my 'navvie' here- Lt Kura. That's him over by the vidwindos." said Zero and he pointed out a small 'Talaxian' who looked a Helluva lot like Joe from the ancient Terran 'Three Stooges' comedy trio. Chief Garner gave Kura the necessary locating information and then strolled back to the others where Andre and Anton (Gooley and Gustav) were chatting with a grinning Lt Commander Xavier Lynch, Zero's current exec. Zack finished conferring with Lt Commander Lazlo Lundigan, his Chief Engineer, stopped to sign his ship's vidlog and finally sat down with his guests who were all chuckling.

"I'm game, boys. What's the joke, fellas?" he asked and Don Poporo guffawed.

"You ain't never met our 'Katie', have ya, Captain Zack?" he asked amusedly.

"Nope. Never had the pleasure yet, Chief. Why?" replied Zero.

"Because if you had you wouldn't be so damned quick to volunteer to bring her bad news, son." said Garner dryly.

"She usually shoots first and then asks questions, Zero." explained Gooley.

"Oh no!! Not her!! Not the frigging 'Angel of Death' herself? You can't possibly be referring to O'Halloran, can you?" cried Lynch and they all nodded.

"Yup. Our very own 'Demon of Dublin', Number One." said Gustav.

"And our very own 'Rose of Tralee' is with her, Mr Lynch. Wing Commander Donovan." agreed Poporo.

Having absolutely no idea what they were talking about Zero continued with business as usual.

"Shields up and 'cloak' us, Mr Lundigan. Make planetfall a kilo South of the coordinates Mr Garner gave us. We'll go in on skysleds, gentlemen." ordered a suddenly not so devil may care Captain Zero after his exec whispered in his ear.

At midnight the 'Liberator' touched down in total darkness.

"I sure as Fxxx ain't going calling on that Amazonian Harpie in the middle of the night, Andy. Anyone wanna go with the good Captain- right now?" asked Don Poporo.

Anton, Andre and Charles all emphatically shook their heads.

"Don't look at me, Zack! I ain't going snipe hunting in the dark!" said Lynch.

Zero shrugged his shoulders. "Then we go in the morning, gentlemen. Make sure we have four sleds ready to go by then, Lazlo. Saiya (Zero's yeoman was Sub-Ensign Saiya St John, a green-haired 'Eloisian' maiden), show the Chiefs to their quarters. I bid you good night, gentlemen. If you require anything, Sub-Ensign St John will get it for you. Lynch, the comm is yours. I'll be in my ready room. Saiya, after you've attended to our guests, please bring me the duty vidlogs to sign." yawned Zero.

"This way, me boyos. We have you billetted belowdecks." said the short but striking green-haired 'Eloisian' girl. The room assigned to the four chiefs was a mite cramped since Zero usually used it to store extra fuel cells for his surface crafts. "Gomen (Sorry) guys but we're reallyshort of space and we have no proper accommodations for VIPs like yourseleves. You'll have to flip coins to decide who gets the uppr berths. Sorry but this really is the bst I could manage on such short notice." she apologized.

"These quarters are just fine, Miss St John. All of us were field agents at one time or another so we're used to a little discomfort. Please tell the Captain that we will meet him on his bridge at dawn. Thank you." said Garner with a smile.

'Subby' Saiya did a double take. "Dawn? Hell, we don't get up that early, Chief. The Commander will meet you at 0730 hours (7:30 AM). (She lowered her voice to a whisper) You know of course that in this part of the galaxy dawn arrives at 0200 hours (2 AM), Chief, don't you? (Saiya resumed her normal voice level) Like I was saying if you need anything, just ask. G'Night." she said and turned to leave.

"Wait a sec. How do we call ya, Honey?" asked Don.

"I'm an 'Eloisian', Sweetie and we're almost like BetaZoids so just think of what ya want and I'll know it. See ya ashita (tomorrow), Mr Popo." said the Subby and she left.

"Tomorrow come early, me boyos as our Katie would say so good night. Flip a coin? Not necessary. Chief Gooley and I will take the top bunks. Any objections, gentlemen? Nai (No)? Then I bid you all good night." said Garner. Anton gave Charlie a leg up while Don boosted Andy up into his berth. Then the Unit 9 and Unit 237 chiefs took the lower bunks. Soon the entire quartet were snoring away like grampusses.

"Did you get 'God almighty's cherubs all tucked in for the night, Saiya?" asked Zero while signing his vidlogs which had just been handed to him by his yeoman.

"Yeah but I had to tell that old guy we ain't early risers, Zackie. He thought we were leaving at dawn." replied Subby St John.

"By 'that old guy' I assume you mean Territorial Sector Chief Charles Augustus Garner. Please try and remember that every one of those dudes outranks me by at least two sets of 'railroad tracks' (captain's bars), Darling and 'that old guy' is second only to 'God almighty' himself- Vito Galadriel. Off with ya now and get some sleep. Have 'Tud' (the 'Liberator's very own 'CC') trill me at 0600 (6 AM). I'll probably sack out in here. (Saiya turned to leave) Saiya? (She turned back. "Zack?" she asked) You er that is er you don't have to come with u tomorrow if--" said a flustered Zero.

"I'll be waiting on my sled at 0730 (7:30 AM), sir. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. G'Night Zack." replied Saiya and she headed for her own quarters. And--

A kilo and a half up the side of the mountain Kei, Yuri and their ragtag entourage had a sleepless night and endured a lonely vigil. They had no idea that their final threat was no more and they would not know that until the morrow.

At 0730 (7:30 AM) six skysleds rocketed into the air and had soon reached their destination.
"Sense anything, Saiya love?" whispered Lynch.

"Yes sir, I do. Switch on our homing beacon. Use ancient Morse code. Those signals will penetrate the beam barrier around the house. There are too many minds there for me to isolate and lock onto any one of them. I sense no hostility- only fear and vigilance." said the "Eloisian' and at a nod from Zero, Don tapped out a Morse message:

'Black Ghost no longer a threat. Hold your fire. We are 3WA and we are coming in. We are travelling with 'Earth Defense Federation' ship 'Liberator' commanded by Zacharias Zero. Please do not fire on us, Deirdre.- Charles Garner.'

An answer was immediately forthcoming:

'Come ahead. Be careful. 'MMH' has 'fixed' front grounds of edifice. Follow in footsteps of 'AWG'. He knows the way in. Tap signal bar on door three times. Enter same vidcode used last visit here.- Kierran O'Halloran.'

Xavier Lynch was puzzled and as confused as Hell. "Oro (What) the Fxxx? It's all gibberish! Who the Sam Hell's this 'MMH' and why do they warn us she's 'fixed' the grounds and who's 'AWG', Donnie?" yelled the executive officer loudly.

"Well Lynch, 'MMH' is Minnie Mae Hopkins, our 'Blonde Bomber' and demo expert. If she has 'fixed' anything that means it's mined an/or booby-trapped. 'AWG' is Chief Anton Wilhelm Gustav here. I trust that you 'do' remember the correct vidcode, Willy?" replied Garner.

"And the correct path through the scary boom-booms, my tomo (friend)?" added Poporo.

"Yeah so jsut follow in my footsteps. I'll go real slow and you guys make shimatta (damned) sure that you put your feet exactly where I put mine. Let's go." said Gustav and he slowly led them ont the chalet's veranda without incident.

Next he tapped the door's signal bar thrice and finally he tapped in the vidcode word 'Roscommon' on the door's keypad.

"The Terran county in Erin (Ireland or Eire) where Katie's ancestours originated." explained the Unit 9 Sector Chief.

"C'mon in. Any tricks and we'll ventilate your asses." growled Revy Roberts as the door swished aside. Gustav entered the lodge first followed closely by Zero, Lynch, St John and the remaining chiefs.

"Oro's (What's) all this shimatta (damned) crap about 'Ghostiie' no longer being a threat to us, Anton?" demanded Kei as she lowered her rifle.

Matters were speedily explained and Kei scowled at herChiefs. Before she could frame a reply--

"Well! Will ya look at oro (what) the neko (cat) dragged in? Where'd you spring from, Nickie?" demanded 'Derringer' Merrill Stryfe. "Folks, some of ya may remember the preacher here- Nicholas D Wolfwood." she added.

"Oro's (What's) the 'D' stand for?" asked Leona Ozaki.

"Don't ask. It's unpronounceable, Leona." answered Gene Starwind.

"You guys know Wolfie? Reverend Wolfwood is the 'Liberator's chaplain." explained Lynch.

"Did this 'reverend' here tell ya he's a 'gunman', a 'Gung Ho' gunman? And he's almost as quick on the draw as our own Vash the Stampede?" chuckled the 'Blonde Bomber' who was headed outside with Neko Olson to defuse her 'party favours' around the building.

"Now see here, my children! I am not as bad as all that ya know. Didn't you hear Commander Lynch? I'm a chaplain now." grinned Wolfwood. "Where's Legato these days?" he asked.

"Pilotin' the 'Angel 1' or the 'Angel 3'. I forget which. How've ya been, Nick?" replied Kei and she faced Garner.

"All this 'Ghostie' now a 'GPI' crap is for real then, 'Uncle Charlie'? Really and truly?" she demanded and the big cheese chief nodded.

"Yeah, it's all on the level, Boss." said Don Poporo.

"OK, that's good enough for me. Yuri! Deactivate that damned 'neutralizing barrier'. I guess we're all going the Fxxx home, right boyos?" growled the redhead.

"If we can hitch a ride on the 'Angel 2' we are, Katie." replied Gooley. He didn't fancy another night with the 'I talk in my sleep' Poporo and the 'Restless all night' Garner!

"Anyone who wants to ride back with us is more than welcome. Zackie? Where ya headed?" replied Kei.

"Back to 'Venus Central Command', Reds. I was told that you have one of my ex-officers here. Ensign Marina Oki? I want to take her with me if that's OK with you, ma'am?" asked Zero and Kei shrugged.

"By now she's back at the Academy on 'Shimougou', Zackie. She's welcome to join back up wth ya again if that's really oro (what) the 'Suba' wants." replied the Boss with a mischievous gleam in her emerald aizu (eyes).

"Suba? As in 'Subaltern'? Ya made a mistake there, love. Marina Oki is only an 'Ensign'." corrected Zero's exec.

"The 3WA and the 'UG' Command promoted her a few times so I seriously doubt that she'll want to go back to being a lowly 'Ensign', pal." said Kome Sawaguchi.

Zero sighed. "I guess we can get to 'VCC' a few days late. Mr Lynch, we are escorting the 'Angel 2' back home. Please inform the 'VCC' and the 'UEF' of our change of plans and new destination. Anyone who's flying back with us grab a sled and follow me. Wagons roll!" chortled Zero.

"Pack up your junk and grab a transport to the 'Angel 2'. My ship is leaving here in half an hour. Zack? As of now the 'Liberator' is a 3WA vessel. That means you take your orders from the ranking 3WA officer and that would be me. Got it?" said Kei igniting a cheroot.

"You? I'll be damned if I, a Captain, take any orders from a 3WA 'Lieutenant' (Kei's rank the last time she and Zero had crossed paths) and a female to boot! Chief Garner, aren't you the ranking 3WA officer here, sir?" demanded Zack Zero and Charlie shook his head.

"Nope. The 'Marshall' here is, son." he replied with a twinkle in his grey aizu (eyes). Zero noticed Kei's uniform blazer which she had just thrown across her shoulders.

"Marshall? All the way from second looey to Marshall in less than five years? I must be on the wrong Fxxxing police force! Got any openings in the 3WA, Charlie?" chortled the 'UEF' Captain and Anton pointed to his wristchromo urgently.

"It's almost 0900 (9 AM) and we gotta lift off before that gravity well 'window' closes at 1000 hours (10 AM). Let's motor, people! Pack up and move out! That's an order, Ladies and Gents!" shouted Gustav.

"Take it easy on that 'Time Sight' equipment, dammit! It's really damned delicate!" warned Sally when Revy, Neko and Rukia almost dropped a crate of chemicals and instruments which they were carrying up the 'Raphael's ramp.

Kira insisted on helping until 'Reverend Nick' saved Sally and Kira's 'array beacon antennae' Kira had dropped before it struck the deck.

"Be careful, Ryuuk! They're 'plasma bombs'! Stop juggling them like apples, dammit!" yelled 'Bomber Mae' Hopkins.

"Light! Light Yagami! Tell your trained ape to stop fooling around with my explosives, dammit!" growled Kei.

"Here's some apples. Go wait for me on the 'Raphael', Ryuuk." said Light and he went back to loading the 'Blonde Bomber's pyrotechnics.

By 0930 hours (9:30 AM) the 'Raph' was loaded and Kei rocketed off.

The skysleds had left at 0915 hours (9:15 AM). Six of them returned to the 'Liberator' with Zero's gang while the rest went back to the 'Angel 2' to prep the ship for an immediate liftoff.

The 'Raph' docked aboard its 'Mother' ship at 0945 hours (9:45 AM) and Kei ordered Kome to relay the 'Liberator' to lift off at once. Zero left at 0950 hours (9:50 AM) and the 'Angel 2' followed at 0959 hours (9:59 AM) beating the grav well 'window' by a hole sixty seconds! Talk about close timing eh?

Kei had Nami relay 'Furool (Foo-Lon) City's coordinates to Zero's 'navvie' and then both ships' commanders put their vessels on 'George' and relaxed.

"Another week and we'll be back home again, Kei." crowed Yuri.

"Terrific. I can hardly wait., Vacuumhead. I'm gonna sack out until dinnertime. Gene, the comm is yours. I'll be in my quarters on three but don't call me unless the Universe is invaded. See ya later, tomos (friends)." yawned the tall redhead.

After she'd gone Yuri pouted and then smiled.

"Aw, the Hell with it! I'm going swimming. Anybody else wanna come?" she invited.

"Oh I say! That's a capital idea, Commander. Where can I purchase some swimming gear? I have cash and cards. Where's this jolly old pool anyway?" asked the 'WOOHP' spygirls' jovial boss- Jerry Lewis.

Neko giggled and Revy laughed. "Ain't ya learned nothing yet, Pops? We 'rep up' anything we want or need." chuckled 'Lagoon' Revy.

"And our 'pool' is on the holodecks one floor down on Level Eight. Just come with me, Dad. Coming Revy? Spies? Anyone?" said Neko ushering Jerry to the liftbanks.

"Only one flight, my dear you say? Then why don't we jolly well walk? Good for the old ticker, what?" said a jovial spychief guiding te 'nekomata' girl toards the gantryway stairs.

Revy and the 'spies' (Sammy, Alex and Clover), their LA pal Mandy, the 'Ice Road Brigade' (Hugh, Alex, Bear, Drew, Rick and Eric), Nick Wolfwood, Blue and a few others soon joined them. The rest opted to ride down with Yuri who hated walking anywhere when she could ride instead.

Of the twelve 'holodeck' rooms eleven were already in use.

The Saiyaans (Vegeeta and Goku) were playing 'Duel Monsters' in #1 while Ivanhoe's mob was using #2 to play Robin Hood.

The third room was marked 'Reserved for CO' which meant #3 was set up for Kei's target practicing.

In #4 some of the kids were playing Alice in Wonderland and in #5 the game was chess betwixt the White and Black Guardians of the Universes.

In #6 the Elf Hunters were- oro (what) else?- Hunting elves while #7 was being used by Merrill, Melissa, Ila, Jeannie (Genie) and Louie for a game of 'treasure hunting'.

The newlyweds Trace and Nat Edwards had set up #8 like a miniture golf course and in #9 Flay Allster and Cagalli Yula Athna were solving the 'Seven Doors' mystry from the 1961 Terran film 'Thief of Baghdad' in order for the hero to get to the aoishi (blue) rose for the sultan's daughter and in #10 'Starfleet's Reg Barkley (Barclay) was the swashbuckling pirate Captain Vallow- the Crimson Pirate himself.

InuYasha and his tomos (friends) were in #11 playing 'Forbidden Kingdom' with the big disgruntled hanyou as Son Goku the Monkey King much to his chagrin but he had found out the hard way that Kagome's 'Sit boy!' worked even with Yuri's 'neutralizing field' in place! So he was quietly playing his role of Son Goku from both Journey to the West and Sai Yuki whether he liked it or not!

Yuri keyed in her 'Pool by the seaside' program at #12 and sighed. This 'holodeck' room was hardly ever used and usually malfunctioned which was why she had told everyone to 'replicate' their 'mizugis' (swim suits) and everything else they would use rather than using the stuff 'simulated' by the 'holodeck'.

She giggled as she suddenly remembered poor Blackfire's first visit to a 'holodeck' a couple of years ago when the 'Tamaranian' had almost exited the 'holodeck' in her birthday suit! Luckily she had elected to put the 'simsuit' on over her 'real' unmentionables instead of over her bare skin but the experience had still been quite humiliating for the poor kid! Kid! Gad! Now I'm starting to sound like the dimwit!

The doors parted and Yuri 'called the archway' before leading them through it to a toasy warm sunny beach with an azure sea on the left and a swimming pool on the right.

"Last one in's a dirty spy!" chortled Jerry Lewis. Sammy, Clover and Alex grimaced but Mandy looked confused as per usual.

"Why did he have to say that?" complained Alex.

"Well he's your uncle, Alex, isn't he?" teased Mandy who had forgotten what she was confused over now.

"She's got ya there, Alex. He 'is' your Uncle Jerry." said a sarcastic Clover.

"That is enough out of you two. It ain't Alex's fault that her uncles's a whacko looney." giggled Sammy.

Alex got very red in the face and very angry indeed.

"He's not really my Uncle Jerry, ya know, dammit to Hell!" screeched Alex.

"He isn't? Ten who the Hell's uncle is he, Alex? What's going on around here? When are we going back home, Clover? Why is this room bigger on the inside than it is on the outside, Sammy? Where'd that ocean come from if we're in outer space like ya said we were, man? Are we on an acid trip? What--" babbled Mandy.
.
END of Ch 37. Ch 38 'Secret Talks' or 'Designated Driver' soon. Getting interesting eh? Wonder how our heroine's gonna get outta this one? Read on and r/r/s away as always. Have a wunnerful day and sfn/sys/jm/Kami bless you all for your interest and assistance. Hooble-toodle-doo! Toodles tomos watashi-K&K

I dickered over this chapter's titles. Let me know if I got 'em right eh?

PS- I really do appreciate all your loyalty and support over the years my tomos watashi all! And you can take that to the bank folks!-K&K