AngelWings Ch 51 'Fire Meets Oak'/'Hide 'N Seek?'

XANA is a pivotal location for this chapter of my fanfiction. Sorry but this chappie is rather long. Hopefully 52 will be shorter. By the way your narrator is now 60 as of 8 July 09 and as spry as ever. Still feel like I'm fifteen. On 9 July that versatile voice actor Tom Kenney hit the big 4-7 so a big HB to the big guy who has a part in the newest Transformers movie as an autobot. To paraphrase Jackie Gleason whom my late dad resembled a lot: 'And away we go!'

AW Ch 51 'Fire Meets Oak' or 'Hide 'N Seek?'

Game's history now so what other fun and games await our feisty heroines?

This chapter is about trying to stop a madman and for awhile the LA2 must hide from an enemy!

ANGEL WINGS

DISCLAIMER: OK 'Riza' darlin', 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 51 without any further meandering, shall we? Why is Zack Zero back and oro does he want with Suba Marina Oki? Can Mandy keep her big mouth shut? A hint re the titles- That will become apparent later on in the chapter. Oro does this all mean? We'll find out momentarily gang. The Boss Red Marshall's on the warpath again! Here 'tis:-

CHAPTER 51

'Fire Meets Oak' or 'Hide 'N Seek?'

"This is Hawkeye. Patch me through to Rafe Donnelly at 'ISSP' HQ in Moravian City and fast! Huh? On Mars, you idiot and hurry up! (Riza fumed at the four second relay delay) Rafe? Hi, it's Riza. Riza Hawkeye at Furool? Fine thanks and you? Good. Listen, we have got ourselves a slight problem on 'Kalufrax' so could you please send over about a dozen cruiser units to their spaceport? Why? Because I think that Zorin Oakenshield's gonna try to commandeer a 'UG' patrol starship. Huh? One of the 3WA's newest ones. Oro's that? Yeah, the 'Angel 2' but how'd you guess that? Just teasing you, old man. You know there's gonna be Hell to pay if he does try to grab it, Rafe. Just twelve, Rafe? Please?" pleaded Riza. "Ya will? Great. We owe ya one, tomo. Hawkeye out." she added and returned the vidcell to her purse. Then she knitted her brows in thought.

"I really got a bad feeling in my gut about this Z.O. thing, Chief. Fancy a trip to 'Kalufrax', Roy? We really should be there to act as go-betweens if nothing else. So how's about it?" asked the svelte blonde.

"You have a meeting with Senator Naia--" began Julia.

"Cancel it. Reschedule the old windbag for next week sometime and clear the rest of this week as well. I'm going even if Chief Mustang isn't." said Riza.

"Fallon, tell Lt Halva he's in charge until we get back next week. Close the top and head for 'Kalufrax', Suba." said Roy to their driver who nodded and slammed the roof portal shut. Suddenly the blonde commissioner looked flustered. Julia smiled and tapped her briefcase.

"Not to worry, Commish. Kal's a mite chilly this time of year. I thought trouble was brewing there so I took the liberty of packing a few changes of garments for you. (Her voice dropped to a murmur) I brought pants Riza just in case." said her aide. Hawkeye managed a wan smile and thanked her. Then her face darkened.

"Trouble brewing in Kal? How'd you figure that, Julie?" she demanded.

"Z.O.'s hired himself some extra muscle. 'Brilliant Dynamite Neon' and his 'Bad Lads' gang." replied Julie quietly. Fallon swore.

"Damnation! BDN and his no goodniks? You sure, Douglas?" asked Subaltern Fallon worriedly.

"Uh huh. I'm sure, Frank." she answered with a stifled yawn.

"Why? Who the Hell are they, Frank?" asked Roy Mustang.

"They're train hijackers from 'Gunsmoke', Chief. Captain Blue (Legato Bluesummers) told me all about 'em, sir. If they can hijack trains don't you think they can hijack starships too?" replied Fallon with a shrug of his shoulders as he keyed the mike of the sled's vidphone. "Cheska? It's Frank Fallon. Onegai (Please) clear us for offworld space travel. Lt Halva's in charge until further notice. Mustang's orders. Who's with us? (Roy shook his head) Now Cheska darlin' you know that's confidential information. It's on a need to know basis and Honey you just do not need to know so just do it. Where? (Roy mimed 'no' and shook his head) Sorry kiddo. Can't tell you that either. We're cleared? OK. Arigatou. Have a nice day, Chessie. Bye." said Fallon and he punched his speed bar. The sled rocketed towards the Western Gateway while two hours away at their destination--

"Oro the FXX do ya mean he said we can't land here! Patch his relay through to my quarters, Bishop- stat!" trilled an angry redhead.

"He's on Tach 3 Boss but it ain't Commander Nohara anymore. It's his exec- a Captain Oakenshield. Be careful, Reds. This guy sounds like he's missing a few nacelles, man! He just told me to prepare to be boarded or he'll fire on us! He's certifiable, ma'am!" trilled Bishop.

"Captain Oakenshield? This is Marshall Kierran O'Halloran of the 3WA, Special 'UG' envoy commanding the patrol starship 'Lovely Angel 2' requesting permission to dock--" began Kei reasonably. A voice like thunder caused her to yank out the comlink and continue with the vidscreens in front of her.

"Silence!! I am commandeering your ship, Madam! You will either surrender your vessel to me or I will take it by force! Under 'Kalufrax' and Galactic Law I am within my legal rights to declare martial law and seize any hostile vessel and their crews! I now intend to exercise that right! I hereby order you to surrender, Madam at once!" thundered the madman. Kei went purple with rage.

"The Hell I will!! You have no right whatsoever to interfere with a 3WA intergalactic police patrol craft! You will permit me to dock immediately, Captain or I will personally have your ass broken down to a 'sub sapper no class' (an ancient Terran army private E-2) before your court-martialed, pal! On old Terra they'd have kicked you outta the army on a Section 8, you deranged lunatic! You got five seconds to stand down and allow my ship to dock or I'll open fire on you, me boyo! Kapish?" yelled an enraged firebrand Hellcat tro-con.

"Very well. Have it your own way, Madam but I did warn you so remember that, you harlot! Commence firing!" screamed Zorin Oakenshield and he seized the controls of the nearest railgun and began blasting the 'LA2' with high intensity plasma energy beams.

"Shields up!! Now!" cried Kei and Joey at the same instant and 'CC' complied just in the nick of time.

"Er uh tomo Kei? Perhaps we have overstayed our welcome here? Don't you think it's high time we were leaving, love? Now- before we are turned into molten scrap Kelvinite!" suggested a shaken 'CC' but the Boss angrily shook her head defiantly.

"The Fxxxing day that I give in to a baka jackanapes jacaronda jackass will be the same Fxxxing day that I resign my commission, Kami shimatta ni jigoku! (Our guys and gals say that phrase every so often when they're upset or angry. Kami means God and shimatta is dammit or damned or damn and jigoku is Hell!) Flight crew to the bridge- stat! That's a Fxxxing order dammit! Fire on me willya! Take that and that and that!" yelled Kei activating the remote controls for her quad guns and plasma bombs and firing on the X-Wing fighters in front of the huge starship. Suddenly Kei's portal swished aside as Han Solo, Gene Starwind and Yuri Donovan rushed in.

"Have you gone completely baka loco, you dim-witted loon! Oro do ya wanna do- start another frigging war dammit! Oro you're doing could easily be construed an a hotile action, dummy!" yelled Yuri who had used her override keycode to open Kei's door when their repeated tattoos on her portals had gone unanswered.

"They fired on ME, you shit-headed birdbrain! I'm just returning fire!" howled a frenzied redhead.

"But how the Hell are ya firing at all? I just came from the bridge and our shields are still UP!" yelled Revy Roberts from the open doorway. Kei scowled at her.

"We're wasting time. Follow me." cried Kei and she sprinted for the concealed express lift in her bedroom closet.

"We can fire without lowering our shields and we can fire from 'cloak', Mizz Roberts. Now get in there, girl." drawled Solo shoving her aboard the lift.

Five seconds later Kei dashed onto her bridge and started barking out her orders.

"Gene, pull back behind that asteroid over there. (She pointed and her pilot nodded) Solo, 'cloak' the ship. Kome, relay the 'G Boys' (Galadriel, Gooley, Gustav and Garner) and get us some backup. Mar! Nami! Zoe! Nyssa! Find us a bolt hole we can use if ya can. Let's play a little 'kakurenbo' (hide and seek) guys. Nat, better hold your fire for now. Yeah Kome? Oro? That's just great! Big Chief Mustang and his chief flunkie Hawkeye are on their way here to 'negotiate' with this dipstick! Oro? Donnelly's got a squadron (twelve crafts) headed over from Mars to help out? Good. Somebody better advise 'Romulus' Command that this nitwit (Oakenshield) may have already sent an invasion force their way. Yeah Kome? Oro the Fxxxing Hell do ya mean we've been ordered not to take any hostile action against them? Whose lamebrain orders are they? Oro? 'God Almighty' himself? Galadriel? It figures! That wimp would think he could reason with Z.O. only there ain't no way to 'reason' with someone who's already insane! OK we're gonna need some outside help on this so Neko, go get the three 'caballeros' (cowboys- meaning of course Spike Steigel, Jett Black and Faye Valentine) and fast! Two can play at that game, Zorin. Huh? Why the Fxxx y lookin' st me like that, Sally?" cried an exasperated and puzzled Kei O'Halloran.

Ever since she'd reached the bridge a barefoot Kei had been giving orders in her football jersey, helmet and underbriefs! Yuri grimaced and clamped a 'morphing' bracelet on Kei's wrist and tapped it. Then she did the same with herself. Instantly both tro-cons were in full 3WA winter uniforms and battle armour.

"Here's your three 'caballeros', Boss." announced Neko.

"Four! Don't forget Edward!" piped up the freckled tow-headed street urchin tomboy who was still in her pajamas. She was clutching an enormous Teddy bear.

"Somebody onegai (please) get that brat outta here!" growled Revy.

"Kid's got a point, Roberts. She is a 'cowgirl' on our crew so she's one of us." drawled Spike Steigel. Kei fumed but acquiesced anyway.

"OK. She can stay but keep her outta the way, Spike. Look, you guys are all 'cowboys' so I need ya to get the word out that I am putting out a bounty on one Zorin Oakenshield- dead or alive. Can ya handle that from here?" asked the Boss.

"Sure we can Reds. How much? In woolongs (Martian unit of currency equal to an ancient Terran Italian lira) I mean." queried Jett fingers poised over his PDO keypad. The redhead hesitated.

"One hundred. Make it one hundred million Jett." replied the calm, cool and collected blonde navigator Marlene Angel. Kei nodded so Jett punched in the necessary details.

"Where are we gonna get that kind of money?" demanded Yuri. Kei grinned and lit a cheroot.

"From good old Uncle Vito. If Galadriel wants to avoid an intergalactic incident he's damned Fxxxing well gonna have to ante up for it!" snarled the redhead who was busily studying vidmaps and starcharts.

"Looks like there's no place to go except for someplace called 'Smugglers' Ravine' in 'Bison Fields' Boss." announced Nami Richards from the nav room next door. Kei nodded sagely.

"Gene, head for 'Bison'- quietly. Engineering? Impulse power only and shut down our warp core. Try and mask our signature trails (like exhaust smoke) if ya can. Gene, keep us in that asteroid's shadow as long as ya can so we can create a 'phantom' for them to follow. We can lay over in 'Sontarra' instead. Kei out." said the Boss and she tossed the relay mike to Han. Wearily she seated herself on the console between pilot and co-pilot.

"Hey guys- 'Sontarra's gonna be too hot for us for the next few days so where can we hide out until the heat's off?" asked their commander. Zoe smiled and chuckled.

"Yeah where? This monster ain't exactly something ya can park in Dad's garage ya know." she giggled. Suddenly the pilot snapped his fingers.

"I've got it- a scathingly brilliant idea. Don't fret Reds. I know a place we can use but it's a secret place so I can't tell ya where it is but I will take us there. Gomen (Sorry) Reds but I took a solemn oath to keep this place a secret." said Gene Starwind. Han Solo raised his aizu(eye)brows but said nothing. Kei shrugged her shoulders and stood up.

"Fine by me. Just get us through 'Bison' and over to this 'Shangri-La' of yours so we can figure out how to put the kibosh on old Zorin and I'll be overjoyed, me old boyo." she replied and took another drag on her cheroot. She blew some smokerings which fascinated Rin, Kira and the Scouts, however, Ed and Moonie were unimpressed. They'd seen it all before. A few hours later Gene steered them into 'Bison Fields' and into the labyrinthe called 'Smugglers' Ravine' where he locked the ship on 'George' (autopilot) so he could hand over the helm to Han for the first few hours.

"It doesn't get really tricky until we reach 'Deadman's Gulch' tonight pirate so you take over for now and I'll spell you at 2100 (9 PM)- OK?" asked Starwind. Han nodded and slid into Gene's seat.

"Just don't you go forgettin' about me outlaw. Hey Nyssa! How's about a burger, fries and some java for lunch? Better send up a platter at dinner too. Who else is on this flight crw Reds?" drawled Solo. Nyssa vanished into the breakroom to rep up Han's victuals. Mar tapped a few keys on the console and the flight crew duty roster appeared on his vidscreen.

"Arigatou (Thanks) Contessa. Lemme see now. Gene, me, Nat, Nami, the Boss, you, 'Cat' (Rally Vincent), Flaysie (Flay Allster), Caggie (Cagalli Yula Athna), Ivy (Ivanhoe) and Nyssa. OK old buddy see ya at 2100." drawled Han and Gene headed for his bunk. He didn't get very far before the InuYasha gang waylaid him and insisted on toasting him on the Hawks' stunning victory over the Killers with Gene at the helm as coach. Dinnertime was 1700 and Gene had just gotten to bed.

"Dinner Captain." came Mugghi's gentle trill at 1625 (4:25 PM).

"Not now Furball. Call me at 2045 (8:45 PM). I got night duty." murmurred Starwind before dropping off again.

Mugghi meowed her annoyance at having to call him in the middle of her favorite ancient Terran TV show 'Dexter' which was one of the myriad of ancient Terran movies and TV vid-disks available in 'CC's memory banks.

The Ice Roaders were repping up a small before dinner snack for themselves (Dinner was at 1700 and it was only 1630 or half past four) in the breakroom behind the ready room and bridge. After the half dozen anti-grav trolleys were fully laden Drew, Rick and Alex trundled them through the air to the lift. All of them enjoyed dining in the star room (observation lounge) two flights down on Level Seven. Back upstairs on Nine Eric, Bear and Hugh were exploring (OK- snooping) the drawers' contents in the small kitchenette.

"Hey guys, what's this thing for I wonder?" asked Eric. In his hand was a short slim metallic cylinder with an elastic loop attached to one end. A small white illuminated panel was softly glowing on its right side. Bear looked worried.

"I dunno mon ami but maybe you should put that thing back where you found it, Eric." he advised.

"Nonsense! It's just a little toy flashlight or some such jimcrack. Give it here, Eric." boomed Hugh. When Eric handed it over Hugh looped it around his wrist and tried a few 'kenjutsu' (sword fighting) moves with it like he'd seen the Ninjas and Soul Reapers do. There was a slight whooshing sound and a band of glowing bright green light shot out of the cylinder's tip almost decapitating Eric who dove under the counter. The beam continued on its way and did slice the toaster in half.

"Didn't I tell ya not to play with it, stupid!" yelled Bear. Suddenly an anguished cry rent the air.

"Shit! Miss Donovan just repped up that toaster last month after that wolf thing (Kouga the wolf youkai demon) zapped the other one. Be very careful with that, sir. That is the hilt of a laser sword you have in your fist, Mr Hugh. Turn it off and hand it to me, sir." said Nyssa who'd just come in to rep up Han's dinner.

"How the Fxxx do ya turn the blamed thing off, girlie?" yelled the 'Polar Bear' and Nyssa's face darkened. She pointed to the lighted white panel.

"Just touch that white panel that's glowing, sir. That's right. Good. Now just hand it to me onegai (please). Arigatou (Thanks). Green huh? This must be one of Kome's I guess." replied the Trakken girl.

"One? You mean she has more than one?" demanded Eric.

"Sure. She collects weapons. Kome must have about fifty of these damned things, Mr Eric." she answered. "I'll return it to her, gentlemen and we'll just pretend that none of this ever happened eh?" grinned Nyssa with a wink.

"And the toaster?" asked Bear. Nyssa tapped the repper.

"Toaster. White. Identical. Replicate and replace." intoned the demure Trakken. "Here, Mr Bear. Take it." she added tossing the pieces of the old one down the recycle chute after throwing the new one to Bear. Then she walked over to Hugh. Turning her back to Bear and Eric she grabbed Hugh's wrist and twisted it up behind him into a painful hammerlock.

"You ever call me by that disgusting name (Girlie) again, Mr Hugh and I'll break this Fxxxing arm for you. Got it?" she whispered fiercely.

"Yeah, I got it, ma'am. I apologize." breathed the big guy. Nyssa nodded and released him.

"Will I see you at dinner, gentlemen? (They nodded) Great. Until 1700 then er five o'clock. Ciao." she said and left them.

"Kome was shovelling in food like an 'Ajothorpian' hog when Nyssa clunked a small velvet bag down on the table beside the strawberry blonde teen.

"Take better care of this thing and don't lose it again dammit." whispered Nyssan as she passed by Kome's table on her way to Revy and Neko's table.

"Oro was that all about, Nyssie?" asked Neko curiously.

"Just returning something Pinky had lost, 'Kitty Kat', that's all. Oro's good tonight? I'm starvin' to death tomos." replied the Trakken.

"Tracy's on guard duty again so it's just the usual repped up crap." growled Revy Roberts.

"The standing rib roast with Yorkshire pudding is very nice. It comes with scalloped potatoes and corn custard with lemon meringue pie for dessert. Mnn. Yummy!" suggested Neko Olson.

"Sounds good to me. I'll have the same Rei. Onegai (Please) bring me an orange mist cappucino first. Arigatou (Thanks) honey." said Nyssa.

Revy and Kome both seemed to eat like Saiyaans or had tape worms inside them.

"Guess I'll go up and look at the stars for awhile before I hit the sack. G'Night." said the Creature from the Black Lagoon. She had noticed that the Ice Roaders had just arrived- all six of them. That meant she'd have the star room all to herself. That suited the Terran adventuress just fine because Revy loved to recline in that big comfy 'Star Trek' chair up there and she liked to recline 'au natural'. With the heating units activated and the lights dimmed down she'd face the huge space window and drift off to sleep dreaming of home- 'Ranjipur' on Terra. It hadn't always been her home but Revy had been to so many places in her short lifetime that she no longer knew where 'home' had been anyway. Although Revy Roberts was about as modest as the Boss she preferred the star room's unique solitude to the hustle and bustle of the bridge or the rec room. She was just about to board the lift when she was rudely jerked out of her daydreaming.

"Hey Roberts! Boss lady wants to see you stat- pronto! Up in her quarters on Three." yelled Kakashi Sensei.

"Oro the Fxxx's she want, Ninja Boy?" asked Revy without turning around.

"Damned if I know, Roberts. She sounded real pissed though." called the 'Hidden Leaf' Sensei his nose buried in his little book like it usually was.

"So oro else is new? OK. On my way, tomo. See ya later." sighed Revy. "Commander's quarters- stat." she ordered and the lift dumped her at Kei's door.

"Come." was the curt reply when Kei's portal klaxon chirped. The door swished aside to admit Revy.

"You wanted to see me Reds?" she asked, sat down and fired up a cigarette. Revy stretched and put her booted feet up on the coffee table.

"You know Starwind? (Revy nodded) Ya like him? (Revy was wondering if Kei was playing matchmaker but she nodded again) Oro I really mean is- do ya trust him, kid?" demanded the fiery redhead.

"Trust him? Hell lady, where I hail from everybody's got something to hide so ya Fxxxing well learn soon enough not to trust nobody! Oro the Hell's this all about Reds?" demanded Revy shucking off her heavy flight jacket.

"We gotta lay low for a few days and Gene says he knows a place but he won't tell me where." sighed Kei knocking ashes off her cheroot. Revy's face reddened.

"And you think he'll tell me? Look Reds, Gene and I are tomos (friends) just good tomos and that's all! I ain't his damned confidant, that I surely ain't!" exploded Revy.

"I know that, kid. Oro I wanna know is can we trust him or i he leadin' us into a trap? Could he be in cahoots with Zorin Oakenshield?" yelled Kei angrily. Revy was livid now.

"Starwind? In with that lunatic turncoat? In cahoots with Z.O.? No Fxxxing way in jigoku (Hell) Boss! Yeah, he's a thief and a pirate and a rebel and a cowboy and a merc (mercenary) and a kira (killer) and a liar but he's loyal to his tomos and we are his tomos, O'Halloran! He wouldn't sell us out no matter oro! No frigging way, girl!" shouted Revy and she slung her jacket over one shoulder. Revy pointed her cigarette at Kei. "If Gene Starwind told you he knows where we can hide out, trust me, he won't tell anyone else where it is either. Except Jimbo (Hawking) or Solo of course. His best mates. And you can take that to the bank! Good evening, Madam Commander!" yelled the Terran. Then she threw Kei a salute and left.

"So that's that eh? Hell! If Roberts trusts him who am I to disagree? Her instincts are usually always right." said Kei aloud.

"They're sure as the oni (devil) never wrong, mum, that they surely ain't." said Neko quietly from the open doorway. "For oro the Hell it's worth I trust him too, Reds. G'Night." she added on her way to the rec room below.

"Wonder why Gene told 'Old Iron Drawers' that he was under oath not to reveal 'XANA's location to anyone? It's on all the bloody starcharts and vidmaps." mused Han while he chewed on his after dinner cigar. The place in question was a small asteroid atoll and at less than a kilo or two in both directions it was really more atoll than asteroid.

At 2100 Gene yawned, splashed water on his face and went up to relieve Solo at the helm.

"Howdy Gene. Have a nice nap? (He nodded) Hey me old boyo. How come ya told 'Old Iron Drawers' that yarn about some cocklemamey oath you took not to reveal 'XANA's location to anyone?" demanded Han.

"Did you forget that 'XANA's where all the contraband is transferred that's going to the 'Coralians'? And Reds IS a cop, ain't she?" replied Gene with a wink.

"Oh yeah, I did forget about that, pal." drawled Solo.

"Night Han. Pleasant dreams." said the pilot.

"First a nightcap or two. Don't crash the ship, me boyo. Toodles." replied Han.

Navigating this final section of 'Smugglers' Ravine' was akin to threading a needle and called for precise flying and nobody knew its ins and outs better than Captain Gene Wilcox Starwind. 'XANA' was a tiny remote asteroid halfway betwixt 'Bison Fields' and 'Minerva' and being so miniscule it was easily overlooked by most space mariners. This made it an ideal transfer point for contraband bound for the wilds of 'Coralia'.

Meanwhile Revy had fallen fast asleep in the star room the same way she'd come into the Universe. Neko was cleaning her plasma rifle in the suite she shared with Revy, Nyssa and Kagome. Kei had dozed off on her sofa so excepting Gene, the night flight crew, the guards and the engineering gang everyone else aboard the 'Lovely Angel 2' was 'roshii ni yo'- dead to the world. Gene exited 'Bison' some three hours later around midnight and laid a new course into the nav banks. Then he set that course program to delete itself after their arrival at 'XANA' six hours later at 0600 (6 AM) ashita (tomorrow).

"Hey 'CC', I want you to forget this nav course I have just set. Do not, I say again, do not save any of this stuff to your memory banks. You understand, my tomo?" warned Starwind.

"Like 'this program will self destruct in ten seconds. Good luck Jim' eh? You got yourself a deal, good buddy. I'm gone. 10-4 and bye bye, Cap." replied the ship's obnoxious central computer.

"Whatever. But if anyone DOES find out about this location, me boyo I will take extreme delight in personally rewiring your memory circuits. G'Night tomo." yawned Gene swallowing his java.

"I comply." chuckled 'CC' before shutting down his comm systems. At 0600 the 'cloaked' ship touched down in a vast cavern cut into a mountain. He deleted the nav course program and trilled Legato Bluesummers who was heading up the flight crew's day shift as pilot. When 'Blue' and his team arrived Gene strolled down the gantryway stairs to Level Three and tapped on Kei's portals.

"Yeah? Who's there dammit?" growled a gravelly voice.

"Starwind, Boss. Can I come in? You decent, Reds?" chortled the tallish pilot.

"C'mon in tomo. Door's unlocked." she called and Gene entered.

"We are here, love and don't you dare ask me where 'here' is. Suffice it to say that we are inside an ice cavern not unlike 'Gysymeo' (an ice world Kei and company had visited several times in the past) albeit it sure ain't that cold here. Be that as it may I'm going to have to insist that you guys restrict yourselves to this cavern and the ship. None of you are to try and reach this world's surface. Is that clearly understood, Marshall?" demanded Starwind pointing his cigar at the redhead who nodded. "Great. By the way, I've wiped the nav logs clean and ordered 'CC' not to save any of my nav commands. Now don't you worry none, Reds. Ain't nobody gonna find us here. How long you figure on holing up here?" he added.

"A week at most. Maybe just a few days. Depends on how soon the 'cowboys' and their 'posse' find Z.O. and apprehend or eliminate his ass. Got another stogie, Gene?" replied Kei sitting up and and smoothing her kimono. She accepted the foul smelling cigar and allowed the pirate to light it for her. Gene looked at her dubiously.

"Remember your promise Reds. Oh and er no hard feelings about the football game the other day eh?" he said smiling.

"You actually think I'm that petty? That juvenile? (Gene smiled as he recalled her reaction to losing a shooting tourney to Duchess Donovan- Yuri) We'll kick your frigging asses next game though. Now get outta here and get some shuteye tomo. That's an order too, me boyo." chortled Kei and Gene left for his own rooms.

As soon as Gene had gone Kei called a tomo. "Oh 'CC'? You there, tomo mine?" she asked the air sweetly.

"Right here, love of my circuits. How can this humble one be of service to ye?" replied 'CC' innocently.

"Where are we now tomo?" she asked sweetly and quietly.

"Sorry Boss but no can do, ma'am. Captain Starwind will rearrange my circuitry if I tell you or anyone else that. Anything else?" annswered 'CC' and Kei shook her head.

"Oro good are ya? Get lost dammit!" she shouted angrily. Then she pouted. Chuck Garner was gonna demand to know where she was and damned soon too! After all 'Kalufrax' to 'Shimougou' was only a two days' 'milk run'. So oro the Hell was she going to tell him? 'Sorry Charlie but I am not allowed to tell you that and anyway I don't know where the Fxxx we are myself, sir.' Yeah- like Garner would buy that crap, wouldn't he? Fat chance! He'll send Rafe (Donnelly) and the 'ISSP' after us, that's oro the Fxxx he'll do! Suddenly her door klaxon chirped- long and loud.

"Yeah? Who is it? Oro do ya want dammit?" growled the Boss. A pixie-like voice answered her.

"It- It's me, Auntie Boss. Starfire. May I come in? Please?" sobbed the Tamaranian girl.

"Starfire? Of course you may come in, my dear. It's open." said the redhead a little less grumpily and a mite more civilly. The portal swished aside and the tall teen came in with aizu (eyes) red from crying.

"Oro the Hell's wrong, kiddo? Sit down and tell me all about it." she forced herself to say as gently as she could. ('Christ! I sound like the vacuum head!' she thought) Star sat down on the sofa beside her and dabbed at her aizu with her sleeve. Kei sighed and shoved a box of tissues over to her. "Oro's the matter, kid? Why ya been bawling? Your sister botherin' ya again?" demanded the firebrand. Starfire shook her head.

"Nai (No), Blackfire has been extra nice to me, ma'am. It-It's Uncle Jon. (Captain Jonathan Harlock was Kei's chief of security) He said I can't leave the ship unless I promise to stay inside this dumb ol cave! I want to go outside and play in th sun! He said I wasn't allowed to go outside be-because you had ordered all of us to stay in this cave! I don't like this place! When we we-were in those 'icy caves' ('Gysymeo') I knew it was too cold to go outside and there wasn't any sun there anyway but here I can see the sun outside and it feels really warm so why can't I go outside and play in it? You're mean, Auntie Boss Marshall!" sobbed the girl until Kei shook her violently.

"Oh Christ Almighty! Stop blubbering dammit! Act your age, girl! You can't go outside and that's all there is to it! I gave an order and Uncle Jon's gotta carry it out! Nobody is allowed outta these caverns because (Kei mused a moment) because we're hiding from a bad man just like we done when we was on 'Gysymeo' that time. Remember?" explained the redhead patiently and Starfire nodded.

"You mean when Mr Berringer was looking for us, Auntie?" she sniffled and Kei's face brightened.

"Yeah. Exactly kid. Only this guy's a lot more dangerous. Now stop crying and dry your aizu. (Starfire did and managed a smile) There! Don't ya feel better now? Tell ya oro- why don't ya go upstairs and play on the holodecks with the other kids?" suggested her superior. She shook her head.

"Arkie (Arkton was Star's older brother and an officer on the 'Emerald Queen') said I was not allowed up there on my own, ma'am." replied the girl.

"That's OK. I'll get Auntie Mae (Minnie Mae 'Blonde Bomber'/'Kitten' Hopkins) to take ya up there. OK? Would ya like that, Star?" asked Kei.

"Uh huh. That'd be swell, Auntie Kei!" bubbled a now enthusiastic and joyous Starfire.

"Then go get cleaned up and change your clothes. I'll have Auntie Mae meet ya in the rec room. No more bawlin' now, ya hear?" growled Kei. Star nodded, arose and smoothed her skirt. She was still wearing that skimpy cheerleader's outfit that she'd worn at the football game.

"Bye Auntie and thank you so much, ma'am!" she said and left running. Kei tapped her comlink earring.

"Lieutenant Hopkins? Kei here. Do me a favour and escort Starfire to the holodeck for me. She can play until bedtime but Arkie don't want the kid up there on her own. She's waiting for ya down in the rec room. Keep a close aizu on her. Jon caught her trying to sneak off the ship. She wanted to play outside and Gene told us to stay in the cave. Don't lose track of 'Tinker Bell' oroever the Hell else ya do or you'll answer to me. Kapish? Kei out." trilled the Boss.

Mae was still a bit sore from the game and of course she was still recovering from John Berringers' lads' questioning sessions aboard the 'Angel 1' so she didn't really feel up to babysitting but if it hadn't have been for the Boss Mae might very well be dead right now! So here she was nursing an orange cappucino at the bar while she waited for Starfire to show up. Mae glanced at her wristchromo and frowned. "Where the Hell is this kid anyway dammit all?" she complained. Saito shrugged his shoulders and refilled her mug. Suddenly a high-pitched shreik filled the rec room.

"Auntie Boom-Boom! Sorry I'm a little late! (Mae had been waiting two and a half hours) Auntie Boss Marshall Kei told me not to wear that nice cheerleader's outfit and I--" explained the Tamaranian.

"Forget it kid and let's go." replied Mae swallowing her drink. "And oro did I tell you about calling me Auntie Boom-Boom? It's Auntie Mae dammit!" added the 'Blonde Bomber'. They rode up to the Eighth Level and Mae stopped at Holodeck 6's door and called for the archway. "OK Star. The Boss said you can stay up here until bedtime. Oro do ya wanna play first?" asked Mae wincing when her shoulder got shoved against the arch.

"Are you OK, Auntie Boo-- er Auntie Mae? (Mae nodded bravely) Can we play 'Treasure Island' again? Please!!" pleaded Starfire.

"Sure. Why the Hell not?" answered Mae and she keyed the arch. "No running off now, young lady. Got it?" she added but Starfire was already jumping up and down on the deck of a pirate ship. Mae followed her through the archway to 'Treasure Island', yawned and belted 'Long John Silver' with a stiff right uppercut.

"Whee!! I'm Princess Starfire and brave young Captain Smollett is coming to rescue me!" squealed the 'Teen Titan' delightedly.

"Whatever floats your boat, kid." sighed the Terran who was sword fighting with four of Silver's pirates. Meanwhile Kei's worst fears were realized when Neko trilled her at 1900 hours (7 PM)---

END of Ch 51. Ch 52 'Garner's Mysterious Relay ' or 'Annie Oakley AD 2251 ' 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

See ya next blog post Toodles-K&K

This one may be lengthy. Sorry.- K&K

Hope you like my works. Sorry no pix this time because imager here at blogspot not working. Sayonara for now gang- K&K