The Measure slid to the end of the catwalk, alone. The small Trow woman, Neblae, had dissapeared back to where ever she had been from. The Measure was more curious than afraid. She had left the "Mock-up of the Mark 10 Challenger's Engineering bay" behind and wandered through the exhibits of the "Althan Aero-Space Museum--the Challenger Wing." Apparently, she and the other girls had appeared in some kind museum, when the SNARE (Simulated Non-Actual Reality Experience) had gone off. The Measure wanted answers, and couldn't just leave until she found out something. The last door stood before her. She read the plaque next to the door. "Actual Command and Control module of the Ultimate Challenger." She had abilities that other people on Balaam didn't have. One ability was the knowledge of othe languages. The Balaamese had lost all of their ancient languages, long ago after thousands of years of technical civilation. The Measure had access to another knowledge-base than them. She touched the door, and it turned transparenet. She wondered if it was nano-technology or something far more advanced. She slid in, and the lights came on. That surprised her. She slid up to the Captain's chair. The covering was as fresh and new as if it were made yesterday, instead of the four million years the Althan-Krommians were gone from the universe. She one blinking light on the captain's station. She looked around and punched the touchpad next to it. "Peri is on-line." The voice was female, and a holographic display blossomed into being, filling the cathedral-like space before the captain's chair. The Measure blinked and sagged some. Fatigue was draining her reserves. She could stay awake for days without sleep, but she had ALREADY been awake for days. She focused her will, and asked the air, "Peri--where am I? Why am I here?" The voice answered, "You are on the planet Balaam, in the upper section of the Fortress of Shalmiraine, in the remaining unlooted area of the Althan Aerospace Museum--inside the final Command and Control section of the final development of the Space-Battleship 'Challenger Ultimate' of Altha-Krommi species. You are wearing one of the four artifact Faciliators. You are not a human. However you ARE one of the FOUR SISTERS. THAT is why you are here." Measure blinked. "What the... what are you babbling about? I saw three other girls. I'M a girl. That's FOUR alright. Other than that...I'm lost." "If the FOUR SISTERS have appeared, then the Human Species is about to become extinct. Through your and your sister's actions, this result may be prevented." Peri was matter-of-fact in her explaination. The Measure goggled in shock at this presumptious and somewhat ridicolous statement. "EXCUSE ME?!?!? HOW? This is a LITTLE bit outside of MY ability! Crazy computer!" Peri paused for a moment. That was not good for a computer so advanced. She spoke, sounding cautious. "I do not know how to save the Human Species. I am NOT advanced enough to know. THAT technology was produced after I was retired from active service. It has to do with both Probability Mechanics and something called Driftware." "I was HOPING that you were coming here to tell me. Time is short. You are endangering yourself because you've been out of your body to long. Your Broadcast Driftoid is about to collapse. Find my Avatar. She is the key that will unlock the remaining unlooted musuem arm, in Shalmiraine. Now you must go!" The voice was urgent, and the Measure felt dizzy and the room was starting to distort in her vision. --to be continued--