518 had given up on trying to find anyone ambulatory and returned to the cafeteria to eat more, He couldn't explain why he was so ravenous. He grabbed a chocolate coated plantain from the dessert window and looked for familiar faces. He spotted Narchi arguing with a small-boned Trow woman. They were using esoteric physics terms about probability when he came up. "Hey,Narchi! Lose some fingers? At least you're up and around, that's good at least." Narchi looked up at the pleasant deep voice and started. "518? Is that you? You look ...much like yourself. Except younger, healther and ONE DAMNED sight finer dressed! WHere'd you find that outfit?" Narchi looked at his ratty robe and over at Neblae, who stuck her tongue at him. "Down on the 51st floor. That's an old storage floor with old clothes and equipment down there. I ran into Ahrini, there helping herself to Trow outfits down there. These were part of an Imperial Scav Guard outfit from three--four hundred years ago. Not to shabby." He sounded amused and something passed between Neblae and 518 that Narchi didn't like. Narchi noted it, but didn't comment. 399 called out from a table over, hearing 518's voice. 518 had not recognized his old friends face after the bizarre changes of the past day. "518? Is that you?" 518 excused himself, and Narchi and Neblae went back to discussing whatever arcane physics quandary they had been before. 399 looked 518 up and down and remarked, "After the happenstance of yesterday---you LOOK remarkably unchanged by them. Younger, maybe. Less lined?" 518 smiled and gave a laugh. "Good god, 399! You're dressed like a clown! All you need is a mask to complete the outfit, and you're ready to juggle for coins!" 399 frowned and gave the bird to 518, and remarked dryly, "With all due respect, sir-- fuck you. The bodysuit is superconducting armor tied to the belt-capacitors, and the chest armor IS Trow-metal! It was the height of fashion....almost a thousand years ago. Should still work, if I need it." 399 sat down at 518's wave and leaned close to his friend. He looked around and said to 518, saying, "I ran into Martya down in the armory. She told me that someone is going to be gunning for Toxic. You remember the talk we had about that woman calling herself the 'Madjulla' and moving into the old church? SHE is the one. Some kind of super-powered discard. Head of her own church, no-less." 518 shrugged and ate the plantain. He shrugged and asked, "She bullet-proof? Pulse-blaster proof?" 399 shrugged back. "Think so. Said to have some kind of 'Solid-Wing' effect without the apparatus that others need. " "Keeping with her 'miracles by the bushel' approach. THAT will be a problem. Makes her sniper-proof." 518 looked sourly and glanced over at Neblae who was paying intense attention to the conversation. Narchi was listening as well. 399 didn't notice and remarked, "Martya found a 15mm Hyper-velocity sniper-cannon. That'll take the fight out of almost anyone..." 399 looked over as Narchi grinned evilly. "Ya, know......there ARE other options than fighting Prophets and Mother's of God-holy-types." Narchi looked unwholesomely TOO self-satisfied to be healthy for someone. Neblae paled and rolled her eyes. "Oh, gosh--I KNOW that look. --TO BE CONTINUED!-- Media is Poser6