The Measure sat down on the easy chair as Amma sat down on the bed and pulled her boots on. Amma rolled her eyes and said, "Measure, I appreciate the offer, BUT I didn't need any help taking a shower. I'm fine, NOW. I just need to know what happened." Measure shrugged. "It was a Huehueyotlin. They are a rapacious group of median techno raiders from globular cluster NGC-1865, about 2700 parsecs from here. They were apparently curious about the RIF signature they detected. THAT is NOT what they are on planet to find." Amma blinked at Measure. The Measure was composed and completely casual. Amma asked, "Are you saying that you AREN'T a discarded Gene-spliced creature...and that you are some kind of extra-terrestrial?" Measure nodded. "Yep. My species is from the Andromeda Galaxy, but we have our capitol planet in the Greater Magellanic Cloud. This is for you." Measure flicked her wrist and a ring appeared as if by magic. She tossed it to the surprised mouse-derived beast-girl. Amma studied the very odd finished ring. She stood up and felt a little sick. The poor discard was obviously mentally ill and suffering some kind of derangement. She looked way to human to be some kind of alien. Amma fretted for a moment. The Measure said calmly, "Put the ring on, touch it with your thumb of the same hand and say,'Change!' " Amma sighed and did so. "This isn't really going to do anything. Look..." The Measure waved her on. Amma gritted her teeth and touched the inside of the ring with her thumb and muttered morosely, "Change." Amma felt the shift of clothes on her body as her coverall and old beat-up boots exchange themselves for new, unworn smooth soft armor. She looked at herself and then in the mirror in complete shock. She made a little noise like a squeegee on wet glass, and Measure laughed, "Oh my GOD! You are SO cute!" Amma stared at Measure until she felt like her eyes would pop out. "YOU! YoUuuuu! AHhhh...eeeeeeeeehhhrr an ALIEN!? Oh shit, OHshitOHshitOHshit--" Measure stifled her laughter and said with amusement, "Oh, calm down! Breathe! Yes, I'm STILL an alien, though I WAS born here on Balaam. My mom was from Korado, in the Greater Magellanic. Well--how do you like the armor? I modified it last night to fit you. What do you think?" Amma's mind whirled with questions as she looked the armor over. The rear view halted her questions. She frowned and asked, "What about my BUTT?" Measure looked blank. "What about what?" Amma stuck her rear at the Measure and started, "A THONG doesn't give any kind of armor! You think?" The Measure couldn't resist anymore. She goosed Amma's ass and burst out laughing as Amma jumped a foot in the air and gave out a loud, "SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!" Measure gasped out, "Looks like a right cute butt to me!" Amma stood there turning pink, and goggled the Measure who was holding her mouth and giggling with all her strength. Amma put a hand over her face, and muttered, "I'm with a funny alien woman who wants to grab my butt, which in the next fire-fight--WILL GET SHOT OFF! Great." The Measure laughed louder hearing that. --TO BE CONTINUED!-- Media is Poser 6