The console chimed again as Jeet called out, "Mister Narchi, you hiding in here?" Jeet jumped up in the Comm-station's crash-couch and looked at the controls. He saw that there was a tight-beam communications signal from orbit was incoming on the 441 cm band. He squealed with delight. "I LOVE this game! Oh-kay! Let's play a round of 'Talk to Rahkoshans'!" He connected to the source and was shocked to see some kind of faceless shrimp-looking guys on the screen. Colors on the faceless head changed brightly and the speakers said, "We smelled the artificial universe in a bubble made by the craft that swallowed you. Is this true?" Jeet thought hard. He said carefully, "Yes. It is true. It is unique! One and only. First of many." He never played this version of the game before. It almost sounded like they were talking about Narchi's invention. "My eyes sniff with a multitude of noses that the speaker is not human! Let your master speak!" The Rahkoshan seemed agitated to realize that Jeet was a Beastman. Jeet said simply, after a moment of thought, "Humans made themselves a weakness and stopped living in the 90% area. They.....uhmmmmm....faded and those of us different from humans rule themselves. Now. Mister Narchi and his friend made the bubble universe....uhhh....thing." There was a long moment of silence while the Rahkoshans conferred at the unexpected turn of events. The Rahkoshan speaker said, "Prove your claim. Send the design of the universe bubble generator to us to see." Jeet shrugged, "Mmmmm-kay. Just a moment!" He fetched the pad with Ahrini's and Narchi's designs on it and uploaded it to the Rahkoshan ship. "How's that? Pretty cool, eh? Ooops!" He knew THAT would cost him points. He picked up and said, "The design smells of innovation. Two minds made the shape of....function!" Neblae walked into the shuttle to find Jeet, the scanner he went in to get, and a shovel. She heard him talking and strode into the cockpit and froze in shock. She pointed at the screen and said loudly, "WHAT IN HELL IS THAT?" Jeet hissed at Neblae, "Shhhhhhhhhh! It's RAHKOSHANS from a super advanced version of my all-time favorite game! I'm almost though! I think I'm winning." He turned back to the screen and said, "The main brain of innovation is here ,now. Sniff her shape with a multitude of noses. Name is Ahrini. Race is Trow. Is understanding yours?" A long moment passed and the Rahkoshan said,"Incomplete knowledge is our brain thoughts. We will communicate again in two days while we investigate. Very important communication in two days. We will investigate. Ending communication." Jeet waved, "MMmmm-kay! Bye-bye! Call again!" Neblae ran up to the console and read the settings, while Jeet jumped down, and headed toward the storage locker. She was in shock when Jeet came back with the scanner in one hand and a shovel in another. She shouted, "JEET! THOSE WERE REAL ALIENS!!!" Jeet grinned and remarked happily, "Cool! Bonus points! I loved the graphics,too." He headed out, whistling a tuneless melody. Neblae sat there, her heart racing in her chest for a moment and raced out the door, shouting, "NARCHI! CAPTAIN DOKKA!" There'd be repercussions from this, she was sure. --TO BE CONTINUED!-- Media is Poser6, Vue6, Wings3d, Blacksmith2.2