Narchi didn't know how it happened. Jeet had escaped Captain Dokka's anger about talking to weird aliens. Dokka was delighted about Narchi and Jeet finding the slave-chip in the wreck of the crashed landing craft. The flying city crew was sad about one thing. Their queen, Beliza had just died and they were recalled back to their flying city immediately. Dokka offered to let them off at their Scav Base. Pazu had objected, and offered Narchi and Jeet a ride, and an opportunity. Narchi had always wanted to fly in Pazu's weird flying-Submarine craft. The crew had went up to the cockpit to power up their shuttle. Narchi had put his hands on Neblae's shoulders. He told her to be strong and he'd be up there with her as soon as he could. Her eyes were the most amazing pink-purple-rose-amber color he had seen. The it happened. He kissed her with a force he could scarcely understand. His pulse thundered in his ears as he broke from her. Jeet snapped, "Mister Narchi, if you're though--we have to go. They have to go. Everybody's got to go!" Jeet half-ran and half stomped out. Narchi went over and picked up the hat that Jeet HAD been holding for him and turned to Neblae to say something wise, or funny or something. Neblae stared at him. He couldn't speak. Her eyes wounded him. Narchi turned and went down the stairs to the rooftop. The shuttle stairs folded up and the Nedjer class shuttle lifted skyward with a gentle hiss of thrusters. Pazu looked him over and said without preamble,"I need to take you into the Downdeep-downdeep to talk with a dead man of your acquaintance. I also need to tell you something that will make Jeet talking to aliens seem like small potatoes. Get onboard." Pazu got on his craft followed by Jeet and Narchi. The craft edged up and plummeted down one of the ubiquitous vent holes into the deep underground. Narchi looked the odd looking controls and seats over as they plunged miles into the crust. Pazu looked over at Narchi and commented, "By the way--I'm an extra-terrestrial from another solar system---extra-galactic, actually! Surprised?" Narchi asked over his shoulder, "Jeet! Are YOU an extra-terrestrial,too?" Jeet thought for a moment and said, "Uhhhhhhh........No." Narchi shifted around uncomfortably and remarked feeling numb, "Alright--NOW I'm surprised." The craft sped on in the subterranean abyss. --TO BE CONTINUED!-- Media is Poser6,Vue6,Wings3d and Blacksmith2.2