Malbess strolled up to 518, the Scav man, and remarked,"They're letting me go. At least the Cyclops fixed a memory glitch I had since Adamesh got nuked. I had forgotten that my external memory helmet was separate from my head. That's a good thing. They didn't PROBE my orifices, so I won't kick your ass." 518 smiled at the blue android woman and laughed out,"Thank heavens for small favors. If you're returning to Novo Paradisio, could you carry a message to someone?" Malbess looked around the green-tinged corridors of the open air presidium and shrugged, "Sure. I suppose so." 518 started,"To Capitan Dokka Tkarro of the CDF: 518 and Martya are in Telegardia at present. We'll return as soon as the Cyclops let us..." He stopped at the sound of the thunder of a large running animal. Snowflake, the snow white Cyclops guard who had been watching 518, ran over to a parallel platform and stopped as Slicy-Dicey galloped around a huge post and skidded her strange cyborganic steed to a halt. Snowflake petted the huge machine-life creature and said,"Aww! Who's a good girl? Who's a good girl?" Slicy jumped off the metal monster and ran over to 518 and Malbess, and shouted,"Aliens are coming! Aliens are coming! A Rahkoshan Envoy craft is docking in Landing Bay number ONE RIGHT NOW! They want to meet with you two and the Scav girl, Martya! I'm to conduct you to the bay!" 518 and Malbess looked at each other and then at Slicy, who sparkled in reflective green armor. Before either one could answer, a nine foot tall Cyclops in silvery grey boomed, "The biological animals' brains are overcome with fear and other emotions. They are obsolete and should be killed. They serve no further purpose!" Slicy turned toward the voice and muttered angrily,"Oh Flammable Excrement! All this and a religious fanatic cyborg, too!" Slicy pulled her pistol in an eye-blink and pointed it at the head of the tall Cyclops and said loudly,"Cardinal One-zero-one-one-zero! If you try to detain me OR my charges, I am empowered to VAPORIZE your head! By your OWN TENANTS You should commit suicide right NOW! If you wish me to apply a star-core temperature plasma to your brain RIGHT NOW--SPEAK UP!" Slicy's memory-metal arm-blades slid out with thin metal sound as she faced the Cardinal. After a moment, the Cardinal rapped out,"You are defective, mutant sterile drone. You are overly emotional. I came to witness, not interfere. Would you damage the peace of the Commonwealth because your defective emotions?" Snowflake said in Slicy's direction,"Who's a good girl? Who's a good girl?" 518 said in a dry ,philosophical tone, "Religious fanatics are seldom worth the price of the ammo to silence them." Slicy retracted her blades and holstered her weapon. The Cardinal said,"We'll see what the aliens are and what they have to say about obsolete organic creatures." Malbess said after the Cardinal was gone,"I'd have shot him! Just on general principals." 518 laughed,"You passion and ability to hold your tongue is impressive." "Come on! We have aliens to meet!" Slicy stomped over to an elevator and stood there, her phased array radar plated folded down like the ears of an angry cat. Malbess said in a sarcastic tone, "Don't think you MIGHT me a bit emotional, do you?" "SHUT UP! You...you ANDROID!" Slicy stamped a foot and crossed her arms. The elevator opened in time for Snowflake to slip in first. Snowflake said, "Don't shoot any aliens, sister!" Slicy didn't say anything else during the ride up. Malbess and 518 and quite possibly Snowflake all smiled on the ride up. --TO BE CONTINUED!--