Four Sisters book 2:EYE Ensign F'Loona said on the window-screen overlay,"Professor Moderaan, you have a call from Commander Rose. Transfer to your holo-unit?" Narchi rolled his eyes and sighed. He quipped, "Damn, Loony! It isn't like we have top brass or top ass-hats on-board with us! Yeah, go ahead and transfer." F'Loona said,"Transferring underway. I have to stay in practice! If I get demoted again, they'll take away my flight privileges!" Narchi grumbled, " 'PRIVILEGES'! No one has any rights anymore, it's all privileges!" The small holograph appeared on his Friggian made Holo-unit of the Machine-life woman, Rose. He blinked and smiled, "Hello, Rose. What's up? Did the Marisians FINALLY get our shuttle, that we paid big bucks to get,DELIVERED? " Rose shook her head. She said, "No. They are still 'foot-dragging' as the term goes. If we weren't in a state of war, we'd have to fill out a form to talk to someone! Unbelievable. I thought my species, the Cyclops were bureaucratic! At least we got things done." Narchi looked out the window as they passed by the Balaam Institute for FTL studies. In the distance, standing thirty kilometers tall was the forerunner artifact, the Fortress of Shalmiraine. Like an inverted wineglass, it stood in the Rimmer Highlands for eleven million years, like a glass on a kitchen table, drawing the eye of all sentients on Balaam for thousands of years. Something about it 'brooded and bothered the psyche' of all who saw it, almost as if it looked back when stared at. Narchi broke away with a start. "Sorry. Shalmiraine Hypnosis, or something. What's this call about?" Rose said softly, "I heard about Neblae's baby. I am SO very sorry, Narchi. You have my regrets. I tried calling her but..." Narchi blinked at the white-hot poker of pain that lanced through his mind and heart when Rose mentioned that. He wiped away hot tears as he said sadly, "Neblae's at her mom's in Firetown. That's a Trow tribal area and there's no service there. Yet. The rebuild of the Balaam-wide cell net hasn't gotten that far." "Besides... she didn't take her phone. The Four Sisters might live forever, but immortality has a price tag larger than she wants to pay. She'd pull that artifact out of her stomach if it was ON this dimensional plane, with her bare hands and a knife--if she could." "She's ...WE'RE taking it very hard. Thanks for the kind words. I feel rotten about not being more supportive to 518 now. He went to pieces after Toxic's baby...well you know. Well this has been a real hoot. Call again when I DON'T feel like killing myself...." Rose blinked wide and snapped,"SELF-TERMINATION IS FORBIDDEN! You understand,Engineer, Professor, 'Hero of Friggia'? I didn't call you up to scramble your emotional state. OR interfere in the relationship you have with your WIFE!" Rose paused and Narchi nodded, feeling desolate inside. Rose continued, "Snowflake has disappeared again. There is a fear from Lime that she might have gone Walkabout. She was last seen by Lime near the shipyard in Elevator City. Are you heading for the shipyard? If so what E.T.A.? Narchi looked out the window and looked at F'Loona's Image and asked it, "Hey, shorty, how about it?" F'Loona said, "ETA Elevator City Ship-yard about ten minutes. We'll encounter a lot of chop on the surface. Cold front causing thundershowers and turbulence over Elevator city." Narchi frowned,"I prefer SNOW. It's cooler,too. I forgot how much I dislike Balaam sea-level temperatures. I read almost 37 degrees in Elevator City. I might leave my clothes in the shuttle,too." He continued,"I'll keep an eye out for her there. I'll call Neon and we'll look for her. We'll find her, Rose. I gotta go. Love to you and yours." She nodded. "Fare well or better, my friend." Floona said,"You aren't the only one bleeding on the inside,Narchi." He nodded at her. --TO BE CONTINUED!--