Their moral bolstered by the modified tattoo, JS and Eve jumped into work with renewed vigor. JS had never actually stopped nudging the pilots to train new personnel. "The next battle'll be in the outer space" was his refrain. When the pilots remarked that 6 spacecrafts were a bit too few against the Bloody Dawn and the Rogue fleet, JS stated with adamantine certainty: "Spacecrafts are easily found, good pilots aren't!" The NMA soon split into two factions, one whispering that special forces' members knew strange voodoo spells and that JS's particular expertise would solve the situation. Others, however, favored more a conspiracy theory, that is that JS had never really resigned and GOD would come to their rescue. People bet on it. But the conspiracy theory might create troubles with the Martians, so Vasquez and Ishikawa asked JS formally if he expected help from GOD. "No, GOD won't help us." was his reply. "At best, the EA will sent some drones to observe the Bloody Dawn in action. For years, there were talks about this Rogue cruiser capable of unleashing Armageddon and GOD won't miss the chance to see her at work. But soon we'll have a cruiser and fighters and we must have pilots." The answer convinced everyone that JS was waiting for another load of smuggled supplies, even if running a cruiser looked a bit above even JS's league. "Voodoo" muttered the magic theory's supporters and grinned. There were no sign of the mythical S'skash ship, however. "It's my fault, it's because I'm an alien." a frustrated JS cursed. "No, it isn't," Eve countered, "It's the ship's. She never had a captain. We can talk to Adam and my mother, maybe we missed something." Eve suggested and JS nodded. After a night's deep thought, at dawn they were almost hopeless and exhausted when Adam came out: "Eve, those old scrolls, do you remember?" "Yes, the old queen considered them useless,.. they're in the old house. I'm going to take them." "OK. I've a briefing. Let's meet here in an hour." JS said. In the old house together with the scrolls Eve found the bag that JS had brought when he had returned from Earth. This and a JS's old T-shirt that she had used to wrap the scrolls, triggered memories into Eve's mind. She remembered when JS had woken first. She had felt his distrust in his questions and she'd been afraid she'd been wrong in her choice. The next day JS was still so weak that he almost fell as he tried to get up. She had helped him and his bare chest rubbed against her nipples. She'd felt a rush of hot blood, but had managed to say: "Sit here, please, I take some clothes." He'd grinned in roguish embarrassment, his silver-gray eyes full of warmth chaining hers. He had thanked with a deep and raspy voice that made her insides turn to lava. Eve smiled and thought, "And I fell in love!". Then she gave herself a shake, took the bag and left. "My lady, may I speak? It's important!". Eve watched the man. She knew him, a Martian deformed since birth due to clumsy use of forceps at the Galactic Salvation mission's hospital. A lonely embittered man who had always lived on the Bradburyton skid row. Feeling sorry for him, Eve asked politely. "What is it, Suish?" "My lady, chasing a puppy slugh in the Naga's temple I found some things. I know that the Earthener Commander goes crazy for this stuff. But I'm afraid of ruining everything, I'm so clumsy ... If you want to come, I'll show you." Eve thought that the temple was inside the security perimeter and that perhaps it was important. "Let's go!" she said. "It's there!" Suish said, pointing to the platform inside the temple. Eve went to the altar. The electro-shock of a XREP stungun struck Eve, making her unconscious. Thank you to all people who appreciated the previous picture! Thank you for viewing and drop a note if you like! SilencertheVampire: CheoWear Nouschka-Design: CaligoFanum