"Are you saying there is no Force in your galaxy?" Mary asked, stunned at the idea that the Force was not a universal thing. "No, there isn't!" Kirk said quickly. "So you can imagine my surprise, when after a week of being here, I began to feel things. The emotions of some of Excalibur's crew. One of whom is my cousin, Ami Lynn." "Oooo," The woman cooed. "I have a chance to meet one of the Adorables?" "Yes," Joshua replied, a smile back on his face. "But I would advise you not call her that. Her and Little Jess hate being called that. And when girls as dangerous as those two tell you to not call them something, you do as they wish." "Are they as dangerous as you?" "Yes," Kirk told her as his smiled faded. "In fact, Ami Lynn is probably the most dangerous of the eight of us." "In what way?" Mary asked. "Well, first I need to tell you about the modifications that were done to us," The man said. "We all have the same basic improvements. The new, more advanced brain. Then there are the new senses. Eyes, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Also, there are the five hearts, where a General has two. These are all new designs." "And then," Joshua held up a fist. "There is strength and speed. The Wilmowski kids have enhanced strength. They are almost twice as strong as a General class. About eighty-five percent stronger. Except Danny. He's there at ninety-five. But then again, he's a Hulk." "What's a Hulk?" Mary asked. "It's something that happens among the General class Enhanced Humans," The man continued to explain. "And evidently, our class as well. It happens in one in every one thousand births. Though there are familes where it happens more frequently. The Wilmowski and Marx families being the best known examples. Arthur Wilmowski is one. Same for his son Joe, who's married to my sister, and Daniel. Sasha and her twin brother Billy were Hulks. So is their father, Bill, as well as four younger siblings." "Now you take your average General," Kirk said as he waved a hand about. "They're all pretty much the same till they come out of puberty. That's when the change occurs. The Hulks grow taller, more muscular, and broader at the shoulder." "Big, huh?" The woman asked as she arched her brows. "You're average Soldier is approxamately 200cm tall. A General is around 216. Hulks tend to be three or four cm taller," Joshua smiled as he saw the woman's eyes glance at the top of his head. "Yeah," His lip curled up into a smirk. "Another modification they tried, was to bring our height to about that of the Norms and Soldiers. But they failed. The last time I saw her, Cynthia was almost as tall as I am. And as you can also see, they over shot the mark... considerably." "That's not a problem," Mary Corrin replied as she turned her eyes downward. "You make up for it in another area." "Now let's talk about speed," Kirk said with a grin as he stooped to peer into her green eyes, drawing them away from that 'other area'. "Little Jess and Ami Lynn are built for speed. Jess is about ninety-five percent faster. Same for Mack and myself. But Ami is at one-hundred five percent." "Is that fast?" "Look at your average athletic Human male," He said, tapping the counter with a finger. "A Soldier is about three times stronger and faster. Both males and females. Generals have twice the Soldiers capabilities. And we've about doubled that." "Most impressive," She muttered to herself. "And I bet you and your brother were the control group of the experiment, with both enhancements." "A bet you say?" Kirk asked as he perked up. "Lele told me you like the occasional wager," Mary said as she smiled at his reaction to what she'd said. "You got that right!" He said with a chuckle. "And in all my twenty-nine years, I have never lost one!" "Well, I tell you what," The woman purred as she pressed her body to his. "Let's make it a bet. If you win I'll..." Mary Corrin bent down and whispered in his ear. "And if you win?" Joshua asked. With a smile, she bent down again and whispered in his other ear. Kirk grinned. "This is the first time in my life I've ever been conflicted about winning a bet!" "So is it on?" "It is!" He said, as he placed his hands on her hips and kissed her. "And congratulations! You are the first person to ever defeat me in a wager!" "Then jump up on the counter," She said as she patted the chilly steel. As she bent down to kiss Kirk, she paused, then rolled her eyes. Both turned to stare at the vent in the bulkhead. "Computer!" Joshua growled in frustration. "Resume life support! Set air circulation to fifty percent!" "Like clockwork!" Mary said quickly as air once more flowed from the vent. "It runs for two hours, then shuts down!" "Yeah," Kirk nodded in agreement. "And I think I smell a rat," He then shook his head. "No, scratch that, I know I do!" "Yes," The beautiful Corrin replied. "And I'm very sure this rat has a number, not a name," The woman raised a hand and slowly extended three fingers. "You are correct," Joshua told her as he took her hand and led her from the galley. "I think it's time we went to one of the work stations on the bridge to find out what he's done." Soon Kirk was seated before the triple monitors of one of the two work stations, going through the life support systems. Soon the man smiled. "Well, well," He said as he glanced over his shoulder at Mary. "There are sensors in the Rat's Nest. They've been turned off. And that can only be done in overrides! And only four people have the password to get into overrides. Me, Marty, Peenk, and our little rat," After a second the systems override program popped up. "Right there!" He said, pointing. "Life support functions are set to return to normal at midnight. About the time the Arners get back from their trip to see Lele's sister." "They went to see Lala?" "Yes, and I think it's time we called and had a talk with Youngest Son!" Kirk accessed communications and placed his call. "Well, let me hide behind you first," Mary said as she quickly stooped behind Joshua, her arms wrapping themselves around his neck. "I don't care if you see what I've got, but not the others," The woman whispered, sexily. "And Force knows, Lala can be a bit of a gossip!" She then nibbled on Kirk's ear. "Do you know Lala?" Joshua asked, a hint of suspicion in his voice. "Of course!" She replied. "She's CO of Montal Intelligence Services. Whereas, I'm CO of Family Entertainment." "CO?" Kirk asked as he turned about to stare up at Mary. "What does CO stand for?" "It stands for Commanding Officer!" A woman's voice said firmly. "Ah, Mary?" He asked as he continued to stare at the woman. "Yes, Lover?" "Is Lala Irish by any chance?" "What's an Irish?" The voice asked in a tone that said she wasn't sure if she'd just been insulted, or complimented. "Not an Irish, Irish," Kirk replied in a like accent, as he slowly spun his head about. "Lady, it's someone from that most beautiful of islands on Earth, the Human home world. And you my girl, sound like you could have stepped off any street in Dublin!" "So it's a compliment?" The woman asked, her sister Lele now beside her. Lala greatly resembled her older sibling. But where Lele had red hair, and was stocky, Lala was blond, and slimmer. "Why, Lala my dear," Joshua said with a smile. "To some people, there is no higher compliment!" He then grinned, switching accents once more. "Unless ye're from Scotland, like me mother. In which case it's a bit of an insult." "Interesting, Josh, I..." Lala began, staring him in the eye. But her eyes widened slightly when she noticed the woman behind him. "Yes, it's me!" Mary cut in abruptly. "Mary Corrin!" "So you are," Lala muttered briefly, before grinning. "But I'd heard the Big Boss was going to do the negotiating herself. And what about Racine Laurino? I thought he was the CO of Family Entertainment. If it wasn't going to be Mama, it should have been him." "He retired three weeks ago," Mary said, staring hard at the blond as she hid behind Joshua. "So I got the job," She then grinned and kissed Joshua's cheek. "Lucky me!" "Then why you?" Lele asked as she grinned. "My youngest son said he sent samples that would assure that horny old woman, Magenta, would come out here in person." Mary turned to Lele and smiled. "As the new CO, I was the one who received those wondrous samples of music #3 sent. As well as that extra bit of entertainment. And let's just say that I was captivated by what I saw. Captivated to the point that I knew I wanted him all for my lonesome! So I saw to it that Mama Montal never saw that twenty minute video he sent." "What twenty minute video?" Kirk asked, a suspicious tone in his voice. "I thought he sent some music samples!" "He did," Lele said, grinning. "But he also sent a video of you excersizing in your shorts." "Did I mention you were captivating?" Mary whispered in his ear before nibbling on it once more. "He had a bet, didn't he?" Kirk asked Lele. "Which it seems he lost!" She replied, once again, staring him in the eye. Joshua smiled as he saw Marty slowly inch into the camera's field of view. The man just shut his eyes and laughed, before retreating. "Joshua!" He exclaimed loudly. "Shut up, Marty!" Lala shouted. "Boy!" Marty continued. "It's time you learned that we Scrum have incredible peripheral vision! They are not staring you in the eye! They're checking you out, because your equipment is on full display!" Mary began laughing as Joshua quickly attempted to cover his crotch with his hands. Pulling the wig from her head, the woman draped it over his lap. "I didn't know that damned camera showed so much!" Kirk said angrily. "Well, lucky for us, it does!" Lala said with a smile. "Now excuse me while I burn these memories into my brain!" "Damn it, Marty!" Lele shouted. "The boy was giving us a good show and you had to ruin it!" "Well, contrary to what you women think," Marty's voice rang out. "That's a good boy there! He's not here for your amusement! And he's not a sex toy!" "Oh, I beg to differ!" Mary said with a laugh. "He's an incredibly talented sex toy! One I will take home with me to satisfy my own needs!" "Marty is no fun..." Lala said, but quickly stopped when the field of view shrank. "What the?" The blond blurted out. "How are you changing the video settings without touching any controls?" "The boy can access any control on the ship with the computer," Lele told her sister as a disappointed expression formed on her face. "And he does that by connecting his brain to the computer." "You can access a computer with your brain?" Lala asked, shocked at this revelation. "How?" "Through an interface that I plug into any computer terminal," Kirk told her. "I can then access it with one of two interfaces in the back of my head." "Incredible!" She replied before grinning. "How would you like a high paying job with Montal Intelligence Services?" "I have a job," Joshua said as he held the wig up for Mary, who refused to take it. "But thank you anyway." "So what is the reason for your call?" Marty asked. "I want to throw some words at your youngest son," Kirk replied. "Some of which will probably be angry ones." "Oh great!" Lele muttered. "What has he done now?" Kirk briefly told the others about what had transpired. The more he said, the angrier Lele became. "A pheromone overdose?" Lele shouted as Marty and her sister tried to calm her. "Does it cause permanent damage?" "No, no!" Kirk replied, hurriedly. "She's a Human Norm. All I had to do was get her out of the Rat's Nest. After a couple minutes she was fine!" "I'll cripple him again!" The redhead fumed. "He's gone too damned far with these bets!" "Hey!" Marty growled at his wife. "Do not even joke about something like that!" "Marty?" Lele growled back. "Our son just attempted to rig a bet involving one of the most powerful women in the galaxy! And I'm very sure I know who the bet is with!" "Seesha?" Lala asked with a laugh. "Count on it!" Her sister shot back. "And while the girl doesn't have a problem with losing a bet, she does not like to be cheated!" As if on cue, a door behind the others opened, and #3 stepped in, followed by the lovely Dassa Morsen. The two stared at the others, who glared back angrily. #3 slowly backed for the door, only to find his retreat blocked by his companion. "What have you done now?" She asked in frustration. After Marty quickly explained, she slapped #3 on his arm. "You said no more bets! You promised me!" "But the bet was already in place!" He said hurriedly. "And Seesha and Kinna will never let me cancel it!" "Then you'll pay up!" Marty told his son as he thrust a finger into his chest. "What was the wager?" Joshua asked from the screen. "It was one thousand each that you would have sex with who ever came out to negotiate the deal," The Arner's youngest son mumbled. "Looks like you've lost a bet," Lele grinned at her son. "And you're two-thousands credits poorer because of it!" "No," Joshua cut in. "He's going to collect on that bet. And none of you will tell those two what really happened." "Hey, kid!" Dassa shot back as #3 grinned. "Stay out of this! He can't get away with what he's done!" "Who said he's going to get away with anything?" Joshua returned before laughing. "All three of them are going to learn a lesson about making such a wager! Seesha and Kinna are losing a thousand each, while Bubba here is giving his winnings to Lala!" "What?" Lala asked as she spun about. "Thank you, Joshua, but I make very good money running Montal Intelligence Services!" "I didn't say it was for you!" Kirk replied with a grin. "I've been told you have two young daughters. You are to spend it on them. And only on silly things! Toys, candy, games! Whatever strikes their fancy!" "Oh I can do that!" Lala said as she turned and laughed at her nephew. "Trust me, I can do that!" "But wait!" Dassa said loudly, a hand to her ear. "I think I hear four little feet pounding their way down the corridor right now!" Seconds later, the door opened once again, and two stocky redheaded girls of six ran in, each dragging a bedraggled uncle behind them. Dassa grinned as she slapped #3 on the back of the head and knelt beside the two, who jumped up and down excitedly at seeing their uncle walking without a cane. "Hey Reeta, Alina!" She said quickly. "Guess what? Your uncle here just won two-thousand credits in a bet!" The two began pleading, asking #3 for money. "Oh, he will give you money! He's handing over all of it to your mother to spend on you!" "Yes, yes, yes!" Alina shouted. But both then paused and rolled their eyes and groaned. "We're getting clothes." "Oh, nooo," #3 said as he dropped to one knee. "Your mother has her orders! It is to be spent on fun stuff only! Toys, games, and candy! Anything you two want!" The twins then launched themselves at their uncle, knocking him to the floor. #3 laughed as the girls kissed his cheeks, thanking him. Turning back to Joshua, he started thanking him as well. But the joy on his face vanished when he saw Kirk staring at the twins, tears rolling down his face. "Joshua, what's wrong?" He asked quickly. The others turned to the comm monitor as Mary jumped from behind the man and ended the call. Tears were streaming from her eyes as well.