When Relatives Come to Visit...

 This time it was Brooke's turn to laugh before saying, "I'm sure you'll think of another one in good time Rob - not that you need one with me!"

  Before Rob could answer, Brooke suddenly rose to her knees raising one hand palm up to halt the pleasant repartee as her senses alerted her that something was amiss while her golden cat-like eyes scanned the area around her finally settling on the immobile Volge to her right. It took her but a moment before she realized that the Volge small group had now grown to be the size of a large mob although still not moving.

  Outwardly calm except for the fact that her black feline ears twitched nervously, Brooke's tan human face sported a pretty pout as she growled, "Attila, better report to the powers that be that more Volge have joined the party. Many more!"

  Attila replied with, "Brooke as the higher ranking Protector out here, I am very certain that is my call. However it is a good call. SO I will do so 'PROBIE'. As for you Sergeant Reese, our mission is to quietly watch the Volge. It is not to make ourselves very conspicuous. So save your needless flattery and flirting for later, when we are not at risk of a huge Volge onslaught."

  Then Attila notified the War Room of the growing Volge forces.

---

  As the big purple Bio-man took his seat in the command chair and Sandy left the command center for the Batman Bunker at a steady gait, it was his turn for Colonel Jameson to look worried as he measured the man in the command chair with a steady gaze. During the Pale Wars Bio-men were merely weapons to be aimed at the enemy and then let go to destroy anything in their path. In his experience, Bio-men were ordered not the ones giving orders but Colonel Jameson could tell by Kaj's bearing that this Bio-man was a horse of a different color both literally and figuratively to those Biomen he previously had experience with.

  With a good-natured grin and a smart salute, Colonel Jameson said sincerely to Kaj, "My men and I are at your command sir!"

  Kaj replied with, "Thank you Colonel. I know you are from a time when Bio-men were considered nothing more than weapons of war, but as you can see these are much different times. So I do appreciate that. I also know of your military feats, so we are glad that you are here to offer your advice should we need it.

  Just then, Lebeau, who had received Attila's EGO report, informed Kaj of the situation. So Kaj continued with, "It seems our visitors are not yet done arriving out there. So we need to be ready for any-thing. How-ever Commander Belle-Uljanov is right that we do not want to precipitate an attack. So for now your regiment will hold back. As for your men that are currently here in Fortress K'shaa, any that are able and on active-duty are to help bolster our Perimeter defenses but nothing more, with you sending your best scout to help our best scouts in their vigil of the Volge, with him following Attila Constantine's orders."

  Kaj then told Lebeau to inform Attila to expect one of the 53 Artillery's best scouts to join them, and that Attila was the Head Scout in charge out there. To which Attila responded to Lebeau with, "Thank you sirs. I thought that given that Brooke is a new probationary Protector, while I have been a Protector for quite awhile. However it is good to here confirmation of that. By the way, you should know that a Sergeant Rob Reese of the 53d Artillery has already arrived to aid us in our scouting and says it was at Colonel Jameson's orders."

  Lebeau replied to Attila with, "Aye dat is gud ta know yung Attila. R'member ya be in charge out dere. So don' let dat EMC fella try ta push ya around. If needed push back. 'Side LEstrange be out dere an' he be on retainer wit' us, so I am sure he will back ya as yer heavy if ya be needin it."

  After the conversation, Lebeau whispered in Kaj's ear informing him of the information that he had just received from Attila about Sergeant Rob Reese. So Kaj nodded and said, "Thank you Mister Lebeau. Colonel it seems our scouts are reporting that you already sent some body to assist them in surveying the situation, before you reported to the War Room. Care to explain, before I decide to take it wrong?"

  Colonel Jameson replied with, "It is very straight-forward. Just before I got Commander Belle-Uljanov's request to report to your War Room, some of my men informed me of the Volge force gathering outside your walls. As some of my men are on leave here and my only daughter calls this place home, I ordered Sergeant Reese to go survey the situation himself. I will not apologize for wanting to assess the safety of my men and daughter, Captain Oenfer."

  Kaj smiled good-naturedly in return and replied calmly with, "Nor are you expected to Colonel, as I fully under-stand and would do the same in your situation. How-ever as I am calling the shots now, please do address me as Commander Oenfer while I am in command. Now as you took the initiative and already have a man out there to assist my scout-team, I will thank you for that as well. After all we are indeed allies and friends and both former EMC officers. Not to mention that now is not the time for our allied troops to be squabbling, no matter what they may disagree about. So I will trust, in good faith, that your Sergeant Reese will follow Mister Constantine's orders, while he is assigned to assist Mister Constantine's scouting team. Now will you and please take the empty chair? There is no need to stand around at the moment, unless you prefer to do so."

---

  As Lena rolled her unblinking sky blue eyes but kept silently finishing the device, Whitney turned so fast to face Sandy that she almost hit her own pretty face with her long white ponytail but exclaimed with a sincerely happy smile, "Commander Bell Uljanov, so glad you could make it so promptly! We are almost ready to begin - as soon as Dr. von Eschen arrives really! Since it will be the EGO psyches that will be traveling to the Dreamscape, their hosts will have to remain idle so as to not only advise their alter egos but also to maintain their presence there in Ms. Starr's mind. I will be monitoring the hosts here in the morgue as well as the machine that Ms. Marr is currently working on. That 'linking' device will be remotely connected to the Dream Machine on Ms. Starr's forehead and will allow the away team to travel to the Dreamscape to begin with, however it will be the willpower of you four hosts to keep them there for the duration of their mission or to pull them out if need be."

  Sandy sat on the closest cot and replied with an easy grin, "Sound like mission impossible - which is about par for the course around here."

  As Atticus, still leaning against the doorway but now with his helmet off; (but his Grid-cloth mask still firmly in place), so Whitney would be able to attach the necessary wires to him unfettered; looked over at Sandy, he said to her, "It does indeed Commander. However if you think your cot looks uncomfortable, then perhaps you should look at the bigger heavier one with the straps. Since I am sending two in and I am known for my precarious moods, Whitney and Lena both feel mine should have those strong straps just in case I need strapped down for my safety or that of our dream-team. I do not like it and have already informed them of that but..."

  Lena chuckled and responded with, "That's putting it mildly! You know how Atty-batty is! He offered to deep-freeze just our heads for us if we even tried it!"

  I glared at Lena, then sighed as I said, "I already told you! I do NOT care how right you and Whitney think you are! Nobody is EVER strapping me down without my express permission again! So you two are NOT strapping me down.............unless Sandy and Wolfram both also feel it is necessary and have good reason for agreeing with such an absurd idea as that! However if even ONE of them agrees with me, then those straps WILL be removed from my cot and this will be the last mention of that completely absurd and idiotic idea!"

  The Synth Sister Whitney's ice blue eyes grew big in fright as she pointed a pale forefinger at Lena stuttering, "I-i-it was her idea!"

  Lena rolled her unblinking eyes again tilting her white tousled head as she placed a chalk white forefinger to the corner of her lush lips before exclaiming with a wicked grin, "Why, Whitney is right! It was my idea! You know how destructive you can get when you lose control, " Lena's grin disappeared as she looked meaningfully at Sandy Bell-Uljanov before her grin reappeared and she continued speaking to Atticus, "However, if you want to tie me down too, I won't object. Pooh Bear ties me down to our bed all the time - although I'm sure that what he does to me then is loads more fun than anything you guys have planned!"

  I replied gruffly with, "I already knew who suggested it. However it does NOT change my feelings on being tied up! BAD things happened to us, the last time Kabule allowed himself to be tied down to a medical table!"

  Sandy's brow furrowed in concern as she said, "Maybe we all should be tied down to protect ourselves from ourselves? However, since we are travelling into the mind, let's ask our mind expert what we should do. I think we should ask Dr. von Eschen and let him decide on the proper procedure."

  Whitney interjected despite her fear of Atticus, "I-I also asked Dr. Orion to come and monitor everyone's vitals during the mission," Her ice blue eyes growing even wider as she turned to Atticus pleading, "Please don't hurt me!!!"

  I sighed and said, "Whitney, I will not hurt you for that. As the head of Medicine around here, Doctor Orion should indeed be here to supervise and he would be my first and second choice to do so given all involved. However it still does NOT change how I feel about being tied up!...but I already agreed that if Sandy and Wolfram both agree with you two and have a good and valid reason for doing so, which Sandy has already expressed her valid reason for agreeing to. Now we just have to wait for Wolfram to arrive and give his opinion on which side to stand on in the "'Chaining of Goliath' debate, even if I end up not liking it. So if he sides with all of you then.... I will reluctantly relent, as I already stated. Even if I have very VALID reasons for being COMPLETELY AGAINST IT!!! At least with Doctor Orion present, he will make sure nothing is done to any of us with out our consent!"

  The holo-party had split up partly because several members left to see what Atticus needed, and Volo came and retrieved Jalina to go with him to see Aunt Agatha and sent Wolfram to see Atticus, and the final nail on the coffin for the holo-fun; Lady Christianna showed up, sent Chiph back to the Mess Hall and drug an overly dramatic preteen brat in the form of MIcfi Newlo off to the Batman bunker.

  That left Atika, The Count, Yvette, Kabule, Kakusi, Hope, and all of Lena's mental representations of the deadly sins. However not long after Volo had informed Wolfram that he was needed in the Batman bunker as well, Count Cassanuendo also took his leave. Then shortly after, Kabule, Kakusi, Hope, and all of her 'sisters' had to leave as they were called back by their hosts as well. So that left just Yvette and Atika in the now-deserted holo-suite #7.

  So after Atika had left her message on Jalina's hailer, Atika sighed and said to Yvette, "I really do want to go, but Volo hasn't answered my EGO request yet..although since Jalina hasn't replied yet, I am going to just assume they are still busy convincing Madame Tupper-ware to go. So hopefully one of them will contact me soon. By the way Yvette I am sure that if Commander Volo allows me to go that we may be able to convince him to allow you to go as well if you want. After all it seems that everyone else that we would usually hang out with is busy with some assignment or secret mission or something."

  Yvette replied with, "Well it would give me something to do with great company, provided you and Jalina really can convince Volo to allow me to tag along IF he ever responds and if he is still fine with you going. BUt until then...we do have the holo-suite all to ourselves while we wait." With that Yvette winked.

  Atika smiled and blushed as she said, "Well that is always a fun idea but if Commander Volo responds before they leave the base, then we won't have time for that much fun!...Oh but there are a couple more outfits I wanted to try on and some more that I thought you could try on! So I will just reload my Parisian shopping Boutique program and we can try on a couple more outfits while we wait! I really really hope Jalina can convince her dad to let me tag go though. And I promise if they do contact me and say I can go, I will also ask if you can go as well. Then perhaps while Commander Volo and Madame Tupper-ware have their boring diplomatic talk with Consulate Shondu and Lawkeeper Cooper, us three girls can enjoy some shopping. The 3 Musketeers of shopping! All for One and One for all!"

"Most unusual diplomatic detachment," thought Volodja Uljanov. "Consist mostly of women and children which might create an impression that we are refugees who are seeking a shelter. Hopefully Ara and Cooper won't interpret our mission in that spirit..." Then he looked at his belligerent aunt Agatha (even most relaxed people like Fonz tend to be at least tiny amount shaken when their beauty sleep is interrupted by some persistently annoying relative who explains that there are things more important than their nap and you can believe us that Aunt Agatha wasn't the most relaxed human being on Earth) and grinned, mentally saying: "No way!"

Out loud he made a remark about getting bigger vehicle for all the gang and then turned personally to Micfi:

"Our sources informed me that you have the most impressive record of escape attempts during the short time period you have been with us. Now you want to join our diplomatic mission and I have no heart to say "No" to you. I won't even ask for your word that you won't try to escape once we are outside the Fortress K'Shaa because it would be too restrictive. But I will remind you that Chiph would be rather disappointed if you leave him behind. And since he likes here and has found his métier it would also be unfair to him to make him choose between joining you and become an Inquisitor again or staying here and doing something he actually likes with his life and I am quite sure that he prefers that you will return with us after our mission ends to stay here with him. We don't take and keep hostages so if you escape we are forced to let him go as well."

_________

Marcel Lestrange digested the whole situation. He made couple of comparisons and chose a manner of speak and begun to talk as he was telling a fable:

"Since we do not have any orders, except to stay and observe then I will tell a little story. Once upon a time there was Catwoman who had an affair with...Mmm...let us say that with the Penguin. Not a very long again she told to an innocent bystander that she would do bad things to him if something bad will happen to Penguin. Then she called that bystander and his beloved girlfriend cheap and dirty and other horrible things. As a next thing she begun to flirt with a stranger which should be a sign of dignity and virtue, I guess. I also guess that first death and now a possible betrayal are exact things that Penguin needs to have a perfect life."

Marcel grinned and concluded his very short fable with words: 

"I think that this innocent bystander should make a friendly gesture and offer a free ride to Penguin so he can go to the secluded island, full of artists, poets and their muses and models and other useless people, to spend his remaining days in retirement, because he is about to become replaced by the younger model. At least Catwoman had decency not to flirt in front of Penguin. That I have to say for her defence." 

"You forgot to mention that this innocent bystander is really familiar with death and betrayal!" snapped Brooke. 

"Might be, might be. But that is why he has the necessary expertise to assume what poor Penguin might need. Obviously he is not worthy to have a decent relationship with Catwoman and mauybe vice versa, so he has to replace the quality with the quantity."


_________

"The situation is very complicated," admitted Wolfram von Eschen. "As long as I understand, you were willing to have a fight before the search and rescue expedition into the Dream machine even begun. I need couple of moments to think. And..."

"Something to drink?" assumed Whitney. 

"Exactly, my dear! You tend to have very progressive ideas. No need to volunteer to bring me one, though. I carry my possessions with me," replied Wolfram von Eschen and took out his eternal schnapps bottle...

Sandy Bell-Uljanov grinned as she watched the tall lanky elderly human and the short furry Liberata enter the Batman Bunker's basement morgue thinking, "They are like a real-life Mutt and Jeff."

After Sandy explained the situation about restraints on the cots and Atticus' reluctance towards using them to the two doctors, Wolfram von Eschen admitted, "The situation is very complicated. As long as I understand, you were willing to have a fight before the search and rescue expedition into the Dream machine even begun. I need couple of moments to think. And..."

"Something to drink?" assumed Whitney trying to be helpful with the suggestion.

"Exactly, my dear! You tend to have very progressive ideas. No need to volunteer to bring me one, though. I carry my possessions with me," replied Wolfram von Eschen and took out his eternal schnapps bottle..."

"No, no, no!" Exclaimed Sandy in alarm frowning as she stood up quickly to gently but firmly take the flask from his hand and place it on a side-table before continuing, "We need you two sober and alert while you monitor us in the Dreamscape. If it looks like we are in real trouble, you won't have time to get your head clear of alcohol befuddlement before you need to pull us out of there. All of us - both those going in and those staying outside of the Dreamscape - need to be at the top of our game!"

Sandy smiled warmly patting the older gentleman's hand to lessen the pain evident in his face before promising, "I'll throw a party with an open bar once we all return safely and successfully from this mission. You can bank on it! As to the current complicated situation, it really isn't: Should we be tied down on the cots here when our EGO psyches enter the Dreamscape to face who-knows-what? Atticus is against it for being tied up has never worked well for him; I'm for it for I don't want us to inadvertently hurt ourselves or others here when something violent occurs there. The question really is quite simple in - "

"To bind or not to bind, that is the question," Interjected Lena Marr with a wicked grin and in a terrible overly dramatic Shakespearean manner then admitting in her normal sardonic voice, "Just for the record Docs, I voted for binding - but then I've had a lot of good times being tied up unlike poor Atty-baby!"

Lena turned to Atticus Batman pretending to rub her eyes with two balled up chalk white fists while mouthing silently, "Boohoo, Boohoo!" then after mocking him flashed him a wicked smile before sticking her tongue out at him.

"Our good commander has a point, " Remarked Dr. Orion pleasantly trying to keep the discussion on track. "These are sober times requiring sober decisions Wolfram and this one requires your expertise."

Then Dr. Orion's smile widened as he turned to Sandy, "And I do believe my belated congratulations are in order Commander Bell-Uljanov. I'm so happy for you on your miraculous recovery."

Sandy's brow furrowed as she tried to understand asking, "Miraculous recovery from what?"

Dr. Orion looked shocked as he queried, "Didn't Dr. Quinn inform you after examining you when you returned from your last mission a month ago?"

Sandy answered with a halfhearted shrug of her shoulders as she replied, "Well, that's on me. Dr. Quinn left me a lot of messages to come see her but I had so much to do at the fortress taking over logistics that I kind of... just forgot... continuously."

A broad grin crossed Dr. Orion's furred visage as he said, "I guess it's up too me to give you and by extension your husband the good news. Whatever that Atlas entity did to you when he impregnated you with Jalina has done what both Votan and human medical science could not: The formerly thought irreparable injuries done to your reproductive organs have been completely healed! You can now have as many babies as you want! Even a dozen or more! Isn't that exciting?"

Sandy didn't look excited mumbling, "Maybe not a dozen..." But then smiled and reported the good news to her husband Volodja Uljanov via their EGOs.



*****

At the Volge observation post in the hills north of Fortress Kshaa, Marcel Lestrange taunted the Synth Sister Brooke, "Might be, might be. But that is why he has the necessary expertise to assume what poor Penguin might need. Obviously he is not worthy to have a decent relationship with Catwoman and maybe vice versa, so he has to replace the quality with the quantity."

Laying on her stomach lounging lazily atop the boulder she chose for it's vantage point, Brooke pretended that Marcel's words did not hurt although her gold cat-like eyes belied the truth as she remarked as if she didn't care, "Mercenary, as I've said before: The Count and are are not interested in any 'decent relationship' as you might define it - although you have little to boast about in that regards! I will put it simply for your simple mind. The Count wants no possessions and I don't want to be possessed so we both are free agents when it comes to romance. Everyone know he is a world famous lover with itchy feet and therefore cannot afford to be tied down to just one girl no matter how fetching. The Count literally and figuratively has a girl in every port - and justly so!"

Attila rolled his eyes and said, "Perhaps poor Penguin just needs to be informed, by a bystander, that he has some competition. So he knows that he needs to up his game in the romance department. According to my EGO, the Count is not part of any of the currently active missions or assignments. So perhaps he would like to get some fresh air? Brooke perhaps you would like to borrow my hailer so you could call him and see if he would like to join us on our afternoon of Volge-watching, before Marcel quits feigning innocence, and does so personally? Besides, it looks like Sargent Reese brought a big enough picnic lunch for all of us including the Count. However if this arguing is going to continue instead, then take it closer to the Fortress fence-line, so it is even less likely to draw the Volge-Vigil's attention."

"I don't need your hailer," Hissed Brooke then adding coldly, "The Count know where I am if he wants me. It is not that big a secret at Fortress K'shaa."

"Not meaning to interrupt this fascinating conversation," Interrupted Sergeant Reese as he watched the Volge from the shade of the boulder, "But I thought you all might want to know that six more Volge have teleported in to join the others."

*****

In the garage of Fortress K'shaa, Volodja Uljanov said, " ...And I am quite sure that he prefers that you will return with us after our mission ends to stay here with him. We don't take and keep hostages so if you escape we are forced to let him go as well."

Micfi Newlo meekly replied with wide gold colored eyes, "Yes sir," But inside her mind her thoughts were much more angry thinking to herself, "Then I am still a prisoner - just being held hostage to Chiph's continued happiness! I am Castithan high-born and will be no person's prisoner especially a human's! I know for a fact that Chiph would never stand still for his well-being used to control me. I must bide my time to escape then come back to tell Chiph of the nefarious machinations of these so-called Protectors! Then we both can heroically escape our chains and find true happiness far from here!"

As Atika Constantine and Volodja spoke, Micfi glanced around taking note if each of the party members were armed and if so the locations of their weapons which got the attention of Yvette. The big blonde Synth Sister leaned over to whisper in Micfi's ear, "Whatcha you thinking kiddo?"

Micfi forced a smile and whispered back in answer, "I was thinking how old everybody is here - especially Lady Tupper-Ware! She's an absolute mummy!"

Yvette chuckled at Micfi's reply admitting with a grin, "I like you kiddo. That doesn't mean I won't be keeping my eye on you but I really like you none-the-less!"

Volodja Uljanov observed with certain restlessness how thin red line drew a tiny red dot to the forehead of Aunt Agatha. At the other end of the beam was naturally one of Dark Matter sniper rifles with a sniper attached. Typical behaviour for the Dark Matter. Another typical things for them was a strict command line and following orders. And that was the card Volodja was going to play with.

"Ladies and gentlemen and the Dark Matter!" he begun like a circus announcer. "Allow me to point out that you probably don't have orders for this specific situation! Did any of your commanding officers ordered you to attack a caravan, consisting mostly of women and a child and their driver and an escort, today?"

Dark Matter soldiers looked confusedly at him. Then they looked at each other as well. Typical situation would be a release of a signal shot towards them and then the shoot-out might begin. Then the better equipped side wins the battle, bodies will be looted and that's it. But sometimes things might get more complicated than your ordinary video game like situation.

Firstly there was a pink parasol which wasn't your typical weapon. Secondly it was held by an elderly woman who could represent danger but would most certainly not represent a decent topic of bragging at the night in Dark Matter canteen, because victory over an elderly woman, equipped with a pink parasol, is not much to brag about and the loss would be even worse, because the poor looser would never be elected to Dark Matter of the Month. The best thing that laughing stock could hope, would be a full month latrine duty. And thirdly - that guy had a point. They didn't had any orders for the situations like this. 

"Erm," said the Sergeant in command of the Dark Matter platoon. "Aren't you going to fight back?"

"Not a simplest intention," replied Volodja. "If you are going to shoot us then you have a lot of explaining about spent ammunition and why it was wasted, because we don't have much valuables with us. As a result I see complications which might end with a demotion. The best thing you can do, would be letting us to proceed and provide us with the necessary measures of transportations as a compensation for our wrecked vehicle. A portal link to the nearest one to Shondu's Consulate and safe passage there should be sufficient to patch this thing."

Dark Matter gave that idea a thought. A long and thorough thought. If there weren't any orders, considering this particular situation, then the situation might have been non existing. And if there wasn't any situation then there weren't any reasons to not to let this gang through as they were non existing as well and deliver them into the safe distance from Shondu's consulate...

"Wuss!" whispered Aunt Agatha loudly when they entered into the portal. "I could have been solved the situation differently and more heroically!"

"I know, aunt," said Volodja Uljanov. "But our main purpose is having a negotiation with Ara Shondu and Sheriff Cooper. That is why I decided to solve this distraction my way. Besides - it was a nice warm up before the main battle."

On the Golden Gate Bridge, Jalina Uljanov crawled out of the wrecked Durango after her father just in time to see eleven year old Micfi Newlo screaming and running away from the approaching Black Matter soldiers. Jalina looked to her father pointing to the retreating child and with a nod of understanding from him Jalina moved after Micfi using the cover of surrounding car wrecks. From behind her she could hear her Aunt Agatha and then her father speaking but could not make out the words so she continued after the fleeing child.

Jalina didn't have far to go because she found Micfi about thirty yards from where she had fled cowering behind one of the wrecks. Micfi sat with her back against the wreck and her knobby knees pulled up to her chalk white chin with her small hands holding the top of her white tousled head as she rocked silently on her haunches. Micfi's eyes were closed tight so didn't see Jalina and when Jalina knelt by the child and put a comforting hand on her shoulder Micfi noticeably jumped with a frightened squeal.

When Micfi opened her golden eyes and saw who it was who had touched her, she said in a fearful tone before beginning to cry, "I'm sooooo sorry I ran. I'm such a coward... *sob*"

"Shhh," Said Jalina hugging the scared Castithan girl, "You have no weapons and are small compared to our enemy. It is only logical that you would retreat to safety."

Just then Lady Christianna and the Synth Sister Yvette ran up to the embracing girls. Lady Christianna handed her Crimefighter Shotgun to Yvette then held out her arms whereupon Jalina stood up still holding the crying child helping her to her feet as well before transferring Micfi to Lady's comforting embrace. Lady kissed the top of Micfi's head as she held her tightly saying in a low tone, "S'okay."

Yvette said to Jalina with an easy grin, "Looks like your Dad got us a free ride from Dark Matter. He's quite the negotiator."

"Yes," Agreed Jalina proudly, "He really is quite accomplished in many, many ways."

"Let's go," Ordered Lady still holding a sniffling Micfi as she led the other two women back to the others and then to and thru the Dark Matter portal.

However, when the travelers arrived at the other end of the portal with it turning off behind them, they did not find what they expected. Instead of the beautiful open air architecture and sculpted gardens of the Shondu consulate, they found themselves inside a large dingy building lined with jail cells on the floors above them. Hearing the ocean waves beyond the walls, Lady muttered just two words, "San Quentin."

Her beautiful face turning suddenly grim, Yvette tossed he long blonde hair in emphasis as she reasoned quietly, "Bit north of where we want to be. Could be this is just the closest Dark Matter portal to the Shondu Consulate or it could be that Dark Matter just sent us here so that the Raiders who occupy this old prison can dispose of their problem guests - namely us!"

Micfi noticed Lady Tupper-Ware wander away from the group going outside then down a long wooden bridge way lined periodically with guard towers and curious followed. Gate after gate was open for the old woman until she came upon one that was not. Micfi's chalk white face showed her befuddlement as Lady Tupper-Ware rapped the point of her pink parasol against the door's control pad. Remarkably the door opened. More remarkably to Micfi was that when the door open it revealed the biggest meanest looking Hulker that Micfi had ever seen in her short life although in truth she had seen only a few.

"YARRRRRGH!" Shouted the Hulker briefly.

"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Screamed Micfi for a very long time.