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LTD, MA, 33, New Life The Followers of the Way had hurried to help during the attack, now they were traipsing through the jungle searching for the ones that had fled. These were definitely different than the ones they'd faced in the Earta System. They didn't draw their power from a central command ship. Marra had watched three separate Life Pods come down in the jungle from one of the ships destroyed in space. While Stephanie Wolfe was away she oversaw the Followers of the Way and she sent them in groups to locate them and any Skecksies that might have survived. They found two in two separate locations near the Temple of the Way. The third had been found closer to the Vehicle courses used for Rat Racing and just driving fast. But that was also very near to Star Commands Headquarters. When they didn't find them before reaching that Headquarters boundaries they assumed that Star Command had found them. They hadn't realized that Rachel pierce had been out there driving out her frustrations. Or that she'd discovered them and decided they needed help. Now all that remained was locating the six who had left the other two life pods closer to their own home. But that was proving to be most difficult. Sure they left tracks, but they also had some other way of avoiding detection. They'd been spotted a few times, but rather than fight they'd just disappeared into the jungle. It frustrating for everyone involved in the hunt over the last month. Why hadn't they attacked the smaller groups? And why stay out here when there were easier targets less than a day away? No there was something different about these six, they didn't act like normal Skecksies. She meditated on the matter for several hours, then rang the recall gong. When the last Alpha had returned she placed her blades in the rack. "Trina, until I return you are to keep everyone here busy practicing the arts. I have a feeling that we are missing something that is obvious," she directed the next highest Alpha. And then she walked unarmed out into the jungle. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ DC1 and IC1 huddled watching the Alpha as she walked confidently into the jungle toward the closest of the Life Pods they'd landed in. They couldn't understand where the JC's had gone. But they knew they only had two chances to live here since the AC and other C series had attacked this planet. First had been to find the Loki, Norie Doru who had created the Nanites that the JC's had stolen in hopes of infecting the rest. Or locating the Followers of the Way. They'd heard a lot about this group of primarily Earth Humans. They practiced the arts of war in order to protect the peace and protect those who only sought to live in peace and harmony. They sounded a lot like themselves, they'd been programmed with the ability to use almost any weapon, and hand to hand combat. But unlike the other Skecksies they had never actually used those skills. They were considered weak, unworthy of continuing to live. They were supposed to have been reprogrammed at Norie Doru's Laboratory by their commanders. But while they were waiting, they'd witnessed how the higher command had violently forced the others to allow the connection of the violence programming. It was while trying to escape that the nine had stumbled into her secret lab, JC3 had hacked into her computers and discovered what the three containers of Experimental Nanites were programmed for. They stole them and hid them inside their exoskeletons before they were discovered again. But already the mission was behind schedule. They would never make the big gathering at the home planet during the Christmas holiday. Instead the nine had been placed in reprogramming chambers in their trio groups. Unknown to the rest aboard the command ship, the Nanite Containers had broken open the moment that JC3 had touched them, spreading through the three trios. It had been during the first stages of the attack that they'd been freed by those Nanites to alter the shields keeping the others from being detected. But the JC's had gotten a much larger dose of Nanites than the rest who had been held in stasis with them. They'd been having trouble even as they were trying to reach the Life Pods. 'If we can make contact, maybe she will give us the chance to prove that we aren't like the rest,' thought IC1 of the lone Alpha Leader Marra. 'Maybe, they know where the JC's are. They really need Norie Doru's help,' answered DC1. They'd located the third Pod and seen the young human girl as she drove away with them. But they hadn't been fast enough to follow at the speeds she was driving. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Reaching the closest Pod Marra sank to the ground in the Lotus position. Then steepled her fingertips together, she held her arms at just the proper height and angles to form the sign of Peace with her surroundings. Then she let her mind go free to range around her. She was aware of the Sabretooth Rabbits that most people called Long Eared Chewers. The Death Coil that was in the trees above her. Then she felt something else, thought patterns she'd never encountered before. "I come to speak in peace. I am Marra of the Followers of the way, please join me here," she thought to them. She could feel them spreading out now. Six of them each inching in from a different direction. "I am unarmed as are you," she knew they could feel her thoughts. She could sense the beat of their hearts, the inhale and exhale of their lungs. And then they were around her, close enough to touch. She opened her eyes and looked up at the two in front of her as she slowly altered her position. "Please sit, let us talk," she offered. They sank down in front of her. "I am DC, this is IC," one introduced herself. "In the pack behind me is food and clean water if you are hungry." "You do not fear us as the others do?" asked IC. "If you were like the rest who attacked this planet, you would have attacked my people as well. We offer you sanctuary, to live in peace," she said. "You do not wish to experiment with us? To cut us open and discover our secrets?" asked DC2 behind her. "You are living breathing persons who have done nothing to cause harm to others. We would not allow that to happen," she answered. "You are welcome to live among us in peace." "And what of the others? The young girl who took away the JC's in her conveyance?" asked DC1. "Can you describe this girl or her conveyance? I will send Followers to discover what she has done with them," promised Marra. "I can show you," she touched her temple and a holo-video of Rachel Pierce helping them into her car played in front of her. "I know her. I will send my followers to her," she promised. "They must take them to Norie Doru, she is the only one who can stop the Nanites that she created. The Nanites that allowed us to remain free and become individuals together to think for ourselves," stated IC3. "Then you should go with us. We will not let any harm come to you," she promised. "We trust you, you are a being of your word," they all said together. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Trina and the rest of the followers all stood in disbelief as Marra led the six into the little community. She was introducing them as friends, explaining that they were different, they had achieved individual thought as well as a conscience. Then she used her phone to call the Pierce residence. "Hello, who's calling," asked Donnie David. "Son is your sister Rachel there?" she asked. "Racho!" he yelled. "You hab a phone call." "She comin, she busy teach her new frens how cook." "DD, who is calling?" she heard Rachel ask a moment before she stepped into view of the screen. "Oh, ummm, where are you, are the rest safe?" she asked seeing two Skecksies behind Marra. "So you have been in contact with the JCs," said Marra. "Rachel, who are you," Norie stood stunned seeing the others now in the view. "Mistress Marra, did you locate all six? Are they suffering any ill effects?" "We are all healthy Mistress Doru. Did the JCs find you?" "Jaycee, come see who we've found," urged Norie as the rest crowded in behind the others. "Dorie?" they stepped into the room. They were wiping their hands, on dish towels as they looked to the screen. "You survived the landing. We are so happy to see you. We thought you might have been destroyed." "We stayed out of sight until Mistress Marra came to talk with us alone," said IC1. "She has promised that she will bring us to you." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The phone at the Police Station began to ring and Millie finally answered it, "Chief Jones Office, how may I help you?" "Uhhh, are my parents still there?" asked Rachel. "I really need to speak to them, it's urgent." "Rachel, is everything alright?" asked Sophie. "Malissa Rachel is on the phone." "Momma, please just listen. Marra is on her way with more Skecksies just like the Jaycee's," she said. "Could you make sure that Chief Jones is handy to meet them and ensure they don't have any trouble?" "Rachel, I heard," he said. "Please have Marra call us so we can get their Neural scans input to the PTRV's Scanners." A second line began to ring and Millie answered it before connecting it to the current call. "Are you near the Tyler Ranch?" Tim asked as he was trying to contact Frank and Boric who were out there to investigate Skecksies sightings by a few herd guards. "No we are here at the Temple of the Way," Marra looked puzzled. "The DC's and IC's are here as well." "Frank, Boric be alert. I just heard from the Followers of the Way. Those other friendlies are with them. Do you copy?" he transmitted using his uplink to his own vehicle. "Tim I need an overhead link," responded Boric. "I have two dead wolves and several mutilated cattle here. And no herd guards." "Where are you Boric?" asked Frank. "I'm in the Canyons east of the Freeway. Just north of where it crosses to the Tyler Ranch. We need to alert them and the Centaurs in case they cross back over," said Boric. "I'm alerting the Tribes; do we know which group of guards it is that are missing?" asked Tim. "Tim, Peevee says these were definitely killed by Skecksies. I have blast residue and scorches," reported Boric. "Boric, hold up. I have an injured wolf here. I'm at the norther trail underpass where it doubles back to the," "Centaur Village," finished everyone else. "I need the phone numbers for those two officers," requested Marra. "But I need them to be standing outside their vehicles when we call." "Trina you will take our new friends to the Pierce residence, then join the rest of us in the hunt." The calls were made quickly. "Margaret, you're staying here to coordinate," directed Tim as he rushed out the door. My cell phone rang and I answered it, "Yes Nona?" "Miss Patty is here with her daughters and the Colonel. They wish to have Miss Flying Falcon take them to help search in the Academy Shuttle," I could tell there was more to it by her tone of voice. "May I speak with her Nona," requested Stephanie. "Malissa, Patty and her daughters might be more effective at a long range once they are located. They do know how to reach out and touch someone quietly." "Colonel, tell Gretchen I said to send up our own Snipers to coordinate with Major Whack. And Gretchen," he hesitated, "They are to follow her lead." "I hear you Sir." "Easy Company, Erika get your three best shuttles up. You're taking our Sniper teams to join Major Patty Whack in searching for hostile Skecksies." I thought I heard Erika quoting a nursery rhyme in the back ground. "Nik Nak Patty Whack give a Wolf a Bone. Tandy, Rita get your Scopes we're going hunting." "Gretch, you better go along," Donnie said. "Donnie?" I asked. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ It was only a little chilly where they lay in front of the open shuttle doors behind the sandbags. Patty had Tawny lying next to her, Nik and Nak her two seasoned spotters lay at the other door searching for any signs as they began making their overhead sweep. Tawny already knew which rounds her Momma would need. She held them ready to input the data called out by her two older sisters. "Echo Sierra One, I've got something," called out Erika. "Two herd packs, five kilometers out working their way into the canyons north of the Centaur Village." "Roger we've got em'," called ES-2 and 3. "There are a few injured wolves down there," said Lt Rita Simms. "Oh Shit, there they are, they're headed straight for the village." "MAG1 coming around. How many targets?" requested Patty it was already getting dark. "Seven, I repeat there are seven targets," called out Tawny Powers. "Roger, everyone, choose your primary target, pilots hold steady at the five K line. Captain Pierce have your spotter paint your secondary target. Nik, Nak, you know what to do," called out Patty even as the IR Lasers marked their targets. "I, I can't make that shot. That's too far out," said Rita. "I've got it, Pepper, paint the last one," said Tawny Powers. "Ok everyone ready on my mark. Are you ready Officers?" asked Patty. "Ready," called out Boric and Frank as they began moving into position. "Mark," called out Patty as she squeezed off the first round. Tawny had already input the data on the base of the rounds. The last two held point down between her fingers atop the sandbag the way Nik and Nak had taught her. In less than two seconds every Skecksies was down. "Go, go, go. We have hostages to rescue, and wolves to help," called out Patty as the shuttles raced in, careful to maintain an angle that would give the teams the ability to watch for more hostiles. Still Rita's shuttle hung back. Suddenly an eighth Skecksies rose up out of the snow, the bark of a lone rifle rang out and he too was now down and out of play. "Good Job Rita," said Erika. "Now that's how you reach out and touch someone," commented Gretchen. "Reach out, reach out and touch someone, reach out and just say 'Bye' assholes," chanted Erika. "Oh my god, I did it. I actually did it," panted Rita now as her shuttle began following the rest to fly cover, ready to airlift out the injured wolves if needed. More people had showed up at a run to help and the half dozen injured wolves were being cared for. The tribes were taking care of the two dead ones already. And the herd guards were being taken care of by the centaurs and the Planetary Police on the scene. "IMA teams, please join me at the Luna lounge," stated Patty. "Major," began Gretchen. "Please this is the after action debriefing, those young ladies need support right now before the reality begins to set in." Both Gretchen and Erika knew that Patty was right. They'd both been there before, and knew the effects of realization that they'd just ended a life would soon catch up to them. They needed guidance to get past it. "Colonel," Called Winters. "Yes Colonel," answered Donnie on the radio at the police station. "By all means. I'll meet everyone there," he told her. It was Millday, the only night of the week that the Luna Lounge was closed. Now Stephie Noah stepped outside to find out why she had four shuttles landing in her empty parking lot. She took one look at the five younger girls from IMA, noted the four 12mm Sniper Rifles and the fact they were with Patty Whack and just threw open her doors. "Fifi, Gerta, Bourbon all around and leave the bottles," she said. Not surprising the two who had the most trouble coming to grips with having taken a life were Tawny Powers and Rita. Sure they'd been training to do this very thing. But those had been simulated kills, dye markers. Now they'd actually watched, as the holes appeared in each one. They were still there at sunup when Stephanie Zimmer arrived upon her return from a meeting on Omega Seven. Her troopers were still in the process of returning now that they had helped end the war with the Gender Police. "Stephie, Mina said you had a Choir Practice going out here," she said. "What's the occasion?" "Patty and the Colonels are getting the IMA Sniper teams past their first live fire event," she said as she handed her a bottle of Jack Daniels imported from Earth. Carrying the bottle and a glass, Stephanie joined the little intervention turned party. "Colonels," she greeted both Donnie and Stephanie Winters. Patty looked up and held her glass in the air, "Colonel, these young ladies have joined the Five K club." She noted the Lycans speech was a bit slurred as she raised her own glass. "Col Pierce, I am very impressed with your teams. Not many people can make a shot from over three miles away. Even fewer from a hovering shuttle," she said. "They've trained hard. Of course none of them trained for anything like they did last night," he said honestly. "I think it was the reality of just how difficult it was that helped get them past the rough realizations." "I'm just glad we had Patty to help coordinate everyone," he added. "Yes I'm sorry to lose her to retirement, but she deserves a chance to be a Civilian for a change." Then she changed the subject on him. "There are going to be a few visitors from the U'shiwi, I'shiwi and E'shiwi here soon. And I wanted to tell you that Admiral Larissa Wells is almost a double for your first wife Malissa. She commands DSRS Exile and the Exile Fleet with her counterpart Admiral Cree." "Oh, when are they due to arrive?" he asked. "They are accompanying Hub and Calderon, but I have no idea when they might arrive. He is giving them a tour of the Quadrants." They were interrupted by Fire and the Tribal Chiefs come to thank the Snipers for the work they did to save the herd guards. "Stephanie," Donnie got her attention. "I want to be sure that you know there are nine Peaceful Skecksies in town. Norie Doru has vouched for them and they seem to be distraught over the atrocities committed by the rest of their kind. But these nine, they really aren't anything like the rest." "Just like the peaceful Loki," she said. "I'll be sure my people know they are not to be harassed or bothered. I'll meet with Norie personally and get the details." The front door banged open and someone rushed into the club. "Momma!" Mina looked almost as big as Anna now. After the hugs and greetings, she finally remembered why she was here. "I brought these for Patty," she said. They were little tabs to hang under their marksmanship awards. On each one for the shooter was a rifle with '5K' super imposed over it. For the spotters was a circle with cross hairs imposed over a '5K'. "Momma I have volunteers coming to make sure everyone gets home safely," said Mina. But before they could begin to stand up three more guests arrived. "Where is she?" Joanne rushed into the room followed by Jerome and Link. "Momma, Daddies," Tawny Powers was hugging her parents. "So you're no longer wet behind the ears," grinned Link. "I guess this means we're going to see the Gunsmith this summer," said Jerome. "The Gunsmith?" asked Patty. "He makes specialized Rifles. The same one we offered to send you to," reminded Stephanie. "Oh, but I made my own." She was proud of her handcrafted rifle. She'd made the rifles for the other Lycan Snipers as well. Each one totally unique to the individual. Her counterpart from Terrellia was known as Purr, not her real name but so few people knew what it was, did the same for her Feline sniper teams. "Salvador Jr has set up his own shop. He is just as much of an artist as was his father," said Stephanie. "Colonel I would be happy to pay the cost if you wished to send the other two young ladies this summer." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++= It was almost noon before they returned, each one nursing a hangover. It had spread through the school like wild, a group of hostile Skecksies had attacked the Tribe and Centaur herds and a team of snipers had been called in to hunt them down. "Malissa you'd be very proud of her," said Col Winters. I thought she was talking about Patty. "Your daughter Erika is a natural, her first time out and she took her target from five K's away," praised Patty. "From a hovering Shuttle," added Flying Falcon. "Yall go get some sleep," I said. Then spun on my heels headed for my office. Stepping through the door I said, "Nona I'll." "He's already waiting," she nodded toward my closed door. "Donnie what the hell happened last night? Why was Erika involved?" I demanded as I headed toward the closet door. "Malissa stop," he grabbed my arm gently. "You need to hear it from me before you hear it from her." I sat down and listened. He even played the audio recordings of the actual mission. "She isn't celebrating, she is simply acknowledging the incident and going on with her routine. She regrets that what she did was necessary, but if she hadn't done it so many others would have been hurt." "She's too young for this Donnie," I felt my tears rolling down my cheeks. "So is Maleeza," he said gently. "But this is the world they live in, and they choose freely to try to make it a better place for everyone else," he said. "Ok," I wiped my tears and stood up. "Can I go see her?" "She's in my office with the other two 'Shooters' and their Spotters," he said. "I think maybe Rita Somerfield needs a motherly figure too right now." I was trying to think of who Rita was when he gave me the reference. "She came to us the same time Tracy did." She was another Orphan from Wild Wood, and I remembered her now. She'd grown up in a ghetto that was more like a battlefield at most times. It was among the top five for violent murders in our old world and I'd often wondered how she'd ended up at Wild Wood. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Over the next few days we began helping the Skecksies form an even more unique individuality. They'd asked for a meeting with the first Beings, and naturally the Planetary council accompanied them. "You have a request I believe?" asked Astrid. "We are a new Generation of our kind. But we wish to be known separately from those who live by violence," stated DC2. "We wish to be known as Nexies. We are of a new generation apart from those of our past." "We know there are more out there like us, hiding in the ranks while trying to be free of the violent nature the originals were programmed with." "Any who surrender freely and submit to a Neural scan will be allowed to live in peace and helped to adjust," stated Ariella. "And they will be known as Nexies." Darklight was smiling his agreement. "Come here Jaycee," said Gypsy. "I would like to ask you a question or two if I may." The two conversed for a bit then Jaycee said, "Thank you. We will be sure to incorporate these into our being." She was holding a pink Matrix, and then slowly as she pressed it to her forehead it seemed to become a part of her. "That is a peace Matrix, it will set them apart from the others. Also, everyone will see it and know they are peaceful beings," stated Ariella. "And their young will be born with them also." Wait, I thought. Was I missing something? "Malissa, I could not completely stop the Nanites. But the Nanites have effected their Exoskeletons, they are now able to grow, to age as anyone else. If they join, to create young, those same Nanites will go into the new life and allow them to grow as other children grow," explained Norie. "Just like the FJ's," said Rachel with a grin. Only the FJ's grew when they added upgraded parts or built larger bodies as they learned and grew older. I now thought of Zappy, the little teenage FJ who was currently seeing Little Mack Lightfeather. Her upper torso had begun to develop the appearance of having breasts, and she was even using water based color paint for makeup. Of course, she wasn't the only one. the other female FJ's had begun doing the same thing. I remembered the first time I saw one in the diner after they'd made a few upgrades. My suspicions had been correct, their four-inch stiletto heels were made of steel, but unless you were standing right next to them, you wouldn't know they had metal bodies under their waitress uniforms. They even had real hair and visited the beauty shop to get it styled. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Stepping into my office the next morning after the meeting Nona told me I had three new students waiting with their mothers. I was surprised to find both Paula FJ and Missy FJ waiting with their very young preteen FJ daughters. Rosalie, Doralie and Kutie. While they had the basic programming, they were already self-aware. They and their mothers wished to as they put it, allow their children to be programmed in a more natural process. Seeing as how they had arrived wearing school uniforms how could say no. besides they wanted to learn the same way that other girls learned. As we sat filling out the necessary forms I learned they had a few Bio- Mechanical parts. Blushing Paula FJ informed me that she had begun her life as a Pleasure Droid before she'd been reprogrammed as an FJ. Then I saw the notation on Kutie's enrollment form, 'Transgendered'. I'd never heard of a transgendered FJ before, let alone a Pleasure Droid. But of the five in front of me I realized the Paula and Kutie looked as if she had actual skin rather than metal. She anticipated my curiosity and offered an explanation. "The synthetic outer shell is more expensive and requires a steady intake of nutrients to keep it healthy." Then she offered her arm for me to examine. Had I not been told beforehand; I would have thought it was natural skin. Except it was much cooler in temperature. Also, hers had a semi metallic hue. "It is the result of my former occupation as an FJ. I was not allowed the necessary nutrients three times a day to keep it healthy." I noted that both Rosalie and Doralie were scheduled for a week-long maintenance checkup before they would to start school. I pressed my intercom. "Nona, would you come here please?" I asked only to find her standing there in the doorway. "Here you are," she placed a folder on my desk. "Mistress Sylvia dropped that off yesterday." I was looking at two signed approvals in their names, with a notice that both were to receive synthetic skin upgrades during their checkups. And the upgrades were being paid for from a special fund of the Council of First Beings. "Missy, were you aware of this?" I slid the folder over in front of her. "No I was not, I only knew that I was told by her that they needed the checkups to their systems," she said. "Momma what is it?" they asked in unison like twins. Kutie leaned over and quickly scanned the pages. "You are getting skin like mine," she beamed happily. I walked them through the rest of the enrollment process, then had Nona give them a tour of campus. I told her I needed to go deliver a few grade cards and would be back when I was done. Then picked up the grade cards for Djunie's girls. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ As I stepped through the door I was met by a very pretty, young lady who appeared to be Orion. "Oh Miss Malissa, Djunie is waiting in her office for you. Is it true there are FJ's starting at your school?" she sounded excited by the news. "CiCi what are you talking about?" asked Djunie. "Oh, Paula and Missy FJ just enrolled their daughters," I explained. Then I heard a clicking and a whirring sound from CiCi as she spun on her left toes in full circle. "CiCi is very happy," said Djunie. "Now run along and enjoy your first day off," she told her. "CiCi is new here. I bought her from an Auction House where she was being sold after the IGP closed the house that owned her, after they were found to be mistreating their Pleasure Droids. I keep telling her that she doesn't owe me for the treatments to repair her outer skin," explained Djunie. "I'm happy that she is here now," I said then handed her the grade cards. "I'm happy to say that since Zassy Belle's graduation everyone seems to have improved their grades." She was happy to hear it and then I asked her about Pleasure Droids. "Well they can feel everything that we can. A lot of people don't understand that since they have a built in sensory off switch to stop them from feeling if needed. Which is why the IGP take great pains to keep track of them. And it's really hard to reprogram them for anything else. Most belong to individuals who prefer them to having a committed relationship," she told me. "Like the previous owner of the Star Pilot Truck Stop where Paula FJ came from," I commented. "Paula FJ was a Pleasure Droid?" she asked with concern. "Yes I just found out when she and Missy enrolled their daughters," I answered. "She's been working in the kitchen at Brightfeather's." Djunie picked up her phone and dialed a number. "Paula?" "Yes I was wondering if I could come over talk with one of your cooks a minute?" "Yes I'll be there for lunch." She hung up. "If she was mistreated before, she may need Zassy's help." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Back in my office I began researching Pleasure Droids. I wanted to know everything I could about them. I found that they had originally been developed by a few Military groups to provide Pleasure to their troops. The biggest employer of Pleasure Droids was, the Hammers Den and a few of the High-Class Pleasure resorts. There were a whole list of strict regulations governing how they were to be treated and penalties for mistreating them. Then I saw a notation that if they were found to be self-aware individuals they were to be given their freedom and made citizens of the universe. This brought me back to thinking about the Nexies and the Tanks. They were all self-aware beings created by other races, but they had learned to multiply on their own, to create more of their kind. If the FJ's, Bio-Trucks and Bio-Ships mated who was to say that the Nexies wouldn't do the same. The others combined parts of themselves to create new life, how did the Skecksies who had created the Nexies do it? I'd talked with the FJ's while they were here and learned that they shared parts of themselves. Those who were together as mother and father also shared in a form of sex, and exchange of electrical currents. The Pleasure Droids on the other hand could engage in real sex, though they still created the new life outside their own bodies. My intercom buzzed. "Yes Nona?" I asked. "Miss Doru is here to see you," she said. "Oh please have her come in," I stood up to meet her at the door. "Miss Malissa, how can I help you? Nona said you had a few questions when she called," I couldn't help it as I began to grin. "Thank you for calling her for me Nona," I told her. "You're welcome Ma'am," she answered. "You would have just fretted about it until you actually asked me to call." She chuckled. Norie was looking back and forth between us with curiosity. "I was wondering how the Nexies might reproduce," I blushed. "Hmmm, that is a good question. They are the first of their race to have actual organs to keep their brains alive. They're also the first of their kind to have any actual feelings," she said sounding as if I'd just sparked her own thoughts on the matter. "I'm sorry I know it sounds strange. But I met my first Pleasure Droid today and saw how closely they were related to the FJs who have families and," I hesitated. "They have very loving relationships," she said. "And no matter how they reproduce, it is because they love each other. Not just to create an army of mindless," she stopped. "Norie?" her sudden trance like attitude concerned me. "I, I need to see your daughter Rachel. I think I know how to find the others. Where they are being created," she said a moment before I heard Nona on her phone. "That's right. She is with Miss Malissa and she needs to see you with your Micro Neural Thingy as soon as possible." "Thank you." "Miss Malissa, Rachel is on her way to see Miss Doru." "She is a true wonder," praised Norie talking about Nona. Ten minutes later an out of breath Rachel hurried into the office. "Momma, Miss Norie," she panted as she fumbled out her thingy- majig. "Oh good, all three sets are still in here," she was busy connecting it to her own. "Miss Malissa might I take her with me to visit Tank Electronics? They have the best Star Charts outside of a Bio-Ship." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Norie was giving me directions as I drove but they weren't to the Tank Electronics shop. "I know you're wondering where we are actually going," she said. "We are going to meet a dear friend of mine who for good reasons most people think is dead. But her ship belonged to Skecksies for a while and will have the best updates of their star charts." We turned off the freeway just short of the Star Command housing area. Then drove into the canyons following her directions. Ten minutes later I saw my Aunt Stephanie step out of her front door. "Rachel, what are you doing here? Oh Miss Doru, how may I help you?" "I need to converse with Lone Wolf. It is urgent, he might know where the new Skecksies facility is located," she said. "Dominique is no longer under my command," she began. "Commander, this information could save a great many lives. Not just in these Quadrants, but Nexies lives." She said. There was a bit of rumble and then what looked like a huge rock formation nearby opened. "Norie?" I stood there stunned. Commander Dominique who had been reported as dying from a stroke was standing in front of us. "I have some data that I think Lone Wolf can decipher. If I'm right, there are hundreds of Nexies there in stasis. They haven't had the combat and aggression programming yet," she explained. "Please come aboard," we were directed. Nearly an hour later Lone Wolf announced that he had the Planet pin pointed and was requesting Bio-Ship support. "I'll get our ships on the way," stated my Aunt. "No Stephanie. Only Lone Wolf and the Bio-Ships are going," stated Dominique. "But if you want, you can come with us." We were on the bridge and the girl Monique was busy doing things at the controls. Then she turned to me and said, "Please have a seat." I sat down as everyone around me took a seat, then I felt my stomach lurch as we raced toward the stars. 'Oh shit,' I realized I was now headed into space and my Momma had no idea where I was. I was watching out the front view screen as the stars around us suddenly blurred into lines of light. "I cannot believe they are this close and have never been detected," stated my Aunt Stephanie. "It is the perfect hiding place," said Dominique. "Yeah," I agreed once I realized where we were headed, into the Sol System. The Dwarf Planet, Ceres was marked as our destination. "The best place to hide something from the people looking for it is in their back yard," I stated the obvious now. "I have alerted the Phase Spiders. They will not take action against any unarmed Skecksies, or Skecksies that are in stasis," stated Hub. "Thank you," breathed Norie. "Those in Stasis are actually Nexies. They only receive the basic life support programming until they reach the system they are sent to, and then all the nasty programs are input by that systems Command Group." ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "Hob, are Rachel and Norie still there?" I asked over the phone. "We've not seen either of them in a few days," he stated curiously. "Are they supposed to be here?" "Norie was coming to use your star charts to help locate a Nexies facility," I told him. "Rachel was with her." I could feel my panic beginning to set in. it was close the midnight and they hadn't returned. "Jaycee, have you seen or heard from Norie?" he asked one of the Nexies. "No it is news to me. Are you sure they were coming here? Might they have gone to Star Command?" she asked. I called my sister's house. "Malissa they left here with nine Bio-Ships," stated Top. "Do you know where they were headed?" "Norie said she might be able to find some new Skecksies processing plant or something where they were creating the Nexies," I told him. "Major Kim, I have her sister on the phone. They are going to some Skecksies facility," I heard him say. "Malissa," Lilith stepped into my family room. "They are safe. Astrid and Leila have jumped their guardians to the planet Ceres. They should be on their way home in about five days, after they awaken the two hundred Nexies that are there in stasis. And the Bio-Ships are setting up to intercept any Skecksies who might show up." "Ceres?" I asked. "It's a Dwarf planet between Mars and Jupiter," provided Sherry. "Thank you sweetheart," I said. "Malissa, the facility was operating on Automatic. From the records, the ships come in, drop off supplies to the Automated system and then load up Stasis pods. Then they activate them once they are set up to program them at their destination." But the Facility was almost out of the needed supplies to create more." "I want my daughter back here now," I said. "If you wish but she is assisting Norie Doru in reprogramming the Stasis Pods so that they are not automatically programed upon awakening." "Oh, then I suppose it's important that she stays with her," I finally realized just how important a role Rachel was playing in everything. "Momma," began Tizzy the next morning as she rushed in the back door. "What has Rachel gotten into now?" "What do you mean?" asked Donnie. "Daddy, the Seeker Council just got a request to have two hundred Peace Matrix to be delivered to her when she arrives back here." She was looking at me now waiting for an answer. "Your sister is helping rescue some more Nexies. They are using those to help everyone tell them apart from Skecksies," I explained. "They not only set them apart, they prevent them from becoming hostile," stated Sophie. I didn't want to tell her that they also made it possible for them to reproduce like other Bio-Mechanical races. It was a week later that Rachel finally returned home. And as much as I wanted to ground her for just going off like that I wasn't the one to reach her first. "Rach, you can't do this to me again," began Greg as he gripped her upper arms. "I've set here worrying every day that something might happen to you. I don't care if the Great Spirit himself wants you to take a walk with him. You are my wife and you will not put me through this again." "Greg, I'm sorry I just had to go," she said. "Momma will you hold Ginger while my husband spanks me?" She handed me what I'd thought was a little back pack and the cover flap slipped. I stood there staring into the prettiest gold eyes ringed with red hair, I'd ever seen. "Rachel?" I asked. "Oh my god," Sophie was pulling the child out now, cuddling her. "Careful Momma, please," said Rachel tears in her eyes. Suddenly Greg forgot all about her spanking as he carefully took the child from Sophie. "She's one of a kind, Greg. She was the only one alive in that place," she had tears in her eyes. "N, Norie said she was too young to be programmed, so I took her. She needs a Mommy and Daddy to raise her." "Rachel?" I asked gently sensing there was something she wasn't saying. "Momma, they were growing Synthetic Humans. Ginger was the only one we found alive," she was crying now. "They were using them to create the Synthetic Skecksies." Which explained how they were managing to grow the synthetic brains and organs that kept the Nexies alive and gave them the ability to live without a constant uplink from a Control Center. "Mom, Dad, hold on let me call the Vandine's. Rachel has a special announcement," Donnie said. "Daddy, can we get the Lightfeather's too?" asked Rachel. "Mom, can you get Dad and everyone else? Rachel and I have an announcement," Greg told Beaver at the dispatch office. We were standing there with Greg then he said, "Everyone, Rachel and I would like you to meet Ginger Lightfeather," we stepped back so they could see her. Everyone must have recognized how tired and stressed out Rachel was, so they kept it short. I'd never seen Rachel so maternal, not even when she'd had her simulated infant. As I held her, Rachel was busy unloading the rest of the back pack and I was seeing all sorts of things that could only have come from the place where she'd found my very first grandchild. There was some weird looking grey gunk in glass tubes. She handed them to Sherry and Tiffany, "Please put these in the refrigerator. Be careful though because we can't get anymore." "I brought you a bottle for her," said Anna. Rachel looked at it then said, "She can't digest that yet, but thank you." She took out a fresh bottle, then added part of the gunk and then finished filling it with half water and half milk from the bottle. The stuff smelled like something I'd had in the past but I couldn't think of it. Then I remembered my prenatal vitamins. "Ewww, whose eating Vegemite?" asked Tiffany stepping into the room. The stuff in the tubes was a high concentration of Animal Proteins, vitamins and minerals mixed together in a paste form. Tiffany dabbed her finger in the stuff then took a taste. "Yep, that's Vegemite," she scrunched up her face in a huge grin. It was after Rachel fell asleep cuddling her in bed that I got a chance to hold Ginger without all the blankets wrapped around her. Greg had decided to change her into a clean diaper rather than wake Rachel to do it. "Uhhh Mom? Anybody?" he asked. Of course, I was right there the moment he asked. He'd unwrapped the blanket and was standing there staring her. the first things I saw were the round stem-jacks where electronic devices had been attached. There was a row four in each arm and leg, and half a dozen running the length of her spine. The largest was at the base of her skull. Then I saw it, she was dual sexed having both male and female parts. "Momma!" Rachel was there in an instant, and without a word she rushed to put the fresh diaper on then wrap her back up. She had tears in her eyes and I put my arms around her as Greg hugged them both. "We, we ran the tests. She's XXXY, predominantly female. That's why I named her Ginger," Rachel snuffled back her tears. "She's still beautiful and still our first child," said Greg. "And I love her just as much as I love you." "You really mean that?" she was hugging him harder now. But it had been more of a realization than a question. "Norie says that probably in a week or two the Stem-jack ports will fall out since they're no longer hooked up to anything." I could only imagine the things she'd seen at the facility, I could see it in her eyes, and by the over protective way she was being with Ginger. I cautioned Erika and the others not to ask her questions about what she'd witnessed there. I could tell by the look on Donnie's face that he'd already gotten a report and seen pictures. "Malissa, Sophie she'll tell us when she's ready. But you need to be prepared for it when she's ready. Those damned Skecksies make Joseph Mengele look like the Sisters of Mercy," he whispered. "Stephanie will be here in the morning to see how Rachel is holding up. And she wants to talk to talk to the three of us in private." "You mean about why Skecksies are Cannibalistic toward other races?" asked Sophie. "Look the Nexies all seemed to have gotten around the nature of the others. But everything they eat is high in protein," said Donnie. "I really hope that Ginger can make the adjustment to Vegemite, because you don't want to know what that gunk is that is in those tubes." Someone knocked on the door and I heard Sherry answer it. It was the Jaycee's they were carrying boxes labeled 'Vegemite Concentrate'. "We heard that Miss Rachel has adopted a Nexies child. We wanted to be sure that she has plenty of formula for her that did not come from where she was created," stated Jaycee 3. "J, Jaycee?" asked Rachel from the doorway. "She will thrive and grow healthy with this," they offered the boxes. "Please do not feed her any more of the stuff from the facility." "Thank you," there were tears streaming down her cheeks now. "I'm so happy that she doesn't have to each that stuff anymore. I'll dispose of the rest of it right away." "Thank you, you are going to be a wonderful mother," they assured her. "And you are going be sure that she can grow up without having to have a metal body like the rest of us." I could see real tears in Jaycee's eyes. "We would give anything to be free of this outer body," said Jaycee One softly. "But once we were encased, we cannot survive without it." They stayed a while visiting, giving her advice on weening Ginger away from the Vegemite formula. Then Rachel decided they needed to go spend some time with the Lightfeather's to let them get to know their newest Granddaughter. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tizzy and Anna were getting closer to their own times now, and I was anxious to see my other four grandchildren born. Rachel was bouncing back and forth between us and the Lightfeather's on weekends. And I was happy to know that Ginger wasn't the type to just begin crying in class. Of course, Rachel had made it known right off that her child was not a novelty to be gawked at or studied. Over the last few weeks it seemed the novelty of having another infant in class had worn off and things had settled down to a somewhat normal routine.