Changes

by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Snowaters opened her eyes slowly, waking to the new day, hoping for the twentieth time that all the events on the huge Herbert Hotelcraft had been nothing but a horrible nightmare. For the twentieth time the sight that greeted her eyes brought her hopes crashing down into shattered ruins. She was still human.

<Approaching Planet Montana Captain. > Kalith announced.

Crawling slowly from the warm heavy covers into her ships chill air the tiny woman shivered, dashing to her cabins small bathroom. "Is Atlas Aerospace still planet bound" she asked twisting the water selector to hot.

Her body relaxed under the pounding hot water and she moaned softly with pleasure as tense muscles loosened, granting her one of the few pleasures this new body had taught her. "No, not yet" she answered, "Let me get dressed and have breakfast first, and if the genetic testing is really through, as you promised, pipe it to the terminal there."

Kalith hummed to itself, apparently its pet was beginning to accept her new body. Certainly this was the first time since the incident she had even mentioned breakfast, much less sang in her shower. Come to think of it, she hadn't done that since Opal vanished. In microseconds it activated the small kitchen, quickly returning to its observations of the planet half a light hour away... and the ships in orbit. It wondered what the elf Runner had done with her funds, considering Snowaters had given her enough to buy a small craft when they dropped her off two weeks before. Still Runner was past history. Kalith doubted the ancient being would ever want to set foot on the Star Diamond again.

Twenty minutes later Snowaters slipped into her old cotton covered Captains chair, the new one given her not so long ago by the strange trio relegated to another chamber. Its design, a luxury to any being with fur, was an uncomfortable sticky trap to her now human bare flesh. "How long before we make orbit" she asked, taking another sip of hot coca from a heavy, green, wet navy style mug. Her delicate hands unconsciously wrapped around the thick ceramic surface to absorb its warmth. Somehow she just couldn't stay warm anymore.

"mmm No" she answered, "I checked the screen at breakfast. Transporter A is still down and banks 579 to 934 are still undergoing maintenance. Unless there's something new?"

<Negative. Initiating contact with Atlas Aerospace now.>

As the huge screen before her flickered, then slowly cleared she found herself looking at a computer generated room, books filled shelves everywhere behind the figure that turned to face her.

"Hi, you've contacted the TOM CLANCY" Kristal announced, her voice filled with merriment. "We aren't taking contracts at the moment, but if you wish I can see if anyone is awake to speak with you. Who are you please, and how can we be of service."

Never one to mince words in delicate situations, Snowaters tapped her transmit button. "Vector Nine Three Slot Four Four Seven Foxtrot" she responded, grimacing at the shocked look that washed across the face of Tom Clancy's resident AI.

"Repeat and confirm" Kristal sputtered.

<Tom Clancy sensors attempting to penetrate sensor screen> Kalith warned her, its electronic voice no more emotional than a glacier.

Toggling her mute override Snowaters shook her head negative. "Drop the screens for a few moments Kalith, let her see the truth." Staring directly into the cameras lens she reopened the channel. "Pam Mime From Inner Space, Fluke Starflucker, Redeye Knight" she announced.

Recovering rapidly Kristal nodded, "Confirmed. Welcome Star Diamond.. and crew?" She paused, "Aries or Kela little one... and you should know Atlas Aerospace is aboard."

"Aries I guess" Snowaters decided. "Transmitting the whole story for you now." Her screen flickered as the Clancy's AI transferred to a live pickup. Aries head filled most of the screen, Kela next to her and the Aerospace crew packed close behind them. 'This is going to be difficult' Snowaters thought as she began to speak, fiddling with a small ball of twine Runner had left as a joke.

Several hours later the Tom Clancy and Star Diamond floated in High orbit lightly docked together, the ancient battered freighter almost dwarfing the smaller, faster Tom Clancy. All three crews sat in the Diamonds more spacious virtual reality chamber, the only place Kristal could 'physically' join in their conversation.

"So you see" Snowaters was saying. "It was an accident. IP didn't mean it and we've pretty much settled everything out, although Pasha was adamant bout him getting rid of the collar. I hope they came to an understanding. I really like them and Combo is a darling." Her eyes took a momentary dreamy look as she remembered holding the child, shaking her head to clear it she glanced at Aries & Kela. Maybe, she thought to herself, if those tests results hold up... maybe later. "It was Arnequis attempt to help that caused my change into a human." She stopped to take another drink of hot coca. "And all my clones. We've gone over everything. Its absolutely not reversible by any technology I know, so far. I've decided if I've got to live with it for now I might as well enjoy it, there are advantages. But I can't seem to get warm anymore."

Casey laughed, her eyes twinkling in merriment. "You really should try raising the temperature in here to a livable level" she giggled, idly running her hand through Terrys hair as she spoke. "Its what, sixty seven degrees Fahrenheit in here? With fur its probably comfortable, especially for a snow leopard. But your human now. Try raising the environment controls about eight degrees. You'll be amazed at the difference."

Snowaters blushed, she hadn't even thought about that, being in a blue funk for the last two weeks over her problem. "Do it 'Lith" she ordered quietly. Patting Casey lightly on her bare knee she giggled herself. "But then" she continued, a twinkle in her own eyes. "I didn't lose still another ship to a bunch of ancient, forgotten, phased out tinker toys."

It was Casey's turn to blush. "We did our best, there were a lot of them you know."

"um-hummmm" Snowy agreed. "Guess I'm going to have to buy you three a new ship huh." She stretched as a wave of warm air rolled over her. "Oh yesss" she purred in delight. "Much better."

Terry patted Mimi's knee, seemingly to be somewhere else for a moment. "Snowy" he started, a hesitation his voice. "Just what are you... We've been checking and well... a lot of people are afraid of you, those that don't have fleets out hunting you down that is...and, well... how rich are you anyway?"

"mmmmm... a little rich" the white maned woman answered. "Well, ok. Listen. I'm not an all powerful Goddess, able to birth and cinder worlds at will, a great mage capable of changing reality. I'm not immortal, invulnerable, or a universal intelligence. Nor am I some Empress with uncounted billions at my beck and call, not a other reality toon form able to shape change at will or pull massive weapons from behind my back. No God or Goddess comes to my call, my ship isn't a state of the art battle cruiser, not even a frigate." She paused to finish her coca. "I survive through technology humans find 'interesting' while others call it childish or impossible. I don't make friends often because they die, or want favors, or simply don't understand." She stood, stretching her back. "Star Diamond and I survive because we're very very tricky." She patted Terrys head lightly, covertly letting her hand linger on Casey's head for an instant. "And very very rich."

Klaxons suddenly sounded as the scene around them slowly faded away, leaving an empty room and random props. Kristal vanished.

<Battle Alert. We are englobed.> Kalith announced. It's electronic voice was fire crystal bright.

Terry barely had a glimpse of long white hair vanishing through the doors as Snowaters ran for her Bridge, the sound of heavy pressure doors slowly closing coming from the open door. Without a sound the five followed the Diamonds owner, bursting into the Bridge as a huge mass of metal slid down, sealing them in.

"Repeat that number" Snowaters was saying as they entered, her hands flashing along the bank of controls built into her chair. Displays flashed into being, covering the starscape beyond with numbers, graphics and tactical combat displays.

<Scanners detect over twenty million ships. Planet is englobed. Orders.> Kalith replied.

On the screen they could see Kristal's silent image chattering away as several familiar ship diagram displays filled the screen for a moment, only to vanish as rapidly as they had appeared.

"Damn. Reality Jump. Its our only option" the tiny Captain decided. "Hard dock the ships, there's no time now for a safe release.".

Displays changed, Kristels image flickered and through the ships fabric the five could feel heavy vibrations as the freighters seldom used cargo pod clamps locked hard against the Tom Clancy's hull, drawing her to relative safety between the two massive cargo pods. Numbers flashed onto the screen... 75, 74, 73... counting down.

"What's going on" they all asked, five voices sounding as one.

Snowaters turned, her face ashen white. Reaching out so fast no one could react she grabbed Mimi's jerkin in one hand, hysterical strength momentarily allowing her to jerk the larger woman off her feet and to her like a child. "Just who did you get mad at you" she hissed, her free hand waving at the screen. "I haven't seen that big a battle fleet in over four hundred years. Their demanding I surrender the three of you for immediate execution."

Mimi easily pulled free, brushing her crumpled fabric flat. "The Neo Cute Empire would be a start" she answered, her voice momentarily brittle. "Probably ten or more other armies, 17th Provo and the like." Stepping back to her crew mates she glanced at the screen. "What are you going to do?" she asked.

Snowaters shuddered, standing from the huge Command Chair. "'Lith and Kristal are trying to balance our engines but its probably hopeless. Our style of movement is incompatible. Still, if they manage it even for a few seconds we'll survive." She glanced up at screen, watching numbers count away for a moment. "In forty three seconds those ships will be in long range firing position. Star Diamond can't survive and I've never jumped with another ship, and the other option isn't an option. Not with friends on the planet below."

"Then let Clancy go, we'll make a run for it" Aries cried, turning towards the sealed door behind her.

Snowaters shook her head no, causing a wave moving down her long white hair. "It doesn't matter, you'd never survive that fleet. Even if I were to allow you to leave. Well there just not enough time, they planned this all too well."

<Balance. Jumping in five seconds.> Kalith announced.

"Where are we going" Kela asked, her voice strong in spite of her colorless face.

"Your reality of course, its the only choice." Snowaters replied absently. "Unless you want I should destabilize another star that is." The Diamonds tiny Captain sat slowly in her chair. "I suggest you set down, this isn't going to be pretty."

Seconds later both ships ceased to exist, vanishing instants before the convergence of uncounted weapons in a swirling wash of energy. As the beams, missiles, bullets, and curses converged time ripped, the resulting release of energy washing over ships sensors, blinding them. Those below who happened to be awake were momentarily blinded by a flash of light twice as strong as normal daylight, a flash that lasted only a few seconds before dissipating into an angry red-black smudge of dying energies.

Several ships in orbit had ceased to exist.

Aboard the Star Diamond realities flowed like a river as the twin ships slid along. For the first time in a millennium Kalith was fully occupied, Kristal acting as its assistant as it fought to balance energy flows. Never meant to be combined, alien technologies fought each other, slipping in and balance as they twisted reality around the organic beings aboard. Of the six aboard only Mimi remained conscious through the entire trip, watching in amazement at the flowing changes around her.

Then it ended as rapidly as it began. Velvet black space filled the screen, the huge pressure doors quickly withdrawing to their hiding places.

<Mimi. We have ten hours before the nearest ship detects our energy wash. Wake them up. Prepare for battle.> There was a barely felt lurch. <Kristal has taken CYBERSNAKE out as CAP. Teach Snowaters what she needs to know.>

Kalith's voice seemed.. tired Mimi thought as she started waking everyone up. Ten hours. Not a lot of time in this reality and what was Kristal doing with something with a name like Cybersnake. Having insured neither ship was going to explode and having briefed Kristal, the exhausted silicon life form fell into one of the rare sleeps it had experienced in hundreds of millenniums.

Snowaters, Kalith, Opal, Cybersnake, Star Diamond (c) David R. Dorrycott

Mimi Snow, Terry Hatcher, Casey Suzuki, Aetlas Aerospace, Kela Carson, Aries Carter, Kristal Star, Tom Clancy,

Neo Cute Empire (c) Terency (NASCAR too Slow) Owens

Runner (c) Rod (Fireball)Smith

17th Provo (c) Mike (the Great) Caproila

Interpredator, Combo Cub, Pasha, Arrequis (c) Tracy (You put WHAT in my drink) Kzaleh

Planet Montana (c) Johnny (Wait till they get a load of this) Amburn

Doodles & the Fettucinni Brothers (c) Steve (Oh, Don't push THAT button) Gattuso

The Dallas Brawl Update (c) Mel. (I didn't do it... Honest) White

And thanks to the 11/93 Brawls #1&2 for giving everyone their due this time.