And the Band Plays On

by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Snowaters sat quietly, slowly drinking hot coca as she sat at her desk. Several hundred pages of printouts lay scattered along its surface, reaching out she pulled one offending sheet towards her, tapping its surface lightly. She let her thoughts wander a few seconds as she studied its impact. "It doesn't look good does it 'Lith" she suddenly asked.

<Negative. All reports indicate the same. Clarification required.> the resident alien answered, seemingly from nowhere.

"You mean recovering her body and preforming tests" the tiny woman sighed. "I'm not sure the Halris Clan would allow that, they strike me as a pretty tight knit family."

<Accepted. Still. One cannot advance without questions.>

Snowaters stood slowly, still feeling the effects of what most doctors call a 'painless operation.' Walking carefully she entered her ships bridge, gratefully settling into the huge padded chair. "Phone, Call Jacqueline" she ordered, carefully sitting her mug on the small table next to her.

<You have been watching too many of this planets commercials> Kalith remarked. <I recognize that one.>

Snowy giggled, folding her legs underneath her in her constant attempts for comfort. "Yeah" she answered, "But it was so quaint, and well.. I couldn't resist."

"Put her on" Snowy replied, quickly moving to a more modest pose as the starscreen cleared, Jacqueline's features replacing the deep space scene.

“This is Jacqueline Hilaris at ACME Central calling Star Diamond... Come in Captain 'Fellana" the other woman was saying.

"Snowy here" she answered.

Leaning forward in the ships chill air, she listened to Jacqueline's decision, a breath of relief escaping her. When she had finished Snowaters leaned back, carefully pulling her clothing around her for warmth. "I think I know how Judyth died" she said, "But, well, I need to examine her body to be sure... Dissect and take tissue samples." She paused, taking a quick taste of her drink before continuing. "And Marie is fast reaching the limits of her abilities to survive, I need to know what you've decided." She paused, taking a deep breath, "If you've decided to terminate I need to know now, while I still have some control over her actions."

"We won't be terminating anyone" ACME's President snapped, taking a deep breath. “I need to check my clones, how much time have I left?" she asked, worry heavy in her voice.

Jacqueline's shocked look was answer enough to the Diamonds Captain, she hadn't expected to have to terminate but she had to ask. "Fifty two minutes, but that's not taking into consideration any safety buffer, that's the wire." Snowaters replied. "What about Judyth's body, may I have access?"

"I'll have to take that up with the family" the Hyaena answered, her voice troubled, "After all, its not something I can decide on my own. I mean, you don't just say 'Here's my sisters body, go ahead and carve her up like a turkey.' It would help if I knew more."

Snowy nodded, more from habit than as acknowledgment. "I've run some simulations using Jack's DNA/RNA patterns, and well... Look, I won't beat around the bush. You know that anytime someone goes under general anesthesia there's a chance they won't wake up. Well, your basic animal stock is more susceptible than most, and the changes Frankenbeans made to your genetic structure, it upped those odds."

Jacqueline leaned forward into the pickup. "You mean she died of toxic shock?"

"No, that's a bacteriological infection" Snowy answered, "She simply went to sleep and for some reason she never woke up. There are simply too many reasons for me to guess and I have to know, or every clone I create will probably die the same way."

Jacqueline closed her eyes, "At least she never knew" she muttered, her face just close enough to the pickup for Snowy to hear. "You know Frankenbeans probably embalmed her, she was his favorite, I can't see him just shoving her in a box."

"I'm counting on that, I have the technology to remove those chemicals before I examine her and I'll re-embalm her before I return her for reburial." She watched as the woman groundside fought with herself, "Jacqueline," her voice suddenly as gentle as her name. "I've done this thousands of times, I'm not incompetent and I promise to be as gentle as I can."

Jacqueline looked up, a slight smile on her face. "Gentle? I mean..."

Her phone range and she frowned, picking up the receiver. Snowaters watched as she spoke in private, saw her face become ashen. Slowly Jacqueline sat the receiver back in its cradle, looking back at the pickup.

"You better get down here" she said, her voice a whisper of what it had been only minutes before. "That was Ygor... and.. and I think you better expect to put Judyth into one of your clones. At least for the time being I mean."

Nodding again Snowaters stood slowly, "Give Kalith the destination, it will set up CYBERSNAKE before I board." Looking up at one of the clocks set for this worlds timeflow she grimaced, thinking about thrusts, G forces, and her aching stomach as a map of the planet spun in reverse, a small area pinpointed and enlarged. "No more than twenty minutes" she decided, "I'll see you, or one of your brothers there."

"Thanks" Jacqueline replied, "You'll meet Jake, he's already on his way." Taking a deep breath she steadied herself, "And Snowaters.... Don't eat anything before you see this."

Deep space suddenly refilled the screen as the ACME line closed, Snowaters started out of the bridge, depositing her half full cup into a disposal unit as she passed. "Any idea what's up 'Lith" she asked, heading for the shuttle bay and awaiting warship.

<Negative> the silicon beachball answered, gently floating beside the woman, <However. The position is where I suspect their clones to be. Therefore one would expect it deals with the clones. Would Judyth have known she was dying.>

"Flaky genetic codes, low level technology, and a single Caretaker for years? I'm afraid what we have is going to be ugly" Snowy answered, stepping through the shuttlebay hatch, "And yes, its possible she knew, but that's private Kalith."

<Probable. Cancerous cells. Uncontrolled cellular growth. The results. If still living. Will be unsettling. Will not mention possibility.>

Buckling herself into Cybersnakes Co-pilot seat Snowaters grimaced, remembering another planet, and the things that lived, or tried to live, on its surface. "Better warm up sickbay then" she ordered, "If your right, I'm going to be very ill when I return, and start the transfer now, its going to be too close for comfort as it is."

Kalith watched the deadly craft slowly drop away from Star Diamond, its dull grey-black hull quickly blending into the surrounding space. Unaffected by the vacuum surrounding it the ball lifeform recycled the clamshell doors, noting the return of, what for it, was a dangerous oxygen atmosphere. It too remembered, and remembered the months of nightmares that had followed for its pet. Humming to itself, it went to work, slowly transferring the mind of a computer AI cum Hyaena female into the all too human clone of Snowaters. In the least her emotions would be affected by the different body chemistry, it just hoped that she wouldn't also become unstable. Pausing a moment it scanned the remaining four clones, its pet was playing dangerously close with her life, dangerously close.

Snowaters, Star Diamond, Kalith, Cybersnake (c) Lord Rees

Jake & Jacqueline Hilaris, ACME Multiversal, Yugor (c) Johnny Amburn