CONTACT, BEARING 272 ZETA TRUE

by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Kalith's silicon dry voice interrupted the Star Diamond's owner as she studied the latest genetic failure.

<Something. Intriguing. Has been located.>

Snowaters looked up from her microscope and rubbed her eyes.

"What is it" she asked, carefully shutting off the 'scopes light.

"Now that is interesting" the tinygirl agreed. "What's the distance."

"mmmm... Out of range" she half cursed. Patting her growing stomach she sighed. "I need outside help with this project, what about a remote?"

Snowaters nodded, more to herself than her unseen companion. "Get on with it then, I've got another test to run before my meeting with Jacqueline. I'd hate to give her another negative report."

<Acknowledged> the alien replied, already motivating several small robots.

TINKERBELLE slipped back into the Brawl reality, extended sensors and began sending out remote devices in a predetermined net-snare. The sleek little shuttle, a gift from Atlas Aerospace boasted its own AI now. Several hours after arrival the tiny craft slipped behind a chunk of dense metallic star debris, shutting down all but minimal power.

Space warped, bulged, then imploded in a spiralling circle of fragments. For a few moments another Galaxy was visible, strange electromagnetic signals bust through the opening followed quickly by a stranger ship. Instants after the ship exited the star wound it closed.

The ship sniffed around, drifting under minimal power. Suddenly it spun and departed at high speed.

TINKERBELLE waited several hours before powering up. Drifting 'downwind' of the intruders entry point it began sampling the ionic cloud left by the other. Minutes later it sounded a signal, remote sensors powered up their tiny propulsion units, returning home. When the last remote was recovered TINKERBELLE seemed to twist, dropping out of the Brawl Reality.

"Nice timing" Snowy replied as she snapped shut the attach case. "I'll take CYBERSNAKE to the planet, let me know if you find anything spicy." She paused, picking up the Irish lace throw she had picked up several weeks before. "And stay ready in case it shows up here."

<Acknowledged. Intruder entered our space. Some six months ago. Data will be useful. Currently location of intruder. Unknown.>

TINKERBELLE settled gently to the shuttle bay deck, several meters from the waiting CYBERSNAKE's open hatch. A tight beam com link existed for several seconds between both craft as dozens of miniature repair units swarmed over the craft, replacing units that were new an hour ago. But were years older now.

Kalith scanned the data as it came in, assigning priorities to each package as it came in. The signals were more important than the intruder herself. Glimpses of a huge artifact, decoded visuals of strange arrowhead shaped craft and, as always, newscasts in clear. Whatever the new member of this galaxy was, it wasn't a pushover.

Star Diamond, Snowaters, Kalith, Cybersnake & Tinkerbelle copyright Lord Rees