Birfday? I Wanna

By Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Note: Figure M is a toon, two circles & lines for legs & arms.....

'Lith, dump the dog' Snowaters ordered mentally, her mind racing as she tried to find an answer for M's request before Q-Jo could return.

Lights suddenly dimmed, the huge tug engines growled for a moment, then resumed their content purr.

<Q-Jo currently in Lensman Reality> Kalith reported. <Disturbance suggests you have ninety-seven minutes until it will be able to return.>

'Thanks' Snowy mentally whispered, relief settling over her like a blanket. Tapping her fingers on the chairs black walnut arm inspiration suddenly struck. Beaming, she looked down at the waiting M.

"I have just the present for Emma" she said, tapping a few buttons on the arm or her command chair. Slowly the huge screen behind M faded into blues and grays, punctuated by bursts of orange white static. Slowly clearing, a half rock, half organic creature filled the screen.

"Geel nor?" it asked, multiple hands spreading wide.

"Neb tourl za vin" Snowaters answered, her throat already rebelling from the alien words. "Qu mok "M" deb...."

M, already bored, wandered out of the command center, heading for the Diamonds 'Playroom', the virtual reality chamber. Kalith monitored the strange beings actions as he/it? began experimenting with the chambers ability.

Over an hour later Snowy shut down the channel, her throat raw from use. 'Notify M will you' she asked, heading for sickbay and help for her bleeding vocal cords.

<Acknowledged> the silicon lifeform answered, momentarily pulled away from the scene of M and a talking giant rubber band.

"ans Pops says..." M ways saying as Kalith broke into his conversation.

<Snowaters has asked me to notify you. Your gift has been arranged> it said, noting the very obvious femininity of the toons companion. <She asks that you return home. It will be delivered at sunrise. Expect two men in green suits.>

"Kay" M almost shouted, grabbing its companions hand, "Go see Pops". An instant later the toon, and his companion, was gone.

Snowaters was laying on her bed when the Diamonds alien lifefrom broke into her pain ridden rest. <Something. Strange> it said, almost puzzlement in its electronic voice.

'What? Is M or that dog back?' she asked, pain from her swollen throat making her wince even from this form of communication.

'So? that's part of what the VR room is for.' She removed the cold rag from her throat, replacing it with a new one, 'What kind of companion?'

<A rubber band. With the characteristics of one Mae West> 'lith answered. <That isn't the strange part.>

'mmmm... I wouldn't have thought M would have come up with that' she admitted. 'So, what is bothering you?'

In spite of her pain Snowy laughed, balling up against her pain as she fought to control herself. "Oh by the Gods" she whispered, her voice course.

<Translate.>

Ending her laughter she took a deep breath, 'Think about it. We give M a sister right? Now, for some reason, we have managed to give M a ... Companion?'

'No, but then, what can he do about it? Get us out of here, very very far out of here' she ordered as the drugs took over, forcing her into a deep healing sleep.

M and his companion met the two strange men, both dressed in Kelly green with funny flat topped hats and pipes. "is gotz Sis's gift?" M asked, looking at the huge box just behind the two.

"Faith an Begorria we do laddie" the smaller one answered, his partner just beaming a huge smile as he latched his hands into huge green suspenders. "Just put your moniker her me boy-o, and she's all yours." Glancing at M's companion he leered slightly. "Such a sweet young lass" he whispered.

M took the pen, making his mark on the yellow parchment. The two tipped their hats, vanishing in a cloud of smoke.

Inside the huge box an ancient forgotten craft awaited Emma's hands, its puppet owners long turned to dust the lonely craft waited, forgotten. After all, it had been a long time since Fireball XL-5 had been a star.

M, Emma, Q-Jo copyright S. Minstrel

the Rubber Band, Mae West(?) created by Figure M and the Star Diamond, all

rights hereby transferred to S. Minstrel by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Don't worry about the rest, they already know who YOU are......