HOT RESCUE

by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

The dull grey data-cube bounced harmlessly off Star Diamonds battered hull. Noting the impact, Kalith quickly recovered the artifact. Minutes after retrieval, the intercom in Snowaters room chimed.

"Goo wayy... gah-sleeeppyyy..." she replied.

'Lith chimed again, a bit louder this time.

"Okay okay okay" she grumbled, tossing her pillow at the offensive speaker grill. "What is it, Eve into the peanut butter again?"

<We. Have Been. Requested To Rescue. A Stranded Pilot.> Lith replied.

Snowy covered her eyes from the lights as they slowly brightened. "Since when did we become a rescue ship" she asked.

<Aries. And Kela. Were. Mentioned.>

"Uh, yeah, that'd do it" she agreed. "Who's doing the requesting?"

"That fuzz ball freak" she growled, "It has to be him.."

<Agreed. But Why. Us>

Struggling into her clothes Snowy hopped towards the rooms single door. "Who knows" she replied, bouncing off a table as her blouse obstructed her view. "Ow, now I remember why I prefer those Greek gowns" she cursed. Popping her head through the blouses top she shook her hair, palming open her door at the same time.

<You Could. Unbutton It. First> Kalith commented.

"Oh, yeah... How long till we arrive at the rescue area?"

"Oh thrills, Cybersnake warmed up yet?" She stopped in the galley, grabbing a large mug of hot Turkish Coffee. Gulping the thick liquid she headed for Diamond's shuttlebay. "I'll want the bomb loaded as well."

The tiny human came to a stop beside the half hidden war machine, tossing her empty mug aside as the caffeine and sugar rush hit her. "Burrrr... I hate Coffee" she said, to no one in particular. Grabbing the open hatch she swung her feet in, dropping into the smaller ships cold main deck with a soft thump. "Darn, forgot my shoes... again" she muttered. Moving forward, she slipped into the pilots seat.

"Welcome Lady" the ships AI greeted her. "All systems at or above acceptable levels. I am ready to launch."

Snowy nodded, her white hair drifting in the almost zero gravity of the warship. "Take care of the children 'Lith" She ordered. Strapping herself in she glanced at the board, noting a red light switch to green as her entryway sealed. "Lets go then." A slight lurch informed her of separation, then soft nudges as the smaller ship cleared Diamonds ancient hull. Suddenly she was pressed back against the seat as Cybersnakes main engines ramped up. In moments they were off even 'Liths sensors.

"I said, Your presence was not required" the AI was saying as Snowaters staggered back from the fresher.

"Fuzzball says, "You go"... "You go" she answered. "Whats the area like."

"Detecting multiple shuttle or fighter types, a small cloud of wreckage, one beacon."

Strapping back into her seat, Snowy rubbed her eyes. "How many is 'multiple'."

"Twenty one. Also, the lifepod is too large for my cargobay."

Snowaters laughed, "You always were a small woman, we'll just have to cut the survivor out & run for home."

"In combat?"

"Any other ideas?"

"Just checking. Thirty seconds to engagement."

Snowaters nodded, spinning to face the ships small recovery board. She wasn't that good of a pilot, and killing always made her throw up. With her back to the cockpit ports she couldn't see what was happening.

Less than four hours later a slightly battered Cybersnake gently docked with her larger, less armed mothership. Seconds later both faded from view as they shifted to another reality, leaving a rather large pirate force frustrated, to say the least as they flew through the space moments later.

"Why me" Snowaters growled as she carefully cut frozen flightsuit away from the pilots body. "What did I ever do to deserve this?"

<Shall. I. Start A List> Kalith asked.

"Don't you dare" she warned. "Humm, female, that's nice. A Vulpine as well. Wonder what this belt is for? Interesting, awful heavy. I wonder why those pirates wanted her so badly anyway. Anything on that language yet?"

<Yes. Common German.>

Bracing herself, the human strained from the off balance load as she lifted Karin's naked, frozen body off the table. Turning slowly she let the body slip into a nitrogen bath tank. Touching a control, she watched the lid close slowly. "Take us to zero-zero, these Merg Cryogenic Techs are Id's own game to recover if you haven't the correct medicines. Start recovery, and bring up the German program. I need to brush up."

A soft lurch, followed by several phantom views of various 'could be's' informed her of their passage. In minutes the images ceased.

<Zero. Zero. Docking With. Science Station In. Ten Minutes.>

"Good, Yuki and the girls could use a breath of fresh air" Snowy replied. "Me? I'm going back to bed."

Sometime (read, days) later Karin Minsey opened her eyes. Looking around she found herself in a soft beige room, a few pictures and items were strewn about as if the room had been hastily cleared. The single door was closed, telling her little more. On a table beside her were her few possessions, carefully arranged just within reach. 'Certainly not Corporate' she decided 'Or I'd be in irons, to say the least.' Moving carefully she slid from the bed, finding herself wearing a soft, transparent emerald-green nightdress. Picking up her belt she slipped it on, locking the catch as the door opened and a barely-taller-than-Karin human female entered.

"Ah, awake I see" she said, speaking slightly accented German. She extended one hand in greeting "I'm Snowaters, owner of this ship and station." She suddenly licked her lips, as if tasting something. "You are, if I am correct, Minsey K. Jagermeisterin. Do you mind please telling me, why I was specifically requested to haul your keister out of the fire?"

Snowaters, Kalith, Star Diamond & Cybersnake