Everyone Off

by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Runner © Rodford E. Smith

Snowaters, Star Diamond, Kalith © Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Planet Montana © Johnny Amburn

Dr. Who © BBC

 All others © respective holders.

The Star Diamonds owner-Captain slowly opened her eyes, and groaned. Her body ached, someone had used it to try out a new car wash machine, her abdomen felt like three week old jelly while her sinuses were clogged with concrete. Even the weak groan had burnt as it passed over dusty dry tissues in her throat. Slowly lifting her head she carefully looked around her, 'Sickbay, good' she thought. If there wasn't an emergency then the machines had been programmed not to wake her until she was well enough to work no matter how badly she may feel.

'How long Kalith' she thought, listening with her mind for the reply.

<Four days, nine hours, seven minutes. Whoever they were they were very upset with you as the dosage was near lethal>

Moving slowly she slid more than rolled off the table, a light wave of nausea washing over her as she stood erect. She had felt the automatic drips withdraw as she woke, bandages had been placed over the shaved entry points in her arms. 'Sugar drips or not, I'm starved' she thought, heading for the galley.

Moving slowly down the ships main passageway she remembered the strange girl that had somehow linked up with her. "Where is our visitor?" she whispered, her throat still sore from the ordeal as well as lack of use.

<VR-Deck. She keeps requesting higher danger levels and is somewhat peeved by Sherrys constant refusal. Her recover was unusually rapid. I had suspected a spy until her medical tests showed almost the same levels of the drug as yours. Apparently she is somehow able to flush foreign material from her body rapidly.> The Alien paused a moment before adding its version of a cold shower. <By the way, that Doctor person visited.>

Moaning lightly she stopped, reaching out with one arm to steady herself against a bulkhead as a shiver racked her body in reaction to the unexpected, and undesirable news. "What did he foul up this time" she half groaned.

<Nothing> Kalith replied, emotion almost, but not quite, appearing in the mind link. <Runner seems to know him. They talked, he left.>

"Then we better leave as well, shift as soon as possible. He'll be back, he always is."

<Agreed, shifting back into the Brawl Reality in six hours will place us in orbit of the planet Montana. Acceptable?>

"Fine" Snowaters mumbled, having made the mistake of nodding her head. "Is fine, she can get a ship home from there." Staggering slightly she carefully entered the galley, ordering whatever the sadistic medical AI had decided was best for her current condition.

For the third time that hour Runner fumed at the VR-Deck's AI and its constant refusal to advance the danger levels. After all how could she keep in shape with such feeble opponents?

"Stand-by for reality shift" Kalith's unemotional voice suddenly announced, shattering the Elf's delicate concentration.

Caught off guard the tiny woman missed the doors opening as her forest perch dissolved around her, their soft hiss covered by the Alien's sharp command. Moments later everything seemed to turn inside out, for an instant Runner found herself in her old body, then the body of a strapping young man followed by several other, less pleasant possibilities.

Staggering she sat down. "Is it always like this" she asked to no one particular.

"Always" came a familiar voice behind her.

Turning Runner found Snowaters leaning against the now open door, holding a large glass of thick brown liquid.

Holding the glass out Snowy grimaced, "Chocolate Electrolytic Supplement, and yes it tastes just like something else brown" she answered the unspoken question. Stepping slowly into the room she looked around, "Sherry. Argonolon Three, Level Nine, Static display only."

"Again mistress?" the AI asked, then with an audible sigh. "Running program" it answered, regret heavy in the artificial woman’s voice.

The scene shifted, a huge blue-black dragon suddenly filled the room, which had changed into a deep cavern. Torches flickered all around lending an disquieting feeling to the scene, rubble and other things filled the room. The Elf noticed that everything from a '53 Buick's chrome bumper to platinum bars were strewn everywhere. The Star Diamond's diminutive Captain stepped forward, placing one small hand against the massive dragons face.

"I died here, and I've been replaying it over and over trying to find out why." Turning she looked at the woman beside her. "You've been demanding higher levels of danger, ok here it is." You glanced up into the still eye of the ancient monster, "You’re a dragon, at least inside. I tried to talk to this one and the last I remember is that set of teeth closing around me."

Before Runner could answer Snowaters had moved away, "We enter Montana high orbit in two hours. You'll offship there, I'm transferring a little cash to you so you can catch a ship home, I've important business elsewhere."

Turning she left as quickly as she had arrived, the doors sliding shut, cutting off any chance of a reply. Turning, Runner looked up at the massive being before her.

"Sherry?" she asked, half wondering.

"You wish the original program back?" the AI answered.

"No, not yet" Runner answered, walking around the massive animal. "Your name is Sherry?"

"All AI's above level three have names" the VR Deck monitor replied. "You just have to ask."

Runner groaned, 'Just ask' was the catch 22 around this ship. You never knew when to ask and when nothing was really there. "How accurate is his reactions" she asked, pointing at the dragon.

"89 percent, plus minus two percent. A few medical probes were sent into the cavern while the Lady recovered, specifically to obtain rather accurate brain scans" Sherry answered.

'How many hundreds of drones I wonder' Runner thought, bending down to look under the half erect dragon. Whistling softly at what she saw laying under the dragons forepaw she stood slowly, backing up several meters. "What happens if I ask you to run this program Sherry."

"Program will run until your 'Death' at which point it will reset to this point" came the answer. "No actual physical harm will occur. Although this being was capable of mind to mind speech I am not calibrated to duplicate it on your level, therefore all communication will be on standard vocal levels. Lady Snowaters has run this program 7,914 times. All with the same result."

Runner nodded, stepping further back. Taking a deep breath she stretched, then nodded. "Sherry, run the program."

There was a flicker, then the Dragon blinked, and roared.