Missing Fudge

by: Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Snowaters staggered out into the corridor. 'Kalith' she mumbled.

<Yes?>

"Kalith, I wanna go home..... I wanna see Opal." She answered.

<Uh-oh, you into the Catnip again right?>

"Yeah, so what.... Everyone has a vice. I’mma drunkard too yah know."

<Or in your case, around seven that I am aware of>

"Doesn't matter. Take me home will you?"

<Snowy, you on the Klipper, our transporter is down. Now how am I supposed to get you aboard?>

"Use the Klipper's Transporter."

<Look, I don't have access to the Klipper's transporter. There is a living mind running around the Klipper's computer and I am having difficulty just not getting caught. It could take days just to get control for a few minutes.>

"Ok, I'll do it then."

<oh no, here we go again.>

Snowaters staggered down the corridor carrying her bowl of fudge. Every now and then she stopped and checked the name on a door. "Jack, nope.... Eoi... naw, he's still a little hot under the collar...Rachelle... nope.... Chein.. wonder why she's never in... Jenny.. now theres a strange girl...... Ahh.. Transporter Room Three! Kalith, found it."

<So I see, well are you sober enough to set the systems?>

"Sure... all I gotta do is set when... uh.. where I wanna go and delay ten seconds. Then get on the pad. Next thing I'm home, were outa here, an I'm gonna go stay with Opal a few years."

<Snowy dear, lets test this first. Why don't you just send something over first. Just to make sure the systems are working right.>

"Aww... (bright smile) ok." She set the bowl of fudge on a pad, then stepped back to the control panel, and begin setting the controls. "Kalith... these controls are all fuzzy..."

<Send the test, we'll talk about it later.>

"Ok" She pulled the lever down a bit sharply. There was a snap as something inside failed. She watched the fudge glitter out of sight, then waited. "Did it make it?"

<No Snowy, what did you set it for?>

"Uhh... (squints at the controls) 2Y733 x 00010 x D4AA33 x 99999x10 to the 5th. That's right isn't it?"

<Ummm... no Snowy. Why don't you just go back to bed while I try to figure out what went wrong ok little bit?>

"Ok... (bemused smile)... say, where's my fudge?"

<You really don't want to know>

Shaking her head Snowaters exited the transporter room, bounced off the wall, and wandered down the hall. "Darn, and I wanted another piece." she mumbled. Staggering, she bounced off several walls & doors before finding her own.

<Power level 99999 times ten to the fifth? I better get started replacing the Klipper's power loss before anyone notices. Every time she gets powdered this happens, Opal has been missing over 180 years.>

On another world, another place a Tigeress heard a strange humming sound behind her. Turning around she saw a small crockery bowl containing dark brown cubes. Standing up to investigate the smell of fresh, rich chocolate struck her. Picking up the bowl a second, sharper smell hit her. Catnip, rich catnip. Grinning she sat down to try the gift.

"I wonder who sent this" she said, tasting the promised riches. Pure heaven, the fudge melted in her mouth. Sniffing the bowl she picked up a slight scent of Thyme, Honey, and female snow leopard. The catnip took effect quickly....

On the Klipper, inside transporter room three, a small counter reached zero. The transporter energized, trying to return that which it had sent out so little time ago.