To Be Continued…

The control room of the Lo’Khang’Kar shook wildly. Slammed without warning against the underside of the engineering console, The Traveller spat a profanity, and shouted “Can you people not run into any more mines for just two minutes???”

“That was no mine”, responded Officer Duoan. “That was a main transfer conduit!”

Duoan went to one of the engineering data-screens. “I was afraid of that”, he gasped. “We have a breach in the starboard transfer interface, and plasma-fires on the board on decks five, six, seven…”

A heavy sigh came from under the engineering console. “Dear sweet Darkhawk, please, just one small blessing…”

The adventurer reached deeper into the “guts” of the space-liner’s computer systems, thankful for the infra-red option that was part of Mariella’s visual systems. Delving into the forest of wires and plastic tubing, he stretched for the interface housing that he hoped would contain the components he needed to modify – and his fingers fell short by maybe no more than an inch.

“And Mariella’s shorter than me”, he sighed. “By the height of the heels of a pair of Gucci boots – and her arms are just that little bit shorter than I’m used to…”

Darkhawk was, of course, absent – and it seemed that she was no longer hearing any prayers…

(Continued)

Finding a conference room with a stunning view of open space, Jason and The Traveller sat down opposite each other. Jason, facing no objection from The Traveller, spoke first.

“I read the files”, he said. “I know why you’re here; to retrieve the shards of the ‘crystallised consciousness’ of the daughter of The Goddess and Overlord Guixander. Three of said shards give the local hero ‘Doomstone’ his power – and have probably influenced his choice of name – and with them, he has done a lot of good…”

“I know“, sighed The Traveller. “Darkhawk’s report from this region went into considerable detail concerning this individual. I know what he represents.”

“Peace. Freedom. Hope – for millions“, interrupted Jason. “Only when you live that life do you understand its power, its potential…”

“Yes, and we are dangerously short of Overlords“, reminded The Traveller. “The daughter represents a possible opportunity to reset the balance of power in the universe – and most likely beyond. You know Vaarla D’Yanu – do you think Mistress Vaarla should be swaggering around with the majority of the combined powers of the Overlords unopposed?”

“Vaarla isn’t an absolute monster…”

“…but can you guarantee she won’t become one?”

(Continued)

“Excuse me, but we’re looking… for…”

For at least the tenth time, one of the inhabitants of Baxam-Col-Vree walked past The Traveller as though she was invisible, or her words beyond the range of their hearing. It was almost more than the explorer could stand.

“It’s because I’m a woman, isn’t it?”, she muttered to Irinati, as the girl sat on top of a short post, intently studying one of the local coins. “I should’ve known this was going to happen… now where did you get that?”

“Man gave it to me”, murmured the girl. “Said I was pretty – why did he have to pay to say that?”

“Better not to ask”, said The Traveller, nervously. That was another negative aspect of his new form – two women attracted a lot more undesirable attention than a man and a woman.

Trying to figure out another approach, The Traveller’s mind went back to his earlier exchange with Mariella, and the mention of the customisation options available to the young woman with the artificial body. Could I perhaps make myself at least appear more… male?, the adventurer wondered. Only for a short while, of course…

“I better not mess about with Miss da Silva’s body”, he sighed out loud. “I don’t want to change something I can’t later undo. So, what else is there…?”

(Continued)