The ANNI bleeped and came to life.

“Contact bearing 034, mark 112. Range 44 thousand kilometers.”

Vengeance jumped in his jumpseat and grinned at himself as he wondered if that was why it was called that. “Show me,” he grumbled at the ANNI (Artificial Neural-Net Intelligence) and the NavComp’s ...

This is a good idea. I like it.

You have chosen well.

Welcome to the Void.

Have fun ---  SCREAM ON!!!!

“…You’re the only one I can find that I can trust….”

“What about everyone else?” I asked. I knew he didn’t trust me.

“You’re it, mate. You and me. We got to figure this thing out.”

I eyed him curiously. “OK, so shoot.”

He told me everything he’d been thinking. About Alex. About the Gates. About ...

Wolf and I walked down to the eatery. Monkeys could put out quite a spread and I never minded a hearty meal before a hearty battle. It was like an appetizer.

As I walked my mind kept drifting back to the dreams. They were so strange. So real. It was always me but it wasn't me. Ever have a dream ...

When Wolf left the bar saying he was going to bed I somehow felt relieved. Wolf had become a close and trusted friend and to have him looking at me that way was more than a little unnerving. It was downright troubling. The kind of troubling you feel when your brother squeals to your parents that the ...

The recording had set every hair on my head and everywhere else standing straight up. It was eerie enough hearing your own voice, but saying these things?

I had no recollection ever saying those words. I remember the battle alright. And the decision to draw the Nomads away from Wolf. I remember ...

The buoy drifted through the nebula. The strobe flashed in alternating colors: red, yellow, blue, white over and over in rapid succession. It had been designed to draw the eye simply by the nature of the discomfort it caused. It also broadcast the same cycle of annoying m-wave tones, over and over ...

Zeb’s story was enlightening to say the least. I’d listened, rapt. I’d had no idea he’d been around so much. His almost mild demeanor lied, I decided.

Their faces were expectant. “Well…?Just how interesting?" Zeb prompted. C raised an eyebrow.

“I went back to the Park,” I began. “Where I found ...

Poor Zeb. He looked like he was about to topple over. I could almost hear him thinking... "Just when you think you know a bloke..."

"Zeb, ol buddy!" I slapped him on the shoulder. "How about another round. Your best port this time, eh? You know, the good stuff you and Wolf keep under the bar?" The ...

"Zebulon, is it?" brought me back with a start. It was a long way from there to here and it took a few seconds.

C's story was what took me there. A story of raw survival. It wasn't the killing, it wasn't the dying, it wasn't even the flesh-eating "madness" ... I'd been a lot of places and seen a ...

Savage had pretty much dismissed me. He didn't want to be bothered. If anyone knew the feeling I did. I'd heard him say he wasn't in the "rogue" business any more. That was fine by me, I didn't want to have him red on my HUD. It might be a bit... uncomfortable. I'd seen what he did to red blips ...

Funny how things change I thought. One minute I was talking with Zeb about important matters of trade route security and the incredible disappearing Wolf, next minute that wasn't important any more.

The big guy was in the corner. I studied him as Zeb server his table. Yeah, I was right... I knew ...

It didn't feel right, knocking off that trader. I mean seriously. Baden Bayfish in a barrel are harder than that. And that pitiful "escort"... well... I thought to myself, the AT's got a lifeboat but a fighter's escape pod doesn't always eject and even then it's iffy... so knocking him around a bit ...

[RP] The m-wave crackled to life, much to my surprise. The darn thing had been on the blink ever since that tight battle with that new band of pirates in Babylonia. I strained to make out the message. It sounded urgent:

... bzzzzt...crrrrzzzzz ... zt ... Attention.....Europan Navy....conflict ...