Chapter Five: A Show of Hands

[Psychie]

Toph lets out some quiet laughter. "I think that Texas might be a little far, but there is plenty of real estate on Florida for us to plant our mecha that is away from any witnesses to make this work. But, as Mario said, it does require us to know exactly where the Zeki-Zentraedi ship blew to know where we would be able to get to."

 

[Kaerri]

Elinor nodded. "I'd say somewhere close enough we'd reasonably have gotten there with about-to-crash mecha, but in the wrong direction to Eglin from the Zeki-Zen ship, like we'd gotten turned around in the explosion and went away instead of t'ward. Sam will know where we were when Broadsword picked us up, and that will probably be close enough to where we should have started from."

 

[Purr]

Shirley ran a hand through her hair and sat back in thought. "I can't think of any other way to save our families from thinking we're dead. How else are we supposed to get back to 'em? And along with all that, my Ghost Riders and my Baby are still on post! What would they do without me? Ohhh..." With a hand upon her troubled brow, Shirley wore an expression not of self-aggrandizement but of serious concern.

"Looks like it's time to call in the others." She wheeled her chair over to the intercom and depressed the call button. "Sam? Iris? We're ready." A double-click, like one clicking a microphone, came in reply. They would be here in moments.

Shirley wheeled back over to the table and looked at Toph and Elinor.

"And hey! Conga-rats, Toph! Sounds like Elinor's family is the kind to take in wacky, pink-haired, alien-blooded, doctor-pilots, huh?" Shirley played with her nails. "Elinor, it must be one heck of a good-hearted bunch at your pad, chick. What do you think they'd do if they got a load of Iris, Sam, and MechaKitten?"

 

[Purr]

Not long afterward, Spaceman Sam, Iris, and a disheveled and worn-looking Cera wearing a satisfied grin entered the briefing room. MechaKitten sat up. He seemed to be expecting something to happen.

Spaceman Sam crossed the room in a solemn manner. He did not offer a greeting save that of a curt nod in your direction, but neither did he show any signs of not wanting to be present. He seemed, to some perhaps, like a Japanese businessman awaiting the other party to make the first move.

Iris scuttled in behind him and, upon reaching the table, stood proud and tall. For there was Cera in her messy black bodysuit seated comfortably on the great insectoid's green back and thorax. Several times, the Ura-Meltrandi glanced back towards the door they had entered from. Her red-brown eyes seemed alive with thought. She reached back behind her and began to reform her shaggy brown ponytail into something a little more orderly.

Mack, composed and prepared, moved to rise and speak for the Wild Cards. However, fate chose that moment for the McKenzie luck to strike.

"First off, thanks for letting us use--"

CRAAACK!

The painful sound of Shirley's right knee suddenly slamming against the edge of the mega-damage table was outdone only by the stifled gasp and miserable groan that followed.

Shirley's face flushed red. Her body lurched forward from the impact. She caught herself, her outstretched hands grabbing that selfsame table for balance. Like a person used to being in such situations, she had saved herself from an embarrassing fall.

Instead of attempting to speak through gritted teeth, Shirley instead extended her index finger at the rest of you; a silent motion urging any of you to take over on her behalf, until she was able to speak for herself.

MechaKitten left Elinor's side and trotted over. There, he gently licked Shirley's fingers affectionately. Shirley, of course, was a little too busy at the moment to respond to the little fellow.

 

[Psychie]

Toph immediately jumps to her feet and rushes over to Mack's side, the doctor in her coming out. "Ok, have a seat and let me take a look. It's probably nothing serious, but let me make sure. With our luck, you broke your knee just as we are getting ready to talk to everyone."

 

[Sherwood]

Mario also jumps up, but he stops short when he sees Toph moving into place. Knowing that it was probably just a painful hit and noting worse, he maintains his calm and turns to address Sam, Cera and Iris. "Um, well, first off, let me say on behalf of all of us, thank you for everything you have done for us. You have taken us into your confidence, and that takes a lot of trust. I hope we can show you that it was not a mistake to do so."

"We have been talking a lot about what to do next, and have come up with the start of a plan to get us back home without compromising your existence to the powers that be so we can then be in a position to help you with your mission. We are all in agreement that we do wish to be a part of the team, working with you. So, let me go over our idea on how to explain our long absence, and see if you can spot any holes in our plan."

Mario pauses for a moment, then continues. "We need to find a spot remote enough to explain us being out of contact for a while. We damage our mecha enough to show us having to crash land and be stranded, then we can either 'fix' a radio enough to call out, or we hike out to some civilization and make contact with the ASC. The many bugs that you have detected on our gear and mecha should either be out of power by now, or simply have a short enough range that they will not have given away our position."

"Before we go, we'll need to arrange some preset radio codes and frequencies so we can keep in touch with one another. Also, we all think that Cera might be best off staying here, so she is not subject to imprisonment and interrogation by the ASC and General Steele's cronies. Needless to say, Iris will have to stay out of sight, too, and that is probably best arranged by having her stay here, too. Of course, all of this is very much dependent upon what you wish to do."

He smiles, trying to get a feel for how the plan is being received. "Well, what do you think?"

 

[Purr]

Spoiler: Instrumental Music

Not really mood music, but also not against the scene. "Crockett's Theme (12" version)" by Jan Hammer. =)

Toph immediately jumps to her feet and rushes over to Mack's side, the doctor in her coming out. "Ok, have a seat and let me take a look. It's probably nothing serious, but let me make sure. With our luck, you broke your knee just as we are getting ready to talk to everyone."

1st Lieutenant Shirley Mackenzie's heart was racing. Her breathing was rapid, her face downcast. She was certainly within earshot of Toph's voice, but she had not moved an inch, as if doing so would invite more pain. Shirley was no stranger to pain; she had endured more of it than most in her young life all thanks to the Mackenzie luck that seemed only to step aside during her singing or flying.

The first thing Toph knew she needed to do was see the injury. That was beneath the lower part of Shirley's borrowed jumpsuit. It seemed to be everything Shirley could do to just stand there and breathe. Toph had good reason to doubt there was bone breakage (lack of inertia, wrong angle, Shirley's legs were able to support her weight).

But bruising? Certainly. Toph knew that would require ice to help stop the abrasion from swelling.

* * *​

Spaceman Sam's and Iris's reactions were virtually unreadable. For one thing, Iris stayed perfectly still as she digested this information while Sam only adjusted "his" tablet. Cera, on the other hand, slid off of Iris's back and struck the hull flooring with a thump. She looked at Elinor first with an expression of surprise, then Shirley, then Toph.

"Dentella!!"

Hers was a desperate shriek of outrage and fear directed at Elinor. It rang across the room. Lt. Hall had seen that look on Cera's face once before - yesterday, when Taniya had ordered Cera to leave the company of the Ura-Meltrandi to join the Wild Cards for reparation. If Cera was as incomplete as she believed, then now she looked lost and frightened, too.

Then Sam held up his tablet. It read:

"WILD CARDS. THE FOLLOWING 'HOLES' SEEM TO EXIST IN YOUR PLAN:
A. YOU WILL REQUIRE A CRASH-LANDING OF GREAT SPEED AND GREATER DANGER IN ORDER TO DAMAGE YOUR MECHA TO THE DEGREE YOU MENTION.
B. THE SURVEILLANCE GEAR OR "BUGS" APPEAR TO CONTAIN INTERNAL POWER SOURCES SIMILAR TO COMPUTER KEYBOARDS AND SHOULD LAST MANY WEEKS OR MONTHS.
C. YOU PLACE YOURSELVES IN CONSIDERABLE DANGER IF YOU SO CHOOSE TO LEAVE YOUR MECHA BEHIND. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE YOU WILL ENCOUNTER FRIENDLY FORCES ON YOUR TREK TO ANY PROTECTED ARMY OF SOUTHERN CROSS TERRITORY. DANGEROUS BANDIT ACTIVITY AND OTHER ANTI-UNITED EARTH GOVERNMENT FORCES ROAM FLORIDA.
D. YOU ASK MUCH TO REQUEST THE STAY OF URA-MELTRANDI CERA AND SCRATH IRIS. WE LACK THE PROPER NOURISHMENT FOR SCRATH AND CERA'S EMOTIONAL STATE IS UNEVEN AT BEST WHEN SHE IS IN YOUR COMPANY. BEING OUTSIDE OF YOUR COMPANY MAY INCREASE THIS STATE."

When Cera read that last, she clenched her fists and growled as if insulted. Sam's text continued.

"E. ONCE YOU HAVE RETURNED TO THE ARMY OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS, HOW DO YOU INTEND TO ASSIST US IN OUR ENDEAVORS WHEN YOU ARE UNDER THEIR CONTROL?

DO YOU UNDERSTAND THESE OBSERVATIONS? DO YOU HAVE SOLUTIONS PREPARED AGAINST THESE CIRCUMSTANCES?"

* * *​

Shirley heard all of this as she slowly loosened her leggings and gently sat back down in her chair. Toph saw the angry redness on her right knee. It was a painful hit but with proper treatment and given Shirley's excellent physical condition, it would likely be well again in a couple of days.

 

[Sherwood]

Mario lets out a soft woosh of air from his mouth as he reads the comments from Sam. "Well, shit." He pauses for a moment, then stands up and begins to pace. "We need to come up with a way for us to be able to help you without compromising your existence. I would also rather try to come up with a way of doing so that doesn't involve us having to be declared dead by the ASC. I have family that has gone though the pain of losing a son, and I don't want to have them go through that again." He continues to pace, deep in thought.

"As much as I hate it, I am finding myself constantly circling around the thought of having to have us listed as casualties of the nuclear blasts. If we do, and we elect to stay here on the Broadsword, do you have the capabilities to either maintain our mecha, or a replacement set of Veritechs for us to use? If not, I just don't see much of a way for us to help you without having some kind of rig to operate out of. Also, can you make some currency for us to use, either as electronic or actual cash? If so, we can go and buy from a third party enough supplies to keep us all fed, including Iris. But that will take money."

"Finally, if we do stay on the ship, can we first get some messages out? We will have to find some way to coordinate our efforts with Col. Sharp, and I would also like to get something to my parents to let them know that I'm really alive, and on a secret deployment so they don't freak out when word comes to them that I never came back from the mission we were on."

 

[Psychie]

But bruising? Certainly. Toph knew that would require ice to help stop the abrasion from swelling.

Toph clucks her tongue and shakes her head as she examines Shirley's knee. "Welp, it's not broken, but you'll be sore for a few days." She looks over at Sam and asks, "Can I get a ice pack, a leg wrap and some Ibuprophen sent in? She's going to be unable to walk soon if I don't ice this leg, and the meds will help to take the edge off."

Assuming that the animated suit is able to have the requested supplies brought in, she busies herself in the simple task of wrapping up Shirley's leg, plants the ice pack on the knee, and gives the other woman the pills. "Here. This will help without making you loopy. Trust me when I say that this will also keep the swelling down."

Then she looks up as Cera explodes. Obviously, she is not happy with the idea of them leaving her here. Toph holds out her hand to Cera and says in a soothing tone, "Hey, take it easy. We aren't going to abandon you, I promise." She turns her head to look over at the corporal as he stands up to begin pacing, giving him a warning look to take it easy with his next comments.

"Ok, so that plan has a few problems with it. That doesn't mean we're sunk, though. We just need to figure out a way to keep Cera from getting locked up, the Broadsword from being discovered, Iris dissected and the rest of us away from General Steele in such a way that keeps us from going AWOL or worse. I don't suppose you have any suggestions? The longer we are here, the harder it will be for us to be able to return to Eglin without any side effects of being locked up ourselves."

 

[Kaerri]

Cera, on the other hand, slid off of Iris's back and struck the hull flooring with a thump. She looked at Elinor first with an expression of surprise, then Shirley, then Toph.

"Dentella!!"

Hers was a desperate shriek of outrage and fear directed at Elinor. It rang across the room. Lt. Hall had seen that look on Cera's face once before - yesterday, when Taniya had ordered Cera to leave the company of the Ura-Meltrandi to join the Wild Cards for reparation. If Cera was as incomplete as she believed, then now she looked lost and frightened, too.

Elinor responded to Cera's cry as instantly as if it had been her younger sister's. She jumped to her feet and raced around the table, one hand on its edge as if to remind her to avoid doing what Shirley had just done, and settled into place in front of Cera. She started to hug her, but hesitated for a fraction of a second -- do Meltrandi hug? -- and reached to take her hands instead. Looking straight into her eyes, Elinor said quietly but firmly, "I'm not abandoning you. I won't, ever. I promise. If I have to leave you, it's only for a short time, and only because I honestly believe it will be safer for you, OK?" She waited until Cera showed some sign of understanding before she looked back at the others. She kept her hands on Cera's unless and until the other girl pulled away, though.

"Playing 'dead' can lead to long-term issues too, y'know," she thought out loud. "We'd have to spend a lot of time dodging people, including those we might want to ask for help. It might be best if we can find a solution that lets us resign from the ASC." She swallowed hard at that, but continued after a moment. "That way, while we might not be their favorite people, they'd not be sending death notices or arrest warrants at us, and we could openly communicate with Colonel Sharp. Well, not open-open, we've still got to maintain need-to-know, of course, but we wouldn't have to hide the fact that we were communicatin', and neither would he. And we could straight-out team up with Professor Stein and Hitomi Yashida. They're both trustworthy, and civilians, so they're not under General Steele's control."

 

[Sherwood]

Mario looks over at Elinor. "Resigning our positions from the ASC is a viable option, but we are still faced with several problems. First off, where have we been for the past, what? Almost twenty hours or more since the explosion? Next, will we have any mecha to use, because you know that we will have to turn over our Veritechs back to the military. Cera does have some plans for a new kind of hover tank, but unless the Broadsword has any mecha hiding in her launch bays besides Sam's Super Tomahawk, we'll be facing off against the Robotech Masters, Malcontent Zentraedi, and these Invid with sidearms. Not a good option. Then there are the bugs that the crew have found. What can we do about them?"

He shakes his head. "Right now, I'm more confused than a chameleon sitting in a bag of Skittles. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to save as many lives as we can, but the big question is, how do we do this without compromising the Broadsword and her mission? I just don't know what to do."

 

[Purr]

(Part 1 of 2)

Toph clucks her tongue and shakes her head as she examines Shirley's knee. "Welp, it's not broken, but you'll be sore for a few days." She looks over at Sam and asks, "Can I get a ice pack, a leg wrap and some Ibuprophen sent in? She's going to be unable to walk soon if I don't ice this leg, and the meds will help to take the edge off."

Assuming that the animated suit is able to have the requested supplies brought in, she busies herself in the simple task of wrapping up Shirley's leg, plants the ice pack on the knee, and gives the other woman the pills. "Here. This will help without making you loopy. Trust me when I say that this will also keep the swelling down."

Spaceman Sam was able to accomodate Toph and Shirley and in record time. Only moments after Toph made her request, one of the side doors to the briefing room slid open and a blue-clad spacesuit with male features entered with a strange, plastic wrap with an electronic indicator on it. In moments, Toph alone of the Wild Cards was able to quickly discern its purpose - it was a climate-controlled thermal pack. One could adjust the pack on nearly any part of the body and set the desired temperature, providing heat or cold to the affected area for apparently no small amount of time.

This device was something Toph had never seen before. In the present day and age, ice packs and warming sleeves were the best that technology had to offer as far as she knew, not an electronic device that could create and maintain its own temperature. It was a little medical dream come true for injuries like this. Unlike just about every other high-tech medical device Toph had ever seen in training, this device lacked item identification of any kind - no company tag, no serial numbers, no product information whatsoever. There was only a flashy pair of words written alongside it, in the same font the Super Tomahawk destroid had down the side of its giant leg. It read, "SCL-107 Broadsword."

Iris stepped forward. Gently, she loomed over Shirley as if not to impede Toph in any way while getting a better look at the injured human. There was kindness and concern in her mental voice. "Query and offer: If binding is necessary, This One is capable of weaving a temporary brace for Leader Mack's injured limb?"

Shirley finally spoke. She sounded tired, yet there was still spirit in her. "Is it... is the brace hard like a rock? Will I be able to walk?"

"Negative and affirmative! This One can adapt and modify a weaving to protect your injured limb while keeping it relatively mobile."

Shirley sighed, folded her fingers, and tried to go easy. "A 'cast' of sorts, huh? Will I be able to fly in the Red Baroness?"

"One moment while consensus is achieved." Iris went perfectly still for one long moment. Then, she straightened, her antennae rising high above her glassy-green eyes. "Consensus achieved: Affirmative! With little difficulty, Leader Mack should be able to operate her ancient Veritech Fighter!"

"'Ancient?' Oh, no! Not you too!"

Iris recoiled with yellowed eyes, unsure. But Shirley gave her a grin. Iris peered at Shirley and, understanding, the great insectoid relaxed. The color of her eyes returned to a pretty stoplight-green.

Shirley turned to Toph. "Whaddya say, Muppet? Should I try this weaved thing?"

* * *​

"As much as I hate it, I am finding myself constantly circling around the thought of having to have us listed as casualties of the nuclear blasts. If we do, and we elect to stay here on the Broadsword, do you have the capabilities to either maintain our mecha, or a replacement set of Veritechs for us to use? If not, I just don't see much of a way for us to help you without having some kind of rig to operate out of. Also, can you make some currency for us to use, either as electronic or actual cash? If so, we can go and buy from a third party enough supplies to keep us all fed, including Iris. But that will take money."

Iris's great head tilted in curiosity. "Query: What is money?"

Spaceman Sam lit up "his" tablet. Iris saw the flash and looked to see it, but made no reaction when her eyes gazed upon it. She turned to the Wild Cards and gazed at each of you. Then she nodded as you read, "MONEY IS A HUMAN FORM OF CURRENCY DEVELOPED FOR TRADING GOODS AND SERVICES. TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, IT CANNOT BE USED TO PROVIDE YOU SUSTENANCE."

"An unnecessary commodity! This One requires only a battlefield containing Zentraedi opponents in order to provide Self with the best sustenance this planet has to offer - Zentraedi protein - preferably Zeki-Zentraedi!"

"So..." Shirley glanced up at her. "You don't eat humans?"

"Certainly not! While it is possible, humans appear to ingest many undesirable elements, especially when compared to the Zentraedi. Your species is filling, but far from nutritious."

"Great," Shirley rolled her eyes in amusement and placed her chin in her hand. "Hear that, dudes and babes? For all humanity's accomplishments, it turns out we're just galactic junk food!"

* * *​

Elinor responded to Cera's cry as instantly as if it had been her younger sister's. She jumped to her feet and raced around the table, one hand on its edge as if to remind her to avoid doing what Shirley had just done, and settled into place in front of Cera. She started to hug her, but hesitated for a fraction of a second -- do Meltrandi hug? -- and reached to take her hands instead. Looking straight into her eyes, Elinor said quietly but firmly, "I'm not abandoning you. I won't, ever. I promise. If I have to leave you, it's only for a short time, and only because I honestly believe it will be safer for you, OK?"

Cera stared back at Elinor like a woman lost. Her alien red-brown eyes did not blink. Her hands trembled as two trails of tears drifted down her cheeks and onto the starship floor. She looked away then back at Elinor with troubled eyes.

Finally, she spoke. Her words came mechanically as if she had recited them a thousand times. "My manufacturing process was not completed. I am unwhole and unworthy, the only one of my kind. I have been ordered by my War-queen Taniya not to die." Then her expression changed, hardened. She grasped Elinor's hands forcefully.

"You are my appointed dentella. I am charged to serve you. I trust you and trust in you. And so..." Her eyes flashed with great resolve.

"...I will hold you to your promise, Elly Nor. You must not die either. For if you die... I may follow... destroying whatever destroyed you." She squeezed Elinor's hands with something that resembled affection.

"This is the way of the Ura-Meltrandi."

 

[Purr]

(Part 2 of 2)

Cera does have some plans for a new kind of hover tank, but unless the Broadsword has any mecha hiding in her launch bays besides Sam's Super Tomahawk, we'll be facing off against the Robotech Masters, Malcontent Zentraedi, and these Invid with sidearms. Not a good option. Then there are the bugs that the crew have found. What can we do about them?"

He shakes his head. "Right now, I'm more confused than a chameleon sitting in a bag of Skittles. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to save as many lives as we can, but the big question is, how do we do this without compromising the Broadsword and her mission? I just don't know what to do."

Spaceman Sam raised "his" tablet once more. It read, "WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE YOU EFFECTIVE MEANS TO FACE OUR ENEMIES, MEANS BEYOND THE REACH OF THE SCIENCE OF THIS TIME'S DAY AND AGE. THE SURVEILLANCE ELECTRONICS ARE BEST CIRCUMVENTED BY A SPECIALIST IN THAT FIELD. AT THIS TIME, WE HAVE NO SUCH PERSONNEL. A TRAVERSER WOULD BE BEST AGAINST THIS DILEMMA.

"THE WILD CARDS, URA-MELTRANDI, AND ALL ELEMENTS OF THIS VESSEL, ACTIVE AND INACTIVE, POSSESS DIFFERING AND DIVERGING GOALS. WE ARE ALSO UNCERTAIN OF HOW BEST TO PROCEED."

MechaKitten yawned, showing a tiny maw of silvery teeth and fangs. Proudly, he pranced across the table toward Toph, Shirley, and Mario. There, he sat down on his haunches, his mechanical tail twitching as if it were made of flesh instead of hypercarbon.

In your minds came his squeaky voice, sounding very certain of himself. "Solution Iz easies!"

Iris leaned forward. "Query: Easy?"

"Yesses!" MechaKitten nodded and let out a meow as authentic as any furry cat. "Easies! You haz not answers? You kinnot get bugs out of big an' small armors? You needs Traverser? Answer iz easies: Get da Purr'fess'r!"

"You mean Fat Gandalf? Professor Stein?" Shirley asked aloud.

"Yesses! Purr'fess'r knows stuff! Purr'fess'r works wif small machines like bugs! Purr'fess'r iz Traverser! Get him an' you haz all three an' moar!" MechaKitten leaned his head toward Mario, Toph, and Shirley. "Solution iz worth head-scratchies, yes?" He stared at the three of you expectantly.

 

[Kaerri]

Cera stared back at Elinor like a woman lost. Her alien red-brown eyes did not blink. Her hands trembled as two trails of tears drifted down her cheeks and onto the starship floor. She looked away then back at Elinor with troubled eyes.

Finally, she spoke. Her words came mechanically as if she had recited them a thousand times. "My manufacturing process was not completed. I am unwhole and unworthy, the only one of my kind. I have been ordered by my War-queen Taniya not to die." Then her expression changed, hardened. She grasped Elinor's hands forcefully.

"You are my appointed dentella. I am charged to serve you. I trust you and trust in you. And so..." Her eyes flashed with great resolve.

"...I will hold you to your promise, Elly Nor. You must not die either. For if you die... I may follow... destroying whatever destroyed you." She squeezed Elinor's hands with something that resembled affection.

"This is the way of the Ura-Meltrandi."

Elinor smiled and nodded. "Fair deal. We'll both stick around, then."

"Yesses! Purr'fess'r knows stuff! Purr'fess'r works wif small machines like bugs! Purr'fess'r iz Traverser! Get him an' you haz all three an' moar!" MechaKitten leaned his head toward Mario, Toph, and Shirley. "Solution iz worth head-scratchies, yes?" He stared at the three of you expectantly.

"He's got a point," Elinor agreed, and provided the requested reward. "Professor Stein's already on the 'good' list, he's just up at the base still. Or near it, anyway. Anyone got ideas on how we can call him without anyone else finding out? He and Hitomi both might have some thoughts about what to do from here."

 

[Sherwood]

Mario looks over at Cera and has a feeling that he is less than chopped liver in her world and rolls his eyes. Composing himself, he says, "Cera, we all are here for you, even this silly male. The Wild Cards are a team, and you are a part of that team, and we look after our own. Now, I am willing to take the bullet here and . . . resign . . . from the ASC. That way I'll be free and clear to operate here from the Broadsword, and we can then get the Professor onboard. Another benefit to that is I won't have to deal with General Dumbass any more." Mario is quiet for a moment as he pictures his career hopes going up in smoke. This is more important. But at least you can still be proud of being able to paint a Zeki-Zentraedi Assault Scout kill marker on the side of my next hover tank. Hooohra!

"So, who's with me?"

 

[Psychie]

Shirley turned to Toph. "Whaddya say, Muppet? Should I try this weaved thing?"

Toph smiles up at Iris. "Sure. Iris, lets see what you can do. We need to support the leg without affecting her circulation or affecting her overall mobility." With her hands, she motions for Iris to begin. "After this last mission, I honestly can say that I welcome a simple sprain to work on." Toph grins up at Mack and the Scrath, listening to the play by play between the rest of the team as she guides Iris to weave the fibers around the other woman's leg.

"He's got a point," Elinor agreed, and provided the requested reward. "Professor Stein's already on the 'good' list, he's just up at the base still. Or near it, anyway. Anyone got ideas on how we can call him without anyone else finding out? He and Hitomi both might have some thoughts about what to do from here."

Toph thinks as she works, then says, "Well, both Professor Stein and Hitomi are civilians, and have their own private transportation available to them, and so long as they are not under direct observation, they can leave the post any time they want to. We can send a message to them with coordinates of somewhere along the coast to meet, and have them drive there while the ship moves in underwater as far as possible. We can then pick them up and slip back out into the gulf out of sight."

Mario looks over at Cera and has a feeling that he is less than chopped liver in her world and rolls his eyes. Composing himself, he says, "Cera, we all are here for you, even this silly male. The Wild Cards are a team, and you are a part of that team, and we look after our own. Now, I am willing to take the bullet here and . . . resign . . . from the ASC. That way I'll be free and clear to operate here from the Broadsword, and we can then get the Professor onboard. Another benefit to that is I won't have to deal with General Dumbass any more." Mario is quiet for a moment as he pictures his career hopes going up in smoke. This is more important. But at least you can still be proud of being able to paint a Zeki-Zentraedi Assault Scout kill marker on the side of my next hover tank. Hooohra!

"So, who's with me?"

She stops cold as Mario says this. The sheer weight of the decision can be both heard and felt in the voice of the tanker. "That. Is. Quite the step there, Mario." She looks up at him from her work on Shirley's knee. "Are you sure you are willing to do that? From the times in the past that we were Traversing together, I know how important your career is to you. But, I must confess, I don't see many other options available to us where we won't be cut off from the rest of humanity." I think he's serious. Is there no other way? Toph looks down, wondering just what to do. "I can't put myself ahead of the needs of the world. If we are not going to fake our own deaths, this seems to be the next best way to be able to continue our work here and not be subject to the whims of our superior officers. But lets get the Professor out here first, and return the rest of us to Eglin. Perhaps he can come up with some brilliant plan that we are overlooking to solve all of our problems. Then, if we can't come up with any other way, we can hand in our papers and leave the ASC."

 

[Purr]

(Part 1 of 3)

Mario looks over at Cera and has a feeling that he is less than chopped liver in her world and rolls his eyes. Composing himself, he says, "Cera, we all are here for you, even this silly male. The Wild Cards are a team, and you are a part of that team, and we look after our own."

With a brief squeeze that might have represented affection, trust, or gratitude, or perhaps all three, Cera acknowledged Elinor's response and released the test pilot's hands.

With motivated movements, she stepped over to Mario and stood before him, filling his view. There, she beheld him in a way no human ever had. She hid nothing. Her emotions were plain on her face. Her red-brown stare into his eyes was altogether alien, and perhaps, unnerving.

Her expressions were at first suspicious and altogether distrusting. And yet, as a cascade of notions and thoughts moved through her newborn mind, there also seemed to be moments of girlish curiosity, teenage wonder, and womanly intuition.

But, most of all, there seemed lording over the rest, the deepest state of confusion. Mario, and anyone watching, could tell Cera had no idea what to think of him or just how she was supposed to interact with him. It was something her incomplete manufacturing had not provided her.

So she simply told him this. "Mario. A Wild Card is an Army of the Southern Cross squadron designation, is it not? How can you call me such when I am neither human nor part of your military? Is Unit One therefore a Wild Card? Or the cat-enigma?"

MechaKitten mewed loudly in protest. But cats sometimes just meowed for the attention.

"My programming tells me that you are inferior. That I should expect you to attempt to kill me. For you are male and I am not. Our kind are at war."

She shrugged. "But I relate to my programming that you are not Zentraedi, but Debrandi. Thus, my programming does not apply."

Cera looked beautiful in that moment - standing tall, stubborn, and filled with womanly resolve - but, of course, she was not aware of it. For her, the term "beauty" was something altogether different.

"What do you say to all this, human male?"

 

[Purr]

(Part 2 of 3)

Toph smiles up at Iris. "Sure. Iris, lets see what you can do. We need to support the leg without affecting her circulation or affecting her overall mobility." With her hands, she motions for Iris to begin. "After this last mission, I honestly can say that I welcome a simple sprain to work on."

The "mini-hands" on Iris's pincers reached up to her mandibles. There was a light gurgling sound as her limbs and mouth moved together, appearing to work together in perfect harmony.

In moments, Toph beheld a silvery-rainbow substance appear at Iris's mouth. Her hands worked the substance out of her mouth in a similar manner as a crochet artist working yarn with needles.
Right before her eyes, Toph saw Iris expertly create a sticky, shiny blanket of sorts.

"Pardon This One," sent she. Iris loomed directly over Shirley, and with a practiced series of movements, she placed the brace over and around Shirley's knee as accurately and effortlessly as if she had done it a hundred times.

Pulling carefully on the threads, Iris formed the brace until it fit Shirley's knee like a second skin. Then, with her large and dangerous pincers, she gently shooed away anything near the brace.

Toph could see something was happening. Whatever the brace was made of, it was solidifying in a very rapid state. In a matter of moments, the brace had formed into something that Toph could tell was equal to the superstructure material of her army-issued mega-suit.

The would be no futher danger to Shirley's knee if she banged it a second time as long as Iris's brace were there.

"Radical!" Shirley exclaimed.

"Success!" Iris chimed, pleased.

Shirley looked up to Iris and moved cautiously to touch the brace. Iris, watching, nodded and made no move to stop her. Shirley tapped her fingernails on the brace. It sounded as if she were tapping on the shell of a battleship.

 

[Purr]

(Part 3 of 3)

"He's got a point," Elinor agreed, and provided the requested reward. "Professor Stein's already on the 'good' list, he's just up at the base still. Or near it, anyway. Anyone got ideas on how we can call him without anyone else finding out? He and Hitomi both might have some thoughts about what to do from here."

While MechaKitten thoroughly enjoyed his reward, Spaceman Sam jerked upright and held up his tablet. "UPDATE: WE NOW HAVE THE MEANS TO SEND A MESSAGE TO PROFESSOR STEIN."

Shirley slowly spun in her chair. "Wha? We do? How?"

Spaceman Sam struck a pose of someone who looked very proud of himself. His tablet read, "DURING OUR DISCUSSION, A RADIO TOWER CAPABLE OF CELLULAR SERVICE WAS CREATED. IT IS NOW OPERATIONAL. THANKS TO MECHAKITTEN, WHO WAS WITH PROFESSOR STEIN FOR SOME TIME, WE HAVE HIS SMARTPHONE NUMBER.

Sam turned to you. "DO YOU WISH TO PLACE A CALL?" If a space suit could have smiled, it would have.

Mack, flush with surprise at this sudden opportunity, looked at everyone at the table. "Uh, be my guest!" With a wild wave of her hand, she gave permission for any one of you to make the call.

 

[Sherwood]

So she simply told him this. "Mario. A Wild Card is an Army of the Southern Cross squadron designation, is it not? How can you call me such when I am neither human nor part of your military? Is Unit One therefore a Wild Card? Or the cat-enigma?"

Mario is quiet for a moment, scratching at his stubble on his chin. Finally he says, "Yes, and no. Allow me to explain what I mean. We are more than just a Southern Cross military unit now. When we were informed of this new ability, it opened us up to a whole new world of possibilities that were never there before. We met the professor and this little Mechakitten here, with the rest of his people too. They are not military, but they are still a part of the Wild Card team. Now, we are looking at the very real probability that we are no longer going to be in the ASC any more, but we are still going to be a team; a much larger one as we now add Iris, Sam, and you to it, not to mention any other wayward souls that get pulled into our efforts to protect this planet. Does that make sense to you?"

He looks at her with a sly smile on his face. "What am I supposed to think about you? In the past history of our world, women were thought to be inferior to men for centuries, and it wasa real struggle for those women to get the equal rights that they so truly deserved. Look at this team here. If those old rules were still in effect, I would be in charge of the squad, but in reality, I'm the only non-com in a field of officers. Before the SDF-1was able to join forces with the Zentraedi and Meltrandi of the initial attack force that came to Earth, you would be an enemy that I'd be duty bound to kill. I have lost dear family to the Zentraedi, and for a very long time I could not see any alien without having that pain come back to me. I try on a daily basis to move past it, but I must confess that it felt good to kill the enemy that i di have."

"I am not any better or worse than you are; we are just different and unique in our own special way. What do we need to do to be able to work together as friends and teammates without your programming getting in the way? Do we need to have a good sparring match to see which one of us is the better fighter? Thumb wrestle? Drinking contest to see who can hold the alcohol longer before passing out? I don't want to hurt you. If a stubborn New York Italian like me can learn that not every alien," he nods over at Iris to let her know he includes her, too, "is my enemy, so can you."

 

[Purr]

"Does that make sense to you?"

Cera briefly glanced at Spaceman Sam then back to Mario. Then she grinned rather like War-queen Taniya. "I comprehend this - gathering a warrior-force as the Broadsword has recommended, to take on foes intent on destroying this world makes more than sense. It provides opportunity for glory, technological advancements, and a chance at the wholesale destruction of our enemies. What more could an Ura-Meltrandi desire?"

"I am not any better or worse than you are; we are just different and unique in our own special way. What do we need to do to be able to work together as friends and teammates without your programming getting in the way? Do we need to have a good sparring match to see which one of us is the better fighter? Thumb wrestle? Drinking contest to see who can hold the alcohol longer before passing out? I don't want to hurt you. If a stubborn New York Italian like me can learn that not every alien," he nods over at Iris to let her know he includes her, too, "is my enemy, so can you."

Cera thought for a moment while nearby, Iris watched their conversation with the deepest interest. She watched Mario sternly, wanting to trust him, but something in her seemed to be stopping her regardless of what she wanted. "I am coming to believe my programming and flaws from my incomplete manufacture will forever be a barrier between us, human male - until the day I am made complete. As I am, I cannot tell the difference between what is programming and what is true. Even now."

"My manufacturing protocols were destroyed when Lord Dalzak's Zeki-Zentraedi laid waste to the 2,000 body banks that held my fellow second generation clones, but my gaps of knowledge can be filled in other ways. Until they are--" She snarled in disgust though there was self-pity in that sound, too.

But then she changed again. Cera suddenly looked very vulnerable as she gazed at each of you, embarrassed. "You care for me! All of you! But there is nothing anywhere in my mind that tells me how I am to respond!"

It was then that Spaceman Sam turned his tablet toward Shirley. Toph saw its contents too. Shirley read it twice. Then she silently nodded in agreement. Spaceman Sam showed his words to the rest of you. It read, "AS LEADER OF THE WILD CARD SQUADRON, DO YOU AGREE WITH CORPORAL ZUKO'S VIEWPOINT? ARE THE WILD CARDS WILLING TO ALLY WITH US EVEN AT THE COST OF THEIR CAREERS WITH THE ARMY OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS, AND POSSIBLY THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR VERY FAMILIES?"

Shirley folded her hands and fully shared her heart. "Sammy, I don't see that we really have a choice in the matter. Not if everything you've told us is true. And it seems to be." She sighed. "We... we saw that alien creature back at Eglin base. That... hellish thing that came out of the Zeki-Zentraedi containment unit. It attacked us on sight. It would have killed us all if The Colonel and Sgt. Booty hadn't killed it first."

She sighed again, deeper. "And it knew what we were. It called us 'Traversers.' It hated us!" She turned to each of you. "Have you ever felt hate that powerful before? No way I have! Not even from the Zentraedi!"

Shirley Mack looked up at the ceiling. "If that's what humanity's up against. These Zeki, these Robotech Mongers, Masters, whatever. These... Invid. How can we, as people blessed with a gift almost no one else has got, not do whatever it takes to save Earth?" Frustrated, she slapped one hand lightly against the table. "I... I didn't ask for this... but it's up to us. We're all in this together, even if it means our careers, our relationships... What's left of the human race, however messed up we are, still deserves to be saved." She stared at Sam and grinned. "And we're the ones to help make it happen!"

Spaceman Sam nodded in acknowledgement. "WE HAVE THE MEANS TO ASSIST YOU CONCERNING PROFESSOR A. STEIN. WE HAVE THE MEANS TO RESTORE CERA. WITH YOUR HELP, BOTH CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED. WHICH WOULD YOU PREFER TO DO FIRST? WITH YOUR ASSISTANCE, WE CAN COMPLETE THE MISSION GIVEN TO US BY ADMIRAL HUNTER AND VICE ADMIRAL HUNTER AND SAVE HUMANITY."

Spaceman Sam and the other three spacesuits in the briefing room snapped to a simultaneous, perfect salute. "WELCOME ABOARD THE SCL-107 BROADSWORD, WILD CARDS."

 

[Psychie]

Cera thought for a moment while nearby, Iris watched their conversation with the deepest interest. She watched Mario sternly, wanting to trust him, but something in her seemed to be stopping her regardless of what she wanted. "I am coming to believe my programming and flaws from my incomplete manufacture will forever be a barrier between us, human male - until the day I am made complete. As I am, I cannot tell the difference between what is programming and what is true. Even now."

Toph looks quizzically at Cera as she examines Mack's freshly wrapped knee. "Cera, you say you are not complete. What exactly is not 'complete' about you? Without a MRI exam, I can't see any physical problems with you . . . so I'm guessing that you are referring to mentally. What can we do as your friends to help bring you to completion?"

Spaceman Sam nodded in acknowledgement. "WE HAVE THE MEANS TO ASSIST YOU CONCERNING PROFESSOR A. STEIN. WE HAVE THE MEANS TO RESTORE CERA. WITH YOUR HELP, BOTH CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED.

Rising up from her position of kneeling down by Mack's knee, she says, "Depending on what is involved in 'restoring' Cera, I would like to ask to observe, and if possible, assist." She looks over at Cera and says, "Assuming that you agree, of course."

 

[Purr]

Toph looks quizzically at Cera as she examines Mack's freshly wrapped knee. "Cera, you say you are not complete. What exactly is not 'complete' about you? Without a MRI exam, I can't see any physical problems with you . . . so I'm guessing that you are referring to mentally. What can we do as your friends to help bring you to completion?"

Mack's new brace was unlike anything Toph had seen inside medical science. Upon close inspection, Toph saw a silvery-rainbow weblike material completely and neatly covering two inches above and below Mack's injured knee. It was clearly mega-damage material but unlike hypercarbon or superstructure like that found on mega-suits and mecha, this material was flexible. It bended with Mack's knee in a most protective fashion. Mack grinned at Toph as if to say, "Get a load of this!"

Cera acted as if she had seen the Scrath-stuff before for the Ura-Meltrandi paid it no heed beyond cursory examination. Cera hooked her right arm behind her back and grasped her left wrist in a youthful expression of unease at Toph's question. "While my memory, history, and perspective training are mostly intact, the rest of my programmed education is gone. As an auxiliary specialist, I was to serve as an advisor and information resource, perhaps to a high officer among the Ura Meltrandi. In addition to this, I am lacking core skills that will complete my projected purpose - to understand, modify, and create military devices - like my Mjolnir. I may have the technopathic knowledge of my entire race, but I also possess the physical fighting skills of a wet rag." Cera flinched as she said this.

"For reparation and proper function, I require direction and the teaching of the skills that will fulfill my purpose." She tossed her red-brown hair over her shoulder and indicated Spaceman Sam. "According to the Broadsword, this will require a medical bay and at least one 'doctor.' The Broadsword has the facilities, but not the imagination or perspective. Also, Unit One's natural telepathic abilities will be of utmost importance while the reparation of my mind takes place."

"How do you know the Broadsword can help you?" Mack asked.

"Because, Leader Mack, Spaceman Sam and I discussed and did much during your ten hours of non-activity." Cera glanced at Sam. "Progress?"

"100%" read his tablet.

Cera let out a deep sigh. "Finally. We are prepared. But I digress. What I need, Toph Kirin, is someone to help mold my half-empty mind. I need someone... I can trust... with my entire future as an Ura Meltrandi auxiliary specialist!"

Spaceman Sam's tablet changed wording. "THE DETAILS OF CERA'S OPERATION WILL BE MADE MORE CLEAR WHEN THIS COURSE OF ACTION IS APPROVED."

Rising up from her position of kneeling down by Mack's knee, she says, "Depending on what is involved in 'restoring' Cera, I would like to ask to observe, and if possible, assist." She looks over at Cera and says, "Assuming that you agree, of course."

"I have been ordered by my War-queen to travel with you for that very purpose. How can I refuse?" Cera tried to bend her lips into a smile, but it would not come.

 

[Kaerri]

Spaceman Sam nodded in acknowledgement. "WE HAVE THE MEANS TO ASSIST YOU CONCERNING PROFESSOR A. STEIN. WE HAVE THE MEANS TO RESTORE CERA. WITH YOUR HELP, BOTH CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED. WHICH WOULD YOU PREFER TO DO FIRST? WITH YOUR ASSISTANCE, WE CAN COMPLETE THE MISSION GIVEN TO US BY ADMIRAL HUNTER AND VICE ADMIRAL HUNTER AND SAVE HUMANITY."

"I vote for Cera," Elinor replied. "If it's gonna take a while, can we do both at the same time? Me 'n Cera, or whoever you need, get her into proper working order, and whoever's not needed for that, call the professor?"

Spaceman Sam and the other three spacesuits in the briefing room snapped to a simultaneous, perfect salute. "WELCOME ABOARD THE SCL-107 BROADSWORD, WILD CARDS."

Elinor automatically returned the salute. She wasn't sure if she was saluting Sam, the crew, or the ship itself, but either way, it was only polite.

Cera let out a deep sigh. "Finally. We are prepared. But I digress. What I need, Toph Kirin, is someone to help mold my half-empty mind. I need someone... I can trust... with my entire future as an Ura Meltrandi auxiliary specialist!"

"I'm in," Elinor said quietly, remembering her promise to Taniya. "Anything I can do to help, just say the word and I'm there."

 

[Sherwood]

Mario nods in agreement with the others with a big grin on his face. "Well, I can't help you with the Vulcan Mind Meld stuff, but I can help with your combat ability. You have the raw talent. It just takes a bit of polish and teaching to bring it out. I have been studying Tai Kwan Do and Tai Kickboxing, Toph and Elinor have Jeet Kun Do under their belts, and I don't know what combat style that Leader Mack has learned, but it has to be a good one to have done all the stuff she's managed to pull off. We can all show you what we know, and you can pick the one that feels the best to you." He punches his fist into his other hand. "And don't think we'll go easy on you. You'll learn from your bruises. I know I sure did, and still do!"

The burly Italian looks over at Sam. "There is an old saying: A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. We need to have Cera up at 100 percent. At a guess, that will take some time, and I will be as useless in that work as tits on a warthog. Um, pardon me, sirs. I really need to watch my language around the ladies. So, while Doc Lieutenant Kirin scrubs in to help out, those of us without medical skill beyond putting on a Band-Aid or taking an Aspirin can give the Professor a call. Have him bug out with this Hitomi lady and come meet us. Oh, and Reggie, too. He's a Traverser, right? And even though he's wheelchair bound, he might be able to help out. He's a real good kid from what I got to know of him." A sudden look of surprise flashes across Mario's face. "Waitaminute! You guys are from the future, right? You might just have some tech in your files that we don't to be able to restore his legs to working order! I admit that I have no idea just why he can't walk, but his dad . . . died . . . on our watch, trying to stop the Zeki-Zentraedi. We owe it to him to try."