Title: "T'rais Warfare" (Part 1 of 2)
Author: Lieutenant Richard Wallace
Stardate: 2460444
Earthdate: June 11, 2383
Location: USS Virgo

The *Virgo* was back in space now for almost the second month and was cruising at warp nine. The *Virgo* was heading for a set of planets that would help provide supplies. The *Virgo* would be entering the system in a few days. The *Virgo* was undergoing some minor repairs from a recent ion storm. Commander Loran would have the problems fixed by the time the ship entered the system. It seemed the crew was getting back to normal. Most of them were getting accustomed to being back onboard. Some crewmembers were having a hard time getting the battles they saw on Xenon III out their minds.

<The time is 0530 hours.>

Richard opened his eyes and looked around the room to see he was alone. He sat up and took a deep breath and said, "Lights. Seventy percent."

The lights in Lt. Wallace's quarters came on. Richard stepped out of bed and looked at his perfectly normal hand, a gift from the Borial gods, and flexed it. *Time to go back to duty now.* He walked over to the bathroom and showered. Then he got dressed and looked at himself in the mirror and felt good to be back in his gold uniform.

The door chimed. Lt. Wallace was surprised by the fact that someone was coming to see him. During the past month he had been on medical leave. Commander Dana Maruu, as Chief Medical Officer and acting Counselor, was monitoring the crew's reactions to the battles on Xenon III. Richard had been affected by the death of his unit. The only one that came and saw him often was Major Chee.

"Enter," he replied.

A young female of about 18 years wearing a gold uniform and carrying a PADD walked in. She was very pretty to Richard, but he told himself, *She is too young.*

He looked at her and remembered her from the *Ilion* and the fact that he saved her life on Xenon III.

"Morning, sir," she said.

"Morning, uh..." he replied since he didn't know her name.

"Yeoman Harper."

Richard smiled and shook her hand and said, "Forgive me. A lot has happened in the past two months we have been onboard, and it seemed that everyone I knew died on Xenon III that were tactical officers."

She had a look of gloom on her face due to the fact that she felt the loss in her heart. "Sir, I want to thank you for saving me, and I'd like to say I'm sorry for saying what I said to you on Xenon III in the Great War."

Richard didn't take such things to heart and didn't believe that the young crewmate did wrong. "Come Yeoman Harper have breakfast with me."

Harper gave a smile and said, "I would be happy to, sir."

Richard wanted friends but he isolated himself away from the crew during his medical leave since he believed he was responsible for his unit's fate on Xenon III.
____________________________________________

Meanwhile, the Kelvan ship had been fighting a race that the crew of the *Virgo* had yet to see. This race was humanoid and had red skin with no hair of any kind. Their eyes where yellow and looked like snake eyes.

This race was a ruthless race and very much the military type.

The Kelvan ship had been fighting them for two months and the Kelvan leader, Captain Dernom, had come to a conclusion. The remaining senior staff of the Kelvan ship was small and not so senior now.

"Sir, we have to propose a treaty with the T'rais. One more battle, and we will be destroyed!" the new Kelvan First Officer said to his beloved leader.

Dernom then lit up. "All is not lost! The *Virgo* caused great damage to our ship. They must pay. However, I doubt they will allow themselves to be eliminated too easily. We will ally ourselves with the T'rais. Then, when the *Virgo* is destroyed, it will no doubt have inflicted heavy casualties on the T'rais, we will turn on our allies and finish them off!" Dernom turned to his pilot. "Open a com channel to the T'rais."

Everything was now set in motion. The Kelvan plan was simple. They would give the T'rais phaser rifles to fight the *Virgo*. After they destroyed the *Virgo*, the Kelvans would turn on and kill the T'rais.

The T'rais armed with phaser rifles wouldn't hurt the Kelvans as badly as with chemically propelled weapons.

The Kelvans had lost one-third of their crew in the past two months. Their ship was heavily damaged and was unable to continue their fighting against the T'rais. Dernom assumed the form of a Human, in order to make peace talks go easy.

On the Kelvan viewscreen appeared a T'rais wearing what looked like a Cardassin uniform. [What is it Kelvan? Do you wish to surrender to me?]

The Kelvan smiled and made the T'rais uneasy. "I wish to speak to you about a cease fire, in trade for more advanced weaponry."

The T'rais liked that and said, [What are your terms?]

"We will give you phaser rifles and replicator power for exchange for the destruction of the *USS Virgo*. We will leave your space and never return." The Kelvan leader hoped the T'rais wouldn't figure out that this whole treaty was fake.

The T'rais smiled. [Let us meet at these bearings in two parsecs.] "Very well my I have your name or designation?"

[I am Toris Jurois of the Makin Klan.]
____________________________________________

The Kelvan ship stopped at a planet and waited for the T'rais to show up. After waiting a few seconds they did.

The T'rais beamed through the shields of the Kelvan ship. Six beamed onboard, four wearing some sort of weapons that looked like old Earth machine guns. They all wore a metal looking stick that had a few buttons on it on their belt. "Come give us the information, Kelvan."

The Kelvan handed over a captured phaser rifle and a captured Starfleet PADD to the lead T'rais. Toris Jurois then told the Kelvans the T'rais terms. "You are to stay here in this sector. If you move out of here we will destroy your ship and crew."

The T'rais then beamed back to their ship. The T'rais ship resembled like a bat. It was made of metal and had transwarp capability.

On the T'rais bridge, Jurois, gave his second the task of seeing what the *Virgo* was. "Sir, Deming Kilen requesting to report on the information the Kelvans gave us."

Jurois was pleased to have seen his loyal officer complete the task only in 15 parsecs. "Speak, my loyal officer."

"Sir,this ship the *USS Virgo* is part of the United Federation of Planets, a huge government with thousands of ships. It is command of a Captain Stephen Maruu. He has the rank equivalent to yours, sir. The *Virgo* is equipped with quantum torpedoes and phasers. They have transwarp capability, and their shielding is equal to a scout ship."

Jurois looked around and new that the *Virgo* was a bigger threat than he had originally anticipated.

"Sir, there is more. This Federation fought and is now allies with the Dominion."

Jurois yield in anger. "Tell Fifth Squadron to meet this *Virgo* three forlorns after it enters our space. Let the *Virgo* enter our space unopposed until they are at least 12 light years into our space." He faced another
officer. "Deming, contact the Grand Ruler. Tell him we are about to be invaded by the Federation."
 

Title: "T'rais Warfare" (Part 2 of 2)
Author: Lieutenant Richard Wallace
Stardate: 2460444
Earthdate: June 11, 2383
Location: USS Virgo

Lieutenant Wallace was off duty now and was looking forward to his off hours. He stepped onto the turbolift and headed to the Day's End Lounge and was looking to take it easy for awhile. Richard walked in and ordered a coffee and looked around and saw that the Lounge was not that full.

He took a seat looking out at space and put his feet up on a chair. Richard was thinking about the past several months and trying to put together what it all meant.

"Mind if I sit down, Lieutenant?" a female voice asked from behind Richard's seat.

He turned to see the Captain's wife. "No go ahead, Commander, take a seat."

She sat down and gave the old Lieutenant a friendly smile. "I was wondering why you didn't report to Sickbay this morning for your medical clearance."

Richard hated Sickbay and hated being in there as well. "Listen, Commander, I am fine and I feel physically fine, so I went back to work when I felt like it. Besides my medical leave is up."

Maruu wasn't too pleased with Richard's attitude and said calmly. "Fine. Just remember who to come to when you don't feel so fine." She got up and left.

He laughed and took a drink of his coffee.

[Harper to Lieutenant Wallace. Come in.]

Richard tapped his com badge. "Wallace here."

[Sir, there is a signal coming in and it can't be identified.]

"I am on my way." Lt. Wallace went to the bridge not knowing what the signal was. Thoughts rang through his mind. *Is this a distress call, and, if it is, is it friend or foe?*

Richard stepped off the turbolift and on to the bridge. He saw the captain sitting in his chair and Commander Lataro reading the panel on his chair. He walked over to his post where the very pretty Yeoman Harper was trying to do her job. "Here is the problem, Crewman, you didn't clear the com channel from the atmospheric conditions from where the message is being sent." Wallace pressed the button and an automated message played.

[This is Gorish of the T'rais colony Herson. We are in need of medical assistance. We are being plagued by a unknown illness. It's killing everyone on the colony. Please assist.]

Captain Maruu stood up and turned to Valdago who was using the scanners to see the location of the transmission.

"Sir, it's 12 light years from here. We can reach it in about 15 minutes at warp 13."

Maruu turned to Richard and asked, "Lieutenant, what is your thought on this matter?"

Richard spoke his mind, a quality that usually got him into trouble. "Captain, we know nothing of this system or this T'rais race. For all we know this is a ambush. But as Starfleet officers, we have to respond. It's part of the oath we all took." Wallace had a bad feeling about this and his feelings were usually right. "Captain, we should
arm ourselves in case this is a trap," Richard added.

"Helm, plot a course for that colony. Maximum warp," Maruu said. Then he tapped his com badge. "Commander Benton, arm your men. Commander Maruu, get ready to treat an unknown disease."

Wallace went over to a panel next to the tactical station. He opened it and pulled out two phaser rifles.

*This better be a mission of mercy, not a mission of destruction.*

"Sir, we reaching the planet," said Commander K'Lara Lataro on the Helm.

Wallace began to use his scanners to scan the area around the colony. He found two ships moving in. "Sir, two ships equal in size of a Defiant class starship are moving in on our position bearing 328 mark 9. Sir, another ship of the same class moving in bearing 379 degrees."

Captain Maruu stood up and turned to Wallace and had a look as if he had been caought with his pants down. "Lt. Wallace, hail them."

"Channel open."

"I am Captain Stephen Maruu of the Federation Starship *Virgo*. We are here to help with the disease on your colony."

Wallace then scanned the ships and saw some frightening things. "Sir, they have a plasma pulse canon and shielding more advanced than ours. Their cannons have powered up." He paused. "Shit! They have just fired!"

The *Virgo's* saucer section took three hits, two penetrated the hull. The ship shook violently.

"Report!" Lataro ordered.

"Sir, hull breached on decks four through eight. Force fields are in place," Wallace said as another blast landed near the bridge knocking people left of tactical to their feet," Wallace tried to keep calm, but he couldn't. "Captain, we need to fire back!"

"Yes. Target their weapons systems. Fire!" Maruu ordered.

Richard aimed the *Virgo's* phaser banks at the lead ship's weapons systems and fired.

The lead T'rais ship was hit and started to fire more continually at the *Virgo*, firing three more shots.

"Captain, I might as well be firing a BB gun at them. Their shielding grows stronger by feeding off our phaser blasts," said Wallace.

Valdago announced, "Our shields are at 51%!"

"Mr. Wallace, use quantum torpedoes!" yelled Maruu.

"Aye, sir." Wallace fired three torpedoes at the lead ship. They worked. The T'rais vessel exploded. "Sir, we got one. Two bigger ships have come in, bearing 320 mark 9. They are equal in size to a Romulan War Bird!" Valdago said at Ops.

Wallace fired three torpedoes at the smaller T'rais ships destroying one and disabling another.

The *Virgo* was then was hit by a sort of torpedo that cut through the shields and detonated on the hull near the aft torpedo launcher. Wallace kept firing at the T'rais ships that appeared to be main attack ships.

Then three T'rais beamed onto the bridge, two wearing metal sticks with buttons on their belts. They also wore two rifles. "Intruder alert! Captain, the bastards beamed through our shields," Wallace said as they appeared.

Wallace went to work quickly and shot two of the T'rais. The third T'rais pulled out his stick like weapon and pressed a button and a long yellow beam appeared.

He blocked the phaser blasts by three officers and cut Wallace's phaser blast in half.

Valdago kicked the T'rais's weapon out of his hand. Then he fired a Kirusan phaser beam from his eyes, disemboweling the T'rais.

"I don't know what we did to piss these people off, but I have had it with them." Wallace said, walking back to his post.

He quickly fired a full spread of quantum torpedoes at the second T'rais warship. That ship's power supply went offline.

"Helm, take us back to our previous location. Maximum warp," Maruu yelled.

"Sir, the T'rais are pulling back," Valdago said.

"Don't worry that won't be the last of them," Wallace said at his station, looking at the three dead T'rais.
 

Title: "Another Day at the Office"
Author: Major Johnny Chee
Stardate: 2460444
Earthdate: June 11, 2383
Location: USS Virgo

The past two months since the action at Xenon III had been very busy for Johnny Chee.

After the action on Xenon III, Johnny had nine Marines of his original command still alive. One of his priorities had been to somehow get more personnel into the unit. The significant lack of recruiting offices in the Gamma Quadrant made this rather difficult. Four personnel had transferred from the Starfleet enlisted ranks to the Marine command, allowing him to reach the combat strength he'd had upon arriving on the *Virgo*. The platoon still lacked a corpsman, but with the ship's considerable medical facilities only a transporter beam away, that wasn't a critical need.

Since the *Virgo* had embarked on its current mission, Johnny had made sure the platoon was drilled and redrilled via holodeck simulations. Currently, the platoon was working through a recreation of the Battle of Guadalcanal, with updated weaponry and Jem'Hadar replacing the Imperial Japanese troops. Just the thing to keep green troops on their toes! He still had the survivors of his original platoon: Barek, now confirmed as a sergeant, ensured the daily operation of the company; while Nkrumah and Olivares had been promoted to lance corporal and functioned as squad leaders. Because the *Virgo* was deep in the Gamma Quadrant and far from communication with Starfleet Command, Johnny made the decision to restructure the platoon as an autonomous Special Operations Unit rather than part of a larger command. The original Marines handled the
transition (which involved more intense drill and training) without a hitch; three of the newbies (who had all been in support roles in Starfleet: maintenance workers or clerks) were adapting quite well. One, however, posed a minor problem...

"Sir, Private Zelansky is presented for discipline," Sergeant Barek announced as he led in the unit's troublemaker.

Johnny had read over the details of Ivan Zelansky's latest escapade earlier; still, however, he consulted his PADD. "Private, you were fourteen minutes late for formation this morning. Have you any explanation for yourself?" Of course there was no explanation, but Johnny wanted to give the man a chance to redeem himself. Besides, someone like Zelansky was probably up to something else. Since coming to the *Virgo*, Zelansky had committed every possible misdemeanor from leaving his post to attempting to start a food fight in the mess hall.
*One in every crowd,* Johnny thought. *I'd like to get my hands on the drill instructor who didn't catch this clown back in boot camp! Unfortunately, we can't just discharge him at the nearest starbase.*

Zelansky, as Johnny expected, tried to bluff his way through it. "Sir, I was late coming from an appointment..."

"With whom? Commander Maruu has no record of you being in sickbay. There is absolutely no other reason for you to miss formation!"

Zelansky looked down at the ground.

"Look up here, Private. Is it not true that you were caught engaged in an illegal gambling activity last night off-duty? Do you know the rules about gambling aboard Starfleet vessels? And do you know the penalties for being late to formation?"

"I didn't know what harm it would cause..."

"You didn't *know*?! Only the Captain of this vessel can authorize gambling on board, and only in designated areas and at designated times. A craps game in Cargo Bay Three at 0230 is not one of those authorized activities," Johnny replied, reading over the report forwarded to him from Security. "As for not showing up to formation, there are reasons why we do things here, and you'd best learn them or else someone's going to end up getting killed on your account! I *do not* want to write a letter home to some grunt's family explaining
that he was killed because Private Zelansky 'didn't know what harm it would cause' if he chose not to be there to provide cover or evac!!! Sergeant, this man is to have five days' punishment detail in the ship's waste recycling plant. Make the appropriate arrangements. And get this pathetic excuse for a Marine out of my office!!!" The letters home to the families of his comrades who had fallen at the hands of the Kelvans and on Xenon III were still very fresh in Johnny's mind. Transmitting them when (or if) they returned to Federation space would
be even more of a nightmare.

"Yes sir!" Barek responded, leading the accused out of the office.

One of the things Johnny absolutely hated about being an officer was disciplining his troops. Barek had an eye for spotting troublemakers; that was one of the reasons Johnny selected him to be the unit's Staff NCO. Zelansky had evidently been a problem for his previous commanding officer, and Johnny had had reservations about accepting his transfer request. Barek, however, seemed to think he could turn Zelansky around; it was upon the hard-bitten former Bajoran resistance fighter's recommendation that Zelansky was there at all. But there was
only so much a sergeant could do to discipline true troublemakers. Barek had exhausted his options and now Zelansky's reputation as a miscreant was undermining the unit. More stringent discipline was called for. *I hope he gets his act straightened out. I have no desire to convene a court-martial, particularly not while the ship's an
entire quadrant away from the Judge Advocate General's office!!!*

Johnny now turned his attention to other reports on his desk. His desk was the epitome of efficiency, bearing only the helmet he'd worn on Xenon III as decoration. Behind his desk, mounted on the bulkhead, was the bat'leth he'd found on that forlorn planet, awaiting the day when Johnny would be able to return it to the descendants of its owner. The terminal contained all the clutter which, in an earlier time, would have been created by memos, reports, and other assorted paperwork.

He sighed as he looked over the reports. His requisition of gear for his command had been received by the ship's quartermaster, who was even now replicating battle armor for everyone in the company as well as the crew-served weapons the company would ordinarily stock. While the heavy weapons would take a few days to deliver, the armor would be ready by 1700: after the normal duty shift, but that's the way things go. The pace at which routine orders were often processed by Starfleet tended to infuriate Johnny. And a minor little detail like the fact that four members of the company were non-humanoid and therefore needed special accommodations for armor tended to cause the requisition system to go completely haywire. *Six hundred years later, and some days it seems as if nothing has changed since Valley Forge,* Johnny thought.

More messages...notification from the Captain that the *Virgo* was investigating a distress call from an alien settlement suffering from an unknown plague (something for Security to handle if necessary; the platoon would only be needed if something went *seriously* wrong)...an invitation from Jenara to meet her in the Day's End Lounge after duty (he smiled as he read that one, although with the disbursement of the new gear it would probably be more like 1900 or 1930 before he could take up the invite)...another from Richard regarding a "post-mission assessment" they'd planned (a euphemism for getting stinking drunk and exaggerating war stories: the traditional catharsis of warriors from Qo'noS to the Kremlin)...just routine stuff...

Then suddenly the ship rocked with a massive explosion!!! Johnny was thrown from his chair, his half-warm cup of raktajino splattering all over his desk and the deck. The bat'leth was knocked from the bulkhead, narrowly missing Johnny's head as it fell to the deck. Red alert signals began sounding.

"Son of a bitch!!!" Johnny swore, then tapped his com badge. "Major Chee to all Marines: battle stations!!! Prepare to receive boarders!!! First squad to Main Engineering; second squad report to me!" Another tap: "Chee to Benton: does Security require backup?"

[The bridge reports engagement with an alien boarding party. They appear to have the situation under control but keep your men ready: they beamed through our shields as if they didn't exist!]

"I've dispatched a squad to Main Engineering and I've got my second squad in reserve.  Let me know if you need any heavy firepower," Johnny replied. While Security typically had many more crewmembers than the Marine contingent aboard a Starfleet vessel, the Marines had access to and training with much heavier weapons than the average redshirt (though Security had stopped wearing red two generations earlier, the name had stuck).

[Let's coordinate with Lieutenant Wallace. From what he's reported, these people can give us a run for our money and can show up on board anytime, anywhere!]

"Good idea. Chee out."

Suddenly the day no longer seemed routine...
 

Title: "A Break from Reality"
Author: Lt. Commander K'Lara
Stardate: 2460449
Earthdate: June 13, 2383
Location: USS Virgo

Lt. Commander K'Lara stared at her opponent viciously. It had been a while since she had seen combat and she was afraid she might have become rusty. She wanted to hone in on her skills and maybe make them
better. That was why she was in the holodeck instead of resting like she should.

*What good would I be to my baby if I can't properly protect him?* K'Lara thought as she dodged out of the way of a phaser beam.

She retaliated by telekinetically throwing a large rock at her opponent. The rock zipped through the air and hit the Cardassian square on the head. He went down, but another one replaced him.

K'Lara's eyes burned red as she drew her knife and charged the enemy. She cried out startling the Cardassian into freezing. She smiled wickedly as she sliced the knife down his face.

"K'Lara, what are you doing?" A startled voice came to her ears.

K'Lara spun around, her eyes glowing and a knife held firmly in her hand. She relaxed when she saw her husband standing in the doorway.

"I'm keeping in shape, Jon," she answered. "I don't want to be weak when we go into another battle. I hate not being able to do anything when there's trouble."

Lataro sighed and went to her. She had told him that she did not like being left behind while the rest of the crew went to fight. Now, she believed herself to be too weak to fight which was why she retreated into the holodeck to make up for what she wasn't able to do. He hated seeing her like this and he tried to comfort her the best he could.

"You're not weak, K'Lara," he mentioned as he held her. "You've proved that enough times, even to me."

K'Lara didn't answer him, but a tight squeeze that she gave was answer enough for him. They both knew there would be other battles to be fought and not just those from the outside.

Lataro smiled as he thought of one such battle, "Come on, K'Lara. I believe its time to feed T'Lan."

K'Lara stared at him, her eyes glowing slightly. "You really know the most romantic things to say, don't you?"

The two laughed as they left the holodeck.
 

Title: "Pay and Pay and Pay..."
Author: Lieutenant Commander Benton
Stardate: 2460449
Earthdate: June 13, 2383
Location: USS Virgo

It was very late in the *Virgo's* artificial day/night cycle. Benton's shift had ended hours ago, and he now lay in bed reading. It was a work of fiction by an ancient Earth author by the name of George Lucas. Although the book's story took place in the far distant past and in another galaxy altogether, Benton couldn't help but notice
several striking similarities between the book's characters and the beings he had personally met in the last few months. He knew there was no logical explanation for this of course, aside from simple coincidence.

He applied a Human proverb: "Life imitates art." Undoubtedly if he searched the *Virgo's* databases long and hard enough, he would be able to locate works of fiction written long ago that resembled his own life and experience: growing up in snowy, northern New Kelva; leaving his familiar surroundings to live and work with these strange (from his point of view) people; sharing his small cabin with a furry companion...

Spot chirped as if he knew Benton's thoughts.

Benton craned his neck to look toward Spot's cage. Spot's food dish was empty and Spot was inching his way up the side of the cage. "I can't believe you ate all those jelly doughnuts *already*!" said Benton, shaking his head in disapproval.

After Spot had helped rescue Benton and Captain Maruu from the clutches of the evil Horde on Xenon III, the Captain had made good on his promise to supply Spot with all the jelly doughnuts he could eat. Spot had of course taken advantage of the situation.

Spot chirped haughtily in reply to Benton's rebuke.

"And don't take that attitude with me, mister," scolded Benton. "I've put up with it for two months now and I think it's high time it stopped." Benton settled back into his pillow and tried to continue reading. He mumbled under his breath, "I should have listened to my father. He said, 'Benton, never let a tribble save your life. They'll never let you forget it. They'll make you pay and pay and pay...' Well, I've paid. Now just let it go!" he called to Spot.

Spot had a different opinion, and he ignored Benton, still climbing the wall of his cage. He reached the top, but found any further progress blocked by the big rock Benton had put on top to keep Spot from popping it open.

Spot screeched in indignation, and Benton smiled and turned back to his book.

The small, dim light on his night stand flickered, interrupting Benton's reading. Annoyed, he reached over and smacked the lamp base a couple of times, and it came back on. He returned to his book. A young naive pilot was about to attack the enemy's space station. He was zooming along a narrow trench along the surface of the space station, trying to use his mystic powers to hit a target that was not much bigger than a womp-rat, whatever *that* was. The young pilot was closing on his target, enemy fighters were closing on the young pilot,
the fate of the galaxy hung on whether or not he hit his target. He squeezed the trigger and: *The lamp went out!*

"Oh, for the love of...!" cried Benton. He tossed the book down on the bed in frustration and just lay in the dark for a few moments. Finally he decided, "I need a new lamp."

He got up and made his way to the door. From back in his cage, Spot snickered. As Benton walked out of his cabin, he was muttering, "...Pay and pay and pay..."
______________________________________

Benton's cabin was near Engineering, so it was only a short walk to the industrial replicators. At this time of night, there was no one here, so he sat at the main console and helped himself. He called up the catalog on the console's viewer, and queried the computer for small desk lamps. It obediently began showing them to Benton one by one. He flipped back and forth through the selection a few times and finally settled on a lamp that struck his fancy.

He pressed the "Replicate" button and watched as the machinery hummed to life. Unimaginable energies were awakened and focused on this small room. The replicator pad glowed for a few moments, and when it powered
down, a small new lamp sat on the floor. Benton walked over and picked it up. He gave it a quick once-over to make sure it was okay, then headed back to his cabin.
______________________________________

As Benton re-entered his cabin and the door slid shut behind him, he immediately noticed something was wrong. Spot's cage was still where it belonged, the lid was shut and the big rock was still on top holding it shut, but the cage was empty! *How does he DO that?!*

"Pay and pay and pay...."