Log 30

SD 10250.3

Is the moon full, or how can I flea from this curse?

Well, just when you think you have the universe figured out, it comes along and kicks you in the guts, or a bit lower in this case.

Things on the ship have been far from easy since Riit and his new girlfriends kicked the crap out of her. It was only today I finished the project the captain assigned me, and in the foul mood she was in after dressing me down for the friendly fire incident, I wasn’t going to disappoint her. She said that the incident would be listed as an unfortunate accident on my record, but that doesn’t help me much. I caused the only casualty when they boarded our ship.

I threw myself into the job of overseeing the repair of the internal computer mail system with a will, and only just finished it up when we arrived at Mynesia orbit. Partly I was pushing myself to get the job done and keep M’Rander happy, and also to give myself time to come to terms with the death. I’ve killed in the past, but I always thought the target deserved what he or she got. I think I have achieved my goal, but will only be sure when I again pick up a weapon.

Another reason I was pushing myself so hard was to keep from having to confront K. I didn’t need that distraction while I meditated on the death. Chaos swirls about her and I knew if I did, things would go from bad to worse, and I was right.

Having finished my job, and come to terms with my inner demon as best I could, I decided to see if the girls would like to go planet side. I was rather looking forward to seeing how the kittens would react to the sun and surf. I also thought that getting off the ship would bring us to neutral ground were K and I could face off and have it out about the the lies and betrayals.

Well we didn’t even make it planet side. I arrived and Tarra told me that K was taking a bath and asked that I wait in the outer room. I did, and no sooner than I had sat down, I dozed off.

When I woke up, I found that K was done with her bath, and the kittens had glued a mustachio on me. Yes, the do take after their mother.

Anyway I asked if they would like to go down to the planet, and K begged off saying she was too tired. Then she went to put the kittens in their room, giving me the chance to speak to Tarra. I asked if K had said anything about why she betrayed us on the planet and ran off with her brother. She said no, but that she was not to clear on some of the details of what had passed in the last few days. I guess Lee and Riit must have really rung her chimes.

When she came back, we sat and K asked if I had read her letter. Naturally that was not possible considering the mail server was little more than a smoldering wreck after a gas grenade went off in the middle of it. It seemed important to her, so Tarra and I pulled out PADDs and read what seemed to be her last will and testament, and an explanation of her actions. Seems that she was held silent by the same agreement that said that she must marry by a certain date, or become her brother’s puppet in the game of Kzin politics. Read that as assassin. Seems we have something more in common there.

She then dropped the big bombshell. A letter from the mirror Kzin, supposedly from her real parents, a Raner Riit, and her husband Milton Dammers! I thought I was going to puke as the bits of a puzzle started to fall into place. V’Lynxil for one, though I tried to deny it.

Things then fell into a shouting match between K and I, and I vaguely remember Tarra looking very uncomfortable and like she was wishing to be anywhere but here sitting on the other side of K.

I had scored points on K with the admission that I was going to adopt the kittens, and I was ready to show her the papers, but unaccountably music had started filling the room. Annoying drum music that seemed to pound in my head and make my bones ache. I thought Tarra had put it on, but she seemed unaware of it, then came the voice. A nasty evil sounding voice that seemed to call out "Unga-Munga, Unga-Manga ..." and all hell broke loose!

Suddenly I was on fire and my uniform felt like it was trying to strangle me! I ripped at it so I could breathe, and suddenly I felt a stabbing pain in my butt. I ripped the back of my pants and something popped out!

What is happening to me!!!!!!!! Oh Goddess am I becoming a Rakshasa?!?!?

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