Chapter Five

We had arrived at an asteroid occupied complex originally founded by the Authorian Empire known more commonly as Venue. A place that had once been home to a resistance of sorts against the Thorans that did not shall we say far that well in the war against them. It was of course rebuild years later by the Authorian’s who for the most part run it as a place of harbor for rebels against the shall we say Isolationist Republic.

Moving on once on Venue we were informed we had priority status and our own private landing bay as well as an appointed Authorian concierge. It proved to be relatively simple to drop off the Omni Circuit Judge and his entire family as well as acquire Omni Protection and freelance retainer with Omni at the same time. We were then left with deciding our next course of action which bloomed into a slightly more complex endeavor than I would have originally thought.

Now the arrival on Venue I shall say was indeed quite smooth and as young children aboard Moya the name of Purple Puma’s space vessel I had dressed in my khakis. Now while I normally like to go barefoot in that outfit I had chose a pair of moccasins to complete the ensemble. We were met by our Authorian concierge who was named Colonel Parstard wore bore a large red splotch upon his head. He would prove to be most convenient and helpful. It seemed that the There corporation was fronting the bill for previous work performed by the group known as Star Phoenix and I figured might as well take advantage of it.

Dropping off the Judge and his family at the Omni Corporate offices was taken care of fairly easily. We met a new Authorian contact who had informed us that our kind of help could prove useful to other missing Judge’s in their employ. I of course offered the groups aid in assisting them with their situation if they would extend us Omni Protection on a freelance basis. Not really what one might think since from our Authorian contact they had Judges in danger on nearly every world where that they had Judges presiding over courts. I and Purple Puma left trackers for them so we could keep in contact with them. So in other words it pays to have insurance or in our case to not have to pay for it.

I should note that the presence of the Authorian had the Judges family on edge and I did my best to assure them that they were in safe hands. I also took the liberty of giving the Judge one of my modified tracking beacons. I informed him while we had found him I would be keeping an eye on him and to inform his wife so that she might rest easier. Honestly I had not sensed them to be in any danger but one rarely knew what the future held as it was often fluid as I could attest. I am also pretty sure George found a way to slip them twenty gold or four thousand and four hundred credits at some point since I had overheard him talking with the Colonel about conversion rates.

The others had wanted to meet another Authorian with whom they had met on a ship leaving Darkness who I did not really trust. The issues before us which Purple Puma seemed to be working on acquiring the particulars from Nialla had to do with which of the two missions before us held the most value. The Authorian had a deed from his fiancé which he was willing to hand over to Star Phoenix if we cleared the place of the infestation that had claimed the lives of all that had stepped foot on the land. The second dealt with a mine and some mysterious creature that was preying on any living creature that ventured near the mine.

Purple Puma upon hearing that lives were even at that very moment people were dying on a planet called Verges or option became clear. Purple Puma although felt that since we were on Venue and so was the Authorian they wished to meet so a lunchtime meeting was scheduled. As it had been morning when we arrived we still had plenty of time to discuss the world situation with our concierge or Colonel as well as visit our benefactors at the There corporation. Of course as we had also been leased an entire building of suites and were going to have lunch there was no way I was going to miss out on all of the culinary delights that Venue had to offer. Suffice to say for our lunch and meeting which I really could care less about I ordered everything and when I say everything I mean everything imported, exported it mattered not if it was on the planet and it was edible I wanted it there and to spare no expense not that we were paying anyway.

Our arrival via our private shuttle which to be honest I had hardly even noticed let us off at the offices of the There corporation. Now for the record I of course notice just about everything but just because I do that in no way means that it really matters to me. I mean sure I am intensely logical by nature but really unless I derive some kind of pleasure from something I tend to just let my mind record the information it receives for later review unless it is dangerous of course and then it’s a whole different matter entirely. Now I had of course had a private mind to mind conversation with our Colonel and found out that he was aware of a person on the asteroid who might very well know something about the operations of the Red Menace.

So I had actually been using my heightened awareness when it was safe to do so to search for this woman who the Colonel believed resided underground. Of course once inside the offices of There we were met my nobodies who knew nothing useful who informed us that was how the corporation wanted it until they had something of value to share with us. It made sense to me for I knew the story. I mean really everyone who had worked for the company that Nialla had met who was anybody was dead now. Sure they had recovered their expensive spaceship but I am also sure the valued their lives a little bit more actually quite smart of them if someone were to ask me. Honestly I was not even offended I mean after all they were showing their consideration by fronting our entire bill on Venue. That of course reminded me that Nialla and I had to do a little shopping.

It seemed that George must have not been the only one shopping for Nialla it seemed had an apartment of sorts on Venue which she wanted Milton to clear out. George it seemed had been ordering magical energy storing devices. I on the other hand had felt the need to order some supplies for Moya so that while we were on the ship we would be able to relax with a little more shall we say comfort. For like anyone who really knows me will tell you Starchilde loves to get her party on. Alright so I needed a few Responsive Beds (a bed that can go from soft to hard on command you got to love it), a cute little Auto-Kitchen and Foodfac (take any biological substance and turn it into vitamin and nutrient enriched gourmet food or alcohol nuff said right) a combination I had been looking over, and last but not least of course plenty of cloths of every size and description. Seriously I had even considered picking up a Super Holoprojector but I felt that might be pushing it perhaps next time.

Nialla still in her enhanced form had even been discussing with Purple Puma the nature of certain poisons which Maiyar had claimed to require. Perhaps I should more rightly refer to it in it’s now named Gandian form Jeepers Creepers who possessed some fascination Peepers. So perhaps I was reaching with the Creepers and the Peepers but honestly Purple Puma thought we should call him Meepers to go with the whole M in name theme. For what it was worth I had actually had a talk with Jeepers and not about the use of poison but that I knew would also be a conversation we would need to have sooner or later. We actually instead discussed the nature of its current named forms that being the male Morgan who he called an Elf and merchant, Maiyar who it seemed was passing as a female humanoid Collubian and assassin, and finally now Jeepers Meepers Creepers with the cute peepers the Gandian bodyguard of Nialla.

Basically it seemed that Jeepers was trying to relay to me that in each form he was portraying a role which in one way as a little disconcerting and another perhaps slightly profound. For looking back I realized that if each form was an act then the real being inside the one who had appeared grey and sexless a truly sad state I must say was perhaps of a different mindset that had so far been revealed to us. I would like to hope it was the real soul of Jeeper’s that had been inclined to help the family of the Judge when in truth all that Maiyar had been speaking of were blood and death. I was an interesting turn of events that gave me an insight into the inner workings of a fellow shape-shifter and allowed me to see how Nialla could have fallen in love with it.

On our way back to our leased what could only be called estate I finally located the female who looked similar to what I realized was an Elf in the region known as the Under in the company of a few Gandians. I made the others aware of the situation as we arrived at our banquet. Star Phoenix’s guest Yuma the Authorian arrived with his fiancé and they were accompanied by her female attendant and it seemed like two Gandian bodyguards. Nialla and Purple Puma took Yuma aside and began to discuss their concerns about the estate and the deed on the planetoid called Stormhaven. Meanwhile George, the ladies, bodyguards and I with the ladies as my guide began to sample the culinary fare of Venue which stretched the length of an entire arena floor and I was in paradise. Suffice to say it was time to be getting my feast on and I loved every single morsel and drink that I sensed was safe of course.

Between a little bout of unexpected almost drunkenness I also paid attention to the situation on Stormhaven. Basically it was a planet that had been scouted by the Authorian’s and recently settled. Oddly there was a dangerous native population that had slain everyone who had landed on the planet including a number of Authorian’s. They had set up some kind of protective barrier a mile around the estate but in had in the end not held. It had also been mentioned that they were shadowy creatures who had been spotted and Purple Puma in an odd choice of words had briefly discussed destroying the entire planetoid. I made me realize that perhaps he had some issues with the Shadows a group of aliens I had heard of who on a number of worlds had portrayed themselves as divine like figures. Now here is the point worth noting I only know of the Shadows and not much about any of their enemies as I often related due to my former obsession with Darkness and Shadow. The Shadows kind of remind me of Destiny and I would not be surprised if I were to find out they operated in the same circles. So yeah Shadow was a part of me but I was in no way on good terms with the race known as the Shadows or the entity known as Destiny. Now sadly the Destiny part might one day be a problem but I would face that difficult obstacle when and if the time came.

I could of course been entirely wrong actually and even thought Purple Puma had seemed to be on good terms with Destiny and was even waiting for information from him I was left for few logical reasons behind his actions. I had decided let it go for the time for I was not one to judge and I did not choose to believe that Purple Puma someone who I so far seen exemplify the morals of a good becoming capable of genocide on a global scale simply from a few words. Instead we let rest of the day pass in enjoyable feasting, music and dancing. Well at least I was dancing as the banquet we were served was wonderful and I also knew what we had left over would eventually end up be flushed down to the Under of Venue which is where we intended to party that very night to locate a certain enemy of the Red Menace.

Sure Nialla and I had wanted to throw an even bigger party down below as it were but Purple Puma talked us out of it saying it was perhaps better to go undercover and therefore not risk blowing the cover of the person who we sought. I realize I can let myself get a little carried away but the truth is I rarely get the time to often enjoy myself. Also I felt my companions were all just a little uptight well with the exception of Nialla and could use a full blown party to loosen them up a little. I mean really just the day before they had all been potentially in a battle with meta-powered opponents who had altered time itself. Granted it had all worked out to an extent but Nialla was now a know magical or cosmic presence take your pick and times like the ones I was trying to get my companions to share might come few and far in-between.

For instance poor Jeepers had been delegated to lowly guard duty mind you having the honor of guarding someone as beautiful as Nialla was I am sure not a bore. He did not even get to enjoy the feast I had ordered until after the others had left and the party was over. On a side note I did not try the little puppy like creatures that were eaten by bashing them in the head chopping it off and then eating them raw which I was told was a Gandian delicacy. The fact that Jeepers did not partake in them either put him another step in my book. I would have made a pets of a few of them but George checked for me and found they were of less intellect then most fish on Earth so I had let it go. I had been looking for a few pets for Moya to keep her company when we were not on board but alas I would have to wait for another port.

Back at the dive we had found ourselves and all in disguise I might add the Colonel had escorted us down to a lift where we could descend and told us he would be awaiting our signal. It would not talk long for our food to arrive from above which was my signal to reveal our Priestess of the Moon to Nialla. The frantic activity of bodies reaching for food the quality of which they rarely ever saw was a wonder to behold. Nialla made her telepathic move and I am sure a little mind rape as well and soon revealed to us that she was from Hyperboria and had been on Venue for over a year. This of course meant that the Red Menace were ahead of schedule as Hyperboria a world believed to be populated of a similar genetic makeup as Nialla and Jeepers was the final planet being sought but the unwitting minions of Cthulhu in its plan to bring chaos and destruction.

It seemed that she had had quite a journey form Hyperboria via jump ships used as cargo ships thru the blink matter shroud luckily surrounded Hyperboria. I say lucky for without the shroud of blink matter the harvesting of Hyperboria would have no doubt begun in earnest instead of the haphazard fashion that was not required. She had it seemed banded with the Gandians who were in her company and it also seemed married one of them. Purple Puma had made it clear we would need her to come with us to aid her world or we would need to make a copy of her mind. He had looked to me figuring I would do it and I doubt the concern that I felt did not cross my face in that moment. I was for a moment reminded of the actions of Mind Scream and I had to remind myself that in desperate times sometimes desperate measures are required. The act of duplicating a mind was not itself an evil act unless the actions preceding it were deemed so. Therefore I could live with that and it seemed that Purple Puma did no really need my aid after all.

The point had been made moot for the time being for the Priestess who I shall call Nara chose to leave her new family behind to help us save her world. I told her to meet me in the facilities and I would aid her in her escape. Purple Puma had for a moment asked Jeepers to aid her in leaving her friends but I had stepped in for I had the ability to leave with her without anyone being the wiser. I used my heightened senses to discern if we were in any danger before I performed my cloaking maneuver and I found that we were both safe. Inside the privacy of the facilities I let her know that I would surround her body with my own and we would leave together and she will have seemed to have just vanished. I was a maneuver that I knew was currently beyond Jeepers and one I would have preferred to not have done but as I have already said desperate times and all that. We were met by the Colonel who only asked if we were successful as we had seemed to return empty handed and after giving me a knowing looked asked if we were ready to leave.

We were indeed ready and with only a slight amount of cargo that had been acquired from Nialla’s place and the magic storing batteries or boxes as Nialla likes to call them and since my new acquisitions had already been loaded we were ready to board and lift off. The Colonel waved us off and I left a tracker with him and wished him well. He had been quite helpful and keeping an eye on him I felt could prove handy in the future. Purple Puma and George set us on course for Hyperboria and we realized that it was by conventional methods a two day flight and that was if Purple Puma pushed the engines beyond what most of the sentient beings in this area of space had ever seen.

Once clear of Venue as we were still plotting or course Nialla spoke to Moya and let her know that she was going to need to create a temporal cocoon in order attempt to gain insight into our situation. Of course Nialla knew that if there is one thing I cannot pass up and that is the chance to spend a little extra time with someone I love. To be honest I was still getting used to the new body but in reality while I loved my personal form who was I once again to judge someone on alternate forms plus she looked awesome even if just a tad bit dark and seductive. Meanwhile I noticed that Jeepers had become Morgan and was taking time to try and comfort or new passenger who I could tell was still trying to come to terms with her decision.

Nialla had open the cocoon and once inside she had began her commune with what I had first thought was the continuum but I was to see once I looked myself that where she looked was a place far more deceptive with an agenda of its own. I heard her taking about trying to shield the planet or helping a resistance but what I sought was something more pure. I sought a simple question for the powers that I knew judged me. Was I in the right place, were we on the right path was there any insight we needed to aid us?

What I found was that we were indeed in the right place and we were also the chosen champions of the light. I also learned our greatest enemies rest on the planet Emerald but that before we attempted to breach its defenses we needed to unlock more pieces of the puzzle. In addition I learned that a major piece lay on Hyperboria and that the blink matter which by all rights should have dissipated when the planet arrived in our space yet remained and protected it. My lasting impression was that reconnaissance was needed and we needed to gather more information about our enemies that stretched from the mortal to the immortal. We were the tip of the sword and if the plans of Cthulhu were to be stopped it would be up to us.
Granted the time would come for Nialla and I to rejoin our companions and while three days would have passed for us only a second will have passed for them we will have to bring them up to speed fast and prepare ourselves to face what I now can no longer say might have been a delusion of Nialla’s. Perhaps that was why I was thankful for two day to digest the information on my own with someone I loved before I had to return to the harsh reality and responsibilities I would have to face. I have always lived for the thrills and the excitement that my abilities have granted me. It took me a long time to learn about responsibility and to actually learn to live among the people I have sworn to protect. There is darkness within me as I believe there is with all beings but believed I found how to use that darkness and bring it into the light. I now know the truth I have been faced with the fact that fact I have a responsibility to those around me be they weaker or even currently stronger than I. I looked into the eye of continuum and I have found my truth and my responsibility for while there may be no real Gods only beings with great power then there also must be beings with great power who stand and protect those who would be abused by said Gods.

Chapter Four

Our latest mission had taken us to the planet known as the Utika Protectorate had originally been to find a mission Judge who had been employed by Omni. Along the way we managed to run into a contracted high powered team of paranormals intent on capturing Nialla. Now sadly what had brought about this situation had eventually become clear the problem was one that was not likely to dissipate anytime in the near future. In the end I was able to negotiate a cease of hostilities and even with the aid of the new investigation team known as Star Phoenix locate the Judge. In the end not bad for a day that had started then restarted becoming more hectic and perilous all the while. We even threw in the Judge’s wife and children for good measure as they were all being hunted by the local Red Menace and were preparing to drop them off on a new planet where they could make a fresh start. Now was it really just that simple well almost but I will add a few details to paint a more clear picture.

I had last left off with my new companions of Star Phoenix and together we had been engaged in a bit of shall we call a violent conflict of interest over something valuable. The conflict was that they had wanted to kidnap Nialla and had been forced to rethink their options. So obviously I was interested in making sure they did not try what they had attempted to do again so I was of course interested.

Suffice to say Nialla had been robbed of her power cosmic or magic as some prefer to call it and the figure whose name still is up for grabs who wore an impressive had who I shall call for now Topper had been just ripped from her body by yours truly. Now robbed is actually the best word for Nialla had been for a moment controlled and forced to expel all of her magic into a nearby tower which had exploded. Topper had proceeded to merge his form with Nialla as once she was controlled an aura of allure had erupted from her causing him to act so possessively of her as to merge with her.

Just a quick word on Nialla who at the time resembled what might be called a Succubus and whose physical and inherent abilities had most in awe and love or perhaps for some lust was indeed a sight to behold. I knew that even though she looked different she was still underneath her new form she was still a woman who I loved. I also knew that she had used the power cosmic to change herself into this new form and that if I drew the attention of Cosmic Entities whose names I shall not mention then with the power she was displaying she was opening herself and by default the rest of us to eventual cosmic dangers.

So I had held back and watched as my allies battled the remaining conscious members of Topper’s team who I knew were being controlled. Then the moment I had been anticipating arrived and Topper tried to gain control of me the way he had Nialla figuring I would be an easy target. Nothing could be further from the truth for I had heightened my senses to a level where any dangers around me became apparent moments before they occurred. I had simply by the power of thought not been where Topper expected me to be or anywhere in his range. No of course there was a little more to it than that as I had divided my consciousness into three identical forms so I had an additional advantage I could exploit.

It was with that in mind that I had used my connection to all forms of energy as I had departed to the nearby white star and communicated via the very light that shown in the area I had departed. I know I have not spoken about my abilities much and in the past I have been called an elemental force by the unenlightened. Perhaps from a certain point of view that might be true but I am also so much more than that so much so it perhaps defies description suffice to say I realized the consequences of my actions and leave it at that. In other words I tried to be careful with the actions I took as you never know who may be watching a lesson I realized I should have talked to Nialla about. It was via my communication thru energy therefore that I connected back to Topper and gave him a chance to save face and withdraw.

Purple Puma had created communicators for all of us which I took as they had for the moment not posed any danger to me or the others. I had not yet picked mine up so I had communicated to the Purple Puma Ship to relay my communications to my companions. They of course wanted Topper to surrender and I was able to convince them not with emotion or charm but cold logic that they were only an obstacle sent by another and we had actually came to the planet with a entirely separate cause in mind. Star Phoenix and Topper therefore agreed and Topper asked for two seconds and he would depart with his entire team and agree to leave this planet to us.

Of course we also learned that he had been hired and was not willing to be paid off as the others had wanted me to ask. Seriously back in my past I would have taken the same approach which is I am sure why I suggested it to begin with. Topper had claimed to now know who was controlling his companions but he also stated that he had been hired to give them extra firepower. He had then proceeded to see to and calm his companions and within the agreed upon two seconds departed using an Apokoliptian Boom Tube vanish from the planet.

With that dealt with Purple Puma summoned the Puma Mobile and we boarded while the mobile activated its cloaking device which rendered us invisible and we were off the Tower. The same Tower that had exploded after receiving all of Nialla’s magical energy while storing it for the use of the Red Menace. Meanwhile Purple Puma, Maiyar and Spectraman and his twin moved by various methods of stealth into the Tower. I had resumed my solitary form and enhanced all of my other physical senses of sight, sound, hearing and smell so that I could keep up with them and keep a watchful eye for anything that might appear dangerous before it became so.

I know I have said it before but alas I can never say it enough what a rush it was to enhance my physical senses. I could literally see everything within seventy miles of me in every direction at once. Now it might have been perhaps better if I had not been sitting in a car with Nialla while she was still physically jacked up as it were. I was have such difficulty that I had to change cloths and I stripped in the car out of my black skin tight battle suit and changed into my khaki attire. To be honest it did not really help and so I tried eating something from my meal pack which had the ability to taste like anything one desired. Looking back I really need to stock up on something a little stronger than water for the future but I will leave that story for another time.

Inside the tower Purple Puma had found one dead Gandian at the controls of the magical energy storing device. There were six others inside the facility and each one of them I suddenly realized upon seeing them that they each were moments away from doing something that could be cataclysmic. In other words they were all scared and any of them at any moment could have tried to activate the energy in their defense or offense and instead possibly blow up the entire city. I of course shared that information and Spectraman and his twin acted by jointly teleporting all of the personnel away from the building into a nearby holding facility. I of course was busy studying the technology that looked part Apokoliptian and part something else which I could not determine from so far away.

As if reading my mind Spectraman had returned to the Puma Mobile and transformed back into George before cloaking before my eyes and telling me he was going to investigate the magical holding facility and to keep an eye on him. I had of course told him of course and good luck. Now that might have been a much smoother transition if before making the request which had started with Spectraman who had called me Nova. Something that since we were now all using the Pumacators as I had resumed a physical form was overheard by the Purple Puma. I will admit while I had believed George to be the very same George and Spectraman I had know in my recent past on Earth if I had any remaining doubt then it was in that moment erased forever.

So I watched as I alerted the others that the authorities and relief services were arriving that it was a good time to depart. Purple Puma faded and instead moved to the new target that Nialla had previously identified which just so happened to be the Mayor of the City. I had mentioned it because I could see him and he looked worried. Sadly he had reason to be for even while Nialla had said she wanted to as Purple Puma had said mind rape him she was cut short as Purple Puma had arrived and proceeded to slash the Mayor literally in half before he could even say a word. Perhaps it was the custom slightly Apokoliptian magic box that he wore at his side that prompted the attack and for what it was worth the Mayor was obviously immortal for otherwise he would have been most assuredly dead.

So while the Purple Puma mobile activated a healing ray upon the Mayor Maiyar had waited behind in order to be seen by the arrived authorities before vanishing to rejoin us within the Purple Puma mobile. I had of course offered to share my meal with both Nialla and Maiyar but they both had politely declined. I guess I eat when I am nervous which of course something I enjoy and Spectraman’s idle comment had me on edge. Then there was of course Nialla asking if I cared for any milk with my meal which was as we were alone in the mobile with the exception of Maiyar was an offer that I could not refuse but that is moment best left in private for now.

George had been for some time been interfacing with the containment facility and from the look on his face I knew he was enjoying himself and I hoped also gaining valuable information at the same time. Nialla had proceeded to of course mind rape the Mayor which was something that still bothered me but I was able to console myself by reminding myself that the Red Menace of which now was apparent were truly involved had destroyed her entire world and were even still milking the descendents in their never ending lust for power. The fact that they were the pawns of even more powerful entity known as Cthulhu as not lost on me either.

I had informed the others that the authorities were also connected to the Red Menace and were analyzing the area and while we had no yet been detected staying around was a sure way to change that fact. You just have to love when logic wins over desire not that I was one to talk but the idea was still a sound one. I had of course mentioned that while we still had the matter of the missing Judge to look into and I informed them I would look into the Red Menace situation in more detail. Looking back at it I should not have been really surprised by what I found and it truth I was not.

It would turn out while George and Purple Puma made their way to the home of the Judge and met his lovely clueless wife and children I found the reason behind the hiring of an outside contractor by the Red Menace. Believe it or not they had their own way of tuning into the universe. I had the ability but it was not one I paid much attention to for while I love knowing if I or my allies face any danger I really don’t like looking into the cosmos for answers. Sometimes sadly I have to admit it’s unavoidable and what I saw confirmed what Nialla had found from the Mayor’s mind during his rape. The Red Menace had been tipped off by their psychics that a mother lode of magic to great to pass up was arriving on the planet and they had taken the actions they felt necessary to acquire it.

I can’t say I had not been warned I had even warned the others when we had approached the planet. Looking back it might have been interesting to find out what the Red Menace would have done if Nialla had been an even bigger blip on the psionic magic seeking radar. I informed Nialla of my findings while Purple Puma and George prepared to track down the Judge. Maiyar was upset that the wife of the Judge had been left knowing nothing of her husband’s whereabouts and was literally at a loss of what she would do. Which prompted Maiyar in a surprisingly and unexpected act of if misplaced generosity. For he had left near her hand by teleporting out of the mobile and dropping two hundred gold on a table near her hand. She had quickly picked it up placed it in her purse and went to go clean up. Thankfully George was there to shall we say clean up the money from her purse and left behind a few credits. George like I had realized that the gold would be a sure way to track back to us if anyone were to try.

Purple Puma and George had located the Judges last known location a nearby train station and between George’s computer skills and Purple Puma’s super enhanced senses they tracked him exactly where he had departed from. So everyone rejoined us aboard the Puma Mobile and we were off. We had considered the ship but I reminded everyone one that we had never officially been seen leaving the ship and perhaps the mobile would be a better idea. It did not help that I could sense danger to us mounting as the local authorities continued their search for us.

Meanwhile I had been keeping an eye on the Mayor who had been left behind and recovered by emergency services. The surgeons were of course surprised that the Mayor was even still alive much less breathing and talking. Sadly I had to inform the other of what was happening so that Nialla could alter a few of his recollections of the events that had landed him in the cities medical facilities. It was a hard choice but the Red Menace had already proven they were evil and malicious and therefore I was able to accept what had to be done. So even before the Plexis Rangers who were being called in for back up support could arrive we were arriving in a new city. Granted after breaking the sound barrier in the Puma Mobile might have alerted someone eventually I had planned to have our situation resolved before they had the chance to further narrow their search.

With the new data at hand and being in the right city it was easy with my senses enhanced sense to find the Judge. Once I had I even chose to alter my form into a modified quantum scope in order for Nialla to perceive what I had seen and to as you might have already guessed perform her mind rape. Now when I say altered I mean just that for while I have the ability to alter my physical form into almost anything I wish I actually happen to love my own form and I had learned long ago that one’s sense of self was essential to maintaining one’s sanity. I had asked the other to look away and of course the only one who would not was Maiyar and so Nialla was able to make the mental contact she needed and I resumed my natural form. For the record I will tell you I had become the most attractive quantum scope you could imagine.

The rest was clean up for while the Judge had fallen in with armed rebels since he had felt that he was a wanted man and he had been right. Nialla had already found out from the mind of the Mayor that he was already on his list and if the Mayor’s people had him then his days would have indeed been numbered. I of course suggested that we take the Judge and his family with us away from this world where he was outnumbered and outgunned. In the end it would be our duty to report back to Omni that they need not pay twenty five thousand credits in insurance to his widow as we had found him. Truly she was happier to see her husband alive and their family reunited and free of Utika. Regarding Omni we did not need or were we required to tell them where we found the Judge as one never knew if the Red Menace had already infiltrated Omni.

In the end there had been a few touch and go moments but the two hundred gold would soon be converted to credits and given as a gift to the Judge and his family. Nialla had magically erected shields to conceal her new form and cloak her magic. I knew it might be for naught as she had seemed to become addicted to the power cosmic and while that was an addition I had never shared I knew addiction when I saw it and it was written all over her amazing new body. George’s memories were returning and I would have to deal with that as I could not just ignore it if he brought it up. Purple Puma’s computer if it was anything like I expected it to be would be relaying similarities between Starchilde and Liquid Nova. For the most part I was safe in that regard for none of them had ever seen my true form which I now proudly sport as Starchilde. On the other hand my abilities and former classification as some kind of Elemental who was once part of a band of heroes known as the Wrecking Crew might give him a clue. Maiyar had show compassion and kindness for I believe the first time and I would have to see that she was rewarded in turn for even if she was a former killer she had proved she had a heart.

That of course left me to deal with my own issues of which I have many but for the moment the issues of my companions of Star Phoenix I would let come first for they all seemed with the exception of Purple Puma to have issues of their own. Purple Puma worried me and perhaps it had something to do with his ship for if I was right he too was more than met the eye and if he was not then he would actually be the only one among my new companions who was what he actually appeared to be. Logically it did not stand to reason but then again seeing how violently he reacted to even the alteration of someone’s scent it made one wonder what he was hiding. In truth it did not really matter to me who or what he was as I was no one to judge. For my part I was still on a path to redeem myself in the eyes of my Parents for the folly of my youth. Star Phoenix and I were headed to a large asteroid called Venue home of the Authorian’s and of course a new mission hopefully it would be less exciting than our trip to Utika I did not even get the chance to sample the local cuisine or any of the other pleasures of the planet.