This year's Shirtless Against Breast Cancer campaign includes four calendars, yet there were many more submissions than could fit in these offerings, and some that might be a bit too much for a calendar displayed on a wall... so the collection includes a lovely book!

Two different cover options, but the same interiors, available from the vendors at all Consulate offices, in addition to Piermont Landing, Ruby's Pub, Ruby's II, Lotus of the Sea Gallery and CocoaJava Cafe in New Babbage, Steampunk Adventures in Winterfell, Tricia Aferdita Gallery and Exposure Gallery in Tabula rasa, Designing Worlds studio in Northpoint, Oliveto, the Primgraph offices in Caledon Glengarry, Velvel's Emporium in Steelhead Shanghai, Regent Theatre, Pneumatic Revolution Lounge, StratoGear Station and Steelbucks in Steeltopia, and the Victoriana Harbour train station.

The book is L$750, with all proceeds going to breastcancer.org, and will be available until August.

Cross-posting from ongoing investigations.

Cross-posting from the housekeeping journal.

I had thought yesterday would be a repeat of years past, and at first, it was. Unsuitable gifts from my brother and notes of well-wishes on my birthday were normal. Then in the evening, the Baron took the time to go sailing about Blake's Seas and invited me along. If you have the time to sail, do go. I noticed a few race course buoys, and we explored an island that seemed to be a smuggler's point.

He then had things to attend on the other side of the keyboard, and suggested I go dancing at Club Gearz, and he would be along later to go dancing. I had considered turning in early, but he made sure I would stay another half-hour.

Then, a few minutes to 2000 SLT, Tanarian left a note on plurk about the party.

Duchess Gabrielle Riel had organized an event in New Toulouse with the help of the Baron to get the invitations out without my knowledge. It was rather shocking that this many people could show up on a late weeknight. I danced with four heads of state while the fifth played my favorite music. People said embarrassingly nice things about my work and sent gifts. It was a lovely evening.

Thank you to everyone who made the night possible - Miss Genie, who made everyone aware of the date, even though she could not attend due to her typist's schedule; Duchess Gabi, who is capable of putting together a fantastic party with little notice; Caladon Rae, who made the IM rounds to invite everyone without using the groups, so it would be a surprise; Tanarian, who apparently rifled my files for Caladon; Kara and Miss Harbinger, who brought the cakes; Miss Anna Darwinian, who made party favors for everyone; the Baron, who made sure I would not miss my own party, and everyone who attended made it a very special night.

The early morning after the dance, Wolfgang was not as ill as before, and managed to put his gear together without too much supervision. He was still rattled enough by his transformation that he gave the barest of arguments when he was not allowed to pack his sampling kits. I honestly think it was a spinal reflex, but he knew the mountains about us. This was to be a trail trek, and he knew the drills from home. We would pack the barest minimum needed, for even if we were to be horseback, there could be the need for us to carry our own gear.

Yes, I am able to camp in the rough. I do not enjoy it - no one from home does, except perhaps Sparks and truly unbalanced people. The Wastelands are a dangerous place, where survival of the fittest includes things that escape from laboratories and rampaging mobs. No, it takes something very important to venture into the Wastelands, and it is usually done in large, very well-armed groups, or swift courier packs - never alone. I have trained with both, as have most of the group here. Captain Veles found me in the stable, checking the straps on the rifle scabbard and saddlebags. "Hyu going to be hokay?"

"I am not a fainting townie. You know that, even if I have not shown that here." I paused before turning to him. "I have to go. Griggs is not here. Amarantis has her hands full with school and the newcomer thinking he is Jeremiah. Mother and Augustus have their duties, and the other... it is too early to share that link. He needs a bloodline link with him." I shut my eyes, "...just in case."

He took me by the shoulders, "Hyu vill keep him zafe, hyu iz der mozt dangerouz creature in de forezt - a mother." His grin faded, and he continued, "Hy haff to tell hyu. Herr Baron, he told me to not zay ennyting. Vun zecret Hy keep, dun vorry - iz a nize surprize, bot de other hyu needz to know. There iz a verevolf hunter out there. Hy tink Hy got hiz scent, but not for schure. Only name Hy got vaz McGee. Ve ask der scheriff on der trail out, ja?"

"We?"

"Ho, ja - Herr Baron und Mazter Gil are packing now. Greegar, Maxim und Hy are on guard detail mit hyu."

I rubbed my eyes, tired from lack of sleep. "The Baron knows how to pack for the courier runs, the question is - did anyone tell him about the trails we would be following?"

"Hrm... no?"

I led the horse from the stable and spotted the wagon. I sighed, "Oh, ye cogs and flywheels, that man... if he does not have his camping gear separate on his horse, I do not think the sheriff will wait for him... and neither will I."

"Heh. Now, dot iz onfair. Herr Baron iz de Oldt Campaigner. Hyu knowz he vould chust haff hiz Scientifik Zuppliez un dot vagon, nut hiz bedrollz. Haz nut bin dot long zinze he traffelled mit der Mazterz."

Wolfgang brought his packs to the stable then. Keeping my voice low, for all the good it would do, I replied, "I know, I am just... nervous."

Veles helped Wolfgang with his packs, and continued, "Ja. Ja, notting wrong mit dot. Giffz hyu de etch." He watched Wolfgang mount up and head to the plaza. "Hyu iz nut alone, hey?"

I stopped fiddling with the buckles and climbed into the saddle. "I know, and thank you."

The news from Sheriff Ortegea was not entirely unexpected. He told me there was a possibility we might need to travel soon, but that Wolfgang might need to be restrained the night of the full moon. Despite my experience in dealing with out-of-control subjects, I have to admit, none of them were family. He has been evasive concerning what might happen, this full moon, and I had to restrain myself from using the stick on him. I have no idea if Lycans are as durable as Jägerkin when it comes to emphatic discussions.

It was a bit of a relief to discuss the situation with Captain Veles at last. "Of COURSE you should have told me, it is not as if I could not see something was WRONG, and FOR THE LOVE OF OFF-SET CAMS I OWE GENIE A DOZEN CHICKENS BUT SHE WILL NOT ACCEPT THEM!" At the last, the broom-handle shattered on Veles's shoulder.

Amarantis lighted on the ledge outside the window of my office just in time to see the end of the broom bounce off the casement. She waited to see if I was calm before opening the window, as Veles asked, "Hokay, hyu gotz dot out uf you zyztem, ja? Hyu going to be hokay for now?"

I nodded, "Yes, thank you." It is not often I lose my temper, and thankfully he understands when I do.

Amarantis checked my hands over for damage before saying, "Mama, it isn't as if we hid anything from you, it is just that we did not know for certain."

I scrubbed at my face, frustrated. "I know, but everyone being so careful not to say anything around me, and knowing the tales from home..."

"Ja, vaz to keep hyu from vorrying," Veles said as he picked the splinters out of his hair. "Not to mek hyu opzet. Zumtimez dhese tingz dun vork az vell az ve plan." He picked his beret up from the chair and dusted it off, and settled it on his head. "Der scheriff sayz he haz a plan, vun dot iz less draztic dhan der schtuff Dr Mason zuggested."

"Yes, Dr. Mason... I do wish we had more information on this new 'Jeremiah', though he is not at all like the other incarnations." I straightened my desk and picked up the stray bits of broken china.

"Ho, de antelope guy - he don't schmell like de schtuff Sawyer left, not to any uf der boyz. He alzo dun schmell like der ting dot kidnapped Koen eidder." Veles looked over to Amarantis as he used the broken broom to sweep up the rest of the detritus.

Amarantis shook her head, "I had a look over him while he was delirious, Papa. You and the boys are right - that is not Zaideh. He is not the Jeremiah the sheriff remembers either." She shrugged, "I don't know who he is, but he has been messing with some pretty strong stuff. I am going to need his cooperation to find anything of his past." The mantling of her wings must have been unconscious, as she seemed surprised she brushed the vase of roses. Steadying the vase, she added, "I will check in with the sheriff and let him know, and make another patrol before going to bed."

I nodded as Veles dumped the last of the broken bits and the broom-end in the dustbin, "You are still staying at the lab?"

"Safer than leaving the place empty, and the aetheric transmission antenna is there. If Father calls with anything else for Wolfie, I will let you know." With that she tumbled out the window and glided down to the city hall front doors.

I watched her enter the building and sensed Veles watching as well. "Sche vill be hokay, und zo vill Volfgang, vith der scheriff'z help," he said.

"From your lips to the Builder's ears," I murmured in response.

Things have been busy in the office, while I recover from the marathon that is the Relay. Records were broken, and the fight moves on as the research continues. Life goes on here, with one of our own fighting and moving forward.

There is just so much to do, from standing over the bottle-washers as they re-wash and sanitize the lab glassware they glossed over while senior staff were out, to organizing the Jaegerkin for a hat drive, and sending out reports home and to allies, including the diplomatic packet to Madame Tensai.

Sending the declassified formula book on concretes and mortars used by the Baron's construction battalions may be unnecessary, as she is a Spark. I realize she likely has over a thousand explosive compound recipes, but repairing the moon... I just want to make sure she has all the options open to her.

Wolfgang has been not better or now worse, but he is not eating, still. At the same time, he has not lost weight, that is worrying. Amarantis has been in touch with her father, who suggested adding silver nitrate to the field surgeon's packs for future incidents. However, with the infection so far in the past, he was not able to suggest a treatment he would try with such a young patient.

Dr Mason also gave her a list of books to look for in the second-hand markets, checking for his library. Some titles on the list I recognize from the Baron's library, though others might require a trip to the Biblioteke. I have sent a request to Master Callimachus with Mother, in hopes that some might be available for reference, if not copies.

Today is the relay, and I hope to see you all there.

http://main.acsevents.org/goto/Annechen.Lowey

Special edition Relay for Life of Second Life Linden Bears are currently for sale on Xstreet. They are only for sale until August 1st 2009. Made especially by the Lindens and all proceeds go to Relay for Life of Second Life.

https://www.xstreetsl.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&CategoryID=458

So we proceed with the haphazard tour - no, these are not in order as they are around the track, that just means you will have to Watch For Them. Again, click the images Miss Tanarian provided to see them in more detail. ( Now on to the Image Heavy Post! )

Relay For Life of Second Life is this weekend, and I will be walking it as long as I am conscious. But I have to do it with minimal graphics in order to move.

Last year, I did some sightseeing after the Relay, but after 30 hours, it is rather difficult to properly focus.

This year, I am on my team's build crew, so I was able to scout out some nice builds. My machine is not the best for photographs, so Miss Tanarian Davies helped me by capturing the images for this.
( Picture heavy post under the finely-crafted cut.... )

More pictures when I sort them.

Wolfgang is almost entirely nocturnal, now. I have caught him several times sneaking in his bedroom window at dawn, and there have been too many times he was asleep in class. Even though his marks have remained high, I still worry. He has been switched to independent study under the regular conditions: reports every week, at least three substantial papers per quarter, and no property damage. I have also asked him to either stay in town, or stick with the Jägerkin on night patrol, if he takes to the hills.

We still know so little about the wilderness beyond the city's reach. It does not take a long hike to lose the view of the town, just over the next ridge, and at night, there are not many sources of light that penetrate the forest. One can spot the lighthousen from a high point, but the forest is mostly untouched. I am still nervous about the woods here. Anyone raised with the dire lectures of the dangers of the Wastelands would be, I think. The glimpses I have had of something moving in the woods beyond the house in Harborside, generally when we have had excitement in town, have compounded my nervousness.

Most of the children from home are loathe to leave the pavements, with some exceptions. Anya is curious, but is still not quite comfortable here, even though she seems to happy to be living with her father. Some of the bolder ones have struck up friendships with the more daring Steelhead children, and luckily their exploits have been viewed as normal childish pranks, save for the incident that created the new sub-basement. Even that turned out to be beneficial, once the new artesian well was properly capped and the water pressure was under control.

Then there are the extreme examples. Rengerin has been had to be reigned in in defending the Baron, and - well, anyone who was exposed to the Jägerbrau at such a young age is likely to be fearless, and her combat skills have been well trained. But she has not shared all of her story with me, citing "paradox", and rapidly changing the subject. The Pensevey sisters would prefer to use telescopes to study anything outside the city, and considering the field their parents study, it is an understandable stance. Wolfgang used to be more cautious, like the Penseveys.

Now... he has been running patrol with Sgt Hellershanks, and when the sergeant is on long patrol, Wolfie has been following any of the patrols who would allow it. Captain Veles has been... cautious when discussing Wolfgang. It is as if he wishes to ask questions but is afraid of my reaction. I may need to get a large stick to discuss it with him.

Please let Tom Smith know he has fans he does not need to leave home to meet, and will not have to call the constables to get them out of his house!

The Steelhead Salmons Relay for Life of Second Life have stars and butterflies in their garden, and wish to share!

Random Calliope's jewellery is some of the most lovely and complex in Second Life. Two sets, Ode and Wish, are only available through hunts for butterflies and shooting stars, respectively.

Now thanks to the generosity of Random and his dedicated hunters, you too can wear these ornate gems. Purchase a key for either Ode Butterflies or Wish Stars, from the RFL vendors in the garden at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Steelhead%20Harborside/236/164/27 . Then just wear it and approach the appropriate Jewel Box by the fountain in the garden, for a random colour-set of tradeable jewellery!

The Ode Sets include Bracelet, Brooch, Earrings, Hair Ornament, Necklace, Pendant and Ring, in one of 20 possible colours.

The Wish sets in these vendors include Necklace, Bracelet, Corona and a pair of Earrings (of a possible 16 different pairs!) in one of 7 possible colours.

Next, the Auction! Six sets of Ode and two sets of Wish are being auctioned for RFL!

The sets of Wish Jewelry are COMPLETE sets - Seven colours times three basic pieces of Bracelet/Corona/Necklace plus sixteen possible pairs of earrings equals 245 pieces. Yes, two hundred and forty-five individual pieces of jewellery per Utterly Complete Set of WISH.

The Ode Sets represented here are classified as Rare or Ultra Rare - The Platinum, Twilight and Water & Sky sets include the necklace, pendant, brooch, hair ornament, bracelet, ring and earrings. The Morning Rainbow, Princess Pink and Shades of Golden sets include the necklace, pendant, brooch, hair ornament, bracelet, ring and earrings WITH the Garland. The Garland is the Rarest of the Rare pieces in any colour.

Bids are taken by the boards in the garden - there is a board for each set. The auction concludes at 1700hrs/5pm SLT on Sunday 5 July 2009 at The Airship Garden in Steelhead Harborside. Many thanks to Miss Searra Weatherwax for hosting the auction boards.

Winning bids will be taken by an official RFL kiosk in the presence of Mrs Birdsan Weezles-Timeless, who will then give the item to the registered bidder.

These sets of jewelry were donated by Birdsan and her fellow hunters of Ode and Wish for the benefit of Relay for Life of Second Life. Many heartfelt thanks for the generosity of the following hunters! These ladies (and one gentleman!) supplied the jewellery that makes up the sets being donated for this RFL 2009 fundraising project:

Neit Tackleberry
Kalinda Rush
LadyStargazer Graves
Rengerin Skytower **
Elizabeth Tinsley
Ellie Bearcat
carameldore Dreamscape **
Mr. Tomoyuki Batra
Tanarian Davies
Doktor Sweetwater


** These donors also provided all the Rares and Ultra-Rares up for auction!

I WILL ALWAYS BE WRONG.

I am required to accept insults to my friends, my family and myself with a smile and a cheery wave.

I am required to gleefully participate in all RP without warning or background no matter what else I might have planned.

I am required to accept that because I did not find the grid before 2006 I am of no consequence, and nothing I do will ever have value.

Happy now?

The out-world agent is back at her home desk, after ten days exploring. Travelling with a Davies sister to visit another, meeting the Dacostas, and an introduction to another member of Clan Far Flung was quite enjoyable, even with the heat.

My only regret was that the emergency that occupied the Baron's motivating spirit made a meeting this trip logistically impossible.I am glad everything worked out so far for his local staff, and hope that the assignments are amenable to all soon.

Through the grace of my hosts along the way, I was able to check in at irregular intervals. It was good to hear Dr Mason again, if only through a relay.

Now to finish preparations for the Midsummer Grand Tour, and help Birdie set up her auctions. As well as remembering Miss Em's birthday.

Perhaps next week, I may indulge in the "Inspirations" meme that has been going about - after sleeping.

The Midsummer Grand Tour for Relay For Life of Second Life will be June 20-21, Summer Solstice, the shortest night of the year. Dancing, sporting events and auctions will run from 11:30 am on Saturday through Sunday afternoon. Baron Klaus Wulfenbach (KlausWulfenbach Outlander) and Frau Annechen Lowey have been taking scheduling requests for events since the beginning of April.

There are many groups in the Steamlands that have signed up to participate, and we are working on getting the ad copy in and proofed in the next week, because the posters need to hit the streets no later than the first weekend in June.

Of course I am worried about this, I would like for it to go off without a hitch, considering it is for cancer research.

Wolfgang is sleepwalking again.

I had transferred him from the Muircastle Maximum Security Preparatory School for Young Sparks last fall when they found him prowling the halls after hours. They had been reluctant to let him return after the summer holidays, considering his history of new and interesting explosions. They said the crater in the north pasture would make a lovely lake, but it might be better if he stayed with family. It was all in a rush, and in so doing, Immigration gave him the wrong last name. The environment in Steelhead with the other Consulate dependents and the local children has been good for him, and I had hoped he was settled.

Things have been changing since the turn of the new year.

The botany class trip into the mountains last fall was well guarded. Just because this is not a town in the Wastelands does not mean that the untamed wilderness is safe. Builder bless the Captain for volunteering his patrol to escort us. The Consulate children have had years of training in what to do to survive if you are separated from the Castle or patrol, and we have been including the local children in the patrol exercises. So luckily, the children were not overly panicked when the wolf attacked us.

For a single wolf to attack a large group, even as spread out as we were, I originally suspected it was rabid. That was my worst fear as I bandaged my boy up and the Jägers got us back to the city. Captain Veles and his patrol tracked the beast, but to no avail. The samples we brought back ruled out rabies, to my great relief. However, there were other considerations.

I had given my report to Sheriff Ortega at the time of the incident, and managed to squelch my rising panic with the example of his calm. After all, he is a good example rather than a horrible warning; a city leader and upholder of the law. If this had happened at home, I am not sure where I would have been able to turn, as my information on lycanthropy in Europa is sketchy. The Baron has been supportive of my research, as I have endeavored to keep it from interfering with my duties, but he has deferred to the Sheriff as the local expert.

The information in the parenting references does not quite fit with what is happening here. Wolfgang is exceedingly restless, especially at night. I have found him in odd corners of the office and home, curled up in the oddest places to nap. I have hope, in that though he is watchful and wary of the approach of others, he still is sociable with family and a few of his friends. He seems fond of Anya, and has been helpful in helping her settle in to the routine of the school. Though he and Rengerin quarrel a bit, he is quick to defend her against perceived threats.

Hindsight being what it is, I now understand why he may have stayed away from the Mason Laboratory these past few months - he sensed what the rest of us overlooked. Since Dr Mason has been installed in a new body, Wolfgang has has been cautiously curious about the work there again. He has also been wary of venturing onto the pier at Port Harbor, and I do not think it is because of that horrendous carnival of the Emperor's.

Now to watch, and wait.

The actual Relay will occur July 18-19 2009, and yes, I am planning to attend the full Relay, barring employment of the out-world agent on weekends.

The Midsummer Grand Tour and Auction for RFL of SL will occur June 20-21 2009. Yes I volunteered to help the Baron organize it, and there is a schedule and it will be followed. Now we will see if they will stop asking me to volunteer.

This weekend is roughly two months until the Relay. I have a page available for those who are not on the grid to donate to support the research to eradicate this horrible disease.

http://main.acsevents.org/goto/Annechen.Lowey

If you do not care to donate through me, please consider donating somewhere.

Mr Sawyer is apparently no worse for wear, despite being struck on the head hard enough to induce unconsciousness for a quarter-hour. One might say uncanny, but for the fact my family has some of the same traits. I was too weary to safely take the train back to my home, but found my way to my brother's house down the street without too much trouble. With most of the family either in meetings, class or on patrol, it was quiet enough for a rest.

When I woke, I sent a message to the construction brigade to see about repairing the damage to Miss Burton's house, and headed for the lab. The samples from the bloodstain Miss Burton's house confirmed scientifically what Kitla had indicated thaumaturgically - the one who was injured was indeed the attacker. The samples matched the ones from the night before, indicating it was the same attacker, but there was that odd blurring to the samples, very similar to the differences between Herr Baron and Niklaus. So this could be another issue of copies, or "clones", as Dr Mason called them. Miss marion might be most formidable, if we could find a fighting style that would help to keep her from being injured again. Mr Sawyer indicated he could make the repairs with what he had on hand in his shop. Curiouser and curiouser, I set that chain of thoughts aside for later consideration.

I then turned to the shuriken, finding fingerprints on it - how sloppy. From what I understood of the watchers in the garden, this attacker's sensei would be appalled that the student would leave such traces. I would have to cross-check this with the prints on file in the Sheriff's office from the booking, but there seemed to be more than one type. I would have to eliminate the known ones to find out if there were others.

The pellet was a surprise. I found it on the floor, and from its location, would have expected it to show a slight grazing wound. Instead, in the clear light of the lab, it showed that it was covered in blood, as if it had embedded itself in Mr Sawyer's shoulder. It had been loose, on the floor, with no evidence of how it was removed from him. I had inspected the wound, it was just a graze by the time I got to him. the blood sample was... surprising, yet not as much as it might have been a bare week ago. I completed my analysis and finished the related reports, making the relevant copies for Herr Baron and the Sheriff.

I sent a note through the pneumatic system to my assistant to check on Niklaus, reminded that he had not been back to visit Miss Burton since the attack, which was very odd. He had been given protective status in the Consulate, and released on his own recognizance months ago. This behaviour of staying away, even in cases of attacks on his creator, was not in character. Dr Mason had also been rather odd of late, working all hours in the lab, rebuffing the usual social contacts. Was the underlying issue there the reason why Amarantis had brought the journal to me, and not her father? Of her five parents, he normally would be the logical recipient of such material. More to consider, and evaluate.

As I filed the evidence and copies of the reports in the Sheriff's office, I was shocked to feel a return. Ash had convinced his captors to return him to defend Steeltopia! Knowing there would be fire as well as gunfire, I quickly returned home and changed into an old uniform. Builder bless Herr Baron for insisting the senior staff train with the Jägermeister for emergency procedures here.

I chanced a slip between planes to the office, and found him outside, trying to convince a citizen to return to his home. The plaintive answer of "What home?" was evidence of the destruction. The Emperor's people were divided in fending off the usurper's troops, and protecting the people from the damage wrought. It was not going well, even with Gematria and her cohorts fighting the fires and helping with the rescues. The usurper's soldiers had no scruples, firing on the rescue patrols as they worked!

The Emperor himself found us in the Acclaim District, and reported the fires were nearing the Guard Compound. He was intent on retrieving the guards and the usurper, and making sure the fires were contained. Ash had retrieved the experimental exoskeleton, as he was one of the few people who could use it - normal humans usually ended up with broken limbs trying to control it. It was helpful, as one of the zeppelins from the air guard had crashed in the parade grounds. Luckily, the gas mixture was a stable one, and had not ignited when the gasbags had been breached.

Emperor SteelCobra attempted to contact the loyalists in the main base, but the traitors had tried to sabotage the equipment before running. The repairs were quickly done, so we had minor warning when the naval attack came. We took cover in the detainment unit below the guardhouse, to find StormFront Aristocrat had escaped. On closer inspection, his cell retained a puddle of material the Emperor unscientifically categorized as "goo". I collected a sample, as best I could in the test-tubes from my pack, one for the Baron and one for Mr Glineaux.

We emerged from the guardhouse, and found most of the parade ground, including the communications shack, in rubble. We were preparing to fight through the streets to get to the Government House, when a silence descended. The gunfire had ceased, but it did not mean we were out of trouble just yet. Reaching the offices without incident, the Emperor found more sabotage, vandalism and outright theft. He and Ash managed to get one radio unit working, while I watched an empty and silent street. Reports form the outlying units were fantastic, there were large numbers of the enemy soldiers that were melting before competent witnesses. I suggested to the Emperor that Herr Baron's manner of dealing with the troops might help, with amnesty for the ones who surrendered quietly. He agreed, commenting, "The ones that take that offer are likely not the clones. Which reminds me, we need to check the mines."

Ach, mines - I am to the point that I detest mines. However, I did agree to accompany him, as this was not a Cavorite mine. We found a false wall that was not evident before; after all, those of us down there last night were not familiar with the layout of the mines. A few more twists and turns, and we found where the opposition had stored their prize. The shell radiated gas, which caused us to retreat to the surface. I am not sure what we encountered above, strange carriages, odd peacekeepers and loss of contact with those we knew. It was the last of these that prompted me to follow the Emperor back down, and concentrating on the bond-links, we touched the shell again.

When I came to in the theatre, Ash confirmed we were in the space/time coordinates of home. The Emperor's battalion had initiated the mop-up operations, with his orders to allow surrender. I asked Ash if he were all right, and he nodded, disengaging his sarcasm circuits. he will be about, but not openly, I think.

I returned to Harborside, checking in on Miss Burton, and the work the crew had done. Sleep overcame me, and rather than return home, I slept on the settee in the parlor at my brother's house. My continued lethargy in the morning caused me to wander next door to the Folly Garden, and simply laze in the catnip patch. An unfamiliar cat joined me, but as I skritched behind her ears, she identified herself. Kira reported her strange adventures of the past day to me. No wonder Dr Mason's actions have not been standard. He quite literally has not been himself. I took Kira to the office with me, to see who we could find for additional help.