New Xanadu, coordinates 000.000/000.000/000.000
July 5th, 666 EG
The door slid open, releasing Princess Virginia’s screams.
“I said no! Didn’t you hear me? I don’t want to be examined!”
“Please, Highness, don’t be such a baby! It’s your monthly check‑up… it’ll only take a minute…”
“Get out of here, doctor! Get out of here, or…”
A heavy alaberyllium vase flew across the room and shattered a few inches from Gladys Van der Meer’s head. The duchess, standing near the door, couldn’t believe her eyes.
Unkempt and wearing only a creased night robe, Virginia grabbed an emerald statuette — a gift from the governor of the Forty‑Ninth Sector. She wasn’t giving up easily.
“What happened, doctor? Is it one of her tantrums?”
“Your Grace!” Zisk and his aide were attempting to take shelter behind a large settee. “I’m so glad you’re here. Her Highness isn’t feeling well, but she won’t let me examine her.”
“Nonsense!” the princess shouted. “I’m perfectly fine and don’t need a doctor!”
She aimed the statuette again. “Get out of here! Right now, or you’ll be the one needing a doctor…”
“Ginny! Calm down, Ginny!” Gladys pleaded. She’d known the princess since they were little girls, and Virginia’s tendency toward moody, erratic behavior was no secret. But in the last few days, she seemed worse. Was she finally losing her mind? “Doctor Zisk, please… I want to speak with Her Highness alone.”
The doctor grumbled something unintelligible but left, followed by his aide. Strange woman, that Moina, Gladys thought. When she walked past, their eyes met and… a chill ran down her spine.
The princess sat on the bed, covering her face with her hands.
“What’s the matter with you, Ginny?” the duchess asked gently. “You know you can trust me. Are you really fine, or…”
No answer. Just a muffled, confused sound. Was she crying?
“What was that? I didn’t catch it.”
“The band,” Virginia muttered. “I’m going to pull the Oo’Tomo together.”
Oh no. Not again. Virginia had dozens of hobbies: dancing, acting, throwing herself into dangerous adventures, or getting engaged to improbable partners. She usually abandoned them within weeks. The Oo’Tomo were no exception. After spending an obscene amount on top‑notch instruments — and forcing all her closest friends, Gladys included, into endless rehearsals — she had abruptly lost interest and disbanded the group.
“Why? Why now?”
“I’m the heir to the Galactic Throne, and I can’t do as I wish? I live like a recluse… a prisoner in my own home!”
“Oh, come on. That’s not true. You only have to say the word and—”
“Shhh! Shut up.” Virginia stood and faced her. “I trust nobody. There’s a conspiracy against me.”
“This is absurd, Ginny. You know that, don’t you?”
The princess ignored her.
“Call me Frankie. And Ding.” She smiled dreamily. “Oh yes… tell them to hire the best keyboard player in New Xanadu.”
Hyperspace, coordinates ******/******/******
July 17th, 666 GE
In the galley, Uful’lan chuckled and congratulated himself. The table had correctly been set — he’d even managed to unearth an old tablecloth and a few mismatched pieces of cutlery. Unfortunately, he’d have to resort to horrible plastic cups for the wine, but what the hell. You can’t have it all, he told himself.
A soft beeping sound caught his attention.
At last!
He wrapped a long strip of packing material around his hairy hand and swung open the Food-o-Matic’s door.
“Hello, Big Guy! What are you up to?”
Kyle had just entered the room. Taking care not to spill the sauce, Uful’lan turned and placed the steaming platter on the table.
“Can’th you ssee for yoursself? I’d ssay ith’s rathher obviouss.”
Kyle eyed him suspiciously. “What’s that?”
“Merak lobster. With spicy sauce.”
“Are you kidding me?” Kyle frowned. “There are no lobsters in the stores. Too damn expensive.”
“Actually, the lobster isn’t coming from the stores. I made it.”
For a few seconds, Uful’lan savored the expression on Kyle’s face. He watched him glance from the Food-o-Matic… to the perfectly laid table… then back to the Food-o-Matic.
“I’m not sure I understand. The food-spitter hasn’t worked for years. And even if it did, it couldn’t—”
He stopped mid-sentence, having just noticed the plastic cup.
“What’s in there?”
“Denebolan champagne. The very best, of course.”
The k’rell was trying hard not to laugh. He hadn’t had this much fun in ages.
“Listen, you must tell me how the hell you—”
“Oh, ith wassn’th that difficulth,” Uful’lan said nonchalantly. “Firssth I fixed the food-spitther. Withouth sspare parthss, I had to manage with ssome of thhose sscrapss…”
He pointed at a box filled with discarded droid components.
“There were no food cartridges left, sso I reprogrammed the machine to work with ssimple organic matther. Ass for the lobssther recipe, I downloaded ith, of coursse.”
“Big Guy! I mean… Uful’lan! You’re a computer whizz?”
“Well, I wouldn’th go that far…”
The k’rell’s eyeglasses sparkled with pride, his mouth widening into a toothy grin.
“During the war, I ssserved on a corvette. Third officer, engine room…”
“Really? Why didn’t you tell me before? We’re almost colleagues!”
For a moment, Kyle looked like he might pat him on the shoulder — then thought better of it.
“Hey! Hopefully, you’re not going to eat the whole lobster by yourself…”
“Well, I…”
“C’mon.” Kyle sat down. “It’s lunchtime. Why don’t you join me and tell me more about your adventures in the K’rell navy? Meanwhile, I’ll sample your masterpiece…”
Without waiting for an answer, he sliced off a generous helping of the juicy crustacean. He ate it with the blissful expression of a man in heaven… then immediately went for another slice, and then another.
Uful’lan watched from across the table, hands folded under his chin.
“Iss ith any good?” he asked after a few minutes.
Kyle tried to mumble something with his mouth full.
“Something to drink?”
The k’rell poured champagne into the plastic cup.
“…’nks… ahem… Thanks, Big Guy! It’s delicious — the best! Mind you, I’m no judge, but…”
He downed the wine in one gulp.
“And this champagne! You couldn’t get better even in New Xanadu’s finest brothels!”
He kept eating, and shortly afterward continued:
“…reat! …bsolutely great! By the way, what was that ‘organic matter’ you were talking about?”
“Yeah… righth. That one. You know, I didn’th wanth to wassthe any good canned food for my experimenthathions, sso I linked up the sship’s recycling ssystem…”
The horror on Kyle’s face was priceless — more than fair payback for all the teasing and sarcasm Uful’lan had endured over the past weeks.
At last, that idiot human got what he deserved.
He watched as Kyle sprang to his feet, hand clamped over his mouth, barely suppressing the urge to vomit, and staggered to the bathroom.
He returned minutes later, pale and rattled.
“Fuck you, k’rell! Who do you think you are, tricking me like that? And on my ship!”
He pointed a trembling, angry finger.
“Just try — I dare you — laugh and I’ll jettison you into space! I swear I’ll do it!”
But Kyle couldn’t help it. A grin cracked across his face, and soon he was laughing uncontrollably. Uful’lan joined in — a dreadful howling laugh that echoed like something from a nightmare.
“What a bastard…” Kyle gasped, out of breath. “A fucking bastard… that’s what you are.”
“You know,” Uful’lan grinned, “ssomehow… I feel I’m in good company.”
New Xanadu, coordinates 000.000/000.000/000.000
July 18th, 666 GE
From: Blondie Mary
To: …
Subject: Beware, beware: the wolves are everywhere.
>>>>TEXT ONLY <<<<
…many things we can’t understand, or prefer to deny.
Anyone could be one of them. Are you sure you truly know your friends — deeply, intimately? Have you ever harbored a tiny, secret doubt that on those bright nights, when the Galaxy looms high over the horizon, they might turn into ferocious beasts?
Most of the time they hunt alone, though sometimes they roam the Underworld in packs, fulfilling their most heinous desires. Their victims are women, children, the homeless… social outcasts, or anyone who has the faintest clue about their existence.
Everyone’s life is constantly at risk. I’m talking about a real conspiracy — monstrous, all‑encompassing. They will try to seize power. And if they succeed, there will be no hope.
Non‑humans will die first. Then it’ll be everyone else’s turn.
I know it’s hard to believe, but the horror is approaching fast. Our only hope is to spread the word, to let the truth be known as widely as possible.
They won’t manage to kill us all. As soon as everyone knows, their cover will be blown, and there will be no more secrets for them to hide. If you value your life — and your loved ones’ — please share this message. Please forward it to the furthest corners of the Galaxy. Post it wherever you can.
But beware: the wolves are everywhere.
>>>> END OF MESSAGE <<<<
In the wings of the Reely Feely — a theater on the four hundred and second level — a hairy, furry guy brought Princess Virginia her Datapad. She skimmed through her last sent message.
“This will be my life insurance,” she said when she finished. “For a while.”
Hyperspace, coordinates ******/******/******
July 22nd, 666 GE
“You’ve put on weight… You know that, don’t you?”
Kyle had run into Shirl in the narrow corridor leading to the crew quarters. She wore a shapeless pair of trousers and an old T-shirt, and yet somehow still looked stunning — as gorgeous as a brand-new gig.
“Do you think so?” she asked apprehensively.
“Definitely. You could almost be mistaken for a pretty girl.” He placed a hand on her head like he was gauging her height. “Of course, you’re far from a classical beauty. For starters, you’re too short.”
“Oh, I know that…”
“And this hair…” he went on mercilessly. “I’ve never seen such an absurd color.”
She swallowed hard, trying not to burst into tears. “If… if you find something you like in me… please let me know.”
Kyle laughed. “Come on, I was just teasing! I thought you’d be smarter, being a synth.”
She blushed, but he pretended not to notice. Instead, he grabbed her hand and led her decisively toward a nearby ladder.
“Let’s go.”
“Hey! Where are we going?”
“Surprise.”
After climbing a few metal steps, they crossed the engine room and entered the cargo hold. Kyle weaved between stacks of old crates and what remained of the stores they’d loaded back on New Xanadu. He stopped beside a bulkhead.
“Would you please tell me what—” She paused, panting.
Kyle pressed a wall button. “We’re about to re-enter normal space,” he said cryptically.
A massive metal gate slid open, revealing an expansive, square room bathed in bluish light — one of the aft compartments, mostly empty now that Kyle hadn’t taken on any cargo. A rickety gangway led to a shielded porthole.
“Is our destination close, then?”
“Finally, yeah. We’ll land on Gliese 614e in a couple of hours.” He gestured toward the porthole. “The gangway looks shaky, but it’s safe.”
Still, he didn’t release her hand until they reached the narrow platform just below the viewport.
“You’re supposed to close your eyes now,” he said.
“Why? It’s already so dark in here.”
“Just do it, okay? I’ll explain later.”
She complied, letting him guide her forward. Kyle checked the wall-mounted control board and entered a code to retract the safety shield. A brief glimpse of hyperspace could make even seasoned travelers nauseous. He took a deep breath.
“Ready? Three… two… one…”
A slight vibration rippled through the Aranui’s hull.
“Now you can open your eyes.”
Through the plastiglass, the Milky Way unfurled in all its splendor. For regular travelers — and citizens of New Xanadu — the view of that multicolored spiral wasn’t rare. But only those lucky enough to venture into the Halo could truly grasp the scale of it all: wreaths of cosmic dust, stars, gaseous nebulae, and strands of exotic matter stretched across the void. From several kiloparsec away, the Galaxy glowed like a massive diamond brooch against the black velvet of space.
“It’s… marvelous,” Shirl whispered.
Mesmerized, she took a step back and bumped into Kyle. He steadied her, noticing she was shivering — their closeness seemed to make her uncomfortable.
“Well… I mean… Gliese six hundred… six thousand… By the way, which one is it?” she asked, still keeping close.
Kyle, encouraged, pulled her slightly closer. “It’s fore… You can’t see it from here.”
He leaned in and began to kiss her neck. Her warm, sweet-smelling skin and the gentle pulse of her jugular nearly drove him mad. She didn’t resist — in fact, she seemed to enjoy it. He gently turned her to face him. In the darkness, with the Galaxy blazing behind her, her eyes seemed to sparkle on their own.
He was about to kiss her lips when she suddenly froze and stared at him. For a moment, he thought he’d gone too far — that she was frightened and about to reject him.
But no… that wasn’t it.
“You’ve never been kissed before, have you?”
“No, I… I mean… I don’t know.”
“Well, then… let’s try to do this right. Put your arms around my neck.”
With some effort — he was about a foot taller — she complied.
“Like this?” she asked, her voice unsteady.
“That’s great. Perfect. Now… close your eyes again and part your lips.”
He kissed her long and deep, unable to stop. That surprised him. Sure, it had been a while since he’d been with a woman, but he hadn’t expected to be so drawn to this young synthetic girl. He blamed the Galaxy. And the strange brilliance in her eyes.
“Well… did you like it?” he asked when he finally paused to breathe.
“Liked what?”
“Did you… Like it? Did you feel anything?”
“What should I feel?”
Kyle sighed. Maybe he’d expected too much. She wasn’t a real woman, after all. Why should a bionic brain, wrapped in a human shell, know how to feel?
“Ah, forget it…” he muttered, letting her go.
Again, she stared at him.
“I… don’t understand. Did I do something wrong?”
“Oh, no!” Kyle replied — a bit too loudly. “No, no. It’s my fault.”
He took a step back, then turned away. “Let’s forget the whole thing, okay? It meant nothing. It never even happened.”
What an idiot I am, he thought. Worse than a kid on his first date. What an abominable idiot.
He crossed the gangway in silence.
“Kyle!” Shirl called after him. “We can always try again!”
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