I met the medical helicopters at the New Gobi General Hospital landing pad. Doctors advised that Lieutenant Barker was concussed and in shock, but otherwise stable. Public reaction to the destruction of Window Rock was good. Phil Coen of Channel Five World News Tonight toned down his rhetoric. Perhaps a legionnaire saving his life mellowed him a bit. Coen accurately described the insurgent ambush.

A traffic camera recorded for TV news the scene just after G Company was forced out of Window Rock. Graphic video showed spiders dragging the dead bodies of legionnaire band members through the streets while spider onlookers cheered or struck the bodies with clubs. Other spiders could be seen dancing atop an overturned armor car, blowing on trumpets and trombones. One spider waved an American helmet. Coen actually cheered, "Good riddance!" when an air strike killed most of the spider mob.

General Kalipetsis called me on a secure line shortly after the TV broadcast. "Good work at Window Rock," he said. "It's about time we cleaned out that spider nest once and for all."

"Thank you, sir," I replied.

"I am calling you about another matter," said General Kalipetsis. "Computerized scans and intercepts of planetary and galactic communications systems indicate underworld types are going to a.s.sa.s.sinate someone important in New Gobi. Who did you p.i.s.s off this time, and why?"

"I don't know. The Mafia usually stays away from me and New Gobi."

"Does that mean you aren't going to tell me?" asked General Kalipetsis. "Fine. I don't care, as long as you handle it without bad press. I just thought you should get a heads-up that mob men are headed your way."

"And I appreciate that, sir," I said. "I'll see what I can do to give them a special New Gobi welcome."

"You do that," said General Kalipetsis, hanging up.

"I turned to Captain Lopez. "Go to the airport and see if you can intercept any Mafioso types," I ordered.

"How am I supposed to do that?" asked Captain Lopez. "A hit man could be anyone, even a female."

"Take Corporal Guido Tonelli along with you. He might recognize someone."

"You want me to profile and question all Italians?" asked Captain Lopez. "That is a waste of time. It won't work."

"Not my problem," I said. "Just do it!"

Captain Lopez and Guido stood at the boarding ramp, greeting pa.s.sengers from incoming commuter flights. Lopez held up a cardboard sign that read, "Mafia hit men follow me." The sign drew a few stares, but no takers. It was not until a late afternoon flight that a small, swarthy man with an Australian accent strode up to Captain Lopez. "Good day, mate," said the Australian, cheerfully. "I'm glad to see someone out here in the bush has a proper sense of humor. Who are you?"

"I am your ride downtown to the Marriott Hotel," replied Captain Lopez.

"And who might this bloke be?" asked the Australian, nodding at Guido.

"The chauffeur." said Guido. "You don't look much like a wise guy to me."

"Not looking the part helps me to do a proper job, mate," said the Australian. "You were expecting one of your b.u.mbling Italian blokes? Not a chance. Besides, I am the best."

"I'm not sure what I expected," said Captain Lopez. "I was just told to a.s.sist you in any way possible."

"My question for you is," said the Australian, "if you legionnaires are already on board with this contract, why was I hired? Why don't you just take care of Lieutenant Barker yourself? It seems to me that it would be a lot less trouble and a lot less expensive for you locals to take care of Barker in-house than it would be to pay me to fly out here all the way from Old Earth."

"We may have other contracts for you," explained Captain Lopez.

"Crikey, that will cost a lot extra," exclaimed the Australian. "I prefer to do one hit at a time, then get out quickly. It's bad form to get too greedy, and it's not worth the risk to draw more heat than necessary."

"There is a lot of money involved," promised Captain Lopez, nodding to the taxi loading area. "We'll make it worth your while."

As they turned to leave, Guido struck the Australian across the back of the head with the b.u.t.t of his rifle. Guido handcuffed and searched the Australian, finding no weapons. Guido bagged whatever possessions the hapless. .h.i.t man from Down Under had. Later they discovered that innocent items, such as pens, a cell phone, and even a fake fingernail, were in fact deadly covert weapons rigged to dispense nerve agent.

I ordered the Australian hung by the neck from atop the flagpole in front of City Hall. A sign placed at the base of the flagpole read, 'Mafia go home. It's not worth the money. The New Gobi Desert will parch your bones.'

Chapter 5.

"Are you still giving arms to the insurgents in New Gobi?" asked the spider Governor of the North Territory.

"They only get old captured human weapons," answered the Commander of New Gobi. "That way there is no direct link to us."

"It seems like more trouble than it is worth," said the governor. "We risk war with the human pestilence while at the same time we give weapons to fanatics we cannot control. The whole scheme could backfire. And now we have to deal with refugees from Window Rock."

"Anything that inconveniences the human pestilence is good," insisted the spider commander. "Our mischief keeps the humans from plotting against us."

"What about these media reports of Most Wanted terrorist Ross AKA Miranda AKA Lieutenant Barker commanding the legionnaires that destroyed Window Rock?" asked the governor.

"Colonel Czerinski denied that claim," replied the spider commander. "He considers questions about Window Rock to be interference in their internal affairs and a provocation. The human pestilence are very touchy about sovereignty issues."

"But is it true about Lieutenant Barker?" asked the governor.

"Yes," said the spider commander. "They are one and the same."

"I will seek extradition of Lieutenant Barker," said the governor. "If my request is denied, kill Barker."

"He may already be dead," said the spider commander. "There are reports from Window Rock that a suicide car-bomber rammed Barker's command vehicle."

"Find out for sure," ordered the governor. "I want that terrorist dead."

The plan was for Arthropodan commandos to parachute at night onto the roof of New Gobi Hospital. Commandos would force open maintenance doors, storm the hospital, and capture or kill Lieutenant Barker as he slept. A call to the receptionist desk already provided a room number.

However, because of security concerns, Captain Lopez posted legionnaires on the roof of the hospital and at Lieutenant Barker's room. As the spider commandos floated down, they could see legionnaires walking about on the roof. One legionnaire had a leashed monitor dragon. The dragon looked up and hissed out an alarm. Commandos desperately fired at the muzzle flashes from the legionnaires below. Five commandos were quickly killed. Four other commandos veered off course to save themselves, but were soon captured.

In the morning, I was on the phone to the local spider commander. He denied any and all wrongdoing.

"There were commandos dropping out of the sky last night, attacking my hospital," I accused. "Explain that!"

"Our paratroopers have been practicing night jumps all week," replied the spider commander. "Notice of our routine training exercises was posted in newsvids to prevent alarm and UFO reports. A few paratroopers must have been blown off course. That is no reason to shoot my soldiers during time of peace. I thought we had an understanding about how to handle accidental border crossings. I demand my marines immediately be released, and that you account for their safety."

"Most of your commandos were killed when they attacked the hospital," I advised. "Your provocation is just one more of many."

"And you do not consider the ma.s.sacre at Window Rock a provocation?" asked the spider commander. "You allow terrorists to join your Legion, and look what happens!"

"If your failed attack on the hospital was an attempt to kill Lieutenant Barker, he has already been moved to a more secure place. Any more adventurism or attempts on his life will be considered acts of war. I will hold you personally responsible."

"Lieutenant Barker is a separate issue. I demand the safe return of my trainees."

"Whatever," I said. "First your commandos will be interviewed. Then General Kalipetsis will decide their fate. Personally, I'm voting for firing squads."

"You would not dare. The Empire will not tolerate the kidnapping or custodial abuse of its troops."

"We need to set up a face-to-face meeting to negotiate. Perhaps a prisoner swap?"

"I am not holding any of your human pestilence."

"Maybe you are holding prisoners elsewhere," I argued. "Check your other local lockups. Are we still on for poker tonight? We can discuss it then."

"At your club?" asked the spider commander. "Of course, I will be there. Have I ever missed a Sat.u.r.day night of poker at the Blind Tiger? Prepare to lose the rest of your money."

"You got lucky last time," I said. "But your luck will run out."

"Whatever as you human pestilence are so fond of saying," said the spider commander. "Talk is cheap, victory is sweet."

Lieutenant Barker and Sergeant Toock were moved from the hospital to my personal bunker deep below my office at Legion Headquarters. Lieutenant Barker was now awake and recovering. Sergeant Toock still needed to grow back limbs and appendages. For ants, that was no problem. He would be okay when the pain stopped. Both were ordered to stay in bed and rest for a week.

"I've been in this bunker system once before, back when the spiders last bombed us," commented Lieutenant Barker. "These tunnels connect all of New Gobi."

"I had no idea Czerinski had living quarters underground," said Sergeant Toock. "He should have told us about these tunnels. They could be important during an emergency."

"Familiarize yourself with as much of this tunnel bunker system as you can," ordered Lieutenant Barker. "As you say, it may be useful later. Perhaps G Company can build its own bunkers and connect into these."

"You have no need to be snooping about our tunnels," interrupted Captain Lopez, standing just outside the door, listening. "There are already air-raid shelters and bunkers for you and your men. These tunnels are for strategic use. Consider yourself lucky that Colonel Czerinski feels so strongly about your safety as to allow you down here for even a short time. Usually there is no access unless nukes go off."

"Why would Colonel Czerinski be concerned for my safety?" asked Lieutenant Barker. "That seems a bit off his baseline."

"Colonel Czerinski is your commanding officer," advised Captain Lopez. "As such, you are an extension of his will. Colonel Czerinski would no more wish you harm than he would want to lose his right arm."

"Thank the good colonel for putting us up in his personal quarters," said Sergeant Toock. "His generosity is appreciated and will not be forgotten."

Lieutenant Barker remained silent and suspicious. He wondered if the room was bugged with listening devices. "I need my uniform and sidearm," he said. "Hospital pajamas aren't my style. They leave me feeling exposed."

"You are confined to this room until the doctor says otherwise," said Captain Lopez. "I'll see what I can do to bring you some of your personal property and uniforms. Don't worry; you won't be here all that long."

Chapter 6.

"You've got mail," chimed my communications pad. It was a text from Lieutenant Valerie Smith, retired. "Hi, sweetie. I sent an attachment for you to download into one of those illegal learning chips I heard you have embedded in your bones. Enjoy. Hugs and smooches."

I had one of our Legion information technology geeks check out the attachment. Not completely trusting Valerie, I did not want to catch a virus. The tech geek said the attachment was a very sophisticated virtual reality program.

"I have never seen anything quite like this," said the tech geek. "This program must be a very expensive prototype. It is the very latest breakthrough technology. It almost looks alien. Even Microsoft can't do this. Where did you get it?"

"That is a military top-secret," I said. "Why is this program special?"

"It's a communications program that will project an image into a chip in your brain that will make images seem real," explained the tech geek.

"Why would I want do that?" I asked. "Wouldn't hallucinations cause a mental breakdown? I do not want anyone inside my mind."

"The program would allow you to touch the person you are communicating with," said the tech geek. "This is real hot stuff, if it works. Can I have a copy to study?"

"That would be treason," I said. "You don't have the security clearance. Don't even consider making a copy or telling anyone about this."

"Yes, sir," said the tech geek, as he downloaded a copy anyway.

"Is it safe? Could someone communicating with me reach out through s.p.a.ce and a.s.sault me?"

"Theoretically the sender could inflict pain," said the tech geek. "But it would be imaginary, and you could disconnect at any time. The only way you could be injured would be if you had a heart attack, or went into shock, or maybe fell, or something like that."

"Could I have s.e.x with the person I was communicating with? Would the image be that real?"

"That would be awesome!" exclaimed the tech. "I never thought of that. This technology could be worth billions of dollars. Where did you really get it?"

"From the grave," I said. "Which is where you will end up if this gets out. Understand?"

"Hi, sweetie," texted Valerie. "When are we going to hook up?"

"When h.e.l.l freezes over," I replied. "I do not want you inside of me."

"But I so much want you inside of me," said Valerie. "Please. What's the matter? Are you chicken? Afraid of little old me?"

"You are a computer memorial implant," I said. "It could be dangerous to allow a computer inside my mind. I don't trust computers. I need to study the implications."

"The best minds at Arlington National Cemetery created this software," said Valerie. "It's a prototype, but they a.s.sure me of its absolute safety."

"Are others using this technology?" I asked.