Chapter 6

Once they were at the Rigan Racing Club Mark turned to Tiny.

"I'm going to go look for Jason and Princess at the Clubhouse." he said.

Tiny rubbed his stomach thoughtfully. "I think I'll take a sampling of the local cuisine." he said, looking at a nearby restaurant.

"Okay." said Mark, "I'll meet you back here soon."

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It seemed that racing competitions weren't the only contests the planet hosted. There were close to twenty girls inside the restaurant.

"I can't believe I'm actually making my secret Chocolate Upside Down Cake for the Bake-Off!" exclaimed a blonde girl excitedly. "My Grandma's recipe will finally be appreciated by people across the Galaxy!"

"Get over yourself!" snapped a pretty brunette. "If anything is going to win it's my to-die-for orange crème torte!"

"There are only four judges honey." interrupted another girl with a swing of her ponytail. "I don't think all of them are going to like orange crème."

"Actually..." said the blonde, "I heard a rumor that there's a fifth judge. A secret judge."

The entire room went suddenly silent as everyone heard the girl's words.

"A secret judge?" laughed the brunette mockingly, "Who's going to buy that?"

"It's true!" exclaimed the blonde, "And it makes perfect sense! Someone no one knows about! An everyday guy! Someone who can give an unbiased evaluation."

The other girls nodded. It did make sense. And such a thing wasn't unheard of.

At that moment, the door to the restaurant opened. Someone entered.

"Hey, are you guys open today?" asked Tiny.

"Look!" whispered the ponytail girl, "An everyday guy!"

"And he's got a number 5 on his shirt!" cried the blonde excitedly.

There was a sudden rush of high heels and cookies across the room.

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Chief Anderson entered the Ready Room where Keyop was playing video games.

"Keyop, I'm looking for Mark. Have you seen him anywhere?"

Keyop stared, entranced, at the computer screen.

"Keyop!" barked Anderson. The boy jumped and looked guiltily at the Chief.

"Where is Mark?" repeated Anderson.

"BrrrrtdootboopbrrrrrrrrrrrrrtbeepdoppbrrrringRigabrrrrtdoopdeepbopbrrrrrtrrrrrrtt." replied Keyop.

Chief Anderson shook his head. He couldn't make head or tails of what Keyop was saying. "You'd better go get that implant checked." he told the boy as he left the room.

The Swallow laughed softly to himself. The Eagle could count on him! He could imagine himself flying the G-1 right now…

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Mark walked into the Racing Club. Technically only members were allowed but a quick flash of his Federation ID had gotten him by the security guards. He wandered into the bar and found a young woman cleaning up inside.

"Excuse me, Miss." Mark said, "I'm looking for a couple of friends of mine. Perhaps you could help me?"

The woman turned around. "Sure!" she said, "Who are you looking for?"

"A guy and a girl. They're wearing numbered shirts like mine. The won the Galactic Race a couple of days ago."

"Oh yeah!" The woman's eyes lit up with recognition. "They were in here that night celebrating. Wow, can that guy hold his beer! He must have had an entire keg all by himself!"

Mark rolled his eyes. That sounded like Jason.

"They make such a cute couple." the woman sighed.

"What?" asked Mark.

"Anyhow, they left at closing and haven't been in since. That was a couple of days ago." finished the woman. "Sorry I can't be of more assistance."

"Thanks." said Mark, "You've been a big help."

He left the Club and walked over to Jason and Princess' hotel. It had only taken a few minutes of hacking to obtain access to their travel records at Center Neptune.

At the hotel's front desk the clerk was filing some papers.

"Can I help you?" he asked.

"I'm looking for some friends of mine." Mark said, "Jason and Princess Smith? They checked in about a week ago." He groaned inwardly at the pathetic cover name they had used. He would bet anything that Zark had come up with that little gem.

The clerk checked his computer records. "They are no longer guests here sir." he answered.

"They're not?" asked Mark, surprised, "When did they check out?"

"They didn't." said the clerk, "They just left the hotel without giving notice. I would have sold their things to pay the bill except that their inter-galactic credit charge went through."

"They left their things behind?" asked Mark.

"Yes." said the clerk. "We've been holding onto them for a couple of days but no one has come to claim them. Say…" he continued, "Could you take them? We could really use the space in the storage room."

"Sure…" said Mark. "I'll give them their bags when I find them."

Mark didn't know what to make of this turn of events. Where could Jason and Princess be? He was beginning to get worried.

The clerk interrupted his thoughts by placing two small duffel bags on the desk.

"There you go sir." He seemed relieved to have found someone to take the bags.

Mark went outside to a nearby park and sat down on a bench. Reluctantly he opened the bags, searching for any kind of clue as to where Jason and Princess had gone.

The duffels didn't contain much. Since they didn't really need a change of clothes all that was in there were toiletries. And… Mark pulled his hand out as if it were on fire when he realized that he had gotten ahold of one of Princess' bras.

Quickly he zipped up her duffel and looked through Jason's. Razor, toothpaste, brush… pretty typical stuff. The he spotted two condoms… and one empty wrapper. His cheeks flamed.

He was willing his mind not to think about what that might mean when he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder.

"What are you doing here Mark?"

Mark knew that voice. He gritted his teeth and hoped to God that he was wrong. Looking up, he realized with a sinking feeling that he was not.

"What's it to you?" he asked coolly.

"Just curious." said Colonel Cronus in a quiet voice. His grip on Mark's shoulder tightened. "Answer my question boy!"

"I'm not at the Space Academy any more." Mark shot back, "You have no right to order me around!" He threw the Colonel's hand from his body and stood up.

"Perhaps not…" replied Cronus with a superior laugh, "but I wonder if Chief Anderson knows that you're here on Riga."

Mark gulped nervously. He had forgotten for a moment that the Chief and the Colonel were friends.

"I thought so." said Cronus smugly. God, how he loved to watch his son squirm! It somehow made him feel more… manly. Not that he would ever have admitted it.

"Let's go!" ordered the Colonel. He pushed Mark roughly away from the bench. Mark grabbed the duffels and kicked at the grass as he was forced to walk with the man he hated most in the universe… after Zoltar. He fumed in silence. Talking back to Cronus was only bound to get him in more trouble.

But Cronus wouldn't let him play that game. "I know why you're here Mark." he taunted. "You're chasing after your subordinates." Mark looked up at him, his eyes like ice.

He was such an easy target. Enjoying himself, the Colonel continued, "Let them have their fun. If their little romance gets in the way of their work you'll have to discipline them, but until then…"

He saw Mark's shoulders noticeably stiffen. The Commander's fists clenched and Cronus knew that he had hit his mark.

"Oh… so that's the way it is then?" Cronus laughed. "You want a piece of that little Swan for yourself…"

Before he could even think about what he was doing, Mark turned around and slugged Cronus. He felt a grim satisfaction as he saw the Colonel reel back and rub his jaw.

But it lasted only a moment. Before Mark could take another breath Cronus' knee had struck him in the groin and he found himself on the grass. The Eagle got up and charged at the older man with a snarl, grappling him around the waist and sending both of them tumbling to the ground. With expert moves Cronus rolled over and punched Mark a few times in the face.

Mark seethed with anger, but he was pinned.

Cronus' voice took on a mocking, lecturing tone. "You can't get involved with subordinates Mark. Rule Number One of Command: If you have to make hard decisions on a mission you can't let personal feelings get in the way. Besides…" he couldn't resist getting in one more verbal jab, "You wouldn't want her anyway. She's just a cheap piece of trash sneaking off with your second-in-command that way."

Mark spoke in a cold, quiet rage. "No one… no one… talks about Princess like that. Or anyone else under my command for that matter." He pulled back his fist, ready for another punch, but stopped himself before completing the move.

Cronus laughed heartily. "It's good to see you with some spunk Mark. Now let's go collect your pilot and get you back to Anderson."

Mark knew who was in control here and he resented it. He forced himself to tune out as Cronus lectured him on professional behavior for his team, all the way back to the restaurant.

They walked in the door and their jaws fell to the floor.

Tiny was sitting at a table surrounded by a dozen or more gorgeous girls who were all feeding him baked goods and flirting outrageously. It was obvious that he was having the time of his life.

"Harper!" barked the Colonel.

Tiny fell off of his chair in his attempt to stand up. "Sir!" he saluted. A shower of crumbs fell from his lap to the floor.

Cronus held his head in his hand as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. "Let's go Harper!" he ordered.

He grabbed both Mark and Tiny by their ears and dragged them out into the parking lot.

"Hey!" yelled Tiny, "What's that?"