The Saotomes were silent as they exited Dr. Ono's office. Genma looked at his son and fought back the self-recriminations assaulting his mind. Why oh why did he have to take them to that part of China? Oh, Genma knew why. He had been afraid that the dreaded Master would somehow escape from his imprisonment and had been desperate to retrace the Master's earlier journeys to figure out how he gained such strength. Genma's fears about the Master were sadly accurate, but the attempt to discover the origin of the Master's strength had been less than successful.

Jusenkyo had been an annoyance to be sure. Genma had gotten used to his curse and accepted the guide's story that there were no cures for the curse. Egging Ranma on in the boy's hunt for a cure was good for his training. Genma was sure that Ranma would have to realize for himself that there was no cure. The curse would cause issues with his beloved wife and her peculiarities. However, Genma was certain Nodoka would understand once Ranma and Akane were happily married. She always was such a romantic and had loved stories about a person winning their love even when suffering magical mishaps.

A quick spray from someone watering their flowers and missing activated both Saotomes' curses. Genma carefully watched the subtle signs that Ranma briefly felt pain from the activation of her curse. The panda had to give his daughter credit. She had hidden her discomfort masterfully and he could only tell because he knew all her ques. Genma made sure to note Ranma's ques to have an idea of his child's pain. Best to have someone to keep the child honest with Dr. Ono.

The duo soon got back to the dojo and changed into their real forms thanks to some hot water from Kasumi. Once Genma was human again he overheard Akane and Nabiki talking with each other. "Really Nabiki? You want 500 yen for tips on where to find more information for my school project?"

Ranma shot Genma a quick look over at Nabiki and then gave his father an accusing glare. Akane was getting a little annoyed that the newspapers had so little information on her choice of school project topic. The records at the library didn't have anything recent on the topic and there hadn't been a word in the papers for the last two days. Ranma was not about to suggest that they change topics because that would just infuriate Akane.

Suddenly, an idea came to Ranma. He turned to Kasumi and asked, "Where is the telephone book Kasumi?"

Kasumi blinked her eyes in surprise to hear Ranma ask that question. She then thought about it for a moment and said, "The phone book should be on the top shelf above the drier."

Ranma smiled and said, "Thanks Kasumi. I'll be back in a minute." He then headed upstairs to get a pencil and a notebook. Then the boy headed to the drier to find the phone book just where Kasumi thought it might be. Ranma snatched the phone book and headed back into the kitchen where Akane and Nabiki were still haggling.

Akane saw Ranma come in and turned to ask, "What are you up to Ranma?" Her fiancé didn't bother to answer the question. She watched as Ranma opened the phone book and started looking for something. Then she and her sisters watched as Ranma wrote down a number before finding another and putting it on a different page.

The sisters watched as Ranma put the phone book back and headed to the house phone. Ranma entered a phone number and made a call. "Hello is this the German Democratic Republic's embassy? Oh, it is that's great. I'm a high school student doing a school project regarding recent world events. My group's project involves your country and I was hoping to get the information straight from the source. You will? Thank you! The topic my group has do is about the potential talks of your government unifying with the Federal Republic of Germany."

There was silence on the Tendo end for a minute as Ranma hurriedly took some notes. He then said, "Excuse me, is there any way I can get a copy of a draft of this 'Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany' for my school project. I understand. I had to ask though. Thank you for your help on this project."

Ranma hung up the phone and double checked his notes. He put the page of notes near the notebook and picked up the other page. Akane started to stutter, "What? Just what do you think you're doing Ranma?"

He turned to face his unwanted fiancée and said, "What am I doing? What do you think I'm doing Akane? I'm getting the information we need for the school project."

"By calling the embassies of East and West Germany?"

"Well, where else am I supposed to go for recent information on a foreign country if its not in the newspaper?" Akane stared at Ranma in disbelief that even he would do something that direct. Nabiki was glaring at the back of Ranma's head as he made his call to the Federal Republic of Germany's embassy. There went 500 yen from her pocketbook. Kasumi was happy to see how proactive Ranma could be when working with Akane.

Ranma returned to the table with another sheet of notes after the second phone call was made. He then transcribed his two sets of notes onto some more paper from his notebook. This second set was handed to Akane as Ranma walked out of the kitchen. He said as he handed the notes, "This should be enough work on the project for today. I've got other things to work on."

Genma had been silently watching everything and stayed out of sight as Ranma headed up to their room. A pinch of concern filled his chest as he looked at the simmering Akane. Ranma had been a bit short and brisk with her. Even he could see that. However, why didn't Akane ask Ranma how his doctor's visit went? Maybe she simply assumed that Dr. Ono was capable enough to treat whatever was bothering Ranma. But then, why didn't she ask Ranma what the doctor found? She was his fiancée after all and it would only be right for her to look after his well-being.

Perhaps, Genma quietly mussed, the fact that Akane's and Ranma's group project wasn't going as well as Akane expected was getting to the girl. This was the first school project that just Ranma and her worked on. That could very well be it and most of Genma's mind put the matter to rest. A small bit in the back of his mind continued to slowly mull over the issue as he headed into the family room.

It was almost a week later that Soun approached Genma as the latter was heading out the door. Soun asked, "What is going on old friend?"

Genma looked at Soun and asked, "What do you mean?"

Soun gave his old friend a small glare as he said, "I mean that something is happening and Ranma seems to be at the heart of it. The two of you have been heading out for somewhere every few days and your face has been one of worry. I know your tells after all, old friend. Furthermore, Ranma has been practicing lightly for over a week now. You don't let up on him that easily for that long.

Genma looked around to make sure that they were alone. Ranma had wanted to keep everything quiet while Tofu continued his research. Genma felt that the Tendos should be told as they were practically family. The stubborn father and son were able to agree that the information would not spread as long as Ranma could hide the pain. Soun had figured out that something was up and so Genma felt he could tell his old friend. Besides, having another adult keep in eye on the boy would be good in his opinion.

Quietly Genma said, "Keep this to yourself for now Soun. A condition has come up with the boy's curse where its starting to cause him pain every time he transforms. Dr. Ono has been informed and is currently treating it as best he can. Right now, the doctor is taking notes and conferring with other experts that are more knowledgeable on magic to try and figure out what is happening. Ranma doesn't want to cause a panic or a big scene worrying everyone until at least we get his treatment planned out.

Soun shook his head, "Stubborn stupid boy. He shouldn't try to just tough the problem out or hide it from those who worry about him. Just like another young Saotome I once knew in my youth."

"I have no idea what you are talking about Soun. Now if you will excuse me, I want to get to Ranma's appointment to make sure he doesn't try to downplay anything to me."

Soun nodded his head and said, "I wish you the best of luck at the appointment old friend." He then watched as Genma headed out the door towards Dr. Ono's office. Why did the Saotomes always have to be so stubborn? In the proper time and manner, it could be a tremendous asset. Genma and he had gotten into so many troubles in their teens before Genma had learned to temper his stubbornness. Hopefully, Ranma would not need as many misadventures to learn the same lesson. Soun decided to visit the family shrine and pray for Ranma's health and that the boy would learn his lesson quicker.

Genma got to Dr. Ono's practice just as Ranma was rounding the corner. The boy had an uneasy look on his face as he came into step behind his father. On the one hand, Ranma wished that Pops would stop treating him like a little kid on this issue. Surely his father could trust him to relay the important points that Doc covered he was sixteen! On the other hand, part of Ranma was touched by his father's display of concern and affection. Pops might have had difficulty expressing himself out of a fight and he was big on the tough love thing, but he did care about Ranma.

Both Saotomes were greeted in the lobby by Tofu and a guest that neither cursed individual recognized. The man had a goatee and wore a white shirt with a crimson tuxedo over the shirt. He also had a staff topped with a large red jewel. There was a faint aura of power coming from the jewel that matched the aura coming off of the gentleman. Both Saotomes felt their heckles rise as they sensed the man's aura. The man was powerful, but he did not feel like a martial artist at all.

Tofu smiled and said, "Good day Mr. Saotome, and Ranma. This is Mr. Tokiomi Tohsaka. An associate of mine who is an expert in magic and a talented magic user himself."

The man gave a polite and elegant smile before saying, "You flatter me, Doctor Ono. I may be more knowledgeable about the mystic arts than most in our circle of companions and I do have some skill with magic. However, I would not go so far as to say that I am a talented magic user."

Tokiomi turned to look at Ranma and said, "You must be the young Ranma Saotome whose condition has dear Doctor Ono shaking every proverbial tree in our circle of friends. I have come to see what aid I can offer the doctor in treating your condition."

Genma quickly spoke up, "What is this going to cost us?"

With a smile Tokiomi said, "Nothing monetary I assure you Mr. Saotome. My price for this consultation will be the data I collect when examining you two to compare to Doctor Ono's notes. It is somewhat rare for a man in my profession and school of magic to encounter individuals with a permanent curse that does not intrinsically cause them grievous harm. Jusenkyo is well known about in the magical circles I travel in even if access is practically non-existent for those following my school of magic."

The elder Saotome continued his questioning not wanting Ranma to cause a scene over the fact that there was no cure for his curse. "What do you mean school of magic and what makes you an authority on how magic is affecting my son's health? I'm a martial artist and it's not like real magic users advertise their credentials where regular people can verify."

If Tokiomi had been bothered by Genma's questioning he didn't show it. In fact, he seemed to relish Genma checking on his bona fides. "I personally would hardly classify two chi users of your level as regular people Mr. Saotome. It is understandable that you would be hesitant to trust me without proof given that magic users of various schools have all hidden ourselves from the wider public eye. Besides Doctor Ono's personal vouching of my abilities, I do have certificates from some of the best thaumaturgy institutions in Europe of the Hermetic and Solomonic magical traditions."

"So that you are aware, there are many magical schools and traditions of magic that exist in the world. Think of them like the general styles of martial arts like karate and kung fu while having individual styles within each general style like your Anything Goes Style. The important thing for you is that I am certified within my own magical tradition as knowing enough that I can take apprentices if I so desire. Does that satisfy your curiosity Mr. Saotome?"

Genma nodded and said, "It does Mr. Tohsaka. Maybe we should head to the exam room and start the scans of myself and the boy?"

Tofu and Tokiomi nodded in agreement and Tofu led the party into the exam room. Once there, Tokiomi took a minute to read over Tofu's notes on the duo. He then pulled out something that looked like a compass. The magic user pressed a button on the compass and chanted something in a foreign tongue. Ranma couldn't recognize the language, but Genma thought it might have been German. Magical glyphs suddenly appeared around the compass and a beam of light came out of it. Tokiomi waved the compass so that the beam of light passed over Genma several time. He then activated Genma's curse and waved the light several times over the panda. The curse was reversed and a few more scans were done until Tokiomi was satisfied.

Everyone watched as Tokiomi shut down the magical compass and removed a glowing quartz from within the compass. This quartz was placed in his pocket and then a quartz that did not glow was taken out of another pocket. Tokiomi inserted the new quartz into the compass and caused the magical glyphs to reappear. He then went over to Ranma and scanned the boy like he had Genma.

After scanning Ranma, Tokiomi left for a moment and came back with his briefcase from Tofu's office. Tokiomi put his briefcase on the floor, opened it, and pulled out a table that a large adult could lay on comfortably. The table was covered in arcane symbols and magical instruments that only the magician knew what they did. Tokiomi put the quartz in one of the instruments and watched with a frown as glyphs rapidly formed in front of him.

Silence filled the exam room as Tokiomi reviewed his collected data. Part of Ranma demanded that he break the silence and find out what the wizard guy had found out. It was about him after all. The discipline instilled in him from his martial arts training kept the infamous Saotome foot in mouth syndrome from acting up. Right now, the wizard guy was acting as a specialist for the Doc on how to treat his situation. That meant he had to give the guy space to work.

It seemed like an eternity even though it was only ten minutes before Tokiomi deactivated whatever device he was using and turned to look at the group. He took a moment to think about what to say and then spoke. "Dr. Ono, your suspicions that Ranma Saotome has magical talent that is waking up as your notes put it is correct. However, you are incorrect in your supposition that Ranma chi usage might be a non-factor in the boy's condition."

Tokiomi looked at the Saotomes as he continued. "I will try to keep this as simple as possible since neither of you are practitioners of magic. That will hopefully change for Ranma in the future if we get his condition under control. Potential like his should be cultivated with the utmost effort and care after all. Magic is the manipulation of mana to achieve results that are difficult by oneself, require technological aid, or are currently impossible by regular people's standards. Mana is different from chi in that it seems to come from outside ourselves and is filtered into people from their souls. Unlike chi, it is very difficult for someone to increase one's mana reserves naturally or by ethical means."

"Both chi and mana exist in every living being even if for the vast majority of people, it is at the bare minimum levels needed to sustain life. Your Jusenkyo curses have been grafted to your natural mana at a metaphysical level and are sustained by a mix of your own mana and the natural mana that the planet gives off. Under normal circumstances, this would not be a problem for people. Normal people or martial artists with large chi reserves would not feel a thing other than a little bit of 'tingly sensation' as Dr. Ono reported in his notes. As a person's mana reserves increase, they would begin to feel something a little more. But even a reasonably powerful magic user like myself would only feel something akin to an itch if such a curse activated."

"The problem for you Ranma is that your magical reserves are vast well beyond the scale of any magic user ever recorded in my school of magic. I would keep that under my hat if I were you should you ever decide to join a magical tradition. More desperate or ruthless magic users might start asking what your price for stud duty is in order to improve their children or grandchildren's magical potential. Moreover, your magic has very interesting and powerful defensive properties that are trying to protect you from harmful magical interference. The Jusenkyo curse falls under the category of harmful magical interference to your own magic causing it to act up every time the curse activates. Best way to think of it is that your curse is like a donated organ transplanted into you that your own magic is rejecting."

"This leads into Dr. Ono's misunderstandings about your chi usage for your condition Ranma. Chi and Mana interactions are not a well understood subspecialty in my or any other magical tradition that I know of. Magic users tend to focus on their mana while martial artists focus on chi. Both energies apparently can exist in the same locations in the body in large amounts without major negative effects. There was an article last year I read about some possible explanation involving quantum theory, but the article had few solid facts."

"It's actually a very technical what is happening so I will give you a brief summery. The typical negative effects of having a large chi reserve for a magic user is helping Ranma. Your chi is slowing down the awakening of your mana reserves and it is absorbing some of the energy that is released by the curse and your mana reserves each time the curse is activated. This will only last as long as your active mana reserves remain smaller relative to your chi reserves because in this state your chi is your primary energy. When Ranma's active mana reserves become greater than his chi reserves his body will switch to using mana as its default energy instead of chi."

Tokiomi paused for a moment to think of how to phrase the next part. "In many magical traditions the switch from chi to mana is considered the point when one stops being a 'regular' person and becomes a magic user. Your chi reserves remain and can even grow, but your body will start to convert your chi into mana to help speed up restoring your mana reserves. Most magic users try to retard this very inefficient process because the gains are typically negligible for the costs unless you are also a skilled chi user. Don't worry about your martial arts abilities as internally mana acts and can be used just like chi. The problem for Ranma is that when the switch happens his mana will start to attack his curse constantly. The pain you feel every time you transform will be worse, how much I cannot say, and it will be unceasing."

"Don't give up hope you two. Ranma's curse showed signs of change that Mr. Saotome's curse did not have. Whether is change is from degradation or transformation I cannot tell at this time. I would like to return in a week or two in order to have some more data points for comparison. What I can say right now is that Ranma's own mana is trying to do something to the curse to make it tolerable for his system. I cannot say what that something is right now. I will do some research on my own ends and pull on some contacts who are more knowledgeable on the specific magical fields of study relating to Ranma's condition."

"Until then we need to get more time until Ranma becomes an official magic user. I will look to see if there are any safe ways to slow the awakening of his mana reserves. Until then, Ranma will have to keep his chi reserves as full as possible to slow his own awakening and stay normal."

Genma bowed in thanks and then asked, "Why are you so helpful to someone you just met? I am grateful for your insights and help, but I do want to know what you get out of this."

Tokiomi smiled and said, "As I said earlier Mr. Saotome, I get some very interesting and valuable research data from these scans. I also get the prestige of helping the start of a powerful line of magic users. Hopefully in my magical tradition, but there is still some prestige of helping someone start in a different tradition."

Unknown to the people in the clinic, Sasuke Sarugakure was listening in on the visit. Kuno had made it very clear to the family ninja that he wanted surveillance on the 'foul sorcerer' so that he might find someway to defeat him. Sasuke had noticed Ranma and his father going to Dr. Ono's clinic several times in the past week which was unusual for the duo. The faithful ninja had snuck in last night and prepped the clinic for him to listen in. Sasuke felt conflicted as he listened in on Ranma's medical report.

Part of him was nervous that an actual sorcerer was taking interest in Ranma. His master's claims to the contrary, everything that Ranma had done besides his curse was done through chi manipulation. Ranma was already a very powerful fighter and Sasuke was afraid what would happen to Kuno if Ranma started to take his master seriously. The thought of actual magic being used against Kuno was chilling to think of.

At the same time, it sounded like Ranma was currently dealing with a serious health condition. Sasuke's mistress would want to make sure that her beloved Ranma got through any health problems. The fact that Kuno and Kodaichi often gave Sasuke conflicting orders was something he was used to dealing with. It was a tightrope act that all servants of the Kuno household had to learn quickly. The fact that a real sorcerer would be sticking around and checking in on Ranma complicated Sasuke's dilemma.

The ninja retainer waited until the Saotomes and the sorcerer left the clinic thinking over what he should say. Once he had his story straight and was sure he could escape unnoticed, the ninja left the clinic to return to the Kuno Mansion. Sasuke then headed straight for the young master's wing of the mansion happily avoiding Kodaichi section. He found Kuno and reported the sanitized version of events for young master who eagerly listened.

Tatewaki Kuno, mainly known as Kuno given that no one wanted to think of his father Principle Kuno, listened to the modified accounting of Ranma's doctor visit and put his own interpretation on it. The eccentric youth frowned as he looked off into the distance. "I see, so Saotome is not yet a foul sorcerer merely an eager initiate like that Gosunkugi underclassman. It would also seem that unlike Gosunkugi and his paltry efforts the Saotome fiend has real potential for the black arts. That mercenary must be slipping for not bringing this news to my attention sooner. It does go to show that oathbound retainers are always superior to paid help in the long run."

Sasuke groveled and said, "You honor me with such kind words young master."

Kuno waved his hand as he continued. "I merely give you the due that you are entitled to under my service Sasuke. The fact that a true sorcerer is interested in Saotome is worrying. What dark plans might this foul mastermind be up to? How will Saotome factor into this? The cretin's current abilities are troublesome enough for me to deal with. What new level of difficulties might I face once Saotome starts his training?"

The teen got up and began to pace his room trying to fit his interpretation of the facts given him with his current worldview. Kuno clung to the childish view that he was the center of the world and everything that happened around him was either aimed at him or determined by him. Then there was a fantasy he had about being a peerless samurai out of legends and folktales. Kuno was a good kendoka and actually was in the top 5 in the ward for his age bracket. He just wasn't as good as he thought he was.

Sasuke stayed kneeling on the floor while his eyes remained locked on Kuno's pacing form. Who could say what conclusions the young master would come up with? The ninja just hoped that Ranma would be able to handle Kuno without things escalating. Sasuke really hoped that none of the adults got involved. Mr. Tendo had lots of connections throughout the local government from his work on the city council. He was also a very talented and experienced martial artist. Mr. Saotome might seem like a bit of an oaf, but Sasuke had done some digging and the elder Saotome had a worrying reputation in the underground fighting community as a very nasty pit fighter. The elder master, well, anything he got involved with tended to get dicey on the best of days.

Kuno's head suddenly snapped up in a dramatic pose as he made up his mind. "Sasuke, it has become clear to me that the Foul Saotome is nothing more than a catspaw for the true dark sorcerer who doubtless has wicked designs on this fair city. These designs might even include the fair Akane and the pigtailed girl. It is not clear to me at this time whether Saotome is acting on his own in regards to them or if it is at the command of his master. Either way, my loves are no doubt in grave danger from the mastermind's machinations."

"I see young master." Sasuke really couldn't see what Kuno was thinking at the moment. He thought he had the general idea how Kuno was interpreting things, but the faithful ninja needed more information to get a clearer picture. "How can I serve you in this quest?"

A smile appeared on Kuno's face as his eyes turned to look a painting of a noble samurai doing battle with demons. "Your assistance might not be glamorous my dear Sasuke. But I assure you it will be vital. My own blade is inadequate for the task and challenges ahead of us. The Foul Saotome is merely the first step and not the final villain like I once thought. To challenge this sorcerer, I must acquire a mystical blade able to fend off foul magics. You mission will be to locate and retrieve such a blade for me."

Sasuke bowed low and said, "Understood master." Inside the ninja wondered how he was supposed to accomplish this without allowing Kuno to get in over his head.

His bitching to the contrary, Snarf was a very good engineer. He had to be given his situation. The Cats Lair evacuation vault had been built with the best technomagic the Thunderans had available. It, like others spread across the now dead world, was built to levels that the fops on Luna had derisively called 'crazy end times cat bolt holes.' The vault and its companions were intended to serve as a last-ditch survival means if Thundera suffered a catastrophic attack like an orbital bombardment or a magically induced a world-wide gas attack rendering the world uninhabitable.

Maybe one could say that the Thunderans and the Snarfs were a little paranoid when it came to attacks. They had some justification as Mumm-Ra had their ancestors do such attacks across a thousand worlds before Leo the Liberator was able stage his heroic uprising against the space monster. Having the battle plans and the post op reports on those battles really drove home just how vulnerable unprepared worlds could be.

The problem was that the vaults were never intended to work for so many millennia without stopping. Any use of the vault was intended to last only a few years before the Saturnians could rescue them or a few decades if they had to depend on Luna. Hibernation sarcophagi were based off of Mumm-Ra's old technomagic and could work for centuries. That old demon per the ancient records had kept his entire army on ice as he traveled slower than light between the stars at 20 percent the speed of light hunting worlds with civilizations on them to destroy.

However, even Mumm-Ra never intended to keep his soldiers in hibernation for 100,000 years in one shot. It was in some ways fortunate for Snarf that none of the other vaults had been successfully used due to the attack and the sheer suddenness of the biosphere's destruction. He knew that because he had personally checked each one twice just to be sure that his charges were the only ones on Thundera. Several vaults were wrecked from their would-be users fighting the invaders. Others had the remains of those who couldn't handle seeing their very world die in front of them and chose to end it instead of going into hibernation. Still others had been too remote for anyone to get to in time while a couple more had been under construction or undergoing renovations.

All those vaults had been a treasure trove of supplies for Snarf to use for maintenance and repairs. Even the completely wrecked vaults had supplied him with a mountain of processed metals, alloys, and other materials for the Cats Lair's printers to make what he needed. It took Snarf a day to double check everything he would need for the modified sensors and send the new plans to the printers. He then spent the next three days while the printers worked checking on where he'd set the sensors up in between doing his usual maintenance on the vault. Snarf then had to spend two days getting the sensors and their rigs set up in the investiture hall which by the ancient magic counted as Lord Lion-O's 'hall of power'. On the final day of the week, Snarf ran through a series of double checks to make sure everything was working and activated his sensor.

Snarf sat at his seat in the CIC in almost breathless anticipation as the sensors started to divine where Lord Lion-O's reincarnation lived on earth. On one screen Snarf could see an image of the Earth which shifted as the sensors started to triangulate the Sailor Crystal of Thundera. The map focused on Asia and then zoomed in to Japan. After another series of scans, the sensors continued to narrow down the signal until Snarf was left with a search area roughly 60 kilocubits in diameter on the western side of Tokyo Bay.

"Oh Snarf!" Snarf moaned as he looked on the computer's information on the search area. "It's just my luck that Lord Lion-O's reincarnation is in one of the most densely populated places he could be in. I'll need to think of a way to start narrowing down the search once I get there. I'll also need to learn how to understand the local language. That will be fun." Having magic used to implant knowledge directly into one's brain was not recommended. It was extremely painful and could leave one with migraines for weeks. Hopefully there was something in the medical database he could synthesize to take after having to speed learn his lord's language.

There was another problem that Snarf needed to think about solving and that was getting to Earth. Actually, getting to Earth wouldn't be too much of a problem. The Cats Lair had two fully stocked and maintained shuttles that could make the trip in about 8-9 hours given the two worlds' current orbits. Snarf's problem was how was he to get to Earth without the humans completely losing their shit by seeing his approach.

Lord Lion-O's reincarnation lived in or around the capital of a major nation with lots of air traffic. Said nation was physically near one of the planet's two Great Powers and had military bases from the other Great Power on its shores. The two Great Powers were locked in something the humans called a 'Cold War'. Snarf had read up a bit on the situation during the Moon Landing, but he didn't know the current status.

His political background told him that just flying into an area that two hostile powers would naturally have eyes on would create panic. That was before one factored in that his sudden arrival would prove that beings besides humans existing in the universe. Snarf shook his head and muttered, "I'll have to check on what stealth systems the shuttles have and what the current capacities the humans' satellites grant them. Snarf, one project down and two more spring up in its place. Just the story of my life."