Altered Lives The Parody

by DBM

Warning! Adult/Mature situations, ACC, OOC, AU, SI, SPOILERS for Anime/Manga. The Story? 137 escape the Lab... And things aren't as you'd expect...

6. 05 New Beginnings

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Altered Lives (The Parody)

Book 05 "New Beginnings"

Time - Late 2016 when Shakey is 15 years old (TV episode 23 to Movies)

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Copyright Info & Disclaimer.

"Altered Lives (THE PARODY)" is Copyright (c) 2002 by DBM.  This story is an Amateur, Non-Commercial work by an Anime/Manga Fan.  This story was created in the Spirit of the Copyright Exemptions regarding Parodies & Satire.

"Neon Genesis Evangelion" is Copyright (c) 2002 by Gainax.  All OTHER material is Copyright (c) 2002 their owners.  All materials used for PARODY purposes.

If you like the story, you may keep a copy for your own personal records, but you may NOT post it on any websites/newsgroups, NOR may you include it in any printed publication for sale/public distribution.  If printing out a copy for yourself or a friend, you may reformat it (paragraph spacing, page-breaks, font & font size, borders, bold/italic, etc) to fit the paper you use, but please do not change any of the actual words or wording in the document.

Sole web-posting at FanFiction.Net - Author's E-Mail address on File.

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Censorship Info & Disclaimer.

NOT Recommended for Children.

Intended for MATURE Audiences.

There are NO 'sex scenes', but, just like the original NGE series, the story will explore the results & side effects of such activities.  Along the way, there'll be swearing, violence, drugs, Adult situations, & frank discussions of sex education/family planning information, as well as thoughts & opinions on the morals & ethics of sexual assault, dating, courtship, marriage, alternate sexualities, pregnancy, childbirth, parenthood, Family Values, etc.

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Fandom Alerts & Disclaimer.

AU Alert (Alternate Universe).

OOC Alert (Out Of Character).

ACC Alert (Author Created Character).

SI Alert (Self Insert - Author appears in the story as a character).

SPOILER Alert (May 'spoil' surprises in the Manga & Anime TV/Movies).

' ' denotes thoughts.

" " denotes speech

denotes other method of communication.

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Chapter - Morning.

It was just another usual morning in the Kutsarug Household, Mazurka was 'sleeping in', & Shakey was toiling away with 'Domestic Duties'…

Suddenly, there was an unexpected knock at the door!

'Who could that be?' Shakey wondered as he went to open the door, 'Unless?  Kantsee is back in town!?'

With a mixture of Hope & Curiosity, Shakey opened the door to reveal…

…Rave Imanonymous, dressed ready for school with her school port.

"Good Morning Shakey," Rave got her greeting in first, "May I walk you to school this morning?"

Shakey was surprised by Rave's presence, let alone her request, 'Rave's asking if she can walk to school with me?  Is she feeling down again?'

"Um…  Sure…" Shakey confirmed, "I'll be a little while yet, so please come in."

As Rave entered, Shakey noticed something different about the girl.  Her usually unkempt mass of hair had been neatly combed until it had a smooth silky sheen.

"Your hair looks nice like that," Shakey tried to make a genuine compliment.

Rave blushed & looked around the apartment, "Is Mazurka still here?"

"Mazurka?  She's in her room, I'm not sure if she's still asleep or not."

"I will wait till she wakes up."

"Oh, well while you're waiting, would you like some breakfast?" Shakey offered.

"Yes, Please."

Shakey trotted off to the kitchen, where a simple dilemma confronted him.

"Err…  What would you prefer for breakfast?"

"What is available?"

"Well…  There's still the remains of last night's supper, or I can make you porridge, or toast…"

"Toast."

"You sure?  I'm reheating the leftovers for myself, & Mazurka?"

"Yes.  Toast will be sufficient."

"Well…" Shakey wasn't really convinced, "At least have some jam on it…"

Rave waited until Shakey had prepared both their meals before eating.  They sat at the Dining Table, & ate mostly in silence.

"Thanks for helping me with my homework last night," Shakey ventured.

"No problem," Rave replied in her usual monotone.

"Did you cover what you wanted to last night?" Shakey had been wondering most of the night if he'd been any help at all to Rave with her homework, especially since she was so far ahead of him in class.

Rave tensed slightly, "Partly…"

"If there's anything else I can help you with, just ask," Shakey smiled as he made the offer, glad that he'd been of some small help.

Rave merely nodded her acceptance of his offer, blushing as she did so.

'She must feel embarrassed about needing help with her homework,' Shakey quietly dropped the subject, not knowing the truth about the situation, or about Rave's feelings for him…

The pair made more small talk as they cleaned up the dishes, only stopping when Mazurka surfaced…

"Yeeee-HAWWW!" Mazurka crowed happily after chugging her first beer of the day.

Mazurka's morning habit embarrassed Shakey, 'Still…  If Mazurka is going to be Rave's Guardian, then I suppose she may as well act 'natural'…'

"Morning Rave," Mazurka cheerily greeted her guest, "How are you today?"

"I am well, but behind schedule…"

"Ack!  The Time!" Shakey exclaimed.  Talking with Rave had been a pleasant way of upsetting his morning routine.  He scampered off to get ready for school.

As Shakey disappeared into his room, Mazurka asked Rave in a low voice, "Did our talk last night help any?"

"Rave lowered her gaze, suddenly self-conscious, "Yes…  But…"

"But?"

"You were correct," Rave gave a little sigh, "There is more that I need to know.  I have many questions…"

"Feel free to ask me anytime," Mazurka offered Rave, Woman to Woman-To-Be, "Although, These sort of things are best discussed in private."

A look of relief crossed Rave's face, "Thank You Mazurka."

"Hey!  I'm your Guardian.  That's part of what I'm here for…  Since we both have professional obligations, we may have to schedule any talks we have.  If you let me know you need to talk, I'll find the time for you."

Then Rave dropped a bombshell, "It would be more efficient to schedule classes about it…"

"Classes?"

"Yes.  The other Clones will need this information as well."

Mazurka blinked.  The timely return & immediate departure of Shakey & Rave saved Mazurka from having to make any response.

"See you later Mazurka!" Shakey yelled out on his way through the door, "Come on Rave, if we hurry, we'll make School in time."

"I will see you later Mazurka," Rave farewelled, making obvious reference to the subject she'd just been discussing with Mazurka.

…Or would be…

Mazurka sat motionless for several minutes after Rave & Shakey had left.  Then she slowly leaned forward until her forehead rested on the table…

…Mazurka groaned, "I forgot about the others…"

Every Parent & Guardian dreads having to have 'that' talk with their charges, as giving instruction in the 'Facts of Life' can be a daunting task.  Mazurka already knew that she might have to have 'that' talk with Rave.  Not to mention Shakey.  Aesir was a College graduate, & already knew.  But Mazurka had forgotten, that as 'Guardian' to ALL of the surviving Clones, she might have to have 'that' talk with them too.  Each & every one of them…

…All 137 of them…

"Glando, You B-----D!" Mazurka hissed angrily as enlightenment dawned, "I wondered why you gave me this job…"

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Chapter - Running The Gauntlet.

Shakey & Rave made it to school on time, but only because they ran most of the way.  They arrived together, out of breath, a fact that didn't escape the attention of the other students…

"Hey Look!" said one of the male students, "Here come the Lovebirds!"

"Man, are they out of breath…  They must have had to run to make it on time…"

"Yeah…  Makes you wonder what they were doing that they had to hurry…"

"Huh?  What do you mean?"

"Haven't you heard?"

The female students saw things differently.

"Look!  Imanonymous!  She's had her hair done!"

"HER?  You're joking?"

"No joke.  I think she's finally found someone worth changing herself for…"

"She has?  Who?"

"Haven't you heard?"

Because Shakey & Rave had arrived so late, the other students didn't have a chance to 'make inquiries' into the rumoured relationship.

…They would though…

In the meantime, the other students gave reappraising glances at the pair…

"Dude…  If Atari was Man enough to thaw the Ice Maiden, he can't be the hopeless Wallflower we always thought he was…"

"Hmmm…  If Shakey was able to touch her heart, then maybe there's more to him than we previously thought?"

Physical Education was the first class of the day.  The boys had 'Touch' Football, while the girls had swimming.  As it was the first class of the day, the teachers were present & taking roll call in earnest.  The curious students had no time to ask Shakey or Rave anything.

…Out on the field though…

"Hey Atari?"

"Yes?"

"Is it true?"

Shakey was puzzled, "Is what true?"

"You & Imanonymous?"

Shakey sighed, thinking of the E-Mails he'd received the day before, "No.  It's NOT true.  We aren't an 'item'…"

"What?  Not even after you two…" the student trailed off as a teacher passed.

"After we what?" Shakey asked cautiously.

The other student continued in a lower voice, "You know!  The other night?  When you & she…" he leaned closer & whispered the rest in Shakey's ear.

"WHAT!" Shakey yelled, his face going white with shock, "That's a LIE!  We Nev-"

"Is there a problem Mr Atari?" the teacher intruded on Shakey's comment.

"Uh!  Nih-No Sir…" Shakey stammered.

"Then get out on the field & play ball with the others…"

"Yes Sir!" Shakey ran on 'auto-pilot' as he tried to recover from the shock of what the other student had just said, 'How could they think me & Rave did… 'that'?  Just because she slept over…?'

Out on the field, Shakey's luck didn't improve.  He was still so dazed, that when the ball was thrown to him, he caught it & just stood there.  An easy target for the opposing team as they crash tackled him en masse.

"Foul!" cried the referee, "This is supposed to be 'Touch' football…"

…At the bottom of the heap, Shakey's torment was just starting…

"So…  Atari…" said one of the opposing team players, "While we've got you here…  What was she like?"

"Yeah!" another eagerly queried, "Did you use any 'special' techniques on her?"

"Teach Us O Master!" implored another, "How didst thou thaw the Ice Maiden?"

"Oh GOD!" groaned Shakey, "It's NOT like that…"

"Oh?" leered another, "What WAS it like then?"

"We want DETAILS!" they all chorused…

Elsewhere, Rave was about to find herself in a similar situation.  Although the girls she was with had far more 'tact', than did the Teenage Troglodytes around Shakey.  The presence of a female teacher in the changing rooms also prevented any chance of the girls asking Rave anything, as did the fact that Rave quickly & efficiently went about the business of changing…

The curious girls bided their time, marshalling their courage, & thinking through how they would ask the first girl in their class rumoured to have 'Become a Woman', what the experience was really like.  Several girls looked at Rave enviously as they compared their faces & figures to Rave's, & wondered if she had something they didn't.

Poolside, Rave stood in line, waiting her turn at the diving board.  She was oblivious to looks the others gave her, & to the comments they whispered.  Rave's turn came, & she gracefully dived from the board, before diligently swimming her assigned laps of the pool.  Afterwards, as was Rave#2's custom, Rave#3 sat against the wire fence, alone.

…But not for long…

As the other girls finished their laps of the pool, they began to group up with their friends, & engage in 'Girl Talk'.  Today's HOT topic was the rumoured relationship between Rave & Shakey.

Those girls who had boyfriends, had been shocked by the news of the unexpected relationship between Rave & Shakey.  Especially since their own 'relationships' hadn't progressed much past holding hands & kissing.  More than few of them wondered, 'What if I'd had Shakey as my boyfriend?'  It was only natural then, that curiosity would result in several of them converging on Rave, intent on getting 'details'.

Rave suddenly found herself surrounded by girls.  They milled around her nervously, some giggling, some whispering to others.

"Imanonymous…" one of the braver ones asked, "What was it like?"

"What was what like?"

"The other night…  When you & Shakey…"

"When we what?"

"You know…  'Became One'…"

Rave didn't understand, "Became One?"

"When you 'Shared his Love'…"

Rave blinked, "I do not understand…"

The girls sighed, wondering if Rave was being 'coy', or if the other rumours about her were true.  That socially, she was as thick as a brick.

One of the girls knelt beside Rave & whispered in her ear.

Rave looked at the girl beside her in surprise, "We did not do that."

"Oh?" the enquiring girl arched her eyebrows, "What DID you do then?"

"We want DETAILS!" the other girls giggled in unison.

In both cases, the unusual actions of the other students attracted the attention of the teachers.

"All Right!  Break it up!"

Shakey was glad of the reprieve.  He spent the rest of the class telling everyone who would listen that he & Rave had NEVER done what the rumours said.

…As he was known to be such a 'wimp', his confessions were believed…

"Man, we should of KNOWN…"

"Yeah…  Atari could never be a chick magnet…"

"What about the Redhead he lives with?"

"Aesir?" the male student almost choked laughing, "Yeah, RIGHT!  As if there'd be anything left of him if he even LOOKED at her!"

Rave was uncertain how she should react to the situation, 'I wish Mazurka was here to advise me…'

Hickory Harikari pushed her way past the other girls, only to stop in front of Rave, "Imanonymous!  I've just heard.  You said you & Shakey didn't do anything when you slept over the other night?"

"Not what people are saying we did."

"I'm so glad," Hickory smiled with relief.  'It looks like Aesir may still have a chance with Shakey after all,' she thought.

"Why would they say such things about us?"

Hickory stumbled, "Uh…  I think 'some' people may have… misinterpreted things you said yesterday…  I'm glad the rumours have been straightened out, & that there's no need to worry."

Rave inclined her head slightly, "Why should I worry?"

"Err…" Hickory had said more than she intended to, "Because…  Because you might have damaged your reputation…"

"Damaged my reputation?"

"You know…?  Your… 'reputation'…?" Hickory was prompted to explain further on seeing Rave's lack of comprehension, "Make you unpopular with nice boys…"

Hickory's comment left Rave feeling uneasy, mainly because the only boy Rave knew well enough to consider 'nice', was Shakey.

The lesson ended & the teacher told the girls to go & change.  In the changing room, the other girls mobbed Rave.  They all had questions for her.

…And some unpleasant surprises…

Rave answered the questions warily, mindful of Hickory's comment that the current rumours were based on misinterpretations of Rave's earlier comments.

"Please tell us, we've been dying to know since yesterday," one girl pleaded.

"Yesterday?" Rave's sense of unease grew.

"Yes, ever since we heard about you two having lunch."

"The rumours have been circulating since lunchtime yesterday?"

"Oh Yes," the girl confirmed, "The whole school's talking about it on the electronic bulletin board…"

Rave was now feeling more than uneasy, 'Shakey was upset yesterday afternoon.  He said it was nothing, but… had he heard about these rumours?  Was he… worried about them?  If so, will these rumours make me unpopular with him?  I have only just learned he is my friend…  Will I lose his friendship?'

"I am sorry," Rave said to the girls around her, "But I have urgent business elsewhere…"

With that, Rave hurriedly left the changing room, intending to find Shakey, & get some answers to her own questions…

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Chapter - Wolves.

The bad things about rumours, is that once started, they tend to keep growing.  This is due to several reasons, most of which relate to the darker side of the Human Psyche.  The two most common of these reasons are…

1 - Need to impress others, or gain prestige by appearing to be informed.

2 - Need for entertainment.

The rumours about Rave & Shakey were no exception.  By the time the pair had arrived at school, the simple fact that Rave had slept at Mazurka's had been blown out of all proportion.  Even accounting for initial misinterpretation of the basic facts, the subsequent 'additions' were hard to account for, unless one factored in the 'gender-gap' that occurs in the teenage years.

Most of the girls saw things from a 'Romantic' perspective, wondering if 'True Love' was involved, & if they could have the same in their own lives.  They wanted the background details of the relationship, how Rave & Shakey had found & confessed their love to each other, what it was really like to 'Become One' with the person you loved, in heart, mind, & body.

Most of the boys saw it from a more 'Physical' perspective, wondering what 'Lines' or 'Technique' Shakey had used on Rave, & whether or not such 'Lines' & 'Techniques' would work for them in their own lives.  They wanted to know the how, where, & what of any 'activities' their friends had done, the better to know if they themselves were 'Manly Enough' to be able to 'Score'…

…In other words, the girls focussed more on the emotional aspects, while the boys focussed more on the physical aspects…

Rave had hurriedly dressed after Phys Ed class.  Not just because she was being her usual efficient self, or because she wanted to get away from the questions & suspicions of the other girls, but because she wanted to find Shakey, & ask him if the rumours were why he was feeling 'down' the other afternoon.

…And whether the rumours had changed his wanting to be her friend…

Rave knew the field where Shakey was having his Phys Ed class.  She made straight for it, hoping to intercept him on his way back to their classroom.

…Unfortunately, her course took her into danger…

"Hey!" a Senior Student pointed Rave out to his friends, "Look at that blue-haired chick…"

"So?"

"So…  That's the one I was telling you about, a real little 'goer' from what people have been saying…"

"Yeah?" another student looked appraisingly at Rave, "That's the Nympho?"

"Oh, Yeah!  Come on…"

"You reckon you got a chance?"

"Hey, if even half of what I've heard is right…  We're ALL in for a treat!"

"Lead on then…"

Rave found her path blocked by a group of senior students she didn't know.  She moved to step around them but…

"Hey!  Wait up!  You're Rave Imanonymous?  Aren't you?"

"Yes," Rave paused to see what they wanted to speak to her about.

"You've been hanging out with that wimp, 'Shakey Atari', haven't you?"

"He is not a wimp," Rave asserted, not wanting any further rumours to start based on something she might have said, or appeared to agree with.

"OoooH!" the speaker leered suggestively, "So he really HAS proven his 'Manliness' to you then, eh?"

The tone of the speaker, rather than his choice of words, made Rave wary.

"Listen chicky!  Why don't you do yourself a favour, & spend some 'quality time' with us?"

"Why?" Rave didn't fully understand the offer, but she did sense that there might be a different meaning behind the words.

"Because I'm sure any one of us can be more of a 'Man' to you than he was."

"No," As far as Rave was concerned, the conversation was over.  She attempted to sidestep the group & resume her journey.

One of the boys grabbed her arm, stopping her from leaving.

Despite tensing up, Rave still sounded calm as she said, "Let go of me."

"The way I see it," continued the leader, ignoring Rave's request, "Is that it just wouldn't be right if we were to let you waste your time on him…  Not when you could do SO much better with us…"

**WHUMP** Rave broke free of the grabber, by twisting her arm in his grip, & pivoting her hips so she could deliver a powerful open palm blow to his chest with her other hand.  Surprised, the grabber fell backwards onto the ground.

"I said…  Let go of me…" Rave's voice was still calm & quiet.

A sudden change went through the pack.  They spread out to circle Rave, some of them producing pocketknives.

"That Hurt!" said the one sitting on the ground.

"That wasn't very nice," the pack leader shook his head in mock emphasis, then sighed, "I think we'll have to teach you a lesson in manners, little girl."

Rave was silent.

The leader sauntered up to Rave, an arrogant smirk on his face.

"Now," the leader crooned softly, "I'm sure a pretty girl like you, will want to apologise for such… unsociable actions.  Hmmm?"

Rave looked at him, then simply said, "No."

"Wrong reply," the Leader stated in harder tones, "You'll apologise…  Now!"

Rave remained silent.

The pack of wolves surrounding Rave had thought they might condescend to do this poor girl a favour, & let her provide all of them with some 'fun'.  But she had rejected their offer, & in so doing had questioned the rights they had over women by virtue of their 'Manhood'.  As if that wasn't bad enough, she had dared to stand up for herself as if she were an equal to them, thus denigrating their 'Manliness' & threatening their ranking in the local 'pecking order'…

The leader scowled, then slapped Rave's face.  Hard.  His way of letting this mere girl know who was in charge around here, & who she should obey.

…It was the last thing the arrogant jerk did wrong…

Rave suddenly whirled among them, screaming out Martial Arts yells as she kicked & punched with expert precision.  Each of her blows connected at full force, shattering the bones & rupturing the joints of her opponents.

The thugs tried to fight back, but Rave had more than the element of surprise on her side.  Her speed & manoeuvrability severely outclassed theirs, & they went down without landing a single blow on her.

…Although, the braces one wore on his teeth, did skin Rave's knuckles badly…

The would-be thugs lay on the ground, swearing & screaming in pain, & wondering how such a defenceless looking girl could take all of them out so easily.

…Actually, anyone with a working IQ could easily figure it out…

Many people assumed, that because Rave was so quiet, & followed orders without question, that she was completely apathetic to events concerning her.  Others assumed, that because Rave was a 'vegetarian', that she was a person who cared too much for other living beings to hurt them or use them as food.

…Both groups were completely wrong, despite what appearances might suggest…

Put simply, 'Rave' was a highly trained AVE pilot.  Like Aesir, but unlike Shakey, Rave#2 had endured many years of the rigorous testing & training the elite job of AVE Pilot required, including lessons in all of the things considered 'essential'…

…Essentials like training in 'Tactical Combat Analysis'.  The main rule of this discipline was, 'Keep your mouth shut, & your eyes & ears open…'  Rave#2 had practiced this to the point where it was 'second nature' to her, & in the process, it had given her the appearance of a 'quiet' attitude…

…Then there were essentials like training in 'Hand To Hand Combat', both 'Armed & 'Unarmed'.  Regardless of the particular Martial Discipline, the Main Rule of 'A good offence is the best defence…' always applied…

…Which is what Rave#3 had just demonstrated on the unsuspecting thugs…

Rave extracted her cell phone from her skirt pocket & rang NERVIS Security.

"First Pilot here.  There has been an incident in the School.  I need Back-Up…"

"Roger First.  Situation status?"

"Post-event.  Low-level group assault.  Essential Personnel unharmed.  All six aggressors incapacitated & requiring Medical assistance.  No Bystanders involved.  C-Zone at Ground level walkway, between School buildings D & F."

"Roger First.  Team on way.  ETA one minute.  Please await pickup by Team."

"First Pilot acknowledges.  I will remain at site."

"Roger First.  End Transmission?"

"First Pilot acknowledges.  End Transmission."

Rave stood silently despite thinking, 'Now I cannot meet Shakey…'

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Chapter - Hitting The Fan.

Glando Atari sat at the desk in his office, discussing matters with his advisor Fu2ok.  Both men had open folders in their hands, & Glando in particular had a more conventional posture as he leaned back in his chair.

The light glinted off Glando's glasses as he spoke, "We will run the test facilities around the clock."

Fu2ok wasn't buying it, "But that'll cut down the time we can stall STEELY!"

"Incorrect.  If we follow standard testing procedures, we will have to perform follow-up tests to verify the results of the first."

Fu2ok considered things before replying, "It'll be hard on the systems…"

"If there are… breakdowns… caused by our diligence in testing, then we will have to adjust our schedules accordingly."

Fu2ok snorted, "And just how 'well-timed' will these 'breakdowns' be?"

Glando smirked, "Anticipated maintenance, has already been… accounted… for…"

"We're treading the razor's edge here, Atari…  Any slip-up & we're…"

The ringing of the Emergency phone interrupted Fu2ok's comment.  Glando swiftly picked the phone up, saying only one word into it, "Report!"

Glando paused, listening to the other person on the line, "I see.  Quarantine them in Secure Medical Facilities.  Full communication blackout until I've seen them.  Bring her to me immediately.  That is all."

Glando hung the phone up, the smirk erased from his face.

"What is it?" asked a worried Fu2ok.

"There has been an incident, involving Rave.  She attacked a group of students in her school."

Fu2ok grimaced, "Control breakdown?"

"It may be.  I will have to interrogate her to be sure."

Fu2ok shuddered, "If this IS a control breakdown like the others, you could be committing suicide by confronting her."

"I believe not.  I am more than another 'Superior Officer' to her.  I do not believe that she would harm me."

"I wouldn't gamble my life on her emotional responses."

"Still.  That is what I must do, to find the truth," Glando paused before continuing in sombre tones, "Fu2ok.  I want you to monitor the meeting from a secure location.  If things go badly…"

"I'll take over command…"

"Correct."

"I'll see you later then," Fu2ok walked off.

"I sincerely hope so," Glando muttered in reply.

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Chapter - Speaking First.

A short time later, Rave#3 was ushered into Glando's office by a squad of tight-lipped Security Guards.  All the Guards appeared nervous, their fingers on the triggers of the weapons they pointed in Rave's general direction.  They stood well behind & away from her, out of reach of any punch or kick she might use, & out of each other's line of fire.

Glando sat at his desk like a spider crouching in its web, his emotions just as unreadable.  The approaching group stopped some twenty feet away from the desk.

"Wait outside," Glando's words were music to the Guards' ears, "I wish to speak to her privately."

The Security guards swiftly obeyed.  The doors closed behind the guards, leaving Glando & Rave alone in the room.

"Rave," Glando said quietly, "Come closer."

Rave walked up to the front of the desk & stopped at its edge.  Glando sat on the other side, well within lunging distance, should Rave decide to attack him.  Glando silently appraised the girl before him.  She appeared as she normally did, except for a bandage around the knuckles of her hand.

"I heard that you were involved in a fight today," Glando sounded like a parent talking to their child.

"Yes, Sir."

"Why?"

"They were going to attack me."

"What made you think that?"

"They had assumed attack positions, & had armed themselves."

"Why would they attack you?"

"I am not sure…"

Glando sighed, "Rave, please summarise events from when you woke this morning…"

"Yes Sir.  I awoke at my usual time.  I prepared for school, then walked to the apartment of Major Kutsarug.  Once there, Shakey prepared me breakfast of…"

"Shakey?" Glando interrupted on hearing the change from 'Pilot Atari'.

Rave blushed slightly, & her expression wavered, "Yes Sir.  He… prefers all of we Clones to call him Shakey, rather than Pilot Atari."

"I… see…" Glando murmured, "Continue."

"I spent time talking with Shakey & Major Kutsarug, before running to school with Shakey…"

"Running?"

"Yes Sir.  Shakey did not prepare for school as efficiently as he should have.  This was partly my fault as we spent too much time talking with each other."

"Continue."

"We arrived at school, & went to our first class of the day, Physical Education.  Shakey had football, I had swimming.  While in swimming class, I was asked if certain rumours about myself & Shakey were correct.  I told…"

"Rumours?  Elaborate!"

Rave looked uneasy, "The night before last, I slept over at Major Kutsarug's apartment.  Several people misinterpreted this, as meaning that I had consummated a physical relationship with Shakey while I was there…"

"Did you… consummate… a physical relationship with him?"

"No Sir."

"Have you ever consummated a physical relationship with him, or anyone else?"

"No Sir.  Not by any definition that I know."

"What response did you give to the other students?"

"The full truth.  Such events did not take place.  We did not engage in related activities, nor did we attempt to, I only slept there."

"Continue."

"During the course of talking with the others, I learned that the rumours had been circulating since lunchtime yesterday, partly by E-Mail.  I was concerned that this was why Shakey was upset yesterday afternoon.  I…"

"Shakey was upset?"

"Yes Sir.  When I observed that he seemed upset, he replied that he was 'feeling down'.  I tried to find out why, but he replied, 'it's nothing'.  He tried to cheer himself up by buying Malted Milkshakes for the two of us."

"Malted Milkshakes?"

"Yes Sir.  Chocolate & Strawberry.  We both shared them in what Shakey referred to as, 'a drinking contest'…  We put our straws into the same drink & drank it at the same time, then did the same with the second drink"

"C-Continue…" the word sounded like it had caught in a dry throat.

"I wanted to see Shakey, & ask if he had been upset by the rumours.  I went towards the field where I knew his class was, in hopes of meeting him on his way back.  I was stopped by a group of six unknown males who…"

"How did they stop you?"

"They blocked my way, & called me by my name."

"At that time, were they acting in a threatening manner?"

"No Sir."

"Continue."

"They asked me if I had been hanging out with that wimp, Shakey Atari.  I replied that he was not a wimp.  They asked if he had proven his manliness to me.  I did not fully understand the comment, so I did not reply.  They then asked me to do myself a favour, & spend some quality time with them, as they were sure they could be more of a man to me than he was.  I de…"

"Did you understand what those comments meant?"

"No Sir.  I did not."

"Continue."

"I declined their offer & tried to leave, but one of them grabbed my arm & stopped me.  I told them to let me go, but they ignored me.  They said I was wasting my time with Shakey, & that I could do better with them.  They were violating my Personal Right of Freedom of Movement, so I used reasonable force to break free…"

"What level of force did you use?"

"Non-Lethal.  I twisted myself out of the grip while directed a non-injuring open palm strike to the chest of the one holding me."

"Continue."

"That angered them.  They assumed attack positions, & produced weapons."

"Is that when you attacked them?"

"No Sir."

"Continue."

"They told me that what I had done was not very nice, & that they would have to teach me some manners.  They said that a pretty girl like me would want to apologise for my actions.  I saw no reason to apologise for asserting my rights, & replied no to them.  One of them said that was the wrong reply, & demanded I apologise.  When I did not, he slapped me."

"Is that when you attacked?"

"Yes Sir.  I realised by their actions, that they did not value the Personal Rights & Freedoms of others, & that they were most likely going to try & further violate mine.  I attacked, using non-lethal incapacitating strikes.  After neutralising their threat, I phoned Security & advised them of the situation.  As per the Security Team's request, I stayed at the site until they arrived.  They extracted me & brought me here."

Glando sat back in his chair, digesting what Rave had just said.  For several minutes he said nothing.  He eventually leaned forward & smiled at Rave, speaking soothingly as he delivered his opinion.

"Rave, This event was precipitated solely in response to their actions, & was escalated solely by their actions.  However, this situation requires further investigation.  I will need to talk to those you attacked, & get their side of the story, as well as the stories of any other witnesses.  To ensure a fair investigation, I believe that for the time being, it would be best if you were to stay in your apartment.  You are excused School & Official duties until I advise otherwise."

"Understood Sir," Rave looked slightly crestfallen.

Glando added, "Don't worry.  I think you did the right thing.  If they hadn't accosted you, then they would have accosted some other girl.  Probably one who would not have been able to assert her rights as you did.  I'm sure this matter will quickly resolve itself.  In the meantime, I will increase Security in your neighbourhood, just in case this has repercussions."

"Yes Sir," Rave bounced back to her normally neutral personality.

"Wait outside, I'll get Security to take you home, & to deliver food to you.  That is all, you may go now."

"Yes Sir," Rave turned & left.

Glando waited until the door had shut behind Rave, then picked up his phone & made an urgent call.

"This is Me…  I want a Security detail to take the First Pilot to her apartment.  I want an extra Security team on site in her apartment block, & another to keep her local neighbourhood under heightened surveillance.  Both are full time until I advise otherwise."

Glando paused, "No.  I want meals delivered to her.  She should remain in her apartment.  If she tries to leave, do not intervene, but follow & provide cover for her.  Advise me immediately of any unusual events, including attempts to leave her apartment, or of any visitors.  Screen all mail, & phone calls…"

Glando paused again, "Yes.  Arm the containment system in her apartment block before she arrives.  Use the extra Security teams to ensure there are no bystanders in the blast radius…"

Glando scowled, "One last thing.  Locate the Third pilot, Shakey Atari.  Bring him in to me as soon as possible.  I want to talk to him…"

**********************************************************************

Chapter - Wrong Words.

In a Secure Medical Ward somewhere in the NERVIS Base, six young men were feeling the worse for wear.  All of them sported a variety of bandages & limb splints.  Going by their conversations, not only were their bodies injured, but their pride as well.

"How could she take us down like that?  She was just a chick?"

"Karate man…  She musta used karate on us…"

Finding out they were not as 'mighty' as they thought was bad enough.  But that a single 'chick', a lesser being, had broken them, was even harder to take.

…Unfortunately for them, worse was yet to come…

In arrived without warning in the form of Glando Atari, Commander of the NERVIS base, & sole investigator of the incident that put the group in Hospital.  He stalked into the middle of the ward flanked by a dozen armed guards.  Stopping just inside the door, Glando waited as the Guards took up positions on either side of each of the wounded.

Glando spoke quietly, "Who's the leader among you?"

"We're suing!" one of the injured shouted, "You & that karate psycho!  You got any idea of the trouble you're gonna be in, letting students get beat up…"

Glando snapped his fingers & pointed at the young punk.  The guards on either side of the particular punk turned on him, pushing the punk down into the mattress one-handed, before smashing the fist of their free hand repeatedly into the punk's face.  The screams of pain & fear that sounded as lips split & teeth were dislodged, quickly became choking sobs as the rhythmic thumping noises began to sound moister, then…

"Enough," the one word from Glando instantly stopped the Guards.

Glando stood silently, letting the lesson sink in as time passed to the muffled sobs & whimperings from the erstwhile leader of the group…

Then Glando said in a nearly bored voice, "A pack of thugs attack a young girl, & they somehow think I'm in trouble?"

By now, the frightened punks had begun to realise that the older man WASN'T going to bend over & 'French Kiss' their posteriors.

"Muhhh," the incoherent mumble came from the one who'd just been bashed.

"Be silent," Glando brushed the other's pain off with total indifference, "You should all know, the First reason you're still alive, is because that 'karate psycho' as you call her, LET you live…  If she'd wanted to, she could've killed you all…  Easily!"

Glando paused to let that sink in, then continued, in colder, menacing tones, "The Second reason you're still alive, is that I need information from you."

"W-we've got the right to remain silent!" one punk obviously remembered what he'd learned from Lawyers in Hollywood movies.

Glando turned to the one who'd just spoken, "You've got 'rights', have you?  Tell me, do these 'rights' allow you to attack young girls?  Do they allow you to escape from being 'responsible' for your actions?"

"Please Sir," one of the smarter punks asked politely, "May we see a lawyer…"

"Certainly," Glando agreed magnanimously, "May I recommend the services of 'Smith & Wesson'?  They've never let me down yet…"

The guards pushed the struggling punks down into the beds, then produced pistols & placed the gun barrels against the ankles of the wounded.

Glando addressed the group, "I am going to ask you questions.  You will answer.  If you do not answer, or try to lie, you will be shot.  A joint at a time."

"Nuh-No Way!" one of the punks was already freaking out, "You can't do that!  You're not allowed!"

"Oh I assure you," Glando calmly replied, "We ARE allowed!"

"But cops can't DO that!"

Glando stared, "When did I ever say we were the police?"

"You're bluffing!  You just can't DO that!"

"I'll start with you then," Glando gave the punk his full attention, "Name?"

"Get Bent you Old Fart!"

Glando nodded at one of the Guards holding the punk down.

**BANG** the punk's ankle erupted as a bullet tore through it.  The punk screamed, & thrashed about on the bed.  The Guards held him down, heedless of the blood that sprayed & splattered over their uniforms from the shattered ankle.  The others watched, unable to believe what had just happened.

"I'm not bluffing," Glando's voice was full of quiet menace, "You have the right to throw your lives away as painfully as you wish…  Your choice…"

Glando turned to the guard who'd just fired his gun, "Patch him up, I don't want him bleeding to death before I've had a chance to finish my talk with him."

Glando addressed the group, "Now then…  Do I have your complete attention?"

When the scared punks didn't answer, Glando smiled reassuringly, "Well then…  Lets start with a simple question, shall we?"

Glando's smile turned into a furious scowl, "Why did you… 'accost'… the girl?"

To the credit of the punks, Glando only had to shoot two of them…

**********************************************************************

Chapter - Third Thoughts.

Shakey Atari sat in a waiting room near his Father's office in the NERVIS Base.  Near him sat a watchful pair of Security Guards.

"Excuse me?" The only response the Guards made to Shakey's comment was a slight inclination of their heads in the boy's direction, "Is… is it all right if I go to the toilet?"

The Guards looked at Shakey, "Okay, but make it quick.  You don't want to keep the Commander waiting when he's finally ready to see you…"

Shakey gladly used the facilities.  Apart from the chance to relieve himself, it gave him precious solitude, & a chance to calm himself.

Shakey had been feeling bad enough over the rumours circulating about him & Rave.  The sudden appearance of Security Guards during the second class had NOT improved things in the slightest.  Nor had their actions of dragging Shakey away in front of the rest of the class & the school in general.

The Guards had been unresponsive to Shakey's questions about where they were taking him & why, apart from the ominous, "The Commander wants to see you…"

'What does my father want to see me for?' Shakey had been torturing himself with the possibilities ever since he found out, 'It couldn't be those rumours about me & Rave?  Could it?  If it is…  What do I say to him about it?  That it's just a misunderstanding?  Would he accept that?'

'If he asks…  I guess I can only tell him the truth…  It's not like we DID anything we weren't supposed to…  Despite the rumours…'

Leaving the toilet, & back with only the Guards for company, Shakey once again reviewed what he knew & suspected in an effort to understand what was going on…

To start with, there were serious rumours circulating about an alleged 'relationship' between Rave & Shakey.  A relationship the pair supposedly 'consummated' two nights ago at Mazurka's place, or, if you believed SOME of the rumours that were circulating, just about everywhere else…  Shakey had been shocked when he found out what others were saying, & even more so to find out that some of the students had asked Rave about it.

…Then Rave had gone missing after her very first class of the day…

Nothing too unusual in that, Rave was Famous, or rather Infamous, for missing classes.  Then Security had come for Shakey, taking him out of class in front of all the other students.  That alone had Shakey imagining what the other students would change the rumours into…

…A 'shotgun wedding' was one of the more pleasant ones…

Shakey had wanted to curl up & disappear right then & there, & it was then that a dark thought occurred to him, 'If Rave was asked the same questions I was, how would it affect her?'

…The fact that Rave had gone missing after the morning class suddenly gained sinister significance…

It occurred to Shakey that Rave might think, or might be told, that Shakey had started the rumours himself…

'Would she believe that?' Shakey was seriously worried, 'That I started the rumours about us…?  I know there are guys who boast about… the things they do…  Most of them make it all up…  But…  Rave may not be able to decide if such a story was true or not…  As Ritzy said, she's not very good at living…'

New mental torments assailed Shakey, as he thought of poor heart-broken Rave, feeling betrayed by one who said he was her friend, running off in tears, unable to handle the questions & their implications…

Worry & guilt can make people fantasise to great extent about the unpleasant things that can happen to them.  As Marcus Aurelius, Emperor of Rome put it many centuries ago, "How much pain, have the things that never happened, caused us."

'…oh no…' in his mind's eye, Shakey imagined he saw Rave crying, hearing her sobs as she realised that her brief existence was full of nothing but heartache & betrayal, 'Rave said she had no life… that she was… replaceable…  would she… could she have… have…'

…Shakey imagined Rave throwing herself in front of an oncoming express train…

"NO!" Shakey startled the Guards with his yell.  He jumped to his feet & turned to the Guards, begging them, "Rave!  Is she all right?  Please!  Tell me?"

The Guards replied, "We don't know what the Commander wants to see you about."

To Shakey's guilt-wracked mind, their words had another interpretation…

'If Rave's dead because of these rumours…  Would my father let a Guard tell me?  No!  He'd tell me himself!  Especially if he thought it was my fault!  That must be why Mazurka isn't here!'

'If only I'd told Rave about these rumours yesterday!  I could have asked Mazurka about them…  I could have given Rave a chance to handle them…'

When he was finally advised that his father was ready to see him, Shakey was a nervous wreck, on the brink of collapse…

**********************************************************************

Chapter - Hard Questions.

Shaky Atari, the teenaged boy also known as the Third Pilot, stood in the office of the Commander of NERVIS…

…Trembling like a leaf on a windy day…

It wasn't just that Glando was an intimidating enigma of a man at the best of times that had Shakey trembling, nor was it the creep factor of Glando's immense office.  Shakey was trembling out of old-fashioned guilt that a friend of his had been hurt, or possibly killed, because of some rumours Shakey felt that he himself had failed to adequately control.

Glando motioned a hand towards one of the Security Guards who'd brought Shakey in.  The Guard walked over to one of the disguised storerooms that adjoined Glando's immense office, returning with a chair for Shakey to sit in.

Shakey collapsed into the chair, rather than sit in it, proof of the boy's nervous state.  Another slight motion of Glando's hand & the Guards withdrew, leaving Father & Son alone.

Glando may have been a Father, but he was also Commander of the NERVIS Base.  The chair that had been provided for Shakey wasn't some gesture of Paternal Care, or Nepotistic favouritism, but because there was little chance of a nervous youth like Shakey being capable of standing throughout the interrogation that was to follow…

…That became evident with Glando's first two questions…

"Pilot Atari," Glando's use of Shakey's working title put an emotional distance between the two that couldn't be measured in mere feet & inches, "Do you know why you are here today?"

"Nuh-Not really…"

"Let me give you a clue…"

Shakey waited for his father to speak.  Instead, Glando kept silent for over a minute, making Shakey sweat…

"What is the nature of your relationship with Rave Imanonymous?" Glando's voice held no trace of warmth or compassion whatsoever for his son.

Shakey turned pale as the question confirmed his worst suspicions, '…oh no… it IS about the rumours…'

Shakey opened his mouth to speak, but he couldn't seem to get his voice to work properly, "Ah-I… sh-she's pilot…  We wuh-work t-together…"

Glando waited as Shakey gulped & stuttered out an answer.

"Is that all?  You merely… work together?"

Shakey gave up trying to speak & nodded vigorously.

"So you aren't… friends then?"

"W-we… ah…" was all Shakey managed to get out.

"Are you more than 'friends'?"

Shakey shook his head vigorously.

"Are you sure?"

Shakey nodded.

Glando paused, & then got down to business, "It has come to my attention, that there are several… 'rumours'… about your dealings with her…"

To his credit, Shakey didn't faint, although he WAS glad he'd gone to the toilet before coming in to this meeting.

"These rumours are… unsavoury…  unpleasant…  And have proven dangerous…"

Shakey's heart nearly stopped, 'oh GOD!  Rave!  Did she… kill… herself…'

"These rumours resulted in Rave being… attacked… by a group of males."

Shakey's eyes went wide with fear as he realised what THAT usually meant…

"Rave… sustained injuries in the attack."

Shakey was now shivering uncontrollably, 'Injuries?  How?  How badly?'

"She was lucky… this time."

Although he was in the lion's den, & halfway down it's throat, Shakey felt strangely relieved, '…lucky…?  She must be alive!  Rave's alive!'

Shakey began sobbing, partly from relief that Rave was alive, & partly from fear of the unknown injuries she'd suffered in the 'attack'.

"However…" the way Glando said the one word made Shakey aware that he wasn't out of danger yet, "I do not see why there had to be a… 'this' time…  I was hoping you could tell me…"

Shakey swallowed hard, his throat as dry as a rock…

Glando's next words were edged in cold steel, "How did these rumours start?"

Shakey tried to answer, but he was barely incoherent…

Glando pressed Shakey relentlessly for details, building bit by bit a picture of what had happened from Shakey's viewpoint.  It took over an hour, but eventually Glando began to tone down the probing intensity of his questions.  There remained a few final questions though…

"Tell me…  Has there ever BEEN… a basis for rumours like these?"

"N-oh," Shakey's voice failed on the word & he shook his head for emphasis.

Glando tilted his head slightly, & harsh light flashed on his glasses.

"Will there ever BE… a basis for rumours like these?"

Once again, Shakey shook his head.

"I am glad to know that…  I do not wish to hear of any further rumours regarding 'improper' relationships between Pilots.  Let alone facts…  Do I make myself clear?"

Shakey nodded.

"This meeting is over…"

Shakey tried to stand & failed, his legs buckling under him like soft rubber.

"Security will take you home," Glando advised in a cold voice, his finger already pressing a button to summon the guards outside.

As the doors to his office opened to admit the Guards, Glando said something surprising to the weepy human wreck in the chair before him…

"A person's reputation is a fragile thing.  No matter how many decades you spend building it, it can vanish overnight.  There are dangerous vermin who feed on damaged reputations.  Even a hint of scandal will attract them.  A woman's reputation is particularly fragile.  Always remember that…"

Shakey just sat there.

Glando concluded, "Treat her well.  But don't get too close…"

Glando turned to the Guards, "Take him home."

The Guards nodded, & took Shakey away.  As the doors closed after them, Glando made a phone call.

"Major Kutsarug?  We need to talk…"

**********************************************************************

Chapter - Home Stretch.

If Shakey thought he was going to have a quiet afternoon after the harrowing morning he'd just had, he was wrong.

…Dead wrong…

Glando told the Security Guards to take Shakey home, the first good thing to happen to Shakey that day.  However, when Security Guards arrived at Mazurka's apartment, they found Mazurka there…

…Waiting for Shakey…

Glando had phoned Mazurka & advised her of the rumour situation between Shakey & Rave.  Glando had also advised that he had personally dealt with the jerks that'd unwisely picked on Rave, & that he wanted to have a little talk with Mazurka about the situation…

…First thing tomorrow, in Glando's Office…

…For now though, Glando had 'recommended' that Mazurka take the rest of the day off so that she could care of Shakey…  Personally…

"Thank You," Mazurka advised the Guards with what looked like forced cheer, "I'll take over from here…"

The Guards handed Shakey over, with a fleeting look of pity on their faces for their charge.

…An accurate assessment, because once the door had closed…

Mazurka turned to Shakey, her face grim & serious, "Shakey…  The Commander has told me about the rumours.  As your Guardian, I need to know more.  Do you feel up to talking about them now?"

Shakey trembled, keeping his eyes on the floor as he answered, "Not really…  But I suppose there won't be any better time…"

Mazurka helped Shakey into the Living Room, where she sat him down on the couch & gradually, pieced together what had happened.  By the time Shakey got to the part where he'd found out Rave had been attacked, he was crying his eyes out…

"Th-this is all muh-my f-fault…  I-If I'd only t-told her…"

"No it isn't!" Mazurka angrily corrected, "The only ones responsible for the attack were those that did it!  Although they probably won't be 'man' enough to take any responsibility for their actions…"

Mazurka's opinion didn't seem to help Shakey any.

'D--N!' Mazurka had a soft heart, 'He's really cut up over this…  I can't blame him, he IS in the dark about how bad off Rave is…  Hmmm…  THAT, I can fix…'

"Shakey?  I'm going to make a phone call, & check on Rave.  Just to make sure she's all right.  Okay?"

Shakey snuffled & nodded.

Mazurka quickly dialled Rave's cell phone, & waited as it rang.  It was picked up on the third ring.

"Yes?" Rave's usual voice answered.

"Rave?"

"Yes."

"It's Mazurka.  The Commander told me what happened.  How are you?"

"I am all right.  It was only a minor conflict."

"Were you checked out by the Base Doctors?  What did they say?"

"Yes.  They said I am fine.  I only have grazed knuckles."

"Was it only… a simple assault?"

"Yes.  There were no other wounds."

"No, I meant…  was it only a simple assault, not an… 'assault'…?"

"I do not understand."

Mazurka sighed, "We'll talk about it later…  In the meantime, I've got Shakey…"

"Shakey?" Rave interrupted Mazurka, "Is he there?  May I talk to him?"

"Uh…  Sure," Mazurka confirmed, startled by Rave's request, "But I've got to warn you, he's rather upset by this whole thing.  He may not be too talkative."

"Does he not want to speak to me?" Rave sounded worried.

"Truth is," Mazurka soothed on hearing the change in Rave's voice, "He's crying his eyes out, & may not be able to speak…  I'll see if he's up to it…"

"Mazurka?  May I come over & see him?"

"Sure, if you feel up to it.  Do you want me to pick you up?"

"No.  I have transport."

"All right then, I'll see you when you get here.  In the meantime, I'll try to get Shakey to cheer up…"

Mazurka hung up & went to get Shakey a cup of water from the kitchen.

"Here," Mazurka handing over the cup of water, "Drink this.  It helps you to stop crying if you drink some water."

Shakey drank the water, & gradually calmed down.

"Thangs," snuffled Shakey, "How is she?"

"She sounded all right.  Apparently, she's only got grazed knuckles.  Security probably intervened before it got too serious."

Shakey suddenly lightened up, a weight lifting from his soul.

'Security?  Of Course!  Security!  They would have intervened & stopped her from being hurt, or stop her from hurting herself!  I should have remembered!'

Mazurka noticed the change in his mood, "Feeling better are we?  That's Good!  Rave was concerned about you, & wanted to talk with you."

Shakey was surprised, 'She's concerned about ME?  After what happened to her?'

"She wanted to talk to you, but decided to come over & see you instead."

Shakey blinked, 'Rave?  She's coming over?  To see me?'

"She said she had transport, so she probably won't be…"

A knocking sound came from the door to the apartment.  Mazurka left Shakey & went to see who it was.  She was only mildly surprised to see it was Rave.

"Please come in," Mazurka motioned for Rave to enter.

Rave went straight to Shakey.  She stopped in front of him, & then sat beside him on the couch.  Suddenly, she seemed rather shy.

Mazurka coughed, "I'll just… start dinner…  Rave!  You eat curry don't you?"

"If it's vegetarian,"

"No worries!" Mazurka assured with a smile.

Shakey & Rave sat beside each other, each feeling shy & uneasy.

"I heard about the rumours at school today," Rave ventured.

"I'm sorry," Shakey's confession was a hard thing to do, but relatively easy compared to the time spent with his Father, "I first heard about the rumours yesterday, but I didn't tell you.  I hoped they'd die out overnight…"

"Is that why you were… upset… that afternoon?"

"…yeah…"

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"…i thought you'd be upset by them…"

Rave blinked, 'So, he was trying to protect my feelings…'

"I'm sorry about… today…" Shakey was feeling bad enough about the whole thing, but after what his Father had insinuated, Shakey had to know, "Did they… I mean, were you hurt much?"

"No.  They only slapped me once."

"So…  Security got involved?" Shakey wasn't quite grasping at straws in an attempt to make himself feel better.

"Yes.  They took them away for questioning," Rave omitted the fact that Security got involved AFTER Rave had finished punching her attackers lights out.

Shakey breathed a sigh of relief, relaxing as the fear & worry left, 'Good old Security!  I needn't have worried after all…  Although…  It would have been dangerous…  If Rave had been by herself…'

The two fell silent for a few minutes.

"Shakey?"

"Hmmm?"

"Those rumours.  The Class President told me that they could damage a girl's reputation…"

Guilt bloomed anew in Shakey's mind, 'I didn't think of that…'

"She said that… they might make people… dislike me…"

Shakey was feeling worried, 'I didn't think about how others would see it…'

Rave tensed slightly, "Would rumours like those… make you… disli-"

"No they wouldn't!" Shakey blurted out, not waiting for Rave to finish, "I've learned not to believe rumours…  Anyway…  You're my friend…  Regardless of whatever rumours there were about you, I wouldn't stop being your friend!"

Rave relaxed slightly, the tilt of her head making her hair hang down & obscure her bright pink cheeks.

…And her relieved smile…

Shakey tried to rid himself of another fear he'd recently had, "I was worried… when the rumours started…  I thought you might be hurt if you knew about them…"

"Do not worry.  Words cannot hurt me."

"That's not… exactly… what I meant…  People… can be… upset… by such things.  Their emotions can get out of control… they can end up… hurting themselves… badly…  I was worried that you might… might," Shakey trailed off as he remembered the dark vision he'd had of Rave & the express train…

"Do not worry.  The rumours would not have made me lose control."

"I'm glad," Shakey's relief was sincere, even if he was unaware of the true meaning of Rave's words.

"So is the Commander," Rave added, pleased that she had performed adequately in Glando's opinion on this occasion.

Shakey tensed at the mention of his father, & what his father had said to him about 'improper' relationships involving the pilots.

'This time, I was the first to hear about these rumours,' Shakey agonised as he reviewed his failure yet again, 'I tried to stop them, but I failed, & things blew up…  Will there be a 'next' time?  What if there is, & my father finds out about before I do?'

Shakey gulped, dreading the prospect of having another 'talk' with his father…

'Then there's how Rave might react…  She said she wasn't hurt by the rumours…  This time…  But…  My father pointed out… a girl's reputation is different to a boy's…  And then there were the jerks attacking her…'

"Rave," Shakey asked in a trembling voice, "Please promise me…  If you… hear any rumours… that involve either of us… you'll tell me?"

"Yes."

Shakey felt relieved.

"Will you also promise the same?" Rave asked.

"All right…" Shakey agreed after a short hesitation, 'It's only fair.  Friends should trust one another equally…'

"So what rumours did you hear?" Rave asked in all innocence.

Shakey gulped nervously…

He was saved by Mazurka's call of "Come & get it!"

**********************************************************************

Chapter - Dinnertime Conversation.

The alleged meal that Mazurka had created in the kitchen, seethed & boiled in the pot like a special effect from a horror movie.  It was not a sight for the faint hearted, or for those with a digestive system of less than 'cast iron' class.

…Mazurka hoed into the hideous slop with Gusto…

Shakey endured it, having gotten used to Mazurka's abnormal culinary tastes.

Rave ate quietly, without any of the adverse reactions people normally had when eating Mazurka's cooking for the first time.  Things like nausea, vomiting, etc.

Shakey admired Rave's fortitude…

'Perhaps the taste will make her forget the question she asked me,' Shakey didn't want to embarrass himself, or his blue-haired friend by telling her what the other students had been saying about them.

…But Shakey wasn't going to be that lucky…

Mazurka casually betrayed him by announcing during the meal, "If there's any thing either of you want to ask about this situation, or talk about in general, feel free to speak."

Rave spoke up, "I need guidance about the rumours…"

…Shakey went pale…

"Fire away!" ordered Mazurka, "What do you want to know?"

"When the other girls told me about the rumours, they used words & terms I did not understand."

Now it was Mazurka's turn to go pale, 'Oh boy…  Looks like 'that' talk is going to be sooner than I thought…'

"M-may I be excused?" Shakey quavered.

Mazurka glanced at Shakey.  He was staring at the table, looking like death reheated & nervously toying with the remains of his food.  Mazurka decided to cut him some slack, "Sure…  Me & Rave will take care of things out here."

Shakey gladly left the others to their 'Girls Talk'…

Rave watched him leave with a puzzled expression on her face.

Mazurka steeled herself, & forged ahead, "So…  What did you want to know?"

Rave turned to Mazurka, "I did not understand what the other girls were trying to say, when they used terms such as 'Become One', & 'Share his Love'…"

Mazurka slowly drank her beer, using the time to collect her thoughts, 'Here it is, ready or not, 'Facts of Life 101', & I'm the teacher…'

Rave beat her to it, "Why use such confusing terms, when they only wanted to ask if I had consummated a physical relationship?"

Mazurka choked on her beer in surprise.

"C-Consummated a physical relationship?"

"Yes.  That is the correct term for the social use of the reproductive act of sexual copulation between Male & Female, is it not?"

Mazurka stared slack-jawed at Rave, 'I thought I'd have to tell them about the 'Birds & the Bees', but it appears they may know already…'

"Rave, where did you hear those terms?"

"Doctor Akatlover."

"When?  Why did she tell you about 'consummating physical relationships'?"

"Not long after the Second became Rave.  We had begun initial tests for suitability as an AVE Pilot, although we had not yet attended the local school.  The Commander thought that we should not be less informed than the other children at school would be about such things, so he had Dr Akatlover tell us."

"Oh…  Great…" Mazurka groaned as she remembered that Ritzy had never been famous for the richness of her own 'social' life…

'Knowing Ritzy, she probably filled Rave's head straight from a textbook, loading data into her like some computer…  Since you can't teach what you don't know yourself, Ritzy most likely ignored the 'Emotional' context such material needs to be used properly… wisely…'

Thew implications began to sink in on Mazurka, 'Since Rave's never had the time or opportunity to make friends & socialise normally with other girls, she's had no chance to find out either…  No female friends, means no 'female talk'…'

Mazurka sighed & rubbed her eyes, "I need a summary of everything she told you…"

"Everything?"

"Yep…  Everything…  There's a lot of information that isn't found in any textbook, & until I know what you know, & what you don't know, I won't be able to decide what extra information you need…"

"I understand.  The rumours started because I did not understand the terms the other girls used."

Mazurka was incredulous, "YOU started the rumours?  HOW?"

Rave lowered her gaze, apparently embarrassed, "Yes.  They asked me questions about when I slept over.  I thought I understood all the meanings of the terms used, but evidently, I did not.  It was because of comments I made in response, not understanding the meaning of the questions, that the rumours started."

Mazurka needed another beer or two to handle THAT revelation…

"Mazurka?  What level is information about consummating physical relationships?"

Mazurka paused.  Rave had already had a narrow escape with some local 'Wolves'.  The girl had kept her wits about her & escaped their clutches, but there were a lot more dangers out there for an uneducated teenage girl.  A LOT more…

Mazurka decided to play it safe, & be completely honest, "Depends.  Some of the information is just general medical knowledge.  It doesn't belong to any level, as it's essential for general health & well-being.  Most of it though, would DEFINITELY be 'Romance' level at the least.  The information was given to you, as you would need it to understand & handle the changes as your body matured."

Mazurka decided she needed to make a point, "Rave, even though you know about 'Romance' level activities, your body is still developing!  It's not ready for such activities yet, despite what some people may try & tell you!"

Rave nodded, "Dr Akatlover said I should wait until I was an adult of 18…"

"Besides," stressed Mazurka, "Successful 'Romance', let alone 'Marriage', needs a VERY good knowledge of 'Friendship', or else it can turn out horribly wrong."

"It can?  How?"

"Those males you fought off are an all too common example…"

Rave was puzzled, "Was that an attempt at 'Romance'?"

"NO!" Mazurka barked, "That was NOT 'Romance'…"

"What was it then?"

Mazurka had a world-weary look on her face as she opened up, Woman to Woman, to the teenaged girl before her.

"That was what CAN happen, when people either fail, or choose to ignore, the basics of the 'Friendship' level…  It's what I meant when I said 'Assault' earlier.  Attacks like theirs, often become 'Sexual Assaults'.  They belong in a category of their own, the most common name for which is… 'Rape'…"

Rave digested this before asking, "Then, what is it called when people who fail 'Friendship' attempt the 'Marriage' level?"

Mazurka took a swig of her beer before answering, "That's often referred to as, 'Institutionalised Abuse'…"

**********************************************************************

Chapter - No Escape.

Shakey took his time in the bath.  Apart from the warmth of the water, & the steamy humid air, the solitude was just what he needed to help him relax.

…And after a day like this, he BADLY needed to relax…

"Hey Shakey!" Mazurka's loud voice penetrated the thin walls, "Don't soak too long, or you'll turn into a Prune!"

'There's no hurry,' Shakey told himself, 'If I go out, Rave will want me to tell her what rumours I heard…  I don't think I could handle that right now…'

Shakey lay back & let the warm water work its peaceful magic.

Outside, Mazurka was refreshing her beer supply.  Listening to Rave#3 summarise what Dr Akatlover had taught Rave#2 about the 'Facts of Life', was a hard job.  It wasn't so much talking about the subject, but trying to translate the correct Medical/Anatomical terms Rave used, into the more common 'slang' that Mazurka understood.  Especially as Mazurka didn't even know some of the Medical terms…

…Still, the level of Rave's knowledge relieved Mazurka…

Mazurka chugged her beer, 'Ritzy did a good job in teaching Rave.  She's got all of the Medical & Anatomical side down pat…  All she needs now, is advice on the 'Human Element', the 'Emotional' & 'Social' side of things…'

"Why did Shakey leave?" Rave asked when she'd run out of information.

Mazurka smiled, "Uh…  I think he was embarrassed at the thought of hearing us talk about what he considers to be 'private' information about female bodies."

"But, this information is freely available in many medical textbooks?"

"Yeah, well…  Finding out about such things from a book, & talking about them in front of other people are two different things."

"How so?"

"People often won't talk about such things in front of a person of the other gender.  Usually because they're afraid that the other person will think they're trying to start a 'Romance' level relationship with them."

"Why should that upset them?"

"Remember what I told you about those thugs who attacked you?  Shakey doesn't want you to think that he's the same type of person they were."

"I do not understand…  He is not like them."

Mazurka sighed, "No, but he's insecure.  He doesn't know what you'd think if he started talking about 'consummating a physical relationship'.  Especially after the rumours, & your being attacked.  He's afraid of upsetting you."

Rave murmured, "He said that was why he did not tell me about the rumours yesterday.  I wondered why he thought I could not handle knowing about them."

Mazurka shrugged, "He's at that time of life where he has to start making value judgements, & decisions that will affect his life.  Right now, he's probably trying to figure out what's the right thing to do & say in this situation."

Rave understood, 'He is inexperienced with relationships as well…'

Mazurka continued, "He's afraid that he'll makes mistakes.  Especially if his mistake ends up upsetting someone he cares about.  Like yourself for example."

Rave considered this quietly, 'Through my mistakes, rumours were started that upset Shakey…'

Mazurka added, "He's afraid he'll do something to make others NOT like him, & making whatever chance of a relationship he could have with them disappear."

Rave looked concerned, "Do relationships between people often disappear?"

"Oh yes!  That's one of the main reasons why so many people don't bother going past the 'Friendship' level.  Higher-level relationships can cause a lot of pain & emotional turmoil when they break-up.  The loss of a simple friendship is painful enough, but the loss of a marriage level relationship can kill…"

Rave looked worried, "Kill?"

"Yes, I've seen it happen.  Sometimes it occurs when a partner in a marriage dies, & the other one can't go on.  They die of grief.  Other times, it's because of a breakdown in a relationship, & the partners split up, only to find they can't go on without the other.  Usually, it's the man who can't cope."

…Rave suddenly looked paler than normal…

'Could my ignorance of relationships, hurt Shakey that badly if I tried to have a relationship with him?  I don't want to hurt him…' Rave decided to enquire further, "Why is that?"

Mazurka shrugged, "It's just how people are!  Women tend to be more emotionally flexible & practical about relationships than men are.  That is, we tend to get on with the job of living, as we open up & treat other people as friends easier than most males can.  Men tend to obsess over the fine details, constantly comparing themselves to others.  They are often unable to make progress on something until they feel comfortable with whatever changes have occurred…"

"I do not understand."

Mazurka sighed then reached for another beer, "You're not the only one!  Throughout History, men & women have had problems understanding each other's needs & wants.  Sometimes, they get things right, but more frequently they don't.  All too often, they get things wrong…  Still, enough people get their relationships balanced just right enough, & the Human race goes on…"

"Mazurka," Rave asked hesitantly, looking at the table, "What level is having a 'boyfriend'?"

Mazurka tried not to grin, 'Oh-HO!  I thought Rave might 'like' someone…'

"Well now," Mazurka drawled, "That kind of depends…  The term 'boyfriend' has SEVERAL definitions…  The simplest type, is that of a person who is your friend, & who just happens to be a 'boy' as well."

A faint blush spread across Rave's face.

"But!" Mazurka added, " The term is USUALLY applied to a special sort of relationship you have with a particular male person.  It implies a much deeper type of relationship than just 'Friendship'.

Rave looked intently at Mazurka, clearly hanging on every word.

Mazurka leaned back in her chair, "Now this is where it gets complex…  A girl will usually start having 'boyfriends' AFTER she's gotten a good grasp on 'Friendship'.  If she doesn't understand 'Friendship', she may make mistakes that can sour any relationship she tries to have.  Or even worse, she might pick the wrong sort of person to have a relationship with in the first place…"

"As far as what level a 'boyfriend' is…  I'd say 'Romance' level…  But, just as in 'High School' you've got 'Junior High School', & 'Senior High School'…  So the 'Romance' category can be split into 'Junior Romance', & 'Senior Romance'."

"In the 'Junior Romance' category, you'd be looking at the more basic 'Romantic' activities, such as going on dates, holding hands & kissing."

"In the 'Senior Romance' category, you MIGHT be looking at 'consummating physical relationships', & associated activities, but only IF everything was working out between the two of you."

Rave summarised, "So, I should first get a good knowledge of 'Friendship' before even thinking about having a boyfriend…"

"That's always safest!" Mazurka agreed wholeheartedly, "You can have a lot of fun just being friends with a person, without having any sort of 'Physical Relationship'…  You should also be aware that the line between 'Friendship' & 'Junior Romance' is blurry, & not so very clear cut…"

It was then that Shakey finally opened the bathroom door & walked out.  He had been unable to stall any longer.  Mazurka was right.  He would become a prune.  He tiptoed along to his room, hoping to avoid detection.

Rave however, had noticed Shakey's emergence from the Bathroom.  A thoughtful look crossed her face, then she rose & silently followed him down the hallway.

When Shakey turned to close his door, he came face to face with Rave.

Shakey blinked, 'uh-oh…'

Rave looked placidly at him, "Do not worry.  If you want to talk, we will listen.  We do not want to upset or embarrass you.  We want you as a friend."

With that, Rave turned & walked back to Mazurka.

Rave made a polite bow to Mazurka, "Your talk was informative, & I look forward to having more of them.  I think I should go home now, as I do not want to start any more rumours."

Mazurka smiled at the girl, "Anytime!"

The door closed behind Rave, & silence fell over the Kutsarug household.

In his room, Shakey lay in bed, mulling over the events of the day…

'A woman's reputation is particularly fragile…  Treat her well…'

…Shakey hadn't missed the 'OR ELSE' implied in those few words…

'We want you as a friend…'

…Nor had Shakey missed the genuine offer of simple friendship…

A soft knock on his bedroom door interrupted Shakey's thoughts.

"Shakey?" Mazurka asked, "Are you all right?  Can I come in?"

"Yeah…" Shakey called back.

His door opened revealing a concerned looking Mazurka.

Mazurka leaned casually on the doorframe, "I had a little talk with Rave about various things…  I was wondering if you'd like to talk about any of what's happened?"

"Uh…  I should be fine…" Shakey not altogether lied, "My father… had a talk with me about… things… today…"

Mazurka lifted a disbelieving eyebrow, "So I heard…  If you want to talk, I'm here…  If you want a woman's perspective on the issue…"

A troubled look flitted over Shakey's face, "Actually…  There is something…"

Mazurka came in & sat on the edge of Shakey's bed, "I'm listening…"

"I found out… yesterday…  about some of the rumours…  I told the others that there wasn't anything… going on… but…"

Mazurka nodded, encouraging Shakey to continue.

Shakey sighed, "But…  This morning…  The rumours had gotten worse…"

Mazurka smiled knowingly, "That's just how rumours often are.  Unless they're killed off immediately, they only keep growing once they've started."

"But I tried to stop them…"

"Sometimes it takes more than the efforts of a single person to stop a rumour."

Shakey worried over that for a bit, finally asking, "Mazurka?  I didn't tell Rave about the first lot of rumours.  I didn't want her to be upset…  But, if I had told her… would it have stopped her from being attacked?"

"Huh!  Probably not!  Some people will use any excuse for their actions they can find.  Those 'wolves' probably heard the rumours, & thought Rave was 'easy' prey.  I'm glad they had a shock, if they had attacked one of the other girls in your class…"

Mazurka didn't need to elaborate.  Although Shakey was only a teenager, he'd heard enough stories about what groups of thugs could do to defenceless girls.

Mazurka tried to sound reassuring, "Don't fret about it.  You didn't tell her for the right reasons.  But, IF there's ever a 'next' time, I want you to tell me about them…  Preferably, as soon as possible!"

Shakey looked at the woman who had taken him in.  "I will," he promised.

Mazurka seemed relieved, "Rave & the Clones… are not as… 'well informed' about certain things as they should be.  From my talk with Rave, I believe they know enough about the 'Medical' side of such things, but not about the social & emotional aspects.  I'll be having more talks with them about… various things…"

"In the mean time," Mazurka looking directly at Shakey, "They won't always know what to do in a situation.  They'll need someone to watch out for them."

Shakey's eyes grew wide with apprehension, "Are you asking me?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because you're their friend, & they trust you…"

Shakey blushed slightly, "…oh…"

"And so do I.  I wouldn't ask you, unless I thought you were up to the job."

"Okay…  I'll keep an eye out for them…"

Mazurka smiled, "Thanks!  I really appreciate it!"

With that, Mazurka closed the door, leaving both of them to their thoughts…

**********************************************************************

Chapter - Final Thoughts.

Later that night, Rave synchronised with the other Clones.

Our ignorance of Human Relationships caused rumours that upset Shakey

If we try to have him as our boyfriend, he may be hurt

We do not want to hurt him

We want him to be happy

If we cannot make him happy…

We will not stop him being happy with another

But we will try to make him happy

We will learn about 'Friendship'

It will take time

But we will try

At the very least…

We will be a Friend to him

This is how Mazurka told us a Friend acts to another…

There followed an in-depth recap of everything Mazurka had ever told Rave about Friendship, & her other talks as well.

SO…

We will use this knowledge

We will try not to make mistakes

We will take care

In showing how we care

In the morning, Rave would awaken with a new sense of purpose & direction in her life, as would the other Clones…

**********************************************************************

The END of Book 5 of 'Altered Lives'

**********************************************************************

OMAKE - Morning.

As Rave entered, Shakey noticed something different about the girl.  Her usually unkempt mass of hair had been neatly combed until it had a smooth silky sheen.

"Your hair looks nice like that," Shakey tried to make a genuine compliment.

"Nice?" Rave scowled, "I spend ALL night, doing my hair…  Slaving over my appearance in an attempt to show I care about you…  And YOU say it looks NICE?"

**WHACK** Shakey went down like a bag of spuds, as Rave king-hit him with her handbag… err… I mean… school port…

**********************************************************************

OMAKE - Running The Gauntlet.

…At the bottom of the heap, Shakey's torment was just starting…

And no… it wasn't just the B.O. of the other players, barely hidden beneath the gallons of 'el cheapo' aftershave they used.

"So…  Atari…" said one of the opposing team players, "While we've got you here…  What was she like?"

"Yeah!" another eagerly queried, "Did you use any 'special' techniques on her?"

"Teach Us O Master!" implored another, "How didst thou thaw the Ice Maiden?"

"Oh GOD!" groaned Shakey, "It's NOT like that…"

"Oh?" leered another, "What WAS it like then?"

"Wella, Wella, Wella, HUH!  Tell us more, Tell us more!" they all chorused…

Shakey began singing, "Summer Loving, Had me a Blast…"

Things quickly degenerated into a 'Grease' Rip-off…

**********************************************************************

OMAKE - Wolves.

Rave extracted her cell phone from her skirt pocket & rang NERVIS Security.

"First Pilot here.  There has been an incident in the School.  I need Back-Up…"

"Roger First.  Team on way.  ETA one minute.  Please await pickup by Team."

"First Pilot acknowledges.  End Transmission."

Rave stood silently despite thinking, 'Now I cannot meet Shakey…'

"And it's all **YOUR** fault!" Rave screamed at the helpless pack of thugs.  Then Rave 'put the boot in', & kicked the living C--P out of them…

**********************************************************************

OMAKE - Hitting the Fan #1.

Fu2ok snorted, "And just how 'well-timed' will these 'breakdowns' be?"

Glando smirked, "Anticipated maintenance, has already been… accounted… for…"

Fu2ok smiled, "This is what I really love about Government contract jobs.  They're just so… so… 'lucrative'…"

Glando grinned, "Indeed…"

**********************************************************************

OMAKE - Hitting the Fan #2.

Glando paused before continuing, in sombre tones, "Fu2ok.  I want you to monitor the meeting from a secure location.  If things go badly…"

"I'll take over command…"

"Correct."

"I'll see you later then," Fu2ok walked off.

"I sincerely hope so," Glando muttered in reply.

The first indication that the interrogation might not go as smoothly as Glando hoped, was when the doors to his office vanished in an explosive fireball…

Rave strode through the flaming rubble, A Rocket launcher held in one hand, a belt fed machinegun in the other.  Her eyes glowed with an inner fire…

Glando began to sweat…

**********************************************************************

OMAKE - Speaking First.

"Shakey?" Glando interrupted on hearing the change from 'Pilot Atari'.

Rave blushed slightly, & her expression wavered, "Yes Sir.  He… prefers all of we Clones to call him Shakey, rather than Pilot Atari."

"I… see…" Glando murmured, seeing a LOT more than just two people on a friendly first name basis…

'Ye GODS!' Glando thought in awe, 'When I was his age, I was on a friendly 'first name' basis with less than a dozen girls…  But my son's on a 'first-name' basis with all 137 of the Clones?  Has that D----D Fan Fiction Writer been watching DNA2 again?'

NOTE!  DNA2 had the 'Mega-Playboy', a guy who all women found irresistible…

**********************************************************************

OMAKE - Wrong Words #1.

In a Secure Medical Ward somewhere in the NERVIS Base, six young men were feeling the worse for wear.  All of them sported a variety of bandages & limb splints.  Going by their conversations, not only were their bodies injured, but their pride as well.

"How could she take us down like that?  She was just a chick?"

"Karate man…  She musta used karate on us…"

"Steel caps!" shrilled one with a heavily bandaged crotch area, "Don't forget the steel caps on her shoes…"

**********************************************************************

OMAKE - Wrong Words #2

Glando addressed the group, "I am going to ask you questions.  You will answer.  If you do not answer, or try to lie, you will be shot.  A joint at a time."

"I'm not bluffing," Glando's voice was full of quiet menace, "You have the right to throw your lives away as painfully as you wish…  Your choice…"

To the credit of the punks, Glando only had to shoot two of them…

…The rest of the shootings were just Glando's way of being 'thorough'…

**********************************************************************

OMAKE - Third Thoughts.

'What does my father want to see me for?' Shakey had been torturing himself with the possibilities ever since he found out.  He turned to the Guards, "Err…  Do you know what my father wants to see me about?"

The Guards replied, "We wouldn't know that," but the looks they gave Shakey practically screamed 'You Poor B-----D!' at him.

**********************************************************************

OMAKE - Hard Questions.

"Security will take you home," Glando advised in a cold voice, his finger already pressing a button to summon the guards outside.

As the doors to his office opened to admit the Guards, Glando said something surprising to the weepy human wreck in the chair before him…

Glando sighed, "The fact you haven't started dating yet, has been a source of considerable concern to me.  I had hoped that these rumours might…  I mean…  Son!  You're our 'Top Gun' AVE Pilot!  You're young, reasonably good looking, & you have a job that's a guaranteed Chick-Magnet!  Why aren't you beating the girls off with a stick?"

Shakey just sat there.

"You ARE interested in girls, aren't you?" Glando asked nervously, slightly worried at the range of possible answers THAT question might provide.

**********************************************************************

OMAKE - Home Stretch #1.

"Thank You," Mazurka advised the Guards with what looked like forced cheer, "I'll take over from here…"

The Guards handed Shakey over, with a fleeting look of pity on their faces for their charge that practically screamed 'You **POOR** B-----D!'

**********************************************************************

OMAKE - Home Stretch #2.

"Mazurka?  May I come over & see him?"

"Sure, if you feel up to it.  Do you want me to pick you up?"

"No.  I have transport…"

Rave hurried downstairs to where Security held their vigil in an 'unmarked' car.  She was in a hurry, so she just ripped the drivers door off & flung it across the parking lot.  The startled driver followed soon after.

The remaining Security guard watched in stunned disbelief as Rave plopped herself into the drivers seat, & 'redlined' the engine.

Although she had never had a driving lesson, Rave was confident she could drive the vehicle.  After all, she had carefully observed how Mazurka drove hers…

…Which is why Rave left a 30-foot strip of burnt rubber behind her as she blasted off on the wrong side of the road…

A few minutes later, & Rave had successfully made her way to Mazurka's.

"Please wait here," Rave informed the nervous wreck in the passenger seat.

As soon as Rave had gone, the Security guard rang the Commanders Emergency Phone number…  It picked up after the fifth ring.

"Click.  Hi, This is Glando Atari, Evil B-----D In Charge.  I'm unavailable to take your call right now, but please leave a message at the tone.  Deeee…"

"Sir!" whimpered a terrified voice, "Rave's gone NUTS!  She just stole a Security vehicle, performed 62 traffic violations & side wiped 13 Police cars…  I think she's been watching 'The Blues Brothers' again…"

**********************************************************************

OMAKE - Home Stretch #3

Shakey breathed a sigh of relief, relaxing as the fear & worry left, 'Good old Security!  I needn't have worried after all…  Although…  It would have been dangerous…  If Rave had been by herself…'

The Fan Fiction Writer suddenly realised the POTENTIAL of such a comment, & initiated an 'Alternate Universe' Flashback…

Rave extracted her cell phone from her skirt pocket to call NERVIS Security.  She paused, noting that the particular spot she was in, was not under any sort of electronic surveillance.  That meant, Security wouldn't know about the situation, unless Rave told them.

…It also meant that no one knew about the thug's current situation either…

Rave wore an EVIL GRIN as she advanced menacingly on the damaged thugs, ominously cracking her knuckles, "Looks like 'stress relief' time to me…"

…Rave never did make that call to Security…

Nor did anyone ever find the bodies…

**********************************************************************

OMAKE - Dinnertime Conversation.

Mazurka stared slack-jawed at Rave, 'I thought I'd have to tell them about the 'Birds & the Bees', but it appears they may know already…'

"Rave, where did you hear those terms?"

"Mazurka…  I'm a Clone."

"So?"

Rave sighed, & gently explained, "So…  When you spend your whole lives climbing in & out of a glass tube that puts your memories into a group of bodies identical to yours, you tend to need something a bit more believable than having being found in a Cabbage Patch…"

**********************************************************************

OMAKE - No Escape.

"Hey Shakey!" Mazurka's loud voice penetrated the thin walls, "Don't soak too long, or you'll turn into a Prune!"

'There's no hurry,' Shakey told himself, 'If I go out, Rave will want me to tell her what rumours I heard…  I don't think I could handle that right now…'

Shakey lay back & let the warm water work its peaceful magic.

Within minutes, he was asleep, & dreaming…

He was finishing a long relaxing bath.  When he got out to dry himself, he discovered that he had indeed turned into a Prune.

A real one!  A giant dried Plum…  Albeit one with skinny arms & legs.

'Oh no!' he thought, 'Mazurka was right!  I did turn into a Prune!  I look like one of the California Raisins on steroids!'

"Mazurka!" Shakey wailed as he left the bathroom, "I turned into a Prune!"

Unfortunately for Shakey, Rave was still in the apartment.  She took one look at the Shakey sized Prune, & her Ferocious Vegetarian Hunting Instincts took over.

"Mmmm!  Prune!" Rave drooled at the healthy sight.  She quickly tied a napkin around her throat, & grabbed a carving knife & fork from the kitchen.

Shakey saw the Predatory Glint in Rave's eyes as she stalked towards him.  He began to sweat as he remembered she was a vegetarian…

…And he was now an oversized piece of dried fruit…

The Shakey-Prune ran out of the apartment, with a ravenous Rave in hot pursuit…

Shakey suddenly woke up, sloshing water everywhere.  "I'm never eating Prune Danish again," he wailed.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -The END of the OMAKE- - - - - - - - - - - - -