Chapter 3

Jason and Princess were led to a small changing room.

One of the goons leered at Princess. "You'll have to take off all of your clothes." he sneered.

Another guard snacked the first on the back of his head. "They're going to be your superiors you dolt! Show some respect!" He turned towards Princess. "I apologize Ma'am."

"Uh, no problem." Princess replied, somewhat flustered. She was more comfortable with rude comments than with politeness when coming from a Spectran guard.

"You can change over there." The guard indicated a small screen in the corner of the room. "When you are finished, bring all of your clothes and jewelry back here." He eyed her communicator bracelet.

"We'd really like to keep our bracelets." said Princess. "They were given to us by our father." Jason nodded in agreement, trying to hold back his panic at the thought that they might lose their communicators.

"Sorry Ma'am. It's policy." the guard replied. "All personal possessions are to be removed and destroyed. It helps make a clean break."

"I see." nodded Princess in a resigned voice. She took the proffered uniform and went behind the changing screen. She noted with amusement that Jason wasn't offered this privacy. He was ordered to change in front of the guards. She couldn't help giggling slightly as she observed him. Jason winked back at her and she quickly turned away, her cheeks aflame.

Quietly Princess set her communicator to send out a constant homing signal. It wasn't as powerful as a Birdscramble, but that that could be noticed by the guards, and it would only be active for a few minutes. The homing signal would last until it was turned off. Or until it got destroyed. Princess didn't want to think about that possibility.

The uniform was complete. There were even undergarments to go with it. When the guards had told he to get rid of everything they had meant everything. After she got dressed Princess came back out with her civilian uniform in her arms. Although she had come to resent the lack of style the clothes gave her, she found that she was going to miss her number 3 shirt and striped pants. 'I'll get them back soon!' she vowed to herself.

"Where are your bracelets?" asked the guard. Princess and Jason pulled them out and laid them on top of their clothes. The guard then took the two piles of clothing and dropped them into a nearby garbage chute.

Jason's face flickered with a brief moment of uncertainty, and then returned to its usual mask of mocking arrogance.

The guards escorted them to a doorway.

"You will spend the night here." they said respectfully. Their new uniforms seemed to be having an effect. Even the guard who had leered at Princess now seemed to appreciate their rank.

Jason sauntered into the room and Princess followed. The door closed and she heard it lock. It was obvious from muffled noises outside that the guards were going to be standing at the door for quite awhile.

"I guess these uniforms only get us so far." she muttered to herself.

88888

Back in the Ready Room Mark unconsciously reached for the ping pong paddle before Tiny stopped him. Mark sighed and sat down at a computer terminal, intending to review the Spectran activity reports.

But he found that he couldn't concentrate. The thought of Jason and Princess vacationing together bothered him more than he liked to admit. He pushed himself away from the terminal and stood up.

"Tiny, Keyop… I need your help." Mark said.

Tiny and Keyop were startled, but immediately stood at attention.

"Yes Commander." they replied as one.

Mark shook his head. "No… not like that. It's not a mission. At least, not an official mission. How would you like to go to Riga to see Jason and Princess?" Mark's eyes took on a strange look. Tiny couldn't quite place it.

Tiny's eyes widened. "You mean, leave Center Neptune while we're on duty? And not on a mission?"

"We'd stay in contact." justified Mark. "We deserve some fun too, right? I'd like to see them and congratulate them on their big win."

Tiny's face took on a speculative look. "Did you clear this with the Chief?"

Mark gave the slightest shake of his head.

Keyop looked back and forth between the Eagle and Owl. He wasn't quite sure what was going on, except that…. Mark had just suggested that they shirk their duties?

"And how do you propose to get to Riga?" asked Tiny.

"You could fly the Phoenix." suggested Mark.

"Whaaaat?" Tiny exclaimed. "Why are you dragging me into this?"

"The G-1 isn't equipped for deep space travel." Mark shrugged. "And a commercial flight would take too long to get there and back. I'm just talking about a quick visit." He looked surreptitiously at Tiny and Keyop, wondering if they were buying this.

"I don't know…" hedged Tiny.

"Come on!" urged Mark, "We could have fun! Just us guys… hanging out…" This was a low blow. Mark knew that Tiny had always wanted to be a part of Mark and Jason's 'private' friendship. But Mark was grasping at straws.

"Brrt! I'm in!" exclaimed Keyop happily.

"Sorry Keyop!" said Mark affectionately, ruffling the boy's hair. "I need you to stay here and hold down the fort!"

Keyop's face fell. "Brrrt… wanted to see… Princess!" He looked accusingly up at his Commander. "How come… doot… you get to go?"

Mark thought fast. This was all going to fall apart if he didn't convince Keyop to cover for him.

"I know you miss Princess, Keyop," Mark said, "But I really need you here. You're the most reliable member of the team for this kind of thing."

Keyop gave him a skeptical look. "Brrrt… not buying it!" he exclaimed.

Tiny sighed. He wasn't sure he was buying it either, but for whatever reason he knew this was important to Mark.

Mark rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I'll tell you what Keyop…" he offered, "If you do this for me, when I get back I'll let you take a test flight in the G-1."

"G-1?" Keyop cried. He was practically jumping up and down with excitement. "Brrrt… got a deal!" He stuck out his hand.

Mark shook the proffered hand. It was a spectacular bribe, but he needed to make sure this would work.

Tiny was amazed. Mark had always turned down Keyop's requests to even sit in the G-1. He knew something was up.

Keyop puffed out his chest. "I can do it Commander!" he replied with a smart salute.

"And if the Chief should happen to ask where we are…."

"Boot! Doop! Didn't hear it from me!" finished Keyop.

Mark looked over at Tiny.

"I guess I'm in too." he replied. Despite his misgivings about Mark's motives, Tiny felt that this could be fun. He was grinning from ear to ear.

Mark grinned too. He absentmindedly slapped a ping pong ball with his nearby paddle. It bounced off of Tiny's chair and into Princess' guitar.

A questioning musical riff sounded from the electric instrument.

"Huh?" asked a startled Keyop. A few more bars came out of the guitar.

"Susan?" asked Mark.

The beginning of Princess' favorite Dirty Name 5 song was the answer.

Keyop was delighted. "All right! Brrt… let's jam!" He immediately picked up his drumsticks and began to play with the animated guitar.

Mark sighed. At least Keyop was occupied. "Tiny, can you be ready in a few minutes?" he asked.

Tiny nodded. "What ever you say Commander." he smiled.