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Sea of Blood

a story of the world of Zoolok

"Isn't she a beaut?" a boy's voice asked, causing Europa to glance up to see who he was referring to, hoping it was neither herself or her companion. While they had both taken pains to hide their appearances with dyes and concealing clothing, there was always the off chance that someone would recognize them, rendering their mission pointless. If it became unavoidable, she could make the boy forget he'd seen them, but that was an option of last resort, as it was very much against her personal code of ethics to tamper with the minds of innocents.

As it turned out, the young chimpanzee boy was not referring to either herself or her companion, but rather to the majestic ocean liner toward which they were headed, its hull a towering black wall studded with rivets, its pristine white superstructure gleaming in the bright sunlight, smoke curling from its three scarlet funnels. The Delphinia was widely lauded as the biggest, fastest, most luxurious ship afloat, a triumph of modern technology, able to steam across the stormy Hargaskan Ocean in under six days while carrying over two thousand passengers in comfort and safety. Europa glanced down at the liner's barnacle-speckled hull, the oily water of Nexasho Harbor sloshing against the black part, the dull red part below the waterline fading into the murk. The thought of being cooped up aboard that giant tin can for nearly a week, with all those minds in such close proximity, filled her with dread.

"Do you sense him?" Firefox asked, as the long line of prospective passengers they were in moved slowly toward the gangway linking the ship to the pier, holding their tickets in one hand and pulling their bags with the other.

Europa shook her head. "There is too much noise and commotion. I need quiet so I can concentrate."

Firefox nodded. "You'll have it once we're in our cabin." She glanced at her companion. Europa's fur had been dyed brown to conceal her distinctive panda markings, while her own russet fur had been dyed gray, changing her apparent species from red fox to gray fox. "How are you holding up?"

"I am fine," Europa replied, gritting her teeth. "It is nothing I cannot handle." She glanced down as a little sheep girl and a little kinkajou boy—both dressed in dirty, ragged clothes—tried to sell apples to her and her companion. She politely declined. Firefox smiled at the urchins and bought an apple from each of them.

"You should not have done that," said Europa once the children had moved on. "Those apples were stolen."

Firefox shrugged. "So what?" She took a bite out of one.

"So, you are rewarding criminal behavior!" Europa protested.

Firefox eyed her blandly as she chewed and swallowed the bite of apple. "I know what it's like to be poor."

After an interminable period waiting in line, they finally arrived at the entrance to the gangway, where a young blue jay in a spotless white uniform accepted their tickets and let them pass. Firefox flirted with the bird as she went by, causing him to ruffle his azure feathers. Europa sighed as they ascended the gangway together. "Must you do that with every man you meet?" she asked.

"What?" asked Firefox innocently. "He was cute!"

"You are a member of the Heroes of Zoolok," Europa said, keeping her voice low, even though there was presently nobody within earshot. "You should conduct yourself accordingly."

"He didn't know that," Firefox pointed out. "We're traveling incognito, remember?"

"Even so, you have a responsibility to the team to behave respectably."

Firefox rolled her eyes. "Honestly, Gemma, you can be such a bore sometimes."

"And don't use my real name!" Europa snapped.

They reached the top of the gangway, where they were greeted by an otter, also in a spotless white uniform. "Good day, ladies," he said, smiling at them, small sharp teeth gleaming. "I'm Keref Zibaeri, the ship's purser. Do you need directions to your cabins?"

"We are sharing a cabin," said Europa, holding out her ticket stub to him.

"Well, that makes things easier, doesn't it?" said Zibaeri. He inspected the ticket. "Ah, traveling first class, I see!"

"Nothing but the best," said Firefox, smiling.

"Excellent choice," said Zibaeri, nodding. "Well worth the extra cost. Your cabin is on A deck, just before the forward funnel. Take that companionway," he said while indicating it by pointing, "then make a left. Your cabin will be the fourth one on the right. You can't miss it."

"Thank you very much, Officer Zibaeri," said Firefox, smiling at him. "You're most helpful. I'll look forward to seeing you again . . . as soon as possible."

"The pleasure would be all mine, miss," said Zibaeri, clearly picking up on her meaning.

"Hopefully not all yours," Firefox said, licking her muzzle.

Europa frowned and headed for the companionway Zibaeri had directed them to, Firefox following her. "That was vulgar, even for you," she commented.

"We aren't all ascetics, Gemma," Firefox replied. "Did you even notice how handsome he was?"

"This isn't a pleasure cruise!" growled Europa. "We are here to do a job! And I told you not to use my real name!"

"Sorry, Wotra," said Firefox, smirking.

As they made their way down the corridor toward their cabin, Europa suddenly stopped and put her hand on Firefox's shoulder, arresting her movement as well. "It's him!" she whispered. Coming down the corridor toward them was an armadillo dressed in a yellow suit, white shirt, and black tie, a bowler hat perched between his tall, rabbit-like ears. His clawed feet were bare, his tail swishing behind him as he walked. Europa recovered quickly, turning to the door beside her. "Oh dear, I'm mistaken, this isn't our cabin at all!"

Firefox simply nodded, looking at the door and avoiding eye contact with the armadillo as he went by. "I do believe you're right," she said. They both moved on as the armadillo disappeared around a corner. Reaching their cabin, they unlocked the door with the key that was in the lock, went inside, and locked it behind them.

"Do you think he recognized us?" Firefox asked.

"He did not appear to," Europa replied, "but with Ken-Jo, it is hard to say. He is immensely self-disciplined."

"We should report in," said Firefox. She opened her purse and took out a flat bronze box about three inches on a side with a segmented metal band that was currently hanging loose. The box had two small buttons and a grid. She pressed one of the buttons and held it up to her mouth. "Firefox to HQ, Firefox to HQ. Are you reading me, Dr. Teshobi?"

"I read you," came the nasal voice of Dr. Maklin Teshobi through a fuzz of static, "but only barely. I imagine all the iron in that ship is interfering with the signal. You'd probably do better transmitting from someplace in the open."

"Doctor, tell Omega Mouse we've encountered Ken-Jo of the Stone!"

Another voice, notably deeper and stronger, replaced the beaver scientist's. "Omega Mouse here. Did he see you?"

"Unfortunately, yes," Firefox replied. "I doubt he recognized us through our disguises, though."

"Very well," said Omega Mouse. "Proceed according to plan. Just remember to keep your distance. Don't draw attention to yourselves. We need to find out what he's up to. With any luck, he'll lead us to Maxoran."

"Understood. Firefox out." She switched off the communicator and looked at Europa. "Well, one way or another, we're in it. Too bad Slash and Volthawk can't join us."

"That would blow our cover for certain," said Europa. "Just having the two of us here is risky enough. Besides, neither of them is suited for undercover work. Slash loses control too easily, and Volthawk can't remove his costume without electrocuting people."

"But what if Max shows up? Or some of his other henchmen?"

"Omega Mouse is holding himself in reserve in case that happens. Right now, the important thing is to watch Ken-Jo and stay under cover."

Firefox nodded, then smiled. "I think I like this cloak-and-dagger stuff. It's exciting!"

Europa scowled at her. "This isn't a movie, Datura! Maxoran and his allies play for keeps!"

"I am quite aware what Max is capable of, thank you," said Firefox, folding her arms. "And don't use my real name."

Ken-Jo of the Stone entered his cabin on B deck, locked the door behind him, went over to the bed, and pulled his suitcase out from under it. He opened it and removed an object similar to the one Firefox had been using. Hitting a button on it, he began speaking in a high, thin voice. "Number Four calling Number Five. Come in, please."

"Five here," the box replied. "Report."

"Firefox and Europa are aboard the Delphinia," said Ken-Jo.

"They are?" asked Number Five, sounding surprised. "Are they traveling in public?"

"No," replied Ken-Jo, "they are in disguise, but I recognized their voices and body language."

"They must be tracking you, then. This complicates matters. Have you located the target?"

"She is here. I do not know where, though."

"The purser would have that information."

"Should I get it from him?"

"Not yet. Wait until the ship is at sea. Then she'll be trapped. But be careful. She's extremely dangerous. Who knows, we may be able to use the heroes' presence to our advantage."

"Understood. Four out."

Ken-Jo put the communicator back in the suitcase, then composed himself on the floor in a lotus position and began to meditate. He would need his mind and body to be strong for what was to come.

Throngs of spectators stood on the pier, waving and cheering as the Delphinia's crew cast off the great ship's moorings, severing her connection with land. On her decks, passengers showered those on the pier below with confetti and ribbons that had been freely provided by the Hargaskan Line. Smoke belched from the vessel's three funnels as her mighty steam turbine engines caused her four enormous propellers to start churning the water. Slowly, like a piece of coastline gone rogue, the huge liner began pulling away from the pier.

Deep in the bowels of the Delphinia, Stoker Second Class Digby Rasklin was taking a break from shoveling coal into one of the ship's massive boilers. He was a platypus, with a black, rubbery bill and a broad, flat tail. His people were short by Zoolokian standards, but years of shoveling coal had built up his muscles to the point where he was as strong as a creature his size could naturally be. He sat by himself on a bench against an iron bulkhead, smoking a cigarette, his brown-furred body stripped to the waist, as the heat from the boilers made the room feel like a steam bath. He held up the cigarette before his small eyes, regarding it for a moment. Strange that someone who was constantly breathing smoke should elect to keep doing so on his break, he thought to himself. Ah well, a little smoke never hurt anyone.

He leaned back against the bulkhead, clasping his webbed hands behind his head, idly thinking about the girl he'd been with last night in Nexasho. What a wildcat she'd been, and so impressed by his muscles! True, she hadn't been a platypus, but platypuses were scarce, so he couldn't afford to be fussy. He smiled at the pleasant if rather ribald memory, then squeaked in surprise as a hand seized his bill, clamping it shut, and a slender arm wrapped around his thick neck. He struggled to free himself, but strong as he was, his foe's grip was unbreakable, and he could neither move nor speak. Through his panic, part of him wondered how someone could be attacking him from behind when his back was against an iron bulkhead. Then he felt a sharp pain in his neck. Darkness followed swiftly.

Europa and Firefox were putting their things away when there came a knock on their cabin door. They both looked at each other in surprise. They hadn't been expecting company. "Who is it?" Europa asked.

"Fourth Officer Zibaeri," came the familiar voice through the door. "Are you ladies decent?"

Firefox glanced at Europa, smirking. "There are two schools of thought about that." Europa just scowled at her.

Zibaeri laughed. "I promise I'll keep my eyes closed."

"No need," said Firefox, going to the door and opening it. She smiled at the otter as he stood there in his smart white uniform, and he smiled back. "To what do we owe the pleasure, Officer?"

"I was sent to inform you that Captain Nerefis has invited you both to sit at his table for dinner tonight," Zibaeri replied.

Firefox blinked. "Has he? Well, that's quite an honor! Naturally, we'll be delighted to accept!"

"I am afraid I must decline," said Europa. "I am not feeling well."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that!" said Zibaeri. "Shall I have the ship's doctor come down and take a look at you?"

Europa shook her head. "No, it is nothing serious. Just a little seasickness."

"But we're still in the harbor!" Zibaeri protested.

"Be that as it may," said Europa, firmly, "I shall not be attending."

The otter bowed his head. "As you wish, miss." He turned back to Firefox. "What about you?"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world!" said Firefox, smiling at him. "I trust you'll be there, too?"

Zibaeri's whiskered brown face took on a pained expression. "Unfortunately, no. I have duties to attend to."

"Oh," said Firefox, looking disappointed. "What does a purser do?"

"I'm responsible for the ship's papers and accounts," the otter replied, "as well as the comfort and welfare of the passengers."

"I see," said Firefox. "So, you're a steward, basically."

Zibaeri looked a bit put out. "I'm also fifth in the chain of command, fully qualified to captain the ship, if need be."

Firefox smiled. "Well, you may inform Captain Nerefis that Hiana Aeotas will be dining with him tonight."

The otter nodded. "Very good, miss. I'm sure he'll be pleased." He turned and left, and Firefox shut the door.

Europa smirked. "Well, you certainly took the wind out of his sails with that 'steward' crack. I could almost see his ego deflate. I thought you liked him."

"I do like him." Firefox regarded her smugly. "You don't know much about men, do you, Gemma?"

"Not as much as you, apparently."

"Now, he'll try twice as hard to impress me," said Firefox, smiling.

"Ah, I see. Yes, I am quite sure that was worth hurting his feelings for."

"Pfft!" said Firefox, dismissively. "He's a grown man, not to mention a senior officer on the most famous ship in the world. I think his ego will survive. Anyway, why did you bow out? You're clearly not seasick."

"In case you have forgotten," Europa said, "Omega Mouse said not to draw attention to ourselves. That would include not sitting at the captain's table!"

Firefox sighed. "Kesu is just being paranoid. Nobody knows we're here!"

"There is always the chance that someone may see through our disguises, and the more people look at us, the more that chance increases!"

Firefox folded her arms. "Fine. You hide in this cabin the whole trip. I'm going to have dinner with the captain. You never know—I may learn something useful."

"I doubt that," said Europa. "Actually, I was thinking of paying a call on Officer Zibaeri. As purser, he would have access to the passenger manifest, which will tell us which cabin Ken-Jo is in."

"Ken-Jo is hardly likely to be traveling under his real name," Firefox pointed out. "And Keref is hardly likely to let a passenger examine the manifest, not even a first-class one. That has to be against company policy."

"'Keref' will not have a choice in the matter," Europa replied, "and I am quite certain that the manifest will list the passengers' species. How many armadillos can there be on this ship? They are not especially common."

"Then it sounds as if we both have our evenings laid out for us," said Firefox, smiling. "I must say, mine sounds like a lot more fun than yours."

Europa smiled back. "Oh, I don't know. Perhaps this will give 'Keref' and me an opportunity to become better acqauinted."

Firefox frowned, but said nothing.

As Zibaeri left Firefox and Europa's cabin, he noticed a pair of deck cadets talking just down the corridor. One was a friend of his, a blue jay named Cyacit who had served on the Delphinia for two years. The other was a white tiger named Roazor, fresh from the maritime academy and making her first crossing. He had seen the two sharing intimate moments several times. While it wasn't usual for birds and mammals to become romantically involved, Zibaeri figured it was none of his business as long as they did their jobs well. Roazor spotted him and came running down the corridor toward him, Cyacit following. The otter sighed. These new graduates were all the same, always eager to please and impress their superiors. He wondered what matter of enormous urgency she was desperate to bring to his attention.

Roazor stopped before him, panting hard. She was a full foot taller than he was, with a powerful, muscular build. Her fur was silver where most tigers' would be orange, and her eyes were blue, which looked rather fetching, Zibaeri thought. "Yes, cadet?" he asked.

"Thank goodness I found a senior officer!" she gasped. "Something's happened to one of the stokers!"

Zibaeri nodded. Accidents among the stokers were hardly unusual. It was a dirty, hazardous job. Burns and smoke inhalation were commonplace. Still, someone had to do it. "Is it serious?" he asked.

"We're not sure, sir!" Roazor replied.

"You're not sure?" Zibaeri asked, puzzled. Usually, when there was an accident involving a stoker, it was immediately obvious how severe it was.

"He's unconscious, sir," said Cyacit, "and nobody's been able to wake him, but we can't figure out why!"

Zibaeri shrugged. "Most likely smoke or alcohol." Stokers would often take a nip when nobody was looking. It sounded as if the cadet was trying to make something out of nothing to put a feather in her cap.

Roazor shook her head. "I thought of that, sir. There was no smell of alcohol on his breath, and no sign of any respiratory distress."

"Hmm." The otter reached up and rubbed his whiskers. "He may have had a stroke or a heart attack, then."

"A stroke or heart attack wouldn't put those wounds on his neck!"

Zibaeri blinked his black eyes. "Wounds?"

Cyacit nodded. "Two little bleeding holes, like punctures!"

That did sound odd. "Have him brought up to the infirmary," he told Roazor. "I'll meet you there. Cyacit, go fetch Dr. Tesejoa. He's dining with the captain. We'll see what he has to say about this."

Roazor and Cyacit nodded and bolted off to carry out their instructions, while Zibaeri stood in the corridor, rubbing his whiskers. Yes, very odd indeed.

The first-class dining room on the Delphinia was as elegant as that of any luxury hotel Firefox had ever stayed in, and there had been more than a few of those. The overhead lights bathed the entire room in a soothing glow, and rich wood paneling gave it a warm, earthy feel. The walls were decorated with three large murals: one showing the ship herself surging across the sea, one showing the mythical sea goddess whose name she bore, and one showing the route she routinely sailed across the Hargaskan Ocean between Nexasho and Tatrolozu. Magnificent columns cleverly imitating marble (whose immense weight would have made it impractical) towered above the chairs and round tables, set upon a blue, green, and white carpet done in a wave pattern. Somewhere, a string quartet played a classical melody.

Firefox walked into the dining room, wearing a shimmering scarlet satin dress that contrasted nicely with her dyed gray fur. It rose to a ornate golden clasp around her white throat, leaving her arms and back bare, with a glittering golden sash around her waist. The skirt hung down below her knees, slit up each side almost to her hips to show off her legs, with another slit in the back to accommodate her tail. Every head turned as she made her way through the crowd toward the captain's table, and she reflected that only a few years ago, when she had been a dancer working in shabby music halls and sleazy nightclubs, struggling to get by, she never could have imagined that she would someday be in a place like this, wearing clothes like these.

She had, of course, arrived for dinner fashionably late so that everyone would already be there to greet her. All the men rose respectfully and bowed to her, and she inclined her head accordingly in return. On the far side of the table, the mural of his ship behind him, stood a mouse with light tan fur that turned white at his muzzle, wearing a crisp white uniform with golden braid on the shoulders. Like all mice, he was shorter than average for a Zoolokian, his big-eared head at the level of Firefox's chest, but he projected an aura of supreme confidence and authority that automatically commanded respect. This was Erega Nerefis, captain of the Delphinia.

"Miss Hiana Aeotas, I presume?" Nerefis asked Firefox, his buck teeth gleaming as he smiled.

She smiled back, nodding. "That's correct, captain."

"Pleased to meet you, miss," said Captain Nerefis. "May I offer you a seat?" he asked, pulling out the empty chair immediately to his left for her.

"Thank you, captain," said Firefox, coming over and sitting down in the chair. There was a place card on her plate with her name written in ornate script.

"I do hope you're finding your accomodations satisfactory," said Nerefis, resuming his seat.

"Breathtaking, captain," said Firefox. "This is my first time on a ship. I never imagined it would be so opulent!"

"At the risk of blowing our own horn," said the uniformed raccoon sitting to her left, "the Delphinia is not just any ship. She's the biggest, fastest, and most expensive ship to ever sail the seas!"

Nerefis gestured toward the raccoon. "Permit me to introduce Dr. Zevaf Tesejoa, my medical officer."

Firefox held out her hand to the raccoon. "Pleased to meet you, doctor."

"Charmed," Tesejoa replied, smiling and squeezing her hand.

Nerefis gestured to the tan-furred female cat sitting to Tesejoa's left. She was wearing glasses and a rather unflattering tweed suit. "Doctor Mari Kallia, the noted archaeologist," said the captain. Kallia bowed her head quickly, flashing a shy, nervous smile. The captain moved on to a pair of rotund, middle-aged pigs: a boar dressed in a tuxedo, and a sow wearing a rather gaudy gold evening dress with a diamond necklace and rings, her blonde hair a mound of curls atop her head. "The industrialist Mr. Hesof Pemaga, and his wife, Ima." The pigs both smiled and nodded to Firefox. "And the Contessa Batori," Nerefis finished, indicating an albino female bat sitting on his immediate right, wearing a sleek, black, low-cut dress with a choker necklace bearing a large ruby that matched the color of her eyes.

"Delighted to meet you, Miss Aeotas," said the Contessa, speaking in a deep voice with an accent Firefox couldn't place.

"Likewise, Contessa," said Firefox, studying the woman. As with Zoolokians of avian descent, the wings of bats had in the distant past evolved into arms, denying them the sky that their ancestors had once soared in. The Contessa's slender arms ended in long, spidery fingers, with only vestigial webbing to betray that they had once been instruments of flight.

The steward—a lynx in an immaculate white jacket and black trousers—came over to the table, bearing a silver tray with a crystal decanter full of deep red liquid, which he handed to the captain. "Would you like some wine, Miss Aeotas?" the captain asked Firefox. "The Delphinia's stores are well stocked with excellent vintages."

"Thank you, I'd love some," said Firefox, holding out her glass. The captain filled it for her.

"I'll have a gulp of that," said Hesof Pemaga, in a gruff but friendly voice, holding out his glass as well. He glanced at his wife. "How about you, dear?"

Ima Pemaga blushed, looking coy. "Oh, I really shouldn't! It'll go straight to my head!" Then she grinned and held out her glass. "But I will!"

The captain smiled and filled both of their glasses, and then that of the ship's doctor. Then he glanced at Kallia. "Would you like some, miss?"

"No, thank you," the archaeologist replied quietly.

Nerefis nodded and turned to the white bat on his right. "How about you, Contessa?"

She smiled. "I never drink wine."

"Doctor Kallia was just telling us about her excavations in the Elin Valley," said Tesejoa, sipping from his glass. "Something about the ruins of an ancient civilization."

"Really?" asked Firefox. "Sounds fascinating!"

Kallia squirmed. "Oh, it's actually very dry, academic stuff. I doubt anyone outside the field would be interested."

"Apparently," the raccoon continued, "the Elinian civilization was ruled by cats."

"That's just a theory," said Kallia. "They left no written records, at least not in any language anyone can read today. From what I have been able to determine, the nobility and priesthood appear to have been composed entirely of felines. They worshipped a cat goddess called Ba-vast."

"What about other species?" asked Hesof.

"They seem to have been little more than slaves," Kallia replied.

"Sounds like a dreadful place," said Ima, with a sniff of disdain.

"On the contrary, it was a lovely place," said Kallia, "provided you were a cat. The Elinians believed that cats were divine, descended from the goddess herself. All other species were lesser creatures, fit only to serve."

"But surely, the other species must have outnumbered the cats," Firefox commented. "Why didn't they rise up against them?"

"Partly due to religious indoctrination," Kallia replied. "They were taught from birth that cats were divine, so they obeyed them."

"Only partly?" asked Tesejoa, curious.

"Again, this is only conjecture," said Kallia, "but the priests of Ba-vast seem to have controlled creatures they raised from the dead, creatures of immense power that no weapon could kill and that fed on the blood of the living."

"How horrible!" said Ima, shivering.

"Raised from the dead?" Hesof snorted. "Ridiculous!"

"Quite ridiculous," said the Contessa, nodding.

"Well, whether or not such creatures existed didn't really matter," said Kallia. "What mattered was that the people believed in them, and their fear was enough to keep them in line."

"At least until their civilization fell," said Firefox. "Have you discovered anything about that?"

"I'm afraid that still remains a mystery," Kallia replied.

"Well, good riddance!" said Hesof, knocking back a gulp of his wine.

Ima nodded. "Good thing nothing like that exists today!"

"Yes," said the Contessa. "A very good thing."

The lynx steward returned with menus and baskets of hot, fresh bread. As the diners perused their menus, Cadet Cyacit walked up to the table. "Excuse me, doctor," the blue jay said. "You're needed in the infirmary."

"What's the problem?" Tesejoa asked, looking up at him.

"One of the stokers has been injured," Cyacit replied.

The raccoon sighed and rose from the table. "Duty calls. I'll go and see how serious it is."

Nerefis nodded. "Keep me informed, doctor." The raccoon and the blue jay both departed.

"I hope it's not too bad!" said Ima, looking concerned.

"People get hurt on ships," said Nerefis. "It's unavoidable. Fortunately, we have excellent medical facilities."

"What if the patient needs more than you can provide?" Firefox asked. "Would you turn the ship around?"

"We've never had to. If the patient needs more than we can provide, they probably aren't going to live much longer."

Firefox nodded and studied her menu.

As Keref Zibaeri made his way along a corridor heading toward the infirmary, his thoughts strayed to the two female passengers he had just left. They were both very attractive women, with very different temperments. Hiana Aoetas was clearly an extrovert—carefree, vivacious, insouciant, and a bit of a tease. She had flirted shamelessly with him during their first encounter, then made fun of him by likening him to a steward. It was an old ploy, of course, belittling someone to make them try harder. Even so, he found himself wondering what it would take to impress her.

Wotra Torlak, on the other hand, was quiet, reserved, dignified, perhaps even a little arrogant, and more than a little mysterious. She intrigued him, made him wonder what secrets she might be hiding. He also couldn't escape the nagging feeling that he had seen her somewhere before. In fact, there was something damnably familiar about both of them.

As he rounded a corner, a clawed hand shot out of a shadowy alcove, seized the collar of his uniform, and slammed him against a bulkhead. A long, narrow snout with tiny black eyes beneath a bowler hat nestled between two tall, rabbit-like ears poked into his whiskered face. "Which cabin is the Contessa Batori in?" it asked, in a thin, reedy voice.

Zibaeri stared at the armadillo who was holding him against the bulkhead, using just one hand to lift him so high that his bare feet dangled above the deck. "W-what?" he asked, seizing his attacker's arm with both hands and trying to tear himself free. It was futile. The armadillo's strength was phenomenal.

Pain exploded in the back of Zibaeri's head as his attacker slammed him against the bulkhead again. "Which cabin?" the armadillo demanded. "I will not ask a third time!"

Before Zibaeri could reply, the armadillo's beady eyes went wide and he squealed, released the otter, and staggered back, clutching his head as if in agony. Zibaeri stared in amazement as he saw Wotra standing in the corridor nearby, glaring at the stricken armadillo. "You shall not harm this innocent, Ken-Jo!" she said, her voice tinged with anger. "Now, explain your presence here!"

Ken-Jo whirled on her, his small mouth twisted into a snarl. "I will tell you nothing, Europa! Your powers will not work on me! My mind and body are now stone!" He lunged and slashed with his claws.

Europa evaded his attack with effortless grace, and his claws tore three long rents in the steel bulkhead beside her. She smirked. "I know you cannot maintain your invulnerable state for long, Ken-Jo. I can evade you until it ends. Then I shall take what I seek from your mind."

Ken-Jo growled at her, narrowing his small black eyes. "You interfere in matters that are none of your concern, Europa!"

"I will decide what is and is not my concern, villain!" Europa replied firmly.

"You have no idea what you are dealing with," said Ken-Jo. "I warn you, stay out of this!"

"You know I cannot," said Europa.

"Then you are a fool," said Ken-Jo. "Remember, you were warned!" With that, he sank his claws into the deck, tore a hole in it, dropped through, and was gone.

Europa gazed down at the hole in the deck, looking annoyed, then turned to Zibaeri. "Are you injured?" she asked.

The otter touched the back of his head and looked at his fingers. There was no blood on them. "I don't think so. He did give me a nasty conk on the head, though." He stared at her. "You're Europa, one of the Heroes of Zoolok!"

Europa nodded. "That is correct."

"Then Hiana must be Firefox!"

"That is also correct."

Zibaeri grinned. "I thought you two looked familiar!" He gestured at the hole in the deck. "Who was that?"

"That was Ken-Jo of the Stone, a servant of Maxoran."

The otter blinked, the mention of the most powerful and dangerous villain in the world sending a shiver down his spine. "Maxoran? Is he here, too?"

"That is what I sought to learn," said Europa. "Unfortunately, I was unable to do so. Why did Ken-Jo attack you?"

"He wanted to know which cabin the Contessa Batori is staying in."

Europa raised an eyebrow. "The Contessa Batori? Who is she?"

Zibaeri shrugged. "One of the first-class passengers. A white bat. Very pretty. Apart from that, I don't know anything about her."

"Interesting," said Europa. "Which cabin is she in?"

"A20, but she's not there right now. She's having dinner at the captain's table with Hiana . . . I mean, Firefox."

"I see," said Europa. "Perhaps an examination of her cabin would prove informative. I presume you have a master key."

"Of course," the otter replied. "All the senior officers do." He rubbed his chin. "Hmm. I wonder if this has anything to do with that injured stoker."

"Someone has been injured?" asked Europa.

Zibaeri nodded. "I was headed for the infirmary when that Ken-Jo fellow attacked me. A stoker was found unconscious in one of the boiler rooms. Nothing unusual about that. Stokers get hurt all the time. But this one apparently has two holes in his neck! The ship's doctor is coming up to have a look at him."

Europa frowned. Something about that sounded familiar, something she had heard months ago from a chipmunk hero named Nightmunk, who came from a world called Earth that existed in another dimension. Creatures that fed on blood, which they obtained by biting the necks of others. What had he called them? Vamfires? Vamtires? Something like that.

"I would like to examine this stoker myself," Europa said. "And I would appreciate it if you would keep the presence of Firefox and myself on this vessel a secret, Officer Zibaeri. I could purge it from your memory, but I would prefer not to."

The otter swallowed. "You can rely on my discretion. I won't tell a soul!" He grinned nervously.

Europa nodded. "Let us proceed to the infirmary, then."

They proceeded to the infirmary.

Digby Rasklin was lying on a bed, the platypus's muscular, brown-furred body wearing only trousers, as he'd been found. Dr. Tesejoa was examining him, Cadets Cyacit and Roazor looking on, as Europa and Zibaeri entered the infirmary.

Tesejoa glanced up from his patient and scowled at the new arrivals. "What's a passenger doing in here?" the raccoon demanded.

Zibaeri hesitated, unsure how to reply, but then heard Europa's voice in his head, saying, "Tell him I have special knowledge that may prove useful here."

"This is Wotra Torlak," Zibaeri said. "She has special knowledge that may prove useful here."

Europa stepped forward. "What is his condition, doctor?"

"Well, he's lost a great deal of blood," Tesejoa replied. "I've given him a transfusion, but there was only one unit of platypus blood in the ship's blood bank. Monotremes have a unique blood type, and they're fairly rare. In fact, the blood I just gave Digby was his own. He's the only platypus on the ship, so regulations require him to make a donation every time he has a physical, just in case he needs some later on. But I don't know if one unit will be enough to save him." He looked down at the stoker sadly.

"What I don't understand," said Roazor, "is where all that blood went. There was none on the floor around him when he was found, so where did it go?"

"And who was able to do this to him?" asked Cyacit. "I mean, look at him! He's got muscles on top of muscles! A guy like that should have been able to handle any attacker!"

"There are techniques for subduing even the strongest opponent," said Europa. "Doctor, may I try something?"

Tesejoa shrugged. "Nothing I do seems to be working."

Europa approached the bed, closed her eyes, and touched her fingers to Digby's forehead, delving into his memories. She pushed down through the mental murk of his unconsciousness and arrived at the moment of the attack, experiencing the event as he had. He was sitting by himself, puffing on a cigarette held in his black, rubbery bill, his back against an iron bulkhead. Then, an arm wrapped around his neck, holding him fast so he couldn't move. The attack came from behind, even though there was nothing behind him but a wall of iron. A hand seized his bill, clamping it shut, preventing him from crying out. He strained and struggled mightily, but despite his strength, he was helpless. Europa focused on the hand clutching his bill. It was slender, with white fur, ending in long, spidery fingers with vestigial webbing. The hand of a bat. Then came a sharp pain in his neck, and then blackness.

Digby's eyes suddenly snapped open. He howled and swung his thick, brown-furred arm, his massive fist catching Europa on her right temple. She reeled and collapsed to the floor. The platypus sat up, looking around wildly, his barrel chest heaving. Roazor and Zibaeri both grabbed him, trying to restrain him, but he threw them off easily and jumped out of bed. He backed away from the bed, while Tesejoa and Cyacit watched warily, neither of them making any hostile move.

"Digby!" Tesejoa shouted, causing the platypus to look at him, startled. "It's all right! Nobody's going to hurt you! Calm down!"

Digby stared at him, looking confused, as Roazor and Zibaeri got to their feet. "Doc?" he asked, putting a webbed hand to his forehead. "What . . . what happened to me?"

"Someone attacked you," Tesejoa replied quietly. "But you're safe now. Just relax."

"I . . . I couldn't move, Doc!" said Digby, trembling. "I couldn't speak! I couldn't do anything! And it hurt so bad!"

Tesejoa nodded and approached him, taking his hand gently. "It's all right now, Digby. Tell me, how do you feel?"

The platypus shrugged his broad shoulders. "I feel fine."

Tesejoa blinked. "You do?"

Digby nodded. "In fact, I feel great!" He looked at the raccoon, puzzled by his confused expression. "Why, shouldn't I?"

Before Tesejoa could reply, Zibaeri called out, "Doc! I think Wotra's hurt!"

The raccoon ran over to where the otter was kneeling beside the unconscious bear and lifted her eyelids, shining a light in them. "She may have a concussion. Get her up on the bed!" They lifted her and placed her on the bed Digby had occupied.

"Will she be all right?" Zibaeri asked anxiously, as Tesejoa examined her.

"That's . . . problematical," the raccoon replied.

In the first-class dining room, the food had arrived, and Firefox glanced around the table as she dug into a plate of baked whitefish dumplings in a delicious cheese and cream sauce, flavored with nutmeg. Everyone was enjoying their meals, save for the Contessa Batori, who picked and nibbled at her dinner fussily. "Is the food not to your liking, Contessa?" Firefox asked.

The Contessa looked up from her plate. "The food is excellent. I am afraid I simply do not have much of an appetite right now."

"Are you not feeling well, Contessa?" asked Captain Nerefis, looking concerned.

"I must confess to being somewhat fatigued," she replied. "I traveled rather a long distance today, and I believe I may have overtaxed myself."

Hesof Pemaga grinned. "What you need is a little pick-me-up, Contessa! Ever try snuff? I've got some here." He began rummaging around in his jacket pocket.

Ima scowled at her husband. "Hesof, not at the table!"

The Contessa smiled politely. "Thank you, but I must decline. I think I shall retire to my cabin." She rose from her chair. "Good evening to you all."

Everyone bade her goodnight, and Firefox noticed Dr. Kallia watching the Contessa intently as she drifted through the dining room.

"Poor thing," said Ima. "I do hope she feels better soon."

"She'll be fine," said Kallia, returning to her meal. "All she needs is rest."

"Do you know the Contessa?" Firefox asked Kallia.

The archaeologist shook her head. "I never met her before tonight. But she's an albino, and they generally have weak constitutions."

Firefox frowned. She had dated an albino rabbit for a time, and there had certainly been nothing wrong with his constitution. However, she simply nodded and returned to her meal.

"Well, since the Contessa isn't coming back . . ." said Hesof, reaching over to take her barely-touched plate and put it in front of him.

"Hesof, really, how crude!" Ima admonished him, looking mortified.

The boar shrugged. "Seems a shame to let all that delicious food go to waste." He dug in.

"It's too bad the Contessa had to leave," said Nerefis. "I was curious to know more about her."

"Fancy her, do you, Captain?" asked Firefox, smiling at him.

The mouse shrugged. "She's a very attractive woman, and rather mysterious. Then again, I could say the same thing about you." He smiled at her, his buck teeth gleaming.

"Oh please, Captain," said Firefox, feigning embarrassment. "There's nothing mysterious about me!"

"Isn't there?" Nerefis asked. "First-class passengers usually have names one recognizes from the society page, like the Pemagas." He gestured toward the two pigs. "And Dr. Kallia is a world-famous archaeologist. I don't believe I've ever heard of Hiana Aeotas before."

"I'm just a simple country girl, who happened to come into some money," said Firefox, smiling.

"Odd that you have a Nexasho accent, then," Kallia commented, her attention on her plate.

"I do?" asked Firefox, innocently. "Well, it's nice to know that those diction lessons I took weren't a waste of money after all!"

Kallia smirked. "If I were you, I'd ask for my money back. You talk like a resident of the northern slums."

Firefox blinked. "Is that what I sound like?"

Kallia nodded. "My master's degree was in philology. I speak nine languages fluently and am conversant in twelve others."

"And what does your knowledge of linguistics tell you about the Contessa, Dr. Kallia?" asked Firefox.

"That she comes from a very old family," the archaeologist replied.

"How can you tell?" asked Ima curiously.

Kallia took a bite from her plate, chewed it, and swallowed before she answered. "Her speech contains phonemes unique to six other languages, and those are only the ones I heard and recognized tonight. That suggests that her family has had contact with the speakers of many languages over time, as one could hardly accumulate so much linguistic diversity in a single lifetime."

"You picked all that up just from listening to her talk?" asked Hesof, looking astonished.

Kallia smiled at him. "I am a scientist, Mr. Pemaga. I'm trained to be observant."

"What does our speech tell you about me and Hesof?" asked Ima, grinning, clearly enjoying this new game.

Kallia looked at her. "You both hail from Entikoan farmer stock. You are both of humble origins. You grew up in the same principality, probably in the same town. And you had little formal schooling."

Hesof grinned. "Right on all counts, doctor! Ima and I knew each other since we were both knee-high to grasshoppers, and neither of us finished high school! We married young, and I had to go to work to support her and the piglets!"

Ima blushed. "Really, Hesof, must you tell everyone about our rustic past?"

Hesof shrugged. "Why not? I'm not ashamed of where I come from, and you shouldn't be either!" He leaned over and kissed his wife on the cheek, making her giggle. Firefox smiled at them. She had decided that she liked these two.

The string quartet struck up a lively dance tune, and several of the passengers rose from their chairs and went out into the open area in the center of the dining room and began dancing. "Well," said Nerefis, smiling at Firefox, "regardless of your accent, Miss Aeotas, would you care to dance?"

Firefox smiled back. "I would love to. And please, call me Hiana."

They rose from the table and went out onto the dance floor, and while Firefox was a full head taller than the mouse, that didn't impede them a bit—Nerefis even managed to dip her quite well. "You dance beautifully, Hiana," he commented, smiling up at her.

"Thank you, Captain," she replied. "I must confess, I've had some practice. "

"I could tell. And please, call me Erega. Have you had a chance to tour the ship?"

"I'm afraid I haven't seen too much of her, but what I have seen has been amazing!"

Nerefis nodded. "Are you doing anything after dinner?"

"I hadn't made any plans."

"You must let me show you around the Delphinia, then. We of the Hargaskan Line are very proud of her."

"Deservedly so! She's a beautiful boat!"

Nerefis smiled. "Ship, Hiana. A boat is something that can be hoisted aboard a ship."

"Oh, my apologies," said Firefox, smiling. "As I said, this is my first time on a ship."

"Quite all right," said Nerefis, smiling back. "Ah, it looks like coffee and dessert are being served. Shall we return to our table?"

"Let's shall, Erega."

They returned to their table, where their lynx steward was serving the Pemagas from a rolling table laden with desserts, having already poured coffee for them. Kallia was nowhere to be seen. "What happened to Dr. Kallia?" asked Firefox as Nerefis pulled out her chair for her.

"She said she had to leave," said Hesof, digging into a mound of ice cream covered in nuts, fruit, and chocolate syrup, his wife joining him.

Nerefis sat down and glanced over at Firefox. "You look pleased."

Firefox nodded. "I'm afraid I didn't entirely enjoy her company."

"You mean because of what she said about your accent?"

"More like her entire attitude," said Firefox. "She acts like she's better than everyone else. I despise haughtiness." She selected a roasted banana drenched in honey and sprinkled with cinnamon from the dessert table before the lynx wheeled it away.

Nerefis shrugged. "Well, academics often lack social graces, living tucked away in their ivory towers."

Once they had finished their desserts, Hesof Pemaga produced a cigar, snipped off the end with a silver clipper, and lit it with a gold lighter. His wife took out a cigarette, which he lit for her. Captain Nerefis took a pipe from a pocket of his uniform, filled it with tobacco, and struck a match to it, puffing away. Firefox took out a cigarette from a box in her purse and held it up to the captain. "Got a light?" she asked. Nerefis smiled, took the cigarette from her, lit it by touching it to the bowl of his pipe, and handed it back to her.

"Well, thank you for a lovely dinner, Captain," said Hesof, smiling as he puffed on his cigar.

"Yes, it was delightful!" said Ima, beaming happily.

Nerefis smiled and nodded. "I'm glad you both enjoyed it."

"My compliments to your chef," said Firefox. "That was the most delicious dinner I've ever eaten!"

"The Hargaskan Line spares no expense for its passengers," said Nerefis, grinning.

"We must be getting back to our cabin," said Hesof, rising from his chair. He held out a hand to his wife, who rose and clasped it. "Good evening to you both!" The two pigs departed, leaving Captain Nerefis and Firefox as the table's sole remaining occupants.

"About that tour, Erega," said Firefox.

"Yes?" Nerefis asked, puffing on his pipe.

She smiled. "Would it include the captain's cabin?"

He smiled back. "It might."

"Perhaps we could start there, then?"

"I don't see any reason why not," said Nerefis, chuckling.

They rose from the table, left the dining room, ascended a companionway, and walked along a corridor until they came to a door labled Captain's Quarters. Nerefis unlocked the door and they both went inside, closing it behind them.

Once inside, Firefox felt the mouse's arms go around her waist and his mouth press to hers. She looped her arms around his neck, kissing him back and closing her eyes. Her fingers stroked his big, round ears as they stood locked together, both making happy, contented noises. In her experience, rodents tended to be very energetic lovers, and it appeared that Nerefis was no exception in this regard. This promised to be a most enjoyable evening.

She felt his mouth part from hers, opened her eyes, and gasped. The mouse's eyes were blazing like hot coals, and his flat buck teeth had become long, sharp, and pointed. He emitted a feral snarl and lunged at her throat.

She reacted instantly, releasing a burst of fire from her hands that washed over the mouse's body, immersing it in flames. He let go of her and staggered backward, wreathed in fire from head to toe. She stared in horror, backing up against the door as he thrashed about, until he finally fell to the floor and lay still, his body a charred, smoking ruin.

Firefox stood there in shock for a moment, panting for breath. It penetrated her awareness that the captain's burning corpse had set fire to the carpet on the floor of his cabin. With a brief exertion, she drew those flames into herself, snuffing them out. Then she fumbled in her purse for her communicator, took it out, and set it to Europa's personal frequency. "Gemma?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady. "Gemma? Are you there?" There was no reply. She switched to the team frequency. "Firefox to HQ! Omega Mouse? Dr. Teshobi? Someone answer, please!" There was nothing but static. She remembered what Teshobi had said about the iron in the ship interfering with the signal. They were farther out now, so the effect must be even worse. But that didn't explain why Europa wasn't answering.

Where had Europa gone? Oh, yes, the purser's office, to look at the passenger manifest and find out where Ken-Jo was staying. She opened the door and stepped out into the corridor, closing it behind her.

Somewhere over the vast expanse of the Hargaskan Ocean, Omega Mouse flew through the night sky. He was a black mouse with a white muzzle, wearing a red jerkin with a white omega on the chest, white belt, and red trunks, gloves and boots, his black-furred arms and legs bare. The water was calm, stretching out beneath him endlessly in every direction like a sea of ink, Zoolok's moon shining through scattered clouds. He paused, hovering in midair, and spoke into his communicator. "Europa! Firefox! Do you read me? Come in, please!" The device responded only with static. "Dr. Teshobi, do you read?"

"I read you, Omega," came the beaver's faint voice.

"Do you have a fix on my position?"

"Yes, the interferometer has your coordinates. You're right where the ship should be."

"Then we have a problem, doctor, because there's no sign of the Delphinia!"

"What? You should be right on top of her!"

"She must be off course, then, because all I see is empty ocean."

"She can't be off course!" Teshobi protested. "Her navigation equipment is state of the art, and she follows the same route every trip!"

"That's as may be, doctor, but regardless, she's not here."

"I'll contact the authorities, then. They'll want to know that a ship carrying over three thousand people is missing!"

"You do that. In the meantime, I'll start a search pattern."

"Omega, do you have any idea how much ocean you'd have to search to find that ship?"

"I'm not going to find her floating here, doctor. Omega Mouse, out." He shut off his communicator and began to search.

In the infirmary, Tesejoa and Zibaeri hovered over Europa's unconscious body as it lay on a bed, while Roazor, Cyacit, and Digby Rasklin stood nearby, watching.

"I . . . I didn't mean to hit her!" Digby said miserably. "I didn't know what I was doing! I was so confused!"

Roazor took the platypus's big webbed hand in her silver-furred one and squeezed it gently. "Nobody's blaming you, Digby," the tigress said. "It was an accident."

"Did you see who attacked you?" Cyacit asked.

Digby shook his head in response to the blue jay's query. "No, they came at me from behind, which doesn't make any sense, because I was sitting with my back to a bulkhead. To grab me from behind, they'd have had to reach through an inch of iron plate!"

"So you didn't see them at all?" asked Roazor.

"All I saw was a hand holding my bill shut."

"What did it look like?"

"It was slender and white," Digby replied, "with long, webbed fingers."

"Sounds like a bat," said Cyacit. He looked over at Zibaeri. "There's a white bat in first-class, sir! I remember I took her ticket when she boarded!"

The otter nodded. "Yes, the Contessa Batori. She's having dinner with the captain right now."

"Should we alert security, sir?" asked Roazor.

"I'd prefer to talk to the captain before arresting a first-class passenger," Zibaeri replied.

"Hmm," said Tesejoa, examining Europa's cranium. "That's odd. Her fur has been dyed."

Zibaeri shrugged. "So what? Lots of people dye their fur."

The raccoon looked up at him. "They don't usually do it in a deliberate attempt to conceal their species. Her head fur is white, but her ears are black. She's a panda!"

"There's no law against hiding your species, doctor," said Zibaeri. "The important question is, is she going to be all right?"

"You already asked me that," Tesejoa replied, "and the answer hasn't changed. There's no indication of serious trauma, but I'd have to do an X-ray to be sure."

"Then why don't you do that?" asked Zibaeri, sounding impatient.

Tesejoa nodded. "I'll get the machine. Would you care to assist me, Officer Zibaeri? It's rather bulky."

As the raccoon and the otter went to get the X-ray machine, Tesejoa spoke quietly, so as not to be overheard by the others. "There's something about Digby that bothers me. When he was brought in, he was severely anemic. By all rights, he should be as weak as a kitten—but he says he feels great. You saw how easily he threw you and Cadet Roazor off him, and she's a big girl!"

"You said you gave him a transfusion," Zibaeri said.

"One unit of blood wouldn't account for it," Tesejoa replied. "At best, it would put him a few steps back from death's door."

Zibaeri nodded. "So, what's the explanation, doctor?"

"There isn't one. Medically, it's impossible."

"Then what do you suggest we do? I can't lock a man up for a miraculous recovery."

"Just keep an eye on him."

"Understood."

As they wheeled the X-ray machine back to the bed, Europa groaned and put a hand to her head. They both ran to her side. "Wotra, are you all right?" Zibaeri asked anxiously.

"I . . . believe so," she replied, sitting up.

Tesejoa held up a finger in front of her. "Follow my finger with your eyes." He moved it around as Europa did so. "Looks good," the raccoon concluded. "Any nausea or dizziness?"

"No," said Europa, "just a splitting headache."

"That's to be expected," said Tesejoa. "I'd still like to take some X-rays, though."

"There is no time for that," said Europa. "There is a monster aboard this ship, a creature that feeds on blood!"

"You mean the Contessa Batori?" asked Cyacit.

Europa nodded. "I do." Then she groaned and grabbed her head again.

"At least let me give you something for the pain," said Tesejoa.

"That will not be necessary, doctor," said Europa. She closed her eyes and furrowed her brow for a minute, then opened them again and sighed with relief. "There, that's better."

"You just . . . made it stop?" asked Roazor, astonished.

"Pain is a thing of the mind," said Europa, getting off the bed. "A sufficiently disciplined mind can simply discontinue it."

"Incredible!" Tesejoa exclaimed.

"Child's play, doctor. Now, if you will all excuse me, I must find the Contessa." She glanced at Zibaeri. "You said she was in cabin A20."

The otter nodded. "Yes, assuming she's not still having dinner with the captain. Of course, she may not have returned to her cabin. She could be anywhere on the ship!"

"That . . . would make things difficult," said Europa. "This ship is quite large, and she appears to have the ability to walk through walls."

"Walk through walls?" asked Cyacit, eyes wide. "Like a ghost?"

"How else can you explain her attack on the stoker?" asked Europa, glancing at Digby. "You were sitting with your back against an iron bulkhead, were you not?"

Digby nodded. "Yeah, that's right."

"Then she must be able to pass through solid objects," said Europa. "It is the only explanation that makes sense."

"And we didn't find any blood around Digby's body . . . " began Roazor.

". . . because she drank it," Europa finished.

Roazor hugged herself, shivering.

Tesejoa shook his head. "This is insane! A blood-drinking ghost?"

"I realize it must sound that way, doctor," said Europa, "but there are many things that science does not yet understand. Witness your own amazement at my relatively simple feat of numbing pain."

"Controlling your own nervous system is one thing," said Tesejoa, "but you're talking about a supernatural being!"

"If you have a better explanation, doctor," said Europa, patiently, "I am perfectly willing to hear it."

The raccoon shrugged. "I confess, I don't."

"Very well," said Europa. "Let us assume for the moment that she is either in her cabin or at the captain's table. If the former, I may be able to confront her and defeat her."

"By yourself?" asked Cyacit. "You saw what she did to Digby!"

Europa smirked. "At the risk of sounding arrogant, I believe I will prove a somewhat more formidable adversary than him."

"You mean the guy who knocked you cold?" asked Zibaeri, smiling at her.

Europa frowned. "I was unprepared for his attack. I shall not be for hers."

"At least let us come with you!" said Roazor.

She shook her head. "Absolutely not. We have seen how dangerous this creature is. I cannot permit you to place yourselves at risk."

"You're forgetting something, Wotra," said Zibaeri, folding his arms. "Dr. Tesejoa, Cadet Roazor, Cadet Cyacit, and myself are all officers on this ship. The safety of her passengers is our responsibility, and you are a passenger!"

"And I want some payback!" said Digby, slamming his fist into his palm.

"Your sense of duty is commendable," said Europa, "but it is quite out of the question."

"Try and stop us!" said Roazor, grinning.

Europa nodded. "As you wish."

She reached out with her mind and touched each of theirs, placing them in a trance. It would last for only a few minutes, but long enough for her do what she had to do. She left the infirmary and ran down the hall, taking her communicator out of her purse and switching it on. "Firefox, come in, please!"

A few minutes later, the others came out of their trances and looked around, blinking in surprise.

"What happened?" asked Roazor, utterly baffled.

"She just . . . disappeared!" said Cyacit.

"She used some kind of hypnosis on us!" said Zibaeri. He picked up a telephone that was sitting on a table and dialed the number of the captain's cabin. There was no response. He growled, slammed the phone down, and turned to Cyacit. "Find the captain, tell him what's going on!"

"Aye aye, sir!" the blue jay replied, and dashed off to do so. "The rest of you, follow me!" He ran off toward A deck, with Tesejoa, Roazor, and Digby running after him.

After getting directions from a passing steward, Firefox arrived at the purser's office. Immediately, she noticed that there was a hole in the wooden door, beside the doorknob. While Europa was a formidable martial artist, punching holes in things wasn't really her style. She preferred a more subtle approach. However, it was completely Ken-Jo's style. Firefox cautiously tried the knob. It was unlocked. Slowly, she turned it and then eased the door open a crack.

Ken-Jo was inside, rummaging through a filing cabinet, carelessly tossing papers everywhere as he searched for something. Knowing that he could make himself immune to any attack he was aware of, Firefox decided her best bet was to take him by surprise. She stuck her arm through the narrow gap between the door and the frame, and then, pointing her hand at him with the palm down, she began building up a powerful firebolt. Her arm grew hot as she concentrated, and the part of the wooden door close to it began to smolder. Ken-Jo paused, sniffed the air, and turned his head in her direction. She released the bolt, but the armadillo nimbly dodged, and it struck the opposing wall, searing a hole through it. Firefox swore in a most unladylike manner. With the element of surprise lost, there was little she could do to harm Ken-Jo directly. However, she could easily evade him until his invulnerablity wore off. Flames crackled around her body as she rose into the air, preparing to fly away if he charged.

Ken-Jo held up a hand. "Wait!" he said. "There is no need for us to fight, Hero of Zoolok. My quarrel is not with you."

Firefox regarded him suspiciously, hovering above the deck. "What are you doing here, Ken-Jo? What are you looking for?"

"Europa did not tell you?" asked Ken-Jo, looking surprised.

"You've encountered her?" asked Firefox.

"We ran into each other earlier. I assumed that she had informed you and that you were both searching for me. It appears I was mistaken."

"No, I haven't heard from her since I went to dinner," said Firefox. "I tried to call her a few minutes ago, but she didn't answer." She refrained from mentioning that she also hadn't been able to contact Hero HQ.

Ken-Jo nodded. "I seek something far more dangerous than you or I—a creature of ancient evil."

Firefox stared at him. "What are you talking about?"

"I do not suppose you are familiar with the work of the archaeologist Dr. Mari Kallia?"

"Why, yes, I am, actually. I just had dinner with her."

Now it was Ken-Jo's turn to stare. "She is aboard? I was not aware of this!"

Firefox inwardly kicked herself for having unwittingly revealed what was apparently an important piece of information. "Yes, she was talking about an excavation of an ancient civilization in the Elin Valley."

"Did she mention that the priests of that civilization were able to grant the dead a semblance of life, endowing them with supernatural powers and an appetite for blood?"

Firefox's eyes went wide as she remembered Captain Nerefis. "Yes, she did . . ."

"Is something wrong?" asked Ken-Jo, looking at her curiously.

"The captain! He grew fangs and attacked me!"

Ken-Jo gasped. "Then it has begun!"

"What?" Firefox demanded. "What has begun?"

"Listen to me, Hero of Zoolok," Ken-Jo said grimly. "Everyone on this ship is in mortal danger, including us! The evil is here, and it is spreading like a plague!"

"What do you care?" asked Firefox. "You work for Maxoran!"

"There are things in this world more evil than he," said Ken-Jo. "He sent me here to prevent this. Unfortunately, it appears I am too late."

Firefox folded her arms, looking smug. "Well, I wasn't. Captain Nerefis is dead, so the danger is past."

Ken-Jo shook his head. "He was not the source of the evil, merely a pawn of it. Soon, the entire ship will be overrun by creatures like him. There is only one option remaining. The Delphinia must be sunk!"

Firefox gasped. "Are you mad? There are over three thousand people on this ship!"

Ken-Jo nodded. "Regrettable, but better than unleashing this evil upon the world. Those people will soon be dead in any case."

Firefox shook her head. "There has to be another way! What does this evil look like?"

"It is a white bat, calling herself the Contessa Batori."

"What? She had dinner at the captain's table too! She didn't look or act like a monster, though. A little strange, perhaps."

"That is how she has survived all these centuries," said Ken-Jo.

"Centuries?" asked Firefox in disbelief.

"Maxoran has been tracking her for quite a while. She is the subject of many legends, going back to ancient times. At first, he assumed they were just that: legends. Then he read of Dr. Kallia's work, and things began falling into place. There were too many similarities to be ignored. I followed her aboard this vessel and have been searching for the passenger manifest in order to find out which cabin she is in."

"Did you check that rack on the desk?" asked Firefox, pointing.

Ken-Jo turned to look at the purser's desk. "I had not thought of that."

Firefox smiled. "One of the many part-time jobs I held when I was a struggling dancer was filing assistant. Clerks always keep the files they're likely to need close at hand, for convenience's sake."

Ken-Jo nodded, opening the manifest and running his finger down the list of names. "Here it is. Cabin A20."

"Ken-Jo," said Firefox, "I know we're on opposite sides, but do you suppose we might call a truce for the duration of this business? It appears we have a common enemy."

"An excellent idea," Ken-Jo replied. "I have no wish to see innocents come to needless harm, and we have a better chance of stopping her together than either of us does alone."

Firefox flew over and landed before him, holding out her hand. "Truce, then?"

Ken-Jo nodded, taking her hand in his and shaking it. "Truce."

Just then, the communicator in Firefox's purse buzzed. She took it out and switched it on. "Firefox here. Europa, is that you?"

"Yes!" came Europa's tinny voice through the static. "I require assistance! I am heading toward cabin A20!"

"You know about the Contessa too?" Firefox asked.

"I know she is a monster who can walk through walls and drinks blood!" Europa replied.

"So do I. Well, not the walking through walls part. That's good to know."

"How did you find out about her?" Europa asked.

"Ken-Jo told me."

"Ken-Jo?" Europa sounded flabberghasted.

"Yes, he's here with me. We've called a truce until she's defeated."

"I see," said Europa, sounding not at all pleased. "Well, get here as fast as you can!"

"On our way!" said Firefox. A fiery aura crackled to life around her and she rose from the floor. "Come on, let's go!" she told Ken-Jo.

"Might we stop off at my cabin first?" the armadillo asked.

"What for?" asked Firefox.

"To retrieve my sword. I am more effective with it."

"Why didn't you bring it with you, then?" she asked, annoyed.

"I could hardly walk around the ship carrying it, could I?"

"Oh, all right! Where's your cabin?"

"On B deck."

Firefox smirked. "Maxoran couldn't spring for a first-class cabin?"

"First class draws too much attention," said Ken-Jo. "Follow me." He ran out of the office and down the corridor, Firefox flying close behind.

Cadet Cyacit arrived at the captain's cabin out of breath and pounded on the door. "Captain?" the blue jay called. There was no response. Hesitantly, he reached out with one black clawed hand and tried the knob. The door was unlocked. He pushed it open, and his nostrils were immediately assailed by the smell of smoke and burnt flesh. He flipped on the lights and recoiled at the sight of a mouse's charred corpse lying on the carpet, smoke still rising from it. The blue jay stared in horror, beak hanging open.

"Something the matter, Cadet?" came a soft, deep voice from behind him.

Cyacit whirled to see First Officer Sekos Kichora standing behind him. He was a bison, tall and massively built, with shaggy, dark brown fur that contrasted sharply with his white uniform, and short black horns curving upward to either side of his head. "The captain's dead!" the blue jay cried.

Kichora peered past him at the captain's corpse and bobbed his huge, shaggy head. "So he is."

"You knew about this?" Cyacit asked.

Kichora nodded. "Yes, I did. Pity." He took out his pipe and began filling it with tobacco.

Cyacit swallowed. "Shouldn't . . . shouldn't we call security, sir?"

"What for?" asked Kichora, lighting his pipe and puffing on it.

"What for? The captain's been murdered! Someone burned him alive!"

"Oh, nonsense!" said Kichora dismissively. "He probably accidentally set himself on fire. Happens all the time."

Cyacit was visibly flustered, his feathers ruffling. He knew that Kichora and Captain Nerefis were old friends, having served together for many years. "If I may say so, sir, you don't seem to be too concerned about this!"

"Concerned?" asked Kichora, smiling at him. "Why would I be concerned? I'm in command now. Everything's fine. Just as our mistress desires."

Cyacit blinked. "Mistress, sir?"

Kichora nodded. "Come, let me take you to her." He opened his mouth to reveal a set of gleaming white fangs, and then, his eyes now burning crimson, he lunged. Cyacit screeched as the bison sank his fangs into his feathered neck. Blackness followed.

Europa was waiting outside the Contessa's cabin when Firefox and Ken-Jo arrived, the latter now carrying a gleaming, curved blade. He had also gotten rid of his suit and bowler hat, and now wore only a brown kilt and a black sash belt. Europa eyed the sword warily. He had tried to kill her with it on more than one occasion. "Hello again, Ken-Jo," she said dryly.

"Greetings, Europa," the armadillo replied, without a hint of malice or irony in his voice. "Have you determined whether or not our quarry is home?"

"I detect no thoughts from inside the cabin," said Europa, "but that does not mean it is empty. This creature may be able to hide its mind from me."

"Then it would seem that the direct approach is called for," said Ken-Jo. "Prepare yourselves."

When Europa and Firefox nodded, the armadillo hurled himself bodily at the door, smashing against it. The wood splintered and gave way. Ken-Jo charged into the room, blade held upraised before him, and Europa and Firefox followed him in, the former switching on the lights.

The cabin appeared to be not only empty, but also unlived-in. There were no personal belongings in evidence. It looked ready to receive a new occupant. Ken-Jo moved silently to the open bedroom door, reached in to switch on the light, and peered inside. "She is not here," he announced.

"It doesn't look like she was ever here," said Firefox, looking around, her fiery aura winking out.

Europa spied a book lying on the coffee table. She went over, picked it up, and read the cover aloud. "'Mysteries of the Elin,' by Dr. Mari Kallia."

"So, the Contessa is a fan of Dr. Kallia's work," said Firefox.

Europa glanced at her. "You know this person?"

Firefox nodded. "I just had dinner with her. She's an archaeologist who's been excavating the ruins of an ancient civilization in the Elin Valley ruled by cats."

"Maxoran believes that is where the Contessa was created," said Ken-Jo. "That is why he sent me here."

"You say this Dr. Kallia was at the captain's table tonight," said Europa. "Do you think she knows what the Contessa is?"

Firefox shrugged. "Even if she does, what can she do? Call her out in public? Everyone would think she was mad."

"Regardless," said Europa, "it occurs to me that the presence of both of them on this ship at the same time is unlikely to be a coincidence."

Ken-Jo nodded. "The Contessa may consider Dr. Kallia a threat."

"In which case, her life is in danger!" said Europa.

At that moment, Zibaeri, Dr. Tesejoa, Roazor, and Digby Rasklin arrived at the door of the cabin. Zibaeri's black eyes blinked at the sight of Ken-Jo, then narrowed. "You!" the otter snarled, baring his small, sharp teeth.

"It is all right," said Europa. "He is on our side . . . for the time being. Which cabin is Dr. Kallia in?"

"Dr. Kallia?" asked Zibaeri, taken aback. "Umm . . . let me think. Oh yes, it's A42."

"Take us there!" Europa ordered him. "Her life is in peril!"

Zibaeri nodded. "This way," he said, and sprinted off down the corridor, the others hot on his tail.

They arrived outside the door to cabin A42 less than a minute later, and Zibaeri fished a master key out of his pocket, unlocked the door, and opened it. The scene that met the company's eyes was surreal. All of the furniture in the cabin's spacious living room had been pushed against the walls. The floor was inscribed with a strange design, surrounded by candles set at regular intervals. The air was thick with the cloying smell of incense. In the center of the design lay the body of Cadet Cyacit, white throat feathers glistening with blood, beak half open, eyes closed. Towering over him was the hulking form of First Officer Sekos Kichora, eyes like hot coals, fangs dripping blood. Beside the huge bison stood Dr. Kallia, now clad in a white linen kilt, a golden jeweled necklace, belt, and vambraces, and an ornate golden jeweled crown with jewel-laden side pieces that flowed down over her shoulders to her collarbone. Her chest was otherwise bare. Her arms were raised above her head, and in her hands she held a golden scepter tipped with a large glowing green gem, which provided the room's sole illumination.

Kallia was chanting in some long-forgotten tongue, her eyes closed, and tendrils of green energy snaked down from the glowing gem in the head of the scepter, touching Cyacit's prone form. The blue jay's eyes snapped open, and he screeched, his body arching upward. Kallia's green eyes opened slowly as Europa, Firefox, Ken-Jo, and the others stood staring at the scene in stunned silence. Then her eyes narrowed. "Kichora!" she growled, her voice reverberating strangely. "Kill the unbelievers!"

Kichora nodded his great, shaggy, horned head and lumbered toward the doorway. Ken-Jo leaped and struck downward with his blade, cleanly slicing through the bison's left bicep and severing his arm, which thudded to the floor at his feet. Not a drop of blood spilled. Kichora, appearing completely unfazed, backhanded the armadillo, sending him flying into the wall. Then the bison focused his crimson eyes on Firefox and Europa, and hissed, scarlet fangs gleaming.

Firefox's fiery aura crackled to life around her, and raising both arms, she shot a firebolt at Kichora, which struck him in his chest and set his uniform ablaze. The bison bellowed with rage as the flames spread across him, and charged, slamming into her and knocking her backward into Digby, who squealed in pain as her aura ignited his fur. Europa concentrated on Kichora, hitting him with a blast of psychic energy. The burning bison whirled on her, hissed, and charged again. Europa dodged nimbly, and Kichora barreled past her and crashed into the wall with a tooth-jarring impact. She blasted him again, trying to put him down as the flames continued to consume his body.

Roazor dashed into the cabin, running toward Kallia, while Zibaeri and Tesejoa tried to help Digby, the otter pulling off his jacket and smothering the flames on the platypus's body as he lay on the deck, writhing and squealing in agony. The tigress seized Kallia's scepter and tried to wrest it from her grasp, but it would not budge. Kallia smiled at her, unmoving, arms still raised. "Why do you oppose me, child?" she asked soothingly in that strange, echoing voice. "You are blood of my blood!"

"What are you talking about?" Roazor snarled, struggling and failing to pull the scepter away from her. "I don't even know you!"

"Of course you do, girl," purred Kallia. "All my children do, in their soul of souls. I am Ba-vast, mother of all cats!"

Roazor stared at her, then cried out as Cyacit grabbed her from behind, the blue jay effortlessly pulling her away from Ba-vast and turning her around to face him. "Don't you see how wonderful this is, my love?" he asked, smiling at her. "We can be together . . . forever!" His black eyes began glowing red, and his beak plunged toward her throat as she screamed.

"No!" shouted Ba-vast, and a bolt of green light shot from the gem, striking Cyacit and knocking him away from Roazor as he screeched in anger. "She is of the divine race, not for base creatures such as you, bird!"

"Enough, Dr. Kallia, or whoever you are!" said Europa, glaring at her. "You face the Heroes of Zoolok! This madness ends now!"

Ba-vast laughed. "Heroes? I have vanquished countless heroes, foolish bear! You are nothing to me! I am a god!"

"We shall see," said Europa. She glanced at Firefox and Ken-Jo, who had come up beside her, the fox building up a firebolt, the armadillo holding his sword ready. "Attack!"

Ken-Jo lunged at Ba-vast, thrusting his blade at her heart, as Firefox fired her bolt and Europa unleashed a withering mental blast. The sword snapped in two as it struck Ba-vast's chest, and neither the firebolt nor the psychic blast had any noticable effect. The trio stared at Ba-vast, who simply grinned at them. "You see? Nothing!" She pointed her scepter at Kichora, who lay smoldering against the wall, unmoving. A tendril of green light touched the bison, and slowly, he rose to his feet and turned toward them, smoke rising from his shaggy, naked body. "You will all serve me . . . in death!" said Ba-vast, grinning, as Kichora and Cyacit began moving toward Firefox, Europa, and Ken-Jo, eyes glowing red. The trio looked at each other, uncertain what to do.

Behind Ba-vast, a white, ghostly shape emerged through the wall, and slender, spidery hands seized the scepter, tearing it from her grasp. Ba-vast shrieked in outrage, whirling to face her new opponent. "You!"

Contessa Batori nodded. "It has been a long time, Ba-vast." She tossed the scepter to Europa, who caught it. "Get that off the ship! It is your only chance!"

"We cannot abandon three thousand people!" Europa protested.

"You cannot help anyone if you are dead!" shouted the Contessa. "I will hold her as long as I can! Go! Now!" She lunged at Ba-vast, locking her hands around her neck, and Ba-vast screamed in fury, grappling with the bat as Kichora and Cyacit ran to her aid.

Ken-Jo grasped Europa's shoulder. "I think, perhaps, we should go." Europa stared at him, open-mouthed, then at Firefox, who simply nodded. They exited the cabin, along with Roazor, rejoining Zibaeri, Dr. Tesejoa, and Digby. All seven ran off down the corridor as cat yowls and bat screeches followed them.

"What's the plan?" Roazor asked as the group emerged onto the Delphinia's main deck under a clear, ebony sky strewn with stars, Zoolok's moon hanging full and bright overhead like a great silver balloon.

"The Contessa said to get this off the ship," Europa replied, looking down at the golden scepter in her hands and the large green gem in its head that was pulsing with light. "I suppose that means we shall have to launch a lifeboat."

"Since when are we following her orders?" Digby asked angrily.

Europa turned to the platypus. "She clearly understands this situation far better than any of us do, and she opposes Ba-vast, so I am inclined to trust her, at least up to a point."

"You can't launch a lifeboat when the ship is underway!" Zibaeri protested. "It would be suicide! We'd be swamped instantly and sucked into the propellers!"

"Uh, sir?" said Roazor, peering over the side.

"What?" Zibaeri asked.

"We're not moving."

They all ran to the gunwale and looked down. The sea was lapping gently at the liner's black hull. She was clearly no longer underway.

"Why have we stopped?" asked Zibaeri, baffled. "Once she leaves port, this ship doesn't stop until she reaches her destination."

"I do not know," said Europa, "but it does negate your objection to launching a lifeboat."

Zibaeri looked at her. "And what will that accomplish? The Delphinia is the fastest ship afloat. We can't outrun her in a lifeboat!"

"At the moment, it appears she could be outrun by an arthritic sea turtle," Europa replied dryly. "I suggest we take advantage of the situation."

The otter shook his head. "I need to find the captain."

"The captain is dead," said Firefox.

Everyone save Ken-Jo stared at her. "Dead?" asked Zibaeri, aghast.

Firefox nodded. "He was one of those creatures. He attacked me, so I killed him."

"And you're just mentioning this now?" Roazor asked indignantly.

"There really wasn't time before!" Firefox shot back.

Zibaeri just looked away, shaking his head.

Europa handed the scepter to Firefox. "Take this and depart in a lifeboat. These people are your responsibility."

"Where are you going?" Firefox asked.

"To the radio room, to call for help."

"I'm the senior deck officer here," said Zibaeri. "I should be doing that, not you."

"I have a better chance of reaching it," Europa said firmly.

"Can't argue with that!" said Roazor.

Zibaeri glared at the tigress, then back at Europa. "Do you even know how to operate the equipment?"

"I can work a radio set," Europa replied.

"But how will you escape?" Firefox asked.

"It does not matter. Over three thousand lives are in peril. Next to that, mine means nothing."

Firefox swallowed and nodded. "Good luck, Gemma."

"You as well, Datura," Europa replied. She turned and headed aft as the others ascended through a companionway to the upper deck, where a row of white lifeboats hung from davits along each side, covered by gray tarpaulins.

"How are you feeling, Digby?" Dr. Tesejoa asked as they pulled the tarp off the nearest lifeboat.

"I feel fine, Doc," the platypus replied, muscles bulging under his pelt as he worked.

The raccoon stared at him. "You had third-degree burns on your chest from where Firefox was knocked into you!"

Digby shrugged. "There's no burns now, Doc. Look!" The platypus presented him with his broad, brown-furred chest, which appeared completely unharmed.

Tesejoa shook his head. "Impossible, just like you being strong and vital after losing so much blood!"

"There appears to be a great deal of 'impossible' happening tonight, Doctor," said Ken-Jo. "You would do well to widen your perspective."

"Do you suppose it might have something to do with him being bitten by the Contessa?" Roazor asked.

"It's as good an explanation as any!" said Tesejoa.

"Does that mean I'm going to turn into one of those creatures, like the others?" asked Digby anxiously.

"You seem all right so far," said Roazor, smiling at the platypus to reassure him.

"According to the legends," said Ken-Jo, pointing at the scepter Firefox was holding, "that is what creates those creatures, and it only works on the dead."

"So as long as we have this," said Firefox, raising the scepter, "Ba-vast can't create any more of them."

The armadillo nodded. "Hence the Contessa wanting us to keep it away from her."

"But she's one of them!" Roazor protested. "Isn't she?"

"I do not pretend to understand her motives," Ken-Jo said. "I am content that for the moment she appears to be on our side."

They swung the lifeboat out over the side, and all but Zibaeri climbed into it as it dangled terrifyingly high above the sea. "Aren't you coming, sir?" Roazor asked him.

The otter shrugged helplessly. "I . . . I can't abandon the ship yet, not with all those passengers still aboard. They're my responsibility! I need to sound the alarm, get them to the lifeboats!"

"To do that, sir, you'd need the whole deck watch," Roazor pointed out, "and we have no idea how many of them have been changed. We've already lost the captain and the first officer. If you stay aboard, you're just going to end up dead! Or worse!"

"I can't leave!" said Zibaeri adamantly. "I'm placing you in command of this boat, Cadet. Get these people away from here!"

Roazor swallowed and nodded. "Aye aye, sir!"

Zibaeri turned and headed back into the ship as Roazor and Digby lowered the lifeboat toward the sea.

Europa made her way down a corridor toward the radio room, glad that she had taken the time to familiarize herself with the Delphinia's layout before embarking on this voyage. She extended her mental awareness outward, sensing three minds ahead. There was no way of avoiding them; they were directly between her and her objective. She composed herself and waited.

A moment later, three crewmen rounded the corner—a rabbit, a weasel, and a goat. They all stopped and stared at her. Then, they charged, eyes glowing red, muzzles sprouting fangs. Europa generated a psychic burst that paralyzed all three, and then continued on her way.

Arriving at the radio room, she scanned it, sensing only one mind inside. She tried the door and, finding it unlocked, opened it cautiously. The sound of breaking glass met her ears. Standing on a chair, a short, squat hedgehog was busily smashing the set with a hammer. The floor was littered with broken glass, remnants of the vacuum tubes he had shattered. The hedgehog glanced back over his shoulder at her—his red eyes blazing, fangs extending from his pointed snout—and then snarled and sprang, sailing through the air toward her, clawed fingers outstretched. Europa dodged aside and mindblasted him, and he struck the bulkhead beside her and fell to the floor, unconscious. She went over to the set and examined it. It was clearly beyond repair. The backup transmitter had also been destroyed. Sighing, she turned and left the room.

As Europa stepped out into the corridor, something wrapped around her neck and yanked her off her feet, slamming her into a bulkhead. Stunned, she looked up to see a possum crewman standing over her, his pink, hairless tail squeezing her neck as he grinned down at her with baleful red eyes, fangs gleaming. She reached up and grabbed the tail, trying to loosen his grip, but it was as strong as a steel cable. She felt herself starting to black out, her sight growing dim. She tried to concentrate on a mental attack, but couldn't focus her thoughts. She realized that she was going to die, which didn't bother her, except that it meant a great many others would die as well. Her eyes closed, her final thoughts of defeat and failure.

Then there was a wet thud, and the tail around her neck went limp. Europa opened her eyes and looked up. Above her stood Keref Zibaeri, his chest heaving, holding a fire axe in both hands. The possum's body lay on the deck, his severed head a few feet away. The otter crouched down and offered her his hand. "Are you all right?" he asked, concern in his black eyes.

"I . . . think so," said Europa, as he helped her to her feet. "What are you doing here? I thought you had left with the others."

"I couldn't," Zibaeri said. "I have a duty to the passengers, and you're a passenger."

Europa nodded, massaging her neck. "It was foolish of you to follow me, but I am glad you did. Thank you."

"You saved me from Ken-Jo," said Zibaeri. "Now we're even. How's the radio?"

"Smashed, and the backup as well. We are cut off."

Zibaeri put a hand to his forehead and sagged against the bulkhead. "I don't know what to do!" he said plaintively. "I can't leave, but staying seems futile! The captain's dead, the first officer is a monster, and the ship is crawling with those creatures! We've lost!"

"Not yet, we haven't," said Europa firmly. "As long as there is life, there is hope. But there is little we can accomplish here save dying. We must go, Keref." She held out her hand to him.

Zibaeri nodded and took her hand, and they headed off together.

As the lifeboat smacked against the black water, it rocked perilously, reminding everyone aboard how vulnerable they now were, with only its fragile, wooden hull separating them from the cruel sea. Then Roazor and Digby cast off the lines, and they were well and truly on their own.

Firefox gazed up at the black wall of the Delphinia's hull towering above them, dotted with brightly lit portholes, and imagined all the people on the other sides of those portholes in their warm, cozy little cabins, as yet unaware of the disaster that had befallen them. The thought tightened her throat and brought tears to her eyes. For her, the liner was no longer an island of comfort, safety, and luxury in the vast indifference of the ocean. It was now an ominous, floating fortress of evil. She glanced down at the golden scepter she held in her gray-furred hands, the green gem in its head glowing with unearthly light. Somehow, it had to be the key to stopping all this.

Her thoughts were interrupted when a white shape emerged through the Delphinia's hull, about halfway up and a hundred feet aft of them, and plunged into the water. "It's the Contessa!" shouted Roazor, whose feline eyes were able to see quite well in the dark. "Should we help her?"

"What for?" asked Digby sourly. "Let her drown!"

"She cannot drown," said Ken-Jo.

"Even less reason for us to help her, then!" the platypus snarled.

"Technically, she's still a passenger," Roazor said uncertainly.

Dr. Tesejoa shrugged. "It's your call, Cadet. You're in command."

Roazor took a deep breath and nodded. "Let's make for her, then."

"No need," said Firefox. She offered the golden scepter to Ken-Jo. "Hold on to this for me." Once the armadillo had accepted it, she burst into flames, rose into the air, and flew toward the Contessa Batori. As she drew near, she could see that the white bat was floating face down in the water, unmoving, the black dress she had been wearing at dinner in tatters. Quelling the flames on her hands, Firefox grasped the Contessa's right arm, lifted her clear of the water, and flew back toward the lifeboat. She deposited her dripping form in it, landed beside her, and turned off her flames.

"Is she alive, Doctor?" asked Roazor, as Tesejoa examined the Contessa.

"There's no heartbeat," the raccoon replied, "but I don't even know if she's supposed to have one."

"She would not," said Ken-Jo. "If the legends speak truly, she has been dead for thousands of years."

"Good!" growled Digby. "Then let's throw her overboard!"

Firefox looked at the platypus. "I understand you being angry with her, Digby, but if it hadn't been for her, we'd probably all be dead now. She may be the key to defeating Ba-vast!"

"Or she may kill us all and use that thing to turn us into more of those creatures!" Digby retorted, pointing at the scepter.

"If she had wanted to kill you," Ken-Jo said calmly, "you would certainly now be dead."

"How do you know I'm not?" Digby shouted at him. "According to the doc, I'm walking around when I shouldn't be and healing way too fast!" The platypus hugged himself, trembling, clearly terrified.

"I examined you, Digby," Tesejoa said gently, "and it's my considered medical opinion that you're still very much alive."

Roazor turned to Firefox. "You said you killed the captain."

Firefox nodded. "Yes, that's right."

"So, we know these things can die. Keep your eyes on the Contessa. If she tries anything, do what you have to."

"Understood," Firefox replied.

"All right," said Roazor, "let's get the sail up and get underway."

"To where?" asked Tesejoa.

"Anywhere," Roazor replied. "Anywhere but here."

Roazor, Tesejoa, Digby, and Ken-Jo erected the collapsible mast that lay in the lifeboat's belly and raised the canvas sail. Roazor seated herself at the helm and turned the sail until it caught the wind and swelled, and the lifeboat leaped forward, scooting away across the sea as the Delphinia floated silent and motionless behind them.

"I don't understand why she's not moving," said Roazor, gazing back at the liner.

"It is never wise to question good fortune," Ken-Jo replied.

The tigress looked around the lifeboat. "Does anyone else here know how to sail?"

Firefox smiled and shook her head. "I'm a city girl."

"I fear not," said Ken-Jo.

"I've done a bit of sailing," said Tesejoa.

"All I've ever done on ships is shovel coal," said Digby.

"Take the helm, Doctor," said Roazor, getting up to let him do so. "I'm going to try to get a fix on our position." She raised the sextant from the lifeboat's survival kit to her eye and took a bead on the Pole Star.

"Well?" asked Firefox, seeing the frown on the tigress's face.

"We're off course," Roazor replied. She got the compass and a navigational chart from the kit and took some more bearings with the sextant, making marks on the chart with a pencil and a straightedge. "Yeah, this is nowhere near where we're supposed to be. We're way off the main shipping lanes."

"It would seem that Ba-vast did not wish to be disturbed while she did whatever it is she intends to do," said Ken-Jo.

Tesejoa nodded. "The Hargaskan Ocean is an ideal place to hide even a ship as big as the Delphinia."

"Well, hopefully we've managed to throw a monkey wrench into her plans by making off with that," said Firefox, gazing at the scepter laying in the bottom of the lifeboat, which seemed to glower back at her resentfully. Then she heard a buzzing sound in her purse. She opened it and took out her communicator. "Gemma?" she asked it.

"Hello, Datura," came Europa's tinny voice. "I am afraid my mission was unsuccessful. The ship's radio has been destroyed. We are on our own. How are things on your end?"

"We're under sail," Firefox replied, "putting some distance between ourselves and the Delphinia. And we picked up the Contessa, though she seems to be down for the count."

"Keref is with me," said Europa. "If you would be so kind as to come and pick us both up, it would be much appreciated."

Firefox nodded. "Where should I meet you?"

"We are heading aft. Meet us on the fantail."

"I'll be right there." She switched off her communicator and put it back in her purse, then burst into flames, rose into the air, and flew off toward the huge, dark shape of the Delphinia.

Ba-vast stepped onto the Delphinia's bridge, accompanied by First Officer Sekos Kichora and Cadet Cyacit. Her attire was unchanged from the fight in her cabin, and the bison was still naked and missing his left arm. Her expression was one of profound annoyance. She whirled toward Second Officer Kialo Ortrum, a red squirrel who served as the ship's navigator and was presently in charge of the deck watch. "Why have we stopped?" she demanded.

"I was just on the phone with Chief Engineer Ethidan, mistress," Ortrum replied, his normally black eyes glowing scarlet, his incisors now needle-like fangs. "He said there's been some damage to the engines."

"Batori!" Ba-vast snarled. "She had this all planned! How long does he say it will take to make repairs?"

"At least ten hours, mistress," Ortrum said. "I'm afraid we aren't going anywhere until then. I've also had a report that one of the lifeboats is missing."

Ba-vast's eyes flashed. "How far can a lifeboat travel in ten hours?"

Kichora spoke up. "With a good wind, as much as fifty miles."

Ba-vast growled. "Estimate their most likely course, navigator, based on the prevailing winds. They have taken the Eye of Destiny. I must have it back!"

The squirrel nodded. "At once, mistress!" He headed off to the chart room, his tail flicking. Ba-vast leaned forward with her palms on the command console, her green eyes narrowed.

On the Delphinia's fantail, Europa and Zibaeri stood beneath the moon and stars, the black, trackless expanse of the Hargaskan Ocean stretching out around them in all directions. At any other time, it would have been a romantic setting. But for them, the night held only horror, as they scanned the deck for dead, bloodthirsty crewmen and waited for Firefox to arrive. Zibaeri trembled, his heart pounding as he clutched the fire axe in his hands. He glanced over at his companion, noting her impenetrable calm.

"Aren't you even the least bit afraid?" he asked, annoyed.

Europa shook her head. "Fear is only a feeling."

"Ah. And feelings are things of the mind."

"Precisely. Fear exists to alert one to peril. Since I am aware of the peril, fear no longer serves any useful purpose. It can only hamper me. I do not wish to feel it, so I do not."

"So you feel nothing at all?"

"I feel concern. Not for myself, since my life is trivial, but for all the people on this boat."

"Ship," Zibaeri corrected her.

"Ship," said Europa. "I imagine you must feel much the same way."

"Every instinct I have is telling me to stay," said Zibaeri. "I keep thinking there must be something I can do, but I can't think of what!"

"We are outnumbered, facing a foe who appears to be invincible. As the Contessa Batori said, we cannot help anyone if we are dead. The only sane course is to retreat. If I can contact my team-mates, perhaps we can come up with a new course of action."

"And meanwhile, Ba-vast and those creatures have the run of the ship and can murder anyone they please," Zibaeri said bitterly.

Europa nodded. "Unfortunately."

The otter rubbed his forehead. "Sekos Kichora was a good friend of mine. It was his recommendation to the captain that got me this job. To see him turned into one of those monsters—"

"We have company," said Europa. A dozen crewmen had emerged onto the aft deck, their eyes glowing crimson in the darkness. A shot rang out, and a bullet zinged off the ventilation funnel Europa was standing beside. She and Zibaeri quickly took cover behind it.

"They've raided the armory!" the otter said, trembling as he clutched his axe tighter.

"Evidently," said Europa. "I fear your axe will be of little use against guns."

"Can't you paralyze them, like you did with us?" Zibaeri asked desperately.

"Not all of them. There are too many and they are too spread out."

"So what you're saying is, we're done for."

"Not necessarily," Europa replied, glancing at the railing.

Zibaeri swallowed when he saw what she intended. "It's a long way down."

"People have survived greater plunges," said Europa. "In any case, we appear to have little choice."

The otter sighed. "At least we won't be chopped into sharkbait by the propellers."

Europa nodded, looking into his eyes, and took his hand, squeezing it gently. "Are you ready?"

Zibaeri nodded. Together, they dashed toward the railing, bullets whining past them as the crewmen fired. They vaulted the railing and sailed out into space, plummeting toward the black water far below.

After a fall that seemed to go on forever, they struck the water with an impact like being slammed by a board. They struggled to the surface, breaking it and gasping for breath, only to find bullets splashing around them as the crewmen on the fantail looming above fired down at them.

"Dive beneath the surface!" Europa shouted to Zibaeri. "The water will shield you!" Down she went, and Zibaeri followed. Here, he was much more in his natural element than she was, his sleek body and webbed hands and feet enabling him to make easy headway. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her along with him as they swam away from the liner.

They surfaced again some distance farther away, the gunfire from the Delphinia now more sporadic and less accurate. None of the crewmen seemed to be interested in taking the plunge themselves. Zibaeri turned to Europa. "Are you all right?" he asked.

"A little bruised," she replied. "Otherwise, I am uninjured. Yourself?"

"I'm fine," the otter said. "I was captain of the diving team in high school." He looked up at the liner's fantail. "I think I just broke my own record!"

"I shouldn't doubt it!" remarked Europa. She glanced up as a fiery shape streaked through the sky toward the ship. "Ah, there she is!" The shape stopped and hovered high above the fantail, and the cracks of gunshots echoed across the water as the crewmen fired at it. Europa wasn't concerned. Firefox's flaming aura would melt any bullets before they touched her. She concentrated, sending her thoughts to her companion. "Datura, we are in the water, a hundred yards or so from the ship's stern."

Firefox flew down to them and hovered just above the waves. "Hello," she said. "Need a lift?"

"Whatever gave you that idea?" Europa replied, smirking.

"Can you carry both of us?" Zibaeri asked doubtfully.

"I'm in pretty good shape," Firefox replied, "but it would be easier if you ditched your clothes."

Europa nodded and began slipping out of her dress, while Zibaeri pulled off what remained of his uniform. Once they were both in their undergarments, Firefox quelled the flames on her hands and grasped an offered hand from each of them. She gritted her teeth, straining mightly as she lifted them both clear of the water, and headed back toward the lifeboat with their feet dangling just above the waves.

"Here they come!" announced Roazor excitedly, pointing as the burning form of Firefox approached the lifeboat, Europa and Zibaeri dangling beneath her.

The fox deposited them both in the boat and then landed and turned off her aura. "I think my arms are six inches longer!" she complained, rubbing them.

"Well done, Datura, regardless," said Europa.

"Yes, thank you!" said Zibaeri, grinning. "I didn't relish the thought of having to swim home!"

"Good to have you back, sir!" said Roazor. "I've been looking at the charts, and it seems there's a small island about thirty miles northwest of us."

"Is it inhabited?" the otter asked.

"Not according to the chart."

Zibaeri stroked his chin. "Hmm. It's not much, but it's better than being caught in a lifeboat. I still don't understand why the Delphinia has stopped or why she's not chasing us down."

"You may thank me for that," came the soft, deep voice of the Contessa Batori as she sat up, startling everyone.

"And how are you responsible for the Delphinia not moving?" Zibaeri asked.

"Before I saved you all from Ba-vast," the Contessa replied, "I performed a bit of sabotage on the ship's engines. She will not be going anywhere for some time."

"Not that we are not grateful," said Europa, "but why have you done all this for us? Are you not one of those creatures?"

The Contessa nodded. "I am."

Europa pointed at Digby. "And did you not attack Mr. Rasklin and drink his blood?" she asked, as the platypus glared at the bat.

"I did," the Contessa replied, unperturbed.

"Then I confess that I am at a loss to understand your reasons for helping us escape."

"My reasons are my own," said the Contessa. "You may, of course, read my mind and discover them, Europa. I cannot stop you from doing so, but I would hope that my actions have earned me some measure of trust." Her red eyes gazed at the panda expectantly.

Europa nodded. "I shall respect your privacy. For now."

"Thank you," said the Contessa.

"Well, now that that's settled," said Zibaeri, "let's make for that island. Hopefully, we can reach it before they finish making repairs."

"Aye aye, sir!" said Roazor, as she replaced Dr. Tesejoa at the helm and turned them northwest.

Second Officer Kialo Ortrum emerged from the chart room, his big, fluffy question mark of a tail flicking excitedly. "Mistress! I have something for you!"

Ba-vast turned toward the red squirrel, her green eyes deep and mysterious. "What is it?"

"There's an uninhabited island about thirty miles northwest of our present position. They'll no doubt be heading for it!"

"I see," said Ba-vast, considering this new information.

The bridge phone rang, and Cadet Cyacit picked it up. "It's for you, sir!" the blue jay said, holding it out to Sekos Kichora.

The bison accepted it with his one remaining hand and held it to his ear. "Kichora here." He listened for a moment, then turned to Ba-vast. "Europa and Zibaeri jumped overboard and were picked up by Firefox."

Ba-vast growled in annoyance. "Have Third Officer Tirale brought to my cabin." She turned and left the bridge.

"Go get him, Cadet," Ortrum said to Cyacit. "He's locked in the officers' quarters."

The blue jay stared as Ortrum handed him his master key. "You mean he's not one of us?"

"Of course not!" the squirrel replied sharply. "He's a cat!"

Cyacit nodded, looking glum. "Aye aye, sir." He left the bridge.

Third Officer Fedis Tirale, a black cat with a white muzzle, paced back and forth in the officers' quarters, hands clasped behind his back, tail lashing angrily. Occasionally, his iridescent green eyes would glare at the door and he would utter a low growl. He was the youngest senior deck officer on the Delphinia, making only his fifth crossing on her. Still, he had gotten on well with all the old hands, which made it all the more puzzling when Ortrum had brought him down here, taken his master key from him, yanked the telephone cord out of the wall, and locked him in, all without any explanation. At first, he'd thought it was some kind of joke being played on the new guy, but as the hours had gone by and his repeated hammerings on the door and calls for help had recieved no response, he'd begun to suspect it might be something more serious. As to what it was, however, he hadn't the faintest idea. Did they suspect him of some sort of wrongdoing? He couldn't think of anything he might have done to merit that. And if that were the case, why hadn't they asked him any questions? You didn't just lock someone up without letting them know what they were being locked up for. It wasn't civilized! And so he paced back and forth in his iron prison, mentally composing a sternly worded letter to the president of the Hargaskan Line.

The sound of the door being unlocked made him stop in his tracks and whirl toward it as it swung open. It was that blue jay cadet, Cyacit. "What the hell is going on?" Tirale demanded. "I've been locked in here for hours!"

"I have orders to escort you somewhere, sir," Cyacit replied. "That's all I'm at liberty to say."

Tirale gaped at the bird, his vertically slitted pupils going wide. "All you're at liberty to say? I should think I'm entitled to a damn sight more than that! You realize it's a crime to imprison someone against their will, don't you? I intend to lodge a formal protest with the president of the line, and I shouldn't be surprised if you all end up working on a garbage scow!"

Cyacit didn't look the slightest bit worried or intimidated. He came over to Tirale and placed a black, scaly hand on his shoulder, gripping it firmly with his clawed fingers. "Please, come with me, sir," he said.

Tirale stared at him in astonishment. Like most birds, blue jays had thin, frail builds—a remnant of their heritage as creatures of the air. They were not known for being especially strong, and while that natural deficit could be overcome through physical training, Cyacit was no more muscular than any other bird Tirale had ever met. Yet his strength was amazing!

Tirale nodded silently and let the blue jay guide him out into the corridor. He studied Cyacit as they walked. There was something about him that wasn't quite right, but he couldn't put his finger on it. "Can't you at least give me some clue what's going on?" the cat asked.

"I'm afraid not, sir," Cyacit replied.

"Well, whatever it is, you certainly don't sound too happy about it," said Tirale, noting the depressed tone of the normally cheerful bird's voice.

Cyacit sighed. "I'm not happy, sir."

"What's wrong, Cadet?" Tirale asked. He suddenly realized what it was that had been bothering him: The blue jay wasn't blinking.

Cyacit shook his head. "You wouldn't understand, sir."

Tirale smiled. "Aren't we friends, Cyacit? We've been out drinking together, haven't we?"

The blue jay hesitated. "It's about Roazor," he said, finally.

The cat nodded. "I remember you requesting that she be assigned here."

"We were at the Maritime Academy together, and we became close. Very close, if you get my meaning."

"Well, I can't blame you," Tirale said, grinning. "She's quite a girl! But she's here now, so where's the problem?"

"The problem is I can't be with her," the blue jay said miserably.

Tirale blinked. "Why not?"

"Because she's a cat."

Tirale shrugged. "So? Did that stop you back at the Academy?"

"Oh, hell no! We jumped in the sack every chance we got! But things are different now."

"I don't see how. It's not unusual to have a lover of a different species nowadays. I've had a few myself!"

They stopped as they arrived outside cabin A42. "You'll understand soon enough, sir," Cyacit said. He knocked on the door with a black, scaled fist. "Mistress, the one you requested is here!"

"Mistress?" asked Tirale, looking confused.

"Send him in," came a woman's voice through the door.

Cyacit unlocked the door and opened it, and Tirale's nostrils were instantly assaulted by the strong smell of incense. The blue jay pushed him into the cabin with a casual shove that made the cat stumble and almost fall. Tirale blinked his shimmering green eyes as he regained his balance, staring at the scene before him. A female cat with tan fur sat crosslegged in the center of a strange design that had been drawn on the wooden floor of the cabin's large living room, all the furniture having been pushed to the walls, upon which shadows danced eerily from the flickering candles that provided the only illumination. She was dressed in a white linen skirt and a golden jeweled necklace, arm bands, and headdress, but was otherwise topless. She smiled at him and rose to her feet. "Greetings, Officer Tirale! Cyacit, please wait outside. I do not wish to be disturbed."

The blue jay nodded. "Yes, mistress," he said, closing the door.

Tirale stared at the woman, clearly flustered by her lack of modesty. "What's the meaning of this, madam?" he demanded. "Who are you, why have I been brought here, and why are you dressed like that?"

She walked over to him, still smiling. "Until a few months ago, I was an archaeologist named Mari Kallia, conducting an excavation of the ruins of a long-lost civilization in the Elin Valley. But all that changed when I discovered this!" She held out her right hand to him. On one finger was a golden ring bearing the head of a cat, with tiny emeralds for eyes.

Tirale inspected the ring. "Very pretty, but I fail to grasp the significance."

"This ring contained the spirit of the goddess Ba-vast," she explained, "mother of all cats. Now, that spirit dwells in me, as does its power!"

Tirale smirked. "Of course it does."

She snarled and backhanded him across his face, sending him flying backward into the wall. He slid to the floor and lay there staring up at her, stunned, blood trickling from his nose. She ran over and knelt beside him. "I am sorry," she said, looking apologetic. "I have a temper. Sometimes, it is difficult to control. But I can be kind as well." She placed her hand on his muzzle, and the pain there immediately stopped.

"What do you want from me?" Tirale asked, gazing at her in awe.

Ba-vast smiled. "A companion. A mate. Someone to rule this world by my side."

Tirale recoiled from her. "Are you insane? I want nothing to do with you!"

Ba-vast rose, a scowl darkening her face. "You would refuse to be the consort of a goddess? You might want to reconsider your decision, Officer Tirale. It is unwise to deny me what I want. As you have seen, I have a temper."

Tirale looked up at her, terrified. "But . . . why me?"

She shrugged her bare shoulders. "Why not you? You are young and handsome, you hold a position of some responsibility, and you belong to the divine race."

"The divine race?" Tirale asked, baffled.

"Cats. My children."

Tirale stood up and growled at her. "Does a mother strike her own children?"

Ba-vast nodded. "When they need disciplining. When they fail to show proper respect. It is her right."

Tirale swallowed. "Can I have some time to think about it?"

She smiled. "Of course! We have a few hours before the engines are done being repaired. Let us use that time to become better acquainted." She threw her arms around him and pressed her muzzle to his mouth, kissing him deeply as his eyes went wide with surprise.

"I'm telling you, Ima," said Hesof Pemaga as he pulled on his robe over his pajamas, "I heard gunshots!"

"Don't be ridiculous, darling," his wife said from the bed. "Why would anyone be shooting on a ship like this?"

"That's what I intend to find out!" the pig declared.

"It was probably just something that sounded like gunshots," said Ima.

"I know gunshots when I hear them!" her husband insisted.

"Maybe someone was shooting skeet?" she suggested.

"In the middle of the night? Now who's being ridiculous?"

"Some people can see in the dark, you know."

"Yes, but they'd hardly let them do skeet shooting at night when most people are trying to sleep. Anyway, those were pistol shots, not shotgun blasts. Totally different sound."

Ima smiled and patted the empty half of the bed beside her. "Honey, please, come back to bed and let's snuggle."

Hesof smiled back at his wife, came over, leaned down, and pressed his flat nose to hers, kissing her. "I will, sweetie, right after I find out what those shots were about."

He left the cabin and went out into the corridor, looking for someone in a position of authority to speak to. Ahead, he saw that friendly blue jay cadet who had taken his and his wife's tickets when they'd boarded. He was leaning against the wall outside one of the first-class cabins, arms folded across his chest. Pemaga walked up to the bird, smiling. "Excuse me, young man! Could I have a word with you?"

The blue jay turned his head to look at the pig, and growled. "Get lost, you fat bag of blood."

Pemaga's mouth fell open, and he stopped dead in his tracks, staring at the bird. "What? How . . . how dare you speak to me like that!"

The blue jay took a step toward him, and his black eyes began to glow like hot coals. "I said, get lost!" he screeched.

Pemaga blanched and took a step backward, trembling. The bird did not advance farther, just stood there glaring at him balefully. Pemaga turned and ran off down the corridor as fast as his legs could carry his substantial bulk. Cyacit resumed leaning against the wall, once more able to hear the faint sound of feline yowls from inside the cabin.

Sunrise found the lifeboat skipping across the waves under full sail with Keref Zibaeri at the helm. Every time it smacked against a crest, its wooden hull threw up a salty spray, which rained down upon her eight passengers, drenching their clothes and fur. Zibaeri and Digby Rasklin, who both belonged to naturally aquatic species, weren't much bothered by it, while the rest clustered around Firefox, whose upper body generated warming flames—all save the Contessa Batori, who made a point of staying as far from the fox as possible.

Firefox looked over at Europa and smiled. "I've never been sailing before. It's actually kind of fun!"

"I would probably be enjoying it more if we were not fleeing for our lives," said Europa, "and had we not left a ship full of innocents at the mercy of Ba-vast and those creatures."

"We are called nos," said the Contessa.

"And what, exactly, are nos?" asked Europa.

"Dead bodies, given the semblance of life by the Eye of Destiny."

"You mean that thing?" asked Firefox, gesturing at the golden scepter lying in the bottom of the boat.

The Contessa nodded. "It comes from the goddess herself. It is a manifestation of her power on the physical plane."

"Then she cannot create more nos without it?" asked Ken-Jo.

"No, she cannot."

"A hero called Nightmunk, who came from another world, told me there were creatures there that sound very much like nos," said Europa, "beings neither alive nor truly dead. Undead, I believe he called them."

"That is as good a word for what we are as any," said the Contessa.

"According to him, these creatures sustained themselves by drinking the blood of the living."

"And so it is with us."

"He also said that they were destroyed by sunlight."

The Contessa gazed past her at the sun, low in the sky to the east. "As you can see, I am not being destroyed."

"But fire can destroy you," said Firefox. "I used it to kill Captain Nerefis."

"Fire destroys most things," said the Contessa.

"And I killed a nos aboard the Delphinia by decapitation," said Zibaeri.

"Again, that works on most things."

"Firefox also immolated First Officer Kichora," said Roazor, "but Ba-vast used the Eye of Destiny to restore him."

"If it raised us from the dead once, it can do so again," said the Contessa, "provided our bodies are reasonably intact."

"Miss Contessa," said Digby nervously, "the doc says I should be almost dead from all the blood you took from me, and I'm healing really fast. Am . . . am I a nos?"

The bat smiled at the platypus. "We cannot create more of our kind. Only the Eye can do that. And you must be dead first."

"But why am I healing so fast?" asked Digby.

"Our fangs inject those we feed from with a chemical that stimulates a living body's recuperative ability."

"Huh?" asked Digby, clearly not comprehending.

"I think I understand," said Dr. Tesejoa. "It causes the victim to produce new blood cells at an accelerated rate, quickly replacing the blood that was lost. As a side effect, the other cells also divide rapidly, causing accelerated healing."

"Correct, Doctor," the Contessa said. "In this way, those we feed upon are incapacitated for only a brief time."

"This chemical would be a boon to medical science, Contessa," said Tesejoa.

"I am afraid it does not persist for long," the bat replied.

"So, the effect is not permanent?" Europa asked.

"No, it lasts only for a few hours."

"Pity," said Tesejoa sadly.

"Forgive my continued questions," said Europa, "but how are you able to walk through walls?"

"By entering the fourth dimension," the Contessa replied. "Once there, I can reach out and touch the physical plane."

"Can all nos do this?" Europa asked.

"In theory, anyone can, but most people are unable to develop this skill during their lifetimes. It took me over a century to master it."

"Interesting," said Ken-Jo.

"At least it means that none of the newly-created nos can do it," said Europa. "Contessa, do you have any idea what Ba-vast's plans are?"

"I would imagine she intends to turn things back to the way they were," the bat replied. "She always did need to be the center of attention. Only this time, I doubt she will be content with ruling just one valley."

"Then Maxoran was right to send me here," said Ken-Jo. "Ba-vast must be stopped."

"So Zoolok can trade one tyrant for another?" Firefox asked, sneering at him.

"We have beaten Maxoran before," said Europa. "This is something entirely new." She turned back to the Contessa. "How was Ba-vast defeated last time?"

"Many of us grew weary of being her slaves," the Contessa replied. "We rose up against her. After a titanic battle, Ba-vast was destroyed, along with the Elin civilization and all nos save myself."

"So there are no others like you?" asked Roazor.

The Contessa shook her head. "Only those Ba-vast has created recently, and they lack the will to resist her."

"But how was she destroyed?" asked Europa. "Please provide specific details."

"She must channel her power through a mortal host," said the Contessa, "specifically, a cat. The host is linked to Ba-vast through a golden cat-headed ring. To sever the link, the ring must be removed—though, as you might imagine, this is easier said than done. The last time, dozens of nos had to sacrifice themselves to weaken her so that one of us was finally able to wrest the ring from her."

"You?" Europa asked.

The Contessa nodded, her white face melancholy. "Unfortunately, I was so badly injured in the process that I passed out. When I awoke, the ring was gone. Perhaps I dropped it, perhaps it was stolen; I do not know. For weeks, I searched the ruins for it, to no avail. Eventually, I gave up and left the valley. I wandered the world for centuries, living many secret lives, but always in the back of my mind there was the fear that someone might find the ring and Ba-vast might return. And now that fear has finally come to pass. Dr. Kallia must have discovered the ring during her excavations in the Elin Valley. Perhaps that is why she went there in the first place. Her book suggests that she suspected there might be some truth behind the ancient legends. I booked passage aboard the Delphinia to meet her. At dinner, I saw that she was wearing the ring. I also saw that the captain was a nos. Therefore, I excused myself early and went to sabotage the ship's engines. The rest, you know."

"Strange that she didn't recognize you," said Firefox suspiciously.

"Oh, she did," said the Contessa, "but she no doubt assumed that I would not recognize her, since she was in a new host body. She also knew that by myself I was no threat to her, so there was no need for her to take action against me."

"This makes it even more imperative that we contact the other Heroes of Zoolok," said Europa. "If Ba-vast is as powerful as you say, only the entire team has a chance of stopping her." She looked at Ken-Jo. "Do you think Maxoran would be willing to help?"

"Undoubtably," the armadillo replied. "He would no more wish to see Ba-vast succeed than you do."

"I don't know how you intend to contact either one of them," said Zibaeri, "considering that the only radio with enough range to do that is aboard the Delphinia, and it's been smashed to pieces."

"The Heroes' leader, Omega Mouse, was supposed to rendevous with the Delphinia several hours ago and check in with us," Europa said, "but he failed to do so. I can only assume that is because the ship is off course. By now, he will be scouring the ocean for us."

"I wouldn't give much for his chances," the otter said. "He's got a lot of ocean to search."

"Perhaps, but I know Omega Mouse. He will not rest until he finds us."

"Speaking of finding something, sir," said Roazor, who was standing beside the mast on lookout duty, "land ho!" She pointed to a dark smudge on the horizon, directly ahead of them.

"Bang on target!" said Zibaeri, sounding relieved.

"Excellent navigating, sir!" the tigress said, grinning.

"Thank you, Cadet," the otter replied, "though I'll admit I had a strong incentive, since it's the only land within five hundred miles of us."

Roazor nodded. "I hate to think what would have happened if we'd missed it!"

Zibaeri turned to Firefox. "Would you mind scouting ahead for a spot where we can land safely?"

Firefox nodded. "I'll shoot up a flare when I find one." Her fiery aura crackled to life, and she flew off toward the island.

Fedis Tirale awoke lying sprawled on the bed of cabin A42, feeling both relaxed and confused. He had never experienced anything quite like that before. Then he realized he was alone, and sat up, looking around for Ba-vast. The door to the living room was partway open, and a strange glow was emanating from it. He got out of bed, walked over toward the door, pulled it open, and peered into the living room. Ba-vast was seated at the center of that strange design on the floor, chanting in a language he didn't recognize. Like himself, she was naked. He walked over and knelt down beside her. "What are you doing?" he asked.

She did not reply, but merely continued chanting. The air before her began to shimmer with an image of figures walking, blurry at first, but gradually becoming sharper, as if someone were focusing a lens. Tirale gasped as he recognized some of the figures. There were Fourth Officer Zibaeri, Dr. Tesejoa, and Cadet Roazor, along with a female bear, a female gray fox, a male armadillo, a male platypus, and a white female bat. They were walking beneath some trees, and there was a beach behind them, with one of the Delphinia's lifeboats lying on it. The bear was holding a golden scepter with a glowing green gem at one end.

"So, they have reached the island," Ba-vast said, smiling.

"How are we seeing this?" asked Tirale, astonished.

"I can see whatever or whomever I wish to," Ba-vast replied, "in any time or place."

"And what is your interest in those people?"

"They have something of mine. I want it back."

"That golden scepter?"

Ba-vast nodded. "The Eye of Destiny."

"Some of them are friends of mine," said Tirale.

She turned her head, and her green eyes gazed into his. "Save for the tigress, none of them can be your friend. They belong to you, as you belong to me, my love."

Tirale swallowed. "What do you intend to do to them?"

Ba-vast grinned. "Show them the price of defying me, of course!"

He grasped her hand and squeezed it. "Please, show mercy!"

Her eyes narrowed. "Mercy is not in my nature. Nor should it be in yours."

"I was brought up to believe that all species are equal!" Tirale protested.

Ba-vast gave a snort of disgust. "A foolish lie! Clearly, there is much that needs to be undone." She turned her gaze back to the image and began to chant again.

Tirale rose, backing away from her, his tail swishing in agitation. He ran to the bedroom, donned his uniform quickly, and then returned to the living room. Ba-vast was still chanting, eyes closed, seemingly oblivious to him. He went to the cabin door, opened it, stepped outside, and closed it behind him.

"Have a good time?" asked Cyacit, causing Tirale to nearly jump out of his skin. The cat whirled toward the blue jay, who was leaning against the wall beside the door, arms folded across his chest, with a smirk on his face.

"Do you love Roazor?" Tirale asked him.

Cyacit scowled and looked away. "What difference does it make?"

"Do you love her?" Tirale persisted.

The blue jay looked back at him with a pained expression. "Yes."

"Then you have to help me! Ba-vast is mad! Completely, utterly mad! And she intends to harm Roazor, as well as some other people!"

Cyacit clenched his black, scaled fists. "There's nothing I can do about it!"

"Why not?" Tirale demanded.

"Because she's my goddess, and I'm her slave!"

"What are you talking about? You're no slave! You're Cadet Cyacit of the Hargaskan Line, and you're my friend!"

The blue jay sighed, reached into his trouser pocket, and took out a jackknife. He opened it and, as Tirale watched in horror, jammed the blade into his own chest. Then he withdrew it and held it up for the cat to see. There was no blood on it, nor on the jacket of his uniform. Tirale backed away, staring at him. "What . . . what are you?" he gasped.

"I'm a nos," Cyacit replied. "First Officer Kichora killed me, and Ba-vast brought me back to life with the Eye of Destiny. Only I'm not alive, not really. I don't breathe, I don't bleed, I have no heartbeat, and I don't feel pain. I'm a walking corpse."

Tirale swallowed, struggling to accept this new reality he'd been thrust into. "Kichora . . . he's a nos too?"

Cyacit nodded. "And Ortrum, and the captain, and I don't know how many others. Except the captain is dead. Firefox burned him up."

Tirale blinked. "Firefox of the Heroes of Zoolok?"

"Yes, she and Europa came aboard disguised as ordinary passengers. They took the Eye and fled in a lifeboat."

"The bear and fox I saw!" said Tirale, comprehension dawning. Then he remembered something Ba-vast had said, that all who were not cats belonged to him. "You say you are Ba-vast's slave. Does that just go for her, or can any cat command you?"

Cyacit stared at him. "I . . . I don't know!"

"What if I told you that Ba-vast has made me her consort?"

"I . . . I . . ." the blue jay stammered, clearly struggling with his conflicted loyalties.

Tirale put his hands on Cyacit's shoulders. "I intend to put a stop to this madness, Cadet, and you are going to help me. Understand?"

"But why, sir?" Cyacit asked. "You're Ba-vast's chosen!"

"But I didn't choose her," said Tirale, smirking. "Now, come with me." He turned and headed off down the corridor.

"Yes, sir," said Cyacit, following the cat.

"Well," said Keref Zibaeri, as the group made their way through the undergrowth beneath the canopy formed by the trees that covered the island, "it's not much, but it's dry land."

"Does it even have a name?" asked Firefox, clearly unimpressed with their new surroundings.

"The chart called it Castaway Island," said Roazor.

"Very appropriate," said Ken-Jo, "considering how remote it is."

"At least these trees will provide some shelter against wind and rain," said Zibaeri.

"If I may make a suggestion," said Dr. Tesejoa, "we've all been awake for a full day. It might be a good idea to get some sleep."

"I am afraid sleep is a luxury I cannot afford, Doctor," said Europa. "I must contact Omega Mouse."

"Let me guess," said Zibaeri, smirking. "Fatigue is also a thing of the mind."

"Not entirely," Europa replied. "Endurance does have a physical limit. However, with sufficient willpower it is possible to extend that limit somewhat." She turned to the otter. "I require a place of quiet and solitude. I must be able to concentrate."

Zibaeri gestured at their surroundings. "You appear to have an abundance of options. However, while it's unlikely that there are any large predators on an island this small, there could be snakes, spiders, or scorpions. Therefore, it would be best if someone went with you, just to be safe."

"A sensible precaution," said Europa, "as long as they do not disturb my concentration."

"In that case," said Zibaeri, "I nominate myself." He turned to Roazor. "Cadet Roazor, you keep watch over the others."

The tigress nodded. "Aye aye, sir!"

As Europa and Zibaeri went off together, Firefox sank down on the ground beneath a tree. "If nobody minds, I'm going to pass out now. I'm exhausted."

"I, too, could use some rest," said Ken-Jo. He sat down crosslegged beside her, bowed his head, and closed his eyes.

Roazor looked over at Digby and the Contessa. "What about you two?"

The platypus shrugged. "I'm not tired at all. That stuff the Contessa put in me must still be working."

The bat smiled. "The dead do not need to sleep."

"In that case," said Roazor, "maybe the two of you could go look for some water, just in case we need some. There's a few quarts in the emergency provisions, but I'd like to hold that in reserve."

The Contessa bowed her head. "As you wish." She turned and headed out into the forest, with Digby beside her.

Roazor sighed and sat down heavily on the trunk of a fallen tree, pulling off the jacket of her uniform. Tesejoa sat down beside her, doing the same.

"I'm still struggling to wrap my head around all this, Doc," the tigress said.

The raccoon nodded. "It's hard to accept, I know."

"Seriously, an ancient goddess bringing the dead back to life as blood-drinking monsters?"

"Some of them friends of ours," said Tesejoa ruefully.

"Some . . . more than friends," said Roazor.

The raccoon looked at her. "I'm sorry about Cyacit. I gather you two were close."

Roazor nodded. "We met at the Maritime Academy. I was starting my first year, and he was starting his last. He was so sweet and friendly. He took me under his wing, so to speak." She chuckled. "And then, we just sort of naturally ended up in each other's arms. He was the first bird I ever slept with." She looked at Tesejoa. "Have you ever made love with a bird?"

The raccoon shook his head. "No, but I'm well acquainted with the differences between birds and mammals."

"It was interesting," said Roazor. "Anyway, we saw a lot of each other during that year. Then he graduated and got posted aboard the Delphinia. When I graduated, I wrote him a letter asking if he could get me posted on her too, and he did! We celebrated together in Nexasho the night before she sailed. We thought we'd be so happy, serving together on the same ship! And now . . ." She hung her head and covered her face with her hands, shoulders shaking. Tesejoa reached over and put an arm around her, and she fell against him, sobbing. "I loved him, Doc! I really did love him!"

He patted her back gently. "I'm sure you did."

"And the last time I saw him, he . . . he tried to . . ."

"I know. But that wasn't Cyacit, Roazor. Cyacit is dead. That was some evil, twisted parody of him—a perversion that has no right to exist."

"But he said he still loved me!"

"I don't believe such a creature is capable of love."

"What about the Contessa?" asked Roazor. "She seems all right. If she can feel love, maybe he can too!"

"I don't know if she can or not," said Tesejoa, "but even if Cyacit does still love you, that doesn't change the fact that he's dead! Or that his first loyalty is to Ba-vast! He's the enemy, Roazor. Don't forget that!"

The tigress nodded. "I know. I just . . . wish there was some other way."

"None that I know of," said the raccoon, sighing. "Look, you should get some sleep."

"I can't," said Roazor. "I'm supposed to keep watch over you all."

"In that case, I'm going to get some," said Tesejoa. "Good night." He slid down off the log and lay down beside it, closing his eyes. Roazor remained sitting on the log, struggling to keep hers open.

Digby Rasklin and the Contessa Batori walked along through the undergrowth, the only sound the rustling of the leafy fronds as they moved past them. "Why me?" the platypus asked after several minutes of silence.

"I beg your pardon?" the Contessa asked.

"Why did you pick me?"

She shrugged. "You were young and strong and healthy, and had plenty of blood in you. Also, I had never fed from a platypus before."

He looked at her. "Did I taste different?"

She shook her head, her huge ears waggling. "All blood tastes the same."

"And that's all you eat?"

"I can eat solid food, but I cannot digest it. Eventually, it must be expelled."

"You mean you throw up."

"To use the vernacular."

"Wouldn't it be easier to use a toilet?"

She chuckled. "Most amusing."

"What is?" Digby asked, puzzled.

She glanced at him with her scarlet eyes and smiled, her sharp teeth gleaming. "I forgot, you are unlearned."

The platypus nodded. "Never made it past the fifth grade."

"Which explains why you do that awful job."

"It's honest work!" Digby protested.

"It is the worst kind of drudgery."

"Yeah, well, at least I don't go around stealing people's blood!"

"Everything I take is quickly replaced," said the Contessa. "You yourself have experienced this."

"That doesn't make it right!" Digby countered.

"I do what I must to survive, as do you. The only difference is that you feast on the flesh of the dead, while I drink from the fountain of life."

The platypus stared at her with his small, black eyes. "You think you're better than me!"

"I do not know you," the Contessa replied, "but you would have to be wicked indeed to do as much evil in your short life as I have done in mine."

"If you're so evil, why are you helping us?" Digby asked.

"Because Ba-vast must be stopped. I lived under her rule once. I will not do so again."

Digby looked disappointed. "So you don't care about us at all."

"I care about you as a shepherd cares about his flock," said the Contessa.

Digby sighed. "I guess that makes sense. You can't afford to have feelings for your food. It must be pretty lonely, though, being the only one of your kind. I know what that's like. I can go for months without seeing another platypus."

"I imagine it is difficult to find a mate," the Contessa remarked.

"That's what the personal ads are for," said Digby. "But even so, finding someone your own species to fall in love with is a rare thing for us."

The Contessa glanced at him. "And yet, here you are."

Digby chuckled and shook his head. "What makes you think my mom and dad loved each other?"

"Ah, he was hired, then?"

He nodded. "I've done the same thing myself, when I needed money." He looked at her. "Do nos have children?"

"I told you, we cannot make more of our kind."

"Do you have sex?"

"We are dead, Digby!"

The platypus shrugged. "Okay, I was just curious. I never met a walking, talking dead person before."

They came upon a large pool of still water and stopped. Digby knelt down to taste it, but was halted by the Contessa's hand on his shoulder. "You should not drink still water," she said. "It is probably swimming with parasites." She knelt down and touched her tongue to it. "It is fresh."

"We could boil it," said Digby. "That would make it safe to drink." Then he shivered and wrapped his arms around his broad, brown-furred chest. "It's getting chilly."

"I do not feel the cold," said the Contessa, "but the sky is getting darker. There must be a storm coming."

"We should rejoin the others, then," said Digby.

They turned and headed back the way they'd come.

Keref Zibaeri stood gazing down at Europa as she sat on the ground crosslegged with her back to a tree, her eyes closed. Ever since they had doffed their clothes in the ocean after jumping off the Delphinia, she had been wearing only a bra and panties, while the otter was attired in only boxer shorts and a tank-top undershirt. The salt water had apparently also removed most of the brown dye that Europa had put on her fur to conceal her species, as her natural panda markings were now clearly visible through it. He thought she looked very attractive this way, though this was hardly the time to comment on it. In addition, he wasn't at all sure how she would take it. She seemed to be entirely cerebral, concerned only with doing her job to the best of her ability, and while he could admire that, it was also a trifle off-putting. He considered what he knew about her as a public figure. To his knowledge, she had never been romantically linked to anybody, unlike Firefox, who had been seen in the company of numerous men. Then again, if she did have a boyfriend, it would make sense to keep his identity a secret to prevent him from becoming a target for reprisals by her enemies, such as Maxoran and Ken-Jo. He growled at the thought of Ken-Jo. Despite the assistance the armadillo had provided, Zibaeri still didn't like or trust him.

Oblivious to the otter, Europa's mind sought another, one that was familiar to her. Working in her favor was the lack of psychic static that she had to contend with in crowded cities. Here, in the middle of the ocean, the mental landscape was as still and tranquil as the water at the bottom of a well, making it easier for her to detect the particular psychic vibrations she was seeking. "Kesu, can you hear me?" she asked the void.

"Gemma?" came Omega Mouse's thoughts. "Thank goodness! I've been searching all over the Hargaskan Ocean for you! Where are you?"

"On the appropriately named Castaway Island. I have quite a tale for you."

"Wait a minute!" said Omega Mouse, before she could begin. "What about Maxoran? He's a telepath. He might overhear!"

"I hope he does," Europa replied. "We may need his help."

"Help?" asked Omega Mouse, astonished. "From that maniac?"

"Listen to what I have to say," said Europa. She proceeded to relate the events of the past day to the leader of the Heroes of Zoolok.

"That's . . . quite a story!" Omega Mouse said when she was finished.

"Now do you understand why we may need Maxoran's assistance?"

"Yes, I do, though I still don't like it. I wouldn't trust that slimy chinchilla any farther than I could throw him."

"You could throw him quite a ways, Kesu."

"I just might do that."

"Is there any chance Slash and Volthawk could join us?"

"I don't see how. Maybe, if Silhouette were still on the team, he could teleport them there, but that ship sailed months ago. And the Ark would take the better part of a day to reach you."

"Then it seems it is just us and Ken-Jo, and possibly Maxoran, assuming he decides to help."

"And this Contessa person. I'll be there as soon as I can, Gemma. Sit tight."

"I can do little else. Europa out."

Europa opened her eyes and looked up at Zibaeri. "I have contacted Omega Mouse. He is on his way."

The otter nodded. "Well, that's some welcome good news, anyway."

Europa stood up and shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. "It has gotten colder since we arrived."

"Yes," said Zibaeri, putting an arm around her. "The sky's getting darker and the wind is picking up. Looks like we're in for a storm. Funny, the weather forecast didn't mention any storms brewing."

"Lovely," said Europa, scowling. "As if things are not bad enough. Let us rejoin the others."

They headed off through the woods together.

By the time Europa and Zibaeri reached the rest of the group, the wind had increased considerably. Firefox, Ken-Jo, and Dr. Tesejoa had been awakened by it, and Digby and the Contessa had just returned from their water-finding mission.

"Did you have any luck?" Firefox asked Europa.

"I did," Europa replied. "Omega Mouse is on his way here."

"Wonderful!" said Firefox, sighing with relief.

"This is strange," said Zibaeri, looking around at the fluttering branches. "In all my years at sea, I've never seen a storm come up this fast before."

"This is no ordinary storm," said the Contessa. "I know this wind."

Europa glanced at her. "Ba-vast?"

The Contessa nodded. "Without a doubt."

"You mean she can control the weather?" Tesejoa asked in disbelief.

"She is a goddess, Doctor," the Contessa replied. "There is very little she cannot do. When she ruled the Elin Valley, there was a city called Athisy that rebelled against her. In retaliation, Ba-vast summoned an enormous sandstorm that lasted for an entire week. When it was over, no trace of Athisy nor any of its inhabitants remained. The city had been swallowed up by the desert—wiped off the map."

They all stared at her. "What can anyone do against power like that?" Roazor asked.

"She was beaten once," Europa said firmly. "She can be beaten again. But first things first. We must find shelter from this storm."

"We could always turn over the lifeboat and hunker down beneath it," Zibaeri suggested.

"Until the wind blows it away," said Ken-Jo.

The otter glared at the armadillo. "We'll bring it into the forest and wedge it between a couple of trees."

"And when the wind starts tearing trees up by their roots?" Ken-Jo asked.

"Do you think it could come to that?" asked Firefox.

"If she can summon a storm powerful enough to destroy an entire city, then yes, I think it could come to that," Ken-Jo replied.

"I don't hear you making any suggestions!" Zibaeri shouted at him.

"Gentlemen, please!" said Europa. "The lifeboat idea has merit, but it is only a temporary solution." She turned to Firefox. "Did you see anything that could serve as shelter when you were scouting for a place to land?"

"I was concentrating on the shoreline," said Firefox, "but it looked like there was higher ground toward the center of the island. Maybe there's a cave or something."

"I will go investigate," said the Contessa. "The weather is of little concern to me."

"I'll go with her," Digby said.

Zibaeri glanced at the platypus. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

Digby shrugged. "I'm still not tired. Besides, rain doesn't bother me any." He grinned.

"All right," said Zibaeri. "Help us carry the lifeboat into the forest before you go."

"Aye aye, sir," Digby replied.

They all went down to the beach, where the waves, whipped up by the wind, were now curling and breaking violently upon the sand. They turned over the lifeboat, carried it back into the forest, and quickly found a suitable pair of trees to lodge it between. Then Digby and the Contessa headed inland while the others crawled beneath the inverted lifeboat to try to get some sleep just as the skies opened up and a torrential downpour began.

Ima Pemaga awoke to find herself alone in bed. Puzzled, she climbed out of bed, pulled on a robe over her nightgown, and went into the living room of the spacious first-class cabin. There, the sow found her husband, sitting in a chair with the lights on, wearing a robe over his pajamas, his eyes closed. The pig's head was tilted to one side, and there was a cigar hanging out of his mouth with quite a lot of ash built up on the lit end. His left hand hung limply at his side. In his right hand, resting in his lap, he held a revolver. She remembered him packing it before they'd left, despite her objections that there would be no need for it. She also noticed a half-empty bottle of whiskey and a shot glass on a small table beside the chair, along with an ashtray heaped with ash. "Hesof?" she asked, coming over to him.

Hesof's eyes snapped open, and his cigar fell out of his mouth, rolling down his chest and into his lap. He quickly snatched it up with his left hand before it could burn him, and ground it out in the ashtray, spilling some of the old ash over the sides. Then he looked up at his wife, his eyes bloodshot. "Hi, honey," he said.

"Hesof, what's wrong?" Ima asked. "Why do you have your gun out?"

The pig sighed. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you. Nobody would."

"What wouldn't I believe?" Ima pressed.

Hesof rubbed his eyes with his left hand. "I've been sitting here, trying to figure it out. I keep telling myself it was just a trick of the light or something, but I can't make myself believe that." He pounded his left fist on the arm of his chair. "I know what I saw!"

"What did you see, sweetie?" Ima asked gently.

Hesof looked up at his wife. "You remember that blue jay who took our tickets?"

She nodded. "Yes. He was a nice boy. Very polite."

"Well, I met him in the hallway when I went out before, and he wasn't nice or polite. He called me a fat bag of blood!"

Ima blinked. "Really?"

Hesof nodded. "But that's not the strange part. When I got angry with him, his eyes . . ." His voice trailed off and he looked away.

"What about his eyes, baby?" asked Ima.

Hesof looked back at her. "His eyes glowed red!"

Ima nodded. "I see."

"I know what you're thinking!" said Hesof defensively. "I must have imagined it. Or maybe it was just the light hitting them the wrong way. But it wasn't! And I hadn't been drinking either! I saw his eyes change!"

"Well, then, maybe you should tell someone," Ima suggested.

"Tell them what?" Hesof demanded. "That I saw a crewman's eyes glow red? They'd think I was crazy! Or drunk! Just like you do!"

Ima shook her head. "I don't think you're crazy or drunk. I do think you're very upset. Why don't you go see the ship's doctor? Maybe he can give you something to calm you down. Maybe he can even explain what you saw. I'm sure there's a perfectly reasonable explanation for it. Maybe it's something that only happens to blue jays."

"I don't want to see a doctor," Hesof grumbled. "He'll probably put me in a straightjacket. And there isn't a reasonable explanation! People's eyes don't suddenly glow bright red! That just doesn't happen!"

Ima crouched down beside the chair and looked her husband in the eyes. "Honey, would you please go see the doctor? For me?"

Hesof looked at his wife and sighed. "All right." Then he bit his lip, looking shy. "Would you come with me?"

She smiled and patted his hand. "Of course I will, darling." Then she glanced at the gun. "You should put that away, though. You probably shouldn't have brought it aboard in the first place."

Hesof looked down at his revolver, and then stuck it in a pocket of his robe. He rose from his chair and, taking his wife by the hand, went to the door of the cabin and unlocked it, and they went out into the hallway together.

As they made their way toward the infirmary, they heard a woman's scream from up ahead, which made them stop in their tracks. Running around a corner came a young female pronghorn antelope wearing only a pink silk negligee. She ran right up to the shocked pigs, her eyes wild with terror. "Please, help me!" she cried, standing before them, trembling. "He's trying to kill me!"

"What?" Hesof asked, utterly bewildered. "Who's trying to kill you?"

"Him!" she shrieked, pointing back the way she'd come. Around the corner came a short, squat figure wearing a crewman's uniform. He was a hedgehog—not generally considered the most intimidating-looking of species, save that this one had a pair of long, sharp fangs extending down from his pointed snout and his eyes glowed bright red.

"Oooh!" the hedgehog said, grinning. "Two fat, juicy pigs! It's my lucky day!" He began walking toward them.

Hesof put his arm around the antelope girl and drew his revolver, taking aim at the hedgehog. "Stay back!" he ordered. The hedgehog merely shrugged and continued to advance. "I'm warning you!" Hesof shouted. The hedgehog picked up his pace. Hesof pulled the trigger. The gun fired, the bullet striking the hedgehog in the center of his chest.

The hedgehog stopped, looking down at the hole in his chest, then looked back up. "You can't kill me, you fat, stupid pig!" he said, grinning. "I'm already dead!"

He ran toward Hesof and the antelope girl and leaped at them, hands outstretched. Hesof fired again, hitting the hedgehog a second time, and then pushed the girl away from himself and into Ima's arms as the hedgehog slammed into him, knocking him off his feet and onto his back. Hesof tried to hold his opponent back, but the hedgehog was unbelievably strong. His snout moved closer to the pig's throat, his fangs gleaming. "Dinnertime!" he crowed, giggling.

"Sparks!" came a voice from up ahead, causing all four to shift their gaze to the source. Before them stood Fedis Tirale and Cyacit. "Sparks, let him go!" the cat said, green eyes glaring at the little hedgehog, who whimpered and got off the pig, meekly stepping back. Tirale ran over to Hesof and helped him up. "Are you all right, sir?" the cat asked.

"I'm all right," said Hesof, staring at Tirale in disbelief. "What the hell is going on?"

Tirale set his jaw firmly. "We're retaking this ship!"

Omega Mouse was utterly lost. All he could see was swirling grayness. He paused, floating, as the howling wind tore at him, and checked the small compass strapped to his right wrist. The needle was waving about uselessly. He tried to contact Dr. Teshobi using the communicator on his left wrist, but received only static. All the electrical activity in the storm was evidently making both devices useless. He had to get above it. He began accelerating upward through the gray.

After a few moments, he broke out into clear air. He rotated, gazing at the carpet of clouds, which stretched off in every direction as far as he could see. The storm was truly vast. He checked the compass and communicator again. Still useless. At least he could now navigate using the sun, though that was hardly precise enough to find one small island in the middle of a very large ocean. He decided to see how far the storm extended. He continued upward.

He stopped at what he estimated was an altitude of fifty miles. By now he was for all intents and purposes in space. This did not bother him. The atomic energy that powered his metabolism made oxygen unnecessary, as well as augmenting his molecular structure, making his body resistant to extremes of temperature and pressure. He came up here daily to recharge himself using the ambient radiation. He rather enjoyed being in space. It was so silent and peaceful, so removed from the cares of the world. Then he looked down at the great white spiral beneath him and gaped in disbelief.

It was gigantic, covering almost the entire northwest part of the Hargaskan Ocean, and that was impossible. A cyclonic storm of such size couldn't form this quickly. Then again, if what Europa had told him was true, they were dealing with a being whose power might well be limitless. He checked his compass again. The needle appeared steady now. That meant that his communicator should be working too, though in a vacuum there was no way he could speak into it or hear it. At least he could navigate a bit better now. Unfortunately, he had only a general idea where Castaway Island was beneath that storm. He had been following the heading Dr. Teshobi had given him, but he might have veered off course, and it would be an easy thing to miss in all that murk. Taking his best guess, he dove back down toward the storm and plunged into the swirling clouds.

Firefox awoke to the sound of meat sizzling in a skillet. It took her a moment to realize it was actually the sound of rain clattering on the hull of the overturned lifeboat above her. She sighed. A nice, juicy steak would be wonderful right about now, with mushrooms and caramelized onions and mashed potatoes and gravy and . . .

She shook her head, trying not to think about food as she lay on the cold, damp, hard ground, still wearing the scarlet satin evening dress with the golden clasp around her throat and golden sash around her waist that she'd worn at dinner the previous . . . century. She glanced down past her bare feet at the others. Europa, Zibaeri, Roazor, and Dr. Tesejoa all appeared to still be asleep. Ken-Jo was lying beside her with his shelled back to her. "Having trouble sleeping?" he asked quietly, not moving.

"Well, these aren't exactly first-class accomodations," Firefox commented dryly.

"I would not know," the armadillo said. "My cabin was second-class. In any case, I am accustomed to sleeping in less than ideal conditions."

Firefox smirked. "Please. You should see some of the skink-traps I used to sleep in. If they haven't all been torn down."

"I know you came from a poor background," said Ken-Jo. "I am glad your powers enabled you to rise above it."

"That's an odd thing for you to be glad about, considering how many times we've battled each other."

"I bear you no ill will, Datura Vulma. You are doing what you believe is right. That is an honorable thing."

She gazed at him a moment. "You know a lot about me, don't you?"

"There was a movie about your life," Ken-Jo replied. "I saw it."

Firefox grimaced. "Oh, that! I didn't much care for the actress they chose to play me."

"Nor I. She lacked your strength of character."

Firefox smiled. "What a sweet thing to say!"

"It is the truth."

She moved a little closer to him. "You know, you don't seem like such a bad guy, Ken-Jo."

"Thank you. Are you now going to ask me why I work for a creep like Maxoran?"

"Well, he is a creep. Does he have some kind of hold over you?"

"No, I serve him of my own free will, such as it is."

"Why?"

Ken-Jo sighed. "It is a long story."

Firefox shrugged. "We don't appear to be going anywhere." She leaned against his shoulder. "Tell me."

"You know I come from Janvia, as Europa does."

"Yes, I could tell by your accent."

"It is an old country, with many ancient traditions. One of them is the Order of the Stone, warriors who practice a discipline that emphasizes toughness and resiliance. Through rigorous training and meditation, we strive to achieve 'the heart of stone,' a state that grants temporary invulnerability to harm."

Firefox nodded. "So that's how you gained your powers."

"I was the greatest Stone warrior of my generation. The Order of the Stone also has a rival, the Order of the Air. This rivalry goes back to ancient times."

"That lemur you're always working with, Okiyumi—he comes from that order, right?"

"Correct. Okiyumi of the Air was the greatest Air warrior of his generation. And, for reasons that need not concern you, it was decided that we should engage in a duel to the death."

"What happened?" Firefox asked, fascinated.

"We met at the appointed time and place, and fought."

"And?" Firefox prodded.

"I won. But I could not bring myself to slay him."

"Well, that was nice of you."

"It would have been better for both of us if I had. The Order of the Stone does not tolerate disobedience. I was expelled."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"And by not killing Okiyumi, I dishonored him. Unable to bear the shame, he left his order as well."

"Well, I'm sorry for both of you, then."

"For a time, I worked as a mercenary. I will not bore you with the sordid details. Maxoran approached me when I was at my lowest, wallowing in self-pity, drowning my sorrows in beer. He got me to swear an oath of loyalty to him. Later, I discovered that he had done the same thing to Okiyumi, who had followed a similar path. He made us work together."

Firefox blinked. "Even though you used to be enemies?"

"Maxoran did not care about that. He merely thought that our powers complemented each other well."

"He was right! You two make a formidable team! Did you and Okiyumi eventually patch things up?"

"We did not. We work together, but we do not speak to each other, except insofar as our duties require it."

Firefox shook her head. "All this time, I had no idea!" She looked at him. "Are you happy working for Maxoran?"

"It does not matter," the armadillo replied. "I swore an oath of loyalty."

"As I heard it, you were drunk and depressed at the time. Not exactly the best state to make decisions in. Trust me, I know."

"What is said is said. A Stone warrior does not make excuses."

"Because he's as hard and unyielding as stone," Firefox said mockingly.

"Correct."

She put her arms around him and pressed her muzzle against his neck. "Even a stone can melt when it gets hot enough."

Ken-Jo sighed. "Do not do this, Datura. You will only end up embarrassing yourself."

Firefox smiled. "It wouldn't be the first time I've made a fool of myself over a man." She snuggled up against him and kissed his cheek.

"As you wish," said Ken-Jo, closing his eyes.

Firefox closed her eyes as well and dozed off as the wind howled and the rain fell.

As Digby Rasklin made his way through the forest with the wind roaring in his ears and sheets of rain lashing at his body, he reflected that maybe it was possible to be too wet. His thick, dense, oily fur was completely soaked through, and his sodden trousers hung heavily from his hips. He was shivering from the cold, something that didn't happen all that often even in the depths of a Nexasho winter, and though it was daytime, it might just as well have been night. Fortunately, the almost constant lightning provided some illumination, but every flash jolted the electroreceptors in his bill, causing him even more discomfort. He glanced to the side at the slender white form of the Contessa, who was apparently immune to the elements. He'd never thought he could be so envious of a dead person.

"There is a rock formation ahead!" the Contessa shouted at him over the wind.

"I'll have to take your word for it!" Digby shouted back. "I can't see a damn thing!"

She led him up to a rock face that rose some thirty feet above the forest floor, the rain streaming down its sides in torrents. "There may be a cave!" the Contessa shouted. "Let us split up and search for an opening!"

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" asked Digby doubtfully.

"It will be faster!" shouted the Contessa. "Walk that way for a hundred paces!" She pointed to their right. "If you do not find anything, turn around and come back!" She began moving off to the left. Digby sighed and headed right.

The platypus scanned the formation as he counted off a hundred paces. There was nothing but solid, unyielding rock as far as he could see, when the lightning provided enough light to see by. At a hundred, he turned around and began heading back. As he did so, he heard a crackling sound above him and looked up. A large tree was falling toward him. Before he could move, the trunk slammed down on top of him, submerging him on his back in a shallow pool. He squealed in pain as he felt his ribs cracking beneath its great weight, and his mouth filled with water. He tried to wriggle out from under it but was held fast. He tried to push it up, but it was far too heavy to move. His chest felt as if it were on fire as he lay there, drowning, and he whimpered in fear. His had been a sad and lonely life, but it was all he had. He didn't want to lose it.

A flash of lightning revealed the Contessa's white, red-eyed face looming above him. He had never been so glad to see someone in his life, even a dead someone. She crouched down beside him, wrapped her long, slender arms around the tree's girth, and tried to lift it off him, Digby helping out as best he could. "Move, damn you!" he heard her curse at it, her voice muffled by the water, but even their combined strength could budge it only slightly. Digby felt his consciousness fading and her hand grasping and squeezing his. It was kind of her, he thought, to not want him to be alone when he died.

Then, suddenly, the water and the tree were gone. Digby opened his eyes and looked up. The Contessa was still there, kneeling beside him, holding his hand. The tree and pool were there too, but ghostly and transparent. The storm was still raging around them, but he felt no wind or rain. There was no sound at all. Everything was still and silent. Digby spat out a mouthful of water, though doing so sent a sharp stab of pain through his chest. "What . . . what's going on?" he gasped, his voice sounding strangely hollow in his ears.

"I could not get that tree off you," the Contessa replied, her voice also hollow, "so I moved you into the fourth dimension. You are safe here."

Digby blinked. "You . . . can do that?"

She nodded. "With some effort."

"Thank you . . . for . . . saving me," Digby said, wincing with every word.

"It was the least I could do," the Contessa replied, "considering how I ill-used you before. It was fortunate that pool was there, otherwise you would have been crushed to death."

The platypus smiled. "Anyone . . . would think . . . you actually . . . liked me." He chuckled, and groaned in pain again.

"Lie still," the bat admonished him. "You have several broken ribs."

"You sure . . . about that?" Digby asked.

"I am a doctor," she replied.

"Huh. I bet . . . a lot . . . of your patients . . . make miraculous . . . recoveries."

She nodded. "They have been known to."

Digby grinned. "Part monster, part angel of mercy."

The Contessa smirked. "I do not believe anyone has ever called me that before. How is the pain?"

"It's fading," said Digby, sitting up. He looked at her. "I guess being so old, you've done a lot of things."

"I have never shoveled coal for a living. And it is impolite to call a lady old."

"Well, like you said, I'm unlearned."

"There are worse things to be. Did you find a cave?"

Digby shook his head. "Nothing but solid rock. You?"

"The same. I think we must admit defeat. Even if we found one, there would be no way to bring the others to it through the storm."

"Couldn't you just take them through this fourth dimension thing?" asked Digby, gesturing at their surroundings.

"There is a limit to how much mass I can move, and how far. To move eight people such a distance is beyond my ability."

Digby nodded, looking around. "Still, it's kind of nice here. Peaceful."

"Come," said the Contessa, standing up and offering him her hand. "We should be getting back." He took her hand and stood up, and they faded out.

Second Officer Kialo Ortrum put down the phone and turned to Sekos Kichora. "Chief Engineer Ethidan says the engines are repaired," the red squirrel said, raising his voice to be heard over the constant rasp of rain on the bridge windows. "We can get under way."

The bison nodded. "Set course for Castaway Island, full speed."

"Aye aye, all ahead full!" Ortrum replied, pushing the engine order telegraph to the "full" position, then grasping the ship's wheel and turning it. With ponderous sluggishness, the Delphinia's immense bulk began to turn toward the desired heading, her clipper bow plowing through the huge swells created by the storm. The squirrel glanced at the shaggy form of the first officer. "Um, Sekos? Would you like me to have a steward fetch your spare uniform? Or something?"

Kichora smirked. "Why bother?"

Ortrum shrugged. "Your call. You wouldn't catch me naked on the bridge."

"You're a nos," said Kichora, chuckling. "Are you really worried what people will think?"

The squirrel frowned and continued to steer the ship.

Suddenly, the door flew open and Fedis Tirale, Cyacit, and Sparks charged onto the bridge. Kichora and Ortrum spun to face them.

"Hello, Sekos!" said Tirale, grinning. "I'm here to relieve you!"

The bison growled at him, his eyes blazing scarlet. "You have no authority to do that!"

"I have every authority to do that!" Tirale shot back. "The captain and the first and second officers are dead! That puts me in command, according to every regulation in the book!"

Kichora clenched his one remaining fist, glaring at Tirale, then at Cyacit and Sparks. "You're going along with this?" he demanded.

"We can't help it, sir!" the hedgehog whined. "He's a cat! We have to do as he says!"

Ortrum blinked as he grasped the situation, then leaped at the closest window, crashing through it and plummeting toward the main deck three stories below. Falling through the driving rain, his big, fluffy tail trailing behind him like a banner, he executed a perfect three-point landing with all the agility of his wild ancestors and began running for the nearest companionway.

Tirale whirled toward Cyacit and Sparks and yelled, "Stop him!" The blue jay and the hedgehog nodded, jumped out the window Ortrum had broken through, and fell to the deck, the bird landing almost as well as the squirrel had, the hedgehog rather less so. Then they both began running after him. The cat turned back to Kichora. "Now, bring us about! We're heading back to Nexasho!"

The bison snarled, fangs gleaming white, eyes burning bright crimson, as he seized the wheel with his hand and turned it. "When the mistress finds out what you've done, you'll be mummified alive!"

"Still better than becoming like you," Tirale said. Then it finally registered with him that the bison was naked. "And put some clothes on, man!"

Cyacit and Sparks ran across the pitching deck of the Delphinia through sheets of rain that drenched their uniforms as the wind howled in their ears. The blue jay's waxy feathers shed the water easily while the hedgehog was soaked to the skin, but it hardly mattered, as cold no longer meant anything to them. They entered the companionway they'd seen Ortrum duck into, following the wet footprints left by the squirrel's clawed feet.

The footprints led up to the next deck, toward the first-class cabins. Cyacit ran up the stairs, Sparks close behind. The door to A deck was open, swinging back and forth slowly, banging against the wall as the ship rolled to starboard and not quite closing as it rolled to port. The corridor beyond appeared to be empty, with wet footprints leading away. Cyacit took a step forward—and screeched as the door was forcefully slammed into him, pinning him in the doorway. Ortrum snarled, eyes blazing crimson as he pressed harder, trying to crush Cyacit in the door while the blue jay strained to get free. Though Cyacit had the strength of a nos, so did Ortrum, and the squirrel was stockier and more densely muscled than his opponent.

"Sparks, help me!" Cyacit cried, and Sparks threw himself against the door, forcing it open wide enough for the blue jay to slip free. Ortrum slammed the door shut, knocking the little hedgehog off his feet and sending him tumbling down the stairs. Then he whirled and glared at Cyacit, his incisors changing into fangs, his tail drooping behind him like a wet flag. Raising his fists, he advanced toward Cyacit, and the blue jay suddenly remembered Ortrum once telling him that he used to be a semiprofessional boxer. Cyacit had done a little boxing in high school, but that was all. He'd never been much of an athlete. Swallowing, he raised his black, scaly fists.

"We're both nos!" Ortrum growled. "We shouldn't be fighting!"

"Fedis told me to stop you!" Cyacit replied.

"I outrank him!"

"It doesn't matter! He's a cat!"

Snarling, Ortrum threw a punch. Cyacit blocked it as best he could and then jabbed at the squirrel's muzzle, but Ortrum blocked it easily with his left arm and retaliated with a right to the gut, which staggered the blue jay. The squirrel then followed through with a left hook to Cyacit's beak, which sent him reeling into the bulkhead. Then he pounded the blue jay three more times, cracking his beak and caving in the right side of his face. Satisfied that his opponent was down, Ortrum turned and ran off down the corridor.

The door flew open and Sparks jumped out. He ran to the fallen blue jay and knelt beside him. "Are you okay?" he asked.

Cyacit groaned and reached up with his clawed hands, feeling his beak. If he could still feel pain, he realized, he would have been in agony, as the bones in the right side of his face had been smashed and his jaw had been dislocated. As it stood, he could barely speak. He grasped his beak and pushed it back into place with a sickening cracking sound that made Sparks wince.

"That's better," Cyacit slurred. His beak was still bent, but at least he could talk now. He got to his feet and glanced at his reflection in the glass of the emergency firehose case by the door. His formerly handsome avian features were hideously broken, his eyes no longer in the same plane, his black beak bent slightly to the right. He hung his head and sighed. He was a monster now, in appearance as well as in fact.

"Shouldn't . . . shouldn't we go after him?" asked Sparks, biting his lip as he looked up at the blue jay's mutilated face.

Cyacit shook his head. "What's the point? We can't stop him now. He's got too much of a lead on us. We've failed."

Sparks squirmed uncomfortably. "Then . . . what are we gonna do?"

Cyacit blinked as a thought occurred to him. He looked down at the hedgehog. "Sparks, this could be a blessing in disguise!"

Sparks looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"I mean this is our chance to be free!"

Sparks blinked. "But, we're nos! It's our duty to serve the mistress!"

"Has she given you any orders lately?" Cyacit asked. "Me neither." He crouched down to be face to face with his smaller companion. "All we have to do is hole up somewhere. Then, when the Delphinia makes port, we can jump ship and disappear!"

"And do what?" asked Sparks.

"Anything we want! We're nos! We have all the time in the world!"

Sparks stared at Cyacit, the thought of not being a slave never having occurred to him. Then he nodded. "It could work! It could work!"

"Come on," said Cyacit, "let's find a place to hide!"

They went back into the companionway and headed downward.

Kialo Ortrum arrived at cabin A42 and knocked on the door. As a senior officer, he had a master key, but he dared not use it. "Mistress!" the squirrel called out urgently. "Mistress, open up, please!"

After a minute, the door opened and Ba-vast stood naked before him, gazing at him with her implacable green eyes, her tail lashing in annoyance. "I sense the ship is moving again," she said. "Are we going after the Eye of Destiny?"

Ortrum swallowed. "We were, mistress, but there's been a complication!"

Ba-vast frowned. "What kind of complication?"

"Fedis has taken command of the ship!"

Her pupils widened. "What?"

"He came onto the bridge with a couple of nos. Sekos must be under his control by now. I fled before he could give me an order, or I would have had to obey him too!"

Ba-vast stared at the squirrel for a moment, then shrieked and rammed her fist through the door of her cabin, breaking it in half as splinters of wood flew everywhere. "That treacherous, faithless, devious, vicious, presumptuous worm!" she snarled. "He thinks to use my own creations against me? We shall see about that!" She seized Ortrum's wrist, and suddenly everything about them grew hazy and indistinct. Dragging the squirrel along with her, Ba-vast passed through ephemeral decks, cabins, and corridors, emerging onto the bridge. It was empty save for Sekos Kichora, the bison now wearing his white uniform trousers, his shaggy brown upper body still bare. The ship's wheel had been torn from its mount and now lay on the deck at Kichora's hooved feet. The engine order telegraph had been smashed, its bronze stand bent like a wilted flower. Ba-vast looked around, then fixed her eyes on Kichora. "Where is he?" she demanded.

"Gone, mistress," the bison replied. "I don't know where he went, but the ship is headed back to Nexasho at full speed. He made me wreck the controls so we couldn't change course." Then Kichora looked embarrassed. "He also left you a message."

Ba-vast blinked. "A message? What is it?"

Kichora bit his lip. "'I had better in high school.'" Then he looked away, unable to meet her eyes.

Ba-vast stared at him, then screamed and charged, her fists raised above her head.

"No, mistress, please!" Kichora cried, holding up his right arm defensively. Her fists slammed into his shaggy chest and he exploded, pieces of him covering the entire bridge, as well as Ba-vast and Ortrum.

Ortrum looked down at himself in horror, his white uniform spattered with brown and red bits of his former friend and colleague, and then at Ba-vast. He fell to his knees before her, clasping his clawed hands. "Mercy, please, mistress, I beg of you! I never betrayed you! I'm still your loyal slave!"

Ba-vast gazed down at the terrified squirrel for a moment, then took a deep breath, regaining control of herself. "Get a repair crew up here. Fix the controls. Put us back on course for that island. And take off that uniform. Your loyalty is only to me, and from now on you are to go naked as a symbol of your subservience. Plus, you look a mess." And with that, she stepped into the fourth dimension and vanished.

"Yes, mistress," Ortrum said, trembling as he began undressing.

Omega Mouse cursed as he flew through the cloudy murk. In this storm, he could barely see his own scarlet-gloved hands in front of his face, let alone the island he was searching for. It could be right next to him or miles away, and he'd never know the difference. He considered going back up into space and trying to get a better idea of where it might be.

Then, suddenly, the wind began to die down and the clouds began to clear. Shafts of sunlight started breaking through the overcast. The storm appeared to be dispersing, which was just as impossible as its having formed in the first place. And there, in the distance, was a small green island in the vastness of the sea. Smiling, he flew toward it.

Fedis Tirale ran through the Delphinia's parking garage, between rows of automobiles that some of the wealthier passengers had decided they simply could not do without and had to bring across the sea with them, instead of just renting one when they reached their destination. He was fairly certain that Ba-vast must have learned of his sabotage by now, and if she hadn't, she soon would. He had no idea how her clairvoyance worked, so he figured his best bet was to just keep moving.

He had made it almost all the way across the large compartment when Ba-vast suddenly appeared directly in front of him. She was once again dressed as she had been when he'd first seen her, in her white linen kilt, golden jeweled necklace, belt, and vambraces, and golden jeweled crown, her chest left bare. Her green eyes glowered at him. "So, this is how you repay my love," she growled, "with treachery and insults!"

Tirale smirked, trying to hide his fear. "Love? Don't make me laugh. You don't know the meaning of the word. All you care about is yourself!"

"You think that I cannot be hurt? That I cannot feel the sting of betrayal? You would be wrong, Fedis Tirale." Her look of anger changed to one of regret. "I would have laid the world at your feet."

Tirale swallowed, the pained expression on her lovely face touching his heart. "I never asked for the world. If you'd approached me without all this," he gestured at her trappings, "one person to another, perhaps we could have had something. But you're a murderer, Ba-vast! You turned my friends into monsters, and they're killing people! I'm an officer of the Hargaskan Line! I have a duty to the crew and passengers of this ship!"

"Your only duty is to me—the mother of your race!" Ba-vast yelled. She seized his wrist, and everything around them grew hazy. Then she pulled him through ethereal decks and bulkheads until he was back in the officers' quarters, and things grew solid again.

"What . . . what the hell was that?" asked Tirale, looking around in astonishment.

Ba-vast ignored his question. "In turning against me, you have turned against all cat-kind. Ultimate betrayal merits ultimate punishment. Once I have the Eye of Destiny back, I will kill you and resurrect you as a nos. Then, you will be wrapped in bandages treated to make them unbreakable, even by a nos, and buried where no one will ever find you. You will lie there forever, unable to see, unable to move, unable to speak, unable to do anything save exist, your thirst for blood gnawing at your innards, never permitting you a moment's peace. So shall you suffer, Fedis Tirale, until the end of time. This is my judgment!"

Tirale trembled as Ba-vast went to the door, grasped the locking wheel, turned it, and then broke it off. She dropped the wheel, letting it clang to the deck at her feet, and vanished, leaving him alone in the room, sealed in to await his fate.

"Europa? Firefox?" came Omega Mouse's distant voice, and Europa's eyes snapped open. She sat up quickly, bumping her head on the bottom of the overturned lifeboat, and winced as she looked around. Ken-Jo was also awake, his long ears perked up, and she noted that Firefox was lying spooned against his back, her arms around him, still asleep. Zibaeri, Roazor, and Dr. Tesejoa were still asleep as well. The armadillo swiftly began digging an exit in the sandy soil beneath the lifeboat with his clawed hands, and Europa joined in as the others started waking up—all save Firefox, who simply groaned and rolled over. Europa and Ken-Jo wriggled out from under the lifeboat and stood up, looking around. There was the red, white, and black form of Omega Mouse about a hundred yards away, walking through the forest, gloved hands to his mouth. "Europa? Firefox?"

"Over here, Kesu!" Europa shouted, waving to him. He turned and broke into a bucktoothed grin when he saw her, then flew over to the lifeboat, whose hull had been almost totally obscured by the loose branches the storm had piled against it, and landed, hugging her.

"Thank goodness you're all right!" said Omega Mouse, smiling at the panda.

"Thank goodness you finally found us!" said Europa, smiling back.

"Yes, the storm dispersed as quickly as it formed. Strange." He turned to the armadillo. "Hello, Ken-Jo," he said flatly.

"Greetings, Omega Mouse," Ken-Jo replied, bowing to him. "Your presence is not unwelcome."

Europa turned as the others squirmed out from under the boat. "Allow me to introduce Fourth Officer Keref Zibaeri, Cadet Roazor, and Dr. Zevaf Tesejoa, all crew of the Delphinia."

"Pleased to meet you, sir," said Zibaeri, holding out a webbed hand, which Omega Mouse shook.

"Likewise," said Tesejoa, as he too shook hands with the mouse. "You're my son's favorite hero."

"I'm honored," said Omega Mouse, smiling at the raccoon. Then he looked at Europa in alarm. "Where's Firefox?"

Europa smirked. "Still asleep, I imagine. She looked quite comfortable where she was."

"Well, she always was a sound sleeper," said Omega Mouse. He squatted down and grasped the gunwale of the lifeboat, lifting it easily, revealing Firefox's slender form lying stretched out on the ground. "This is your wake-up call, sleepy head!"

Firefox blinked her amber eyes, then grinned as she scrambled out from under the boat and hugged Omega Mouse. "Kesu! Are you a sight for sore eyes!"

Europa noticed Digby and the Contessa approaching. "Ah, perfect timing. Omega Mouse, these are Stoker Digby Rasklin and the Contessa Batori."

Omega Mouse nodded. "Mr. Rasklin. Contessa." He looked at the white bat intently. "Europa told me all about you. She said you defeated Ba-vast once."

"With some help," said the Contessa.

"Well, you have help now." He pointed at the Eye of Destiny, which lay on the ground beside where Firefox had been. "Will that be of any use to us?"

"It can project bolts of magical energy," the Contessa replied, "whose power is directly proportional to the wielder's will."

"How does one use it?" Europa asked.

"Simply point it at a target and recite an incantation in Elinian—verbally or mentally, it does not matter which." She uttered several syllables in the long dead language, which the others repeated. Then she turned to Roazor. "There is also something of which you in particular should be aware."

The tigress blinked. "Me?"

"Nos were created to serve cats, so they have a natural tendency to obey them. You can therefore control them to some degree, though of course you could not supercede a direct order given to them by Ba-vast herself. Her authority is absolute."

"Good to know," said Omega Mouse. He looked at Ken-Jo. "What about Maxoran? Is he going to help?"

The armadillo shrugged. "I have not been in contact with him since we left port. Perhaps he overheard Europa's telepathic message to you. Perhaps not."

"All right," said Omega Mouse. "Next question: How do we find Ba-vast?"

"That will not be a problem," said the Contessa. "She can see anyone, in any time or place. She will find us."

"I think she already has," said Zibaeri, pointing. They all looked in that direction. There, on the horizon, was the tiny, distant shape of the Delphinia, smoke streaming from her funnels.

Kialo Ortrum stood on the bridge of the Delphinia as her dagger-like prow cut through the calm sea toward the small island dead ahead. The squirrel was now wearing nothing but his own russet fur, and he looked embarrassed and uncomfortable that way, his big fluffy tail flicking in agitation. The ship's wheel and engine order telegraph had been jury-rigged by a repair crew to be operable again. To say they'd been surprised to find the second officer naked and the bridge covered in the remains of the first officer would be an understatement, but Ortrum had had no difficulty persuading them to follow his orders, bending a steel bar with his bare hands to demonstrate what would happen to their necks if they didn't.

Ba-vast appeared beside him, stepping out of thin air. She smiled at the sight of the island ahead. "Ah, excellent! Once the Eye is back in my possession, I will have thousands of nos to launch my conquest of this world."

The squirrel nodded. He wanted to ask her if he could put something on, but after what she'd done to Kichora, he didn't dare. Better to be naked than dead. "Did you . . . find Tirale, mistress?" he asked timidly.

"Yes," Ba-vast replied.

"Did you kill him?"

"Not yet. I have special plans for him."

Ortrum swallowed. Being a nos, he no longer had much in the way of empathy for other beings, but he and Fedis had been friends, going out drinking together between runs, and those memories still meant something to him. He thought about his own wife and children, waiting for him in Nexasho. Perhaps, if he served her faithfully, Ba-vast would turn them into nos as well, so they could all be together forever. He smiled at the thought.

"You know this woman, Contessa," said Omega Mouse, gazing at the Delphinia's low, dark shape on the horizon. "What should we expect?"

"She will bring her nos soldiers here via the fourth dimension," the Contessa Batori replied.

"Meaning they could appear literally anywhere," said Europa grimly.

The Contessa nodded. "We can also expect them to be armed."

"The ship's armory isn't very extensive," said Zibaeri. "A dozen pistols, three shotguns, and two rifles."

"Our first duty is to protect the civilians," said Omega Mouse. "Europa, Firefox, and Ken-Jo—form a circle around them."

"I beg your pardon, Omega Mouse," said the Contessa. "Your first duty is to keep Ba-vast from getting hold of that." She pointed at the Eye of Destiny.

Omega Mouse picked the scepter up in his gloved hands and looked at it. "Can it be destroyed?"

"No," the Contessa replied. "It is not of this world."

"Then you should take charge of it," said Omega Mouse, offering it to her. "If things go bad, you can flee with it into the fourth dimension."

"That will not do any good," the Contessa replied, accepting the Eye. "Ba-vast will simply follow."

"Then use it as a weapon against her. Meanwhile, I'll try to get that ring off her finger. That's how you beat her last time, right?"

"Eventually."

"Well, it seems the ball is in her court," said Omega Mouse. "All we can do is wait."

They did not need to wait long. A few seconds later, Ba-vast and thirty or so nos of various species appeared before them. All of the nos appeared to be converted crewmembers. A few carried firearms, while the rest wielded axes, knives, boat hooks, or other items. Kialo Ortrum stood beside Ba-vast, holding a rifle, his eyes glowing scarlet.

"Omega Mouse," said Ba-vast, smiling at the hero. "I had hoped you would make it. It is appropriate that I should begin my reign by besting this world's greatest hero."

"Words have never beaten me yet, Ba-vast," Omega Mouse growled.

"Then let us dispense with them," said Ba-vast. "Attack!"

With a chorus of bloodthirsty howls, the nos armed with melee weapons charged forward, while those with guns began shooting. Zibaeri, Roazor, Digby, and Tesejoa took shelter behind the lifeboat as bullets splintered its hull. Omega Mouse leaped into the middle of the charging nos, raised his fists, and brought them down with a mighty impact. A shockwave radiated through the ground, knocking the nearby nos off their feet. Firefox raised her arms, raining fire on them and igniting several, while Europa mentally paralyzed them so they could do nothing as the flames consumed their bodies. Ken-Jo ran toward Ba-vast, slashing at nos with his claws as he passed them, ignoring the bullets bouncing off his flesh.

A goat nos managed to get through and charged at the Contessa, horned head lowered. She aimed the Eye and uttered the incantation that activated it, and a bolt of green light shot forth and tore through his chest like a cannonball, causing him to stare down in surprise at the gaping hole it left behind. With his spine severed, he collapsed to the ground, his legs now useless, but continued crawling toward her using his hands, scarlet eyes blazing. The Contessa blasted him again, and he lay still.

As Ken-Jo bore down on Ba-vast, she suddenly vanished, reappearing directly in front of the Contessa and lunging to seize the Eye. The bat evaded her grab, and a second later Omega Mouse slammed into Ba-vast, tackling her and forcing her to the ground.

"You dare to lay hands upon me, rodent?" Ba-vast shrieked, striking Omega Mouse across his muzzle.

The mouse staggered back, eyes wide in astonishment. Ever since a laboratory accident had exposed him to what should have been a lethal dose of radiation, Kesu Etojach had been the most powerful being on Zoolok. Finding someone with strength equal to his own was a shock to him. Then his eyes narrowed. "To stop a self-absorbed, self-proclaimed deity from casually committing mass murder? You bet I dare!" He hurled himself at her again, and the two titans grappled with each other.

Ba-vast snarled as she pushed back. "You are merely a mutation, Omega Mouse—a fluke of genetics. I am a goddess—ancient and powerful beyond your ken!" And with that, she shifted Zoolok's greatest hero into the fourth dimension, and he vanished.

"No!" cried Europa, hitting Ba-vast with a psychic blast, while Firefox released a searing bolt of flame and the Contessa loosed another burst of green light from the Eye of Destiny. Ba-vast grunted under their onslaught, then made a mrowl of surprise as Ken-Jo leaped on her from behind, slashing with his claws. Seizing the armadillo with one hand, she hurled him against a tree some sixty feet away, splintering the trunk, and he slid to the ground, stunned.

Europa turned to the Contessa while Ba-vast was distracted. "Bring him back!" she shouted. The bat nodded, mentally preparing to enter the fourth dimension herself. Then Kialo Ortrum popped up out of the undergrowth, his rifle aimed at Europa, and fired. The panda spun and fell to the ground.

"Gemma!" Firefox screamed, building up a fire bolt in her hands to incinerate the squirrel, but Ortrum ran to the Contessa and grabbed the Eye. As the bat and squirrel struggled for control of the scepter, Firefox swore viciously, unable to blast Ortrum without risking hitting the Contessa as well. Instead, she turned and blasted Ba-vast, striking her in the chest and melting her golden jeweled necklace. The molten metal dripped down over her tan-furred breasts as the gems rained around her feet. The goddess looked down at herself, then glared at Firefox, growled, and charged toward her. Ken-Jo, having just recovered, could only watch in helpless horror as Ba-vast bore down on Firefox, fist raised for a killing blow.

Suddenly, there was a flash of light, and two new figures stood upon the battlefield. One was a tall, slim lemur wearing a light blue tunic and trousers and holding a curved blade in each hand, his long black-and-white tail wrapped around a third. He tossed the sword in his tail to Ken-Jo, who caught it. "Thank you, Okiyumi," the armadillo said. Okiyumi simply nodded.

The other new arrival was a chinchilla with iron-gray fur and a big fluffy tail curving up behind him, wearing a white jumpsuit with purple gloves, boots, and collar and a belt with various gadgets buckled around his waist. He touched a device on his belt, and a transparent globe appeared around Firefox just as Ba-vast's fist came down. The globe deformed under the force of the blow, absorbing it, then rebounded back to its original shape as Ba-vast drew her arm back in surprise.

Firefox stared at the chinchilla. "Maxoran!"

Maxoran nodded. "Looks like you're down some people," he said. "Perhaps we can even the odds a bit."

Ba-vast smiled at him. "I knew I would have to deal with you eventually, Maxoran. Now is as good a time as any!" She hurled herself at the chinchilla, who vanished in a flash of light and reappeared a short distance away. As she landed on the spot where he'd just been, Maxoran drew a pistol from a holster on his belt and fired a beam of blinding white light at her. Ba-vast cried out, apparently actually hurt by the weapon. She snarled at Maxoran, green eyes narrowed in hatred. "You will die for that!"

Maxoran shrugged. "That was always your plan, so I fail to see how anything has changed."

At that moment, the Contessa managed to throw Ortrum away from herself, sending the squirrel tumbling across the ground. His crimson eyes blinked as he realized he was still holding the Eye of Destiny. "I have it, mistress!" he shouted triumphantly. "I have the Eye!" He hauled it back to throw it to Ba-vast just as Firefox threw a fireball at him. The ball hit a fraction of a second after the Eye left the squirrel's clawed hand, engulfing him in flames and charring him black. Ba-vast caught the Eye and raised it above her head, laughing. Green light radiated out from it, and every nos on the island who had been destroyed rose again, their body fully restored.

Ken-Jo looked around at the dozens of nos coming at them from all directions. "Oh, shit," he muttered.

"Form a circle!" shouted Maxoran, shooting a weasel nos with his laser pistol as he, Ken-Jo, Okiyumi, and Firefox backed toward each other. Okiyumi summoned a vortex of wind, which swirled around them, pushing the advancing nos away and deflecting the bullets fired by those armed with guns. Firefox groaned as she saw Ba-vast point her scepter at the weasel Maxoran had shot and a tendril of green light snake from it to him, causing him to rise to his feet again.

"We can't keep this up!" she shouted. "She'll just keep raising them!"

Maxoran nodded. "We must get the Eye away from her." The chinchilla reached out with his mind and seized the Eye of Destiny, trying to wrest it from Ba-vast's hand by telekinesis.

The cat goddess growled in annoyance, struggling with him for control of the scepter. "Your puny mental powers are no match for my godly strength, Maxoran!" she snarled, gripping the Eye with both hands.

"Perhaps not," the chinchilla replied, his brow furrowed with concentration, "but they do appear to be keeping you busy."

Meanwhile, Keref Zibaeri, Roazor, Digby, and Dr. Tesejoa had run out from behind the shelter of the lifeboat to where Europa lay sprawled upon the ground. Tesejoa knelt down beside her and pressed his hands to the bullet wound in her chest.

"Can you save her?" Zibaeri asked desperately.

The raccoon shook his head. "Not even if I had a fully equipped operating room. She's losing blood too fast!"

Digby saw the Contessa grappling with a rabbit nos, and an idea formed in his mind. "Roazor! Tell that rabbit to take a hike!"

The tigress thought for a moment. The Contessa had told her that she couldn't countermand Ba-vast's orders, but perhaps she could re-direct them. She addressed the rabbit. "Hey, you! Go after Maxoran!" The rabbit looked at her and nodded, letting go of the Contessa and heading toward Maxoran, joining the other nos trying and failing to get through Okiyumi's wind vortex.

"Contessa!" Digby shouted. "Over here!"

The bat ran to them and gazed down at Europa. "So much blood . . ." she breathed, licking her lips, her crimson eyes glowing brighter.

"Keep a lid on it, Contessa!" Digby said warningly. "Give her what you gave me!" The bat nodded, knelt down, and sank her fangs into the panda's neck.

Tesejoa glanced up at Digby. "You realize this could kill her," he said, frowning. "She's lost a lot of blood already."

"You said yourself she was gonna die," the platypus replied. "At least this way she has a chance."

As the Contessa fed, a shot rang out. Digby doubled over, and the others' heads snapped in the direction of the sound. There stood Kialo Ortrum, holding his rifle, fangs gleaming, eyes blazing scarlet as his fluffy tail twitched behind him. "After I kill you, my goddess will turn you all into nos," the squirrel said, grinning. "Then we can sail the seas forever, on a ship of the dead!"

Digby snarled and charged at Ortrum. The squirrel fired two more rounds into him before the platypus reached him and socked him across his muzzle. Ortrum took the punch without flinching and threw an uppercut at the platypus's bill, knocking him off his feet. A second later, Zibaeri and Roazor were on top of the squirrel, pushing him down onto his back. Ortrum threw them both off him and got to his feet, only to have Digby barrel into him and slam him against a tree. Ortrum chittered angrily, pushing back against him, but the platypus's enhanced strength rivaled his own, and when Zibaeri and Roazor joined in, he found himself helplessly pinned.

The Contessa disengaged her mouth from Europa's neck and moved to join the fight against Ortrum, but Tesejoa placed a hand on her snowy-furred shoulder. "You have to retrieve Omega Mouse," the raccoon said. "We need him, and you're the only one who can get him!" The bat nodded, concentrated for a moment, and vanished.

"How are you holding up, boss?" Okiyumi asked, his miniature hurricane continuing to keep the nos at bay.

"Not . . . well," Maxoran grunted through clenched teeth, the strain on his face evident.

"I hope you have a backup plan, then," the lemur said, "because I cannot do this much longer!"

Ba-vast grinned as she felt Maxoran's mental hold on the Eye of Destiny beginning to weaken. "I told you your powers were no match for mine!" she crowed. "However, they should prove quite useful to me once you're a nos!"

Ken-Jo looked at Firefox. "The time has come for desperate measures."

Firefox smirked as she shot a firebolt at a nos, setting the creature ablaze. "I'm pretty sure that time came and went a while back!"

"Take me to Ba-vast," Ken-Jo said.

Firefox looked at him and nodded, taking the armadillo's hand and lifting him up above Okiyumi's wind vortex. They flew together toward Ba-vast, bullets bouncing off Ken-Jo's body and melting when they struck Firefox's fiery aura, until they were directly above her, and then Ken-Jo let go. Ba-vast yowled with rage as the armadillo landed on top of her. She tried to throw him off, but he clung to her back and covered her eyes with his hand. She fired blindly with the Eye, and a mystic bolt struck the tree where Digby, Roazor, and Zibaeri were holding Ortrum pinned, blasting it apart and sending them all flying. Then her clawed fingers found purchase on Ken-Jo's shell, and she tore the armadillo off her, hurling him away, causing him to instinctively curl into a ball as he rolled across the forest floor.

Ba-vast turned around, just in time to see Omega Mouse hovering before her, his right fist pulled back to deliver a haymaker. She didn't have time to react before the punch hit, and she landed on her back some twenty feet away. Immediately, he was on her, seizing her right wrist with one hand and trying to pull off the golden cat-headed ring with the other.

"Max, keep that damned scepter pointed away from me!" Omega Mouse growled, as Ba-vast struggled and snarled beneath him.

"Done!" said Maxoran as he and Okiyumi approached, the lemur's swirling winds pushing the horde of nos aside.

"Mistress!" cried Ortrum, getting up and running toward Ba-vast.

"Impudent rodent!" Ba-vast snarled at Omega Mouse. "I will cast you into the fourth dimension, to a place where nobody will ever find you!"

"I think not, Ba-vast," said Europa, walking up to them with Digby, Zibaeri, Roazor, Tesejoa and the Contessa behind her. The panda narrowed her eyes, and Ba-vast found herself unable to form a gateway to the fourth dimension, that part of her mind blocked off.

A moment later, Omega Mouse wrenched the ring from Ba-vast's finger, and she screamed in despair and fury. "Noooooooooo!"

"It's over, Dr. Kallia," said Omega Mouse, his gloved fist closed around the ring.

"No," growled Kallia, glaring up at Omega Mouse hatefully. "It is not!" She thrust the Eye of Destiny into Ortrum's hands, and both it and the squirrel vanished. Then she slumped to the ground.

"What . . . what just happened?" asked Firefox, baffled. "Where did he go?"

"Europa, read her mind and find out!" Omega Mouse ordered.

"I'm trying," the panda said, concentrating. "I am not getting anything."

Dr. Tesejoa knelt beside Kallia and checked her pulse. "She's dead," he announced.

"What?" asked Omega Mouse, aghast. "But how?"

The Contessa spoke up. "Bereft of Ba-vast's power, the effort of casting him through the fourth dimension drained her body of all its energy."

"Do you think she knew that would happen?" Firefox asked.

"I am sure she did," the Contessa replied. "But she did not care. She was a fanatic. She was glad to die for her goddess."

"Well," said Omega Mouse, gazing at his clenched fist, "at least her goddess is caged again—hopefully, this time, forever."

Firefox saw Ken-Jo coming back to rejoin the group, and ran to him, threw her arms around his neck, and kissed his snout. "We won!" she cried gleefully. The armadillo blinked in surprise, then returned her kiss, wrapping his arms around her. Their embrace was interrupted by the sound of Omega Mouse clearing his throat, and they turned toward him. Both he and Maxoran were gazing at the pair disapprovingly. Firefox simply smiled and shrugged, while Ken-Jo stood silently.

"The mistress . . . is dead," said the rabbit nos who had been attacking the Contessa, sounding pitifully lost. "What's going to happen to us?"

"That's a good question," Omega Mouse replied, looking at the dozens of nos who were standing around, aimless. "What do we do with you?"

"Obviously, they should be destroyed," said Maxoran, causing the nos to look afraid.

"The Heroes of Zoolok don't kill," said Omega Mouse, glaring at the chinchilla.

"You can't kill something that's already dead," Maxoran countered.

Omega Mouse folded his arms. "They may be dead, but they're still intelligent beings. That entitles them to some consideration."

"They're also killers," said Maxoran.

"Oh, you're one to talk!" said Firefox scornfully.

"I agree," said Omega Mouse. "You're in no position to condemn anyone, Maxoran. And yet, they do present a problem."

"I was like them, once," the Contessa reminded him.

Digby nodded. "And without her, you wouldn't have won."

"They did not ask to have this terrible thing done to them," said Europa, "their lives cruelly taken away. They should at least be given a chance to prove themselves."

"And how are you going to control them?" Maxoran asked.

"We already know how to do that," said Omega Mouse. "Cadet Roazor?"

"Yes, I can control them, I think," said Roazor. She turned to the nos. "Okay, you nos! No more killing! Behave yourselves!" The nos all nodded their acquiesence. She turned to Maxoran and grinned. "See? Problem solved!"

Maxoran shrugged. "As you wish. Personally, I think you're making a mistake, but that's your problem, not mine. And now, since the crisis appears to have been averted, I'll be on my way."

"Just a minute, Maxoran," said Omega Mouse sternly.

"Oh, come on, Omega!" said Maxoran, looking annoyed. "You're not really going to try to take me in, are you? Because I promise you, that's not going to happen!"

Omega Mouse smiled. "Actually, I just wanted to thank you."

Maxoran blinked. "Oh. Well, in that case, you're welcome." Then he turned to Ken-Jo. "As for you, it's obvious that you and Firefox have been brought together by this episode. And since I can't have someone with conflicted loyalties working for me, I hereby release you from your bond. You may indulge this romantic whimsy, though considering the average tenure of Firefox's boyfriends, I doubt you'll be together for long."

Firefox sneered at him. "I love you too, Max."

Ken-Jo bowed to the chinchilla. "Thank you."

"Come along, Okiyumi," said Maxoran, and the lemur came over and stood beside him, casting a brief, unreadable glance at Ken-Jo. "Until next time, Heroes!" And with a flash of light, both he and Okiyumi were gone.

"Well, let's get everyone back to the ship," said Omega Mouse. He went over to the lifeboat and turned it right side up.

"The old girl doesn't look too seaworthy," Zibaeri commented, fingering one of the many bullet holes in the lifeboat's wooden hull.

Omega Mouse grinned. "With me here, she doesn't have to be. All aboard!"

The pier in Nexasho Harbor was swarming with press, police, and people concerned about their loved ones as the Delphinia drew up to it and mooring lines were cast and secured. It was the first time the great liner had failed to complete a run, but acting captain Fedis Tirale had decided that the damage she'd suffered in the past two days made it too dangerous for her to continue her voyage and had ordered her back to Nexasho. No doubt this would be a nightmare for the Hargaskan Line, disrupting its schedule and costing it a fortune in cancelled bookings, and would probably spell the end of his career, but he didn't care. The safety of the passengers came first, always.

Tirale stood on the bridge of the ship which, for the moment anyway, was his—one hand on the jury-rigged wheel, his free arm around the waist of Adeni, the pronghorn antelope girl he had saved from Sparks. He smiled as she nuzzled his cheek affectionately. Passengers weren't normally allowed on the bridge, but he and Adeni had become quite intimate last night, and he was the captain. He wondered what had happened to Sparks and Cyacit. They weren't among the nos being detained in the cargo hold until they could be handed over to the authorities. Perhaps Ortrum had killed them and their bodies had been washed overboard during the storm. It was as good an explanation as any.

His thoughts were interrupted as Hesof and Ima Pemaga came onto the bridge. "Hello there, son!" said Hesof, grinning around his cigar. "Hello, little lady!" he said to Adeni.

"Hello," said Adeni, smiling back at the pig.

"Hello, sir," said Tirale. "Sorry about spoiling your trip."

Hesof took his cigar out of his mouth and waved it around dismissively. "Eh, we'll catch the next run. Tatrolozu will still be there. And I trust you'll still be our captain."

Tirale smiled and shook his head. "I wouldn't bet on that, sir."

"Don't be too sure," Hesof said. "I intend to write a letter to the president of the Hargaskan Line recommending you for the job."

"That's very kind of you, sir," said Tirale, "but I'm pretty certain that after this fiasco, my name with the Hargaskan Line will be mud."

The pig leaned forward. "Son, if it comes to that, I'll buy this ship and make you her permanent captain."

Tirale blinked. "You'd do that?"

"You saved our lives, son," Hesof said solemnly. "That's not a thing a man forgets."

Tirale swallowed and nodded. "Thank you, sir."

"I do hope you'll invite us both to your wedding," said Ima, smiling.

The cat and the antelope looked at each other and blushed beneath their fur. "I think it's a bit early to be talking about marriage," said Tirale.

"Well, however things turn out, keep us in mind," said Ima.

"I will," Tirale replied. "Thank you both."

"Thank you, son," said Hesof, and he and his wife left the bridge.

"Could he really buy this ship?" Adeni asked Tirale.

The cat shrugged. "He's certainly rich enough." He glanced at the antelope curiously. "What are you thinking?"

She giggled. "I'm thinking it's not every couple who gets an ocean liner for a wedding present!"

They both laughed.

Digby Rasklin and the Contessa Batori had the promenade deck of the Delphinia to themselves as they stood watching the passengers descend the gangways and disappear into the city of Nexasho, the nightmarish voyage finally over. The Contessa wore long black silk gloves and a scarlet dress and shawl that matched her eyes, while Digby had finally put a shirt on.

"How are you feeling?" the Contessa asked, gazing down at the throngs of people on the pier.

"Back to normal," the platypus replied. "I pricked my finger a while ago and it didn't heal right away, so I guess that stuff you injected me with finally wore off. Too bad. It was nice being able to bounce back from anything."

"It did enable you to survive getting shot three times," the Contessa commented.

"Yeah. Good thing the doc was able to dig the bullets out before that stuff wore off, or I'd have been laid up for months!"

The bat nodded. "I appreciate you speaking up for me back on the island."

Digby shrugged. "Well, it was the truth. And you saved my life."

"There is that." She turned to face him. "You are a good man, Digby Rasklin. Too good to spend your life shoveling coal."

Digby smirked. "What else would I do?"

"When this ship next sails, I want you to be on it. I will pay for your first-class passage, and we will travel to Tatrolozu together. I have a residence there. I would like for you to be my guest."

"And what would I have to do in return?" Digby asked suspiciously.

"Nothing you did not wish to. I would show you another world—a world you have been denied access to because of your poverty and lack of education."

Digby turned and put his webbed hands on the railing, squeezing it. "I don't want anyone's charity. I may not have much, but I do have my pride."

"It would not be charity," said the Contessa. "It would be gratitude."

"Gratitude for what?"

She looked at him intently with her crimson eyes. "For being the closest thing I have had to a friend for a very, very long time. You called me an angel of mercy once. I should like to be worthy of that. Will you come? Please?"

Digby thought that over, and then smiled and nodded. "Okay."

They stood for a time gazing out at the city together.

"Well, that was quite an adventure!" Firefox remarked as she, Europa, and Ken-Jo descended the gangway toward the pier. The fox and the panda had both washed the dye from their fur and returned to their normal colorations.

Europa nodded. "Not one I'd care ever to repeat."

Firefox smiled. "Oh, I don't know. It had its moments." She glanced at Ken-Jo, who remained silent and expressionless.

"I'm glad you managed to find some enjoyment," said Europa dryly. "Then again, you always do."

"Perhaps you could take a lesson from her," Ken-Jo said.

Europa stopped and stared at him. "I beg your pardon?"

"Datura has made me realize something," the armadillo said. "Everything in life need not be a chore."

"I do not recall asking for your advice," Europa retorted, "or your opinion."

Ken-Jo shrugged. "Suit yourself." He and Firefox continued down the gangway, and Europa followed, frowning.

"Have you thought about what to do with your newfound freedom, Ken-Jo?" Firefox asked.

"Actually, I was considering applying to join the Heroes of Zoolok," the armadillo replied.

Europa smirked. "Omega Mouse will love that!"

Firefox glanced back at her. "It wouldn't be the first time we've had a former villain on the team."

"And look how well the last one worked out," said Europa. "Silhouette ended up betraying us to Maxoran!"

"At the risk of stating the obvious, Ken-Jo is nothing like Silhouette."

"Oh yes, heaven forbid you should ever be obvious."

Firefox stopped and glared at her. "You know, Gemma, there are times when it's hard to be your friend. Come on, Ken-Jo, let's paint the town red!" She and the armadillo continued down toward the pier as Europa stood there at a loss.

"Excuse me," came a voice from behind Europa, and she turned toward it. It was Keref Zibaeri, once again in uniform.

"Yes, Officer Zibaeri?" Europa asked.

"I stopped by your cabin," the otter said, "but you'd already left. I was hoping I could catch up with you before you disembarked."

"I am not a difficult person to find," said Europa. "The Heroes of Zoolok's address is well known. Also, we are blocking traffic." She continued down the gangway, and Zibaeri followed her. "Was there something you wanted to say?"

"I was just wondering, in light of all that's happened, if you'd like to have dinner with me."

Europa looked at him, surprised. "Dinner?"

Zibaeri nodded. "It's a meal, customarily eaten in the evening."

"While I am flattered by your interest, Officer . . ." Europa began.

"Please," Zibaeri interrupted. "Call me Keref. I think we've been through enough together that we can use each other's first names. Don't you agree, Gemma?" He smiled at her.

"As I was saying, Keref," said Europa, "while I appreciate the offer, I have a report to write for our files."

"Can't it wait?" Zibaeri asked. "There's a restaurant a block from here I used to go to with Sekos and the captain whenever we docked in Nexasho. I'd like to raise a glass in their memory. And I'd like for you to join me."

They reached the pier, and Europa noticed Firefox surrounded by a crowd of reporters, Ken-Jo standing beside her as flashbulbs lit them both up. She turned to Zibaeri and nodded, smiling. "Yes, I believe it can wait."

The otter smiled back and took her hand, and they left the pier together.

Once all the passengers had disembarked from the Delphinia, Roazor descended the gangplank to the pier, a duffelbag draped over her shoulder. The ship would be laid up for several days, so the entire crew had been granted shore leave until repairs were completed. Normally, the prospect of an extended stay in Nexasho would have delighted her, but all she could think of was that she would be spending the nights alone, without Cyacit's blue-feathered body lying beside her. Even the news that Zibaeri had recommended her for a promotion brought her no pleasure. She trudged disconsolately down the street toward a hotel not far away.

On the roof of a nearby building, Cyacit and Sparks watched the white tigress walking down the street by herself. They had both exchanged their uniforms for civilian clothes appropriated from the ship's laundry. The blue jay sighed as he gazed at Roazor. It gave his lungs something to do.

"What now?" Sparks asked, looking up at him.

Cyacit shrugged. "You're a radio bug. I'm a sailor. We shouldn't have any trouble finding work." He glanced down at the hedgehog with his uneven eyes. "And nobody's going to recognize me looking like this." He sighed again. "I had it good, Sparks. Good job, good looks, a girl who was crazy about me. Now, it's all gone. All I have left is time."

The hedgehog took Cyacit's black, scaly hand in his and squeezed it. "At least you don't have to spend it alone."

Cyacit nodded. "Let's go. I'm hungry."

Sparks grinned and nodded back, and they headed off together to find food.

There was nothing like a good bottle of whiskey, Zignish reflected as he sat among the decaying refuse in a quiet corner of the garbage dump, and this was nothing like a good bottle of whiskey. It would have to do, though. The old coyote raised the bottle to his lips and took a swig, the cheap liquor burning his throat and warming his stomach. He wiped off his mouth with the sleeve of his filthy, ragged overcoat as he sat there alone with the rest of society's discards, small lizards scampering about the reeking piles of rubbish, searching for scraps of rotting food.

His ears perked up as he heard someone groan, and he glanced in the direction of the sound. It had come from behind a mound of trash. Curious, he got to his feet and went over to it. Whoever it was might need help. And they might also have some money on them.

Behind the mound lay a red squirrel, groaning and writhing in the dirt. He was completely naked. No doubt some miscreant had bopped the poor fellow on the head and stolen his clothes, Zignish thought. Beside the squirrel lay an ornate golden scepter with a glowing green gem in the head, which caused the coyote's eyes to light up. He wondered why whoever had taken the squirrel's clothes had left that behind. It looked quite valuable.

The squirrel opened his big, black eyes, sat up, and looked around at his dismal environment, wrinkling his nose at the noxious smell, his fluffy tail twitching. "Where am I?" he asked.

"You're in a garbage dump, my friend," Zignish replied, his eyes still fixed upon the scepter.

"I can see that," the squirrel said irritably, getting to his feet. "Where is this dump?"

"Just outside the great metropolis of Nexasho."

The squirrel stared at him. "Nexasho? I traveled that far?"

Zignish nodded. "So it would seem. What's your name, stranger?"

"I'm Kialo Ortrum," the squirrel replied, "second officer on the ocean liner Delphinia."

The coyote chuckled. "You appear to have lost your uniform, officer."

Ortrum looked down at himself. "Yes. This is going to be awkward."

"Well, we don't stand on formality here," Zignish said, grinning. Then he gestured at their surroundings. "And I'm sure you can find something to wear in this cornucopia of crap, provided you don't mind smelling like six-day-old cheese. In the meantime, fancy a drink?" He held out the bottle of whiskey to him.

The squirrel glanced at the bottle, then at Zignish, and grinned as his incisors changed into needle-like fangs, his eyes now glowing like hot coals. "Don't mind if I do."