"Xerxes?" I gasped in to my implanted subvocal communicator. "Can you tell how many of those things are...damn!.. between me and the airlock we're docked at?" "At least 6 maybe 7," the Wanderlust's AI growled softly in my inner ear. "Have any of them managed to break in?" "Of course not!" The AI sounded quite indignant now. "Have you found any signs of the salvage crew?" "Just the one headset comm, but all I get on it is static. No other signs, no bodies, no nothing!" Xerxes growled again and then hissed. He both does and doesn't like mysteries. Most AI are based on human or canine personality engrams. Xerxes was the one one I knew of based on a feline engram. In times of stress it showed. "Could it be a trap?" The AI speculated and I visualize his mental tail lashing in agitation. "I don't know. But I got a hellva questions for Alverson next time we meet. I'm going to head for the computer room and see if I can get some answers from the ship's comm. " A ficker of shadow alerted me just time to whirl and blast another of the mechaliens into component pieces. "If I don't make it...take care of yourself and Mimi." "Understood." ************************************************** Set - Lalverson Mechalien - Davo Voluptous Vicky - Wyrmmaster Spywear outfit and hair - Anton Kisiel Spywear outfit textures - Silverleif Studios Real Eyes - Cake1 Necklace and gun - RDNA Earrings -? Hand jewelry - Darkworld