SEASON SIX

EPISODE 5: CONSPIRACY

By: X_C

 SPACE: THE FINAL FRONTIER. THESE ARE THE VOYAGES OF THE WWF TITANPRIZE. IT'S MISSION: TO EXPLORE AND ENTERTAIN NEW SOCIETIES AND NEW CIVILIZATIONS.  TO BOLDLY GO WHERE NO WRESTLER HAS GONE BEFORE!

TITANPRIZE CREW:

Captain Vincent K. McMahon
First Officer, Commander Shane McMahon
Chief Engineer, Commander Stephanie McMahon
Chief of Chiefs, Commander Linda McMahon
Chief of Security, Commander Kane
Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Taker
Diagnostics Officer, Lieutenant Commander Jericho
Tactical Officer, Lieutenant Commander Austin
Transporter Chief, Lieutenant Commander Debra McMichael
Communications Officer, Lieutenant Rock
Counselor Al Snow (assisted by H.E.A.D.)

... And many more!

WWF TITANPRIZE-CAPTAIN'S READY ROOM

    "Captain's Log, Stardate 070820.00. Y2J is whining up a storm because I've permitted sweet  Stephie and Hunter to take a second honeymoon on the paradise moon of Copeland-9. Hard to believe the devoted Lt Commander Jericho would throw a hissy fit about a little extra work in Engineering, but the news made him real crabby...

    "In other news, Kimberly is fitting in quite well with the staff and crew of the TitanPrize. Too bad some of the females on this ship aren't quite as accepting and disappoint me with their failure to act like respectable Wrestlefleet officers. Women can be so catty and jealous, just like that shrew wife of mine, who is clearly threatened by the presence of a young, beautiful, fragile doll like our Nytron defector!"

    Captain McMahon smiled deviously. The ol' girl could be such a possessive little spitfire when she thought some tramp was trying to get her claws into the Vinnie Mac....

    "Preliminary information given to me by Kimberly has proven quite satisfactory. I have no doubt that the rebels' disgusting thirst for blood has driven her to share secrets with Wrestlefleet and that the Nytron are as weak as she claims.

    But if they're not? Lieutenant Benoit is currently working on what could be a revolutionary weapon, a lethal invention who's destructive force will guarantee peace where diplomacy cannot."

    Vince laughed, bitterly.

    "I no longer fear revenge from that second class space hack Russo, but I won't forget his ranting and raving as he was hauled off to our toughest Wrestlefleet Prison Colony either! He made me? He made this Federation? No, dammit, the only thing he made was the biggest mistake of his life crossing me! I created that monster, the great High Commander Russo, that I don't deny. But if the monster ever gets loose again, I will personally escort it straight to hell!"

    He didn't think the old rage could still return with such force... "Computer-end log."
 

DECK 5-RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

    "Am I keeping you awake, Dwayne?" Benoit's manner and tone were ice as he adjusted the plasma flow in the tiny mechanical heart of Wrestlefleet's most deadly device to date.

    Lt Rock blinked. "You talking to me, jabroni?" Sometimes, he forgot who Dwayne was anymore.

    "You were distracted." Chris said blandly. "Perhaps I could pipe in millions and millions of young ensigns chanting your name to keep you focused."

    Benoit's cool demeanor hid the seething fire inside. Lt Crock had asked to oversee this crucial project, said he didn't trust the ex-WCW radical as far as he could throw him. The egocentric bootlicker was no doubt feeling vengeful because Chris had defeated him at a game of photon darts in the Smackdown, one of the sharp-tipped darts slicing a few hairs off Rock's amazingly large head before kissing the Bull's-Eye.

    Rock was wise not to trust him, Benoit thought with an arctic smile. And foolish not to fear him.

    "The Rock is a communications officer. He doesn't care about science, doesn't want science, doesn't need science!"

    "Oh?" Benoit raised his own eyebrow. "When Wrestlefleet is threatened, when all we believe in becomes a target, do you really think inane catchphrases will shield the TitanPrize?" He didn't wait for an answer. "No, Lt Rock - it will be advances like this device that spare us from humiliation!"

    Rock laughed. "Jabroni, the Rock can bluff Wrestlefleet out of any damn hole in the known universe. I believe you win when you communicate, not when you detonate."

    "Fine." Benoit shrugged. "I'll have that written on your grave."

    "The difference between you and the Rock is this. When the People's Lieutenant says he's gonna bring it, he brings it. That's why, in three days, The Rock will be on Copeland-9 receiving a medal of courage in a Wrestlefleet ceremony and you'll still be candy-assing your way around test tubes and tri-corders building bombs for a war that ain't gonna happen!"

    "Too bad I'll miss it." Benoit said without regret. "Something about a heroic speech containing the phrase "go lick a monkey's ass" makes me want to puke."

    Hero? Oh perhaps the Rock looked like a hero. Two weeks ago he'd accompanied Edge and Christian on a basic mission of exploration to Stratus-15, a journey that had almost ended in tragedy. Fortunately, Rock had been able to repair a near-fatal glitch in the warp core of their shuttle, a glitch so perfect no one could see it was too perfect. Just like no one could've seen the fires of betrayal in the hearts of the Kanatian ensigns, flames waiting to be stoked....

    "Well you know what the Rock always says. It doesn't matter if you're there or not!"

    "Lt Rock." Shane's voice buzzed over the comm. "We've got a problem in Sickbay that requires your immediate attention. Seems your little Communications twit Ensign Angle is about to be chokeslammed through a bio-bed thanks to some spirited preaching on the evils of tobacco chewing."

    "Take care of it yourself you silver spoon-sucking wussie." Rock retorted. "The Rock has had it up to his eyebrow with that All-American ass-"

    "Now Lieutenant!" Shane barked. "That's one hell of an expensive bio-bed Dr. Taker is about to destroy!"

    Benoit didn't look up as Rock blew like an ill wind out of his lab. "Thank-you, Commander."

    "No Benoit." He could almost see Shane's smirk. "Thank-you."

    Encryption was everything. To be on this high-priority frequency, one needed the security clearance of a Wrestlefleet admiral.

    Unless you went about things illegally, cut corners, shattered the rules like glass.

    And, of course, kept your messages buried in deep layers of encryption, creating a maze of communication  so complex even that nosy 'bot Jericho would have gotten hopelessly lost.

    "Predator 2, this is Wolverine. The game is on."

    "Excellent. Predator 2 has waited a long time for this."

    "Wolverine out."

    Like everyone else taking part in this gamble, Predator 2 had something to offer and something to manipulate. He also had a hidden price to pay.

    The catch was....there were two games being played.

    Game one was the predator's reality.

    Game two was the winner, and Wolverine's partner would have to lose absolutely everything...

THE SMACKDOWN

    "Skank alert." Terri chucked the sweetness and light act out the window as Kimberly breezed through the door of the popular bar, eyes crawling over the male customers like slithering bugs.

    "Don't utter that insult in front of the guys." Lita said, snapping a pretzel in half with a little more force than necessary. "Matt had the nerve to meow at me when I said it."

    "He's just smitten." Chyna said. "Like every other jerk on this ship with an ounce of testosterone in their bodies."

    "Except for Eddie." Terri assured the security officer-in-training with a smile. "Girl, I can't believe that bracelet he bought you on Cassia-7. Must have cost him a year's worth of credits!"

    Chyna admired the glittering star-like jewels that wrapped around her wrist, knowing that  Eddie had bought it for reasons of the heart, not to impress her with his ensign's bank account. Even Lita, hardly the most romantic girl on the ship, was sneaking envious glances at it.

    Envy. Kimberly turned the word over in her mind. It was such a delicious concept really, and Russo had been right to recommend that deadly sin as a weapon. She didn't need the trust of the females on the TitanPrize, she merely needed them so bitter with jealousy that they seemed biased and lacking in credibility. The boys wouldn't listen to them, knowing how consumed with envy they all were.

    Terri, Lita, and Chyna could harbor all their paranoid suspicions, make all their wild accusations. The guys would just laugh and tell them they were catty vixens attacking poor sweet Kimberly.

    "Hey ladies." She wore her most engaging smile as she took a seat next to Lita. "I'll have a sparkling water please Terri."

    "Coming right up." Terri said flatly.

    "Oh dear." Kimberly frowned. "What's that on your shoulder, Lita?"

    "This?" Lita looked at the colorful design on her skin. It was such a natural part of her that she sometimes didn't see it.

    "Oh my yes." Kimberly's voice was warm with compassion. "What an awful scar! Must have been a terrible accident. If my skin was marred like that, I couldn't be as brave you and wear a shirt like that!"

    Lita's jaw was clenched. "I was born with that. It's an Aerialian beauty mark."

    "Beauty mark?" Kimberly asked. "Oh well, that's a strange name for it." She nodded politely as Terri thrust a glass at her.

    "You're welcome." Terri grinned. Hope you like the taste of spit, sweetheart.

    "Have you ever heard the old Earth phrase...Guys don't make passes at girls who wear glasses?" Kimberly said innocently.

    "I've heard a lot of things." Chyna replied.

    "On Nytron, we had a similar thing. Only it went....Guys don't go down on girls painted like clowns. You really need to cover that gaudy thing up before Lt. Hardy loses interest."

    Chyna's mouth fell open. Lita looked Kimberly dead in the eye. "Eat dirt and die you Nytron trash."

    The defector laughed merrily and went off to search for a fresh plaything.

    "Wait til I tell you what Lt Commander Jericho did to Ensign Edge's hair in Engineering to-" Jeff stopped in mid-sentence when he saw the same hostile expression on three normally pretty, placid faces. "Ummm...what gives? Did Officer Richards try and confiscate the liquor again?"

    "Actually Jeff, we could use your opinion." Lita smiled at him. "Do you think a Carellian panther would digest Kimberly if she were to...say...accidentally fall into one of their cages? Or do you think the animal would gag on her?"

    "Gosh Lita." Jeff looked startled. "That's just plain gross. And you three ought to feel ashamed! After all the torture and misery she went through at the hands of Russo and how brave she was to run away from him, I'd think you'd be a little more kind!"

    "I could be more generous." Lita lowered her lashes. "Here, I'll share with you right now." She splashed her stinging Aerialian brandy in his eyes, stalking off as Jeff rubbed furiously at the burning liquid, trying to spit it out at the same time.

    "Don't ever change little brother." Matt laughed and handed him a napkin. "Don't ever change."

    "Lt Commander Jericho?" Kimberly stood beside the android's table, watching as the very human-looking specimen sipped at a synthehol he didn't have the capacity to be thirsty for.

    "Skank?" Jericho wasn't about to engage in a flirting game with some Nytron mattress who'd reduced the rest of the male crew into quivering masses of jell-o. The Y2J Unit didn't have a concrete reason not to trust her, didn't have human instincts to trigger illogical suspicions. Chyna did though, and she was above petty female squabbles.

    "My name is Kimberly." She smiled, almost apologetically. She really didn't want to screw up here. This strong, charismatic, intelligent machine would make the perfect slave to High Commander Russo once he took the TitanPrize. Surely, it was just a matter of simply plugging a few wires into the robot and watching all of Wrestlefleet's secrets drain out of him.

    "Mind if I sit down, Jericho? I know this might seem rude or too direct, but you've just always fascinated me."

    "I'm sure anything male and upright fascinates you." Jericho frowned. It wasn't as much fun with this disgusting Nytron traitor - she was one piece of roadkill that he wouldn't poke with a ten foot stick.

    "Don't worry." Kimberly sat down, uninvited. "I understand. It's just that...that we heard stories about you on Nytron. You're like...legendary or something."

    Chris watched her blush, rolling his eyes inwardly. So, she was one of those girls who liked the challenge of trying to seduce a robot. He hated those types. "Maybe you should find Lt Rock. I think he has a genetic need for hero-worship."

    Kimberly giggled. "I thought Rocky was genetically electrifying, at least that's what he tried to tell Dr. Taker when he first arrived on the TitanPrize."

    "He is electrifying." Jericho agreed. "Like a dead warp core."

    She outright laughed. "Look, I know you're in a bad mood. Ensign Matt explained about your extra duties in Engineering because Commander McMahon-Helmsley-"

    Jericho's eyes froze her. "Don't go there, Kimberly."

    She pretended not to hear. "I think it's really sweet when a young couple works so hard to keep the romance alive in their marriage. And Copeland-9? It's like paradise! I wouldn't be surprised if Hunter and Stephanie returned more in love than ever!"

    Every artificial muscle in the android's body went rigid. He had to concentrate to pace his breathing normally.

    "I shouldn't even be telling you this." Kimberly leaned across the table, lowering her voice to a whisper. "But er... well let's just say that the Captain isn't the only one acting out the role of genetic jackhammer."

    "What?" Jericho laughed, although he never wanted to hear the words "Captain McMahon" and "genetic jackhammer" used in the same sentence again.

    "Just don't be surprised if there's a little Helmsley running around the ship next year." Kimberly said with a grin.

    "Why bother spawning when they could just adopt a baby anteater?" Jericho sneered. "Although that little pet wouldn't have a big enough nose to resemble Hunter too much."

    Kimberly shrugged off his nastiness. "All I know is that Tori said they were trying hard, really really hard. And often."

    "Excuse me, " Jericho glared at her. "Sometimes a man likes to drink alone."

    "Fine." Kimberly got to her feet, already seeing that Ensign Edge and Christian probably could use a good ego-stroking on the other side of the room. She'd already gotten what she wanted here-the reward of seeing the shatterproof android act like he'd been punched through the chest by phaser fire. Even a stupid computer could be played like a puppet....

COPELAND-9

    "Hah! Choke on that, slimebot!" Stephanie gleefully punched a button on her Wrestlefleet-issue computer, uploading the images of she and Hunter enjoying the moon's gorgeous, lush scenery. Helmsleys on the beach, Helmsleys posing on the magnificent mountain peaks, Helmsleys smiling playfully in a breathtaking Resian garden.

    Jericho could stick his little hints about Hunter not caring for her, not loving her! What the heck did a jumbled mess of wires understand about romance? Maybe seeing these pictures would help him out.

    The musical chiming of the clock yanked Stephanie out of her vengeful little world. Midnight already. Her suite in Copeland-9's most exclusive resort was unnaturally quiet, only the warm breeze outside her balcony making noise. Hunter should've returned from his run by now, so that he could accompany Steph to the glorious Resian light show that happened every other evening, a cosmic phenomenon similar to the Aurora Borealis on earth.

    "Where the heck are you, Hunter?" Stephanie stared expectantly at the door. She'd been looking forward to this more than anything. Now, it was clear she was going to miss it.

    She supposed he could've gotten lost, but that really wasn't an excuse. Copeland-9 had so many helpful guides and holographic maps that someone as clever as Hunter couldn't get off the right track. Business? No, the TitanPrize was in orbit two planets away and the only business on this moon was fun, fun, fun. Stephanie could've asked Copeland-9's worldwide computer system her husband's location, but that was ridiculous. There were no hiding places on this paradise, no crime, and no real security. It wasn't like Hunter could've met with foul play!

    He just didn't want to be with her....

    No! Steph wasn't getting sucked into that. Maybe there was something in his pack that could explain his disappearance. Feeling a little sneaky, she unzipped Hunter's suitcase and rummaged through his clothes, pushed aside his tri-corder, a handful of credits, her hand brushing cool steel....

    Hypospray? Stephanie rolled the medical instrument through her fingers. Was Hunter sick?

    She scanned it. It was actually smaller than a traditional hypospray, looked more like a sleek, silver missile. And it was empty.

    What are you up to, Hunter?

    Copeland-9 did have hiding places, known only to the natives.

    And to those who had reasons to know them, or paid to know them.

    Lt. Benoit slipped into a web of shadows, like a spider who owned its territory. Another figure twisted around the corner of the large Resian temple, into the snug alleyway that was supposed to be secure.

    The Chosen One.

    A rebel as methodical and dedicated as Benoit himself, though he worshipped a lesser set of values than the Wrestlefleet scientist did. The Nytron movement was in shambles, and the man with the spiky hair and stiff demeanor was its only great hope, though Chris didn't give a damn about his moral choices right now. The Chosen One, who was only a myth in some circles, had the means of delivering the lethal blow to one of Wrestlefleet's most insidious threats.

    "Do you have it?"

    The Chosen One nodded, held out a hand.

    Benoit didn't flinch as he dropped a heavy bag of stolen credits into the man's grasp. Yes, the Chosen One would use the cash to fund a Nytron arsenal, but Wrestlefleet would be strong enough to defend against that once certain weak links were eliminated.

    "Let me see the merchandise." Benoit demanded.

    "It's quite brilliant." The Chosen One cracked open a case as black as the night itself, revealing what shimmered in it's depths. He smirked as Benoit's breath caught in his throat. "I knew a scientist like you would appreciate it's beauty. Can you get it close enough to the target?"

    "Easily."

    "I must applaud you on your choice of targets." He placed the box in Benoit's custody. "I should warn you too... his death could be a very positive thing for the Nytron."

    "Don't be a fool." Chris snapped. "Wrestlefleet will be tougher for his loss."

    The Chosen One laughed quietly. "He is highly regarded. His diplomatic skills are more crucial than you realize."

    Benoit said nothing, only admired his purchase. It's ability to execute so cleanly, to annihilate so completely was stunning. The piece itself was dazzling and worth twice as much as he'd paid for it. There was a certain beauty in such well-crafted violence that few men in the universe could appreciate....

    "The sacrifice?"

    Benoit smiled, revealing a missing tooth. He looked like a hungry animal. "The sacrifice will feel nothing."

    "Just explain how the damn thing works!" Hunter shifted impatiently from foot to foot, trying to keep his anger under control. How dare this insolent Nytron scum keep him waiting, making him late for his date with Stephie! She was probably hopping mad by now.

    Last Call's eyes slid  back and forth under the shade of the massively tall palm tree. The guy had a jumpy, paranoid quality about him that spooked Ensign Helmsley a little, but not enough to break the deal. The mutiny had been a strategic mistake - he and the other Degenerates had wanted too much too soon and  had underestimated those goody-goody Aerialians and the loyalty of his own wife to Wrestlefleet.

    Benoit's approach was more sound. The ruthless, step by step removal of everything and everyone that disgraced Wrestlefleet would put true warriors like he and the wolf-like lieutenant in positions of power. And that was all that Hunter wanted - his power back.

    "It's a rare Nytron poison." Last Call revealed in hushed tones. "Just this small capsule is enough to kill three men."

    "I only need to ice one."

    "Use the modified hypospray to launch the capsule." the Nytron continued. "With such a huge crowd at the ceremony, no one will hear or see it. The target will die instantly due to heart failure."

    "Sounds too damn merciful." Helmsley grunted.

    Last Call shrugged. "It can't be traced during an autopsy. No one will suspect murder."

    "You Nytron certainly have some toxic goodies for being so lame." Hunter commented, pocketing the capsule as Last Call counted credits. "How is that?"

    Last Call smiled. "Selling to sleazy traitors like you helps fund our movement. Ironic, ain't it?"

    "Hunter?" Helmsley felt a surge of panic squeeze his heart as Stephanie's voice floated over the treetops. "Honey, I know you're here somewhere."

    "Steph-hold on! Don't move! I'll find you."

    "I've waited long enough for you to find me!" she snapped, stumbling over some rough vegetation and into the clearing. "What in god's name are you doing way out here?"

    Hunter sighed with relief as he realized they were alone. He'd learned one too many valuable lessons about keeping Stephanie fully unaware of his evil intentions. "Baby, I knew you'd come."

    "What?"

    "Think of it as a game." Hunter pulled her into his strong, muscular arms, kissed the top of her head. "I make you so darn mad being late you hunt me down like the dog I am. You're so cute when you're angry that I simply have to ravish you where you stand."

    "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard." But she laughed anyways. She wanted to believe almost anything he said about loving her. "What if I'd just packed my bags and stormed back to the TitanPrize?"

    "Not allowed." he reminded her. "You've been asked by Wrestlefleet to present Commander Crock with his medal of courage tomorrow."

    "Ugh." Stephanie frowned. "All he did was save those ditzy teen idols Edge and Christian, like they would've been a great loss. And even that robotic ninny Jericho could've repaired a shuttle simple warp core."

    Helmsley's eyes darkened. How was it that Steph always managed to insert Y2Jerk's name in almost every conversation? "I bought you something, just in case my apology wasn't enough."

    "Awww Hunter." Stephanie smiled brightly as he placed a small black jewelry box in her hands. She was almost blinded by the way the Resian starlight reflected off the diamond's glassy surface; the silver chain that held the precious gem was as delicate as air. "Where did you find something so...so perfect?"

    "When I showed a picture of you to the man behind the counter, he knew only the most beautiful diamond in the store was good enough." Hunter pulled the chain around her throat, resisting the urge to pull it a little too tightly..."Wouldn't let me walk out of the store with anything less dazzling than this."

    Stephanie had already forgotten the lights show and being stood up and all his stupid excuses. He really loves me....

WWF TITANPRIZE-ENSIGN LITA'S QUARTERS

    The world was fading to black. Dr. Taker stood over Stephanie, his gray eyes devoid of emotion as he pierced her spine with a needle. Lita was unable to speak. Aerialian D.N.A from her body was now a part of her enemy; someone she loathed would walk again because of her.

    The little princess started to choke, her skin flushing red, losing color, turning blue. The nurse slid a hypospray into her throat, but Stephanie's vitals had vanished from the monitor. Lita could see them  disappear. She watched as another nurse put an oxygen mask over her own mouth...

    She felt someone touch her hand. Commander McMahon-Helmsley stood beside her and together they watched the medical staff hover over the two bio-beds-

    Lita's heart hammered so violently she thought it was in her throat. Cold sweat had soaked the sheets clean through again, leaving her feeling like a damn fool. Counselor Snow had explained that most surgical patients had dreams like that, because it was much more difficult to cope with being invaded by doctors than most people realized. Taker had assured her the operation was completely successful-no one had died on the table.

    She stumbled out of bed, dazed by fatigue, and turned on her vidphone.

    "Ensign Lita?"

    "Commander." Lita had pulled Stephanie out of bed, that much was clear. It was kind of satisfying, seeing her in wrinkled pajamas with black circles under her eyes. "I uhhhh had a question about something."

    "It's not even dawn yet." Stephanie frowned. "I mean, shouldn't you and Lt Hardy be-never mind. Little Jeffy must be all snuggled up in his own widdle bed with his teddy bear."

    Lita bit her tongue, hard. "How's Hunter?"

    "Very attentive, thank you." Stephanie wasn't dumb. Lita could pretend to be her little girlfriend, but she just wanted some ammo for Lt Commander Jericho. "Your question?"

    "Er.." Lita had to think quick. "Lt. Benoit. Wasn't he supposed to drop off some project in Engineering today? I thought Captain McMahon wanted Ensign Matt and I to analyze it before it went on to Commander Kane. Must be a weapon of some sort."

    "I'm on vacation, Lita." Stephanie sighed. "I don't really know anything about that. Ask the 'droid."

    "Where did you get that necklace?" Lita studied the diamond that sparkled against Stephanie's skin. If Hunter had bought that for her, then he had done it with dirty money. No way could a Wrestlefleet ensign afford a rock like that. Heck, there were times she couldn't afford a good meal at the Smackdown, let alone an expensive chunk of ice like the commander had around her neck.

    "Hunter." Stephanie smiled. "Kind of puts those cheesy flowers Lt Hardy always buys you into perspective, doesn't it?"

    "Good night, Commander." Lita snapped the vidphone off. Sometimes it was really better to ignore those annoying gut feelings....

DECK 5-RESEARCH AND SCIENCE

    "Don't you ever get the urge to just ignore those gut feelings?" Ensign Matt asked with a sigh, as he nearly sent a tray of test tubes crashing to the floor. "I mean, geez, sneaking into Lt Benoit's lab is like begging to swallow your teeth."

    "Captain McMahon would be very upset if we didn't complete our analysis." Lita's tone was downright prissy. "Not our fault Mr. Benoit makes it so difficult."

    "We should've spoken to Lt Commander Jericho-"

    "Jericho?" Lita asked scornfully. "Did you see him last night, letting that wench Kimberly buy him a drink? I swear she's filling his head with some nonsense."

    Matt didn't say anything, knowing how most ship's females felt about the Nytron defector. "Yeah well, I don't think we need to call the Captain's attention to my breaking and entering skills. I'll end up like X-Pac, waiting tables in the Smackdown."

    "Don't worry, Matty." Lita smiled sweetly. "Computer - minimal lights. Everyone thinks Jeff has all the talent."

    "Ha ha." Matt was opening various cabinets and cases, but there was no sign of the oh so special  project he and Lita were to analyze. It should've been easy to spot, even with such low lighting. After all, it was a compact plasma bomb in a shimmering containment field, not exactly a needle in a haystack. "Odd. Maybe he sent it to Commander Kane first thing."

    "I asked Chyna earlier." Lita frowned at him. "Kane hadn't seen it yet."

    "Maybe we can find an overview of the project." Matt sat down at Lt Benoit's computer, smoothly breaking down a series of security firewalls. "This guy's as weird as he looks. No one locks up a research computer this tight unless they've got a major case of paranoia."

    "There." Lita pointed at a file dated for that very morning.

    "Interesting." Matt called up the project file, negotiating a maze of passwords to get there. "We sure wouldn't get this level of detail from a plain ol' tri-corder. Small-sized explosive device powered by pure plasma, meant to vaporize everything within a six foot radius."

    "Well that's not like the most powerful bomb in the universe." Lita wrinkled up her nose. "That's the big bad weapon Captain McMahon is bragging about?"

    "Lita, Lita, Lita." Matt sighed. "You could fit a bomb like this inside someone's comm badge. It's actually pretty darn clever if you want to assassinate an individual or a small group of people. Great for terrorist style attacks and wouldn't leave a trace of the victim's genetic material."

    She shivered. "You're pretty good at this hacking stuff."

    "Me?" He grinned. "I'm just a simple Aerialian ensign. Jeff's the one with all the skills."

    "I guess we should ask ourselves where the bomb is now."

    "No." Matt frowned at the screen. "We should ask ourselves why Benoit has been sending messages over high-security Wrestlefleet frequencies. I can't decode what they are, but where in god's name did he get the command codes to access this channel?"

    "He's pretty mysterious." Lita shurgged, tried to ignore the icy sweat that clung to the nape of her neck. "And he got promoted pretty fast by Captain McMahon. Benoit could be an undercover intelligence officer for all we know."

    "I suppose that would make sense." Matt didn't feel good about it either. "It's not like anyone pays attention to the guy. But still, why would an intelligence officer need to do a cloaked transport down to the surface of Copeland-9?"

    "He wouldn't." Lita closed her eyes, concentrated hard. The sense of dread she felt was so overwhelming it made her dizzy. She knew she should listen to what her subconscious was trying to tell her, make some sort of connection, but it was just too much right now...

    "Someone's coming." Matt whispered, powering down the computer, hoping he hadn't left a trace of his invasion there. "Computer-lights off."

    "Ensigns." Lita and Matt froze in the corridor. Benoit was standing behind them, expressionless. "Can I help you two?"

    "We were looking for Ensign Crash." Lita smiled. "We know Houdinians are sometimes up 24/7 and since we couldn't sleep, we thought he might want to hang out."

    "Well, he's not here." the scientist said bluntly. "But since you suffer from insomnia, there is a project I could use an opinion on. If you wouldn't mind?"

    Lita and Matt exchanged glances. There was no special project in the lab, and once again they had the misfortune of knowing too much about something that was none of their business. Matt was starting to think Lita was cursed, or at the very least a walking, talking, living, breathing trouble magnet.

    "Sorry." Lita started backing her way down the hall. "We're busy tonight."

    Benoit merely laughed as the two ensigns broke into a run and disappeared into a turbolift.

HOLODECK 2

    "Come out, come out wherever you are!" Benoit's tone was so flat and mirthless it chilled Lita and Matt to the bone, which was rather difficult to do as they were stuffed into an overly warm Jeffries tube next to the holographic generator. It should have blocked their signal for the most part. "I'm a scientist. Nothing escapes my observation."

    "Good idea, Lita." Matt hissed.

    "Oh shut up Hardy." Lita scowled. "Are you sending that message to Jericho?"

    Matt was tapping away the small panel inside the tube, though the computers in the cramped Jeffries compartments were too basic to be all that useful. "Jericho? Are you nuts? If your creepy little hunch is right then the last thing we need is to have him blow a freaking fuse over this. I'm contacting Chyna."

    "Oh. okay." Lita knew Chyna could be trusted, that she would understand women's intuition or whatever it was. And if she could use what Matt was sending her, then she'd also impress the hell out of Kane and maybe get a promotion to ensign.

    "Lita. Matt. I am not the Degenerates or the Nytron. I have no need for an unnecessarily high body count, but you must understand I can't allow you to leave the Jeffries tubes right now. Aerialians tend to be rather pure of heart and you would jeopardize the future of Wrestlefleet by acting irrationally."

    "We don't even know what the heck you're talking about." Lita said with exasperation. "Who's going to listen to a couple of stupid lowlife ensigns anyways?"

    "The person who saved Stephanie's life could easily get the Captain's attention."

    Matt wanted to say something clever, like Benoit would never get away with it, but the truth was,  with he and Lita out of the way Benoit would come out smelling like roses.

    "I'm going to send something through the Jeffries tube that will knock you both out for 48 hours or so." Benoit spoke so clinically, as if discussing an experiment. "It will be strong, so chances are you will have short-term memory loss when you wake up. Fighting it would be very bad for your hearts."

    "Hurry." Lita snapped at Ensign Matt.

    "I'm trying." He grinned at her, as a woozy feeling settled over his brain. "You know, Jeff's gonna be pretty mad when he finds out we slept together up here...."
 

COPELAND-9, ADAMS ARENA

    "Hard to believe those two losers even have Wrestlefleet rank." Stephanie yawned, bored and disgusted as she half-paid attention to Ensigns Too Hottie and Sexay bust a move in the middle of their wrestling match. The Copeland-9 natives loved it, however, and the exhibition fighting tournament was proving to be a smashing success. As long as things didn't get too bloody or heated and the crew kept the nitwits laughing and entertained, all was fine and dandy.

    "They do suck." Road Dogg muttered. "Me and X-Pac are tempted to jump in there and kick both their sorry behinds just for the hell of it."

    "Please." X-Pac rolled his eyes. "I need my energy to throw up at Rock's medal ceremony. That idiot Ensign Angle was all whining to me in the Smackdown yesterday cause Medals of Courage were shinier and made with more gold than Olympic ones. Like I give a flying-"

    "Hush." Stephanie put a finger to her lips. "Daddy is going to speak."

    Captain McMahon entered the center of the squared circle after the two goofball Ensigns took their bows. "Thank you ladies and gentlemen. I think it's time to crank this tournament up a notch, so I proudly present to you two of Wrestlefleet's finest warriors...Lieutenant Chris Benoit and Lieutenant Rock!"

    "ROCKY ROCKY ROCKY!"

    It was like a sonic assault on Stephanie's delicate ears. She absently fingered the diamond at her throat, taking pleasure in the silence that settled over the crowd as Rocky got his teeth methodically booted down his throat, his head split wide open to the horror of all the mindless little fans. Hard to make two credit slut and dirty panty jokes with your jaws wired shut....

    "What that's silly bastard doing?" Lt Commander Austin folded his arms across his chest as Vince pulled Benoit to the corner. He was getting into the brutal mudhole-stomping, never did like that damn Rock anyways....

    "Listen up, Benoit." Captain McMahon hissed in the scientist's ear. "You know as well as I do these people cashed in their credits to see Rock shine in this one. There ain't a damn person in Wrestlefleet who doesn't realize you're the most technically sound fighter out there, but Copeland-9 is about fun and games. Now let him kick your ass and that IS an order!"

    "Aye sir." Fun and games indeed. Well, Copeland-9 would soon be treated to the deadliest game of all....

    "Am I the most gorgeous girl in the universe or what, Hunter?" Stephanie twirled around in front of the full-length mirror in her suite, admiring how the Resian silk clung to her curves just so....and the way the pearl-colored fabric made that diamond seem to glow. "Hunter?"

    "I prefer a girl with a little less thigh actually."

    Stephanie whipped around. "Hardly? Why are you pointing your phaser at me?"

    "I bet you say that to all the ensigns." Jeff grinned at her, lowering the weapon a little. "I just want your necklace is all."

    "My necklace." She clutched it possessively. "If you need a loan, all you have to do is ask. Robbery is kind of beneath you. Actually, right now it's all that's beneath you."

    "Funny." Jeff sighed. Why did he always have to be the one to save this little idiot's life? It never got him any less abuse. "Now give me the diamond."

    "Jeff, there is nothing tackier than giving your girlfriend stolen merchandise." Stephanie shook her head. "I mean, someone like Lita would be much happier with a shiny new phaser."

    He counted backwards from ten, trying to keep his finger from pushing his own phaser past stun. "Don't make me shoot you, Steph."

    Stephanie laughed. "I know Jericho has been trying to teach you how to act all tough and everything, but that really sucked. I don't believe you'd even step on a fly right now, let alone shoot your commanding officer."

    "I won't" Jeff assured her. "As long as you do exactly what I say."

    "I'm going to have you tested for drugs Hardly." Stephanie faced the mirror, sweeping her hair up and letting a few curls dangle in her eyes. Oh yes, very sexy. "Maybe you want to sell my rock to support your habit."

    Lt Hardy flinched a little as Commander McMahon-Helmsley reeled back in shock, falling across the bed from the force of the phaser fire. It was only a light stun at most, but it gave him enough time to pop the latch on the necklace and get it safely away from Stephanie.

    "Well, this is the part where Lita's supposed to come in and find me on the bed with you." Jeff muttered, removing the lazer knife from his holster and carefully cutting into the diamond.

    "Hah." Stephanie groaned. "She'd never believe you knew what to do with me."

    "You alright?"

    "You're going to pay for this dress." She examined the black singe marks that now marred the silken shoulder of her beautiful outfit. Her pretty clothes being ruined made her forget the searing pain in her arm.

    "I didn't wear it."

    "I'm surprised." Stephanie said coldly.

    "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Jeff had cut the gem cleanly in half. He shivered; Lita had been eerily right for having no proof. "And is this what you mean by Hunter loving you to pieces?"

    "You-you mangled my necklace!" Stephanie screeched, staring at the mess that Lt Hardy dangled in front of her. "Hey, what the heck is that?"

    "You're an Engineer. You know damn well what it is."

    "No." She shook her head. "I mean, that's a-that's a plasma bomb. It's so compact that it must be...."  Stephanie's tone was brisk, professional. "....Five times as lethal as your average-sized plasma charge. Concentrated so much it would vaporize you into nothingness. Oh god." She buried her face in her hands. "No wonder you're here. My life is in danger."

    She glared at Jeff. "I swear you plot my death every other month just so you can play hero."

    "Well it is my career advancement plan." he said sarcastically. "I'd love to be promoted to Official Spoiled Witch's Guardian Angel!"

    "I'm going to have you work different shifts than Jericho. You're picking up his very smart mouth."

    Oh yeah, Jeff was going to get Jericho for making him play Stephanie's babysitter. If the jerk would just admit how he felt, he could do this thankless job all on his own....

    "Now let's see..." Lt Hardy eyed the split diamond. "Attempting to destroy this thing will blow it sky high so we can't do that. And we need to assume that either Benoit or Helmsley has their finger on the trigger..."

    "So swallow it Hardly."

    "Maybe Hunter should swallow it." Jeff suggested. "Cause let me tell you, Commander, there is no way he's escaping prosecution for this."

    "Wait a minute." Stephanie sank back down on the bed. "You're saying that my own husband tried to off me? No....you're wrong..."

    "I think this little bomb that was around your sweet little neck supports my case." Lt Hardy dangled the lethal weapon in front of her eyes, making them water with angry tears. "He's helping Lt Benoit assassinate Rock and he was gonna use you as a human explosive."

    "He bought it at a store...for me."

    "With what freaking money?" Jeff demanded. "Helmsley can't afford something like this and deep down inside you know that's true."

    "Get out."

    "Stephanie-"

    Commander McMahon-Helmsley's eyes had hardened until they glittered like polished stones. She was charging up her phaser; Lt Hardy could see it was set to kill. "I don't need a babysitter. I'm a Wrestlefleet Commander and I can take care of this like one. Just go do something with that bomb. Stick it down your shorts for all I care, just get rid of it."

    "Aye sir." Jeff tapped his comm badge. "I'm ready to beam back to the shuttlecraft Chyna. She insists on handling this alone."

    Silence. "Commander, they're very dangerous men."

    "Well, I'm feeling pretty dangerous myself right now." Stephanie assured her with a grim smile.

    "Honey what the hell happened to your dress?" Hunter was startled to see the burn mark on his wife's shoulder. It was promised that Stephanie wouldn't be drawn into this...

    "Lt. Hardy shot me." Stephanie informed him icily as she raked through her closet, looking for something  to replace the damaged dress with.

    "That little Aerialian freak?" Hunter spat. "I'm getting a little sick of the way he acts like your damn shadow! I'll shave his rainbow head clear to the scalp if he's scarred you."

    "I'll live." Stephanie turned around, charged phaser pointed at her husband's chest. "No thanks to you."

    Hunter blinked. "Stephanie...take it easy. What is this? Bad PMS?"

    Stephanie shook her head. "God, you're feeling so guilty you're ripping off tired insults from Jericho. Hey, I am the last person who minds a little plot to put Rock in an early grave, but to use me... I was gonna commit suicide today and not even know it..."

    "What are you talking about?" Hunter demanded. "Maybe being hit by Jeff's phaser has your brains scrambled. I'll hail a doctor-"

    "Don't touch your comm badge." He ducked as a stream of deadly light nearly took his head off. "Do you realize I'm going to have to go crawling up to Jericho and tell him he was right? I should kill you right now just for that."

    "I am suggesting you never mention that bucket of bolts again." Hunter started to fume. "I mean, I'm starting to think you have three-ways with him and Lt Hardy the way you're always blathering on about them!"

    "Is that why you put a bomb in my necklace you scumbag?" Stephanie cried. "Ever hear of a divorce sweetheart?"

    "A bomb in your...." Hunter was so shocked his face drained of color. "No Steph... they promised."

    "You're a really fine actor, Ensign Helmsley." She was choking on her own sobs. "Let's see you act your way out of a Wrestlefleet firing squad. Or maybe I should just put you out of your misery here and now."

    "Stephie...baby." Hunter gently took the phaser from her hands, held her tight. "Benoit is dead meat you hear me? I was played... I'd never allow you to be hurt, I swear it."

    "How could I not get hurt?" she demanded. "You're messing with illegal weapons and trying to kill Lt. Rock... you're a moron if you thought I wouldn't be dragged into this!"

    "I'm sorry Stephanie, dammit I am sorry." Hunter stroked her hair, trying to calm her down. "Rock is a disgrace to Wrestlefleet, we were just trying to do something good!"

    "You're disgusting." Stephanie bought her knee up in an unexpected lowblow, forcing Hunter to the ground.

    "Steph! Stay here!" Hunter yelled after her, watching in horror as she raced out of the room without her phaser, her only means of protection. Benoit had to be out there, waiting to destroy Rock, willing to sacrifice his wife to do it....

    She might be frightened of him right now, but she had no idea about how much more intense the terror could get!

    "Leaving Copeland-9 so soon, Commander?" Stephanie screamed as Lt Benoit wrapped a massive arm around her neck, nearly cutting off the supply of oxygen to her brain.

    "I can't breathe." she gasped, eyes darting around helplessly.

    "Too bad." Lt Benoit laughed. "Looking for your precious puppy on a leash, Lt Hardy? I can assure you, he is hardly a worthy adversary for me. That piece of junk Y2J should find you a more capable bodyguard."

    "What?" Stephanie struggled against his impossible grip. So this is what they meant by mad scientist huh? "You're lying! If Jericho was down here he'd slap my face while you held me."

    "Do you think I'm dumb, deaf, and blind when I sit in the Smackdown?" Benoit demanded. "I may not speak much, but I hear things."

    "Hardy's just a pathetic suck-up." Stephanie whispered defiantly. "And I don't put much stock in the claims of a man willing to use one Wrestlefleet officer to murder another!"

    "There is a revolution going on in Wrestlefleet my dear." Benoit explained calmly, his hand removing something from his holster that Stephanie couldn't see. She felt ice-cold metal against her flesh, poised beneath her ear.  "Many of us are trying to change what a joke this federation has become. We are too large to be stopped and have too much help from certain higher-ups to be contained."

    Commander McMahon-Helmsley turned her head slightly, spit in his face. "Oh yeah! That's one hell of a cowardly movement that kills a woman to advance it's cause! Even that piece of garbage Rock has more guts than to arm a dirty two credit slut like me and blow me up to settle a personal grudge!"

    Ugh. Has she just defended that cruddy Communications Officer? Soon, she'd be sticking up for the honor of Jericho if she didn't watch it.

    "I will be injecting you with a rare Nytron poison. It will stop your heart instantly and cannot be traced, not even by the incredible Dr. Taker."

    The empty hypospray! "Hunter will know."

    "I don't wish to kill either one of you." Benoit said flatly. "You know too much. I will terminate Hunter, perhaps set up an attractive crime scene that makes it look like he poisoned you and then couldn't live with the guilt."

    Stephanie wanted to think of him as sick, twisted in some way, but he was just so damn matter of fact that cold was the only word that sprang to mind.

    "Well, well, well, wasting decent poison on a whore with dirty panties." Lt Rock was laughing it up as he pointed a phaser at the back of Benoit's head. "The Rock doesn't know who the bigger monkey's ass is. You for thinking you could kick the Rock's ass all over god's green earth or me for trying to save the life of that streetwalking trash!"

    "Shouldn't you be at a Medal of Courage ceremony prostituting yourself and Wrestlefleet for the adoration of the crowd?" Benoit demanded, slowly moving to face the Rock.

    "No sudden moves jabroni!" Lt Rock kept the phaser aimed between's Benoit's fiercely burning eyes. "Funny what you learn when you discover half the Engineering ensigns passed out in a Jeffries tube!"

    "Indeed." Benoit sneered. "I am not surprised you didn't figure out this screwjob for yourself."

    "Lita?"

    Lt Rock looked at Stephanie curiously. "She'll live. Funny. She asked about you too. The Rock told her you'd be returned to the ship as filthy and cheap as ever!"

    "You shouldn't have lied to the naive girl!" Stephanie squealed in pain as she felt the needle prick her skin. She listened to her own heart beating a mile a minute, waited for it seize up with her eyes closed.

    "Open your eyes Steph. You're not going to die today."

    She spit out mouthfuls of dirt after Lt Benoit shoved her to the muddy ground. Hunter was smirking at the scientist, her phaser in his hands.

    "See Benoit, I'm a rebel too. I have some pretty damn good instincts about what type of bad guy I can trust and what type I should've shot on sight. Guess which category you fall into?"

    Benoit cracked open the hypospray. "A water capsule."

    "I destroyed the poison yesterday." Hunter told him. "Following your slow, structured planning really started to chafe on me. I don't answer to ex-WCW radical garbage...no matter how reformed they claim to be."

    Lt Rock was helping a shaken Stephanie struggle to her feet. He tapped his comm badge as she brushed dirt away from her torn, mud-splattered dress. "McMichaels-get me and this fifty cent flatbacking crab colony off this jabroni moon!"

    "You don't want a piece of me?" Benoit challenged him. He had a supremely confident manner for a man just caught in serious crimes against Wrestlefleet.

    "When I bring it, boy, there won't be any way for you to handle it." Lt Rock and Commander McMahon-Helmsley disappeared in the shimmering blue light of the transporter beam, the threat hanging in the air.

    Hunter threw down his phaser. "You almost killed my wife Benoit. A gun just isn't gonna make you suffer the way I need you to."

    Benoit's muscles tensed but he remained rooted to the spot. "Rock is still alive. You owe me for that."

    Helmsley laughed. "You son of a-you're going to get down on your knees and pray that you can go back in time and slit your wrists when I get started on you."

    That was fine by Benoit. He'd go through hell itself to rid this world of the blight known as Lt Rock...

WWF TITANPRIZE-THE SMACKDOWN

    Commander Shane McMahon looked up from the pile of padds he had stacked in front of him, a synthehol halfway to his lips. He'd decided to start hanging around the bar more; gossip was flung around so carelessly he might just hear something valuable....

    He didn't like the nasty, filthy, sickening lies being  spread about his classy sis and that over-priced computer Lt Commander Jericho.

    "Lt Hardy? Ensign Lita? Something I can assist you with?"

    They both wore cool smiles as they sat at the table. Shane raised an eyebrow.

    "I really don't have time-"

    "Make time Commander." Jeff was a little insolent for being nothing more than his sister's pet lieutenant.

    "I know you have a lot of leeway with my soft-hearted sis, but I'll throw your sorry ass in the brig so fast it'll snap that twisty little neck of yours!" Shane snapped. "Is the protocol clear now, Lieutenant?"

    "You are a sub-human waste of D.N.A." Lita didn't give a damn about protocol. "You sit there and pretend to love Stephanie when all along you knew she was a walking time bomb? I have the urge to puke all over you."

    "Pretty serious charges there, Lita." Shane leaned back in his chair, the epitome of cocky with that damn McMahon smirk plastered across his face. "And if you think the fact that the two of you have saved her life like a zillion times holds any water with me, you've barked up the wrong tree!"

    "It's quite a coincidence, Shane O'Mac." Jeff wasn't about to be shaken by the spoiled snob's trash talk. "You call me back to the TitanPrize at the exact moment Benoit takes your sister hostage. I'm needed in Engineering for some nonsense warp core diagnostics that even Ensign Christian could handle right when Dr. Frankenstein is cooking up a poison cocktail with Stephie's bloodstream."

    "Bad timing, Lt Hardy." Shane shrugged. "What can I say?"

    "Can you say how Benoit got the necessary command codes to send messages to dangerous Nytron terrorists?" Lita demanded.

    "Well, Matty boy was certainly capable enough." Shane pointed out. "Wonder how little brother would like to be booted down to the rank of cadet?"

    "Don't you threaten me, preppie." Jeff's teeth were bared in a predatory smile. "You'd be hard-pressed to pass off the shocking news that Benoit was merely a secret operative working under your command as innocent considering what we know."

    "What you know could fit on the head of a pin." Shane retorted. "You're an Aerialian freak with mutant hair and I'm a McMahon. Who has more stroke with Wrestlefleet?"

    "It's ironic." Lita's smile was cruel. "Here everyone is worried about the damage that Nytron nitwit can create and the real threat comes from inside our own federation. Did widdle Shane McMahon not get enough hugs when he was widdle so he has to destroy his father's life work?"

    Shane laughed. "You know what, Hardy? I may just have to transfer you out of Engineering. I'm sick and tired of the creepy way you seem to stalk my sister around, always right in position to save her from the Grim Reaper. I could make a very nice case against you in a Wrestlefleet court."

    "Try it, Shane." Jeff shrugged his shoulders. "But I doubt you can convince Stephanie to testify against me."

    "I hate what Wrestlfleet has done to my sister." Shane said, suddenly angry. "She used to have killer instincts and now she's hanging out with the biggest geeks on the ship, playing kissy face with robots."

    "Let me tell you something, Commander McMahon." Jeff stood up, leaned across the table with glacier eyes. "If anything happens to Steph cause of your power trip, if one hair on her head is harmed, rest assured it won't be us you'll have to answer to."

    "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

    Lita smiled at him over her shoulder. "You don't want to find out."

    "Ensign Too Hottie is not ready for a serious shift in Engineering." Stephanie scowled in frustration. Every idea Jericho threw at her was stupid, stupid, stupid!

    "Well Stephie, I see it differently." The Y2J Unit's voice was stiffer than cardboard. "He's just not good in tactical, why not give him a push here?"

    Stephanie took a calming sip of her strawberry malt. Chrissie wasn't gonna push her buttons today. "Since when were you a fan of Scottie's?"

    "Since when was it a good idea for you and Trip to reproduce!" Now why didn't his damn filter stop that crack from coming out?

    "What?" Stephanie almost fell out of her chair. "Are you insane? Maybe too much synthehol has fried your circuits?"

    "Forget it." he muttered, glaring down at the personnel padd he had in his hands. He hated the surge of relief he felt-Stephanie could actually mate with any male on this ship and he just wouldn't care! "So I hear Benoyt has been dubbed a hero for exposing the Nytron assassination plot against Crocky?"

    "Yeah I guess." Stephanie couldn't look him in the eyes. Those penetrating baby blues had a way of provoking confessions out of tougher officers than her. It was Matt and Lita who had discovered the deadly scam, and while she would never figure out how the red-headed Aerialian female knew about the necklace, it didn't matter. Because of her damn glory-hog brother, they'd never get any credit.

    Benoit would get away with his stomach-turning behavior and that grated on her, top secret mission or no top secret mission.

    Chris was being infuriatingly quiet. "Hey Jericho, I don't know if 'droids can catch STD's or not, but I'd keep a certain set of "walls" in place around Kimberly if you get what I'm saying."

    "Loud and clear Stephie." Jericho pushed his empty glass away. "And here's a newsflash." He stood up, threw a few credits on the table for Tori's tip. More than enough to pay for a couple hours with the bottom feeding ho he worked with, he thought bitterly. "If I wanted a close encounter of the crab kind, I would've taken you to bed already."

    She cringed as he hovered over her, leering. Why was he so damn angry? "That's fine, Chris. It would be nice to practice faking it with a machine. Maybe you could be pre-programmed to move like Hunter so I wouldn't have to."

    "Slut." He sounded like he meant it.

    "Scrap." There. She meant it too.