Marshal Book 6: Femme Fatales

By Harvey O. Minnick Jr.

The book is a well-written adult science fiction superhero adventure with a little humor thrown in. If you believe in aliens, you can believe in Marshal and his crew of superheroes as they try to protect Earth from a never-ending stream of threats, including humans. Life on Earth has never been quite the same after the coming of Marshal, and this is the sixth book in the series, but it is written to bring new readers up to speed.

The story takes place in current-day Chicago, Illionois; Danville, Virginia; and on an exotic alien planet.

I write to entertain. I try to put you in the middle of the action. You will know what is going on, how it feels, sounds like, and experience the emotions of the characters.

The book is self-censoring for more sensitive readers, warning them in advance, giving the reader the option to read on and experience all the blow-by-blow action or allowing them to read on a little and then skip to the next break to pick up the action.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: Nov 20, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490749907

Harvey O. Minnick Jr.

I write to entertain. Sometimes the action may become too graphic or intense for more sensitive readers. It is not meant to be rude, crude, or pornographic, but things can and do get intense at times. I am trying to put you, the reader, in the middle of the action, and it should be intense if it is any good. I do give my readers advance warning so they may skip the more graphic action if they so choose. Also, I cannot spell worth a darn. So please excuse me if anything slipped past the proofreaders.

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Copyright 2014 Harvey O. Minnick Jr.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

ISBN: 978-1-4907-4991-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4907-4990-7 (e)

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Trafford rev. 11/19/2014

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Contents

Foreword

Chapter One A Tale In Three Cities

Chapter Two Alien Debauchery

Chapter Three Questions And Answers

Chapter Four Follow Those Heroes

Chapter Five They Call Me Superdoc

Chapter Six What Happened

Chapter Seven What Comes Next?

Chapter Eight Feminine Mishaps

Chapter Nine The Thanksgiving Day Rumble

Chapter Ten Convocation

Chapter Eleven Tunnel To Nowhere

Chapter Twelve Knock ’Em Down, Drag ’Em Out

Epilogue

OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES INCLUDE:

THE COMING OF MARSHAL An alien UFO falls from the sky and all of Earth learns we are not alone. And dauntless becomes the first super human.

MARSHAL BOOK 2 SUPERSTAR THE HARBINGER Space bugs attempt to overthrow man kind and Superstar gets her powers.

MARSHAL BOOK 3 OUT OF THE COLD The heroes go to rescue missing scientist and are attacked by exploding penguins.

MARSHAL BOOK 4 ROCKET GIRL Superstar is turned against HERO and helps a teenage girl with stolen alien technology to become a criminal

MARSHAL BOOK 5 THE WATERLOO INCIDENT Rocket girl frees the aliens prisoners which results in zombies in the cornfields.

Dedicated;

to my loving and supportive family both those who have passed and those who are with us.

FOREWORD

For those not familiar with the Marshal story, Marshal, that’s his name and his job, is an interstellar lawman stranded on Earth. He lost his memory and most of his equipment when the Russians mistook his damaged star ship for a doomsday meteor and shot it down.

Marshal is big, blue and incredibly strong. He speaks with a strange speech pattern due to a head injury and broken translator that works intermittently, the closer you are the better the translator works.

Brandy Holmes, a member of the Illinois National Guard, found the remains of the crashed ship and Marshal’s apparently dead body, and didn’t want the government to cover it up like they did at Roswell, and took the body to the news media.

Marshal was revived and other aliens were also recovered and revived. The soldiers that help in the recovery of Marshal’s body started to die off from an unknown form of radiation poisoning. Brandy was the last to survive and upon discovering this, Marshal used his uniform jacket to revive her. Brandy was being slowly dissolved and the molecules that made up her body were beginning to fall apart. The nanobots in Marshal’s jacket used the only viable cell structure they knew to reconstruct her body, giving her incredible superhuman strength and endurance.

The other aliens turned out to be criminals being transported to a prison. When this was learned, the aliens escaped and it fell to Marshal to help the humans recapture them. He was assisted by Earth’s first superhero, Brandy Holmes, calling herself Dauntless.

The remains of Marshal’s ship were too deeply imbedded beneath the surface and too big to be moved, so the Air Force build the Ground Zero Complex over the crash sight and continued to study the remaining alien technology. The nearby secret research lab in the Truman College campus was converted into the new HQ for the Heroic Emergency Response Organization under the offices of the United Nations. The 5th Special Group of the US Army was attached to provide the necessary support and placed under the command of Major General Solo.

The ships cryo unit was also used as a containment center for the recaptured aliens. A worker unwittingly released an alien bug known as the Harbinger. The Harbinger is an interstellar parasite that attaches itself to another being and transforms the host body to conform to the needs of the hive. Heather Carter was being transformed into a drone when she was rescued by Marshal, and he once again used his jacket to stabilize her. The reaction between the nanobots and alien chemistry in her bloodstream gave her amazing speed; making her Earths second truly superhuman superhero called Superstar.

The heroes were called upon to provide heroic responses to several emergencies as they came up over the passage of time. Some alien escaped, and other alien technology was stolen and misused, leading to disastrous outcomes.

One dying alien gave his mind over matter powers to Dr. Beverly Cooly as she tried to save his life. She developed amazing mental abilities and became the fourth super hero called Super Doc.

And now, Colonel Otis is working with her, trying to help her master her new powers.

While Marshal is still having trouble communicating and understanding life on this strange alien world. Superstar is enjoying being the center of attention, while Dauntless and the others struggle to adjust to the unwanted changes to their lives.

IMPORTANT NOTE

The book is self censoring.

Parts of the story may be to intense for more sensitive readers. Not rude crude or pornographic but to intense for some and that’s ok. The reader is informed when approaching a section containing violence or sex and advised how far to skip and not miss out on the plot or action. You are encouraged to skim through the text until you reach the break in the action.

Not intended for younger readers.

Hope you enjoy the book.;

Harvey O. Minnick Jr.

CHAPTER ONE

A Tale In Three Cities

Once again tragedy strikes Chicago as a massive black smoke cloud billows up over the lake. The air is full of uncertainty, was this a terrorist attack or just some kind of freakish accident? The reporter in the helicopter paused to gather his thoughts. There are precious few facts known at this time but what is known is that, at 8:42 a Trans-global airliner flight 109 bound for Berlin took off from O’hare. Immediately after take off the giant jumbo 747 started banking and turned back headed over the city and started descending. The airliner never responded to calls from air traffic control and it nearly cleared the city but slammed into one of the many high-rise building that make up the lakefront.

The news chopper circled around training it’s camera on the Wilks tower, a fifty story apartment building on the cities gold coast. Orange balls of flame and billowing black smoke marked the point of impact on the west side of the building about thirty-five stories up. Only the wing tips and tail of the great airliner were visible sticking out of the glass and steal building.

Both Lake Shore Drive and Sheridan Road, two great north south arteries were blocked with debris and emergency vehicles. As the fire fighters rushed into the stricken building, tenets come streaming out. Outside, overhead, a army Blackhawk helicopter come swooping in. The TV cameras zoom in to see two heroes in white jump from the hovering chopper to the rooftop. It’s Marshal and Dauntless! They’re on the scene.

As soon as the heroes landed on the roof they start waving to the chopper for something. Come on Buster! It’s hotter than hell down here. Drop us the fire suits! Dauntless called out over the comm link on her uniform jacket.

Buffeted by the down draft of the Blackhawk, Marshal made his way to the rooftop doorway and yanked the door off of it’s hinges with one hand. Thick black smoke pored out. He rejoined Dauntless as two silver bails were tossed from the hovering bird. As Dauntless caught the pillow sized bails he reported, The atmosphere is thick with toxic fumes and it presents a most unhealthy working environment.

The sassy blond shot him a look and replied as she plopped a folded up fire suit against his broad chest, Unhealthy working environment! Do yeah think? Quick put this on.

I recommend employing reabreather’s, the big blue aurorian said as he took the suit and unfolded it.

Meanwhile at ground level, a drop dead gorgeous blond dressed in a form fitting white and blue uniform suddenly appeared standing besides the fire chief as he strained to see what was going on overhead. Sounding concerned and desperate she asked, What’s the sits’ chief?

Startled the elderly fire captain did a double take before answering. You’re that superhero they call Superstar.

That’s right, what’s the situation? Can you handle it? Is the building going to come down?

I don’t know. It’s not good. We can put the fire out if we can get to it but this building is a lot smaller then the World Trade Center was. It might not last long enough for us to get to it to put it out.

Heather brushed her long golden hair back, the look of concern was written all over her face. She tapped the comm link on her chest. Dauntless, You’re going to have to do something to put that fire out.

A muffled and garbled female voice responded, Just what the hell are we supposed to do?

I can hardly understand you. Why do you sound so garbled?

It’s because I’m wearing this stupid fire suit! How are we supposed to put the fire out?

I don’t know, find a fire hose. I’ll get the people out down here, and you do the same on top.

I never would have thought of that, Dauntless replied sarcastically.

The fire captain looked on concerned. You do have a plan don’t you?

It’s like this, we go in and get the people out and do what ever we can.

That’s not much of a plan.

Baby, it’s all we got, she said as she dashed into the building faster than the eye could follow.

At that moment, a thousand miles to the east two men are watching the events unfold from the safety of a conference room in the United Nations. With a french accent the diplomat stated, I see HERO is at it again.

General Solo smiled and turned to face the undersecretary saying, That is what we do. I would have thought you would have been pleased. My heroes make the UN. look good.

Yes but you seem to be reacting to emergencies in Chicago a lot. Who authorized this and what about the rest of the world?

I’m sure Colonel Otis felt justified in sending them out. We go where we are sent and they are based in Chicago after all so it is only natural for them to react especially when the emergency is so close. That building is visible from our head quarter’s roof top helipad.

Yes, I’m sure he sees it that way but what if HERO was based in Paris? That way you could respond more quickly to emergencies all across europe.

That wouldn’t work. None of my people speak french.

That’s not true, the aliens speak french.

No sir, they have translators, and MaCos Ex is struggling to master english, besides, we have no french equipment or personnel.

That may be changing soon. But, just what can these heroes of yours do in a situation like this?

The general studied the situation on the TV screen for a few seconds before responding, I would guess that they sent Superstar in to spread the alarm and evacuate the lower half of the building with her super speed like they did in Green Land.

The frenchman looked satisfied, and the general continued, And the other’s are probably doing the same above the fire.

Yes, yes he is very strong, we all know that but what can he do?

He can go places firemen cannot, the general said. directing the undersecretaries attention back to the TV screen he announced, Look!

The TV cameras in the circling chopper where zoomed in on the roof. A figure in a silver fire suit came out carrying an unconscious woman in one arm, while leading a small child with the other hand.

That’s a woman, the diplomat exclaimed.

How can you tell?

I’m a frenchman, we know these things, he explained.

Hmm, It’s too small to be Marshal, it must be Dauntless.

The Blackhawk came back down and hovered very close to the edge of the building. The black smoke and heat was beaten back, the noise and buffeting from the choppers down draft were terrific and proved too much for the small child who began to scream and cry. Dauntless stopped to comfort the little girl saying, There, there, you’re going to be all right. I wont let anything bad happen to you or your mom.

She waved for the chopper to come in closer but the pilot was having trouble holding the ship still. The heat from the fire was causing a strong updraft along the side of the building. Come on Buster! You can get closer than that, she called out.

Dauntless tossed the woman into the waiting hands in the chopper and turned to scoop up the terrified girl in her arm saying, You’re going for a ride in a helicopter with your mom. Dauntless called out to the waiting crew chief cautioning, Don’t you drop her. She carefully tossed the girl to the waiting hands of the crew chief. The pitch and catch were over in a second. The Coast Guard got nothing on us, the crew chief announced as he clutched the tiny child close to his body.

With a wave of her gloved hand the chopper banked and broke off leaving her to disappear back into the black smoke.

Sounding alarmed the frenchman protested, She’s going back in! But what if the building comes down?

Back inside the towering inferno, Superstar picked and weaved her way up the stairs passing firemen on their way up carrying heavy loads of fire fighting equipment and panicked residents fleeing from their apartments.

After a minute of fighting her way up the clogged stairway she reached the thirtieth floor and could go no further. The smoke and heat were too much and she had no fire suit only her HERO uniform which offered little or no protection from flames.

The firemen would soon catch up with her. Here I go again, she thought. She took in a deep breath and started racing door to door making sure no one was left behind.

A few stories up in the smoke and flames Dauntless found Marshal fumbling about with a fire hose by the elevator doors. I have located the fire extinguishing apparatus but am unable to make it function, he reported.

She turned the valve and still nothing. She turned her attention to the elevator doors and tried to open them but her gloves prevented her from being able to get her fingers into the slot. Help me with this, she protested.

His fist slammed into the door like a sledgehammer. The steel door crumpled under the impact and fell in to the shaft. A wall of flames belched out to meet them, forcing them back. That’s why there’s no water. The lines have been cut, she announced.

That means there is only one choice remaining. I must relocate this burning vessel to another location like I did when we were surrounded by burning foliage.

You mean when we were caught in that forest fire in New Mexico! Go for it! I’ll go up to the roof and make sure the coast is clear.

Do not go I am unconcerned with the seashore and I may need your assistance here.

Outside, one block away on Sheridan Road the police had set up a barrier and Lieutenant Colonel Henry Otis and several of his HERO troopers were caught up in the crowd of onlookers. Marshal’s voice came in over the comm link. He was speaking his native gibberish. What’s that he’s saying? The colonel demanded to know. No one replied. frustrated he called out, MaCos, can you hear this?

Yes colonel, was the reply over the comm link.

Can you understand what he’s saying?

Yes colonel, Galactic Standard, he is speaking. Understand, I do. He is saying to stand clear as he is about to relocate the burning vessel.

The colonel looked up puzzled and then the light of understanding came on and he dashed off yelling like a mad man as he broke through the police line, GET BACK! GET AWAY FROM THE BUILDING!

Marshal ripped the remaining elevator door off and used it as a shield against the flames and heat. He put his shoulder to the impromptu shield and started pushing against the burnt and melted remains of the 747. The metal crumpled but the mass remained stationary. Dauntless cheered him on. Come on big guy you can do it! Push harder!

As Marshal dug his feet in and continued to push against the chard remains of the airlines Dauntless ripped a metal fire door from its hinges and joined him. As the muscles in her powerful legs and abdomen strained she could feel the fast acting muscle stimulating enzymes in her bloodstream starting to kick in giving her the strength of a hundred body builders.

That combined with Marshal’s incredible strength proved to be enough to start shoving the burning craft out of the building. The fuselage broke and the back half of the plane fell. As it fell, the rush of air vaporized the remaining fuel, causing it to flash and flair up in volcanic-like eruption in the air. The wreckage of the airliner plummeted down to the street below.

The gathered onlookers gave out a gasp of astonishment in unison. Flames leapt high into the sky as the plane went crashing into the ground. The explosion and subsequent fire ball forced the crowd back. Several fire truck were buried under the wreckage and became involved in the firestorm on the street.

The colonel’s warning was too late and had gone unheeded by many. Lt. Col. Otis, the HERO troopers and the remaining fire and police on the ground immediately sprang into action fighting fires and rescuing trapped firefighters.

Thirty-five stories up Dauntless was dangling by one arm, hanging over the cavity the fire had made in the building. When the plane fell it took a bite out of several floors with it. Marshal had hold of her wrist. Be unconcerned, I have you. There is no danger of falling. He flicked her up as easily as a small terrier would a chew toy. She landed in his arms. A wave of relief swept over both of them as he held her in his arms.

Looking down, the fire was still burning but with much less intensity. Sounding alarmed, Brandy summed it up, There’s no way down.

Marshal pulled his hood and fire suit top off saying, I beg to differ. Off came Dauntless’ hood and top. He pulled her close to him and clipped their belts together with a D ring from his utility belt. She pulled his face closer and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

She could see the confused look on his face and explained, It’s for luck.

On the TV they could see Marshal spread his arms holding the ends of his red flowing cape that had been underneath the fire suit. The frenchman asked, What’s he doing?

They leapt from the still burning building and fell.

Looks like a swan dive, General Solo replied.

Suddenly, Marshal’s cape turned into a set of glider wings and they soared out away from the smoke headed for the lake front.

I didn’t know he could do that! Did you know he could do that? The frenchman protested as the general only smiled.

The firestorm on the ground burned with great intensity for several seconds before burning itself out. Most of the fuel had been consumed in the air. Only small residual fires remained for the fire fighters to deal with.

Ash embers and burning debris continued to fall from the gaping hole in the side of the build, but the firefighters were getting a hand on thing when a cheer went up from the crowd.

Superstar had just emerged from the first floor of the building carrying two small children. She handed them off to a confused fireman and zipped back into the building. Another cheer signified Superstar’s return a minute later with the children’s mother.

TV news crews surrounded the platinum speedster and she was content to smile for the camera and answer their question. As Superstar enjoyed her fame Marshal and Dauntless found themselves walking back from the beach until a passing police car stopped and offered to give them a lift. They asked about the fire and were told that "The top twenty stories of the building were gutted by the fire but the building was saved.

The two story orange brick building just north of Chicago’s Loop could easily be mistaken for a auto parts shop or an office for a real-estate agent, only the small sign and Chinese communist flag fluttering from the roof top flag pole reveals the building true use. But the consulate had a secret in the basement; a secret laboratory. The lab is set up for chemical and biological testing and procedures. There is even a clean room set up as a surgical suite. The various work areas of the lab are walled off with glass. The back half of the laboratory is set up as a gym complete with weights and treadmills for training.

Thump! A fist slams into a incredibly ripped set of stomach muscles. The face of the plane clothed security guard looking through the glass walls light’s up with anticipation as the two pugilist went at it in the little gym.

There were no howling crowd’s, no audience at all, just the two figures going at one another with speed and strength not before seen on the Earth. Two female bodybuilders are wrestling on the hard wood floor. The mats were removed a few days ago as the girls had out grown them. The girls have massive arm and shoulder muscles, muscles that any male bodybuilder would be proud to have. Both are dressed in bright red spandex, like Olympic tumblers wear, with the sleeves torn off to accommodate their muscular arms. The necks have also been torn to allow for their well developed busts that most female Olympic gymnastic athletes don’t have.

Both girls have pretty faces with vaguely Asian features, and long black hair pulled back into ponytails. They appear to be in their early twenties and evenly matched, with one being slightly bigger than the other. They both fight with determination and confidence.

They punch, jab, and kick at each other with the intensity only two sisters fighting could possess. They block and dodge and pull each other’s hair. Eventually, one of the girls is thrown down on the floor with a thud! She pauses only briefly to catch her breath. As she lays there, you notice that her skin has a strange hue to it, one more like a bruise than any normal skin color. Her sister has the same exotic complexion.

Her adversary, the bigger, of the two girls, backs away to allow her to regain her footing. She springs back to her feet and assumes a martial arts fighting stance, and they go at it again. They fight with great determination and strength. They have only basic fighting skills, but fight with blinding speed. Their speed would make the director of a kung foo movie drool.

Their fight turns into a more conventional Greco-Roman wrestling match. As the girls grapple, Sue, the smaller one says, I heard Doctor Lee talking on the phone. Someone is coming to see us and end our test.

Lilly, her opponent and sister seemed very excited. A visitor for us!

This is bad news, Sue said as she strained to push her sister back. Remember what happened when they finished the test with the bunnies?

Lilly took a step back and threw her sister to the mat. Seated on Sue’s stomach, Lilly looked down and asked, Yeah, they killed them and they went away. So?

Sue stopped struggling and they both relaxed. When they are through with us they will do the same thing, Sue said.

Lilly looked down in disbelief, saying, That’s crazy. They won’t kill us.

Why not?

Because there is no one like us. We’re special, Lilly said with pride.

Sue replied, We’re not special, we’re different. They treat us like the lab rabbits, don’t they? As long as Mom is out there they can always make more of us. I’m going to get out of here.

And do what? Look for our mother? She hates us; our deformities disgusted her so much that she sent us here. She will never help you.

I don’t expect her to help. But as long as they are out there they can make more of us. I’m going to find them and make them go away like the bunnies. Once they are gone they can never make any more of us and they will have to keep us.

That’s crazy. But you might be right. Where are you going to go?

I don’t know, anywhere. Come with me! Don’t you ever want to see the world outside? Don’t you wonder what makes those terrible noises, don’t you want to see what causes the building to shake?

No, I don’t, the outside world is scary.

Just then, the door at the other end of the lab opened and in came an elderly Chinese man in a white lab coat carrying some papers. Ok, play time is over. Today you start your reading lessons, but first, a quick shower. He motioned for them to get up and go. Lilly got right up and went out the door at the other end of the room.

Sue got up and asked, This reading, does it hurt?

No, it does not. Many people read for pleasure. You may like it after you learn. Work hard and learn quickly. But before you go, pick up your toys. He pointed to a huge barbell on the floor. She walked over to the barbell and reached for it with one hand.

The steel bar sagged under the weight of three thousand pounds on it, as Sue easily picked it up with one hand and returned it to the rack. Doctor Lee quietly stood there watching her. He shook his head in amazement at the girl’s daily displays of superhuman feats. If I didn’t see it, I would never believe it, he said to himself as she left the room. They made it look so easy, they took it all for granted. But they knew so little of the outside world, and this troubled him. They had to be prepared.

The city of Russ is your typical old alien city, a mixture of old stone and new steel, glass and plastic, built to accommodate both ground and air traffic. Flyers and transports of every description whizz around the upper spires of the tall buildings, occasionally slowing down to land in one of the ports or pads that festoon the building’s upper features.

Down below are the sounds of the hustle and bustle of foot and vehicular traffic. Commerce of every kind is being transacted. Most of the vehicles move along effortlessly, but there is the occasional animal drawn cart that clogs traffic. The corporate overlords would gladly put a stop to all of the animal traffic but this is a Federation planet and order will be maintained.

A cab pulls up outside the Free Commerce Bank, a mixture of alien gothic stonework with fifty stories of glass, steel and polymers put on top. A short thin Gray gets out and pays the driver. He stops to take in all of the opulence on display before going in. Everything about the bank was built on a grand order to convey wealth and power. Ridiculously ornate statues of alien gods and heroes decorated the foyer and landing of the great marble stairways that flanked the great reception hall.

Mood altering incense burned sending clouds of smoke up to the vaulted ceiling. It resembled the cathedrals of Europe. It truly was a cathedral built to worship money. Grays, scaly reptilians, and even some feathered avians have come here to do their banking. Or rather, greed has brought them here, as no other bank would accommodate many of them. It is greed that has brought Syrus Pox here. It is money he seeks, a lot of it.

Pox stops at the information desk where a very tall and thin Gray woman directs him to the glass elevators. He makes his way across the busy floor, and after a short elevator ride, finds himself on a quieter floor where the higher bank official’s offices are.

He stops at the receptionist desk and admires the objects of art while waiting to be called. Mister Pox, Mister Utz will see you now, she informs him, motioning for him to go in through the large double doors.

A short round Gray with a huge head and large black almond shaped eyes is behind the desk. As he hesitantly approaches, the quiet is broken. Mister Pox, what is it that I and the Free Commerce Bank can do for you today? Utz motioned for him to take a seat.

Pox, more anxious than nervous, took his seat and tugged at his tight collar. A brief period of silence swept across the office. I’m not sure how to put this, but uh… I would like you to finance my expedition.

Intrigued, the banker leaned forward and asked, What sort of expedition?

You might think of it as a treasure hunt. But it is a sure thing. I can assure you of that. I know where I can recover two hundred and fifty billion credits.

The sheer size of the amount sent the banker’s mind reeling. You could buy unimproved planets for less. After a few seconds of wonderful fantasy, reality came crashing in. He started to reach for the button to summon the receptionist saying, We don’t really go in for that kind of thing.

Pox was persistent. "Before you dismiss me as some sort of crackpot, just give me two minutes of your time, (converted to standard terrian time for your convenience.) to let me tell you my story.

Unmoved, Mr. Utz pushed the button to call the receptionist. Disheartened, Pox got up as she came in. He turned to go saying, Very well, I’ll not bother you again. Perhaps the Merchants Bank will help me.

The thought of such a large amount of money going to a rival bank set off an alarm in Utz’s head, and he called Pox back before he reached the door. Revived with a wave of hope, Pox’s head sprang up about a foot and his neck cranked around to face Mr. Utz. There was a huge smile on his face. The collar on his jacket popped open.

Utz leaned back in his chair, he was hoping to hear an entertaining story. I may be a Foggennoodel, but I’ll give you two minutes. Make it good. Utz motioned for his receptionist to go while Pox took his seat.

Pox’s neck shrank back down as his head rejoined the rest of his body. He asked, Does the name Mobuss mean anything to you? Pox could see it did.

Mobuss the banker? Everyone has heard of him. Why do you ask?

He swindled millions of people out of hundreds of billions of credits and was killed while in prison before any recovery could be made.

The thought of his fate made Utz a little uneasy, and he started to fiddle with his tunic. That’s right, the electronic paper trail went cold and disappeared. Go on. He wasn’t sure where this was going but the numbers were starting to add up.

The money was never recovered. I know where it is, Pox confidently said as he eased back into his chair.

It has to be in some sort of physical form or there would be a trail, Utz offered his opinion.

Pox nodded in agreement. That’s right. It was converted into precious gems and metals.

The always skeptical Utz added, But if it’s hidden within Federation space, you’ll never see anything but a small percentage for it’s recovery. Five hundred thousand credits is the most allowed if I’m not mistaken. Hardly worth an investment large enough to underwrite an expedition.

Pox smiled. He knew he had all of the answers. That would be true if the treasure was in Federation space, but it is not.

Well, the treasure is still in somebody’s possession, Utz reasoned, and no-one has reported having it. And that only leaves an accomplice or pirates, and they’re not going to let you take the treasure. So, it seems you have either wasted my time or greatly overstated the amounts to be recovered.

There is another possibility you are overlooking.

What’s that? Utz’s curiosity and greed were starting to get the better of him.

What if the treasure was lost on a non-federation planet outside of Federation space or the unified zone of influence, someplace in ambiguous space in the outer reaches of space. What then?

Then Federation law wouldn’t apply.

And it would be a case of finders keepers.

Well, I’m not sure the Federation would allow you to keep it all. I mean, with so many people affected by the loss and recovery.

Pox could see the wheels turning in Utz’s brain. But still, the amount would be substantially more than the standard recovery fee, wouldn’t it? Now tell me, Mister Utz, have I gotten your attention or should I go across the street to the Merchants Bank?

Mister Pox, tell me more. What makes you think the treasure is lost and only you know where it is?

Pox pulled out a Hub (handheld electronic device that does everything) and turned on a holographic display of a star field. Utz asked, Where is that?

Pox explained, I have taken the precaution of leaving the names off for security reasons. I’m sure you’ll understand. He paused briefly before continuing. The money can be traced as far as Bridgeport where it was transferred to a universal banking account. But from there it disappeared; there is no universal banking account by that number. The money had to be converted into jewels and precious metals there.

How do you know this?, Utz demanded to know.

Bridgeport is notorious for its shady dealings and money laundering. And records are incomplete at best, but there were several sizable transactions to back up my claim. From there, the treasure was transferred to a Federation battle cruiser for safe transport.

Utz interrupted again saying, Then the Federation knows about it.

Not necessarily. The Federation routinely transports high value cargo for the banking community. Only a warship could safely transport such cargo. But what if a sealed cargo container was valued at say two point five billion credits…. a large amount to be sure, but not the two hundred and fifty billion in question.

Utz leaned forward saying, Well, my long-necked friend. That means the Federation still has it or it is in Federation space because no Federation warship is going to leave Federation space.

"Normally you would be right sir, but not this time. You see, the battle cruiser was