User:Robotech Master/Spotted Stowaway - Revision history

Robotech Master: Linking the nextie!

2014-07-12T22:27:29Z

Linking the nextie!

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	\|series=FreeRIDErs		\|series=FreeRIDErs
	\|previous=		\|previous=
	\|next=}}		\|next=[[User:Robotech Master/Totalia Prelude\|Return to Totalia, Part One: Prelude]]}}

	[[Category:FreeRIDErs]][[Category:Robotech_Master]][[Category:Anthropomorphic]][[Category:Story]][[Category:Cat]][[Category:Leopard]]		[[Category:FreeRIDErs]][[Category:Robotech_Master]][[Category:Anthropomorphic]][[Category:Story]][[Category:Cat]][[Category:Leopard]]

Robotech Master: Changing EIDE terminology, since it really isn't one by our current definition of them.

2014-06-26T01:03:56Z

Changing EIDE terminology, since it really isn't one by our current definition of them.

Robotech Master: /* Chapter Nine: Scouts */ tweeeeak!

2014-06-25T13:53:56Z

Chapter Nine: Scouts: tweeeeak!

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	“Understandable,” Madison said. “So anyway, yeah…you might say ‘mantha-pantha is my ride-along.” She subtly emphasized the word “ride”, and saw Marcus and Hamner’s eyes widen in understanding. “She’s helped keep me sane through the long trips, though we haven’t gotten as close as we might be in some ways yet. But I figure we’ll be here a while, so there’s plenty of time for that.” Madison hoped that they’d take from her words that she didn’t plan to escape right away. From their slight nods, she thought they probably got it. “So…tell me about this place. What have we gotten ourselves into?”		“Understandable,” Madison said. “So anyway, yeah…you might say ‘mantha-pantha is my ride-along.” She subtly emphasized the word “ride”, and saw Marcus and Hamner’s eyes widen in understanding. “She’s helped keep me sane through the long trips, though we haven’t gotten as close as we might be in some ways yet. But I figure we’ll be here a while, so there’s plenty of time for that.” Madison hoped that they’d take from her words that she didn’t plan to escape right away. From their slight nods, she thought they probably got it. “So…tell me about this place. What have we gotten ourselves into?”

	“Totalia,” Hamner said, in the tone of one giving a lecture. “Population: 3 million. Rotational period: 26 hours, 4 minutes. Divided by the locals into two 13-hour cycles, A.M. and P.M., with leap minutes on either side of noon and midnight; you get 12:60 a.m., 13:60 p.m., and vice versa, while all the other hours end on 59. Year is 340.37 days; leap day every three years as you’d expect, with a few leap minutes deducted from the ~~day~~ so they don’t have to worry about taking another day every umpty years. They’re rather big on computerized chronometers here, as you might imagine.”		“Totalia,” Hamner said, in the tone of one giving a lecture. “Population: 3 million. Rotational period: 26 hours, 4 minutes. Divided by the locals into two 13-hour cycles, A.M. and P.M., with leap minutes on either side of noon and midnight; you get 12:60 a.m., 13:60 p.m., and vice versa, while all the other hours end on 59. Year is 340.37 days; leap day every three years as you’d expect, with a few leap minutes deducted from the year here and there so they don’t have to worry about taking another day every umpty years. They’re rather big on computerized chronometers here, as you might imagine.”

	“No doubt,” Madison agreed.		“No doubt,” Madison agreed.

Robotech Master: /* Chapter Seven: Forbidden Planet */ Fixing a dating glitch going back to a previous concept of the story.

2014-06-24T16:19:06Z

Chapter Seven: Forbidden Planet: Fixing a dating glitch going back to a previous concept of the story.

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	“Hmm. I guess that means your ‘Totalia’ has been around some little while,” Madison mused.		“Hmm. I guess that means your ‘Totalia’ has been around some little while,” Madison mused.

	Sandeep inclined his head in a nod. “Nearly ~~sixty years~~, as it happens. But we will answer all your questions on the way back to Totalia,” he said. “I fear you will likely be staying a while.”		Sandeep inclined his head in a nod. “Nearly a century, as it happens. But we will answer all your questions on the way back to Totalia,” he said. “I fear you will likely be staying a while.”

	“This isn’t necessary, you know,” Madison said. “If it’s interference from Earth and the colonies you’re afraid of, I’m from Zharus, and Earth’s got its eye on us, too. We’d be natural allies. Let us carry word back home, we’d send a diplomatic mission…”		“This isn’t necessary, you know,” Madison said. “If it’s interference from Earth and the colonies you’re afraid of, I’m from Zharus, and Earth’s got its eye on us, too. We’d be natural allies. Let us carry word back home, we’d send a diplomatic mission…”

Robotech Master: /* Chapter Twelve: Infiltration */ apostrophes

2014-06-23T23:13:22Z

Chapter Twelve: Infiltration: apostrophes

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	'':Way back when Dad was in high school, on Earth, he found his way into a still-standing underground section of Old Dallas, where there was a library. He gimmicked up a hand-held X-ray scanner for reading the crumbling books right off the shelves. Wish I had that now, it would make this a lot easier. He just waved it at the shelves and it got the words. Anyway, after he joined the Scouts he shared all that stuff with other scouts, so they’d have something to do on the long trips. They passed it on, and eventually it got to the Steaders and the rest was history.:''		'':Way back when Dad was in high school, on Earth, he found his way into a still-standing underground section of Old Dallas, where there was a library. He gimmicked up a hand-held X-ray scanner for reading the crumbling books right off the shelves. Wish I had that now, it would make this a lot easier. He just waved it at the shelves and it got the words. Anyway, after he joined the Scouts he shared all that stuff with other scouts, so they’d have something to do on the long trips. They passed it on, and eventually it got to the Steaders and the rest was history.:''

	'':Crazy,:'' Samantha said. '':Well, even if ~~you're~~ doing them one at a time, ~~you're~~ still doing a great job with the books. Keep it up.:''		'':Crazy,:'' Samantha said. '':Well, even if you’re doing them one at a time, you’re still doing a great job with the books. Keep it up.:''

	'':Will do, partner.:''		'':Will do, partner.:''

Robotech Master: Adding a little backfill based on later stuff.

2014-06-23T23:08:46Z

Adding a little backfill based on later stuff.

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	'':Getting the scans crystal clear,:'' Madison reported. '':Could you turn to pages 46 and 84 on that last book? A couple of the pages stuck together and I didn’t get those.:''		'':Getting the scans crystal clear,:'' Madison reported. '':Could you turn to pages 46 and 84 on that last book? A couple of the pages stuck together and I didn’t get those.:''

	'':Got it.:'' After finishing the first stack, Madison took them back and grabbed more books. Over the next hour, she worked her way through most of the shelf.		'':Got it.:'' She chuckled. '':Funny thing, but here I am following in Dad’s footsteps yet again.:''

			'':Yeah?:'' Samantha asked. '':How’s that?:''

			'':Way back when Dad was in high school, on Earth, he found his way into a still-standing underground section of Old Dallas, where there was a library. He gimmicked up a hand-held X-ray scanner for reading the crumbling books right off the shelves. Wish I had that now, it would make this a lot easier. He just waved it at the shelves and it got the words. Anyway, after he joined the Scouts he shared all that stuff with other scouts, so they’d have something to do on the long trips. They passed it on, and eventually it got to the Steaders and the rest was history.:''

			'':Crazy,:'' Samantha said. '':Well, even if you're doing them one at a time, you're still doing a great job with the books. Keep it up.:''

			'':Will do, partner.:''

			After finishing the first stack, Madison took them back and grabbed more books. Over the next hour, she worked her way through most of the shelf, and even snagged a few titles from the fiction section for insight into Totalian popular culture.

	'':Okay, I think we’ve got enough,:'' Samantha said. '':Meanwhile, I’ve been tickling the data networks. I’ve got ID cards for everyone that should hold up to most scrutiny. I’ve sent them a nearby auto-print shop—it’s like a fabbery but for documents—and erased the records afterward, so you can go pick ‘em up when you’re done here. And I think I’ve got a line on where your Kendlen lives.:''		'':Okay, I think we’ve got enough,:'' Samantha said. '':Meanwhile, I’ve been tickling the data networks. I’ve got ID cards for everyone that should hold up to most scrutiny. I’ve sent them a nearby auto-print shop—it’s like a fabbery but for documents—and erased the records afterward, so you can go pick ‘em up when you’re done here. And I think I’ve got a line on where your Kendlen lives.:''

Robotech Master: /* Chapter Eighteen: Coup */ typeau

2014-06-22T10:45:11Z

Chapter Eighteen: Coup: typeau

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	Madison chuckled. “Tempting, but just tell us how it’s going. If we mess with the numbers and they find out, it could set our relations back considerably.”		Madison chuckled. “Tempting, but just tell us how it’s going. If we mess with the numbers and they find out, it could set our relations back considerably.”

	“So far, it’s running pretty strongly in favor of us,” Samantha said. “About a 2/3 majority. And the votes that are coming in are pretty much consistent with that. Two yes and one ~~know~~, pretty much. I think we’re going to win it!”		“So far, it’s running pretty strongly in favor of us,” Samantha said. “About a 2/3 majority. And the votes that are coming in are pretty much consistent with that. Two yes and one no, pretty much. I think we’re going to win it!”

	“Woohoo!” Madison whooped. “So shall we start heading for the base?”		“Woohoo!” Madison whooped. “So shall we start heading for the base?”

Robotech Master: /* Epilogue: Home Again */ Changing the plans for the return to a more realistic timeframe.

2014-06-22T06:02:48Z

Epilogue: Home Again: Changing the plans for the return to a more realistic timeframe.

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	Madison sighed. “We’re going to have to do something about Totalia, you know.”		Madison sighed. “We’re going to have to do something about Totalia, you know.”

	Zane nodded. “I know.” He grinned toothsomely. “Which leads me to my next question. ~~I know you only just got here, but how soon~~ would you ~~be ready~~ to ~~turn around and go right back~~?”		Zane nodded. “I know.” He grinned toothsomely. “Which leads me to my next question. How would you feel about going back to Totalia?”

	“How soon?” Madison snorted. “If I thought it would do any good, I’d head right back out to the ship right now.”		“How soon?” Madison snorted. “If I thought it would do any good, I’d head right back out to the ship right now.”

	Zane chuckled. ~~“Maybe not quite that fast~~, ~~but we~~ ''~~are~~'' ~~very near to being ready to go~~. We’ve been busy since those torps came in. I’m putting together a fleet out near the edge of the system. The official story is we’re getting ready to go big into asteroid mining, but given the word leaking out here and there of the various military units from the different polities we’re taking aboard, there are all sorts of rumors going around. Some people even think we’re getting ready for a preemptive strike on Earth.”		Zane chuckled. “Unfortunately, it won’t be ''that'' fast. We’ve been busy since those torps came in, but we’ve still got a ways to go. I’m putting together a fleet out near the edge of the system. The official story is we’re getting ready to go big into asteroid mining, but given the word leaking out here and there of the various military units from the different polities we’re taking aboard, there are all sorts of rumors going around. Some people even think we’re getting ready for a preemptive strike on Earth.”

	Madison’s eyes widened. “Oooh~~! So you ''are'' getting ready to go back~~! Great! I feel really bad about leaving Kendlen in the lurch like that—not to mention Barbaretta and all the other scouts.” She also felt bad that she hadn’t worried about them very much on the trip back—but then, she did have just having Integrated to occupy her mind.		Madison’s eyes widened. “Oooh! Great! I feel really bad about leaving Kendlen in the lurch like that—not to mention Barbaretta and all the other scouts. So, when? Tomorrow? Next week?” She also felt bad that she hadn’t worried about them very much on the trip back—but then, she did have just having Integrated to occupy her mind.

	Zane ~~nodded~~. ~~“I figure we give it~~ a ~~week or so for~~ you to talk to the ~~scouts—not~~ to mention the various polity leaders who’ve been helping put this thing together on the ~~QT—and we should be~~ all ~~ready~~ to go.” He chuckled. ~~“Aggie was kind enough~~ to sign on as Brubeck CEO ''pro tem ''while I’ll be off with you. Who knows, maybe she’ll decide she likes it enough that she takes over for good even after we get back.”		Zane shook his head. “Nowhere ''near'' that fast, I’m afraid. These things take time. It’ll be two or three months at best, probably closer to four or five.”

			Madison grimaced. “Ugh. I tell you what, just fuel the ''Daydream Believer'' back up and I’ll go back there right now and rescue them myself. If ‘Mantha was able to hack their systems to a fare-thee-well as just a RIDE, imagine what an Integrate can do!”

			Zane held up a hand. “Hold up there, cowgirl. We need you here to talk to the Scouts—not to mention the various polity leaders who’ve been helping put this thing together on the QT. It’s one thing for me to talk about the place, but you’re the one who’s actually been there. If you want the planet saved good and proper, you’re going to have to get behind the fleet and help me push.”

			Madison sighed. “I guess you’re right. Samantha ''tells'' me you’re right. Dammit. Ugh, I hate politicking. That’s why I went into the Scout Corps, so I wouldn’t have to deal with people.”

			“We’ve all got to make sacrifices,” Zane said. He chuckled. “Just look at Aggie. I’ve been after her for months to run Brubeck Mining for me. Now she’s finally agreed to sign on as Brubeck CEO ''pro tem'' while I’ll be off with you. Who knows, maybe she’ll decide she likes it enough that she takes over for good even after we get back.”

	Agatha rolled her eyes. “Not likely. We’ve got our own lives, you know.”		Agatha rolled her eyes. “Not likely. We’ve got our own lives, you know.”

Robotech Master: /* Chapter Fourteen: Meeting the Others */ Why do I keep finding typos?

2014-06-22T00:47:10Z

Chapter Fourteen: Meeting the Others: Why do I keep finding typos?

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	Madison chuckled. “Well, they’ll soon learn better.”		Madison chuckled. “Well, they’ll soon learn better.”

	The meeting went off without a hitch. Hamner was waiting by the side of the road to the campsite as the truck trundled up, dressed in some local clothing Madison had bought in town, thumb out in the universal hitchhiking gesture. He climbed in, the other occupants of the truck blindfolded themselves and lay down in back, and Hamner took them on a merry ride full of twists and turns, ending up in a forest clearing about fifty kilometers further out than the camp site, just barely within the terraformed belt.of land surrounding the settled area. The tree coverage would give them some protection against any overhead satellite surveys. Madison still wasn’t entirely sure she bought that Totalia didn’t do orbital recon, and even if they didn’t have satellites now they could easily put them up at need.		The meeting went off without a hitch. Hamner was waiting by the side of the road to the campsite as the truck trundled up, dressed in some local clothing Madison had bought in town, thumb out in the universal hitchhiking gesture. He climbed in, the other occupants of the truck blindfolded themselves and lay down in back, and Hamner took them on a merry ride full of twists and turns, ending up in a forest clearing about fifty kilometers further out than the camp site, just barely within the terraformed belt of land surrounding the settled area. The tree coverage would give them some protection against any overhead satellite surveys. Madison still wasn’t entirely sure she bought that Totalia didn’t do orbital recon, and even if they didn’t have satellites now they could easily put them up at need.

	“Well, here we are!” Hamner said cheerfully as he pulled the truck to a halt. “No signs of pursuit.”		“Well, here we are!” Hamner said cheerfully as he pulled the truck to a halt. “No signs of pursuit.”

Robotech Master: /* Chapter Thirteen: Meeting Kendlen */ Another typo fix

2014-06-22T00:30:07Z

Chapter Thirteen: Meeting Kendlen: Another typo fix

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	“Well, let’s start with you,” Kendlen said. “How are RIDEs made? What do you do? You’re really…sapient?”		“Well, let’s start with you,” Kendlen said. “How are RIDEs made? What do you do? You’re really…sapient?”

	Madison grinned. “This ''will'' take a while. Okay, to understand RIDEs, you have to go back about fifty years or so. There’s this big desert in the middle of ~~Gondawna~~, one of the three continents on Zharus…”		Madison grinned. “This ''will'' take a while. Okay, to understand RIDEs, you have to go back about fifty years or so. There’s this big desert in the middle of Gondwana, one of the three continents on Zharus…”

	=Chapter Fourteen: Meeting the Others=		=Chapter Fourteen: Meeting the Others=

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	“Are you sure you don’t want ol’ Chauncey after all?” Zane asked. “I could give him one last once-over for you…”		“Are you sure you don’t want ol’ Chauncey after all?” Zane asked. “I could give him one last once-over for you…”

	Madison shook her head. “I appreciate the offer, bro, but scout ships these days are downright tiny compared to how they were back in Dad’s. The engines don’t have to be as big, so the rest of the ship doesn’t get to be as big either. I don’t have ''room'' for him. I’ll be just fine with my ~~EIDE~~ bike. I’m thinking of calling him ‘Chauncey Mark II.’”		Madison shook her head. “I appreciate the offer, bro, but scout ships these days are downright tiny compared to how they were back in Dad’s. The engines don’t have to be as big, so the rest of the ship doesn’t get to be as big either. I don’t have ''room'' for him. I’ll be just fine with my micro-IDE bike. I’m thinking of calling him ‘Chauncey Mark II.’”

	Zane nodded. “Well, okay. Guess ol’ C. deserves his retirement anyway.” He said it lightly, but Madison could tell he was secretly relieved. She knew Zane had been serious in the offer, but she also knew how attached he was to their father’s old mech. She wouldn’t have wanted to take it from him even if she could have used it.		Zane nodded. “Well, okay. Guess ol’ C. deserves his retirement anyway.” He said it lightly, but Madison could tell he was secretly relieved. She knew Zane had been serious in the offer, but she also knew how attached he was to their father’s old mech. She wouldn’t have wanted to take it from him even if she could have used it.
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	Madison peered down past her legs through the transparent viewports below. The tan and blue desert was retreating beneath her, and the planet taking on distinctly rounded characteristics.		Madison peered down past her legs through the transparent viewports below. The tan and blue desert was retreating beneath her, and the planet taking on distinctly rounded characteristics.

	It would be a few more hours before she was safe to go superluminal, and Madison occupied them by checking the contents of her ship’s small cargo bay—and in particular her ~~EIDE~~ armored suit, which she called Chauncey Mark Two in honor of her father’s old IDE.		It would be a few more hours before she was safe to go superluminal, and Madison occupied them by checking the contents of her ship’s small cargo bay—and in particular her micro-IDE armored suit, which she called Chauncey Mark Two in honor of her father’s old IDE.

	Though her father had used Chauncey over his own career as a scout, there hadn’t been any question of Madison using it in hers. As she’d told Zane, there just wasn’t room to take him. Chauncey Two was an all-terrain skimmer bike with a defensive robot form that packed down into a small cube for easy storage. There was just room in the cargo bay to unpack him for a status check.		Though her father had used Chauncey over his own career as a scout, there hadn’t been any question of Madison using it in hers. As she’d told Zane, there just wasn’t room to take him. Chauncey Two was an all-terrain skimmer bike with a defensive robot form that packed down into a small cube for easy storage. There was just room in the cargo bay to unpack him for a status check.
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	“But…you’re breaking half a dozen laws just by ''being'' here!” Madison said. “You’re making ''me'' break them! It’s illegal to take RIDEs outsystem, everybody knows that!”		“But…you’re breaking half a dozen laws just by ''being'' here!” Madison said. “You’re making ''me'' break them! It’s illegal to take RIDEs outsystem, everybody knows that!”

	Samantha snorted. “Oh, come on. You know as well as I do those laws are meant to keep us out of the grasping hands of Earth and the colonies, and we’re heading in exactly the opposite direction from there,” she said. “No one out that-a-way except the little green men. Me, I wanna see some of the galaxy. Anyway, when you get right down to it, that ~~EIDE~~ of yours contains exactly the same illicit tech, but you don’t have any problems taking ''it'' along.”		Samantha snorted. “Oh, come on. You know as well as I do those laws are meant to keep us out of the grasping hands of Earth and the colonies, and we’re heading in exactly the opposite direction from there,” she said. “No one out that-a-way except the little green men. Me, I wanna see some of the galaxy. Anyway, when you get right down to it, that micro-IDE of yours contains exactly the same illicit tech, but you don’t have any problems taking ''it'' along.”

	Madison frowned. “You know I’m only supplied for one here, right?”		Madison frowned. “You know I’m only supplied for one here, right?”
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	“So you stowed away on my scout mission.”		“So you stowed away on my scout mission.”

	“Look, I know you’re mad, and I’m sorry about that, but I thought, y’know, maybe I can help you. I’ll be a lot better companion than that silly ~~EIDE~~. I’ve got better shielding, maneuverability, and firepower. And besides, I can keep you company.”		“Look, I know you’re mad, and I’m sorry about that, but I thought, y’know, maybe I can help you. I’ll be a lot better companion than that silly micro-IDE. I’ve got better shielding, maneuverability, and firepower. And besides, I can keep you company.”

	“You know my family doesn’t ''do'' RIDEs,” Madison said. “We don’t want anything to mess with our bodies, no matter how good the tech is.”		“You know my family doesn’t ''do'' RIDEs,” Madison said. “We don’t want anything to mess with our bodies, no matter how good the tech is.”
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	Over the days that followed, Madison made an exhaustive study of Samantha’s systems. It was, after all, something new to do, and new things to do were going to be at a premium over the next few months, Madison could tell.		Over the days that followed, Madison made an exhaustive study of Samantha’s systems. It was, after all, something new to do, and new things to do were going to be at a premium over the next few months, Madison could tell.

	She was mildly surprised to find that many of Samantha’s components were very similar to Chauncey II’s parts. In fact, a RI’s DE shell was really just a slightly fancier ~~EIDE~~ with the add-ons a RI needed not to go nuts from sense-dep. With what she already knew about Chaunceys I and II, she could maintain Samantha indefinitely. “I guess I can add ‘RIDE mechanic’ to my business card,” Madison said wryly as she shut down the maint bay sensors and Samantha hopped down from the table. “Which is pretty funny given that I’ve never Fused one and don’t intend to.”		She was mildly surprised to find that many of Samantha’s components were very similar to Chauncey II’s parts. In fact, a RI’s DE shell was really just a slightly fancier micro-IDE with the add-ons a RI needed not to go nuts from sense-dep. With what she already knew about Chaunceys I and II, she could maintain Samantha indefinitely. “I guess I can add ‘RIDE mechanic’ to my business card,” Madison said wryly as she shut down the maint bay sensors and Samantha hopped down from the table. “Which is pretty funny given that I’ve never Fused one and don’t intend to.”

	“Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach?” Samantha asked with a twinkle in her eye.		“Those who can, do; those who can’t, teach?” Samantha asked with a twinkle in her eye.
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	But for all of that, Madison realized, she was still glad Samantha had stowed away. Just because she ''could'' get along without company didn’t mean she ''preferred'' to, and having someone else to talk to even part of the time would stretch how long she could be alone.		But for all of that, Madison realized, she was still glad Samantha had stowed away. Just because she ''could'' get along without company didn’t mean she ''preferred'' to, and having someone else to talk to even part of the time would stretch how long she could be alone.

	She couldn’t recall hearing of any other scouts who took RIDEs along, but she was already pondering how to recommend it when she got back to Zharus. After all, when you got right down to it, Samantha was right—by the letter of the law, Zharusian ~~EIDEs~~ weren’t exactly kosher to take out-system either.		She couldn’t recall hearing of any other scouts who took RIDEs along, but she was already pondering how to recommend it when she got back to Zharus. After all, when you got right down to it, Samantha was right—by the letter of the law, Zharusian micro-IDEs weren’t exactly kosher to take out-system either.

	And so life marched on, as the ''Daydream Believer'' drew ever closer to the first system on Madison’s itinerary. The star’s name in the ancient Earth catalogs was an unpronounceable mess of Greek letters, but the first scout to visit had named its one habitable planet “New Indiana,” as was his right. Madison frankly thought it was a silly name for a place that had never had sophonts of any kind, let alone Indians, but not her place to argue with someone else’s decision. It would probably be changed if anyone ever did found a colony here, anyway. And if all went well, she might get to name a system or two herself on this trip.		And so life marched on, as the ''Daydream Believer'' drew ever closer to the first system on Madison’s itinerary. The star’s name in the ancient Earth catalogs was an unpronounceable mess of Greek letters, but the first scout to visit had named its one habitable planet “New Indiana,” as was his right. Madison frankly thought it was a silly name for a place that had never had sophonts of any kind, let alone Indians, but not her place to argue with someone else’s decision. It would probably be changed if anyone ever did found a colony here, anyway. And if all went well, she might get to name a system or two herself on this trip.
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	“Anyway, I’ll be at the airlock in five minutes.” Madison headed back down to the cargo bay to suit up.		“Anyway, I’ll be at the airlock in five minutes.” Madison headed back down to the cargo bay to suit up.

	A few minutes later, Madison clomped into the airlock wearing an environment suit under her Chauncey Mark Two ~~EIDE’s~~ Fuser form. She looked like a large dome-faced robot, with lifter pods and other bike parts hanging off the sides and back. There was barely room in the lock for both her and Samantha plus the sample cart, but they made it. Samantha dropped her hardlight pelt, and the sterilizing beams of ultraviolet light played over them from all angles for several minutes. At last, the projectors flickered out. “Okay, we’re safe to go. Shall we?”		A few minutes later, Madison clomped into the airlock wearing an environment suit under her Chauncey Mark Two micro-IDE’s Fuser form. She looked like a large dome-faced robot, with lifter pods and other bike parts hanging off the sides and back. There was barely room in the lock for both her and Samantha plus the sample cart, but they made it. Samantha dropped her hardlight pelt, and the sterilizing beams of ultraviolet light played over them from all angles for several minutes. At last, the projectors flickered out. “Okay, we’re safe to go. Shall we?”

	“Let’s!” Samantha said, bringing her hardlight back up and padding forward as the outer door opened. She bounced down the ramp onto the grass. “That’s one small step for kitty, one giant leap for RIDEkind!”		“Let’s!” Samantha said, bringing her hardlight back up and padding forward as the outer door opened. She bounced down the ramp onto the grass. “That’s one small step for kitty, one giant leap for RIDEkind!”
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	Samantha looked around, nostrils dilating as she sniffed the air. “Interesting scents. It ''smells'' alien.” She lowered her head to peer at the grass. “Huh. Take a look at this.”		Samantha looked around, nostrils dilating as she sniffed the air. “Interesting scents. It ''smells'' alien.” She lowered her head to peer at the grass. “Huh. Take a look at this.”

	“Hmm?” Madison knelt, a little awkwardly in the ~~EIDE~~ suit, and kicked up magnification on her helmet viewer to examine the grass. It was green veined with blue, and the edges were serrated, like a saw.		“Hmm?” Madison knelt, a little awkwardly in the micro-IDE suit, and kicked up magnification on her helmet viewer to examine the grass. It was green veined with blue, and the edges were serrated, like a saw.

	“I wouldn’t go barefoot in this, if they did let you out of the suit,” Samantha said. “Those edges are sharp. If I weren’t hardlight, I’d probably have bleeding paws.”		“I wouldn’t go barefoot in this, if they did let you out of the suit,” Samantha said. “Those edges are sharp. If I weren’t hardlight, I’d probably have bleeding paws.”
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	“Hold on, let me back them up in my on-board system. I’ve got memory to spare,” Samantha said. “Four…three…two…one…done. You never know. Should we dump our samples?”		“Hold on, let me back them up in my on-board system. I’ve got memory to spare,” Samantha said. “Four…three…two…one…done. You never know. Should we dump our samples?”

	Madison shook her head. “Nah. They won’t mean anything to them without the data in our computers.” She keyed the sequence to wipe the ship’s computers, then stood. “There’s one more thing I need to do.” She opened a shielded hatch in the cargo bay deck, revealing a compartment sized to fit Chauncey, and lowered the folded-up ~~EIDE~~ bike into it. “I really ought to space this guy, so there’s no risk they could reverse-engineer him, but…well, like you said, you never know. We might get the ship back. Either way, they shouldn’t find him without taking the whole damned ship apart.”		Madison shook her head. “Nah. They won’t mean anything to them without the data in our computers.” She keyed the sequence to wipe the ship’s computers, then stood. “There’s one more thing I need to do.” She opened a shielded hatch in the cargo bay deck, revealing a compartment sized to fit Chauncey, and lowered the folded-up micro-IDE bike into it. “I really ought to space this guy, so there’s no risk they could reverse-engineer him, but…well, like you said, you never know. We might get the ship back. Either way, they shouldn’t find him without taking the whole damned ship apart.”

	“Not room for me in there, is there?” Samantha said wryly.		“Not room for me in there, is there?” Samantha said wryly.