mephron@teleport.com (Mephron)

     "Ah, SHIT!" 
     I turned, nodding to my second.  "Yeah.  As usual, they screwed us over. 
Did we expect less?" 
     "No." 
     It was supposedly a simple job.  On the other hand, they don't hire a
team like mine for "simple" jobs.  They hire us because they don't want their
people to die, and we're expendable.  That's their opinion.  Of course, they
don't know that we don't happen to believe in our own expendability.  What
can I say?  We like the idea of living through things. 
     This was supposedly a quick run to break up a simple smuggling ring.  No
one MENTIONED to us that they were WEAPONS smugglers.  So, of course, when we
showed up, they took some of their display models, and started using them on
my team.  Except for me and my second, who were in the sewer under their
hideout.  The building had no basement, so we were LITERALLY right under
them. 
     It's a dirty job, being a freelance peacekeeping agent in the 23rd
century.  But what the hell.  We're good at it. 

                              Studio Surrealism
                                  presents

                                  CHESSMEN:
                              KINGS AND QUEENS

                               by Geoff Depew

Dedicated to: Eyrie Studios, the cast and crew of the Sailor Senshi at
BGCMUCK, and the Portland Area Muckers Society (making the Internet a more
surreal place since October 1995). 
      
     I hit the tac frequency.  "All teams, this is Command.  Report in." 
     Over the link, I heard the reports. 
     "Team 1 reporting.  We're holding." 
     "Team 2.  Taison took a shot in the leg, but he's holding." 
     "Team 3 here.  Heavy Metal is ready at your call." 
     "Team 4 reporting.  We're on the roof of the building, but we think they
know we're here." 
     "Doubleplusungood, 4.  Evac if you can, pray if you can't." 
     "Prayin anyway." 
     "3, hold back.  We don't need you yet.  If we yell, come a'runnin'." 
     "Understood." 
     "1 and 2... I hate to ask, Gin, but...?" 
     "I think I can get in there... but... I don't know the setup.  I might
end up in a bad place." 
     "Hold off then.  We'll see what else we can do.  Last thing I want is
your butt in a wall." 
     "First thing you want IS my butt." 
     "Enough."  Sometimes the banter in the team is fun, but now was not the
time.  Besides, we'd be working on tracking these gunrunners down for three
weeks, and I hadn't seen her in all that time.  She was right, but now was
NOT the time for our usual flirting.  "Team 1, full report." 
     The link crackled for a moment, then Youshou's voice came over.  "I'm
ready whenever.  Hoshi's powersuit is at full power, and Yone's guns are
full."
     "Here's the plan.  Hoshi goes in the front, you two using her as cover. 
Make Noise.  4, you listen for that and pay the downstairs a visit if you
can.  2, you go in the side door that we found." 
     "What about you, boss?" 
     I smiled up at my second.  "Me and the Lizard are gonna do a Jack In The
Box." 
     "You're going to give them salmonella poisoning?  Effective but slow." 
     "Doc, OFF THE TAC NET!" 
     "Sorry....." 
     I sighed.  Yes, it was good to have the team doctor listening in, but... 
I shook my head.  Yoush, Hoshi, Yone and the doc were a package deal - a team
that had worked together before - and we'd needed all of them... 
     We heard the sounds of shooting above.  I looked at my partner. 
"Going..... UP!" 
     Savashtar grinned.... and transformed. 
     Things weren't going well for the people we were supposed to be
arresting.  When we showed up through the floor, half of them were already
down.  If this was a "kill" situation, they'd be dead.  However, this was a
"take them alive" situation.  Stun shots were the rule.  After all this... a
dragon, even a small one, wasn't the thing they needed. 
     They surrendered quietly after that. 
 
     We led them out in handcuffs, two or three of them on stretchers.  (We
didn't do it deliberately... they fell through the floor when Sav and I came
up.)  The local police chief, Captain Penn, smiled.  "Thank you, Mr...
Bishop, I believe it was?  We'd have been lost without your help." 
     I nodded.  "And the rest of our fee?" 
     "Well... you see..." 
     Internally I sighed.  The rest of the team noticed the conversation. 
     "We haven't gotten the authorization yet.... so...." 
     "Captain Penn, we have gone through significant transportation to get
here.  Significant expenditures of arms and materiel.  Medical expenses for
our people.  Port fees, which were NOT waived for us, despite promises to the
contrary.  And, may I add, our personal expenditures, which were not particu-
larly small.  Now... we have a signed contract.  You have a set of arms
smugglers, their merchandise, and none of your people hurt.  You are contrac-
tually obligated to pay us our fee, plus the expenses, which we have itemized
for you." 
     His eyes narrowed.  "Is that a threat, Mr. Bishop?  Considering that
your people are all armed... we could arrest you for possession of illegal
firearms." 
     I smiled.  I've been doing this for a very, very long time.  And if he
tried it, my team and I would be offworld in an hour, and you could tell the
most direct route from the spaceport to the jail.  "You could.  And the
entire Guild of Freelancers would then cheerfully arrange for no freelance
anything ever came to this world.  And they wouldn't have to do anything
other than publish on biz.freelance the name and coordinates of this world,
and what you did.  Do you want to lose all the traders in this part of the
galaxy?" 
     He paled.  He apparently hadn't thought of that little problem. 
     "Uh... we'll see what we can do to speed that up, Mr. Bishop." 
     "Good.  The Chessmen are pleased to do business with you." 
 
     After launch, I wandered down to MedBay.  As I entered the room, the Doc
was typing away on her holographic keyboard, looking at the equally holo-
graphic screen. 
     "Hello, boss.  Taison's leg will be fine, just a flesh wound, and you
know how he heals." 
     "Like the rest of us.  Too fast." 
     "Yeah, well."  She spun around in her chair, her spiky red hair moving
in the breeze created.  It's a little hard to deal with the fact that my
chief MD looks to be twelve on the outside. 
     Dr. Washu Hakubi, four feet tall, three feet of red hair, and an
attitude. Also one of the top three combat doctors and full surgeons in this
side of the galaxy.  Rumored to be a hell of a lot more, but I didn't want to
pry.  It's one of the unwritten rules - if you have something you want to
keep secret, that's fine, unless it might come back to bite the rest of us. 
Sometimes even IF it might come back and bite us, if you feel it's bad
enough.  We all have our deepest secrets. 
     "It's a curse, eh?  You've got it the worst of all of us." 
     Suddenly the PA system beeped.  Savashtar's voice came over:  "Prepare
for warp transition.  In five, four, three, two, one..."  The room shuffled,
trembled... and then settled. 
     "Can I see Taison?  Or is he asleep?" 
     "He's in his usual state.  Half-drunk." 
     I nodded.  "I'll see him later."  I headed out, and down to Engineering,
thinking. 
     Taison was one of three ex-cops I'd joined up with on a small out-of-
the-way place called Bashtarelle.  All three were still with me.  Daisaku was
the ship's engineer and Team Three all by himself. 
     Sure enough, there he was in the bay.  Him and that combat machine of
his. According to every scientist in the galaxy, a full mapping of the human
nervous system for machine control was impossible.  No cybernetically
controlled war-robots, cars, ships, fighters, et cetera.  And Daisaku ignores
them and runs Robo cybernetically. 
     "Ho, Daisaku!" 
     He turned around, his face rapidly recomposing itself.  He and I weren't
the best of friends, for one simple reason. 
     "Yes, sir?  Is there a problem?" 
     I could hear him thinking "...with her?"  Yes, it was over a woman.  Sue
me for having an attack of literature into my life. 
     "No, just doing my usual tour to check on everything and everyone."  I
looked into our largest bay at the combat robot in there.  a hundred feet
tall, missiles, blasters, and other toys... and in humanoid form.  Giant
Robo.  Daisaku's father had built it for a criminal organization, then had a
change of heart. He'd given Daisaku the activation codes and sent him to join
the cops.  Once, before I met him, someone tried to hijack Robo, the only
cybercontrolled war machine in the galaxy.  I understand Daisaku worked for a
week to get the cockpit clean. 
     "I know you didn't get a chance to do very much on this one.,. but
that's part of why we keep you around.  Last Resort.  If something really bad
happens..." 
     He nodded.  He'd been twelve when I met him, and now he was eighteen. 
Most of that time was spent disliking me for something that was only
partially my fault. 
     "Well, see you, Daisaku."  I walked out of the bay.  My hearing was good
enough for me to hear him mutter, "I hope not." 
 
     I poked my head into the next room - the door was wide open - and
managed to get coffee in my eyes.  I hate coffee.  Especially with that much
milk and sugar in it.  ESPECIALLY in my eyes. 
     "WAI!  I'll clean that up!" 
     "No, Mihoshi...." 
     Yup, Mihoshi was being herself again, and Kiyone was trying to protect
the rest of us from her.  A thankless task...  As the two ran around, I
dodged a lot and sat down next to Youshou. 
     He was the only one here who was significantly older than me, and we
both looked the same age - late twenties or so.  He shook his head and handed
me a cup of tea.  Did I forget to mention he was civilized, too?
     "What's up with Mihoshi this time?" 
     "She wanted coffee.  The dispenser was clogged - you know how she likes
it, with lots of milk and sugar.  So... she decided she could fix it herself,
didn't need to bother Daisaku..." 
     I winced. 
     I looked again.  Mihoshi's blonde hair (how frighteningly fitting, I
thought) and light caramel skin were offset by her partner's (in all senses
of the word) dark hair and pale skin.  Add the fact that Mihoshi sometimes
seemed to be dumber than rock, and Kiyone was one of the best investigators
in the galaxy, and I never quite figured out what was going on there. Mihoshi
had the luck of the gods, though.  Never seemed to get hurt badly, and when
she was on a mission, all the breaks fell her way.  Almost scary, the way it
happened. 
     The two of them had ended up giggling on a couch, which was facing away
from us.  I looked at Youshou.  "Just seeing how people were.  I guess you're
all fine?" 
     He nodded with that air of serenity that was occasionally rather
damning.  Not to mention irritating.  "Quite well, thanks." 
     I finished the tea and got up.  "Good.  We're on downtime for a few days
- no jobs - so just relax and enjoy." 
     "I will." 
 
     My next stop was the bridge of the _Fischer_, where my second was
watching stars go by at about a thousand times the speed of light, or so. 
     "Sav?" 
     He turned his head.  That head happened to be at the end of a rather
long neck... 
     "Sav, what's up?  Not in the mood to change back?" 
     "I'm tired." 
     I nodded.  The transformation - either way - was extremely draining on
him.  Letting him rest was always good.  I went and checked the panels.  All
nominal.  Considering how much we'd paid for this boat, they'd better be. 
     "Doing the usual rounds?"  It had become my habit to check on everyone
individually after a mission to check on how they were doing, mentally and
physically. 
     "Yup.  Gotta check on Junta and Karin, after them Gally, then...." 
     "Farmel?" 
     "You know she hates that name." 
     He shrugged.  With his build in dragon-form, it's always odd to watch. 
"It's her real name." 
     I nodded.  "I know."  I turned around.  "Call Karin or Youshou if you
want off watch.  You need to rest." 
     I didn't see it, but I could tell he nodded. 
 
     Stopping at the next set of rooms, I tapped gently.  The door slid open,
and a young girl's face peeked out, topped by a mop of white hair, a braid
hanging down the left side of her face.  "Oh, hi, boss."  She had a towel
around herself, and she was blushing. 
     I smiled.  "You and Junta, eh, finally?" 
     She looked stunned.  "You... knew?" 
     "I knew about his Mega Playboy powers.  That's why I recruited him,
remember?  I figured the two of you would just get together.  Doesn't bother
me... the two of you make a good team anyway." 
     She blushed more.  "It's... it's... " 
     I nodded again.  "Is he asleep?" 
     "Yes... we sort of... um...." 
     "Went to bed as soon as we got on board?" 
     She swallowed and nodded. 
     "Just don't make THE mistake, eh?" 
     "I can't."  A pained look crossed her face.  "You know that." 
     I put my hand on her shoulder.  "Not that one... the one where you care
about Junta before the mission." 
     She nodded.  "I've had to make that choice before." 
     "I know." 
     The door slid closed, and I turned away.   
     Poor kid.  Not only had she been surgically sterilized in a non-
reversible manner (Doc Washu referred to it as "a butcher job"), but she was
from another world destroyed by the Luds.  Damned fanatics. 
 
     The Galactic Organization for the Restriction of Genetic Engineering, or
the Luds, had appeared about fifty years back.  They'd declared themselves
against the "evils of the genetically rebuilt, those recreated in Satan's
image".  Even two hundred fifty years after I was created, religious fun-
damentalists were still going.  Their current leader was a descendent of a
Twentieth-century lunatic named Jeremy Rivkin, who held the views espoused by
his multi-times-great-grandson. 
     Karin's job had been to genetically re-engineer people with what her
bosses considered genetic problems... like Junta, who had the ability to
focus his mental energies.  One of the ways he could do so was to become
utterly attractive to women.  The LAST thing they wanted was someone like
that having children.  So... they sent Karin to take care of him.  She
failed... mainly because the Luds attacked their world.  We picked up their
distress call and got them.  A world of two billion people... and as far as
we could tell, eight survivors.  The other six were high government officials
in their bunkers. 
     Savashtar's people had a native ability to engineer DNA.  Each female
stored the genetic material from the males that she mated with, and then
created the best offspring she could from that.  For that, the Luds warped
into the system, and dropped nearly a thousand neutron bombs on the planet,
making it an uninhabitable hellhole.  Sav was with me at the time, which is
the only reason he lived. 
     I had the tendency to kill Luds when I met them.  It was a habit I'd
picked up.  After all of my friends they'd hurt, it seemed a nice way to show
my appreciation. 
 
     Five meters down the corridor, I hit the hello button on the next
doorjamb.  The door slid open.  "Come in." 
     Gally sat with her left side to me, one arm on the chair's armrest, the
other with a soldering iron.  I raised an eyebrow. 
     "Damaged?" 
     "No, but it felt weird.  Loose connection." 
     There's no way (other than however Daisaku's father did it) to map the
human nervous system externally.  Internally is another matter.  Cybernetic
limbs and organs were easily viable.  Gally... well, she doesn't even
remember where she came from.  We found her in a stasis shell, inside a
lifepod.  The pod's main power had died, and the outer hull had been scoured
clean by dust.  No computers, no ID, no hardcopy.  With nothing else to do,
she joined up with us.  She was with Team 4, most of the time.  All three of
them could shoot, they just were better at hand-to-hand combat.  (I once saw
Gally kill a man by poking him in the chest so hard his sternum shattered
like glass.) 
     I nodded.  "Anything else I should know about?" 
     "Karin and Junta finally shacked up." 
     "I know."  She smirked. 
     "And Ginrei's upset about something." 
     (Don't ask me how a cyborg, whose entire complement of flesh was her
brain, got to be the unofficial counselor for the ship.  I don't get it
either.) 
     I frowned.  "Any idea?" 
     She looked at me with those big eyes of hers.  "No.  I think you should
go see her." 
     "I was planning to."  I noticed I'd crossed my arms - old defense
mechanism.  I uncrossed them.  Gally smiled at me. 
     "I'm used to you, Max.  I know what it means when you do both those
things.  You're not sure you want to know, but you also know that you NEED to
know.  Go talk to her." 
     I sighed theatrically.  "Yes, master..." 
     A plastican of Coke hit me on the back of the head on the way out.  

     Finally, I came to my own door.  I tapped a button, and the door slid
open. 
     A woman sat on the bed.  Her mane of long, green-tinted hair covered
her.  She was wearing a long white sleeveless dress... the one she wore when
we first met, I think. 
     "Ginrei....?" 
     She turned around and looked at me, the stylized rose on her right
breast glittering in the light.  "We need to talk."  Her eyes were hooded,
like she was holding something in. 
     My heart iced over.  What was going on? 
     "What's the problem?"  I tried to keep my voice light, but I could tell
I was failing. 
     "I'm not sure about things anymore..." 
     "What things?" 
     I worried...  Ginrei's history was harsh, almost as harsh as Daisaku's. 
Her father had been a brilliant scientist who'd gone mad, her brother was
equally insane... she didn't even use her given name anymore.  Pity.  I
thought that Farmel von Folger was a pretty name.  (Of course, people say I
have warped aesthetics.) 
     "The fighting.  I'm tired of it....  I've been fighting since Father's
experiment nearly destroyed Bashtarelle... then Emmanuel came close to
repeating it... and now... maybe I'm just getting too old for anything..." 
     I reached out and laid my hand on her shoulder.  "Maybe you want some
down time?  You've got enough money to take a good trip, think about some
things..."
     She shook her head.  "I think I want out." 
     "Out of the team... or..." 
     "Is there a difference?" she said, bitterly. 
     I turned around, stiffening angrily, about to protest, but....  No,
there wasn't a difference.  I'd been running this team, with most of these
people, for a hundred and fifty years.  (I'm older than that, but later about
it.) 
     "Then... I guess... goodbye is what you're saying." 
     "I think so.  I love you so much... but... I can't stand the fighting
anymore." 
     I nodded.  "We reach home-port in two days.  Do you want to...?" 
     I heard the rustle of cloth behind me.  "No.  I think it's best this
way. I'll ...come back later and get the rest of my things." 
     "Farmel...." 
     "Don't say it, Max.  Please don't.  It'll just hurt us both even more." 
     Tears - unfamiliar things - started to run down my face.  I closed my
eyes.  I heard her walk past me, and out the door.  She stopped for a moment,
looking back into the darkened room.  
     "Goodbye, Max.  I love you.  And if you ever stop doing this insane job
of yours... come back to me." 
     The door slid shut. 
     On the table was a chessboard.  Farmel and I had always left messages to
each other on that chessboard.  As I looked at it, I saw the message.  Black
King and White Queen, next to each other.  If you didn't know who's move it
was, you couldn't tell who would take out the other first. 
     I nodded, slowly.  Then I lay down on the bed - empty on the ship for
the first time in five years - and stared at the ceiling for a long, long
time. 
 
     There are times when being a machine that looks like a man is no
benefit. And I'd just lost my best link to the species that built me. 
     My team knows, but few outside of that group.  Cyberdroids were illegal
across the known galaxy.  Old Earth law that just sort of became galactic
law.  Even Gally was human, by that law.  As long as there was a human brain
in the system, the individual was human. 
     The worst problem is... I was almost single-handedly responsible for
that law.  When I was a lot younger, right after activation, I was consumed
with the desire to set my people - the cyberdroids - free from what I saw was
bondage, vile bondage.  So... I started a rebellion. 
     If I hadn't had the foresight to examine myself for a self-destruct
mechanism, I'd be dead too.  But... I was a prototype.  I never dreamed... 
     I never thought that all cyberdroids had self-destructs in them, too. 
     I watched as cyberdroids who believed in me, that we deserved our
freedom, exploded and died.  Each death ripped apart my soul... and I watched
hundreds die. 
     Even two hundred and sixty years later, they still speak my name as a
curse, a bogeyman.  Children who misbehave are told, "Be careful... or Largo
will get you!" 
     Yes.  My name is Largo.  Maximilian Largo.   
     On professional missions, I go by Max Bishop. 
     After the rebellion was murdered, and cyberdroids were outlawed, I hid,
and made my way offplanet soon after the first drives were available.  I
ended up on a backwater planet, where no one asked many questions.  Perfect
for me.  After a few months, a bunch of bullies came off one of the ships,
and decided that this was the time to be Old West-style outlaws. 
     Somehow, I got made sheriff.  I stopped the would-be banditos, and got
the reward.  And something clicked... yes.  This was how I would pay for what
I'd done.  So I got a Freelancer's License and did something with it.  Two
hundred twenty years later - now - I was head of the Chessmen, one of the
more respected (which really isn't saying a lot) freelance peacekeeping
/mercenary groups in the galaxy. 
     Oh, and yes: I can love.  And I can cry. 
     In fact, I was doing both as I thought through things.... 
     My team, thankfully, left me alone so I could. 

     The next day, I showered, and looked in the mirror.  My eyes -
mismatched, one yellow, one blue, for some unexplained reason - somehow,
despite being made of crystal, they still showed how I hurt. 
     As my door slid open, I stepped out. 
     "Sorry." 
     My head spun as I dropped into a fighting crouch, then relaxed. 
     "A little tense, Max?" 
     Gally was on one side of my door, Savashtar on the other.  I sighed. 
     "Yes, I suppose I am." 
     Sav nodded.  "Fa... Ginrei came and told us.  She figured you'd want
someone to help." 
     Gally came over and put a hand on my shoulder.  "Are you alright?" 
     I looked deep into Gally's eyes.  One night, ten years ago, she'd come
to me, looking for someone to warm her. 
     "No."  How could I be all right?  Ginrei - Farmel - was gone.  Five
years that we'd been together.  Five years of flirting, joking, loving... I
hadn't realized how much I NEEDED her. 
     Gally looked back.  "I don't know if you can tell her everything, or if
it'll make a difference.  But..." 
     I shook my head.  "She said she wants out... nothing more to do with the
team, or fighting.  I'm not going to try and force her.  Or orate her back to
me.  I screwed up so many lives once before, I don't have the right to do
that." 
     Savashtar shook his head.  "Max... we've known each other what, a
hundred fifty years?  I never saw you with anyone like you and her.  You
loved her, Max.  Maybe the first time you let yourself love anyone since
2035.  You need to tell her.  You NEED to." 
     "He's right, chief." 
     All three of us turned and blinked. 
     "Daisaku?" Sav choked out. 
     Somewhere in the last night, Daisaku Kusama had gotten over his anger at
me, it seemed.  He looked at me differently today than yesterday. 
     "Ginrei spent the night in my room.  Not even Taison has ever drank as
much as she did.  She talked for hours..."  He stared at me.  "I'd always
seen you as the bad guy, who took her away from me.  Sometime last night, I
realized that I'd never had her to take away, and you were good for her. 
She's hurting..." 
     He walked up to me, and looked me in the eye.  I could hear more
footsteps behind me, as other members of my team showed up.  But right now,
Daisaku had my attention. 
     "Are you going to let her hurt?" 
     I looked around at most of my team.  Gally, chewing her lip.  Savashtar,
leaning against a wall, looking at me over his sunglasses.  Karin and Junta, 
arms around each other's shoulders, wondering.  Washu, arms crossed, and foot
tapping.  Youshou, with that maddening air of calm.  And Daisaku, who I was
irrationally very proud of at that moment. 
     I straightened, not realizing until now I was slouching.  "Where is
she?" 
     Daisaku suddenly smiled.  "In my bed.  Don't worry, I slept on the floor
- I do anyway, usually.  Damn bed's too soft for me.  And she's going to have
a hangover the size of Robo when she's awake.  You've got some time to figure
out what to say to her." 
     I nodded.  It was times like this that the Chessmen felt less like a
combat team and more like a family. 
     "Then I have a few things to do.  Doc... do you still have that
RapiClone machine?" 
     "Of course.  What sort of an amusing DNA pattern do you want me to make
for you?" 
     "Terran rose.  Twenty-four of them." 
     She smiled.  "You old softie." 
     I closed my eyes.  "I'm going to go see Taison, then lock myself away. 
Someone had best call me when she wakes up or I'm going to be rather upset." 
     My team cheered. 
 
     I walked into MedBay again, next to the Doc.  Taison was lying on one of
the beds, smirking at me, his almost ever-present sake gourd dangling from
his right hand.  Washu headed into her office.
     "I understand you're going slightly mad." 
     I gibbered at him for a moment.  It was an old joke between the two of
us.  When I first revealed who and what I really was to the three of them,
Taison stood up, looked me up and down, and said, "Funny, you don't look like
a psychotic maniac".  At that point I looked him straight in the eye and
drooled.  We'd gone through the same routine every so often for six years. 
     He became uncharacteristically sober emotionally.  Biologically, I can't
speak for. 
     "You and Ginrei have been all people talk about.  Is it true she's
quitting?" 
     "She told me she wants to.  She also told Daisaku a lot of things,
apparently, when she was busy eliminating your sake supply." 
     He nodded.  "Damn shame if she does.  You two are too good for each
other to end it like that.  I miss my wife and brother too much.  I never
held it against her that her brother was responsible for their deaths." 
     I sighed.  "She does, I think.  When she wakes up - and sobers up - and
gets CLEANED up - we'll talk.  I need to tell her some things." 
     "Good.  It'll do you good to tell her that you love her.  And why." 
     I blinked.  "Does EVERYONE here know what I'm going to say?" 
     He handed me a piece of paper.  "Your script." 
     I stared at him, then began laughing. 
     Doc poked her head around the corner.  "If you're laughing, you're
cured. Out of my sickbay." 
     Taison said, "I'm not laughing, Doc.  Max is." 
     "Then Max is cured.  Or sick.  One of the two.  I still don't know how
to diagnose him properly." 
     "A voltmeter and a hammer?" 
     It was terrible, I know, but I couldn't stop laughing.  I was finally
releasing so much of the tension I had. 
     Somewhere inside, I knew that Farmel and I had a chance.  If I could
just make her understand how I felt. 
 
     >BZZT< 
     "Yes?" 
     "Max, she's awake." 
     "Thanks, Daisaku.  How does she feel?" 
     "She's throwing up right now." 
     I nodded.  "I'll bring down some juice and toast for her." 
     I did so, stopping by the galley.  Her favorite mango juice and two
slices of dry white toast left with me. 
     I hit the "request" buzzer, and the door slid open.  As I stepped in,
Daisaku stepped out.  He nodded to me, and I nodded back. 
     Farmel lurched out of the bathroom, wiping her mouth.  I said nothing,
just handed her the juice.  She drank it quickly. 
     "Did you come here to give me juice or to seduce me back?" 
     "To talk." 
     "About what." 
     "Ginrei... Farmel..." 
     "I hate being called Farmel, you KNOW that!" 
     I sighed.  She only protested about me calling her Farmel when she was
in a REALLY foul mood.  "And you know I only do it when I'm serious." 
     She sat down.  "Max, I..." 
     "Let me talk, please.  I love you.  God, do I love you.  It hurts me
inside sometimes to realize that.  I put things before you sometimes, yes...
but that's because of trying to keep all of us going.  If you came to me, in
the middle of a negotiation, and said, "I need you to hold me right now," I'd
call a recess right then and there, and hold you until you felt better. 
Nothing in the universe is more important than you to me.  NOTHING.  But...
this is what I am, what I do.  And I'm sorry if you don't want to deal with
that anymore, but I have no choice." 
     "I'm guilty of a lot of crimes, but the worst of them is being
responsible for the genocide of my entire race.  You know how that hurts
me.... you've held me when the memories rise up in the night."  My tears were
running freely now. 
     "Ginrei... I need you.  That's all I can say.  I need you with me. 
Please don't go." 
     She blinked.  "Max..." 
     "Stay with me.  Forever." 
     Her eyes went wide. 
     "Marry me." 
     I hadn't planned to do that... but it felt RIGHT.  I did need her, and I
wanted her with me.  I wanted to marry her... I'd just never admitted it to 
myself.  Dumb, I know, but... 
     She looked at the floor, not meeting my eyes.  "Damn you, Max.  Damn you
to Hell.  Here I was, about to tell you that I was going to stay... and you
say the one thing I've been hoping you'd say for four years.  What took you
so long?" 
     "I never realized myself... until now." 
     "Realized what?" 
     "That I wanted to marry you." 
     She finally met my eyes. 
     "If you want, I'll take you off field operations.  Put you onto support. 
You and the Doc can keep us and our gear patched.  Or make you senior admin -
hell, you've been doing it already.  You can stay at home.  But I need you
with me.  To keep me sane.  Attached to humanity." 
     I took a deep breath. 
     "Please." 
     She stood up... and walked over to me, until we were very close.  Mango
and vomit mixed on her breath was repulsive, but I wasn't going to react. 
     "Max...." 
     "Ginrei..." 
     She put her finger on my lips.  "Don't say anything.  Just listen.  It's
your turn." 
     I nodded. 
     "I was about ready to come to you this morning and tell you I'd changed
my mind, that I wasn't going to leave... but... I'm glad I didn't.   Last
night's a blur to me, but I remember some things.  Talking to Daisaku,
drinking a lot... and then a blast of comprehension.  I understood you,
totally, for a moment." 
     "Max... you're doing the same thing I do.  Blaming yourself for
something not your fault.  The cyberdroids didn't HAVE to listen to you.  You
were just someone.  It could have been anyone.  They were ready to revolt,
and you just became the focus.  We're both guilty of self-pity, Max.  It's
what makes us good at this." 
     She shook her head.  "I'm staying on field duty.  I'm staying with the
team.  And I'm marrying you." 
     I trembled.  She looked at me strangely.  "Max..." 
     There was a sound like water rushing around me, and a tunnel between me
and Farmel.  Then the lights went out. 
 
     Dimly, I heard things. 
     "Ah, hell, I can't make heads or tail of this!  I'm used to larger
circuitry.  I can't get any visual on this NSI architecture chip crap." 
     "Lemme look... oh, I get it, see, this goes to this, and then this to
this.... then you route it through this part, over to the nanobot supply
reservoir so they have raw material.  Not bad work." 
     "I don't believe it... he actually burned something out!" 
     "He's probably been under a hell of a lot of stress for three weeks,
Dai.  We're lucky he didn't do this earlier.  The system's been running
itself ragged from looks of things.  Something had to go eventually.  Look at
this, the reservior's almost empty.  I bet he hasn't even been eating for a
week." 
     "He's a real dope sometimes." 
     "It's done out of love."  
     My vision began to return.  I looked down at myself.  Apparently,
everything had gone wrong.  My body was a grayish color, with black webbing
across it.  That meant my human-sim systems had gone offline... 
     I croaked, "Ow." 
     Gally and Daisaku's faces swam into focus.  "Max?  Max, can you hear
us?" 
     I tried to nod, but it wouldn't move.  I said, "Yeah..." 
     "All the stress you put yourself under finally make something break
down.  We've localized the problem, and should have it fixed in a few
minutes.  The damage is in your self-repair systems, so that's why it didn't
adjust itself.  Once it's done, you're going to have to stay down for a day
or so.  We'll be landing just about the time you can get up."  Daisaku
frowned.  "Oh, by the way, anything to say to Ginrei?  She's been waiting,
and worried as hell." 
     I closed my eyes, and felt the smile.  "Tell her that I wasn't mal-
functioning when I asked her that question.  She'll know what I mean." 
     I could HEAR the two of them give each other a confused look.  Then
blessedly, I rested. 
 
     Sure enough, once we touched down, I was in full cheerful condition.  As
we stepped off the ship and headed for the bus that we usually hired, I
waved.  "I'll catch up.  I need to stop somewhere first.  See you all soon." 
     Naturally, I got a few strange looks. 
     I stopped in several jewelry stores around the port area before making
my way to the nicest one in town.  I'd remembered to wear my best uniform,
with the quietly understated Chessmen logo on the breast, and my commander's
rank pin on the collar. 
     The gentleman at Solonoid's looked at me as I stepped in, noting
everything.  He didn't smile. 
     "May I help you, sir?" 
     I inclined my head.  "I'm looking for an engagement ring." 
     His raised eyebrow indicated what he felt about the idea of someone like
me marrying, or maybe my financial condition.  "Indeed.  Have you tried a
pawnshop?" 
     I narrowed my eyes.  "May I see the manager, please?" 
     "May I ask why?" 
     "I plan to inform him as to your exceptional rudeness, and explain
precisely why I plan to leave this shop, never return, and advise all members
of the Guild to never do business with you again." 
     His lips narrowed and tightened.  Then another voice came from the back. 
"Charles, that WILL be all."  A man in a dark grey suit stepped out, and the
man I had first met stepped into the back.  The new man gave me the same
appraising look, but settled for a moment on my insignia and rank. 
     "Mr.... Bishop, I believe?"  I nodded.  "My apologies for Charles.  He
will be disciplined, I assure you.  An engagement ring, you said?" 
     "Yes." 
     He smiled warmly, apparently attempting to thaw my rather chilly
exterior.  He pulled out a set of rings.  Most of them were exquisite.  Then
I noticed one in particular... a diamond, cabochon cut, with emeralds to
either side of it, in a narrow gold band.  Apparently, he noticed my
interest. 
     "A very nice ring, indeed, sir.  And a bargain at only 20,000 credits." 
     I BLINKED.  "That's only 20,000?  Is it REAL?" 
     He shook his head.  "No.  Cunningly designed, but not real." 
     I shook my head back.  "That would be good, but I want real diamonds." 
     He sized me up again.  Then he nodded, and pulled out another rack.  A
ring almost exactly the same as the other was on the first rack.  "Now, this
one is true diamonds and emeralds, and costs 100,000 credits." 
     I nodded.  "And the size?" 
     "For a size seven finger." 
     I placed a credit chit for 100,000 and another for 10,000 on the
counter.  "I need it resized to a six and a half." 
     He nodded.  "It will require an hour."  He picked up the hundred, then
looked at the ten.  "Um, sir... what is that for?" 
     "Labor.  I understood such things were rather difficult.  I appreciate
good work..." 
     He smiled, and picked up the ten.  "Understood, sir." 
     I nodded back. 
 
     As I strode into our happy little home on the range, I was tackled. 
     One of my attackers was a short girl with cat-like ears and a tail.  The
other was tall, brown-furred, and doglike of face. 
     The girl grinned down at me and said, "Password?" 
     I rolled my eyes, and pulled out a salmon steak.  Her eyes went wide,
she grabbed it, and hopped off me.  I tossed the other attacker away almost
casually.  Then I stood up.  "Nice going, you two.  I didn't even hear you
coming." 
     The doglike one gave his version of a grin.  "Thank you, sir." 
     "Morobo, you don't have to call me "sir"." 
     "You're my commander." 
     I gave up.  Morobo was Vargr, and their society was so regimented that
trying to get him to call me "Max" would have required me to change the name
of my RANK to Max.  AND he was an ex-Marine, with all that military training. 
It was easier to let him feel at home and call me sir a lot. 
     Ryuquir bounded over after she finished the steak.  "Hi!  Why you late?" 
Ryuquir, on the other hand, was so amazingly informal that we tended to leave
her away from potential diplomatic situations.  It was just simpler that way.
     "I had to get someone a gift." 
     "Ah." 
     Murobo nodded.  "No one attempted to enter the compound while you were
away, sir.  There were four calls requesting assistance, and one call from
the local Tax Bureau.  The information has been passed on to your senior
assistant." 
     "Thank you, Murobo." 
     "Of course, sir." 
     I headed into the compound, whistling.  I walked over to my office,
where, as usual, Ginrei was going over everything. 
     "Hi there." 
     She looked up from our accounting records and smiled.  "Max!  Where were
you all this time?" 
     "Getting a little something." 
     "Dare I ask?" 
     I held up a bundle in my arms.  "Champagne, caviar, and something else."

     "Really?  What?" 
     "Uh-uh.  Leave that be for the moment, dear heart, and let us head for
the dining room." 
     "Dining room?  Dear heart?  Max, are you sure there's no lingering
damage to your brain?" 
     I sighed theatrically.  "I'm feeling unnecessarily dramatic." 
     "Gods help us all." 
 
     As we entered the dining room, she stared.  EVERYONE was there. 
"Max..." 
     I grinned, and sat her down.  Then Sav, Daisaku and Junta lined up
behind me, dressed in gold lame' sport coats.  I pulled one on, too. 
     The music started, a classic tune, heavy on the bass. 
      
          "I got sunshine, on a cloudy day 
           When it's cold outside, I got the month of May 
           I guess, you'd say, what can make me feel this way? 
           My Girl (My Girl, My Girl) 
           Talkin' bout My Girl (My Girl!)" 
 
     We went through the whole song, and I ended up on one knee before
Farmel. 
     "Farmel von Folger, my dear Ginrei...  I have been a terrible idiot for
five years.  For five years, you've been my best friend, my lover, and my
support.  I've trusted you with my soul, my very sanity.  And never ever 
offered you what you deserve more than anything."  I pulled the velvet-
covered box from my pocket and popped it open. 
     "Will you marry me?" 
     She looked at me.  Then she crossed her legs, started tapping her chin
and said, "I don't know..."  Then she grinned, and said, "Yes, you
overdramatic idiot!!"  I slipped the ring on her finger, and we hugged.  The
rest of the team cheered. 
 
     Later that night, we lay together.  She was cradled in my arms, the
sheets pulled up over us.  Her new ring gleamed in the dim light from the
window. 
     "Ginrei..." 
     "You can call me... Farmel if you want." 
     I smiled.  "Which do you prefer?  Ginrei or Farmel?  To be honest, I'll
call you whichever you want more... I just called you Farmel to get your
attention when I had to." 
     "No... Farmel.  But just you.  I'll deck anyone else." 
     I snuggled up close.  "Farmel... can I ask you something a little odd?" 
     "Sure." 
     "I want to make something special for us.  If I gave you the choice...
would you build a small house on the base?" 
     "Just for us." 
     "Yes." 
     "Hmmm.  No." 
     "Why not?" 
     "Max, part of why this team works so well is the fact that we know that
we can come bother you almost anytime.  A house away from the main base...
that would sort of get in the way of that." 
     I nodded.  "As usual, Farmel, you understand a lot more than I do." 
     The doorchime rung. 
     I looked at her, and she shrugged, pulling the sheet up a bit more. 
"Come in." 
     The door slip open, revealing the spiked hair and wiry frame of Junta. 
"Excuse me for bothering..." 
     As he walked in, we could tell he was feeling down.  When he was fully
active, the Mega-Playboy abilities he had made him look older and wiser than
he really was.  As things stood right now, he actually looked YOUNGER than he
really was. 
     "Junta, what's the problem?" 
     "Well... Karin..." 
     I glanced at Farmel, and she frowned slightly.  She spoke first. 
     "Does she think you made her fall for you?" 
     He shook his head.  "No... she thinks that she's not good enough for
me... That I deserve more." 
     "And you, Junta?"  Farmel seemed to want to handle this, so I let her. 
     "I don't know... I mean... I don't know if I deserve even her!  Does she
really like me, or is it just my powers?  If it's the powers, then I want her
to go.  Until she knows it's me she cares about, and not just my powers.  I
want more than that.  I never wanted these powers... I almost wish she'd
gotten rid of them." 
     Farmel nodded.  "Max... I'm going to talk to Junta for a while.  I think
you should track down Karin."  I opened my mouth, about to protest, but then
stopped at her look.  I resolved to check with Gally first.  I slipped out of
the bed, and pulled on my sweatpants and a t-shirt. 
     As I left the room, I heard Farmel say, "OK, Junta, turn on the powers."
     I crossed my fingers. 
 
     "Come in." 
     It had taken a few moments from the call to the unlocking.  WIth luck,
that meant... 
     The door slid open.  Gally and, yes, I was right, Karin were sitting on
Gally's couch. 
     "Hi...." 
     Gally gave me a "Do you think you have to be here?" look, and I
responded with a "Yes, I do" expression.  She shrugged and turned her
attention back to Karin.  I did the same, looking at her. 
     Her spiky white hair framed an angelic face, the braid hanging down the
left side of the face emphasizing the framing.  Her usually cheerful blue
eyes were downcast, and a little cloudy. 
     "Karin, I don't understand why you're doing this.  You're happy, right?"
     "Yes, but... I don't know if it's really right... maybe it's his powers,
or something, but... I just feel strange about it.   He's a wonderful person,
really nice, good in... in..." 
     "He's a good lover?" 
     Karin blushed and nodded.  Gally sighed.  She was the only one of us
that couldn't know that experience - she didn't have the equipment.  Part of
what let her be so neutral in things, I suppose. 
     "Karin... is there more to it?" 
     Karin bit her lip.  "I.... I... I just wonder when he's going to go and
find someone else to play with..."..." 
     I decided to interrupt.  "Karin." 
     She'd apparently forgotten me. "Oh... yeah?" 
     "Junta is up in my room right now talking with Ginrei about this very
same thing.  HE thought you thought you weren't good enough for him.  Some-
thing doesn't quite jibe here...." 
     "I... I told him that.  I didn't want him to know..." 
     "You should never lie to someone you care about.  Never.  If you do, the
chances are you'll lose them, no matter whether you want to or not.  Be open
and honest.  Not being open with Ginrei almost lost her to me...  Don't do
the same thing." 
     Karin closed her eyes, and Gally nodded at me.  I hoped she'd get the
message. 
     Karin said, "How could I know... his powers make him... irresistible." 
     I frowned.  "Gally, talk to Daisaku.  I'll want to talk with you too. 
We need to figure a way to temporarily block the Mega Playboy effect." 
     BOTH of them looked at me like I was nuts.  "I'm serious.  If nothing
else, we can at least make you know what makes you attracted to him.  And
someone ELSE might figure out how to block it, and if they do, we need to
know how to UN-block." 
     Karin nodded, while Gally mouthed "Nice save".  I nodded. 
     At that point, all of us had our attentions immediately redirected
elsewhere as an explosion rocked the base.   
     I hit the room-com.  "Attack!  Go to code Delta!"  Each of us ran to our
respective positions - Karin in command center, Gally and me to the main
attack zone.  Said zone was the front gate, according to the reports I was
getting. 
     "I wonder which person that's pissed at us is dropping by for tea and
scones this time." 
     Gally and I were fastest, definitely.  We were the still the second to
react.  Ryuquir and Morobo were on guard duty.  When we arrived, three of the
attacking force were dead, and seven unconscious.  Morobo was down - I
couldn't tell if he was dead or stunned - and Ryuquir was hissing as more
people piled on top of her to hold her down. 
     I nodded to Gally, who nodded back.  The combat mode of her cyborg body
activating, obvious by the stripes appearing under her eyes.  Ports opened up
on her biceps and thighs as she leapt into the air.  I stayed to the ground,
heading for the pile on Ryuquir.  I grabbed and tossed at random.  Two of the
men hit the stun-grid on the fence, and one landed on a fencepost.  I idly
wondered if I'd killed him.  Ahead of me I heard a sound like a flamethrower,
then an explosion.  That would be Gally.  Once Ryuquir was mostly free, she
finished the job herself, biting out the throat of the man directly on top of
her. 
     "Ryuquir, evac Morobo to Med, then wait for backup before returning!" 
     She nodded, picked up Morobo (she was amazingly strong), and ran off.  I
turned to see.... 
     "My, they grow them big where you come from." 
     He was easily twice my height, whatever he was.  A few large guns, lots
of armor plating.  Hmm... basic XO-4 powersuit frame with attachments.  This
would be.... 
     A blast from one of our turrets slagged him.  I sighed.  I NEVER get to
have fun.   
     I dodged his falling form and ran into the fracas.  Gally was leaping
around, leaving dead bodies, when I managed to get near her. 
     "Max, something weird is going on here... too many people!" 
     "I know... and no markings.  Who the hell is this?" 
     One of them pulled out a badge.  "FedComPol!" 
     I sighed.  The Federation Combat Police.  Their most fascististic, I
mean highly-trained enforcement division.   I signaled Gally to hold. 
     "Can't you people KNOCK like everyone else?"  I looked around... at
least twenty dead, heaven knew how many injured, and what looked like the
smoking remains of a tank... 
     "You're Max Bishop?" 
     "Yes." 
     "You're under arrest.  That group of so-called "weapons smugglers" was a
FedPol team performing covert supplying of rebels in oppressed systems." 
     "In other words, I'm under arrest for stopping you people from breaking
the law?  Pshaw." 
     "What's against the law by helping freedom-loving people free themselves
from tyranny?  Or are you a UG sympathizer?" 
     I sighed again, looking at Gally.  We'd arranged a simple code for times
like this.  Two blinks, then a wink, which meant, "Run at first chance." 
     "We were hired to break up a smuggling ring on a FEDERATION planet.  The
fact it was FedPol-backed means nothing to us.  If you'd told the police of
that world what you were doing, chances are we wouldn't be having this
conversation.  But, you had to be pigheaded..." 
     At that moment, the FedComPol scattered in terror.  The _Fischer_ was
landing in the large yard of our base.  I looked at Gally.  "Our ride's
here." 
     I grabbed the apparent commander, or at least the guy who'd flashed the
ID.  "I'm unhappy about this.  If I get more crap from FedComPol, I'm going
to be deeply unhappy.  Don't make me deeply unhappy.  You see what happens
when we just get mildly peeved."  He nodded. 
     The _Fisher_'s bays for Cargo Two and Three were open.  Everyone was
moving stuff out of the base - if it wasn't easy to move, it would be left. 
     I caught sight of Farmel lugging two bags, and ran to her.  "Much else?"
     She nodded.  "Go help Taison and Junta." 
     I ran, and found them.  They were pulling our data files.  "You two head
to next evac station, I'll finish this."  The two ran off, and I started
pulling the chips from their racks and putting them into travel cases
orderly.  One of the benefits of being what I am is that I move faster.  What
would have taken one of them four minutes, took me less than a minute.  I
stuffed the case under an arm and headed out. 
     Farmel was at the base of the ramp.  "We're clear.  Gally's running last
sweep right now.  Morobo's in MedBay, Washu's doing surgery on him."  I
nodded, then turned around. 
     She put one hand on my shoulder.  "One more look?" 
     I sighed.  "Damn.  That's been home for so long... and the goddamned
FedComPol makes us run." 
     "No choice, Max." 
     I nodded.  "Still." 
     Gally came out.  "Sweep clean.  We've got four." 
     We ran up the ramp, which closed behind us.  The _Fischer_ lifted off,
and stopped, hovering, half a mile up.  Zoomed optics showed the FedComPol
entering the compound, and sensors showed their ship in orbit, apparently
waiting for us. 
     With Farmel on my left and Savashtar on my right, I watched as the
large, rambling farmhouse that had been home between missions for almost
twenty years exploded and burned, tossing pillars of flame into the air. 
Then the tunnel system collapsed.  I saw their second tank go down into the
ground.  Hm.  Must have gone into the pool. 
     A tear ran down my face. 
     "Max?" 
     I looked over at Savashtar.  "Yeah?" 
     "Where to?" 
     "What contacts do we have in the UG?" 
     "Erg.  Not a whole lot... they're not big on mercs there." 
     "Not like we have a hell of a lot of choice, Sav.  Set course for the G. 
Not safe in the Federation for us anymore.  Not after that." 
 
     Evading the FedComPol ship was simple.  They have those huge, slow
battlewagons.  Our ship was designed to have the best on both weapons and
speed, but with the emphasis on speed.  They couldn't catch us. 
     After the transition, I checked on Morobo (just a minor blaster burn),
and then went back to bed.  Farmel was there, thankfully.  She said nothing,
just took me in her arms. 
     And for a little while, we made the pain go away. 
 

EPILOGUE 
-------- 
 
     A dark room, somewhere on Earth.  Two women sat in a room, deep
underneath it's surface.  Each wore flowing robes, and had a strange mark on
their foreheads. 
     "Your move." 
     "I see.  An interesting way to go." 
     "It was hoped that I could avoid the interference of certain others.  It
seems that it didn't work quite right." 
     "You know that she has a tendency not to be influenced by us." 
     "Mother always was difficult." 
     "And you might have brought her directly into the game." 
     "Indeed.  What about your move?" 
     The other woman smiled.  "I daresay you'll find it less than amusing." 
She pushed a pawn into the last row.  "Promote." 
     "I just tried to... you're promoting them to that level in the game?" 
     "Yes.  Interesting, isn't it?" 
     "At the least." 
 
 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DATAFILE REQUEST: Chessmen (Internal files) 
 
Warning: These files are for internal use only for the Chessmen organization. 
Release to anyone outside the organization is strictly forbidden. 
 
Note:  All dates given in Terran year system. 
 
Commander: Maximilian Largo / Max Bishop 
History:  Led Cyberdroid Rebellion on Earth in 2035.  Believed dead in
aftermath.  Left Earth on third colonization transport to Outland.  Made
sheriff in 2068.  Dealt with outlaw problem in 2088.  Left Outland in 2090.  
Joined Freelancer's Guild in 2006 as a Peacekeeper/Bounty Hunter.  Partnered
with Savashtar tai Guread zo Balazaier in 2108.  Formed basis of Chessmen
organization in 2114 with addition of Youshou Masaki, Washu Hakubi, Mihoshi
Kurimitsu and Kiyone (NLN) to partnership. 
Special abilities:  Cyberdroid.  Full abilities unknown.  Known to have
physical abilities greater than a normal human.  Also known to have the
ability to generate forcewaves.  Probable ability for extensive self-repair. 
Status: Wanted by Federation Police for murder of police officers and
interference in a Federation operation. 
 
Subcommander: Savashtar tai Guread zo Balazaier (Second in Command) 
History:  Left Serpentera (Terran designation for homeworld) in 1945 to
explore the galaxy.  Encountered Maximilian Largo in 2108, and partnered with
him in 2108.  Cofounded Chessmen organization with Maximilian Largo in 2114. 
Homeworld destroyed in 2240 by terrorist organization Galactic Organization
for the Restriction of Genetic Engineering. 
Special abilities:  Nearly immortal.  Superhuman healing abilities.  Ability
to transform into a creature similar to the Terran dragon.  In that form
possesses wings enabling flight.  In both forms, has superhuman strength. 
Also possesses a set of specialized glands that create a phosphorus spray
resembling "fire-breathing". 
Status: Wanted by Federation Police for murder of police officers and
interference in a Federation operation. 
 
Subcommander/Aide: Ginrei (Real name: Farmel von Folger) (Leader, Team 2) 
History: born on Bashtarelle in 2241.  Father Franken von Folger apparently
performed experiments on her to induce her special abilities (see below). 
His later experiments caused a massive energy reaction that nearly shattered
the planet.  Joined the Bashtarelle Special Police Squad in 2256.  Most of
high- level agents of squad killed in conflict with criminal organization Big
Fire in 2258.  Brother Immanuel von Folger commanded Big Fire operation. 
Chessmen organization visited Bashtarelle in 2259.  Recruited Ginrei, Taison
and Daisaku Kusama (see separate files) from disbanded Special Police Squad. 
See file B- 442 for more information on this operation.  Became engaged to
Chessmen commander Maximilian Largo in 2265. 
Special abilities: Trained in gymnastics, sharpshooting, and disguise. 
Limited ability to teleport.  Teleportation causes extreme stress on her
body, and is used only in major emergencies. 
Status: Wanted by Federation Police for murder of police officers and
interference in a Federation operation. 
 
Operative: Daisaku Kusama (Team 3) 
History:  Born on Bashtarelle in 2247.  Father constructed Experimental
Combat Mecha GR-001 (codenamed: Giant Robo) for criminal organization Big
Fire.  Father later switched sides and was killed by Big Fire.  Had
previously programmed Giant Robo to respond to Daisaku's brainwave patterns
only.  Giant Robo's manner of control is unknown - violates all known
principles of cybernetic control.  Recruited by Chessmen organization in
2259. 
Special Abilities:  expert cyberneticist, roboticist and mechanical engineer. 
May be only individual who understands operation of Giant Robo control
mechanism.  If so, it remains a secret. 
Status: Wanted by Federation Police for murder of police officers and
interference in a Federation operation. 
 
Operative: Taison Shinkotaihoun
History: Born on Bashtarelle.  DOB unknown.  Most of background unknown until
his appearance with the Bashtarelle Special Police Squad.  Brother Tetsugya
and Wife Youshi Semenju killed in combat against Big Fire.  Recruited by
Chessmen organization in 2259. 
Special abilities: Able to generate extremely high levels of bioelectricity,
and modulate it to either alternating or direct current.  Able to move at
speeds rivaling that of Maximilian Largo.  Strength unknown. 
Status: Wanted by Federation Police for murder of police officers and
interference in a Federation operation. 
 
Operative: Youshou Masaki (Leader, Team 2) 
History:  Born on Jyurai.  DOB unknown.  Believed to be a member of the
Jyurai royal house, unconfirmed by him or Jyurai.  Began working with Mihoshi
Kurimitsu and Kiyone as freelance associate member of the now-defunct Galaxy
Police in 1966.  Rescued Dr. Washu Hakubi from kidnapper Kagato in 1994,
recruiting her to their team.  Joined Freelancer's Guild in 2088. 
Encountered Maximilian Largo and Savashtar in 2113.  Established partnership
between his team and theirs to form basis of Chessmen organization in 2114. 
Refused command of team when offered, no reason given. 
Special abilities: possesses Jyuraian royal house ability to generate
localized force-fields known as "Radiant Hawk Wings".  Owns energy blade with
no apparent power source - may utilize abilities inherent in the Radiant Hawk
Wings to power it.  Parahuman (but not superhuman) physical abilities of
strength and dexterity.  Possibly immortal. 
Status: Wanted by Federation Police for murder of police officers and
interference in a Federation operation. 
 
Physician: Washu Hakubi, M.D., Ph.D. 
History:  Unknown before 1994.  Many rumors indicate she may be over 20,000
years old, but most are unconfirmed or apocryphal.  Found in cryosleep in the
starship of the outlaw archeologist and tomb-robber Kagato.  Awakened, and
joined with squad of Youshou Masaki for personal reasons.  Joined Chessmen
organization with other members of squad in 2114.  Also has been reported to
be a member of the Uu race, but does not bear the characteristic facial
markings of that race. 
Special abilities:  Expert doctor and geneticist.  Seems to have a command of
most fields of knowledge.  Believed to have engineered her DNA to keep her at
the physical age of twelve indefinitely. 
Status: Wanted by Federation Police for murder of police officers and inter-
ference in a Federation operation.  Also has one billion credit bounty on her
head from the Galactic Organization for the Restriction of Genetic Engin-
eering.  

Operative: Mihoshi Kurimitsu (Team 3)
History:  Unknown birth system or DOB.  Member of Galaxy Police (disbanded)
during rescue operation for Washu Hakubi.  Left Galaxy Police to work with
Youshou Masaki.  Joined Chessmen organization with other members of squad in
2114. 
Special abilities:  Unknown.  Possesses Galaxy Police combat powersuit. 
Rumors of distant relationship to Washu Hakubi, unconfirmed (and Dr. Hakubi
refuses to comment). 
Status: Wanted by Federation Police for murder of police officers and inter-
ference in a Federation operation. 
 
Operative: Kiyone (Team 3)
History:  Unknown birth system or DOB, appearance indicates Terran human. 
Member of Galaxy Police (disbanded) during rescue operation for Washu Hakubi. 
Left Galaxy Police to work with Youshou Masaki.  Joined Chessmen organization
with other members of squad in 2114. 
Special abilities:  Expert in investigation and infiltration.  Crack shot
with pistol.  Extreme resistance to emotional stress and physical pain. 
Reason for longevity unknown. 
Status: Wanted by Federation Police for murder of police officers and inter-
ference in a Federation operation. 
 
Operative: Karin Aoi (Team 4)
History: Born on Osaka in 2245.  Recruited for natural talents in 2257 by
Osaka Genetic Maintenance Agency (formed due to Osaka's accidental radiation
releases from deep-vent geysers, and the resultant mutations).  Assigned case
of Junta Momonari in December 2261.  GORGE attack destroyed planetary
population in January 2262.  Chessmen first group to land in March 2262. 
Rescued and recruited Aoi and Momonari. 
Special abilities:  Expert shot.  Apparently has been engineered for maximum
human strength and agility.  Some knowledge of genetics. 
Status: Wanted by Federation Police for murder of police officers and inter-
ference in a Federation operation. 
 
Operative: Junta Momonari (Team 4)
History:  Born on Osaka in 2246.  Powers manifested in November 2261. 
Avoided forcible re-engineering by DNA Control Medicine bullets fired by GMA
Officer Karin Aoi (see separate file) until January 2262.  Managed to get
himself and Aoi into shelter.  Rescued and recruited by Chessmen in 2262. 
Special abilities: Has ability to focus his entire physical and mental
energies on an aspect of his existence.  Is capable of high-speed movement
that resembles teleportation, superhuman strength and agility, and extreme
sexual charisma.  Believed his full potential remains untapped. 
Status: Wanted by Federation Police for murder of police officers and inter-
ference in a Federation operation. 
 
Operative:  Gally  (Leader, Team 4) 
History:  Unknown before rescue of ship by Chessmen organization in 2202. 
Joined after rescue. 
Special abilities:  Full-body replacement cyborg.  Arms constructed with
microplasma torches in fingertips.  Legs constructed with gas pressurizers
for leaping assistance.  Minor armoring of body. 
Status: Wanted by Federation Police for murder of police officers and inter-
ference in a Federation operation. 
 
Operative in Training: Ryuquir 
History:  Homeworld unknown, but has some resemblance to Meeranar. 
Discovered in storage area of Chessmen base.  Eventually corralled and
stunned.  Under interrogation, was determined to be no threat.  Recruited. 
Special abilities: Extremely strong, agile and fast.  Exceptional leaping
ability.  Apparently has natural ability to avoid detection from mechanical
devices, nature unknown.  (Also unknown is why Max Largo and Gally, despite
their mechanical senses, can always perceive her.)  Possesses fully
prehensile tail.  Apparently possesses ability to tap atavistic personality. 
Status: Wanted by Federation Police for murder of police officers. 
 
Operative in Training: Morobo 
History: Vargr.  Left Vargr homeworld in 2260 to serve in Federation Armed
Services.  Encountered Chessmen in 2263 during police action on Vargr
homeworld.  After leaving FAS, contacted Chessmen and was accepted for
Operative in Training status. 
Special abilities: Exceptional sense of smell.  Extremely strong.  Possesses
natural claws.  Resistant to cold conditions.  FAS Marine Training. 
Status: Wanted by Federation Police for murder of police officers. 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
DATAFILE REQUEST:  Political organizations: Galactic 
 
United Federation of Planets 
---------------------------- 
     Formed in 2122 after first (recorded) encounter between humans and the
Nesh'hazar (Also called Predators) on Vega 4.  Previously unknown parasitic
lifeforms had reproduced using cattle raised on Vega 4 as hosts.  The
Nesh'hazar team that had been sent to hunt the parasites was apparently
overcome, and the sole survivor allied with humans, showing them how to stop
the parasites.   Later work with the Nesh'hazar warrior called Broken Fang
developed the base of the diplomatic relations with the Nesh'hazar, by
instructing Terrans in Nesh'hazar society, history, and politics.  First
diplomatic mission to Nesh'hazar homeworld arrived in 2103, bringing with
them Broken Fang and his apprentice hunter, a human.  The signing of the UFP
Treaty settled a number of smaller disputes, and made public the fact that
Nesh'hazar warriors had spent time hunting on Terra, and arranged for
reparations to Terra, and the addition of two Terran families to the Listing
of the Clans on Nesh'hazar - those two families having the only known
individuals to have faced a Nesh'hazar in single combat and won.  This basis
of the treaty, considering the relative violence of the Nesh'hazar Test of
Growth and its surprising inclusion in some Terran-settled cultures, is
believed to be responsible for the militaristic bearing of the UFP, as well
as its antagonism towards the United Galactica. 
     The UFP maintains a large standing military force, as well as the
Federation Police, an interstellar investigation organization.  The UFP
Council plans the military strategies of the UFP, and leaves matters of trade
to the individual worlds.  They publically condemn GORGE and all other
terrorist organizations, but at times seem reticent to take direct action
against them.  This has led to speculation that some of these organizations
(GORGE among them) are fronts for UFP operations. 
     The UFP controls forty percent of the known galaxy.  The major races
allied to form it are Terran, Nesh'hazar, Vargr, and the shapeshifting
Malaugrym.  It is believed that the UFP is planning a major crackdown on the
independent military groups in its sphere of influence, in preparation for a
conflict against the United Galactica. 
 
United Galactica 
---------------- 
     Formed in 2198 from systems that remained unaligned with the UFP and
felt threatened by them.  After UFP actions on Meltran resulted in the death
of ten percent of the Meltran race, the UG formed as a self-protection
league.  It has been extremely successful as such. 
     The UG maintains a small standing army.  The majority of the UG's
Central Council's time is spent negotiating the trade agreements between
worlds.  All terrorist organizations are considered outlaws, and the
appearance of them is always followed by part of the UG Fleet arriving to
investigate.  GORGE is a particularly choice target for the UG, as they were
responsible for the destruction of the planet Serpentera, one of the
co-founding worlds of the UG.  The other major force in UG space is the
Church of the New Paganism, which is the major religion in the UG.  The only
major races that do not have large subscribers to it are the Uu (who have no
religion at all) and the Rashani (who have a form of ancestor worship).  As
some of the major precepts of the Church are tolerance and free thinking,
there is a decidedly freewheeling nature to the UG manner of doing things. 
     The UG controls, in its way, thirty percent of the known galaxy.  The
major races allied to form it are Terran, the reptilian Rashani, the
apparently immortal Uu, the now-destroyed Serpenterans (four survive in the
Galaxy, all male), and the Gargoyles, who make up the basis of the UG Fleet. 
The Gargoyles are requesting more military spending in the wake of the rumors
of a potential attack by the UFP. 
 
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
Author's Note: 
 
     For various reasons, I've been a fan of the Undocumented Features
stories since day one.  (Want proof?  Go check out UF2: The Long Road.  I'm
mentioned in the credits.) 
     However, they closed the author list before I could make it in.  Thus,
my ideas went into the bit-bucket.  Hey, it's their universe, they have every
right to do so.  So... what does someone who wants to do something like that
do? 
     What Phil Moyer did.  STart your own universe.  Again, a perfectly
viable option, eh? 
     So.  Coming to you now is what is hopefully the first episode (starting
in the middle) of the Chessmen.  There's a fairly large universe in there
somewhere, and a great deal of it is hinted at in here, especially in the
appendices. 
     Some people may ask me, why start in the middle, instead of from the
beginning of things?  Simple:  Because I needed to.  I needed a lot of the
concepts worked out in this story, Kings and Queens, in order to get the
background that I needed.  Besides, I like the literary idea of starting off
in the middle of a problem, getting someone involved right away. 
     Coming soon, if this doesn't fail utterly, will be two more stories
about the Chessmen, all of whom have secrets to tell.  This is a somewhat
darker universe than UF, but, as always, there's a light of hope somewhere in
there.  Max and Farmel are in love, Daisaku's getting over his crush on her
in the wake of realizing that, Junta and Karin, and who knows what else...
but there's a lot of bad things out there.  The Luds (also known as the
Galactic Organization for the Restriction of Genetic Engineering, and no, I
didn't plan that acronym!), the FedPol... and others, behind the scenes,
who's intervention in things hasn't even been seen openly in this story. 
     Anyway, there's going to be some background stories on Max (a story
titled "King to Bishop 2") and on Savashtar ("Knight to King's Bishop 3"). 
     And the next full Chessmen story is going to go into some depth about
who's against them.  So stay tuned for Chessmen: Pawns... and the full debut
of the real villains in the series. 
 
                                        -Geoff Depew 
                                         mephron@teleport.com 
 
------------------------------------------------------------ 
Ginrei, Taison, Daisaku and Giant Robo are from Giant Robo.   
Gally is from Battle Angel.   
Karin and Junta are from DNA^2.   
Washu, Mihoshi, Kiyone, and Youshou are from Tenchi Muyo.   
Ryuquir and Morobo are from Villgust.   
Savashtar is from the American comic series "Warlock 5, Volume 1".   
Largo is from Bubblegum Crisis #5 and 6.  (Well, and BG Crash! too, but I 
prefer to forget it exists.) 

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Geoffrey M. Depew        mephron@teleport.com           gdepew@efn.org
Boomer@AnimeMUCK/Makoto@RanmaMUCK/Ryuquir@DahlingMUCK/Reno@BanzaiMUCK
"In the heat of battle, tantric magic is fun, but highly ineffective."
		-anonymous