"I want to see where they keep them," Etaine said excitedly on their way back to their quarters.

"Keep them who?" asked Widhbo.

"Their magiton bodies of course. I want to find their lair."

"Oh, I wouldn't do that if I were you, Etaine."

"Scared?"

"Certainly. I'm already in trouble. I'd be keel hauled if they caught me. You go ahead."

"I bet they're watching us," Etaine said.

"No doubt," Widhbo said looking up at the ceiling for hidden cameras.

She caused her hair to drift out from her head. It grew longer and swirled about her body until she was obscured within a dark mass of hair. "Nothing to see here."

"No, nothing," Widhbo agreed. "Just a dust cloud where Etaine used to be."

"Our room's blocked off, so once I'm inside I can slip back out," Etaine said emerging from her locks of hair and shrinking them back to normal. "They’ll never know i'm missing."

"Your Lotee will know. You’ll recall he spies on us."

"My Lotee," Etaine got a dreamy look on her face. "He learned that trick from me. He slips through the door and hides on the wall inside. But he wouldn't turn me in."

"What makes you so sure of that?"

"He's in love with me."

"Do tell?"

"Yes, really. I ate his love note which he attached to my sofa. It was a present from Lotee." Etaine said. She stopped do a few twirls and then danced down the hallway, her body flashing shades of pink.

"Simply adorable,' Widhbo said. "You do realize you’re in love with a hologram?" He frolicked along beside her, imitating her dance steps.

"He's a good catch for a ghost, I would think."

"I suppose so, when you look at it that way. Do be careful on your little excursion. I much prefer your company to Greyla's."

They danced the rest of the way to their apartment. The moment she was inside, Etaine melted into the door and left.

"Where's Etaine going?" asked Hal

"She's on a mission to find their hidden lair. Silly Etaine!" Widhbo said, adding the new insult he learned .from Munaci to his repertoire.

"No. That's a great idea. I'm tired of doing nothing," Hal said. "You can wait for Tajlon, I need to get out of here for a while. Cover for us, will you?" Hal flattened himself against the door and disappeared.

"This can't end well," Widhbo mused.

* * *

Lotee opened the door and froze when he noted only Widhbo's presence.

"Where are the others?" he asked. "Etaine should be here with you."

"Didn't you just take them to bridge? Silly hologram!"

"I took you to the bridge along with both of the ladies. You were instructed to return to your quarters. When I left earlier, Hal was here. So tell me, where are they?"

"I haven't a clue. I don't concern myself with their whereabouts."

Greyla came down the hall while they were talking and pushed past Lotee to look around the room after overhearing their conversation.

"I've just been dismissed by Lieutenant Cratus. So where's Etaine?"she asked.

"And Hal?" Lotee persisted. "Widhbo, it isn't wise to keep this information from me."

"I told you, I don't know. They could be anywhere on this ship. I suggest you find them before they get into any trouble, Lotee."

A wave pattern disturbed the hallway and Tajlon's form was teleported to their doorway. He was disoriented and ragged in appearance with a blank look on his face.

Greyla rushed out to take him by the arm and lead him intside.

"Tajlon! Where have you been? We're worried sick about you!" Greyla asked.

"Oh dear," Widhbo said. "He’s really messed up. There are holes throughout his files and part of his memory is gone."

"You've been hurt!" Greyla said as she examined Tajlon. "Bethon! If he did this, I swear he'll pay for it."

"Of course it's Bethon," Widhbo replied. "It was Bethon wasn't it, Lotee?"

"I'm not at liberty to discuss... "

"Oh, shut up, Lotee. If you can't be of any help then leave us alone!" Greyla said, slamming the door in his face.

"Tajlon, can you speak?" Greyla asked, gently stroking his head and reading his emotional string.

"I'm fine," Tajlon answered.

"You're not fine," Greyla came back. "You've been torn apart. I hardly recognize your signature. You're in shock."

"I made a bargain with Bethon," Tajlon said. "For our lives, Greyla."

"What did he do to you?"

"A lot more than I bargained for. I can't remember very much. I think he erased the worst of it."

"Sloppy job too," Widhbo said. "Always read the fine print, Tajlon."

"I saw the way he looked at you," Greyla said. "He's an evil bastard."

"We can't chose our god, Greyla, anymore than my father could chose his demon." Tajlon replied. "We exist at Bethon's pleasure. He can do whatever he wants with us."

"The hell he can. So help me, I'll kill him!" Greyla shouted.

"Oh, Greyla. Don't make threats you can't make good on." Widhbo said. "You know, Tajlon, my cocoon is the most comfortable place and there's plenty of room if you'd like to join me for a nap. I have your original files and could try to mend things while you sleep."

Tajlon nodded. "Thanks Widhbo. I could use some rest."

Widhbo enclosed Tajlon in his huge wings and swept him up into the cocoon.

Greyla paced the room with pure hatred flowing through her.

***

It was some time later that Etaine and Hal oozed back through the door and regained their forms.

"Where have you two been?" Greyla asked. "We need to stay together."

"We found their lair!" Etaine squealed with excitement.

"What?"

"The magiton vault, where they store the master files," Hal explained.

"Good to know," Greyla said. "You're sure you didn't get caught?"

"No, we didn't," Etaine said. "They're far too busy with the pirate storm that's coming."

"Pirate storm? That doesn't sound good."

"Oh, it's serious," Hal said. "The demon has taken the pirates and recharged with their ship's energy stores. He's moving under full power now and just engulfed a small asteroid, vaporized it. It's anyone's guess what he'll devour next. I overheard on the way back some of them talking about evasive maneuvers. He ate the probe they sent in and they have no clue how to fight him."

Lotee came in the door and closed it behind him

"Etaine! I've been looking all over for you." he said. "And you Hal."

"You missed me?" Etaine asked.

"Yes. But I don't think you understand the consequences of your behavior. It simply isn't allowed."

I promise to not do it again," Etaine said, her body turned a dusky blue color.

"I came to warn you the power will be diverted to the ships drive again," Lotee said "I'm not sure how long we will be shut down."

"You might want to ride this one out with us," Hal said. "Our apartment is somewhat blocked off. If the devourer boards this ship, there's a chance we might be overlooked."

"Not if he's vaporizing everything in his path," Greyla said.

"Lotee, if we die, I want you to be here with me." Etaine said, moving as close as she could to the hologram.

"I won't leave you Etaine, but we're not going to die," Lotee said. He gave Etaine a sympathetic look and relaxed his formal stance to put an incorporeal arm around her, "The Admiral plans to warp to a safe distance while they work on a strategy. This is the first time we've ever come up against an enemy such as this."

"The Admiral should strike a bargain with it. It seems he's rather good at getting what he wants," Greyla spit her words at Lotee.

"Where is Tajlon?" Lotee asked. "I've been instructed to take him for treatment."

"How would we know?" Etaine asked

"Tajlon's not going to make it," Greyla said. "He's emotionally damaged and physically unstable. He can't survive much longer in his condition, wherever he is. Your kind don't understand, but we're fragile and breakable. Tajlon's beyond repair. Not that Bethon would care."

"He appears to have gotten lost," Widhbo said peering out from his cocoon. "He's so unsubstantial and full of holes, he could leak straight through the hull."

"I'll tell Admiral Bethon what you said," Lotee replied. "I'm very sorry. Really I am."

They were suddenly plunged into forced hibernation when the ship went to warp speed. Everyone except Widhbo who kept Tajlon hidden safely beneath an abundance of feathers with their own power supply.