Siri--
It does indeed sound as though you are in a bind! I have some thought for you, but first I must tell you my happy news! Perhaps some of my luck will rub off on you. My news is such: I passed the first test! It's really quite an amazing story. After the Leader had left, I was quite nervous. I had no idea what was going to happen to me. Suddenly, this young woman approached me. She looked just as human as you and I, but there was something about her that just didn't seem natural. It wasn't her height, for while she was unusually tall and well built, she looked relatively normal. Her hair was flaxen and tightly braided to her head, but it was her eyes that seemed strange. They held a mysterious wisdom, a deep serenity that demanded respect. As I watched her, I realized just why she looked so strange. It wasn't her; it was the people around her! No one else seemed to notice she was there!

"You are from Chenna, yes?" she asked me in an accent I couldn't quite place. I nodded and she smiled. "I could tell. You have great potential, Chennian woman. Come with me." Shocked into silence, I followed her from the recruit hall into the corridors. We rounded a corner and she ushered me into a room that looked suspiciously like a broom closet. Only, when I got in, it was in reality a large training room! The walls were all white and the space was huge and empty. The door slid behind us and I turned to ask the woman what the meaning of it all was, when I noticed she was crouching in a battle stance.

"You are little older than 20, yes?" she asked.

"How did you know?" I asked her, shocked at how perceptive she was. She bounced from one crouching knee to the other, watching me with alert eyes.

"You are young still." Was the only response I could get from her. She beckoned with her hand. "Come for me!"

"What?"

"Come for me! Or I shall come for you!" So saying, she lunged at me. I barely managed to scramble away before her fist went flying through the space I had been standing in.

"What are you doing?" I shrieked, dodging another deadly blow. Indeed, it appeared that the woman was trying to kill me!

"You're quick. Fight back, you fool!" I couldn't help but do her bidding, for I found it impossible to dodge her next attack. I blocked it as best I could, and returned the blow, but she easily evaded me. Grinning, she attacked again. I was so confused; all I could do was fend her off. I had never been so in fear of my life before. As my tolerance began to wane and I found myself tiring, she suddenly vanished. There was no trace of her at all. Panting from my impromptu workout, I hurried back to the recruit hall to find that we had just docked at the Barin Base.

Siri, you wouldn't believe how shocked I was when the first recruits went through the door. There was a long corridor attaching the shuttle to the base. At the other side was the Leader General, looking meek and harmless. As the recruit walked down the hall halfway to the door he was flat on his back! When he tried to stand, he was knocked down again. I cried out in amazement, for I hadn't seen the General move at all. He was still standing at the other end of the corridor.

The next few recruits were more wary; figuring the General was using some mental speed tricks to fool us into thinking he hadn't moved. Unfortunately, only two of the next batch of recruits got past him, despite how careful the others were. I watched as slowly the others moved through. Less than half made it to the other side; the others who didn't were sent back aboard to go home again. Can you imagine how my heart was beating? I was nearing the front of the line when suddenly I saw a flicker of movement next to the General. Next moment, the passing recruit was flat on her back, gasping for air. I had watched the General the entire time, he HADN'T moved. Then it hit me: he wasn't using speed trickery; there was something else in the corridor with him.

I was next, and I walked down the corridor warily. Suddenly I was hit, and I was on my way to the ground. I looked up at the General in amazement, but he just gazed pitilessly down at me. I rolled up and away, for I would refuse to fail this test. Much as I missed you and the others on Chenna, this was my dream! I battled with this invisible force for a few moments longer. It took all my energy to keep from being laid flat. I had this odd sensation that I had battled a force similar to this before. Then the attacks stopped. I had reached the other end of the corridor. I turned and the General was a few feet away from me. He barked that I should get moving and stop staring like a hooked fish. I got onto the Base and at the moment I'm waiting for my next instructions.

Sister, your letter has me greatly troubled. I've heard much about the Beast you speak of, because some of the recruits wish to join his ranks of the Navy. Yet for all his bad deeds, his name still seems untainted. From your account, I almost wish to join his ranks as well, so I can give him a piece of my mind! I have trouble believing Pap would "sell" you without cause! He's never struck me to do such a thing. No doubt he has his reasons…but still, without consulting you first? I'm shocked! Perhaps you should speak to him of the situation. Something must be able to be done! If all else fails, I would try to scam your way out of it, at least until things have been smoothed over and rumor can be separated from truth. I know you have the mind and wit to back out of anything (considering how many times I was stuck doing your chores as well, I know this from first hand experience!) and I trust you to come up with something reasonable. In the meantime, I shall ask around the compound and see if I can't some up with some more information about your…fiancée. Perhaps I can find out something of interest. I'll send another data stream soon, but now we are being sent into a lecture hall.

Yours,
Jemma

Jemma~
Help me! Your last data stream said you were able to access the Admiral! Please, use your influence to help me! I've got a terrifying story to relate, and it started four solar days ago.

I went out to the dining pod for breakfast and Chingri told me not to eat. She told me to run, and I wouldn't ask questions if I really loved her and wanted to live. She clutched the table, as though for support, and she looked weak. Her eyes, though, were still quick and strong, and she looked possessed. I tried to reach out to her, but she rallied her strength and hit my hand away. She looked like she would kill me, Jemma! Tears streaming down my face, I asked her what was happening.

"Your father, your mother and the rest of us have been half-poisoned by the Admiral! Don't ask me how I know-- it has his cunning marks all over it. The poison weakens our bodies, the other part is the drive to live- a drive that will only be successful if we kill you!"

She looked possessed still, and when she referred to me, her arm snapped outward, fingers splayed claw-like, as though to rip me to shreds. Instantly after this, she lost the will to cling to the table. She crumpled into a heap and wept. Her eyes cleared long enough for her to say:

"Run, sweet little Siri! I cannot save you from myself forever. Please run!"

With this last roared in desperation, her eyes went back to their demonic veneer. The poison's effect was taking hold on her body and mind. I ran. She screamed my name as I ran, and crawled after me all the way to the door, where, when I looked back, she had stopped and was quivering.

The only way to go was north. My travel pod, which you (thank you) souped up for that race when we were children, was my only means of escape. I took it. The controls still felt like second nature under my hands. I'm now very grateful to the training I received as a Space Scout. The way to the Oracle Belt was easy and fast. The to one of the Oracle's chambers was ungodly difficult.

I waited, and am still waiting, to see Oracle Pflingrot. He is the wisest and the most powerful, but also the cruelest, so I'm told. I've been shown into pod after pod. Been given data siphon after data siphon, but I have yet to see him.

I hope your training still goes well, darling sister, and I hope your next data stream contains good news for you and me.

Siri

P.S. The Admiral escaped and sent me a holo-projection just now that he'll hunt me down for sure! Please make haste!