'Our plans are proceeding on schedule, O Luminous One,' Zoltar bowed to the image of a blue bird. He'd appeared suddenly, demanding a progress report. 'The factory is finished. Dr Mendelsohn is completing a final inspection. If everything is to his standards, he expects to commence production in three days' time. By then our technicians will be proficient at operating the machinery to mass produce the Earths downfall. We will be able to commence seeding with a microscopic plague within the week.'

'Good,' the ethereal voice echoed down the chamber. 'What of the young Rigelian engineer who invented this marvel? Does he know of the purpose behind the construction of his pets?'

'He cares only for the science,' informed Zoltar, a sneer clearly audible in his tone. 'Our experts have completed the programing for the nano-technology. Dr Mendelsohn's input will cease when he supplies the hardware, showing our scientists where to insert the software. Of the five prototypes made and tested in secret, two have been selected for the terror they will unleash on our unsuspecting enemies. Once activated, these nanytes will able to infect and multiply in human hosts, causing untold harm before moving onto a new victim when the old one ceases to live. Antidotes exist and our troops have been inoculated.'

'Earth's security force,' the Bird questioned, 'what do they know?'

'They are unaware of this new plot for their destruction,' Zoltar gloated.

'Your overconfidence has been your down fall in the past, Zoltar,' the spirit warned. 'What of G-Force?'

'Our sensors have not detected the Phoenix leaving Earth's orbit,' purple head bobbed in diffidence. 'Communications are being monitored carefully by our best operatives. There is no evidence G-Force recognises a threat nor have they assembled. They are blissfully unaware.'

'Our agents on Rigel?' enquired the image.

'Well placed within the government,' his subordinate offered, 'and so far undetected. They continue to aid our strategy and provide materials to achieve our goal. Many Rigelian's care less for Humans than we do, supporting our cause.'

'I hope so,' the bird chose that moment to vanish from the physical realm.

Taking heed of the exulted one's warning, Zoltar made his way to his communications panel. Placing a scrambled signal via their satellite in geosynchronous orbit around Rigel, he contacted the Spectran base. It took several minutes to locate the young engineer making this scheme possible.

'Dr Mendelsohn,' Zoltar demanded when the young man's image appeared, 'what is the state of readiness in our factory?'

'We will commence production as planned,' he grinned, a slightly deranged gleam in his eyes, 'if you leave me to achieve what I need in peace.'

'The prototypes are safe,' Zoltar pressed. Beneath his mask, cherry red lips demanded a positive answer.

'I keep my creations,' a furious expression crossed the younger man's orbs, 'beyond even your reach. We have an agreement. I have given you what you want. The prototypes belong to me. I warn you, do not cross me on this!'

Unsure whether to believe the crazy engineer, Zoltar cut the connection, his displeasure evident. Reconnecting to the most senior officer on the base, he ordered around the clock observation on the Engineer. Seething at this sudden change in plans, he smashed his fist on the consol. Bad enough G-Force constantly thwarted him, but to have this up start cross his glorious blueprint for success wasn't to be born.

On Rigel, a frenzied laugh escaped a cruel mouth. Engor Mendelsohn, top of his university class had been suspended for unethical practice within weeks of commencing his second year. After the investigation, he'd been refused enrolment in any institution of higher education due to his psychopathic tendances. In the years since, he used self taught knowledge to advance science without consideration for the moral and ethical values of society. It culminated in his nano-technology with the side effect of infecting and killing the host organism.

Just this week, he'd managed to strike up a conversation with his long time idol. Dr Louise Payton, foremost in her field of miniaturisation, chose Rigel for her honeymoon. Exploring the Hills of Serenity and the romantic beauty they offered, Engor arranged an accidental encounter. He'd been so excited he took along one of electronic gadgets in the hope of demonstrating his prowess. The most recent prototype, one Spectra didn't know about, migrated to the amazing woman during the meeting. In his somewhat warped mind, Engor believed her to be his only equal and therefor worthy of his finest gift.

Unbeknown to Jason and Princess, they'd completed half of their cruise as the leader of the Spectran forces discussed his latest attempted conquest of Earth. Thirty six hours into their journey, Jason's concentration waivered. Board with the assignment, he needed a new focus for his attention.

'This,' Jason guided Princess back to their cabin after an impressive evening meal, 'is one classy ship.'

'Dr Payton is the best in her field,' Princess returned, a delighted smile covering her features. Unlike her companion, she wanted to take in the opulent surroundings. They might be on assignment but the young woman resolved to take some time and get into her "romantic" character at the Chiefs expense. 'I managed to look up Tim Williston before we left. He holds a PhD in physics and works for the Alliance in weapons research.'

'So are you saying they can afford a cruise like this,' Jason smirked, indicating the ambiance as they approached their cabin door, 'or they'd make a good target for Spectra?'

'Both,' smiling, she answered easily. 'Just be thankful. We could be on a cargo liner taking three times as long to get to Rigel. Even with all the distractions, you'd go crazy on the second day.'

Snorting, Jason glared at her correct assessment. 'It might have escaped your notice,' he retorted ironically, 'but we're on the second day.'

'Q.E.D. you're board,' Princess teased, taking the electronic key from her handbag, 'and you're trying to tell me rapid intergalactic travel on the Phoenix hasn't spoilt you for any other form of space flight?'

This time, the look he sent could have corroded paint. Completely ignoring the smartly dressed woman at his side, Jason watched an older couple stroll hand in hand past them. The entire complement of passengers seemed to be on a romantic getaway.

'We've played the happy couple,' Jason lent down and whispered into Princess's ear for show. It'd almost killed him to keep their cover, unable to think of his sister in a similar light. 'We've scanned the ship from bow to stern twice and so far we don't have anything but several good meals to show for it,' he retorted with a scowl.

'Look on the bright side,' Princess grinned, a mischievous tone
mocking him as she entered their cabin, 'you get to spend quality time with me.'

'Great,' he rolled his eyes, 'and the cold shoulder from the Commander who thinks I'm muscling in on his girl.'

'You never did tell me…' she started to tease.

'And I've no intention of repeating the conversation,' Jason's tone closed the topic permanently. 'You can tell me how you discovered out secret,' he hinted, wanting, needing, to spend time talking about a mother he could barely remember.

They'd embarked yesterday morning. Apart from searching for micro machines, Princess struck up conversations with every person aboard hoping to find out if they'd defected to Spectra. Her easy sense of humour, coupled with whit and empathy instantly gaining new acquaintances. She especially engaged the crew. Pretending to be her new husband, Jason stood dutifully at her side to give the appearance of newlyweds. 'If I hear another comment about how happy we look,' he spoke the thoughts which leaked to her cerabonic link, 'I think I'll vomit. I need a break from all this pretending to be romantically involved. I'll leave that to you and Mark.'

Unable to hide her mirth, Princess's green eye's shone. In that moment, Jason looked at her with questioning eyes. 'What?' she asked, astounded by the hatred openly expressed on his face. It took a moment to realise the emotion came from his memory.

'You looked just like our father,' frowning, Jason's mind awash with memories, 'when you smiled like that. I can only recall him being happy before Mother died. Afterward, he changed.'

'He lied to you, Jason,' she stated softly, 'and Chief Anderson has been perpetuating those untruths.' Wondering where to start, Princess decided working backwards would prove best. 'I don't think you were the Chief's first choice for this particular assignment,' she moved to the lounge nestled beside the large bed. Between the two pieces of furniture, little floor space remained for Jason to pace.

'Why?' he questioned, 'what's this assignment got to do with our past?'

'Everything,' she looked up, asking him to trust her. 'What name did father use after you moved away,' Princess asked casually. The new bond made Jason turn and study her expression. It told him how important this piece of the puzzle might be. 'I mean his professional name…after they…after he told you mother died?'

'Tom,' Jason muttered uneasily, 'Tom Smith.'

Swallowing convulsively, Jason waited for the axe to fall. 'Our implants are based on the work by Nathaniel Thomas Tochigi-Smith, better known as Tom Smith to protect his identity.'

'Our father designed the cerabonic implants?' the astounded squeak exited Jason's mouth. If anyone would know something like that, it'd be Princess, their electronics expert. Nodding her agreement, he'd realised he'd missed something. Racking his brain, the information came easily, 'the woman Mark's meeting on Rigel…'

'If you'd recognised her,' Princess said sadly, 'the Chief's secret would have been exposed. Anderson stated he had reasons for supressing the truth. He couldn't take the chance you'd remember our mother. He also couldn't take the chance Mark and I might act on our feeling for one another in these surrounding even though we'd be on assignment.'

'It is kind of romantic,' Jason's sarcasm shone through his words. 'I can't believe I've encouraged him but I can see why the Chief didn't want the two of you to spend any time together. I bet one of you wouldn't let him take the couch.'

'Don't stop the innuendo or bantering on my behalf any time soon,' Princess used a light teasing tone to return the conversation to its earlier thread, 'because Anderson appears to be the only obstacle standing in the way for some time. I don't need you against me as well.'

Compassion clouded Jason's orbs. 'I think we were about sixteen when the Chief gave us the "don't do anything you might regret" speech. Mark took it to heart, feeling the responsibility of command. I think he gets a watered down version every year just to make sure he comprehends the issues as Anderson sees them.'

'The Chief said as much,' Princess replied unable to hide her discontentment.

'Tell me what you remember of our Mother,' Jason requested his tone unusually sombre. Patting the couch beside her which formed Jason's bed, Princess started a tale that would last well into the night. Morning found brother and sister asleep, side by side, taking steps to become closer to a resolution in their new relationship.

'Well,' green eyes brimmed with mirth at the evening meal table twenty four hours later, 'at least we know Spectra's bugs aren't anywhere on-board. So Dr Payton had to pick up her sample on Rigel.' They'd spent their third day sweeping the ship once again. They'd even managed to access the off limits sections.

'This time tomorrow morning we'll be disembarking on Rigel,' Jason agreed, hardly able to wait. 'Maybe then we can locate the base and put it out of commission for good.'

'After we've met with the rest of the team,' Princess reminded, 'hopefully they'll have some good news.'

'And the antidote,' Jason scowled. They'd been forced to leave before discovering if the science team headed by Dr Braxton managed to stop the nanytes invading every organ in Tim's system.

At the same time Jason and Princess finished their final evening meal aboard ship, Security Chief Anderson sat at his desk pulling his hair out. Three separate issues faced him and they'd all culminated in this very moment. In fifteen hours the reminding members of the G-Force team needed to be on Rigel, inoculated against the nanytes and able to leave Earth without discovery.

'Zark,' Anderson barked into his communicator, 'what's the situation with the L5 satellite?'

'My sensors detected a cloaked signal emanating from the ISO satellite hours after Dr Payton's ship docked at a nearby suborbital station,' the robot reported in his usual voice. 'I've only just managed to descramble the energy wave. Long range scanners noted extra hardware attached to the communications module. I immediately sent a service team to investigate. They removed the device and shipped it to the ISO lab where our scientist have been disassembling and studying it.'

'Have they discovered its purpose,' Anderson queried.

'I've tracked the signal to Spectra,' Zark remarked. 'I believe they've been monitoring the movements of the Phoenix and G-Force.'

'Just how,' Anderson roared, 'am I supposed to get Mark, Keyop and Tiny to Rigel without Zoltar's knowledge?'

'The ISO lab has completed the diagnosis,' the robot suggested in a calm tone, 'and has found a way to mimic the energy wave. They are currently working to disguise the Phoenix's launch by beaming a simulated signal.'

One piece of good news, Anderson smirked, one arm across his chest, the other cupping his chin. No sooner had Zark ended his call than Dr Braxton's tired face appeared on the screen. They'd been working for three days straight with only catnaps and snack meals to keep them going.

'So,' Anderson demanded, 'do we have a cure?'

'As you know,' Bill Braxton shook his head, 'Tim Williston managed to survive with multiple organ failure but he doesn't have long. We deactivated the nanytes in time but couldn't remove them from his blood stream before they caused massive internal damage. It's only a matter of time until his body ceases to function.'

'Dr Payton?' questioned the Chief.

'Won't rest until the team has enough antidote for the entire population of Earth,' Bill closed his eyes with fatigue, 'she can't stand the thought of anyone else suffering the same fate as her husband. By the time we realised stoping the nanytes didn't ameliorate the damage done to the human body we needed salvage several specimens to work with. Louise managed to isolate an active machine while working with Tim's blood.'

'We cultured it, using similar methods to viral reproduction in the laboratory,' Bill explained. 'Using on the theory the nanyte acts similarly to a human virus, we needed the human immune system to react against it. Effectively we wanted the body to irradiate it from within. Dr Payton discovered a new compound on the surface of the nanyte called susenium. We've managed to trick a humeral response to the molecule, as if it were a real invader, stimulating the immune system naturally.'

'Which means what?' Anderson felt slightly confused. Lack of sleep and nutrition made his mind sluggish.

Holding out five individually wrapped pills, Dr Braxton offered, 'a vaccine. We managed to force the human body to react to the antigen as it were the common cold. Dr Payton wanted to infect herself before testing the inoculation. We managed to come up with several volunteers, discovering the oral route could be used only if the individual hadn't been exposed. Stronger intravenous medication is required to destroy an active infection. In Tim's case, the damage caused by the sheer numbers of nanytes destroyed his circulatory system, cutting off blood to his major organs.'

'If this antiviral works against the material the nanyte is constructed of,' the Chief theorised, 'then it wouldn't matter how Spectra programed them, our population would still be protected.'

'Exactly,' Bill gave a weak, fatigued smile. 'Louise is a genius and the Earth is safe. We're working at full capacity to manufacture the oral and intravenous inoculations so that everyone can be vaccinated by the end of the week.'

Nodding in dismissal, Bill cleared his throat before Anderson could switch off his terminal. 'Do you have something else?'

'As you know,' Dr Braxton hesitated, 'Tim Williston had been researching cloaking technology…'

'He's come up with something?' questioned the Chief, an astounded expression covering his face.

'More,' Bill hedged, 'he developed a prototype prior to going on his honeymoon which he'd like his long-time assistant to fit to the Phoenix.'

'Will it work,' the possibilities were endless. However at this juncture, Anderson would settle for getting the rest of his team to Rigel without Spectra's knowledge.

'I guess we'll find out,' Bill glanced down at his watch, 'in about fifteen hours. That is when the couple you sent on the commercial flight arrive, isn't it?'

'Can it be installed,' a worried expression replaced fatigue, 'before the last launch window. Even the Phoenix requires ten hours to reach Rigel.'

'Then we'd better get started,' Bill answered grimly.