Raven enters the mine accompanied by her guard. She does a doubletake when she see's Leroy. She spots Miles in one section of the mine pushing a mine cart full of ore. Leroy walks up.

"I was told to expect you ma'am. Is there anything I can do or point out?"

"No. I wish to speak to my friend."

"Five minutes."

Raven and Miles go to a corner.

"You all right Miles?"

"Do I look all right? If we get back I'm going to spend a week under the showers. Where are we?"

"NEW YORK station, under the command of the KH/Kzatti Alliance.

"The KH and the Kzatti are working together? That explains things. How this get the way it is?" says Miles

"Early in the 21st Century Bear, Nitro and Outlaw were catapulted to another dimension--"

"Yes. He told me about that. What happened?"

"Well, after Parvo and the others destroyed each other the KH Military rose up out of nowhere and crushed the rebellion." says Raven

"I see."

"Any way out of here? Maybe you can create a diversion and escape."

"No chance. That's the only entrance." says Miles

"Any familiar face?"

"Only one. Steven over there is tinkering with the machinery trying to keep it running."

"Talk to him, see if you can get through to him." says Raven

"Will do."

"Break's up! Back to work." says Leroy.

****

Station promenade. Raven and her guard walk through the area getting stares from the exhausted humans. She enters a bar and see's Jutak hard at work behind the bar.

"My my, they weren't kidding. You do look like her." says Jutak "What'll it be miss?"

"Just tea, thanks."

"So, are we friends in your universe?"

"Umm, we've never met actually." says Raven

"I see."

Jutak beckons her closer.

"Do you want to get out of here?"

"Can you arrange that?"

"The next cargo ship out I'm sure I can arrange some---"

"JUTAK!!"

They both jump at sound. There in the entrance is Outlaw.

"Mr. Outlaw, what can I do for you?"

"Your under arrest Jutak."

"For what? I've done nothing wrong."

"That's not what the human we interrogated today told us."

Jutak balks and decides to make a break for it. A Kzatti guard whacks him on the neck and he goes down.

"Get him out of here."

"Bartender! A round for my men!"

Into the bar walks BJ with a few humans in tow.

"Sorry BJ, he's been arrested." says Outlaw

"What a shame."

He jumps over the bar.

"Who wants a drink on the house?"

His crew shouts their approval. All Raven can do is stare. They finally notice Raven and BJ goes up to her.

"Well well, what do we have here? A Raven look alike. How nice."

"Hello BJ."

"Oh, do we know each other?"

"Where I come from, intimately."

"Well, that makes one of us."

BJ giggles as his crew laughs.

"What say we do something to make it up hmm?"

Raven grunts in disgust and leaves.

"What? Do I come on to strong? Don't leave now darlin the fun's just starting!"

****

Station mines. The miners are taking a lunch break. Miles goes up to Steven.

"Steven DeFalco."

He turns.

"That's right."

"I know you on my side."

"Oh yeah? What's he like?"

"He's an engineer on a freelance vessel."

"Really? How interesting."

"Can um, you get me out of here?"

Steven chuckles.

"Your joking right? No one escapes from the mines. So don't even think about it."

****

Raven walks into her quarters and finds Outlaw already there.

"Hello there my dear."

"What do you want Outlaw?"

"Why you of course."

"Pardon?"

"To replace Mistress Raven. She must go. After she is gone you will take her place and after a week or two you will retire to Earth and I will take your place as head of the station."

"Your serious."

"Absolutely. You will do it of course, or you and your friend will have a very grizzly fate."

"What happened to you Outlaw? In my universe your a decent guy. And you helped the Road Rovers in some of their darkest hours."

Outlaw laughs

"The Road Rovers! Please don't insult me! They were stupid enough to be betrayed by one of their own kind. Well, almost their own kind. A man turn malamute named Steven Today. And he paid for his betrayal by hanging himself. Then the rebellion and then the KH Military takeover....."

Outlaw looks down in thought then shakes it off.

"You my dear will do what I say or you and your friend will not leave here alive! Good day."

Smirking, Outlaw leaves the room.

****

Mistress Raven's quarters. Our Raven walks in.

"You sent for me?"

"I'm hosting a party tonight in the bar and I'd like you to come."

"Why?"

"Don't you see my dear? Your perhaps the perfect gift for the girl who has everything! I want to show you off."

The door chimes

"Come in."

Krr'tok hauls Jutak in and he falls to his knees. He has been badly beaten

"He's confessed to everything and he's named several accomplices who have been arrested."

"P-please mistress, show me mercy." says Jutak

"Mercy? For letting humans escape? Krr'tok, a quik death. Don't make him suffer more."

"No! Please! I won't do it again! Mistress Plea---"

The door shuts drowning out his pleas.

"Now then, what are we going to wear?"

All Raven can do is stare in shock.

****

A cafe located in the station. Raven finds BJ resting here. An empty plate is nearby and he has his feet proped up on the table.

"BJ."

"Your disturbing my nap. Go away."

"I need your help."

"In what?"

"Escaping out of here."

BJ giggles.

"She won't allow it."

"There's something else. Outlaw is planning to kill her and use me as a replacement."

BJ opens his eyes and looks at Raven.

"Well now, this is clever of him."

"We have to stop him."

"Oh please. Outlaw's been trying to kill her for years."

"All right, you want to know how intimately we know each other? Were married on my side."

"Ohh, I'm liking this."

Raven sighs.

"How'd you get a ship of your own?"

"I used to be her lover. That and partial wolves get special treatment. My crew worked their way up from the mines. They're all Alphas. They had to earn the trust of their bosses."

"Well I can see your not going to be any help."

"And why should I? You know you'll never escape from here."

"Has anyone ever tried?"

BJ thinks.

"No. Frankly my dear, your screwed."

BJ laughs

"Big time!"

to be continued....