The Second Book of the Alienbutt Saga. The Rise of Mr Fluffy. Part 32.

Back aboard his own ship Hydroponic slumped into his chair next to Nifty who sat watching as the Ji vessel was consumed by explosions.
“Well?” she asked.
“Seems your cat is known to the Ji, and he’s not a friend. He’s some sort of foreseen Nemesis or something.”
“My cat?” asked Nifty “I should have left him behind on Sloppystool. Alienbutt always said he was trouble.”
“Don't know about you but I'm getting sick to the back teeth of all this prophecy and soothsaying crap. Everywhere you turn there's someone shoving it down your throat.”
“Well here's another mouthful for you Hydro; it's time to go see Wickede, the Book said I was to wait until we met your Ji there.”
Hydroponic opened and shut his mouth a couple of times, trying to work out a response before standing up and storming back towards the quarters. “Damn it, it's your watch. I'm sick of all this crap.”
Nifty waited until she heard him slam the door to his cabin and then leaned forward to flip the intercom.
“You left your cigars on the flight desk, Hydro.” She sat back and tried not to smile as he stormed back in and picked up the packet. When he had stormed back to his cabin she again leaned forward. “You not need your lighter then?” she asked pleasantly.
She didn't need the intercom to hear his scream.

The planet of Caprinae was isolated. It sat in the furthest reaches of the Outer Systems, far from the war that raged in the Ashia Minor belt. It was in an area of space that few ever visited as there was nothing to see when you got there. The reason for that was the most advanced planetary shielding and defence system known, or in this case not known. The people that lived on the planet lived a simple life, caring for their domestic herds of horned livestock, and took little notice of the outside universe unless someone actually took the trouble to seek them out. As no one knew of the planet apart from those that lived there, those people were often seeking ghosts. Even if they did find them, often the people of the planet would ignore their advances, but if they did decide to respond it would cost those people a vast amount.
The lady sat outside a simple domed building enjoying the warm summer evening. In her arms she held a small four-legged animal, absently scratching its head between the two small horns that were just starting to grow. The report she had received earlier was troubling. Someone was trying to seek out their planet. The Secret Order of the Bean had tried to do this not too long ago, but in a subtle way. As they were now all dead apart from General Jee, she knew it wasn't them. The Ick and their allies were too busy fighting a war they were losing to attempt such a foolish enterprise, and Snoodgrass was too smart to risk angering them.
Yet a number of their contacts had disappeared, each one a step closer up the chain that would lead to them. In response she had dispatched a number of ships that morning to put an end to whoever was doing this. Her partner, known to the rest of the universe as the Galactica Assassin Death Ray was leading the mission, yet still she felt unease. The Galactica Assassins were feared by all, even those who used their services. Yet here was someone unknown acting in a hostile manner towards them, someone not afraid of the reaction of what the order would do to them. There was a new power growing in the universe, one that was so secret none knew of it. The only information they had so far was a single word, Fluffy.

To be continued.
All images are mine.