Prison Room, Metroid, VideoLand, Milky Way Galaxy, Q-niverse.  Stardate 1 068 054.79; July 20, 3013.

Michael and Lana finished their long kiss.  "Oh, boy," said Lana.  "Right now, I wish I had a sister."

            "Really?"

            "I'd tell her about you."

            Michael smiled.  "You're great, Lana."

            "Thanks.  So are you, Michael."  She sighed.  "I think we ought to call Kevin."

            "Yeah."  More carefully, he went to the side of the computer, avoided the wires that had tripped him, and pushed the lever back to the 'on'-position.  The computer terminal reactivated.  "Ha!  No problem."  He went to the monitor.  "Computer, could you contact Kevin Keene for me again?"

            "Please stand by," said the computer.

            Lana said, "Michael, in VideoLand, he's 'Captain N.'  That's because he is leader of the N-Team."

            "I see."

            "We, his friends, call him Kevin, of course, but here, he is politely addressed as Captain N."

            "Would 'N' stand for 'Nintendo'?"

            Lana smiled.  "Nothing escapes you."

            �Gracias.  {Grah-syahs.}  [Spanish]  (Thank you.)�

            �De nada.  {Dáy nah-thah.}  [Spanish]  (You're welcome.)�

            "Ah!  You speak Spanish?"

            "Yes.  It is an important language in VideoLand."

            "Ah!  I see."

            "However, French and Italian are each more common than Spanish."

            "That doesn't bother me too much.  I learned a lot about those two languages and German from opera, because a lot of it is in those three languages, and Spanish is taught in Southern California's public school system.  I suspect you know Kevin likes predominantly Baroque, Classical, and Nineteenth-Century Romantic music.  I share that interest.  Due to some of the nasty linguistic content, there are some late twentieth-century popular compositions that you probably would dislike.  Well, neither Kevin nor I particularly care for nasty language.  We like certain types of popular music some, but we think it just pales compared to the romanticism of Wagner or the elegance of Mozart."

            "I feel the same way.  In fact, Kevin's learned to write his own music."

            "That's wonderful!  I'm going to have to listen to every single measure of that!"  The computer screen flashed on and showed Kevin and Thomas.

            "I see you managed to get back to us, Michael," said Kevin.

            "Oh, Kevin, I'm so glad to see you," said Lana.

            Kevin smiled at her.  "I'm glad to see you, too, Lana."  He saw something in her eyes, then he turned serious.  Michael knew exactly what that meant.

            "-Sigh.-  You know," Michael said.

            "Don't worry about it for now, you two.  Now, where are you in Metroid?"

            Lana said, "I think we're in Norfair.  I feel the heat coming through the doors, and I recognise the wall structure.  Kevin, do you intend to come get us out?"

            "Some time ago, a group from the team - MegaMan, MegaMan X, Samus, Tragg, Jean-Léonard, and Rogue - went to Metroid to save you and Wesley.  They were captured.  MotherBrain says if I step foot into Brinstar, that group gets killed."

            "Oh, no.  So, Kevin, what do we do?"

            "Lana, you know that spare Power Pad and Zapper you keep in case I ever lose mine?"

            "Oh, yeah!  You want me to give them to Michael?"

            "Yes.  He's as good as I am.  He'll take to them easily."

            "I won't disappoint you, Kevin," Michael said.  "Want us to get these guys and the others you were talking about out of here, too?"

            "That would be good, yes," said Kevin.

            "Ah, Kevin?"

            "What is it, Michael?"

            "You know when I told you I saw our parents doing something that night?"

            "Yes, I remember.  What about it?"

            "Well, thanks to Lana, I now know. . . I now know how special that was to them.  I didn't understand that then, but I sure do now."

            Kevin saw the truth in his eyes.  "I'm glad, Michael.  And I must apologise for snapping at you.  But we can discuss that later.  Now, I'm counting on you, brother, to get those people out of there.  Will you do that?"

            "I certainly will, Kevin."

            "For whom?"

            "For them. . . and for you, brother."

            "All right.  Lana, when he gets you all to the surface, call me.  I'll come in case MotherBrain decides to do something."

            "Sure, Kevin," Lana said.  "And is this Thomas?"

            Thomas smiled.  "It sure is, Mom."

            "The last time I saw you," said Lana, "you were one year old."  She grew a bit sad, but this time she managed to keep from crying.

            "That's okay, Mom, really," Thomas said with a very gentle voice.  "What happened that day wasn't your fault.  I remember.  I remember you from that day, Mother.  Thanks to Father, I know what you're like.  And you're as beautiful as he described."

            Lana smiled.  "Being so sweet must run in you guys' blood."  She assumed a look of greater concern.  "But. . . but what about Kelly?"

            "My dear twin is resting.  Don't worry.  She'll be safe as long as I'm around."

            "All right.  I was just concerned because she wasn't there with you.  -Sigh.-"

            "Where are those others you mentioned who came to save Lana and Wesley but were captured?" Michael asked.

            Kevin tapped some buttons.  "They're in a heat-proof cell in the depths of Norfair.  To reach them, you must first pass through Ridley's lair.  Some Borg, operating under MotherBrain's command, are holding our pals."

            Lana said, "Looks like we'll be depending partly on Wesley's Q-cubed powers."

            "Yeah.  The sooner you get on with this, the sooner you'll be out of there.  And the better that will be for all of you."

            "Kev," Michael asked, "how do we withstand Norfair's heat?"

            "The Zapper has a Varia ray," said Kevin.  "Turn it on, shoot someone, and that person has Varia protection for a day at least."

            "All right.  Talk to you later, brother.  Michael out."  Kevin and Thomas disappeared from the screen.  Michael closed his eyes.  "Kev knows I kissed you, Lana."

            "No," said Lana.  "He knows you and I kissed each other."

            "You admit it?"

            "Well, hiding it sure won't help.  In fact, I'm the one who initiated it."  She closed her eyes and turned her head down.  "Michael, to tell the absolute truth, I'm wildly in love with you."  She opened her eyes and looked in his, then she stepped a bit closer to him.  "I definitely do still love Kevin in the ways I've always loved him.  When I saw him appear on that screen, my strong feelings for him became immediate to me.  It almost overwhelmed me.  Yet. . . yet, I'm also developing some of the same feelings for you."

            "Lana, I'm truly sorry," Michael said.  "You yourself told me that we shouldn't have the kind of relationship you have with him.  We can't. . . we can't make love, whatever that is."

            "Haven't you studied sexual intercourse in school yet?"

            "No.  I was very ill the beginning of the year I was supposed to begin first grade, and the school wouldn't admit me when I was well enough to begin going.  I was supposed to study that in biology, and I saw it in the course description.  And I don't pay attention when less considerate boys my age talk about it.  What is it exactly?"

            "Speaking in strictly physical terms. . . oh, how do I tell you this?  Do you watch a lot of movies?"

            "Yeah.  Some keep talking about sex, but I don't know what it is.  I thought the word just meant whether a person or animal was male or female, but the way they use it is not in that sense."

            "In one sense, it does mean either male or female.  In another sense, it means sexual intercourse.  Do you know the name of everything that. . . that's covered by one's shorts?"

            "No, at least not on girls.  Isn't what girls have different from what boys have?"

            "Yes.  Michael. . . I don't exactly feel comfortable explaining this subject to you.  Shall we get out of here first?  Then someone more open about this can discuss it with you.  I simply studied it by myself."

            "Sure, Lana.  What was it Kevin was talking about. . . a Power Pad and Zapper?"

            "This."  From her boot, she took a belt with the Power Pad and Zapper.  "There's also magic in VideoLand.  I shrank these things so I could put them here.  Put the belt on."  She handed the belt to Michael, who examined the Power Pad, which was on the front of the belt, and the Zapper, which was in a holster on the right of the belt.

            "Do these things really work?" he asked with wonder.

            "Yes."  Michael put the belt on in the appropriate place and in the correct way.  "At first, Kevin thought the Zapper was just a toy."

            "He's not the only one who would have."  He took the Zapper and found the Varia-setting.  "Ah, the Varia setting."  He re-holstered the weapon.  "But now, we must awaken all the good guys here."

            "Agreed."  She looked up at Wesley.  "First, let's find a way to get Wesley down."

            "Hm.  Can I jump with this Power Pad?"

            "Yes.  The A button, I estimate, will let you leap high enough to get Wesley easily.  On the directional pad, the up key will really thrust you up high."

            "All right."  He positioned his left index finger over the A button.  "Jump!"  He pressed the button and leapt up to Wesley, whom he quickly but gently took.  Holding Wesley, he landed on his own feet.

            Lana found a spot on Wesley's left shoulder and gently squeezed there with her right hand.  Wesley came to consciousness, and Michael released him.

            Wesley put his right hand to his head.  "Ooh. . . blast that Ludwig."  He looked at Michael.  "Kevin?  You seem a little. . . different somehow."

            Michael said, "That may be because I'm not Kevin but his little brother, Michael."

            Wesley gave him a strange look.  "You're his brother?"

            "It's true, Wesley," Lana said.

            "Now, Lana, that's definitely you."

            "We've been asleep for almost seventeen years, Wesley.  It's 3013."

            Wesley's eyes widened.  "You've got to be kidding."

            "Not according to Kevin.  Now, Michael, Kevin's brother, has been warped here from this date in 1992, the date just before Perry Mason brought his and Kevin's parents to visit Kevin that year.  I feel Kevin kept his brother a secret so MotherBrain wouldn't know about him.  Obviously, she found out about him somehow.  Anyway, Michael says he's as good at video games as Kevin.  We'll soon see when he tries to get us out of here."

            "Well," said Wesley, "I see Ludwig's resurrected Batman's foes, three of Batman's allies, and Dr. Wright and Dr. Cossack. . ."  He heard Duke bark.  ". . .and Duke!"

            Michael asked, "This Ludwig people keep talking about, would he happen to be Ludwig von Koopa from Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario World?"

            "Yes," said Lana, "and here, he is the leader of the evil Brain-Team."

            "-Sigh.-  Great."

            "There's more," Wesley said.  "Kevin's told me about a Star Trek:  The Next Generation TV series on your world.  Q is in it, right?"

            "Yes."

            "Well, he's real, too.  That's not so bad, but on a higher level are the Q-cubed.  I was the first.  Then, when MotherBrain was conceived with Q-cubed powers.  She thought I wouldn't know it, but I do.  Then, Wilykit and Wilykat were born with the power inherently, as well as the Wondertwins Zan and Jayna.  Ludwig was also born with the power."

            "Oh, wow!  The Thunder Cats and the SuperFriends are real?"

            "The Thunder Cats, the Silver Hawks, the Mario Brothers, several other game characters, Darkwing Duck, and several other good guys are real, as well as several of our enemies," Wesley informed him.  "That includes those of us whom you know as Star Trek characters."

            "I see."

            "For now," said Lana, "let's get these people out of here.  We'll have plenty of time to explain everything when we get off this brain-shaped planet.  I'll awaken Dr. Wright and Dr. Cossack."  She went over to them.

            Wesley said, "So, you're Kevin's little brother, Michael."

            "Yes, I am," Michael said.

            "You may call me Wesley."

            "All right, Wesley."

            "Now, I have a brother. . . technically a half-brother.  My mother, Dr. Crusher, married Captain Picard, and they had Jean-Léonard Picard."

            "I see.  What's with the super-longevity around here?"

            "Ludwig created a ray that basically makes you live forever, and you stay at the age he shoots you at forever unless you haven't reached or passed puberty.  In that case, you remain just after puberty when you reach it.  The acne is almost nonexistent.  Your body doesn't degenerate or age.  You may remain in the mortal realm forever unless someone kills you through unnatural means.  That is passed on to offspring, as I understand, even if only one of the parents was shot with the ray."

            Lana performed the same act on Wright and Cossack that she had on Wesley, then turned off their restraints.  The two came to consciousness.  "Oh. . . where am I?" asked Wright.  He rubbed his eyes.  "Princess!  But. . . I don't comprehend!"

            "Nor do I," Cossack said.  "Wily stuck MegaLand in a time bubble.  A thousand years passed on us in a second."

            "That evil Ludwig has brought you back," Lana informed them.  "Dr. Wright, Dr. Cossack, this is Kevin's brother, Michael."

            "Well, hello," said Dr. Wright, who shook hands with Michael.  "Kevin never told us about you."

            "Well, I'm glad to meet you, Dr. Wright," Michael said.  He shook hands with Dr. Cossack.  "I'm pleased to meet you as well, Dr. Cossack.  But. . . well, aren't you a bad guy?"

            "No.  My première was in MegaMan IV in your games," said Dr. Cossack.  "But I am not a villain."

            Michael admitted, "Well, I haven't gotten to the end of that yet, or at least to the point where you are revealed to be good."

            "In it, I act criminally, but it's only because the evil Dr. Wily captured my daughter and was using her to control me.  I wanted no harm to come to her."

            "I suspected Kevin wanted no harm to come to me, either.  He's always so concerned about me."

            "And," said Lana, "this is Wesley Crusher."

            "Ah!" said Dr. Wright.  "I've heard of you."  He, then Dr. Cossack, shook hands with Wesley.

            "A pleasure to meet you both," Wesley said.

            Lana said, "Now, the year is 3013, according to Kevin, whom we have contacted."

            "Oh, dear," said Dr. Wright.  "What about MegaMan X?"

            "He's alive.  He's reliable."

            "Ah, I'm glad.  As you probably know, he was the only android I made to have free will.  MegaMan, Roll, and some of Dr. Wily's androids have it, but it was given to them after they were activated and evaluated.  How was X found, then?"

            "An archaeologist and amateur cyberneticist, Dr. Cain, found your lab about nine hundred seventy years, MegaLand time, after you made X.  He found the cell containing X and took it to his own laboratory with the approval of the authorities, and he then released X.  He liked your innovation.  Even then, they were beyond the technology of the period.  He felt he could make new androids with neural pathways such as X's called 'Reploids.'  Well, he created a whole group of Reploids.  Later, several of them became Mavericks, going against humanity.  The problem was that many of the Reploids had not been tested as X had been.  In time, Maverick Hunters, those Reploids who decided to stop the Mavericks, began going after Mavericks.  However, Sigma, the most powerful of the Reploids and the leader of the Maverick Hunters, himself turned Maverick.

            "After an emotional crisis because he did not really want to fight, X decided to go after the Mavericks himself.  Early on, he was saved from a powerful Maverick by the new leader of the Maverick Hunters, Zero, who had been tested.  They crushed the Mavericks, and X finally destroyed Sigma's body.  Dr. Cain publicly admitted his mistake and had a regulation imposed that all Reploids must be tested."

            "Well, at least that regulation came out of that mess," Wright said.  "I knew X and any android like him would be extremely dangerous if they consciously decided to oppose humanity violently.  Did they find MegaMan, Rush, and Roll in my lab?"

            "Yes, later.  They even found the power enhancements you made for MegaMan."

            "That's good."

            "As she said earlier, Lana and I have communicated with Kevin," Michael said.  "Lana and Wesley were being held here by MotherBrain.  Kevin said a group of six, including MegaMan, MegaMan X, Tragg, and Samus, came to get Lana and Wesley, but they were captured and are being held in Norfair.  Three of Batman's friends are here in this room, so we're going to get them out of here as well."  He took the Zapper in his left hand and spun it as Kevin did.

            "You're left handed," Lana noted.

            "Oh, yes.  An easy way to tell between my brother and me."

            "Well, I'll wake up Batgirl."  Lana went over to Batgirl and squeezed the same spot on her left shoulder after she had removed the restraint.  Batgirl woke up.

            "Where am I?" Batgirl asked.

            "We won't hurt you," Lana said gently.  "However, you need to come with us to get out of here."

            "I. . . I trust you," Batgirl said.  "I don't know how, but I do.  I. . . hey!  It's Commissioner Gordon and Catwoman.  They should come with us.  Who are you all?"

            "I'm Princess Lana of VideoLand."

            Michael said, "I am Michael Keene."

            "I'm Wesley Crusher," said Wesley.

            "I'm Dr. Wright," Wright said.

            "I'm Dr. Cossack," said Cossack.

            Batgirl said, "I'm Batgirl.  Where. . . hey!  Those are Gotham City's villains."

            "Don't worry about them for now," said Lana.  "They won't be a problem unless our enemies awaken them."

            "Well, what can I do?"

            "You can see if you can get up Catwoman and Commissioner Gordon."

            "I'll try."  Batgirl went over to Catwoman, removed the restraint and took her by the arm.  "Catwoman, this is Batgirl.  You should get up now."  She added in a few tactful squeezes to alert Catwoman's body to return to consciousness.

            Catwoman did return to consciousness.  She opened her eyes and saw Batgirl.  "Oh, Batgirl!  I thought. . . ugh."  She put her hand to her head.

            "Are you all right, Catwoman?"

            "Yes, I believe so."

            Batgirl went over to Commissioner Gordon, released the restraint, and took him by the arm, squeezing his as she had Catwoman's.  "Commissioner, this is Batgirl.  We need to talk about something."

            After a moment, Commissioner Gordon returned to consciousness.  "Oh, boy," he said.  "What happened?"  He opened his eyes.  "Batgirl.  Where am I?"

            "We'll be all right, Commissioner.  These people are going to help us."

            Lana said, "I am Princess Lana of VideoLand.  It may sound totally incredible, but you are in the year 3013.  We're in the planet of the universe's most powerful villain, MotherBrain.  This is a prison room, but we'll find a way out."

            "I'm not sure whether to trust you completely, but my instinct says I should.  I am usually able to trust it.  I hope I don't regret trusting it and trusting you."

            Michael said, "I'm Michael Keene."  He indicated Duke.  "This is my brother's and my dog, Duke."

            "I am Wesley Crusher," said Wesley.

            "I am Dr. Wright," Wright said.

            Cossack said, "And I am his colleague and assistant, Dr. Cossack."

            "I'm Commissioner Jim Gordon," Gordon said.

            "I'm Catwoman," reported Catwoman.

            "And I, of course, am Batgirl," Batgirl said.

            "Now," asked Gordon, "why aren't we still in Gotham City?"

            "You passed away a long time ago," Lana said.  "One of our enemies with great powers has found a way to keep people's spirits from leaving to Heaven or Hell permanently, whichever is appropriate, and bring them back in regenerated bodies."

            Suddenly, everyone but Lana and Wesley felt a tingle.  "What was that?" demanded Michael.

            MotherBrain appeared in a hologram.  "I'm proud, kid!  Even your brother might have said, 'What the hell was that?'  I'll tell you, guys:  it's Ludwig's eternal-life ray about which Lana has told you!  Ha!  Now, all N-Team members, all might-be N-Team members - to include six seventeen-year-old offspring of N-Team members - all Brain-Team members, and all might-be Brain-Team members shall have the same lifespan:  never dying unless fatally wounded, never ageing a second!  Ha!"

            "Oh, that's all right," Michael said.  "It just means that Kevin and I will have just that much longer to take care of you."

            "Ha, ha, ha!  Wake up and smell the burnin' NES electronics, kid!  The Brain-Team is winning.  We shall conquer all the universes and despotically rule them."

            "MotherBrain, you must be out of your mind," Lana said.  "I'm sure that either Kevin or Michael could beat you in a fair fight, and Kevin could probably beat you even if you cheated."  MotherBrain smiled with nasty cunning at her.  "What is it?"

            "Oh, you know, Lana," said MotherBrain.  "I've seen that spark in the back of women's eyes before.  I saw it when I looked at myself in the mirror just after I met Bowser in person.  This is the second time I've seen it in you."

            "What are you talking about?"

            Quietly, MotherBrain told her, "I know how you feel about Kevin.  I know how you feel about Michael.  The feelings are the same."

            "Oh, cut that out!"

            "I know you too well, Lana.  You're in love with one guy just as much as you are with his kid brother, aren't you?"

            "That's enough," Michael said evenly.  "Leave her alone, MotherBrain."

            "Ooh!  And how do you feel about her?"

            "That doesn't matter right now.  What matters to me at the moment is that you're not far from bullying this good person.  Stop it now," he told her firmly.

            "Oh, you're no fun."  She turned to Gordon, Catwoman, and Batgirl.  "I am the gorgeous MotherBrain, villainess extraordinary.  I'll let the do-gooders Wesley, Lana, Wright, and Cossack fill you in about my evil exploits.  Later, good guys!"  Laughing maniacally, she disappeared.

            "Now, I know we should trust you," Gordon told Lana.

            Lana turned to Michael.  "Michael, thank you."

            "Don't mention it," Michael said.

            Lana said, "Wesley and I were being held here, and our friends sent six people after us.  Those six people were captured, and they're in a cell deeper in this place.  We should get them out of here."

            "Maybe the computer has a map of this planet," said Michael.  He went to the computer.  "Computer, can you show me a map of this place?"

            "Yes," said the computer.  On the monitor, it showed a detailed map of Metroid.

            Michael let out a very, very low whistle.  Lana had already determined during the kiss that he had very powerful lips, which would indicate that he might make a good brass instrument player. . . or that he might be a good brass instrument player.  "Big maze," he said.

            Dr. Wright removed a tricorder from his pocket and held it over the screen.  "I'm copying the map onto this tricorder so we can keep it with us."

            "Good idea."  Michael stepped to the middle of the room.  "We are in a very hot area of Metroid called Norfair.  The only way to keep from getting severely injured by the heat is the Varia. . . or a perfect substitute."  He took the Zapper and selected 'Varia.'  "This Zapper has a setting that gives the person you shoot Varia protection for a long time, certainly enough for us to leave this place.  Lana?"

            "I'm ready," Lana said.  Michael fired the Varia beam at her.  She now had Varia protection.

            "Who's next?" asked Michael.  Duke yapped.  "All right, boy."  He shot Duke with the beam.  The dog was now protected from Norfair's heat.  "There.  Now who?"

            "I'll take it," Gordon said.  Michael fired at him.  Now, he, too, was protected with the Varia-like beam.  "Hm.  It feels. . . different."

            "Does it feel more temperate?" Lana asked.

            "Yes, it does."

            "Good.  That's how it's supposed to feel."

            "Who's next?" Michael asked.

            "I'll take it next," said Batgirl.  Michael fired at her and gave her Varia protection.  "Hm.  It feels a little different, a bit more temperate."

            "All right.  Who'll take it next?"

            Catwoman said, "I will."  Michael gave her the Varia protection.  "Yes, a bit more temperate."

            "Next?"

            "Me," Dr. Cossack said.  Michael shot him with the Varia protection.  "Ah, yes.  More temperate."

            "I'll take it next," Wright said.

            "All right," Michael said.  He gave Wright the protection of the Varia.  "How about you, Wesley?"

            "I don't need it," Wesley replied.  "My powers will protect me from the heat of Norfair, and I'll explain to anyone who doesn't understand."

            "All right.  Lana, could you shoot me?"

            "Sure, Michael," Lana replied.  Michael handed her the Zapper, and she shot him with the Varia ray.

            "Thank you."  She handed him the Zapper, which he set to its normal blast setting.  "Now, to leave this place."  He aimed the Zapper at the door.  "I'll just vaporise the door."

            Wright said, "Michael, it might be more prudent to find a less destructive way to open that door.  After all, there may be alarms."  With his tricorder, the cyberneticist and medical genius went to the door.  He observed his readings.  "Ah!"  He opened a compartment next to the door and flipped a lever.  The door opened.

            "All right," Michael said.  He smiled.  "You're definitely not an absent-minded professor, Dr. Wright.  Let's go, everyone."  The people all left the room and emerged in a very hot passageway.  "Oh, boy.  I'm glad we have that Varia beam."

            "I'm picking up six N-Team communicators down below," Wright said, looking at his tricorder.  "We can only get to them by passing through Ridley's lair."

            Lana sighed.  "He's MotherBrain's most powerful assistant.  He is certainly not to be fooled with."

            Wesley said, "Michael and I will take care of any danger that crops up."  He pulled two phasers from concealment.  "A precaution I took."  He handed one to Michael.  "You can use this as a spare weapon."

            Michael examined the phaser.  "Hm.  Looks interesting.  Dr. Wright, you have the map, so you may lead the way.  Keep the tricorder tuned to new monsters."

            "Sure, Michael," said Wright.  He led the way through the passage towards Ridley's lair.

            Wesley and Michael trailed along at the back.  "So," Wesley asked quietly, "what was MotherBrain talking about?"

            "Don't tell Lana I'm telling you," said Michael, "but we. . . we're in love with each other, Wesley.  -Sigh.-  We even kissed each other."

            "Well, Michael, as long as you and she don't cross the line, it's all right as far as I'm concerned.  I see no moral problems.  Just be truthful with Kevin about this."

            "I don't lie, Wesley."

            "Good, Michael.  Kevin just might get angry, but he could be utterly furious if you kept him in the dark about this.  If you're honest, he's usually pretty reasonable."

            "Indeed.  I'm just curious, but what's your relationship with him?"

            "We aren't best friends, but we've been pretty good friends when we've been together.  That hasn't been too often, unfortunately.  I've been too busy to spend much time with him.  He's a very good person."

            "I know that.  He's my best friend.  -Sigh.-  I sure missed him when he left to VideoLand.  I can understand that he wanted to protect me from MotherBrain, but he probably could have come back and asked me to come to VideoLand with him.  Of course, that was one of those times when Mother was bearing down on him to get his chores done, so that may have affected his decision.  She was never abusive, but when she was stressed, she expected more chores of Kevin than normal."

            "I see.  What about you?"

            Michael smiled.  "I was the younger child.  In my time, the parents usually showed a little less strictness to younger children."

            "Hm.  That doesn't sound very fair."

            "I know.  I've always tried to help him, though.  As I said, he's my best friend."

            "I see.  Well. . ."

            Dr. Wright called, "Michael, Wesley, you'd best come up here.  My readings indicate that we're about to have company."

            Michael said, "All right, Dr. Wright."  He took his Zapper.

            "Let's do it, Michael," said Wesley, taking his phaser.  He and Michael stepped out to the front and blasted the enemies that appeared.

            * * *

            MotherBrain, Luna, and Ridley were watching in the control room.  "Do you want me to send in the clone, MotherBrain?" Ridley asked.

            "Good idea, Ridley," said MotherBrain.  "Also, get enough fiends in the tunnels to give those people a hard time."

            "I will do that with pleasure, MotherBrain," Ridley said.  He left the room.

            "Shall I go to Plundarr?" asked Luna.  "If they get their six pals and manage to reach the tunnel leading out, we Luna-tacks could be lying in wait behind the door."

            "Sounds good," MotherBrain said.  "Do it."

            "I'd like to be there with ProtoMan to greet my former colleague," said Wily.

            "Certainly, Dr. Wily."

            * * *

            Later, the group had descended a shaft that led to a sequence of three long halls that led west to Ridley's lair.  The group was facing the door to the first hall.  Michael said, "This is where Wesley and I ought to continue alone.  We don't know what's through there."

            "Wrong, Michael," said Lana.  "I know exactly what's waiting for us.  I recognise this particular Metroid passageway - the whole of it, from our cell down to here - as one that Kevin and I took once before.  Where you ought to continue alone is into Ridley's lair."

            "Well, all right, as long as it isn't too dangerous for anyone here."

            "Almost anywhere on Metroid is too dangerous for anyone here, as you should know from playing it."

            "Okay, come along.  But if you're hurt, I am not completely at fault."  He opened the door to the hallway.  "Let's go."  Michael and Wesley led the way through the first hall, destroying the two silver Space Pirates within.  They reached the door to the next hall, which consisted of three long platforms over a lava lake.  In the middle of each platform was a device that periodically released Geegas, small bug-like creatures that flew horizontally at their targets.  Several large Holtzes were flying around.  With a well-placed Zapper shot, Michael destroyed all the Holtzes at once.  Then, with a continuous blast, he moved the Zapper to shoot the three Geega-releasing device to destroy the Geegas before they could bug anyone.  "Everyone across!"  Wright and Cossack crossed together to the door.  Then, Batgirl, Commissioner Gordon, and Catwoman went.  Wesley and Duke then crossed together.  "Ready, Lana?"

            "Ready, Michael."

            "Then. . . let's go!"  The two began to dart across; when they reached the third platform, though, a Geega popped out and rammed into Michael, knocking him off!  "Yah!"  Michael fell over the ledge of the platform but was able to catch it with his right hand.  "-Gulp!-  Help!" he cried at the top of his high heldentenor voice.

            "Michael!" cried Lana, already at the door.  "Oh, God!"

            "I'll save him," Catwoman said.  With agility, she quickly leapt down to the platform, took Michael by the arm, and quickly pulled him up before his greater weight pulled them both down into the lava.

            "Thank you, Catwoman," said Michael.  He then destroyed the nearest Geegas, and they quickly went to the door.

            "Oh, Michael," said Lana.  She hugged him.  "Are you all right?"

            "I'm fine, Lana," Michael said.  He looked in her eyes.  When she released him, he said, "All right.  Let's continue."  He blasted open the door.  Here, there were platforms of different sizes leading across to the other side.  There were Violas, small ball-shaped enemies, on the platforms, but Michael quickly dispatched them with the Zapper.  "All right.  Let's go, and let's watch out for more Geegas."  The people went across in the same order as before, but this time Michael rammed into no more Geegas.  A creature with a very large eye covered the door; it shot balls of energy at the travellers.  Michael blasted its eye with a good shot from the Zapper.  Then, the creature disappeared, leaving the door for them to open.

            "You guys wait here," said Wesley.  "You should not be bothered further by these critters."

            "According to my tricorder readings," Dr. Wright said, "you'll need the phasers set at level 10 to damage Ridley effectively.  The Zapper should be set to level 3."

            "All right," Michael said.  He and Wesley adjusted their weapons accordingly.  Wesley showed him how to set the phaser.  "Let's do it, Wesley."  He took his Zapper with his left hand, spun it, and shot the door open.  He and Wesley jumped into the room and landed on a platform several feet down.  Neither was injured.  No one else seemed to be in the silent room.

            "Ridley's out," said Wesley.

            "I have a feeling he likes grand entrances.  Keep alert."  Keeping his Zapper in his left hand, he turned east and looked off the edge of the platform.  The floor was close below.

            Wesley, looking west, was looking at the door to the prison room adjacent to Ridley's lair.  "That door is grey.  That means we have to wait before we can open it. . . under normal circumstances!"  Michael went in front of him and saw the cunning look in his eyes.  "Phasers on maximum."  He took his phaser and set it to the maximum setting.  Michael re-holstered his Zapper, took his phaser, and followed Wesley's example in setting the phaser to maximum.  They both aimed their phasers at the door.  "Ready. . . fire!"  They vaporised the door with their phasers and quickly crossed the platform.

            "You go in, Wesley," Michael said.  "I'll keep watch out here."

            "Sure."  Wesley entered the room and found everyone resting.  He went over to Jean-Léonard and gently jiggled him.  "Jean-Léonard, this is Wesley, I'm getting you out of here."

            Jean-Léonard woke up.  "Wesley?  Is it really you?" he asked a little sceptically.

            "You accidentally ripped a page of your first solo sonata for violin, though it was after you had put it in the computer."

            Jean-Léonard smiled.  "It is you, brother," he said.  He and Wesley stood.  "Where are our Borg captors?"

            "Borg captors?  Uh, oh.  We'd better get everyone up and scram."

            "Agreed."  He began going over to MegaMan when six Borg materialised in the room.  One was blocking his way to MegaMan.

            "Stand back," warned the six Borg.  "You shall be assimilated into MotherBrain's collective."

            "Oh, get a life," said Wesley.  With his Q-cubed powers, he split the Borg from the collective, and they all died, due to their dependence on the collective mind.  "I can't believe I just did that."

            "You did what you had to," Jean-Léonard said.

            Michael jumped in, Zapper in hand.  "Everything all right, Wesley?  I thought I heard Borg."  He looked to the floor.  "I see."

            "Jean-Léonard," Wesley said, "Kevin has a younger brother.  This is he.  Michael, this is my half-brother, conceived by Captain Picard and my mother, Dr. Crusher.  Jean-Léonard, meet Michael Keene; Michael, meet Jean-Léonard Picard."

            Jean-Léonard shook hands with Michael.  "Hello, Michael," said Jean-Léonard.  "Kevin hasn't told me about you."

            "Probably to protect me, he's told none about me since he was pulled into VideoLand," Michael said.  "I was born three years later than he and was recently warped to this date. . ."

            "Excuse me, Michael," Wesley interrupted, "but we'd really better save this for later."

            "Certainly, Wesley."

            Wesley said, "Jean-Léonard, you look as young as the day I last saw you."

            "MotherBrain got all of us with Ludwig's eternal-longevity device," Jean-Léonard said.  He went over to MegaMan and jiggled with his power switch.  MegaMan got up.

            "Hello, Jean-Léonard," said MegaMan.  "And hello, Wesley and. . . wait a sec."

            "MegaMan," said Wesley, "this is Kevin's brother, Michael.  We'll explain it after we're out of here.  The longer we sit here, the longer Ridley has to arrive."

            "All right."  He went over to MegaMan X and jiggled with his switch.  X soon came to consciousness.  "Hi, X."

            "MegaMan," X said.  He sat up.  "Hi, Wesley, Jean-Léonard and Kev-. . . wait a minute.  Kevin's not left-handed, despite his great ambidextrous tendencies."

            "This is Michael, Kevin's younger brother," said Wesley.  "We'll explain later; but we must get out of here."

            "All right," X said, standing up.

            "I know the lieutenant," Michael said.  "Perry Mason, Hamilton Burger, Lieutenant Tragg, and their partners all know Kevin and me."  He went over to Tragg and gently squeezed his left arm.  "Lieutenant, time to get up," he announced in his strong central range.

            Lieutenant Tragg arose.  "Oh, boy," he said.  "I. . . Michael Keene!  Is that you?"

            "Yes, it is, Lieutenant."

            "Why, I haven't seen you in a long time!  How. . ."

            "We'll explain later, but for now, we have to leave."

            Tragg got up and saw Wesley.  "Ah, Wesley.  We were coming to save you and the princess."

            "No need," Wesley said.  "I'm here, and Lana's waiting on the outside of Ridley's lair."

            "I'll awaken Samus," Tragg announced.  He went to Samus.  "Chief, it's time to get up!"

            Samus got up.  "Ooh, boy," she said.  She sat up.  "Oh, it's you, Arthur."  She got up.  "Ah, Wesley.  I see that he whom we came to save is saving us.  Where's Princess Lana?"

            "Right outside Ridley's lair," Wesley replied.  "But she's not alone."

            "Have you run into Ridley?"

            "Nope."

            "Oh, boy."

            MegaMan said, "I'll get Rogue up."  He went over to Rogue and squeezed her arm gently as Michael had Tragg's, and she soon got up.

            "Oh, golly," said Rogue.  "I feel like a billion horses ran over me."  She got up.  "I'm all right, MegaMan.  Thanks.  Well, if it ain't Wesley."

            Wesley said, "Indeed.  Samus, Rogue, this is not Kevin but his younger brother, Michael.  We'll explain after we get out of here and back through Ridley's lair."

            "Ha, ha!" laughed Samus.  "You don't know how that damned dragon operates, do you?  First of all, like MotherBrain, he never goes into battle himself but sends in a clone to do his fighting for him.  We know he's strong because his clone is.  Also, his clone never comes until you're convinced he's not coming and you decide to leave."

            "Great," said Michael.  "Do any of you need Varia protection?  The Zapper that Lana gave me has a Varia ray."

            "Everyone except me needs it," Samus told him.

            "All right."  After switching his Zapper to the proper setting, he shot MegaMan, MegaMan X, Tragg, Jean-Léonard, and Rogue with the beam.  "Good.  Let's go."  He set his Zapper back to the blast setting and led the way out into Ridley's lair.  "MegaMan and X, can you power up your weapons?"

            "We sure can," said MegaMan.  He and X began building up energy in their plasma blasters.  Samus activated her super-missiles.

            Jean-Léonard picked up his laser violin.  "I hope this is still in tune," he said.

            Tragg pressed some buttons on his tricorder.  "Play your strings."  Jean-Léonard plucked each string.  "Low G, Middle D, Middle A, High E.  All right on pitch after all these years."

            "Amazing.  Thank you, Tragg."  He went out to Wesley and Michael, who were standing where they could aim their phasers up at the door to the outside.  "Need help?"

            "Sure, J.L.," Wesley said.  "Set your phaser emitter to maximum."  He and Michael took their phasers.  "Probably a c-sharp minor chord will help demolish that door."  He and Michael aimed their phasers at the door.  After setting his phaser emitter, Jean-Léonard aimed the scroll of his violin at the door and prepared his bow.  "Ready. . . fire!"  He and Michael fired their phasers while Jean-Léonard played a continuous four-string c-sharp minor arpeggio on his violin.  The three beams blew the door open in a second.

            Princess Lana looked in the room.  "Hey, guys!  I see you got them.  Have you stopped Ridley?"

            "We're getting out of here, preferably before his clone gets here," said Wesley.

            "Too late!" announced Ridley's booming voice.  Out of the darkness, he appeared from the top of the room.  "Ha, ha!  As you may be suspecting, I am, indeed, a clone of Ridley.  He is more powerful than ever, and thus so am I.  You pitiful weaklings are no match for me!  Ha, ha!"

            "Oh, no?" asked Michael, taking his Zapper.  "MegaMan, X, Samus, Wesley, Jean-Léonard, all weapons aimed at Ridley's clone. . . and fire!"  Michael, MegaMan, MegaMan X, Samus, Wesley, and Jean-Léonard blasted their weapons at the evil beast.

            "Yaah!" screamed the clone.  It soon disintegrated.

            "That clone couldn't survive all that firepower at once," Michael said.  "Everyone, let's get out of here."

            "Agreed," said Tragg.  Samus held him securely and leapt up through the door.  MegaMan and X leapt up through the door with the super suspension in their legs.  Rogue took Jean-Léonard and flew up through the door.  Wesley used his Q-cubed powers to jump up through the door, and Michael pressed the A button on his Power Pad and jumped up through the door.

            "MegaMan!" exclaimed Dr. Wright.

            "Dr. Wright!" MegaMan exclaimed.  "And Dr. Cossack!  But how. . ."

            "Ludwig resurrected us.  Hello, X.  I'm Dr. Wright."

            "Hello, Dr. Wright," said X.  "I'm glad to meet you."

            Lana said, "Commissioner, Catwoman, Batgirl, these are MegaMan, MegaMan X, Samus Aran, Lieutenant Tragg, Jean-Léonard Picard, and Rogue.  MegaMan, X, Samus, Tragg, Jean-Léonard, and Rogue, these are Commissioner Jim Gordon, Batgirl, and Catwoman, whom Ludwig has also resurrected."  Duke barked.  "He also brought back Duke."

            "Well, about our explanation?" asked Samus.  "Why did Kevin have a brother and not tell us about him?"

            "If I know Kevin," Tragg said, "he wanted to protect Michael from MotherBrain.  Michael's a good kid, three years younger than Kevin, and just as good at video games.  I suspect that if Kevin were done in somehow by the evil of this world, Michael would be brought in to take his place, and Kevin knew that.  MotherBrain would not like that, and if she knew of Michael, why, she might try to do something to him.  Now, Michael, how'd you get here?"

            Michael said, "MotherBrain warped me to this year from this date, July 20, in 1992.  Lana and Wesley and these other people were being held in a room higher in Norfair.  I'm not sure how she knew of me, but she brought me here to use me against Kevin somehow.  I do not like that in the least.  Now, we're getting out of here."

            "Wait, wait," said Tragg.  "Michael, on the twenty-first, Perry Mason brought your parents out to VideoLand to visit Kevin.  Why didn't they report your disappearance?"

            "They probably didn't know I had disappeared.  I was on a vacation in the Sierras."

            "Ah!  I understand."

            "You definitely look like you could pass for Kevin," said Samus to Michael.

            "And how!" MegaMan exclaimed.  "You almost had my optical sensors fooled."

            "You look like you're identical twins," X said.

            "That's not likely in the least," said Michael.  "I admit I'm a little more impulsive than he is, but maybe that's because I'm left-handed and he's right-handed.  At least on an empirical basis, left-handed people tend to be a little more emotional than right-handed people.  But I still do as well in math as he.  Anyway.  MegaMan, you guys came in here to get out Lana and Wesley.  Do you remember the way you took to get down here?"

            "Yes, I do," MegaMan said.

            "And I have a map," said Dr. Wright.

            "Excellent!" MegaMan said.  "Dr. Wright, you and I'll lead the way out."

            "Certainly, MegaMan."  Michael and Wesley blew away the enemies as the group returned to the shaft and left the infernal depths of Norfair.

            * * *

            Lake Hylia, Light World, Hyrule, VideoLand, Milky Way Galaxy.

            Thomas had gone to the lake just to sit and think.  His father had a brother?  He had not told anyone about this?  Earlier, he almost felt like exploding when Kevin had told him about Michael, but of course he was not the type to react that way, especially since he had been trained to easily deal with such feelings before they got into the open.  He earnestly felt it was appropriate to forgive his father for this transgression, and he saw his father's reasoning.  MotherBrain would jump at the chance to rub out any who might inherit Kevin's position as Game Master, just in case Kevin were done in.

            From his left, he heard the sweetest voice he had ever heard say, "Are you mad at your father?"  He turned and saw Johanna coming to him.

            "Johanna, my father did something he has always told Kelly and me never to do.  However, I believe he was justified.  He always told us you shouldn't conceal the truth, though.  Is there some point at which it becomes truly justified?"

            Johanna sat to his left.  "Thomas, you're thinking too heavily for this time of night.  Why don't you just think about this beautiful view here?"  She smiled alluringly.  "And me?"

            Thomas smiled.  For the first time, he felt it was thoroughly appropriate to let his true love for her burst forth.  "Oh, I love you, Johanna."  The two kissed.

            "Yo, Thomas!" called a heldentenor voice that Thomas knew as well.  Thomas and Johanna ceased kissing and saw Heinrich and Liselotte, Link and Zelda's children, coming.  "Hey, how are you, Thomas and Johanna?"

            "Hi, Heinrich and Liselotte," said Thomas.  "We're fine."

            "Something's wrong, Thomas.  Link could always tell when something was wrong with Kevin, and I can tell when something's wrong with you."

            "It's not something I feel comfortable disclosing to you at the present time," said Thomas.  "It has to do with someone my father knew."

            "All right.  Where's Kelly?"

            "Oh, she's sleeping, as far as I know."

            Johanna said, "And Johannes is keeping watch with Kevin at the Palace."

            "All right," said Heinrich.  "Thomas, are you sure you don't want to talk about this?"

            "Ask my father about it, Heinrich," said Thomas.  "He ought to be the one to tell you."

            "All right."  Heinrich hit his communicator.  "Two to transport to the Palace of Power."  He and Liselotte were beamed there.

            Thomas smiled at Johanna.  "Now, where were we?" he asked.  He and Johanna put their arms around each other.  "Will we go all the way tonight, for the first time?"

            She grinned.  "You have to ask?"  They began with a kiss.

            * * *

            Throne Room, Palace of Power, VideoLand.

            "Why?" Kevin asked himself.

            "Excuse me?" said Johannes, at the computer.

            "Why did I think it was right to hide my brother from everyone, just to protect him?  He can stand up for himself.  He always thinks I'm overprotective, and he's absolutely right.  Why did I let MotherBrain make a fool of me?"

            "Kevin, everyone makes mistakes.  Don't kick yourself around about it."

            "I just wish I had brought him out here.  We would really have given MotherBrain a run for her money."

            "It's all right.  If I were you, I'd be more worried about his chances of escaping from Metroid."

            "I know, Johannes.  Tell me, if you were in my position, would you have covered up your sister to protect her?"

            "Maybe, Kevin.  I do love her very much.  Thanks to your son, I know how sweet she really is."

            Kevin smiled.  "What about you and Liselotte?"

            "I really, really like her, Kevin.  She's smart, she's nice, and, well, she likes me.  When I'm around her, I think I feel much of what Thomas feels when he's around Johanna."

            "I know the feeling, Johannes."  The elevator door opened, and Kelly came out in her evening gown.  "Hello, Kelly."

            "Hi, Dad," Kelly said.  "Good evening, Johannes."

            "Good evening, Kelly," said Johannes.

            "Kelly," Kevin said, "I should tell you something.  You know. . ."  Just then, Heinrich and Liselotte beamed in.  "Well, good evening, guys."

            "Good evening, Kevin," said Heinrich.  He turned and saw Kelly.  "Hello, Kelly."

            "Hello, Heinrich," said Kelly, smiling.

            "Hello, Liselotte," called Johannes from the computer.

            Liselotte said, "Hello, there, Johannes."

            "Before you guys manage to get away from me," said Kevin sombrely, "I have something to tell you all."

            "What is it, Kevin?" asked Liselotte.

            "First, Heinrich and Liselotte, please don't tell this to Link or Zelda before I do.  That's my responsibility."

            "Sure, Kevin," Heinrich said.

            "Certainly, Kevin," Liselotte said.

            Kevin said, "This is what I was getting ready to tell you, Kelly.  I have a brother."

            Kelly gasped.  "Father!  A brother?"

            "Try not to get upset, Kelly, please.  I have a reason I haven't mentioned it before.  I know I can't justify it.  As I've continually told you and Thomas, one shouldn't cover things up.  My brother, Michael, was just as good at video games as I, and I didn't want MotherBrain to find out about him and. . . well, you know, hurt him.  He was my best friend."

            "I see," said Kelly.  "I do forgive you, Father, but. . . you didn't think this was acceptable, did you?"

            "No, but I felt I was doing what I had to do.  As it is, it did no good, because MotherBrain did find out about Michael, and she warped him to today from today's date in 1992.  He's getting our friends out of Metroid, I'm sure.  He was in the room where Lana and Wesley were being kept, and he woke up Lana.  He looks much like Thomas and me, even though he and I aren't twins."

            "How's he supposed to get them out?" asked Heinrich.

            "Lana keeps a spare Power Pad and Zapper for me in case I ever lose mine.  Michael can adapt to them like I did."

            "All right.  We won't tell our father or mother, Kevin, as long as you tell them."

            "I plan to do just that.  Wilykit, Wilykat, Johanna, Johannes, and you three are the only ones on the N-Team, other than me and the Mason-Team, to know about him."  Just then, Perry Mason walked in.  "Perry!"

            "Good evening, Kevin," said Mason.  "I couldn't get to sleep.  I've been thinking about a very hard case.  I was thinking we could talk."  Kevin got up and gently pulled him aside.

            "Perry, you remember about my brother, don't you?"

            "Yes, I distinctly remember Michael," Mason said.  "He's one of the nicest boys I've ever met.  Why?"

            "MotherBrain brought him today from this date in 1992."

            "Hm, I see.  Where is he?"

            "He's on Metroid, and he's awakened Lana.  He found a computer terminal in the cell where he, Lana, and Wesley were, and he used it to call me.  Lana has a spare Power Pad and Zapper that she told me she'd give to him.  He's going to bring all our friends out of Metroid."

            "I see.  So, how did MotherBrain find out about him?"

            "I'd say that Wily, spying on us, made the connection between Michael and me at that trial in 1988 where you defended me.  MotherBrain brought him here as something against me, but I don't know how.  I've also been in contact with the brain herself.  She told me she's known about him all along.  I'd have lost it at her if Thomas weren't around at the time.  Despite his logical training, he's probably very confused about this, because I've taught him and Kelly not to cover things up, and yet I covered up Michael."

            "You've told him about this?"

            "I have told Wilykit, Wilykat, Thomas, Johanna, and everyone else who is in this room.  I asked them not to tell anyone, because I'm going to tell everyone."

            "How do you expect Link to respond to this?  He's a good friend of yours."

            "Well, I'm sure no one will appreciate my hiding something from them, Perry.  -Sigh.-  I guess my overprotective instinct has cursed me."

            "What were your other choices?"

            "Well, I could and should have gone back and brought him to VideoLand, but. . . well, I don't know.  All I could really think about was protecting him."

            "I see."

            "I was sure surprised when he told me," Kelly said.  "I know Thomas had to be.  I know you had the best of intentions, Dad, but I don't think that I would have done what you did."

            "I know you wouldn't, probably because of what I've told you.  I shouldn't have covered him up, but it's too late to change that.  Wilykit and Wilykat felt I lacked some quality that a single child would have."

            "Kevin," Mason said, "I'm sure everyone will forgive you, even Michael and Lana."

            "Yes, I know."

            "Dad, why don't you go rest?" suggested Kelly.  "I'll keep an eye on things down here."

            Kevin smiled.  If she were not his daughter, he would have been attracted to her.  She sure was beautiful.  Heinrich was very lucky that she was in love with him.  But it was much better being her father, anyway.  "I know, and I also know you and Heinrich want to be alone together.  All right, Kelly, but call me if Michael calls or if MotherBrain calls, all right?"

            "Sure, Captain N," she said, saluting.  Kevin returned the salute.

            "Just don't get too carried away with Heinrich. . . unless, that is, Thomas comes back and agrees to take over what I asked you to do."

            "All right, Father."

            "Johannes, Kelly's taking over.  As far as I'm concerned, you and Liselotte are free to do whatever you want."

            "Thanks, Kevin," Johannes said.

            Kevin went with Mason to another spot in the room and addressed him more confidentially.  "Perry, I'd like you to return to your room and monitor communications.  I certainly trust Kelly, but when she's around Heinrich, it feels like when I'm alone with Lana.  These certain feelings just come up.  I don't blame her if she can't resist them, but I don't want to miss anything from Michael or from MotherBrain if Kelly and Heinrich get excessively friendly at the wrong moment."

            "Sure.  But why wouldn't you just. . . I see.  You don't want to do something to Kelly or Thomas that would seem unfair."

            "No, Perry, I don't.  On the other hand, they know what I expect from them.  On that, I know they would never intentionally disappoint me."

            "All right.  Do they know already that the universe is not fair?"

            "I believe that it is perfectly fair, Perry.  It's the people within it that are unfair."

            "All right.  I'll do what you ask, Kevin.  Just promise me you'll tell everyone about Michael."

            "I promise.  I've already promised myself.  I just wish I hadn't hid him from everyone."

            "Go rest, Kevin.  I'll watch communications for you in my room."

            "Thank you, Perry."  He went over to Kelly, who was now at the computer.  "Good night, Kelly."

            "Good night, Father," Kelly said.

            "Good night, everyone," announced Kevin before entering the elevator.

            "Mr. Mason," asked Heinrich, "why didn't you tell people?"

            "Kevin asked me not to, Heinrich.  I knew his intentions, and he is my client.  Now, good evening, all."

            "Please wait a minute, Mr. Mason," said Kelly.  "I'd like to know something.  Would you tell me what Michael is like, please?"

            "Sure, Kelly.  He looks much like Kevin, except he's left-handed.  I think he's a bit more talkative, more radiant and outgoing.  He's a little more inclined to express his feelings than your father.  However, like Kevin, he is very intelligent.  He does well in every subject, and he would most likely benefit from the education system here."

            "So, they're not very different?"

            "Not much at all, although, in addition, Michael is more inclined to be athletic than Kevin.  They were best friends, as well.  I recall that Michael was very upset when Kevin disappeared."

            "I imagine he would be.  I know I'd have been.  Father is a very good person."

            "Yes, he is.  Well, good night, Kelly."

            "Good night, and thank you, Mr. Mason."

            "You're welcome."  Mason went to the elevator door to wait for the next elevator car.

            Liselotte said, "See you later, Heinrich."

            Heinrich smiled at his twin.  "See you, Liselotte."  Liselotte and Johannes left to the warp hall.

            "So, Heinrich," Kelly said, "you're a timpanist and a woodwind player.  Do you sing like your father?"

            "Not quite, but then, he's been doing it a bit longer than I have.  On the other hand, Liselotte is about as good a soprano as our mother."

            "I know, I've heard her.  You know, I bet you're better than you think.  My father says my mother has a marvellous high range.  Of course, in comparison to other human male tenors, Father's range is huge."

            "So my father has told me.  I've run into Ganon a few times besides that one time we all ran into him last year.  He's quite a nasty swine.  My dad was with me every time before I turned fourteen, so I didn't have a chance to get creamed by that evil pig."

            "Oh, I bet you could handle him like your father could."  She smiled to him a smile that showed part of her wild feelings for him.

            He earnestly returned the smile.  "Gee, you're beautiful.  To a limited extent, I can sense others' feelings empathically.  I know what you're feeling.  I feel the same way about you."

            "Oh, I love you, Heinrich."

            "I love you, too, Kelly."  Kelly stood up, and she and Heinrich hugged and kissed.