Part 2: Bizzerk

Bizzerk was different than I had last remembered. I remembered the glorious huge beast that was unstoppable. During the time I had been away from Sector One, they had switched types of technologies: the large was replaced by the small. They were putting ZAT units into ZZ-R Cars for chrissake! All of the concrete that was scattered all over the place created a new breed of ship-type. Apparently they were designing a new Bizzerk hull when interdimensional space was destroyed, destroying Bizzerk itself. This ship was flattish, but with the typical lumps and modules that was characteristic of Bizzerk.

As I looked around the ship, I could see parts of Bizzerk that I recognized. The ship's computer told me that as much as could be salvaged from the destroyed wreckage of the old ship was put into this one. The things that had been salvaged were like a fingernail to a human body. The entire hull was smaller and followed the weird organic look that I'd seen in so many of the latest technological creations... including the megasphere of planets. I checked with the computer, and it was no help at all in assisting me.

"Who created you?" I demanded.

CLASSIFIED was printed accross the wallscreen.

"What?!" I was shocked. Nothing was classified to me! A Space Seeker is allowed to know everything! "Why is it classified?! Don't you know who I am?"

CLASSIFICATION REASON 25689-18SCHTV: DUE TO THE PROVEN RISK INVOLVED IN TRUSTING CREW OF SUCH MEGAPOWERFUL SHIPS AS BIZZERK, AND DUE TO THE GREAT BETRAYAL, THE MEGASPHERE OF WORLDS HAS DECIDED TO GIVE CREWMEMBERS IMFORMATION VITAL TO THE CURRENT MISSION ONLY. POSITIONS ELIMINATED: SCIENCE OFFICER, ASSISTANT SCIENCE OFFICER, SCIENCE DEPARTMENT. NEW POSITIONS: INTERNAL SECURITY, FIERCE.

YOU ARE:

WELCOME SPACE SEEKER 18. YOUR CURRENT FILE SHOWS YOU AS:
CURIOUS. THE FIERCE OFFICER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

"What the hell is a fierce officer? You mean like Bunk without Skant, right?" I was getting scared as hell from this new Bizzerk. Even the old Bizzerk didn't scare me like this.

F.I.E.R.C.E. Friendly Investigator, Eliminator, Robotic Controller and Enforcer

SPACE SEEKER 18. YOUR CURRENT FILE SHOWS YOU AS: INQUISITIVE, POTENTIAL SECURITY DANGER. THE FIERCE OFFICER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

This sounded like a challenge. Information was not only restricted, but it was dangerous to ask questions! What I really needed at the moment was information. This ship might have been Bizzerk's new body, but it didn't remember Sector One Rule Number One: Never challege a Space Seeker.

It took me two and a half hours with Virus's help to break into the low-level security information. Even at that, I set off security bells. My new status was "INQUISITIVE, INDEPENDANT OPERATOR, POTENTIAL SECURITY DANGER, POTENTIAL SLASH THREAT". Whatever SLASH was.

Even though I had free access to Level One security now, without Bizzerk's Big Brother watching me, I had only access to public information, and some general ship information such as where the exits were (and only some of them!), the basic controls, and what types of creatures could live aboard the ship. The ship supported all forms of life I had ever heard of. Even the sixty foot tall Origional Garguwakians could inhabit the ship. I hadn't seen any sixty foot tall ceilings in my wanderings, so more information was there, ripe for the pickin's.

Virus advised that we not try to penetrate the security systems further. In the tradition of the Bizzerk, Big Brother Bizzerk had an insane amount of protection - but this time, from its own crew!

The public information included legends. Some of these were classified. There was one legend that told about the last days of the Old Master. After the Great Betrayal, the universe of the Space Seeker changed into hell. The Sector One Council collapsed into petty wars led by different factions following different Space Seekers. Each trying to find out which one had betrayed the truth to the enemy.

A war that might have been won, even with the loss of interdimensional space, was lost due to terrible infighting. Armies led by Space Seekers formed temporary alliances to stop the enemies, then turn on each other. Many Space Seekers fled to other omnispheres. Others fought to gain supreme control of Sector One. A few Space Seekers- old ones that were not in retirement or lost- defended the Sector from those who sought to control it. None lasted until the end except the Old Master.

He was mortally wounded from a metamissle. His only student managed to create some peace in the Sector, and then dissapeared. His name and last known whereabouts was classified.

"Virus, I don't care if Big Brother Bizzerk releases Maiklin! We have to get at that name and last known!" I balled my fist, ready to smash any equipment that might seem to deny access to the information

Virus's smooth voice checked me, "I have that information. The New Master was last located in Muyovamumachi Sector. This craft can take us there much quicker than I can. I don't know how fast, but without its assistance, it would take 12.3 weeks at my fastest speed."

"I don't think Triple B and I could co-exist for that length of time. Let's tell it to earn its name." I walked into the bridge room, and was suddenly struck by a thought. I was on Big Brother Bizzerk's Bridge. Regular hive of B's here. I turned to the wallscreen and anounced, "Hey, Triple B. Take us to Muyovamumachi Sector at your quickest speed!"

I was beeming with pride that I'd actually said Muyovammumachi correctly when the wallscreen lit up.

COURSE SET.TUBE ZONE CLEAN.ACTIVATING ENIGMA DRIVE.ETA : TEN POINT THREE SEVEN MINUTES

SPACE SEEKER 18.YOUR FILE SHOWS YOU AS: MEDDLING, POSSIBLE CREATIVE, INQUISITIVE,SLASH (SECURITY LEAK AND SCIENTIFIC HARBINGER) THREAT. THE FIERCE OFFICER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

I shrugged. Let him be notified, I thought. There wasn't anyone aboard the ship but me. Besides, the only thing I worried about was Dog Day Droids, and Bizzerk wouldn't let one of those aboard. I would go ask Virus about this Fierce Officer. I'll bet he knew something about it. I turned to leave the bridge and nearly lost all control of my bladder. I know I screamed. I'd never seen one before, because they'd never been invented before.

It was a Dog Day XAM.

Actually, when I looked closer (I had no choice. It moved very quickly towards me with blue force-field humanoid arms extended towards me.) it seemed to be a combination of Dog Day Droids, XAM units, new model Seeker Units (new to me, that is.) and strange technology. Accross its chestplate was written "FIERCE:26". It's faceplate was black and shaped like XAM's, but a faintly glowing Seeker Unit face could be seen behind the mask.

I zipped around behind the droid/seeker unit and one of those force arms gave me a quick jab to the head. That quick jab could've been used to punch holes through purple metal, let alone splatter a normal skull. Being a Space Seeker gives me the advantage of an abnormal skull - or brain housing - as the Seeker Units call it. The blow hurt a lot. This sucker was going to be tough as shit to imobilize. I wasn't worried until I noticed the hoop at its side.

It was like a keyring, but instead of keys, it held Space Seeker rings.