Chapter Three- continued



Coppertop sat back. "OK, I think we're on course. Rendezvous point: Sector #314,

Planet: Tubelectric. Right, Shinyso?" He nodded. "Copper, you're a pretty good pilot.

Does this thing have guns?" Coppertop grinned. "More than you'd think. The Assassin is

armed to the teeth!" Shinyso blinked. "It is?" "Yep. Quite inconspicuously, of course,

otherwise I'd never get through Customs on any planet! Why do you think I called it the

Assassin? Not because I thought the name sounded pretty!" She showed him the button

under the control panel. "This opens small side hatches and allows the blasters to come

out. This button," and she pointed to another one, "will let the 'escape' pods out. They

can be used for escape, but I never meant to escape from any situation. They have

hidden blasters, too, and are really little warships. Like I told you, this ship is named

well." Shinyso nodded dazedly. "I hope we won't have to use them," he murmered.

"Hold on, all passengers. We are taking off," the intercom blared. Grath, Kazooie, Ducky

and Blacksheep held on for dear life as the Assassin lurched and shook and eventually

took off. A roar filled the room and Kazooie flung himself flat. As quiet fell, Kazooie dared

to open one eye. "What happened," he asked Ducky. "Were in outer space," she replied.

"Cool. Lemme see," Kazooie exclaimed. He ran to the window and looked out as stars

rushed by. Grath looked annoyed. "Kazooie, you're standing on my head. GET OFF!!!!"

Kazooie jumped off of Grath's head and pouted. "But now I can't see," he complained.

"Oh, well," Grath retorted. "Now, back to our original discussion. Since we've solved the

problem of hairy coconuts with Coppertop's help, I say that TOADS HAVE WARTS!!!!"

Kazooie yelled. Grath smiled. "They do, in fact," he said. "YES THEY DO- what did you

say?" Kazooie looked stunned. "You-you AGREED with me! Whazza matter with you,

Grath? You NEVER agree! Didja hit your head when we took off?" Grath grinned, then

realized that Blacksheep was nearly doubled over in laughter. Ducky was grinning, and

Grath smiled in embarassment. Kazooie was indignant. "Why're y'all laughin' at me? What

did I do? Grath, it's all your fault! I never did any-" he was cut off by the com. "You may

unfasten your seatbelts. Providing you had any. Hang on, the divider's comin' down." A

portion of wall slid aside, and Shinyso sauntered into the cabin. "Hey, everybody. Copper

was just showing me all the Assassin's secrets! And Kaz, you were pretty funny." He

grinned. "Ducky, it's your turn. Copper wants everyone to learn to drive this

piece'a'junk." "Hey! That wasn't fair. Ducky, c'mon," Copper said, appearing in the

doorway. Ducky nodded and trotted into the cockpit and the divider slid shut.



"Here Ducky. Have a seat," Copper offered the copilot's chair to Ducky. She sat, and

grinned. "Shinyso was just joking, you know," Ducky said. "I know, but he wasn't fair.

The Assassin's gotten outta more trouble that any one person deserves to get INto. Heh

heh. Here Ducky, I'll help ya."