Project Boussh: Halftime Entertainment
by Durandir

 The cats at the Hermitage were clamoring for their evening meal. Kell
and Tyria had gone to "observe and make themselves obvious" at the
local equivalents of the Mos Eisley Cantina, so feeding duty fell to
Runt and Becki. Runt carried the heavy kettle filled with the chicken-
and-rice mixture down to the basement, and Becki set to work ladling it
out into the various bowls scattered around the feeding area.

Once all the felines had turned their attention to the newly-filled
bowls, Becki stationed herself at the computer set up in the basement
and began going over the latest reports from the other teams scattered
across the planet. A few minutes later, a cry of "Ow!" from Runt
startled her out of the message she was reading. She turned to see him
standing in the midst of a cluster of cats, with two kittens clawing
their way up his legs.

Becki giggled and went to help him detach the animals from his
trousers. "They're just at that age," she explained, "when they get
really playful. And really mischievous, too. They're always climbing
legs. I think it means they like you, if that's any comfort."

"We are not injured," Runt answered mildly, brushing at the new snags
in his clothes. "However, we were startled by their...attack. And they
have very sharp claws for such little things."

"No kidding." A black-and-white kitten, apparently annoyed at having
been so suddenly removed from his newfound climbing-post, was starting
up the pilot's leg again. Runt picked the animal up instead, and
instantly it was purring in his arms.

"I think he likes you," Becki smiled. Then, noticing how many cats were
currently crowding around Runt's feet, purring as they rubbed up
against him, she added, "I think they all like you."

"Yes," said Runt with a bashful look, "We had noticed that. They follow
me around whenever I am in the house."

"Do they?" Becki frowned in thought a moment, watching as the cats vied
for Runt's attention. "That's odd. I wonder...Hm."

"Something about us seems to attract them."

"Maybe you smell like Momcat," she grinned. "Hey!-Maybe that's it."

"What?"

"Something in your physical makeup must seem familiar to them. I wonder
if that's got something to do with why you were stationed here at the
Hermitage rather than with Piggy and Ooryl. Maybe the cats give sensor
readings similar to yours, so that having you here among them masks
your presence from anyone who might be looking."

"I think that is reasonable. Certainly anyone who was looking right now
would have trouble finding me under all this fur..."

A beeping noise interrupted them just then. It took Becki a moment to
realize it was the comlink Kell had left with her. Digging it out of
her pocket, she switched it on.

"Bec-ah, Hermit Four here," she answered, remembering just in time
Kell's reminders about the importance of call signs for the sake of
security. They were using the Hermit call signs for their small group
when security became a factor-in other words, when they weren't
actually trying to make their unknown enemies notice them. In one of
their staged missions meant to draw the enemy's attention to them and
away from the rest of the team, they would use Wraith call signs for
the benefit of anyone intercepting the transmissions. But at the
moment, no such staged mission was in progress.

"This is Hermit One," came Kell's voice. "I think we may have
something."

"What?"

"There's a basketball game tomorrow night."

"Yes. I'm in the band, so I'll have to play for it. Why?"

"We're all going. Two and I stumbled onto a lead here."

"Where's here?"

"Um...I think it's called Ballyhoo or something like that."

"You're at the Bally?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Oh, it's probably no big deal. Just watch yourselves, that close to
campus. There are a lot of people out and about at ISU this time of the
evening."

"I thought that was the whole point-we're trying to be observed.
Anyway, never mind about that. It looks like we may have an informant."

"What?"

"He's offered to talk to us. Tomorrow night, at the game."

"You think it's legit?"

"Good question. Two's getting a bad feeling about it, actually."

"The Force?"

"She thinks it could be. I wouldn't be surprised if it's a setup-the
other side's got to know we're here, and they can't have missed what
we've been doing. It would make sense for them to try to trap us with a
false informant."

"But we're risking it anyway?"

"Well, with the reputation we've been working so hard to establish
here, we can't not follow this up. We're supposed to seem eager for any
lead."

"Right."

"We'll be home pretty soon. Just need to...um...wrap up some loose ends
here."

"Have you been causing trouble at the Bally?" Becki grinned.

"Hey, that was the whole point, wasn't it? What better way to draw
attention to ourselves?"

"Sure, if you say so. All right, see you soon. Be careful."

Kell sighed. "Don't worry, we can handle it. Hermit One out."

"Four out."

She looked around to see Runt, now sitting on the floor, the cats still
swarming all around and over him. But he didn't seem to be bothered
much by it; in fact, he was smiling contentedly as he stroked one white
kitten's fur.

"Hm," Becki mused. "So we're all going to the game now. I wonder how
Kell's going to manage that? Tickets have been sold out for this game
for weeks. I mean, it's just about the biggest game of the season,
except maybe for the championship next semester-ISU playing IU, and
after we beat them last year on their own court! Everyone's going to
this game."

"Maybe that is why the informant chose to meet our group there," Runt
suggested. "Among such crowds the meeting will likely go unnoticed."

"Probably. I guess I'll leave it to you people to find a way in without
tickets. Although," she frowned, "I'm not sure about you, Runt. Crowds
are all well and good, but even when Hulman Center is sold out, people
are still going to notice a Thakwaash among all those humans."

"We had thought of that. Perhaps I should go in disguise?"

"Sure, but what sort of disguise-ohh!" Becki's eyes widened at a sudden
idea. "I wonder-yes, it might just work-you've got the general build-
and your profile's about right-if we can dye you blue-"

Runt was beginning to look worried. "Blue?"

"How would you like to be our new mascot?" Becki grinned.

"What is a mascot?"

"A sort of representative of the school. Ours is called Sycamore Sam.
He's...um...blue. And sort of...well, no one's ever figured out what
sort of creature he's supposed to be. Some think he's a fox, although
in some ways he looks like a squirrel, too. Hard to tell when he's so
very blue! But anyway, you don't look exactly like Sam, but I think it's
close enough that if we dye you blue, you could pass for him.
Especially when everyone's busy watching the biggest game of the year."

"Will the real mascot be at the game?"

"Yes, but as long as you keep away from him-if no one sees you
together, I think it could work. It's probably our best bet, at least."

"Then," Runt looked resigned but still a bit apprehensive, "I suppose
it is what we must do."

- - -

The next night, the four Hermitage agents arrived early at Hulman
Center for the big game. On the way, Becki had been explaining the
importance of this particular contest.

"It's not a part of the team's regular season schedule," she had
said, "but it's probably one of the biggest games we'll have this year.
Only the final conference game, the last one of the season, is likely
to be bigger. See, Indiana State is a smaller school, and we're in the
Missouri Valley Conference. That's the league of college basketball
teams we play against for the season championship. But IU-Indiana
University-is much bigger, and they're in the Big Ten conference. We
don't ordinarily play Big Ten teams, but the past few years we've had
games against IU just for the fun of it. And, well, for the rivalry.
Last year, you see, we beat IU-for the first time-on their own court-
and in their own tournament, which nobody but IU has ever won before.
All of ISU was pretty ecstatic after that. So everyone is hoping to see
it happen again this year, especially now that we're playing IU on our
own court, in Hulman Center."

"So it'll be well attended, I take it?" Kell had asked.

"That would be the understatement of the season," Becki grinned. "It's
already sold out, as a matter of fact. You won't be able to buy
tickets, but I assume you can find a way in without them."

"No problem," Kell smiled.

"Just don't blow anything up in the process. It would be good if Hulman
Center remains standing after this night."

"Remind me to be offended by that when this is all over..."

Arriving at last, they parked several blocks away from Hulman Center.
Kell and Tyria set out to find their way in, while Runt and Becki
headed for the North entrance. "The band uses this entrance," she
explained, "and also cheerleaders and other support crew. Sycamore Sam
comes under support crew, so you should be able to get in that entrance
without trouble."

"And once I am in," Runt nodded, adjusting the white-and-blue
basketball jersey that he wore over his blue-dyed fur, "I find Kell and
Tyria."

"Right. And you may need to play the mascot, especially if anyone seems
to take too much notice of you. Hm...Runt, are any of your minds
dedicated to sports? Or competition? Not so much playing, though, as
cheering on your side's team? Something like that?"

His brown eyes gleamed as he answered, "We believe there is a mind that
fits what you describe."

"Good. You may want to use it, then. Sycamore Sam's job is to cheer on
the team and stir up school spirit among the crowd, so...be spirited. Or
something."

Runt nodded. As they neared the ramp at the North entrance, he moved
out ahead of Becki. The flutist followed several paces behind him,
trying to watch him without making it obvious, keeping an eye out for
anyone who might notice that this mascot was not quite the spitting
image of Sycamore Sam. Fortunately, as early as they had arrived, there
were not many people at the ramp, and Runt made it into Hulman Center
without incident. A few moments later, Becki entered herself and went
to join the band.

- - -

Meanwhile, Kell and Tyria had managed to sneak into Hulman Center by
elbowing their way to the center of one of the larger and rowdier
groups of students waiting outside the student entrance. Along with the
blue dye for Runt's fur, Becki had managed to find a couple of tubes of
blue and white face paint. On the way to the game, Kell and Tyria had
decorated their cheeks and foreheads with "Go ISU" and sycamore leaves
and cartoonish effigies of Sycamore Sam, so that they blended in all
the better with the fanatical students.

With Tyria planting a suggestion of "You don't need to see our
tickets..." in the minds of the officials at the door, they had no
trouble getting into the arena. A few minutes later, they took their
seats in the student section, on the aisle right next to the band's
area. Becki waved at them from where she was standing with the other
flutists, getting stands and music books set up.

The first half of the game went quickly. At first it was neck and neck;
the students, following the band's lead, stood up through most of the
game to cheer ISU's team on. Kell and Tyria did likewise, catching on
to the cheers as well as they could. At one point, Runt came by, doing
a remarkably good job of mascoting. The students, with their attention
so caught up by the game, noticed nothing out of the ordinary and
greeted him with the same affection they had shown to the real Sycamore
Sam when he had last been seen in that part of the arena. If anyone
thought they saw differences between Sam then and Sam now, they showed
no sign of it.

At halftime, ISU was leading by some ten points. The excitement in
Hulman Center was nearly tangible; even the Wraiths, though they could
only make sense of the most basic aspects of the game so far, felt
themselves caught up in it as they followed the crowd of students out
to the concession stands.

"He said he'd meet us at halftime," Kell murmured as he and Tyria
walked slowly down the wide main hallway that encircled the
arena. "Didn't say where, just that we'd know him when we-hey!" he
broke off and started walking faster.

"What?" Tyria asked, hurrying to keep up. "Did you see him?"

"I think so. See, over there?"

"Where?"

"The one with the cap. Recognize it?"

"I don't-oh!" she gasped as she saw the man Kell had indicated. She did
indeed recognize the cap-it was just the sort worn by officers in the
Imperial Navy.

"That must be him," Kell said, half-jogging now.

"Even if it's not," Tyria pointed out, "anyone wearing a hat like that
on Terra is probably someone we need to know about."

"Right." So they followed. At one point Kell was startled by a hand on
his arm; half-turning and preparing to go into a defensive stance, he
sighed in relief to see Runt, still quite blue, standing there. The
three Wraiths set off again after the mysterious capped man.

The chase led them out of Hulman Center into the chilly Terre Haute
night. They almost lost him at that point-but perhaps he did not intend
to be lost, after all. Tyria spotted the distinctive cap heading down
Ninth Street, and they followed.

He led them to the Ballyhoo. And then to the Post Office. And then to
Center City. And then to another bar, called the Terminal. And from
there, they followed him back into Hulman Center. By the time they got
back inside, the main hallway was again crowded with people; the game,
as it turned out, had just ended, and everyone was on their way out. In
the confusion, they thought they had lost him again, but then Kell felt
someone bump into him. There was a momentary scuffle as the stranger
regained his balance. Apologizing, the man moved away-and just then,
they noticed the hat tucked under his arm. The Imperial Naval Officer's
cap.

Tyria and Runt started to chase after him again, but Kell
called, "Wait!"

"What?" Tyria said, turning back to frown at him. "Why?"

"This is why." He held up a crumpled bit of paper. Moving in closer to
the other Wraiths, he explained in a low voice, "When he bumped into me
he put this in my hand. I imagine this is all we're going to get from
him, so we might as well give up on chasing him."

"What does the note say?" Runt asked.

Kell unfolded the paper and then frowned. "I can't tell. This Terran
language is one thing, but the alphabet is another altogether. Can
either of you make any sense of it?"

Tyria looked and shook her head. "The letters are hard enough to keep
straight as it is, but here they seem even stranger than usual. Sloppy
handwriting, I guess."

Runt took the paper next. "We cannot understand it, either."

"Well, then," said Kell, "let's go find our flutist. And see about a
translation."

- - -

They found Becki waiting back at the car. "Did you find him?" she asked
as they approached.

"Sort of," Kell answered. "Couldn't catch him, though. But he left this
behind." He handed her the cryptic note.

" 'Memorial Stadium. Tomorrow. Midnight,' " she read. "He's
setting up another meeting? Do you think you'll actually get to talk to
him this time?"

"At this point," Kell frowned, "I'm not making any predictions about
that. This guy's awfully shy about talking to us."

"Any better idea now about whether this is for real or a setup?"

"No. He was wearing the kind of cap that officers in the Imperial Navy
wear, but that doesn't tell us much."

Tyria added, "I still don't like it. But Kell's right-if it is a trap,
and we don't act like the gullible sorts we've been making ourselves
out to be, and walk right into it, they'll realize that we've been
faking it."

"And if it is not a trap," said Runt, "perhaps what this man has to
tell us will be helpful. Even though finding such information is not
our role in this mission, we can still make use of it, or send it on to
the others."

"So basically, we have to go," Becki nodded. "All right. Memorial
Stadium, tomorrow. We'll be there.

"Oh, by the way," she added with a grin as they drove towards the
Hermitage, "you guys missed a great second half."

"Did we win?" Tyria asked.

"We won! By one point. With half a second left to go. Mike Menser
scored a three-pointer just in time, and that put us one point over IU.
Can you believe it? ISU just beat IU for the second year running!" She
finished with a merry laugh, still slightly giddy from the excitement
of the game.

And the laugh was echoed by a wild whoop of joy from Runt-a whoop
sounding suspiciously like the ones the band and students had been
making during most of the game. The others all looked at him in
surprise; Kell asked, "What was that all about?"

"We apologize," Runt said, seeming to blush even through the blueness
of his fur. "We were still in our mascot mind."