Editing LotS/The Story/Lu Bu's Halloween/HauntedHouseHunting

<font size="3">'''Haunted House Hunting'''</font><br>
[[File:LotS_Quest_z14_a1_q4.jpg|Haunted House Hunting]]
<br>
"Hello, big boy!" chorused four perfect simulacra of Natasha Cybersmash.<br>
<br>
They flanked Lu Bu and Chou on either side, and ran indecent hands across both their bodies.<br>
<br>
"Deactivate pleasure mode," the genuine Natasha said.<br>
<br>
"Yes, ma'am," they replied simultaneously.<br>
<br>
Their lascivious arms pulled away from the robot and the pseudo-zombie.<br>
<br>
"Take off," Natasha said. "And go after that Haunted House."<br>
<br>
"Yes, ma'am!" This time the chorus contained an extra voice, which came from an open communication link somewhere.<br>
<br>
"This way." She strode down a corridor.<br>
<br>
"Your crew..." Lu Bu began.<br>
<br>
"My Cybersmashettes?"<br>
<br>
"They're pleasure bots."<br>
<br>
"Yes."<br>
<br>
"Pleasure bots who are identical copies of you."<br>
<br>
"What can I say? I make the best lover..."<br>
<br>
Chou barked laughter.<br>
<br>
The ship was already out of orbit when the three of them entered the bridge, which was -- like the previous chamber -- crewed by more androids fashioned in Natasha's image. If the genuine article hadn't been in Halloween dress, they would have been indistinguishable.<br>
<br>
"Take a seat," she said. She stepped towards a door in the flight cabin's right-hand wall. "I need to get changed."<br>
<br>
The portal slid closed behind her. Lu Bu and Chou sat down on either side of the Cybersmashette at the main flight controls. The Haunted House was visible through the window ahead of them. It hadn't had a chance to hit hyperspace yet.<br>
<br>
But its big engines were glowing...<br>
<br>
The Cybersmashette smirked, the expression a perfect replica of that Lu Bu had seen on her mistress' face.<br>
<br>
"We'll get them before they can jump," she said. "That piece of crap can't outrun the Cyclone."<br>
<br>
She tapped one of the buttons. The ship's additional thrusters kicked in, hurling them forward.<br>
<br>
"Board or blast?" she asked.<br>
<br>
"Board," the real Natasha replied, from a nearby speaker. "There are kidnapped children on that thing."<br>
<br>
"Yes, ma'am. Ramming shields engaged."<br>
<br>
***<br>
<br>
Sun Xi stepped from the shuttle, onto the planet's whispering dust. The guardsman looked at her from the doorway, as though uncertain of what she should say or do.<br>
<br>
"Are you sure..." the guardsman began.<br>
<br>
"I am. But thank you."<br>
<br>
The woman hesitated for a moment longer. Then she apparently decided that she'd done all she could be expected to. She bowed and stepped back. The door sealed itself shut.<br>
<br>
Mistress Sun walked across the dusty ground.<br>
<br>
The company of loyal friends and allies would have been comforting. But there was no saying what insidiousness Jack might have wrought upon their minds.<br>
<br>
No. She had to do this alone...