Special Cargo By JB NOTE: Certain liberties were taken in the illustration of this story; specifically, nowhere in the text does it describe Rali, the computer, as having a cute, little, floating, droid avatar. That, however, is the only departure of any significance. Mary had worked as an aide for the United Planets Earth Ambassador to Mars for three years. She had been hired to his staff after finishing government school at 18. Firstly working as a general secretary, Mary had quickly proved her value at her job and was then elevated to working as a direct aide to the Ambassador. Now, after only two years on the job, she had been given a very special, high-priority assignment. Two years ago, Mars had suffered from a terrible plague. The entire population had suffered its devastating effects, with thousands upon thousands dying under its horrific touch. By the end of the year-long plague, fully three quarters of the population had died, leaving a once-prosperous planet with a