Part 1 
	The ship's captain faced the men seated at the table.  "We have 
an emergency."
	Ace Frehley chuckled.  "We're out of cheese dip?"
	Gene Simmons gave Ace a silencing look.  He could tell the 
captain was serious.  "What's the emergency?"
	The captain met Gene's gaze without flinching.  "You know this is 
the maiden voyage of the new fully computerized cruise ship.  The 
company no doubt told you how wonderful this system was, that it 
required no technical crew, that we could run it with just a handful of 
people."
	Paul Stanley nodded.  "I take it they exaggerated."
	"It would work if nothing went wrong," the captain admitted.  "I 
insisted on a backup communications system.  I thought we had an 
operational one, but we just found out it was as integrated into the 
central computer as everything else on this ship.  And the central 
computer is what is malfunctioning."
	Ace was suddenly very serious.  He understood computers and just 
how disastrous a systems failure could be.  "What's wrong with the 
computer?"
	"We think it was a virus," the captain admitted.  "At first we 
thought it was just minor system failures in unrelated areas.  All the 
computer checks returned values within limits.  But it appears the 
problem has always been the central computer.  And the central computer 
controls all systems on the ship."
	"So how bad is it?" Gene asked.
	"We are losing navigation," the captain admitted.  "We know now 
that the global positioning has been inaccurate for days, so we aren't 
sure exactly what part of the Pacific we are in.  The radio is 
inoperable."
	"Don't we have any ham radio or backup?" Peter Criss asked.
	"We were supposed to," the captain said.  "But it turns out it 
operates off the central computer also."
	"So we're lost in the middle of the ocean with no way to call for 
help," Paul said.
	"And losing what little control we have of the ship," the captain 
warned.  "We're going to stay with the ship to try to find a way to 
override the systems and get a message out.  But in a day or so, it may 
reach the point where we have to stop all generators and engines or 
we'll be traveling at top speed in random directions.  The ship will be 
just floating until someone finds us.  And we have a ship full of 
passengers.  And we aren't sure if it was accurate or not, but we have 
been receiving indications of a tropical storm somewhere in the area.  
We can't risk all those people on a powerless ship."
	KISS nodded.  This was a special KISS cruise, just the members of 
KISS past and present and their fans.  The ultra modern computerized 
ship had seemed perfect since the computer could also handle the 
various concerts and events they had planned for the cruise.  But now 
they had to consider the safety of the people they had enticed onto 
this trip.
	"So what do you suggest?" Paul asked.
	"There's a small group of islands within range of our boats," the 
captain said.  "We have enough control of the ship yet that we can slow 
it long enough to transport all of you and your guests to the islands.  
We'll leave you all the food and supplies that don't require 
refrigeration, fuel and desalination devices so you'll have water.  The 
islands are close enough you can use the boats to reach each other 
without having to use the motors.  I'd suggest saving the fuel for just 
getting drinkable water.  And we have the usual emergency supplies we 
can give you."
	"And you'll stay with the ship?" Bruce Kulick said slowly.
	"We may be able to get a signal out," the captain said.  "We may 
find a way to override the computer locks they put in 'for security 
reasons' and which are now preventing us from operating things without 
the interference of the computer.  We took a reading off the stars last 
night with an old sextant.  We don't have any charts so we can't know 
where we are, but if we can reach someone we can give them those 
figures and they can locate these islands."
	"But it may be weeks before we're rescued," Peter said.  "They 
have to notice we aren't answering any calls.  Have to figure out where 
we really are and search until they find us."
	The captain nodded.  
	Gene sighed.  "We either stay on a ship that may crash into 
something or camp out on some islands until we're rescued.  I don't 
think we really have too much choice.  Especially not with all these 
innocents on board."
	"The passengers will have to take just necessities," the captain 
warned.  "We'll lock up personal items in their cabins unit they're 
rescued and can reclaim them."
	"What about you and the crew?" Bruce asked.  "What if there is a 
storm and it hits the ship after everything is off?"
	"We can't abandon ship while there's still a chance we can regain 
control," the captain said.  "But we can't let you and the other 
passengers risk your lives while we're doing that.  The islands are the 
safest place for you right now."
	Paul nodded.  "I agree.  How many islands in all?"
	"There's ten, of varying sizes," the captain reported.  "Two 
large ones in the middle with seven smaller ones in a rough circle 
around them and one small one sort of by itself but still in rowing 
distance.  Here's some vegetation on all of them.  We have supplies so 
you can fish and supplement the supplies.  We have manuals to help you 
locate edible plants and avoid poisonous ones.  And there's no 
poisonous creatures except maybe for jellyfish and things like that."
	"We should be able to survive until help arrives," Peter said 
confidently.
	Ace chuckled.  "Too bad we can't film this for our own reality TV 
series."
	Bruce smiled.  "I think Paul and Gene better have the larger 
islands.  Unless we're dividing the passengers up equally."
	"We each take an island," Paul said.  "We'll tell our guests what 
has happened, let them pick what island to go to."
	"I'll tell the crew to start loading the supplies on the boats." 
The captain left the room.
	"So who tells the passengers?" Eric Singer asked.
	"We all do," Paul said.  "They came on board because of us.  We 
owe them the right to see us face to face when we tell them."
	Paul finished the explanation.  "So we will taking passengers on 
the boats starting in half an hour.  Please take only those things we 
can use.  There won't be any electricity, very few amenities.  We've 
got tents we can use to help build shelters.  We'll have water, dried 
food, canned food, whatever plants and fish we can find.  We'll have to 
work together but we will be rescued eventually.  It's just a matter of 
time."  He looked out over the quiet mass of fans looking up at KISS on 
the dark stage.  "We'll keep in touch with each other and visiting 
between islands will be permitted.  You just have to let us know when 
you're using the boat and where you are.  We'll all be fine as long as 
we work together.  Any problems, tell whichever one of us is in charge 
of the island you're on.  I'll be on Island One.  Gene has Two.  Peter 
Three.  Ace Four.  Eric Carr five.  Vinnie Six.  Mark Seven.  Bruce 
Eight.  Eric Singer Nine.  Island Ten we'll leave undisturbed, in case 
one of us may have to move.  The boats will be labeled as to which 
island they are going to.  Each of us will be on the first boats to our 
islands.  The ship crew have already checked out the islands and 
unloaded supplies.  So please pack what you need and choose what island 
you'll initially travel to.  Thank you."