Treasure Hunt

Copyright ©1992 Ted R. Blasingame

Written with the assistance of Steve Carter

20th Anniversary Revised Edition ©2012

All rights reserved.

190515

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the author.

Cover photograph of Halley's Comet

22 March 1986 @ 0435am

1600 ASA, 30 sec exposure, fl.8, 50mm lens

taken by Ted R. Blasingame with a Canon AE1

Published by Lulu Press

http://www.lulu.com

Visit the Author's website

http://trblasingame.com

Dedications

To my wife, Eileen,

A wonderful gem and my true love. 

— 

To Steve, for years of friendship,

collaboration and fresh ideas. 

— 

To Vaunda, Wendy and Jim for

all your help and suggestions. 

— 

To my father, Archie, who encouraged me

to read and to use my imagination.

TREASURE HUNT

by Ted R. Blasingame

with Steve Carter

A stranger comes to a strange land to escape his past, only to find that his future is a more desperate landscape. Three travelers find their destinies intertwined in a journey across time and space, a telepathic billionaire, his young son and an esper from a far off world. Their journey will take them from the comfort of the Midwest to play the deadly game of a fabled lost civilization on the other side of the universe.

Chapter 1

Somewhere in a dark corner on the edge of the known galaxy, hungry fire raged out of control on a small interstellar vehicle. Out in space, a swarm of metallic gnats whirled about the spinning, careening ship as it flailed helplessly out of control, spiraling toward oblivion. Over and over again, bursts of destructive energy spewed from the swarm, streaming out with terrifying ferocity. The world had contracted to a single hallway, dark and choking, with only the light of the fast encroaching flames. Another crackle of energy rent the air, a sentinel that the main power unit had been completely destroyed. The foundering ship's corridors weakly illuminated in the dying red glow as the smaller, backup generator kicked in.

A slender woman with straight waist-length hair stumbled down the dark hall of the sleeping quarters, desperate to reach a panel at the far end of the passage. She stumbled over the lifeless body of the captain's teenage son and choked back a sob; she could not afford to let her terror and remorse paralyze her movements. With all her effort, she hauled herself upright and raced on as another burst erupted elsewhere in the small ship. The echoes of those blasts seemed to careen off the inner walls like the tolling of a funeral bell.

The woman glanced briefly at a timepiece on her wrist. There isn't much time, she thought to herself. Where is he? She reached the far end of the corridor and thumbed a red flashing button set into the center of a smooth, convex wall. The surface of the wall split open to reveal the interior of a small escape pod. She clambered into the cramped space and stabbed at switches and buttons, desperately setting the sequence for release.

The woman whirled at the sound of running feet in the hall, but the approaching figure was her mate. She was unaware she felt any relief; the blasts drew nearer every second.

“Did you get it?” she asked as her dark-haired husband neared the pod door.

“Yes,” he said between winded gasps, holding up a translucent blue, crystalline icosahedron. “It wasn't easy... the place is crawling with Shroomers!”

She held out her hand to take the crystal from him and that moment sat suspended in time as a blast of energy passed through him, a spider web of blue electricity surging all across his body. The woman froze in terror, unable to pull her gaze away as her mate’s angular face stretched taut in a silent scream. His body shrank, impossibly thin now as the lightning reached his outstretched hand. The crystal cracked from side to side and splintered with the sound of crushing glass. She ducked away as it finally exploded in his hand, and was spared the grisly visage of more beams cutting through him.

The woman found her voice, shrieking as a shower of shards fell around her, with too much blood frothing against the inside of the craft. Only a blind flailing brought her hand down on the pod's firing control. The door shut quickly and she was slammed bodily against it as the tiny craft was shot away from its mother ship.

The woman barely had time to pull herself up before her pod smacked against a small asteroid fragment and spun crazily off into space. The floor came up to strike her in the face, and the world blackened around her. Behind, the last remnants of the cracking ship filled with flame, angry red veins standing out against its silver hull. The ship split along its central axis as fire, beautiful and brocaded in the emptiness of space, billowed outward, fed by escaping oxygen and other gases. In another moment, it all receded into dead, smoldering rubble as the last of the fuel burned out. The swarm of angry mushroom-shaped ships still blasted away, slicing the shrapnel of the deep-space cruiser until each fragment was no greater than a sliver.

Chapter 2

The noon sun of the mid-October day on Earth was warm, but comfortably so.  A gentle breeze stirred up leaves of red, orange, yellow and brown along an asphalt road that meandered through the scenic, hilly woodlands of the San Bois Mountains of southeast Oklahoma.  A single red-tailed hawk rode the thermals above a shallow valley, patiently seeking the tiniest movement of prey.

A slow moving pickup truck of questionable origin puttered along the road.  The driver was a weathered farmer wearing denim overalls, a plaid shirt and an old straw hat that had seen better days.  In the back of the vehicle were several rectangular bales of hay and a number of burlap sacks of feed corn.

The old gentleman watched the road lazily, his left elbow resting upon the open window frame.  His mind wandered as he drove, thinking idly of the coming winter season, but then he quickly rubbed his eyes.

Just a moment earlier, he had been alone in the country valley, but now there was a man standing almost on top of the dashed yellow line in the middle of the road only a few hundred feet in front of the truck.  The farmer slowed to a stop and stared at the fellow who stood with his back to him.

At the sound of the vehicle’s squeaky brakes, the man turned to look at him.  The farmer swallowed and rubbed his eyes again.  The man, dressed in what looked like a dark grey, single-piece garment with matching boots began walking toward him.  A duffel bag of some sort was slung over one shoulder, but it was the man’s features that made the old gent’s heart beat rapidly.

The stranger’s collar-length hair, full, airy, and windblown, was the color of turquoise, although his close-cropped beard was black.  Long bangs fell across dark eyebrows and threatened to cover a pair of eyes so white that the farmer wondered if the fellow was blind.

Aside from the hair, eyes and strange clothing, the man otherwise looked normal, but the farmer was unnerved by just how he had appeared in the middle of the road; his mind hadn’t wandered so far as to miss seeing the man approach across the open fields on either side of the avenue.

Nevertheless, the farmer would always lend a helping hand to anyone stranded this far from town, so he calmed his nerves and quietly waited until the man approached his open window.

As he got closer, the old man swallowed again.  Black pupils surrounded by white irises did indeed make the fellow appear as if he was blind, but there was no doubt that the stranger was staring directly at him when he stopped at his elbow.

The man opened his mouth and said something to the farmer in a strangely accented voice, but the words were not in any language the old gentleman knew.

“I’m sorry, son,” the farmer said apologetically, “but I can’t understand you.”

The stranger tilted his head and then appeared to think over the old man’s statement.  After only a moment, though, he cleared his throat and tried again.

“Forgive me,” he said in English.  The accent was still there, but at least the farmer could understand him now.  “Can you tell me where I am? I am new to this place.”

The farmer looked at him for a moment and then nodded.  “You’re about fifteen miles outside of Wilburton, son.  Did your car break down?”

“No, sorry.  I am on foot.  Is Wilburton a large town?”

“It’s not real big, but there is a college there.  I just came from Wilburton, but if you need a lift, I can take you back there,” the farmer offered with a gesture toward the empty pickup seat next to him.

“Thank you, but I am looking for a large city to find work.”

“Well, son, you’re a long ways from Tulsa or Oklahoma City, I’m afraid.  Maybe you can catch the bus from Wilburton.”

The stranger’s face lit up with recognition of a name.  “Oklahoma City?” he asked.  “How far am I from there?”

“That’s about a hundred-sixty miles.  I think the bus from Wilburton can get you there in about three hours.”

“What direction is the city from here, please?”

The farmer thought it a strange question, but he shrugged and said, “It’s northwest of here.”  He leaned out the window and pointed back in the general direction.  “That way,” he added.

“Thank you very much,” the stranger said, fingering a pendant that hung from his neck.  “You have been most helpful.”

The farmer looked up at him and was about to offer him a ride one more time, but then he stopped and stared.  It was hard to tell in the bright noon sunlight, but it almost seemed as if the man’s eyes glowed for a moment.  He rubbed his face and took another look, but when he glanced back, the stranger was gone.

The farmer started, blinking rapidly, and then he craned his neck outside the window.  The strange man with the funny hair and eyes was nowhere to be seen!  He could not have run across the field toward the distant trees at the foot of the mountains that bordered the small valley.  There had not been enough time for him to run that fast.

He looked behind him, wondering if the guy had crawled up into the back of his pickup truck, but there was only hay and feed corn there.  The farmer swallowed hard, pulled a handkerchief from a pocket, and daubed his forehead beneath the straw hat.

Had he imagined a conversation with such a stranger?  He was quite willing to believe that he must have fallen asleep at the wheel of his truck and dreamed it.  Thankfully, he had not been traveling fast.

Unnerved by the experience, the farmer put his truck into gear and resolved to keep his attention on the road lest he doze off again.

***

The stranger's vision shimmered briefly and then his surroundings changed instantly.  Before his feet settled onto the ground, he felt a minute shift to the right before he felt his full weight again. It wouldn’t do to materialize inside a tree, wall or fence post, but his ability automatically sensed such things during teleportation. He stood still for just a moment to allow the familiar disorienting effects of the transference to fade. He looked around and noted that although teleporting to an unknown destination had been successful, he didn’t know if the place where he arrived was where he had intended.

He was surrounded by trees with leaves that had turned brown with the autumn season, but they were of a different kind and were not as colorful as those he had seen in the shallow valley.  As he turned to look around him, he noted a sapling at his elbow, possibly the one he would have landed upon had his talent not shifted.  There was no road in sight, but he could hear the traffic of a lone vehicle fading into the distance.

He adjusted the duffel strap over his shoulder and as he began walking through scrubby underbrush in the direction of the sound he had heard, dry leaves crackled beneath his boots.  Moments later, he emerged from the trees onto an overgrown grassy shoulder of an asphalt road.  The street looked patched and well-worn, and bits of colorful paper littered the ground at his feet.

He frowned and knelt down to examine the trash.  A waxy-covered paper cup displayed the logo of a local fast-food restaurant and it took him a moment to recognize the writing.  As with the language he had spoken with the farmer, the words on the cup were in English.  This confirmed his assumption that he had arrived on Earth, although he still did not know when and where.

He picked up another bit of paper clinging to a stalk of dried grass and studied a somber face that decorated its surface.  The material had been well handled and exposed to the elements, but the stranger recognized the money for what it was and pocketed the twenty-dollar bill when he stood up.

He absently fingered the dark grey pendant that hung from his neck on a silver-colored chain, pondering his situation.  Instinctively, he knew which direction was north, but until he could determine his location, he did not want to move farther away from his destination by mistake.

His keen hearing detected the sound of tires rolling on the asphalt road behind him.  A swift moving orange van passed him without slowing, quickly disappearing around a bend.  People here were not used to someone with his appearance, so it didn’t surprise him that the driver had not stopped to offer him a ride.  The stranger brushed a few stray locks of turquoise hair from his white eyes and began walking in the direction the van had been going.

A half hour later, he came upon a car stalled by the side of the road.  It was a slick red convertible with the top down and the hood up.  He walked around its back fender and saw a thirty-something woman asleep in the driver’s seat.  Her blonde hair fell gently about her shoulders and she wore denim jeans with a matching denim blouse.  Although he might not be a native of the place, he recognized her beauty and had to force himself not to stare.

He cleared his throat and said in accented English, “May I be of assistance?”

The woman jumped awake and sat up startled.  The man’s appearance unnerved her more than his sudden presence, but his posture was relaxed and unthreatening.  She seemed unsure of him, but after a quick glance at her watch, she realized just how long she had been stranded there.  He was the only one who had offered to help, but she did not see a vehicle after a brief look around.

“Hello,” she said in a voice she hoped was calm.  “I stopped to take a photograph for a project and couldn’t get the car running again. I left my cell phone at home on the charger, so I couldn't call anyone.” As soon as she'd said this last, the woman felt a shiver crawl up her spine. She'd just revealed to a stranger that she had no way to call for help; she hoped she hadn't just placed herself in danger.

Not realizing her train of thought, man simply nodded and set down the duffel bag strapped over his right shoulder.  He moved to the front of the vehicle and peered at the engine under the open hood.  The engineering was simple and he grunted once to himself as he wiggled a corroded battery terminal that was loose.  He pulled the terminal free of the post, used a stick from the ground to scrape off enough of the corroded material to get a clean spot, and then pushed the terminal back into place upon its post. He tightened it as best he could with his fingers and then stepped back.

“Try it now,” he said.  The woman turned the key and the engine started up after a brief hesitation.  She smiled at him with large, deep blue eyes.

“Thank you very much, mister uh...” she said.

“Rojur Delondin,” he replied.

“Can I give you a ride into town, Mister Rogers?” she asked.  “It’s not much farther.”

“Rojur,” he corrected.  “Yes, that would be nice.”  He bent down and wiped a small amount of grease on his fingers onto the grass beside the road, unwilling to get the woman's vehicle filthy.  He stood back up and retrieved his bag. “Once you get to your destination, you should have a mechanic clean the battery terminals for you. The corrosion is what kept it from starting.”

“Thank you, I will.” The woman looked again at his pale eyes and hair color, and then motioned to the passenger seat.  Rojur placed his bag in the back seat next to her camera bag and then got in beside her.

“Nice to make your acquaintance, Miss,” he said as she eased the car out onto the roadway.

“Ms.,” she corrected him, slipping on a pair of large sunglasses.  “Saundra Scott.  You aren't from around here, are you?”

Rojur laughed and shook his head.  “No, I am not from around here.”

“I didn't think so, but I do not recognize your accent.  Are you traveling?”

Rojur nodded and held a hand up to his forehead to keep his long bangs from flogging his face in the wind from the open top of the car.  ”Yes,” he answered.  “I am traveling.  Can you tell me where we are going?” The forest of trees fell behind them and they were now driving through open farmland.

“We're coming up on Route 66,” Saundra told him.  “We'll make a left turn up ahead and then it's a straight shot into Edmond.”

The name of Edmond seemed familiar to him, but Rojur's memory was sketchy.  “Is that near Oklahoma City?” he asked.

Saundra laughed and looked over at him.  “Yes, it's just north of the city.  Are you an actor with a film crew?” she asked.  “I heard the state film commission was making a sci-fi movie and your makeup could fit with what I've heard described.”

Rojur raised an eyebrow.  “No, I am not with a film crew.  However, I was hoping to find work and a place to stay in Oklahoma City.  Traveling gets tiresome and I am ready to stay put for a while.”

“You aren't doing a film?” the woman asked, seeming perplexed.  “Why are you dressed up like that, then? Halloween’s not for another two weeks.”

Rojur frowned and fell silent, his pale eyes on the road.  When he sensed that Saundra was about to repeat her question, he sighed and said, “I suppose I need new clothes, but I assure you I am not wearing makeup.”

“But… your hair and eyes…”

“…are my natural colors,” he finished for her.

The woman guided the car through an intersection and then turned onto a two-lane highway.  “I thought albinos had red eyes, white hair and skin,” she said.

“I am not albino,” Rojur said with patience.  Then, before she had a chance to ask, he added, “Neither am I blind. I can see just fine.”

“You must be a long way from home, then,” Saundra said with a shake of her head.

“I am.”

The woman looked over at him with an expression of embarrassment.  “Mister Rogers, please forgive me,” she said.  “I do have better manners, but I admit your appearance surprised me.  I'm sure you've gotten this a lot since you've come to our country, but that's no excuse for me to be rude.”

“I accept your apology,” he replied.  “At my first opportunity, I shall purchase a pair of sunglasses like yours to cover my eyes from those not used to them.”

Saundra nodded, but said nothing more.  Rojur settled in for the ride, thankful for the lift, but he was still unsure of his destination.  It had been years since he was last in Oklahoma City, but that was in a different age and things were likely to be far different.

His duffel bag in the back seat shifted and fell over when they drove around a curve that skirted an old round red barn.  He looked back at it and noted the woman's camera bag strapped in with a seat belt.

“Are you a professional photographer, Ms. Scott?”

Saundra nodded.  “I use the photographs as subjects to professionally paint and sculpt from, but I don’t publish the pictures themselves.  I am an artist.”  She glanced over at him with a smile and asked, “What do you do, besides hike along seldom-used roads and rescue damsels in distress whose chariots have broken down?”

Rojur laughed and answered, “I have done many things.  I have been a soldier, an explorer, an engineer, a businessman, and numerous other things that I will not bore you with.”

“An engineer and a businessman,” she repeated. “Why would you give up that kind of career to go to another country for a cross-country hike? Is this a vacation walkabout?”

“Let us just say that my father and I needed time away from one another and leave it at that.”

“I see,” Saundra said. “What kind of work are you looking for? I might be able to help you.”

Rojur looked over at her with interest. “Just about anything,” he answered, “but it must pay enough so I may afford a place to live.”

“My boyfriend lives in Edmond, but owns a number of businesses in the city,” she said. “I'm sure he could put you to work in something appropriate if I ask him nicely enough.”

“I would appreciate that,” Rojur replied.

“It's the least I can do for someone who helped me while I was stranded.”

***

Rojur and Saundra chatted idly for the next several miles into Edmond. They drove along well-maintained avenues into a section of town populated by rustic estates of those with great personal wealth. One such street ended in a large cul-de-sac that was bordered with a tall iron fence and thick hedges on the inside perimeter. Two iron gates in the middle were flanked on each side by a brick pillar topped with the concrete likeness of a howling canine. At the moment, the gates were open to permit entrance into the grounds.

A lush green lawn bordered each side of the driveway, but it was the house that captured Rojur's attention. Behind several tall trees, the two-story structure was made up in varying shades of grey rock. A large stone archway stood out from the house by several feet, protecting a pair of wooden doors and a huge bay window set in the wall above them. A chimney occupied a forward wall on one end of the house and several more windows bordered by dark grey shutters decorated the front of the structure on both floors. The high roof was capped by matching grey shingles and the edge of a taller rear wing could be seen over the top of the building.

Set slightly in front of the house was a pair of matching buildings that were connected together with a covered roof that spanned across the driveway on its way to a three-car garage. Cobblestone walkways led visitors from the drive up around the trees to the front archway, with shrubs, bushes and autumn flowers bordering the foundation of the house. The entire property was surrounded by a thick mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees, and although Rojur had not yet seen the rear of the estate, he was sure there was likely to be a swimming pool and several out-buildings.

The home was large, but not extravagant, and although it appeared a good amount of money was invested in the place, Rojur thought the lawn looked a little shaggy and several of the shrubs were in need of trimming. Had his own father not maintained a similar home, he might not have noted all the details of the landscape.  Still, the place was nice and fit in well with the rustic feel of the expensive neighborhood.

Saundra stopped the car on the wide drive next to the autumn grass, pulling up behind a sleek, sand-colored sports car with a low profile. The two of them got out of the vehicle and Rojur reached into the back to retrieve his duffel, but the woman shook her head quietly.

“Leave it for now,” she told him.

Rojur nodded and followed her along the walk toward the front door of the house. “This is a nice place,” he commented. “What does your boyfriend do?”

Saundra flashed him a wide smile and brushed her shoulder-length blond hair back to expose a delicate ear with a dangly diamond earring. “He owns Blackthorne Industries, as well as controlling shares in over half the major businesses in Oklahoma City.”

“Easy to see the money at his disposal,” Rojur said with a glance toward the other car.

“He has the money, but he isn't that extravagant,” Saundra responded with a frown. “I think he designed that thing as a concept car just so Moran could drive it to new car shows. Alex drives a classic 1996 Dodge Stealth. Personally, I prefer my 2024 Ford Mustang. It's only a year old and purrs like a kitten.”

Rojur simply nodded and mentally worked out the time difference. He had traveled farther than he intended, but after a quick glance at the shapely form he followed, he had no complaints thus far.

Just as they approached the front door, it was opened for them. Waiting just inside was a striking figure of excellent grooming, standing with perfect posture; his black hair was neatly combed and he wore a flawless charcoal grey suit. He appeared to be in his late thirties and carried himself with an air of competence.

Rojur was immediately impressed by Saundra's boyfriend, but then he realized he had made a mistake when the man gave her a brief nod and said in rich, full tones, “Hello again, Ms. Scott. It is agreeable to see you again.”

The blonde gave the man a waggle of her fingers and said, “Hello, Chester. Please tell Alex I am here.”

“Right away, ma'am. Please come inside.”

Rojur followed her into the house, giving Chester a pleasant smile that was not returned. The majordomo's brown eyes lingered briefly on the stranger's hair and eyes, but made no mention of the oddity before closing the door. He turned with military precision and disappeared around a corner while Saundra stepped into the foyer with familiarity.

The interior of the house was roomy and had a rustic feel. Polished grey beams ran along the ceiling, contrasting with the dark polished wood floor.  Opposite the front door, a staircase with steps of dark wood and a matching banister curved gently to the right toward the second floor. At the wall near the bottom step was an antique grandfather clock still in precision working order, its large pendulum swinging slowly behind three large counterweights at various heights.

Scenic artwork in decorative frames held spots of honor on the walls illuminated with small spotlights, and a close inspection of a painting of an old but familiar round red barn revealed the name S. Scott.

Rojur was impressed with the detail in the painting, but was unsure which medium with which it had been created. He turned to ask her, but the shapely woman walked into a waiting area lined with a plush beige carpet. The stone fireplace in the alcove was flanked by canine sculptures similar to the ones out at the main gate. Simple aromatic candles burned serenely upon the mantle, giving the room a subtle mulberry scent.

An oak bookshelf occupied the wall on one side of the fireplace, and a large, flat-screen television occupied the other side in a wooden cabinet that matched the overhead beams.  The furniture, while obviously expensive, was simple in design and colors to match the room.

“Saundra?”

Saundra and Rojur turned in unison to look at the speaker. The gentleman that strode into the room was a striking man with dark hair, thick eyebrows and a neatly trimmed mustache. His grey eyes were bright and his strong chin was set beneath a cautious smile. He was dressed in a sharp pair of navy blue slacks, polished shoes and a white long-sleeve shirt. The collar was open and a three-tone blue silk tie was in the man's hands.

Alexander Marcus Blackthorne had started off his working career as a floor sweeper at a factory and made his way to foreman. After that, he had studied at the University of Oklahoma and later developed a new type of alloy process in which steel was rendered transparent; this miracle metal was now commonly called glassteel with contracts throughout the world that would eventually form the foundation of Blackthorne Industries, but it took three investors and a loan from his parents to stand up to scorn and skepticism from the steel industry.

Unwilling to consider himself a one-hit wonder, Alex Blackthorne had branched out into other fields and was mildly successful in everything except for one software venture. His keen scientific mind and a knack for business administration were instrumental in his meteoric rise at a young age. Blackthorne's firm concerned itself with metallurgy, scientific advancement, genetics and biochemical studies, making its investors rather wealthy people. Among its achievements was an inexpensive bonding solution that almost totally eliminated the need for motor oil in automotive engines – a development that unfortunately put a great number of quickie car lubes out of business, and greatly displeased the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.  Despite all this, he tried to remain grounded, remembering simple beginnings and simpler times. He surrounded himself with items of luxury, but refrained from being extravagant.

“Alex,” Saundra said as she crossed the room to give him a light kiss.

Blackthorne gave her a brief hug and then made a cursory glance at Rojur's features before returning his attention to his girlfriend. “I did not expect you back until later tonight,” he said in a smooth voice. There was a light Okie accent to his voice, but it was so subtle that Rojur almost did not catch it.

“I had some car trouble on the way back from Arcadia,” Saundra explained. “There was a quaint pumpkin patch and corn maze I wanted to shoot for my next painting, so I was away from main traffic when the engine stopped.”

“Oh, did you call for road service?”

Saundra looked embarrassed. “No, I left my cell on the charger at home.” She turned to Rojur and gestured toward him. “Mister Rogers was on foot and was kind enough to give me a hand, so I felt obligated to reward him with a ride.”

“She has a corroded battery cable that may need to be replaced,” Rojur explained.

Alex turned toward the stranger politely and offered a hand. “Thank you for your help,” he said. “I am Alexander Blackthorne.”

“I am pleased to meet you, Mr. Blackthorne. I am Rojur Delondin,” he said, clasping his hand. He stepped back and put his hands behind his back for lack of anything else to do with them.

“So what is it we can do for you?”

Saundra leaned in again and said, “Mr. Rogers is a foreigner traveling abroad. However, he wishes to settle down for a while and is in need of work in the interim. I thought perhaps you might have something he could do for one of your businesses.”

Blackthorne's gaze roved over the stranger, an unreadable expression on his face, and his attention stopped full on Rojur's eyes. “Where do you hail from, Mr. Delondin?” he asked.

Rojur tried to appear as innocent as he could. “Quite some distance,” he replied. “Little place overseas. I doubt most of the world even knows of its existence.”

“What's it called?” Saundra asked curiously.

“Roswei,” Rojur replied after the barest hesitation. At least this bit of information was not a lie.

“No, I cannot say that I have heard of it,” Blackthorne mused. His eyes had narrowed slightly, but then his expression became lighter when Saundra tugged on his arm. He walked with her in tow toward the windows looking out across the front yard.

“Take a look outside, Mr. Delondin.” Blackthorne directed him. “The local college grounds-keepers I used disbanded last week to focus on their finals, but I have not yet secured another group. As you can see, the lawn is in need of attention. The landscapers usually sent two or three workers out once a week and it took them a full day to mow, trim, edge and maintain the yard. Do you think you can do all that for me if it was all spread out over several days?”

Rojur nodded. “Yes, sir,” he replied. “I am sure I could keep it maintained for you.”

“It is close to the end of the season, but there are still a few weeks left of yard work you can do.  Chester can get your personal information in a proper application strictly on formality, and then you can get started.”

“Thank you, sir. What type of personal information will you need?” Rojur asked cautiously.

“Standard information, really. Name, current and past addresses, social security number, birth date, past work experience, et cetera.”

“There may be a problem with that,” Rojur admitted, turning away from the window. “I do not have a social security number. I am a foreigner to this place.”

“That's simple enough. We can use your travel passport, but you will need to apply for a work visa if you plan to stay a while.”

Rojur's frown grew deeper. As a visitor to the planet, he had none of these things. His birth date would not translate and his past addresses would simply not be believed. There was no way he could tell the truth, so if he were going to survive here, he was going to have to start lying about some things.

When Blackthorne saw the hesitation in the stranger's face, he frowned. “Trouble with that, too?” he asked dryly.

“Lost my passport…” was all Rojur could think to say.

Saundra sidled up to Blackthorne and threaded an arm through one of his. “I was stranded out on the countryside,” she reminded him in a whisper. “He was the only one to lift a finger to help me, and could have easily taken advantage of me, but he has been a complete gentleman.”

Blackthorne looked sideways at her and studied her for a long moment before he finally nodded. He looked back over to Rojur and muttered, “It wouldn’t be the first time I have paid someone under the table. Where are you staying?”

“Having just arrived in town, I have not had time to look for a place,” Rojur answered while Saundra gave Blackthorne a brief kiss on the cheek in thanks.

Blackthorne studied him a moment further and then glanced down at the silk tie in his hands. “The size of the grounds will likely keep you occupied full time,” he said. “It would be better if you were nearby, since you do not even appear to have transportation.” He gestured toward the curved wooden staircase near the front door and said, “There are no servants' quarters, but you may use the first guest room at the top of the stairs until you can secure lodging elsewhere.”

Rojur gave the man a short bow, surprising Blackthorne and making Saundra chuckle. “Thank you for your hospitality,” he said. “I appreciate your generosity.”

Blackthorne held out his hand. “How about a handshake instead of bowing,” he offered. “That's more common in our country.”

“Yes, of course. I forgot. May I ask a question about your staff?” Blackthorne lifted an eyebrow, but nodded. “You said you had no quarters for the servants. Who keeps the house for you?”

“I hire a cleaning service to come out twice a week,” Blackthorne replied. “They don't stay long, just enough to do their work and leave.”

“Perhaps at the end of the season when the yard work is through, I can help with the inside.”

Blackthorne shook his head and led them all back toward the dining room where Chester was pouring an aromatic coffee into three ornate cups. “One thing at a time, Mr. Delondin. We shall see how well you do with the lawn before we talk of anything further. How do you take your coffee?”

“Green,” Rojur replied automatically. When he saw the hesitant looks of the other three, he crooked the side of his mouth into a smile and said, “Just black, thank you.”

“Cute,” Alex said with the hint of a smirk. He flipped the silk tie in his hands over his neck and began to thread it into a Windsor knot. Saundra tried to help, but he waved her off with a brief look of irritation. “I have a briefing at the downtown office in an hour. Chester, this is Rojur Delondin. He will be taking care of the grounds as of today and will be staying in the room at the top of the stairs. Rojur, this is Chester Hobbes, the majordomo of my estate. He will get you set up in your room and then introduce you to the groundskeeper shed, where you will find all the necessary equipment.”

Hobbes handed him a cup and saucer after serving Saundra and Alex. “Thank you, Chester,” Rojur said.

“If you must address me, I will answer to Mr. Hobbes,” the majordomo replied. Neither his tone nor expression was stern, but Rojur caught the irritation at being addressed by his first name by a newcomer.

“Of course,” he said with a minute bow. “Forgive my mistake.”  He turned to Saundra, who set down her cup to help Alex into the jacket of his suit. “Does anyone else live here that I should be introduced to before I begin my work?”

“Only my son, Brandon,” replied Alex. “He is in the den with his private tutor, Moran. Chester can introduce you to him later. Now, I must be off to the office. I am pleased to meet you, Mr. Delondin. You may start with the lawn as soon as you are ready.” He turned to Saundra and gave her a pleasant smile. “We did not expect you until later tonight,” he said, “but you are welcome to hang around until then.”

“No, I'll be back at the usual time,” the blonde replied with a shake of her head. “I need to process my film and set up the prints to dry before then.” She smiled over at Rojur and added, “Although just about everything is digital these days, I still prefer high quality film for my model photographs.”

Rojur finished his drink and set the cup on a serving tray on the dining table. “Thank you for the coffee, Mr. Hobbes,” he said. “I will need to retrieve my belongings from Ms. Scott's car and then I can change into clothing better suited for lawn work.”

All eyes went to Rojur's dark grey, single-piece garment adorned only with a belt and dark boots. Alex had been so focused upon the stranger's features that he had not taken a good look at the man's clothing. Whoever had made the outfit had done a good job concealing the seams and hems so that it appeared to be made of a single piece of material that was uninterrupted by even a pocket. Whichever country Rojur had come from seemed to have excellent tailors, although Blackthorne himself would not have chosen this particular style.  In reality, Alex preferred jeans, boots and a simple shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, but due to his career position, he was just as at home in a business suit.

The grandfather clock chimed the quarter-hour with a deep note and Alex looked up with a frown. “Time to go,” he said. Saundra kissed him briefly on the cheek and then the man moved off toward a corridor that would lead him toward his garage.

Saundra looked over at Rojur and gestured toward the door. “If you will get your bag, I need to be on my way as well.”

Halfway along walk back to the cars, Rojur heard the front door open again behind them. He turned to look and saw a lanky boy of twelve push his way past another man to break into a run toward him and Saundra.

“Sandy!” exclaimed the youth in a husky voice. The boy was barely more than a collection of bones and lean muscles with skin stretched over it. His shoulder-length hair was a jumbled collection of browns and blonds.

The youth glanced up at Rojur and their eyes locked for a brief moment, white peering into cobalt blue, but then the lad flung himself into Saundra's open arms.

“Hey, kiddo,” the woman said to the boy. “Finished with your studies?”

“Yup. Carl said I done good.”

“Did well,” corrected the one Rojur guessed to be Carl. “He hits high marks in just about everything,” the man added.

Saundra raised an eyebrow at the boy. “Almost everything?” she asked. “What do you need to improve upon?”

The boy worried his bottom lip with a glance back at Carl and then replied, “Uhm, grammar and spelling.”

“He does fine,” Carl explained, “but he just needs to be a little more attentive.”

A gleaming, black Dodge Stealth eased out of the garage and Alex gave them all a wave from the window as he passed. They watched him until he disappeared through the iron gates, but when they turned back to face one another, Saundra suddenly seemed to remember the newcomer.

“Mr. Delondin, this young buck is Brandon Blackthorne,” she said with a smile, “and Carl Moran, Brandon's private tutor.”

“Hello,” Rojur replied.

“Hi,” the boy replied, shoving both hands in the back pockets of his cutoff jeans.

Saundra smiled. “Brandon, this is Mr. Delondin, your Dad's new groundskeeper. He's a foreigner and is a little fuzzy on our customs, so please be helpful when you can.”

Moran was a tanned young man in his late twenties dressed in casual slacks, sneakers and a white shirt with long sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His hair was tousled with strands of dark brown fading to blonde at the tips. It was relatively short on the sides, but the length in the back caressed the tops of his shoulders. He had dark eyes and darker eyebrows, but the stubble upon his chin was barely visible due to its light color.

Moran reached out with a solemn expression and shook hands with Rojur. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Delondin,” he said.

“Thank you, Mr. Moran.”

The tutor smiled, putting his hands into his pants pockets. “Please call me Carl,” he said.

The foreigner returned the smile, liking the other man instantly. “Likewise, you may call me Rojur,” he said.

“Roger Dodger,” Moran replied.

“No,” interrupted the boy at his side, tugging at the tutor's sleeve, “he said it was Rah-zur.”

Carl looked down at him with a grin and then gave Rojur a subtle wink. “I know, kiddo,” he replied. “It's just a joke between us.”

Rojur smiled and then looked over at Saundra. “Interesting character, this Carl of yours.”

The woman laughed aloud. “He's not mine, you can have him!”

“Gee, thanks too much!” Moran replied with a laugh of his own. He then turned back to the boy and put a hand on his shoulder. “I need to get ready for my flight, but I'll be back in a couple of weeks. Be sure to study the material I gave you, and then we'll see how much you've improved when I get back.”

“Bring me back something,” Brandon requested, shoving his hands into the pockets of his shorts, mimicking the tutor's earlier stance.

“Sure thing, kiddo.” He tousled the boy's hair and then turned to Saundra. “How about a good-bye kiss?”

“Keep dreaming, Romeo,” the photographer retorted with a grin, walking toward the red convertible. Rojur fell in step behind her, the others trailing along.

“Are you going on vacation?” he asked the tutor.

Carl shook his head. “It's a business trip to Bangkok,” he replied, “although I plan to touch base with some friends of mine whilst there.”

They reached the car and Rojur pulled his duffel from the back seat as Saundra slid behind the wheel. She put her sunglasses back on and then looked up at the newcomer.

“Thank you again for your help, Mr. Delondin,” she said. “I will see you again this evening.”  Rojur gave her a smile and a short bow, and then she waved to Brandon and Moran as she backed away.

“Time for me to go, too,” Carl said. He gave Brandon a brief hug, shook hands with Rojur, and then strode over to the tan concept car. He thumbed a remote on his key ring and the driver side door opened, ruining the illusion that the vehicle had been molded without seams. The man slid into the seat and then started the engine. It barely made a sound with only a deep thrum like a cat's purr coming from its tail pipe. Moran waved again through the window and then eased the futuristic car out and then down the driveway. Just as soon as Moran had gone, Brandon ran off across the yard without a backward glance and then disappeared around the corner of the house.

Rojur turned to head back inside, but he suddenly discovered that Hobbes stood beside him. Rojur was startled, having not heard the majordomo approach, and briefly wondered if the man had ability to teleport like himself.

“If you will follow me,” Chester said quietly, “we can get you set up in your room before you begin your work on the grounds.”

“Thank you, please lead the way,” Rojur replied. As they walked back up the cobblestone walk toward the front door, Hobbes glanced over at him briefly. There was suspicion in that glimpse, and Rojur knew he would have to be wary around this one.

Chapter 3

Since he had gotten a late start on his first day, it took Rojur two days to mow the entire estate with Blackthorne's riding mower, and then another full day to trim the shrubbery and clean up the clippings. His fourth day was spent trimming tree limbs hanging over the drive and the edges of the estate, and then another day cleaning autumn leaves from the rain guttering around the house. The weather was a touch cool for swimming now, and Blackthorne had suggested that the pool should be drained and winterized. By the time the new groundskeeper had completed his first week, the lawn was once again in need of mowing, so part of the cycle repeated itself.

On the first night of his arrival, Rojur had seen television commercials on the set in the room that had been provided for him, promoting do-it-yourself hair dye kits that he might be able to use to make himself less noticeable to occasional guests of the Blackthorne estate. He was sure that colored contact lenses could also be purchased to finish the disguise.  Even if the job as groundskeeper might be temporary, he would need to blend in with the local population. I have been careless, he mused to himself.

During free time after his duties the next evening, Rojur walked two miles up the road to a nearby market and used the twenty dollar bill he had found to purchase the dye kit he had seen advertised. It would have to be reapplied in another six weeks, so he bought two in order to keep another on hand. Then, when he emerged from his room the next morning, only the boy Brandon seemed to notice that his hair was now black to match the natural color of his beard. Unfortunately, it had done nothing to counteract his natural psionic energy and no amount of combing and brushing would make it look like anything but as windblown as it had before.

Despite the wealth at the millionaire's disposal, Rojur had come to realize that Alex Blackthorne preferred to live a simple life while at home away from the office. Three times that first week, the industrialist had entertained business guests in his home. Following direction, Rojur took his meals only at the breakfast bar in the kitchen or out on the back patio. He had offered to assist Hobbes with kitchen duties and serving the guests, but the man had a specific plan for everything he did and respectfully declined.

Although he showed no outward sign of hostility, Rojur had the strong feeling that Hobbes did not appreciate his presence on the estate. Perhaps it was his unconventional appearance or his supposed vagrant background, but the majordomo did not seem to trust the newcomer fully.

Rojur tried to focus on his work and stay out of everybody's way. When he was out on the estate grounds, he had plenty of opportunities to mull over his situation and the reasons why he had left his home to come to this place and time. He did not know how long he might need to stay here, so he was prepared to make the best of it.

Even though he possessed psionic abilities, he knew he must keep them under wraps. If they were ever discovered, Rojur was certain that the authorities would have him shuttled to some hidden organization to have him dissected in order to discover his secrets. He was running a close risk as it was even with just his eye color.

Even his clothing had initially attracted attention, but as luck would have it, the particular garments he had worn could be easily configured into other styles, mimicking different materials as well. He had seen an actor on television playing the part of a groundskeeper much like himself, so he had reconfigured his outfit to appear as if he wore a black tee-shirt, a pair of grey overalls and black work boots.

Although the autumn temperatures gradually cooled, Blackthorne's son was often out on the grounds while Rojur worked, the boy running, jumping, tumbling and generally being a kid while his tutor was away. Brandon sometimes just sat barefoot in the grass, watching the new groundskeeper from a distance.

Rojur had also noticed something else watching him while he worked outside. Three days after he had arrived, he had seen an animal staring at him from the wooded underbrush that surrounded the estate grounds. Blackthorne owned all of the lots directly adjacent to his and he had purposely kept them undeveloped as a buffer against other homes in the area. Rojur was not sure what type of animal it might be, other than some kind of large canine with black and grey fur and a darker mask about its eyes, but he had seen it near the edge of the estate on several occasions.

Although the sight of the animal had sent chills up his spine when he felt those piercing ice blue eyes upon him, he did not feel threatened. There was simple curiosity in its demeanor, but with the presence of a child on the grounds, Rojur kept his eyes open for the animal whenever Brandon was outside with him.

On this particular morning, however, the groundskeeper had seen no one but Hobbes since emerging from his room at the top of stairs.  The majordomo had greeted him courteously and prepared a small breakfast at his request, but otherwise offered him no news of the day's calendar.

Directly after breakfast, Rojur headed for the work shed at the back of the lot and soon had the chemicals and implements he would need to drain and clean the swimming pool. He set everything on the ground at the shallow end of the pool and then put his hands on his hips while he studied the large vinyl covering stretched across the water and secured to recessed marine cleats.

Removing the cover would normally be a two-man job, but the groundskeeper did not have that luxury today. He looked around surreptitiously, scanning the area for anyone who might be around, but the only other pair of eyes he found looking back at him belonged to that large canine at the edge of the yard. As if he were greeting an old friend, Rojur smiled and nodded toward the animal, but then returned his attention to his surroundings. Seeing no one else about, he spread out his hands over the pool and felt the familiar tingle in his extremities whenever he used his telekinesis.

With the tarpaulin now held in place by the force of his will, he dropped his arms and went around to the marine cleats to untie each of the ropes. Once they were all free, he spread out his arms again and mentally rolled the covering back, starting from the deep end. The tarp obediently rolled into a neat tube, mirroring the image in his mind, and once it reached the other end of the swimming pool, he set it gently upon the concrete.

The level of the chlorinated water had been low enough in the pool that the bottom of the tarpaulin was in no need of drying. That task completed, Rojur turned back to his tools to clean out the bugs and leaves that had made it beneath the tarp.

The white-eyed esper stopped short and a sudden chill shot up his spine. Alex Blackthorne stood just outside the patio door, wearing a set of sweats with the logo of a local university upon the top. He held a small plate with a bagel and cream cheese in one hand, and had a computer tablet clutched in the other.

Blackthorne had a look of surprise upon his face, but it was quickly replaced with a stern expression. Rojur was stunned at his own carelessness, but before he could offer up a lame explanation, the other man surprised him with a talent of his own.

Blackthorne's thoughts suddenly jumped into Rojur's head. |I think it is time you and I had a private discussion.|

Rojur's jaw dropped open, but for only a moment. He clamped it shut and then simply nodded to his employer without a word.

***

Behind closed doors in Blackthorne's private study, the esper sat down in a high-backed leather chair, facing the wealthy businessman across a large oak desk. Neither had spoken during the walk in through the house, but Rojur had mentally kicked himself with each step. He was now on his guard, and he was prepared to teleport away if he suddenly found himself in danger.

Blackthorne's thoughts were of a different nature, however. As an entrepreneur used to facing boards and committees, he had learned long ago how to keep his emotions hidden away from his face, so the façade he presented to his groundskeeper was impassive.

They studied one another for a long moment before Alex leaned forward and glanced briefly at the screen of a computer tablet on his desk. Rojur tried to appear relaxed. The room had a comfortable feel to it. A large window on the outside wall near the desk looked out beside a gnarled oak tree next to one of the many flower gardens of the estate. The earth tone drapes were currently drawn together, lighting the private study only in soft hues from the morning sunlight. A floor-to-ceiling wooden bookcase occupied the wall on the opposite end of the room, each of its shelves full of tomes that had seen much use over the years, but were given care in handling. Potted ferns occupied each corner and gave the room a nice aromatic ambience.  Behind the desk was a large framed map of the world, printed upon a replica of old parchment. There was muted silence in the air, and the esper realized the room had been constructed with soundproofing material.

“Rojur Delondin,” Blackthorne said, his eyes now firmly upon the other man. “You showed up on my doorstep with turquoise hair, white eyes and a tanned complexion. You are approximately five foot seven inches tall, one hundred fifty-three pounds and in good physical condition. You speak English, but with a pronounced, yet unidentifiable accent. You stated your home is Roswei, which is neither a country, state, province, city nor a village that can be located on any map or in any database.” Alex sat back in his seat and continued.

“Even if your name and country were both made-up, there are no recognition records of your facial structure with any worldwide agency, including the International Passport Authority. Hair samples left behind in the workshop lavatory were analyzed and your DNA has no match to any worldwide catalogue. In fact, you only seem to be vaguely human, but the samples must have been contaminated since I know the implication of that isn't possible.”  Rojur listened without interruption, but Blackthorne suddenly favored him with a bit of a smile.  “You are obviously not from anywhere around here,” he said lightly. “Would you care to enlighten me?”

Rojur shook his head. “Not really,” he answered. “Let us just say that the United States Federal Witness Protection Program is very thorough.”

“I see,” Blackthorne muttered, unconvinced. “I take it blue-green hair dye and white contact lenses over your eyes is supposed to help you blend in with society?”

“Not exactly,” Rojur answered, straight-faced.

Without batting an eye or moving his lips, Blackthorne's words jumped into the esper's mind again. |I will ask you again. Where are you from?|

Rojur did not flinch this time, but sudden thoughts raced through his mind. Was Blackthorne sent by his father to find him? No, there was no one besides himself who knew the method of his escape, and besides, Blackthorne was too well established to be a plant on the lookout for him. That the man had telepathic abilities was definite, but Rojur could not guess what other talents he may have. His first impulse was to answer with a telepathic response of his own, but he was cautious against giving up any more of his own secrets and refused to take that bait.

“Sorry, Mr. Blackthorne,” he said aloud. “Even though we both know a few parlor tricks, I am not inclined to discuss my personal background. I appreciate the employment, room and board you have provided for me, but since I refuse to divulge my history, I believe it may be time to move along.”

Alex looked surprised, and in doing so, surprised Rojur in return. Blackthorne waved both hands in the air and looked apologetic. “I'm sorry, Mr. Delondin,” he said with raised eyebrows, “but that won't be necessary. I don't know what kind of trouble you may have been in, but I can assure you that someone with your telekinetic ability will be safe from discovery here. Please, stay.”

Rojur stared at him a long moment. “What assurances do I have that I will be safe now that you know what I can do?”

Blackthorne opened a drawer to his desk and pulled out a colorful pamphlet. He slid it across the desk toward the esper and nodded toward it. “Take a look at this, please,” he said.

Rojur picked it up and felt his eyebrows rising. “Blackthorne Psionetic Research?” he read aloud.

“Just as it says, I have a business division concerning psionic and genetic research,” Alex explained aloud. Then, |As you can guess, I have a personal interest in this field of research.|

“Were you born with the ability,” Rojur asked, “or was it acquired?”

|It's natural,| Alex replied mentally. |A genetic anomaly passed down within my family line.|

Rojur only glanced at the pamphlet idly, folding and unfolding it to give his hands something to do. “How many know of your telepathy?”

Alex smiled. “Very few, only those whom I have hand-selected. This is not something I would want made public, just as you would not want your own ability publicized.”

Rojur's lips tightened. “So… what is it you want from me, samples of my brain tissue? Multitudes of probes and experiments?”

Alex laughed aloud, shaking his head. “Nothing so dramatic,” he replied. “I would like to have a few NDIs done on you, nothing that would be invasive.”

“NDI?”

“Non-Destructive Inspection. However, nothing would be done without your knowledge or permission. As with myself, only a select few would even be aware of you.”

“Without my knowledge… like having my hair samples analyzed?” Rojur asked, setting the pamphlet on the desktop.

Blackthorne frowned. “That was a security background check,” he assured the esper. “It had nothing to do with your abilities… of which I was completely unaware of until you displayed it so openly out at the pool. I still know nothing more of your background, and my government takes a serious view on possible terrorists living among the populace.”

“How many government agencies are now watching me due to the results of your investigation? I am no terrorist, but I assure you that no one will ever dig up any information on me; that alone will do a lot to drive the curious to drastic measures in an attempt to find out something… anything about me.”

Alex pursed his lips. “I am more discreet than that,” he said in a low voice. “I have trusted key people in areas that would surprise even Uncle Sam, and I can assure you they are one hundred percent loyal to me.”

“Why would you even believe that?” Rojur asked, clearly unconvinced.

“Because each of them possesses similar talents to my own, and all have much to lose if they were to be discovered.”

Rojur sat up straighter in his chair. “I was not aware that psionic abilities were so widespread across the Earth,” he mused aloud. “It is not one of the planets known to have many natural espers.”

“What… did you just say?” Blackthorne asked slowly.

Rojur looked up in surprise and tried hard not to swallow back his fear. He had slipped up twice today and it was not like him to be so careless. Such mistakes could cost him his life back home.

“Nothing of importance,” he offered weakly.

Blackthorne leaned forward on the desk again, resting his elbows on the edge and steepled his fingers beside his chin. “You know, when I first met you,” he said in an even voice, “I just figured you were probably a cosplay fan, colorfully dying your hair, wearing decorative contact lenses, and probably a foreigner to the United States.  A foreigner, yes, but not from another country, I'd wager.”

Rojur prepared himself for a quick escape, absently fingering a cylindrical lump under the shirt beneath his coveralls. Blackthorne was on the right track, and the esper knew he had made a serious error working for this man. Any other person in the metropolitan area would have likely overlooked this line of reasoning, but it was obvious that Alex Blackthorne had too much experience in this field for Rojur to get by with a few made up facts and figures.

“Stop,” Rojur said to the other man. “Let us not make this out to be some kind of fantasy. It is simply a joke that has gone too far, using makeup and a bit of pretending on my part. If you call the authorities down on me, all they are going to find is a frightened sci-fi fan who got separated from his travel group. I was robbed of my wallet and passport and was only looking to work somewhere long enough that I could afford my way back home and have a replacement passport sent to me.”

Blackthorne shook his head. “I might have accepted that explanation if I had not seen the results of your DNA test myself. Mr. Delondin, or whatever your real name might happen to be, I do not believe you are quite human.” Rojur started to get up from his seat, but Alex held up a hand. “I assure you that you are in no danger here. Please keep your seat.”

Rojur stood up anyway. “I do not care for this conversation, Mr. Blackthorne. My personal background is no one's business but my own. If I stay, I will likely become a study of interest, and that is not on my list of things I want to do. I came here to live quietly, but I have made several errors in judgment, one of which was coming here to your home.  I cannot do anything to make you forget I was here, but once I leave, your memory of me is all that you will have.”

Alex stood up. “You sound like you could use an ally,” he said, walking around the desk toward him with a hand extended. |I do not intend to turn you over to the authorities and what better ally could you have than someone who understands you a little?|

Rojur studied him for a long moment, unwilling to take the proffered hand. “My father is a man such as yourself,” he said with a furrowed brow, “a businessman with command over many that he would willingly lie to in order to get what he wanted.”

“I am not your father,” Blackthorne said darkly, “and I do not appreciate being compared to others when I have my own methods of success.”  He closed the hand he had offered and held it up between them. “I offer you safety and understanding, but if you are so mistrustful of my intentions, go on your way; I won't send anyone after you. I hired you to do my yard work solely at Saundra's insistence, knowing nothing of your background or abilities. I would prefer to know you as a friend, but groundskeepers are a dime a dozen and I can always find someone to cut my grass.”

Without waiting for a response, Alex returned to his seat behind the desk and sat down. He looked up at the esper and folded his hands together on top of the desk, saying nothing more. Rojur returned his gaze for another moment before he sat down again. The long bangs of his hair fell into his eyes, so he brushed it aside with a finger.

“If only you knew the details of my life leading up to my appearance here,” Rojur said in a low voice, “you would understand my reluctance to accept your offer, Mr. Blackthorne.”

“So enlighten me.”

The esper shook his head. “There is not a person on Earth I would share that with,” he muttered.

Alex raised an eyebrow. “Upon which planet would you discuss this? Roswei?”

Rojur stared at the businessman for a long moment. Finally, he stood up and then approached the desk, resting the tips of his fingers upon its edge. “Thank you for the job, the room and board, and the generous offer. I wish you well in your endeavors, but I am going now.”

Before Blackthorne could respond, the esper's eyes lit up from the inside with psionic energy that glowed in the shadows of the room. Alex blinked, and in that moment, the esper was simply not there. There was neither sound nor flash of light with Rojur's disappearance, just a subtle movement of air rushing in to fill the spot where the man had stood.

Alex started and bolted hard against his seat back, surprised at the sudden vanishing. He swallowed hard and looked abruptly around the room, wondering if Rojur had the ability to cloak his presence.

“Mr. Delondin,” he said with a voice that was steadier than his insides, “this is impressive, but unnecessary. Please show yourself and let's discuss this further.” There was no response to his request, not even the echo of his voice off the soundproofed walls. “Rojur?” he tried again.

After another moment of silence, Blackthorne sighed and got up from his chair. 

***

Rojur's vision shimmered and then his surroundings instantly changed. Standing beside the bed, he looked around at the room that Blackthorne had allowed him to use, frowning at the turn of events. He had not wanted to reveal his teleportation ability to the businessman, but he knew that Alex would not have allowed him to simply walk out of the room without further debate.

He did not wish for Blackthorne to know that he had only teleported one floor above the study, so he moved around the bedroom quietly, retrieving his personal items and stuffing them into his well-traveled duffel as quickly as he could.

When he approached the window to pick up a book from the sill, movement caught his eye through the sheer curtains. Alex Blackthorne had gone outside and was pacing beside the rolled up tarpaulin at the shallow end of the swimming pool.

Rojur watched him for a moment and then began to turn back to his task, but another movement flagged his attention. The large canine he had seen on several occasions was walking across the lawn toward the house. It stopped and looked back at something in the trees for a moment, but then it turned back toward the house and began running straight toward the billionaire. The animal's head was down, and its mask fur gave it the appearance of danger, making the small hairs on the back of Rojur's neck stand up.

Although he mistrusted Blackthorne's intensions, the esper wished no ill fortune upon him, especially not from a wild animal taking advantage of the man's distraction to attack. He made an immediate decision and then teleported down to the yard.  He appeared several feet away from Alex and quickly scooped up the handle of a pool net.

Blackthorne yelped, jumping backward from the sudden appearance of the man in front of him, but it only took him a moment to realize that the esper was not facing him with the makeshift weapon, but away in a protective posture.

Rojur crouched, brandishing the pole, and the large canine suddenly stopped at the edge of the concrete surrounding the pool deck. The animal stared at him with a penetrating gaze. At first it laid its ears back, but then it bared its teeth at him with a low growl deep in its throat.

“Get back!” Rojur shouted at the animal, waving the net before him. The canine took a step back, but then sank into a crouch, unwilling to back down any further, its eyes never leaving his.

The esper took a step forward to circumvent the edge of the pool, but a hand suddenly gripped his arm.

“Stop!” Blackthorne commanded. Rojur turned to look at him incredulously, but Alex shook his head with a look of amusement. “Don't harm my husky,” he said in a quieter voice. “He's my friend and would not have hurt us.”

Unconvinced, Rojur looked back at the animal, holding his ground. The grey, black and white animal continued to growl deep in its throat, but when Blackthorne walked past the esper and approached it, the animal fell silent, lowered its tail and then put its head down. Alex knelt beside it and then brushed his fingers through its thick fur coat. The dog's ice blue eyes flicked back and forth between Alex and Rojur. It acted as if it did not want to trust taking its eyes from the esper, but finally gave in to the feelings of affection to the man now lightly scratching behind its ears.

The Siberian husky gave out a brief whine and then nosed up to kiss the bottom of Blackthorne's chin with a solitary lick.  After a moment, Alex looked back over at the esper. He did not appear upset, but his expression became unreadable with a perfect poker face.

“While it was unnecessary,” the man said, “I appreciate your willingness to come to my rescue against the big bad woof. This is Okami. He's a purebred Siberian husky. He's usually fairly friendly to everyone, but I think your sudden aggression has him on guard.”

Clearly puzzled, Rojur knelt down slowly and set the net pole on the ground. When he stood up again, he walked toward them, but the canine laid his ears back and put his head down again, staring defiantly.

Alex gave the animal a light tap on top of its head when the canine began to growl. “No need for that, Okami,” he said calmly to the husky. “Mr. Delondin was only trying to protect me, as you are doing now.” Then he looked back at the esper with a raised eyebrow and added, “He is our friend.”

“That is correct,” Rojur said; as he had never owned an animal, he felt silly talking to a dog, but his words were more for Alex. “We are friends. I mean no harm to anyone in this household.”

The canine looked up at Alex, who nodded, and then he looked back at the other man almost as if he had understood them. He got up to his feet and then padded quietly over to the esper, his ears up and tongue now lolling out the side of his mouth. Rojur closed his hand loosely and then leaned over, offering the back of his hand. The animal sniffed him for a moment, and then gave his knuckles a single friendly lick.

Feeling as if he had been accepted, Rojur smiled with a nod and then scratched the dog lightly behind its right ear. He was rewarded with a canine grin.

“I'm glad you came back,” Alex said quietly. “I would like to resume the previous conversation with my friend.”

Rojur's frown returned to his face, but at Blackthorne's emphasis on his last two words, the esper straightened up. He thought about it a moment longer before finally giving the man a nod. Rather than returning to the office, Rojur gestured out across the manicured lawn.

“Let us discuss it out here,” he suggested.

Relieved, Alex nodded and gave the dog a final pat on the head before turning to follow the esper out across the grass, shoving his hands into the pockets of his crimson sweats.  Okami padded casually behind him, now relaxed around the two men.

“What made you come back?” Alex asked, breaking the silence.

“I was upstairs packing my things when I looked out the window and saw this guy coming after you,” Rojur replied, gesturing behind them at the man's pet. “He looked as if he was about to take you down for his dinner.”

Alex grinned. “It was dinner on his mind, but I wasn't on the menu. I was just about to feed him.”

“Okami is a pet?”

“I've had him since he was old enough to leave his mother,” Blackthorne answered. “We are old friends.” He took a few casual steps before speaking again. “I must admit that you startled a year's growth from me when you disappeared from my study, and then took another one when you popped back in out here.”

“I had not planned to show that particular ability, but you had me boxed into a corner. The quickest way to end the conversation was the most abrupt.”

“What else can you do?” Alex asked in genuine interest.

Rojur shook his head. “All in good time, but not right now,” he replied.

Blackthorne looked at him sideways. “That implies a plan to stay. Have you reconsidered my offer?”

The esper nodded. “Perhaps there is something in what you say,” he said. “I could use a friend, or at least a safe haven, if I can depend upon your word.”

“You can. I was sincere in my offer. I can offer you safety and understanding.”

“In exchange for letting you study me?”

“Only if you will allow it.”

Rojur fell silent as they approached a wooden gazebo.  The husky trotted up three steps and then promptly turned several slow circles before settling on a spot near the middle of the structure. Blackthorne followed him inside and then sat down upon a curved bench seat that wrapped around the inside perimeter. Rojur stopped on the middle step and then leaned up against a support beam, crossing his arms.

“I would prefer not to be studied at all,” the esper said, “but I know that will not satisfy your curiosity. So long as you limit knowledge of my true nature to yourself and just one other, perhaps I can be persuaded to answer a few questions. Just do not fool yourself into thinking I will give up all my secrets.”

“Done.”

Rojur nodded, but then he leaned forward to let Blackthorne see the seriousness in his face.  “I have the means to leave at any time I suspect our alliance to be untrustworthy,” he cautioned the other man, “but if you wish me to stay, I will for now.”

Alex got back to his feet and extended his hand. “Partners?”

Rojur took the other man's hand. “Associates, perhaps, but I can always use a friend.”

Blackthorne flashed him a smile and then surprised him with a friendly slap on the back. “Excellent!  I would appreciate it if you would join us for dinner this evening in the main dining room. There's no need for a friend to eat in the kitchen.”

Rojur raised an eyebrow. “I see this association comes with benefits. All right, I accept.  We can talk later about the other person you might trust with this, but I caution you to be very discreet.”

“Being discreet is a part of my business practices,” Blackthorne assured him, “but that's something you may want to adopt yourself. I would recommend trying to blend in a little more. The hair dye was a good idea, but you still need to do something about your eyes.”

Rojur nodded. “I have already been thinking of this. Once I finish up with my duties for the day, I had intended to walk downtown to find a place that sells color contact lenses.”

Alex looked surprised. “Walk?  It's several miles to the nearest eyeglass store!  Wouldn't it be easier if you just teleported?”

The esper laughed aloud. “Yes, that would be more convenient, but that goes against blending in, does it not?”

“I suppose that's true,” Alex agreed.

“Besides, I do not mind the walk,” Rojur added. “It is good exercise.”

“Let me drive you in,” Blackthorne offered. “I don't have to be in my downtown office until this afternoon. The contacts can be pricey and I doubt you have earned enough to pay for them yet. I can get them for you.”

Rojur looked surprised. “Thank you, I accept.” When he glanced back toward the house, he remembered his tasks. “However, I probably need to get back to my work on the pool and finish up before someone trips over my tools.”

Alex nodded and waved a casual hand back toward the house. “By all means,” he said, “but you might want to keep an eye out for other spectators if you decide to levitate anything else.  Brandon and Masanori both know of my telepathic ability, but neither Chester, Saundra nor Carl has any knowledge of it; they might react differently than I did.”

“Masanori?”

Alex nodded. “Right. I haven't introduced you to Masanori. He is the geneticist who heads my Psionetic Division of research. You may have seen him here a time or two – rotund little Japanese guy with a goatee and John Lennon glasses.”

“Does he also have psionic ability?” Rojur asked curiously.

“No, just an appreciation of the Beatles,” Alex answered with a smile, taking the steps back down to the lawn. “He has no psionic abilities of his own, but he's long been fascinated by the subject. He is completely trustworthy, and was the one I had in mind to be in on your case, Mr. Delondin.”

“You may call me Rojur, if you wish,” the esper said as the husky fell in step behind them on the way back toward the house. “I am not a formal man like Mr. Hobbes.”

Alex smirked. “Chester Hobbes is often more formal than I am, although he's led a life that was often less-than-glamorous. He is very efficient at everything he does, and possesses skills you won't normally find in a majordomo. I can trust him with many things, but I advise you not to underestimate him. Be on your guard in his presence and make sure you do not use your abilities where he can see them.”

Rojur nodded, and then chose to reveal another of his talents. |If I need to speak to you in private,| he sent his thoughts, |I will simply use this method. It is more direct, does not have to be line-of-sight, cannot be overheard or wire-tapped, and does not require soundproofing like your study.|

Blackthorne stopped in his tracks, blinked and watched the esper continue on toward the house. |Indeed,| he responded in surprise.

Chapter 4

Rojur removed an elaborate headset frame crowned with a multitude of sensors from his head and passed a hand across his hair in a vain attempt to smooth it down. The static psionic energy within his body made his hair look perpetually windblown, and despite the claims of the dye manufacturer that it could also tame wild hair, the chemicals were no match for his internal energy. His hair returned to its usual unruly state, some of it falling across his forehead into his eyes.

A short Japanese man dressed in black slacks, white shirt and a matching white smock took the headset and set it aside on top of a Styrofoam head originally designed for a wig to rest upon.

“Thank you,” the little man told him with a nod. “That is all for now. I have successfully recorded several levels of psionic energy from what you've done for me today.” He rubbed an eye beneath one of the large round lenses of his glasses. “What you can achieve is impressive, Mr. Delondin, but I get the feeling that telepathy, telekinesis and teleportation are not the only special talents you have.”

Rojur stepped down from the small scanning platform where he'd performed like a circus entertainer in the small, nondescript room where Dr. Masanori spent much of his days in a wing of a Blackthorne facility. He peeled off a few sensor tabs stuck to his bare, tanned chest in various places, grimacing as they clung to the turquoise hairs that had given rise to the doctor's eyebrows when he'd first seen him shirtless. He had offered no explanation and gave out no background information on himself.

“We are doing this under my terms, doctor,” he reminded, looking over at the scientist through the brown contact lenses he now wore. “Whether or not I can do more is not the issue. You should feel fortunate that I have agreed to show you what I have shown you.”

“Yes, of course,” the rotund little man replied, giving his guest an easy smile, “and for that I thank you. You are a most amazing man and have given me enough data to keep me busy for some time.”

“What next?”

“I suppose a blood sample is out of the question?”

“Yes, it is.”

Masanori stuck his hands into the pockets of his lab coat and rocked back and forth on his heels like a school boy. “In that case, that's all I have today. I believe Ms. Scott is out in the reception area with Master Brandon to give you a lift back to the Blackthorne estate.”

Rojur nodded silently and retrieved his shirt from the back of a chair. He had been wearing local clothing lately, his material-shifting garments tucked away safely back in his room. They were much more efficient in keeping clean and had other capabilities than simple changes in style and design, but in his efforts to fit in, he knew his preferred garments should be stored away for now. He shrugged into the tee shirt, tucked it into his jeans, and then pulled on a dark green, long-sleeved shirt. Once he had it buttoned up and tucked in neatly, he bid the doctor farewell and then left the room.

Saundra looked up from the outdated magazine she'd been browsing through and gave him a smile as she stood up. Brandon stayed where he'd been planted on a couch, his eyes focused on the game application he was playing on his smartphone.

“Hello Saundra, Brandon,” Rojur said politely. The boy ignored him for a moment until the woman tapped him on the shoulder. He put his phone on standby, shoved it onto a pocket, and then looked up at the esper.

“I liked your other eyes better,” the boy said frankly.

Saundra shook her head. “He has nice brown eyes, Brandon. He shouldn't have to cover them up with white lenses.”

Rojur merely smiled at the deception. “Thank you for waiting on me,” he told his companions. “I was not aware Alex had arranged transportation for me.”

“He didn't,” Saundra explained as they left the small reception area and walked along a carpeted hallway. “Brandon still hasn't picked out a Halloween costume for tonight and asked me to go shopping with him. We were in the area and though we would pick you up for lunch.”

“Lunch would be nice, although I am not familiar with a halo-ween costume.”

Saundra looked at him strangely as they entered an elevator that had just become available at their approach. “You're joking, right?” she asked. “I thought everyone knew what Halloween was.”

Rojur looked over at her. “Not all countries celebrate the same events that you do. You know that I am not from around here, so is it so strange that I may not be familiar with all your celebrations?”

The woman laughed and shook her head. “Actually, I had already forgotten that about you,” she admitted. “Please forgive me.”

“Forgiven. So, what is this event you will be celebrating in costume tonight?”

“We dress up in scary costumes and go around to houses getting candy from the neighbors!” Brandon said brightly.

Rojur blinked. “Hmm, okay, but what does this signify?”

Saundra led them out of the elevator into the lobby of the downtown building and headed for the parking garage.

“It's been a while since I last had to explain this, so I may not get all the facts straight. As I remember it, Halloween was originally called All Hallows' Eve as a celebration honoring the dead on the evening before All Saints Day, which is the first of November,” she told him. “Many cultures actually fear the dead, so over the ages it became twisted into a celebration of the scary, rather than just of the dead. Some believed that the dead rise up and walk on the evening before and the spirits would play tricks on the living, so treats were offered up to the dead to appease their restlessness. As a result, children now go out on Halloween night typically dressed up in scary costumes, going from door to door to demand treats – various kinds of candy that are handed out by the home owners.”

“Trick or treat!” Brandon added in a raised voice. Rojur smiled at the boy's enthusiasm as they approached Saundra's convertible.

“What happens if someone does not give out the required treats?” he asked, opening the door to the car for Brandon to crawl into the back seat. “Do the tricks resume?”

Saundra climbed in behind the wheel and then the three of them buckled their seat belts once they were all in. “These days, if you don't want to take part in it, you simply turn off all the lights in your house,” the woman replied. “Only those who participate turn on all their lights to let the neighborhood kids know they are welcome to come to their door. Some people even decorate their yards or houses with props or sets mimicked from old scary stories, and in the spirit of the night, there are even those who hide in the dark and then jump out at the kids to frighten them simply for a laugh.”

Rojur shook his head. He had never heard of such a thing, but he never claimed to know everything about the places he had visited. “Interesting. Are the dead still honored for the deeds they had done during their lives?”

Saundra backed out of their assigned parking spot, but she shook her head as she put the vehicle into motion. “Sadly, that aspect of the celebration has fallen by the wayside. Anymore, it's simply a night for the kids to dress up in costume to go out begging for candy. A lot of adults dress up in costume too, either attending parties of their own or to accompany the children as they go out into the night. That's what you’ll be doing tonight – playing chaperon for Brandon as he goes out to get his haul.”

Rojur looked alarmed. “Are we required to be in costume too?”

Saundra looked over at him with a grin after she pulled out into traffic. “Only if you want to,” she said. “You could wear the costume you had on when we first met. It would fit in rather well. It made you look like someone from another planet or something.” She looked over at him with a look of amusement. “It still seems odd that you were wearing that out in public without even knowing about Halloween!”

Rojur fell silent for a moment, but then he turned toward the back seat to look at Brandon. “What costume do you plan to wear tonight?” he asked.

The boy thought it over for a moment and then shrugged his shoulders. “I dunno,” he said. “Maybe Captain Sinclair.”

“Captain Sinclair?”

“He's the captain of a freighter from a popular series of books that Brandon reads,” Saundra explained. “He's an anthropomorphic wolf and his crew is made up of other kinds of animals.”

Rojur raised an eyebrow. “Is this wolf captain scary?” he asked.

“No, but I like him,” Brandon replied.

“Getting the outfit he wears should be simple, but we'd have to find a good wolf's head or face mask, with furry gloves and boots.”

“And a tail,” Brandon added. “Don't forget his tail!”

“What will I be required to do when we go out?”

Saundra smiled. “Just be his guardian angel,” she said. “Watch over him to make sure nothing of a real danger happens to him. After all, he's a young kid out roaming the streets after dark, which would never be safe any other night.”

“Wait,” Rojur muttered, turning to her in his seat. “Where will you be?” he asked. “I thought you intended to be there too, but you sound as if it will just be he and I.”

“I never said I was going out with the two of you tonight,” she answered. “I only said I was taking him shopping for his costume. Alex and I will be attending an award ceremony for local artists such as myself. Alex planned for you to accompany Brandon since neither of us would be available tonight and Carl is still out of the country.”

“I see,” the esper muttered. Since he had arrived at the Blackthorne estate, he and Brandon had not exchanged more than a handful of words, though not for lack of trying; Rojur had made attempts to befriend the boy, but Brandon had always been wary around him; perhaps it was best to let the boy warm up to him on his own without any pressure, but now it seemed like the two of them would be forced to spend an evening together.

Rojur didn't foresee much conversation between the two of them that night.

***

Of all the odd and varied things that Rojur had done in his life, this had to be among the strangest of them all. Although the events of Halloween had been described to him, it was a wonder to see them firsthand. The various costumes ranged from sloppily made home outfits to Hollywood-perfect replicas from classic horror and fantasy films. In all his travels that spanned several star systems, Rojur was amused that there were more alien-looking creatures out on the local streets here than he'd ever seen on actual alien worlds.

For his own part in the night's festivities, he had used a cleanser to wash the dye from his hair and he'd put on the original extraterrestrial clothing of his own. It was currently configured to appear as a jumpsuit made of a solid piece of material in a somewhat futuristic design. Wearing them, he felt more comfortable than he had in several weeks.

Brandon was dressed up as the character that Saundra had described earlier. They had been fortunate to find the right items at a cosplay store across town that specialized in such things. They were priced higher than the average trick-or-treater's family could typically afford, but that was no issue for the heir of the Blackthorne estate.

The boy wore a small version of what was commonly known as a full-body fursuit, rather than just a mask with gloves, boots and tail. Although it was well-made, Brandon still had a little trouble seeing out from the headpiece and had been bumping into things and kids all evening. It would take a little practice on his part, but he'd only been wearing it a couple hours.

Rojur had accompanied Brandon up and down streets local to the area of the estate, but the boy was taking them closer to the main streets where there was more traffic. In a rare moment of conversation, boy had told him that some of the businesses in the strip shopping centers often had someone at the stores to hand out candy for the kids so they could have a place to go that was relatively safe.

Rojur had tried to talk to him further, but Brandon simply seemed to ignore him without responding. Frustrated, the esper became a silent partner to do nothing more than shadow him from door to door.

Beforehand, Alex had explained that Brandon was also a telepath, but due to the intimacy of such a talent, he wouldn't communicate to anyone but his dad in such a manner. He'd warned Rojur not to attempt it with Brandon unless the boy initiated the contact first. Alex had kept his part of the agreement, and aside of the Japanese scientist, he had told no one of Rojur's abilities, so Brandon was not even aware that the groundskeeper was anything special beyond just another of his father's friends who worked for them.

He looked up from his musing when a sports car zoomed by on the street just a little faster than it should have on a street lined on both sides by children in costume. Brandon was close to the curb the vehicle had sped by, silently looking down into his candy sack, and Rojur felt a rush of adrenaline when he realized just how closely the boy had been to the road.

“Brandon,” he called, “let's head up the street where that crowd is. I'm sure there's something going on up there you'd like to see.”

The boy grunted wordlessly, but stepped back out onto the sidewalk and headed where his guardian had indicated.

On the way toward the gathered group near a storefront, they passed into an area of darkness where the streetlamp had burned out at some point. Rojur glanced up at the light without really thinking about it, but a moment later two dark shapes jumped out at them from a narrow alley between shops.

Brandon stumbled back a few steps, startled. The figures wore hooded black outfits from head to toe that was decorated with the likeness of skeletons in green glow-in-the-dark ink. Both cackled in voices meant to sound evil and Rojur realized instantly that these two were teenage boys playing one of the “tricks” he had heard about.

He chuckled at the effectiveness of the skull death's-head mask hoods they wore with painted jaw bones that seemed to move in time with their own jaws. One of them held out a black sack of his own toward Brandon.

“Put all your candy in here, wolfie!”

Brandon clutched his sack to his chest and then the other teen quickly brandished a folding knife from inside his sleeve. He flipped it open and then stepped forward.

“You heard him, give up your candy, kid!” and then toward the adult, the knife raised a little higher. “You too, spaceman! Drop your wallet, cell phone and watch into the bag too!”

Rojur's amusement vanished and he narrowed his white eyes at the intruders.

|Brandon, get behind me and stay back,| he sent telepathically to the boy without hesitation. Not waiting to see if he followed his command, the esper boldly walked toward the nearest skeleton and grabbed his knife wrist so quickly that the teen squawked in surprise. The second teen was momentarily shocked, but snapped out of it quickly with a snarl. He rushed at Rojur just as the esper wrenched the knife from the wrist he held in a vise-like grip, but when the rushing adolescent tried to stab him with his own blade, Rojur suddenly vanished from the spot and immediately appeared behind him.

Rojur shoved hard between the teen's shoulder blades, driving him stumbling into the other. He hadn't actually hurt the youth, just overbalanced him, but both skeletons tumbled to the sidewalk and Rojur used their confusion to move in quickly. He grabbed the material of their masks and yanked them around sideways so that the openings faced toward the backs of their heads, effectively blinding them for a moment.

It was only then that he turned to look back at Brandon, who stared back at him with wide eyes. The two would-be robbers were cursing at one another, trying to get back to their feet and pull their masks back around, so Rojur grabbed Brandon's wrist and guided him quickly toward the busier and more public part of the street where they had been headed. They joined the crowd gathering around a bakery where the owner was giving out free donut hole samples and the two of them blended in with the throng before the two skeletons could see where they'd gone.

For a few moments of safety, Rojur and Brandon stayed with the group of kids and adults on the street until they were sure to be away from their would-be attackers. Despite their intentions, Rojur was pleased that he hadn't actually injured the teenagers. He could have been much rougher with them, but hadn't seen the need. He kept an eye out for their return, but at the moment didn't think they had remained in the vicinity after their failure.

Still surrounded by costumed children and adults that didn't even seem to realize they had joined them, Rojur and Brandon followed them from door to door quietly. Brandon offered up his sack for more candy with the rest of them, though he had become exceptionally silent, even for him.

After several more doors, Rojur was gifted with a surprise.

|Are you like me?| Brandon asked Rojur telepathically. The esper was momentarily puzzled before he remembered what he'd done earlier.

|In some ways,| he replied in like manner without looking at him. He put his hands into the pockets of his outfit, acting casual. |I am sorry if I startled you. I only wanted you out of danger.|

|How did you move so fast and get behind that guy? It looked like you disappeared!|

|I do not think they knew what happened, but I could not allow myself to get stabbed.|

Brandon tugged at Rojur's sleeve. |Can you do it again? I want to see!|

The esper stopped and gazed down at him, and then Brandon pulled the costume head piece up so that he could look up at the adult without having to peer through the mask.

|Why have you never spoken to me in this manner before?| Rojur asked. |Is it because you did not want me to know you could?|

Brandon nodded. |Yeah, Dad said I shouldn't tell anybody – that it was a family secret.|

|It is the same with me. I do not reveal my talents to just anybody, but we were in danger back there or I would have never shown you either. I do not want others to know what I can do just as you and your father do not, so it is best if I do not do it again – especially out in public.|

Brandon looked disappointed, but he nodded after a moment and pulled his wolf's head back into place. |Yeah, I understand.|

Clearing his throat, Rojur gestured around them at the other shops and asked aloud, “So, where do you wish to go next?”

The boy was quiet a moment. “I think I'm ready to go back home,” he said, “but I don't know if I want to walk all that way back if there are more skeletons waiting to jump out at us.”

Rojur smiled. “I know just what you mean. However, I think I can get us home quicker than that.”

“You gonna call my Dad to come pick us up?”

“No, something else that I think you will like. Come with me.”

Confused, Brandon fell into step beside the groundskeeper and followed him to the entry step of a business that was closed for the night. They were in an alcove that was in shadow from the street lights.

“Here, take my hand,” Rojur told him. Brandon frowned inside his mask, feeling strange holding hands with anyone but Saundra or his dad, but he did as he was told.

With his vision partially obscured by the mask, Brandon didn't see the esper's eyes glow with a psionic light from within, but he suddenly felt a little tingly for a moment. When the sensation immediately disappeared and Rojur released his hand, he looked out from the costume.

Brandon felt disoriented for only a moment before he pulled off the furry head, knocking the captain's hat onto the ground. His eyes grew wide as he recognized the back patio of his house!

He looked up at Rojur, who was smiling back at him with a pleased expression.

“Wow!” he exclaimed with a sudden grin. “Did you do that?”

|Yes, but you must not tell anyone that I did – except perhaps your Dad in private.|

|I promise!|

|Very good. Now, let us walk around to the front of the house and go in through the front door as if we had just walked home.|

Brandon gripped the wolf's head with an excited laugh and then raced around the side of the house. Rojur picked up the forgotten hat and then followed him quietly. Perhaps the night hadn't turned out bad after all.

Chapter 5

Rojur opened the back patio door and stepped into the warmth of the house, stamping his feet on a large rubber mat that had been set down so he could knock the snow from his winter boots. He closed the door with a foot and almost lost the top log of the bundle of split firewood he held in his arms.

An early winter snowstorm had dumped several inches of sleet and snow on the area and several blocks of the surrounding neighborhood had lost power due to downed lines. The Blackthorne home was equipped with a gas powered generator, but the output was only enough to keep the heaters and a few other essential items in the house running. To supplement the heat, Rojur had built a fire in the fireplace, and he and Alex spent most of the morning near it, relaxing with idle chitchat. An invitation to join them had been extended to Chester, but the man busied himself in the kitchen with the natural gas stoves, claiming he'd be warm enough.

Carl Moran had picked up Brandon earlier that morning before the power had gone out. His four-wheel drive Jeep had dealt easily enough with the roads, but the weather was sure to worsen throughout the day. Blackthorne had offered to let his son take a winter break from his tutoring, but since Carl had been away on frequent world-spanning business trips, the man had not wanted to put off Brandon's lessons any more than he had to.

Rojur set his bundle down upon the hearth and tossed one of the split logs onto the top of the fire. He rubbed his hands together near the heat and then took off his coat. He set it on the floor beside the recliner he'd occupied that morning and then looked over at Alex.

The industrialist was wrapped up in a fleece blanket on the sofa, dressed in a warm set of sweats. His cell phone, computer tablet and a folder of printed documents sat untouched on the coffee table in front of him. It wasn't often he felt lazy enough to leave work alone, but the cracks and pops from the fireplace had lulled him into a sense of tranquility that he was reluctant to break with spreadsheets of numbers and dull progress reports.

“How is Saundra doing?” Rojur asked, quietly staring into the flames of the fire. The constantly moving, flickering flames were mesmerizing, and although he had asked a question, he had spoken merely out of courtesy. It would have been so easy to kick back in the recliner and relax into a nap in front of the warm fire.

“She's fine, I think,” Alex replied without taking his eyes off the flames. “I haven't spoken with her in two weeks.”

Rojur looked over at him. “Is everything okay between you two?” he asked quietly. He didn't want to overstep the bounds of their friendship by asking of things that were potentially personal. Alex didn't seem to mind the intrusion, as he shrugged his shoulders and blinked away the trance he'd begun to drift into.

“As well as could be expected, I suppose,” he murmured. “We've both been so focused upon our own works that neither of us has made much of an effort to get together since Thanksgiving. When we do talk, we agree we should get together sometime soon, but then we both get busy again and lose track of one another's schedules. It feels like we're drifting apart.”

“I am sorry to hear that,” Rojur replied quietly. “She seems like a good person.”

Alex looked over at him and smiled. “Yes, she is a good person,” he admitted, “and she gets along well with Brandon. I'd hoped that she might one day want to become part of our family and be a mother to him, but anytime I bring it up, she's not really interested in getting tied down in a marriage.” He fell silent for a moment, returning his gaze to a loud pop from the fireplace.

“It's probably the free spirit of an artist,” he murmured a little later, “plus I think the thought of taking the place of Brandon's mother is daunting.”

“Where is she?” Rojur ventured to ask. “Brandon's mother, that is.”

Without taking his eyes from the fire, Alex cleared his throat and dipped his chin beneath the blanket wrapped around him. “Carolyn died of breast cancer when Brandon was only a year old. Losing my wife that way is primarily why I now have a medical division devoted to cancer research that works closely with the Susan G. Komen foundation and the American Cancer Society. We've had marginal success in treatment, but we're always looking for something that will trigger the cure.”

He looked over at his guest in renewed interest. “What about your world, Rojur? Do they have cancer there? A cure?”

The esper sighed inwardly, wary of giving out too much future information. “I have heard tales of an affliction similar to cancer that used to be more prevalent on Roswei,” he answered, “but I do not know if there is a cure or if they have just found better ways to treat it. It is not something that has been widely publicized in our news.”

“Lucky you,” Alex muttered. He stared back into the fire again for a moment, but then looked back at Rojur.

“So what about you?” he asked in a lighter tone. “Did you come to Earth as an advance scout to see if we might be worthy of your technologies, or are you planning an invasion?”

Rojur saw the twinkle in the businessman's eyes and gave him a smirk. “No, sorry,” he said, “I am here to do neither. I really should not be here at all, but I needed a place to stay where my father's eyes and ears could not find me. This place was just a random choice.”

“Trouble at home or trouble with the law?” Alex asked warily.

Rojur looked at him with a frown. “Let me just say my father and I have different points of view and we are both out of sorts with one another right now.”

Alex knew he'd just hit a touchy subject, so he tried another avenue.

“So, what about yourself?” he asked. “Do you have a family of your own? A wife? Children?”

Rojur relaxed and shook his head. “None of the above, although I do have a special lady I like to meet up with on occasion.”

“Have you ever thought of settling down with her?”

The esper chuckled. “Yes, the thought has crossed my mind, but like you and Saundra, I am afraid that our chosen vocations often take us into opposite directions.”

“That seems to be a curse we both share, my friend. What about your abilities? Do all your people have them, or are you a freak of nature like myself?”

Rojur nearly choked at his phrasing. “Most everyone I know back home would call me a… freak.” Alex looked at him and saw the esper's dour expression. “Psionic abilities do happen, but are not well looked upon. There is a prejudice against espers that you would scarcely believe.” He sighed and picked up his coat from the floor. He pulled it across him like a blanket and settled his nose down into the faux fur of its collar. “There are many times when I wish I could simply turn off my abilities.”

He fell silent and stared into the fireplace, his thoughts growing dark. Alex continued to study him for a moment, but then his eyes lit up.

“Perhaps I can help,” he said, breaking the quiet moment in the discussion.

“You have a cure for psionic ability?” Rojur asked with interest, raising an eyebrow when he looked back at the industrialist.

“No, not a cure, but a sideways discovery in Dr. Masanori's research has revealed a way to block or dampen the brain's ability to broadcast psionic wavelengths, though only at short range,” Alex explained. “If you're interested in giving it a try, I have something here at the house that you could test right away.”

Rojur pursed his lips. “Is it a chemical administration — or radiation?”

Alex shook his head. “Actually, it's nothing so physically intrusive. Here, let me get it and you can take a look at what we've developed.” He set his blanket aside and walked to the library while the esper swallowed in anticipation. He dared not hope too much, but the idea intrigued him.

Alex returned a few moments later with a large padded envelope. When he sat back down on the couch, he handed the envelope over to Rojur before he drew the fleece blanket back around him.

“What is it?” Rojur asked, turning the envelope over in his hands.

“Just take a look.”

The esper brushed a few strands of hair from his forehead and then lifted the paper flap of the package. He upended the envelope over his other hand and out slid a curved band of metal. He set the package aside and then turned the item over in his fingers, looking at it from all sides.

“Okay, I give up. What is it?” he repeated.

“Are you familiar with the headbands that some people wear when they want to keep their hair out of their face?”

Rojur smiled, brushing his bangs aside again. “Yes, I have considered something like that for myself.”

“Try the one in your hands.”

Rojur didn't know what a headband had to do with their previous conversation, but he shrugged and slid the metal object over his forehead and pushed his hair back away from his face. The band didn't feel binding, and actually felt a little comfortable, but he wasn't sure how it would change the free hairstyle he was used to wearing. He needed a mirror.

“It feels comfortable,” he remarked. “At least it keeps my bangs out of my eyes.”

Alex smiled. “Okay, now try to use your abilities,” he instructed. “Levitate something, teleport or even just give me a thought message.”

Rojur felt silly, but when the fireplace issued a sharp pop, he glanced over at the hearth. He looked around to make sure Hobbes was nowhere around, and then he willed another split log to lift up and float over to the fire – only nothing moved.

Rojur blinked and tried again. He could feel the psionic energy within him, but nothing flowed out between him and the firewood.

“You can give it a try at any time,” Alex prompted with a smile.

The esper tried again, but no matter how much internal force he put into his power, the log sat there as immobile as it had since he had first set it down. Something was preventing his ability. Thinking to try something else, he attempted to teleport up to his bedroom, but as with the firewood, his rear stayed firmly in place upon the recliner.

“Wow,” he muttered after a moment. He pulled the band free of his brown-dyed locks and the item levitated easily above his palm. Rojur returned his attention to the firewood, and this time one of the logs floated up and into the fireplace, where it settled down atop the charred remains of the previous logs.

“It works!” Rojur said in awe. “When it was on my head, I could not use my talents at all.”

Alex smiled in satisfaction, fairly pleased with himself while his friend continued to float the headband above his hand.

“Why does it not dampen my psi field when I am holding it?” Rojur asked.

“Your psionic energy is generated by a function of your brain,” Alex explained. “The circuits in the headband have an extremely short range, which is why it only works when wrapped around your head. Your hands are beyond the range of your brain, so it can't dampen anything out there. It was Masanori's idea to fashion it into a headband to keep it near the brainwaves. You're welcome to it if you wish.”

“I can have this?” Rojur asked. “You are just giving away a discovery like this?”

Alex shook his head. “As I said, it was a sideways discovery – we're trying to study and enhance psionic abilities, not dampen them. We have found no actual application for the thing, so if you think you can use it, you can have it. Masanori has three more in a box in the corner of his lab from when he was trying different designs.”

Rojur slipped the band back into his hair and then tried to send Alex a telepathic thank you, but it was dampened as well. He smiled to himself, almost feeling giddy. Leave it to a scientist who lived in the past to solve his dilemma from the future. He suddenly wondered if Alex would allow him to have a copy of the schematics that he could take back home with him. Something this simple could solve a lot of problems for those who developed psionic abilities, whether they wanted them or not. It was no cure, but could be a viable treatment.

“Thank you for the dampener,” he said. “I really appreciate it.”

The men fell silent when Chester emerged from the kitchen and walked to the front doors. Neither of them had heard anything during their exchange, but when the butler opened one of the double doors and let in a blast of cold wind, the entrance was darkened by two figures that stamped snow from their boots before coming inside.

Alex's face lit up when Chester helped Brandon out of his coat. The boy left his boots beside the door and then ran across the room to the fireplace in his socks. He went straight to the hearth and stood in front of it, letting the heat warm his backside.

“Hi, Dad!” he said with a grin. “Hi, Rojur!” The groundskeeper gave the boy a smile and a nod.

“Hi, son,” Alex replied. He looked over at Carl Moran, who took a place beside Brandon in front of the fire.

“Hey guys,” the man said, holding his hands behind him to warm up. “Power's out all over this side of town, but it feels good in here.”

“How are the roads?” Alex asked.

“There's a sheet of ice on the pavement beneath the snow and the wind is picking up,” Carl replied with a frown. “The sand trucks are out in force and we took it slow and easy in four-wheel drive, but others weren't so lucky. There are cars in the ditches everywhere you go; even a couple of tow-trucks have slid off the roads.”

He turned around and rubbed his hands together over the fire. “Thanks for the use of your heat for a moment, but the wind's picking up into what may be a blizzard and I really need to make an MBT grocery run before I head back to my place.”

“MBT?” Rojur repeated.

Moran grinned at him. “Milk, bread and toilet paper – you know, the essentials.”

Alex stood up, letting his blanket fall back on the couch. “You're welcome to stay in one of our guest rooms,” he offered. “There's no need to get out in the weather again.”

“Actually, I do,” Carl said. “I appreciate the invitation, but Maximillian's locked up in my laundry room and he'll need to go outside to do his business before long.”

“Maximillian?” Rojur inquired, visualizing another boy closed up in Moran's condo.

“My dog, a spoiled rotten German Shepherd.”

Rojur smiled. “Ah,” he said.

Alex walked with Carl back to the front door and Brandon chose that moment to jump onto the couch, wrapping himself up in his father's fleece blanket. He looked over at Rojur and saw the esper's hair pulled back and kept in place beneath a chrome headband. He didn't say anything, though he knew the man's brown-dyed hair was often in his face.

When Carl was gone and Alex returned to the fireplace, Chester approached the little group with a tray of steaming mugs. Alex sat on the couch beside his son and pulled the blanket around so that it covered them both.

Chester handed a cup of cocoa to Brandon, a cup of coffee to Alex, and then offered the remaining coffee cup to Rojur. The esper took it and hefted it slightly in thanks.

“Why don't you grab a cup and join us, Chester,” Alex said in a friendly tone. “You're allowed to sit down and relax for a bit.”

Chester gave him a thankful smile, but shook his head. “Thank you, but I still have other duties to attend before I can relax, sir.”

“Could you use some help?” Rojur asked him, setting his cup down onto the coffee table. “I have plenty of time on my hands right now.”

“Thank you, but I think I can manage,” the man declined politely. He looked back to Alex and said, “If you'll excuse me, I will return to my duties. I don't have much to do, but I will relax afterward.”

“Of course, Chester, but if you change your mind, we would enjoy your company.”

“Thank you, sir.”

After the butler had gone, Rojur retrieved his cup and then moved over to the fireplace, where he sat down on the hearth.

“Has Mr. Hobbes ever accepted an invitation to join you to relax with a coffee?” he asked quietly.

Alex shook his head. “Never, though I still invite him any chance I can.”

Brandon sipped his cocoa, but snuggled under the blanket beside his father; staring into the fireplace flames was making him drowsy. Alex didn't want to abandon the conversation he'd been having with Rojur, so he spoke in a quiet voice now that he knew Chester might walk in on them at any time; it didn't occur to him to ask via telepathy to keep it private.

“What else can you tell me about your world, Rojur?”

“Well, for one,” the esper said, taking a sip of his coffee and enjoying the warmth it gave him inside, “your coffee here is good, but the green coffee I drink back home has more flavor and a better aroma.”

“Green coffee…” Alex muttered. “That doesn't even sound appetizing.”

“Don't let the color fool you. There is a lot of essence in it. You should try it sometime.”

“Not much chance of that happening, now is there?” Alex retorted with a smirk, sipping the last from his own cup, “Unless you have a flying saucer hidden nearby.”

“Nope, no flying saucer.” Rojur stood up and returned to his recliner, the backside of his jeans and flannel shirt now warm and toasty. He set his empty cup on the coffee table.

Alex yawned with a languid stretch. He wiped a hand across his eyes and then readjusted the arm he had wrapped around Brandon's sleepy shoulders.

“How did you get here anyway?” he asked idly. “If you came from another world, how did you travel without a space ship? Did you catch a ride with one that was on its way here to trade covertly with my government?”

The esper rubbed his eyes. “Your government does not know about us yet. You have seen me teleport,” he reminded him. “I came here on my own.”

Alex blinked and looked over at him with an upraised eyebrow. “Right… You teleported here… all the way from another star system light years away.”

“Approximately ten point five light years,” Rojur confirmed with a nod. “Roughly sixty-two trillion miles.” Brandon opened his eyes and both he and his father looked over at the esper.

“Poppycock,” Alex muttered. “I've seen Masanori's reports on the test results of his examination of your abilities, but he's said nothing about you having that kind of range.”

Rojur chuckled. “He has only seen me pop about his little laboratory, Alex. My natural range is about six hundred thousand miles; at least, that is the farthest I have ever teleported on my own without assistance.”

“Even that's farther than the distance to the moon at its aphelion,” Alex remarked, “but how do you expect me to believe you shot across sixty-two trillion miles?”

The esper reached into the top of his shirt and tugged on a small chain around his neck, pulling out a dark cylinder a half inch in diameter and two inches long. One end was rounded with a loop molded into the opposite end for the neck chain.

“This provided the assistance I needed to travel that distance, although I do admit that I had to make a few smaller hops along the way to get to my destination.”

“That little thing?”

“Yes, this little thing enhances my ability to teleport great distances, with an interesting side benefit as well,” he explained. He held it up and studied it for a moment. Its flat matte surface reflected nothing, not even the flickering flames of the fireplace. He let the cylinder rest back against his chest and then looked over at his host. Alex was gazing at him dubiously, but Brandon's eyes showed interest in what he had said.

“Did you make it?” the boy asked.

Rojur shook his head. “No, it was a gift from its inventor and I have only used it on a few occasions.” He looked thoughtful, recalling that moment. “I do not know how many of these he made, but I can see how they might create a danger.”

“It's dangerous to go a long way like that?” Brandon asked.

“Well, it could be if you do not know what your destination is before you jump,” the esper said with a smile, “but that is not necessarily what I meant.”

“You said it had a side effect. Is that what turned your hair green?”

“No, that was his green coffee,” Alex quipped.

“My hair color is turquoise,” Rojur corrected with a laugh, “but no. Enhancing my ability to teleport, it also allows me to shift into the past.”

“Shift?”

“You would call it time travel.”

“Into the past?” Alex scoffed with both eyebrows raised. “Okay, this is getting so deep I'm going to need my boots soon.” Brandon looked down at the floor and then at his father's feet, not understanding the adult reference.

Rojur smiled. “You had no trouble believing that I am from another world, yet you cannot accept that I might also be from another age.”

“We’ve always suspected there was intelligent life out among the stars, but time travel — that’s always been an impossibility,” Alex stated.

“Improbable, perhaps, but not impossible. Even in my time, it is mostly theoretical, but the temporal side effect of the psionic teleportation booster was an accidental discovery on my part.”

“You're from the future?” Brandon asked in awe.

Rojur stood up again and returned to the hearth. His recliner was near the window and without a blanket to wrap around him, he was getting chilly again. Backed up to the fire, he held up the cylinder on its chain again and looked at it. An internal light within his eyes glowed faintly.

“By your calendar, my birth will not take place for a little over two hundred years from now, upon a planet that yours has not yet discovered.”

Alex stared at him for a moment, the wheels in his mind turning. “What did you mean when you said that the temporal side effect was an accidental discovery on your part? Are you saying that you invented time travel?”

Rojur laughed aloud. “No, I did not invent it, and I doubt the guy who built the booster was aware of it either. However, it is possible I may be someone who discovered time shifting; a ‘sideways’ discovery, as you call it.”

Blackthorne leaned forward, putting his elbows upon both knees. Brandon grabbed the blanket that had fallen from his dad’s shoulders and pulled it over himself.

“Okay, this is a story I’d like to hear,” Alex said to the esper. “You’ve been rather quiet about your background, but if you’ve told us this much, you may as well tell us the rest.”

Rojur pursed his lips and finally nodded. “Fair enough, as long as you do not expect me to give you too many details about the future of your world. What do you want to know?”

Alex looked at his empty coffee cup and then back up at his guest. “If what you say is true, I’d be more than interested in what you could tell us about the next two centuries, but since you just opened with a disclaimer against that, I’d like to know how you wound up so far back in time and on another planet altogether.”

“My father and I had a falling out a few months ago – from my perspective, that is,” Rojur answered. “Like yourself, Alex, he is the owner of a large corporation with thousands in his employment, so it was difficult to get away from his eyes and ears following our… disagreement. I decided that it was in my best interest if I took a long break from his presence and began traveling.”

“Is that when you came back in time?” Brandon asked.

“No, my traveling was mostly done by the conventional means, although I did teleport to the other side of my world in an attempt to muddy the trail of anyone he might have had tailing me. It was only later after I had already been given the cylinder that I came here. I had already discovered the cylinder’s ability to time shift by then, so I already knew I wanted to lose myself in the past on Earth, a world I had visited on occasion. However, I had not intended to go back quite so far. I had planned to visit at an age when our two worlds were still well acquainted, with plans to arrive sometime well before my birth so there would be no chance of running into myself.”

“Would that cause universal destruction with the paradox?” Alex wondered, recalling one or two science fiction movies he'd seen that used time travel as a plot point.

“No, but there was a chance I might have been tempted to give myself future knowledge of my own life. The temptation was there, but it could have also altered the events of my life in ways I could not foresee, inadvertently making things worse, so it was better to simply skip over that time.”

“Yeah, identical matter cannot occupy the same space and exist, so that was probably a good idea anyway.”

Rojur chuckled. “If I met myself and we shook hands, nothing would happen to either of us. Even though we would both be the same person from different ages, touching one another does not mean we would be occupying the same space any more than it does if I shake hands with you, Alex. Our molecules would be adjacent to one another, not overlapping or merged.”

“Yeah, I suppose that makes sense. Why come to the past at all, no matter which planet you were on? I think I might have tried the future, gone on beyond whatever trouble you two may have had together.”

“In my earlier experimentation with the cylinder, once I’d stumbled upon what it could do for me, I discovered that while I could go into the past, I could not go forward into the future.”

“How did you get back to your time?” Brandon asked. “You would have to go forward to return.”

“That’s the odd part. Once I shift backward in time, I can return to the same moment I left, though no farther. No matter how far back I go, I can only return to the same moment I left – in my own personal timeline. I can return to a different place at the same time, however, which would result in basically the same thing as a regular teleport to a different location.”

Alex set his cup on the coffee table next to his computer tablet and then got up to toss another piece of wood on the fire. “What happened the first instance you went back in time?”

Rojur shrugged. “It was uneventful, really. I was trying to make an experimental distance jump to see how far I could go and wound up jumping into the previous week. I was disoriented at first, having arrived in another city as planned, but then I started recognizing things that had already happened in the news. I did not meet anyone I already knew, but after only a few hours, I returned back to my starting point only to find that I had just left.”

“So why come to Earth when you could have gone to any point in your own planet's history?”

“I did not want to chance running into anyone that I might know later. As I mentioned, I had planned to come to Earth during a time when it would not have been uncommon for someone from Roswei to be visiting, so I would not stick out in a crowd.”

“Like you did here,” Alex reminded him with a smile.

Rojur chuckled. “Yes, looking like I did, I am thankful that Saundra did not leave me standing on the side of the road after I helped get her car running.”

“I thought you looked neat!” Brandon said.

“Thanks,” Rojur told him. “It took me a while to get used to seeing myself with brown hair and eyes in the mirror.”

Blackthorne sat back on the couch and stared into the fireplace for a long while, the conversation going silent as he sorted out his thoughts. Finally, he grabbed his cup and stood up again.

“Who wants a refill?” he asked.

“I do!” said Brandon.

Rojur shook his head. “No thanks. I need to get rid of what I have already had, so I will take a quick break while you reload your cups.”

***

When the esper returned to the fireplace, Alex and Brandon were already snuggled up together under their blanket, steaming mugs in their hands. They had their heads together, talking in whispers. Feeling as if he were intruding, Rojur remained quiet and sat down at the hearth to warm up again.

Alex looked up at him. “Can anyone use your cylinder to travel through time?” he asked.

“No, only an esper can use it, and then only one who has the ability to teleport. The guy who made it was also an esper with that talent, but to anyone else it is merely a stylish pendant. The time shift was a side effect, but I can still use it primarily to boost my regular teleportation range.”

“You are welcome to stay as long as you like,” Alex said, “but how long did you plan to stay on Earth? You know that if you return to the same moment you left, you haven't really given any time away to your father. If he was mad at you when you left, he still will be when you return.”

Rojur looked alarmed. “I had not thought of that,” he admitted. “My only thought was to get away for a while. I may have to rethink my plans.” He returned to the recliner and pulled the blanket around his shoulders, his face wearing a troubled expression.

Sensing that the esper might be tired of the personal interrogation, Alex decided to steer the conversation in a different area.

“So what's life out in the galaxy like?” he asked casually. “Are there thousands of inhabited worlds in some galactic conglomeration of interstellar commerce?”

“Truthfully, there are only eight inhabited worlds that I am aware of,” Rojur remarked, “and they are all related in one way or another.”

“Related?”

“Do you remember what you told me when you mentioned you had my DNA analyzed? You said that it was ‘vaguely’ human.”

Alex nodded. “Yes, there are some similarities, but there were other elements that we couldn't identify.”

“I really cannot tell you too much more on this subject, but I will say that we all have a common ancestor.”

“Okay… now you have my curiosity up in full strength. You've given me a morsel and now you don't follow up with a meal. You're leaving me starving, Rojur.”

The esper laughed at the Alex's expression. “Curiosity is what drives mankind to explore, to experiment and to question the universe. Now that you have a small bit of foreknowledge, you can work to that future.”

“Foreknowledge,” the businessman grunted. “You've only spoken in generalities on what's to come, but no real details that I could use.”

“That was the idea, Alex.”

“I've always dreamed of interstellar travel and other habitable worlds, but Earth's space technologies still haven't put anyone farther than the moon,” Alex said. “There have been plans for years on a manned mission to Mars or the asteroids, but so far the only things to travel our solar system and beyond are automated probes and satellites.”

“You can be assured that men and women from Earth will one day stand on Mars, and there will be great discoveries made there,” Rojur told him.

“When?” Brandon asked. “What will they find?”

“Sorry, I cannot tell you that.”

“Aww,” the boy said in disappointment.

The trio fell silent again until a sheet of snow slid off the house near the window and landed on the hedges outside. Feeling the need to be as useful as everyone else, Brandon got up and grabbed a small log of split wood. He hefted it up with both hands and gently set it on top of the dying fire. He knelt on the hearth and blew on the red embers, but knocked up a cloud of ash in the process. He sat back coughing from the dust, but was rewarded with small tongues of flame licking at the dried wood. When he stood up again, he turned and faced Rojur instead of returning to the couch.

“I liked it when we tele… teleported home on Halloween,” he said, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Can we do it again, but shift through time instead?”

“Brandon,” Alex murmured with a glance at the esper. “I don't think that's such a good idea.”

“Why not?” the boy asked.

“Because I'm not entirely convinced he hasn't been simply feeding us a grand story by the fireside.”

Rojur stood up, took off the headband, and set it aside with the blanket. “You do not have to believe me if you do not want to, but at least give me the opportunity to prove it to you both that I am not lying.”

“Why should I?”

“If you think I am lying now, you will not know how to trust me from now on. Remember, you are the one who asked me about my background. All you have to do is believe your own experience.”

Alex stared at him a good long while before he finally nodded. “Okay, but just a short demonstration,” he conceded.

Grinning widely, Brandon rushed to Rojur and automatically took his hand as he'd done before. Without preamble, an inner light glowed around the edges of Rojur's brown contact lenses and then he and Brandon both disappeared.

Alex gulped and jumped up from his seat. He'd seen Rojur teleport before, and it still unnerved him, but this time the esper had taken his son.

Chapter 6

Brandon blinked rapidly and looked around, instantly regretting it. He didn’t know there was always some visual disorientation associated with teleporting, but he'd been wearing a costume at the time that obscured his vision so he hadn't felt the momentary effects the only other instance he'd teleported with Rojur. He gulped and teetered on the balls of his heels for a moment, but the esper steadied him with the hold he still had on the boy's hand.

The feeling passed quickly and then Brandon dropped his hand so he could shove both of them into the pockets of his jeans. Rojur looked down at him to watch the expressions of confusion, delight and awe dance across the boy's face.

It was dark on the street sidewalks where they had appeared, but Brandon instantly recognized their surroundings when he saw groups of costumed kids and their parents meandering around the public shopping district of town. Rather than appear out in the middle of everyone, Rojur had set them down in the night shadows beneath the limbs of weeping willows bordering the lane.

“It's Halloween night!” he exclaimed elatedly, “We did it!” Then a sudden frown replaced his smile. “We're not going to see the skeletons again, are we?” he asked, looking up at his chaperon.

Rojur replied telepathically. |Yes, but this time we will only be watching them from across the street. We do not want to draw any attention to ourselves, okay?|

|Sure, okay.|

A sleek sports car turned the corner near their location and gunned its engine, speeding up the street faster than it should have with children and their chaperons all over the place. Rojur and Brandon both looked up at the sound and the boy suddenly gasped.

|Look! It's us!|

Across and up the street a little ways, Brandon saw someone who looked just like Rojur speaking to a shorter person wearing the same lupine fursuit costume he owned who was looking down into his candy sack.

They watched quietly as the one in costume stepped back onto the sidewalk moving from the street and then ambled away with his companion. The pair walked into shadow beneath where a street lamp had burned out and it was then that Brandon held his breath, already knowing what was coming next.

Two dark shapes jumped out at them from a dark alley, both wearing hooded black outfits adorned with the image of green glow-in-the-dark skeletons on the fronts and backs of their clothing.

They could not hear the low voices from this distance, but they saw the one in the fursuit clutch his candy sack to his chest and one of the skeletons pull out a knife that reflected shop lights from up the street. The knife wavered in front of the kid, and then up higher at the adult.

The earlier version of the esper stepped forward, grabbed the assailant's knife wrist, and then wrenched the blade out of the youth's hand by the hilt. The other skeleton tried to stab the adult with another knife, but then in the blink of an eye, the esper was suddenly behind him. There was no flash of light to indicate he had teleported. He was just suddenly in one place for one instant and then the next from one heartbeat to another.

That Rojur shoved the youth hard between the shoulder blades, knocking him into the other skeleton, where both tripped over themselves and fell to the sidewalk. The esper turned both of their masks around and then he grabbed Brandon's wrist to lead him away from the scene toward the safety of a public crowd up the street.

After they'd gone, Rojur looked down at Brandon beneath the fronds of the willow tree and smiled when the boy looked up at him. |So, what do you think?|

|That was weird. I liked it better just watching this time.|

|Want to see another?|

Brandon grinned. |Yeah!|

|Okay, one more before we go back.|

Brandon automatically put his hand in Rojur's and then he closed his eyes tight against the disorientation he knew was coming. He felt the now-familiar tingly sensation for a brief second and then Rojur released his hand. The boy kept his eyes closed for another moment, but when he opened them this time, the feeling of disorientation had gone.

Again, the sky was dark, but this time they had materialized beside the tool shed in the back yard of the Blackthorne estate. Several lights were on inside the house, but externally the area was all in shadows.

|Uh, why are we here?”| Brandon asked.

|I don't know. I just grabbed something from your memory.|

|You can read my mind too?|

Rojur chuckled aloud. |Not directly, but since you are telepathic, you are always broadcasting little bits of your memories. I just grabbed one at random without looking at it.|

A small noise drew their attention back to the house and they saw another Brandon sneaking out the back patio door. He looked around without seeing anyone and then walked quietly across the patio. He grabbed one of the metal patio chairs and half dragged, half carried it to one of the lit windows on the back of the house.

“Uh oh,” Brandon muttered beneath his breath at the sight of himself.

|You remember this?| Rojur asked.

|Uh, yeah. Maybe we should go now.|

Rojur glanced quickly back at the house and saw past-Brandon climb up onto the chair and then peek in through the window between a crack in the curtains. He hadn't noticed before, but there was a familiar curvy silhouette on the curtains and he suddenly smiled. Brandon was peeping at Saundra taking a shower! The temptation to tease the boy was strong, but Rojur remembered what it was like when he'd first developed an interest in the female figure himself.

|Okay,| he replied with a smirk. |Now do you believe I can travel in time?|

Brandon gulped. |I do,| he responded in sudden dread. |Uh, Rojur? Please don't tell my dad!| He took a quick look back at the house and added, |or Saundra! Pleeeease?|

The esper tried to keep from laughing, but he did give him a smile. |Your secret is safe with me,| he promised.

Brandon suddenly grabbed him in a hug. |Thanks! You're the best friend ever!|

Rojur laughed aloud, but then remembered the boy up at the house still peeking in through the curtains. |Okay, we can go now.| He moved away from him and took his hand. It wouldn't do to appear back inside the house hugging one another.

Brandon closed his eyes tight again and suddenly felt cold following the tingle. When he opened them, he saw his dad jump up from his seat.

Alex had seen Rojur teleport before, and it still unnerved him, but this time the esper had taken his son. However, the pair of them reappeared only a second later, only they had swapped positions and Brandon was now on the groundskeeper's other side.

“What happened?” he demanded.

“How long were we gone?” Brandon asked excitedly.

Alex looked puzzled. “You just left. Just now.”

The boy looked up at Rojur. “That's so cool!” He rushed toward his dad and then jumped onto the couch to wrap up in the comforter. “He took me back to last Halloween and we saw ourselves trick or treating!”

“Really…” Alex muttered, sure that Brandon was just making it up.

“Yes, really,” Rojur responded with a smile. He held out his hand to the man, but Alex suddenly looked at it as if there was something dirty on his fingers. “Your turn,” Rojur told him.

“I'm not convinced anything will happen,” the businessman told him. “I know you can teleport, so maybe we'll jump to another room, but—”

Rojur extended his hand closer for a handshake, the smile still upon his face. “Take my hand, Alex.”

“Go ahead, Dad!” Brandon prompted.

Still doubtful, Alex shook hands with Rojur, but before he could break the grasp, he felt tingly for just a brief moment. He released his hand, but then felt a little disoriented when he looked around.

They were no longer inside the house on a cold winter day, but instead they were now outside, standing just inside the trees bordering his back yard on an autumn afternoon. The swimming pool was empty and the top cover was rolled up at one end of the pool with cleaning supplies scattered about.

Alex gasped, putting a hand up to his forehead, but Rojur put a finger to his lips. |Remain quiet,| he instructed telepathically, |and don't draw any attention to yourself.|

The patio door on the back side of the house opened and Alex saw himself walk outside, dressed in his favorite crimson and cream sweats with the name of his alma mater across the chest. He began pacing back and forth, one hand up to his chin as though he were wrestling with a difficult concept.

While the watchers watched, Alex's Siberian husky emerged from the trees not far from them and started cross the lawn toward the house. The dog stopped for a moment and then looked back at them in the shadows of the trees, his tongue lolled out in friendly canine manner. He appeared as if he was about to trot back to them, but then Alex at the house made a scuffle on the patio as he paced.

Okami looked puzzled for a moment but then forgot the observers and resumed his trot across the grass toward his human friend. The dog suddenly stopped when Rojur abruptly materialized in front of him, scooping up the handle of the pool cleaning net. The groundskeeper crouched, brandishing the pole, and the large canine stopped at the edge of the concrete surrounding the pool deck. Okami stared at him and then laid its ears back, baring its teeth with a low growl deep in its throat.

“Get back!” that Rojur shouted at the animal, waving the net before him. The canine took a step back, but then sank into a crouch, unwilling to back down any further, his eyes never leaving those of his adversary. The esper took a step forward, but then Alex's hand suddenly gripped his arm.

Alex watched himself and remembered the conversation he'd had with Rojur that day. |This is unreal,| he thought. |We really did shift back in time!|

Rojur put a hand upon his companion's arm and his eyes took on an internal glow once again. The touch took Alex by surprise, and when he looked down at the hand on his arm, he suddenly felt that tingle again.

Alex blinked rapidly in the sudden dimmer light and felt his head swim for a moment until the disorientation faded. This time, they were standing just outside the study inside the house, where the door was open just a crack. Rojur leaned toward the door to listen and Alex did the same. There were two voices conversing inside.

“Listen, I know you don't approve, but I think it would be good for him,” said Carl Moran's voice.

“I'm not against Brandon going to Thailand,” Alex replied in the conversation, “but I do not think it's appropriate for a child to accompany an unmarried male adult to another country!”

“Brandon needs international exposure,” Moran countered in obvious frustration.

“My word is final,” Alex said in a dangerous tone. “I am warning you right now. Do not bring up this subject again or I may have to consider your dismissal as his tutor.”

There was heavy silence for a moment before Moran's voice spoke in subdued tones. “I am sorry, Mr. Blackthorne. I have overstepped my bounds and I retract my request.”

There were only a few more comments of discussion, but ‘future’ Alex grabbed his companion by the arm and pulled him away from the door, moving quickly down the hall. It was just in time, too. Carl Moran pushed through the door they had just been standing beside and headed straight for the exit, an expression of frustration upon his face.

|I've seen and heard enough,| Alex sent to Rojur with an outstretched hand. |Let's go.|

The esper took his hand and then the two of them were back in front of the fireplace once again.

“Cool!” Brandon exclaimed from his place on the couch. From his perspective, the two adults had jumped sideways a few feet and their expressions had changed.

Alex moved back to the couch and sat down heavily, his eyes fixed upon the fireplace as his thoughts whirled in an internal maelstrom. Rojur merely clasped his hands together behind him, saying nothing.

After several long minutes, the businessman looked up at the esper. “You have given me a lot to think about,” he said at last. “I'm sorry you had to see that, but it convinced me that we had indeed travelled back in time.”

He looked over at Brandon and the two of them stared at one another for several long moments, obviously in telepathic conversation. Left out of the discussion, the esper returned to his recliner by the window and picked up the comforter lying across its upright back. He wrapped it around his shoulders and then sat down again.

His own thoughts were far from calm as he sat back with his eyes closed. It had been a long while since he had used his abilities so openly, and it was the first time he had ever shown anyone his capability for time shifting. Why had he done it? Was it his ego, or was he just so eager to have someone believe that he was special, instead of some freak of nature to be scorned by his own people?

Whatever the reason, he was now committed with these two, and he fully expected to hear the request that that was brought up just moments later.

Blackthorne gathered his comforter tighter around him, gazing out the window at the drifting snow that had been falling heavily all day. It wasn’t likely he would be getting out of the house for a while. His businesses could be run from the library study via the telephone and satellite data lines from his state-of-the-art computer system with the meager power supplied by the backup generator. He considered his personal and business affairs for a few moments and then stared back at the fireplace.

Without looking away from the flames, he steepled his fingers under his chin and then spoke in a quiet voice. “I need a vacation… a month-long vacation.”

A heated bubble of air in one of the logs unexpectedly popped with a loud snap, making him jump. A small smile crossed his lips, as if in acknowledgement that the sound had verified his statement.

When no one else remarked, he moved only his eyes and looked over at the esper. “Hypothetically speaking,” he said, “if you took us into the future with you, to what would be your present, would you be able to return us back to this night – or would that depend upon how long we were gone?”

Rojur frowned, not liking where the conversation was headed. “Just as we did today, we could return within seconds of our departure — hypothetically speaking.”

“Okay, not-so-hypothetically,” Alex said at last, “would you be willing to take us to your time period so we could get away for a month-long vacation?”

“Yeah, we could go to your planet!” Brandon added hopefully.

Rojur's frown deepened. He was extremely reluctant to return to his time, especially to his home planet. There were reasons why he'd come back in time.

“I could,” he responded truthfully, “but I would rather not.”

“Pleeeeease?” Brandon entreated.

The esper tried to avoid the boy's pleading eye, but after a moment he sighed aloud. “How about I take you to the past?” he suggested. “You could spend some time riding the range in the Old West, camping out and living off the land.”

“No, I would rather see the stars, or at least another world,” Alex countered.

“You would get bored,” Rojur told them. “A month can be a long time to keep yourself occupied.”

“Hah! There's no way I would get bored in the future!” Brandon replied, acting as if Rojur's notion was nothing short of silly.

Alex turned and looked at the other adult. Now that he had been convinced of the esper's story and his ability to shift across time, he was determined to see the future. He was not a man usually given to offering bribes, but he was prepared to offer Rojur any amount he wanted in exchange for a trip where he could possibly bring back knowledge of upcoming events and technologies — not that he would ever divulge that thought to the esper.

He thought through further arguments he might present, but when the groundskeeper looked back at him, he saw Rojur's resolve weaken.

“Okay,” the esper finally relented. “I will take you on a month-long vacation to my age and let you see the wonders of the future.”

“Yay!” Brandon exclaimed happily.

Alex gave Rojur a smile and nodded. “Thank you,” he said in a relieved voice. “I really appreciate this; both of us do.”

“You are welcome.” Rojur stood up and walked toward the staircase. “I will need to make some arrangements ahead of time, so I will get started.”

“When can we leave?” Brandon asked. “Today?”

“Tomorrow morning,” Rojur answered, “right after breakfast.”

“Tomorrow?” the boy whined.

“Why wait until then?” Alex asked. “We still have all day today without anything to do.”

“Although we will come back right around the same time we depart, you will still be gone a month by your own reckoning,” Rojur told them. “Make preparations as if you were going on a long ocean cruise.” He looked around at the house and then back to Alex. “I cannot promise you it will be free of problems any more than I could for any other trip, so you may wish to make arrangements in case I cannot get you back in time as planned.”

“What could go wrong?” the businessman asked in concern.

“Use your imagination. You are going to the future, to a time and place that is vastly unfamiliar to anything you are used to. There could be dangers, whether they are planned or not.”

Alex pursed his lips, but then nodded. It was sound advice.

“Get a good night's sleep tonight and then we will all be ready to start out with fresh minds and bodies.”

Brandon snorted. There was little chance that he would get any sleep that night.

Chapter 7

Rojur Delondin pushed away from the breakfast table and set his napkin aside. Alex and Brandon had already finished and were helping Hobbes clear the table. The esper stood up and walked down the hall to the study. On the library desk were several bags that held items he felt they would need on their vacation. Although the future was his real place in time, there were a few things necessary to the journey that he had felt obliged to provide.

He glanced up at a large mirror on the wall and nodded at his reflection. He had removed the colored contact lenses and had washed the dye from his hair; it had been too long since he had seen his real reflection staring back at him.

Brandon bounded into the room, excited to leave. Rojur smiled, for he did not think he had ever seen the boy eager to go anywhere before.

“And how much sleep did you get, kiddo?” Rojur teased.

“Sleep?” the boy responded with a lopsided grin.

Alex walked into the room a moment later as the youth opened the bag Rojur had handed him. Inside were plain green coveralls with matching undergarments, socks and soft-sided boots. All three bags held identical items, though tailored to each person's sizes in different colors.

“What are these for?” Alex asked as he pulled the wrappings off his set of red clothes.

In the next room, Brandon was already getting into his new outfit, though he left the door open so he could hear the adults talk. Rojur held his apparel in his arms, where he was going to retire to his room to change. “The inhabitants of the place I have in mind to take you wear garments similar to these; I got these so that we will not look out of place,” Rojur explained.

“Ah,” Alex remarked, noting that the clothes could not possibly look good on him as age and good cooking continued to take its toll on the man.

“Do not worry about taking an extra change of clothes, as these are self-cleaning and will suit our needs for the duration of the trip. And you see these?” the esper indicated two rows of three buttons on the fronts of the tunics. “Do not touch these. I will explain later.”

Without waiting for further delaying questions, the esper retreated to his room to dress. Moments later, he surveyed his appearance in the mirror as he tucked the cylinder into the top of the blue coveralls. Power to the neighborhood had not yet been restored, so the curtains had been drawn back to light the room. Satisfied that the outfit would do, Rojur levitated the clothing he had removed toward the laundry basket. As he watched them settle into the hamper, an idea struck him. He opened the top drawer of his bureau and picked up the silver psi dampener Alex had given him; there was potential for its use on this trip so he put it in his back pocket. With that done, he felt he was ready to go.

Alex slid easily into his scarlet body-suit, and the fabric seemed to wrap itself around him on its own. A quick glance in the mirror confirmed that his initial belief was incorrect and the clothing actually made him look younger and healthier. Alex looked intently at the weave of the material, but could not identify the technique. Closer still, he realized that it was not woven at all, but a solid piece of material like leather. Even the pockets seemed to blend in naturally at the seams. He suddenly remembered the grey, one-piece garment that Rojur had worn the day he had come to the Blackthorne estate.

He looked down to his son, who was practically performing acrobatics in his green suit to test out the fit.

“This is amazing stuff,” Alex wondered aloud. Brandon looked at the fabric moving over his whirling limbs and it never creased, tightened, or restricted his movements at all. If anything, it seemed to move with his body with a kind of liquidity. The two glanced at one another with identical expressions, thinking this was so cool.

|Alex, if you are prepared to leave, you and Brandon need to come into my room. It would not be appropriate to have Hobbes see the three of us disappear from sight.|

|I'll be there in a minute, Rojur,| Alex returned, |I have something to take care of first at my desk.| The esper acknowledged and Brandon arrived in the room mere seconds after his sending.

“Ready to go?” Rojur asked.

“Uh huh.”

Fifteen minutes later, Alex still had not shown up. Shrugging his shoulders, Rojur motioned the boy to follow him as they went to the library. Alex was peering at his tablet and glanced up at them as they entered.

“I'll be just a moment more - almost finished.”

Rojur sat in one of the chairs facing the desk and asked, “What is it you are doing?” Brandon hopped up and sat on the edge of the desktop.

“Leaving instructions, as you suggested. If we don't get back as planned, I want things taken care of until our return.”

“I know that sounds morbid,” Rojur replied, “but you never know what can happen on a trip, even if I intend to bring us back to within a few moments of our departure.”

Alex smiled as he finished the last of his details and logged off the device. He stood up and then reached inside a drawer before moving around the desk.

He held out two small black boxes, each the size of a deck of cards, and lifted them toward the esper. “Brandon and I found these in our rooms this morning. They were not there when we retired last night. Did you put them there while we slept?”

“I did,” Rojur admitted, putting them into his pockets.

“And their purpose?”

“They are teaching devices. Subliminally, you were taught to read, write and speak the mutual language of the Planetary Alliance; where we are going, English is not the common tongue.”

Alex nodded, accepting the explanation apparently much easier than Rojur had thought he would. “What do we need to do for the trip?” he asked.

“All that is necessary is for you to make contact with me, just as you did before,” Rojur replied. “Due to the distance, I will have to make a few quick hops in different locations to get us where we are going, but it will not take more than an actual few seconds. You are likely to see brief flashes of images, but pay them no mind.” Alex nodded and put a hand on the esper's shoulder while Brandon grabbed his back pocket and closed his eyes tightly for the trip.

There was an immediate sense of weightlessness, followed by changes in pressure as Brandon kept his eyes closed. For a long moment it felt as though the air was being drawn out of his lungs and then back in again without his inhaling, only to be pulled out again. He gasped, trying to recapture the escaping breath, and suddenly found that he didn't know which direction was up. His mind spun as his equilibrium vanished, like being on a roller coaster without a guardrail. Then an abrupt weight pressed against his body and he felt his soles flatten as he realized that he was upright again.

He heard the sound of voices and opened his eyes. The trio now appeared to be standing in a deserted corridor, facing out into what looked like a mall. The people in the main aisle seemed to be quite humanoid, with the exception of a rainbow assortment of hair colors and garments. The boy felt simultaneously disappointed and relieved that he didn't see any bug-eyed monstrosities or anthropomorphic animals from the imaginations of Hollywood among the crowd.

Faces and bodies moved forward like an angular, living creature – many parts of a single organism. Headfirst they moved in rhythm, migrating through tall decorative walls surrounding him on all sides. He noted the soft gurgling of water and turned his face to an artificial waterfall embedded in a nearby wall. Its appeal was somehow stunted, however, by the stout leaden structure into which it had been carved. He looked up to see several structures lost in the seemingly limitless rise above – then through a flock of off-white clouds his eyes caught a blackness high above, with the glowing pearl of a planet beyond. It was nighttime in some strange city. He almost dismissed it, but faint streaks in the night sky caught his attention. He peered up, focusing his eyes on the tiny dots, then drew back as he realized they were people. They were skating on the sky.

A red and blue flash went off near a tall building and its reflection rippled across the sea of stars, momentarily illuminating the people who hung in space. The flash chased across the sky, but curved with the edges of the panoramic view as its source, some sort of vehicle, flew back and forth close behind a darker, violet light. The boy's mouth dropped as he realized the people were not actually zooming across space, but upside down on some sort of transparent dome almost a mile over the ground.

Alex was the first to step into the avenue after he realized what he was seeing was finally stable. He shook his head a moment to clear the image flashes from his mind and studied their surroundings

“If anyone asks your name,” Rojur suggested, “just give them your first name. It is traditional and it is friendlier.”

“Where are we?” Alex asked as Rojur motioned to Brandon and followed him into the crowd.

“You are standing in the boarding terminal of this star system's main satellite station. It is an important spaceport in this sector - much like the Chicago O'Hare airport in the United States.”

Brandon, not paying attention, pointed straight up, “What's that?”

Rojur looked up, searching the sky for anything unusual before realizing that it was all unusual for the boy. His eyes picked out the most obvious. “That is one of the recreation areas. Those people are skating on an ice field at the opposite side of the station.”

“We're in outer space?” Brandon asked in a mixture of delight and trepidation as he peered through the moving crowds. The throng was thinning somewhat as a transport somewhere was boarding its passengers.

“That is correct.” Rojur led them to the side of the aisle and pointed out a large bay window. The station's slow rotation soon revealed a green, yellow and blue planet below them, surrounded by a backdrop of brilliant stars. Brandon bit back a gasp as he realized it was the same planet that had just been above their heads in the night sky. The station had to be incredibly compact to rotate that fast and still support enough gravity for the high buildings, not to mention its own atmosphere.

“Is that your planet, Rojur?” Brandon asked.

“No, that is Rona, a world of industry much like your own Earth.”

Blackthorne seemed hypnotized by the sight and spoke as if in a trance. “Why didn't you take us down there?” he asked.

“Because your vacation begins up here,” the esper answered. “We are going to take a cruise.”

Blackthorne blinked and broke his gaze from the window. Rojur was facing the crowd and Alex noted the psi dampener sticking out of his companion's back pocket.

“Why did you bring that?” he asked, pointing to the silver device.

“Oh...” Rojur said as pulled it out of his pocket. “I almost forgot about this.” He turned back toward his reflection in the bay window and placed the band in his hair. “It is so I will not be tempted to use my abilities out of habit.”

“Why?” Brandon asked.

“I do not want to bring any undue attention to myself while we are here.” Rojur smiled and began to move into the avenue that had thinned out considerably. He prepared to speak again when an enormous crash erupted behind them. Alex instinctively grabbed Brandon and shielded him with his body as a black vehicle trimmed in purple lights screamed by out of control, and slammed into a wall where it accordioned briefly, then crunched back to a wounded version of its original shape. From the same direction it had come, a second vehicle with strobing white lights veered to a stop.

A white-haired man in a black jumpsuit rushed from the first vehicle at a dead run and tripped over a floating luggage cart with a resounding crash. Out of the second vehicle vaulted two people in sharp blue and white uniforms who tried to grab his arms. The man jumped up, darted a few yards out of their reach, and held up a hand to them, palm facing outward.

A crackling burst of electrical energy seemed to surge from his hand toward his pursuers, but a light green bubble enveloped them and absorbed its destructive power. One of the uniformed pair, an orange-haired woman, disappeared and rematerialized behind the man. He was startled by her sudden proximity and frantically swung his arm around toward her. The woman moved swiftly, catching the offending arm and whirled a leg up with a resounding CRACK, snapping a bone as she wrenched the arm around and forced him to the carpeted floor.

Her partner drew a circular piece of metal from his suit and quickly wrapped it around the captive's eyes as the woman fastened a thin filament around his wrists. They pulled him to his feet and then teleported away without explanation. The spectators resumed their activities a moment later as if it were a common sight.

“What was that all about?” Alex asked, blinking away the concept of teleportation used in such a public place. He still hadn't gotten used to seeing Rojur doing it in the months he had known him.

Rojur glanced around and noted that all appeared back to normal. “The guy was probably a wanted esper,” he said.

“Esper?” Brandon asked, “Like you?”

Rojur cleared his throat and looked uncomfortable as he replied, “Not exactly.”

“Who were the two in the blue and white uniforms?” Blackthorne asked as he gestured in the direction the action had occurred.

“Psion Patrol,” a woman's voice answered. “They are an esper force who track down and capture rogue espers who misuse their abilities.”

The trio turned together to face the speaker, a woman in a nicely form-fitting gold uniform with a high collar adorned with some sort of insignia. A diagonal black stripe angled across the front of her outfit, from the left to the right sides with a logo of some sort near the upper end of the stripe. She brushed a finger through her short, curly brown hair and raised her thin eyebrows.

“Hello, Delon,” she said. “Captain Kehtan said you'd be joining us.”

“Sahni!” Rojur exclaimed as they embraced. He held her back to move his gaze up and down her curvaceous form and said, “You are looking great in that first officer's uniform!”

“Thanks,” she replied after giving him a quick kiss. She turned toward his companions and asked, “Who are your friends?”

“This is Alex and Brandon. They will be along for the ride.”

Blackthorne bowed slightly toward her and shook her hand. “Delighted to know you,” he replied to her, but his thoughts were to Rojur. |How did she know we were coming?|

Rojur casually put a hand on his shoulder. |I was here last night as you were sleeping to get us passage on a ship for the month-long vacation you wanted.|

|Oh.|

Brandon smiled sheepishly at Sahni. “Hello,” he said quietly.

“Hi, cutie!” she said with a smile. “Your name is Brandon?”

“Yeah,” he replied hesitantly.

“Well, Brandon, let's see what we can do for you.” The woman extended a hand and tapped lightly at the buttons on the boy's top. For a moment, his clothing shivered all over, and he nearly yelped aloud as his entire body tingled as though immersed in a hot tub. Alex saw him shiver, and then a confused but delighted smile filled the youth's face.

“Sahni is an old friend of mine,” Rojur explained, treating the incident as though it had little significance.

“Who are you calling old, white-eyes?” she scolded and playfully slapped at him. “Let's just say that Delon and I have known each other for a number of years.”

Alex tilted his head. “Delon?”

The esper frowned slightly and then smiled again a heartbeat later. “Ah yes, I forgot. Sahni, I am now traveling under the name of Rojur Delondin.”

“Ro-jur... Delon-din...?” She thought about it a few seconds and replied, “Okay, I see the connection, though I’ll have to torture the reason out of you later.”

“That sounds like fun,” he responded with a smirk.

She disentangled herself from him and asked, “How soon until you board? We'll be launching soon.”

“We were just heading for the terminal.”

“Good,” she said. “I would take you aboard myself and give you a quick tour, but I'm due on the bridge right now. Security will take care of you at the terminal.” She winked at Brandon and added, “I'll see you all after we've gotten under way.” Sahni turned to go, but leaned back to whisper something in Rojur's ear that caused him to blush. She then took off at a trot toward the terminal and disappeared through a doorway after a quick ID check with the guards.

“Delon?” Alex repeated as they resumed walking.

“Huh...?” Rojur replied absently.

“Is that your name?” Brandon asked.

“My name...?” Rojur repeated. He shook his head slightly and smiled. “Sorry about that... she always affects me that way.”

“Are you and her…?” Alex tapped him on the side of the head with a finger.

“Yes, as often as we can.”

Alex gave him a smirk and Rojur averted his eyes with a grin.

“Your name?” Brandon tried again.

Rojur bit his lower lip and raised his eyebrows as he looked down at him. “Delon is part of my real name. I used it as part of my name on Earth.”

“What is your full real name?” Blackthorne wanted to know.

“Delon Santrojur, but don't use it, please.”

Their conversation quieted as they neared the counter. A young man with red hair in a gold uniform looked up at them. “Yes?”

Rojur pulled a silver square from his pocket and handed it to him. “We have reservations for passage on this ship.”

The clerk frowned and glanced toward the two guards framing the doorway Sahni had gone through. “I'm afraid that isn't possible,” he said. “This is not a passenger vessel.”

“I know that,” the esper replied patiently. “The Zephyr is an experimental exploration vessel about to make its maiden voyage. We are guests of Captain Kehtan Otani.”

Doubtful, the clerk inserted the square into his reader. A moment later, he grunted in disbelief. He set a small box on the counter and motioned toward it. Rojur placed his hand on it, palm down, for identification. The computer beeped and he smiled slightly. He motioned for Alex and Brandon to do the same.

“I don't know how you arranged it, but you've got clearance,” he said. A moment later, he pulled several objects from a slot and handed them to the esper. “Here are your IDs. They have you three down for cabins 84-D and 85-D. Just ask anyone you see and they'll tell you how to get to them.”

“Thank you,” Rojur answered. He turned to his friends with a triumphant smile and handed their badges to them. He touched his onto his outfit over his heart where it affixed itself to the material and then motioned for the others to follow him past the guards.

They had not gone very far down the corridor before Alex spoke. “Explain how you were able to reply telepathically to me a few minutes ago. You're still wearing the dampener.”

Rojur shrugged his shoulders and replied, “The dampener cuts down the ability to use my talents, but I can still communicate telepathically as long as I am touching the person. Remember when I put a hand on your shoulder?”

“Now that you mention it, yes.”

“That is really all it takes,” Rojur grinned back, and then his attention was drawn away by the sight of Brandon stabbing at the buttons on his top. Frustrated, he could not get it to do that strange thing Sahni had done a few minutes prior.

“Like this,” Rojur explained, lightly tapping a series of buttons. Once again, the thrill washed over the youth, who squirmed in his clothes.

“What's that?” Alex asked, concerned.

“Yours does it too,” Rojur said, setting off his employer's suit in a similar fashion. Alex found himself caught off guard when a rush rippled across his body; it felt like bathing in seltzer.

“It is just a little addition to your suits. It helps with relaxation.”

“How can these clothes do that?”

“Well,” Rojur began, pausing for a moment and drawing the pair behind a pillar and out of public scrutiny, “technology has advanced to the point where we now control the atom in ways you cannot imagine. We do not have time for a formal lecture, and I do not want to give you too much future information, but suffice to say your clothes are made of something like mercury.”

“Mercury?” Brandon gulped, rubbing the perfectly dry material.

“Well, a liquid metalloid that is not quite so toxic. It is solid, like ice, but without slowing down the atomic activity. It is like meniscus on the top of a full glass of water, that invisible skin on the surface that prevents it from spilling over the side. Only it is a glass a fraction of an inch tall and wrapped all around your body. All living, carbon-based things create their own magnetic field. These controllers,” he indicated the buttons, “make it conform to the microscopic changes of the metals in your body reacting to celestial forces. That is how the fit is so good, since it is constantly adjusting to your movements. It is powered, so to speak, by the kinetic energy produced when you move; walking, running, breathing, or even just your heartbeat will produce energy. It is also designed to react only to trace elements of metal, so if you pick up a golf club you will not find yourself suddenly naked. That feature I just showed you is called a fizz, and other combinations control hot and cold, pressure, and the like. I can show you the combinations later, but don't use it too often because it has to recharge, and that will affect the state of your clothes.”

Brandon and Alex exchanged glances again, this was the coolest thing in the history of cool.

The trio neared the end of the long carpeted hallway and they were stopped by two more of the guards in gold uniforms. Alex surmised the color was the official dress of the ship's crew. The sentries studied their IDs and inspected them and their luggage with a hand scanner before letting them through the entryway to the ship itself. The esper began talking with one of them in apparent familiarity. As he waited, Alex noted that beside the door seal was painted these words: 

S.S. Zephyr

Scientific Exploration Vessel ZFR-01 

Then he blinked. He looked closer at the words and discovered that they were written in characters and a language he did not recognize... though he could read and understand them. As Rojur finished with the watchman, Alex listened to their voices and found the same was true with their speech. He remembered the box he had found beside his bed and knew his ability to understand these people was due to the device. Rojur was no longer speaking in accented English and Alex suddenly wondered how long since their arrival that the esper might have reverted to this intergalactic tongue.

After a few moments more, they passed through the portal of the ship and continued along a narrow corridor. The trio passed a large, lower level area where a tall, young man stood on a small round stage, addressing a gathering of perhaps a thousand people. He nearly filled the stage with his presence, gesturing with his hands as holographic images slowly spiraled before him. Alex called them to a halt to listen.

“Now I know that not all of you are volunteers. Some of you are just here on your first assignments, but we don't tolerate slackers. From the senior staff all the way down to the newest, greenest recruit I'm expecting 110% to get this lady to her destination and back home. Is that clear?”

“Clear, Sir!” they responded as one.

“You all could have joined the army,” he added, “but your IQs were too high.” Laughter. “You could have joined the Marine Corps, but I'd rather have people who don't eat dirt for a living.” More laughter. “You could have joined the Air Farce, but I require men and women who actually do something for a living.” The crowd erupted with catcalls and howls, posturing gestures and chants of loyalty to the fleet.

“I am the flight commander of this ship,” the burly man said, “That means I'm momma and daddy for as long as you're all walking its decks, second only to the captain. What can you expect from my command?”

“Best command in the fleet, Sir!”

The image changed to a slowly rotating ship superimposed over another man dressed in a fine, white uniform. “This is Admiral Dorian,” Boos and hisses from the crowd. “He was the last captain to go as far out near the Rim as we're going, and he thinks that it'll take us a month and a half at top speed to get there. What say we make it in three weeks?” More exuberant applause.

The images switched to visions of a vacation spot, luxurious bodies stretched languidly in the sun or playing in the water. Awed murmurs from the audience.

“When we finish our tour of duty, shore leave will be on Laviah, where the weather is warm,” the image dissolved into that of a scantily-clad woman sipping a green drink and a chiseled, glistening bronze male in shorts so tight a person could count his pulse, “and so is the culture!” All the males in the audience howled and females blew wolf whistles and ovations.

The holograms dissolved into points of light and vanished. The man stood tall and proud. “Are you ready?”

“Yes Sir!”

“Are you mean?”

“Yes Sir!”

“What are you?”

“Motivated dedicated hard workin’ team, Sir!”

“Then let's do it!”

Another eruption of pride and vigor filled the hall as the crew filed out of the briefing room, eager to get underway.

***

Sahni arrived on the bridge and noted that besides the captain, she was the last to get to her post. There were three stations on an upper deck that overlooked the lower level of the command center. Hers was to the right of the captain's chair. She patted the officer of special sciences on the back and peered over his shoulder at his monitor.

“Are we ready, Dwes?” she asked the bearded man. He was in his early fifties, though his shoulder-length black hair showed no signs of grey. He lifted his thick eyebrows as he glanced up at her.

“Yes, sir,” he said with a smile. “All we need is the word.” He gestured toward the command chair that was positioned between his station and the first officer's. “The captain said he had to do a final inspection on the engine room, though everyone knows he's inspected it and given it his approval a dozen times already in the last three days.”

Sahni smiled without a word and walked over to her own terminal. She sat down and tapped a few controls, tying into the dockyard's external viewers. From different angles, she admired the sleek beauty of the Zephyr, noting its long and narrow grey hull accented by the various lit ports and the reflective double white line that ran its entire length.

The Zephyr was the Planetary Alliance's first ship designed to travel beyond the known parts of the galaxy for serious exploration and mapping. Her engines were experimental, theorized to make longer jumps without tremendous loss of power, and were the captain's pride and joy. “Take care of your ship,” he had often said, “and she'll take care of you.” Not exactly original, but fitting.

The only thing that worried the first officer was that the ship was not a military battle vessel and therefore had few armaments. There were defensive pulse cannons and a new experimental energy screen, but Sahni would have felt more at ease taking more firepower with them into the unknown. They had a number of small science recon ships onboard that were also equipped with minimal defenses, but nothing she would have confidence in if they had to be used for that purpose.

Although an exploration ship, their maiden voyage was prearranged for a short expedition to the Railon Cluster, a star group twenty-seven light years beyond previously explored space. There would be no deviations along the way, which Sahni personally thought hampered the ship's original purpose, but it was because of an event in the captain's career that the orders were restricted as such. Still, orders were orders and this was only its virgin run. There would be more opportunities for exploration after the ship had been fully tested on this assignment.

Sahni switched off her personal viewer and looked out over the lower deck of the bridge. The rest of the command stations were arranged in a semicircle facing the main viewer. Below the giant display screen were transparent panels that let the personnel look upon the star field directly. The bridge cockpit was set back enough that the softly pointed nose of the ship was in sight below the windows.

The first officer walked down a circular staircase to the lower level and stepped to the station on the right side of the room. She approached the brown-haired communications officer and stood beside him. He was cleaning his wire-rim glasses; they were archaic, but the man was allergic to all other medical procedures for vision correction.

“Are all personnel on board, Ree?” she asked.

He slipped his spectacles onto his nose and danced his hands across his panel in response to her inquiry. “Yes, sir. Everyone's accounted for, including the captain’s three passengers.” He scratched his mustache briefly and looked up at her. “All hatches and airlocks were sealed just a moment ago. All stations have reported in and I have green lights across the board.”

“Very good, Ree.” Sahni moved to the next station and stopped between two seated officers.

“How are you, Zahn?”

The blond navigator leaned back in his seat and looked up at her. “Anxiously awaiting departure, sir.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” Dayl chuckled, running a hand through her short violet hair, “He hasn't been able to sit still since setting his tailbone into that seat today!”

“Is Helm ready?”

“Anxiously awaiting departure, sir!” the chesty woman reported with a quick salute in a voice that mimicked Zahn's. She laughed and winked at her partner who was nearly ten years her junior. This voyage would be the twenty year old navigator's first venture into deep space; It would be her eighth, though her first into unknown space.

Sahni rolled her eyes and moved on to the last station. The weapons officer was just as reluctant to travel mysterious destinations without more firepower that the first officer was, but his job would be no less important if trouble sought them out. The young man with turquoise hair sat relaxed in his seat, but alert to the impending start of the excursion.

“How is everything, Trin?”

He moved only his white eyes to look up at her and stuck out his square jaw, smiling as he could with a plastic toothpick clenched between his teeth. He removed it and simply replied, “Ready.” He reminded her of Delon — Rojur, that is... in that he was from the same planet as her dear friend. This guy did not have a beard, however, and his long hair was pulled back into a pony-tail that hung to his mid-back. Trin was almost a decade younger than the esper though his youthful face was just as handsome.

A door swished open on the lower deck and a tall, muscular man walked in. “Maku,” she hailed him over. “We have three passengers aboard,” she began.

“I know,” the security officer interrupted as he handed her a datapak. “I've just shown them to their quarters.” He lowered his voice and added, “I can't fathom why the captain authorized their presence.” He crooked up one side of his mouth as he looked down at her. At six foot five inches, he was easily the tallest man on board the vessel. He was a large man, but he was all in proportion so that no one was actually aware of his size until standing next to him. “Are they here to watchdog our mission?”

Sahni put a hand on his left arm and shook her head with a smile. “No, one of them is a personal friend of the captain's, a former service man to whom Kehtan owes a favor.” She glanced at the datapak and added, “I served with him once before, when Kehtan and I were aboard the Two Star.”

“Lovely,” Maku rumbled, “now we're a tourist vessel. Did the supply officer remember to order little umbrellas to go in their drinks?”

The upper deck door opened and the captain walked over to his command chair. He touched a control pad and then placed his arms behind his back. All eyes turned to him as he stood in front of his console and surveyed the bridge crew. Captain Kehtan's weathered angular features, small penetrating eyes, high forehead and thin black mustache gave him the appearance of a man who was as rugged as the old sea captains of the oceans. Despite his harsh countenance, however, he was a decent and understanding man, but he knew his place as master of his ship and made sure his crew knew it. He was experienced and the grey that peppered his black hair seemed to accent that fact. His deep voice rumbled as he spoke over the ship-wide intercom.

“New ships and new lands, ladies and gentlemen. In just a few moments, we will be setting out on this new vessel’s first venture into unknown territory. We have all been trained on its systems and now is the time to put our preparations into practical action.” He leaned forward and rested his hands on the console before him. “We know what to do. We know where we're going and we know we're going to conquer when we get there.” He smiled a little as he added, “I'm not much of an orator, so let's all get to work. Prepare for launch.” He closed the intercom channel from his panel and took a seat.

Without questions or comments, the staff returned to their tasks at hand, preparing for departure.

“Zahn, extend the stabilizers and light her up,” the captain said to the navigator. “Ree, get me the dock master.”

***

One flight level below the bridge cockpit, the conference room and observation lounge was deserted, save for three figures at a table nearest the forward windows. Their assigned quarters were just across the corridor, so they decided to await the launch from where they would have a good view. The ship slowly, lazily turned away from its docking port, as a leaf set on a delicate current would flow off into a stream. The land masses of Rona curved into view with a silver arc of light slicing across the sky to outline its perimeter when the planet turned its face from night to day. The enormous blue-white star that shined warmth and light on Rona was many times further away than Earth's sun, but that world greeted each new day with its own star in the heavens. Brandon watched the planet's surface as a ripple of white snaked across a long section of blue. He turned and tugged at Rojur's arm and the esper explained that an Earth storm was nothing like a similar one on Rona. Terran lightning was a spark compared to what brewed in thunderheads on the world below them and its energies were harnessed for power. The boy returned to his seat, eyes wide as he mentally calculated the distance from this ship to that planet, and estimated how long and broad that lightning bolt had to be. The final figure caused him a shudder.

Although looped in a safety belt, Brandon sat reversed in his chair with his arms resting on the seat back, silently staring at the much-easier-to-handle outer structure of the space station. Alex sat quietly as well. The new wonders of this future so far were not as exciting to him as the amazement of actually being in space. Rojur checked a chronometer on the wall, then got up from his seat and walked to a wall storage unit, looking for something to drink. He had done this many times and the thrill of space travel had worn off for him years ago.

Alex and Brandon stared transfixed out the window as the space station slowly slipped sideways out of view, though there was no sensation of the ship actually moving away from it. The star field turned quietly as the Zephyr nosed toward its destination. Then a low pulse could be felt in the ship, much like a heartbeat; it seemed as if all motion forward had ceased.

“Why did we stop?” Brandon asked.

Rojur returned to his seat with a bulb container of something that smelled like hot coffee, though its color was bright green. “We have not stopped moving,” he replied. “In fact, we are traveling quite fast now by your standards. You will not see anything else until we have moved far enough away from the planetary system to be of little danger if something goes wrong. When they activate the main drive, then you will see a difference.” The esper flipped a switch on the console armrest and the chair detached from the floor, hovering in mid-air.

“How long will that be?” Alex wanted to know, still transfixed by the stars.

“It depends on how fast we are moving right now. If we get away quick enough, it could be anywhere —”

Alex's eyes went wide and Brandon yelped in surprise as the all the stars in view became somewhat elongated as if stretched into a rainbow smudge. It was not as spectacular as they had anticipated, but they knew they were now traveling faster than they had ever gone before, and that the speed would increase incrementally the longer the main drive was active.

The ship gave a slight shudder and the low pulse was replaced by a throbbing that could be heard as well as felt.

Brandon gulped air twice, but said nothing. Alex looked over at Rojur and smiled widely. The flight of the Zephyr had begun.

*** 

As ship reached its cruising speed, the rainbow-stretched stars settled down to mere smudges and the trio sat up in their chairs. Brandon was ecstatic. He wanted to explore the ship, to see its engines and weapons, cargo holds and recreation areas. Rojur checked a timepiece on the wall and told him to stay put. The boy reluctantly returned to his seat and buckled himself in as the esper returned to his drink. The esper tapped some controls on the armrest and a holographic display unfolded in front of him, reading off statistics and numbers.

Rojur grinned, adding, “Here is a bit of interstellar news from the Earth for you. The Sooners won their game last night. They are moving up into the championship.”

Alex smiled, delighted that the home team was still around. He unbuckled his seat belt and stood up to stretch his legs.

“Sit down, Alex.”

Blackthorne looked at Rojur with concern. It had been an order, punctuated with a silent ‘or else’.

“What's wrong?”

Rojur checked the time on the wall again. The numbers cycled over to zero.

Suddenly the room light panels went red and a siren screamed from the wall. A voice cried out over an unseen intercom, “Enemy vessel within firing range! Alert! Alert!”

A blast rocked the ship, sending Alex tumbling over onto the floor. Brandon gripped his chair, terrified at the crashing explosions that filled the air.

Rojur calmly sipped his drink and continued reading, his floating chair unaffected by the violent shaking of the ship.

Fighting a sudden flush of gravity, Alex hauled himself back up into the chair and strapped himself in, teeth clenched and knuckles white as he fought to keep his wits about him. He felt Brandon's hand on his own as the youth tried to calm him, then he cast his eyes over to the apparently disinterested esper.

“What's happening?” Alex shouted.

“Do not worry,” Rojur replied, waving him off.

The downward pull of weight suddenly released, and the two passengers felt sick as the walls vibrated harshly.

“They cut the gravity, great!” Rojur cheered. They both looked at him as though he had lost his mind.

The esper chuckled and tapped more buttons on his console. A holographic display fizzled up to fill half the wall before them and they saw the bridge of the ship where Captain Kehtan snarled at his officers.

“Well, what are you waiting for? Don't you know an alarm when you hear one?” Bodies were flying everywhere and the captain would snatch a collar here or a boot there and whirl them in odd directions. “Harnesses! Why are you at your posts without them fastened? You have to be prepared for anything! Even though we're not a fighting vessel doesn't mean we won't run into any!” Only a handful of officers remained at their posts, belted in. They worked feverishly at their consoles, jamming data and shouting information over the explosions.

Alex and Brandon looked at one another. It was a war game, dropped into the crew's lap completely by surprise. This was no science and exploration captain; this was a battle commander.

Chapter 8

The maiden flight of the Zephyr was one week out of Rona. The crew had taken the ship through a series of experiments, testing the equipment and materials on board and observing the results with satisfaction. They had also engaged in numerous drills and exercises, resulting in various reactions from the ever-frosty captain. The new starship was laden with the latest in scientific systems and all were put to the test. They would not be nearing the farthest edge of the Frontier for another two weeks, so all analyzing had been done in previously charted and sectored space to calibrate and retest all operations.

Things had gone so well that Captain Kehtan had announced a forty-eight hour minimum manning, granting a holiday to all personnel not essential to the immediate operation of the ship. At the moment, he was in the observation lounge with two of his passengers, near the forward windows. A huge canine sat on the carpet at his feet, lazily swishing her tail as the talk around her continued.

“I don't believe I've ever seen her take to anyone so readily before,” Kehtan said, speaking of Brandon, who was returning from the galley with a bowl of water. The quiet youth set the container down in front of the creature and affectionately ran his fingers through the large Ronan wolf's rough fur. Alex smiled and thought back several days when the captain had given them their first initial tour of the ship. In the commander's quarters, the guests had been greeted by a large animal with auburn fur.

“Meet Red, gentlemen,” the captain had said. “My closest companion for the last four years.” Alex was surprised that the man had kept a wild animal such as this as a pet, knowing that the smaller Terran wolves were rarely tamed to complete docility and could often turn violent toward their owners. The captain had explained, however, that she had taken up with him, not the other way around. He had given her many opportunities to go free into the wild in the forest near his hometown, but she always returned within a few days. Odd as it may have been, she seemed to prefer the company of the star sailor.

Brandon slowly stroked the large wolf's fur and wore a contented smile. Red turned her head toward him and butted him gently. The youth scratched her ears and within moments, she was lying on the carpet beside him as he firmly massaged the back of her neck.

“Where is Delon - I mean, Rojur?” Kehtan asked, still having trouble calling his former crewmate by a new name.

“He says he is on vacation also, and spends most of his time with Sahni,” Alex replied, his gaze affixed on the star field outside the bay window. “I suppose he's hovering about her somewhere.”

“Some things never change,” the captain mused.

Blackthorne tore his gaze from the stars and glanced over at Kehtan. “Captain,” he said slowly, “what can you tell me about... Roj, uh...Delon Santrojur.”

“I first met Delon a decade ago when I was captain of the Two Star, a small science vessel skirting the edges of the Frontier. I had had enough of combat sorties against the Kirini long before it became apparent that we would never win that war. Thank Heaven they finally backed off when they did. They destroyed four worlds with their planet killers, and Earth was to blame for inciting them.”

Alex's jaw dropped imperceptibly, then he snapped it shut, suddenly terrified at the thought of the future. He nodded, mutely agreeing with Kehtan.

The captain continued, “Delon was a security officer assigned to my ship at the last moment before our first expedition. He was already friends with Sahni, whom he had met several years prior to that.” Kehtan gestured toward the window. “We traveled the outer edges of the Frontier for three years, went through fire and brought back the ashes to prove it. It was not an uneventful journey, I can tell you.” He looked down at Brandon, who had relaxed beside Red and was staring solemnly back at the captain as his fingers found just the right spot on Red's neck to make the wolf sigh in delight.

“During our final mission, the Two Star found itself in a compromising situation due to a foolhardy decision I had made, and the ship and crew were nearly destroyed because of it.” He fell silent, as he appeared to be seeing the scene all over again. “If it hadn't been for an amazing talent that Delon displayed at a crucial moment, we'd have all perished.”

“What happened?” Alex urged him to continue. He had heard nothing of this from his friend, and this captain was apparently no stranger to Rojur's esper abilities - at least one of them, anyway.

Kehtan stood up and walked over to the window. He turned his back to it and faced his guests. “One of my interests has been in research on the legendary lost empire of Shraelon.” Alex did not know who or what ‘shray-eh-lon’ was, but did not mention it as his host continued. “During our missions, I found numerous artifacts to support my studies and took a notion to do a spot of research while in an area where much of the evidence had turned up.” He smiled and narrowed his eyes. “Most of the tales are merely legend, mind you, but I have often believed there was some truth to the myths. I was right – we turned up further proof which substantiated the evidence and I ordered the ship off its mission to pursue my dream, hoping the payoff would make up for the deviation of our assignment. I should have sent word to the fleet commander. I should have thought about it twice.” He glanced over at a framed scrap of paper on the wall and muttered, “I should have done a lot of things.”

He sighed and leaned against the window, crossing his arms over his chest. “I took a gamble and lost – almost permanently. You see, I ordered our ship into an unknown area that my officers strongly argued against going into. We were caught in a booby trap I believe was placed there by that extinct empire and an infernal device shredded open our hull.”

The captain crossed the room to stare at the framed paper, a list of names. “We lost thirteen people to the vacuum before Delon plugged the hole with a psionic shield he was able to generate over the opening. It drained him,” Kehtan explained, “but he was able to hold the integrity of the Two Star intact until a temporary external patch was put in place. Afterwards, he sunk into a deep unconsciousness that lasted two days, but he had saved the ship with his effort.” The captain fell silent and crossed the room again to look once more out into the stars.

No one said anything for long moments until Red yawned widely. Blackthorne got up from his seat and stood beside the captain. “What happened after that?” he prompted.

Kehtan glanced sideways at him and shook his head. “With our ship damaged, we abandoned my dream as well as the rest of the mission and headed for home port. Delon was awarded the medal of valor, and I was rightly stripped of my command. The crew was reassigned to other duties and Delon elected to leave the Service. I didn't see him again for years. Six months after I was relieved of command and posted to a supply depot, I was recalled to headquarters with the memory of my colossal mistake still fresh in everyone's mind. It seemed that someone higher up thought I would be appropriate to command their new science vessel that was then in its early stages of construction, in spite of the incident. I never found out why I was brought back, or who gave the order.”

“Captain,” Blackthorne hesitated, for he knew he was treading on Rojur's right to privacy, but a question had been gnawing at him ever since the esper had arrived on his doorstep. “Do you have any knowledge on the kind of falling out that Roj – uh, Delon had with his father? All I know is that it was bad enough that he's gone into hiding under an assumed name, which is how I met him.”

Kehtan turned and locked his small piercing eyes upon him, and Alex was unsure what emotion stirred in their depths. There was history here, old and painful for the weathered captain. He owed his life to Rojur Delondin. “I'm sorry,” the captain said tonelessly, “but it's not my place to either–”

“Captain Kehtan, please come to the bridge,” Ree's voice interrupted from the ship's intercom.

Kehtan moved to a wall and tapped a pad set into a panel. “What is it, Ree?”

“Captain, we've just picked up a distress beacon from inside the asteroid field we're running parallel to.”

“Distress beacon? Is it identifiable?”

“Yes, captain. It matches the configuration of a lifeboat from a long range personal cruiser. I've scanned for its mother ship, but the asteroids are playing havoc with the sensors.”

“How much metal in the asteroid field?”

“A lot, sir. Apparently it's gillanium; we can't get too close to it without—”

“I'll be there in a moment,” the captain cut him off. “Recall the First officer and continue scanning.”

“Aye, sir.”

***

Rojur cursed mildly as the intercom sounded. “Bridge to Sahni, please report to the Command Center,” the voice announced. Sahni disentangled herself from Rojur and reached for the pad on the console beside the bed.

“Sahni, here. What is it, Ree?”

“We've picked up a distress signal in the asteroid cluster. The captain's on his way here and requests your presence as well.”

“I'll be there as soon as I'm dressed.”

“Aye, sir.”

Sahni reached over and brushed the turquoise locks from Rojur's pale eyes. “Duty calls, lover.” The esper merely growled in response as she reached for her clothes. Sahni chuckled and quickly slipped into her uniform.

“What, just like that?” he asked, making a showy display of his disappointment.

She finished, crawled across the bed to him, and planted a kiss on his lips. “Save that for me. I'll make the postponement worth your wild.”

***

Dayl stared intently at her personal monitor as she guided the Zephyr around the asteroids. A past generation had calculated the chances of successfully circumnavigating an asteroid field to be rather astronomical. Maneuvering through a cluster even this small was never recommended, as the chunks of floating rock and ice constantly shifted, their personal gravities constantly in flux, and often caused the pilot of a ship the stress of watching everything at once. Dayl was a professional, however, and had been in similar steering challenges often enough. Over the entire top half of her head rested a ring connected to the hull integrity system's proximity monitors that displayed a high definition holographic display directly into her retinas; this was relayed straight into her brain and it allowed her to “feel” the ship and whatever floated in space within a mile of them. All of the asteroids in a narrow spatial arena sailed through space in a relatively straight line instead of the chaotic pattern of a typical asteroid field, and she recognized signs of a recent explosion in space large enough to propel them out from a central location. Beneath her hands, an array of controllers floated unsupported above the console, one controlling speed and others for ship orientation and direction.

Although the main viewing screen clearly showed the frontal view, all attention on the bridge was riveted to the windows to see the spectacle with their own eyes. Sahni and Rojur stepped out onto the upper command deck. The first officer moved quickly to her station while the esper quietly placed himself just behind the captain's shoulder.

“I've pinpointed the source of the beacon, sir,” Zahn said in a soft voice, not wishing to distract his partner's concentration, “and have fed the coordinates to Dayl's station.” He had spoken into the com mike at his panel, patched directly to the captain's. Kehtan's reply sped back in the same manner.

“Any sign of the mother ship?”

“Some debris floating about, but not enough to compensate for a large vessel the lifeboat would have belonged to.”

Kehtan sat back in his chair; he had been leaning forward as he watched the vista before them. A dull shudder was felt briefly throughout the ship as a small boulder bumped into a rear quarter somewhere. Dayl bit her lip lightly, the only acknowledgment she gave to the miscalculation. She compensated with the swift motion of her hands closed over the controls floating beneath her outstretched fingers as she urged the ship on through the maze of flying, speeding rock.

“Lifeboat on the sensors, captain,” Sahni reported. “Two kilometers off the starboard.”

“Bring us to relative station-keeping, Dayl,” the captain said, “but stay frosty.”

“Aye, sir.”

Kehtan looked to his first officer. “Any life signs from the boat?”

“One, though beyond that I can't tell you.” Sahni glanced up from her viewer and stared at the window. “The scanners are still erratic… too much gillanium in these asteroids.”

The captain looked down to the lower deck. “Maku,” he said, “take a Crab to retrieve the lifeboat.” He then thumbed the intercom pad. “Doctor Tralen, ready your Sick Bay for a possible customer.”

“Everything is in order down here, captain,” the medical officer replied.

“Captain,” Rojur said as Kehtan looked up. “Request permission to accompany Maku with the retrieval.”

“Go.”

Rojur followed the security officer from the bridge as Ree relayed Sahni's orders for the launching bay to have the scout vessel ready.

“We've taken up a position in front of it, Captain,” Dayl reported, still shifting the shimmering controls, rotating the ship slightly to keep it safe from a flying chunk of debris.

“Hold here. Maintain speed, direction and distance from the pod and keep a lock on the Crab,” Sahni said. “Zahn, plot the quickest way out of here once we have the lifeboat on board. We don't want to stay among these asteroids any longer than we have to.”

“Aye, sir... already working on it.”

***

Maku piloted the Crab between clusters of small boulders, each several times the size of the flat scout ship itself, and saw the lifeboat dead ahead. As they neared, Rojur could see dents and scorch marks on the surface of the boat. After the beating it had apparently taken, he found it surprising that anyone inside still lived. Musing this over, he activated the controls to the ship's sensors and scanned the approaching escape pod. “I'm reading one set of life signs with sustained injuries,” the esper reported.

Maku eased the Crab's nose up to the craft moments later and tiny thrusters stopped them only a meter away from it. He touched a control pad and a panel opened across the entire front of his console, revealing a pair of hovering, glowing rings and throwing up a hologram between them. Rojur watched as he passed his hands through the rings, and on the other side, they came out looking exactly like the pneumatic arms on the sides of the ship. The holographic display drew out the shape of the lifeboat. In the image before him as well as the view from the screen, the crab-like limbs reached forward until Maku closed the pincers over support rods on the lifeboat.

Once he secured the controls, he reported in as he pivoted the Crab on its axis and retraced his course back to the Zephyr. “Lifeboat secured. Returning to the ship.”

“Acknowledged.”

Rojur noted the markings on the side of the escape pod. “Zephyr,” he transmitted, “the lifeboat was resident of a personal cruiser called Silverton, registration number 2H7VI9. It is scorched and badly dented.”

“The wreckage of the Silverton has been located. We will be moving toward it as soon as you're back on board,” Ree replied.

“Approaching the landing pad now,” Maku said. The bay doors were open to receive them, and a moment later the Crab settled onto the deck as the hangar doors closed behind them. “Touchdown, Captain.” Two minutes later, the bay was pressurized and Dr. Tralen accompanied a floating gurney toward the lifeboat. Maku lowered the pod to the floor as Rojur stepped out the small craft's hatch. Technicians immediately began cutting away at the boat's portal, but after a few minutes, it was clear their efforts were hampered.

“Captain,” one of the techs reported over the intercom, “We've sheared away most of the outer door, but structural damage inside is preventing any entrance to the lifeboat.”

“Can you go through a wall?”

“No, sir. This design has all the power conduits running between the hulls of the craft. To cut through them might ruin whatever chance we have of getting the survivor out alive, and maybe even detonate the whole thing right here in the bay.”

Kehtan fell silent as one of the other techs examined the charred escape module. Windows were not practically sound on an escape pod, considering their propensity to break with flying debris if the mother or even a combat detachment ship were destroyed somewhere near. The intended survivors would have a monitor to check outside conditions and required all the security they could get.

“Captain,” Rojur said as the tech awaited further instructions, “I may be able to get inside, but I will need everyone out of the landing bay.”

“Everyone out?” the captain asked, “Why, do you think it might blow?”

“Just... trust me.” Rojur was unwilling to announce to the crew that he could teleport inside the lifeboat. If the captain was opposed to take him at his word without explanation, the person inside the craft may yet die before they could get to him.

“Evacuate the landing bay,” the captain ordered without further hesitation, “and seal off the area.” Rojur was left alone beside the lifeboat within a minute as the captain re-routed the vidcom signal to his command chair and locked out all other circuits.

The esper then walked back inside the Crab, for he did not want cameras or monitors to record his disappearance. He reached up, removed the dampener from his hair to allow full use of his talent and stuck it in his back pocket. He crouched as his eyes glowed faintly in the dim interior of the escape pod, and then he materialized next to the wounded form. He barely had room to stand up as part of the ceiling was dented inward.

Rojur knelt beside the silent figure and put a hand on the survivor's chest to feel for a heartbeat. His face flushed suddenly as his fingers closed around a soft breast. He didn't linger, however, and sought a pulse from her neck.

He couldn't tell if anything was broken or thrown, but the woman's rhythm was strong; she did not seem to be in immediate danger, but he wanted to get her out to Sick Bay. Rojur picked her up gently and quickly teleported into the Crab. He gave her a cursory examination, noting the full front of her clothing was sprayed with long-dried blood, and an issue of the same had been trickling out of her own mouth and matted in her hair. He took her outside to the gurney, and pushed her to the far end of the deck where he thumbed the intercom and reported, “I have the survivor at the door.”

The pressure seal hissed and the hatch slid aside. Dr. Tralen had his instruments in hand and began to examine his patient even as a medic rushed her down the corridor toward Medical. Rojur followed them closely, leaving the bewildered techs to wonder how he had gotten her out of the lifeboat that was still intact. As the procession entered the Sick Bay, Tralen barked the medics away to continue his analysis of the patient without having to chase her down the hall.

“Quarantine, right now!” A technician tapped a button on the side of the gurney and a glittering white light rippled across the unconscious body. The clothing material flowed away onto the bedding, leaving her bare on the gurney.

“All right people, I want blood type and buckets of whatever she needs! Give me thirty cc's of cybrocetizine straight into her spinal cord and get it yesterday! I want a full body scan with the fluoroscope to see what's broken and a biopsy on this,” he indicated a dark bruise on her forehead. “Last thing we need is some weird alien virus floating around here! Kramer!”

“Doctor?”

“Stop staring at her assets and get me some blood.”

One of the medics placed a small disc on the head bruise and six legs spread out to anchor it as a central needle punctured the skin and took readings. Seconds later, it detached and the tech slipped into a slot on the gurney. A small blue screen identified it as only a common impact bruise and suggested a concussion. It also gave her blood type as CGN and displayed a simple DNA reference.

The other medics watched from a distance to see how the woman fared. Rojur kept away as well, giving Tralen plenty of room to work, but hovered nearby. The physician studied the scanner in his hand and raised an eyebrow as he walked to a sink to the side.

He looked up and saw Rojur studying the patient’s face. “Know her?” he asked.

“No,” the esper replied. “I do not recognize her.”

“Prepare a wrap,” Tralen asked as he dug into a storage counter. “She's bruised up pretty bad, but I think we can take care of that. Nothing broken or bleeding, thank goodness. See what was on her clothes.”

Rojur stood over the gurney and tapped at a panel where a readout scrolled across a small monitor. He reported that the blood splattering her clothing was AAG and therefore not hers. It had been blasted into the fabric and there was evidence of excessive smoke, probably some inhalation in the patient, with several cuts and warps in the fabric apparently from the abuse the lifeboat had taken. Rojur's eyes drifted back to her despite himself.

The woman appeared to be in her early thirties. She was slender, though not petite, and in spite of the bruises on her small, pointed chin, Rojur thought she seemed rather pretty. Her waist-length, light blue hair spilled out over the gurney and onto the floor. Her thin eyebrows were a slightly paler shade of blue and were drawn together as she winced at some pain. Rojur drew back suddenly, but the woman remained unconscious.

“You're staring, Rojur,” Sahni said dryly.

The esper raised his eyebrows and looked at her sideways; he hadn't heard her come in. “Just helping the good doctor,” he replied.

“That's what the medics are for,” Sahni countered. “How is she, Tralen?”

The physician continued to apply a special balm to the patient, but answered, “She's received some nasty bruises and there's a blaster burn mark on her left arm. A narrow escape, that. Otherwise she'll recover. There's nothing seriously wrong with her, but the life support systems on board the lifeboat may have been damaged and the shock to her system may be keeping her unconscious.”

“Blaster mark?” Sahni asked. “Then her ship was under attack?”

“That’s what it would suggest.”

Alex walked into the Sick Bay and stopped beside Rojur, trying to keep his eyes off the naked woman on the gurney. “I have medical training, Doctor,” he said. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

Tralen looked up at Blackthorne with a frown. “I don't know you,” he stated.

“He is a guest of the captain's,” Sahni supplied.

“My name is Alex.”

The physician looked around at the gathered faces of other medics. “Call me Tralen, but I think my certified medical staff can handle the situation all right.” He motioned for the door and said to the first officer, “Sahni, if you have nothing else, could you get all these people out of here?”

“Right.” She hooked arms with Rojur and his friend to lead them away, but the doctor stopped Blackthorne with a touch.

“Stay a moment, Alex.”

Rojur and Sahni walked out into the corridor and headed for the bridge. “We've found what's left of the Silverton,” Sahni told the esper, “which isn’t much. The captain sent a team of scouts to survey the wreckage and to look for other lifeboats that may have been launched.”

“Any idea as to what happened to her?”

“We probably won't know anything until the good doctor's patient regains consciousness.” Sahni suddenly turned a corner and drew Rojur down a hallway, away from the bridge.

“Where are we going?” he asked.

“The captain wants to have a private talk with you. He wants to know how you got the woman out of the lifeboat,” she answered. “The techs still can't get inside to check its log.”

“I thought he might wonder about that.”

“Does it have anything to do with what you did on the Two Star.”

“Are you going to be in on this interrogation?” he asked.

“No, he wants to talk to you alone.”

Rojur looked at her and shook his head. “Sorry, love. Professional secret.” Sahni snorted in reply as they approached the captain’s office.

***

Blackthorne stood beside the woman's bed, waiting for the doctor's stimulants to take effect. Tralen had asked him to wait with the patient because, in the physician's opinion, Alex was better looking than he was and their guest might have a more favorable reaction waking up to him. The doctor also admitted that he did not really trust his two medics, especially Kramer, around a helpless and attractive young woman. Blackthorne felt silly, but he had offered his services, no matter the capacity.

At Tralen’s behest, he had helped clothe the woman in one of the gold liquid uniforms of the ship's crew, as her own garments were too damaged to reconstitute. Idly, Alex wondered if he might exchange his red civilian coveralls for a gold uniform to fit in better. As he mused, the woman drew in a long breath and opened her eyes sleepily. Blackthorne kept his distance but smiled lightly as her eyes focused upon his face.

“Wh-who...?” she whispered as she tried to sit up. Blackthorne lent her his support so that she sat on the edge of the bed, her legs dangling toward the floor.

“I am Alex, a friend.”

She looked at him long and hard and decided she did not know him. Her eyes darted around the room and then stopped on her clothing. The pale blue of her eyes matched the color of her hair and Alex almost felt lost in them as she looked back up at him. “My name is Chieko,” she said, “Chieko Fotura. Where am I? The last thing I remember was Joska and I—” Her eyes flew wide and she shrieked in anguish, “Joska! No, no, no, no...”

Through the memory of his violent death, she collapsed into Alex's arms and sobbed, her shoulders heaving in distress. The loss of her husband hit her hard, though Blackthorne knew nothing of this. All he could do was hold her as long as she needed his shoulder and try to provide some comfort.

***

The scouts from the Zephyr had abandoned the wreckage of the Silverton, having found no other survivors or life pods. On a nearby asteroid, however, they did discover a strange mechanical device of dark metal embedded in the rock and emitting a low radioactive signature, but it was not of an origin they could identify; the metal had not belonged to the wrecked ship. They had transmitted their finding to the ship and were trying to free it from the stone that surrounded it.

“It appears to be coming loose,” one of the scouts said. Indeed, the two-meter sized object seemed to work free of the stone as they rocked it back and forth.

“Wait, what's this?” another scout said. He reached into the device and closed his hand over a glowing blue crystal that seemed out of place in such a dreary setting. As soon as his gloved fingers came in contact with its multifaceted surface, two rods of metal clamped together over his arm and jerked him halfway into its interior before the others knew what was happening. His screams of pain and panic were carried over the headset radios of each team member as they tried to extract him from the snare.

“Sahni!” Ree reported to the first officer, “Ensign T'kay's been caught and pulled into the device! It caught him like a mouse trap!” The captain arrived on the bridge and heard the news before the first officer could respond. Rojur stepped in behind him and moved over to the railing to look down at the lower deck.

The captain thumbed an override pad on his terminal, connecting him directly to the scouts. “Search Team, get out of there NOW!” he commanded, almost in a shout.

Just as he uttered the last word, the asteroid field and the stars beyond seemed to bend, stretch and shrink, all at the same time. “Not again,” Kehtan whispered. The space around the device was beginning to warp.

“SECURE ALL STATIONS!” he shouted over the intercom, “Brace for impending asteroid collisions!”

“Captain!” Ree exclaimed, “The Search Team—”

“—is now beyond our help.” Kehtan stated hoarsely. “Reverse thrusters! Now!”

Visible upon the screen, the bodies of his crewmen were torn apart by the sudden emergence of a small singularity's event horizon right beneath their feet. Their bodies became impossibly long and thin, and then were gone. The ship lurched suddenly as a strong gravitational field increased around the asteroids. In the center of the phenomenon, the twisting, warped space became a small vortex and everything near it was drawn into its heart.

“Reverse thrusters!” the captain repeated as the ship was drawn toward the hungry maw of the phenomenon. Asteroids and boulders began to whiz by the ship, narrowly missing the Zephyr's nose by a few hundred meters. Several smaller chunks did strike the rear drive section and the floor seemed to slide sideways a second before the inertia dampers could compensate. The whole vessel shuddered and the walls seemed to throb as the thrusters worked at maximum to free them from the snare.

The lights dimmed abruptly and blinked a few times before shutting down completely, and the red emergency lamps activated within seconds. No one asked what had happened. They knew that all reserve power was being fed back into the system. Dayl fought with her controls, desperately trying to keep their flight true, but the forces that held them were too strong. A low rumble became audible which ended after only a few seconds with a loud whump. The ship gave a sudden forward lurch and shot toward the vortex. Anyone and anything not secured were thrown about with the sudden acceleration. Dayl struggled with her controls but met no success.

“What just happened?” the captain demanded. The Zephyr neared the maelstrom with frightening velocity and was battered from nearly all sides from asteroids that were pulled along with them.

“A direct hit knocked the engines off line!” Dayl reported, nearly shouting. “My instruments are—!” She screamed half in pain and half in panic as the holographic visor sent a signal it was never meant to process into her brain.

Kehtan yanked open a compartment on his armrest. Inside, a broad, blue button flashed beneath a pane of glass. He smashed his hand down on it, activating a flickering pad before it that read, Hawking System Operative.

The ship received another tremendous hit before the captain could more. The emergency lights went out and the blow sent the ship into the vortex at an oblique angle. Artificial gravity was lost for a moment and shear inertia quickly filled the air with loose objects, and when it cut back in, numerous items tumbled to the floor. A portable data tablet clipped the captain on the right temple and he never saw what happened next. The ship wallowed, shimmered in space for a moment, and then vanished.

***

Chieko lifted a hand to her forehead to wipe away the blood that trickled over her left eye. All was dark in the medical lounge, the only visible light from the stars outside the small window. She peered around the compartment, holding onto her left arm. When the ship had accelerated within a momentary lapse in inertial dampening, she had been thrown up hard against the back wall of the room, taking most of the impact on her left side. She didn't feel anything was broken, but it seemed that more bruises were added to those still healing from her last incident. She tried to stand, but her right ankle would not take the weight. With a sigh of pain, she sat heavily on the carpet and leaned against the wall.

“Chieko?” a nearby voice asked.

“Over here, Alex,” she replied. “Are you okay?” She saw his silhouette pass in front of the window as he moved toward her.

“Just a little shaken. The couch pads cushioned me,” he answered as he knelt beside her. He leaned close to her face and pressed a folded piece of cloth he found to her forehead. She drew back in pain, but he persisted. “Hold still,” he scolded lightly. “You're bleeding.”

A moment later he asked, “What happened?”

Chieko looked over his shoulder toward the window and saw a small chunk of frozen rock and ice drift lazily by, as a curious cow might stare at strange creatures on the edge of its field and walk on. Beyond were more asteroids, though they were no longer flying crazily by them. “I think we were caught in a Shroomer trap,” she suggested.

“A Shroomer trap...?”

Chieko repositioned the cloth Alex held to her brow and sighed. “Yes, but I've never encountered one like this before.” She fell silent, assuming he knew what she meant, though Alex was still confused. He checked her wound and noted the bleeding had stopped. The cut on her head was small and was not as serious as it had appeared to be.

“It seems you're getting a lot of medical attention today,” Alex teased in the darkness.

“You have a nice smile,” Chieko said.

“How can you tell?” he replied, amazed. “It's almost pitch black in here.”

She chuckled and brushed a few strands of hair from her face. “The stars give me plenty of light to see by.”

“Then your eyesight is better than mine,” Blackthorne conceded. “All I can see of you is your silhouette...” His words trailed off as something caught his attention at the corner of his eye.

“What is it?” Chieko asked.

“Let's go to the window,” he requested cryptically.

“What do you see?” she asked as she slipped an arm around his middle for stability. Her question was answered as soon as he lifted her up and took her to the small port. Gazing out the portal, they saw a ringed, blue gaseous planet nearby and could easily see three satellites in various phases. From Alex's point of view, that world was as large as Earth's moon appeared on a clear night near the horizon. Even as they watched, they could see bands of clouds move across its surface.

“That wasn't there before,” Alex whispered. “Where are we?” Chieko didn't answer as she stared at the blue sphere in silence.

Alex tore his eyes from the sight and motioned toward the other side of the room. “Think we'd better check on Dr. Tralen?” he suggested.

Chieko nodded as if in deep thought and then turned toward him. “What?” she asked.

“Dr. Tralen,” Alex repeated, “shouldn't we check to see if he's all right?”

“Yes,” she answered, her thoughts back to the crisis at hand, “but I'll stay here, if you don't mind. I'm in no shape to stumble about in the dark.”

“But your eyesight is better than mine,” he reminded her jokingly. She looked back at him quickly and then laughed as he helped her to the couch. “I'll try to be back soon,” Alex promised. Without another word, he moved through the darkness toward the doorway. He slipped through the partially open aperture and was gone.

Chieko let her head rest on the back of the couch and silently stared out the window, her thoughts suddenly on a different dark-haired man who had only been married to her for three weeks. Her shoulders began to shake as she silently cried into her arms.

***

When Kehtan returned to consciousness, he was leaning forward and flanked by several silhouettes in the darkness. Sahni knelt beside his command chair and placed a rolled towel beneath his head as he hauled himself upright in the chair, thanking good fortune that he had remembered his seatbelt. He blinked a few times, but could not focus his eyes on anyone other than her close face.

“Captain?” a worried voice spoke from his other side.

“Aye, Rojur,” the captain answered. “How long have I been out?”

Sahni sat back on her heels. “About fifteen minutes, sir, at least from what we can tell.”

Kehtan looked past her toward the forward windows and saw the blue, ringed planet. “Wormhole,” he stated to no one. The captain surveyed the smashed blue button on his console, running fingers around its broken edges with appreciation. The good professor had been right.

“Aye, captain,” Dwes responded. “Using stellar positions, I've estimated a jump of seventy-two light years beyond the Frontier Rim, though my calculations are only approximate. The main computer is off-line.”

“Seventy-two...?” Kehtan pushed Sahni away from him and stood up. He had only been dazed and was fully alert again. He concentrated on the planet and its moons a moment before looking down at his instrument panel. He touched a few pads, but received no response.

“Status?” he asked as he turned back to his first officer.

“Power is down to minimal life support, sir. Toco's engineering staff is working to restore what they can, but the damage to the ship is more than just the engines or computer.” She paused as the red emergency lights came on abruptly and dimly illuminated the bridge. “We have a hull breach spanning three compartments in the aft section, just forward of the engine room. They've been sealed off from the rest of the ship, but a greater repair job should be made before we make any further jumps. Until the com lines are restored, we can't get an estimate on further damages to the Zephyr... or her crew.”

“How many were in the compartments?”

“Unknown at this time, sir,” she answered tonelessly.

Maku came forward with a dozen hand lights from a storage panel as the captain turned and faced his bridge personnel. “Anyone here unable to get around?” Kehtan asked.

“No one severely injured, Captain,” Dayl answered. “We're just bruised up a bit.” Their commander looked to each one to make sure and gingerly rubbed his temple where the data tablet had clipped him.

“Fan out to all sections of the ship and get me status reports by runners. Electronics are unreliable, so I don't want to depend on them right now if we can help it. Give me estimates of damages in physical systems, life support, main energizer drives, personnel and provisions. And get the chaplains out,” he said. “Ree, I want you to stay here to work on the com lines from this end.”

“He'll need some help, Captain,” the young navigator pointed out. “If it's okay with you, I will,”

“No, Zahn, I'll help him myself.”

“Sir?”

Kehtan frowned. “A captain is capable of doing more than sitting on his tail bellowing orders to everyone else around him. I'm skilled enough to give a hand working on my own ship.”

Zahn gulped and replied, “Yes, sir. I should have realized that.”

“Let's get going,” Sahni said to the others.

Two hours later, both power and communications were restored, most having little more damage than burned relays. Reports from all over the ship were the same; most of the crew was slightly injured and delicate systems had taken severe damage from the impacts. Despite the hull breach, there were no fatalities, though several had escaped death solely through sheer luck. The only lives lost were those of the Search Team in the asteroids now far away. The captain ordered the entire ship on double shifts until the ship was back up to minimum specs.

***

“What… happened?” Brandon asked, terrified as he nestled in a corner with Red. Alex's sudden emergence through the cabin door had startled them both.

“You're not going to believe this,” Alex breathed slowly, “but we just traveled through a wormhole and came out seventy-two light years away from where we were.”

“You're right,” the boy replied. “I don't believe it.”

They both knew the theories that when an object approaches a black hole, the gravitational force is so strong that as you get closer to the event horizon between it and regular space, time and space collapse in on themselves and create a vortex that compacts things to infinite density and infinite time. The result is what Professors Hawking and Penrose called 'spaghettification', where things are stretched out lengthwise and squashed together on the sides.

“So, why are we still in four dimensions?”

Alex blinked. He sometimes forgot that his son had a keen mind for his age. “Because of Hawking.”

“You have got to explain that,” Brandon said.

“Well, apparently a few years after our time one of Dr. Hawking's students will develop a theory in which certain gravitational and time fields can be manipulated while going through the black hole. That person made that theory into an experimental technology. The captain was very brief about it, but it involves anti-matter and something to do with time. Basically, we passed the speed of light and time slowed down to a point where it became almost fluid. I suspect the captain invoked the new technology and actually cut out the time period when we traveled through the black hole, like traveling from one wave crest to another without following along the wave valley, and we ended up on the other side. Basically, we skipped spaghettification by leaping from before it to a point after it.”

Brandon considered that for a moment, and then remembered the frail, smiling man in the wheelchair whose prose and wit he had read about for years. “Doncha just love that guy?” the boy concluded.

***

Alex sat down on an unoccupied bench in the Sick Bay to catch his breath. For twelve hours, he had been helping Dr. Tralen's two medics, Blake and Tiller see to the injured personnel that had been coming into the ward. Only one individual had been severely hurt and the physician had worked on him in surgery.

Blackthorne was glad for his past medical training, but it was only barely enough to help in this age of technological advancement. He was not familiar with the methods or instruments this time period had developed, but general First Aid worked in most cases and his efforts were not refused, no matter how primitive they may seem.

Blake walked over to him and sat on the other end of the bench. “Why don't you get some sleep?” the medic suggested. “You've been a great help, Alex, but I think everyone's taken care of. Tiller and I can watch over the Sick Bay for a while.” The red-haired man gestured to a snoring form on a gurney across the room. “Even Dr. Tralen's finally getting some rest.”

Blackthorne looked at him wearily. “How come you're not ready to collapse? You've been at this longer than I have today.”

Blake yawned and smiled. “We're a little more used to this hectic pace, but then again someone has to be on duty and that's what we get paid for.”

Alex nodded and stood up. “Okay, I'm going to bed. Call me if you need me again. I'm in cabin 85-D.” The medic nodded and Alex left the room.

He nearly bumped into Chieko as he rounded the first corner out into the corridor. “Oh, hello,” he mumbled. The blue-haired woman looked at him with a smile.

“I saw you helping the others, Alex, though I didn't recognize half the procedures you used.”

He looked at her with half-lidded eyes. “I'm not really a member of this crew,” he explained. Chieko favored her ankle and leaned on the tired Blackthorne for support as they resumed walking down the corridor. “I just helped out the only way I knew how.” It was an effort to stay awake long enough to talk to her.

“I don't know what system you're from,” Chieko replied, “but thank you for all you've done.”

Blackthorne laughed meekly, but could not muster any more enthusiasm. “Finding my bunk will be thanks enough. I am about asleep on my feet.”

“We can both rest once we get to your cabin,” she promised.

***

Brandon and his wolf-friend were in the observation room above the landing bay, where they had departed to wait for things to unravel since the wormhole. Brandon sat at the central table and stared toward the window to observe the activity outside this area of the ship, the large canine at his feet.

Repair work had been going on for over twelve hours with no real end in sight. Damage from the asteroids would take several days to fix, at least. Red nosed up to the youth's side and Brandon absently stroked the fur behind her ears. His attention was on the landing bay.

One of the Crab ships moved out of the hangar and plotted a course toward the nearest of the ringed world's moons with orders to search for anything that may help explain their current predicament, or at the least, help provide materials for repairs.

***

An hour later, the Crab skirted over the surface of the semi-dead moon, its sensors scanning for anything out of the ordinary. Once again, Rojur accompanied Maku in the small craft to operate the instruments while the other piloted the vessel. Maku dropped them down to an altitude of thirty meters.

“Anything?”

Rojur was bent over his panel, looking at the score of readout screens. “A rather unimpressive rock we're flying over,” he replied. “A virtual depository of everything drab and mundane.” Maku smiled and altered their course by five degrees. They sped on for several kilometers.

“Nothing here. Try another sector,” the esper suggested.

The Crab lifted out of the low valley they had been gliding over and shot up a canyon between two mountainous peaks. The atmosphere of this satellite was thin, though it had enough substance for updrafts between the summits to cause the craft to heave about. Maku compensated and gained altitude quickly.

“Unusual metal deposit detected a half kilometer ahead,” Rojur announced. The security officer slowed their speed and listened for his partner's instructions.

Rojur matched the topography on his monitor with the graphic image simulated by the computer. He matched the scales and overlaid them together. “I am feeding the coordinates to your terminal,” he said. Maku read them a second later and prepared to take the Crab in slowly.

They saw it through the front window before their instruments said they had arrived. They could hardly have missed it, though. The object the sensors had picked up was the remains of a massive ship, half buried in the mountain side on their right. From appearances, the vessel had crashed while navigating the narrow canyon.

From what they could see of it, the ship had been roughly delta-shaped and was large enough for several internal levels. It didn't match the configuration from anything in the interstellar database, but at this distance from the Frontier, it could be an alien design. A gaping, tattered hole dominated the aft end, perhaps from engines exploding on impact. The color of its metal skins was light blue, though the alloy seemed to be weather worn and pitted in places. Although vegetation was scarce on this moon, a mottled brown vine had found purchase on the side of the artifact nearest the canyon wall. It looked as if it had been here for some time. Maku brought the Crab down onto a small ledge just slightly above the vessel and shut down its engines as soon as he was sure the rock shelf would support its weight.

Rojur was already into his pressure suit by the time Maku had secured the systems and joined him in the back. They systematically checked one other’s connections and seals, and when both were ready, the esper touched a control that depressurized the cabin. The small door on the back of the craft opened and the two stepped out onto the grey rock.

Gravity on this moon was light, so their rappel down the cliff face to the alien ship was fairly easy to navigate. The thin cable they used might have snapped under their combined weights in normal circumstances, but it was reliable in these conditions. Rojur touched down first and fastened the line to a protrusion on the metal surface.

The pair of scouts approached the ragged hole and peered inside. They would have to go into the vessel this way as no other door or hatch was visible. Maku took the lead this time and swung over the edge with ease. Rojur turned on his hand scanner and followed him a moment later.

***

“Message coming in from the Crab, sir,” Ree announced to the captain.

Kehtan crawled out from under an instrument panel and brushed his hands on a wipe cloth lying next to him. “Can we get a visual?”

“I'm still working on those circuits, sir. All I have is audio.”

“Let's hear it, then.”

The reception was still laced with static on communications outside the ship, but Maku's voice came in fine. “We've penetrated the wreckage of an alien vessel, sir,” he reported. “The ship crashed into the side of a mountain.”

“Have you found anything of interest?”

“Nothing of value, so far. There are signs all over of a massive fire, probably from an explosion during the wreck. Very little is recognizable, though I'm not sure if it's from the destruction or just because it's alien. Some of the walls look like they might have been… grown. We've found no bodies of the crew, if it had one. Rojur's scanning practically everything, but I'm not sure this stuff will help.” Maku went silent for a few seconds and then replied, “We've arrived at a junction in the corridor.”

“I will take the passage on the right,” the esper's voice cut in.

“Okay, I'll take the other. Captain,” Maku said, “we're splitting up and are switching to a clearer local channel. We'll report in if we find anything.”

Kehtan frowned at the thought of them separating, but didn't mention it. “All right, Maku. Be careful of what you touch. We don't want to spring another booby trap. Just take it easy, and even if you have nothing of interest, I want you to report in at fifteen minute intervals.”

“Understood, Captain.”

“Ditto, Captain,” added Rojur.

Kehtan looked out the main windows toward the blue planet and spied the small moon where his men were. Silently, he wished them luck and returned to his work under the console.

***

For the past two hours, Rojur had been working his way forward in the craft, but the vessel was in sorry shape. The back half was blasted from the engine explosion and the front half had been crushed from the impact of the crash. It was impossible to tell what the original inhabitants had looked like because there was nothing left to use as a frame of reference. The further forward he went, the harder the way became.

He climbed in through a narrow crack left open from where two opposing walls had been shoved nearly together and a warning beep sounded near his ear. He knelt on the buckled floor and thumbed a pad on the side of his headpiece. A digital readout appeared in front of his nose on the faceplate and informed him that his oxygen supply had dropped to fifty percent. The forward lamps mounted on both sides of his helmet flickered briefly. The batteries were getting low, too.

“Rojur,” Maku said over the com set, “My batteries and oxygen levels are at the midway indicator.”

“I just got the same alerts,” the esper replied. “I am going to look around for five minutes more and then I will head back.”

“Look around if you want, but I've seen nothing the whole time to make me believe there's anything to find. I'm starting back to the Crab.”

“Acknowledged.” Rojur stood up again and pushed his way around another crumpled bulkhead. On the other side, his lamp fell upon an object that looked rather out of place here. He made his way closer and inspected a bright red, oval shaped door panel barring his path.

Its surface was smooth and unscathed, despite the destruction all around it, and did not appear to have any kind of mechanism to open it. Rojur's first reaction was to report it to his partner, but it meant nothing as yet. He examined it carefully, but had no better results. Out of habit, the esper looked around to make sure no one was watching him, though it was a silly precaution in this instance. He readied himself to possible danger and teleported to the other side of the door.

Rojur materialized inside a room the size of a handball court. He was silent as he moved his light around and took in the sight of undamaged machinery. Nothing seemed out of place and there was nothing there to indicate anything had happened to the rest of the ship around it. The devices even appeared to be operating, though he could not fathom what any of them might be doing. He assumed everything was on automatic and had its own power source, because no one had stepped foot into this compartment for a long, long time.

He moved toward an apparatus that stood in the heart of the area and looked at it closely. A transparent bubble housed a gadget that contained a slowly rotating, multifaceted crystal in its center. The covering had a hole with spider-web cracks broken into one side, something he had not noticed when he first assessed the room. The crash of the vessel had not damaged the mechanisms in this reinforced compartment, but the fragile casing of this particular contrivance was not so lucky. The esper leaned closer and studied the gem.

He recalled that crystals were often used to store information on, so he surmised that the race that built this ship might have used it for the same purpose. Finally, he had found something in this pile of junk to take back with him.

Rojur started to reach in and grab the crystal, but remembered the fatal trap Ensign T'kay had been caught in. Rather than extending his hand into the device and therefore triggering a deadly snare, he used his telekinetic ability to levitate the gem above its cradle and float it out to him. Only then when nothing happened did he close his gloved hand around it. Upon closer inspection, its surface also had a small fracture and he hoped the damage would not hurt retrieval of any data it might carry. Gently, he placed it into a leg pouch and closed the pocket securely.

“Maku?” he said to the air. He didn't get a response, which was probably due to the walls of the chamber. After using his hand scanner to record everything around him, he teleported back out to the wreckage of the corridor and tried again.

“Maku?”

“Rojur?” Maku's voice sounded instantly in his ears. “I've been trying to raise you for ten minutes. What happened?”

“I found a compartment with functioning machinery,” the esper explained, “but I was unable to figure out its purpose. I am bringing back what might be a data crystal.”

“Functioning! In this heap of junk?”

Rojur laughed. “Unbelievable, right? Anyway, I am on my way back now.”

“You'd better hurry, Rojur,” Maku said seriously. “The last halves of the oxygen bottles seem to dwindle faster than the first half. I might have five minutes to spare by the time I get back to the Crab, and I have a ten minute head start on you.”

“Do not worry about me,” Rojur replied. “I can get back in plenty of time. Just make sure you do not tarry any.”

“Okay, I'll see you back at the Crab. I'm going silent to conserve my air.”

“Understood.” The esper made his way down the corridor as quickly as he could in the wrecked passageways and after a few moments became impatient. A heartbeat later, Rojur was standing just inside the opening he and Maku had originally rappelled into. Teleportation was a rather handy ability to have, he thought to himself.

While he waited, Rojur withdrew the crystal from his leg pouch and examined it again. The translucent blue gem was as large as his hand and roughly icosahedron in shape. If it indeed held data, its size would allow it to store quite a lot of information. Perhaps there was something there to explain what had happened to them.

Chapter 9

Blackthorne awoke refreshed and hungry. He did not remember going to bed, but he had been exhausted when he had hit the covers. On a ship without morning sunlight, the room was in total darkness. Alex stared into the blackness as he willed his body awake and slowly began to realize his surroundings.

The first thing he noticed was an arm, slender and obviously female, draped across his chest. A head rested on his shoulder, her hair a mere inch from his nose, and it had a nice smell. Alex swallowed. He must have been tired, he thought to himself, if he had crawled into bed with someone and didn't remember it. He moved his free hand and placed it on top of hers.

“Mmmm? Joska, what time is it?” a sleepy voice replied.

“Chieko...?” he answered, “I'm not –”

“Alex...?” Chieko lifted her head and tried to look at him in the darkness. Her fingers curled up when she realized she had been caressing his chest.

“Uh...yeah,” he replied a little hesitantly. Alex managed to stretch enough to touch the pad on the lamp beside the bed. The dim light slowly grew in intensity, allowing their eyes to adjust. When he could finally see, her pale blue eyes stared up at him with flushed cheeks.

She started to get up, but when Alex's eyes stared into hers, she froze and stared back, transfixed.

“Chieko, we need to get up,” Alex said after a few moments.

She smiled slightly and sat up beside him. Blackthorne eased out of the bed and frowned as he found himself facing a mirror. His garments should have been wrinkled, but the fantastic material continued to adjust comfortably to his form. Despite this, he felt quite the slob. Sweat from the previous day had not been showered away and a steady growth of facial hair covered his jaw. It was then he remembered the two of them stumbling into his room, both exhausted from the events of the day.

The blue-haired woman stared at Alex with an expression he could not read. She stood up and faced him, clasping her hands together behind her back.

“Forgive me,” she said in a small voice, “I wasn't thinking straight last night.” She tilted her head to the side and shrugged her shoulders. “I was tired and in need of sleep. I did not mean to intrude into your quarters.”

Alex walked around the bed and placed his hands on her shoulders. “That's okay,” he replied. “I was exhausted last night as well... too tired to worry that a beautiful woman had gotten into bed with me.” Blackthorne suddenly remembered Saundra, and what she might have thought of the situation, but then realized that there would never be any way for her to learn. Still, a pang of guilt nipped at him.

Chieko's face flushed and she glanced quickly at the floor as she sighed. “Thank you,” she said as she looked up into his eyes. “I normally don't get into bed with someone I barely know.”

Blackthorne gave her an amused wink. “I won't tell if you won't tell.”

Chieko smiled and nodded her head. “It will be our secret.”

“So,” Alex added, “how do you feel about finding some breakfast?”

“I think I am agreeable to that,” she answered. Chieko took the arm he offered her and they left the room together.

***

Captain Kehtan walked into the science lab with Red at his heels. Dwes sat at a computer terminal tapping out keys and talking with Rojur and Maku beside him. Full power had been restored and the ship was a hive of activity once again. The science officer was just about to scan the crystal the esper had brought back from the alien wreckage. A science tech placed the gem onto a nearby monitor pad as the captain stepped up.

“Anything, Dwes?” Kehtan asked.

“There's definitely something imprinted upon it, sir. I spent most of the night configuring the computer scanners to read the encoded information,” the bearded man replied. “I'm just now about to try it.”

“The monitor's ready,” the tech announced.

“Thank you, Pip.” Dwes danced his fingers over the keyboard before him while the others looked toward the large screen on the opposite wall. Garbled impressions appeared on the screen, alternating patterns of static and rapidly passing symbols in an unknown language. The signal broke up after only a few seconds.

“The fracture in the crystal is making it hard to retrieve anything of value,” Dwes explained. He saw Pip fine-tuning an instrument panel, so he called to the other tech who had been watching in silence.

“Daniel,” he said, “boost the signal by twenty-five and watch for peaking.”

“Aye, sir,” the red-haired technician answered as he moved to a terminal at the end of a row of instrumentation.

As Dwes tried again, Alex, Chieko and Brandon entered the room. Red's attention snapped to the entrance of the youth and she padded over to him to get her large ears scratched.

“Sahni said we'd find you in here,” Blackthorne whispered to Rojur as they stopped near the assembled group.

“Ready,” Daniel called out. All eyes in the room turned to the screen as Dwes repeated the sequence he had keyed in earlier.

Again, the images appeared on the viewer, but this time the computer compensated for the flaw in the crystal. Cascades of exotic hieroglyphics streamed across the screen, a long dead language with bends and swirls at impossible angles. A linguistic and aesthetic nightmare, it read like nothing they had ever encountered. At the end of the choreographic cacophony, the image expanded to a vista of points of light. Some clustered here and there, while others hung in an inky blackness with faint lines of a color none had ever seen before running through them. Much of space was as yet unexplored, and the chart labeled in that monstrosity language areas not yet reached by the Frontier. More of the symbols were strewn almost haphazardly about the diagram.

As the party of observers silently gazed in confusion at the screen, Chieko stepped up closer for a better view. The captain looked at her as if noticing the woman for the first time and moved to her side. He noted her features and saw that her lips moved as if reading a book while her concentration focused on the display.

Rojur realized that through all the events of the past few days the captain had not been introduced to the woman they had rescued from the asteroid field. He removed his headband and stepped behind the rest of the assembled personnel.

|Captain,| he sent quietly, |her name is Chieko.|

Kehtan glanced over at the esper but made no other notice of receiving Rojur's thoughts.

|We have not had time to get her story - things have been rather busy lately.|

The captain nodded imperceptibly, just enough for Rojur to see he had been understood.

Kehtan watched the woman's lips for a moment and then returned his gaze to the diagram. His eyes then widened as something occurred to him. He stared at her again and a furrow appeared upon his forehead.

“I do not believe we've met,” the captain stated.

Chieko did not realize she had been spoken to until he placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked down from the screen and met his small, piercing eyes.

“Excuse me,” she replied. “My name is Chieko Fotura.”

“I am Captain Kehtan Otani,” he returned. “You are aboard the Science Exploration Vessel Zephyr. We picked up your lifeboat pod adrift in an asteroid field near the debris of a ship named Silverton. Would you mind filling in the rest of the details?”

“It was my ship that got you caught up in this, I'm afraid.” The woman ran fingers through her long blue hair and glanced quickly up at the view screen before she returned her attention to the subject at hand. “The Silverton belonged to my husband's father. We were prospecting among the asteroids for rare minerals and got caught in an apparent booby trap.”

The captain stared at her a moment and then placed his hands behind his back. He paced around the room and glanced back up to the data on the screen. He looked back at her and peered directly into her eyes.

“Prospecting for rare minerals is not approved outside the mining guild and doing so in an asteroid field is courting suicide. You're going to have to have a better cover story than that,” he said, his voice without tone.

Chieko's eyes widened and the others stared in confusion. “Cover s-story?” she stammered. “It's the truth!”

“No, it isn't,” Kehtan countered calmly. He turned toward the screen and pointed to a certain group of symbols near the bottom of the display. “That is the reason you are here. Your ship was searching for artifacts from Shraelon, wasn't it?”

Chieko's eyes clouded over with fear and she choked back a gasp. “How?” she whispered, “How did you know that?”

“I can read a little of that language,” Kehtan said, indicating a whirl of oblique angles. “The research into Shraelon legends has been a personal study of mine for years. It was also the catalyst for some trouble I found myself in not long ago. Now, do you want to begin again?”

Chieko walked over to the console where the crystal sat on the monitor pad. Alex moved to stand beside her as the others gathered around the station. She stared at the bright blue gem and appeared lost in thought.

“What is Shraelon?” Alex asked.

“Shraelon is a fabled lost world of folklore,” Rojur answered as he gazed at the crystal. “Legend has it that the knowledge to be found there would advance a planet's technology so far as to make them invincible against others, as well make them rich beyond all dreams… a place of power, much like the Cenif of Arcturus, the continent Atlantis of Earth, or the Hjonu of Eridanus. It has been sought for centuries.”

“Atlantis,” Brandon repeated in interest. He peered at the exotic characters dotting the screen, his mind working feverishly to find a pattern in the lines, crosses and curves.

“What happened to the inhabitants of the planet?” Blackthorne urged Rojur to continue, but it was Kehtan who replied.

“Legend has it that Shraelon was abandoned and their technology left behind,” he said, “though no one knows the reason.”

“Samples of technology attributed to Shraelon have been found from time to time on remote places around the galaxy,” Maku added, “and some of their text has been roughly translated. The booby trap that got us here and that wrecked ship we found was possibly of their origin.”

Pip moved over to Dwes' side and motioned to the terminal. “May I, sir?” The science officer stood to let the technician slide into his seat. Dwes crossed to the screen and stared up at the strange characters. Chieko moved next to him and began speaking.

“There is a message here... a warning,” she said. “Can you read it, captain?”

Kehtan studied the screen a moment and then replied. “I can read bits and pieces of it, but I don't think I can decipher the entire text without sitting down with the computer.”

Chieko smiled and said, “There was a book published by the Evenil that converted samples of the Shraeloni into their language and my father had visited their world on a military tour before I was born. He began teaching me the Evenil language when I was very young and from there, I taught myself a great deal about the Shraelon language. Although I've never heard the spoken words, I can understand the symbols without much difficulty.”

“What does it say?” Alex asked.

She clasped her hands together up to her breastbone and continued staring at the viewer. “The text here says that the way to Shraelon is filled with danger, but if the diligent seeker manages to make it through the perils, all that is asked for will be rewarded. It stresses the high level of danger several times throughout the text on this chart and advises the search be abandoned.”

Chieko looked at her feet with moist eyes. “This crystal is practically identical to the one we found in the asteroid field. We rejoiced at the finding, but it was short lived.”

“What happened?” Brandon asked.

“After we began translating the information encoded on it, we were swarmed upon by Shroomers. They killed everyone, including my husband, Joska...” Her voice cracked at the vivid memory of her mate’s death and she hid her face up against Blackthorne's shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her protectively.

“What are Shroomers?” Pip asked.

Chieko wiped her eyes and replied a few moments later. “The enemy,” she managed to say. “What attacked us were robots, or mechanical assassins. We called them Shroomers because their vessels resemble organic mushrooms. I've never seen one of the assassins very close, because they destroyed anything that moved, but they appear humanoid in shape.”

“If you have never seen one up close,” Rojur commented, “how do you know they were mechanical robots?”

“Joska destroyed one during the attack. There was no time to closely examine it as more moved in to take its place, but the metal skeleton, charred circuits and wiring were unmistakable even in the midst of the fighting.”

“Who sent them after you?” Dwes asked. Chieko gulped hard and seemed on the verge of breaking down again. The death of her family and friends on the Silverton was taking its toll on her as she remembered what she had tried to repress.

“We never knew,” she choked as she faced back toward the screen, “but we presumed they were automated to protect their secrets. They killed everyone...” Chieko balled her fists and held them out in front of her as she gnashed her teeth and hissed the name through them. “Shraelon… Shraelon… I wish I’d never heard the name!”

Chieko choked back a sob and buried her face in her hands. When she looked up again, she focused her eyes on the crystal's display and then shrieked loudly.

“SHRAELON!”

As if that fabled name was too much for her, the blue-haired woman’s eyes rolled back and she fainted. Blackthorne caught her in his arms as she collapsed.

The captain sighed. “Take her to her quarters,” he said to Alex, “and put her to bed.”

“Uh, she hasn't been assigned quarters,” Alex said a little uncomfortably. “She's been staying with me.” Rojur looked at him in amusement and Brandon offered a lopsided smile before turning back to stand beside Red, but Alex shook his head slightly.

“Just… get her into somebody’s bed,” Kehtan grumbled irritably. He turned to Dwes and gestured toward the crystal. “When you've downloaded all the data you can from it, bring the gem to me. I will lock it up in my vault.” He looked around at everyone and added, “The information we've found here does not leave this room. Is this understood?”

“Aye, sir.”

The captain looked back up to the screen and frowned. There was trouble ahead.

***

“There, I think that's got it,” Zahn said two days of almost non-stop work. The Evenil language could be recoded into English; once he got the vowels down everything else fell into place. However, the Shraelon language proved an intricate puzzle wrapped within an enigma. Most languages proceeded from the basic tenet of noun, verb, object, pronunciation, and tense. However, the Shraeloni script also included vocal range and speed. A recurring symbol dictated these two aspects of the language. It must have been musical when vocalized.

He keyed in a few commands to display the results on the wall screen. The navigator was in the science lab with Pip and Daniel, using the recorded information from the crystal and the translations to study and plot a possible course to the legendary planet.

The display presented the crystal's map on one side of the split-screen and a navigational chart on the other. The two images began to move toward one another to form an overlay as the trio watched in anticipation. The doors to the lab opened as the projection came to completion. Kehtan and Sahni stepped inside with Rojur and Maku in tow.

The navigator and technicians did not notice the arrival, but were intent on the image they saw on the viewer. “Yes!” Pip exclaimed. “You've done it, Zahn - we have a real map to a mythical planet!”

Zahn cracked his fingers in satisfaction and gestured toward the screen. “Any navigator worth his sextant can plot a course with the right information,” he boasted. “Why, if I had the permission, I could have us there in —” A cold chill ran up his spine as his eyes caught the edge of the room. “Captain, I didn't hear you come in!” He jumped to his feet at attention and Kehtan merely looked at him with an upraised eyebrow.

Sahni studied the map and shook her head. “Zahn,” she said after a moment, “you're needed on the bridge.”

“When you get there,” Kehtan added, “use that vaulted navigating expertise of yours to plot a course back to where we're supposed to be.”

“Aye, sir.”

“Repairs are finished and it is going to take us a while to traverse the distance the wormhole flung us to in mere moments.” Zahn nodded to the captain and left with the first officer.

Kehtan nodded silently and handed a wooden box to Pip. “After we get under way, I want you to do an extensive analysis on this crystal,” he said to the tech. “It may yet yield more information just by researching the way the gem was grown.”

“Aye, sir, I'll get on it right away.”

Kehtan then turned to Rojur. “Remove your dampener,” he said quietly. The esper did as requested and held it out to him. “No, hang on to it,” the captain replied. “Just don't wear it for a while.”

“Is there a special reason?”

During their meeting following the rescue of the girl, Kehtan had wanted to know more about Rojur's special abilities. The esper felt he could trust the captain after all their past adventures and had confided in him. The commander of the Zephyr was now aware of the dampener and its purpose.

Kehtan lowered his voice and drew the esper out of the others' range of hearing. He motioned toward the now-darkened screen and explained, “I don't know if your particular talents will be needed, but I smell trouble on the air. Keep your eyes and ears open for anything.”

“Are you expecting difficulty from the crew?”

The captain nodded. “Possibly. There are a lot of young officers on board who are full of fire and wind and looking for a fast track to promotion. In addition, the legend of Shraelon has a strong lure and we've been handed an important clue to its validity. Do you remember my obsession on the Two Star?”

“Clearly, sir.”

The captain began walking toward the door and added as the esper followed, “I'm wiser now, but still vulnerable to the fantasy. While I think I can quell my personal desire to pursue our new-found treasure map, there may be others on board who are not so strong.”

***

Twenty-four hours passed on the ship passed before the captain was seen again. During that time, word of Shraelon spread throughout the crew and everyone began to get excited at the prospect of permission to pursue the dream. The legend of Shraelon was well known.

When it became apparent that word had leaked regardless of the need-to-know classification of the information, the captain scheduled a general Commander's Call for everyone not in a critical crew position. His statements would be broadcast to the rest of the ship via intercom, but he wanted as many bodies in the ship's voluminous entertainment room as possible.

Twelve hours later, Kehtan walked onto the rotating stage in the center of the gathered crew. It was impossible to tell what he was about to say by the expression on his face. He appeared unconcerned and many took that as a sign of hope. The silent room waited on his words.

“The last several days have been filled with numerous events and I want to put any rumors down right away,” he began. “We passed through a wormhole and ended up some seventy-two light years from our previous position. The reports of something of value recovered from the asteroid field are true; we've found what appears to be a navigational chart to an as-yet-unknown location in space. Yes, the location is rumored to be the legendary planet of Shraelon.”

Murmurs and looks of surprise filled the audience, but only for a moment before the captain continued. “I've heard the talk and agree that an important opportunity has been dropped into our laps.” He placed his arms behind him and studied the faces of his crew.

“However... We are well out of communication range of home base to ask for guidance and authority from headquarters, so the judgment rests fully on me. This decision has not actually been an easy one. So far from home, shelter and supplies we really cannot risk this sort of thing with the ship in its present state. Thus, we will be returning home at maximum speed. Prepare —”

Voices and shouts of anger cut off his speech, just as he had anticipated; the young officers and unmarried enlisted, he realized. He had known what the reaction would be, but he felt his decision was the best course of action.

“We have the map - we should use it!” someone shouted.

“We'll never make it in this condition!” a second voice replied.

“This is an exploration ship!” yelled another.

“We have the means...”

“Will this mean hazardous duty pay?”

“Our duty is to explore-”

“This far outweighs anything we could find in the Railon Cluster!”

Captain Kehtan waited patiently, having heard all the arguments in his mind already. Maku stood up on a chair to make his presence known when two crew members began shouting in one another's faces. The confrontation was about to come to blows before the security officer made his presence known in the most direct way he could.

“BE SILENT!” he shouted to the crowd, “Or be silenced.” Maku held over his head a gleaming silver ball with a red switch on the top, a technology known to tame a howling mob in a big hurry. When the captain was sure he could continue, a dark look crossed his eyes when he spoke.

“Listen to me. I don't have the authority to grant a treasure hunt, no matter how promising the rewards.” Someone at the front glared, but the captain's burning stare turned that face away.

“Yes, this is an exploration ship, and we do have the technology to make the trip work, but we don’t have the capabilities to ensure success.” He pointed out into the crowd and locked eyes with many of them as he continued. “Each of you swore an oath of loyalty when you joined. You've been trained in your respective fields and entrusted to the best ship the Planetary Alliance has ever built. Like it or not, rules were not meant to be broken, but were created for a purpose.”

He sighed and softened his composure a bit. “Think on this. The Zephyr is the only vessel capable of a journey required for something like this. After we've refreshed, resupplied and made repairs, reported back with positive results on the capabilities of this ship and crew, it is very likely that our next mission will be to investigate the existence of Shraelon. Be patient. We will yet make the voyage with those who want to go, just give it time.” Kehtan paused and took a deep breath. This was the longest speech he had given in quite a long while. Very few people on board had any knowledge of his trouble on the Two Star, and he wanted to make sure the mistake he made was not repeated by others, especially those under his command.

“It's difficult to let something like this go... so hard to be patient...” he said in a soft voice, “but if we do it without authority, we run the risk of losing everything and disappearing without a trace. These are sections and quadrants unvisited for probably centuries or even millennia and there's no way of telling what has happened since the information we have was current. A lot of you have families who might never see their loved ones return, and I cannot take that chance.”

The assembly was quiet. No one spoke. No one argued. The captain moved to the door and then added, “Make ready to return home, maximum speed. We launch in two hours.” Kehtan exited the room and left his disgruntled crew to their thoughts.

Chapter 10

An hour had passed since the captain's stern announcement that the possible search for Shraelon was to be abandoned. Kehtan waited in the Officer's Lounge with those who held command positions. Sahni, Toco and Maku discussed the crew's reactions while they waited for Dwes and Dr. Tralen to arrive, the only ones not present. The captain did not join in, but merely listened as the others talked.

“I have to admit,” Toco said, “that I was a bit disappointed not to be going to Shraelon, but the captain's words made sense. To have the clearance to go is better than jaunting off on our own initiative.”

“I'm afraid there are many in the crew who don't share the captain's sense of responsibility,” Sahni added. “We shouldn't count on optimum efficiency out of them for a few days, at least.”

“I've informed my security staff to keep an eye out for possible troublemakers,” Maku said as he sat down on the couch by the window, “but I'm not so sure they can be trusted either.”

Toco got up and began pacing around the room. The chief engineer was nervous and he pulled a handkerchief from a pocket to daub at the sweat on his bald head. “I've never served on a crew before that was as obsessed on something as this one is,” he said. “Possession of the kind of knowledge that crystal contains is dangerous. The crystal and all the data associated should be jettisoned before there’s more trouble.”

“I don’t think Dwes would agree with you,” Maku said. “He’d be the first one to remind you that making new discoveries is one of the primary reasons this ship was built.”

Toco sat back down beside him. “He doesn’t have to – you just did it for him.”

“Do you think they'll hang onto their senses, Captain?” Sahni asked. Her superior officer took a sip of his green coffee and continued to stare out the window toward the blue planet and its moons. Sahni did not feel at all relieved when his only answer was silence.

***

“Are you sure?” Ree looked down at the lower level of the command center. He and the rest of the bridge crew stood around the captain's chair. Trin stood behind the seat with his hands up on the back.

“All bridge stations are on automatic, which wasn't too hard to arrange since we're sitting idle,” the weapons officer replied. He clenched a plastic toothpick between his teeth and smiled. “The command staff is gathering in the Officer’s Lounge, so everything should be fine while we have our little meeting.”

“Speaking of which,” Dayl pointed out, “it's time.”

The turquoise-haired man led the other three out the door, leaving only the ship's computer to watch over the bridge. They trotted down the hallway and slipped past the officer's lounge quietly.

Two levels down and ten minutes later, they arrived at the mess hall, where a large body of the crew was gathered once again. Only approximately two-thirds of the Zephyr's personnel were present this time.

Trin took it upon himself to preside over the session and moved to the same spot Kehtan had stood earlier. He did not need to call attention as everyone looked to him automatically. “This is Chieko Fotura,” he said as the blue-haired woman moved through the room and stepped up on the dais. She clasped her hands behind her. “Listen to what she has to say,” Trin said and took a step back.

“Thank you.” Chieko ran a hand through her long blue hair and faced those assembled. “My ship was the Silverton, and it was destroyed because of information on a crystal similar to the one you discovered. We were very close to recovering the final clue that would have led us to Shraelon, but we were attacked by a swarm of destroyers that we called Shroomers because of their mushroom-like shape.” Chieko closed her eyes briefly as Joska's memory touched her mind. She gathered strength from it and continued a moment later.

“Your captain is right, you know,” she began, “but he doesn't realize what he holds.” Everyone remained quiet and gave her the time to explain. “The Silverton and her crew were not as fortunate as you are. Your captain has the information to plot out a course to the lost world. You have in your possession priceless data that should be used now!” Trin touched a control and the map was displayed on the mess hall's large view screen.

Chieko looked up at the chart. “Do you think that once you returned to your home base that this would remain a secret? Word of something of this magnitude would be leaked out quickly and then there would be a race to see who could get there first. You may have a superior ship, but it's doubtful you would have exclusive rights to the treasure.

“Bureaucrats in a council room shouldn't be the final authority of what goes on out among the stars,” she added. “Most of those on the committee probably haven't even been off-world before, but they can be as greedy as anyone else. That will affect their decisions as they plot for exploitation of the treasure.”

“I agree!” someone said enthusiastically.

“We can do it better than anyone else!” called another.

“Who needs to wait? We can get it first!”

“Once word leaks out,” Trin said above the common sentiments, “corporate conglomerates will use every resource they have to build powerful new ships quickly to get to Shraelon first. We, as individuals, won’t get the chance to get there first, even if our leaders give the captain the authority to prepare the ship and head out again.” He smiled at the assemblage and partially raised his right hand in a fist. “We’re already out here, and the Zephyr has the power to get to Shraelon long before anyone else even knows it truly exists!”

Others joined in the common sentiment and within moments, a plan began to develop.

***

Alex watched the sleeping form of Brandon and wondered if it had been a good idea to bring him. The adventure had been a wonderful vacation, but if he read human character right, a series of unpleasant events was about to unfold. This was serious. The fun was over. They had been gone for weeks and the thrill of the new time and place had worn off just as Rojur had predicted it would. Blackthorne sat still for a long time and finally reached a decision. He would find Rojur and have the esper return them to their home on Earth in the early twenty-first century.

He stood up and looked around the room. His first week here had been filled with the excitement of new sights and discoveries and he would remember this as his most unusual trip. Granted, the Zephyr was equipped with artificial gravity, something he still could not understand, but he had spent nearly a month in space. No one would likely believe him if he ever talked about it, but he knew he had experienced something few people on Earth would ever know. He smiled at the thought and wondered if he would ever see it again. Doubtful, he mused. He decided he would take a walk around the ship one more time before locating the esper.

Blackthorne left Brandon to sleep and quietly slipped out the door.

***

“This is the stuff,” Tiller told Dayl. “It will knock him out for days — plenty of time to do what we need.” The medic handed a pneumatic hypo to the chesty helm officer. “If he's suspicious of what you're up to, you may not get another chance. You know what he can do?”

“Yes,” she replied, brushing a stray lock of her violet hair behind an ear. “I've heard the rumors.” She slipped the hypo up her right sleeve and left the Sick Bay.

*** 

“Dwes, can you help me with this?” Pip asked when the science officer entered the lab.

The bearded officer headed toward the back of the room, where the tech was bent over a fallen equipment case. “What happened?” Dwes asked. He knelt to grab an end of the container and did not see two individuals move up behind him.

Daniel and Ree hit him simultaneously with gear rods, but the officer was not to be taken easily. Though Dwes was driven to his knees, his honed reflexes were quick and he knocked the legs out from under Ree with a swift sweep of his right foot. Pip and Daniel dove on him and tried to beat him senseless, but he gifted several blows to their anatomy before they were successful. Dwes finally went down and stopped struggling.

All three rebels panted and held bruised limbs as they stood over the unconscious officer.

“Gah, that man is solid!” Daniel muttered.

“Tie him,” Ree dictated. Pip grabbed a length of shielded cable and he and Daniel proceeded to do as directed.

***

Chieko walked up the corridor quietly and looked around her for some place to take refuge for a moment of solitude. She stopped near one door and read the label on the panel. Crow’s Nest.

It was not a term she was familiar with, but she thought it sounded like a place probably not manned at the moment. She stepped inside the door and found herself in a small one-person lift. She took it upward and soon found herself in a tiny instrument-filled room not much larger than a booth. She sat in the single chair at a console and looked out a domed window. The bulk of the Zephyr was ten meters below the bubble and she surmised that she was in an observation tower. The purpose of the panel's functions was unimportant to her; all she wanted was the view.

The stars were brilliant. Chieko stared out into the depths and felt herself lost in infinity. She had always loved space and Joska had shared that interest. She smiled fondly when she thought of him. His passion for finding Shraelon had matched her own and had often fueled her own determination. There was purpose in her.

Chieko looked down at the ship below and her eyes glazed over. The Zephyr was the best vessel she could have come upon. It, alone, might actually make the extreme distance to find the treasure of Shraelon, whereas the Silverton had been limited. Her smile turned feral and her eyes remained locked on the stars. She had begun a mutiny with her passion — with Joska's passion.

She still felt his presence even though his body was long gone, and the determination grew.

“I'm doing this for you, Joska,” she whispered to the stars.

“For us!”

***

Alex entered the forward observation deck and moved toward the bay window. The blue, ringed planet lay low in the left corner and the wealthy Terran gazed at it as if mesmerized. This was a sight he would really miss.

During his walk through the hallways he had seen very few crew members, which puzzled him. He assumed they were off sulking somewhere, but for a ship preparing for a long journey home there ought to be more activity. He didn't give it much thought, however, since he was planning to leave before much longer.

He had not seen the esper during his stroll through the decks either, so he assumed his friend was spending time with Sahni. It was because of this he didn't try a telepathic message to him; he wanted to allow Rojur time with his lover before leaving.

Alex frowned when he thought of Chieko. He had grown quite fond of the blue-haired woman in the short time he had spent with her and had gotten to know her, but he knew he could do nothing about the attraction. His emotions were in severe conflict, mainly because he knew that Saundra waited for him on his own world. His situation was made worse even, since she and he had been drifting apart in recent months. They had seen little of each other in weeks, more so since she had refused his proposal, and Alex felt guilty.

The stars seemed to extend his mood that night, rather than soothe them. Alex was deep in his thoughts and continued to stare out past the blue world. With his attention lost in the stars, he didn't notice the sounds in the corridor outside the observation lounge.

***

Rojur had arrived at his quarters and was about to enter when he heard his name called softly. He looked toward the next cabin and saw Dayl leaning against the door frame. Her uniform was open to her navel and when she knew his attention was hers, she leaned forward seductively, allowing the esper a detailed view of her ample cleavage.

Rojur's eyes narrowed as a lopsided curve crept into his grin. He moved toward her and stopped close enough to smell the liquor on her breath. “You seem to be celebrating something, Dayl,” he said unnecessarily. She grinned and pushed aside the loose garment covering her chest.

“Kish me, Rah-zur...” she purred. While the esper's attention was momentarily distracted by her bared breasts, she slipped her arms around his neck and drew him closer. He reached up to pull them away, but Dayl quickly slipped the pneumatic hypo from her sleeve and jabbed it against the jugular vein in his neck. Rojur's eyes went wide with shock, but then closed as the drug took immediate effect. He dropped to the hallway floor without a sound.

“Okay,” Dayl said, fully sober, into the room behind her. Trin stepped out past her and looked at the esper.

“That was almost too easy,” he said. He then turned back to Dayl and grinned. “You'd better hide those before you hurt someone else.”

Dayl closed her uniform. “Careful,” she chuckled, “you could be next.”

Trin laughed and leaned over to grab one of Rojur's arms. Dayl took the other and within moments, they and their captive were lost from sight down the hall.

***

“Not so tight,” Tiller said to the enthusiastic navigator, “or you'll cut off his circulation.”

Zahn looked down at the roll of gauze he had been using to restrain the unconscious Blake and noted that the captive medic's wrists were turning slightly grey. “Oops.” He loosened the bindings a bit and retied the wrap as Tiller did the same to Dr. Tralen.

“Help me get them on the gurney,” Tiller said. Zahn finished his work and assisted him in the task. “Now,” Tiller said, “go find Trin and tell him we've got the last of them.”

“Right away!” The navigator ran down the hallway as the medic wheeled his captives in the opposite direction.

***

Sahni looked at the chronograph on her wrist and said, “I wonder what's taking them so long.” Her words were cut off when the door to the lounge opened suddenly.

Two security guards stepped in and pointed stunner guns at the assembled officers.

“What is this?” Toco exclaimed.

“Everyone, keep your seats,” one of the guards prompted with her weapon.

Before anyone else could react, Pip and Daniel dragged a groggy Dwes into the room and dropped him to the floor. The science techs then exited to allow Tiller to enter with a gurney. When Maku saw Dr. Tralen and Blake, he jumped for the nearest guard. He should have known better. The other security officer had known what to expect and she shot her chief in the leg with the stunner. Maku stumbled, but managed to deck his intended target before collapsing to the floor.

Tiller helped the fallen guard up off the ground and backed away toward the door. Captain Kehtan had kept his seat, though his small eyes smoldered in barely controlled fury. This is what he had anticipated, though he had strongly hoped it would not come. He set down his empty coffee mug and then got to his feet when Trin stepped in through the doorway.

“I see I was wrong to think my crew had some common sense,” Kehtan commented dryly. “Abandoning your oath is not something to be ignored so easily. Neither is mutiny.”

Trin did not bother to answer the captain's remarks. He merely motioned to someone in the hallway and stepped to the side. Dayl and Ree carried the drugged esper into the lounge and set him down next to Maku.

Trin clenched a toothpick between his teeth and merely looked at the captive officers. He set the doctor's medical bag on the floor next to the door and, without a word, turned to leave.

“You've all gone mad!” Sahni shouted at him. “You have no sense of duty or loyalty, Trin - fame and glory don't await your return to the Frontier — a courts-martial does!”

Trin looked at her a moment and a brief expression of doubt crossed his eyes. It passed quickly and he turned away silently. The guards followed him out and shut the door behind them. A moment later, there was the sound of low-level blaster fire on the locking mechanism to the lounge entrance.

The captain walked to the sealed hatch and raised his fist to pound angrily at it, but stopped himself before actually doing so. He turned around and knelt next to Maku, who was beginning to throw off the temporary effects of the stun.

“Make sure the others are okay,” he told his officers. Sahni quickly grabbed a knife from the table and cut the wrappings that bound the physicians and then looked to their health.

Maku shook his head and leaned against the wall to rest a moment before attempting to stand up. “I was afraid of this,” he said.

Captain Kehtan nodded his agreement. “An obsession is a powerful force that plays havoc with a person's reasoning,” he replied. “I speak from experience.”

Dr. Tralen groaned as he eased himself off of the gurney. He slipped to the floor and felt the lump on the back of his head where he had been struck. Sahni knelt next to him and looked at him in concern.

“Will you be all right, Doctor?” she asked.

“Yeah,” he replied, “I just got a good knock on the noggin', is all. I'll be okay – just let me rest.”

Toco helped Blake sit up and used some of the gauze wrappings to bind the medic's forehead where he was bleeding slightly. “What about Dwes and Rojur?” the engineer asked.

Kehtan moved to the science officer as Sahni went to the esper and rolled him on his back. “I think he's been drugged,” she said. The first officer cradled Rojur's head in her lap and brushed the turquoise locks from his face.

“They probably used Amohalkonicin on him,” Dr. Tralen guessed. “If so he'll be out for some time, depending on the dosage.”

Dwes opened his eyes with an effort and shut them again quickly. “Mutiny...” he breathed as he felt the back of his head. Dr. Tralen moved to his medical kit and studied the contents.

“They left me enough material to deal with our injuries, but not much else.” He glanced over at the esper. “I'm afraid there's nothing in here to counteract what they've given him.”

Maku stood up shakily, but managed to get to his feet. He moved to a storage locker set into the wall near a status panel for the ship's systems. He opened the door angrily and searched through the meager items inside, hunting for something he might use to pry open the lounge door.

The captain personally checked on the health of those deposited in the room as Maku approached the door. The security officer held a metal broom handle in his hands as he tried to wedge it into the hatch panel, but he only managed to bend it. The broom had not been designed for such work. In frustration, he hurled the worthless tool back into the locker.

Sahni continued stroking her friend's hair unconsciously. She looked to Kehtan and asked, “What do we do, now?”

The captain took his seat again and picked up his coffee cup. “We don’t seem to have much choice right now,” he said as he stared out into the stars.

Sahni stared at him for a long moment, privately noting the captain's silent, but smoldering, fury. He could not officially sanction the journey, and he wanted to go as much as those under his command did, but he also could not accept this situation as an alternative for the authority they needed. The first officer noticed that he was doing well to keep his composure in an act of calm in the midst of the storm.

***

Preparations on board the Zephyr for immediate departure were handled flawlessly by the experienced crew. The Bridge personnel were all in their places, awaiting confirmation from each department that systems were ready. The weapons control was in order, so Trin occupied the first officer's seat, overseeing the final operations. He was younger than most of the command team, but he had a natural charisma that was often found in leaders. Though it had never come to a vote or discussion, Trin was accepted as their chief in Captain Kehtan's absence from the center seat.

Ree monitored the ship's intercom panels and one by one, green lights glowed to indicate department response. The young communications officer swiveled his seat around to face the upper deck. “All sections have reported readiness, sir,” he said to the pale-eyed chief.

Trin nodded and stood up. “Acknowledged.” He stepped toward the captain's console, but could not bring himself to sit in the command chair. Instead, he glanced over the instrument panel, touched a few controls and then looked out over the bridge.

“Heading programmed in?” he asked Zahn.

“Aye, sir,” the navigator replied.

Trin returned to Sahni's seat and sat down. “Helm, engage main engines. Let’s begin.” His voice sounded a bit steadier than he actually felt inside.

“Aye, sir.”

Trin felt the low pulsing heartbeat of the ship as the Zephyr slipped away from the blue planet. There was only a momentary hesitation in the apparent movement of the star field before it stretched into rainbow smudges of light. The low pulse was replaced by a throbbing that could be heard as well as felt as the scientific vessel hurled itself through warped space.

***

Chieko sat close to the heated glass dome of the Crow's Nest with her hands clasped together near her heart.

“Shraelon... Shraelon... Shraelon...” she intoned in a whisper. This was the fulfillment of the dream Joska had shared with her. The legendary lost planet was ahead!

***

The first few moments of the warp went smooth, but then a shuddering began buffeting the ship as if it were an atmospheric craft fighting air turbulence. The space around the vessel buckled violently, light seemed to bend around them and the vibrating increased with every second.

Kehtan grabbed onto the table for support to raise himself back to his seat. The intense jarring had thrown everyone about and anything not secure was dangerous debris. Sahni tried to secure Rojur as he was in no condition to protect himself.

“What's happening?” she shouted above the roaring that seemed to emanate from the walls.

The captain managed to pull himself up to the systems status panel. He jabbed two pads and examined the readout. “Neither the secondary inertia dampeners nor the warp field stabilizers have been activated!” he exclaimed.

Toco nearly lost his grip on a wall support as the ship shifted quickly from side to side. “If they're not enabled, the Zephyr will shake herself apart!” the engineer yelled. The din was getting louder and there was a sharp crack when the mounts of a wall cabinet snapped apart.

***

On the bridge, Dayl was shouting into the intercom. “Engineering! Are you guys down there lost without Toco? I told you to extend the warp field stabilizers! I can't activate the secondary inertia dampeners until that system is operational!”

The shuddering of the ship and the combined roaring made it near impossible to hear the reply, but she managed to catch just enough of it in her earphone. “What? I can’t do it from up here!” she shrieked. “The systems are down there!”

Zahn's knuckles were white as he gripped the arm rests of his seat. “We're all going to die,” he moaned to himself.

***

“Captain, look!” Blake shouted. Amidst the continual shaking, Kehtan and the other officers crowded up to the sole window to look out at the smudged, shifting starlight from the starboard side of the ship. A long rod with a cluster of machinery on its end was telescoping out away from the Zephyr. They knew that a matching rod was doing the same on the opposite side of the vessel.

“It's about bloody well time,” Maku muttered into Sahni's ear. When the rod had fully extended, the cluster began pulsating with a yellow glow. The vibrating shudder of the ship subsided somewhat and the warp-generated noise began to quiet almost immediately. Ten long minutes passed before the Zephyr planed out to a smooth ride. All ears on board were ringing and everyone was shaken by the experience.

“Whew!” Tralen exhaled and sunk down against the soft cushions of the lounge couch. “Irresponsible mutineers...” he grumbled. “We may not survive long enough to die in any other alien booby traps!”

Only Blake remained at the window, silently watching the stars. He wondered about the outcome of this sidestep in their orders. He thought he had known Tiller, as they had gone through the Academy together, but this mutinous action was beyond anything he had thought his friend capable of doing.

Sahni knelt down next to Rojur and cradled his head in her lap again. She was aware of only one of his special abilities, but she felt that he would have been able to increase their chances of survival were he awake to help them. He could be fairly resourceful when he had to be, such as when he got Chieko out of her damaged lifeboat.

Captain Kehtan's thoughts were also along the same lines. He moved to Tralen's side and put a hand on the physician's shoulder. “Is there anything in here you can use to revive him?” he asked, indicating the esper with a hand.

“There's another medical kit stowed here in the lounge,” Tralen replied, “but there isn't anything in there either to counteract the drug they injected him with.” The doctor brushed a hand across his white hair and sighed. “He isn't hurt. All we can really do for him is to make sure he has a place to sleep it off out of everyone's way.”

While they talked, Maku had been examining the ceiling panels. “Toco,” he said to the engineer, “do any of the control conduits for the door mechanisms pass over us?”

“Aye,” the bald man replied after a moment of thinking. Toco squinted yellow catlike eyes at his large companion and shrugged his shoulders. “Wouldn't do any good to reach them, though. They fused the door panels together, as well as melting the control circuits.”

“Then we're trapped in here while our mutinous crew flies off further into unknown space on a wild treasure hunt.”

“It appears that way.” 

***

Alex awoke to a wet tongue licking his cheek. He looked up into Red's yellow eyes and smiled. “Hello,” he said. Blackthorne sat up and gingerly rubbed the back of his head, where he had struck it on the back wall of the observation lounge. He did not know how long he had been unconscious, but the ship seemed to be flying smoothly again; a quick glance toward the forward windows confirmed that the ship was in warp.

Red butted her head against him and Alex gladly scratched the wolf behind the ears. The animal's mouth curled up in a lupine grin as she soaked up the petting.

Alex stood up and looked around him; chairs and other items that had not been secured were strewn about the floor. It was time to locate Rojur and get back to Earth. He had more than enough of this.

“C'mon, ol' girl. Let's go find Brandon and Rojur.” As he turned to depart, something caught his attention from the corner of his eye. Alex turned toward the forward window and noted that the ship was slowing. They had arrived in a dark red nebulous region of space, almost as if they were approaching a thin patch of fog. He could see through the gaseous area and he felt his jaw drop open.

They were nearing a distant yellow star and he could see five vividly colored planets in extremely close alignment to one another. All of the new worlds were roughly the same size. Blackthorne knew a little of astral mechanics, just enough to be amazed. How could so many planets exist in such proximity without their opposing gravitational forces tearing them apart? The distance between each one could not have been more than a paltry few million miles!

It was no conscious thought, but somehow Alex surmised that the worlds could not be real. It had to be a projection of some kind on an astronomical scale.

Entranced by the spectacle, the man forgot about his task and wandered slowly to the window. Absently, he made a mental note to add astronomy to his areas of study.

***

Blake had his nose up against the glass as he gazed at the new planets. The officers were gathered behind him again, each trying to see past the medic. Kehtan drew away from the window to allow the others room to see and walked over to the status panel. The Zephyr had slowed and was approaching the nearest of the worlds, a multihued globe in various shades of green.

“Captain,” Trin's voice said over the room intercom, “I just thought I'd let you know your ship is fine and that we've reached the first stage of the map's directions.” There was a slight pause, but he continued before the senior officer could reply. “We are going to stop at this present location for a breather to discuss a further course of action.”

“Do you plan to release us?” Kehtan asked tonelessly.

“Would you try to stop us from going on?”

“That would be our duty.”

There was a pause on the other end. “I didn't expect otherwise, Captain. I'm sorry, but you will have to remain where you are.”

Kehtan glanced toward the window again. “How far was our jump this time?” he asked.

“Fifteen point three light years,” Trin answered. “Is everybody all right in there? That was a bit of a bumpy ride we had.”

“It would have been a lot smoother if you had remembered the stabilizers sooner!” Toco exclaimed into the intercom.

“No argument there,” Trin replied. “Sit tight.” The connection was broken and the engineer scowled at the captain.

“Sit tight... huh! I'd like to shove him out an airlock without a suit...” he muttered.

Sahni took a seat on the couch and crossed her arms. “What now, Captain?”

Kehtan walked to the food dispenser, ordered up a small meal, and remained silent until his food was ready. He walked to the small table, sat down and looked to his officers.

“I'm afraid we can do nothing but wait some more. Unless one of us comes up a way to get through that door, it looks like we'll be in here for the duration of the ride.”

Sahni gazed at the captain. She was a little hungry, herself, but did not have much of an appetite. Suddenly, Kehtan's eyes went momentarily wide as if a thought had occurred to him, but he regained his composure almost immediately. Had she not been looking directly at him she might have missed it, for he now just seemed lost in idle thought. She could not know he had just received a message from someone in a manner previously only done by Rojur Delondin.

|Captain Kehtan? This is Alex Blackthorne. This is probably a surprise to you, but it's an emergency that calls me to reveal myself...|

Chapter 11

The captain had registered surprise at first, but he had quickly regained his composure before he thought anyone had noticed. He didn't know if Alex had expected a response, but there was no way he would be able to inform him. Kehtan had no telepathic ability.

|I don't know where you are, but I'm fairly sure there's a mutiny taking place on this ship,| Alex continued. |Most people can receive my thoughts if I direct, but I doubt if you can reply in kind. If you can, indeed, “hear” me, try somehow to get on the intercom and ask for a status report from the bridge. I’ve stationed myself nearby so I can hear a response|

Kehtan frowned. It was too soon since the last time. He stood up from his seat, however, and casually moved to the intercom. He cleared his throat lowly and then touched the control pad.

“May I have a status report, bridge?” he requested.

“Trin, here, captain. I gave you a courtesy status report only a few minutes ago. Nothing has changed.” The acting chief sounded a little irritated. The connection was broken, leaving the captain no room for further discussion. Shrugging his shoulders, he returned to his seat.

“What was that all about?” Toco asked.

Kehtan didn't bother to answer, but merely picked up his coffee mug and stared out into the stars.

|Thank you, captain,| Alex's thoughts touched his mind again. |I head Trin's response. I assume you and the other senior officers are being held somewhere. I have been unable to locate Rojur, even through telepathy, so I don't know if he's part of this and ignoring me, or if they've done something with him. I will snoop around a bit and see if I can find out where you are. I don't know what I'll be able to do to free you, but I'll try to come up with something.|

The captain stood up again and moved to the intercom panel. “Bridge?” he asked, “What did you drug Rojur with? There's nothing we have locked up with us here in the Officer's Lounge to revive him.”

Trin's annoyed voice responded wearily. “Captain, Rojur was drugged for a reason and will stay that way for some time. Don't worry about him. He's unharmed and will merely sleep and rest. He's probably doing better than you are. Now, we're holding a meeting here, captain. Interrupt us again and we'll disable the intercom from the lounge.”

Kehtan walked over and knelt down next to Rojur's unconscious form. If Alex had still been listening, he had just given him answers. He did not have much hope in his being able to help against the rest of the crew, but he was a believer that anything might just be possible.

***

Alex nodded to himself and eased back around the corner, away from the bridge. He may only be from twenty-first-century Earth, but his intelligence would work here as well as back home. He did not own many businesses just because he was good with numbers. Blackthorne began forming a plan as he skulked down the corridor toward the officer's lounge.

***

Chieko stood in front of the glass windows of the bridge and whispered quietly to herself, “Disanae. Cinaje. Mitievan. Wenoltes. Emagnes...” She shook herself and gestured toward the planets they faced. “I believe we're on the right trail,” she said to the others gathered around her. “All the legends have some mention of a nebulous region of five sister worlds. Not much is said of them, but a rough translation of the message on your crystal reveals this:

“'Five sisters guard the realm to Herdantes' heritage. Their ruthless acts have defeated many as they stand in discipline to ward off the trespasses. Neither to the right nor to the left do they wander as the mists envelope them in beauty to cloak their danger. At the orders of Herdantes, they deal out punishment to all who would approach them for spoils.'“

“Who or what is Herdantes?” Ree asked.

Chieko walked to a terminal and sat behind it. She swiveled in her seat to face the bridge crew and answered. “Herdantes is thought to have been the ruler of Shraelon near the time of its mysterious abandonment.”

“If this Herdantes wanted to protect his five daughters, or these five planets, as you believe the tale represents,” Dayl asked, “could it be that these worlds were storehouses of their great wealth and technology? I've heard it said that no one planet could hold them all.”

Chieko put a hand to her chin. “It is possible, though the legends have never been specific on how the five sisters play into the lore. Every clue I've found always seem to point to the mother world of Shraelon as the source and location of their tremendous resources.”

Trin leaned back in the chair he occupied and pulled the toothpick from his mouth. He contemplated its worried end and then looked to the forward windows. “I've been having the techs modify the Crabs and other scout ships with weapons in case we run into trouble, though there's little we can with what we have on hand, and the engineers have been able to boost the power output on them for speed and have improved their maneuverability. Would you recommend that we investigate these worlds, Chieko, or should we press on to Shraelon, itself?”

The blue-haired woman turned to look at the mists enveloping the planets and shuddered involuntarily. She had not told them everything concerning the legend and was uncomfortable in this place, although she had been excited to see this particular landmark in their search.

“I think we should move on,” she replied after thinking over the situation. “We have —”

“Look!” Zahn jumped up and pointed to the main screen; an image appeared in the nebula. The object was moving toward the Zephyr as all eyes were glued to the vision. The shape was in the form of an immense face belonging to that of a man seemingly human. The long, flowing hair was black against the dark red mists and matched a close cropped beard. Only the rugged and gaunt face showed in the image that grew to colossal proportions. The eyes were piercing yellow and the thick eyebrows were drawn together in anger.

“Trin,” Ree said in a shaky voice. “It’s only showing up on the screens. I can’t see it out the windows.” The others looked at him as if he had told them space travel was not possible and a few glanced out the forward windows. “It's got to be just a transmission.”

The man’s image began speaking in a language unknown to them, his rich, deep voice emanating from the ship's intercom speakers.

Chieko's eyes flew open wide. Although she had never heard the spoken tongue before, she was somehow able to understand the words. It was Shraeloni!

“Record this!” she exclaimed to Ree. She turned back to the screen when the communications officer did as told and she began a rough translation.

“The path you have followed is doomed to end in extinction. Warnings have been issued and repeatedly ignored - the payment is destruction. Despite previous attempts to turn away all who would seek us, you have come this far to challenge my reign. Trespassers will not be tolerated. Prepare to die.”

Before the last word left Chieko's lips, a pulse of white energy shot out at them from the direction of the nearest of the five planets at tremendous velocity.

“Defense screens!” Trin shouted after a heartbeat of hesitation. Despite the astronomical distance, the speed at which the bolt traveled was unimaginable and there was no time to react quickly enough. A blast rocked the ship as the beam clipped the edge of the engine section. Had Dayl not instinctively fired the aft maneuvering thrusters, the bolt would have cut right through the heart of the Zephyr's systems and surely destroyed the vessel. Five monitors burned out on the bridge, including the primary view screen, and the lighting system flickered heavily, though remained operational.

Zahn jumped toward the control readout when an indicator pinged. “We've just lost most of our sensors, Trin,” he exclaimed as everyone rushed to their stations. “We only have one long range scanner on-line and it's picked up incoming fire from the third planet!”

Trin clenched his toothpick tightly between his teeth as he stared out the forward windows. A dozen orange fireballs streaked toward the Zephyr at an alarming rate, seemingly too fast for the distances involved. The defense screens were controlled at his station on the lower command deck, too far for him to reach quickly.

“Chieko!” he called, “there's a control switch on my panel, and to the left of Zahn; it's marked with three yellow concentric rings. Activate it!”

The woman dashed to the console and had to search for the switch. By the time she enabled the control, the fireballs were upon them. All but one of the projectiles impacted harmlessly on the defense screens; the single struck amidships and caused the internal pressure to rise sharply for a short moment. Ree threw his hands to his head and doubled over in a brief moment of agony. He collapsed to the carpeted floor when the air pressure returned to normal. Chieko ran to his side.

“We've a hull breach in the starboard manufacturing shop!” Trin exclaimed. “Dayl, get us out of here!”

“Aye!”

Noting that Ree was merely disoriented, Chieko assumed his station and placed the headset over her delicate ears.

A few heartbeats later, the blue-haired woman gave a report. “One technician was in that shop when the hull ruptured, Trin. Four people with severe radiation burns in the adjoining compartments have been sent to Medical.”

Trin closed his eyes briefly at the loss of the machine shop tech. The death of a crewmate hurt, even one he probably did not know.

“I'm picking up a squadron of small ships launching from planet number two, sir,” Zahn exclaimed. “They're moving in fast and should arrive in about fifteen minutes!”

“Who are they? Can you tell?” Dayl asked as she tried to get the Zephyr moving. The explosion had knocked out some of her control operations.

“Most of the scanners are down, but I don't detect any life readings,” the navigator replied. “My guess is that they're drones.”

Trin ran down the circular staircase to the lower command deck to his station. The Zephyr was an exploration ship, not a military vessel. Its defenses were few, but Trin began to activate the remote operating pulse cannons that were designed primarily for extracting ore from asteroids. He silently cursed the sluggish system.

“Chieko,” he said. “Give me ship-wide speakers!”

She looked over the unfamiliar panel and vainly searched for the right control. Ree was up on his knees and shakily reached over to enable the correct switch.

“You have ship-wide,” he said to Trin.

“Incoming enemy ships!” the chief announced. “We need pilots now in the converted scouts. Launch ASAP! We also need the pulse cannons manned - the remotes are too slow! Get to them — Now!”

Chieko ran to the forward windows and stared at the quickly approaching enemy ships in horror. She turned back to Trin and exclaimed, “It's the Shroomers!”

***

The Crow's Nest was named from the tradition of the old sailing ships of the seas and protruded above the topmost deck of the Zephyr. The lift deposited a young, blond man who was barely out of his teens.

Bren wiped the sweat from his brow as he quickly took the seat at the control panel in the domed compartment. His long fingers activated the tracking scanners and noted the enemy was nearing rapidly.

He was nervous when he took the controlling handles of the modified pulse cannon that stuck out of the tower directly below him; he'd had no training for anything like this. A warning beep from his panel sounded loudly in the small room. He jumped at the noise and reflexively tightened his grip on the firing studs. Two bright pulses of blue energy leapt from the gun and narrowly missed hitting the main deck below him.

“Crow’s Nest!” Trin's voice shrieked from the intercom. “What are you doing? The enemy's out away from the ship!”

Bren mumbled an apology and swung the cannon turrets out toward the approaching ships. This was his first venture into space and he hoped fervently that he would survive long enough to return home.

Each of the small, lavender-colored ships were roughly mushroom-shaped with the cockpit within its “stem”. The mushroom’s “cap” didn’t even look like metal, but it was spinning on its axis and amber fire erupted from tiny ports along its rim.

Bren gritted his teeth as the drones arrived and began firing on the Zephyr. He reacted quickly and managed to score a glancing hit. One of the mushroom-ships seemed to deflect the bolt at first, but then an explosion ruptured its cap. The resulting flash was blinding to the young fighter's eyes.

“Yeah!” he yelled enthusiastically. A wide grin spread across his face as he swiveled to target in on another. An even dozen of the Shroomers quickly broke away to swarm to his position as he managed to take out another of the drones. He frantically tried to meet the coming onslaught with precise control, but there were too many at one time. The Crow's Nest erupted in a brief ball of flame from combined enemy fire.

***

Alex Blackthorne cursed himself silently, an act he seemed to be doing a lot lately. He stood on a table in a small storage room and peered into the grating of an air duct in the wall near the ceiling. In his hands was a long slender tool of a nature he hadn't recognized, but what he intended to use it for should work well enough. He had tried to pry the edge of the screen apart from the wall, but the attachment was too secure. With the hope that no one would notice the noise over the blasts rocking the ship, he swung the heavy metal rod into the grate.

It took four swings, but the screen finally collapsed in on itself. Alex grunted in satisfaction and dropped the rod to the floor. He picked up a small cloth bag that he had filled with various items he had acquired from the store room and slid it into the duct. He may be from another time, but the lives on this futuristic vessel still required air to breathe and ducts were still needed to transfer that air throughout the ship.

He rolled up the sleeves of his outfit and stepped up on a box he had on the table with him. Gently, he tried to squeeze his frame into the vent, but with a maddening realization, Blackthorne discovered it was just too small for him to fit his wide shoulders in through. He tried several ways to get inside, but no matter what angle he put himself in, he simply couldn’t fit.

Leaning on the wall, Alex bit his lower lip in thought. “What do I think I'm doing?” he mumbled to himself. “I've been watching too many action films. Only a child could fit up there.” He thought a bit more and gazed back up to the duct. He smiled to himself at that thought.

|Brandon? I need your help!| he sent quickly.

***

Seven modified Crabs and twelve Stingray scouts launched from the cargo bay of the Zephyr. They fanned out quickly to rid the marauding Shroomers from the space around the ship. The fighting became intense immediately; each pilot knew that it was his or her life against a machine to keep the mother vessel safe. The Shroomers were fast and highly efficient, but the determination of the Zephyr's crew evened the odds somewhat. The manned pulse cannons took out half of the attackers and the scouts just managed to destroy the rest. Several of the Stingrays were lost in brief explosions, however, and that dampened the triumph of winning. In all, the entire battle had lasted not more than ten minutes.

On the bridge, Zahn knew it was coming before his instruments indicated the news. “Oh, no...” he said almost to himself.

“What is it?” Trin asked.

“Long range scanner shows more Shroomers heading our way, launched from the fifth planet this time.”

“ETA?”

“Thirty-five minutes.”

“How many?” Dayl asked.

Zahn looked up and stared blankly at his partner. “The computer calculates close to four hundred.”

***

Brandon stepped up into Alex's clasped fingers and vaulted up into the air duct, finding it a snug fit even for him, and condensation made it a little slick to move around inside. The shoes he had been given were not made with a lot of traction on them, so he pushed them off his feet for a better grip. Alex caught them, and then tugged the boy by a slim ankle.

“Don't get hurt, kiddo,” he advised. Brandon nodded appreciatively.

Alex released the bare foot and handed him the bag of provisions. The boy clambered forward, elbows and knees squeaking now and then as he squirmed his way through the dim air shaft. Crawling as quickly as he could through the cool air, he scuttled through the air duct toward his destination. It was difficult work, and a light film of sweat was beginning to develop.

He stopped at an intersection before him, wondering which way to go, but then he could smell someone's cologne from one and recognized it as one of the captive officers.

***

|Captain,| Alex sent, |try to remove the grating from the air duct into your lounge. Brandon's coming though it with a few presents for you.|

“The air duct!” Kehtan jumped up and pointed to the vent screen. “Maku, remove that grating, quickly!”

Maku stood up confused, but went to the closet to see what he could use. Sahni laid Rojur's head gently on the carpet and then stood up. The other officers looked up from their boredom.

“What is it, Captain?” Toco asked as Maku returned with a sensor stake.

“Help is on the way,” Kehtan said without further explanation.

“That duct is too small for anyone to crawl through,” Dr. Tralen replied.

Maku pounded the screen and managed to pull one side loose. The rest held, but he was able to bend the grate back enough to permit a small person to pass through. Seconds later, the weary face of Brandon appeared as he struggled toward the opening. Maku helped the boy out into the room and set him down on the countertop beneath the air duct.

Brandon clutched the bag Alex had filled earlier and handed it to the captain. “A gift for you,” the youth said with a lopsided smile.

“Thank you, son,” Kehtan said. He set the bag on the lounge table and opened it carefully as the boy vaulted effortlessly to the carpeted floor. Sahni looked over his shoulder and whistled at what she saw.

“Brandon,” the first officer said, “How did you know what to bring us?”

“My dad knew,” he replied.

“Maku, help me get this set up,” The captain said. “Blake, you and Toco set up something as shield barriers. Sahni, you and Tralen get Rojur over to the far wall.”

***

The security guards stood near one another and talked between themselves about the sudden lull in the blasts that had rocked the ship earlier. Both of them had wanted to respond to the call to man either the modified scouts or the pulse cannons, but they had had their orders to stand by the Officer's Lounge to make sure no one got past them. They were more than prepared to stop anyone who approached them from the hallway, but they never expected the assault to come from the rear.

In an explosion that rivaled the ones the Shroomers had afflicted upon the exterior of the Zephyr, the lounge doors blew outward into the corridor in a ball of flame and black smoke. A moment later, Blake and Maku emerged cautiously through the haze and surveyed the damage to the guards.

“I think we could have used a smaller charge,” Blake said unnecessarily. The rest of the freed officers came out of the lounge quickly and Tralen moved to the fallen guards.

“Ensign North is dead,” Maku said as he straightened up from kneeling beside the still body of his fellow security officer.

“This one will recover, though she may never walk again,” replied the doctor of the other guard.

“Take care of her, Tralen,” the captain said as he and Sahni carried the unconscious esper between them. “We've got to get to the bridge!”

“Dad!” Brandon exclaimed. Blackthorne rounded a corner in the hallway as the youth ran to him. They embraced quickly as the officers neared them.

“Thank you, Alex,” Kehtan said. “We owe you one.”

“Here, let me take Rojur so you can get upstairs,” Blackthorne said. The captain nodded and let his guest have the esper.

“Maku, Blake, Toco, Dwes... let's go!”

***

“Here they come!” Ree exclaimed.

Trin punched his intercom button and shouted into the microphone. “Engineering! We need a lot more power to move the ship! Snap to! Snap to!”

“We HAVE the power, Trin,” a tech snapped back at him, “but we're having trouble rerouting it past the damage to get it TO the engines!”

The ship lurched to the left abruptly as an advance drone fired at them. Immediately, a volley of pulses from the cannons fired to eradicate the attacker.

At that moment, the bridge doors opened and the captain stepped in with his officers. All but Tralen and Sahni were with him, and they all had weapons that were not stunners aimed at the mutinous crew on the lower deck. Trin turned and a look of relief actually crossed his features.

“Captain!” he exclaimed.

“I want my ship back!” Kehtan demanded.

“It's yours!” Trin exclaimed without argument. Things had gotten a little too hot for him to cope with and he was actually glad to have the old man back in charge. His elation came to a screeching halt when arms remained pointed at his head.

Satisfied, the captain took his seat while the other freed officers kept the weapons trained on the bridge crew.

“Ree, give me ship-wide intercom,” Kehtan commanded.

“Got it! You're on, sir.”

“This is Captain Otani,” he announced, “As of this moment, I am resuming command of the Zephyr, given up freely by your Chief.” He paused to let the information sink into the crew. “Engineering, reroute all available power from the engine generators to Forward Circuit alpha-zero-zero-seven, maximum priority!”

“Captain?” Zahn asked as Kehtan unlocked and opened a panel on the right armrest of his command chair. “What is Forward Circuit alpha-zero-zero-seven? I've never heard of it.”

The captain ignored the question. “Sick Bay,” he said.

“Tralen, here, captain,” said the doctor's voice.

“Secure all of your sensitive equipment and fire up your generator. There will be a large power drain as all main power cells will be rerouted momentarily and I don't want Medical damaged by the action.”

“Aye, sir. Securing now. I'm also doing the same with the forward and aft first aid stations.”

“Very good, doctor. Signal your station when ready.” Kehtan closed the intercom connection and glanced at his panel. The light of the bridge dimmed by half as power was redirected as per his orders.

“Power transfer is eighty-seven percent, Captain,” a voice from engineering said.

The captain turned to Toco. “I think it's secure up here. Get down to engineering and make sure every extra drop of juice is available for me.”

Toco smiled and put away his weapon. “Aye, sir.”

Kehtan looked down at the one who had led the mutiny against him. The turquoise-haired weapons officer would be courts-martialed, to be sure, but the time was not right. The Zephyr still had need of him.

“Mr. Rosch,” he said formally, “give me a status report.”

The officer swallowed hard and dutifully responded. “We've arrived to an area that Chieko identified as part of the Shraeloni realm, or at least an advance outpost. She said that in her research...”

“I'll get a history lesson later,” the captain retorted sharply. “I want to know about the situation at hand! You can fill me in later on how you got my ship into this mess.”

“Aye, sir. We've been fired upon from the Shraeloni outposts before us, each planet sending out a different form of attack. We've sustained damages that we're still estimating. We lost a man when an energy bolt destroyed the starboard manufacturing shop and several others suffered heavy radiation burns.” Trin looked back at the long range scanner data displayed on Zahn's monitor beside him.

“The last attack was from a small squadron of drone ships launched at us. Chieko says they are Shroomers, the same type of organic ships that overran the Silverton. We've been modifying the Crabs and Stingray scout ships into fighters, but we've not had the resources to scavenge to modify many of them. We managed to fight off the Shroomers with pulse cannons and the altered scouts, but we lost three men, plus one in the Crow's Nest.” He looked at his toothpick as if it had lost its flavor and tossed it onto his console in disgust. “Most of our sensors were burned out in the first blast, captain. All we have useful right now is the long range scanner, and it shows a massive armada of ships on its way to us, with the Shroomers numbering close to four hundred.”

“Has anyone tried to hail them – try to reason with them?”

“No, Captain,” Chieko answered. “When we arrived in the system, we received an automated holographic warning from them only seconds before they launched their attack. There was no time for talking to them.”

“Sir,” Zahn offered, “I did a long range scan for life forms from the biosensors before they knocked them out and detected nothing from any of the worlds before us. If there are people or animals there, they're shielded from our sensors.”

“Captain,” Tralen's voice came from the intercom speaker. “Rojur has been revived and is on his way up to the bridge with the first officer filling him in on what’s happened. Everything down here is now secure and ready with standby power.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Kehtan was about to thumb another button on his intercom panel when the overhead lighting shut down completely and red emergency panels came to life.

“Captain,” said Toco over the intercom, “Nonessential systems are disabled, all available power rerouted and storage capacity is sitting at maximum. You've got it all, sir.”

“Thank you, Engineer.” The captain looked down at the panel in the left arm of his chair. He flipped up the covering over a shielded switch and positioned his middle finger on it lightly.

“ETA of the Shroomers?” he demanded.

“Eight minutes until the advance ships arrive, sir,” Zahn reported without looking up from his instruments.

“Dayl, orient the nose of the Zephyr so that it points right down the middle of the incoming enemy. Trin, order all of your modified ships back into the landing bays.”

“Captain,” Trin protested, “it will take nearly fifteen minutes to get them all inside. Wouldn't it be better to have them stay out to protect the —”

“Recall those ships!” Kehtan shouted in anger. “They'll be useless against four hundred enemies!”

“Aye, sir!”

“Captain, orientation set,” Dayl reported. “We are staring right down their throats.”

“Lock this position with auto-adjust for drift.”

“Position now locked, sir.”

The doors of the bridge opened as Sahni and Rojur both rushed in to the first officer's terminal. The esper gave a hard glare to the back of Dayl's head and thought private dark thoughts at her, but said nothing. Sahni keyed up several commands on her panel and then looked up at the forward windows as Kehtan's attention took in every detail of the bridge.

“Trin,” he said, “are any of your fighters in front of us?”

“None directly, captain. They still require another ten minutes before everyone's in the landing bays.”

“Enemy ETA, Zahn?”

“Four minutes, sir.”

Chapter 12

Kehtan set his jaw and stared out the forward windows. Without a word of explanation or advance warning, Captain Kehtan activated the pad beneath his finger. No one expected what happened next. The blackness of space in front of the ship seemed to bleach to a shade of grey for a brief heartbeat, and then the nose of the Zephyr suddenly glowed with an inner orange light. Before anyone had a chance to register what was happening, a brilliant pulse of pure energy shot out from the nose cone toward the approaching enemy.

The bridge crew watched in stunned silence as the radiant beam phased through the massive attacking armada dead through its center. The destruction of those in the direct path was instant as the Shroomers simply ceased to exist. The drones not directly vaporized but within a kilometer of the beam exploded in violent fireballs, and those further out were completely immobilized; only their forward momentum kept their derelict husks in motion. In less than thirty seconds, the entire Shroomer fleet was defeated.

When the last of the fireballs dissipated into space, Ree stood up slowly and leaned heavily on his console, staring incredulously at the scene. Dayl turned shocked eyes toward the captain, and within moments, most of the bridge crew was doing likewise.

“C-Captain?” Trin stammered. “What... how...?”

Kehtan closed the shielded switch and stood up. He looked down at his amazed personnel and stared at each one darkly with his small, penetrating eyes. “You have just seen something that I had hoped you wouldn't have to,” he said slowly. “Within the very heart of this vessel is a potentially powerful weapon that has been hidden from all but my senior officers.”

“Captain,” Zahn said hesitantly, “The Zephyr is a science vessel... Isn't a weapon of this magnitude on a non-military ship a violation of the Planetary Alliance General Restrictions?”

“Yes, Zahn, it is. When the Zephyr was under construction, I contacted the engineers and conspired with them covertly to install this weapon into the ship, unknown to the rest of the Alliance.”

“But, why?” Dayl asked.

“I believe its justification has just been proven. This ship was designed to penetrate deeper into unknown space than any other vessel has ever had the capability to travel. We are alone out here, far from any military support. I felt the need to bring along extra insurance in the event we ran into trouble that our mere defensive pulse cannons couldn't handle.”

“What kind of weapon is it?” Ree asked. “I've never heard of one that could do this before, even in research.”

“This weapon, which I fondly refer to as the Parasite, is not known to the Planetary Alliance. It's been a pet project of mine in secret for years.” He gestured toward the forward windows. “You may have noticed that we fired off more energy than we could have possibly stored on board, even in conservation.”

“Where did the extra power come from?” Rojur asked.

Kehtan looked at him. “The device emits a wide omnidirectional beam that locates all forms of usable energy and then promptly draws into itself that energy it finds. The process is almost instantaneous and the power is then re-focused into a mighty release of power that it directs away from the collector built the nose of the Zephyr. The strength of the beam is dependent upon how much extra energy it sucks up from the surrounding area. With nearly four hundred of the alien Shroomers bearing down on us, it had plenty of power to draw in. Some of the energy we directed to Forward Circuit A007 was diverted to a specially sealed storage so the Parasite collector wouldn't leave us powerless as well.” He looked down at the navigator and said, “Zahn, scan for more enemy ships.”

“Aye, sir.”

“Sir,” Trin asked, “how did you discover this process? Projects like that usually take many years just in research and development and always make rounds through scientific journals. Yet, you have a working model of the device.”

“That is because the development of it was already completed when I found it.” He looked at Chieko and locked eyes with her. “I discovered the plans for it several years ago when I was captain of the Two Star. The Parasite is one of the fabled devices of Shraelon. After I deciphered the plans, I had one built on a small scale.”

“Shraelon!” Chieko exclaimed.

“Even a small scale version is rather powerful.”

“Why haven't you made it known to the Alliance?” Dayl asked. “You would have been well paid for it, I'm sure.”

“Because even a weapon used for peace can be corrupted.” Kehtan gave Trin a dark look. “Now that the secret is out among the crew, it can also be known that there is a fail-safe mechanism built into it that was activated the moment it fired. It will melt down and eject the operating heart of the device once we are within point-five light-years of any Alliance outpost.”

“Why?” Ree asked.

“To keep anyone from commandeering it when we return home.”

Rojur walked down the circular staircase to the lower command deck and stepped up to the forward windows.

A loud warning beep began sounding from the speakers. Zahn turned back to his monitor and gasped. “Proximity Alert!” he exclaimed. “One of the modified Crabs is drifting into the ship!”

Before anyone could react, a violent shudder rocked the ship for an instant, and a brief change of air pressure meant only one thing as Ree’s hands went to his head again.

“We have a hull breach where the Crab crashed into us!” Trin said in horror. “The automatic system is sealing off the area!”

“It was probably still trying to get back to the Zephyr when its power was drained,” the esper offered in explanation. “Its momentum was pretty high.”

“Where did it hit?” Kehtan asked.

Though he had been silent since coming onto the bridge, Maku monitored the crash over Sahni's shoulder at her panel.

“Sir...” he said weakly, “it hit amidships… the Sick Bay.”

Sahni let out a weak yelp and punched a control on her terminal. “Dr. Tralen, are you there?” There was only silence. “Doctor! Respond, please!”

Blake's voice came over the intercom speaker after a brief pause. “Bridge... the doctor is dead...” he choked. “He was treating one of the radiation-burn patients in the ICU when we lost all cabin pressure... if I hadn't been out in the hall corridor at the time, I wouldn’t have survived either.”

Captain Kehtan sat back in his chair in stunned silence. He gulped back his fear and looked down at the esper. “Rojur,” he said quietly, “Get down there and see if there's anything you can do.”

“Aye, sir.” Not caring who saw this time, Rojur teleported away instantly. Kehtan noticed that none of the bridge crew seemed especially surprised at the esper's talent, though Trin’s expression hardened. They already knew, or suspected - which is probably why he had been drugged earlier.

“Blake,” he said into the intercom, “who is the senior medical officer on board, now?”

“I... guess that would be me, sir. We also lost Tiller… along with eight others who were in Sick Bay at the time,” the medic sounded as if he were ill.

“I see,” the captain said. “All right, son, I want you to man the forward first-aid station, unless there's something you can do there.”

“No, sir. Everything's sealed off,” Blake replied weakly. “I'm on my way to forward station.”

Rojur's voice cut in then. “Captain, there is nothing I can do here. Another Crab will be required to remove the one imbedded in the hull breach. There's also wounded personnel from the surrounding compartments looking for medical attention.”

“Would you see that they make it to the forward first-aid station?” Kehtan asked. “It's larger than the aft station and will have to serve as our new Sick Bay for now.”

“Aye, sir.”

To himself, the captain muttered angrily, “Who's the idiot who designed the Sick Bay near the outer hull?” He shook his head and then said, “Ree, give me ship-wide.”

“Aye, sir. Go ahead.”

“Alex Blackthorne,” he broadcast, “please report to the forward first-aid station. Your medical skills are needed.” He disconnected the circuit and then looked down at the navigator, who had just turned to him in shock.

“What is it, Zahn.”

“Captain, there is another large force of Shroomers approaching from the fourth planet!”

“ETA and number?”

“Thirty minutes, sir. They're still too far away for us to get a number yet.”

Kehtan turned to the security officer. “Maku, get someone in one of the Crabs that just came in and have them go rescue the remaining pilots stranded out there before any more of them drift into the ship.”

“Aye, sir.”

As the large man left, the captain switched on the intercom again. “Engineering.”

“Toco here, captain,” was the quick response.

“What shape are the engines in?”

“There's nothing wrong with them, in spite of the madness these idiots put them through,” was the bald man's reply. “We had to reroute power from the main generators around the damage, but we just finished with that.”

“How soon before we can make a jump?”

“A jump? I wouldn't advise that, sir.”

Kehtan looked annoyed. “I thought you said the engines were fine.”

“Aye, they are, but the structural integrity of the ship herself was weakened by that last hull breach,” Toco explained. “I would recommend a few days of repair before we go anywhere, Captain.”

“The enemy fleet that's approaching us will give you no more than twenty-five minutes to do any repairs. You will have to negotiate an extension with them.”

“Understood, sir. In that case, I would recommend a short jump, at least enough to get away from the enemy,” the engineer replied. “That way we won't put the ship under too much stress.”

“Very well. Prepare the Zephyr for a short jump.”

“Aye, sir.”

***

“Dad,” Brandon said to the adult. “I'm scared.”

Blackthorne held his child close for comfort. They were in the first-aid station where Alex had helped bind what wounds were needed. Miraculously, there was nothing serious for him to attend to, so Blake had just relieved him. He and Brandon left the room.

Ten minutes later, they arrived at the forward observation lounge, a place where they always seemed to go for refuge. Brandon rushed up to the window and placed his hands on the glass.

“What is it?” Alex asked, knowing the child's eyesight was much better than his was.

“Lights coming.”

“How many?”

Brandon bit his lower lip as he tried to come up with a number. The boy was quite a bit more intelligent than most children his age were, though he sometimes acted younger.

He looked up and said, “A little over two thousand.”

Alex smiled, even though he was surprised, but let it fade as the realization of the number of enemy ships approaching hit him.

“Two thousand...?”

Alex's knees weakened and he sat down hard. |Rojur!| he exclaimed in his thoughts. |Over two thousand enemy ships are almost upon us! There's no way the Zephyr can survive that kind of attack - take us home right now!|

***

“Captain! Use the Parasite!” Sahni exclaimed when Zahn reported the number of Shroomers on their way.

Kehtan shook his head. “It will take less power to make a jump than it will to fire it again, and there's no time for another full storage generation! Zahn, ETA of enemy?”

“Seven minutes, sir.”

“No time... no time...” Kehtan muttered to himself.

The intercom came to life suddenly with Maku's voice. “Everyone's aboard, captain.”

“That's just what I wanted to hear!” Kehtan said in relief. “Dayl, make the jump! Now!”

“Aye, sir!”

The first of the Shroomers began firing upon the Zephyr and blasts rocked the ship.

Captain Kehtan heard several of the automatic pulse cannons fire at the attackers and a heartbeat later felt the dull thump of an explosion near the bridge — just as the star field smudged in the windows. They had made the jump with no time to spare.

Chapter 13

“Alex,” Rojur said wearily, “I cannot take you back now. Can you not see what is going on? We are needed. They have just lost their chief medical officer; you and Blake are the only trained medics they have.”

Blackthorne turned his back to the esper and stared out into the blackness of space to watch the approaching fleet of enemy Shroomers. Brandon fidgeted nervously at the back of the observation lounge, waiting for the grownups to finish their argument.

“Rojur,” Alex began with a sigh, “this was to be a vacation and it's already run longer than we agreed upon. Right now, there are over two thousand ships bearing down on us, with straightforward intent to blow the Zephyr out of the stars. There is no way we can combat that kind of force —”

“You are forgetting that power gun the captain used earlier,” the esper cut in.

Alex pointed toward the advancing marauders, which were quite easily seen now. “Then what is he waiting for? Another few minutes and we'll have to fire it out of our backside in order to hit anything!” He motioned Brandon to his side and added, “My medical skills won't mean a thing when that fleet arrives. There won't be anyone to patch up – ourselves included!”

Brandon looked up at the esper when he stopped by Blackthorne's side and said, “Please, Rojur. Let’s go home now?”

Rojur's will weakened when he peered into Brandon's cobalt blue eyes. He dropped to one knee to look at him at his level and took the youth's right hand. He glanced at Alex quickly and then back to the boy.

“I am afraid I cannot... we are too far from any Alliance outpost for me to teleport to, even with the cylinder's boost.” He looked back to Alex again and continued. “As long as we were within the Frontier, I could have teleported us back toward Earth by making several hops between systems to get us into position for the trip home, just as we did on the way here. This ship’s maiden mission was never meant to go beyond the Frontier rim. We are now at too great a distance to make it. I am sorry.” Rojur was unable to read the emotion in Brandon's eyes. He couldn't tell if the boy was afraid or mad. Brandon looked at him with a fixed stare without a word.

***

Captain Kehtan felt the dull thump of an explosion near the bridge, just as the star field smudged in the windows. They had made the jump with no time to spare.

“Zahn,” he said, “at jump completion, alter heading zero-seven-three and initiate another short jump, distance identical to this one. I don't want to be tracked by our last known heading.”

“Aye, sir. Calculating new heading now.”

“ETA of current destination, Dayl?”

“Four minutes, Captain.”

***

Maku walked into the forward observation lounge and saw the Zephyr's passengers grouped together near the window. “Rojur,” he said to the esper, “I need to talk to you, please.”

“We can go to my cabin across the hall.”

***

When the Zephyr powered down her warp engines from the second jump, the ship emerged near a distant, dying red giant of a star ringed with a tiny asteroid belt. There were no other planets in the system. Their point of arrival was north of the galactic plane, so they were actually “above” the star system.

“Zahn, begin long-range scanning for enemy ships or outposts,” the first officer said, “and then try to pinpoint where we are in relation to our own part of the galaxy.”

“Aye, sir.”

Maku entered through the doors to the upper command deck and nodded to the captain. Kehtan stood up and turned to his first officer. “You have the bridge.” He cleared his throat and looked to the lower level.

“Ensign Rosch, accompany me,” he ordered, his voice a rumble of low wrath.

The weapons officer swallowed hard and glanced around at the other bridge personnel. No one looked up as he frowned and moved toward the circular staircase to the upper deck.

When he stood in front of the captain, Maku calmly drew his weapon from its holster and aimed it as his middle. Dwes stood up from his station and moved behind the ensign. Kehtan snapped his fingers and the ensign was slammed roughly to the floor, clapped into black metal wristbands, hauled upright and dragged from the bridge, all in a matter of seconds. The captain followed with two armed officers bringing up the rear.

***

Captain Kehtan stood just outside the two cells that contained Trin and Chieko. Beside him, a thin, mustached man stood tapping upon a floating console. The official transcript of charges was a necessary evil in such events, and it would ensure that the records of Trin Rosch's treason would be accurate. Maku and Rojur stood against the back wall, observing the spectacle with interest. Each of the offenders had been escorted to the brig and placed in the small cubicles without a word from the officers, and had been left alone in their cells under painfully bright lights for two hours before anyone arrived to interrogate them. The captain scowled darkly and had the attention of both as he stood before them, arms crossed as he trembled with rage. A member of the Area Defense Counsel stood nearby, wrenching her hands. It was her job to make sure the rights of the accused were protected, but this far out into space under these conditions, mob rule tended to arise. The captain nodded to her presence, a silent “I understand” to her being there. The Staff Judge Advocate stood beside her, a tablet in her hands. The SJA traditionally made formal charges, but Kehtan had asked her to step aside.

“Ensign,” he growled in a low rumble, “as per article 52109 of the Planetary Alliance Code of Military Justice, you are stripped of your commission and you can expect a general courts-martial when we return to Rona for inciting the crew to mutiny. Nothing can change that.”

“And nothing should,” Maku said under his breath, casting a vicious look at the deflated man. The ADC representative took notes furiously, but dared not look up.

“You were warned of the consequences before you went through with it, yet you defied my orders,” the captain continued. “For that you are charged with mutiny, conduct unbecoming of an officer, disobeying a general order, destruction of Alliance and private property, gross criminal negligence leading to the deaths of fellow crewmates that includes Doctor Tralen, assault and battery against a civilian, unlawful imprisonment of senior officers, and placing in jeopardy two other civilians, one of whom is a minor.” At that last, he added, “You should note that it's almost impossible to get a jury with no parents on it.”

Trin's composure melted and he sank his face into his hands.

Kehtan's expression did not change, “What bothers me the most is that you betrayed me personally. Given the gravity of these offenses, I think it's safe to say that your career in the military, and doubtless your life as you know it, is over. Look at me.”

Trin looked up at the captain through red eyes.

“We had to break up an angry mob right outside the brig. Do have any idea how difficult it's going to be to keep the crew from lynching you? A good number of them will be brought up on charges too, due to your actions.”

He set his piercing eyes onto Chieko and drew his eyebrows together. “You were the instigator in this mess. Granted, we found the crystal and deciphered it on our own, but it was your compelling obsession which corrupted my crew further.” She started to protest, but he continued without letting her speak. “If you hadn't been whispering in their ears, they might have obeyed orders and granted themselves the opportunity to come back to search for Shraelon on official orders from the Planetary Alliance. Now they will go home in disgrace, and my command will be questioned.” Kehtan spat the last sentence with venom. “You may be civilian, but the Alliance has penalties which will apply for your part in this.”

Kehtan paused for a rebuttal, but none came this time. Trin sat down on the bench in his cell, his arms resting on his knees and his head hung low. Chieko paced her cubicle slowly, refusing now to look at him, her expression clearly worried. The captain motioned to Maku, who approached Trin's cell.

“However,” he said in a calmer voice, “I am releasing you both back to the crew.”

Trin looked up in surprise as Maku opened the transparent door panel. The same was done for Chieko.

“Captain,” Trin replied hesitantly, “why are you letting us go?”

Kehtan casually waved a hand to indicate the ship around them. “Oh I'm not letting you go, unless you'd like me to allow the other officers the chance to shove you into an airlock. There are too many repairs to make before we can perform a warp jump. Everyone is needed, yourselves included, so I'm setting Mr. Delondin in charge of watching over you two while you work. You will obey his orders over everyone else's but my own while on duty. While off official duty, any crewman all the way down to E-1 will have authority over both you, so be prepared for some latrine duty. I just have to tell them not to kill you, all else is up to them.”

“Delondin?” Trin exclaimed, ignoring the second half of the edict. “But, he's a civilian!”

“So is Chieko, and you followed her without letting that bother you.”

“What about me?” the blue-haired woman asked.

“Same thing,” Rojur said as he stepped forward. “You and Trin will be coworkers in the tasks I assign you. The captain was gracious enough to provide me with a list of things for you to do.”

Trin chewed his lower lip for a moment and then looked at his fellow Roswein with his white eyes. “Okay, Rojur. I accept.”

“What you do or not accept is inconsequential!” the captain boomed. “You gave up the right to free choice when you endangered the lives of my crew! Now get out of my sight!”

Rojur nodded and then turned to Chieko. The woman lowered her eyes momentarily and then nodded as well. The esper walked out of the brig with his two charges trailing silently behind. A still-fuming Kehtan glanced over at Maku and raised an eyebrow. “The long range sensors have detected no other attackers,” he said. “We seem to have a respite from our enemy. Get up to the bridge and coordinate repairs with Sahni. I want the damaged sensors and monitors given top priority - the long range scanners can only detect so much. I want finer detail on what's around us.”

“Aye, Captain. I'll get on it right away.”

“I'm going down to engineering to get Toco's assessment of the structural damage. If you need me, that's where I'll be.”

“Aye, sir.”

Kehtan turned to the ADC, “I understand that you have a job to do.”

“Yes sir,” she replied.

“Do your job, Lieutenant Commander. I'll see to your client's safety.”

As the captain and ADC departed, Maku stood with the security man tapping at the floating console for another few seconds, the two men thinking the same thoughts. The reporter finished his entry and snapped the floating console shut, bringing it down to his side. “They should be spaced,” he growled.

Maku's only response was a firm nod. A few minutes later, a general order was issued ship-wide that no member of the crew was to physically harm Ensign Rosch in any way, and any who did would face the captain.

***

An hour later, a suited repair team approached damage to the outer hull of the ship. One crew worked to remove the Crab from the remains of the Sick Bay, while another moved forward. The second party discovered a Shroomer smashed onto the hull, just behind the bridge. It was wedged in between two protruding sensor arrays, but it had not breached the integrity of the Zephyr as the Crab had.

One of the technicians approached the front of the wrecked alien ship while the others scanned the craft to decide the best way to remove it without damaging the sensors.

“Captain, this is Ensign Lann,” the tech said into his intercom.

“This is Lieutenant Ree,” came back the reply. “The captain is in a private conference.”

“Then let me speak to the first officer.”

“Just a moment.”

As Lann waited, he scrutinized what he believed to be the cockpit of the organic alien ship. The glasslike panel was damaged with a myriad of spider web cracks. He reached forward and tapped it gently. The window fell apart in the slight gravity generated by the mass of the Zephyr, and a dark shape was illuminated in the tech's hand light beam. He gasped and backed away slowly.

“This is the first officer,” the Sahni’s voice sounded over his intercom speaker.

“Sir, this is Ensign Lann.”

“Go on, Ensign.”

“My team has found one of the Shroomers wrecked and wedged between the sensor arrays, starboard and aft of the bridge,” the tech replied. “It looks organic, as if it might have been grown, but this one is a different design than the usual Shroomers we've been fighting.”

“Different? In what way?”

“There are antennae protruding from all sides of this thing, and what I think may be sensor nodules at their bases. We had planned to jettison the wreck off into space, but I've also found the, uh, pilot and wondered if you wanted it inspected.”

“The pilot?” Sahni's voice was laced with surprise. “Dead or alive?”

“Dead, I think. Hard to tell in this light, but I hope it is.”

“Okay, when you get it loose, take the alien ship and its pilot to Landing Bay One, Ensign. I'll have a science team ready to examine it.”

“Aye, sir.”

***

Captain Kehtan stifled a yawn and walked onto the bridge. After his meeting with department heads, he had gone to his cabin for a two-hour nap to help clear his mind and had just awakened.

Zahn saw his entrance onto the lower command deck and reported, “Sir, the entire sensor array is operational again.”

“Good,” Kehtan smiled. “Begin full omnidirectional scan of the area, particularly the nearby asteroid belt.”

“Aye, sir.” The navigator entered the command into his terminal and then turned back to the captain. “Sir,” he said, “I’ve also pinpointed our location.”

“Where are we?”

“The red star we’re orbiting is CSJ1933,” Zahn replied, “or more commonly known as Hidalgo, named after its discoverer, Clark Hidalgo.”

“Hidalgo?” the captain repeated. “Okay, note that in the log. Good work, Zahn.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Several moments passed as the rest of the crew continued in their repairs. The captain moved up to his command chair and quietly conversed with Toco over his intercom.

“Sir,” Zahn said a few minutes later, “preliminary scans detect no Shroomers in the area, however there are a large number of unidentified metallic objects laced throughout the asteroids.”

“Enemy vessels different from the Shroomers?”

“Could be, captain, but I'm getting no energy output from any of them.” Zahn looked down at his monitor again and touched a few controls. “They may be merely inactive, awaiting a signal to revive them, or I'm guessing they could be derelicts.”

“Derelicts?” the captain repeated.

“Aye, sir. Some of the objects seem to be floating aimlessly and I've detected a few of them colliding with one another.”

The captain seemed lost in thought for a moment and then said, “Okay, keep scanning. Ree, do you have a current location for Maku?”

“He called in from the Bio-Lab just a moment ago, sir.”

Kehtan thumbed his intercom and called, “Maku?”

“Aye, Captain,” the security officer replied a moment later.

“We've detected a large number of objects in the asteroid field that could be derelict ships,” Kehtan explained. “Take Rojur with you in one of the armed Crabs and check it out. I want to know what's there and if there are any materials from them we can salvage to use in our repairs.”

“Aye, sir. Will get right to it.”

“Take extra care not to trigger any traps. It is also possible the vessels we detect could be Shraeloni ships of a different nature just awaiting a signal to attack.”

“Understood, sir.”

***

“You have got to be kidding!” Chieko exclaimed as she peered into the small, darkened conduit. It was roughly a meter in diameter and its walls were coated with a black powdery substance. They were in the very bowels of the ship, where typically only service bots ever ventured.

“Not a bit,” Rojur replied.

Trin shined his work light into the opening and then glanced down at the hand scanner he possessed. “Isn't there any other way to it?” he asked hopefully. He and Chieko were already filthy from other dirty jobs they had been made to do and he did not relish more of the same.

The esper shook his head. “No, the maintenance bot is stuck in the primary junction near the main energy transfer unit. This is the only way for you to get in to repair it. The crawl will be slow and cramped, but it is necessary. You should hope we do not have to jump into warp while you are in there.”

Chieko looked back at him and glared silently. She reached up and braided her long hair quickly into a tight bun at the base of her head so that it would not be a problem in the tight passage. When she finished, she looked at Trin and motioned for the tube.

“After you,” she said.

“Ladies first,” Trin countered.

“I don't know my way through a conduit tube.”

“Well, neither do I.”

Rojur snorted heavily as Maku walked into the dim corridor. “Get going, both of you!” he commanded. Chieko took Trin by the shoulders and shoved him toward the opening. The turquoise-haired man gave her a dark glare with his white eyes and picked up his tool bag. With a low-throated grumble, he crawled into the pipe and scooted into the darkness. Chieko bit her bottom lip and eased herself in behind him, cursing the powder that immediately clung to her clothing. A moment later, noises of their passing diminished as they proceeded on their long way.

“Rojur,” Maku said to the esper, “the captain has a mission for us.”

Rojur nodded toward the crawlway. “They will be busy for a while. What is our task?”

Maku explained the assignment as the two of them headed back up the dimly lit corridor.

***

Alex sat down next to the sleeping form of Blake, exhaustion trying to set in. While the crew injuries had been long taken care of, he and the medic had been cleaning up the mess in the first aid station that now served as the Sick Bay. Work on the main medical lab was progressing slowly as the techs tried to repair the damage done by the collision of the Crab, so there was nothing the physicians could do about it in the meantime.

They had been at the cleanup for several hours, and coupled with the stresses of the past few days, both were ready for some rest. Alex knew that Chieko had gotten into a bit of trouble, but was unaware of the severity of the problem. He thought affectionately of her and wondered if she had any thoughts of him in return. He had not spent much time with her lately, but he found he had grown quite fond of the blue-haired woman.

***

On the bridge of the Zephyr, Brandon helped Ree as the communications officer worked on a control panel at the back of the upper command deck. The boy had no technical knowledge to assist in the repairs, but he was able to aid in handing the tech such tools as was needed and to fetch parts for him.

Brandon wished that he could have helped Alex, but Ree had taken an interest in the youth and had encouraged him to learn more about the ship. Though the boy had no practical experience, he was a fast learner and paid attention to the lessons Ree tried to teach him. He was not merely an aid in this repair, but he was a student as well.

***

The tiny ship vaguely resembled the nickname given to it, an organic mushroom. Captain Kehtan watched silently as Dwes approached the cockpit of the Shraeloni Shroomer with gloved hands and carefully removed the shards of what looked to be ordinary broken glass. Once the sharp panes were set aside on a work cart, the science officer shined a work light into the opening. Kehtan stepped closer to view the pilot of the enemy vessel.

“Just as we suspected,” Dwes said as he pointed at the humanoid shape within the interior of the ship. “It's a mechanized drone.” The head of the device was smashed beyond all recognition, but the “body” was unmistakably humanoid in shape and appearance. It was possible the ship was originally designed for a human pilot, but replaced with an automated machine when the Shraeloni abandoned their domain into mystery.

Kehtan studied it for a moment and then picked up a pair of long tongs from the work cart. He reached into the smashed chest of the robot and when he drew it out, he held one of the blue crystals that were now known to be common in all complex Shraeloni devices. He set it gently in a tray on the cart and then reached in again. He pulled out another and then two more.

“I'll take these to the science lab,” the captain said. “Continue your examination of the ship and let me know if you find anything else of interest.”

“Aye, sir,” Dwes replied as Kehtan headed for the door with the tray of gems.

***

The Crab moved toward the seventh dead ship in the asteroid cluster and stopped several meters from it. Maku keyed in several controls, locked in the proximity distancing to keep them close, and then nodded to Rojur. The esper checked the oxygen supply in his suit and then disappeared.

He materialized inside the derelict and headed toward the bridge of the rather large ship. As with the others they had visited, there was no real visible damage that he could detect, and it appeared that the vessels had merely been abandoned in a virtual Sargasso Sea.

Rojur arrived at the control center of the vessel, and though it was alien in design, he recognized enough practical applications to get a good idea of what he was looking at. He located a panel marked in bright blue, contrasting against the dull brown color scheme that showed in the beam of his helmet lights, and operated a switch. The bridge was illuminated in a soft blue glow and he moved over to another panel. With high caution, he operated another set of controls but then smiled in satisfaction when the power levels of the entire room came up as desired.

When the ship's view screen came to life, he said into his microphone, “Maku, I am ready to initiate the test.”

“Moving away,” the other's voice replied. The Crab slid out of Rojur's view and withdrew to a safe distance. The esper studied the controls as he awaited word from his partner. This ship was of a completely different design from the others he had been on, and much larger. He had no idea what purpose this one was built for, though the others had been simple to identify.

“Okay, Roj, anytime.”

Rojur's eyes changed from their usual pale white to an internal soft blue that, coincidentally, matched the room's lighting. It was an outward sign that his talent of shielding was in full effect as he prepared himself for the test. Making sure the control was the one he wanted to try, he positioned his index finger over a particular touch pad and then sat down in the cushioned chair next to the panel.

He glanced up at the forward view screen as he activated the control. There was no sound on the large ship as a pulse of bright-red energy flashed out of a hidden orifice in the nose of the delta-shaped vessel. He had targeted a nearby asteroid and the rock had been roughly twenty meters in diameter before the blast enveloped it in a ball of flame. The explosion was snuffed almost immediately by the vacuum of space, but the fragments of the pulverized asteroid were driven deeper into the surrounding rocks. Rojur figured that there were no chunks larger than his fist left of his target. So far, this ship had the onboard weapon with the mightiest firepower of any of the others they had checked.

Maku's whistle sounded on his helmet speakers. “I'm impressed!” he said. Rojur smiled, even though he knew no one could see him.

“Let me test the engines...” the esper said. “With weapons functioning and obviously drawing on a good power supply, surely this ship has engines that work!”

“I'm keeping my eyes crossed for luck,” Maku deadpanned. Though the other vessels had proven to be in good shape, none had engines that Rojur could make operational. They doubted they were damaged, but merely disabled. Either that or Zahn's original assessment that they could be awaiting some Shraeloni signal to activate them for computer-controlled battle was correct. Whatever the reason, Rojur was never able to get even a spark of propulsion from them.

After a few moments of experimenting with the ship's controls, his luck with making this vessel operational was practically nonexistent. He did manage to get the maneuvering thrusters to move the ship a few meters to the left, but the main engines remained silent. Rojur sighed and stretched his arms.

“Anything?” Maku asked.

“No luck,” he answered.

“Bleh... At this rate, I think my hover bike back home could outrun this fleet of ships,” Maku supplied. “I guess we move on to the next one.”

“Okay, I'll check a few other systems and then shut everything down in about ten minutes,” the esper reported.

“Acknowledged.”

The speaker fell silent for a few moments and then Maku's voice sounded again with a tone of awe. “Rojur,” he said quietly, “I think I recognize that ship you are on...”

The esper was scanning the readouts on a triangular monitor. He paused and looked up at the room beyond. “Recognize? Where have you-?”

“Remember that burned-out hulk where you found that first crystal?”

“Yeah...”

“You're on board its smaller twin.”

Rojur thought about it for a moment in silence. “Are you sure?” he asked.

“The one we were on had crashed into a mountain. We never saw its true shape because the front was smashed and the back end was blasted from the explosion, but if you take that into consideration, it might have held a shape similar to the one you're on. The surface is vaned just like the other one was.”

Rojur's face lit up in sudden realization. “If that's true,” he said, “then there should be another chamber like the one I found undamaged...”

“Just what I was thinking,” Maku explained. “You may be able to get the engines back online from there.”

Rojur finished his scanning and nodded his head silently. “Okay,” he replied, “but I will need to review the recording I took on the other ship to get an idea where this one might be.”

“Back on the Zephyr?”

“Correct. I will return to the Crab as soon as I lock everything down here,” Rojur said. “Go ahead and inform the captain what we have found - about this ship as well as the others - so he can get salvage crews out here for scavenging parts and operable weapons off them.”

“Got it.” Maku's voice came back a moment later with a question. “The ship you are on is most probably Shraeloni. What about the others?”

The esper shut down the main control panel and gazed over the darkening room. “The monitors and panels here are marked in the same written language we have associated with Shraelon, but the other ships had labels of completely different symbols.” He wandered toward the door to the bridge and added, “Personally, I do not think the others were made by Shraeloni. What race built them, however, is beyond me.”

***

Chieko walked down the corridor wearily, looking forward to a shower and a fresh change of clothes. She and Trin had finished their assigned duties and they were released from anything further for two shifts by the captain. She wiped a dirty hand across her forehead, noting not for the first time today that the temperature inside the Zephyr seemed unusually warm.

Her partner had already gone off in search of his own quarters, and had graciously taken both their equipment bags to the tool crib, leaving her to wander the halls of her own free will. Chieko had been using Rojur's original quarters since the esper had moved into Sahni's room, but it was close to the bridge, nearly three-quarters of the ship's length away from where she had been, so she took her time to move along at her own pace. She had a lot on her mind.

Chieko rounded a corner and heard voices coming from an open door and she discovered that her wandering had brought her near the science labs. One of the voices belonged to Dwes, one of the officers who had been locked away during the crew mutiny. She didn't know just how the man would react to seeing her, so Chieko hung back in the shadows behind a row of instrumentation to listen in on the conversation in progress.

“There, Daniel, is more information for your treasure hunt,” Dwes said. “Now, are you going to jump me again for it?”

The freckle-faced science tech unconsciously rubbed his ribs, still sore from his fight with the older man during the takeover. He looked up at the view screen, which held the translated data of one of the Shraeloni crystals. This particular gem was a storehouse of information, pinpointing certain booby traps and snares along the way to the fabled lost world. Daniel looked down at his feet and took a seat beside his superior officer at the terminal.

“Even if I had the full support of the crew,” the young, wiry tech replied as he ran the fingers of both hands through his rusty-red hair, “I don't think I would want to go.” He sounded sincere.

Dwes was genuinely surprised with that answer. The fire in the tech's eyes was gone and he seemed ill at ease. The science officer scratched his black beard, momentarily studying his subordinate. “Have you learned your lesson about rank and following orders?” he asked tonelessly.

“Yes, but that's not why I said what I did.” Daniel looked at Dwes and then up to the display. “I'm not a... warrior, sir. All this fighting - the death and destruction - I'm not cut out for this... I'm just a technician.” He looked back to Dwes, but his eyes were looking far away. “Several of those who died were friends of mine.”

“You didn't think that the fabled world of Shraelon would be unprotected, did you?” Dwes said gently. “Daniel, when you follow someone blindly without thinking through the possible consequences, you'll almost always end up in trouble. It wasn't wisdom you were pursuing, but blind obsession.”

“I realize that now, sir, and so have many others on board.”

Dwes put a hand on the youth's shoulder. “You made a mistake, mister, and I'm afraid when we get back you will have to pay the price for it, but it won't be the end of your world. You have learned a hard lesson. Let's hope it stays with you.”

In the shadows, Chieko sighed inwardly. From what she heard, her chances for ever getting to Shraelon with this ship now was practically gone. She had worked so hard to get this far and her enticement of the crew had gone well until they had run into the Shroomers. She reached up, untied her hair, and let it fall freely in a shower of dust particles. With a frown and a slump to her shoulders that was caused by more than just fatigue, she slipped away unseen and headed back up the corridor.

***

Trin looked up as he neared his cabin. His steps were heavy from the dirty labor Rojur had assigned him and he wanted nothing more than to find his bunk and find some rest. His mind was numb as well, and it took his fogged senses a moment to register what awaited him.

All over the door to his quarters were hand-scrawled messages of profanity and descriptions of what should be done to him for his actions. Apparently, those who had not taken part in the mutiny were getting back at him for the trouble he had caused. Everything from curses to suggestions of perversions was splayed from floor to ceiling, and in the middle of the door in large, block letters were the words: ENSIGN TRAITOR!

Trin moved into the room and touched the switch for the lights. The interior of his cabin was destroyed. Everything breakable was broken, all clothing was either shredded or soiled by body fluids and his uniforms were missing the rank insignia. More graffiti adorned his walls. The only item in the room still intact was a framed photo of his parents, but beneath their smiling faces, a caption had been added. “To Junior, the backstabber.”

The young officer sank to the floor and buried his face in his hands.

***

The captain once again called the crew to the mess hall for an assembly meeting. For those who were needed in the immediate operation of the ship, the announcement would be carried on ship-wide screens. Although Chieko had no present assignment, she opted not to attend, but listen in from the bed in the quarters that had been assigned to her.

In the mess hall, the captain pointed toward the large view screen. “One of the crystals we have just acquired has provided us with some valuable information concerning the location of Shraelon,” he said. He watched the crowd closely as he continued. “As you can see from the diagram on the left, several key points along our route are marked with a symbol that resembles the shape of the Shroomers we have encountered. If you track it back the way we came, you will notice that as we have followed the directions given toward Shraelon, we have been led through a series of traps laid for anyone using that route.”

Kehtan held up one of the blue gems, the first one they had found. “Nearly all complex Shraeloni devices contain one of these. We have often wondered why each crystal had coded information showing the route to the planet that we have otherwise received warnings to stay away from approaching. After careful study of the most recent stone, we have come to the conclusion that the others were designed to draw anyone who deciphered them into traps that were set specifically for those who would pursue the legend. With each new crystal, we gained information on taking us to our goal, but the true purpose was to destroy us.”

The crowd began to talk among themselves, but the captain was not finished. “The information you see on the screen is from a crystal that was undoubtedly not intended to fall into our hands. We have on board the wreck of what we suspect is an information-gathering drone that this new crystal was found in. It shows specifically where each trap and each danger is lying in wait for the unwary - and there are many. With this information, we will be able to continue our journey to Shraelon with the knowledge of which areas to avoid.”

The captain paused there, and it took a moment for the information to sink in. Once it did, the resulting uproar was nearly deafening.

“We're going to Shraelon...?”

“What about the courts-martials?”

“I thought we were returning home!”

“But they said...”

“We're going? We're going!”

“I don't believe he just said...”

“To Shraelon after all!”

The captain stood quietly with his hands behind his back as the questions and exclamations around him began to build in intensity. He allowed them their moment of exaltation and merely watched. Only when they quieted on their own, eager for more information, did Kehtan speak.

“Although this voyage began under a mutiny and against all orders, we have traveled so far and have come so close to the goal that it would be foolish to turn back now without further investigation.” The captain put his hands behind his back and gazed momentarily at the view screen. “After we discovered this valuable information, I consulted the senior officers and though the decision was not easy, we have chosen to go on, under my command.

“Keep in mind that your mutiny will not be forgotten, but if we reach our goal and bring back proof of the wealth of Shraelon, your punishment may be lessened. The knowledge to be gained will be priceless, and if we are successful, the deaths of our fellow crewmates will not have been in vain.”

He saw the expressions of those before him. To get his point across, he stretched out his arms in front of him and said one word in a deep, booming voice.

“However...” He paused and then dropped his hands to his sides. “Although we have a key to avoiding their traps along the way, the closer we get to Shraelon, the more likely it will be heavier guarded. You can count on more battles, so prepare yourselves and our ship! This is supposed to be a science ship, so many of you are not fighters, but you may have to be before this journey is over.” He touched a control panel and darkened the view screen. “There is still much to be done in repairing this vessel. At the moment, we have a respite from fighting with the Shroomers, so we will take the time to strengthen our defenses... and offenses.

“Near us are a number of derelict ships with operable weapons systems that our techs have decided will be compatible with our equipment. Science officer Dwes will be assembling teams to salvage parts from the derelicts. Work with him and each other - do a good job, but do it quickly. We may be running against time.”

***

Chieko sat at the edge of her bed, scarcely believing what she had just heard. After all that had happened, they would still be going! A wide smile crossed her face – this was cause for celebration. She fervently wished Joska were there, but since he was not, someone else would do for the time. She jumped out of bed and slipped into a clean uniform. Alex would be in the forward first aid station, she knew. She made that her destination as she left the room. 

***

Two days later, ship time, most of the repairs and modifications had been finished. The crew's enthusiasm to get moving again fired their efforts, though they made certain to do quality work; their lives may well depend upon it. The large delta-winged vessel that Maku and Rojur had found barely fit into the landing bay, but the captain had granted the permission to bring it along. Rojur had christened it the Hidalgo, in honor of the star near where they found it. Under normal circumstances, there would be plenty of room, even with the Zephyr's full complement of Crabs and Stingrays, but a number of the small derelicts that someone had dubbed Shards had been made operational and were stowed on board for future use. These tiny, one-person ships were fighters and their energy stores were surprisingly fully charged. Once Rojur had discovered how to get the Hidalgo fully functioning, it was an easy task to get the others running as well. They took what they could and salvaged systems from the rest.

As Rojur dropped out of the hatch, he looked back up at the Hidalgo and smiled. Though small enough to fit on board the Zephyr, it was still a large vessel compared to the others. It had firepower to spare, and if they had to make use of it, he and Maku had spent the last two days learning its systems and controls. They had taken it through tests and maneuvers and the two of them had been impressed with its ease in handling and use, and its capabilities. Though it was not official by any means, the esper had begun to consider the Hidalgo as his own vessel. He fully intended to file an interstellar salvage claim on it.

Rojur wiped a film of sweat from his brow. Perhaps it was all the work that everyone had been intent upon doing, but for the past few days, the interior of the ship had seemed unusually warm to him. The climate controls probably needed repairs as well.

The esper saw one tech across the hangar having difficulty reattaching a panel to the side of a Crab, so he headed over to help.

***

Days had passed and the Zephyr was once again ready to launch. All duty personnel were in their places, while the rest prepared themselves for the journey. On the bridge, the command crew was going over their checklists to make sure green lights were across all boards before enabling the systems. Dayl was moving the ship slowly away from the asteroid field as so to orient them for the jump and was chatting merrily with her partner, Zahn.

On the upper command deck, Dwes was checking systems to find out why the climate control had not compensated for the increased heat inside the ship. He had run diagnostics on the device several times during the past few days, but nothing wrong had turned up. He was beginning to run out of patience. The gold uniforms of the Zephyr crew were designed so that the sleeves were easily removable and the entire bridge crew was presently all in short sleeves, including the captain.

Rojur stood beside Trin's console, going over final preparations with him. The weapons officer had another toothpick clutched between his teeth as he filled the esper in on home news from Roswei. Rojur had not been to his homeworld in some time and was interested in what Trin had to tell him.

“Captain!” Dwes exclaimed. “I've found the source of our rising temperatures.”

“What is it?” Kehtan asked.

“I can't believe I've been so ignorant!” the science officer said in disgust. “I've been a complete fool!”

The captain sighed. “What is it, Dwes?” he repeated.

“We've been so busy repairing the ship and salvaging parts from the derelicts that we've forgotten about the star we're orbiting,” the bearded man explained.

The captain looked to the main screen, which was focused on the star field directly in front of them. The sun was out of view to the left. “Port angle on the main screen,” he commanded. The viewer immediately polarized as the red giant appeared before them. Dwes placed a spectral analysis readout at the lower right-hand corner of the display. The captain's jaw dropped slightly. He turned to the officer and asked, “How long?”

“The star's internal temperatures are rising exponentially and it's expanding. It could be any time now, perhaps even within the hour. Blast it! I should have been monitoring it! It isn't often we get to witness a star going nova firsthand.”

Dwes looked at him with a strange expression on his face. “Sir, do you think that's another trap by the Shraeloni?” he asked gravely. “That would take out a lot of enemies.”

“No, I don't think even they would destroy a star just for that, and it could only be used once if they did. All the same, I think we should vacate the area.”

Sahni stared at the readouts displayed on the main viewer. The captain had assumed she would give the order, but as she remained mute, he looked down at the lower command deck and said, “Zahn, if your coordinates are set, I suggest we vacate this area.”

“All systems ready, sir.”

“Dayl, take us away from here before we get sunburn.”

Dayl smiled at the captain's words and replied, “Aye, sir.”

A moment later, the familiar deep throbbing of the ship was accompanied by the sudden rainbow smudge of starlight as they entered warp. In Zahn's navigational calculations, he had used the charts that were encoded on the special crystal. Over the course of two days, they would bypass at least six of the deadly traps put out by the extinct Shraeloni people through multiple jumps. Their distance from the Frontier was rapidly growing as they flew deeper into unexplored space and all thoughts of returning empty-handed were left as far behind as the exploding star they had just departed.

***

At the end of the second day, the bridge was manned by the barest of personnel as the others slept. Though reluctant at first to have anything to do with her, Rojur had taken Dayl's post and was currently at the helm of the Zephyr. Sahni sat at the navigation terminal and Maku was monitoring communications and sensors. It had been a quiet ride without the threat of Shroomers, though an alert watch was kept for them continually. All but the most essential of the crew lights were off during the “night” shift on board and the soft green glow of the station displays lit the room dimly.

Sahni was in the middle of a yawn when an orange light lit up on her panel noting that they would reach their destination in ten minutes. Quietly, she got up, walked to the com-station, and called up the captain to inform him. This was to be their last jump for a while to give the engines a rest, and the crystal's map had indicated this region of space free of any set traps.

By the time they dropped to sublight speed, Dwes and the captain had arrived on the bridge. The operation was routine, so none of the other bridge crew had been awakened.

“Time, Rojur?” the captain asked.

The esper glanced down at the chronometer on his board and replied,

“Thirty seconds, sir.”

Dwes began scans on the area just as the smudged star field returned to normal, and the throbbing of the ship's engines reduced to its normal slow pulse. Rojur decreased their momentum until the Zephyr barely moved through space. Nothing could be seen through the forward windows but the distant stars.

“Activate main viewer,” Kehtan said.

“Aye,” Maku replied. The scene remained unchanged as the screen came to life. A gasp from Dwes, however, drew all attention up to his station.

“What is it?” Sahni asked.

“Change angle of the viewer ninety degrees starboard!” Dwes replied.

Maku did as requested and this time they all gasped in surprise. In the blackness of the dead area they rested, the Zephyr floated approximately fifty kilometers from two of the largest space stations any of them had ever seen.

Chapter 14

“All hands! All hands!” Sahni announced over the ship-wide intercom. “Battle Stations! All personnel to Battle Stations!”

“Rojur,” the captain ordered quickly, “full reverse - give us some distance!”

“Aye, sir!”

Dwes began a sensor sweep of the alien stations as they moved away, though he already knew the outcome. The structures towering above the surface were crystalline and were of the same translucent blue hue of the Shraeloni crystals. He doubted the construction was actually made of gems, but the resemblance was remarkable. His first scan was completed and he turned quickly to the captain's chair.

“I'm reading increasing power distribution within both structures, captain,” he said. “Frequencies match that of the Shraeloni Shroomers.”

“How soon before they attack?” Kehtan asked. The doors to the lower command deck opened suddenly when Dayl, Ree and Zahn ran to their posts.

“Whoa!” Zahn exclaimed as the images appeared on the view screen, both brilliantly illuminated by thousands of lighted ports and bays. Captain Kehtan reacted quickly and activated the klaxon from the panel in front of his chair. The alarms whooped and echoed through the corridors of the ship as Maku energized the defense screens.

Dayl stood behind Rojur as she patiently waited for him to complete his maneuvers. Ree brushed a hand across his face, trying to rid his groggy eyes of sleep. His hair was in complete disarray, but he paid it no mind as he slipped a headset over his ears and his glasses over his eyes.

“I'm reading portal openings now, captain,” Dwes answered.

“Bridge to Fighters! Launch immediately! Shraeloni Shroomers are coming!” Sahni exclaimed over the intercom.

“Up, Rojur!” Dayl said to the esper. “Let me at my post!” Without a comment, Rojur jumped up from the helm and moved quickly to the weapons station since Trin had not yet arrived. Dayl took her seat and prepared several systems for a fast possible getaway while her partner calculated the course.

Two minutes later, Ree gave a report without looking away from his panel.

“The first set of our new Shards have launched, captain. Six more are moving into position to take off and the defense pulse cannons are now fully manned, awaiting their targets.”

“Captain,” Dwes exclaimed, “the computer counts an advance squadron of Shroomers bearing down on our position. They will be here within seconds!”

Dayl had maneuvered the Zephyr so that it nosed directly toward the approaching ships. Both stations were visible though the clear windows. The main view screen showed a close-up angle of the nearest space station with tactical overlays supplied by the weapons terminal. Rojur rapidly spoke into his own headset microphone, conveying instructions to the pulse cannon operators. Several of the newly appropriated armaments were operational under his command.

A bright flash drew Kehtan's attention to the windows. The fighters had already engaged the enemy in a violent firefight and the sky in front of them began to light up from released energies. Dull thumps could be felt in the Zephyr as the pulse cannons came to life.

Rojur's fingers played over the weapons console as he activated their new shock thread emitters. Bright green beams darted away from the Zephyr in a horizontal wave pattern that increased in width as it progressed. The path of the energy surge stabilized at a girth of forty meters and hit three Shroomers at a tremendous velocity. The targets seemed to ripple and vibrate and then simply shook themselves apart without a display of exploding gases. Visually, the effect was unimpressive, but the enemy ships were destroyed just the same. Rojur concentrated on his screens and went into action to zero in on another with the new systems.

Kehtan glanced down from the forward windows a moment to watch his command crew. Though no specific order had been given to do so, Dayl and Zahn were maneuvering the Zephyr further away from the main force, though keeping the nose always pointed toward the stations. Ree was busy dispatching tactical information to the fighters and pulse cannon gunners. He moved his head quickly from monitor to monitor and his hands were constantly in motion as he acted as a relay to keep everyone tied together. Every few seconds, he had to push his glasses back up his nose.

Dwes manned the sensors and transmitted information to all the other stations on the bridge as he kept track of the increasing fleet of Shroomers; more of the vessels had launched and were on their way to join the attack. Maku left the bridge to help the deck master coordinate the fighters in fuel and weapons.

Rojur worked smoothly at Trin's station as if he had been there for years. Briefly, the captain wondered about the esper's past and the hints of trouble that he might have been involved. Blackthorne had asked Kehtan if he was aware of any reason why Rojur would be in hiding, so it was apparent that someone else had noticed Delon's secretive manner.

An explosion rocked the Zephyr and shook the captain back to the present. Rojur was countering the attack with one of the shock-waves and Kehtan suddenly realized someone was missing.

“Where is Ensign Rosch?” he asked Sahni, who was silently tapping out commands on her instrument panel.

The first officer looked up from her task. “The deck officer said he had reported for—”

“What the—?” Rojur's voice exclaimed. Kehtan and Sahni looked up in unison and saw the forward windows briefly blocked as a ship passed them from behind on their starboard side. As it departed and headed for the deepest thicket of fighting, the captain recognized the shape. It was the Hidalgo.

Rojur stood up from his station and shouted at the screen, “Who the blazes is flying my ship?” He turned to the communications officer and ordered, “Find out who is piloting that thing, Ree!”

“Aye, sir!”

As they watched, Dwes changed the main view screen angle to home in on the delta-winged vessel. Fiery tongues of bright red light leapt from the craft's batteries as it engaged the enemy Shroomers. It took numerous hits, but most seemed little more than superficial; the devastation it caused itself was great, however. Several of the modified Stingrays joined in on that center of attack to help out the effort.

Suddenly, an alarm flashed on the science officer's panel. “We've just had a defense screen burnout – strength over the starboard bridge area is down to five percent, captain!” Kehtan glanced sharply toward him, but Dwes' fingers flew over his controls as he added, “I'm working to compensate for the loss!”

A voice then came over the intercom as Ree piped it onto the bridge audio speakers. “Zephyr, this is Trin, commanding the vessel our resident Es-Par likes to call the Hidalgo.”

Rojur bristled at the voice. Trin had used a derogatory term from their homeworld of Roswei that denoted a wicked prejudice. Espers were despised and rejected by Roswein society as being freaks of nature that did not deserve to exist, and those few who discovered themselves as having the abilities usually tried to keep their powers a secret. This was one reason Rojur had been reluctant to reveal himself earlier. Apparently, Trin had been holding back his biased comments for fear Rojur would retaliate, but it seemed that since he was now in the middle of combat, it didn't matter to him anymore.

Before he could say anything further, the captain cut in. “Trin, who's with you?” he asked. “One person can't fly that ship.”

“Aye, Captain, you're right,” was the reply. Several more bursts lashed out from its guns and several more Shroomers ceased to exist. “I have Pip and Daniel manning the guns, and Lann as my copilot. Nice job we're doing, eh?”

Rojur motioned for Ree to key in his com panel to speak to Trin.

“Take care of my ship, Trin Rosch, or I will hang you up by your wretched—”

His words were never completed as a violent energy blast hit the Zephyr just below the bridge. Resulting power surges caused two of the bridge stations to explode with a fierce whoomp that temporarily knocked out the main power of the command center. Captain Kehtan was thrown from his seat as his panel exploded from the energies pouring from within. He hit the edge of his seat back hard and slumped unseen to the floor.

The navigator’s station erupted and debris leapt from the console. Shrapnel born of the instrument panel sliced through Zahn's torso and several chunks hit Dayl across the left side of her upper body. The room darkened briefly before the red emergency power lights illuminated the area.

Rojur recovered from the blast momentarily and dropped the psionic shield that he had unconsciously generated around him. He glanced quickly at the forward windows. The fighting went on all around them, and from time to time, the sound of a dull explosion could be heard on the ship's hull. An end to the Shroomers did not seem to be in sight.

“Captain,” he exclaimed, “I recommend we charge up the Parasite!”

Sahni turned toward the captain and discovered him crumpled in a heap on the floor. A cry of dismay escaped her and she ran to his side. There were severe burns on Kehtan's arms and lightly on his face. His uniform was stained slick and dark at the lower right side of his chest and his breathing was ragged. Dwes knelt down beside him, grabbed the top of the captain's uniform and pulled it apart to the waist. A small bit of metal was embedded between two ribs. Sahni hissed through her teeth at the sight.

She stood up and turned toward the lower deck. “Ree,” she said, “get someone from Medical up here ASAP! The captain's been severely hurt – they'll need a gurney!”

“Tell them to bring two,” Rojur suggested. “Plus a body bag.”

Sahni turned toward the esper and brought her hands to her mouth; she choked back and swallowed hard. Ree glanced toward the front of the bridge and nearly collapsed to his knees. He caught himself in time, however and sat back hard in his seat.

Power to the command center came back on abruptly, restoring the bridge illumination to normal and reactivating the main view screen.

Rojur knelt over Dayl, who had suffered a great many wounds from the blast, but looking at her unconscious form, he knew that she would survive with proper care. Not so for her partner. Zahn still sat at his post, his face, chest and right arm severely burned and shredded by shrapnel from his control panel. The smell of blood was strong.

Somehow, Ree managed to tear his eyes away from the sight and made the call to Medical as ordered. The esper looked up at Sahni and saw the tears streaming freely down her cheeks. She turned and knelt again beside the fallen captain. Rojur set his teeth in a hard grimace and looked back out the forward windows where the fighting continued. Miraculously, the Hidalgo was still carrying its weight in combat, but its condition was showing signs of the cost for its victories.

Without a second more of hesitation, Rojur teleported to the upper deck and looked over the captain's instrument panel. It was damaged beyond help, but the command seat suffered very little damage, likely shielded from harm by Kehtan's body, Rojur thought ruefully. While Sahni and Dwes administered what first aid they could to the captain, the esper flipped up the cover on the chair's right arm.

Knowing exactly what to do, Rojur activated several switches and then said to Ree, “Give me ship-wide intercom.”

“You got it, sir!”

Rojur leaned toward the mike and spoke. “Now hear this — now hear this — secure what stations you can and prepare for a power drain. Engineering, divert all available energy to Forward Circuit Alpha-Zero-Zero-Seven.”

He made a motion to Ree to disconnect the link and then told him to contact the fighters engaging the Shroomers to have them move away from the forward path of the Zephyr.

Slowly, but deliberately the fighters drew away from the area they knew would soon become lethal and Rojur fidgeted nervously waiting for them to move out of the way. As a result, the Shroomers veered away from the individual crafts and concentrated their attacks upon the Zephyr itself. The ship rocked and shuddered with the explosions as the defense screens began to weaken more and more.

***

On board the Hidalgo, Trin fought the controls of the unfamiliar alien Shraeloni craft as he brought the nose around to face off with another wave of Shroomers. He cursed himself silently and gritted his teeth as the ship swung around. The inertia dampeners were sluggish and the sharp turns he effected caused unsecured items in the control cabin to slide about in distraction.

Although he knew this was the real thing, Pip acted as if his weaponry controls operated a popular video game and he was excited and vocal about the kills he managed. “Yeah!” he shouted. “C'mon... c'mon... come on!” His targeting circles centered over another Shroomer and a feral grin spread across his features as he squeezed the firing studs.

Daniel was just as occupied in destroying the enemy, though much quieter. He was the older of the two and knew well that this was no game. His life was on the line with every move he made, and that kept his attention sharp and alert. Out of necessity, he was fast becoming the warrior he had not wanted to be.

Trin grimaced as an energy bolt struck a rear panel of the Hidalgo and the ship slipped sideways out of his control. Lann lost his balance and toppled over onto Daniel, who shoved him away with muttered curses.

Lann returned to his post in the copilot's seat and looked wearily out into the swarm of Shroomers. “I don't think we can fight them all, Trin,” he said tightly. “They just keep coming!”

“Don't give up, Lann!” Trin barked. “If they can get that Parasite weapon of the captain's charged up in time, we may survive yet. We have to keep the enemy engaged to give the Zephyr time.”

***

Alex and Blake arrived on the upper bridge with a floating gurney. As they moved to the fallen captain, Dwes reluctantly left his commander's side and went to his post. He grunted as he checked over the findings his monitor displayed.

Rojur nodded toward Alex and sent a brief mental question to his friend, but received only the emotional feelings of depression and anger from him. Unsettled, he turned back toward the bridge operations.

“Time, Dwes?” he asked.

Dwes grunted again and answered without looking up. “Energy reservoir for the Parasite is at ninety-five percent and a full charge will be available in two minutes... a minute-thirty before our fighters are well away from the firing zone. Starting a countdown to three-point-five minutes... mark.”

“Sahni,” Rojur called. The first officer was following Alex and Blake out the door as they were quietly removing Kehtan to the Sick Bay. She stopped and looked at him solemnly. “Sahni,” the esper repeated. “With the captain down, you are now in command.”

She hesitated, sorely tempted to have someone else assume command while she looked after the well-being of Kehtan, but the look in his face reminded her of her responsibility.

“Right,” she said. Sahni knew Kehtan would be in good enough hands with the medics without her. Rojur moved out of the captain's seat and then teleported down to Helm. Two other crew members arrived to care for Dayl, but Zahn's body would have to wait. Sahni took the command seat without a second thought and looked over to Dwes.

“Time?” she asked.

“One minute, twenty seconds. We have full charge now; waiting on the fighters to clear the area.”

Rojur adjusted the controls to make sure the aim of the ship's main weapon was true on target.

“Sixty seconds,” Dwes reported. Sahni opened the panel in the arm of the chair and positioned her thumb over the firing pad. “Forty-five seconds.”

A brilliant flash off the port signaled the destruction of a fighter still engaged in violent combat. Although they were withdrawing, some of the Shroomers still pursued them with fatal intent. Rojur was glad that the Hidalgo was well out of the way, but then a thought occurred to him.

“Ree!” he said, “Tell the crew of the Hidalgo to get into pressure suits immediately! With the Parasite's effect, they will lose life support, too!”

“Aye, sir!”

“Fifteen seconds...”

Sahni tensed and set her jaw firmly.

“Ten seconds... eight... six... four... two...”

Without waiting for him to finish, Sahni pressed the firing pad. As before, the blackness of space before them bleached pale grey for a split-second, and then the orange burst of pure energy leapt out of the nose of the Zephyr. The pulse surged unerringly toward the nearest of the Shraeloni stations and hit it to the right of center. Explosions near the edge of the beam meant the destruction of Shroomers, but all eyes were on the main target. They could see a mighty blast where the bolt hit the station and they waited expectantly. A minute passed... then two, and then three. Nothing.

“I don't believe it...” Ree said quietly.

Sahni turned to the science officer. “Dwes, is it possible that we might–”

The bridge lit up with a blinding light and everyone became speechless for a moment. When the glare finally died down, they saw a massive ring of burning gases emanating from the place the station had been a moment ago and the expanding shock wave rushed headlong toward the Zephyr at an astonishing speed.

“Brace for impact!” Sahni shouted. Ree scrambled to relay the message over the ship-wide intercom channel, but there was no time. The Zephyr rocked backward from the force and listed to the starboard as Rojur fought the controls. The inertia dampeners flickered, and for a heartbeat, the potency of the shock was felt throughout the ship in every living person on board.

Later, Rojur would wonder how he had done it, but he managed to turn the nose into the blast and ride it out. Moments passed before the ship stabilized and calm returned. Automatically, he looked around the bridge to check on the others, but his throat tightened when he noticed Zahn's body on the floor now at his feet. He turned his head, his lips tight in a grim line.

“Status report, Ree,” Sahni said to the communications officer.

“Contacting departments now, sir.”

“Sahni, look!” Dwes pointed toward the windows. The station they had fired upon was gone and space was littered with massive chunks of debris. The second Shraeloni fortress had also suffered damage from the blast and all its lights were dark.

“Captain,” Maku's voice erupted from the intercom speaker, “I'm launching six ships to rescue our pilots.”

“Proceed with your operations, Maku,” Sahni replied.

“Aye, sir.”

Ree turned around in his chair and looked up at the first officer. “Defense screens are down to an average of thirty percent, though in some vital areas they are still holding at one hundred,” he reported. “Most departments near the hull have sustained damage, though an estimate won't be ready until time for assessment can be had – everyone's pretty shaken up, but most are in high spirits at the defeat of the Shroomers.” He looked up over the rim of his glasses and added, “Sick Bay reports thirty-one dead and an uncounted number of wounded they're still treating.”

He coughed and then continued. “The forward observation deck, pulse cannon batteries three and six, and Bio Lab Two have all been destroyed. Chief engineer Toco reports that it will be necessary to repair the breaches in the hull before we can attempt another warp jump.” Ree's hand went to his earphones as another report came in. “The galley has implemented emergency rationing until they can do a full diagnostic on the food storage units, effective immediately.” He glanced over at Rojur. “Everyone on board Hidalgo got into suits in time.”

Sahni looked at Dwes. “What about Shraeloni activity?”

The science officer glanced up to the forward windows at the surviving station and then back to his monitor. “There are several small systems recovering from the power drain and coming back on-line, but major operations are showing deactivated. All Shroomers not destroyed are immobile.” He stood up and stretched his back. “I believe we're out of danger for the moment.”

“Okay,” Sahni replied, “Keep monitoring the enemy and let me know of any change in their status. We can’t go anywhere right now, and I’d rather not be unprepared for more assaults.”

“Aye, sir.”

“We could use a respite after that, but I don’t think we have the time. Ree, have Maku assemble four survey teams. They should be equipped to penetrate into the remaining Shraeloni station on an information-gathering mission,” Sahni commanded. “I want to know as much about that place as we can find out while the rest of us are making repairs.”

“Aye, sir.”

Sahni looked down over the bridge crew and added, “We’ll need relief personnel to fill the vacant stations, too.”

***

Chieko wandered blindly down the dark corridor, wishing she had a hand lamp to find her way to her cabin. All the passage light panels were inoperable here, and it was likely the repair teams would not be in this area for a while. As she approached the spot her quarters should be, she thought she heard the sobbing of a child. To her knowledge, there was only one child on board the vessel.

She rounded a corner and saw the faint yellow glow of a hand lamp beam in desperate need of recharging. It swung up the corridor at the sounds of her approach and immediately began bobbing as the child ran to her.

Brandon threw himself into her arms and she held him close. Poor dear, Chieko thought to herself, he's probably never been around so much fighting before. Brandon trembled as he cried. After a moment, he pulled away from her and grabbed one of her hands. She followed him down the passage until they stood in front of their cabins. It was the doorway across the hall he faced, however.

Brandon pointed a trembling finger at the door and tried to talk though the gasps in his voice. “She...she's in there!”

“Who?” Chieko asked.

“R-Red!”

Chieko looked at the door marker and saw it was the forward observation lounge. A blinking light on a panel near the door drew her attention and she leaned closer to read it: 

Chamber Depressurized 

She swallowed involuntarily. There would be no saving the captain's wolf. She looked back at Brandon and slowly shook her head. The youth knew her meaning and began to cry again. Chieko held him close and did what she could to comfort the child. In the darkness and the midst of the destruction, she began to regret starting this whole affair again; the number of deaths of the Silverton's crew, her husband and those who had died from this great ship were mounting. She began to wonder about the Shraeloni legends and prayed silently that the treasure to be found at the end of their journey would be worth the blood spilled to get it. The price was getting high.

Suddenly a bright beam of light cut into the darkness and illuminated them both. Rojur stepped forward and knelt beside them. Brandon looked up at him with tear-streaked cheeks and when he saw Alex behind him, the child jumped up and ran to his waiting arms. As Blackthorne stroked the boy's hair and spoke soft, soothing words of comfort, Rojur turned to Chieko.

“We are gathering teams to go over and inspect the Shraeloni fortress,” he said, “and since you have knowledge of their past culture, I wondered if you would be interested in being a part of my team.”

Chieko looked at him suspiciously. “Is this another one of your dirty assignments for me?”

Rojur shook his head solemnly. “No more assignments, this is entirely up to you. I will not hold it against you if you decline the mission. I just thought I would give you the chance to go along.”

She nodded her head after a moment's hesitation. “Thank you, I would like to go. What do I need to do?”

Rojur opened his mouth to speak, but closed it when a hand touched his arm.

“Count me in,” Blackthorne told him.

Rojur lifted an eyebrow. “It will be safer for you if you remained on board the Zephyr.”

“You're our ticket home, Rojur,” Alex replied. “From now on, where you go, I go.”

“Me, too!” added Brandon's quavering voice.

“Wrong,” the esper countered. “I will feel better if I know you two are safe here, rather than having to make sure you do not get lost or trip some booby trap in the fortress.”

“Mistakes you could make yourself, leaving Brandon and myself stranded here!” Blackthorne shot back, poking the other man in the chest with a finger. “You've already given us more than we bargained for with this trip, Rojur. You owe us the opportunity to make our own decisions.”

Rojur put a hand lightly on Chieko's shoulder. “Not this time, Alex.”

The esper vanished abruptly, taking the blue-haired woman with him. Blackthorne stood mute for a moment in the blackness of the corridor; Rojur had also taken the lamp. The temptation to drive his fist though the bulkhead was strong, but Brandon resumed mourning for the loss of his lupine friend.

***

Rojur was waiting in the control room of the landing bay when the Hidalgo touched down. As soon as the hangar doors were sealed and the craft's systems shut down, the esper teleported onto the ship's bridge. The only person still in the compartment was Trin, who was bent over a display. Rojur deliberately made a sound as he walked up behind him.

Trin turned at the noise and Rojur hit him in the jaw with a punch driven by pent up anger. The weapons officer spun around and fell over the command chair. Before he had time to even wonder what had happened, the esper grabbed his uniform collar and dragged him to his feet. Without releasing the garment, Rojur hit him again. Trin fell hard to the deck when the esper dropped him.

Trin looked up from his prone position and squinted through his left eye. The other eye refused to open through the swelling. A trickle of blood escaped his nose and dribbled down onto his uniform. “I should have been expecting you, Es-Par....” he managed to say around swelling lips.

“You dare to provoke me further?” Rojur exclaimed. “Get up! Get up, you mutinous filthy beggar! I am going to knock your teeth down your throat and then stuff you inside a warp generator!”

“Why should I fight you?” Trin replied with a hard glare. “You would only use your... demonic magic to defend yourself. Save us both the trouble and go kiss a Shroomer, freak...”

“It is bad enough to have to live with the knowledge that my own race despises me,” Rojur said through clenched teeth, “but I have to have one of you stinking bigots hounding me on a ship I cannot get off of!”

“Tell me, Delon Santrojur,” Trin said as he rose up on his elbows. “Does your father know you're on this ship?” Rojur's eyes grew wide in shock. “Oh, yes, I know who you are. I wonder what kind of reaction Rayce Santrojur would have if he knew you were back.”

Rojur leaned down, grabbed Trin's uniform again, and hauled him up to his feet. Trin did not resist, nor did he attempt to fight back, despite his own anger. “My only real relief from you would be to shove your body out an airlock!” Rojur growled.

Maku stepped into the room at that moment and heard the esper's last remark. The large security officer dashed in and grabbed Rojur's arm and gave it a hard enough squeeze that he released his hold on Trin. Maku pushed them apart and glared at them both.

“I don't know what your problem is, Rojur,” he said, “but Trin is still a member of our crew until he stands trial and I won't have you threatening him with bodily harm! You heard the captain's order!”

“This is a personal matter,” Rojur replied. “It has nothing to do with his mutiny.”

Maku motioned for Trin to leave. “Get down to medical and then report to Sahni.” Trin nodded and left silently. The security officer turned back to face Rojur. “Listen,” he said sternly, “You are a guest on this ship – a civilian. Captain Kehtan has given you a little too much freedom and authority in the affairs of this vessel, in my opinion. I've worked with you and have come to appreciate your help, but beware... I have no tolerance on my ship for the kind of action you proposed a moment ago. Now, are you going to abide by our rules on board, or do I have to sedate you and place you in the brig for the remainder of our voyage?”

Rojur forced himself to calm down, and though when he spoke a minute later his voice was steady, his blood pounded loudly in his own ears.

“Understood.” He offered no further explanation or excuse, but just merely waited until Maku was finished with him.

The security officer took a deep breath and nodded, fully aware the esper had not actually answered him. “Go take a break, Rojur, and get ready for your assignment – should you decide to continue to grant us your help. I have a crew already working to recharge and repair this ship for a quick turnaround. Go clear your head and try to calm yourself so you'll be worth having around for the mission.”

“Of course,” Rojur said, “you are right. I have a small request to make, however.”

“What is it?”

“Keep Trin away from me.”

“That can be arranged.”

“One more thing...” Rojur hesitated when Maku's eyes darkened, but then continued. “Earlier, Trin called me an Es-Par. I just want you to be aware that the term is the worst possible thing someone can call a Roswein. I am sure you probably do not realize just what it means to a person, but it has driven men to violence.”

***

Sahni sat down gently on the edge of Kehtan's bed. The captain was sleeping soundly and Blake had informed her that he would be back up in a day or two, as soon as the wounds had time to begin healing properly under his care.

She reached over and brushed a strand of hair from Kehtan's forehead as she studied his face. There were many more lines there than had been when she had first served with him on the Two Star, and she thought he looked a decade older than his actual age. She assumed it was the worry of command that had done this to her friend and once again began to wonder about the outcome of this particular adventure. There were too many variables here to harbor even a guess at the results.

She looked across the room toward another bed. Dayl was sitting up with her back to a pillow, reading a tablet that someone had thought to bring her. The helm officer glanced up when she felt the first officer's eyes on her.

“How is he?” Dayl asked. Sahni got up and walked to the other bed. She sat at the foot and smiled slightly.

“He'll be okay with rest, I’m told. How are you doing?” she asked.

Dayl ran the fingers of her right hand through her short violet hair and crooked her smile sideways. “Alex says I will probably be up and about in three days if I behave...two days longer than I would have thought.” She leaned closer toward Sahni and added with a smirk, “Personally, I think he just enjoys giving me a sponge-bath too much to let me go so soon!”

Sahni laughed and smiled the first smile she had in several days. “Possibly,” she replied.

Dayl then sat back on her pillow and assumed an air of pouting. “What I can't understand is why Zahn hasn't come to see me yet. He's such a sentimental kid and I had expected him to fall over himself to see to my every want!” She chuckled as she visualized the scene. “Have you got him so tied up in repairs that he can't visit me for even a few minutes?”

Sahni frowned and looked down at the floor. “Dayl... Zahn is...” She fell silent for a moment, not knowing how to break the news. “Zahn is...”

“He's dead... isn't he?” Dayl asked in a whisper. Her eyes became moist, but she held back the tears that threatened to come. “Somehow, I knew - even though everyone else refused to talk about him. Zahn...” She bit her lower lip and looked up at the ceiling. “He was... uh... a good man.” She cleared her throat and looked at the first officer. “...and a tender lover.”

Sahni moved closer and then Dayl found she was not as strong as she believed. She took the arms offered to her and wept.

***

Three hours later, the Hidalgo's bulk eased out of the landing bay of the Zephyr and moved toward the remaining Shraeloni fortress. Three Stingrays with a Shard escort each had gone on ahead with their teams, each group's destination a specific part of the fortress. The Hidalgo's mission was to seek out the master system controlling the station.

Rojur was in charge of this particular team, which consisted of Maku, Chieko, Daniel and Pip. The power systems on the Hidalgo were fully recharged, including its armament and, in spite of the beating it had taken under Trin's command during the previous battle, the ship had held up well. It didn’t take long for them to reach the fortress.

“Scanners have pinpointed the main power source,” Maku said. “It's trying to recharge itself, but if I read these indicators correctly, the damage may be too bad for it to compensate; the waveform keeps fluctuating.” He looked up from his monitor and gazed out the forward window as they approached what appeared to be an open bay. “Unless some backup systems can kick in and reactivate everything,” he added, “I would say that all operations should go dead within thirty hours.”

“Then we won't have much time to explore the fortress thoroughly,” Chieko commented. The Hidalgo entered the open bay doors of the station and flew up a long and dark, featureless tube. Maku activated the forward beams to light the way. They soon passed through another set of massive open doors and then into what looked to be a landing bay.

Pip let out a whistle of astonishment as the others stared open-mouthed. Maintenance stalls stretched for nearly as far as their forward lights could penetrate, nearly all still full of the relentless Shroomers.

“We never even saw the beginning number of these things!” Daniel exclaimed. Chieko's heart leapt into her throat at the sight. If it had not been for the captain's Parasite, the Zephyr could not have survived a full-scale attack by these stations. How incredibly fortunate they had been so far. What other hidden dangers awaited them still? What was it the captain had said? “Although we have a key to avoiding their traps along the way, the closer we get to Shraelon, the more likely it will be heavier guarded. You can count on more battles, so prepare yourselves.” How true, she thought to herself. It was doubtful that anyone was truly prepared. Maku's voice broke Chieko out of her musing.

“Uh-oh, folks - we've got a couple of live ones!” he exclaimed.

At the far end of the bay, two Shroomers hovered directly in their path. Upon closer inspection as Pip and Daniel jumped to the armament controls, the drones' behavior was erratic; their spinning caps rotated out of balance.

“Looks like they're not fully recovered,” Pip remarked. “Permission to take 'me out?”

“You may sauté these mushrooms,” was the esper’s deadpan reply.

Two well-placed shots blew the Shroomers out of the way so the Hidalgo could exit the bay and head into a smaller corridor. Though no one noticed the slight fluctuation of an indicator, their ship passed through a thin energy field. Maku scanned for further pursuers, but there were none.

“Look up at the ceiling, Rojur,” Maku said. “Main power conduits are running the length of this access way. If we follow them, they should lead us toward the main systems of the fortress.”

Five minutes later the passage came to an abrupt end and the Hidalgo was forced to set down in order for them to continue on foot. Rojur locked the systems down as Maku tested an air sample with an external collector.

“I don't believe it,” the large man said. “We have acceptable air pressure and a breathable atmosphere!”

Rojur stepped beside him to study the monitor. “Why would an automated station need an atmosphere?” he asked. “According to legend, the Shraeloni all died out a thousand years ago.”

“No,” Chieko corrected, “The legends only said they mysteriously disappeared. Could some of them still be alive here - even after all this time?”

“If the air pressure and atmosphere are correct for us to operate without suits,” Rojur said as he handed an equipment case to Daniel, “we will be able to move quicker in our limited amount of time.”

“That's good news, since I didn’t bring a pressure suit with me,” Alex replied.

Rojur spun around and saw his companion step into the bridge compartment. Blackthorne wore an expression of defiance. Chieko smiled and moved to his side.

“What is he doing here?” Maku growled.

“He's going to guard the Hidalgo for us,” Rojur replied tight-lipped. “Aren't you, Alex?”

“Nothing doing, Rojur. From now on, where you go, I go.”

Maku turned to the esper. “You're both civilians, and shouldn't even be here,” he said, “but I have my orders to follow your command on this mission, so it's up to you.”

“If you had your wish, we would both be locked into the aft compartments?”

“That's right.”

“Not this time,” Rojur said with a sigh. “He is coming with us. He may yet be useful.”

Without another word, the rest of the team gathered up the items they would need and followed Maku to the airlock. He had tested the air twice more before becoming satisfied that they would be safe, but he still opened the door with reservation.

The security officer was the first out the door, his weapon held ready. At the foot of the exit ramp, he stopped and sniffed the air. It was stale and had a strange odor, but it was breathable. The temperature was chilly and he tapped out a pattern on the buttons of his uniform. The material warmed a bit and he nodded to the others in satisfaction. Without another word, he motioned them forward after they had all adjusted their uniforms likewise.

“There’s gravity here,” Pip whispered in surprise.

Rojur hung to the back of the group and sent to Alex. |I should teleport you back to the Zephyr, but beyond my better judgment, I am letting you go with us. Try to stay out of trouble and do not touch anything!| Alex narrowed his eyes, but said nothing.

The corridor beyond was dim. There were glowing light panels in odd places along the walls, though only a third of them seemed to be operational. Rojur shut the airlock to the Hidalgo. The team headed down the passage, following the power lines as quickly as they could.

***

The team stopped at a massive grey door in the corridor. The power conduits passed though the wall beside it and they surmised a power plant was beyond that portal. Pip found a control panel and activated it. The barrier slid down into the floor silently. Chieko gripped the weapon she had been issued, and then she took the first step into the next room.

They saw row upon row of massive power generators in the expanse of the room beyond. As they advanced closer, they could see crescent-shaped indicators operating. These they interpreted as an attempt to recharge the station's main batteries. A dull throbbing could be felt in the deck plates as they stood and watched.

Maku pointed to a lighted glass partition on level above them. “I'd gamble that's the main control room for this facility.” As it was the only room set apart from the rest of the generator complex, there were no takers on his wager.

Alex located a small transport on tracks that led up toward the control room, but they were unable to get it to function. Obviously, all nonessential systems on the station were shut down until further power was available.

“How do we get up there?” Daniel said. “I see no other ladders or elevators.”

Rojur drew Pip and Daniel away from the others and said, “Each of you put a hand on my shoulders.” They did as instructed, guessing what he had in mind. They disappeared from sight and Maku saw them rematerialize on the platform above them. A moment later, the esper returned for the others.

“Okay, team, do just what I told them,” Rojur ordered. Maku, Chieko and Alex each made contact with him and they were rejoined with Pip and Daniel an instant later.

“That… was surreal,” Maku remarked, rubbing his eyes.

“There are what appear to be several sentries near the control entrance,” Pip reported.

“Are they humanoid?” Chieko asked.

“Only in general shape,” the tech answered as the team crouched behind a bank of machinery. “The head of that thing resembles the head of an ant and has what I would guess to be a solitary camera eye mounted in the middle. I wouldn’t think there’s a human head in there; it's a robot, all right.” Pip knew the woman was hoping for actual Shraeloni on board since they'd discovered the breathable atmosphere, but it was in his own opinion that after the fortress had been abandoned to automation, the life support systems were merely forgotten and left operational and recycling, even though no air breathers lived there any longer.

Rojur dashed away from the group to another instrument panel nearer the control room. Two of the sentries in dark red armor reacted instantly and fired volleys of blue-white energy beams at him. The console he hid behind sparked and issued a little smoke, but otherwise afforded him protection; the beams weren't very powerful, but he was sure they would be unhealthy to living tissue. He waved back at the others that could see him in his crouched position at the same time he sent a message to Blackthorne.

|Alex, Pip is toting a device akin to a small grenade launcher. Make a suggestion that he gift one to the guards.|

He saw Alex lean toward the tech and Pip's resulting nod. Pip slipped a long-barreled tube from his shoulder pack and keyed in a code on a small panel on its side. He hefted it up on his shoulder and took aim. Alex grabbed Chieko's arm and pulled her to the side, out of the line of fire.

When Pip fired his weapon, a metallic sphere leapt from the tube with a sound not unlike a violent cough. The projectile soared over Rojur's position and lobbed directly into the nearest of the guard robots.

Whoom! Two of the sentries flew into pieces, scattering their parts around the area, confirming Pip's assumption that they were constructs. The remaining five guards opened fire on the team's position, driving everyone further under cover. Pip took a quick risk and popped up long enough to squeeze off another shot. Only one robot went down this time, as the sentries had spread out away from one another.

Alex had been studying the sentries and noted just how smoothly they moved; they didn't have the slow, though exacting reflexes of the early mechanical robots of his time, but moved as naturally as any living being. Had he not heard his companions refer to them as robots or constructs, he might have thought there were live people inside those metallic suits.

A sudden idea came to Rojur as he shielded himself from flying debris of blasted consoles. He reached into his pack and pulled out a handful of small metal globes, each the size of a golf ball. He held four of them in one hand and returned the others to his pack. On those he held, he toggled a tiny mechanical switch on each and then prepared himself. He fixed the image of the robots in his mind and then teleported to a position behind them. With adrenaline-powered reflexes, the esper affixed globes to the backs of two robots before they detected his presence and spun around to take care of him.

Rojur was ready, however, and teleported back to his previous position. When the guards returned their attention to the intruders, he repeated his maneuver and attached the remaining globes to the others. One of them turned swiftly and fired at him pointblank, but Rojur's shield saved him from harm. The blast drove him back against the wall of the control room and he felt the psionic barrier weaken. Before it had a chance to fire another at him, Rojur pulled his sleeve up and thumbed a button mounted into the side of his chronograph.

Each of the globes split into halves and released a strong mixture onto the surface of the robots' outer layer of metallic skin. The chemical produced a terrific heat and melted through their armor quickly with a bright white light; the guards were immobilized without the chance for them to fire another shot.

Rojur let out a sigh of relief and wiped a hand across his forehead. It was getting difficult to maintain constant shielding, so he dropped it altogether to conserve his strength. He had not been eating regularly and the events in recent days had not left him very well rested, all of which affected his control on his psionic abilities.

As the others rushed up to him, they all heard a crackling of energy. Alex pointed to the door of the control room at an energy barrier that suddenly appeared to block their entrance.

Daniel rummaged through his pack briefly and removed a spherical object the size of a baseball. “Let me have your launcher,” he said to Pip. He took the gun and loaded the new ammunition into it.

He crouched down in a stable position and aimed the launcher toward the nearest of the generators. “Permission to fire, sir?”

Rojur smiled and nodded.

The gun coughed again, but this time a bright blue ball of light shot out from the end. The glowing orb hit the target and released a powerful sheet of energy. This resulted in the immediate shutdown of the generator. No explosion, no meltdown, just an interruption of power. Lights in their section of the fortress went out and background system noises began to quiet, including the control room barrier.

“That should disrupt things for about five minutes,” the tech remarked.

Rojur nodded to Maku. The security officer picked up a fragment of metal from the still robots and tossed it at the control room door. It bounced harmlessly to the floor; the energy barrier was down. Satisfied, Maku opened the door and jumped inside, his weapon at the ready.

Rojur followed him in with the others trailing behind. The room was large, but not expansive, and only a few emergency light panels glowed to illuminate it. There were monitors and instrument panels arranged in a circle around a metal column in the center of the chamber. In front of the twenty stations were chairs, and in each chair sat a robot. These robots were different from the others they had had seen so far. Their armor was dark blue, but one in particular was green, apparently designated for a different function.

Although the rest of the area was temporarily immobilized, the robots of this room jumped up from their seats as the invaders entered their domain. The Zephyr team immediately found themselves fired upon.

Pip clenched his teeth tightly as he dove for cover behind a console and quickly reloaded his launcher. Rojur and Maku fired their weapons as Alex and Chieko retreated back out the doorway. Daniel dropped to the ground, his right leg cut into by one of the robots' beams.

Daniel yelled as he dropped. The beam had clipped him just below the knee through the fleshy part of his leg, but immense pain attacked his nervous system and he began to spasm uncontrollably. Chieko gulped back a scream and tried to reach the injured tech, but the firefight was too intense for her to get to him.

Pip launched a small explosive grenade into the thickest part of the robots and the resulting detonation destroyed six of them; Rojur took out two more and Maku got three. The robots continued the defense of their control room with determined violence.

A near-blast on the console in front of Maku pelted his face with debris. He dropped back and swiftly picked a few hot metal fragments out of his check that had stuck to the soft skin. His face stung, but otherwise he was unharmed. He afforded a quick glance at Daniel, who had stopped moving. He shook his head and was filled with new determination. Pip lobbed off another grenade as the security officer returned to the fray.

The launched grenade went up to the ceiling that time and blew a number of instrument monitors from their mounts. The debris rained down upon the robots and drove them to the floor. The firefight came to an abrupt end.

The Zephyr team stayed on the alert, but once the dust had settled there was no movement from their attackers. Generating his shield around him, Rojur stood up and advanced toward the main console. His steps took him past the fallen green robot, but he gave it only a cursory glance.

One by one, the members of the team emerged from their protection and moved into the room. Alex went to Daniel and examined him. The man’s face was frozen in terror and the muscles of his body were seized up in the contractions of his death throes. His eyes were bulging from his sockets and Alex picked up a small piece of metal that lay aside and placed it over Daniel’s face gently. He shook his head solemnly when Maku quietly placed a hand on his shoulder. With nothing that he could do, Blackthorne stood up and joined the others.

Chieko stopped near the green robot and knelt to examine it. The body was humanoid in appearance, but the insect-like head had a reflective panel across the front, rather than the solitary camera they had seen on the others. Curious, she holstered her weapon and grabbed the head. She turned it slowly and noted that the mirrored glass was broken.

Pip joined her side and held out a small hand lamp. He shined it into the interior of the helmet and gasped. Chieko tried to get back up quickly, but she bumped into Pip's arm and knocked the lamp from his hand.

“What is it?” Rojur asked.

“It - it's human...”

“What?” Maku exclaimed. He moved to the green figure's side and looked into the faceplate. Inside was a pale human head with two eyes, a hooked nose over a small mouth and real flesh, although grey in color. He examined the helmet and discovered two quick-release connectors. He removed the covering and exposed a completely hairless head with softly pointed ears.

Alex jumped suddenly when the power came back on in the control room, though the resumed energy seemed weaker than it had moments ago. All the consoles that hadn't been damaged in the firefight lit up in a rainbow of color, though there were no overhead lights.

The humanoid's eyes snapped opened and Chieko started with a small gasp. Rojur quickly looked around the room, but none of the other robots stirred. No, he corrected himself, they apparently are not robots. He looked back to the green-armored one and noted that a small damaged panel was partially open in the middle of its chest. A compartment inside revealed circuits, wiring and other mechanical devices, including three of the blue crystals. No flesh and blood body parts in there. A cyborg, then, Rojur thought.

The cyborg looked at each of those in the group and then finally settled its dark grey eyes upon Chieko. It (he/she?) began to speak the language of Shraelon, but the voice was raspy and difficult for her to understand.

The cyborg stopped, obviously realizing that it was unable to get its message across to them. Its eyes rolled upward as if thinking and then in a barely-audible raspy voice, it said two words in their own language. “Crystal look.” It moved its right arm and immediately everyone on the Zephyr team went on the defensive. Its hand moved the damaged panel in its chest aside and then reached into the open compartment. They heard a small click and its six-fingered hand emerged with one of the Shraeloni crystals. Slowly as so not to startle anyone, the cyborg extended his hand toward Chieko and offered the gem to her.

Chieko nodded and took the crystal. She told Maku what the cyborg had said and held up the gem. Maku opened the case he had brought along, and inside was a receptacle specifically designed to house the crystals they had accumulated during their journey. Chieko handed the newest one to him and he set it in the cradle. He worked the controls for a moment and then activated a switch.

The computer in the case scanned the information encoded on the crystal and began processing a translation. A moment later, it issued a holographic projection above them.

A planet with three small moons appeared and the image closed in on the green and blue planet. It showed forests, seas, plains, mountains and valleys that reminded both Rojur and Alex of the Earth, though the land masses in the oceans were different.

The cyborg then began to speak, but this time it was completely in the language of its conquerors. Maku glanced sharply at the cyborg, but it continued its narration.

“This is Shraelon, as it was untold eons ago...” the cyborg announced in an accented voice with a strange mechanical quality to it, “It was a perfect world. One race developed on the mother planet and wars were unheard of throughout its long history. The sky was clean, as was the land and seas beneath it. The inhabitants were long-lived and therefore reproduced rarely, and so their time was spent learning the ties of harmony between nature and science.

“The Shraeloni were brilliant and the rise of their technologies advanced over time much more quickly than any other race had ever achieved - so much that they began to trade their knowledge for other worlds' rare, natural resources. In just a few short centuries, the accumulated wealth of Shraelon far surpassed everything any other world had ever known.” The cyborg continued on for several minutes, its words matched up with the images that continued to display above them, as it told them of other encountered civilizations, some familiar and others so alien to be almost incomprehensible. When the images and narration reached an end, the grey face glanced around at the invaders and then said,

“Since you have survived all our attempts to stop you, and that you have defeated the mighty forces of Shraelon, the knowledge and wealth of Shraelon shall be yours.” Stunned silence surrounded the team. “However,” he continued, “you will receive no further instruction finding its location from stolen data. You will have to locate it with no more clues. We can no longer allow—”

The cyborg's head dropped onto its chest and Chieko knelt next to its side. All its movements ceased as she touched the cold cheek. “I think he's dead,” she whispered.

She stood back up and looked around the room. Maku replayed the silent images of the crystal and all of them watched it as though in a trance.

Chieko moved to Alex's side and embraced him gently. “We never found out about the original inhabitants,” she said. “I wonder what happened to them.”

“Jealous of our successes, another race of beings attacked us,” another voice answered. The group saw a cyborg in dark purple armor approaching them from an alcove on the far side of the room. This one’s helmet was off and a stain of dark crimson blood was smeared across a distinctly feminine, pale grey head. She carried no weapons that they could see.

“They did not attack the planet,” she continued, “but Shraelon's star. They were jealous of our successes and wealth, but instead of an involved invasion to take what they wanted, they merely destroyed our life-giving star. We retaliated, of course, and utterly annihilated them and their homeworld, but with all the technologies of our race, the Shraeloni still could not live without their sun.

“By this time, we had already begun to lay out our traps, snares and false leads, and had distributed our drones throughout the galaxy, so we set them to a new task before all was lost. It was vowed that none would possess the secrets of Shraelon unless the traps could be passed.”

“What happened to the inhabitants?” Alex asked. “Are you Shraeloni, or one of their creations?”

The cyborg fixed her gaze upon Blackthorne as he stopped a few feet from her. “Most died, but those who did manage to survive were changed by the sun's death. It was necessary to bond with machines to stay alive. The others you see in this room, plus those who were in our other stronghold, were those who had lived on in this manner. We are all that were left.” The cyborg looked saddened as she shifted her gaze to Chieko. “With the destruction of these two strongholds, our life-link is gone. There are no more of us and we are dying.”

Two more of the cyborgs rose shakily from the rubble and managed to get to their feet with trouble; various limbs were either damaged or missing. They moved slowly toward the gathered group and Rojur and Maku were instantly on the alert for a sudden attack, their weapons up and ready. The cyborgs drew no weapons of their own, however, and maintained a safe distance from the intruders.

“One final warning is for you,” the purple cyborg added. “Providing you can locate it, Shraelon is yours for the taking, but heed this advice and abandon your quest for our wealthy and technology. It was the cause of the destruction of the Shraeloni, and no other world should have to follow that path. So much power and knowledge will only disrupt your civilization and cause its own premature collapse. The technologies may prompt unavoidable war. To prevent this was our mission.”

Chieko moved forward and boldly put a hand upon the cyborg's arm. “We must find Shraelon! The knowledge of your race is needed!”

The cyborg looked into her eyes with a penetrating, unblinking stare. “Realize that you could be deciding the fate of your entire civilization if you continue your search. You must be completely at peace with yourself to take on such a responsibility.”

“I have already accepted that responsibility in my heart!” Chieko exclaimed. “I am... willing...” Her gaze seemed almost far away, though she stared directly at her.

The cyborg stared at her and heard one of her Shraeloni companions collapse to the floor beside her. She did not look at her fallen kin. She knew her own time was short – the life-link with the stronghold was gone. She was saddened. Firepower and vast resources could not stop these people, and neither could her words of wisdom and reason. Knowing what she must now do, the purple cyborg reached into her chest compartment and withdrew one of the blue crystals. She handed it to Chieko.

“A new decision. This contains the final and direct map you will need to find Shraelon.”

Before Chieko could speak, however, she reached inside and drew out another crystal, though this one was different. It was long, slender and deep emerald green. She placed it in Chieko’s other hand and then looked into her ice blue eyes.

“When you get to Shraelon, you will find an island above the northern magnetic pole. Inside a domed structure there, you will need to insert this crystal into a receptacle in the planet's primary control system. This will instruct it to give what should be given to you...” As the last word left her lips, the lights on the panels in the control room flickered. The cyborg's eyes rolled up into her head and she collapsed onto the floor at Chieko's feet.

The power of the station shut down completely then and the room was plunged into stygian darkness. Alex activated his hand lamp again; the other team members did the same.

Rojur aimed his lamp at Chieko as she gazed at the two crystals in her hands. A tear was streaming down her left cheek, but when she looked up at him, she smiled and radiated extreme joy.

“This... is what we've been waiting for!” she exclaimed.

“Was it worth Daniel dying for?” Pip asked coldly. Chieko's smile faded as her eyes went to the fallen tech. She bowed her head, but made no response to the question.

“We should get back to the Hidalgo,” Rojur said. Our job here is finished.”

Chapter 15

Captain Kehtan glanced around the bridge as the Zephyr prepared to leave the area. The past week had been spent on repairs to the ship and personnel. The captain was still a little sore beneath his ribs, but the wound itself had been healing well, though there were others on board who were not quite so lucky. Since the start of their journey, eons ago it seemed, his crew complement had been reduced by forty-six individuals, most of who had been on their first real venture into deep space.

The bridge appeared near spotless, a far cry from its condition a few weeks prior after the attack on the Shraeloni fortresses. The repairs had gone well, but slow; the loss of the main manufacturing shop had seriously hampered efforts to overhaul the damages, but materials salvaged from the remains of the silent fortresses were used to supplement their efforts. Voices in the command center were nonstop as each officer coordinated their systems with other departments.

Dayl was once again at the Helm, highly efficient in her duty but her usual cheerful demeanor was gone. Beside her at the newly rebuilt Navigation station was a young red-haired woman named Ellis, recently promoted to fill Zahn's vacated position. The two worked together in the capacity as partners in their tasks, but the camaraderie previously present was absent.

At the weapons console, Trin was also grim as he clenched a new toothpick between his teeth. There were many of the unfortunate consequences of this journey that he was responsible for and it was guaranteed that he would pay for his crimes upon returning to the Frontier; since the crew was shorthanded, however, the captain had chosen to keep the man at his post where he was needed.

Personally, the captain would rather have had Rojur on the bridge than Trin, but from the report his security officer had given him concerning the esper's threat, he could not risk having the outsider involved in any further situations of authority. Although Rojur had been a member of his crew on a previous ship, those times were past. The esper was now a civilian.

Despite this, however, Kehtan had recognized the fact that Rojur seemed to know a lot about this particular vessel, although he had never been on the Zephyr previous to this maiden voyage. It was puzzling, because no matter what task he was set to, Rojur seemed to have the knowledge needed to handle the assignment correctly. The Zephyr was too new a design to have become familiar to anyone but those who had the training for it. There was obviously more to Rojur than he would admit to.

“Dwes,” the captain said to the science officer, “how soon before operations are ready to proceed.”

Without looking up from his monitor, Dwes activated two switches and replied, “Ten minutes. Toco already has the main engines charged for full available warp power. The countdown is going smoothly – everyone is making final checks before the actual launch.”

Sahni wandered from station to station, looking over the shoulders of her people. She was tired of seeing the dead hulk of the Shraeloni fortress outside the forward windows and was glad when Dayl maneuvered the nose of the ship to a point coinciding with the trajectory the final crystal map had provided.

“Ellis,” the first officer said, “are you sure the coordinates are set?”

“Triple checked, sir,” the navigator replied with confidence. She unconsciously ran a finger through her feathered bangs as she kept her eyes on her monitor. She may have just been promoted to officer rank, but she was far from new to her job. “Stabilizers have been extended, inertial dampers are active, and all systems are ready for launch.”

Sahni nodded and moved on. When she stood behind Trin's chair, her throat tightened. She felt nothing but loathing for this man – an individual from the same planet as the man whom she loved. Her emotions were in turmoil every time she neared Trin, but she reminded herself to stay professional in her thinking.

“It is possible that we may fly right into a trap,” she said when he looked up at her. “I want all weapon systems on standby when we make our jump, in case we have to fight our way out of anything.”

“Aye, sir,” Trin agreed. “Everything's on automatic standby, including our new Shraeloni armaments.”

“Good.” Sahni looked at the chronograph on Trin’s display. It was only a matter of moments.

***

Alex paced the floor of his cabin, ill at ease with everything around him. The vacation had lasted a good deal longer than anything he would have planned, and there was nothing he could do to get started on the journey home. With the countdown currently under operation, the Zephyr was going to take them even further away. Blackthorne was in such dark spirits that Rojur kept away from him, and Brandon seemed almost afraid of his temper. Even Chieko, the woman he thought he had started a shipboard relationship with, had located other lodgings in the cabin vacated by Rojur. Not only that, but even though he had been a much-needed help in the beginning, Blake had grown tired of Alex's lack of modern medical knowledge and had relieved him from any responsibility in the Sick Bay; there were others on board far more experienced that he could rely upon in the event there were further emergencies. Without anything to keep him occupied, Blackthorne was feeling bored and caged.

Brandon walked into the room and eyed him suspiciously. He moved to his own bed, and Alex noticed that the youth kept a respectable distance across the room. Blackthorne lowered his eyes and sat on the edge of his bunk.

“I don't know what's wrong with me,” he said quietly. “I am so tired...” He closed his eyes and rested his head against the wall beside him. A moment later, he felt a hand on his arm. He looked up and saw Brandon beside him, a mixture of fear and concern in his cobalt blue eyes. Blackthorne managed a weary smile. He knew what he needed to do.

“I need a hug,” he told the boy. A small cry of relief escaped Brandon's lips and he quickly wrapped his arms around Alex's neck. When Blackthorne returned the fierce hug, he smiled to himself and kissed his son on the side of the head.

“I'm sorry, Brandon,” he said. “I've been a bear lately and I know I haven't been easy to live with. Forgive me?”

Brandon grinned. “I forgive you, Dad.” He hugged Alex again in delight. It was the first time the boy had smiled in a week. Suddenly, the deck began to throb. They knew without seeing that the ship had just begun a warp jump.

Alex stood up and put an arm across his son's shoulders. “Let's go see if the mess hall's back in operation and try to sneak a treat.”

“Yeah!” Brandon said with a grin.

As the pair passed through the doorway, Brandon stopped and cast a mournful glance toward the observation lounge. The breach in the outer bulkhead had been repaired a few days previously, but nothing had been found of the captain's companion. Brandon had seen her go into the room from down the corridor only a moment before an enemy blast had torn open a hole in the wall of the compartment and he had been disconsolate over the loss ever since. Alex sensed the boy's mood and wished there were something he could do to lift his spirits. He was about to coax Brandon to continue on their way when he noticed a change of feeling from the youth.

“D'ya hear that?” Brandon whispered as he stood as still as stone.

Alex copied the motion and strained his ears. It was faint, but he heard a light scraping noise ahead. He glanced toward the observation lounge door and shook his head. He doubted his thoughts, but he acted on them anyway. He moved to the lounge door, but Brandon stopped him with a tug at his sleeve.

“Not there,” he said. He looked toward the next door up the hallway. When they neared the other door, Brandon was positive the sound came from inside. Alex activated the mechanism and the panel slid sideways.

In the darkness of the empty room lay the captain's wolf friend. “Red!” Brandon exclaimed. Both knelt beside the large animal as Brandon began crying in relief. Alex placed a gentle hand on the Ronan wolf's head and noted that she was in poor condition. She looked starved and dehydrated, and could barely lift her head from the floor. Alex guessed she had ducked into this room prior to the blast and Brandon had merely assumed she had been in the observation lounge instead. Her frame was bony and her breathing was raspy, but her weary eyes beheld the love she had for the youth.

Blackthorne gently pushed Brandon aside and slid his arms under the wolf, hoping he could lift the animal. “Let's get her to Sick Bay,” he said.

***

Rojur stood in a dark corner of engineering, trying to keep out of the way. With repairs completed and orders to stay off the bridge, he had plenty of spare time on his hands, but refused to sit around doing nothing.

Actually, he did not blame Captain Kehtan for stripping him of his “civilian authority” (as he had called it). Trin's remarks had made him furious, particularly the comment about his father. Providing they all survived this treasure hunt and got back to the Frontier, he would have to return to twenty-first century Earth as quickly as possible with Alex and Brandon. It appeared that his father had people watching for him, so he could not risk being found again.

Rojur sighed and glanced down at the control panel beneath his arm. Idly, he reached down, adjusted a pressure gauge setting and toggled two switches. “Sloppy...” he muttered to himself. “Why won't people learn to operate systems to specifications?” He looked up as footsteps approached. It was Toco.

“Rojur,” the bald man said, “I would appreciate it if you would leave my engine room. You don't belong here and the captain has ordered it.” Toco placed a hand on the esper's shoulder. “Sorry about that, but you know how it is.”

“Yeah,” Rojur replied. Since it was now well known on board that he was an esper, he didn't mind using his talents openly. Without another word to the Chief engineer, he brushed the man's hand from his shoulder and then simply teleported away.

When he rematerialized, Rojur was in Sahni's quarters. At least she had not thrown him out. He sat on their bed and looked around the room, but a moment later, he stood back up and moved to her terminal. He keyed in a code from memory and was granted immediate access to the system. He worked a few moments more and soon had several specific engineering documents on the screen. He moved straight to a special file that was rigged to allow no one into it without a password. Without hesitation, he keyed in the encryption and had available to him everything within the entire data bank of the Zephyr's computer.

With silent determination, he moved through the database and located the captain's personal journal. Kehtan's own private password was easily overridden and Rojur settled in to read the entries since the beginning of the voyage.

***

Chieko arrived on the bridge and walked to the captain's chair. Kehtan looked up at her when she stopped at his left side. “You wanted to see me, Captain?” she asked.

“Yes, Chieko. We will soon arrive at the place the crystal map says the legendary planet of Shraelon should be. Since you are the one who started this treasure hunt, I thought you would want to see it first from the bridge.”

“Thank you, Captain,” she said, “I would.”

“Coming out of warp now, Captain,” Ellis reported.

“Thank you,” he said. All eyes went to the forward windows. The view screen showed the same images directly in front of the ship, but everyone wanted to see the legend with their own eyes through the clear glass. When the star smudging subsided, the Zephyr emerged into normal space and the sight they beheld was nothing like what they had expected.

Chieko walked to the railing at the front of the upper command deck and leaned against it. Down below, Maku slowly stood up and scratched his head. Kehtan looked over at Sahni and then to Dwes. Finally, his eyes rested back on the blue-haired woman.

“W-where...?” Chieko stammered, “Where is it?”

The Zephyr floated in space, alone. There were no stars within several light years of their position, and no planetary system in sight.

Kehtan rested his chin on his hand and sat in silence as he thought. The rest of the bridge crew became animated in conversation as they all wanted to know what had gone wrong.

“Chieko,” the captain said, in a voice barely loud enough for her to hear over the commotion. She turned to him quietly as she heard the condemnation in his words. “It appears the Shraeloni have kept true to their vow and led us astray, possibly in the opposite direction from where the actual planet is located.”

“No!” Chieko shrieked. “It's here! It has to be!”

“There's nothing here, Chieko,” Sahni said in a soft voice when the entire bridge quieted at the woman's exclamation. “There's not a single star anywhere near these coordinates.”

Chieko turned her tear-filled eyes toward the windows and clenched her fists. “Joska,” she whispered to herself, “show it to me...”

“Ellis,” the captain said, “begin plotting a course to take us back to the Frontier. It appears our adventure is over.”

“No!” Chieko yelled again. “It’s here!”

Maku moved to the circular staircase at a nod from the captain. When he got to the upper deck, Kehtan said, “Get her off my bridge, Maku.”

“Course plotted, captain,” Ellis reported. “We can begin any time.”

“Wait!” Chieko exclaimed as the security officer approached her. She held up a hand as if to ward him off. “Remember what the cyborg said? We don't see a star because the Shraeloni sun was destroyed... remember?” 

“Jealous of our success, another race of aliens attacked us. They did not attack the planet, but Shraelon's star. They were jealous of our successes and wealth, but instead of an involved invasion to take what they wanted, they merely destroyed our life-giving star. We retaliated, of course, and utterly annihilated them and their homeworld, but with all the technologies of our race, the Shraeloni still could not live without their sun.” 

Maku turned to Kehtan. “Sir? What if she's right?”

After a hesitant pause the captain said, “Dwes, do a gravitational scan of the area for an unseen planetary body.”

Chieko watched the science officer intently as he worked and held her breath when his eyes widened. Minutes stretched on as the ship’s sensors swept the area.

“Captain!” Dwes exclaimed after nearly ten quiet minutes, “We’re reading a planetary mass – approximately twenty-five percent larger in size than Rona, at a distance of only two hundred forty million kilometers above and behind our present position! It’s practically on top of us!”

“It’s Shraelon!” Chieko yipped, clapping her hands together with a pop.

Dwes then added, “It also appears to be frozen.”

“Frozen?” Sahni asked.

Dwes continued his scans. “With no sun to keep it thawed out in the absolute cold of space, the whole planet is frozen,” he said.

“Then… even the atmosphere will be frozen solid,” Ree commented glumly.

“No,” Dwes corrected, “there are no readings of an atmosphere, frozen or not. It's possible it burned or stripped away when the star was destroyed.”

Chieko turned to the captain. “Sir, would it be permissible to send a ship down to check it out?”

“It would be pointless to come all this way and ignore it,” the captain muttered before turning to Dwes. “Provide the coordinates to navigation. Ellis, plot a course up there and put us into a polar orbit.”

“Aye, sir,” both said in unison.

“Sahni,” he said, “have the hangar prepare a Stingray for recon to the surface.”

“Aye, sir.”

The captain regarded Chieko with a steady gaze. “Maku, gather a team together and take her with you. Search for the northern polar island where the command center is supposed to be located and report in any findings.”

“Aye, sir.”

***

As the Zephyr settled into a pole-to-pole orbit around the planet, the bridge crew felt uneasy. In the blackness of space, the globe below them reflected no light and was near invisible against the backdrop of stellar bodies that were light-years distant. Only instruments and the occlusion of the stars gave any indication a world was actually there.

The sensors located what appeared to be cities scattered across the surface. They all seemed to be connected to one another by enclosed arrow-straight passages across the vast distances. Dwes immediately launched a series of softball-sized relay satellites to geosynchronous orbits around the planet; there wouldn't be time for a thorough mapping, but if this was the lost world of Shraelon, they would need to gather as much information as they could before returning home. The Planetary Alliance council would expect a full report from their exploration ship.

***

Rojur had been to Sick Bay earlier to be checked out for some near-fainting spells. It was determined he was having delayed allergic reactions to the Amohalkonicin drug he had been injected with during the mutiny. The drug interaction occurred whenever he drank a good amount of the ship's green coffee, of which he was especially fond of. Something in the blend did not like the traces of the chemicals in his system and his recent inactivity presented opportunities to keep the drink on hand.

Now aware of this condition, he quietly surveyed the flurry of activity in the hangar from his position atop of the Hidalgo. Having nothing else to do with is time, he had decided to give the ship a thorough cleaning and was currently washing the hull. This vessel was not as large as the demolished hulk he and Maku had found before, but its delta-wing shape was identical and it also had warp capabilities. Perhaps it had been a smaller ship originally carried on board one like the larger craft. Whatever its origin, the captain had backed his claim to salvage rights as some compensation for his deeds that had benefitted the Zephyr.

His thoughts focused on personal issues, the esper rubbed a polish cloth in tight circles on the angled surface of his ship, but he broke from his musing when he heard a small party arrive in the hangar. Sahni headed the group with Chieko, Maku, Dwes, Trin and two others he did not know trailing behind her. The first officer said something to Maku, who took the others on to the Stingray ship they would fly to the surface. Sahni broke away from them and walked toward Rojur.

“Hello, white-eyes,” she purred when he rematerialized down by her side. They embraced and Rojur gave her a quick peck on the cheek. Sahni smiled and held him close. “We're going down to investigate Shraelon's command city. Wish me luck.”

“Luck,” he said as he nibbled her ear lightly. He pulled back slightly to look at her. “Be very careful while you are down there,” he cautioned. “There may be more traps waiting for you — I would be more comfortable about it if I could go along.”

Sahni smiled lopsidedly. “You know that isn't possible. Trin volunteered for the mission and you know Maku doesn't trust you around him.”

Rojur looked past her toward the landing party. They were being issued pressure suits from the dock master. He spied the mutineer and sighed. “Having the talents I do have come in handy a great many times,” he said, “but they also bear a curse, especially when the entire race of your homeworld despises you for them.” He closed his eyes briefly and sniffed Sahni's brown curls.

“Not everyone despises you for them,” she replied. “After this is all over, I’ll have a month of personal leave I can take. Perhaps you and I could go off together to a remote vacation spot so I can show you just how much I appreciate you.”

Rojur looked at her with a smile and an upraised eyebrow. “That is a tempting offer. It sounds wonderful.” He slipped an arm around her and held her close.

“We’ll talk about it more when I get back,” Sahni said with a quick kiss on his lips. “I have to go now.”

“Be careful, love,” he said. “Come back to me.”

***

When Sahni walked into the small vessel, Dwes looked at the chronograph on his wrist impatiently and said, “We were waiting on you, Sahni.” Although she was second in command on the Zephyr, they were of the same rank so he had no second thoughts of grumbling at her a little.

Sahni smiled and merely began to put on her pressure suit. Dwes frowned at her silence and then turned toward Maku at the controls to the small craft.

“Let's go,” he said.

Sahni sat in a seat next to Chieko and remained quiet as the craft lifted from the hangar deck and moved quickly toward the stars outside the ship.

“We've cleared the landing bay,” Maku reported.

At the back of the craft sat two of the crew that Chieko had only recently met. Kizu was an engineer with very little hair and a scarred face, and it appeared his life prior to the Service had not been a peaceful one. He somehow seemed out of place in his vocation. The other was Shokko, a tiny woman with tightly curled lavender hair. She was a computer mechanic with skills that were surpassed by few on board the Zephyr and Toco had suggested she would be of great use when they reached the capitol city of Shraelon in helping to get systems operational.

Chieko glanced out the front view port but could see nothing. With no sun to illuminate the planet, they would have to go in purely on instrumentation. She was a little disappointed, because she had wanted to see the lovely world of legend that she had devoted so much to find. Despite this, however, she was slightly giddy. She had found Shraelon! Joska would have been proud of the accomplishment.

Thirty minutes later, the Stingray dropped down over the island at the top of the world. The land mass was tiny, resembling a lily pad in the midst of a frozen sea in the computer replication. A quick scan showed it to be roughly two kilometers in diameter. A single structure was drawn on the monitors. From what they could detect, it appeared to be a large geodesic dome. The computer said a meter-thick crust of ice covered what scanned to be an outer crystalline material, of a type very similar to the small crystals the crew of the Zephyr had found along their journey.

Maku set the Stingray next to the structure and shut down the onboard systems after reporting in to the Zephyr. Dwes continued his scans, but nothing more was to be learned until they got inside. He turned to the others and gestured toward the hatch. “We're here,” he said unnecessarily. “Chieko, do you want the honors of placing the first step on Shraeloni soil, however frozen it may be?”

Chieko smiled widely. “Yes, I would. Thank you.”

“Scanners show that we're resting on a three meter base of ice and snow, so watch for any soft spots where you walk,” Dwes said.

“Soft spots?” Kizu grunted in a gravelly voice. “This snow hasn't had a warm thaw in a millennia!”

“All the same, be careful.”

For the first time since departing the Zephyr, Sahni spoke to the team. “We have run into Shraeloni traps all along our way and we should expect more inside this building. This is a standard reconnaissance mission for information before we bring any other ships down to the surface, so watch everything around you and be careful of what you touch or activate.” She locked eyes with each party member briefly and nodded to each. “Make sure your suits are properly sealed and that you have a full charge of oxygen. We all have a two-hour reserve, so keep an eye on your indicators. We brought a large supply of cylinders if you need to return to get them.”

She watched as everyone helped to check one another's suits and then nodded to Maku when all were ready. Chieko stepped toward the hatch as the security officer opened the portal.

In the bright light of the Stingray's exterior lamps, her boot settled onto crusted ice that held as solidly as she'd hoped. She wondered briefly if she should say something profound for being the first from the Planetary Alliance to step onto the legendary planet. Instead, she shifted her equipment pack on her shoulder and proceeded toward the frozen dome, feeling a little lightheaded in her euphoria. Just as delighted, the rest of the group followed closely behind.

When Sahni stepped out from the confines of the Stingray, she shined her light to the sides and studied the surrounding terrain in the beam. Briefly, she wondered how the barren landscape originally appeared before the destruction of Shraelon's sun. The hologram recording Chieko had made of the images the cyborg on the fortress had played for her had shown lush forests of massive trees with thick foliage and vast flowered plains of beauty. She did not think this polar island would have had much topography itself, but the rest of the planet had once been a wonder. She shook herself from her musing and followed the rest of the group toward the structure.

During the initial scans, Dwes had found several small entrances to the dome, but without power or a way to get to it through the ice crust, they would have to force their way into the nearest they had landed beside.

He and Kizu carried a large trunk between them and set it down next to the structure. As quickly as they knew their task, it only took a few moments to set up the portable pulse cannon. Its muzzle rested three meters from the curved wall and Dwes nodded to Sahni when they were ready.

“Go ahead,” she replied. Everyone retreated behind the Stingray as Kizu activated his remote. A low-intensity beam emitted from the cannon in a series of deep blue pulses of energy. Where it touched the ice, the thick crust instantly vaporized in a ten meter diameter area. When it did nothing to the crystalline material beneath, Kizu increased the pulse strength. The results were evident as the crystal became brittle and broke apart in small puffs of dust, but it took the beam several minutes to burn through the wall.

When it finally pierced the interior, a fierce gust of wind came spewing from the opening in a thick mist with enough strength to knock Shokko onto her rear. When it subsided nearly two minutes later, Sahni peered around the corner of their transport and gasped.

“There was a pressurized atmosphere in there!” she exclaimed over her headset.

“An atmosphere?” Maku exclaimed.

“I was scanning during the cannon's cutting,” Shokko added, “and managed to catch a reading on the air that came out of there.” She fell silent as she studied the readout.

“So, what does it say?” Kizu asked impatiently.

“The temperature of that escaping mist was thirty-two degrees Celsius and its composition was quite breathable!”

Sahni turned to Dwes quickly. “Can we set up a shield of some kind to seal it back once we're inside?”

“I have just the thing,” the science officer replied.

“Everyone pack your equipment inside, quickly!” Sahni ordered. Dwes went back to the Stingray, retrieved a small octagonal sphere, and then set it on the ground in the opening they had made. He thumbed an instruction on his belt remote and instantly a rainbow-hued sheen shimmered across the hole in the darkness.

“Why the shield?” Chieko asked.

Sahni turned on her helmet lamps and answered. “The heated air means that there may be atmosphere generators here, though I can't imagine how or why they would still be running after ten centuries. If so, it might be possible for it to build up the air pressure again that we released.”

“Oh.”

One by one, the team members began to shine their lamps around them. What they saw might have been a storehouse, although none of the artifacts it contained were remotely familiar. Shapes and even colors of the objects were foreign to them.

“I think the treasure hunt is over,” Maku said with a smile.

“Looks like a warehouse,” Kizu grunted. He did not seem impressed by what he saw.

Chieko ran to a large device and began to read the inscription set into a metallic plate on its side. “I can’t even decipher this… whatever it is...” she said. As they looked around them, they noticed that devices of many unknown origins and functions were lined up in long rows and stacked in four layers above them.

Dwes turned toward Sahni and said, “I think we can report in success.”

“Agreed,” the first officer replied. She keyed in a change of frequency on her belt remote and spoke into her headset mike. “Zephyr, do you read?”

“Zephyr reads clearly, Commander. Lieutenant Ree here.”

“We've found the command structure and have gained entrance,” she said. “The place is filled to the brim with alien equipment that will take some time to figure out. It looks like a storehouse of numerous technologies.”

“Aye, sir!” Ree replied enthusiastically. There was a pause and then the Lieutenant said, “Captain Kehtan wants to know if you think it safe to send out other recon ships to the surface.”

“We haven’t located or activated the main computer yet, but reconnaissance of other areas should be okay so long as the recon parties are careful.”

“Aye, sir.”

***

“This is it,” Shokko stated, “the planetary computer.” It had taken the team forty minutes to locate it in the midst of the warehouse, as Kizu had described it. All around was the wealth of technology from advance civilizations and they had become so awed by the sights that the search had slowed. It was actually by chance that Shokko had stumbled across energy activity on her scanner that eventually led them to their present location.

Surprisingly, in the time they had taken to explore, the air pressure had risen to that of sea-level. An incoming cargo ship had discovered an airlock into the structure on the far side of the building and had begun operations to pick and choose among the legendary Shraeloni wealth and technologies to take back to the Zephyr. More ships had been sent to the other major cities on the planet, in the hopes that differing treasures would be found in them.

As the advance team filed into the small control room, Shokko walked straight to a row of instruments as Kizu headed for the main console. As with the rest of the building, the computer room was vacant of the Shraeloni, though the group had been constantly on guard for them.

“Just as I thought,” Shokko's voice wafted from behind a panel she had opened. Maku and Trin gathered around her. “As we've seen from the rest of this place, there is a little power still in reserve for maintaining minor systems, but the eons frozen in space without a star have locked up some of the components.”

Sahni and Chieko looked over Kizu's shoulders as he vainly tried to operate the controls at his board.

“She's right,” the tech said. “I'm getting a few blips of power, but not enough to get the main computer up and running.”

Trin knelt next to Shokko and gazed at the circuits. “Is it the whole system, or could it be just reserve power?” he asked.

“It wouldn't matter,” Maku commented, “if it's the circuits themselves that are locked up.”

Shokko thought for a minute and then smiled at Trin. “There are probably only reserve batteries powering what we have here... If the main energy source were reactivated, it might be enough power to push the circuits up to operation. I've been studying the Shraeloni equipment we brought over from the fortress, and although its operations differ slightly from ours, I think I can get it up and running with enough juice.”

Maku looked over at Trin. “Let's see if we can find the main generator.”

“I'll go with you,” Shokko said. She closed the panel and stood up beside them.

“We will keep trying from this end,” Sahni said.

“Aye,” Maku said. The other two followed him out of the room and disappeared into the darkness as Kizu moved over to the panel Shokko had opened earlier.

***

A fleet of Stingrays and small freighters flew over the frozen surface of Shraelon toward the largest of the ancient cities. The towering structures appeared to be a combination of organic and crystalline materials and were of varying shapes, though all massive in size and encrusted with a meter of ice. A predominant obelisk design to the structures appeared everywhere they went. Of immediate note was an impossibly high triangular tower at the north end of the city with a relief carving of the now-familiar face of Herdantes. The visage overlooked the city as if the grand ruler watched over his people. The images were recorded on the lead Stingray's scanners and stored for future historians to ponder over.

As they flew over the city, those inside the advancing ships were caught up with a fever. Their fantasy of reaching the legendary planet of Shraelon had been fulfilled. Each had their own dream of wealth and self-importance for when they returned home as heroes. In their excitement and impatience to reach the fabled treasures, the ships began to race one another for the prime areas. The group split up and each vessel dropped in for landings. The doors to the ships opened as soon as their crews were suited up and the figures rushed from them toward the buildings as if their lives depended upon reaching the glories inside. One crew member of a freighter was too obsessively impatient to wait for the internal pressure of the ship to drop to zero before disabling the safeties and activating the door mechanism; the explosive decompression blew the hatch out, killing all inside within seconds.

Another freighter flying overhead reported the incident back to the Zephyr, but quickly moved in to take the other's place at the structure believed to be a warehouse. Its crew made it to the building safely, mindful not to duplicate the mistake of the other ship, and rushed inside with howls of excitement and exuberance. There was very little in the way of technological devices in this particular building. It appeared to be a storehouse of jewels and precious metals fabricated into ceremonial clothing of the finest materials.

Treasure!

One crewman ran to a crystalline figure that wore one particular outfit that caught his eye. The mannequin itself was of indescribable beauty. Though made of crystal, the details of the woman were finely seen. The Shraeloni figure with softly pointed ears was tall and slender, with hair that reached nearly to her knees. The face was smooth and set in an expression of bright-eyed joy as she gazed toward an unfamiliar object in her upraised, six-fingered hands.

The crewman ran his gloved hands over the curves of her body and smiled to himself delightedly. He wanted this figurine for himself and tried to pick it up. The weight of the crystal was too great for him to lift, so he called over another crewmate to help.

In another city of the planet, a technician was studying the symbols etched into what he surmised were temple walls of a structure resembling a crystalline pyramid. His scanner, configured to read Shraeloni text, had trouble translating the inscriptions, but his glee at finding such treasure tempered his disappointment. He recorded the information and moved toward the center of the room. Two other techs were struggling over a golden altar, as each had wanted it for his own. Each had various gold and platinum ornaments decorating their pressure suits, all spoils of the treasure and that was not enough. They were greedy and were fighting over more. The first technician had had enough of the other two's bickering and radioed a report back to the Zephyr. A moment later, Kehtan's voice sounded in their headsets.

“This is not a personal excursion, men,” the captain's voice said wearily. “Get back to work on your assignment and stop collecting personal souvenirs!” Both men released the altar and glared at one another as they moved warily away. Neither trusted the other and a rift between partners had begun.

Back on board the Zephyr, Captain Kehtan sighed and shook his head. He had known there would be obsessiveness in this operation and knew it was not over yet. To make matters worse, he felt the urge to get down to the planet's surface himself very strongly. He had spent much of his free time in years past studying the lost world of Shraelon and he really wanted to witness the sights with his own eyes. That dream was impossible, he knew. As commanding officer of this vessel, he was required to stay within its safety and allow others to go planetside.

***

Being a civilian during a major operation such as the one the Zephyr conducted, Alex did his best to keep out of the way. While his help had been welcomed at the beginning of the voyage, no one seemed to want much to do with any of the passengers since Rojur's death threat upon Trin. Granted, Trin deserved punishment for his mutinous actions, but the esper was an outsider to the crew and the ship's personnel watched out for one another. Word traveled fast on board of what had transpired, and since Alex and Brandon were companions to Rojur, they had been snubbed as well. The captain and his first officer were the only ones who would even talk to them, it seemed.

Since Red had been discovered alive in the empty crew cabin next to the observation lounge, Brandon had spent more time with Kehtan than with Alex lately. Since the wolf had been found days after the end of the battle, near starved and dehydrated, Brandon had made it his personal mission to nurse her back to health. Alex was glad, for it gave Brandon a purpose and kept him from getting too bored.

Blackthorne idly walked the halls of the Zephyr, desperately wanting to find something to do. Perhaps he should go to Rojur and try to patch their friendship. The esper who had once been his groundskeeper had had another allergic attack and was seeking some relief through Blake's pharmaceutical stores.

He smiled to himself at the thought. He was Alex Blackthorne, president of nearly half the industrial businesses in Oklahoma City, a small city on Earth — twenty-first century Earth, that is. He was a man who made his living thinking with a cool head and looking at things from all sides, yet the past few weeks of this voyage had left him unfit for even clear thoughts.

He stopped in the corridor and saw an open door to a cabin. The marker on the occupant panel stated that the crewman who had lived here had died in battle; the room was scheduled to be cleaned and his personal effects stored away for relatives back home. Alex frowned and walked inside.

In the flurry of activity that had possessed this vessel, the crewman named Bren had not kept his room in order. Solemnly, Alex picked up some of the items from the floor and placed them on a mirrored stand. He looked at his reflection and noted with a start just how unkempt he appeared. He was unshaven, his hair was uncombed and there were dark circles under his eyes. His mouth felt pasty and he generally felt dirty all over. Alex crooked the side of his mouth and said to his reflection, “No wonder no one wants to have anything to do with you. You look awful!”

He gazed around the room he was in and noted that several cups of the wonderful liquid uniforms were stacked in the open closet storage. He walked to them, pulled one out and held it up as if it were a wine toast.

Alex grimaced again at his reflection, walked into the head, and shut the door. He needed a good cleaning, and he thought it would do his mind wonders as well.

Fifteen minutes later, Blackthorne exited the head dressed in a gold uniform. The garment adjusted to his size, though it fit slightly snug across his shoulders. He walked back to the mirror and studied his image. He smiled at himself and combed the damp hair in his usual style.

He felt much, much better and even looked in good condition. He would probably be more useful to those around him, too. Silently, he thanked Mr. Bren for the use of his uniform, though he did remember to remove the rank insignia from the outfit. That done, he quickly straightened the room out of courtesy, and once it was in order, Alex nodded to himself and prepared to leave.

As he headed out the door, he glanced at the Lieutenant's computer console and had an idea. He took the seat and cued up the system. For what he wished to do, he would not need an access code or password, so he should have no problem. All he wanted to do was learn more about the layout of the ship so he could be more help, so he called up the Zephyr's schematics.

Blackthorne sat up straight and his eyes opened wide. He stared at the monitor in disbelief as the opening page of design credits scrolled past. He keyed in the command that Chieko had once showed him to have it replay information that had already moved past the present screen. When he found what he had just seen, he froze the screen and stared mutely at the information.

A minute passed and Alex seemed to get a grip on himself. Thinking rapidly, he quickly digested the data and stood up after shutting down the terminal.

Captain Kehtan should know about this, if he doesn't already, he thought to himself.

***

The lights in the command room came on abruptly. Sahni smiled and looked first at Kizu and then to Chieko. “The entire system is online,” the tech reported to her. He had been studying the controls for the past hour and thought he knew how to get the startup sequence in operation.

Chieko walked to the doorway and looked out into the warehouse. Their small head-lamps had not even begun to show what the structure held. Her mouth dropped open slightly in awe. In rows upon rows in line with the computer room's door, there were pallets that held what appeared to be solid blocks of material, metal, organic and otherwise. Some were polished gold, others were the color of platinum, while yet others were of burnished copper or brass. There were also bins of uncut diamonds, lanthels, zyolints and even the ultra-rare tysenium – all in abundance. Chieko did not have to guess what they were.

“The wealth of Shraelon!” she whispered. “Those are the precious metals of the universe - wealth from every possible race the Shraeloni dealt with, and all stored here for us!” In excitement, she dashed out between the large metallic blocks and ran her fingers over the name plates, reading each of the Shraeloni markers with glee. As she danced through the aisles, she saw a large round alcove set into the wall that had raised symbols adorning the surface in colorful relief.

She approached it with a smile and read the inscription set into one side. The chamber inside was a religious temple, although she did not know who or what it was these people worshipped. She glanced at the symbols and gingerly placed her hand on one. When her skin came in contact with the cool metallic surface, she felt a mild tingle. The wall of the alcove spiraled in on itself and opened to permit entrance into another chamber. The room beyond was dimly lit, and as she stepped inside, she caught her breath and raised her hands to her chest.

She stood in another side alcove to a large domed chamber. The curved walls around her were decorated in all the lush colors of the rainbow, depicting scenery of a natural, unmolested forest, with a lake far in the distance on one end and a high mountain range on the other. Above, the sky was a pale blue that deepened first to a rich azure and then to star-filled black. It was as if she were looking up through an atmosphere into space itself.

Chieko forced herself to look down again at the forest. Through the trees, she saw other alcoves such as the one she stood in, though none of the others contained doorways that she could see. The flooring of the room resembled wide-bladed grass with small yellow and blue flowers sprouting here and there. In the direct center of the room was a raised wooden dais. Reverently, Chieko walked across the field toward it. The platform was half a meter tall, and as she approached, she saw a small, green-leafed branch lying across its surface. The octagonal-shaped leaves were wilted, but still held their color as if it had been placed there only a few days prior. Chieko knew that was impossible, for no plant life had lived on Shraelon for centuries.

She reached down to touch it, but saw a slight shimmer above it before she had extended her gloved fingers. She smiled to herself as she recognized the characteristics of a small stasis field surrounding the branch. She stepped back a pace. She looked at the indicators inside the helmet of her pressure suit and saw the readings of the conditions in the room. Chieko smiled and reached up to unlatch the fasteners of her headpiece. It released with a tiny hiss and she instinctively held her breath.

The air in the room was sweet and comfortably warm, and she could feel a slight breeze. She did not know if the breeze was simulated to match the mood of the room, or if it was just the atmosphere compensators of the building restoring the air they had released earlier. As it was, she felt comfortable and at peace in the surroundings. She released her breath and quickly removed the rest of her pressure suit.

Chieko looked back toward the outer perimeter of the chamber when she had finished. There were five alcoves along the wall, each with a small display of some kind. She walked to the one opposite the opening she had entered through and stopped in front of it. Before her were five crystals similar in appearance to those that had been found throughout their journey, but each one was of a different, vibrant color. For all she knew, they could have been representations of the rainbow assortment of planets they had come across in their journey.

She hesitated, for she knew it had been trouble in the past, but her obsession for knowledge overruled her internal warnings. She reached forward and lifted one of the gems above its cradle. She held it in her hand a long moment before deciding no trap had been sprung. A feral smile crossed her lips and one by one, she took them and placed them in the specimen bag she carried over one shoulder.

She started in surprise when she moved to the next alcove. She had not noticed it before, but a figure of exquisite beauty made of clear crystal stood upon the carpet and gazed serenely out into the trees. She could not know that it was a replica of one seen by a technician in another city on this world, but she was taken in awe just as well.

Chieko studied the woman's image and noted that the surface was flawless and the detail paid to the features was fine. Her attention moved from the face captured for eternity in crystal to the garment she wore. The cloak was not crystal, nor was it attached to the figure, but set about the shoulders as if resting upon a mannequin.

The material was of the finest quality Chieko had ever seen in her life. The patterns depicted tranquil life on the planet and the joy of nature. She remembered from the visual images on the fortress that the Shraeloni had long ago learned to use their technologies in harmony with nature. In the threads of the garment were woven plant fibers in addition to what appeared to be strands of gold and other precious metals. As she studied it, light reflections shimmered from the material as if moving.

Chieko smiled and stepped up to the figure. With only the slightest hesitation, she removed the cloak and then wrapped it around her own shoulders, leaving the figurine nude. It was almost a perfect fit. The garment hung to her ankles and the weight was so slight that she was almost not aware that she wore it, despite the metals woven into it. She felt like a priestess in the temple of Shraelon and wondered if she would have fit into the world of Herdantes.

With the exception of Captain Kehtan, she was probably the most learned person in the known galaxy on Shraeloni culture, but when she really thought about it, there was very little she actually knew.

Chieko gasped. The thought of Kehtan reminded her why she was there and she looked hastily at her chronograph. She had been gone too long. She glanced around the chamber once more, disappointed to be leaving before checking into the other alcoves, but she knew she would be needed in the control room presently if they ever got the main computer online.

***

Maku and Shokko arrived at the control room carefully carrying a near-unconscious Trin on a makeshift stretcher between them. His neck was padded with some sort of rubber-like sheeting they had found.

“What happened?” Sahni asked as they set him in a vacant chair.

“We found the panels for controlling the main power source in an alcove not far from here,” Maku explained. “As we guessed, the Shraeloni had tapped geothermal energies in the core of this world for their power, but had shut everything down except the trickle-down backup circuits during the mass evacuation.”

“Great,” Sahni said. “Kizu's trying to get the main computer restarted. That doesn't explain Trin's condition.”

“Right. We've got to get him to the Zephyr as quickly as we can,” Maku replied. “There was a booby trap guarding the power panels, and Trin stepped into it.”

“He must have triggered a large voltage of energy when he neared the panel,” Shokko supplied. “The force of the shock blew him across the room into a wall. I think his neck may have been broken.”

Sahni put a hand on the injured man's neck and felt for a pulse. It was there, but weak, and his breathing had become very shallow. His face was getting awfully pale and his skin cool to her touch. “I think he's going into shock!” she exclaimed.

“Do we have time to get him back to the ship?” Shokko asked frantically.

Sahni and Maku worked quickly to stabilize his condition. The security officer shook his head as he said through his teeth, “I don't think so. Only a matter-transport could get him there in time, and there aren’t any on the Zephyr.”

“Rojur can do it,” Chieko's voice said from behind them. “Alex told me Rojur can teleport over extreme distances.”

After a swift glance at the ceremonial cloak Chieko wore, Sahni hissed and scrambled to pull out her Com unit. “Zephyr, this Sahni. We have an emergency!”

“Forget it,” Maku muttered in disgust. “Trin is his enemy.”

***

Rojur looked up in surprise from under the console he was working on. No one else was inside the Hidalgo with him, but he heard the voice plainly in his head as if the speaker were right beside him.

|Rojur,| Alex's thoughts said, |They need your teleporting skills down on the planet - Trin's been badly hurt and it's an emergency that he's brought to the ship's Sick Bay. It's the only chance he has to live!|

Rojur frowned and set his tools down. Without even a reply to Alex, the esper disappeared.

***

Shokko had joined Kizu at the computer terminal. She stood beside him and offered helpful hints on what to do. Together they worked as an effective team to try to figure out the Shraeloni system. “...and after Maku dragged Trin out of the way,” the small woman was saying, “I disabled the trigger with a rubber-like mat I had seen in the warehouse. Using the Shraeloni translation tablet, it only took a moment to activate the power transfer equipment, and only a minute more for the levels to reach optimum peak.”

A bleep sounded and a blue light lit up the panel. “We're in!” Kizu exclaimed. He turned to Sahni and grinned. “The system appears to have been activated properly. We should have access to the data banks within a minute, provided the information hasn't degraded and is still intact.”

“Let's all hope the sun exploding didn't send out an EMP strong enough to wipe out their data,” Shokko muttered.

“Would an electromagnetic pulse affect crystal data?” Kizu asked with a shrug. “I guess we're about to find out.”

“Very good,” the first officer replied. Her mind was distracted as she and Maku tried to make Trin as comfortable as they could.

“He's not coming,” Maku said bitterly. “I told you he wouldn’t.”

“Do not judge me prematurely,” Rojur remarked dryly. Everyone in the room whirled at his voice as he knelt next to the fallen man. Sahni helped to hold Trin's head so it would not cause more damage. “Come with me,” he said to her, “and keep him stable. Blake and a team of medics are waiting with the proper care for him.”

“Why are you here?” the security officer asked. “I thought you wanted him dead.”

The esper fixed him pointed glare. “Again, you have misjudged me. I am no killer,” he said flatly. Without another word, the trio disappeared. Maku looked at Chieko in surprise and received an equally confused gaze from her.

“I don't understand,” the blue-haired woman said softly.

“Got it!” Shokko exclaimed. “It appears we have full access to the planetary mainframe!”

Chieko dashed over to Kizu's seat. The tech got up and offered the chair to her, knowing that this moment was hers. She sat down gratefully and opened her pack. With reverence, she removed a slim tube and then opened one end. Her face was aglow as she removed the long, slender green crystal and held it up to the light.

A quick glance at the terminal showed her exactly where to insert the stone. A receptacle the exact shape and size of the crystal rested near the top of the console. All she would have to do was to place it horizontally and lock it into the metallic prongs that rested at each end. She reached forward and was about to click it in its socket, but then she hesitated. A memory surfaced in her mind, and suddenly, there was fear.

She sat back in her chair and looked up at Maku, still holding the crystal in her hands.

“What's wrong,” he asked.

“There may be a danger,” she replied in a quiet voice. Before explaining further, she operated her Com unit and asked for the captain. A moment later, his voice answered.

“Yes, Chieko, what is it?”

“Captain,” she began hesitantly, “Everything is ready down here to access and upload the data to the Zephyr - however, I want to wait until all personnel are off planet before I insert the crystal.”

“Why? What has happened?” he asked quickly.

She bit her bottom lip and replied. “Something the cyborg said when he gave me the crystal bothers me. This planetary system has been down a long time and there could be another trap set up when I activate it. I want to make sure everyone is safe before I try it. There's no need to risk more than just one person. It could just be paranoia on my part, but I would feel better if I was alone on the planet when I do this.”

“I agree with your precaution,” the captain said after a moment, “We'll let you know when we're ready.”

“Aye, captain. Thank you.” After the channel was disconnected, she turned to the others in the room. “You, too,” she said. “Thank you for your help, but from here out the duty is mine.”

Kizu started to protest, but Shokko gave him a light jab with her elbow. “It will be a couple hours yet,” Maku said. “We still have time to load up our own Stingray. Blue Team said there's an airlock not too far from our landing place that we missed. We can bring the ship in through there and try to take some of these blocks of treasure right outside our door here. I thought I saw something like a power-suit out there that was probably used to move them.”

“Right,” Chieko said, “but if it's the same with you, I'll stay here.”

“Okay. Let us know if you need anything,” Maku replied.

***

Rojur watched as Blake operated on Trin, occasionally offering assistance to the medic, which was always politely turned down. He did not need the esper's distraction so he finally asked him to leave the room. Sahni waited for him in the lounge.

“The captain wants to see both of us in his quarters,” she told him. Rojur glanced back over his shoulder at the Sick Bay doors and then smiled weakly at her. “He'll be okay. Let's go,” Sahni said. Rojur grasped her hand gently and then teleported both of them directly to the designated meeting place. She shook off the effects, rubbed her eyes and looked around at the other surprised faces staring back at them at their sudden appearance.

In the room were Kehtan, Alex and Brandon. The youth sat on a floating stool with Red resting on the floor at his feet. Alex sat on the edge of the captain's bed, while the commander sat behind his desk with a pot of green coffee and several cups.

“You wanted to see us, Captain?” Rojur asked. There were two empty seats in front of the desk. Kehtan motioned for them both to sit.

“First off,” the captain began, “I want to thank you for helping Ensign Rosch. Doubtless, he could have died before the shuttle could have gotten him back here to Sick Bay. I know it must have been a hard decision for you to make.”

Rojur raised his eyebrows and frowned. “What hard decision? It was a medical emergency.”

“You threatened earlier to shove him out of an airlock,” the commander reminded him.

Rojur sighed. “What someone says in the heat of anger does not always mean it will happen. I had no intention of killing Trin - I only wanted to frighten him because of his attitude toward me.” He stood up and began pacing. “You cannot know all of the social customs and prejudices we have on Roswei, Captain. What he called me went beyond just an insulting name. It is not easy to put into words, but it was the same as if he had pointed a pulse rifle at my head and was slowly pulling the trigger. I am no killer, Captain... just a simple someone who just happens to have talents that the rest of his homeworld considers a disease to be destroyed.”

Kehtan digested that and then his eyes went to the monitor on his desk. “Well, no matter what your reasons, I still thank you for your help. Trin has a courts-martial to attend and I'd like to get him there still alive. However, I have just found out that you are not quite as simple as you claim.” Sahni looked over at her friend and then back to the captain. Without any outward expression, Rojur waited for Kehtan to continue.

The captain swiveled the monitor to face the esper. On the display was one of the opening credits pages to the schematics of the Zephyr. In the middle of the screen were the words: 

S.S. ZEPHYR

Zephyr Class Scientific Exploration Vessel

ZFR-01

Dunkn Shipyards, Rona

A Division of

Rayce Santrojur Industries, Roswei

Delon Santrojur

Chief Designer 

There were more names to the list of designers and engineers, but that first name and title stood out above the others. Rojur shrugged and looked straight at the captain.

“So now you know,” he said.

Sahni faced him with surprise on her face. “You mean, you designed this ship?”

“Yes,” the esper answered. “It was a longtime project that I began right after my tour of duty on the Two Star. After my time in the Service ended, I went to my father for a job. We were close when I was younger, but he and I never really got along after I grew up – mainly due to his ties with his industries – but he was intrigued by the plans I submitted and he authorized the construction of the Zephyr.”

He smiled and relaxed in his chair. “Through rumors, I had heard about a revolutionary new warp engine the Planetary Alliance had developed, but at the time they had no ship in which to test it. Before going to my father with the idea, I contacted representatives of the Alliance about their engine. They told me that if I could convince Rayce Santrojur to finance such a project, the engine could become part of the vessel. It was a joint project, one that promised a large payoff for both my father and the Alliance.”

Rojur leaned forward and placed a hand on the desk. “Captain,” he said in a soft voice, “I am the one who put you in command of this ship.” Kehtan looked startled, but Rojur continued before he had a chance to say anything. “The Alliance representatives were shocked when I told them I wanted you as the Zephyr's captain. After the incident with your last command which resulted in the deaths of a number of your crew, you had been busted down to a fairly harmless duty. They refused to accept you as captain of the ship that would house their engine, and told me to select someone else. I threatened them with my father's dismissal of the project, that it was an immutable condition of the contract, and after a greatly heated discussion, they reluctantly let me have my wishes.”

Kehtan put a hand under his chin and rubbed it lightly as he appeared to be in deep thought. “I always wondered who had recommended me,” he said, “but I still don't know why.”

“Because you were good to me while I was under your command on the Two Star, despite the troubles we got into. I knew you to be a good commander and knew that the situation with the Two Star would have taught you a lesson about your duties. After watching you on this mission, I am convinced I made the right choice.”

“Ever since I've known you,” Alex said, “you've always been mysterious about your past. You've never mentioned any of this, though you've told me many other things. Somehow, this doesn't seem all that bad. Why hide it?”

Rojur shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “One month before the maiden voyage of this ship was to begin, I had a falling-out with my father. Do you remember the prejudice I told you of concerning espers on my homeworld? My father is one of those who has a true hatred of espers. You see, my psionic talents did not develop until I was around fifteen years old. By then, I knew enough of our society to never display or mention them to anyone – particularly to my family; regrettably, my grandfather was a violent rogue esper and had killed a number of innocent people. I hated my powers, but there was nothing I could do to be rid of them.”

Rojur stood up and began pacing around the room. “I was in my office finalizing some business transactions and needed a particular reference book from my library. Rather than get up and walk across the room to get it, I felt lazy and used my talent to levitate it from the shelf and float it over to me. It was at that point when my father walked into my office and saw the whole thing. He flew into a rage and tried to kill me right there. It did not matter that I was his only son, and that I had financially helped his company with my ship designs. All he saw was an Es-par, a despised and wretched creature who had to be destroyed.”

Rojur stopped pacing a moment and silently scanned the faces around him. When they remained mute, he sighed and continued. “To save my own skin, I fled. I teleported away to the other side of the continent, for that talent is my strongest, and I went into hiding. I started going by the name of the one you now know. A week later, I was wandering the streets of Serna on a cold, rainy night and came upon a man about my age who had just been robbed and beaten in an alley. I took him to the apartment I was renting and helped bind his wounds. Later, he told me where his home was and I took him there.”

He stopped again and rubbed his temples. The whole affair of remembering gave him a headache. He picked up a cup of coffee and nearly drained it in one gulp. “Without making this story longer, I will keep it short and say that due to several incidents in the following days where I helped hunt down and teach a lesson to the wretch who had beaten him, the man felt inclined to help me for my troubles. He was surprised by my talents, but instead of hating me for them, he revealed that he had a couple of weak abilities himself that he had tried to cultivate. He was an inventor and had developed a device which boosted an esper's ability to teleport. Unfortunately, he had not had it with him the night he was accosted or he could have escaped injury using it.”

He pulled open the top of his uniform and drew out a black cylinder on a chain to show them. “He gave it to me as a gift for helping him.” He purposely neglected to mention that it also allowed for time travel into the past. Neither Alex nor Brandon pointed this out to the captain and his first officer, much to his relief. He continued his tale as he placed the cylinder back inside his uniform.

“Unfortunately, those who attacked him in the first place returned for revenge for my involvement in the matter and brought in reinforcements. They caught us off guard and killed my new friend. It was only a blind reaction to shield myself with my talent in that it saved me from serious harm. In the struggle, one of the men fired a gun at me. The projectile ricocheted off my shield and hit one of the other men in the mob. The man died instantly and the group scattered. Knowing someone would have heard the shot, I also left the scene of the crime.

“The next day, I saw a report on the news broadcast that a rogue esper was responsible for the death of the hood and also that of the inventor. I knew I had been set up; the primary witness interviewed in the telecast was the same one who had actually fired the bullet that killed his associate. The composite drawing they showed on the channel looked nothing like me, but it had been dark during the fighting, so I was not surprised. A manhunt, however, had been initiated by the populace to find and destroy the Es-par... me.” Rojur stared up at the ceiling and took a deep breath.

“I did not know if they would actually find me, so I left Roswei and fled to Earth, where I met Alex and Brandon.” Again, he neglected to tell Kehtan and Sahni that his companions were from the twenty-first century Earth, not the Earth of the current time.

“Why did you come back?” Sahni asked. “Especially since the manhunt would still be fresh in the minds of the people. I remember seeing the broadcast you described, transmitted from Roswei.”

Rojur shrugged and gestured toward Alex and Brandon. “They wanted—”

“Captain!” Ree's voice from the intercom interrupted, “The deck sergeant reports that the cargo hold is now loaded to maximum capacity, and some of the ships in the landing bay are still full with what they brought in.”

“Are there any ships still on the surface or in transit?” the captain asked.

“None, sir. Chieko is the only one on the entire planet. Everyone else is accounted for.”

“In that case, inform Chieko to stand by for our signal to begin transmitting.”

“Aye, sir.”

Kehtan looked at Rojur and frowned. “Duty calls. We'll have to continue this later.”

“Alex, Brandon and I have some things to discuss anyway, so go ahead and do what you need to.”

After Kehtan and Sahni left them in the corridor outside the captain's cabin, Rojur turned to his companions. “Follow me down to the Hidalgo,” he said, feeling weary and not looking forward to the discussion. “We can talk privately down there and will not be in anyone's way.”

As they rounded a corner in the passage a few minutes later, Rojur slowed in his steps and suddenly looked toward the ceiling, putting a hand on the wall to steady himself.

“Rojur? What is it?” Alex asked.

The esper tried to answer, but collapsed to his knees instead. Alex tried to catch him, but he was a step too far away. Rojur fell over and slumped onto the deck. Brandon dropped to his knees beside him and shook his shoulders gently.

“Rojur?”

Blackthorne looked around him and didn't see an intercom control anywhere nearby, so he made a quick telepathic call for help as he turned the esper over. He grumbled to himself when he did not get a response, realizing that the captain would have no way to reply to him, nor would he know if his call had even been received in the command center at the far end of the ship. He peeled Rojur's eyelids back and saw the pale eyes darting about as if in REM sleep.

“Brandon,” he said, “run as fast as you can to the Sick Bay and get a medic down here! I think Rojur's had another reaction to the coffee!”

“I'm gone!” the boy said, jumping to his feet; Alex began first aid procedures as he awaited help.

*** 

“You may begin transmitting as soon as you are ready,” the captain's voice came over the Com unit. “We've freed up space in the science computer for as much data as you can upload to us.”

“Aye, Captain,” Chieko answered. “I'll be ready in just a moment.” Once again, the blue-haired woman held up the crystal to the light. As she studied its faceted surface, she kept thinking that something about the cyborg's choice of words bothered her. She bit her bottom lip lightly and decided it was time to stop brooding and fulfill her dream. With the information uploaded to the Zephyr, they could decode it and study it at their leisure for years to come.

She picked up her Com unit and contacted the ship. “Ready to transmit,” she said.

“Ready to receive,” reported Ree.

She moved forward and set the crystal on its socket. With a smile, she pushed it between the prongs in the receptacle with a satisfied click. At first nothing happened and then the screen in front of her lit up with a brief high-speed video transmission, which then slowed to show multitudes of Shraeloni hieroglyphs.

“Receiving a compressed high-speed string of data now,” Ree reported.

Chieko watched the information quietly, but her attention was suddenly focused on a set of characters in one corner of the screen. They were in a written text that she was unable to read. They were not Shraeloni, at least not like the rest she had studied over the years.

Another monitor on the wall of the room lit up and showed a graphic diagram of the planet. Slowly, Chieko stood up and walked to the display. The same strange characters were all over the screen, apparently marking specific areas. As she watched, a representation of the Zephyr appeared in orbit over the world, and then, one by one, the tiny orbiting satellites that Dwes had launched were depicted too. Her eyes flashed back to the characters and noted that one set was continually changing.

Like a countdown.

“Oh no,” she breathed. Chieko ran across the room and grabbed up her Com unit.

“Captain!” she exclaimed.

“What is it, Chieko?” the captain's relayed voice returned.

“Captain, you've got to break orbit and get away from here as fast as you can!” she exclaimed. “The ship is in serious danger!”

“What? How?”

Quickly, she explained what she saw on the monitor and revealed her fear at what it meant. As she spoke, she walked back to the screen and saw a flashing red line circle around one of the orbiting satellites.

***

On board the Zephyr, Ellis and Dayl were already preparing to move the ship away at the captain's order. Kehtan listened to Chieko's words and his face registered surprise. Suddenly a bright flash of light erupted in the main view screen.

“What was that?” the captain exclaimed.

“One of the satellites just blew up,” Dwes answered. “That thing’s not very big; it was a precise shot to get it from the surface!”

“Captain!” Chieko said, “Another satellite has been targeted on—” Another flash of light flared out on the screen.

“Dayl, take us out of orbit - pronto!” Kehtan ordered. “Chieko, can you stop the process?”

“I don't know, captain, but I'll try!”

***

On the targeting wall monitor, a red ring appeared around another satellite. Chieko ignored it as she rushed to the main console and frantically deciphered the control labels, hunting for some disabling switch for a planetary defense system that had become active. She saw nothing helpful, so she did the one thing she thought should stop everything. She reached for the crystal to pull it from its socket, but a blue-white arc of energy shot out from the receptacle and knocked her back away from console.

She hit hard and her head bounced on the floor, but it only dazed her for a moment. She got up shakily and rushed back to the panel. She never made it, however, when she discovered a force field had been generated over the whole console. She tried to push through what felt like nothing more than an invisible sheet of glass, but nothing she could do would get her past. She looked for her pack to get her weapon and noted with shock that it was sitting on one end of the console –inside the force field – right next to her Com unit.

Chieko screamed in frustration and rushed back to the wall monitor. Only one satellite remained on the display, and even it winked out of existence as she watched. The Zephyr itself was no longer shown, so she had no way of knowing if the ship got away in time or if it had also been destroyed.

She looked around the room in desperation to find anything she might use to get through the force field, but there was nothing. Chieko dashed out of the room and ran down the aisles of the near-empty warehouse. Nothing she saw that was left could be used as a weapon.

She cried out when the floor began to shake. A deep rumbling shook the building. She then ran back across the shifting floor into the control room and looked at the monitor.

A red line was encircling the planet.

On one side of the screen was another representation of the world, but shown in cross-section. The core of the planet was depicted with tiny starbursts flashing near its center.

Chieko understood. The Shraeloni held to their vow that none would ever have their world.

***

“Try again!” Kehtan shouted in anger.

“No response at all, Captain,” Ree said in frustration. “She won't or can't answer.”

Dwes had just reported his long-range scans of Shraelon. A massive reaction was taking place within the core of the planet. There was no doubt that it was going to explode.

“What about Rojur, can he get to her from this distance?”

“I haven't been able to reach him on the intercom, either,” Ree said as his voice cracked. The stresses of his job were getting to him. “He doesn't answer any of my hails.”

“Then broadcast it on ship-wide, blast it!”

“Aye, sir!”

***

“Rojur Delondin! EMERGENCY! You are needed on the bridge immediately!”

Alex glanced over at the unconscious esper and frowned. Due to his incapacitation, no one would get any help from Rojur. He cursed loudly and pounded the floor. None of his first aid techniques had any effect on Rojur and he had nothing even resembling a medical bag with him. His sending to the captain also went unanswered as if he were out of range.

***

“How long before the planet blows?” Kehtan asked rigidly.

“Fifteen minutes, Captain.” Dwes looked up from his monitor and frowned deeply. “We have to make a warp jump soon, or we'll be caught in the explosion.”

“What about Chieko?” Sahni asked.

“If Rojur doesn't show up soon, there will be nothing we can do,” Kehtan replied solemnly. “Ree! Where's that blasted esper?”

Before his com officer could reply, an intercom signal flagged his attention. “Captain!” Ree exclaimed, “Rojur has collapsed down near engineering, cause unknown. Blake is on his way there now.”

Dwes reacted quickly and nearly tore the bridge door from its track as he bolted from the command center with Sahni close behind. On the lower level, Maku raced from sight to assist.

“Ellis!” the captain shouted, “Set coordinates to get us away from here! Dayl, prepare to make a jump!”

“Aye, sir!”

“Aye, sir!”

Kehtan rose from his seat and moved to the sciences station. He touched a few controls and then looked back to the planet. “Dayl,” he said in a suddenly calm voice, “Begin a three minute countdown from my mark to make the warp jump.”

“Aye, sir.”

“Mark.”

***

Back inside the Shraeloni temple again, Chieko sat on the floor with her head and arms resting on her knees, the ceremonial cloak still around her shoulders. Her eyes were closed as she waited for the end to come. The quakes were more frequent and the structure creaked and groaned with every heave of the ground. She could not have stood up if she had wanted to. The lovely crystalline figure had crashed to the floor moments before and shattered into a thousand brilliant shards.

Her eyes were red from crying and she wiped the back of a hand across them. Nearly the entire image of the planet on the screen had been marked with the tiny red starbursts before she had left the now-useless control room. She knew it was just a matter of minutes before she would pay for the sins she had committed in order to get this far.

Chieko closed her eyes again and prepared herself with a silent prayer that she might see Joska soon.

***

“He's coming around,” Blake announced. Rojur opened his eyes groggily and frowned at the group gathered around him in the small room. Before he could even ask what happened, Blake tried to explain.

“You've had another allergic reaction to the coffee that the Amohalkonicin induced in you,” he said. “I told you to stay away from the stuff.” He was about to say more, but everyone else began talking at once.

“You've got to hurry!”

“Rojur, there's no time—”

“Chieko is trapped on Shraelon, and...”

“It's going to blow up and kill her, and—”

“Hold it!” he snapped. He turned to Sahni and grabbed her by the arm. “You - tell me!”

In the briefest of explanations, the first officer just said, “It's another trap — the planet’s about to blow and Chieko’s still down there! You’ve got to teleport down to the planet and bring her back! Hurry!”

The esper started to get up, but in the sudden silence of conversation, everyone noticed it at once. The sound of a dull throbbing was increasing in intensity.

“No!” Alex shouted. He pushed his way past the crowd and dashed down the hall to the engineering room. The others followed at his heels as they realized what was happening.

Blackthorne raced to one of the few clear windows in engineering, one that viewed aft into space, and saw the familiar smudged stars associated with traveling through a warp jump. The smudges quickly resolved back to points of starlight as the Zephyr dropped back out of warp and all eyes stared out the window.

Far in the distance, they saw a bright flash in a dark area of space. Alex clutched a hand to his middle and let an unconscious gasp past his lips. Sahni and Rojur held onto one another and Brandon moved to his father's side. Blake stared mutely out the window as Maku leaned heavily against a wall. There was nothing they could do.

Chieko — and the legendary world of Shraelon — were gone.

***

Kehtan stood up and silently stared at the screen for several minutes. No one on the bridge breathed a word. Purposely, the captain then walked to the spiral staircase on his right and descended to the lower level. He moved past the other officers and stopped in front of the forward windows.

Tears ran freely down Dayl's cheeks as she stood behind him. During the long voyage, she had gotten to know the blue-haired woman well and felt the loss heavily.

Ellis sat quietly out of respect, for she had not really known her, but Ree wept openly. He'd developed a secret crush on Chieko and felt the pain especially hard. He could not keep his composure for long and collapsed into his chair. He buried his head in his arms and cried as the captain lowered his eyes and walked over to him. Kehtan didn't say a word, but merely placed a comforting hand on Ree's shoulder.

After a moment, he turned to Dayl and said, “Hold position here. We're not going anywhere for a while.”

“Aye… aye, sir,” Dayl managed to say.

***

Two days later, the Zephyr was on a course back to the Frontier. With nothing else to do in the vicinity, Kehtan felt it pressing to head home. It would take a long time to reach it from their present distance, but there were no more traps or known dangers to slow them down.

Chapter 16

“Captain,” Dwes said from his station, “I've just picked up a beacon from a Planetary Alliance outpost.” He looked up from his monitor and smiled at his commander. “We're back in the Frontier!”

“Ree,” Sahni said in high spirits. “Make the announcement.”

“Aye, sir!”

Kehtan nodded silently as the message was broadcast over the ship-wide intercom. He smiled just slightly as he saw an indicator on his panel illuminate briefly. A moment later, there was a small jolt in the Zephyr's deck plates and a flash of light appeared out the starboard window.

“What the blazes was that?” Dayl exclaimed.

“Is someone firing at us?” Ellis asked.

“Captain!” Toco's distressed voice sounded from the intercom. “The central mechanism of the Parasite just ejected from the ship! The whole thing just blew out on its own!”

Kehtan smiled, having expected the engineer's report. “Yes, Toco, it was designed to do just that,” he replied calmly. “As I told you so long ago, the heart of the Parasite would destroy itself as soon as we reached the Frontier. It is now impossible for the Planetary Alliance to confiscate this invention. This will put me into a great deal of more hot water with my superiors, but they will have to deal with me if they wish to build another. Don't worry, Toco. The integrity of the Zephyr has not been compromised.”

“Aye... sir.”

As soon as the intercom link was closed, Sahni got up from her chair and approached the captain. “Sir,” she asked in a quiet voice, “may I speak to you in private? I have an idea that may help.”

Kehtan looked at her and lightly raised his eyebrows at her smile. He nodded quietly and stood up. “Dwes,” he said, “you have the bridge.”

“Aye, sir.”

***

Alex and Kehtan laughed and watched Brandon and Red as they chased each other around the room like cubs and tumbled over one another in their play, despite that the wolf was twice the boy's size. The forward observation deck was empty but for the four of them. The room had been rebuilt during the long voyage back from Shraelon and it had once again become a favorite gathering place. Further renovations would be required before it looked normal again, but no one seemed to notice the patchwork repair job that made it functional again.

Alex looked at his watch and said, “I wonder when they're going to show up? They were supposed to have been here fifteen minutes ago.”

Kehtan quietly sipped his green coffee as Alex walked to the large window and gazed out into the stars. The Zephyr was only a few days away from Rona, and the constellations were once again familiar to him. Rojur had told him, weeks ago, that Rona was only a few light-years from the Earth, and that such astronomical distances would not show much change in the apparent shape of the constellations he knew from the skies over the American Great Plains. Once again, he felt himself drawn into the depths of space; it had been a grand adventure, but he would be glad to be back home again soon. Very glad.

***

Rojur and Sahni talked quietly as they made their way down the corridor. They chatted idly, wondering why the captain had asked them to meet him in the observation lounge.

“Hiya, Sahni!” Brandon said with a smile as he greeted them at the door. The youth wore his uniform again and Red lay contented in a corner.

“Hiya, squirt!” Sahni smiled and tousled the boy's hair. Then with a mischievous grin, she tapped the buttons on his garment and watched his face light up from the effects of the fizz. Brandon giggled and dropped to the floor delightedly.

Alex and Kehtan were seated at a rectangular table and Rojur looked over at the captain. “Okay, we are here, he said. “You said you had some good news for us?”

Kehtan took a drink of his coffee and set it on the table. He nodded to Sahni and openly grinned. “Yes, I do,” he replied. “Have a seat.”

Sahni and the esper pulled up a couple of chairs and pulled themselves up to the table. Rojur picked up the coffee pitcher and poured himself a cup of the dark green liquid. All traces of the Amohalkonicin drug were long gone from his system so he could drink his green Roswein coffee again without fear of a reaction. He took a sip and nodded at the captain.

“I just deciphered some of the Shraeloni information that was uploaded to us that day of the planet's destruction. It was apparent we were supposed to get the opening message just before we were meant to die.” He frowned slightly. “Even though I didn't get around to translating it until yesterday.”

The captain stood up and paced a few feet as the others waited for him to continue. “The message answered a nagging question I've had for quite some time.”

“What question was that?” Sahni asked.

Kehtan gazed out the large window and gestured a hand toward the stars. “If the Shraeloni had wanted to keep everyone away from their fabled world of treasure, why did they spend so much time and resources to go to the effort of planting leads and clues to their world all over this part of the galaxy? It didn't make sense.”

“Yeah, I have wondered about that, myself,” Rojur replied. “They would not have needed all those traps and defenses if there had not been lures to bring seekers of the legend out to them in the first place. It would have been easier to simply hide all traces of the doomed planet's location, I would think.”

Kehtan returned to his seat and picked up his coffee. “It was a game,” he said simply after taking a sip.

“A game?” Rojur exclaimed.

“Yes, a game.” The captain leaned on the table after he set down his cup. “Before the destruction of their sun, Shraelon had been already been distributing their drones and Shroomers in key strategic places in the star systems nearest their own in order to defend themselves from the growing threat of attack. When a single enemy ship slipped through their defense net, they hadn't dreamed the target was their sun, not the heavily-defended planet, itself. It was the one thing they had not prepared for.

“After the sun was destroyed and their enemies annihilated afterward with weapons like the Parasite, the people of Shraelon were faced with extinction. As you know, those who survived became cyborgs and continued living in those two self-contained space stations.” Kehtan paused a moment to collect his thoughts. “Decades passed and existence to them became dull, bland and dreadful. Without a planet and all the benefits of their culture, they were without a purpose, so they devised a plan to give them something to work toward. They began manufacturing more drones, Shroomers and traps within their fortresses, and with great patience, they began to lay them throughout this part of the galaxy. At the same time, others were assigned to plant clues and to start rumors and tales near areas of known populations. They were sowing the seeds of their own legend.”

“What was the purpose in all that?” Alex asked.

“It was all part of their Game. They would lure treasure hunters to them and then play a strategic offensive to try to kill off the intruders. If the seekers survived the initial traps, the Shraeloni would grant more clues to lure the ignorant fools closer where the going got tougher and more dangerous. We had to fight for them, but all the data crystals we picked up along the way were intended to be found.”

Kehtan sighed. “They have played this game for centuries against treasure seekers from all over this part of the galaxy. There have been others that had gotten close to the prize, but we were the only ones to actually get through everything that was thrown at us, and then only by using the Shraeloni's own weapons against them.”

Alex looked puzzled. “If their goal was to play a game to keep us from their homeworld, why did they tell us at the end of our search that since we had defeated them all the knowledge and wealth of Shraelon would be ours — only to try to kill us even then?”

The captain answered with a slow shake of his head. “If they were eventually defeated, an idea they had trouble believing was possible, it would mean that the games were over. Without the Game to sustain them, the Shraeloni had no further purpose existing. The final blow, in destroying what was left of their own world, was their way of ultimately winning the game, to spite their defeat.”

“Sounds like a child throwing a tantrum,” Sahni observed. “If I can't win, neither can you!”

The group fell quiet as the scope of what they had gone through sunk into their minds. It was Alex who finally broke the silence. “All those who have died... It was all because of a game. A game!”

“Such a waste of lives,” Kehtan added. “The survivors of Shraelon did not place a value on life. Their only value was on the challenge of the Game.”

Sahni sat quietly for a few moments and then suddenly remembered something. “Captain,” she said, “are you going to give Rojur the other news?”

Kehtan looked up with a smile. “Oh yeah... I have some good news for you.”

The esper grinned and replied, “I was wondering how the Shraelon Game amounted to good news that you were supposedly going to tell me.”

The captain refilled his coffee cup. “I've been in contact with Rayce Santrojur for the past week.” Rojur's relaxed smile faded into a frown, but he said nothing. “I’ve made a business deal with him for the development of my Parasite in future military ships that his industries will build.”

“You made a deal with my father,” Rojur spat, “and then gloat at me for it! Have you forgotten what he —”

Kehtan held up a hand for silence. “Calm down, Rojur, and listen to what I have to tell you.” The esper said nothing more, so the captain continued. “I sent him a complete account of this voyage, something I haven't even done for the Alliance yet, and have detailed your part in all this.”

He leaned back in his chair and took another drink of his coffee. “After reviewing everything that has happened, Rayce said he did some soul-searching and decided that even though his feeling against espers is still rather strong, he believes he can look past it due to certain circumstances, the foremost being that you are his only son and heif.” Rojur looked up sharply in disbelief, and then over to Sahni.

“He knows what you've done time and again for this crew,” the captain continued. “You used your abilities to help those around you, rather than for harm - and he respects that.”

“Just like that.”

“Apparently so.”

Rojur turned to Sahni and saw the moisture in her eyes. She laid her hand on his shoulder as he looked back at Kehtan. He was speechless, so urged the captain to continue with a slight inclination of his chin.

“If you still want your job designing ships for his business, he says it's waiting for you,” Kehtan said.

Rojur stood up, walked to the window, and then stared out into the stars. “Rayce does not simply change his mind about something that has hooks in his cold heart,” he said quietly. “I will think about contacting him, but I cannot believe he would just casually accept me for what I am. But… just perhaps... he might be able to tolerate the knowledge of what I am in time.” His throat tightened up and he could say no more. He was not sure what emotion ruled him the most at the moment – relief, disbelief or fear. Sahni moved up behind him and put her arms around his chest. She held him warmly as he put his hands on hers.

“There is one more thing,” Kehtan said. “From your physical descriptions of those who tried to frame you for the deaths of two people, the Roswei Government found them a week ago. They've been interrogated and the truth squeezed out of them… with persuasion. You’ve been cleared of that crime.”

Rojur turned around and faced his friends with a sincere sense of relief. “Thank you,” he said in a voice barely above a whisper. “Maybe things are looking up.”

***

A crowd surrounded the terminal as the Zephyr docked with the Rona orbiting spaceport. Rojur watched the monitors from the bridge and frowned.

“This is the part I hate,” he said to the captain. “I still remember the media circus on our return on the Two Star.” He made a face at the screen. “I do not like crowds...”

“Well, you have a handy talent that can take you past them,” Kehtan said with a smile. “I still have to deal with them, however.”

“Docking maneuvers completed, captain,” Dayl announced. “We're home.”

“Thank you, Dayl. Secure all systems and then confine yourself to your quarters.”

The woman frowned, but nodded without looking at him. “Aye, sir.”

Kehtan turned to his second in command. “All officers are to meet for debriefing with the Alliance representative in two hours. All other personnel are confined to the ship, pending the investigation into the mutiny. I want encrypted security locks on all outer hatches and bay doors. They are to be sealed so that no one escapes.”

“Aye, sir.”

Kehtan stood up and faced the esper. “You told me a little while ago that you had a request to make. I can’t let you take Alex and Brandon away until they’ve made an official statement.”

Rojur shook his head and replied, “That was not it. Since the Hidalgo is a Shraeloni-built vessel, the Planetary Alliance is sure to try to take it from me. Please do what you can to see that my salvage-claim is secure, will you?”

“I'll do what I can to make sure they uphold stellar salvage laws so you may keep her,” Kehtan said. “Barring that, I'll claim it myself and store her for you.”

“Thank you, Captain.”

“One more thing you should know,” Kehtan added. “Your father has arranged for a meeting with the Zephyr's department heads to discuss their critique on this ship. Since his company built the vessel for the Alliance from your designs, he wants you there as well. Before that, however, he wants a private meeting with you first.”

“I suspected he might want a breakdown on the Zephyr. It is his standard procedure to debrief a crew that has finished a maiden flight on one of his new ships. I still do not trust his newfound convictions, so I will not promise to be there.”

“Rojur, it was not a request.”

The esper looked his former captain in the eyes and gave him a tight smile. “I am no longer under Rayce Santrojur's authority. We will cooperate with the inquiry concerning the events of our voyage, but I do not plan on putting my life in danger by locking myself into a room with a man who had sworn to kill me. I may consider it with a neutral party present, but I am sure Rayce would be unwilling to say anything to me that might implicate himself with someone else there.”

“Do you intend to be on the run for the rest of your life?” Kehtan asked him. “This could be your chance to patch things up with him.”

“This could be his chance to finish me off.” Rojur assumed a defiant expression. “If I do have to run, I can go someplace where neither he nor anyone he employs will ever find me. I was there already, but I let Alex talk me into coming back here. Never again.”

Before the captain could say anything more, the esper held up a hand and added, “I do not promise to meet with him in private, but I will promise to consider his proposal. Nothing more.”

Chapter 17

Chester Hobbes walked into the library with the morning's paper. Somehow, the paper carrier had gotten it to the Blackthorne estate despite the snow that had covered Oklahoma City and closed down most of the metropolitan area. As he passed through the large oak double doors, he stopped. For the briefest of instants, he thought he had seen Alex, Rojur and Brandon in the room, but now it was empty.

Something strange was always going on with Mr. Delondin around, Hobbes thought to himself. He shook his head and walked to the large desk that dominated the room. He set the paper in its usual place next to the computer tablet and left to attend to other duties.

As he closed the doors behind him, four figures appeared in the middle of the room. All were clad in cloth garments now, instead of the liquid uniforms of the Zephyr. Brandon ran to the window and looked merrily at the snow outside when Alex moved to his desk. Rojur kept his light grip on Sahni's hand as he led her to the window.

Brandon looked up at them and said, “We're back!” He then ran to the desk. “Dad?” he asked, “Can I go outside? We have snow!”

Blackthorne glanced over from his computer monitor and raised an eyebrow. “I thought you wanted to rest up before your tutor gets here for your lessons.”

“I haven’t seen snow in months, Dad,” Brandon whined.

Blackthorne smiled and nodded. “It isn't likely Carl will be able to make it through the snow to get here, anyway. Go ahead, kiddo. Make sure you dress warm and let Okami out to romp with you.”

“Thanks, Dad!” The youth rushed out of the library and Blackthorne heard a squawk of surprise from Hobbes in the front room. When Rojur and Sahni moved to his desk, Alex looked up and smiled. He stood up and offered his hand to the esper.

“Well, Rojur,” he said, “It has been... an adventure knowing you.” Rojur took his hand and shook it warmly. “I can't claim that things have been dull since you came to Oklahoma.”

Rojur laughed. “No, I suppose not. I know this vacation turned out to be more than you wanted, but I hope you will remember us from time to time.”

“I'm not likely to bloody well forget this incident, especially after the investigation interrogations of the last week,” Alex replied with a smile as he leaned against his desk with folded arms. “Good luck going back to work for your father. I know it couldn’t have been easy to consider.”

Rojur glanced around the room briefly before returning his gaze to his friend. “Actually, I have been thinking about that,” he said. “After the adventures I have been through and how I have enjoyed the open use of my abilities in recent weeks, I have toyed with the idea of joining the Psion Patrol instead.” He put an arm around Sahni's waist and continued. “To my father, and to my time, I have only been away a few months. But to me, having been on the run, as well as the time spent here with you and Brandon, it has been about two or three years since I have done any design work. While I am sure I could get back into the routine, I think I like the idea of using my talents out and away from an office desk better.”

He looked over at Sahni and smiled. “We have discussed the possibility of getting married,” he admitted to Alex’ raised eyebrow, “but now with Kehtan's impending retirement, the Zephyr will be in need of a new captain. The higher-ups seem to think Sahni is perfect for the assignment, and I agree.”

Alex stepped around the desk and approached the couple. Sahni had remained silent since their arrival, but now she moved to Blackthorne and embraced him warmly.

“Take care of yourself, Alex,” she said after giving him a quick peck on the cheek. “We'll miss having you around.”

“Come back and see us sometime,” the millionaire said warmly. “You’ll always be welcome in my house.”

Sahni leaned forward and lightly kissed him on the lips this time. “We'll be sure to do that.” She pulled away and slipped an arm around Rojur's waist.

“Oh, by the way,” Alex said to the esper as he remembered something, “Now that things between you and your father may be resolved, what name will you go by? Rojur or Delon?”

The esper looked at Chieko and then back to Alex. “I thought to commemorate my new life, I would stay with Rojur Delondin. Although he did not really agree, my father understands the need for a new start. Besides, no matter what name I use, he will probably always call me Delon.”

Alex stepped back and nodded. “Then I wish both of you luck in your careers.”

“Thank you. Good-bye, Alex.”

Hobbes walked into the room just in time to see Rojur and some woman disappear. He started, but kept his composure. He studied Alex’ face briefly and wondered where his employer's new lines of stress had come from.

“Hello, Chester,” Alex said.

“Sir?”

“Would you fix a large breakfast for me?” Blackthorne asked. “I'm rather starved for a good home-cooked meal.”

“Sir? We just finished breakfast.”

Alex laughed. He had forgotten about the time change. Rojur had them leave from Rona during the morning hours, so their sense of time wouldn't be too far off when they got back to Earth, but they had neglected to eat anything first. “Indulge me, please?” he asked. “I want another round of everything you fixed before.”

Hobbes raised his eyebrows but nodded. “Yes, sir.”

Chapter 18

Two days later, Rojur materialized with Sahni on the surface of Rona in the capitol city of Astran, in the shadow of a great building of rock and steel. Inside the obelisk-shaped structure were the regional offices for the Dunkn Shipyards, a division of his father's Santrojur Industries. A beautiful and aromatic garden surrounded the building, adorned with the occasional statue and sculpture. The esper checked his chronograph and noted that the prearranged meeting with his father was to begin in half an hour.

He looked at Sahni and frowned. “It would be best if I went up alone,” he said grimly. He led her to an ornate granite park bench and they sat down together. “This will be our first private meeting since he tried to kill me.” He sighed and glanced up the full height of the building and then back down to meet her eyes. “I may have been invited back into his company despite my refusal to meet him alone without someone else present during the investigation, but I cannot believe that his lifelong hatred against espers is so easily overcome with just a letter from the captain.”

Sahni took his hands in hers. “Wouldn't you rather have me along anyway – to provide a reason for him to hold back his anger, should it arise, just as you did when you had Kehtan join you in that meeting with him?”

“No. I do not,” he stated firmly. “I intend to draw his opinions out into the open this time. I want to know exactly how he stands with me should I go back to work for him. I do not want anything hidden to come out against me later.” He looked up at the pale green sky and stared at the lazy clouds floating above. “I want to be sure he really wants me back and is not just using this as a ploy to get me into a position where he can follow through on his death threat.”

“Rojur...”

The esper forced himself to relax after seeing the worry in her eyes.

“Rojur,” she started again, “give him a chance. He must have gone through some personal changes to allow – to offer you an opportunity to come back. Esper or no, he loves you.”

“Used to love me,” Rojur corrected. “Before he discovered I was an Es-par.”

“Give him a chance.”

The esper brushed a stray lock of hair from his face and sighed. “I am giving him a chance. After our meeting, we will know one another exactly. I do not intend to leave until we do. In case this meeting is actually a trap, I am prepared to teleport out of there in an instant.”

Rojur stood up and straightened the slacks of the charcoal-grey business suit he wore. It had been several years since he had been so attired, but it felt comfortably familiar. “For good or bad, I will have my answers when this day is over,” he said in a quiet voice.

Sahni stood up beside him and kissed him lightly. Rojur gestured toward a group of buildings a short distance away after their lips parted.

“That shopping mall has practically anything you could want,” he said with a smile. “I will look for you there when I am finished with the confrontation, uh, the meeting with my father.”

Sahni nodded silently, but before she turned to go, she ran a finger lightly across the back of his right hand. “Be careful, Love. Patience be with you.”

***

The structure that was home to the offices of the Dunkn Shipyards on Rona and a multitude of other organizations towered well over a hundred levels above the city; a series of tubular lifts were mounted on tracks on all outer sides of the massive obelisk and Rojur Delondin rode to the top level in one.

As the indicator panel registered that he was nearing his destination, the esper reached into his inner coat pocket and removed the silver psi dampener that Blackthorne had developed and quietly slipped it onto his head. He arranged it in his reflection in the plastiglass side of the lift and readied himself. The last time his father had seen him, however, Rojur had not had a beard, nor was his hair quite as long and airy. Those were styles he had adopted just prior to his stay on Earth.

Rojur swallowed hard when the lift came to a stop at the one hundred thirtieth level. The doors opened and he stepped out into a pastel blue room where mirrors divided sections of the wall every three meters. No doubt concealing monitoring scanners, the esper mused to himself.

He moved to the curved desk immediately before him and caught the attention of the Roswein receptionist searching through a series of files on his tablet screen. The young man glanced up at him with an upraised eyebrow.

“Yes?” he asked as he straightened up in his chair. “What can I do for you?”

“I am here to see Rayce Santrojur.”

“Do you have an appointment?”

“No, but he will want to see me.”

“Really?” the response fairly dripped in sarcasm. “We'll see. What is your name?”

“Delon Santrojur.”

The receptionist looked as if he had just been confronted by a rabid Ziphlarian rock leopard. He hesitated for only a moment and then keyed up a message on his terminal.

So, Rojur thought to himself bitterly, he knows what I am.

The man's pale eyes narrowed in apparent distaste, but said nothing until the reply he awaited showed up on his monitor. “You may go in now,” he said in a strained voice.

Silently, Rojur noted the man's name from the ID badge he wore and committed it to memory. Without malice, he gave the man a brief nod and moved down the hall toward the office his father always used when visiting this facility. When he reached the door, he stopped before it and hesitated. He had donned the dampener to keep himself from accidentally using his talents, but if his father got violent again, he might need the protection. He sighed and decided to keep it on. He thumbed the keypad set in the door frame and the voice of his father came through a speaker hidden somewhere in the wall.

“Enter.”

He opened the door and walked into the small office. As he shut the door behind him, he immediately noticed the total silence. The room was soundproofed. It was completely paneled and decorated in light tharsis wood, imported from Roswei. The room was large but only seemed tiny, an effect from the immense size of the desk dominating the area. In a high-backed chair sat the one man in the galaxy whom Rojur feared.

Rayce Santrojur looked up at him quietly, an expression of indifference on his face that Alex would have called a poker face. He stood up from his seat and regarded the esper without a word. He was the same height as his son and his build was similar. His soft turquoise hair was combed straight back, but no grey could be detected in his locks. His face was unlined for his sixty-three years, and the only facial hair he sported was a thin, black mustache. Since the average lifespan of a Roswein was one hundred thirty years, he was still middle-aged.

Rayce's own clothing was charcoal grey, though the suit coat covered a black turtleneck shirt rather than the standard shirt and tie. He wore a single band of silver on the small finger of his left hand, and adorned himself with no other jewelry. He held his broad shoulders straight and coolly gazed at his offspring.

Several minutes had passed and still neither one of them spoke. Rojur stood with his hands lightly clasped together behind his back, awaiting some form of acknowledgment. Finally, the elder man returned to his seat and looked up at his son.

“Delon,” he said in a strong, though quiet, voice.

“Rayce.” Rojur took the seat in front of the desk and sat uncomfortably in further silence.

Rayce continued to wear his indifferent expression, though Rojur could sense the checked hostility in his father's pale eyes. He tried to make himself relax.

In a businesslike manner, Rayce broke the silence. “Well then, despite the trouble with the crew on board the Zephyr, what was your personal assessment of the ship's capabilities and handling?”

Rojur was astonished. This was not at all what he had expected. His father was acting as if he were conducting business as usual. Though startled, he cleared his throat and gave as clear and informative a report as he could. He knew his father was a stickler for details, so he left nothing out; not even his psionic usage, even though Rayce was already aware of the full reports by his people and the statements of the crew. Throughout the briefing, the elder man never interrupted, choosing instead merely to listen as was his practice. When Rojur finished, the room fell into silence once more.

After a few moments, Rayce asked, “What is on your mind?”

Rojur was not sure how to answer, but after fumbling with his thoughts he managed to say, “I am wondering how you can act so nonchalant toward me now, when at our last meeting you tried to kill me.”

Rayce drew his eyebrows together in checked anger at the memory, but did not reply.

Rojur stood up and leaned on the massive desk with both hands. “Did it surprise you when I used my abilities in a constructive way?” he said in a near-whisper. “Did it shock you to know that I was not out blowing people apart and doing mass destruction? I am an Es-par! That is what I am supposed to do, right? That is what grandfather did!”

Rayce leaned back in his chair and studied his son. “Sit down,” he said flatly, fully aware that Rojur was trying to bait him. Rojur stared at him a moment and then returned to his seat. “Es-pars are not tolerated to live in our society,” Rayce said lowly. “They are unpredictable and cause too many problems. Simon Santrojur was an Es-par of the worse kind. He was a prime example of why they should be destroyed.”

“Even if one of them is someone like me, who uses his abilities to help others?” Rojur spat.

“You are a freak, Delon. A mistake that should have never been,” Rayce said coldly. “Granted, you were a remarkable asset to the success of the Zephyr's maiden voyage according to Captain Kehtan's report, but you also threatened one of the officers.”

“That is correct, it was only a threat. I did not kill him and neither did I intend to. I said what I did to frighten him to get him off my back.”

“Ah, but you could have. What if he had provoked you a little further? I've always known you've been a little high-strung and you have a temper. What would have happened if you'd snapped? The Psion Patrol would have had to hunt you down and destroy you just as they did with Simon.”

Rojur was about to argue back against that, but he stopped. “The Psion Patrol?” he asked in sudden inspiration. “What do you think of them?”

The non sequitur stopped Rayce a moment, having caught him off guard. He blinked a couple of times and replied, “The Psion Patrol? They're doing the galaxy a great service by ridding the existence of Es-pars.”

“Father,” Rojur said with a thin smile, “The Psion Patrol are espers, and they are not ridding the galaxy of all other espers, they are merely trying to maintain order – just like any other police force. They just happen to use different tools: psionics.” Rayce's expression was unreadable, but he said nothing. Rojur leaned toward the desk again and said, “Not all espers are destructive. People like Simon do pop up from time to time, but not all of us are that way!”

In a voice so quiet that Rojur barely could hear, Rayce asked, “Do you remember your mother at all, Delon? Do you remember how Darisa died?”

“Mother?” It was Rojur's turn to be caught off guard. “I have no memory of her,” he said quietly. “You told me she died in an accident about a year after I was born.”

“An accident,” Rayce muttered. He looked up at the ceiling and sighed. “No, not an accident. Simon murdered your mother.”

“Simon...? H-how?”

“He was a fire-bolter and he… burned… her… alive...” Rayce's face contorted in anger at the memory. “And do you know why? Do you know why?” He didn't wait for Rojur to answer. “Because she was more interested in taking care of her infant son than fixing his dinner one night!”

Rojur sat stunned while his father continued. “His mind snapped! That's – that is what set him off on his killing spree... He... he violently murdered seventy-three other people before the Psion Patrol could take him down.” Rayce's whole body shook with horrified rage, and his clenched fists were pressed white.

He looked at Rojur with bared teeth and shouted, “Now do you understand why I hate Es-pars? Your blasted kind are murderers! Murderers!”

Rojur could do nothing but stare, open mouthed. His father removed his coat and pulled the bottom of his shirt up to his armpits. He turned around and bared his back to his son. It was badly scarred from an old but tremendous burn.

“Do you see this?” Rayce asked in a voice so quiet that the contrast from his previous shouting startled Rojur. “I got this trying to protect you from Simon after he killed your mother. The hospital in our city at the time was rather inadequate to deal with burns as severe as mine were, but they did what they could. I survived, and so did my son.” He pulled his shirt back down and tucked it into his slacks. He did not put the coat back on, but left it lying on the desk before him.

“If I had known you would develop into an Es-par too, I'd have gladly stood by and let Simon kill you instead of my wife… the only woman who ever mattered to me.” Rayce sat down and ran a shaken hand through his hair and then across his face.

Rojur's eyes were moist and his breath was ragged. He had heard none of this before. Finally, he ran the back of his left hand across his face and dried his eyes on his coat sleeve, forgetful of the handkerchief in his pocket. For a long while, father and son sat in silence.

Rojur finally composed himself and remembered his reason for coming in here. Now he knew the basis for his father's earlier attempt to kill him. Then, in a voice free of any emotion, he asked, “Why the offer to let me come back?”

Rayce turned to look at him. As he did so, he pulled open a drawer and picked up a wicked-looking weapon. It was similar to the revolvers from earlier days on Earth, but the caliber was larger and the ammunition that went with it was far more destructive. He pointed it at Rojur's chest.

The esper whipped the dampener from his hair in a quick reflex to the new development. “I already have quite a substantial reward offered for your life,” Rayce told him. “My intention today was to lure you in here to deal with you myself.”

Rojur's eyes glowed blue as his personal shields were in place, but Rayce shook his head. “That will do you no good, Delon,” he said. “The whole room has a psionic dampening field running through it. I paid large sums into its research.”

Rojur was doubtful until he tried to teleport away and was unable to. His eyes widened in horror as he focused on the large barrel of the gun in his father's hand, but then he remembered the military training he'd gotten in the Alliance Service. It was risky, but he thought he might be able to disarm Rayce without getting himself killed.

Before he could act, however, Rayce set the gun on the table and leaned back in his chair. He stared up at the ceiling, his face set in a weary frown. “I had every intention of killing you,” he said slowly without looking at Rojur. “Killing a known Es-par has no penalty, you know.”

Rojur stood completely immobile as so not to make any sudden movements. He watched intensely as Rayce picked the gun back up off the table, only to open the chamber and dump out the large projectile. He sighed audibly as the gun itself was placed back inside the desk drawer. Rayce still would not look at him.

“Why — did you stop?” Rojur asked hoarsely. With the rage he'd seen in his father a few moments before, he felt it was truly fortunate that he was still breathing now - though he didn't understand why.

The elder Santrojur turned to face him, but his eyes downcast. “Because I have spent most of your life loving you, boy – much longer than I've hated you.” He swallowed hard and closed his eyes. “I had to be both parents for you after I lost Darisa– after we lost Darisa. I loved you. I fed you and I clothed you. I picked you up when you fell and held you when you cried. I tickled your toes to make you laugh and took you for walks in the park. I rejoiced at your graduation and was proud when you made top honors at the Academy, and you couldn't have made me happier when agreed to use your skills to benefit the company.”

He finally looked up and nodded to his son. “I've had a lot of festering hatred for Es-pars since your grandfather took the life of his daughter, but you've shown me that having such abilities is not necessarily a bad thing. I cannot say that I will change overnight, Delon, but with your patience - and your forgiveness - I would like my son back.” Rayce Santrojur was a strong man and a strong businessman. He wielded wealth and power and let no man daunt him, but for that moment, he was nothing more than a father.

Rojur swallowed with difficulty and then approached that father. He was hesitant when the elder man stood up, but then the look of emotion in his eyes broke the barriers.

***

Sahni held a sheer garment up to the light, examining the rainbow sheen of the fabric. She smiled to herself as she thought of wearing it for Rojur and draped it over an arm with three other outfits she had chosen to buy. As she started toward another rack, she felt a finger brush along the short curls at the base of her neck.

She spun around and saw Rojur standing beside her, smiling gently. She traced a finger across his lips and returned the smile. “Does this mean the meeting went well?” she asked.

Rojur nodded. “It did not happen the way I thought it would, but it did end well.” He looked at the items she held and said, “Let us get these paid for. Rayce would like to meet the woman of my dreams.”

Later as they walked back toward the Dunkn offices, new purchases in hand, Sahni asked him, “When do you start working for his company again?”

Rojur's smile turned to a light frown. “It is still up in the air as to whether I will be working for him,” he said quietly. “My father promised to let me take a vacation, since we have just returned from a long mission on board the Zephyr. All expenses paid, his treat. While on this vacation, I am to think about the various offers he made to me and see if I still wish to design ships afterward.”

“Why wouldn't you,” Sahni asked, “if you and your father have straightened out your differences?”

They entered the garden around the building and followed one of the cobblestone walks through the winding path. “It is not my father I am concerned about,” Rojur replied. “While I was away, he had put out a reward on me and displayed my data all over Roswei. Whether or not Rayce has accepted me back, my whole planet now knows I'm an Es-par — a world that hates Es-pars.”

“However,” he said as they entered the building, “I now look nothing like the pictures of me that were distributed then, so if I continue to go by the name of Rojur Delondin, rather than Delon Santrojur, I might get by.”

It was Sahni's turn to frown. “All you've done is grow a beard, let your hair grow out and rearrange the syllables in your name. That's not much of a disguise.”

“Rayce said that if I was uncomfortable being in a Roswein office, it would be permissible to set up my studio anywhere I wished,” the esper replied as they boarded a lift. “I thought about setting up an office on Earth to do my work.”

“Earth? Isn't that where Alex is?”

“That is where Alex was,” he corrected. “Alex lived there a couple hundred years ago — remember what I told you about traveling back in time to take him and Brandon back to their home?” She nodded. “Anyway, I have been there before, in our time, and it is a decent place. I have not made up my mind, though.”

Sahni leaned on the plastiglass side of the lift as it continued its way to the top. “Wasn't bringing Alex up from the past risky? I mean, if he's now back in the past on Earth, won't he be tempted to duplicate some of our modern devices and alter his planet's future with them? He is a businessman, right?”

Rojur smiled and shook his head. “Right before the three of us left his time to come here, I placed subliminal educators beside his and Brandon's beds to teach them our language the night before so they would be able to communicate during their stay. In addition to teaching them Galactic Standard, it also placed a hypnotic suggestion in their minds that any thought of replicating anything they saw in the future would immediately be forgotten. To be sure, I have already done a bit of historical research on Alexander Marcus Blackthorne of Earth, and none of our technologies ever showed up in his timeline.”

Sahni looked thoughtful for a moment and then glanced toward the ceiling of the lift. “You said that even with the different options, you still may not work for your father,” she recalled. “If not that, what else would you do?”

Rojur shrugged his shoulders. “I do not know. I am still toying with the idea of joining the Psion Patrol. They are espers who use their abilities to maintain order and peace. I do not know if I would even qualify under their standards, but I have considered it.”

Before she could reply, the lift doors opened. Rojur led her past the snarky receptionist's desk without a word and stopped outside his father's door. He turned to Sahni with a smile, kissed her briefly on the lips and then said, “Here goes…”

Chapter 19

Captain Kehtan Otani (ret.) sat in the private study of his home in the rural community of Halan San on Rona. Red lay curled up on the floor at his feet as he examined the contents of a wooden box. The star captain smiled to himself as he removed the items and reverently placed them on the desktop.

In all, they had collected twelve of the Shraeloni crystals and he knew that they would go well with the rest of the artifacts he had acquired over the years. The planet Shraelon may not exist anymore, he thought to himself, but the civilization is far from forgotten.

In the midst of the crystals, he picked up a recording of that final transmission from Shraelon. He had translated the text message and told his friends what he'd found about the Game, but along with it had been an additional video recording that he had kept to himself.

One day, he thought, I will have the opportunity to continue what was started — but for now, the daughters of Herdantes will have to wait for me. 

End

EXTRA-EXTRA

What follows are the only existing chapters of a planned sequel to the story you have just read. The manuscript was started in 1993, but never finished. The primary character's name was Merlin Sinclair, and since this story was never completed, I took the name and used it for a later anthropomorphic project I began in 1996 called Blue Horizon that was in production until 2009, spawning over forty serialized tales. Presented here merely for your curiosity are the first five chapters of…

TREASURE HUNT II

THE DAUGHTERS OF HERDANTES

by Ted R. Blasingame

Chapter 1

My name is Merlin. Before conclusions are drawn, let me explain that I was not given the name to honor a famous magician of popular Terran literature. I was named after a bird from a planet that I’ve never seen.

I am a descendant of a colonist who homesteaded on a new world some one hundred seventy-five years ago. School history says that my homeworld of Roswei is roughly the same size of Earth, but has more land mass. The vegetation and weather climates are said to be similar.

There had been no sapient life forms on Roswei when the first exploration vessel from Earth, the Goldenrod, discovered it, so the similar Earth-like world was tagged for immediate colonization. Merlin Marcus Sinclair was a famous figure in my family line, the ancestor on that first shipload of colonists for whom I was named.

However, there were elements in the soil and air on Roswei that were classified as inert and harmless, but after forty years a transformation took place on a genetic level in the people who were born there. The changes were rather harmless, but enough to alienate them from the people of Earth. To those native-born to Roswei, hair colors emerged as either black or turquoise. Turquoise! All eye colors faded to pale white, though eyesight actually improved with the new alterations so that optic disabilities became rare.

The Terrans of Earth still possessed the capability for prejudice, and contact was soon cut off from Roswei for fear of contamination, after the colony had been established a mere fifty years. The new Rosweins were outraged by this, and soon developed a mindset that they no longer needed Earth anyway. There were raw materials in abundance and the first fifty years of their colonization had been enough time for an industrialized civilization to be rooted on their planet with their own government and society.

Without the contact and influence of Earth, they would thrive and progress on their own. In time, the technologies of the two worlds moved onward in similar veins of thought, but branched off into areas of discovery and culture unique to each.

The environment of Roswei influenced yet another genetic change in its children, but it was rare enough that it wasn’t considered normal. In fact, still stinging from the prejudice from Earth, the Rosweins abhorred the new change as freakish and unwanted. About one person in five thousand developed the undesired condition of psionic abilities. Fictional literature had once called people with psionic abilities “espers”, but in this new world the term was mutated into a word of derogatory slang and those with the ‘curse’ were called “Es-pars”.

Years went by and the hatred of Es-pars grew, so much that anyone known to possess the powers was shunned by society. Es-pars learned to hide their talents and never use them openly, for acceptance into Society was vital to the Rosweins. Then, when Roswei had been an established world for a hundred years, it was marked with a declaration that the killing of a known Es-par had no penalty, as it was ruled to help cleanse the Society of impure blood.

Soon after their centennial, Roswei was contacted by another colony world originally established by Earth, a smaller planet named Rona in a nearby star system. As with Roswei, Rona had been abandoned by Earth when harmless physical changes took place in the people of that colony. Similarly, the colonists’ hair and eye colors changed to include practically every color of the rainbow. No other genetic side effects were ever discovered in the Ronans, not even the psionic abilities that developed on Roswei.

Feeling a kind of kinship with one another, the governments of Rona and Roswei established trade and constant contact. Both planets flourished and the altered sons and daughters of mankind deepened their roots into their new homeworlds.

On Rona there were no threats against Es-pars, so many Rosweins who developed the abilities applied secretly to immigrate to the other world and intermarry with the citizens there. This caused Espers to eventually crop up within the Ronan populations, but on that world the talents were cultivated and put to good use. Unfortunately as with all tools, some used their abilities for selfish and even evil purposes, and ultimately the Psion Patrol was created with teams of trained Espers to police these rogues and punish them as they would any other criminal element.

A generation later, representatives from Earth arrived to make peace with its two sister worlds. Those who had been in power during the abandonment were long since gone and the new Terran World Government sought to create trade and relations with Rona and Roswei. It took nearly a decade of negotiations between the three worlds to finally establish the Planetary Alliance, and by then other former colonies of Earth were contacted in similar agreements. 

I’ve given you this history lesson in order to help you understand my predicament. All of these events happened years before I was born on Roswei, but it all bears involvement into creating who I am and that which I became. 

I was born Merlin Marcus Sinclair to Eric Sinclair and Christine Santrojur in the Roswein year One Hundred Forty-Five. Note that the calendar dating system was simply created to reflect the number of years since the Goldenrod first set down on the new world. I was the first of six children, my siblings consisting of three brothers, Samuel, Wayne and Alan, and two sisters, Marie and Sharon. My father had one brother, Randall, and a sister, Carolyn. My mother had only one sibling, a brother named Rayce. Randall produced a handful of cousins for me, as did Carolyn. Rayce only sired one son, a cousin of mine named Delon. Delon Santrojur is the only person I know who might help me in my dilemma. Unfortunately, he has disappeared, with rumors he is an Es-par gone into hiding.

Chapter 2

Merlin Sinclair moved from shadow to shadow on the deserted street. The night air was warm and the humidity high, though no cool relief came from the sea rolling into the shore half a kilometer distant.

He gazed up at the twin moons and then checked the timepiece on his belt. His pale eyes faintly glowed in the darkness as he scanned the street signs on the nearby corner and softly grunted to himself. Satisfied he was at the right place, he settled into a doorway to wait. A lock of turquoise hair fell into his eyes, jostled by the night breeze. He moved it aside and then drew his breath in sudden surprise. Someone stood two meters directly in front of him. He hadn’t heard the approach.

“Are you looking at the moons?” the silhouette asked him in a low voice. Merlin recognized the identifying code and replied with his memorized response.

“Yes,” he said in an equally low voice, “but the air seems hazy.”

“Follow me,” said the shadow. “I know a place where the view is clear.”

Merlin nodded as the silhouette moved away. They walked to the next street corner and moved inside a darkened store. They mounted stairs to the next level and stopped at a dim yellow light beside a door panel. Merlin’s contact wore a black cloak that covered his head, but as the individual paused to look at him before entering the room, he saw eyes of emerald green.

He followed the figure into a small chamber, decorated only by a table with two chairs and a small lamp overhead. He immediately moved to a seat and sat down. His host stood behind the opposite chair and removed the cloak. Merlin felt his eyes widen in surprise, but he composed himself immediately.

The woman before him was tall, slender and studied him intently. Her face seemed delicate and somewhat innocent, but her thin jaw was set tightly shut. Her jumpsuit matched the color of her eyes and her red hair fell gently in soft curls over her narrow shoulders. If not for the circumstances, Merlin might have been charmed by her.

In turn, the woman studied him. His turquoise hair was combed straight back and barely touched the black collar of his shirt. He rested his palms on the knees of his grey slacks, but her eyes were focused on his own, which were chalky white.

“You are from Roswei,” she said in a voice soft in volume, but tinged with an accent he couldn’t identify.

“That’s right,” he said. “And you?”

“Not of your concern,” she replied. “The moons of Rona watched your arrival.”

Merlin blinked twice before he realized she had spoken another code. “Yes, but the moons are full and see everything.” She nodded to him and he smiled faintly toward her. He leaned forward over the table and said, “Do you have the information I need?”

“I do,” she answered as she sat down.

Merlin retrieved a small purse from inside his belt and set it on the table in front of her. Without a word, she picked it up and examined the currencies within.

The unidentified woman hid the purse under her cloak and looked back into his eyes. “I cannot give you his exact whereabouts, but I can lead you to someone most likely to know where he can be found.”

Merlin nodded as she produced a sheet of fiber paper with directions and a map drawn onto it. “Here is the house. It is about twenty kilometers from here to the south, in a rural community called Halan San. A retired captain by the name of Kehtan Otani lives there. It is through him you should direct your search.”

“How can you be sure this man will know where he is?” Merlin asked.

“Captain Otani was his commanding officer on a ship called Two Star a number of years ago. I understand they got back together on an exploration vessel’s maiden voyage about six years ago. They were also friends, my sources tell me, and so he should be able to help you.”

“If he will help me,” Merlin remarked. “If he thinks I’m a bounty hunter, he’ll probably shoot me on sight.”

“Then you will have to be convincing to the captain,” the woman stated unnecessarily.

Merlin looked at his hands as he held them up in front of him. “I think I can do that without a problem.” He dropped his hands to his lap again. “Rayce Santrojur may have rescinded the reward he’d issued on his son’s head, but the Roswei government still wants the Es-par and will pay handsomely for him.”

He looked up into the woman’s eyes again and almost got lost in them. He shook his head slightly as if to get control over his thoughts. “However,” he added, “I’m not out to collect the reward. I want Delon Santrojur and his talents for another matter altogether.”

“That is not my concern,” his host stated as she stood up. “However, I do wish you luck in your search.” She reached out a hand toward him, but Merlin frowned.

“Forgive me, please,” he stated. “I appreciate your services, but I don’t shake hands with anyone, friendly or not.”

“Oh, why is that?” she asked as she tilted her head sideways slightly. “Do you have mysophobia?”

“No, I am not a germaphobe, but it’s more a personal matter.”

The woman smiled, the first time this meeting, and nodded her head. “Then I will thank you for the gracious payment for said services and be on my way.”

He nodded and followed her back out to the street. He started to go, but hesitated a moment to ask one more question. When he looked ahead to her, she had already gone and was nowhere to be seen. He had not heard her leave.

He shrugged his shoulders and retraced his steps through the shadows to the rental vehicle hidden three blocks away.

Chapter 3

Kehtan Otani had explored and charted many worlds over the years and had gratefully accepted retirement from the Planetary Alliance Space Service. After the formalities of the change of command on board the SS Zephyr and the processes of retiring after many years of service, Kehtan had made his home in the small fishing community of Halan San, populated by forty of the nicest folk he’d ever met.

In the years since moving there, Kehtan had integrated himself into the community as a respected member of their society. He had grown wealthy from a joint collaboration with Santrojur Industries several years earlier, but the simple life he chose was peaceful and full of enjoyment.

The only thing that marred his happiness was the memory of the large Ronan wolf that had been his longtime companion, Red. She had grown old by lupine standards and had died of natural causes. In all the time he had known her, she had only had one litter of pups six years ago. There had been four; two male and two female. Unfortunately, both females died within weeks of their birth and one of the males had been given to a young man the captain had known.

The remaining male, which he had named Jesse, still lived with him, though he’d had ample opportunity to go off and join a pack somewhere. Rona had a high population of wolves and even the community of Halan San had its nightly choruses.

Kehtan broke from his musing at Jesse’s woof. He smiled and corrected his course with the turn of a paddle. His small rowboat veered back toward the point of land where his home and dock awaited.

The morning air was warm and lazy clouds floated above. As he glanced toward the sky, he saw the silver shape of a transport glide silently through the air, no doubt on its way to deliver another set of passengers to the space station in orbit high above. For a brief instant he felt out of time. In an age of high technology, he had chosen a simple life in a rural community with the barest of modern conveniences.

Jesse stood at the fore end of the boat behind him and woofed again at something he could see. Turning, Kehtan looked toward shore and saw a vehicle parked beside his house. He frowned and resumed rowing.

As he neared the dock, he smiled and waved toward the man approaching him carrying a large black bag. At first he’d thought Rojur had come to visit, but upon second look decided this was not his friend of years past. The prow of his tiny craft bumped the wooden walkway and Jesse padded cautiously up the path to greet the visitor.

“Hello!” Kehtan said in a friendly tone.

“Good morning,” said the man. Jesse curiously sniffed the turquoise-haired man, but showed no alarm. Kehtan stowed the oars and picked up his fishing pole and a stinger of fish. He stood up and hopped out of the boat.

“What can I do for you?” he asked.

“I am looking for Captain Otani,” the man said. “My name is Merlin Sinclair.”

“I am the retired Captain Otani. Now it's just Kehtan Otani.”

They moved along the dock toward land and then stopped at a small table with a hand pump. Kehtan set his fish on the table and set his pole aside. He produced a knife from a belt sheath and proceeded to clean his catch.

Merlin wrinkled his nose and looked out to sea. “Sir,” he began, “I am searching for a relative of mine who once served with you.”

Kehtan paused for a moment in his cutting. He had only served with two Rosweins in all his years. Delon Santrojur on the Two Star and Trin Rosch on the Zephyr. Since the mutiny of the Zephyr had been widely publicized by the media, and also the courts-martial of the bulk of the crew, it was common knowledge that Ensign Rosch had been sent to a rehabilitation center on Tyra, far from civilized populations of the Alliance. Knowing this, Kehtan had little trouble knowing for whom this man searched.

“And who might that be?” he asked, concentrating on his fish.

“Delon Santrojur,” Merlin confirmed. “He's my cousin, whom I’ve not seen in years.”

Kehtan completed his task and tossed the discarded fish parts to Jesse. The rest he gathered up in his hands. “Will you carry my pole?” he asked. “We can resume our conversation inside where it’s cooler.”

“Of course.”

Inside the rustic farm house, Kehtan went to the kitchen and prepared the fillets for the freezer. Merlin leaned on the counter and watched him quietly, awaiting the retired captain’s reply. Kehtan was silent for long moments as he worked, but he finally spoke.

“How long have you been away from Roswei, Mister Sinclair?” he asked, looking sideways at his guest.

“Only about a year,” Merlin answered, puzzled. “My search began there.”

“Then it should be common knowledge to you,” the captain said slowly, “that Delon Santrojur is an Es-par and is wanted by Roswein authorities.”

“Yes, the whole world knows,” Merlin said, “but it's not by the Roswein authority, but several anti-esper groups who have laid down the reward. I’m not seeking that reward.”

Kehtan looked at him skeptically as he finished his task. He moved to the dining table and sat down, and motioned Merlin to do the same.

“Mister Sinclair,” he began. Before he could continue, Merlin set his black bag upon the table and opened it so the captain could see the contents. Kehtan’s eyes widened and he quickly scowled. “Take your money elsewhere, Sinclair,” he snorted. “I don’t know where Delon is, nor do I take bribes.”

Merlin smiled. “You misunderstand me before I have a chance to explain. For one, the amount in this bag exceeds the reward that has been offered. Two, I was about to explain that this is my life savings pooled together to finance my search. I wasn’t going to offer all of it to you, although you would be paid for any information you could provide to help me.”

Kehtan stood up and moved to an airtight cylinder on the counter. From it he poured a green liquid into a large cup. He did not offer one to his guest. He returned to his seat and studied Merlin a few moments as he sipped his coffee.

“Why are you looking for him?” he asked directly. “Why would he want to see you?”

Merlin removed a photo from an inner pocket of the bag. He handed it to Kehtan.

“Sir, this is of our last time together, nearly fifteen years ago.” In the picture was a young Delon in his early twenties. He was playfully giving a ‘noogie’ to a kid five years younger. The kid bore a striking resemblance to Sinclair.

“Delon had returned to Roswei for a family reunion from his engineering studies on Rona when this was taken. I was in a serious accident a year later and spent the next decade in physical rehabilitation.”

“I’m sorry,” Kehtan replied as he returned the photo. “That still doesn’t explain why you want him.”

Merlin sighed. “A year after my rehabilitation ended I'd heard about my uncle’s accusations and the original reward for Delon’s life. Some months later, Rayce Santrojur simply rescinded his reward, but even then I knew I had to find Delon — before some fortune hunter got him first for the bounty put up soon after by the private groups.”

“Why?” Kehtan asked. “Why do you need to find him, if you’re not after the bounty yourself?”

Merlin put his hands on the table and then looked at Kehtan.

“Because, Captain, I have something deeply in common with my cousin. I am also an esper, a creature reviled by my homeworld as a freak of nature to be eliminated.”

Kehtan took a sip of his green coffee and remained silent. Merlin fell quiet, too, awaiting a response.

“It's possible you may be an esper,” Kehtan finally replied. “It is also possible that in spite of this you could want to use his status of being an outlaw to get revenge for a past act against you — possibly your accident.”

“That is plausible,” Merlin admitted, “but that is not the case here.”

“Do you have any way to prove this?”

Merlin nodded. “Absolutely.” He stood up and leaned against a kitchen counter. “From the reports I’ve seen and heard, Delon’s psionic abilities could be hidden from anyone not knowing anything about him. A psi detector would not discover that he was an esper if he simply refrained from using his talents. In my case, my abilities are essential so that I might seem normal to normal people. If I were to dampen them or abstain from using them, I would be discovered right away.”

He picked up the coffee cylinder and examined it absently. “I have to use them constantly, even while I sleep, Captain. As I’m using them even now.”

Kehtan scowled and stood up. He moved behind his chair and rested his hands on the seat back. “What kind of talents?”

“Of illusion and telekinesis. The accident I mentioned damaged me in ways not repairable. I use my psionic abilities to give the illusion I’m a normal man leading a normal life.” He glanced up as Jesse padded through the kitchen, obviously full and ready to find a corner to sleep in. The wolf disappeared into another room. Merlin continued.

“If I were to find Delon and turn him in as an Es-par, I would have to pass a psi exam myself to claim the reward. I would fail.”

Kehtan swallowed. “Show me,” he requested.

Merlin nodded, knowing that if he wanted to gain the captain’s trust, he had to trust the captain in return. Kehtan could easily report him to the anti-esper groups on Roswei for the same type of reward. It was all a matter of trust.

Merlin had used his abilities so much with such ease that he had almost as much difficulty not using them as some espers had using theirs. He concentrated and in a heartbeat all his psi talents were revealed in his non-use of them.

Kehtan glanced at an indicator set in the wall beside the door, one of the few electronic devices he afforded in his rural home, and gulped his surprise. He moved back to his seat and motioned Merlin to do the same.

“Okay, I’m convinced,” he said with an effort.

Merlin smiled, though sadly. He had won the confidence he needed, but to secure it he had to endanger it with a question. “Captain, before you make up your mind, how can you be sure I’m not just using my abilities in reverse, to make you think I’m disabled this way?”

Kehtan smiled and pointed to the wall indicator that had escaped Merlin’s notice. “That detects psi activity,” he said. “It registered your constant use of psionic abilities as soon as you came into the room, and dropped off only when you stopped using them.”

It was Merlin’s turn to be surprised. “You knew I was an esper all along?” he asked as a sudden chill travelled up and down his spine. He resumed using his talents and saw the indicator light up. “Why would you have such a device in your home?”

Kehtan retrieved the coffee container which Merlin still held and poured himself another cup. This time he offered one to his guest, who took it gladly.

“In case an esper, Roswein or not, came looking to collect information from me in order to find Delon, just as I suspected you of doing,” Kehtan answered. “It has already been tried on me twice in the past year.”

Merlin set his cup on the table and looked at the captain’s small, piercing eyes. “Can you tell me how to find Delon Santrojur?” he asked.

“I can put you in contact with the only person in the galaxy who knows the exact whereabouts of your cousin. His name is Rojur Delondin.”

Chapter 4

“Rojur Delondin?” Merlin repeated. “That name sounds familiar.” He thought a moment and then lifted an eyebrow. “He was the civilian passenger on that mission to the Railon Cluster when your crew of the Zephyr mutinied, wasn’t he?”

Kehtan nodded. “One of them, yes. What else do you know of him?”

“Not much, really. In my research, it only mentioned him as being a representative from the Dunkn Shipyards to be an observer on the vessel’s maiden flight. I understand he made his report personally to Rayce Santrojur after the ship’s return, but nothing else of note was in the official records.”

“You seem well-informed. When did you last look at these records?”

“Late last night, actually,” Merlin answered. “I had the data transmitted to my remote so I would be up to date on my information today.”

“Your information isn’t complete, but close enough that you know who I refer to.” Kehtan smiled to himself and added, “He is Roswein.”

Merlin jumped to his feet. “R-Roswein?” he stuttered in shock. “I just revealed myself to you and now you’re going to turn me in to a member of my own sadistic race?”

“Calm down, Sinclair. Rojur Delondin is sympathetic to your condition, I assure you. From him, you have nothing to fear if your motives are sincere.”

“They are.” Merlin sat down slowly, unsure how to gauge the captain’s words. He drew his black bag to him once again. “All right,” he said, “please put me in contact with this Delondin. How much is this information going to cost me?”

Kehtan ran his fingers through his thinning hair and answered, “I don’t need your money, Sinclair. All I ask is that you allow me to accompany you when you meet with him.”

Merlin frowned. “Done. May I ask why?”

“I have a business proposition for him and this seems like an ideal time to approach him with it.”

“My reason to find him may interrupt your business need, Captain.” Merlin saw Jesse step back into the room and stare at him quietly. He forgot his thoughts for a moment as he marveled at such a creature. He had never seen one before.

“Perhaps it will be the other way around,” Kehtan said cryptically. “That’s why I’m not charging you for the information.”

Merlin looked back to his host and nodded. “How soon can we get started?”

“Two days. I have to contact Mr. Delondin first to arrange your interview, and then secure a transport to get us there. I also have to arrange someone to care for Jesse while I’m away.”

“Where are we going?”

“Earth. Have you ever been there?”

“Never.”

Kehtan stood up and motioned Merlin to do the same. “I have a guest room you may use while you’re here. If you’ll follow me, you can get settled in.”

***

Kehtan closed the communication link and settled back in his study chair. The past two days had been productive. Not only had he convinced Rojur to grant Sinclair an audience, he had secured first class accommodations for the five-day journey to Earth and had prepared the material he would need for his business proposition. The retired captain moved across the room to a massive molecular safe. He keyed in the sixteen-digit combination and then opened the heavy door. Many items of high value were inside, but what he chose appeared to be nothing more than an old wooden box.

He closed the door and reset the code. With careful reverie, he placed the box on his desktop and opened the lid. Inside were twelve icosahedron crystals that sparkled translucent blue under the room lights.

Kehtan held one up for a close inspection. This gem had a crack in one faceted surface. It was the first one he had acquired. He returned it to the box and then picked up a grey suitcase from the floor. He placed it on the desk beside the wooden case and opened it.

One by one, the captain took the crystals and placed them inside a previously prepared egg-crate foam receptacle. When all twelve were in place, he took a plastic panel and set it on top of the gems. He locked the false bottom to the case and then set the original wooden box on the floor beneath the desk. Once done, he took the luggage to his bedroom to finish packing for the trip. 

* 

Merlin Sinclair slept quietly in his bunk on the interstellar transport, though his mind was far from still. He dreamed of a time fifteen years earlier, when an accident had crippled him for life… 

* 

His seventeenth birthday would be in a few days, the age at when a Roswein youth became a legal adult, and a certain lifelong friend wanted to celebrate early. Her name was Viki Crandall, a stunning woman only a few months older. Her turquoise hair was silky and Merlin had always loved running his fingers through it. They had grown up together and were the best of friends. This afternoon, they planned to become more than friends.

Merlin had picked her up in his new Altair 4000, a gift from his parents. It was the sleekest vehicle available and Viki was more that impressed. They took turns driving it, and when Viki had taken them outside the city, an impish smile was on her lips. The vehicle moved under her direction and shortly arrived at the abandoned facility of Feldman Tech, a shipbuilding concern that had shut its doors a year earlier. Viki stopped the vehicle in the back, out of sight from the nearby road.

“Why are we here?” Merlin asked.

Viki cast him a seductive glance. “Well, it’s secluded and it isn’t likely we’ll be interrupted here.”

Merlin grinned and took her hand as they left the vehicle. They crawled in through a broken window, careful of the glass shards, and found themselves in a large shop filled with massive presses and other devices of manufacture.

Sunlight from the window streamed in and fell upon the flat stamping pad of a huge press. Viki removed her jacket and brushed thick dust from a surface that had not been cleaned in ages. “This looks like an ideal spot,” she said after a couple of coughs. Merlin looked around at the machinery. His imagination played with the deep shadows and he felt himself shudder.

Viki must have noticed his anxiety. “There's no power, Merlin,” she reassured him. “Look.” She moved to the stamping press’ control panel and pressed all the buttons. She turned a large dial all the way up and then she threw the main power switch. Other than the sharp clunk of the switch that made Merlin jump, there was no other sound in the place.

“See?” she said. “Nothing to worry about.”

Merlin smiled and took her in his arms. They kissed long and passionately, their small gasps for air the only noises heard. Merlin slid his arms beneath her red blouse, but she grasped his hands and pushed them away.

“Not yet,” she giggled. “Let me excite you first!”

Merlin laughed. “Pushing me away will excite me?”

“No,” Viki purred, “but a slow exotic dance might!” She turned and jumped up on the stamping bed. “Hum for me, Merlin. Hum Sarelli's Merchants Dance of Spring for me!”

Merlin began humming the tune at which Viki began to dance. It was a song from long ago that suggested exotic practices and Merlin knew it well. Through the rhythm of his humming, Viki danced and slinked before him as she slowly peeled away her garments in seductive motion. It was working. Merlin’s senses were swimming as his hormones grew excited and heated his blood. She continued to dance before him, though his humming had faded away to nothing as his attention was fixed solely upon her curvaceous form. She laughed at his expression and tossed away the last of her garments, displaying a curvaceous youthful body. 

* 

Unknown to the young couple, five men entered through the main door of the facility. A scraggly-bearded man in the lead of the small procession was none other than Hans Feldman, owner of the once-prestigious, but now long defunct, company.

Four business executives followed him through a darkened corridor to a locked door. Feldman fumbled with a magnetic key but managed to open the panel. Inside was a large switch with a keyhole slot in the center column.

“Gentlemen,” he said in a high-pitched voice, “I assure you all the systems in this facility are operable.”

One of the men stepped forward. “Our possible purchase of this plant depends upon that, Mr. Feldman. Let’s begin the inspection.”

Feldman nodded and licked his lips nervously. He inserted a key in the slot of a power box and then tripped the main breaker. 

* 

Merlin was momentarily blinded when the overhead shop lights flared on. Viki gasped and fell backward as the sound of machinery suddenly came to life. Merlin leaned over the edge of the bed and extended his arms out to her.

“Get out of there, Viki – now!” he shouted. She scrambled to her hands and knees and then moved quickly toward his arms. Merlin glanced up at sudden movement above them and screamed when the massive stamping pad descended at a rate almost too fast for him to comprehend. 

* 

Merlin screamed as he bolted up from his bed and panted heavily. His night clothes were soaked in sweat and clung to his body. He felt hot and dizzy. It took several moments for him to gain control and calm down. When he finally stopped shaking, he raised his hands before his eyes. He opened and closed his fingers several times as he stared at them.

Finally, he dropped them and hung his head. “Viki, I'm so sorry…” he whispered.

***

Kehtan wandered the corridors of their transport cruiser, lost in thought. The lights were at half illumination to give the feeling of ‘night’ and most of the passengers were slumbering in their beds. Kehtan, however, could not sleep. He would have rather made the flight in his own vessel, but he'd sold it a year earlier, thinking he'd never need it again. Granted, he was wealthy enough that he could have bought another one, but he hadn’t wanted to take the time to hire a crew and get the permits necessary for a private cruiser with LightDrive capabilities.

If Rojur could be persuaded to join his personal venture, Kehtan knew the esper owned a ship suitable for the necessarily long journey.

The retired captain paused before a mirrored panel and studied his reflection. His hair had turned completely white over the past few years and lines of age creased his face. Although his small eyes still sparkled piercingly, the color had dulled to a slate grey and sight in his left eye had grown weaker. At times his judgment was questionable and he had developed a tendency to stare off into infinity when inactive for long periods.

Kehtan frowned. The affliction had not slowed with expensive treatments as his doctors had claimed it would. That was all the more reason to put his plan into effect. It may be the only hope he had.

Chapter 5

Merlin sighed in frustration as the official rifled through his belongings. He’d never visited a planet whose law was to visually and manually inspect an individual’s personal items in what they called ‘going through Customs.’ He was glad he hadn’t brought anything embarrassing for them to find.

Kehtan had already passed through without a problem and waited for him in the main transfer holding area of the terminal.

Space Station Unity wasn’t as large as the facility orbiting Rona, but then Earth didn’t have the spatial traffic the other did. Though smaller, Unity was pleasing to look at. The builders had decorated the interior to be comfortable to the senses, with Terran plants of every kind for their beauty and aromas, and for oxygen-producing. The place was also built with soft curves in the place of hard angles.

When at last Merlin got his luggage back, Kehtan motioned him to a large bay window.

“That is Earth,” he said as he gazed down at the blue and white marbled planet below them. Merlin smiled. It looked similar to Roswei, though this world had larger oceans. He wondered about the cultures there and knew he’d find out soon enough.

“Kehtan! Good to see you again!”

Merlin turned at the new voice and saw a tall woman with curly brown hair that fell to the middle of her back. She was slender and had a nice figure. She wrapped her arms around the captain and hugged him close. Merlin smiled and set his suitcase on the floor. He put his hands behind his back as he watched the two friends. Kehtan turned toward him and gestured with an outstretched arm.

“Sahni, this is Merlin Sinclair. Merlin, this is Sahni Delondin, a dear friend of mine and wife to the man I’m taking you to meet.”

Merlin nodded with a slight bow and said, “Nice to meet you, Sahni Delondin.” He noticed she didn’t move to shake his hand. Kehtan must have told her of his practice.

“I hope you had a good flight,” she said. “The Tesher Cruise Line is generally a nice company to fly with.”

“Thank you,” Merlin replied, “I did.”

Sahni smiled widely and turned back to Kehtan. “I have a private ship waiting to take us down to the surface, but I have another passenger to pick up from your flight.”

Kehtan looked alarmed. “Someone from our flight? Who?”

“Me,” replied another new voice.

Merlin swallowed involuntarily when he saw her. She was as tall as Sahni, had red hair that fell gently in soft curls over her shoulders, and had the most amazing emerald green eyes in her delicate face. It was the same woman who had sold him information to find the retired captain.

“Kehtan!” she exclaimed, setting down her luggage and embracing the old sailor.

“Tina! It’s been at least two years since I last saw you!” Kehtan said happily.

“Three years, but who’s counting?” she laughed.

Merlin smiled and said, “We’ve already met, but we haven’t been introduced.”

“Hello, I’m Tina Blackthorne,” she replied with a grin, “And you are Merlin Sinclair — I would shake your hand, but I know you don’t do that.”

Merlin looked first to Kehtan and then to Sahni. “Before we go anywhere, I need an explanation.”

Tina brushed imaginary lint from her blue traveling jumpsuit and then smiled up at him. “I was sent to intercept you when Rojur discovered your search for Delon Santrojur.”

“For what purpose?” Merlin asked. “You sent me to Captain Otani after taking my money.”

Tina tilted her head slightly and spoke seriously. “We had to be sure of you before bringing you in closer. Had you been a bounty hunter, you would have been harmlessly diverted elsewhere.”

Merlin nodded. “I see, and what did my money buy you?”

Tina outstretched her arms and turned slowly so he could see her from all sides. “New clothes from Rona!” She smiled widely and Merlin appreciated the way the jumpsuit fit her curves.

“Money well spent,” he assured her with a smile.

Sahni hid a smile from seeing the friendly glances the Roswein stranger afforded the young woman she had come to think of as a daughter.

“Shall we go?” she asked. The small group followed her through the station corridors and soon came to a closed door. On the panel was a simple plaque which read: Private Terminal. Santrojur Industries.

Merlin stared at the sign as Sahni keyed in a password on a keypad. “You work for Rayce Santrojur?” he asked.

“You could say that,” Sahni replied. The panel opened and she moved into a dimly lit corridor. The walls, ceiling and floor were all transparent to the stars beyond, providing the illusion of walking in space.

Merlin stepped in behind her, but stopped after only a few steps, his face growing pale.

“What’s the matter, Mr. Sinclair?” Tina asked.

Merlin stared down past his feet at the blue and white planet below him. Tina noticed his tightly clenched jaw and frowned. She started to lay a hand on his forearm, but he snapped out of his daze and recoiled from her reach.

“Please, do not touch my arms,” he said in a strained voice.

Tina sniffed and replied, “Afraid I’ll give you a disease?” She curled her fists upon her hips defiantly.

Merlin stared at her a moment before he answered. He sighed wearily and said, “No, but my arms were badly injured in my youth and cannot stand to be touched.”

Tina looked stricken. In an embarrassed tone, she apologized. “I am sorry. You told me you didn’t shake hands, but didn’t say why. Can you forgive me? I was only concerned that you’d gone into shock or something.”

Merlin smiled weakly. “Apology accepted. I was a bit mortified,” he explained. “I have a problem with vertigo and the sight of the Earth below my feet got to me.”

“Are you okay now?” Kehtan asked.

Merlin chuckled nervously. “Actually, yes. Ms. Blackthorne’s intervention shocked me out of it.” He looked at Sahni and added. “I’ll be okay so long as I don’t look down again.”

“Just keep your eyes on Tina instead and you should be okay,” Kehtan suggested.

Sahni had to stifle a laugh at the older man's comment; she doubted Sinclair would have a problem staring at Tina's curvaceous backside. Indeed, she glanced back behind them when they resumed walking and saw his eyes focused entirely upon Tina's assets.

When they got closer to the end of the terminal, Merlin diverted his attention with difficulty and looked up ahead at the ship Sahni led them toward.

It was wedge-shaped with ribbed vanes running bow to stern, from what he could see of it. The ship’s color was flat charcoal grey and was difficult to see against the black backdrop of space. It was the size of a personal cruiser and looked fast.

“Is that the Azimuth?” Kehtan asked.

“Yes,” Sahni answered. “She passed all tests and gained her license three months ago. Rayce gave the go-ahead on production of its design for commercial cruisers. They should be available to the open market in about three months.”

“This is a prototype?” Merlin asked when they approached the main hatch. Sahni keyed in an access code and the round portal spun open, its thick spiral panels disappearing into the bulkhead.

“That’s right,” she replied. “My husband and I have been using it as our personal cruiser since the contract was signed.” She smiled and closed the hatch once everyone was inside. “The Azimuth has a few extra features that won’t be on the commercial version, of course,” she added. What she didn’t tell him was that it was based upon an ancient Shraeloni design that had been discovered and reverse-engineered years earlier. Modern upgrades enhanced the virtual DNA of an already-impressive vessel.

Merlin looked around him as the troupe followed Sahni through the ship. The floors were carpeted the same charcoal grey as the exterior and indirect lighting came from the upper corners of the walls. The corridor itself was wide enough for three people to walk side by side without touching shoulders.

He glanced inside a stateroom as they passed and saw a comfortable size to the place. For a personal cruiser, it afforded plenty of room and luxury to the passengers. Sahni took them past the quarters and straight to the bridge. The flight from Unity down to the surface was short enough that the staterooms would not be necessary.

The control center of the Azimuth was rather small to accommodate everyone at once. It was designed so that only two people were required to operate the ship, though one could handle the job with a bit of automation. An observation lounge resided just above the bridge, so Sahni ushered everyone there for the trip home.

“Did you fly alone to greet us?” Merlin asked, wondering just how much of the ship’s operations could be automated.

“No,” Sahni replied. “Jim Wyatt, an associate, accompanied me to Unity. He should be back momentarily.”

“Where did he go?” Tina asked with a light in her eyes.

Sahni smiled. “Your boyfriend went to pay the rent on our private terminal here.”

“I would have thought the payment would come from Rayce Santrojur’s payroll,” Kehtan commented.

“Normally it is,” Sahni explained, “but Sol has been flaring up heavily over the past few days and has interrupted signals to Roswei and everywhere else in that sector. So, today we pay in person.”

Merlin frowned at the revelation of Tina's boyfriend. He had already begun to think fondly of her, though they’d only recently met. He composed himself quickly so no one would know his thoughts. He studied a system-status panel mounted into the wall near the bay window to occupy himself until they were ready to leave.

“I have to get down to the bridge to make preparations to leave,” Sahni announced. “Make yourselves comfortable.”

“How long will our flight be?” Merlin asked.

“Approximately one hour fifteen minutes. Once we get underway, our flight plan will take us directly to the Will Rogers International Airport in Oklahoma City.”

“Jim!” Tina exclaimed suddenly. “Did you miss me?”

Everyone turned toward the doorway. The man who walked in had to stoop slightly to pass through the frame, as he stood a full two meters in height. Merlin also noticed a noticeable strength in the muscles that threatened the confines of Jim's clothing, which consisted of black slacks and a thin brown T-shirt. The man looked as if he worked out daily and enjoyed keeping himself fit. His blond hair was close cropped in a flat-top style and his dark blue eyes were alert and seemed to miss nothing. It was clear in his posture that he had once served in the military.

“Always, my Tina,” he said as she embraced him. She was six inches shorter than he was, but still had no trouble meeting his lips with hers in a quick kiss. His voice was deep, but not booming. Tina turned toward Merlin and Kehtan to introduce them.

“Jim, this is Merlin Sinclair, the man we’re taking to see Rojur, and this is retired Captain Kehtan Otani, a friend and former colleague of the Delondins.” She smiled and added, “Gentlemen, this is Jim Wyatt, an associate engineer with Santrojur Industries, Earth Division and, as you could tell, someone very dear to me.”

Kehtan stepped forward and shook the man’s hand, while Merlin merely smiled and nodded his head.

“Pleased to finally meet you, Mr. Wyatt,” Kehtan said. “I’ve heard a lot about you in recent months since you joined Rojur’s design team.”

Jim laughed. “You wouldn’t believe the stories I’ve heard about you, Captain, although I’m sure Rojur loves to embellish on the memories of past adventures. It’s a pleasure to meet a legend.”

Kehtan snorted. “A legend? Hmph! I’ll have to have a talk with that boy about his memories...” he promised with a laugh, “and I thought I was the one with Maltan Syndrome.”

Sahni was shocked. “Maltan Syndrome? Why didn’t you tell us?” she asked.

Kehtan looked apologetic. “It was only confirmed two months ago that I had it.”

Tina stepped forward and put a hand on his shoulder. “What is Maltan Syndrome?” she asked. “I’ve never heard of it.”

Kehtan smiled, but shook his head. “I’ll explain later,” he replied. He motioned to Sahni and said, “Shouldn’t we be getting underway?”

Sahni swallowed and nodded. “Yes, you’re right. Come on, Jim, time to fly.” She and her co-pilot turned and left the room as the others moved to take their seats on the cushioned couches lining the walls. No one seemed to notice that neither Jim nor Merlin had spoken to one another during the introductions.

Merlin took a seat near the observation window and lost himself in thought.

***

The Azimuth descended toward an open prairie of land that was covered with a layer of snow. Though it had been a humid summer in Halan San on Rona, winter was in its deepest throes on the North American continent of Earth. From the weather report that Jim broadcast to them over the intercom, the sky was clear on this day, though another storm front was on its way.

Merlin saw several highways leading toward a moderate sized city spread out on the prairie, one more destination along the way in his search for his cousin-in-hiding. He hoped there weren’t many more obstacles to overcome before finding Delon. He tired of the endless hunt.

He looked over at Tina, who was engaged in quiet conversation with Kehtan. Both seemed indifferent to the approaching city, so he gazed back out the window at the terrain below.

Within a few moments, the Azimuth flew across the prairie from the south and dropped its speed as the airfield came into view. The grey ship was capable of vertical landings, so it bypassed the long runway and went straight to the terminal. The vessel touched down so gently that Merlin wondered when they were going to land, only to look out the window to see ground crews converging upon the ship.

The quiet rumble of the engines disappeared and the other passengers stood up to stretch their legs. Merlin got up and retrieved his luggage from the wall locker where he had stowed them. Tina opened the compartment next to his and smiled at him.

“Have you been to Earth before?” she asked. She closed the locker and motioned him toward the door.

Merlin followed her and replied, “No. Earth is far enough away from the regular travel lanes that I never had the opportunity to visit.”

“It’s rather similar to Roswei,” Tina said. “Though I believe the winters here are colder, due to the tilt of its axis.”

She saw Jim up the corridor so she excused herself and left. Merlin frowned when he saw the big man and moved over to where Kehtan stood beside his own locker.

“Fancy her, do you?” Kehtan asked with a smile.

“Yes, but I think I will get over it,” Merlin answered. He lowered his voice and leaned closer to the old captain. “How many of these people know the truth about my… condition?”

Kehtan understood the younger man’s concern. “Just me, Sinclair.”

Merlin nodded. “I would like to keep that a secret, Captain. The fewer who know about it keeps me relatively safe from enemies who might turn me in.”

“Mr. Delondin will have to know, if you are to convince him to put you in touch with your cousin,” Kehtan pointed out as he closed the locker and headed for the corridor.

“I’m prepared to convince him in the same manner I did with you,” Merlin replied as he followed him. “He is Roswein, which makes me very nervous to reveal my condition to him. However, you maintain he is sympathetic to espers, so I will go through with the meeting as planned.”

By the time they reached the end of the passageway, Sahni already had the main hatch open to the boarding terminal. A small, mousy man greeted them in a manner Merlin could only later describe as being oily.

“Mr. Sinclair,” Sahni told him, “is here by invitation from my husband.” The small man looked up at Merlin and seemed to disapprove of what he saw. His height was barely above a meter and a half and his build was scrawny. His hair was black but his Van Dyke beard was peppered with grey. His eyes were so dark that Merlin couldn’t tell what color they were. For all he could tell, they were black as well.

“Merlin Sinclair,” Sahni continued, “meet Warren Whitney, our personal secretary.”

Whitney didn’t offer his hand, but merely nodded quietly to the esper. Merlin managed a smile and nodded in return. “Nice meeting you, sir,” he said.

“Likewise, Mr. Sinclair.” Whitney turned back to Sahni and said, “I have the car waiting to take your group to the estate. I will take care of stowing the Azimuth and will meet you there in about an hour.”

“Thank you, Warren,” Sahni replied. “This way, group.”

As they moved through the airport corridors, Jim fell back so that he walked beside Merlin.

“I’m sorry we didn’t have much time to talk at our introduction, Mr. Sinclair,” he said. “Captain Kehtan’s news of his disorder kinda routed our attention elsewhere.”

Merlin smiled at the large man’s apology. “Thank you, Mr. Wyatt. My stay may be short, but I would like it to be as nice as it can be. What is this Maltan Syndrome the captain has?”

Jim cleared his throat and was about to answer when they caught up with the rest of the group that had stopped. “What’s the holdup?” he asked Sahni.

The brown-haired woman pointed toward the newscast monitor mounted in the wall of the corridor. A small crowd had gathered to hear the bulletin.

“The third day of rioting at the Barlow Rehabilitation Prison on Vox ended today in a disastrous finale,” the newscaster reported. A video image appeared in a box beside her as she continued. “What had begun as an attempt by inmates to escape turned into a bloodbath on a scale apparently none had anticipated. When the riot leader, Trin Rosch, captured and killed the warden, others went berserk and mass killing ensued. Rosch, who had been incarcerated seven years ago for inciting mutiny on a science vessel, had been a model prisoner up until last month when he began showing radical mood swings. Sources say a new experimental treatment in rehabilitation had been tested on Rosch, but the process backfired and turned him into a bloodthirsty maniac. In the month following his treatment, eight guards and three trustees have been critically injured by him in violent attacks. No one has been able to explain how he managed to escape from his solitary confinement in a third level basement bunker to the warden’s quarters six kilometers away. From there he engineered the takeover of the facility and claimed that all employees of the center had been executed.

“In a desperate attempt to end the situation, the Psion Patrol was called in to deal with the criminals. Three of the elite esper force were killed in the action, but the ringleaders of the riot were dispatched in a matter of hours. The body of Trin Rosch has been positively identified and the Barlow Rehabilitation Prison is once again secure. This is Holly Harken, reporting a Special Bulletin for the Terran Broadcast System.”

Sahni turned to Kehtan and sighed. “Trin only had another three months until his parole hearing,” she said solemnly. Kehtan only nodded in reply, unable to think of an appropriate answer.

“Did you know that guy?” Jim asked.

Kehtan glanced again at the monitor and then turned away. “He once served under my command,” he replied without further explanation.

The car followed a snowy avenue around the perimeter of the metropolitan city and then headed north for several miles. After navigating several turns through an affluent part of town, they arrived on a street that ended at the gated entrance to a large estate. Two iron gates in the middle were flanked on each side by a brick pillar topped with the concrete likeness of a howling wolf. A small sign nestled in the bushes that bordered the entry bore the legend: Blackthorne.

Merlin indicated the sign as they waited for the gate to open and asked, “Tina, is this your place?”

“It used to be,” she answered. “It’s an old house that’s been in my family for several hundred years, but by my generation there wasn’t much money left to me and I wasn’t able to maintain it any longer.” She smiled as the car moved through the now-open fence. “I put it up for sale, but Rojur and Sahni bought the place from me. Rojur knew one of my ancestors and said he had a fondness for the estate, so he allows me to continue living there with them.”

“Hmm, that was nice of them,” Merlin replied.

“Well, I help take care of their kids for them, in addition to other miscellaneous jobs, like diverting unwanted company...” She winked at him and motioned toward the house.

***

A snow-covered lawn bordered each side of a driveway that had been cleared, but it was the house that captured Rojur's attention. Behind several tall evergreen trees, the old two-story structure was made up of grey rock that had faded to the same shade. A large stone archway stood out from the house by several feet, protecting a pair of wooden doors and a huge bay window set in the wall above them. A chimney occupied a forward wall on one end of the house and several more windows bordered by dark grey shutters decorated the front of the structure on both floors. The high roof was topped by darker grey shingles and the edge of a rear wing could be seen over the top of the building.

Set slightly in front of the house was a pair of matching buildings that were connected together with a covered roof that spanned across the driveway on its way to a three car garage. Cleared cobblestone walkways led visitors from the drive up around the trees to the front archway, with shrubs, bushes and winter-bare gardens bordering the foundation of the house. The entire property was surrounded by a thick mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees.

It was old, but was apparent it had gone under massive renovation to keep it standing in its original flavor of living. Merlin was duly impressed, though he’d never seen the style before.

Sahni stopped the car near the wide steps leading up to the front door and shut down the engine. Servants headed out into the cold air, retrieved their luggage, and retreated back up the cleared walk. As the guests reached the entrance, the large oak doors opened for them.

Merlin’s heart skipped a beat when he saw the man standing there. He was Roswein. His turquoise hair was light, airy and long, hanging to the middle of the man's back. He wore a grey, long-sleeved jumpsuit with a black overcoat draped across his broad shoulders. His beard was close cropped and of the blackest hair, though he possessed no mustache. His arms were at his sides with his hands in his pockets. His eyebrows were arched in merry greeting as he recognized members of the party, but turned into a frown when his gaze rested upon Sinclair.

Sahni gave him a quick kiss and put her left arm around his middle. “This is Merlin Sinclair,” she explained, “our new friend looking for Delon Santrojur.” She nodded to the visitor. “Mr. Sinclair, this is my husband, Rojur Delondin.”

Rojur smiled again and stepped aside to let his guests into the warm house, though he showed no signs of giving the traditional outstretched hand in greeting. “Welcome to Earth and Timber Valley, Mr. Sinclair,” he said.

Merlin bowed slightly and returned the smile. “Thank you for seeing me, Mr. Delondin. I have come a long way in my search and hope you may be able to help me.”

“Perhaps,” Rojur replied. He nodded once and then his eyes moved past him to an old friend who had come through the door. “Kehtan, good to see you again!”

The retired captain beamed and gave the esper a warm embrace. “You, too, Rojur. I’ve missed visiting with you and the family.” Rojur gave him a pat on the back and laughed.

“The kids are looking forward to seeing you. You’ll be surprised how they’ve grown,” Sahni added.

Rojur moved away from him and glanced to Jim and Tina. “Good work, you two. Jim, please show Mr. Sinclair to the library. I will be there after I have talked with Tina about her trip. It should not take more than a few minutes.”

“Yes, sir,” Jim answered. He gestured further into the house and gave the newcomer a smile. “This way, Mr. Sinclair.”

***

As Merlin waited for Rojur to return, he roamed around the library looking at the framed photos on display on the shelves of a large bookcase built into the wall. One in particular caught his eye. It looked like a family portrait taken at a time centuries past, from the look of the clothing and furniture, though one figure couldn’t have been there at that time. There was a black-haired man next to a blonde woman. They stood behind a bearded young man in his mid-twenties, and on his right was a thirty-something man wearing glasses and sporting long hair caught up in a tail of some kind in the back. In front of them were two seated boys, each about eight or ten years of age. Standing on the left side of the young man, however, stood Rojur Delondin.

Merlin frowned and looked closer at the photo. A calendar hung on a wall in the background and he could just make out the date. June 2018. He wasn’t familiar with the Terran calendar so he glanced around the room and located a small one on the desk. December 2294. Two hundred seventy-six years. He went back to the photo and studied it again to make sure he hadn’t made a mistake. The image of Rojur in the photo looked the same age as the man he’d just met. How could this be? The average lifespan of a Roswein was around one hundred thirty years, not near three hundred. It was more likely to be Rojur's ancestor. If so, the family resemblance was remarkable.

Merlin left the photo, moved to a high-backed leather chair in front of the desk and sat down. He puzzled over what he’d seen, but a noise broke him from his musings and he turned to see Rojur closing the large double doors of oak behind him.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Rojur said, “but now we can get down to this business of yours.” He sat behind the desk and gave Sinclair his full attention. “I have been told of your search for Delon Santrojur, a man wanted dead by a number of anti-esper groups on Roswei. The last three people you have met in your search have informed me of your actions, in addition to several others you probably never knew were tailing you.” Merlin’s mouth fell open, but Rojur held up a hand for silence.

“I will grant you the knowledge that you have come close to finding your cousin, Mr. Sinclair, but unless you convince me you are not another bounty hunter, you will never find him.” Rojur leaned closer over the desk and drew his eyebrows together in a threatening manner. “If you are not who you claim to be, your search will be permanently ended right here.”

“Have I just been threatened?” Merlin asked coldly.

Rojur sat back in his chair and took on an air of relaxation. He casually tapped a keypad on the desk and replied, “Let me just say this... Rayce Santrojur was one of the strongest advocates of the anti-esper groups on Roswei. He forgave his son for being an esper, though the hunts go on by others. If you are truly a cousin of Delon’s, I assume you know Rayce personally?”

Merlin sighed. “Yes, though it has been probably fifteen years since I’ve seen either Rayce or Delon.” He turned suddenly at the sound of the library door opening.

“Convince him you are who you say you are,” Rojur replied.

Merlin stood up as another Roswein entered the room. It had been many years, but he recognized the newcomer immediately.

“Uncle Rayce!”

Rayce Santrojur stopped a meter from Merlin and but remained silent. His turquoise hair was combed straight back, and his thin mustache was black. He wore dark blue matching slacks and shirt, and a light grey blazer. His square shoulders were rigid as he studied the guest. He held his silence for several minutes but then nodded to the younger male.

“Hello, Merlin,” he said in a firm tone. “How is Christine?”

Merlin shrugged. “I haven't seen mother in over a year, but I spoke to her via interstellar chat a week ago. She's still bothered by the enishunus in her joints, but recent advances in medical treatment look promising and she says Doctor TeVann has helped with some experimental procedures.”

Rayce relaxed slightly. He nodded once to Rojur and then gave a small smile to Merlin.

“It's good to see you again, nephew,” he said. “There aren't many who know about Christine's joint degradation and even fewer aware of Arktanis TeVann's covert assistance, but I'm happy to hear she's getting some relief.”

Merlin smiled and replied, “It's good to see you again, sir. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“The welfare of my son and his family are of great concern to me.”

Rojur shook his head quickly. Rayce saw it, but Merlin did not.

“Delon has a family?” Sinclair asked in surprise. “I would not have thought an outlaw would bother with a family.”

Before the conversation moved in that direction further, Rojur cleared his throat. “Mr. Sinclair,” he said, “You have convinced Rayce, Tina and Kehtan of your identity. Now you have to convince me that your reasons for finding Delon are non-threatening. I have the final authority in this matter and will be the most judgmental.”

Merlin swallowed and nodded, and then related the same tale he’d given Kehtan. Rojur cross-questioned him for a half hour and finally sat back in his chair. “You say you are an esper, with abilities in illusion and telekinesis that you have to use all the time to cover up your disability. So far, you have yet to name this disability or your talents.” Rojur showed Merlin a small remote he pulled out of a desk drawer. “This room is equipped with a strong psi dampener. If I activate it, you will temporarily lose the ability to use your psionic talents. Before I use it, however, I want to hear about your accident and I want you to willingly stop using your power.”

Merlin nodded and stood up. He began pacing around the room as he painfully told them about the day he and his lover trespassed into an old manufacturing shop. When he had reached out to pull her to safety, the activated press moved down on them at an incredible speed, the controls having been set to maximum speed and pressure when Vicki had earlier played with the settings to prove there was no power. Viki had died horribly and he had lost his arms up to the elbows.

He pulled off his jacket and shirt to bare his chest so they would see he had nothing hidden beneath his garments. He dropped the clothing onto his chair, outstretched his arms and said, “I use my power of illusion to imitate forearms and hands, and my power of telekinesis to manipulate objects as if my hands were actually there.” In an instant, his hands disappeared as he held out arms that stumped at the elbows.

“Activate your dampener, please,” he requested. Rojur switched on the device, but there was no change. Merlin had, indeed, dropped the illusion of no disability. Rojur clicked off the device and Merlin bent down toward his clothes. The shirt floated up toward him and suddenly they saw his arm and hand reappear, holding it as if his fingers were natural. He quickly dressed and then stood before them.

“I spent ten years in rehabilitation at the Nan Medical Complex on Mishra after losing my arms,” he said. “It was during my stay there that my psionic abilities manifested and my doctor saw a way to use them to help cover up my disability. With the illusion that I was as normal as the next guy, I would be able to blend back into society without too many psychological scars. I worked long and hard with cops on loan from the Psion Patrol coaching me to maintain the illusions, even when startled or asleep. As I told the Captain, it has become second nature to me and is now almost as hard for me to not use my powers as it is for another esper to use his.”

“That is the reason you do not shake hands,” Rojur mused.

“I don’t have any real hands to shake.”

Rojur fell silent and leaned back in his chair. He glanced at Rayce, who’d said nothing else during the demonstration. The elder Roswein gave an imperceptible nod of his chin.

“Now comes the big question — why are you are trying to contact Delon?” Rojur asked.

Merlin moved back to his seat and sat down. He crossed his legs and rested his arms on his knees. The action was so realistic that it looked natural. “Delon is a known esper...”

Rayce interrupted and said, “Don’t you mean ‘he is a known Es-par?’”

Merlin frowned at the slur from their homeworld. “No. I meant what I said. I don’t use that term!”

“Please continue,” Rojur said.

“Delon is a known esper,” Merlin began again. “I know full well what that means in Roswein society. I’ve only been away from Mishra for a year, and have yet to actually go back to Roswei during my travels.” He looked at Rayce and went on. “My family does not know of my psionic abilities. I think you know what reaction they would have if they found out. When I heard that Delon was also an esper, I knew he would be the only one in my family who would understand and lend a sympathetic ear.”

He looked back at Rojur, knowing that this man was his judge and jury. “So long as I allow no one to touch me, I think my secret’s safe, but I can’t count on that. I need my cousin’s support. I have more in common with him than anyone else I know, and I haven’t even seen him in fifteen years.” Merlin fell silent and awaited further questions.

After several heartbeats, Rojur said, “Would you step outside of the library for a moment while Rayce and I discuss this?”

“Of course.” Merlin stood up and left the room. He closed the wooden doors behind him and gazed around the reception area. He heard the laughter of children and smiled when he saw a boy of five with curly brown hair chasing a girl of the same age with turquoise hair. Both of them had the pale white eyes of Roswein ancestry. The children saw him and stopped to look up at him.

“Who might you two be?” he asked them with a smile.

“I’m Tan,” the boy said. He elbowed the girl and added, “Her name’s Alexis. She’s my sister.”

“Hello, Tan and Alexis. My name is Merlin.”

“Are you family?” the girl asked with widening eyes.

Merlin shook his head. “No, I’m afraid not.”

He heard the door open behind him. He turned and saw Rojur smiling at them.

“Tan, would you tell your mother that Mr. Sinclair will be joining us for lunch?” Rojur asked.

Tan raised his eyebrows. “Who?”

“He means me,” the visitor answered. “I am Merlin Sinclair.”

“Oh, okay.” Tan ran off with his sister close at his heels.

Rojur motioned for Merlin to re-enter the library. Once inside, Rojur glanced briefly at Rayce and returned to his desk. He pulled a sheet of paper from a desk drawer and wrote something on it. He folded the page and set his hand on top of it.

Merlin sat in his own seat and waited for him to continue. Rayce leaned against a bookcase, his arms folded as he watched his nephew. After a moment of extended silence, Rojur finally spoke.

“I am convinced you are Merlin Sinclair, cousin to Delon, and Rayce’s nephew. Rayce and I talked it over and have decided to go ahead and put you in contact with Delon Santrojur, as per your request.” Merlin smiled as Rojur handed him the paper. “Delon’s exact whereabouts are written on that sheet.”

Merlin could hardly contain himself as he unfolded the page. His face fell when he read what was written there.

Delon Santrojur is sitting behind the desk in front of you.

Merlin scowled and stood up in anger. “I don't believe this!” he shouted. “I’ve expended far too much time and money in my search for this kind of runaround!” He growled deep in his throat in frustration and pointed a non-existent finger toward Rayce. “You're my own uncle and even you are in on—”

Sinclair gulped in sudden surprise when he began to float up off the floor. He moved up near the light panels and hovered there, completely flabbergasted. This was not of his own doing.

“What?” he sputtered. “I demand to—”

|Shut up, cousin,| Rojur’s thoughts erupted in his mind. |I am Delon Santrojur... or rather I used to be.| 

The Daughters of Herdantes is an unfinished manuscript.