Before things went black again, he had time to hope that Adrian wouldn’t be too upset.
He didn’t expect Adrian to actually come himself. Nor did Keylinn, from the look on her face when she relinquished her place several hours later and left them in the hospital room.
“I just can’t leave you alone, can I?” said Adrian, and Tal relaxed. Eventually he might reach the point where Adrian threw him out, but apparently this was not that time. As always, Tal found Adrian’s motivations unclear at best.
Adrian pulled over a chair to the bed. “Somehow I expected more,” he said gesturing to the simple cushion and pillows.
“Most of the other beds have built-in monitors. Keylinn made them fetch this one.”
“Ah.”
Tal waited; the subject of Keylinn was going to have to come up. Adrian would be wondering how she knew to keep him out of the hands of the station’s medical establishment. True, Tal’s nature was an open secret on the Diamond—but among the court levels, not among hired Outsider techs. Adrian said, “You inquired after the Kestrel’s captain, I understand.”
Tal blinked. Would he ever get used to human thought processes, and Adrian’s in particular? “I did. They tell me she’s alive.”
“Alive and talking. Insists you’re Republic property. Wants you released to her for the next trip to Baret One.” Adrian’s eyes met his. “Somehow, even under a fresh identity, you manage to accumulate criminal charges.”
Tal gazed back without embarrassment. “I hope you don’t consider it a personal reflection on yourself.”
“Is that a reference to my ego or my judgment? Never mind. The thing of it is, the politics of this are a little hazy. We do not as yet have a signed treaty with Baret Two or the station. I came over to put a little weight on our side of the question … technically I’m a head of state, albeit a small state by Outsider standards. I outrank an in-system captain. We’re negotiating a trade agreement and neither of us wants to irritate the other … on the other hand, we’ll be leaving eventually and Baret One will still be on their doorstep, so to speak. They have to live with each other. On the third hand, Baret One is Republican, and the Republic is not popular here. Are you following all this?”
“Perfectly.”
“I’ve made a major fuss. Pressure is on the station governor to release you—to somebody—right away. I pointed out that you had not yet received medical treatment, and could die while illegally in their custody.”
“I appreciate the thought.”
“And so, the universe being what it is, I thought we’d try to walk out of here and see who stopped us.”
Immediately Tal pulled back the sheets on his bed. He stood up, with Adrian’s help, and the room teetered. He took a few tentative steps. “Better,” he said, as the walls ceased virbrating.
Keylinn was not outside the door. Evidently she considered Adrian and the six security guards he’d brought with him to be competent to their task. They entered an administration office, where men and women with green medical tattoos sat busily at desks. The security guards, chosen for their size, looked out of place.
“I knew it!” said a voice from another doorway; and a young man in a Republican uniform came in in a hurry, followed by four members of Baret Station security.
The room was becoming crowded.
“Excuse me,” said Adrian politely, as he tried to pass.
“I’m the Republic legal representative on-Station,” announced the young man.
“Charmed, I’m sure,” said Adrian, who continued making his way toward the exit.
“We have a warrant to arrest this man,” said the Republic lawyer.
Adrian froze. “ ‘We’?” he repeated, looking at the Station personnel.
“He does,” said the officer in charge. “We’re just protecting the peace.”
Adrian relaxed. “There are four of you, and six of my friends. We can probably subdue this excitable person if he tries anything. Come along, Tal.”
The lawyer said, “Wait a minute! You can’t just walk out with him—”
“That’s what you were going to do.”
“The hell it was! I’ve already notified Governor Azereti. He’s on his way here now.”
“Have a nice talk with him when he comes.” Adrian was at the door by now.
The officer in charge of the Baret security guards said, “We really ought to have an authorization to let you go.” Adrian sighed. The officer’s tone had been apologetic, but one did not fool about with Station security. He turned and strode back into the center of the room. He scanned the people working at the desks, chose one, and looked him square in the eyes. “You! Who’s in charge here?”
The man started. “Uh, me? I don’t know … this is Salcor Verona’s section. He’s off-Station….”
“Who’s in charge in this room? Who has the highest rank?”
“Uh …” His gaze went to an older man at a desk by the door. Adrian walked over to him at once and planted himself in front of the desk.
“You have the authority to release patients,” he stated. “Under usual circumstances, which this isn’t,” said the man, unimpressed.
Adrian pointed to the Republic lawyer. “This man wants my friend released to his custody. I want him released to mine. We’re leaving now, we need a decision.”
“You can’t just—” began the lawyer.
Adrian said, “Your patient has a head injury for which he needs treatment. Let me get him back to the Diamond where he can get some. If we wait for somebody else to take some responsibility, he could collapse.”
The medtech pursed his lips. He turned to a woman at a nearby desk. “Who’s paying this one’s bills?”
She consulted some papers. “The Diamond.”
“Then the Diamond can have him.” He turned back to his work.
Adrian started for the door again. The lawyer said, “What are you doing? Is this a joke? You don’t have the authority to settle questions this way.” He ran up against the Station security guards as he tried to follow Adrian and Tal out the door.
In the corridor Tal said, “Where’s the Ginza Bar?”
“What difference does
