However, for some unknown reason, he clung to Kat and Bill.
The admiral returned. “We have located the modifications for the detection system within wormholes on both ships. It will remain a closely guarded secret, but my engineers believe they can quickly duplicate the units with reverse engineering. They tell me they already understand the basic principles.”
“Another reason to keep us here?” Captain Stone asked wryly.
“I don’t think so. You came here to escape those ships, but we now have the secret in our possession, thanks to you. If you were to tell the Devonians, they still would not know how to build it for themselves. I see no reason why our mutual agreement is not still in effect. The Guardia is large enough for the exploratory venture, once you reach it. We can even offer fuel and additional supplies for your trip here at our base. I want to do my part to help you succeed.”
Captain Stone settled back and chuckled.
The admiral joined her.
Kat sat puzzled at their actions.
“How many?” Captain Stone finally asked the admiral.
“A few. Let’s agree on eight, shall we?”
“Four,” Stone shot back.”
The admiral laughed and said, “Let’s not argue over trivial things. We’ll call it a platoon of four and one officer. Five, in total.”
“Done,” Stone said. “And we’ll take you up on the additional supplies. How will we travel to where my ship is?”
Kat was still confused.
The admiral said, “Take the Dreamer to Heshmat. While there return it to the owners and collect your reward for its return. The Dreamer has already been refueled and a few supplies added to your stores. I provided an invoice for you to give to the new owners for our expenses.”
“Heshmat? How did you know?”
“Your ship is a registered trader under the name of Guardia. I spent some of my government’s money on a subspace message and attached a reward for information for the location. There is an extremely happy pipefitter who just departed Heshmat and will never be allowed to return because of the security breach, however, she will have enough money to live well for a long time.”
“Clever. Okay, the next item of business is to ask when we can depart.”
The admiral shrugged and looked younger and happier than she had the previous night. Almost gleeful. She said, “We still have a few things to iron out. I also have bad news to share.”
Kat’s smile faded.
The admiral said, “I was called away a moment ago because it seems a vengeful crewman on your ship has managed to kill the murderer known as Chance. Poison, it appears. I’m sorry. It seems to be revenge for the death of the captain. That’s what my people believe.”
“Dead?” Kat asked in a hushed tone.
The admiral continued, “I assume this is an issue you will resolve on your trip to Heshmat. It does not concern us. From my standpoint, you can either discipline the killer or provide a reward for services rendered. Your choice.”
Kat couldn’t catch her breath. Her eyes were wide. The air inside her lungs wouldn’t leave, and she couldn’t draw in more. Spots roiled before her eyes. Things turned black.
She woke with both the admiral and Captain Stone kneeling beside where she lay. Her breathing came in gasps. After sitting up and assuring them she was well, Kat finally asked a question from earlier that hadn’t been addressed, “Five what? What were you talking about?”
The admiral laughed and said, “I’m sorry. It seems we have a mutual interest in where the advanced technology came from and what else might be gained from there. I will provide four marines and one officer to travel with the Guardia to the rim where we believe it came from, as well as the gel the ship carries in cargo. My marines will protect you.”
Captain Stone said, “And they will make sure we keep our end of the bargain and bring any useful information back here.”
“Of course,” the admiral smiled. “Mutually beneficial, we both hope.”
“That’s what you two were arguing over. Just the number of marines when both of you knew upfront that there would be military on board?”
Both smiled.
“Chance is dead?” Kat asked.
“I’m sorry,” the admiral repeated. “My guards will pay hell for allowing him to die under their watch, I assure you.”
“Fine,” Kat said as she found her way to the sofa again. “He was a liar, manipulator, and schemer. Besides, being a killer.”
The admiral said, “Another small piece of business we have to discuss. Your ship is no longer named Guardia. It is now Escolta, which also means ‘police’ or ‘guard’ in an ancient language—a coincidence, I’m sure. Your ship is now decorated with stars painted on the outside of the hull, a nice touch in my estimation.”
“My First Mate is very good at choosing names.”
“And in paying to have the history of a ship deleted as a new one is created. Not only the digital paperwork but right down to the bottoms of the eating plates in the galley has the new name engraved. All tools and test equipment are tagged with old appearing labels and the new name.”
“That pipefitter sure seems to have shared a lot,” Captain Stone snarled.
The admiral spread her hands wide. “After the initial contact and information, I may have hired a few more locals with poor reputations to investigate the work being done on your ship. It was not hard since hundreds of workers helped transform the Escolta.
They remained at the base three more days, all busy, and the subject of empaths never came up. Captain Stone and Kat remained on
