Alarms sounded softly in Jenna’s room. She started awake, grabbing for her sword and clothes without thinking. “Awake, awake,” repeated the alarm. Damn, she thought that was a good dream. Abruptly all the memories of earlier crashed into her conscious mind. I will have to deal with this before we arrive. But first…

Dressing quickly, she hurried to the bridge. With relief she noted that only Amard Petter was present.

“Report.”

“All systems nominal. Time to shutdown is seven point nine five.” Amard replied giving his usual cheerful smile.

“Good, go get some rest, six periods, you will need it soon enough. You are relieved.”

“Thanks, I will relive myself.” With a laugh, the second pilot left.

Stopping first at the pilots’ station, Jenna pulled up a status report. She then checked the rest of the station’s ending up at the captain’s chair where she reconfirmed every report. One cannot be too careful, she thought to herself, reflecting her training. Even with a small crew it was normal for a watch to be kept, in hyper as well where they were safe not only from detection but from any outside interference. Smaller crews often relaxed and slept while in hyper.

Restless, Jenna wandered around the bridge, stopping at the meal dispenser and ordering what would be for her, breakfast. She took this to Thurgod’s station.

Seating herself in the captains’ chair, Jenna ate then put the tray aside. Here she could conveniently monitor all the main stations, including engineering. Checking the ships clock, she noted that she should have at least five point five periods of uninterrupted time to think. It would be two periods before arrival that she would arouse the rest of the crew to get ready for their arrival. Thurgod would expect that. Our best hope is that the fleet will not be waiting for us, she thought grimily. If they are, we will be dead or worse, captured to be displayed and then sentenced to death. Well, no sense in worrying about that!

As she relaxed, the memory of her encounter with Ilisa came back to her. Her mind speed back to her home planet and she recalled her first view of the Temple of Dawn.

*********

Mornings on Christos could be very nice in the spring, but in the winter, depending on the locality, they could be harsh, with rain, snow or fog combined with temperatures that ranged from cold to freezing. It was not freezing on the morning that Jenna remembered, indeed the morning of this late winter, early spring day was on the warm side as she, accompanied by other girls who turned seven that month took their trip to the Temple of Dawn. The first of eleven that laid before them, each to a different temple. All the boys who had turned six had already gone to the men and the only males left with the women were younger boys.

A slight smile, tinged with sadness played on her face. Oh those girls, most so excited! Holding onto their mothers’ hands, some nervous, some chattering as young girls do, most eager, some holding back a little. Memories flooded in, breaking through a long held dam; of friends long forgotten; older women, their student guides and teachers. Like a mirror turning, their faces flowed past her, one after another. The temple itself recalled, massive and ancient, its soaring spires, vegetation encrusted walls, tidy rooms and majestic roofline. All these passed over her memory.

With a start, Jenna came back to reality, rose to her feet, looked around her with a wide eye gaze, hand on her blade. Had someone been with her? but the ship was quiet. A quick check of surveillance of the bridge and passageway, showed both empty and no movement recorded. Settling down she noticed the time, a full period had passed. A gasp floated out of her mouth. “I must concentrate.” And again she sat. This time, recalling her teaching, she passed into the half-awake state that was used for both meditation and yet allowed her to maintain awareness of her surroundings.

This time she concentrated, if Ilisa mentioned the Temple of Dawn, it was for a reason, of that Jenna was certain. This time she looked for anomalies, something she would not have seen as a child, something she would not have considered strange for it all would have been so new.

A gasp escaped her, far in the back ground a figure, cloaked, face and hair covered, could it be Ilisa?

The figure disappeared into the back ground, but her mother was watching and in the fraction before guides appeared to take her and the other children away, her mother looked at the dim figure and it seemed that both raised a hand.

Startled awake, Jenna played the memory over in her mind. It could not have been Ilisa, the figure was different, slender, and also it had been over fifty standard years ago. Unless Ilisa was a shape-shifter with what appeared to be dark hair, and that was unlikely, then it must have been someone else. The time factor did not matter either, there were many races, including her own, that lived for centuries, but Ilisa knew something and someone was there at the beginning of her life as a women of Christos. Someone who was not a native of Christos but was extremely powerful, for a stray visitor would be killed on discovery at one of the scared temples, that was a given. That it was someone her mother acknowledged was even more disconcerting.

Deep in thought Jenna checked the navigation console for that time of arrival. Restless, she moved and checked each station directly. Finished, she sat in the pilot’s chair, her familiar spot. Such a small memory, yet with everything, so significant. No stranger should have been there. Christos women did not generally cover themselves up so completely. Both sex’s covered themselves for protection when necessary, it just was not a priority. Christos was not a place for a prude.

“So someone felt the need to hide themselves, why.” A frown passed over her face as she spoke out loud, “And what does it have to do with me?” For there was the distinct impression that the watcher, for so Jenna marked her, was watching her as a child. The memory of the artifact came back to her as well. After touching it, she had recalled when she was older, with others she had been shown a similar holograph. Then they had been admonished to never approach such a person or terrible things would follow. The holo had been different, yet she was certain that it was the same person. A chill ran through her as she recognized the similarities between the memory, the artifact and the holo. A further chill ran through her as she considered the new found knowledge that her mother had something to do with this. What did her mother know, she wondered? With a shudder, she knew that she could never know. Never return.

Jenna sat thinking for a long time until a chime sounded. Checking the ships clock, Jenna keyed her in-ship communications, “Thurgod, it is time.”

*********

It took more than a few fractions, Jenna had to ensure that all the ship’s crew were woken, but in due time the bridge was fully manned. The two passengers had been instructed by Thurgod firmly, to remain in their cabins. Ilisa had just smiled and shut her door. The professor had argued at length until Thurgod had lost his patience and ordered him in and threatened to break both his legs! Only the potential treasure kept the pirate from getting physical.

“Run a full systems check. Everyone. I want no foul ups.” Thurgod barked.

One by one the bridge crew, they could not be called officers although they filled similar functions, confirmed that their stations were fully in order. Lista was still surly, but cooperative. Fastos gave his in a normal tone but with a sideways look at Jenna.

“No problems with the pilots station, at least until we drop out of hyperspace.” Jenna spoke in a level voice. She was keeping herself under tight control, so much so that Amard also gave a sideways look at her.

Thurgod also noticed, as he spoke. “Of course we won’t, are you ok, no problems in the night?” Came with a frown.

“I’m fine. Don’t you want to get together with Quintas, Fastos and Tyrone?” A grunt followed this. “In any case, we need to get ready. It is just under one standard period until we arrive, do we go in with shields up and weapons on line? They might think us unfriendly!”

“Yes, that would not be wise, meteor shields only. Put up the automatics as well but keep weapons off line. But be ready.” He paused for a fraction then continued. “Jenna, you have command. Fastos and Tyrone, let’s go talk to our chief engineer. We will check our security detail as we go.”

*********

The three left the bridge, Fastos carrying a frown which the other two noticed.

“Something up?” Thurgod asked with more politeness then was his usual wont. He had considerable respect for the ships savant.

Fastos considered his reply. “Just wondering about a few things.”

“Such as?” Thurgod pressed.

“Jenna, Lista, Ilisa.”

The two stopped, both turning to face the Counsellor. “Is there is something you need to tell us?” Tyrone rumbled, “If there is a danger to the ship, I need to know.” There was an edge to the giants’ voice. Fastos was not intimidated.

“I will not hold anything back if you need to know. I have a feeling, nothing more.” He turned and walked on.

The other two gave each other a look.

“Do you want to get him back?” Tyrone asked.

Thurgod shook his head slowly. “Let him work it out. No one is going anywhere right now.” With a nod, he moved on, “Let’s get security set up and find out what Quintas needs.”

Tyrone nodded and followed. If Thurgod was satisfied, so was he, to a point. He would keep his eyes open and watch all the women now.

*********

On the bridge, time passed in silence. It seemed no one wanted to talk, even Amard, usually a fount of knowledge and trivia. But finally, “Thurgod, coming up on arrival in point two.” Jenna commed the pirate chief.

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“Good, on my way.” Thurgod could not have been far away as both he and Fastos arrived just a fraction later. Tyrone being left behind with the security detail.

There was silence, tension mounted as all aboard thought back to Locus Point and the ambush.

“Coming out of hyper, now. Raising blast windows. Scanning” The nausea, common on a small ship with hyper engines, ran through the ship’s crew and passengers.

"Life systems nominal. Engine nominal." Lista and Amard both reported.

“Comm systems on line, getting chatter but not being hailed yet.” Fastos supplied.

“Don’t forget our agreed disguise. We are a freighter with passengers on board. I think our name should be good at least once for this place, but not again.” Jenna reminded Fastos unnecessarily. Thurgod just grunted.

“Coming up on the planet and its station, there is a lot of activity in the asteroid belt and on the inner gas giants.” Lista commented. “Someone must be getting rich.”

“Any other activity Lista?” Came quietly from Fastos.

“No, and there are no star flight capable ships operating that I can see yet. That is a little unusual.”

“Not really, this is such a new operation.” Ventured Amard, the rest remained silent.

As they progressed in system, station control seemed to wake up. “Wait.” Fastos spoke. “I am getting an interrogatory. It is requesting ships name and crew names and numbers.”

“Reply.”

Fastos spoke quietly to station control then sat back. “Done. Response is docking information, pending confirmation. Passing docking details to you Jenna.”

“Acknowledged. Looks good.”

“Well so far all standard, let’s hope…” Amard spoke for them all, as they continued in system. Silence fell as Jenna piloted the ship with her usual skill. “Reducing thrust to in systems speed.”

More time passed, slowly it seemed to the crew, everyone on edge.

“Another comm request, confirmation of our weapons master. Replying.” It was not at all unusual in this galaxy, as well as others, for a freighter to have a security team.

A fraction later. “Personal request to speak to Tyrone!” Fastos raised his eyebrows.

“Transfer to docking lock, now.” Thurgod showed his stress.

“Shall I listen in?” Fastos queried.

“Can you speak his damn language? No! And a translator would be too obvious! We have to trust our weapons master.” The last was delivered in a fatalistic tone.

Fastos sat up as another communication came through. “Confirmation docking information for pilot. Sending it to you, Jenna.”

Jenna listened for a fraction, then spoke. “Lista shut down the active scanners but keep docking scanners ready. There are two freighters docked a couple of stations over from ours, so we should keep passive scanners on, nothing unusual so far, but I think we should keep a close eye on them. Reducing thrust to ten percent.” Jenna liked to keep all the bridge appraised of her actions.

“Do it.” Thurgod showed his agreement.

“Amard, go to the secondary scanner station and watch them, call out if you see anything.” Jenna transferred her control to this scanner station which was normally kept on remote. Then to Thurgod, “We will be docking in bay 14. Where small freighters are sent, seems all in order. Lista, when I tell you go active in normal docking mode, it should also tell you if we have a reception committee, and who are all ships around us!”

They were not going into an internal docking bay, as at “Watchers Rock”, but to an external bay, where they would be hooked up via the space docking lock.

“Haven’t got all the nice facilities yet it seems.” Amard murmured.

“Coming in, Lista, go.”

Jenna brought the ship in delicately, the external bays on this space station were built for economy and lacked the robust construction of a station built for more general use.

“Quintas, shutting down.”

A fraction later came the reply. “Confirmed shut down. Going to charging status.”

“Anything Amard?” This from Fastos.

Out of sheer habit, Amard shook his head then followed it up with a hurried “No, both other ships are what they seem to be or are extremely well camouflaged.” He shook his head again, “There are a couple of people waiting for us but no one with any obvious weapons.”

“Has Tyrone finished his talk?” Thurgod asked.

Fastos nodded then continued. “He asked me to tell you to come down.”

“Good, come with me. Jenna you have the bridge. Inform me immediately if something, anything comes up.” The two of them left.

“Very well, all docking tractors locked in place, docking bridge in place, power lines, imperial standard and connected, switching to station power, now. Tyrone, you can open lock at your discretion. Quintus you can commence charging.”

“Thanks Jenna, the boss is here now!” Tyrone sounded happy.

The three left on the bridge stared at each other, open mouthed. Never had they heard the gigantic security chief sound so cheerful, and to call Thurgod “boss’, unthinkable!

“Ah …. Thurgod, what is happening?” Jenna inquired delicately.

“We are going to meet with Tyrone’s friend. We have our list and will pay as agreed. Keep communications open.”

“Very well, over.”

Tyrone’s friend turned out to be as large and formidable as Tyrone. The two of them engaged in a hug and boisterous thumping on the shoulder and arms. Anyone else would have been dead or at least, hospitalized.

“He will take us to the station manager and the store’s manager.” Tyrone spoke. “They are willing to deal with us, but they won’t be cheap.”

*********

The station manager turned out to be a grim faced former resident of Zeta IV, while the store’s manager was from Findus VI. A more mismatched pair could not be imagined. It was obvious from the moment that they were introduced that the store’s manager felt that he was in a position far beneath his standing and that he should be anywhere other than the galactic rim, while the station manager hated the store’s manager and felt his beginnings weighed him down.

Thurgod and Fastos began to feel that they might be getting somewhere.

Bargaining took the usual form, a list of supplies was presented and the store’s manager moaned that he could not possibly part with such a list of vital supplies. Thurgod and Fastos protested that the list was the absolute minimum. The station manager responded that he could not allow their operation to be so shortened. Tyrone and the base security chief watched in amusement. Compensation was offered, rejected, counterproposal after counterproposal went back and forwards, drinks were offered and accepted and finally all was accomplished and agreed at the price everyone expected.

“Jenna, it is agreed, all well at your end?” Thurgod checked in as he and Fastos walked back to the ship. Tyrone walked with the stations security chief.

“All quiet here, some traffic up and down corridors. The local ground agent for traffic control came to get the usual forms completed, nothing else.” There was a pause, “Devano is uneasy. Says he feels he is being watched.”

Thurgod was silent for a fraction, “I will be there shortly, everyone stay alert, I trust Devano’s instincts.”

*********

Devano was still pacing back and forward when Thurgod arrived and noted the mercenary’s tenseness. Back on the bridge after having a brief talk, Thurgod also looked grim. “I agree we must be careful. The stores we have purchased will arrive with Fastos and Tyrone. Devano and Extsu will monitor the loading and check everything over before loading it. Everything will be scanned for security purposes, and we have an excuse,” he said with a cold smile, “There have been workers smuggling themselves off this hole. I guess that conditions are not the paradise offered in the recruiting offices.”

“Good, I want out of here as soon as possible.” Jenna agreed.

Lista began to protest, “But I want to at least stretch my legs a little.”

“No, get back to your post.” Lista pouted, but subsided. To Jenna, “We will leave as soon as we are loaded.”

“I need the destination.”

“Not yet, after we undock, I want no chance of a scanner picking up our destination.” After a fraction, “Our two passengers?”

“I have not seen them, you must have been convincing.” Jenna said, checking the pilots’ station at the same time.

“Good.” This seemed to be Thurgods word for the period.

All too soon the spares and stores purchased arrived. Both the port security and Extsu scanned every item after which engineer’s assistants stowed everything and made certain that the ship was balanced. All was completed in less than a half period so Thurgod was pleased.

Still uneasy, Devano was unsatisfied with the situation. Even though it had been pointed out to him that security cameras were everywhere, not an unusual situation, he remained on high alert, convinced that he was being watched. He stood ready, eyes scanning in all directions.

Finally ready to leave, they advised traffic control. After the usual delay, permission to leave was granted. Only the security chief came to wish them off, no more than expected really. The pirates would have been suspicious with anything else.

“Quintas advises that we are fully charged, the cargo is stored and the ship is balanced. We are ready to depart.” Jenna said at last. Payment had been made between Tyrone and the station security chief. Not normal, but it had been agreed.

“Good, let’s go.” Thurgod ordered.

Jenna activated her comm. “Station control, Master Moon.”

“Master Moon, Station control.” Came the response.

“We have completed loading and are ready to depart.”

“Station copies, you may begin departing procedures.”

“Amard, get the security detachment on board and doors secured.” This was done quickly. “Power fully on, detaching station power, thrusters ready, Amard cut mooring tractors.” Jenna was in her element.

“Cut confirmed.”

Jenna’s fingers flew across her controls. “Reverse thrusters at five percent. Backing out.” A fraction later. “Station control, Master Moon, we are clear of the dock. Maneuvering.”

“Station copies, no inbounds or local traffic. You are free to maneuver on thruster until you are clear of the station control sector. Good day and galactic dreams, Master Moon, Station out.”

“Thank you station. On our way. Out.” Jenna closed her comm feed. Then to Fastos, “Keep monitoring the comm.”

Thurgod grunted, this was his way of showing his approval. “Jenna, point us in the general direction of the delta, delta, three sector. Go to fifty percent thrusters and take us well out before we get ready to jump.”

“Done.” Well she thought that is interesting, a sparse area, few planets, if that was indeed, where we are going, Thurgod is holding things close again.

Quellar II, shrank in the view screen, first gradually then with ever increasing speed. Time passed. Jenna stirred and turned to Thurgod.

“We are getting close to an astronomical unit away from the planet. Any scanner would have to be active to get any reading on us. They will see the jump on passive anyway. We can jump at any time.”

“Good Set course for Trilla.” Thurgod hid his smile.

“Trilla, The demon planet at Dubea IV?” There were raised eyebrows all around.

Fastos opened his mouth to speak, then though better of it.

“Yes, lock it in.” This came with a grunt of amusement.

With eyebrows raised still, Jenna called up the chart for the area, which was on the far side of sector three and somewhat above it. The coordinates were entered with care and checked. The flight path was actually rather circuitous with the necessity of avoiding gravitational phenomena such as stars of all types and especially, black holes.

“It will take us one point seven standard days to get there.” Jenna checked her readouts.

“Can’t be avoided. I have informed Quintas that we will be going to main engines on your command.” Thurgod replied.

“Very well, attention all, preparing to go hyper in five, four, three, two, one, now.”

The ship gathered itself and jumped.

*********

Now safe in hyperspace, Jenna carried out all the necessary checks and a few which seemed unnecessary to anyone’s thought but hers. The others were severally engaged, although with sighs of exasperation until finally, they were able to say, all is well.

“Ship is stable, all systems nominal, engine nominal.” Jenna stood up and stretched. “I am glad that that is done.” She turned to Thurgod who was watching with a small smile. “Now, will you explain?”

Thurgod’s smile grew.