Dragon and Liberator

"Oh, don't worry," Braxton hastened to assure him. "The K'da and Shontine are welcome to it, for as long as they want to stay. But instead of giving it to them outright, I thought I'd give them a permanent lease at a dollar a year."

"Why is that better than selling it to them?" Jack asked.

"Or just giving it to them?" Alison added pointedly.

"A mere dollar a year fee is giving it to us," Draycos told her.

"May I speak?" Braxton asked. "Thank you. There are two reasons to lease instead of sell. One: those Internos bureaucrats Jack just mentioned also have their own ideas as to what should be done with refugees and displaced persons. If I still own Iota Klestis, I can let anyone move in there that I want."

"Giving the K'da and Shontine time to negotiate their way through the paperwork?" Alison suggested.

"Exactly," Braxton said. "And two: since I own the world, I can hire anyone I want to be ambassador to the residents."

"Ambassador?" Draycos asked.

"Technically, he'll be a corporate liaison," Braxton said. "But the duties will be effectively the same. Naturally, I'll need someone who knows and understands the K'da."

He looked at Jack. "Ideally, one who is also already known and trusted by them."

Jack frowned . . . and then, suddenly, he understood. "You can't be serious," he said.

"I certainly can," Braxton said. "My planet, remember?" He looked around the room again. "And of course, an ambassador needs his own personal diplomatic ship." He smiled. "It needs a little hull work around the hatchway, but I think it'll do."

"But I'm just a kid," Jack protested.

"But you have the gifts of insight and compassion and justice," Draycos said. "Speaking on behalf of the K'da and Shontine, we would be honored to have you among us."

"Then it's settled," Braxton said, standing up. "Once the fleet's ready to move, we'll escort them to Iota Klestis. I've already alerted the nearest Universis depots, and they're putting together an initial supply run to help with the transition."

"Thank you," Draycos said.

"My pleasure," Braxton replied, inclining his head. "I'm very much looking forward to working with you and your people."

He crossed back to the door. "As soon as you're all ready, come on over to the Advocatus Diaboli. I've decided to stay aboard for the trip to Iota Klestis." His face tightened a little. "And to make sure that Death weapon is well and truly destroyed."

"I would be happy to assist in that," Draycos offered grimly.

"I was hoping you would," Braxton said. "See you all soon."

He left, his footsteps retreating again down the corridor. "Well," Alison said. "What do you think of that?"

"I don't know yet," Jack said. "This is all coming way too fast."

"You've got time," Alison said quietly. "The point is that you're finally safe. You're safe, and you're among friends. Just like Draycos and his people are."

"You're safe, Jack lad?"

Jack frowned at the computer module. It had been Uncle Virge's voice . . . but there'd been something odd about it. "Yes, I think maybe I really am," he said. "Who'd ever have guessed, huh?"

"The people responsible for your parents' murder are dead?"

"Dead or in custody," Jack said. "Why?"

"Just a minute."

There was a long pause. "What's going on?" Alison asked.

Jack shook his head. "I don't know."

There was a click from the speaker. "Hello, Jack lad," Uncle Virge said.

Jack tensed. Because it wasn't Uncle Virge, the personality Jack's uncle had programmed into the Essenay's computer. This voice was subtly but definitely different.

It was Uncle Virgil himself.

"I apologize for speaking to you through this recording," Uncle Virgil went on. "I presume from the fact that you are listening to it means I'm dead or in jail or otherwise unavailable to give all this to you in person.

"But I wanted you to know how it was you ended up living with me aboard your parents' ship."

Silently, Draycos got to his feet and crossed the room to stand at Jack's side.

"It was their ship, if you haven't already figured that out. A beautiful Judge-Paladin ship, loaded to the intakes with all the finest equipment money can buy.

"Unfortunately, not all of us have that kind of money. So seeing as I was a thief by profession, I set out to steal it."

Jack glanced at Alison. She was staring at the speaker, an intense look on her face.

"Not that I specifically targeted your parents' ship. That was just . . . I don't know. Luck? Fate? I can never tell about these things. I just needed one of the ships to put down at some out-of-the-way place where the alarm would take a while to get out. The Hreenwoth Canyon on Semaline was the perfect spot."

Jack looked down at Draycos. All that time they'd spent in that canyon, all that danger, and he'd never even known its real name.