Dragon and Liberator

"As it happens, they did," he said, his voice a bit odd. "But not from any Malison Ring ships. At least, nothing carrying a Malison Ring insignia."

"Just like your ships," Jack put in. "Maybe it was another renegade like Frost."

"Maybe," Neverlin said. "But whoever they were, they were foolish enough to challenge Chapman as he and his new ships headed for deep space. The last thing they ever did."

Jack winced. Who had they been? he wondered. Local law enforcement? Pirates? "Better be careful," he warned. "You don't want to run down the clock on your new toys. Be embarrassing to have them burn out just when things with the K'da and Shontine start getting interesting."

"I appreciate your concern," Neverlin said, smiling through his faceplate. "But our friends have assured us we'll have plenty of time to complete our mission."

"Good of them," Jack said. "You really think they'll still be your friends once the K'da and Shontine are dead?"

"At any rate, we'll be leaving you now," Neverlin said, ignoring the question. "I have a pair of Death weapons to transfer back aboard the Foxwolf, and—"

"Because once the K'da and Shontine are dead, what's to stop them?" Jack cut in, raising his voice. "What's to keep them from turning on you and the Malison Ring and the Patri Chookoock—?"

Neverlin stepped up to Jack, glowering behind his faceplate, and with a flick of his finger cut off Jack's radio. Good-bye, Jack, he mouthed in the sudden silence.

Gesturing to Alison, he crossed to the airlock. Alison gave Jack a single unreadable glance and then followed. They stepped inside, and Jack felt the bulkhead behind him vibrate as the pumps once again started shifting air around. I think you annoyed our host, Draycos said dryly.

All part of the grand plan, buddy, Jack assured him. He wouldn't have been so quick to cut off my ranting if there weren't other people who could hear it. That tells us there's still someone aboard.

The damage didn't seem all that great, Draycos agreed. It's probably still flyable.

And if there are people aboard, then all the other amenities of life should be, too. Pulling on his wrist straps, Jack pressed his back firmly against the bulkhead. Take a peek and see what you can see.

Draycos slid around on his skin, and Jack felt the K'da lean his fourth-dimensional way over the wall behind them. He held the pose for a few seconds, then came fully back onto Jack's skin. Neverlin and Alison are removing their suits, he reported. There are also two Brummgas there—Neverlin appears to be giving them some instructions.

Hopefully having to do with changing our oxygen tank every couple of hours, Jack said. What sort of room is it?

It appears to be a preparation room, Draycos said. There are two racks of vac suits, plus oxygen tanks, maneuvering units, and tool cabinets like the one they used to attach your suit to the wall.

Perfect, Jack said.

How exactly is it perfect? Draycos asked.

There's air over there, and it looks like the whole crew is Brummgas, Jack explained. Knowing Neverlin, he would have given his orders to humans if there were any aboard.

He smiled tightly. And what none of them know is that you can fall over that wall any time you want to.

Yes, Draycos agreed thoughtfully. So Alison is indeed still on our side.

Never doubted it for a minute, Jack said. The only question now is when exactly we want to make our move.

Not soon, I'm afraid, Draycos said. We don't know how many crew are aboard, or the deck plan, or what sort of flight and combat capabilities the ship has.