To which Legroeder whispered a silent amen.
* * *
They were approaching their parking orbit when the message arrived from El'ken, addressed to Secretary General Albright via an open broadcast on the net. The statement made no mention of the clandestine near-hijacking of Impris by the Kyber ships. But it hailed the return of Impris as vindication of the Narseil's century-old claim dating back to the War of a Thousand Suns. El'ken urgently requested safe passage for the ship and full participation by the Narseil Rigging Institute in the investigation of her disappearance. "We also applaud critical contributions made by Rigger Legroeder in the rescue of Impris—and call for guarantees of his safety and freedom, as well..."
Fre'geel's bright, vertical eyes gazed at Legroeder as El'ken spoke. Will you let it go at that? he seemed to be asking. Legroeder gave a slight nod.
The answer from the secretary general came a few minutes later. "We respect and appreciate the Narseil interest in this matter. Rest assured that your recommendations will receive the highest level of attention. In the meantime, we guarantee free passage for Impris, and welcome her home after a long absence. We are dispatching a tow, with escort, and clearing Impris for immediate docking at Outer Terminus Three. As for the Kyber fleet in our skies, we thank you for such helpful role as you may have played in her safe return. Now, it is time for you to leave."
Tiegs fussed at the com-console for a few minutes. "Lots of coded message traffic again. The Kyber are talking up a storm among themselves. I think they're talking to someone outside the Faber Eri system."
Though it seemed forever, it was only a few minutes before the Kyber ship responded, "Our conditions have been met. Since we have no further business at this time, we will be on our way. But you can count on us to stay in touch about the progress of the Impris investigation."
"They're pulling away," Johnson murmured.
Everyone stared at the main screen. The rings and outriggers on the KM/C ships were starting to glow, as they powered up their Circadie space inductors. Legroeder's heart was pounding as he watched the Kyber ships break from formation around Impris. They began to accelerate outward from the planet, their space inductors blazing sapphire. He felt it coming before he saw it: the ships vanishing into the Flux—once again, recklessly close to the planet, shaking Impris with the gravitational turbulence. The KM/C riggers were good at that, he had to admit. But he wished to hell they'd cut it out.
Now they were gone, all of the Kyber ships.
He blinked and looked again.
All of them except one.
Chapter 41
Reunion
The remaining Kyber warship glided into formation alongside Impris. "What the hell?" Captain Friedman muttered. "Is that Phoenix?"
Legroeder's heart did a couple of flips. Phoenix had not been part of the original escort. But confirmation came a few moments later. "Impris, this is Ivan ship Phoenix. Please stand by while we contact local authorities."
Legroeder laughed joyfully at the sound of the voice.
"Faber Eridani Defense Command, this is Yankee-Zulu/Ivan ship Phoenix, Tracy-Ace/Alfa speaking for Kyber Outpost Ivan. We are here to provide continuing escort for Impris, and to seek diplomatic contact on behalf of Yankee-Zulu/Ivan. We are not, repeat not, connected with the Kilo-Mike/Carlotta fleet, just departed. Our mission is entirely peaceful, and—"
A burst of static interrupted the transmission.
"Pirate ship Phoenix, this is Captain Sanspach, of Vigilant." He sounded exasperated. "You are instructed to turn your ship around and depart this system at once. We have no need of further Kyber interference."
Legroeder hurried to speak to Cantha. "Can you get Harriet back on the line for me?"
While Cantha was working, Friedman snapped his fingers at Tiegs. "Transmit on that frequency." When Tiegs nodded, the captain raised his voice, "Vigilant, this is Captain Friedman of Impris. Be advised that we owe this Ivan ship our lives. She and her crew brought us back from a living death in the Flux. In addition, they saved us from destruction at the hands of a hostile fleet."
"Impris, Vigilant. Are you saying you want this ship to come in with you?"
"That's affirmative."
Pause. "Impris, please stand by..."
While they were standing by, Legroeder got a nod from Cantha. He stepped to the com. "Harriet? Are you there?"
"Here, Legroeder. What's this new ship?"
"Friends, Harriet. We've got to make Spacing Authority understand that. It's the ship that took us to rescue Impris. And Harriet... we've got a raider organization here that wants to make peace."
"Make peace? You're certain of that?"
"I'm certain, Harriet. I know what you're thinking. But these are not the people who took Bobby. You've got to trust me on this."
If Harriet hadn't been thinking of Bobby before, the reminder seemed to give her even greater pause. "What are you telling me, Legroeder? Did you find out anything about—?"
"Some leads, yes. And these people from Ivan are working on it for me. I'll explain later."
Harriet seemed to accept that with difficulty. "All right. I'll see what I can do."
Legroeder turned to Friedman. "Maybe she can persuade them, if they don't believe you."
Friedman looked ready to believe anything, and nothing.
* * *
Apparently the authorities were persuaded, either by Friedman's claim or by Harriet's intervention, or both, because eventually a directive came down from the secretary general to the Spacing Authority, and both ships were granted clearance to enter orbit near the docking terminal. Phoenix settled into a parking orbit under the watchful eyes of a small squadron, while Impris, aided by a tow, was brought into an arrival dock.
There was growing excitement aboard Impris as they awaited permission to debark. They were told that arrangements were being made for lodging, medical exams, and preparation for transport to the surface. After endless delays, a decontamination tunnel was put in place. When at last the passengers and most of the crew were given permission to go "ashore," the ship's corridors resounded with cheers. The exodus began at once—though Fre'geel ordered his Narseil crew to remain on board until the Narseil diplomats arrived, from the Essling and from the embassy on Faber Eri.
Legroeder and Deutsch went out through the checkpoint and stood in the receiving area with a knot of officials, watching as the Impris passengers crowded off the ship. It was a lot like the debarkation at Outpost Ivan; many of the passengers looked dazed. And yet, it was different: this world was home for them, or at least their point of departure a century and a quarter ago. Legroeder suspected that for many of them, the stopover at Ivan had been more like a dream than a return to civilization as they had known it. He wondered if they'd recognize the society they were about to encounter here.
He had little time to think about it, before one of the station security agents approached. "Rigger Legroeder, you're wanted in the station administrator's office. Follow me, please." The agent looked at Deutsch. "Are you here as an official representative of the Kyber?"
Deutsch hummed thoughtfully. "In the absence of Tracy-Ace/Alfa, I could be considered official, I suppose."
"He should come along," Legroeder said.
The agent still looked unsure, but waved them on together.
They were ushered into a room with more Faber Eridani officials than he could keep track of. Events began to blur from that point on. The most senior government officials had not yet arrived, but those who were there wanted to hear the entire story. Legroeder gave the brief version, knowing he was going to be telling it many times over. No one seemed to know quite what to do with Deutsch, and he sat silent most of the time, only occasionally answering a direct question or offering a small elaboration.
After what seemed hours, Legroeder was drawn aside and informed he had a visitor. For a moment, he fantasized that it might be Tracy-Ace, but that seemed unlikely; her ship wasn't even in dock. Curiosity overcoming wea
riness, he followed the aide out to the anteroom.
"There you are!" said a grey-haired lady.
"Harriet!" he cried, and ran past the startled aide to embrace Harriet in a bear hug.
"Don't crush me, dear!" she pleaded, laughing.
Legroeder held her at arm's length. "How did you get here so fast?"
Harriet's eyes twinkled as she readjusted her glasses. "I grabbed the first Narseil shuttle up. I'm still technically under their wing. What, did you think you don't need a lawyer anymore?"
Legroeder practically danced her around the room. "How could I doubt? Harriet, what's been happening here? Tell me everything! How are you—and how is Morgan? And did you find Maris?"
"Stop. Stop, before I get dizzy!" she laughed. "Yes, Morgan and Maris will be very happy to see you."
"You found her!"
"About a week ago. Alive and well."
Legroeder closed his eyes and breathed a deep sigh of gratitude.
"I knew you'd be glad to hear that. But now, Legroeder—" Harriet put a hand on his arm "—before you say anything else—tell me what you found about Bobby."
Legroeder felt his throat tighten. Harriet saw his hesitation, and her face fell at once. He put a hand on hers. "We haven't found him yet, but we found his trail. He was taken alive from the L.A., and later transferred from DeNoble to another outpost. When I left Ivan, they were still trying to track him down." He squeezed her hand. "There's hope, Harriet. Don't give up."
Harriet drew a deep breath. "All right. I can hold out a little longer, I guess." She forced a smile. "My word, but it's good to see you in one piece." She glanced toward the door where the aide was waiting for Legroeder to return to the debriefing. "How are they treating you in there?"
Legroeder shrugged. "They haven't hung me out to dry yet."
"We'll do much better for you than that, dear. Your lawyer's with you now..."
* * *
Whether or not it mattered to anyone else that his lawyer was with him, it certainly made him feel better. By the time they broke for dinner, it was apparent that he could look forward to a lot more of the same. It would start all over again tomorrow, once the people with real power had arrived. At that point, they'd bring in Captain Friedman and the Narseil, as well. Legroeder was grateful for a chance to get away for dinner with Harriet, in the station administrator's dining room. "I feel so out of touch with what's been happening here," he said, wrapping his fingers around a glistening stein of beer.
Harriet laughed. "You feel out of touch! Which one of us went flying off to be captured by space pirates, was gone for ten weeks without a word, and then came back standing at the wheel of the legendary Flying Dutchman of the stars?" She peered over the tops of her glasses. "I was afraid I'd never see you again. And I never dreamed you'd fly the bloody ship back to us!"
"Well, I was a little surprised myself," Legroeder admitted. He glanced out through the doorway of the dining room. "Freem'n! Come on in here! Harriet, I'd like you to meet a friend of mine." The cyborg floated in through the doorway and greeted Harriet with an amplified rumble and an outstretched metal hand. "I don't think you were ever properly introduced back there."
"No," said Harriet, rising. "I know you were together on the rescue mission—"
"A major understatement. Freem'n's—" Legroeder hesitated. "Well, besides being a friend, he's an outstanding rigger. And a goodwill representative..." The rest of the words caught in his throat. Of Ivan. Of the Kyber pirates.
Harriet stiffened, as she shook Deutsch's hand. It didn't take a mind-reader to guess what she was thinking.
Legroeder hastened to add, "He started out as a captive, impressed into service just like me, Harriet. And I couldn't have done any of this without him."
Harriet relaxed a little. "So," she murmured to Deutsch, "what is your role here at Faber Eridani?"
Deutsch's eyes were no doubt unreadable to Harriet, but Legroeder could have sworn he saw them twinkle as he answered, "I'm here to see if I can mend some fences. And—" he chuckled softly "—to see that nothing bad happens to Legroeder and all that information he's carrying in his head."
Harriet cocked her head in puzzlement.
"I still have to explain about that," Legroeder said. "It's sort of complicated."
Harriet nodded. "Then I guess this is where I should say, any friend of Legroeder's—" She opened her palm.
"Just what I was thinking," Deutsch said. "In any case, I'm hoping to provide you with some information about the Kyber worlds, while I'm here."
"I look forward to hearing it."
"And I could probably use a good lawyer, if you happen to know of one."
"Actually," Legroeder said thoughtfully, "there are a lot of people coming in here who are going to need help. Of all kinds. Being in limbo for a century hasn't left all of them in such good shape. Can you use some more pro bono work, Harriet?"
His lawyer raised her eyebrows. "It may be time for me to impose upon the goodwill of some of my colleagues..."
* * *
After dinner, Harriet excused herself to make a couple of calls. When she returned, said, "You know, the press is on the verge of breaking down the doors to see you, and I'm going to let them, if our hosts here will allow it. But there are a couple of people I want you to see first, okay?"
Legroeder shrugged. "Okay."
"Follow me." Harriet led him out of the dining room, down a short hallway past several guards, and into an anteroom. Morgan Mahoney whirled at his approach and with a cry of joy ran toward him with open arms. Hugging Morgan, Legroeder saw the second woman, waiting with her.
"Maris?" he gasped, releasing Morgan and reaching out to catch Maris's hand. He held her at arm's length, looking her up and down. "I wasn't sure I'd ever see you alive again! I thought you were gone. I really did." She grinned back at him, and finally he drew her into a long bear hug.
Maris looked healthier than she ever had as a prisoner; there was a flush to her cheeks and a light in her eyes that almost made up for the scar on the side of her neck. The change was remarkable. She'd had her auburn hair styled, probably for the first time in years. Looking at her now, it felt like an eternity since they'd fled DeNoble together; and it felt like yesterday.
The grin on Maris's face turned to sober amazement. "I didn't know if you'd be alive, Legroeder. When your friends rescued me, I couldn't believe what they'd done to you at the RiggerGuild. And then to hear you'd gone back to a pirate camp. My God, Legroeder!" She shook her head and squeezed his hands.
"Well, I knew you'd be back," Morgan interjected. "Pirates or no pirates. No man can stay away from me forever."
Legroeder laughed. "Thanks, Morgan. But where did you find her? Where were you, Maris?"
"Held by pirates," Morgan said darkly.
"KM/C agents? Kilo-Mike/Carlotta?"
Maris glanced at Morgan and shrugged. "I never heard that name. They kept talking about Ivan—Yankee, someone?"
"Yankee Zulu Ivan is what you said before," said Morgan. "Have you heard of them, Legroeder?"
He felt a sudden rushing in his ears. He closed his eyes. Yankee-Zulu/Ivan? For a moment he stood there, trying to will the thought away. Not Ivan. Please. He tried to answer, but couldn't find his voice.
Morgan's words finally cut through the fog in his head. "Does that mean yes or no? Hey, who's your friend here?"
Legroeder grunted and blinked his eyes open. Deutsch was floating beside him, augments flickering. Before Legroeder could answer, Deutsch said, "Legroeder, you seem to gather women around you everywhere you go, don't you?"
Legroeder winced. "Maris and Morgan, my friend Freem'n Deutsch." Break this to them slowly... "I think maybe I'd better tell you from the beginning what's happened since I left El'ken's asteroid..."
* * *
"Wait a minute—wait a minute!" Morgan was waving a hand in the air. He'd just gotten to the part about YZ/I's sending him to search for Impris—leaving out a few details, such as his relationship with
Tracy-Ace/Alfa. "These people who helped you find Impris—what did you say they were called—YZ/I? You don't mean—" the color drained from her face "—you don't mean Yankee... Zulu..."
Legroeder nodded, feeling his own face flush.
"What?" Maris whispered.
"Wait—let me explain—"
"Explain what?" snapped Morgan. "Why they kidnapped Maris? Do I have that right? Yankee Zulu Ivan are the creeps who kidnapped you, right, Maris?"
Maris's mouth was open in hurt bewilderment. "Yes," she said, without looking back at Morgan. "That's what they said. Yankee Zulu—Ivan, right. What's this all about, Legroeder? Are these the people you've been making friends with?" She turned and stared penetratingly at Deutsch.
Legroeder face was afire. "YZ/I is Yankee-Zulu/Ivan, yeah. And I don't know what they were doing with you, Maris. But I intend to find out. Very soon."
"Legroeder," Morgan said. "We're talking kidnappers, here. Pirates."
He swallowed, his blood turning to ice. Fire and ice. "Yes. Apparently so," he whispered. He cleared his throat with difficulty. "And... they're the ones I'm going to be asking you—and Faber Eridani—to work with." Tracy-Ace, what have you people done? Why? He felt a drum thumping in the center of his forehead.
"Murdering thugs," Morgan said.
Legroeder struggled. "Some of them—yes, they are. But not all. There's a confederation of Kyber outposts out there—and—" He cut off his own words. Dear God, better not mention just yet that they're getting ready to expand into the galaxy...
"And what?"
"And—" his eye caught Harriet's incredulous look, and that made it even harder "—and we've got a boss who wants to talk to us, wants to stop the hostilities."
"And we're supposed to believe them?" Morgan asked disdainfully.
He drew a breath. "We have to at least listen to them. I can't vouch for the other outposts. But these people from Ivan... they helped us find Impris, and got us back safely to Faber Eri. They escorted us. As a gesture of good faith."
Eternity's End Page 64
