Chapter Seven

   “My apologies for the midnight call Treece.  I didn’t think you’d mind.” 

Treece smirked as he wiped the sleep from his eyes and took a sip from the cup of hot Chav by his bedside, its meaty contents all but cold.  Nevertheless, he swigged it back. 

   “Not at all Dressel.  After all, this is the city that never sleeps.”  Treece sat up and pulled back the blind on his window.  Despite the late hour, Chancai was buzzing as usual and the sky was full with swoops, speeders and distant starships departing and arriving at the complex.  He smiled inwardly.  My city. Hell, my sector.  Not even a late call from a crook like Dressel could taint a reality as strong as that.

   “I was on my way back to Cawbate from Amagad and decided to make a personal call.  It’s not far off my flight path and I have some business to conclude in the city.”  Treece nodded as he padded his way over to his bedroom chair and seated himself.  The room was dimly lit, and empty except for the Moff himself.  He rarely slept alone, but tonight was an exception.  Chancai was the only mistress he craved. And she was spread out for him each and every night.

   “What news do you have for me?  I take it everything went well at Cipples banquet?” 

Static crackled over the airwaves.  Dressels starship was passing through the ionosphere where the interference disrupted transmissions the most.

   “The banquet was fine.  Cipple is putting on a brave display, even though he’s worried as hell.” 

Treece nodded and smirked at this.  For Cipple to be concerned by the loss of the disk….perhaps there was more in there than previously thought.  Glann Cipple had the cast-iron reputation of a man who knew how to manipulate each and every situation.  To be thrust into the unfamiliar role of mouse to the cat must surely have been disconcerting.  And it filled Treece with delight.

Dressel continued.  “He knows I have the disk.”

 Treece froze. 

   “You told him?”

The static conveyed Dressels frown through the silence better than any facial contortion ever could.

   “Of course I didn’t tell him.  But I’ve known Cipple longer than anyone.  He knows.  And he knows that I know he knows.  It won’t be long before we can expect our agents to begin disappearing from the field.” 

Den Treece scratched his shoulder, an old wound he’d sustained years before that steadfastly refused to heal correctly.

   “Lomona’s group is still under observation? They remain on course to arrive at Janos within the next few days?”  Treece asked as he chewed thoughtfully on his lip.  Everything depended on this.  Too many agents had been dispatched for them to lose the team mid-hunt.  If Lomona evaded them now, the game was as good as over.

   “The Berone Sunrise will arrive in a weeks time, possibly less knowing Lomona.  And we’ll be shadowing them like Krayts.  All we need do is remind Cipple that we know what he’s up to.  The last thing we want is to kill Lomona, we’ll never find out what the pot at the end of the rainbow is.”  Dressel paused as the static crackled ominously.  “We’ll wait until we have the prize.  Then we can kill Lomona and Cipple together.”

Their trip couldn’t have gone smoother. The Berone Sunrise performed like a champion Race-Tauntaun, stealing them through the ebony darkness like a silver arrow.  Jan Lomona was filled with deep pride at the way his beloved starship operated during the flight, and now they were only a few hours away from arrival at Janos.  He didn’t foresee any hitches.  Of course, that didn’t mean that the actual journey had been without incident.  Jan snatched at the oily rag hanging from Aurrans arm joint and moved up to the cockpit, passing Terrie without a word and securing the door behind him.  No, this trip had had plenty of incidents, more than he’d ever bargained for. For starters he never imagined a time when he’d have to queue to use his own shower in the mornings.  I mean, how long does it really take to have a shower?  Terrie must have spent the entire trip field stripping her rifle in the clean-up area, and Paige?  If that girl showered any more she’d be down to her final layer of skin.  After Terrie and Paige’s forced landing the young girl had spent a few brief hours unconscious, Aurran eventually succeeding in finding the antidote to the serum that had incapacitated her.  Synth-flesh covered the scars that threatened to mark Terrie’s face but physically all were well.  However, the presence of the two female passengers had done little to improve Frans’ mood.  She’d hardly spoken to anyone for three days - just the odd muttered grunt beneath her breath.  The only person Jan could get a reasonably civil word out of was trusty old Aurran.  Jan could swear that the antiquated droid understood women way better than he ever would and intended to ask for lessons at a later date. The first few days of the trip to Janos had been perfectly fine.  All of them were used to the long hauls that spacers regularly had to endure, so going space-happy wasn’t a danger.  Even Terrie and Frans were reasonably pleasant to each other, which surprised the hell out of Jan.  Knowing Frans as he did, he knew that she regarded the presence of the other two females on board the Sunrise as an invasion of her territory.   Even though she’d never admit to it herself, that was how it always appeared to Lomona. He didn’t mind a bit.  After all, what sane man wouldn’t want two devastatingly desirable women like Frans and Terrie battling over him? 

Well, after five days, Jan didn’t. 

The sniping and bitching was becoming tiresome, and Jan found himself spending more time in the company of Paige. The A-desandian teenager was fun to be around.  She got his jokes and was eager to learn all she could about the workings of the Sunrise.  However, the constant inference that she was his daughter began to wear thin, and after a few days he began to stay out of her way as well.  All that, along with the tactical discussions he was having with Terrie, and her looking so damn good in those skin-tight suits, Lomona began to think he might just get off at Janos and stay there.  The again, maybe not.  Janos was known as one of the most dangerous places in the Sector.  Travellers beware. Visitors to the ancient ruins in the main city of Janos had come to grief by not adhering to the strict protocols laid down.  Fearsome guardians, known as Janos Executioners, an awe-inspiring title that was well earned, protected Janos.  They had been protectors of their world for Millennia, defending it for their Emperor Priests from invasions, unscrupulous smugglers, pirates and foreign governments.  Even the Empire had been forced to retreat from Janos, the persistence of the Executioners wearing the Imperials down during their yearlong occupation.  Jan rarely conducted business here and always breathed a sigh of relief when plotting his hyperspace route home.  Janos, as the `Setnin Sector Planets Guide’ so eloquently stated, was not a planet to be taken lightly. 

But it had to be better than this. 

Jan checked the controls and snatched a glance at the swirling maelstrom of hyperspace just outside the cockpit window.  Someone once told him that to plot a hyperspace route was to find the order in chaos.  He couldn’t remember quite who it was, probably Anzai Karoo the smuggler, but there was more order in plotting his way through dimensions than there was treading his way through that minefield of female hormones out there.  Then again, he’d probably been asking for this.  It wasn’t often that he was accompanied by anyone, Lomona preferred to travel alone.  But every now and then the company of others was a pleasant distraction.  So he guessed that lady luck, fate and every other excuse starship Captains used to justify anything and everything had conspired to lump him with this.  Shaking away a frown he left the cockpit.

   “We’ll be arriving at Janos in  eight hours, well ahead of schedule I might add.”  Jan smirked as Terrie tried to ignore the barbed comment.  His copy of the disk had apparently timed the length of the trip to the second.  By rights, the Sunrise should still be many light-years away, but Jan took great pleasure in trimming chunks off flight times.  He’d done it before and he’d do it again.  Even though the flight plan had detailed a route through what was thought to be uncharted space Jan had used one of his own routes, effectively cutting a large corner through the path.  Doubtless Glann would like to know the new route and perhaps Jan would tell him - for a price.  Whatever, it was worth the time spent plotting the co-ordinates through the nava-computer just to see the brief look of consternation on Terries face. 

Lomona continued. 

   “I presume you have some more commando-crap to tell me?” 

Terrie stood and faced Jan, an un-amused glint in her eye.  She was close to Jan, her taut body almost pressed against his, her chin raised to glare in his eyes.  If she wasn’t so damn angry he might have taken it as a come on. 

   “Captain,” She took a deep, even breath.  “I realise such a simple concept is beyond even your limited comprehension but unless we’re completely de-briefed - ”

   “ - I like the sound of that.”  He smiled.

   “ - then when the dung hits the fan, which it will, then we’re not going to have a clue what to do, where to re-group or anything else.  Understand?” 

Jan nodded, a cocky smile wavering over his face.

   “Totally.  You have a list of do’s and don’ts and we have to stick to them.  What could be simpler?” 

Terrie shook her head slowly in exasperation.

   “Captain, the simplest thing on this mission is you.  Now, I suggest you read this document thoroughly and when you’ve finished, come to my quarters.”  She pushed past him, spinning on her heel.  “Oh, and you’d better knock first.  I‘m changing into my combat gear and it takes time to lace everything up.”

Lomona raised his eyebrows at this remark.  Was that a come on?  If she wasn’t such an ice-maiden he might have thought so.  Then again he’d melted women like her before.  No.  No, forget about that now.  It’s more trouble than she’s worth.

   “Go and fix the ramp releases Lomona,” He whispered to himself. “It’s dirty and greasy and it’s honest work.” 

Order in chaos?  If only Anzai knew.

Two candles were still burning in the Yapya Restaurant.  One was slowly melting its way down the sides of an old liquor bottle, the other in a candleholder.  Of the staff only the manager of the establishment remained on the premises and he was tucked away at the rear of the Yapya, counting the nights takings and banking up for the morning.  He had no worries about the place being looted or broken into tonight.  If any foolish opportunist chose tonight for a hit on the Yapya he would take his regrets to the grave.  Around a small table furthest from the window sat Carlonian Feese and Melm.  Melms plate was empty, and where a simple meal of Duuga bread and broth had been, there were only crumbs.  Feeses table settings remained undisturbed.  He rarely ate in public, preferring to dine alone.  He felt it not only enhanced his mystique but also spared him from the constant inquisitive stares he was subjected to when removing the facemask.  Melm was one of a select few before whom he would remove his faceplate and dine with.  But not tonight.  It was seven days since Dressel’s visit, and Feese was still on Amagad.  He’d been restless before the banquet and desired the freedom to hit the spacelanes and trouble-shoot for Glann.  But Cipple had other ideas. Glann claimed that the banquet had been a larger success than he originally envisioned, and to send Feese out into the field immediately would have been revealing his hand too soon.  Glann knew, as Melm did, that there were enemy agents here on Amagad.  There was still their Naaven, their mole, within the walls of the Fortress to root out. Glann wanted to use that to his advantage, and while the Sunrise was still safely in hyperspace he would quietly spread his agents to their locations while keeping the big guns in open view - Feese here on Amagad, Goah Galletti at Silo Grain City on Gista, Ryath Centaur at the Vilall Trade Canopy on Moot.  Glann knew that Dressel had possession of the disk.  And Dressel knew that Glann knew it.  That made Dressel a dangerous man, in more ways than one.  Knowing that the secret was out he had less reason to conduct his business in such subtle and clandestine ways.  Dressel could be more direct, and along with him presumably his fellow colleges in the disk consortium.  What Cipples organisation couldn’t figure out was the identity of the instigator of the whole operation.  Who had ordered the disk stolen in the first place? Dressel would have kept the disk to himself - he was wealthy enough to pay for it to be stolen and had little need for outside assistance.  No, Feese was beginning to believe that the original benefactor of the information might well have been from outside the underworld.  And soon, very soon, he would get the opportunity to leave Amagad and discover who.

   “Glann has some very specific instructions.”  Melm whispered in the soft candlelight. “He wants you to make your way directly to Luronsa IV following this route.”  He handed Feese a folded flim under the table, which Feese took and slipped into a thigh pocket.  “The Sunrise won’t be arriving there but Glann has agents in deep cover.  They’ll tell you the information you need to know.  Glann has given you free rein to do whatever you deem necessary, but when instructed you will be required to eliminate certain opponents.  Ultimately you will be tailing the Sunrise team and providing cover for them.  More information will be forthcoming when you arrive at Luronsa IV.”

Feese nodded curtly.  It made sense.  If he turned up at Janos immediately then the opposition would know for certain that all bets were off, that it was a simple case of run and be followed.  This way, Feese would be out in the field and away from Amagad.  This information would soon be passed around but his destination would remain secret.  By the time he reached Luronsa IV the Sunrise would have left Janos and be on its way to the third location.  And Feese would be at hand to tail the hunt.

   “My ship is ready to leave.  Any final instructions?”  Feese began to rise from the table.  Melm did likewise.

   “None I am aware of.  Contact us through the usual channels when you arrive at Luronsa IV.  And Feese?” 

Carlonian Feese paused and turned his head slightly. 

   “Nothing comes between Lomona and his final destination.  No one follows him, plants tracking devices, causes any impedance. Obstacles go home in body bags.  Understand?” 

Feese turned and made his way out of the Yapya.

   “Of course I understand.  It’s what I’m paid to do.”

   “…and what could possibly be worse than the ramp door breaching in hyperspace Aurran?”  Jan growled angrily.  Since he’d come down to the ramp release and decided to do a piston overhaul he’d found nothing but complications.  He’d already decided to blame it on Grin for all the hours he’d spent sitting at the foot of his ramp.

   “Worse than a hyperspace breach?  Perhaps spending eternity trapped with the three Mistresses.  Sir.”  Aurran added smartly, handing over the high-tension wrench.  Lomona muttered something about scrapyards and attacked the piston again.  Nothing.  It was as tightly shut as was possible.  He needed to approach this from a new angle. 

   “Paige?”  He said, flicking the inter-ship comm,  “could you come to the main hatch?  I’ve found a problem for you to solve.” 

So much for the trouble-free journey.  Even the damn ship had to have a stab at him.  Paige appeared almost immediately at the top of the ramp, hot drinks in one hand and spring-wrench in the other.  She was wearing her old black jeans and a cream, grease-smeared tee shirt. Her hair was tied up high in a bunch, and slung low around her waist was an ancient tool belt with old worn equipment protruding from it.  I’m not convinced, thought Jan, but she sure looks beautiful enough to be a Lomona.  It’s a family trait.

   “You called Captain?” said Paige with just enough of a hint of humour for Jan to know she was being sarcastic and not following in the acidic footsteps of Terrie.  Jan raised a dirt-stained eyebrow and nodded.

   “Yes I did.  How would you like to leave the ship when we arrive at Janos?” 

Paige shrugged her shoulders and moved into the ramp area with the drinks, one of which she offered to Jan.

   “Preferably down the ramp.  Why, is it stuck?”

   “Like a Mynock to a power cable.  Any ideas?”  Lomona stepped aside and allowed the smaller A-desandian access to the piston array.  She scratched her head for a few moments, took a long gulp of her drink and without warning, with a high swing of the wrench, hit the piston three times and stood back.

Jan was so shocked he didn’t move.

   “That should do it.  Desando Dynamic’s pistons are famous for having pressure build-ups in the pump assembly. Give them a good whack every now and then and they work fine.” 

Jan nodded numbly.  As he viewed it, she’d just come inches from causing the very hyperspace breach that Aurran and he had been discussing.  Then again, the breach hadn’t occurred and Paige did seem to know what she was talking about.  Jan had never had to bother with the piston assembly before.  The only time I’ve had trouble with the ramp was that time on Tatooine when the damn thing wouldn’t close properly and three Tusken Raiders were centimetres away from boarding the Sunrise.  Lucky for Jan they didn’t fly air currents as well as they rode Banthas. 

   “Anything else I can do while I’m here?  I guess we’re arriving soon.” 

Jan patted the ramp softly and exited, closing the hatch behind him.

   “No, that’s everything.  We’ll be coming out of hyperspace soon.  In fact, I’d better get up to the cockpit.  Wanna come?” 

Paige grinned and placed the cups down on the side, her anticipation apparent.

   “I’d love to.  I’ve only been to Janos once.”

   “You’ve been to Janos before?  You never said.” 

Paige shrugged her shoulders in a lazy manner.

   “It was last year. When I was looking for you.”  She noticed the weary frown returning to Jan’s face.  Now was not the time to burden him with this, he had too much on his mind.  Paige had decided to ease off a little, not keep flying in at full throttle all the time.  She hoped Jan would eventually realise that she was really his daughter by himself.  She’d waited long enough, a few weeks more wouldn’t hurt.  “It’s not the sort of planet I’d want to spend much time on.” 

Lomona grinned.  Smart girl.

   “That’s why Glann chose it. Most folks aren’t welcome.  Smugglers have a hard time of it here.” 

Paige turned to face him as they entered the cockpit

   “Then aren’t you taking a risk coming here?” 

Jan shook his head.

   “They’ve got to catch you first to prove you’re a smuggler.”

   “And he never gets caught out at anything, do you honey?” 

Jan raised his eyebrows in ironic agreement and sat next to Frans who was already in the busy cockpit and checking over the final details before their exit from hyperspace.  “Well, almost never.  What was it the Crown Prince of Commonor threatened to do to you if you ever returned to his Kingdom again?  Cut off your hands?”

   “No, not my hands.”

   “Or was it your feet?”  Frans smiled a predatory smile and winked slyly at Paige.

   “No, he threatened to cut off my….assets.  Or something like that.  Anyway, that was a long time ago.  I’m surprised you remember.”

   “S’funny the things a girl never forgets.”  She said flatly, eyeing Jan with meaning.  “All set for the drop out of hyperspace.” 

Lomona slipped into the pilot’s seat and took the controls.

   “Paige, give sleeping beauty a call and tell her we’ve arrived.  There’s probably some vitally important manoeuvre I’m forgetting to do.” 

Paige nodded and called Terrie over the ship comm.  Moments later she appeared in the cockpit doorway, a new dark blue bodysuit on and a matt-black blaster at her hip.

   “The co-ordinates will drop us out of hyperspace on the edge of the system.  Do a wide passive scan and check any Imperial ships.  We’re not expecting any trouble from them but you never know.” 

Lomona nodded and executed the procedure, the swirling purple miasma of hyperspace streaking down into the Doppler shifts of stars and then the velvet black of space.  Without preamble Jan, Frans and Terrie began their sensor sweep and checked the system.  Nothing of any great importance, just a couple of cruisers passing through the outer system and the customary bulk freighters hauling their cargo in system.

   “Anything here to bother the mission, or can I get us on solid ground again?”  Jan asked tartly.  Terrie glared at him from behind his seat and began to leave the cockpit, brushing past an intrigued Paige as she did so.

   “Just get us on a platform and tell me when we’ve landed.”  She growled, stepping angrily out. 

Jan turned to his two female companions and shook his head in disbelief.

   “What’s gotten into her?  Was it something I said?”

   “The Berone Sunrise has just entered Janos’ atmosphere.  It should land shortly.”  The Rodian hunkered low, bowing its head in deference to the other shady character seated across the room.  In deep shadow, the other figure shifted in its seat, wafting the smoky haze from its face and leaned forward.

   “I take it you expect no problems in keeping the Sunrise and her crew under observation?  Or will you require chaperoning again?” 

The Rodian glanced up at his benefactor and shook his head vigorously.

   “No sir. I assure you, the incident on Zelon won’t be repeated.  Captain Lomona won’t know he’s being followed.  Or his ugly female companions.” 

The shady man smiled through the haze.

   “Your dislike for human females notwithstanding, if I have to be forced into an early confrontation with Lomona then it will have dire consequences.  For you.”  He said it with a terrible finality that the Rodian didn’t doubt was packed with intent.  Again he bowed.

   “Yes sir.  No more mistakes.  Lomona will be no more aware of us than he is of his own shadow.”

   “See that he isn’t.”

   Frans was pleased, proud, angry and astonished all within the same moment.  After all, she’d been with Jan for months before he let her assist in a tight landing like the one Paige just helped him with.  The Sunrise was perhaps one hundred meters above the hard permacrete surface of the Janos landing platform when he suddenly and unexpectedly handed the controls over to the youth and told her to land the ship.  Frans wasn’t sure if he was joking or not, but Paige took no time at all in leaping over the cockpit balcony and into the seat Jan had vacated,

And proceeded to land the ship perfectly.

Of course, Jan had controlled the speed of the descent, and in between astonished gasps Frans had taken care of various other controls.  But the actual hard task of manoeuvring the Sunrise onto the ground was accomplished by Paige.  It was worth the few nervous seconds just for the look of delight and triumph on her slender young face.  And Jan?  Jan hadn’t looked happier for days.  Frans knew that the youthful A-desandian was proving her worth as a mechanic, she had completed a number of tasks during the flight from Chancai.  But she never realised how easily Paige seemed to be working her way into the affections of her fiancé. Until now.  It almost made her jealous.  Well, maybe not jealous, but knowing how initially sceptical Jan had been about the girl it was strange to see his guard melt more and more as the days passed. Frans was now convinced the girl was his daughter, just like Terrie. Only Jan himself required convincing, although Paige seemed to be doing a good job of that herself. Surely in the long run it was better for Jan to convince himself rather than be coerced by anyone else.  But still, Frans knew that when Paige did finally convince him that her life with Jan would never be the same again.  How could it?  For one thing, the simple existence of Paige confirmed Frans’ fears about Jan’s infidelity.  And yet, in a crazy way that wasn’t the worst thing about it.  She knew what she was getting into all those years ago on A-desando when she accepted him into her heart.  No, it was the fact that Paige would be more than just a rival of hers for his heart.  She was his daughter, and surely that would prove to be a stronger bond than anything she could offer.   So Paige could prove to be two things to Frans and Jan - the daughter they never had or the thing that finally drove them apart.  Frans hoped she would be the former.

   “You must have done that before?  And don’t tell me you learned that on a Holo-simulator.” 

Paige grinned again and slipped out of the seat, wiping her sweaty palms on the front of her jeans.

   “One of Moms friends was a flight instructor.  I’ve been flying swoops and speeders since I was five.  These freighters are just bigger versions of flat haulers they use in the ports back home.” 

Lomona nodded in agreement.  She was right; the Sunrises’ controls weren’t too far removed from the flat haulers commonly seen around starports.  Still, it was an impressive sight; the teenager handling his Heavy Freighter like it was a swoop. 

   “You ladies tidy up in here.  I’ll rouse Miss Rancor from her pit and start things rolling.”  Jan flashed a warm smile at his lover and a wink at his young pilot and exited the cockpit. 

Frans hung her headphones onto the hook on the fascia and moved to join Paige standing in the aisle.

   “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried when Jan gave you the controls.” 

Paige nodded.

   “I’d have been worried too.  Lucky I knew what to do. Although he never actually asked me if I knew how to fly.” 

It was Frans’ turn to nod.

   “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.”  She paused a second.  “Has he said any more?  About you being his daughter?” 

Paige frowned and looked across at Frans.  They were almost the same height, and Frans found herself gazing directly into the girl’s ocean blue eyes, which sparkled with expectancy at Frans’ question.

   “No, he hasn’t.  Why, were you expecting him to?” 

Frans shrugged loosely.

   “Perhaps.  I know he’s trying to put it out of his mind for the time being.  Until we complete the mission.  But for what it’s worth, I think you’re his girl.  It took a while for me to be convinced, but you’ve won me over.” 

Paige smiled a half smile, her emotions suddenly threatening to overwhelm her.  Warmly she embraced Frans with a hug and took a deep breath.

   “I may have won you over, but that’s not why I’m here.  I’ve got to convince Jan.”  Frans leaned back to look again at the young woman.

   “Just be patient.  This is a huge thing to be confronted with, especially at a time like this.  He’ll come round, just give him time.” 

Paige nodded.  It seemed likely that on a mission as travel extensive as this, time might just be the one thing they had in abundance.

   “That’s it?  You’re absolutely sure?”

   “Positive.  It’s the Berone Sunrise.”  Weale shifted on her stomach to make herself more comfortable and squinted through the macro-binoculars again.  There was a light breeze whispering across the arid plain separating the two of them from the Sunrises landing platform four miles away and the high sun threw a glare from off the scrub strewn desert floor.  “Yes, that’s Lomona exiting the ship now….Agent Saffra is following….the unidentified girl and Frans Latka are coming now.”  She twisted to face her companion who was leaning over with his hands resting on his knees. “It’s them.  Shall we alert Shadow Melm?” 

Himbimimam stood and took a deep breath, raised his long, simian-like arms to his head and scratched the rear of his neck.  He stood just over seven feet tall, a shade taller than his great friend Lomona, and his massive physique made him a bar room brawler to be reckoned with.  As many had discovered to their cost.

   “I don’t think so, not just yet.” 

Weale frowned from her position on the dusty ground.

   “Why not?  Shadow Melm ordered us to report in as soon as we made visual contact with the team.  We’ve achieved that.” 

Himbimimam nodded slowly and crouched down next to the young Shadow Warrior.

   “You’re very young?” 

She nodded.

   “I am sir, but I don’t see what that has to do with - ”

He cut her off.

   “ - For a human you have proved your obvious worth to the Shadow Warriors at a tender age.” 

She paused a second.

   “I have sir.” 

He smiled down at her. At least that was his intent.  It actually looked as if his bottom row of flat grinding teeth were about to thrust their way through the roof of his mouth.

   “Then you’ve yet to learn that there’s a lot more to following orders than blindly following them.” 

Weale began to stand, dusting herself off as she did so.  She was attired in much the same outfit as Terrie - simple black body suit and boots with her hair scooped back into a tight bun at the back.  However, Terrie was most definitely a woman, both in style and appearance.  Weale was barely seventeen and stood just under a meter and a half tall.  Not that it had ever been a hindrance to her progression through the ranks of the Shadow Warriors.  Since being found as an eight-year-old child and trained on Ferrerea she had successfully completed dozens of missions for Glann, usually posing as an agents daughter or niece, and was highly regarded by all.  She certainly wasn’t accustomed to being contradicted or spoken down to.  But something in the way her towering companion explained his point made her keen to listen.

   “As I see it, if Shadow Melm gives me an order to do something then there is nothing more simple.” 

Himbimimam nodded and gathered their equipment together, casting another glance at the distant starport to the north.

   “So you question nothing?  Accept everything as the absolute truth?” 

Weale frowned as she threw the gear into the rear of their waiting speeder.

   “Obviously not.  I question everything. But it’s not my place to question the orders of my superiors.”  She paused again and squinted at Himbimimam.  “Why would you delay sending the message anyway?” 

He shrugged as he entered the speeder and gunned the engine.

   “I don’t know.  Call it gut instinct, but something tells me we should wait before we let a message leave Janos.  Anyway, other agents will know that Jan has arrived.  If we hold out for a while then we’ll be confirming that news to Glann.” 

Weale shook her head in obvious confusion. 

   “Won’t that make him angry?  It will look like we’re not fulfilling our duties properly.” 

Himbs nodded.

   “Glann might see it that way.  But think about it.  If he already knows the Sunrise is here by the time we send in our report then it’ll show what an effective spy network he has in operation, which has got to be good news for us folks out in the field.  The news won’t have come from us and as far as I’m aware, we’re the only team he has on Janos at the moment.  I say we wait until we’ve met with Jan and the team, then we alert Melm.  Agreed?” 

Weale remained blank faced as the speeder increased its velocity down and around a sharp, twisting decline.

   “Do I have a choice?”

   “Don’t be ridiculous.”