Eternity's End (85 page)

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 weariness, 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?"