Dragon and Judge

"I doubt it," Alison said. "But he didn't need them. That was where the Chookoock family came in—they were going to supply Brummgan mercenaries to crew the security ships. Frost and his renegade Malison Ring buddies would provide leadership and also form the core of the attack force."

"And while they engaged the K'da/Shontine ships, the Valahgua would be moving in and out of the fleet using the Death weapon on everyone," Draycos said, a shiver running along his crest.

"At which point they would be free to loot the fleet for new technology, which they'd probably market through Braxton Universis," Alison concluded. "Very simple, actually. And very, very profitable."

"That's what their plan was," Jack said patiently. "My question was, what's their plan now?"

"Oh," Alison said in a slightly more subdued tone. "Good point. Neverlin can't get those Braxton ships now, can he? They'll have to go with some other plan."

"Which I believe is what I just said," Jack reminded her. "The question is what that plan might be."

"Jack, lad?" Uncle Virge spoke up. "We've got clearance to lift."

"Take us up," Jack instructed him. "And give me the two next closest Malison Ring bases."

"Montenegro and Vers'tekim," the computer said. The record of the Iota Klestis battle disappeared from the display and was replaced by a star map. "Montenegro is about twenty hours away, Vers'tekim about thirty-two—"

"We'll take Vers'tekim," Jack said, his voice suddenly odd.

"Montenegro's closer," Alison pointed out.

"I said we're going to Vers'tekim," Jack said in a voice that left no room for argument.

He looked over at the computer camera/speaker/microphone module. "And on the way," he said, "we're going to stop off at Semaline."

"Semaline?" Alison echoed. "What in space is on Semaline?"

Jack didn't answer, but continued to stare at the computer camera. "Jack?" Alison said. "Yo. Jack?"

"Uncle Virge, what's on Semaline?" Draycos asked.

"Go ahead, Uncle Virge," Jack invited. "Tell them."

"Nothing much," Uncle Virge said. His voice was calm enough, but Draycos could hear the stress beneath it. "There's a lockbox in one of the banks at the NorthCentral Spaceport. We used to drop by sometimes when our cash supply was low."

"No, we didn't," Jack corrected darkly. "Uncle Virgil did. He never even let me out of the ship there, let alone let me go to the bank with him."

"It's nothing you need to worry about, Jack lad," Uncle Virge said, his voice low and earnest. "Maybe some other day."

"Some other day is now, Uncle Virge," Jack said firmly. "We're stopping at Semaline, and I'm checking out that lockbox."

"The lives of Draycos's people are at stake," Uncle Virge objected. "Go ahead—ask him if this is the time for unnecessary side trips."

"Actually, I have no objection," Draycos said.

Alison frowned at Draycos over her shoulder. "You don't?"

"We have nearly two months until the refugee fleet arrives," Draycos reminded her. "This will only take a few hours."

"A few hours can make all the difference between victory and defeat," Uncle Virge countered. "Shall I cite you a few historical examples?"

"No need," Draycos said, hearing his voice darken. "I have more than enough of my own."

There was a moment of awkward silence. Even Uncle Virge apparently couldn't think of anything to say. "So; Semaline it is," Jack said, climbing out of the seat. Alison and Draycos moved aside, and he brushed past without looking at either of them. "Give it your best speed," he added as he left the cockpit.

"Whatever you want, Jack lad," Uncle Virge muttered.

Jack was lying on his bunk in his cabin, staring at the ceiling with his arms tucked behind his head, when Draycos arrived. "Are you all right?" the K'da asked, padding across the room.

"Sure," Jack said. His voice sounded oddly distant. "I just wanted to be alone for a while, that's all."

"Shall I leave?"

"No, that's all right," Jack said. "I was just thinking about Semaline."

"You remember it well?"

"That's just it—I hardly remember it at all," Jack told him. "Just a few scattered images." He shook his head. "You'd think I'd have clearer memories of the place where my parents died."

Draycos felt his tail arch. "I didn't know that."

Jack shrugged. "That's what Uncle Virge told me, anyway. Like I said, I don't really remember."

"You were only three at the time," Draycos reminded him.

For a moment Jack was silent. "You think it's wrong for me to want to go there?" he asked at last.

Draycos hesitated. "In general, no," he said, choosing his words carefully. "The past is important to all of us."

"But you don't think this is the right time?"

"We do seem to have troubles and concerns enough just now," Draycos reminded him. "Still, as long as you don't intend to launch a complete examination of your life there, I see no problem with stopping by."

"I just want to see what Uncle Virgil has stashed in that lockbox," Jack promised. "Then we're out of there and off to Vers'tekim."

"Where you'll let Alison try to break into the Malison Ring computer?"