She was halfway through reading a document when the overhead speaker buzzed.

  “It looks like your friends have arrived,” announced the cold metallic voice.

  Val jumped out of her seat.

  “Kaine? He’s here?”

  She rushed out of her cabin.

  “He and the girl have just broken into the warehouse where his ship is held. I am monitoring his movements as we speak, and... Ah.”

  “What?”

  “They have just noticed the camera and are assuming the authorities are onto them.”

  “But they’re not?”

  “I’ve isolated the feed. No one else is seeing this.”

  Val chuckled as she hurried toward the control room.

  “Can we speak to him?”

  “I’m afraid the drone I am connected to is only designed to receive data, not to broadcast.”

  “There have to be other devices you can use in there... a warning bot or something like that.”

  She would have preferred to go in person, but there was no place nearby where Starrider could have landed without raising eyebrows—and public transportation would take too long. As a compromise, she had taken turns with Mrill standing watch near the warehouse, but there were only two of them, which was not enough to cover every hour of the day. They both needed to rest and to eat every once in a while.

  “Two transceiver bots are in repair,” said the AI, “but there is one more that was repurposed as a fixer. I am activating it now.”

  Val walked into the control room, sat in her chair, swung to the sideboard, and pressed a button.

  “Mrill! Wake up! We’ve got action.”

  “Kaine?”

  “Yes.”

  “Should I go to him?”

  Val thought about that for a moment. “No, not yet. He thinks he needs to run, so we need to talk to him first, calm him down, then we can assess the situation.”

  “Alright. I’ll be right there.”

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  She leaned back in her chair and looked at the screen. The place was dark, but she could make out two forms—one tall, one small—running between gliders, heading toward a larger vessel.

  “The bot is on its way, but I doubt it’ll reach the ship before them. There is a 99.9% chance they will lock themselves inside as soon as they’re in.”

  Val grunted. “And then they won’t hear the bot. Damn it. Can you have it speak now? In an empty warehouse, the sound is bound to carry.”

  “It doesn’t speak, Val, it can only transmit other people’s words.”

  “Don’t nitpick with me, smartass, you know what I mean!”

  “We can try.” A moment of silence. “Please speak into the microphone.”

  She leaned, her eyes still on the screen.

  “Kaine! Ondine! Can you hear me? It’s me, Val!”

  The two forms continued to run. They were within a few feet of Kaine’s ship.

  “There was some static on the line. I think I’ve found the issue. Please try again.”

  “Kaine! For crying out loud, please stop running like a madman and listen to me!”

  The smaller shape stopped and pulled on the man’s hand, forcing him to stop as well. The two turned and looked around.

  Val grinned.

  “It’s me, you goof! The... We’ve tapped into the cameras. No one else knows you’re there. You’re safe.”

  “Unless someone outside hears you,” remarked the AI. “The broadcast is quite loud.”

  “Damn it. Alright.”

  “Val? Is that really you?” came Kaine’s familiar voice.

  She heard the door open and close behind her but did not turn, guessing Mrill had arrived.

  “Yes. Listen. A bot is coming to you. Please wait. Once it’s there, we’ll be able to chat without drawing anyone’s attention.”

  “Oh.” The man glanced toward the entrance of the warehouse. “There were two guards posted out there. I’d rather not have to explain how I got in here if I could avoid it...”

  She snickered. “I bet. Hold on, bot should be there soon.” She glanced at the controls. “He’s a few seconds away.”

  Mrill sat in the chair next to her, though she remained quiet, merely listening to the exchange.

  “I hear your voice getting closer.”

  “Good. Can we lower the sound on this thing now?”

  “Done,” said the AI.

  “I see it, Val. Ugly thing.”

  “Sorry for you. How’s the kid?”

  “Alright, all things considered.”

  She could see their faces now, as the bot got closer and emitted light. Kaine was looking at Ondine.

  “Where are you?” he asked as he turned back to the bot.

  “On Starrider, at the spaceport. No Imperials to ask awkward questions this time.”

  “Yeah. Ain’t that something?” He chuckled. “I probably could land there with this thing. Then again, if I burst out of here with it, they’ll probably sound an alarm and I’ll—”

  “Have you not considered making a legal request to get your ship back?”

  Kaine blinked a few times. “Uhm, no, not really. But, Val, that wouldn’t work.”

  “Why not?”

  “It would raise too many questions.”

  She shrugged. “So? You have issues with the Impies, and so do they. I think they’d side with you. Unless you were planning to mention your thieving habits.”

  “Hey! They’re not habits!”

  “Remind me how you got into that warehouse again?”

  “That wasn’t my fault! Those guards wouldn’t listen to reason and—” He felt Ondine’s hand pulling on his. Looking down, he saw the frown on her face and sighed. “Alright, alright, you might have a point. But now that I’m here...”

  “Yes? What was your plan? Just grab your ship, fly out, and make a run for it? You really want to have the Qevahri on your back too?”

  Kaine grunted. “Fine. So what now?”

  “I can go get him,” Mrill suggested.

  “Thanks, but it should be me. He doesn’t know you yet.”

  “Then both of us. You might need me if anyone comes.”

  “That’s a good point. Alright.” She turned back to the microphone. “Kaine. We’re coming to get you. Go back out the way you went in and wait for us.”

  “Us?”

  “I’m coming with a friend.” She glanced at Mrill and grinned. “I think you’ll like her.”