The Dead Zone
Unnamed System DZ241,157
Aboard ISS Belfast Windfall

Biggs called the meeting in cargo bay where they were storing the Nomad Relay Booster. The crew had been going over it for two days, with little luck. Ux and his team were actually a bit fatigued. "Mack has downloaded everything on the relay but I haven't come up with very much," conceded Alowala. "Most of the data relates to a skirmish with a Uhlek patrol somewhere along the asteroid belt. "

"We still build relays on the same principle-- relay and dump," explained Mack. "The builders go on the assumption that if somebody wants to save a message, either the sender or the receiver will take care of it. This kind of model has a buffer..." Arella had her hands on her hips and was mouthing the words 'circuit paste.' "...But everything gets erased pretty quickly anyway." Biggs turned to Ux, whose mandibles were dyed with baddick juice.

"Nothing, boss," said the Veloxi. He was clearly disappointed with himself. "But I know this guy at starport who'll pay big money for these heat shields. We've been using them for baddick trays, but that new solvent..." his voice trailed off. A few panels of the heat shielding sat on a bench in the middle of the cargo bay. Biggs looked at them. They were covered in baddick juice and Veloxi saliva, but one of them looked different, more golden than the others. He walked over and picked up the heat shield panel.

It took a minute for Biggs to wipe the mess away, but something was clearly written on it. "Alowala, is that Elowan?" Alowala looked at it for a long moment then read it aloud.

"Nomad Relay Booster. Upspin Range. Christened by Mayor Lmnl, Eshbllr Colony, 199,181. Established 3328." Grx'bzzgah was already running for his Nav console.

Deep Space
Vega Rillius-Arth route
Transport Ship LeHavre

Dear God, not again. "Engineer! Where are my shields?" he shouted at the comm panel. The ship rocked violently as another volley impacted the bow of the ISS Myksiddic. "They're gone, Captain! The whole starboard bow is gone, we have to--" The line went dead at the same time as the front of the bridge ignited in a rage of flame. Two young kids, a Thrynn and an Elowan, screamed in agony as their bodies burned. The navigator pulled him stumbling through the hatch just as the entire bridge was engulfed. "Jesus, God, No! Nooo!"

He jumped up from his bed screaming. Boz Grabow's heart pounded violently against his ribs, his hands clutching for a hatch that wasn't there. It took several minutes before he regained his senses. The dreams were still vivid and terrible after twenty years. They'd stumbled back into the flux before the ship was completely incinerated, but ISS Myksiddic drifted for two weeks, despairing of rescue, before the Elowan patrol ship rescued them. Boz felt an incredible debt, a debt of honor to the Elowan. His work for Coreward Plowshares had dredged the nightmares back to the surface, but his conscience demanded nothing less. Boz checked his watch. Six hours to the Arth System.

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Next: "Pupils"

Take a look at what the critics are saying about H & C:

"Nebula what? Who is this? Stop calling this number!" --The New York Times

"Look, I don't know anything about Bob Hilton and--what? I don't care what his name is!--I'm hanging up now." --The Boston Herald

"Hilsfar & Company: Because Voyager Embodies 'Loserly Dorkliness'"