“TheCiollacame straight to our position from where they were hiding. I don’t know if Hunner thought he could shoot us down while being invisible, whether that would mean there would be no consequences, or what he was thinking. I was on my way to the launch bay to take a runner down when theCiollaappeared, but Gerbardi patched me through to theCiolla’sbridge. Hunner sounded shocked we could see him. Even then, I honestly think he was contemplating getting into a fight with us, but fortunately the backup you sent our way arrived in time to prevent him from doing something he would most likely have regretted.” Hal grimaced.
“And Baruke was there? At the base?” Hoke asked.
“Baruke was in the med bay, unconscious, and Fiona found him, met the rescue team you’d sent her, and they went back in to the base and got him. Only Lieutenant Crin turned out to be one of the major leaks we were worried about from Balco HQ. She tried to stop them leaving.”
“Crin.” Hoke threw herself into her chair and put her hands on either side of her head. “How did they stop her?”
“This is where it gets delicate.” Hal paused, and Hoke narrowed her eyes and hissed.
“More delicate than it already is?” she asked carefully.
“I’m afraid so. You remember the grahudi?” Hal asked.
“The creature from the Fitalian planet Huy?” Hoke dropped her hands to stare at him. “The one that died when Eazi blew up the Tecran base?”
“Turns out it didn’t die.” Hal shrugged. “It was badly injured, lost a limb, and has been barely surviving since then. It clearly remembered Fiona—she actually helped it when we were down there a year ago. Anyway, the grahudi attacked Crin before she could shoot them all. Fiona has brought it up to theIlliumwith us. She wants you to contact the Fitali to come fetch it and take it back home.”
“That’ll be a conversation.” Hoke suddenly laughed. “Well, I’ll say this, Fiona certainly brings excitement into my life.”
Hal was glad someone saw things in such a positive way. Especially as Hoke was his boss.
“We’ll be arriving in Larga Ways in a few minutes,” he said, pushing back in his chair. “General Olna is coordinating with Balcoan authorities to do a sweep of the base and arrest those who are there. TheUnhildidn’t crash into the base, it landed to the north, but the impact caused the amphitheatre to partially collapse and did massive structural damage to the rest of the base. General Olna’s leaving the arrests to the Balcoans but recording everything so we don’t get blindsided again.”
Hoke nodded. “And Baruke, how’s he doing?”
“Apparently he’s out of danger, and should make a full recovery, but he’s still unconscious, although he should wake up naturally soon,” Hal said. “He was sedated and they think whatever they gave him reacted badly to the medication he’d been given to get over the poisoning before. It probably freaked the Balcoans out when he suddenly collapsed.”
“Ha.” Hoke shook her head. “Well, I’m glad he’s going to be all right. If he died, this would be even more of a disaster than it already is. I’ve got another Battle Center call coming. I’ll see you tomorrow.” The screen went black, and Hal got to his feet.
When he stepped out of his office, he came to a sudden stop at the sight of Chel and Gerbardi standing in the passage, waiting for him.
“Yes?” He kept his voice even, but he realized if this was going to be another complaint about Fee, he didn’t know how he was going to react to it.
“I wanted to apologize.” Gerbardi’s hands fluttered. “I didn’t mean to insult you or Fiona when I said what I said earlier.”
Hal studied him. He looked upset and unhappy.
“What did you mean, then?” Hal asked.
“I mean, she does attract monsters. The thinking systems, that creature that we’re not supposed to have seen, that . . . other thing. But what I would have said afterward if we didn’t suddenly have theCiollafacing off with us was that it’s probably because she doesn’t know what’s a monster and what’s not, because this isn’t her world. So she treats everything with friendliness and grace, which draws them to her. It’s a lesson to me, and I’m grateful for it.”
Hal gave a nod. “Fair enough.”
Gerbardi blew out a breath. “I also want to say that we don’t know what to feed the thing that we’re not supposed to know about.”
“Fee can find out. Have you asked her?” Hal leaned against his office door.
Gerbardi shook his head. “I didn’t want to disturb her. And it.”
“I’ll ask her.” Chel patted Gerbardi’s shoulder then glanced at Hal. “Are you going back to your suite?”
“Yes.” Hal moved out into the passage and he and Chel walked along to his quarters, which were now occupied by Fiona, Bunny and the grahudi.
“What did the admiral say?” Chel asked.
“She’ll be here tomorrow. We’ll hold ourselves ready in case the Garmman lose their minds completely and try to attack. I’m keeping Fee onboard until Eazi is sure it’s safe to go back down to the way station.”
“With three Grihan battleships here, the Garmman should be firmly on their side of the boundary,” Chel said.
