Jeffrey Carver - Eternity's End

Morgan and Maris sat stunned.

“So,” said Harriet, who had already had a chance to grasp the political implications, “it’s crucial that we get you to the Narseil Institute in one piece… along with Impris .”

“An understatement.”

“And… is this what the future peace is going to hinge upon?”

“That is almost certainly the case,” Tracy-Ace said softly. “Our mutual friend here—” her gaze drifted meaningfully to Legroeder “—has a long road still ahead of him.” Her eyes twinkled in contact with his. “Don’t you, babe?”

Legroeder grunted and tried not to notice the raised eyebrows all around him.

It was another two days before Tracy-Ace was permitted to make her full presentation on behalf of Outpost Ivan. Though Special Envoy Clark made clear that a formal response from the government would take time, she acknowledged that the secretary general was open-minded on the subject of establishing relations with the Kyber outposts. “This does not in any way imply that we condone piracy,” she said sternly. “But we recognize that we have to consider being willing to move on. If you are serious about repatriating citizens—”

Tracy-Ace raised a hand. “Our first shipload of repatriates has just called in. They’ve entered the Faber Eri system.”

The officials in the room stirred as Clark replied, “Then we may indeed have something to talk about.”

The Narseil ambassador leaned forward. “That is good news, indeed.” He turned to the envoy. “May I ask if we might also talk about moving forward with the Impris investigation, and getting Rigger Legroeder to our Institute for study? In the interests of maintaining good relations with a people who have been forgiving of certain transgressions for these many years?”

Special Envoy Clark, with a faint smile, bowed her head slightly. “I think, my friend Mr. Ambassador, that it may be time to talk about that, as well.”

It was late that night, station time, when Legroeder finally got some time alone with Tracy-Ace, with watchful station guards standing a discreet distance away. Tracy-Ace clearly felt the strain of being around his friends—something he could only hope would pass, in time—and she gripped his hand tightly as they walked along the station’s observatory deck, watching the largest Faber Eri moon set behind the planet’s horizon.

“You’ll let me know the instant you hear from YZ/I about—”

“Harriet’s grandson? Of course. But you know, Legroeder…” Her words caught, and he felt a sudden chill. “There’s something you ought to know.”

He cocked his head, waiting uneasily.

Tracy-Ace hesitated, pressing her lips together. “Well—it’s just that not everyone will necessarily want to return.”

He tugged her around to face him. “What are you saying?”

Her gaze was unflinching. “Some of the people we offered repatriation to, for example. I know, I know—but Legroeder, for some people it becomes their way of life, to be with us. I’m not saying it should be that way, or that it’ll happen with Bobby. But it is possible.” She shrugged, and suddenly chuckled. “Although it’s hard to imagine why anyone would want to stay with KM/C, if they could help it.” She squeezed his hand. “I’m sorry—I shouldn’t worry you about that. I’m sure it’ll work out.”

Legroeder nodded, and tried not to worry. There was more than enough to worry about already. He kept trying not to think about the quantum-flaw data, for one thing. He was taking it on faith that meaningful answers to the rigging hazards would be found within those maps in his head. It was a lot to stake on faith.

He drew a deep breath, and for a moment simply enjoyed standing on the deck of a space station—in normal-space—with Tracy-Ace at his side.

“When are you planning to tell them about the Kyber colonizing plans?” he asked, after a while. “That could be pretty explosive news, you know.”

Tracy-Ace chuckled. “That’s why I figured, one thing at a time. I thought I’d bring it up along with the negotiations for the Impris investigation—” she squeezed his hand and grinned “—meaning, the Rigger Legroeder implant investigation.”

How reassuring . “There’s no telling how they’ll react, you know.”

Tracy-Ace shrugged. “Maybe they need to be shaken out of their complacency and timidity. But one thing has to be clear—and that’s that we, and Carlotta, are deadly serious about getting the full report on the quantum flaws. Without that, everything falls apart.”

“Carlotta. Huh. You know, I was wondering why they just up and left, rather than sticking around to make sure things went the way they liked.”

“Well, now, that was part of their agreement with YZ/I. They got a chance to make a little demonstration of force, but still appear to be good guys.” Tracy-Ace snorted. “Or as good as they know how to be. They knew we were there, of course.”

“Ah. Of course.”

“And I wouldn’t assume that they’ve gone too far away. They’re almost certainly around somewhere.”

Legroeder absorbed that in silence. It would not do to become complacent about Carlotta’s future behavior, either. It wouldn’t take much, here on Eridani, for the analysis of Impris —and the data he carried—to become mired in disputes. “Tell me something, Trace. Is this all part of that bet between YZ/I and KM/C you told me about earlier?”

“Of course. All part of YZ/I’s plan to get Carlotta to start thinking about doing things differently. While keeping her own best interests in mind, naturally. She’d already lost Impris , but YZ/I convinced her that she could get something better. So she was willing to flush out some of her spies here, if it helped to ensure that she’d get access to this.” Tracy-Ace gently touched the side of Legroeder’s head.

He shivered at the reminder. “Will she stick to it? Will she stop the raiding? Is this where the honor among thieves kicks in?”

Tracy-Ace’s eyebrows went up. “We’ll find out, won’t we? She wouldn’t do it if she didn’t need the information from the Narseil as badly as we do. YZ/I let them save face here, but it’s in everyone’s interest to make sure Carlotta doesn’t wind up feeling conned. They did, after all, refrain from going after Impris —and you—while you were en route here.”

Legroeder felt that knot in his stomach again. He gazed at Tracy-Ace, and something else in his stomach told him there was more for him to ask. “And you… came to make sure Carlotta’s ships behaved themselves?”

“That, and other reasons.” Tracy-Ace looked out at the stars and laughed. Nervously? She turned to face him again, and clasped his hands between her own. “I was thinking… I might stay on a while.”

Legroeder felt a rushing in his ears.

Tracy-Ace looked down at their clasped hands. “For one thing, YZ/I wants to maintain a presence here. Through me.”

“Yes?” he murmured. “And the other?”

She let her breath out slowly and raised her eyes to meet his. Her implants were afire. “The other is, I’d like to stay with you. If you want me.”

His breath escaped with searing slowness.

“Do you want me?”

Legroeder’s eyes were blurring. “You mean that? Really?”

“I just said it, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, but—”

She stepped closer, until their bodies were just touching. “But what?”

He had trouble meeting her eyes. “Well—you have a life with—the Kyber, right? And I’ve got this history, where the Kyber are concerned. What about that?”