Then he cleared his throat. `Prime Raven, it is my bdief, unsupported though it is, that Captain Prtglm may know either where Rojer is or why he left so abruptly. But the captain is unavailable.
I request formal permission from Gktmglnt to board the KTTS and investigate.
That will be unnecessary, Captain, though the ojoffer is certainly appreciated. I am informing the Htg’h Council of Prime Lyon’s disappearance. You may expect assistance shortly. Have the courtesy to await it.
`Of course, Prime Raven.’ Captain Osullivan inclined his head in obedience to that directive and then sighed.
Ask your medic for an analgesic, Captain. A direct send to a non-empath u’ill produce an intense headache.
Raven’s advice was kindly, and something unknotted in Osullivan’s midriff `Someone’s coming,’ he added, remembering no-one else on the bridge had heard the message.
`Soon?’ asked Anis, her pretty face flushed with concern.
`Can’t be soon enough,’ Metrios said in a growl.
`Aye!’ The single word of accord came from many directions around the bridge.
The sound reverberated with acutely felt echoes and Osullivan retired briefly to his ready room to find a pain killer before his brain burst through his skull.
Precisely three-quarters of a very long hour passed before a glad message was relayed from the cargo deck.
`Passenger pod aboard, sir.’ `Escort the passenger to the bridge immediately, Mr Menburia.’ `No need, Captain, said a curt feminine voice and the Rowan, a large dark-grey `Dini beside her, and Afra Lyon, with a smaller `Dini pair flanking him, appeared on the bridge upper level.
Osullivan shot to his feet and was halfivay to the Rowan when she held up her hand to restrain his impulse. Once again he felt a mental touch and almost recoiled from a second experience.
`Sorry, Captain,’ the Rowan said with a fleeting smile. The pain went as quickly as it had begun. `It was the quickest way for me.
`We apologize for taking so long getting here,’ Afra went on. `We stopped at appropriate intervals to listen.
`Ohhhh,’ and Osullivan breathed one single despairing note of denial.
`My grandson is alive,’ the Rowan added, her expression severe.
Afra nodded a brief reinforcement of her statement. `We would know if he was not, if that affords you any consolation.’ `It does.’ `We must go aboard the KTTS. Do you have any pictures of its bridge configuration?’ Afra asked.
`Here,’ Doplas said, pointing to his screen.
`That’s enough,’ the Rowan said and turned towards the engineering position. `You are Commander Metrios? I thought so. We will need a touch of power.’ `All you want,’ Metrios said, throwing his hands up in exaggerated relief at being able to do something.
Their air of competenceee and determination revived him from the despair which had engulfed him since Rojer’s disappearance became known.
The generators surged briefly and the group were gone. Someone breathed a `wow!’ of awe.
`The Rowan?’ Yngocelen asked in a low voice.
Osullivan nodded.
`I thought she `never left Callisto.’ `Not often, but she’s the clout needed,’ Osullivan said, encouraged in spite of his pessimistic fears.
`Sir?’ Ensign Menburia’s voice sounded almost apologetic. `They brought the supplies, too `That boy must be found, safe and unharmed!’ Osullivan said, bringing both fists down hard on the arm rests. He had personal as well as professional reasons, and a few which would have repercussions that he didn’t want to think about, even clear-headed.
`Aye, aye, sir!’ The Rowan had been angry before with the stupidity of people, or things, or avoidable accidents, but she had never been so frighteningly angry before. Even as Jeff had been receiving information from the Genessee, he had Gollee Gren contacting the Mrdini High Council representative stationed on Earth. Mrtgrts was not only a grey, Captain Prtglm’s colour, but it was the High Councillor’s chief liaison official and had served two decades as manager of the `Dini colony world, Sef.
It immediately volunteered to accompany whomever the Earth Prime sent to investigate.
The Rowan had informed Earth Prime that none other than herself would be the FT&T representative, having forcibly overruled her daughter who felt she had the right to discover what had happened to her own son. Aungac may not be without its Prime, Damia, and that’s that. But the Rowan had then relented sufficiently to ask Afra to accompany her. You can manage without Afra and lie is the boy’s father. But Aungac can’t manage without you.