The image of Eros on the fore screen fascinated Forrest.

The minor planet was roughly cigar shaped, about thirty-five by sixteen by six kilometers. It revolved about its smaller axis with a period of five hours. Forrest found that if he focused his attention on a selected landmark, he could see the rotation. Its surface appeared to be silicaceous--it was essentially a huge tumbling rock. Although there might be iron or other metals present, its motion made it less than desirable for mining, and certainly no genoclonic tribe had chosen it as a base. As for as Forrest knew, no one had ever set foot on the asteroid.

They had chosen Eros as a camouflage because its eccentric orbit had brought it near to Earth orbit and they could reach it relatively quickly. Numerous companion asteroids--all smaller than the Forever but a few nearly half her size--dotted the area. The companions had been largely unknown until the first exploratory ships had mapped the Asteroid Belt in the second decade of the twenty-first century. Although it would take little intelligence for the WG to guess they were here, it was hoped the asteroid field, and the presence of the Rising Star, would confuse their scanners long enough for the Nothingness Drive to be installed and calibrated.

The Forever had been turned a hundred and eighty degrees about, and her thrusters used to decelerate her. She was now in orbit about the Sun, along side of Eros. The warships coming from Earth were designed to protect Earth, and not for extended planetary travel. Their thrusters were no match for the Forever's, and it was estimated they were twenty-four hours behind them. By the time they arrived at the asteroid field, the Forever's emission trail would have diffused enough to make her path difficult to determine. The thruster reactors were shut down, and Artemus estimated it would take twenty hours for the emitter conductors to be tapped into the reactor chambers. They could then begin the calibration process. Artemus had been working straight through for seventy-two hours, and refused to rest. Artemus had given Forrest several holodisks to study. He had secluded himself in the apartment he shared with Linwolse, and studied the disks nonstop for twenty hours. The disks detailed the calibration procedure, and the precise timing and angular specifications required for the emitters to develop the bounce field. The disks did not go into the how or why--just the what, and Forrest found himself memorizing the information by rote. He was now installing the needed sensor and control electronics in the bridge engineering station.

Except for Artemus and Jerac, all bridge crew were present. Mandoss sat in the captain's chair with Lasandra to his right and Linwolse to his left. Valencia stood in front of them, arguing with Mandoss. Forrest listened to the discussion as he worked. He liked Valencia. Despite her genoclonic origins, she had some human weaknesses. But she also had strength. She had a fiery determination about her that reminded him of Lisa.

"The crew feels they should be issued blasters," she said to Mandoss.

"We have already been through this, Valencia. They have not yet won my trust. I cannot be sure they will not turn on my officers."

"They will not turn on you, Mandoss! They have pledged their allegiance to me as their commander, and thus to you."

"Words spoken, and words thought, are not always the same."

"I have felt their minds! If there were dissenters among them, I would know it."

"Do not overrate your ability to read their emotions, or underestimate their ability to hide their emotions from you."

"I know my people, Mandoss."

"I believe you do. That is why you are their commander."

"You can read their minds! Check for yourself."

"Minds change. Neither I nor my officers can afford to expend the energy required to keep up with your people. That is your job."

Valencia studied Mandoss for a moment before she continued.

"Do you trust me?" Her tone was suddenly sharp, causing Forrest to stare at her, concerned.

"Not completely," Mandoss answered, showing no reaction to her inflection.

Valencia seemed flustered. "I thought we had an understanding. How can you expect to gain my trust, or the trust of my people, if you do not offer trust in return?"

Linwolse broke in. "Trust is not something that is given. It must be earned. In time, Mandoss will come to trust your people. But you must give it time, Valencia."

Valencia looked at her. "And in the meantime, my people are defenseless."

"Defenseless against whom?" Mandoss asked.

Forrest sensed she wanted to say Enonians, but instead she said, "there may still be humans loose aboard the ship."

"The humans have all been collected."

"You do not know that for sure. What about the ones found in the City?"

"Our security sweep had not been completed when they were discovered. The sensors now detect no humans."

"What if we are boarded? The warships will be here soon."

"We will not be boarded."

"How can you be so confident?"

Mandoss did not speak. Valencia stared at him. She then reached down and unsnapped the flap restraining her blaster, and pulled the blaster out. Forrest felt alarm and ran in her direction. But she did not intend to fire the weapon. She checked that the safety was on, and threw the blaster at Mandoss' feet. Mandoss looked at her without expression.

"If my people are not allowed to carry weapons, then neither shall I," she said.

Forrest picked up the blaster and placed it in her hand. "Bridge officers are required to carry a blaster," he said, firmly. She returned the blaster to her holster. She had made her point.

Valencia eyed him. "It is you that I trust the least, Hauser!"

"Why is that?"

"Because you are human. Because you betrayed your own kind."

Her statement angered him. He touched her mind, and he could see in her eyes that she felt his presence. She looked at him with fear.

"Release her," Mandoss commanded.

Forrest did so. "Do not challenge me, Valencia. I would rather be your friend."

"I doubt that will ever be the case!" she returned, and then stormed off the bridge.

Forrest looked at Linwolse. "Will she be okay?"

"She is angry. But she is also wise. She will be fine. I suggest you avoid her for a while."

He returned to his station, and his work. Valencia's attitude toward him confused him. He was less human than she was. He had once been human, and perhaps she could not forget that. But it was more than that--more than her seeing him as a traitor. Something much deeper bothered her. He resolved to approach her on the matter later.

"Hello, my love," someone whispered from behind him.

Forrest did not turn. "Hello, Lin."

She moved to his side and looked into his eyes. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, of course. I'm just preoccupied."

"I know. You have been very busy the past couple of nights. We have had very little time together."

"That should change once we bounce out of here."

"Yes, that is true." She paused. "Eletel has been walking on air lately. What did you do to her in the City?"

Forrest glanced at her. "I did what you asked me to."

Linwolse smiled at him. "I know that. And I thank you, my love. But you did more than just have sex with her. She exhibits more than just sexual release."

Forrest stopped what he was doing and faced her. "We have become more than lovers--we have become good friends. You were right about her. She is a very likable person. I care about her. Is that okay?"

"Of course, my love. Please do not be defensive. I'm glad the two of you have become friends."

"I'm sorry, Lin. I don't mean to be defensive. I'm just tired. And I'm worried about getting us out of here."

"I understand. When will you be done here?"

"I'm almost done now."

"Then as your superior officer, I am ordering you to get a few hours rest."

Linwolse was smiling, but she was quite serious about her instructions. Forrest pushed the panel he was working on into position until it snapped into place.

"Done," he said. "I should talk to Artemus."

"I already have. He agreed that you should rest."

When they got back to the apartment Linwolse ordered dinner. They ate in silence. Now that he was allowing himself to slow down, Forrest realized just how tired he was. He could hardly hold his head up. He thought that Artemus must have tremendous strength--he had not slept since they left L-2. Forrest had been working steadily for thirty hours, and he had expected the keepers to provide him strength. But apparently he was not that far along in his transitioning.

Linwolse noticed his exhaustion, and when he had eaten all he could, she took his hand and led him into the bedroom. He laid on the bed, and she nestled close to him, her head on his shoulder. She felt good so close to him, and if he had had the energy he would have made love to her.

"Tell me about it," she said.

"About what?" he asked, his eyes half closed.

"You and Eletel. I want to hear all about it."

"Are you being the counselor now?"

"No. I am just curious. It would bring me pleasure to hear what happened."

"Why you lascivious lady, you."

Linwolse laughed. "Sex is for pleasure--vicarious or not. Would you deny me this pleasure?"

"I guess I've got a lot to learn about Enonian women."

"Are we really so different from human women?"

"No. Not really."

"So, tell me."

"If you insist."

Forrest began with the walk in the park. He told her about them swimming to the center of the pond, and how Eletel had started kissing his body until she took his organ into her mouth.

Linwolse sat up. "She committed fellatio upon you?"

"Er . . . yes. Is that a problem?"

"Did you come inside of her?"

"Yes."

Linwolse laughed so hard, tears came to her eyes. Forrest looked at her completely perplexed.

"Am I missing something here?" he asked.

"Y--yes!" She was laughing so profusely she could hardly speak. "She owns you, my love," she finally managed to say.

"Owns me?"

She gave him a silly grin. "When an Enonian woman takes a man's seed into her by means other than coitus, it changes her in subtle ways. Your seed is like a love potion. Except it is the woman who drinks the potion, and the man who is affected."

"Affected how?"

Linwolse started laughing again. "You will find yourself becoming more and more sexually attracted to her."

"I already find her sexually attractive."

"Yes, but soon you will not be able to be in her presence without getting an erection."

"Literally?"

"No. Not literally. But you will be having a lot of sex with her, and you will not be able to help yourself. When she wants you, she will have you."

"She controls me?"

"In a sense. But do not worry. She will not abuse you. And you will have a good time. It does not last long--a few weeks at most. Your keepers will undo the effect."

"The keepers cause this to happen?"

"Yes. It is a side effect of the way the keepers maintain our youth. No one was ever able to figure out how to program this out of the keepers. I suspect it is because no one really wanted to. Enonian women have been taking advantage of this since the first immortals."

"Why didn't you tell me about this?"

"I did not think about it. This is out of character for Eletel. You must have made quite an impression upon her."

"She impressed me, too."

"So I gather!" she laughed.

Forrest could still not see what was so hilarious. So he would lust after Eletel for a few weeks. He had no problem with that. But he was too tired to consider the situation further. Linwolse noticed this and kissed him softly.

"Sleep, my love," she said.

And he did.

The sound of thunder woke him.

There should not be thunder aboard a spaceship.

Forrest opened his eyes and sat up.

"Lin?"

She did not answer--she was not present. He looked at his watch. He had been asleep for twenty hours. He cursed himself, and the others. Why did they let him sleep so long?

The sound of thunder again--but it was not the thunder of lightning--the Forever was firing her weapons.

Forrest retrieved his communicator and signaled the bridge.

"Bridge," Eletel's voice responded.

"Forrest, here. What is happening?"

"The warships have found us. We are firing warning shots."

"I'm on my way. Forrest out."

He went into the bathroom, threw water onto his face, and toweled himself dry. He then headed for the speedlift and punched the bridge level into its control panel. When the doors opened, he stepped out onto the dais. The image of the Forever and the tumbling Eros was centered over the holoprojection grid. The Forever had been turned so that her thrusters faced the asteroid. The three warships surrounded the her in attack position. All bridge crew were present.

Mandoss turned and looked at him. "Forrest! It is good you are here. I may need you. Take your station."

Forrest made his way to the engineering station where Artemus waited.

"Why was I allowed to sleep so long?" he asked.

"You needed the rest, my friend. You had overtaxed yourself, and I wanted you to be fresh when we completed the drive calibration."

"It has been calibrated?"

"We have started the calibration. It is not complete. We cannot bounce."

Forrest sat in his chair and studied his console display. The thruster reactors had been started, and were now idling at full readiness. The controls and monitors for the Nothingness Drive were also active. A shape pattern had been entered. Forrest assumed the pattern was for testing the drive calibration.

"We are being hailed again," Eletel announced. "It is the command ship, the Hestia."

Mandoss stepped into the transmission circle. "On the fore screen."

The likeness of the Hestia's captain appeared. The man looked to be in his mid-forties, and he studied Mandoss with small, penetrating eyes.

"Identify yourself," he commanded.

"My name is Mandoss."

"You are a genoclone?"

"No. I am Enonian."

"I do not know that term. Explain."

"I, and my people, are not of Earth. We are from a distant star system."

"You are a blood drinker?"

"Yes."

"Why have you taken the Forever?"

"To return home."

The captain paused in thought. "We request holoconference. Will you agree to this?"

"Yes. We will signal you, when we are ready."

Eletel broke the connection.

"Why do we waste time with this?" Lasandra asked.

"To buy time," Mandoss answered. "And because I am curious about how much they know about us."

"Time for what?" she countered. "We have only one course of action available to us. Why do we not go now?"

Mandoss turned to her. "Perhaps, Lasandra, it is because I feel the people of Earth deserve to know why we have taken their precious Forever."

"I do not understand that."

"I did not expect you to. Linwolse, Forrest, Valencia, join me in the conferral room. Lasandra, you have command. You know what to do."

They arranged chairs under the holoscanner, and took their places. Mandoss sent the link signal, and the holograms of the Hestia's captain and Admiral Glassner materialized across from them.

The two men studied them a moment before Glassner's eyes locked on Forrest.

"Hauser, why have you joined forces with these beings?" he asked.

"I was not given a choice. They have converted me. They needed me because of my knowledge of the Forever."

"And you helped them?"

"I had no choice. But I might have helped them even if I had."

"Why, Hauser? Why would you betray your own people?"

"I do not wish to be thought of as a traitor, but I can understand that I will be. By helping the Enonians take the Forever, I was getting them off of Earth. There are no longer any Enonians on Earth, nor will there be anywhere in the Solar System once we leave."

"You could have told us where they were. We would have destroyed them."

"That is not likely. Do not underestimate their powers."

The captain spoke. "I am Captain Blaylock of the Hestia. You said that you had been converted. Does that mean you are a blood drinker?"

"Yes. I am now Enonian."

The two men glanced at each other. "We have a message for you from someone on Earth," Glassner said. "Will you accept it?"

"Yes."

The projection of a young girl formed between the two groups. It was his daughter. She seemed to be looking into the distance, and Forrest realized it was a recording. She was so beautiful. Forrest felt a pang of love and remorse. He had not realized how much he missed her--he had been trying not to think about her.

"Daddy?" she said. "I'm sorry for the way I treated you when you were sick. I did not understand what was happening. But they have explained to me that you are being controlled by evil people. I love you, Daddy. They think that Mom is being controlled too, and they won't let her go unless you come back home. They won't let me see her. I miss her, Daddy, and I miss you. Please come home, so we may be a family again. I love you, Daddy. I really love you."

The image faded, and Forrest felt sorrow.

"Where is my daughter, Glassner?"

"Susan is staying with her grandmother. She is safe."

"That was a good try," Forrest said, "appealing to my emotions like that. It might have worked except for one fact you are missing."

"What is that?"

"I know my wife is dead."

Glassner gave him a not very convincing look of confusion. "Dead? She is not dead! She is being held by the WG until this matter is resolved."

Forrest stood. "Glassner, I watched the two goons rape and kill my wife. When I learned she had been arrested, I hacked my way into the Network to find her. You have the recording of her rape and death because it is I who reactivated the local node recorders."

Glassner sighed acknowledgment. "That was an unfortunate occurrence. But you cannot blame the WG for what these men did. They were acting on their own."

"Who hired them, Glassner? Who did the psychological profiles on them? Who is responsible for their actions?"

He did not answer.

"You are forcing our hand, Hauser," Blaylock said.

"What do you mean?"

"If you do not return the Forever to us, your daughter will pay the price."

Forrest moved in the direction of his image. His eyes were glowing red.

"Understand this," Forrest said. "One day I will return to Earth. And if I find that my daughter has been harmed in any way, I will destroy the whole fucking planet. I strongly suggest you do not test my ability to do so."

Mandoss came and stood by his side. "Believe him gentlemen! The technology exists that can destroy whole planets. If you harm the girl, you will be signing the death warrants of all living creatures on Earth. Do I make myself clear?"

The men said nothing. They stared at Mandoss with confused apprehension.

Mandoss continued. "When we began this conference, I was predisposed to discuss matters with you. But your lack of diplomatic skill has change my mind. This conference is ended."

The images of the men disappeared.

"To your stations," Mandoss commanded. "We are leaving."

As they left the room, Forrest felt a hand on his arm.

"I didn't know about your wife, Forrest. I am truly sorry," Valencia said.

"Thank you."

She glanced away nervously. "Does your offer of friendship still stand?"

"Yes, of course. Can we talk later?" Forrest was not sure what to make of her.

"Of course."

They returned to their stations.

"Status?" Mandoss demanded.

"All systems are go," Forrest said.

"Escape coordinates laid in," Jerac reported.

"Engaging inertial inhibiters. Engaging all thrusters," Blix said.

"Fore screen on, aft view," Eletel said.

"Full thrust," Mandoss ordered.

"Full thrust, now!" Blix said.

The minor planet, heretofore known as Eros, no longer existed. It was blasted into a million pieces by the Forever's sudden plasma ejection. But the ship was kilometers away, and the tiny rocks could barely be seen on the screen. The three warships were turning, and coming their way. Although the Forever could reach a final velocity far beyond the capabilities of the warships, her much greater mass made her rate of acceleration less than what the warships could obtain. They were approaching her rapidly.

"Valencia!"

"Yes, Mandoss."

"Have your people fire torpedoes once per second per station, directly in their path."

"A side approach will do more damage, Mandoss. Their forward shields will deflect the torpedoes."

"She's right," Forrest said.

"Yes, she is. But direct fire will slow them down as they transfer energy from their drives to the shields."

"I understand, Mandoss," Valencia said. She entered the orders into her station console, and soon a thousand points of light could be seen bombarding the warships. They were being hit with a continuous, relentless stream of torpedoes.

"It is working," Eletel reported. "Their rate of acceleration is slowing."

"Jerac, how soon before we began to pull away from them?"

"Ten minutes--estimated."

"Good. Let us hope they do not get stupid before then."

Lasandra spoke. "Why do we waste our torpedoes? Only one timed nuclear mine would destroy all three ships."

"Those ships are the Earth's defense. I do not wish to destroy them, if I can help it."

"Why do you care about Earth?"

"Because there is a young child there that is important to Forrest."

Lasandra started to speak, but then stopped.

Mandoss went to the engineering station.

"Artemus. To what extent has the drive been calibrated?"

"Test shape. Ten percent expansion."

"And?"

"All parameters tested within normal tolerances."

"That will have to do. Program a shape that will take us into interstellar space. A lightyear will do."

"That is not wise, Mandoss!" Artemus was adamant. "Without proper calibration we cannot be sure where we may find ourselves, or even if we would bounce back into normal spacetime."

"I am aware of the danger, Artemus. If we bounce, it will be as an extreme last resort. I am ordering you to program the shape. The matter is not open for discussion."

"Will do," Artemus replied.

Mandoss left the station, and Artemus gave Forrest a this-is-crazy look.

Eletel spoke. "Another ship is approaching. It is the Rising Star."

"Valencia!" Mandoss shouted.

"Yes!"

"Contact your Rising Star on a secure channel and tell them to get the hell out of here!"

"They want to aid our escape!"

"Tell them I appreciate that. But inform them that if we have to bounce, everything within a two-hundred-thousand kilometer radius will be destroyed."

Valencia worked the controls of her station and spoke to someone aboard the Rising Star. She then turned back to Mandoss.

"They say they can destroy the warships!"

"The warships are separating," Eletel interjected.

"They are dividing our torpedo stream--opening a path through which to fire at us," Lasandra shouted.

Mandoss stared at Valencia. "Tell them to review their black hole physics, and that they have ten minutes to escape if they wish to avoid being caught within the event horizon."

Valencia did as instructed.

"The Rising Star is leaving," Eletel said.

"Good," Mandoss said. "Hail the command ship."

"She is answering our hail," Eletel reported.

"On the fore screen."

Admiral Glassner came on screen. "Do you wish to surrender?" he asked.

Mandoss laughed. "No, Admiral. I can see you are preparing to fire upon us. If you do so, we will be forced to bounce. And that would destroy you and your ships."

"What you mean by bounce?"

"I do not have time to explain the physics, Admiral. Let us just say that a black hole will be left in our wake, and your ships will fall into it."

"I don't believe you!"

"To risk your ships on the basis of your disbelief is one thing. But you are risking the lives of all within the Solar System."

"And how is that?"

"The black hole will have a significant effect upon the gravitational balance of the Solar System."

"You play a good game, Mandoss. But I cannot believe you. If you have the technology to create a black hole, then you would certainly have the technology to get your people back to wherever you came from. You would not need the Forever."

"You are being simplistic, Admiral. If you do not turn back, a lot of lives will be lost!"

"I have orders from the WG to destroy the Forever before letting you escape with her. You will soon reach a velocity we cannot match. When you do, we will fire upon you, and you will be destroyed!"

"You are a fool, Admiral!"

"No, Mandoss, you are the fool!"

Eletel broke the connection.

"How long, Jerac?" Mandoss demanded.

"We are starting to pull away now."

They waited.

"They have fired," Eletel said.

"How long?"

"Two minutes," Jerac reported.

"Artemus! Bounce us out of here!"

He hesitated.

"Artemus!" Mandoss shouted.

Artemus hit the blinking button that would engage the Nothingness Drive. And in the thruster cylinder, an impossible shape formed that would tear open the fabric of normal spacetime. Soon the shape enveloped the Forever, and just as the nuclear missile reached its target, a black hole suddenly appeared, drawing the bomb and the three warships into its event horizon--forever to be frozen in time. And the Solar System would be changed forever.

It was a light that might have shone with the energy of a trillion quasars--had Forrest been able to see. For him it was dark. It was not the darkness of closed eyes, or even the blind--not the darkness of night, or a universe without energy--nor the darkness of the dead. It was the darkness of a soul within a place not corporeal. He was pure consciousness, and could not know how to see.

He was not alone. He could feel the infinite spirits about him, flowing through his being, weaving within his quintessence. And he knew but one of them--the one that had touched him before this timelessness--the one that was from the beginning, was the beginning, was the end. He knew him by the name Anthony. And he knew not what he was.

Anthony was within him, and borne him a message: Susan will come to you in the end. But your purpose must first be rendered.

Forrest cried into the wordless void: I do not understand. What does it mean?

But Anthony was no longer a part of him. Anthony was no more.

They were holding him down.

Forrest opened his eyes, and was blinded by the bridge lights.

He blinked, and could see Mandoss and Lasandra restraining his raging body to the floor where he had fallen. The others stood around him and watched, their eyes expressing confusion.

His body, which had seemed to be acting of its own volition, began to relax, returning control to his conscious mind.

"I don't understand! What does it mean?!" he blurted.

"What does what mean?" Mandoss demanded.

Forrest realized he could not answer. He had been told something without words. And it was of extreme importance--this he knew without knowing the message. Something to do with Susan. And Anthony knew! Anthony would be able to tell him the meaning of the message, and why his daughter was a part of it.

They helped him up. He was trembling, his eyes glowing red.

Linwolse came to him and put her hands to his face. "Forrest, my love. You must calm yourself. You are projecting uncontrolled kinetic energy--you may harm yourself or the bridge."

Forrest felt the calming force of her healing powers flow into him. His eyes darkened.

"Where are we?" he asked.

"In the bounce," Linwolse said.

"How long?"

"About five minutes. What did you experience?"

"I don't know. A place of some kind. It--it felt like a place that was nothing, but yet it was everything. Something, someone, tried to communicate with me. Tried to tell me something. But I could not understand."

Linwolse smiled at him. "It was a hallucination, Forrest. This sometimes happens, especially with those that have never bounced before. It will go away with time--"

"No! It was real. I know it was real."

Forrest noticed Jerac standing behind Linwolse, staring at him with an intense look.

Mandoss spoke. "Will he be okay?"

"Yes. He is just startled," Linwolse responded.

"Then take him to his room. See that he rests."

"No!" Forrest cried. He went to Lasandra and put his hands on her shoulders. "Where is he?"

Lasandra pushed his arms away. "You cannot see him!"

"I must! He knows about my daughter. I must speak to him."

She gave him an angry look. "He will not speak to you, New One! He speaks to no one."

Jerac came forward. "Anthony was with Forrest in the Mind. Let him see Anthony. Perhaps now he will speak."

Lasandra glared at him. "I do not believe in your absurd Mind, Jerac."

Jerac stared at her, fleeting anger crossing his face. "Your lack of belief is of no importance."

"Please, Lasandra!" Forrest pleaded.

Mandoss spoke. "Let him see Anthony. What harm can it do?"

"Anthony is mine!" she screamed at him.

Mandoss struck her face with the back of his hand. "Do not speak to me in that fashion, Lasandra!"

Her face lost its color as she stared at Mandoss in disbelief. "He is mine," she said in a low, course voice. "It is I who has taken care of him all these years. It is I who found him. And it is I who will first hear his words."

They stared at her, and she knew she was defeated. She looked at Forrest. "You will have your audience with the Old One. But do not expect anything to come of it. He has a room in my quarters. I will take you there."

"Go with them, Linwolse," Mandoss commanded.

"I will come, also," Jerac announced.

The four of them entered the speedlift, the others remaining on the bridge to monitor the progress of the bounce. Lasandra did not speak as she led them to the apartment she had chosen. It was at the end of the longest corridor, as far away from the others as she could find. She opened the door, led them to a back room, and pushed a button to reveal a hidden chamber she had had androids construct for Anthony. The room was softly lit with amaranthine candles, their light flickering shadows of the many stone statues against the walls. Anthony sat on a large, silk cushion, facing the rear wall. He wore a black robe, with the hood covering his head. The wall was adorned with the ancient paintings depicting a past life upon Enonia.

Forrest opened his mind but could not feel Anthony as he had felt him in that other place. He went and lowered himself to his knees directly behind the small, boy-like being. Anthony did not move or show any indication he was aware of his presence.

"Anthony," Forrest began, "you once came to me and probed my mind. I did not understand why. But a few moments ago I was in another place, a void of some kind. I cannot comprehend its nature, but I felt you there. You were with me. Something communicated with me. I am not sure if it was you, or something speaking through you. But I feel that you know the words that were given to me. I did not understand."

Anthony did not speak or move.

"Please, Anthony. It has something to do with my daughter. I must know what was said to me."

Anthony still did not speak.

"He will not speak to you, Forrest," Lasandra said.

Forrest ignored her. "My daughter is all that is left of the world I once knew. I cannot return to that world, and I cannot forget the love I have for Susan. She is all that is left of the human within me."

Nothing.

"What is it I am supposed to know about her? Is she in danger?"

Nothing.

"Please, Anthony. Please! I cannot live forever denied the knowledge I know is within you."

Forrest reached to touch Anthony's shoulder.

"It is forbidden to touch him!" Lasandra said. Her voice was calm, but forceful.

Forrest let his arm drop. He stood and went to kneel in front of Anthony so he could see his eyes. And he was hit with brutal terror. Anthony had no eyes. The sockets were empty, and maggot-like worms could be seen snaking their way through his decaying flesh. Forrest quickly, involuntarily, moved backward, striking the wall, knocking a painting to the floor.

"What is it?" Lasandra demanded. She ran to Anthony's side, putting her arm around his shoulder. The body lost its balance and fell forward at Forrest's feet. Forrest jumped and crept along the wall to one side.

"Anthony?" Lasandra called, unable to accept the implications.

She turned the tiny--almost weightless--body over, and saw the horror.

"Anthony!" she screamed.

Jerac and Linwolse approached, and they, too, saw the horror.

"What happened to him?" Linwolse asked, her voice betraying disbelief.

"He is dead!" Lasandra screeched. "He is dead . . . dead!" Tears formed in her eyes. She looked as if her soul had suddenly caught fire and was burning away.

"But how?" Linwolse continued. "He looks like he has been dead for weeks. This is not possible."

"He has joined the Mind," Jerac said, as if giving a great revelation.

Lasandra's face went black, her eyes glowing red, her fangs extruding. She looked at Jerac and hissed. She then stood and faced the terrified Forrest.

"What have you done?" she said. It was not her normal voice. It was the voice of a powerful yet wounded being. A being whose only thoughts could be but of retribution.

Forrest could not speak. He was only vaguely aware of Lasandra, of the commotion of the others. The vision of Anthony's eyeless, putrefying face was imprinted onto his consciousness like stamped lettering upon metal. And he could not believe, did not want to believe. He did not know what had touched him in the void. But he knew that Anthony had been with him--and had understood. And Susan--something about Susan only Anthony knew. Something important, something about Susan he was supposed to know, but could not grasp. And now, Anthony was gone--dead.

He looked up at the tortured, heinous visage that was Lasandra. He did not hear the words she hurled at him. He only knew that it was she who was responsible for Anthony, for his well being, and his death.

"How could you let him die?" he asked her. His voice was calm, but unyielding.

She stopped her raving and stared at him with contemptuous incredulity.

"You are blaming me?" she spat.

"It is you who was his caretaker. If he was dying, you should have seen the signs."

Her face contorted, and the room rumbled with the force of her anger.

"Listen to me, Once Human! For one-hundred-thousand years I fed, bathe, clothed, warmed, and protected Anthony. He was my life! And you dare to blame me for his death?"

"Look at him, Lasandra! He has been dead for days. When was the last time you fed him, the last time you tended his needs?"

"I was with him, when the warships found us--"

She seemed baffled. That had been no more than five hours past. Anthony's body could not have decayed so quickly. His keepers would have preserved him for months as they attempted to revive him, before understanding that he was dead and ended their program.

She turned and touched Jerac's mind. Jerac did not resist, letting her feel his thoughts.

She looked back at Forrest.

"You took him with you, Forrest--to that place you speak of. And you killed him. You took him from me. And for that, you shall die!"

"No, Lasandra! He was already there. He--or something, with his aid--tried to convey a message to me. That's why I wanted to see him. I did not know he was dead."

Lasandra was no longer listening to him. She lunged at him, only to be caught by Jerac and Linwolse.

"Let me free!" she screamed.

"No, Lasandra!" Linwolse said. "You are blaming Forrest for an event he had no control over."

"Anthony is with the Mind," Jerac interjected. "It is only his body that is lifeless."

She did not hear them. She knew only that they restrained her from her target. They were too strong, and she could not break free. She focused her thoughts.

Forrest felt his body rise and he was flung against the wall of the chamber with a force that would have instantly killed a human. He slid to the floor, falling on his side. He felt an invisible hand grip his heart, constricting it--trying to stop its beating.

Linwolse shouted at him. "Defend yourself! The keepers will not allow us to intercede."

Forrest understood. They could hold her body, but they could not stop her thoughts. He stood up and focused his own thoughts. He knew he was going up against a being more than three-thousand times his age, and he let the energy of fear fill his mind, masking the pain in his chest. He concentrated on the soft flesh of her neck and pushed against her windpipe.

She gagged, unable to take a breath. Forrest felt the pressure in his chest increase, and he pushed harder at her. He could feel his keepers congregating about his heart, attempting to repair the suddenly failing organ.

And then his heart was released. Lasandra stared at him with red, angry, bulging eyes. Forrest did not release her, and she went to his brain, applying pressure, and it felt that his head might implode.

He felt disorientation. Colors he did not know existed flashed before his eyes--emotions he should never have experienced came to him, worse than a tortured soul burning in hell. He was losing contact with himself and the world around him, and soon he would lose consciousness, his brain a useless mass of flesh that not even the keepers could repair, unless--

He released Lasandra's throat, and focused his kinetic energies upon his own body, pushing outward against the crushing force in his head. The pressure relaxed a little, but then it came at him with greater power. He offered a countering force, and the resultant forces fluctuated like a failing torsion field. She was too strong, too experienced. He would not be able to overcome her power for long. But he fought her, determined to make her work long and hard for his death.

And then suddenly he was released. His brain seemed to inflate like an air-filled balloon just teleported into a vacuum. And then balance was obtained. His vision returned to normal. Lasandra was lying on the floor, the back of her head covered with her own blood. Linwolse stood behind her, holding the broken, stone statue she had used to strike Lasandra.

"Is she dead?" he asked.

"No, but it is a serious injury," Linwolse answered. She turned to Jerac. "Get her to sickbay, and stabilize her. I will come as soon as I have determined that Forrest is out of danger."

"Understood," Jerac said. He picked up the unconscious Lasandra, and carried her out of the room.

Linwolse turned to Forrest.

"How do you feel?"

"My head hurts, but I don't think there is any damage. My thoughts seem normal."

"Your keepers will repair any damage they find. But they have limits. If you feel anything unusual, you must report that to me now."

"I believe I am okay."

Linwolse accepted his word, but studied him with a distant look. Forrest was confused. She did not come to him, try to comfort him, express her relief that he was not harmed. She did not act as he would expect a lover to act.

"What happened here, Forrest?" she asked.

"You saw what happened."

"That is not what I mean. What happened to Anthony?"

"What are you suggesting, Lin? Anthony's death is as much a mystery to me as to you."

She regarded him a moment.

"I have known since the blood sharing that you were the Special One. But perhaps I did not know how special. You made me love you, and Eletel too. Only Lasandra was strong enough to resist you. And the males are affected as well. They hold a respect for you greater than should be the case for one so young."

"Lin, have you forgotten that I did not choose to transition. You selected me, not the reverse."

"Did we? Or did you guide us to you? Who are you?"

"I cannot believe what I am hearing. I had a good life as a human. But now I have lost a wife and a daughter, and everything that was important to me. Before you chose me, I would not have believed any of this was possible."

His words had no affect on her. "Who are you?" she repeated.

"My name is Forrest," he said, flatly.

A fleeting look of uncertainty crossed her face.

"Jerac believes you are of the Mind," she said.

"I don't know what that means."

"You experienced it."

"You said it was a hallucination."

She turned away from him. "I want to believe you," she said, not looking at him.

"Then, why don't you?"

"Because you have secrets."

"I have no secrets," he lied. "Have I not cooperated with you? Have I not played the part you required of me? Did I not help you take the Forever?"

She turned her head and looked at him. "Will you let me into you mind?"

"What do you mean?"

"I cannot feel your thoughts unless you let me in."

Forrest watched her. He realized that the relationship he and Linwolse had shared was, and always would be, secondary to her role as an Enonian. Her loyalty was to her people first. And no matter what feelings she had about him, she would, if she believed it necessary, destroy him. He understood this was as it should be. But he had not given it thought before.

"I do not think that would be wise," he said.

"Then you are hiding something."

"I hide nothing. You do not trust me. Therefore I cannot trust you."

She faced him. "I have done nothing to cause your distrust."

"You are doing it now."

"Then our relationship is ended. Until you are willing to open your mind to me, we cannot be sure of you."

"So be it."

Her face softened a bit. "I will miss you."

"You plan to kill me?"

"No! But the others might think it is necessary. You must go and hide. You must use your knowledge of the ship to evade the others. I will tell them that you have gone into hiding because you fear Lasandra. But I must express my doubts to them."

"I understand." He started to leave.

"Forrest!"

"What?"

"Do not think that I do this easily. I am letting you go because of the love we have shared. When this matter is resolved, I sincerely hope that you and I may again be lovers."

"Maybe," he said.

"I do love you."

Forrest looked at her with a cold expression, and left the room.

"What is wrong, Forrest?" Lisa asked as he entered her quarters.

She was sitting in the main room watching the holoviewer. She switched it off when he arrived.

"One on the Enonians has died. They may blame me for it."

"Died? How?" She stood and went to him.

"I don't know. We found his body in his chamber."

"The one called Anthony?"

He was startled. "How do you know about Anthony?"

"Serp allowed me to view bridge activities when the warships found us."

Serp interrupted. "She asked me what was happening. It seemed appropriate to let her see."

"Yes, Serp. You did the right thing," Forrest responded.

Lisa continued. "I saw what happened to you after we--bounced, and then there was talk about Anthony. Who is--was Anthony?"

Forrest led her to the sofa, and they sat next to each other. He told her about the Old One, and about the conflict with Lasandra.

"And then Linwolse told me to go and hide," he finished. He did not tell her about his relationship with Linwolse.

Lisa moved closer to him, and held his hand. "Are you okay?"

"Yes. But Linwolse knows that I'm hiding something. They will try to determine what it is, and that puts you at risk."

"But they could not have traced you here, could they? Serp told me how he can remove images from the security cameras."

"This is true. They will not know where I am, and I can shield my mind from them. But you cannot. They will sense you. They will search the ship."

"Then you should not stay here. I will just lead them to you."

He smiled at her. "I love you, too. And I will not leave you defenseless."

She returned his smiled, but then gave him a concerned look. She laid her head on his shoulder. "What can we do?"

"I don't know yet. We have some time. We will have to come up with a plan."

Serp spoke. "There are two persons at the door."

Forrest stood up and pulled his blaster out of his holster.

"Show me," Forrest said.

The holoviewer came to life. Valencia and a male crew member could be seen waiting at the door. Valencia pushed a sensor, and the door beeped.

"Go into the other room, Lisa. Close the door, and don't come out until I say so."

"Be careful," she said as she went to hide.

Forrest went to the door and activated the intercom.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded.

"Forrest, let us in before we are seen on the security screens," Valencia pleaded.

He stepped back, readied his blaster, and instructed Serp to open the door. Valencia and the male Forrest now recognized as the one called Norse, stepped through the door. The door shut behind them.

"Stop where you are. Leave your blasters at the door," Forrest commanded.

They did as told, and Forrest motioned them to sit on the sofa. He remained standing, holding his blaster on them.

"What do you want?" he asked.

"To form an alliance with you," Valencia answered.

"Why?"

"Because we do not trust the Enonians."

"You said you trusted me least of all," Forrest said.

"I know. But that has changed. Please let me explain."

"I'm listening."

Valencia collected her thoughts, and began.

"When we first made the agreement with the Enonians, we did so because we felt we had no choice and it seemed that maybe we would be allowed to carry out our purpose. But we were never completely convinced. We felt we were being used by the Enonians just as you have been used. It is true that I had little respect for you, but that was because I saw you as a human that had turned against his own kind. That is not the genoclonic way. It wasn't until the holoconference with Glassner and Blaylock, that I learned the WG had killed your wife and was threatening your daughter. I came to understand that your kind had turned against you, and that you had little choice in what you were doing--the Enonians had engineered the rift between you and the WG. The reaction you displayed when Blaylock threatened your daughter, showed me that your loyalties were to your family. I learned to respect you for that, and realized that I had misjudged you. After we bounced and you had your experience, I followed you to Anthony's chamber and listened at the door. I know the secrets that Linwolse accused you of holding."

"And what is that?"

"We have known for some time that you are hiding a human woman here--that is how we knew where to find you. And we know that you have been tampering with the computer system."

"And you did not report this to the Enonians?"

"No. At first we saw it as a division amongst the Enonians, one that might work to our advantage. We now realize that you do not trust the Enonians. And we suspect that you have been preparing a defensive move against the Enonians--a backup plan in case things went wrong."

Forrest studied the pair. They were risking a lot, telling him what they felt and knew. And if they were honest about forming an alliance with him, this might be an advantage for him and Lisa.

"Let's assume that we form an alliance; what do you expect to get out of it?"

Norse spoke. "Survival. The Enonians are too alien for us to second guess them. We feel that if you can come to trust us, we will be able to trust you as well."

"I have been transitioned. In many ways I am one of them."

"We know that. But is that not an advantage?" he asked.

"I could rejoin them, if the conflict that has us divided is resolved."

"Yes, you could," Valencia said. "And it would be better if you do. But I do not think you would trust them anymore than you trust them now. There is something wrong with them. I can feel it. And I think you can too."

"What do you feel is wrong with them?"

"They have no souls. They are just shells. Nothing is inside them."

This disturbed Forrest. He had been in close contact with the Enonians for several weeks now, and he had not sensed anything like this. But yet something about her words rang true. Perhaps he had not seen it because he had not looked. Or perhaps the keepers hid the truth from him. Or perhaps it was not true.

"Please elaborate."

Valencia was deep in thought for a moment.

"I cannot see into their minds. But I have been studying them, and you. I have been asking questions, studying their history, probing their thoughts and attitudes as best I could. And there are two things in particular that strike me as odd. One is that they do not change. They had been on Earth a hundred-thousand years. You would think that significant changes in their personalities, their emotions, goals, would have occurred. But from what I gather, they are essentially the same now as they were when first exiled on Earth. That does not seem natural. I can understand them maintaining their long range plans as a group. But as individuals, they should have changed radically. They should have grown, become wiser, explored new modes of being and thinking. But I have seen no evidence that this has happened."

"The keepers maintain them," Forrest suggested.

"Yes. The keepers maintain their bodies, and store old memories. But that should not prevent them from evolving as people. Perhaps it is the bad programming done to their keepers when they were exiled--or perhaps the price of immortality is to become soulless. I do not know."

"What is the other thing?" Forrest asked.

"Their attraction to you. The females exhibit an unusual emotional and physical attraction to you. And the males seem to look up to you somehow. They won't admit it, but I can see it in the way they act toward you, and the way they speak of you."

"The keepers--"

"The keepers are designed to attract non-Enonians. I have felt this from you, as have others. But you should not be having this effect on the Enonians."

"Linwolse said that something was transmitted to them during the blood sharing."

"Yes, I believe something was transmitted to them. It is your life. You are alive--you have a soul. And they are very much attracted to this life, because nothing of the sort exists within them. They are aware that something is happening, but they do not seem to have any idea what or why. They do not seem to know that they are dead, and have been for thousands of years."

"I don't understand."

"It is the keepers, Forrest. The keepers maintain the illusion of life, both inwardly and outwardly. The Enonians, the Mandoss, the Linwolse, you think you know, died thousands of years ago. What you see here are lifeless automatons."

"But if they are not alive, then who--what are they?"

"They are the keepers."