Forrest felt he was being watched.

The place had an apocalyptic feel about it. Except for the occasional android going about its tasks, Forrest had seen no one since he left the docking bay. He approached the transport station that was closest to the docking bay. He could not be sure who was in control of the security system. The Enonians could be watching his every move. But it did not matter, they would expect him to come for Lisa. He boarded a shuttle and pulled his communicator from his belt.

"Serp?"

"I am here, Forrest."

"Is Lisa still at the agricultural station?"

"I believe so."

"Has she completed her transitioning?"

"Perhaps. There are recordings of her moving about the City."

"Does she seem okay?"

"She is confused and feeling sick--much as you when you transitioned."

"Have you spoken to her?"

"I'm afraid not. I can't gain access to the building, and she has not tried to contact me."

This bothered Forrest. If she were allowed to explore the City, she could have called Serp at any time--at least before he was forced into hiding. But she did not. Perhaps she was bewildered and returned to the Enonians for guidance, just as he had done. Or perhaps they were controlling her mind, planting a false reality. In any case, he must get to her before they gained too much control over her.

"Take me there, Serp."

"The underground station?"

"No--they might expect that. Take me into the City, near the road that leads to the station. I will walk."

"In the open? They will see you!"

"Yes, they might. But they will not expect me to be so bold. They will be unsure what to expect. Now, go!"

As the shuttle sped through the tubes, Forrest thought of Lisa. He remembered them hiding in the spinner on the Newton 6--those big brown eyes, and long, red-brown hair framing her beautiful face. And the way she looked at him--wanting, needing him--not just as a lover, but as a friend, a companion, someone to care about. He knew now that this was why he fell in love with her. She needed him, and he needed to be needed--to be loved. She would be immortal now, and not a blood drinker. They would have forever to be together, and he was not going to let the Enonians or anything else take that away from them.

The shuttle exited the tube into the light of the artificial Earth. It switched tracks, and headed for the industrial side of the township. The shuttle station was larger than most--designed to transport thousands of human workers from the factories and fields to and from their homes. The shuttle stopped and Forrest climbed out. The area was huge and preternaturally silence, waiting for the not yet born seeders to man the factories and farm the fields. Forrest jumped off the shuttle platform and walked briskly to the narrow, paved road that led to the agricultural station. He stopped and studied his surroundings. The fields to either side of the road lay fallow. He would be exposed as he walked the two-hundred meters to the building. But it did not matter. He had a feeling he would not be seen.

He pulled his communicator from his belt and punched in Serp's code.

"Are Mandoss and Lasandra still on the bridge?"

"Yes, along with Blix, Linwolse and Artemus."

"The others?"

"Unaccounted for. I presume Jerac and Eletel will be at your destination."

Forrest began the walk, slowly at first, but then faster as he thought of Lisa and the future that was theirs. But he was troubled. He did not know what to expect of her. How would she react to him? Would she come with him? Was it too late?

The building was three stories of offices and laboratories, with the fourth story an observation center--its walls made of darkened glass. Forrest was vaguely reminded of a control tower at a spaceport. He approached the front entrance and entered--the doors were not locked. He was in a lobby of sorts. A receptionist's desk occupied the center of the room, with speedlifts to either side. Hallways led to the rear of the building. He paused and listened with his mind and his ears. He could sense no one. He did not expect to sense Eletel or Jerac--their keepers would hide them. It was Lisa he felt for, but her keepers must be hiding her as well.

Forrest needlessly checked the charge on his blaster, then followed one of the hallways, looking for a stairway to the second floor; he didn't want to bring attention to himself by using a speedlift. None of the doors were locked, but the rooms were empty and none opened into a stairwell. The end of the corridor unfolded into a dining room that had been outfitted much like that in the Enonian house on Earth. Forrest was reminded of his last days on the planet and strange, disturbing emotions teased his mind. It was almost as if he wanted to go back into the Enonian fold--to again be one of them. He thought of the love (sex) he had made with Linwolse and Eletel, and felt a longing for them. He shook his head, throwing the thoughts out. They were dangerous thoughts, and he could not be sure they were his own.

He went into the kitchen. It showed evidence of use, and he wondered if the Enonians were preparing their own meals. If they were using humans or genoclones as servants, Forrest could not sense them. The place did not have an autokitchen. He opened a door and found a well stocked storage room. Forrest realized the Enonians had prepared the building as a retreat from the beginning. An open door was at the rear of the room and Forrest saw it led to a service lift. He entered the lift and looked upward. There was no lift compartment--just a platform--and he could see to the top floor. Magnetic rails and electrical conduits lined the walls. He climbed the maintenance ladder to the second floor and hit the button to open the doors.

Forrest remained still, listening for any sound. He heard none. He pushed himself off the ladder into the corridor. He pulled his blaster out of its holster and unlocked the safety, holding the weapon in readiness. Faint, muted voices could be heard coming from the far end of the corridor. Stepping softly, he made his way toward the voices. They came from the last door on the left--the room where Lisa had been made immortal.

Forrest pressed his ear against the door and listened. Eletel was speaking.

"But we must, Lisa. You will die otherwise!"

Lisa sobbed. "But you said it was done. You said I would now get over the sickness. I don't want to go back on the machine."

There was a brief silence, and then Eletel spoke softly. "I am sorry, Lisa. We thought it was. Your transitioning has proven more difficult than usual. But you have not felt the thirst. You need more Enonian blood."

"But why? I am starting to feel better now. I don't want to drink human blood!"

"Your keepers are not working correctly, Lisa. I cannot be sure what they are doing. But I do know that if you do not provide them with human blood, they will destroy you. We do not want you to die."

"You don't understand, Eletel. I don't need to drink. I am not a blood drinker. I don't know why, but I can feel it."

"Your mind is not right. You are changing, and cannot know what is true at this point. Please trust me, Lisa. We have done this thousands of times. We know what we are doing."

"I will not go back on the machine!" Lisa said, resolutely.

Eletel spoke more loudly. "We will have to force her."

"Yes, she will die if we do not," Jerac said, his voice coming from the other side of the room.

"Lie down on the bed, Lisa," Eletel instructed.

"No!" Lisa cried.

Forrest heard a struggle and he kicked the door open with the bottom of his foot. He plunged into the room, holding his blaster on the two Enonians.

"Lisa told you the truth," Forrest said, grinning at them.

Lisa gave him a confused look. Eletel and Jerac stared at him in amazement.

"How did you get in here?" Jerac asked.

"I walked in," Forrest replied, his tone suggesting it was a stupid question.

"Hello, Forrest," Eletel said. "I have missed you so much."

Forrest looked at her and she smiled.

"Don't give me that shit! It is not me you miss, but something I have that you don't."

Eletel looked hurt. "I do not understand you. I love you."

"You are not capable of love, Eletel. You lost that ability thousands of years ago."

Jerac spoke. "What are you talking about?"

"It does not matter. Lisa is coming with me."

"But she will die--" Jerac started.

"I can't, Forrest," Lisa said.

Forrest glanced at her. She was not herself.

"Think, Lisa! They are controlling you. They have altered your thoughts. You do not have free will, and you will not as long as you are with them."

"I am one of them, now," Lisa said, her voice calm, convinced.

"You are not thinking, Lisa! Remember the conversations we had with Valencia about the Enonians? Remember what we discovered about their true nature?"

Lisa stared at him. Forrest kept his eyes on the Enonians.

"We were wrong, Forrest. Valencia was wrong."

"Be strong, Lisa. Remember who you are--what you are!" Forrest insisted.

Jerac was giving him a stony look. "What is this discovery you speak of, Forrest?"

Forrest eyed him. "That you are not Jerac, and Eletel is not Eletel."

"That is ludicrous! If we are not ourselves, then who are we?"

"The keepers."

Jerac laughed. "The keepers are machines. You know that. You are not making sense."

"Yes, the keepers are machines. And they are not alive. But they have taken you over. The keepers were programmed to transition you back to mortality. But you did not. The keepers have continued to try to transition you all these years, until what was left of your original spirit was expunged. Jerac died a long time ago, his spirit no longer with the body. And the same is true of Eletel and the others. The keepers kept the body and the memories alive, but the spirit has passed on. You have no spirit, no soul. You are dead--you are the Living Dead. You are vampires."

Jerac's eyes glowed red in anger. Forrest felt his mind touched. He aimed his blaster at Jerac's chest.

"Don't do that, Jerac," he said, more calmly than he felt. His mind was released.

Eletel spoke. "Why do you say these things? Do you not remember the time we spent together in the park? Do you not remember our love making?"

"That was not real. I was under your control. I just didn't know it."

"No, Forrest! I was not controlling you. The feelings we shared were real. You have been duped into thinking otherwise--and you are wrong."

Despite his determination and anger against the Enonians, Forrest could not help feeling a sadness about Eletel. Their time together had felt genuine, and he did miss her. She seemed to sense this.

"Come back to us, Forrest," she pleaded. "All will be forgiven. I can convince the others to accept you. Lisa is one of us now, as once were you. If you come back to us, you and Lisa will be together forever."

"You are of the Mind. Come, be one with us again," Jerac added.

Forrest studied them. He knew they were trying to control him, even if he could not feel his mind touched.

"No. I will not. You are not real. You are no more than automatons. You are dead. You are the keepers running their never-ending program through your bodies."

"You would think we would know that, Forrest," Jerac said. "But we do not--it is not true. The keepers serve us, not the other way around."

Forrest did not bother to argue the point. "Lisa, wait for me in the hall."

"No."

"You must, Lisa. You cannot survive with them."

She spoke harshly. "Why? Because you are going to kill them? And me too?"

"I cannot kill that which is already dead."

"I will not let you harm them. They are my friends. You don't understand."

"No! You do not understand. They converted me because they needed me to help them take the Forever. Why have they converted you? What do they plan to use you for?"

Lisa frowned. "They are not using me. They are my friends."

"Dammit, Lisa, think! Why do they need you? What good are you to them? Have they told you that?"

"I--I don't understand."

Forrest looked at her, careful to keep his blaster on the Enonians. "They did not know you. They only knew that I had you hidden in the ship. Why did they choose you? Do you think they just wanted to be pals?"

A tear ran down her cheek. "They care about me," she insisted.

Forrest continued. "They chose me to get the Forever. And they planned to kill me once my purpose was served. But they could not. They found they needed me for something more. When I turned against them, they lost that. Now they are trying to find it in you."

"He is lying to you, Lisa," Jerac said.

Forrest looked at him. "Tell her what you need her for."

Jerac stared at him, a hint of confusion on his face. He said nothing.

"I thought so," Forrest said. "I will tell her. Lisa, they need you because you are alive. You have a spirit, a soul. They do not, and they are attracted to yours. If you stay with them, they will suck your soul from you, until you are as they are--dead."

Lisa looked at him, her face streaked with tears. "I--I don't know what to believe."

Good. He was beginning to get through to her. The spacer in her was beginning to surface.

"Wait for me in the hall," Forrest repeated.

Lisa started to stand, but Jerac's voice stopped her. "She will die if she leaves now. Her transitioning has not proceeded correctly. She has not felt the thirst."

Forrest smiled at him. "Nor will she. You have given her immortality, but not the blood lust."

"That is impossible," Jerac returned. "The keepers require human blood. If you take her, she will die."

"She told you that was not true. And she is correct. Jerac, I have not felt the thirst since we left the Solar System. I have not required or drank human blood. How do you explain that?"

Jerac gave him a quizzical look. "You are lying."

"No, Jerac. The keepers require the sunlight of the Earth's sun to trigger the blood lust. That sunlight does not exist here."

"If that were true, we would not feel the thirst. But we do."

"Perhaps you are too far gone, or perhaps you are locked into a pattern of behavior you cannot change. Whatever the reason, it does not work on us. Lisa and I are New Ones. We have not had our responses molded by a hundred-thousand years of exposure to sunlight. We are free of the curse that holds you captive. Lisa is coming with me."

Forrest saw Eletel's eyes starting to glow red. He braced himself for what was to come. He didn't want to kill them in front of Lisa--but he might have to.

"Go into the hall, Lisa," he said, again.

"No, Lisa. You stay put!" Eletel blazed. Lisa did not move. "We will not let you have her. She is ours! You have lost her."

"I am sorry, Eletel. But you have already lost. I am captain of this ship. And I have issued orders that the Enonians are to be killed on sight. As we speak, the humans are being freed and enlisted to fight you. Soon there will be hundreds armed and seeking you out. You cannot win."

"You are a fool!" Jerac blasted.

Forrest glanced at him, but Eletel caught his eye. She unzipped the front of her jumpsuit, exposing her breasts. She then pushed the jumpsuit and her panties to the floor and stepped out of them. Forrest stared at her naked body, and was reminded of the time in the park when they had sex in the pond. He felt the fire of lust building in his mind. The power over him given to her by drinking his seed was still in force, and he found it increasingly hard to resist her.

"What is happening?" Lisa asked, confused by Eletel's action.

No one responded to her. Both Jerac's and Eletel's eyes glowed a violent red.

Eletel spoke. "Look at me, Forrest. See my luscious breasts. See my sweet pussy. Do you want to give these up? They can be yours forever. Return to us." This was not the Eletel he knew speaking. She had become something else.

Forrest felt them touching his mind, their ancient keepers overcoming his immature keepers. He fought, but felt a nearly overwhelming need to drop his blaster. Contradictory forces worked in his mind. He found it difficult to focus his thoughts.

"Stop it!" he demanded.

"Make love to me, Forrest. You want me, and I want you. Come to me."

Lisa looked at Forrest. "Kill them! Now!" she yelled.

"Come to me, my love," Eletel continued. She moved back and sat on the bed behind her. She spread her legs flaunting her glistening labial tissues.

Forrest could not take his eyes off of her. He wanted to touch her in that private place, to enter her and lose himself in the concupiscence. His head was swimming with lust and fear.

"Kill them!" Lisa yelled again.

Jerac went to her and struck her with the back of his hand. She was thrown to her bed with the force of the impact. "Do not speak!" Jerac said, his voice taking an evil tone.

He should not have done that.

Forrest fired a quick burst from his blaster, and a hole suddenly appeared straight through Jerac's chest. Jerac stared at Forrest with disbelief for a moment, and then slumped to the floor at Lisa's feet. She pushed his dead body away from her.

Forrest turned his attention to Eletel. She watched him steadfastly.

"So this is how it ends?" she said. "Once we were lovers, and now you kill me?"

"I am sorry, Eletel. But you are not alive anyway."

Forrest felt a tingling at the base of his brain. She was directly stimulating the production of androgen to produce an aphrodisiacal effect. He looked at her, and had never seen anyone so sexually desirable.

"Put down your weapon, and come to me, Forrest. I need you. You need me. I am willing and waiting." She smiled and Forrest could see her fangs.

"Forrest!" Lisa pleaded.

Forrest was about to drop his weapon when Lisa kicked him on the leg with all her might.

That's all it took.

He aimed the blaster at Eletel's vagina. She stared at him in terror. He fired several short blasts, and Eletel's legs were severed from her body, her vagina no longer in existence. She collapsed on the bed, her body convulsing, screaming in a language Forrest could only assume was ancient Enonian. Then she was quiet, dead.

It was over.

Forrest stood still for several seconds, trying to collect his thoughts, his blaster still aimed at the dead Eletel. Lisa came to him and pried the weapon from his fingers. She laid it on the bed and then put her arms around him, resting her head on his shoulder. Forrest finally realized what was happening and put his arms around her, holding her tight against him.

"I love you so much, Lisa."

She looked into his eyes. "And I you. You saved me. You were right--they were controlling me. I'm sorry I took so long to understand."

"It was not your fault."

Forrest kissed her long and hard. He then buried his head in her neck. They closed their eyes, feeling the shared warmth of their bodies and souls. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and at first thought it was Lisa's. But then something (someone?) brushed his leg. Lisa screamed. Forrest released her and swung around. Lisa fell to the floor, toppled over by whatever had her legs.

Jerac was standing before him. He was grinning, his eyes an intense, pulsing red, his fangs extruded. He was mouthing words, but his ruptured lungs prevented the air pressure needed to produce sound. Forrest hit him with his fist causing his head to turn in recoil. But Jerac turned his head back to Forrest and grinned that much more. He began to lash at Forrest, going for his eyes. Jerac seemed to have trouble controlling his arms--as if the signals from his brain (?) could not quite get through. Forrest had no trouble fending off his attack. He pushed Jerac to the far side of the room with the bottom of his foot, in much the same fashion as he had broken the door open. Jerac's head hit the wall with a loud, cracking smack, knocking him unconscious, and he slid down the wall leaving a trail of blood.

Forrest looked to the struggle transpiring at his feet. Eletel had pulled her legless body over to them and was attempting to pluck Lisa's eyes out. Lisa held Eletel's arms at bay, and she was terrified. Forrest picked Eletel up and threw her across the room next to Jerac. Eletel pushed herself around to face them. Forrest helped Lisa to her feet. She was splattered with Eletel's blood.

"Are you okay?" he asked her.

"Yes. Scared shitless, but okay. How could they do that? Why aren't they dead?"

"I don't know."

They looked at Eletel. She was watching them with an evil glee in her red eyes. Forrest retrieved his blaster and approached the creature, Lisa standing just behind him.

"Who are you?" Forrest asked.

"I am Eletel."

"No. Eletel is dead. Who are you?"

The creature considered him. "We will tell you. But you will not like what you hear."

"Tell me anyway," Forrest demanded.

"You were right. We are the keepers. And we are inside of you, and your woman. In time you will die and your body and minds will be ours. You will become us."

"Not without sunlight."

"We will find another way."

"You will not get the chance. You are an aberration. You will be programmed out of our keepers."

The creature spat blood at him. "You would not dare touch us. You will be destroyed if you tamper with the programming."

"You just said we would die. What have we to lose by trying?"

"Fuck you all the way to hell!"

Forrest thought of Anthony. A part of the puzzle clicked into place.

"Who was Anthony? Why did he die?"

The creature looked at him with hatred. "A vile being from the other side. We do not know why he died."

"The other side? You mean superspace?"

"That is what you call it. It is hell!"

Forrest studied the creature a moment. "I have been to the other side. Anthony spoke to me. He said I had a purpose to fulfill. I did not know what the purpose was--but now I do."

The creature just looked at him with its sick eyes.

Forrest continued. "To destroy you--that is the purpose. Anthony was placed in this world to await my arrival and deliver this message to me. I am to destroy you."

"We know nothing of this."

"What do you know about my daughter, Susan?"

"We know nothing of her. Why should we?"

"Anthony said I would meet her again, when my purpose was rendered. What did he mean by that?"

"You speak of things from the other side. We know nothing of that."

Forrest stood and backed away, keeping Lisa behind him. He readied his blaster.

"I believe you," Forrest said. "And now I will destroy you."

The creature laughed at him. "You are a fool! You left a blood sample on Earth. Do you not think the humans will come to understand and use it to make themselves immortal. In time there will be billions of us. You cannot destroy us."

Forrest thought of the Masters of Terran society. And he wondered if perhaps his daughter was a Master residing on some planet somewhere in the galaxy. Once he got Zak and his team to Tau Ceti, he vowed to search for her. The more he thought of it, the more he was convinced that this was what Anthony was trying to tell him. This was the other part of the message. Susan was alive--perhaps a Master, or perhaps one of the rebels--but in any case, alive.

"Prepare to die," Forrest said.

He put the blaster on low and fired into what was left of the bodies of Jerac and Eletel until they were no more than residual carbon. He looked at Lisa and took her hand. She seemed dazed.

"Let's get out of here," he said. "The others may come when they learn of this."

They boarded a shuttle at the industrial complex. Forrest punched in Valencia's code on his communicator.

"Valencia here," she responded.

"Forrest. Status report."

"Forrest? Thank God! Are you all right? Do you have Lisa?"

"Yes, and we are both fine. Jerac and Eletel are dead. What is the situation? Where are you?"

"On the bridge. We have control of the ship. The Enonians have disappeared. We are searching for them now."

"What about the human captives?"

"Once they understood the situation, they readily agreed to join us. Those that were ill have been moved to sickbay for treatment. The others have been armed and have joined the search."

"You trust them?"

"Yes. I detected no deception. They know it is in their best interest to join us. Where are you?"

"In the City. We are on our way to the bridge. Forrest out."

Forrest entered Serp's code.

"Yes, Forrest."

"Have you regained control of the computer systems?"

"For the most part. There is still more to do. I now have access to the agricultural station. How did you arrange that?"

Forrest thought for a moment. "I didn't do anything, Serp. Jerac and Eletel were there. I killed them. That must be when you regained access. Is Val still with you?"

"Yes."

"Tell her the Enonians are using hyperspace transmissions to control the computers, I think."

"She heard you."

"Explore that possibility. Let me know what you discover. Forrest out."

"Will do. Serp out."

Forrest programmed the shuttle for the main bridge. They rode in silence for several minutes, holding hands. Their troubles were not over yet, but at least he had Lisa with him, and he planned to not let her out of his sight until the Enonians were dead. He looked at her, and she gave him a concerned look.

"What is it, Lisa?"

"I feel guilty," she answered, her voice barely audible.

"Why? You haven't done anything wrong."

"Maybe I have."

"I don't understand. What do you think you have done?"

"Forrest, they had me ready to turn against you. They almost had me convinced you were the enemy. I was siding with them."

"They were controlling you. They had the power to make you think and feel what they wanted. You are a victim. You are not guilty of any wrong doing."

"I had sex with the one called Blix. And I enjoyed it."

Forrest turned to face her. He caressed her face.

"And then he applied his blood to your body."

"Yes."

"When I was converted, it was Lasandra that seduced me. We had sex, and then she applied her blood to my body. I don't know why they do it that way, but that is what they do. I was a victim. And so are you. You must rid yourself of these feelings of guilt. You have not betrayed me."

Lisa studied him a moment. "I love you so much, Forrest. I don't want to ever lose you."

Forrest smiled at her. "You will not lose me. I promise you that." He kissed her warmly, and she returned the kiss.

"How is it they seem so real, Forrest? If they are the keepers--if the Enonians died long ago, how are they able to be so convincing?"

"In a way, the Enonians are not dead, I believe. The spirit--the essence of what they once were has died. But the memories, the emotions, the personality persists. I suppose the keepers find it convenience to allow this. Perhaps they require it; I do not know. The keepers were supposed to serve them. But their keepers mutated. They are dead in the sense that they serve the keepers rather than the keepers serving them. They just don't know it. The keepers will not allow them to know this, I suppose. They seem real because in a sense they are. But they do not have free will. They exist only to carry out the keepers' programming, and no other."

"But what do the keepers want?"

"I don't know. Maybe they are a new lifeform. Maybe they are just trying to survive. If they have some long range plan, I can't see it."

"What will happen to us? We have the keepers . . ."

"Yes, but they are our keepers. They are unique to us. Valencia has been studying the files on keeper technology. As I understand it, during the transfusion the guest keepers spawn new keepers for the host body. These keepers have the base programming, but not the adjustments made to adapt to the previous host. Each body is different, and the keepers have to adjust their programming. The sub-programs added by the Pascanians are triggered by sunlight. It is these sub-programs that created the mutated keepers in the Enonians. Our keepers have the sub-programs, but they will not be activated unless we are exposed to the sunlight of the Solar System."

"So we can't go back."

"That's right. Unless we can learn how to remove the sub-programs."

"I will never see my father again. That is sad."

Forrest had forgotten she didn't know. "Lisa, when we bounced in, we arrived not only at a new place, but a new time. We are not only twenty-thousand lightyears from Earth, but three-thousand years in the future."

"What?"

"It's true. It's been confirmed. The civilization in this system is descended from Earth. A lot has happened in the last three-thousand years."

Lisa seemed dumbfounded. "This will take some getting used to."

"I'm not sure I'm used to it yet. But in any case, we are leaving this system in a hurry."

Lisa frowned at him. "Why?"

"We are wanted by the government. We are considered criminals. They haven't positively identified us yet, and we must leave before they do."

"What did we do?"

"We stole the Forever."

"But that was three-thousands years ago!"

"True. And the Terrans have been awaiting our return ever since."

"This is unreal."

Forrest laughed. "Yes, it is. Sometimes I think I'm dreaming."

"Where will we go?"

"Tau Ceti. The home of the Enonians."

"Why there?"

"It's a long story. You are about to meet some of the Terrans. I'll fill you in then."

They entered the bridge. Valencia turned and looked up at them.

"Lisa!" she cried. She ran up the steps and gave Lisa a hug. "How are you? Are you feeling okay?"

Lisa smiled at her. "I still feel a little woozy. But it's getting better. I'm okay."

"I'm glad. I've been so worried about you."

The two women walked away, lively chatting to each other. Forrest smiled at them, a warmth filling his being. He was amongst friends, and it felt good. He went to the command level where Zak was waiting.

"What are you doing here? I thought I instructed you to assist with the refueling."

Zak stared at him. "I am not under your command, Forrest."

"Perhaps not. But on this ship, your safety is my responsibility. I expect my orders to be followed."

"Point taken. Will you let me explain?"

"I'm listening."

"Valencia reported to me that the Enonians were missing and she was on the bridge with a crew. I requested that Nicholor and I be allowed to join her. Nicholor needed to check on the Enonian drive, and I didn't want him to travel here alone."

Forrest smiled. "I spoke too quickly, Zak. Forgive me. What has Nicholor discovered?"

"He should tell you that."

They went to the engineering station. Nicholor was frowning at a display. He looked up as they approached.

"Hello, Forrest. I understand you've had some excitement."

"Excitement I would have preferred to miss. What have you found out here?"

"Well, I've only had a couple of hours to study the system. It's similar to a Terran drive, but not identical. I think I understand it, and if I do, then I must conclude that it's been calibrated wrong. Whoever calibrated this drive has never done it before."

Forrest scowled. "That would be Artemus. And you're right. He's never done this before. He's a transitioner like myself. He was taught the procedure by the Enonians. What is wrong with the calibration?"

"It was done strictly by the book. No allowances were made for variations from the theoretical norm. It might work, but there would be a high degree of unpredictability. Perhaps too high."

Forrest scratched his head. "How long to recalibrate?"

"Assuming I understand it correctly, twenty-four hours at least. But I need to study this drive more. If I'm missing something, we could have serious problems."

"How long do you need?"

"Several hours. Maybe more. I've studied the manuals, but I don't understand all the terms. I did not gain a full vocabulary from the hyperlearner."

"I may be able to help you with some of the terms. And I'll have Valencia assign one of her technicians to assist you. But other than you, I'm the only here that knows anything about it, and what I know I don't fully understand. It's up to you to get us going. We don't know how much time we have."

"Understood."

Forrest returned to the command level and sat in the captain's chair. Zak tagged along and sat to his left. Forrest did not recognize the woman sitting at the com station.

"Hail the lead tanker," he commanded.

The woman turned and looked at him. She was an attractive blonde with blue eyes. "Yes Sir."

"What is your name?" Forrest asked.

"Triona Ambury," She answered. "I've had training in communications, and I've studied the manuals. Valencia assigned me to the com station." She spoke fast, as if nervous.

Forrest smiled at her. "Good. I trust Valencia's judgment. Proceed."

"Hailing now."

Creola appeared on the fore screen. "Tanker Anodos. Creola speaking. Is that you, Forrest?" She spoke in the Imperial Language. She had not bothered to speedlearn English.

Forrest stood and went to the transmission circle. "You can see me now?" he asked, using the same language.

"Yes."

"How's the refueling going?"

"No problems, so far."

"How soon until you're done?"

"I estimate about five hours." Creola was frowning.

"What is wrong?" Forrest asked.

"Several warships seem to be preparing to approach. I don't know why."

"Can you monitor their communications?"

"I can't get through the Guardian grid. Their communications will be coded anyway."

"I see. Keep me posted. And see if you can speed up the refueling process."

"I will try. Creola out."

Forrest returned to his chair. "What does it mean, Zak?"

"I'm not sure. They may intend to prevent you from bouncing out."

"So they know who we are?"

"No. If they did, the Guardians would have commandeered your ship. But I suspect the Empress has ordered them to not let you leave, at least until she has arrived to identify you."

"She will come here herself?"

"Oh yes! If she has reason to believe you are who you are, she will want to command your destruction herself."

Forrest laughed. "She's quite a bitch, isn't she?"

Zak did not see the humor in the situation. "Don't underestimate her, Forrest. She has ruled the Empire for three-thousand years. There is a reason for that."

"I take your point, Zak. But you should not underestimate me."

Zak just looked at him, saying nothing.

"Valencia?" Forrest called.

She returned from the conferral room, Lisa following.

"What is it?" Valencia asked, concerned.

Forrest looked at her. "Man the battle stations. We are on alert. Code yellow."

"What is happening?"

"There is evidence that warships might approach. I want your people ready."

Zak seemed flustered. "You can't defend yourself against a Terran warship! This ship is no match!"

"I know," Forrest replied. "But we might be able to buy time."

Valencia retrieved her communicator and issued the necessary commands. "Done!" she announced.

"This is crazy!" Zak said.

"Do you have an alternative plan?" Forrest asked.

"No, but if you fire on the warships they will blow you away!"

"Really? Before the Empress gets here?"

Zak stared at Forrest, unbelieving. "Empress or no Empress, they will defend themselves."

"Good! That proves they are not stupid--so they will think twice when they learn we have a superspace implosion detonator--SID for short."

"What in hell is a SID?"

"You don't know?"

"No, Forrest, I don't."

Forrest could not suppress a laugh. "Well, neither do I. And that's the point. They will not know what a SID is either." He looked at Valencia. "Nicholor needs someone to assist him in reading the tech manuals on the Nothingness Drive. Assign your best person for the job."

"Aye, Captain," she responded, smiling at him.

"You people are enjoying this!" Zak blurted, incredulously.

"Hey, what is life for, if not to have fun?" Forrest grinned at him. Zak shook his head.

Lisa came and sat to Forrest's right.

"What's going to happen?" she asked.

Before Forrest could answer, a silvery sphere floated into the bridge. Zak went for his blaster, but Forrest held his arm with inhuman force, stopping him.

"Relax, Zak. It's only Val."

"This is Val?" Lisa said.

The sphere descended to the command level, formed a silver puddle, and then grew into Val's naked form. She looked around until she found Forrest.

Forrest spoke. "Put you clothes on, Val."

"No time for that. I will not be staying," she said, her tone serious.

"What is it?"

"You were right. The Enonians are using hyperspace transmissions to control the computers. Serp has programmed several of the androids to modify transmitters for hyperspace signals. We plan to use them to jam their transmissions. These will be placed throughout the ship."

Forrest realized he would find it easier to concentrate on what she was saying if she weren't naked. He could sense Zak was having the same problem.

"Good. But you didn't come here in person just to tell me that."

"No. The jammer will retard our ability to use telepathic communication."

"We'll have to live with that. There is more?"

"Yes. We have reason to believe the Enonians may try to set the Forever for self-destruct."

Forrest stood up. "Why would they do that?"

"We don't know. Perhaps revenge. Perhaps they know they are losing, and plan to take us down with them."

Valencia spoke. "That doesn't sound like the Enonians I know. It's a bluff."

Val turned to her. "I agree. But it may not be the Enonians. It may be the keepers. They know that Jerac and Eletel are dead."

"Will the jammers prevent this?" Forrest asked.

"It will slow them down. Serp had placed guard code around the self-destruct routines. And he has cloned part of himself to watch it. But we can't be sure we can stop them. They must be destroyed as soon as possible."

"Do you know where they are?"

"Not all of them. They have split up. The one called Linwolse is in the apartment you shared with her. We do not know why she is there."

"It's a trap, Forrest," Valencia said.

"I know. But I must go to her and destroy her. The others?"

"We think one is hiding amongst the agrav generators, level one, near the thruster cylinder."

"That will be Artemus," Forrest concluded.

"The whereabouts of the others is unknown," Val added.

"Keep searching."

"We are. I must go now." Val returned to her natural form and floated through the nearest bulkhead.

Forrest checked the charge on his blaster. It was not quite full, but close enough. He headed for the speedlift.

"You can't go by yourself!" Valencia insisted.

"I have to. You take the bridge. And watch after Lisa."

Valencia sighed. "Will do. Be careful."

Zak stood and looked at Forrest. "I'll go after the one called Artemus."

"No. You are needed at Tau Ceti."

"I'll never get there if they blow this ship up!"

Forrest studied him. "Okay. But don't go alone. Valencia will assign you a team."

"Agreed."

Forrest entered the speedlift and punched in the officer's level. He leaned against the support rail and thought. It was obvious that Linwolse expected him to come for her. But what did she have planned? Was he overlooking something? And why did he feel he had to approach her alone?

The doors slid open. Several humans and genoclones were gathered at the juncture just down from the apartment. Forrest approached.

"What is happening?" he asked.

"One of the aliens is holding up in the third apartment on the right," a man answered. "We can't get close. It's using some kind of mind control. We can't get close without losing consciousness."

"She is waiting for me." Forrest started down the corridor.

"You can't, Sir. It'll--" He stopped when saw Forrest was unaffected.

Forrest reached the apartment and banged on the door with the butt of his blaster. The door slid open. Forrest did not move. He waited, and listened.

"Please come in, Forrest. I am unarmed," Linwolse's voice said.

Forrest stepped into the apartment. Linwolse was standing in the main room. She was naked. He looked at her body, and felt the lust building inside his mind. He remembered the time at Worldly Machines when Linwolse had told him of using her body to defend herself thousands of time over the years. He had not expected that she would one day use her body against him. But here she was--naked, and knowing that her nakedness would make him desire her.

"You are as beautiful as ever, Lin," Forrest said. His tone was friendly, but he still held his blaster aimed between her breasts.

"I thought you might feel so. Do you find me desirable?"

"You know I do."

"Then let us make love."

"I'm not that foolish."

Linwolse gave him a sad look. "I am not trying to trick you, Forrest. I miss you. I miss feeling your warmth next to me--inside of me."

"Cut the shit, Lin. We are at war, and you talk of sex. It doesn't make sense."

She sat down on a plush chair, but kept her legs open so he could see the patch of hair between her legs. "You sadden me, Forrest. Will you at least sit and talk to me?"

Forrest slowly walked in her direction. He sat on the couch across from her. He tried to keep his eyes on hers, not only to read her intentions, but to avoid her body.

"What do you want to talk about?"

"Us."

"There is no us. There never really was."

"How can you say that? When you transitioned, you were hurting and confused. I gave you the attention and love you needed. I did so because I had learned to love you during the blood sharing. We talked of this. Remember?"

"I remember very well, Lin. And at the time I believed it. I know better now."

"You feel no love for me now?"

Despite himself, Forrest did feel something. It felt like love, but it could not be.

"No, Lin, I do not," he lied. "I now know what you are. You are not something that can love or be loved. Love does not exist within you."

Her eyes were wide, and a tear rolled down her cheek. It was very convincing.

"And what am I that you cannot love?"

"You are not alive. I've no doubt that there was once a Linwolse who was very beautiful and loving, and I wish I could have known her. But she died a long time ago. You are not Linwolse. You are the keepers."

Linwolse smiled at him. "That is very astute of you."

"You are admitting it's true?"

"I am admitting it is partially true. The keepers have developed a life of their own, and sometimes they do control our actions when the need exists. We have known this for thousands of years. You believe they have taken the essence of what we are and destroyed it. But that cannot be. The body cannot survive without the essence, and the keepers know this. We have a symbiotic relationship with the keepers. They depend on us for survival just as we depend on them. So, you see, I am alive--as much as I ever was--and I love you, Forrest."

This made sense--more sense than Valencia's theory--and Forrest was disturbed.

"Why were you attracted to me, Lin? Why was Eletel attracted to me? Was it not my life, my essence, something that you lack?"

"It is your life that attracted us, all of us. But not because we lacked life, but because you were fresh--the New One. It is always that way with a New One. We are very old, Forrest. You cannot imagine how it feels to be as old as we are. But you are young--a new life. Remember how you felt the first time you saw your baby daughter? Did you not instantly love her? You participated in her creation. You could not help but love her. Our love for you is similar."

She was making too much sense, and that worried him. But then something occurred to him.

"I killed Eletel," he said, bluntly.

"I know. How could you do that? She loved you so much."

Forrest ignored her comment. "I thought she was dead. But then her body reanimated and she spoke to me. Only it wasn't Eletel, it was the keepers. They said: in time you will die and your body and mind will be ours."

Linwolse gave him a stern look. "You angered them. They were threatening you."

"No, Lin. They told the truth. And if it were not for the lack of sunlight, I would die and become them. But that will not happen. As long as I stay away from Earth, my keepers will be normal, healthy Enonian keepers--not the deranged ones that you are. I did not kill Eletel because she was not alive, just as you are not alive."

Anger flashed across Linwolse's face, and he saw a hint of red in her eyes. Forrest raised his blaster.

"I'm sorry, Lin. I must end your false life, now."

Forrest felt the blaster pull from his grasp. It flew across the room, hitting the wall and falling to the floor.

"Not before you fuck me!" she said.

He looked at her in terror. She was stronger than Jerac and Eletel combined. And the evil in her intense, red eyes could only be matched by Lasandra. She was standing before him, her breasts inches from his face. But he was not impressed. He was horrified.

"Fuck me!" she demanded.

She grabbed at his jumpsuit and began ripping it apart. Forrest tried to back himself over the couch, but the clothing prevented him from moving. She continued to tear at the cloth, and he allowed himself to slip out of the jumpsuit. And just as he plunged over the couch, she grabbed his shorts, and he fell naked to the floor. He stood and started to run. But she was in front of him before he could make a step.

"Fuck me!" The creature was no longer pretending to be Linwolse. Its eyes were evil and pulsing red.

"I'm afraid I'm not in the mood," Forrest blurted.

She grabbed his organ and stroked him. Despite himself, Forrest felt himself developing an erection. But it was an autonomic response. He didn't want this creature touching him.

"Are you feeling it now?" she asked.

"No! Nor will I. I'm not into necrophilia."

"Is that so? Well, let us see if you like this."

She threw him to the floor, and facing toward his feet, straddled him, pushing her cunnus against his face. Forrest tried to push her away, but she was too strong.

"Lick me!" she demanded. "I want to feel your tongue inside my cunt!"

Forrest kept his tongue inside his mouth, thank you. She leaned over him and took his organ into her mouth and sucked. Forrest felt the lust growing inside of him, and he could not help it. She knew exactly how to stimulate him. She must have done this to thousands of men.

"Please do as they say, Forrest. It is the only chance you have to survive." For some reason she sounded more like the Linwolse he had known.

"Lin?"

"I cannot maintain control for long. Do as they say--I love you."

Was this a trick? Was it using her voice to fool him?

"How do I know this is Lin speaking?"

"I am losing control. They want oral sex. Give it to them until the others come for you. It is your only chance. I love--" She was gone. The creature continued to suck him.

"Lick me, I said. Do it!" the creature demanded.

Forrest tentatively brought his tongue into her wet flesh. He sought her clitoris but was too disoriented to find it. He moved his tongue within her.

"Yes, that is it." she said.

He should not have, but Forrest found himself enjoying the sex. He continued to explore her flesh as she sucked him. He felt his mind beginning to calm as they continued the mutual stimulation. He put his arms around her body and pulled her closer to him. He was into it now. She felt so deliciously good--he could not get enough of her. If he could have, he would have pushed his head into her vagina. The thought almost made him laugh, but then he felt himself building to a climax. And just as he exploded into her, he heard blaster fire. Her body was thrown off of him. He continued to pump, the thick, white liquid splattering his naked body.

Forrest sat up. Valencia was at his side.

"Are you okay?" she asked, trying not to look at him.

"I think so. What happened?"

"I killed her."

Forrest looked at Linwolse's body. It lay beside him, its eyes dead.

"We have to burn the body," he said.

"Why? She is dead."

"It is not dead until the body cannot reanimate. Give me your blaster."

Valencia gave him the weapon. He set the weapon on low, and burnt Linwolse's body until there was nothing left but ash. Valencia had to retrieve a fire extinguisher to put out the burning carpet. She then got a towel and gave it to Forrest. He cleaned himself as best he could, and wrapped the towel around his waist.

"How did you know to come?" he asked her.

"I felt your terror."

"Thank God for hyperspace, whatever that is. Have you heard from Zak?"

"Not yet. What happened here, Forrest?"

"We were talking. It almost had me convinced it was Lin. But there was a flaw in her story. When I pointed it out, she--it--raped me. I lost control. This is the most disgusting thing that has ever happened to me."

"You seemed to be enjoying yourself when we arrived. It was controlling you?"

"Yes, somehow, even though I knew it was not Lin."

A voice came from the door. "That did not seem to matter. You had your head buried pretty deep into her." It was Lisa's voice.

Forrest turned and saw her standing at the door. She was crying.

"Lisa, you don't understand what you saw," Forrest exclaimed.

"I think I do," she said, flatly, and walked away.