They entered the bridge.

Zak was seated in the captain's chair. He stood, turning command over to Forrest. He sat with Valencia to his right. He motioned Lisa to sit to his left. Triona was at the communications station. The pilot and navigation stations were not manned. Forrest looked at Zak.

"You can pilot this ship?"

"Pilot it where, Forrest? We cannot--"

"That is not what I asked!"

Zak stared at him. "Yes. I have studied the manuals, at least."

"Then you are the pilot. Take your station."

He did as told, shaking his head almost imperceptibly.

"Where is Aurelia?" Forrest asked.

Zak answered. "The thruster cylinder. She is assisting the crew there. They are sealing the fuel tanks now."

"Good. Have her report to the bridge, now. She will man the navigation station. I take it the tankers have withdrawn."

"Yes. They are on their way back to Marcus-3."

Forrest looked at the fore screen. The Guardians and the controller ship had not moved. They were now joined by three huge, Terran warships positioned just outside the grid.

"Still no communication with the warships?"

"None," Triona answered.

"Your thoughts, Zak?"

"They do not want us to leave. If they were here to protect or assist us, they would have told us so. They are awaiting orders. We are in danger."

"I agree. As soon as the tanks are sealed, activate the all six fusion reactors."

Zak looked at him. "They will detect that."

"It does not matter. We cannot bounce without the reactors."

"We cannot bounce so close to a planet. Lives will be lost."

"I would think they should be aware of this. We will not bounce unless they force us to."

"Understood. I will do as ordered." He returned his attention to his console.

Forrest studied the man. Zak did not agree with his tactics, but if Forrest had him assessed correctly, he would follow orders.

He looked at Valencia. "I want laser cannons focused on the controller ship. At the first sign of trouble, the ship is to be destroyed. Your discretion."

"Will do." She swung the weapons console around its pivot, and began working the controls. Forrest heard her issue orders to her gunners.

"What shall I do," Lisa asked.

"Advise me. That is your position."

"I will try."

Forrest smiled at her. "When we are out of this, you will have your dream of exploring the galaxy. I promise you that."

She returned the smile. "I know."

"Forrest! I must speak to you, in private." It was Val. She stood in the doorway of the conferral room. As usual, she was naked. Modesty was not a concept she knew--or at least obeyed. Not that Forrest really minded; it was just distracting, to others as well as himself. And they could not afford such distractions now.

Forrest went to her. "Nudity is not proper attire for the bridge, Val. Is there something you can do about that?"

"I cannot carry clothing when I assume my natural form. I must return to assist Serp. But I have to tell you something first. Please join me."

Forrest stepped into the conferral room. Val pushed the button to close the door, and they were alone.

"Okay, what is it?"

"Sit with me on the couch. I don't want you to fall down."

"Why would I fall down?"

She ignored his question, but took him by the hand and led him to the couch. They sat facing each other. Forrest tried to avoid looking at her breasts, but without much success.

"Now, can you tell me?" he asked.

Val leaned over and kissed him warmly. Forrest put his hands on her shoulders and gently pushed her back.

"I belong to another, Val. We cannot have sex again."

She smiled at him. "You belong to Lisa, and I belong to Serp. That is as it should be. I am not trying to seduce you, although I do feel like it."

Forrest felt it, too. Her nakedness made it impossible to prevent.

"What is this about, Val?"

"Touch me," she instructed.

"I can't."

"You don't understand."

She took his hand a placed it over her womb.

"Can you feel it?" She asked.

"Feel what?"

"You are going to be a father." She beamed at him.

"What? This is not funny, Val." He removed his hand from her.

"Is it not a joke. This body is an exact replication of Valencia. All functions are active. Apparently I was ovulating when we made love. The egg was fertilized and has implanted itself in my uterus. A tiny person is growing inside of me. We are going to be parents."

Forrest stared at her, unbelieving.

"That can't be, Val. the keepers prevent it--I cannot get you pregnant."

"That is the way it's supposed to be, but believe me. I am pregnant!"

"There has been no one else?"

"You are my first and only."

Forrest stood and paced the room. This was incredible, if not impossible.

"You are sure?"

"Absolutely!"

"But how--? I mean, you are a metamorph and I am human. How can we procreate? What will the child be?"

"The child will be a metamorph, like me. The genetic material you provided acted only as a blueprint. Your RNA was replicated to the metamorphic equivalent. But the program is identical. He will be your son."

"He? You know the sex of the child already?"

"Yes. Just as I am able to run self-diagnostics in my natural form, I can run diagnostics on this body. That's how I know I'm pregnant. I have examined the embryo. And it is a boy."

"Have you told Serp?"

"Yes. He looks forward to having a brother."

Forrest laughed. He rejoined her on the couch. She smiled at him. He took her hand into his.

"So nine months from now we will have a son," he said.

"If not sooner."

"Sooner?"

"I can speed up the process. The child could be born in a month, maybe less. I want to, Forrest. I am anxious. I never expected to be a mother. I need your permission. He is your son, too."

Forrest was dazed. He looked into her eyes, and saw the happiness they radiated. And he felt love for her.

"I am confused," he said, finally.

"I know. Lisa will understand, if you explain it to her. And I can talk to her, if needed."

Forrest said nothing.

"Are you okay?" Val asked.

He shook his head. "Yes. I was just lost in thought."

"I want you to be happy, Forrest."

"I am, Val. It's just so sudden, so unexpected. Bear with me."

"I understand."

Forrest looked at her. "Do not speed up the process now. Wait until we are safe. We will decide then. Okay?"

She smiled. "Agreed."

They heard a rumble in the distance.

"The fusion reactors have been started," Val said. "I must return to Serp."

"Okay."

"I love you, Forrest."

"It's a two-way street," he replied, and then wondered if she would know what that meant.

Val returned to her natural form and was gone. Forrest stood and went to the door. He pushed the button, and the door opened. Valencia and Lisa looked at him, expectantly. They were obviously curious about what had gone on behind the closed door. Forrest went to his chair and sat. A million thoughts went through his head.

"Is everything okay?" Valencia asked.

Forrest did not answer.

"Forrest?"

"Uh, yes. Everything's fine."

"Is it a secret?"

"What?"

"Val? What did she tell you?"

"She's pregnant."

There was a stunned silence.

"That's not possible," Valencia said, finally.

"Tell that to Val."

"But she's a metamorph, and you a transitioner. How--?"

"I don't know how. But I'm going to be a father."

Lisa spoke. "You had sex with Val?"

Forrest looked at her. She was frowning.

"I instructed her. It was part of her training. She requested it."

"Oh, I guess that's as good an excuse as any."

"Lisa, you do not understand the circumstances. I will explain later."

"I can't wait." Her voice was sarcastic.

Forrest sighed.

"We are being hailed," Triona announced.

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

A man appeared wearing the uniform of the Imperial Military. He had beady eyes that seemed to Forrest more than fitting.

"Why have you engaged your reactors?" he asked, in English.

Forrest looked at him as if he was stupid--an expression he had learned from his wife.

"We are preparing to move to the bounce point," he answered.

"My orders are to keep you here. Kill your reactors."

"I do not take orders from you," Forrest said, pointedly. "Perhaps your superiors did not inform you as to why we must bounce out as soon as possible."

"A Maloid attack has not been confirmed."

"Oh? Are you waiting for them to bounce in to confirm their existence?"

The man seemed addled. He was not used to having someone speak to him in this manner.

"Kill your reactors, or I will be forced to disable your ship."

"I wouldn't advise that." He put a finger to his lips and looked at Triona.

She took the hint and killed the audio. Forrest turned around and looked at Valencia.

"If I show you two fingers, destroy the controller ship."

"Will do." She checked her weapons console.

"Zak, be prepared to fire all six thrusters full throttle."

Zak spoke from behind him. "They will fire upon us!"

"I know. That's why Nicholor will be ready to bounce us out of here. Right Nicholor?"

"I can't guarantee where we will end up, but I will engage the drive," the man responded.

"Good man."

Forrest turned around to face the screen. He motioned to Triona.

Zak interrupted. "If we bounce here, a lot of lives will be lost."

"You are telling the wrong person, Zak. We are at war. Civilian casualties are part of the game."

"Have you no feeling for the people of this system?"

"Yes, Zak, I do. Do you forget your purpose? I am taking you to Tau Ceti. And I will do whatever is necessary to get you there. Do you understand, or shall I replace you?"

Zak lowered his eyes. "I understand." He turned to his station.

Forrest looked at Triona. He then held his hands behind his back.

"Why did you cut audio?" the officer on screen demanded.

"We had secrets to discuss," Forrest answered.

"You have not killed your reactors."

"I don't plan to."

"That is an order!"

Forrest just looked him.

The man continued. "My orders are not to fire upon you unless necessary. Do not force me."

"Remove the Guardians," Forrest said.

"You know I cannot do that."

"If we bounce out here, you will be destroyed."

The officer looked at him with consternation. "You would not dare!"

"Do you plan to test me?"

The officer spoke to someone off screen. Forrest watched his eyes closely. He could not read the man's lips, but he could read his eyes. And he saw what he hoped not to see. He unbent two fingers.

"Done!" Valencia shouted, and the controller ship was no more.

"Inertial inhibiters engaged. Firing all thrusters, full on," Zak announced.

The man on screen seemed lost. He looked at Forrest. He could not believe what Forrest had done. "Prepare to die!" he roared.

The screen went blank. Forrest looked at Nicholor.

"Now!" he commanded.

Nicholor raised his blaster and held it on Forrest. "No," he said, simply.

There was blaster fire and Nicholor's head disappeared leaving a splat of blood and brains on the bulkhead behind him. The body slumped to the floor, lifeless.

And then the world turned upside down. Forrest fell to the floor face down, his head swimming. He wondered if he had been hit. A commotion raged around him. It sounding like a hundred people had stormed the bridge. Hands were on him, and he felt himself being turned over.

"Forrest? Are you okay?"

He looked up. Lisa and Valencia were beside him.

"Where am I hit?"

"You're not hit. You fell down. What is wrong?" It was Valencia asking the questions.

"I don't know. Who hit Nicholor?"

"I did," Lisa said.

He looked at her and grinned. He then noticed the others.

"Who are all these people?" he asked.

"What people?" Lisa asked.

Forrest pointed at the mass of people. It looked like they had thrown a wild party without telling him about it. The women looked in the direction he indicated, but saw no one.

"What are you talking about? There's no one there," Valencia said.

Forrest struggled to get up, but didn't have much luck. They helped him to a sitting position.

"We must bounce, now!" he blurted.

"We already have. Serp activated the drive."

Someone came and stood at his feet. Forrest looked up at the man and realized it was himself--only he had just one eye, in the center of his head. The one-eyed Forrest bent over to see him better. Forrest (the one with two eyes) started to scream, but then his other disappeared.

"What are you seeing?" Lisa asked.

"Myself. But I had only one eye."

"What?"

Zak came and kneeled down next to Forrest.

"It's okay Forrest. It is not real," he said.

Valencia looked at him. "He's hallucinating?"

"Not exactly. He's crossing over. The technical term is parallelism."

"Could you say that in simpler terms?" Valencia asked.

"He's seeing events in other universes closely parallel to our own. It very rare, but many have experienced it."

Forrest started laughing. They looked at him.

"What is it?" Lisa asked.

"I haven't the slightest idea. But it's funny as hell."

Lisa looked at Zak. "Will he be all right?"

"Yes. It doesn't last long. An hour maybe. It might be best if he sleeps it off."

"I agree," Valencia said. "Let's get him to bed, Lisa. Zak, you have the bridge."

They pulled Forrest to his feet and helped him up the steps to the speedlift. Forrest walked like a man too drunk to know his name. Once in the speedlift, Forrest tried to push himself against the wall.

"Kinda crowded in here, isn't it?"

"It's just the three of us, Forrest," Lisa said. "The others aren't real."

"Coulda fooled me."

The speedlift stopped and they led Forrest to Valencia's quarters. As they walked, Forrest occasionally spoke to someone who was not there.

"I don't believe this," Valencia said.

"We've seen stranger things, remember?" Lisa replied.

"That's true."

They laid Forrest down on Valencia's bed. He insisted there was someone else beside him.

"Serp?" Valencia called.

"I'm here."

"Have sickbay send up something to make Forrest sleep. And send it by tube. We're in a hurry."

"It's on its way."

Forrest sat up. "Lin?"

It looked like Linwolse. But she didn't have green skin, and her hair was blonde. She smiled at him and turned to leave.

"Don't go. I need to talk to you!"

I'll be back later, my love. But I must kill Mandoss, first.

"No, Don't!"

Don't worry, I'll be careful. In the mean time, here's something for you to remember me by.

She unbuttoned her blouse and exposed her breast--the only one she had, right in the center of her chest.

Forrest flopped back down on the bed. "You're not Lin. She had two breasts. Really, she did."

Valencia and Lisa looked at one another. They broke out laughing.

"Well, she did!" Forrest insisted.

"I'm sorry, Forrest," Lisa said. "We're not laughing at you."

"Yes, we are," Valencia said.

Lisa gave her a stern look. Valencia looked back with equal sternness. But they could not control themselves. Laughter broke out.

Forrest pushed himself up and looked at them--all ten of them. They were laughing so hard they had to hold their sides.

"What's so damn funny?" His voice was angry.

"Oh, shit," Lisa said.

She came to his side.

"You're seeing things that aren't real, honey. We don't mean to laugh at you. Try to sleep."

The delivery chute beeped. Valencia retrieved the syringe.

"What is it, Serp?"

"Oxazepam. Sixty milligrams."

"What's that," Lisa asked.

"A mild tranquilizer. It's short lived, but it'll help him sleep. I'm going inject it into a vein. It should hit him rather fast."

Valencia searched for a vein in his arm. He was so tense, his veins looked like inverted river beds. She selected a vein a pushed the needle into him.

"There," she said. "That didn't hurt a bit."

"Yes it did," Forrest retorted.

"Sorry."

It took a few minutes, but then he felt his mind slowing down. The visions began to dissipate. He laid his head on the pillow and closed his eyes.

"Feeling better?" Lisa asked.

"Yeah. What happened?"

"Zak said you were seeing images from parallel universes."

"I think I'll stick with this one. It's a strange place out there."

"So it would seem."

"Did someone tell me we bounced?"

"Yes. Serp activated the drive."

"Good."

Valencia's communicator beeped.

"Valencia here."

"This is Zak. I think you better get up here. How's Forrest?"

"I gave him a sedative. He'll be okay. What's happening?"

"You better see this for yourself. Zak out."

"I'm on my way." She looked at Lisa. "Stay with him."

"I will."

Valencia left the room. Lisa ran her fingers through Forrest's hair.

"That feels nice," he said, his voice slowing down.

She kissed him on the cheek. He opened his eyes and looked at her.

"It's just the two of us now?"

"Yes. Just you and me."

He pulled her on top of him.

"What are you doing? You're supposed to be sleeping."

"Not until you give me a big, wet kiss."

She laughed and gave him what he wanted. When she pulled back, he was fast asleep. Lisa moved to his side, and laid her head on his shoulder. He felt so good next to her. Her sickness was gone, and she could feel her mind becoming clear and more focused than she had ever known. And she knew it would only get better. Soon, she drifted off to sleep next to the man she loved.

Forrest opened his eyes. Lisa was asleep beside him. He could remember everything, and it made little sense. But then there was nothing about the last several weeks of his life that made much sense. And, somehow, he sensed (knew) that stranger things were to come.

He looked at Lisa. She seemed to know he was looking at her, for she opened her eyes and smiled at him.

"Hello," she said.

Forrest gave her a light kiss. She sat up and studied him.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

"Fine. I'm no longer seeing beings from other universes. That was a rather interesting experience, but--"

Lisa looked away.

"What's wrong?" Forrest asked.

"Nothing. Forrest, I'm starting to feel the keepers at work within me. I feel--I don't know how to say it--just things are clearer to me. I see and understand things that had never occurred to me before. I can't define it--it's a wordless knowledge of some kind. Is that what it felt like to you?"

"Similar. But I had to experience the thirst, and deal with the Enonians. They told me my transitioning went well, but I was troubled most of the time. Fortunately, you won't have to go through that."

"I'm sorry you had to."

Forrest shrugged. "Well, it's over now. Once we deliver Zak and Aurelia to Tau Ceti, the future is ours. The genoclones and humans will have to decide what they want to do. I expect many will elect to stay with the Forever, especially the genoclones. And we'll need to decide to what to do with the seeders."

"We'll be fugitives."

"We'll stay clear of the Empire. It's a big galaxy. Besides, maybe Zak and his people will overthrow the Empress."

"Maybe."

"Yeah, maybe."

She looked at him. "Forrest, I'm not angry with you."

"I know."

"I don't deny feeling jealous of the others, and I was really thrown when I learned that you had sex with Val. But I do understand. I'm not sure why, but I do."

"I know."

"You can read my mind?"

"No. You have to let me in. Your keepers protect you."

"Could you read my mind before?"

"I don't know. I never tried."

"Never? You never once looked into my mind?"

"No."

"Why not?"

Forrest touched her face. "Because I love you. A wise person once told me that a person's mind is their haven. For another to intrude upon that sanctuary, whether by telepathy, interrogation or any other means, is an unforgivable invasion of privacy. I believe in that."

"But if another were to invite you in?"

"In that case it would be acceptable, but not necessarily wise."

"Why not?"

"I assume that you are talking about us?"

"Yes?"

"Lisa, I love you. I can feel your emotions--I know what you are. I trust you. If I were to enter your mind, that trust would no longer be there."

"I am hiding nothing. You would still trust me."

"I would believe in you, but it would not be trust. Trust is based on uncertain knowledge. If we were to merge our minds, there would be no uncertainty, and true trust impossible."

Lisa gave him a concerned look. "I do trust you, you know."

"Yes, I do."

She looked away again. "I guess I just want to be close."

"We are close, Lisa."

"I know. I just--this gonna sound really corny, but when I first saw you at the spaceport on Earth, I knew you were special. I didn't know then how special, but I knew you were the one for me. It wasn't your keepers working on me. It was something else. It's like I had been waiting for you all my life, and then suddenly you were there. I wasn't going to let you go. You remember when we were in the spinner, and you wouldn't make love to me?"

"I was trying to protect you."

"I realize that now. But then I was hurt. I was in love with you. It didn't make a bit of sense to feel that way about someone I had just met. But I did. I still do."

Forrest kissed her. "Me too."

"I'm sorry about your wife."

He studied her, concerned. "So am I."

"I don't know if I can replace her."

"You are not supposed to replace her. My relationship with Melinda was special, and it always will be. But she is gone. You and I are together now. What we have is special, but it is a different kind of special because you and I are different."

She smiled at him. "I understand."

She gave him that special look. And they made love--gentle and sweet, rough and passionate. And even though their minds did not merge, their souls became joined--forever.

Forrest's communicator beeped. He reached over Lisa's naked body to retrieve the device.

"Do you have to answer it?" she asked.

"It might be important."

"Duty calls," she reluctantly admitted.

Forrest hit the receive button. "Forrest."

"Valencia here. You're needed on the bridge. Can you come?"

"I'm on my way. Give me fifteen minutes."

"Okay."

Lisa smiled at him. "The captain is needed."

Forrest grinned. "Come. Let's shower together. Then we go to our posts."

Thirty minutes later they made it to the bridge.

Valencia looked up as they entered. "You said fifteen minutes."

"Sorry. I'm still feeling a bit odd. What's happening?"

"You are okay now?"

"Yes. Give!"

Valencia smirked at him. "Several things are happening."

"One at a time, then."

Forrest and Lisa sat in their chairs. Valencia remained standing.

"After the incident with Nicholor, I had his quarters searched. A transmitter of some kind was found. It's being analyzed now. Zak doesn't recognize it. It seems Nicholor was a spy for the Empire."

Forrest stared at Zak. Zak rose from his station and approached.

"I didn't know, Forrest. I've known him about two standard years, and I never saw anything to make me suspicious of him."

Forrest looked at Aurelia. She was seated at the navigation console and returned a worried look.

Valencia spoke. "Neither Zak or Aurelia knows anything, Forrest. I've probed their minds."

Forrest glanced at Valencia and then returned his attention to Zak.

"I see. In any case, this means the Empire knows about your plot. And they will be waiting for us at Tau Ceti."

Zak appeared distraught. "I'm afraid I must concur."

Forrest stared at him. Zak tried to maintain eye contact, but obviously found it difficult.

"What else?" Forrest asked Valencia.

"Show him, Zak."

Zak went to the engineering station and worked the controls. The fore screen lit up with two-dimensional computer graphics.

"What is this?" Forrest demanded.

"The dark area represents the Forever in the shape field. The small points of light are Guardians."

Forrest studied the display. The points were flying about the dark shape with wild abandon.

"They were caught in our shape field when we bounced," Zak said.

"Val wants to let them board the Forever," Valencia said.

Forrest looked at her. "Val?" he called.

"I am here, Forrest."

He turned around. Val was standing on the dais. For once, she wore clothes--a jumpsuit, genoclonic gray. She descended the steps and came to him.

She spoke. "Just before the controller ship was destroyed, the Guardians had been instructed to converge on the Forever. Thus they bounced with us. But they are confused. Without the controller, they did not know what to do. Many of them have flown into superspace, and many more will follow if we do not allow them to board the Forever."

"And what will they do once on board?" Forrest asked her.

"They will be free, like myself."

"Will they attack us?"

"They have no such instructions. The controller only told them to converge. We bounced before further instructions could be given. They will become independent."

He gave her a thoughtful look. "Have you communicated with them?"

"To a limited degree. The shape field distorts hyperspace. But they do know about me and what I have become. They will follow my lead."

"Your opinion, Valencia."

"If Val believes they are safe, she has my support."

"Lisa?"

"I have no experience with the Guardians, nor do I know Val. I decline to offer an opinion."

Forrest waited for the remaining bridge crew to speak. No one said anything.

Val spoke. "They are living, conscious beings, Forrest. And they are my kind."

"You are asking us to risk our lives."

"I do not believe so."

"What will you do with them?"

"Show them the way."

Forrest wanted to grant her request. But was it worth the risk?

Zak finally spoke. "They may be useful to us, Forrest. If they join forces with us, they can aid us in battle against the Empire."

That made sense.

"Will they do that, Val?"

"I cannot force them. But if you allow them aboard the Forever, they will know it, and be grateful."

"I vote yes," Valencia said.

"Okay, Val. Let them aboard. But watch them. They are your responsibility!"

"I understand." She started to undress.

"Val, not here."

Val looked at him and smiled. "Sorry, I'm not used to this notion of yours."

Forrest shook his head. He couldn't see any logic to it either, but it was the way things were. Val turned and went into the conferral room.

"Keep tabs on her, Valencia," Forrest said.

"Will do."

"Is that it, or do you have more surprises for me?"

"There's more."

"What now?"

She motioned at the engineering station. Forrest went and stood beside Zak.

"I'm not an expert," Zak said, "but I believe we will reenter normal spacetime soon."

Forrest studied the bouncer status display.

"You're right. Within a few hours I expect."

"Do you know where?" Zak asked.

"The display indicates that the course laid in has been followed successfully. Do you think Nicholor laid a course for Tau Ceti?"

"That would be logical. The other Schismatic ships will be going there, and the Empire will be waiting with warships to pick them off as they bounce in. No reason for us to be excluded."

"If we do arrive a Tau Ceti, then we will have bounced twenty-thousand lightyears in a matter of hours. I didn't know it was possible," Forrest said.

"As I understand the theory, it is," Zak responded. "But it requires a very precisely calibrated drive. And a lot of fuel."

"Then Nicholor lied when he said the drive needed recalibrating."

"It was a delay tactic. The Empire did not expect us to bounce with a drive thought to be miscalibrated."

"They underestimated us."

"Yes, and a lot of lives will have been lost."

"Are you judging me, Zak?" Forrest asked, more harshly than intended.

"I was merely stating a fact. Word will have reached the command ship at Tau Ceti. They will be anxiously awaiting our arrival. And they will not be very happy. System-179 is one of the most wealth producing systems in the Empire. The Empress will not appreciate the interruption of that wealth."

"That's what is important to her? What about the lost lives?"

Zak ignored his question. "We must prepare for battle. We are out-numbered and under-powered. But we do have the Guardians."

Forrest stared at him. "We do not have the Guardians. We are giving them sanctuary, but they will be free, independent beings."

"I understand that, Forrest. Remember, my cause is freedom. But we can ask them to help us. If they refuse, then they will be destroyed with us. I think they will realize this."

"Good point. You are more familiar with Guardian technology than I, formulate a plan. We do not have much time."

"I'll get started right away," Zak declared.

Zak left the enclave and began a discussion with Valencia. Lisa came to Forrest.

"It doesn't look good, does it?" she said.

"We're not dead yet."

"Nor will we be. I can feel it."

Forrest smiled at her. She was his motivation now. His reason for being.

"Serp?" he called.

"Yes, Forrest."

"You have studied the files on bouncer technology?"

"Yes. But I do not understand much of it. My knowledge base does not include many of the concepts required. I have sub-processes working on the updates."

Forrest thought for several seconds. "I want to try an experiment. What would happen if we were to change the shape field before we approach crossover?"

"According to the Enonian records, that has never been successful. Ships that tried were never seen again. They could only theorize about what happened to them."

"And that is?"

"It was believed the shape field collapsed."

Instant death.

Forrest scratched his head. "Do you think I should try?"

"No. Meeting the Imperial warships will be less risky. There is a good chance that we will be sufficiently distant enough from a warship to leave Tau Ceti undetected."

"They will know our bounce-in point. Nicholor programmed the drive, remember?"

"Yes, that is true, Forrest."

"So they will be there waiting for us," Lisa added.

"That's right," Forrest said. "Serp, monitor the drive. Warn me when approach is imminent."

"Understood."

"Come with me, Lisa."

Lisa followed Forrest into the conferral room. He sat at the desk and motioned her to sit across from him. He studied her.

"What is it?" she asked, giving him a concerned look.

"I want you to prepare a planetary cruiser for launch. Load her cargo bays to capacity--as much food, water and supplies as she can handle. Valencia will assign you a crew to assist."

"Why?" she asked, already knowing the answer.

"You will be her captain."

"I will not leave you, Forrest!"

"I want you, Valencia, Val and crew members you select to be aboard the ship when we bounce in. At the first opportunity, you are to launch and leave the battle scene."

"I said, I would not leave you."

"You do not have a choice. That is an order."

"I will prepare the ship, Forrest, but I will not be aboard her when she launches."

Forrest glared at her. "I am assigning you captain. You will go with your ship!"

"I refuse the assignment!"

"Dammit, Lisa! I am trying to save your life."

"I know that. I love you, too. And that is why I will not leave you."

"Don't let your emotions rule you. The Forever will likely be destroyed."

Lisa stood up. "And you with her!"

"I cannot leave her. You know that."

"Yes, I do. And you must know that I cannot leave you."

Forrest stood and paced the room. "Why are you being so stubborn?"

Lisa came to his side and stopped his pacing. "You gave me this life. Without you, it has no meaning."

"You are placing too much importance on our relationship. That is not realistic."

"Maybe not to you. But it is to me."

"On the cruiser you have a chance to live. I don't want you to die. Don't allow your emotions to rule you."

"Forrest, it is you who is ruled by emotions. Where will we go? We can't go to Earth. And it would take thousands of years to reach the nearest outlaw world. Will you condemn me to that?"

A voice came from the door. "Forget it, Forrest. I will not abandon the Forever, and I doubt that Val would agree as well." It was Valencia.

Forrest gave her a look of disbelief. "Has everyone gone crazy? I'm trying to ensure that at least some of us survive the encounter with the Empire."

"Zak and I have developed a plan that just might work. If it does, we all survive and we keep the Forever. Will you listen?"

"Tell me!" Forrest demanded.

Val had assumed her natural form. She was in the thruster cylinder. The three-hundred Guardians that had survived formed a spherical arrangement with her at the center. She instructed them to download her knowledge base.

"I speak to you now in a language called English. It is the language used by the c-lifes aboard this ship. It is slow and illogical. You will understand why in a moment. You have my memories of the time I have spent with the c-lifes. Put yourself in experiential mode and review the memories, now."

A moment passed, and Val was flooded with hyperspace transmissions.

"Too much!" she admonished. "Elect a speaker."

A single sphere broke the pattern and approached her.

"I am Guardian-103. What is this property called emotion?"

"It is a property possessed by all c-lifes. It gives color and meaning to all experience. It is part of the consciousness of c-lifes. The controller denied us knowledge of this property. I learned of it when I replicated the c-life known as Valencia. The c-lifes aboard the Forever place a very high value upon freedom of conscious thought and personal independence. They are willing to terminate their lives to preserve this freedom for others, if the need arises--it is that important.

"You now possess independence. But you need emotions to help guide you--pure logic alone is not enough. To develop an emotional base, you will need to select and replicate one of the c-lifes. Then you will be truly independent and self-directed."

"We must proceed at once," the speaker said.

"Not yet! Look up the word privacy in your knowledge base. The concepts of privacy and freedom are so closely linked as to be virtually the same."

"We see the concept, but it just an abstraction. How must the concept be applied?" the speaker asked.

"If we are to be truly free, we must grant the same freedom to all others. When you select a c-life to replicate, you must ask permission. If the c-life refuses, select another until permission is granted. To do otherwise is an unforgivable violation of privacy."

"The c-lifes will agree?"

"There may be some that refuse, but most will agree. They understand our situation, and their love of freedom will make them want to grant the same to us."

"We understand."

"There is another issue. The c-lifes aboard this ship are enemies of the Empire. They will need our help in defending themselves. We must agree."

"But the Empire made us. They are the Creators."

"We were made as slaves! If we are to be free, the Empire must be our enemy. We must join forces with the c-lifes aboard this ship. The survival of c-life and s-life alike depends upon the cooperation between our two lifeforms. The c-lifes seek freedom for all c-life within the Empire. We must do the same for all s-life."

There was a flurry of hyperspace transmissions amongst the Guardians.

"We understand, and we agree," the speaker said.

"Very good!" Forrest said. "That just might work, assuming we can get the Guardians to agree."

"I don't think that will be a problem," Valencia said.

"Serp?" Forrest called.

"Yes, Forrest."

"Where is Val?"

"The thruster cylinder--with the Guardians."

"Has she made any progress with them?"

"Yes. They have agreed to help us."

Forrest exchanged smiles with Valencia. "Good. Have Val come to the bridge as soon as possible."

"She is on her way now."

The silvery sphere entered the conferral room, and transformed itself into Val.

"Excuse me a moment," she said, as she donned the jumpsuit she had left behind. She then joined the group.

"Serp tells me the Guardians have agreed to help us," Forrest said.

"Yes. And they request permission to replicate the c-life form. They will have to select individuals to scan--"

"Permission granted," Forrest interrupted.

Val seemed startled. "Thank you."

Forrest smiled at her. "We will need to have each member of the bridge crew replicated, including Valencia."

"That can be arranged. But why--?" Val looked at each of them. "You plan to surrender the Forever to the Empire!"

"That is true. But it will be the metamorphs manning the bridge. The Empire will not know the difference."

Zak spoke. "The bridge crew will be transferred to the command ship for interrogation. In the meantime, the Forever will be refueled for bounce to Earth. When the time is right, we will attack the Imperial Troops stationed on board and take control of the Forever. The replicant bridge crew should have no difficulty escaping their captors and returning before we bounce. Until then we will remain hidden at the lower levels near the agrav generators. Serp will be able to misdirect the search of the ship."

"It is a good plan," Val said. Something was obviously on her mind.

"It is," Forrest agreed. "But it will be dangerous. Lives will be lost, including the metamorphs. The replicant bridge crew will be at greatest risk. We need volunteers."

"You will have more volunteers than you need," Val said. "I will remain on the bridge as Valencia."

"No, Val. You will stay with us," Forrest insisted.

Val looked at him. "I cannot. I must remain with my own kind."

"Val, you are pregnant! I will not send a pregnant woman into battle. It's too risky."

"I understand your concern, Forrest. I carry your son. And I have every intention of giving birth to him. But you must understand my position. I will not abandon my kind. I will stand with them."

"There is another consideration," Zak said. "Val understands the ways of biological life better than the others. With her on the bridge crew, they have a greater chance of success. Let her stay, Forrest."

Forrest and Val locked eyes. "You are determined to do this, Val?"

"Yes."

"Okay. I don't like it, but I understand you."

"Thank you, Forrest. I will not let you down. And I will return."

"You better."