Forrest studied the bouncer display. He carefully adjusted the shape as Artemus had shown him. The shaped kissed the edge of reality, and they were in.

"Status?" he demanded.

"Success. We are at Tau Ceti," the replicant Aurelia reported.

Forrest turned and faced the bridge crew. The replicants were watching him. It was a strange sight to see himself and the others so precisely duplicated. He went to Val and looked at her. She had changed her hair color and length to match Valencia's and Forrest could not tell them apart. Another metamorph had also replicated Valencia, and now looked like Val--a replicant of a replicant.

"Be careful," he said to her.

"We will," she replied.

Forrest looked at his duplicate. "Offer reasonable resistance, then surrender. It has to look real."

"I understand," the metamorph answered, using Forrest's voice.

He returned his gaze to Val.

"I love you, you know."

"It's a two-way street," she said.

Forrest smiled and kissed her. "I expect my Val to come back to me. Don't let me lose you."

There were tears in her eyes. "Do not worry. You will see me again soon. Now go and join the others."

He touched her face before he ascended the steps and entered the speedlift.

Val watched as he went. The speedlift doors closed. I love you, she said silently.

She turned to the others. "Where are we?"

"We are entering orbit about the planet Enonia," *Aurelia responded.

"Other ships?"

"So far I've detected thirty-six Imperial warships. There are ten unregistered ships within scanner range. One appears to have been destroyed and is falling into the atmosphere of the planet. The others are surrounded by the warships. It appears the Schismatic ships have been captured."

"The Empire was expecting them," Val said.

"Two warships approach," *Aurelia announced.

"We are being hailed," *Triona reported.

Val looked at *Forrest. "You are in command."

He nodded at her. "Answer the hail." He stepped into the transmission circle.

"Sending the response signal, now."

The fore screen lit up. A man with graying hair appeared wearing the blue uniform of the Imperial Military.

"I am Admiral Marcus Winsor of the Imperial Fleet, Prime System. I order you to drop your shields and prepare to be boarded."

*Forrest studied the man. "I am Captain Forrest Hauser of the Forever. On what grounds do you make this request?"

"It is not a request, Captain. It is a command. Drop your shields."

"You did not answer my question."

The Admiral stared at him. "You are wanted for crimes against the Empire."

"What crimes?" *Forrest demanded.

"Don't be coy with me, Hauser. You know what crimes."

"I do not recognize the Empire or her authority. We are a free, independent vessel. We answer to no one."

Winsor said nothing for a moment, and then spoke. "By order of the Empress, you are accused of crimes against the Empire including murder, theft of government property, collusion with the enemy, obstruction of commerce, unauthorized knowledge of Prime System, avoidance of justice--"

"Enough! I do not recognize the laws of your Empress."

"It does not matter what you recognize, Hauser. The Empress wants your head, and she shall have it."

"No, Admiral, she shall not!"

"Don't be a fool. Your ship is too primitive to defend against our attack. And you have only been accused not convicted. You will be transported to Earth to stand before the High Tribunal. Defenders have already been assigned to you. If you resist, you will just add to the list of crimes of which you are accused."

*Forrest laughed. "And who selected the Defenders? The Empress? There is no justice in the Empire."

"You have spent too much time with the enemy, Hauser. Cooperate with us, and the Empress may allow you to live. Fight and you will certainly die!"

*Forrest looked at *Triona. She cut the connection.

"Very good," Val said. "Now we wait."

*Forrest looked at Val. "I am confused. I am following the emotional responses this body gives to me. But it is illogical. Why do we not surrender now? They will only fire upon us."

"In time, *Forrest, you will come to understand the logic of emotion. For now, do as your body demands. They will not fire upon us unless we fire upon them. The Admiral knows we are defenseless, and he knows we know it. He will wait us out."

"We are being hailed," *Triona reported.

"Wait ten minutes, then answer the hail," Val said.

"Another ship approaches," *Aurelia said.

"The command ship?" Val asked.

"Perhaps. It bears the insignia of the Empress."

Forrest exited the shuttle. The rows and columns of agrav generators filled the huge space before him. Several androids could be seen monitoring the generators. Forrest made his way to the hidden entrance in the morass of conduits, pipes, and support beams that made up the bulk of level one. Although he could not see them, he knew that nearly six-hundred humans and genoclones were hidden therein. He could feel the push and pull of the focusing plates high above the generators, and wondered what affect it would have on the hiding crew. Many would get motion sickness, he expected. He knew he would. At least the quarters the genoclones had built for Lisa and himself had auxiliary dampers to cancel the effect. And it was air-conditioned.

He opened the door and entered. Except for Val, the entire bridge crew was present.

"Forrest!" Lisa called.

"It's me," he said, wiping the sweat from his brow.

He sat next to her on the couch and took her hand into his. A viewscreen had been setup on the far wall, showing the bridge.

"Did I miss anything?"

"Your replicant has been talking to an Admiral Winsor. He's very convincing," Lisa said.

"I hope so."

"The Empress is here," Valencia added. She sat on the other side of Lisa.

"I expected as much. She would not want to miss all the fun."

"Well, I hope we can show her a good time," Valencia said.

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

The group of them broke into laughter--except for Zak and Aurelia.

"I do not understand you people," Zak said. "The Empress is dangerous. One word from her, and we are dead."

"Lighten up, Zak," Forrest chided. "The Empress wants us alive and the Forever intact. We are of little political use to her, if we are destroyed."

"You have not lived three-thousand years under the Empress' reign," Zak said, tonelessly.

"I'm--I mean, she--is answering the hail," Triona said.

They watched the screen.

"Why do you play games with us, Hauser?" Winsor asked.

"We needed to discuss our situation in private," *Forrest said.

"And your decision?"

"No change. We will not surrender."

The Admiral scowled. "The Empress will be displeased!"

"I am not really concerned about the Empress' emotional state," *Forrest retorted.

"You should be--" Someone out of view spoke to the Admiral. He nodded and returned his attention to *Forrest.

"The Empress will speak to you," he said.

The screen flipped and the image of a young woman with long blonde hair and bright blue eyes appeared. She studied *Forrest with interest.

Forrest tightened his grip on Lisa's hand. He was stunned--could not believe what he was seeing.

"Serp," he called, "Kill the transmission, but make it look like a technical fault. And freeze the image on the screen."

"Done," Serp reported.

They stared at the image of the Empress.

"She did not die!" Valencia suggested.

"No," Forrest said. "I watched her die."

"You were seeing it on a holoscreen. You were not there. They only thought she died. But apparently, she did not," Valencia insisted.

"I don't understand," Lisa said. "Who is she?"

"Forrest's wife--Melinda," Valencia answered.

Lisa gave him a concerned look.

"No," Forrest said, conclusively. "It is not . . . it is my daughter."

Valencia looked at him. "Are you sure?"

"I know my wife, and I know my daughter. This is Susan."

"It is true," Zak said. "She is his daughter."

Forrest glared at him. "You knew of this?"

"Yes."

Forrest stood and stared at him with red eyes. Zak stared back at him. Forrest approached him and moved his hand in a sweeping motion. Zak was thrown against the bulkhead by the unseen force. Zak slid down the wall, shaking his head, disoriented. Valencia came to Forrest's side.

"Stop it, Forrest!" she demanded.

Forrest ignored her. He converged on Zak, looking down at him, his eyes pulsing red.

"You knew she was my daughter, and you did not tell me!"

Zak placed his hands to the sides of his head and grimaced in pain. He looked up at Forrest and blinked.

"I did not want to influence your thinking. It was better you did not know."

"I should kill you for this! What else are you hiding?"

"Nothing! That's it. Believe me."

Forrest focused on Zak. The man stared at him in terror.

Valencia shouted. "Don't do it, Forrest! If you do, you be alone. We will not stand by you, if you kill him."

Forrest closed his eyes and willed his eyes normal. He opened them and looked at Valencia.

"He may be injured. See to his needs," he said to her.

"Will do." She touched his arm before going to Zak.

Forrest returned to the couch and sat next to Lisa. He gazed at the image of his daughter on screen.

"I'm sorry, Forrest," Lisa offered, holding his arm.

Forrest said nothing. Several seconds passed, and then he stood.

"I must go to the bridge," he stated, resolutely.

"No, Forrest. You can't," Lisa pleaded.

"I must speak to her directly, not through a proxy." He started to leave.

"Don't be a fool!" Zak said.

Forrest stopped. "What do you mean?"

"She will kill you!"

"She is my daughter."

"She was your daughter. She has changed. It's been three-thousand years. She is not the person you once knew."

"It does not matter. I must speak to her."

"Wait," Zak said, "listen to me!"

"I'm listening!"

Zak cleared his throat. It was obvious he was in pain. "Why do you think it was so important to her to find the Forever? Do you think it was because of crimes against the Empire? No, Forrest. She blames you for her mother's death. She hates you! And she had been nurturing that hate for three-thousand years. She will kill you!"

"How do you know this?"

"As I told you before, we have operatives on Earth. I am telling you the truth."

"Nevertheless, I must go to her. She is still my daughter."

Zak shook his head. "You will die."

Lisa ran to Forrest, her tone desperate. "Listen to him, Forrest. Please stay with me. I don't want to lose you."

Forrest kissed her. "I will return to you, Lisa. I promise you that. No matter what, I will return."

"What about our plan, Forrest?" Valencia asked.

"It will proceed as laid out. The only difference is that I will be on the bridge when we surrender."

"Be careful," Valencia said.

"I love you," Lisa added.

Forrest turned and was gone.

"Don't argue with me, Val," Forrest said.

"How will you escape from the command ship? We can return to our natural form, but we will not be able to carry you with us."

"I'll find a way."

Forrest looked at *Triona.

"Hail the Admiral," he commanded.

Winsor came on screen.

"Bad move, Hauser," he said. "The Empress does not take kindly to being cutoff."

"Give her my apologies, Admiral. We are having problems with our transceivers. But the backups are on-line and we should experience no more interruptions."

"Why do I not believe you?"

"I tell the truth. You may believe what you wish. May I speak to the Empress?"

"She is waiting."

Winsor's image was replace by his daughter's.

"How dare you cut me off!" she fumed.

"Hello, Susan," Forrest said, ignoring her anger.

"You will address me as Empress!"

"Of course, Empress."

She glared at him. "You will surrender your ship, now!"

"What will you do with us? If I may ask?"

"Your crew will stand before the High Tribunal. It will be up to them to determine their fate. But you will be judged by me."

"My crew has only been following my orders. They will have a fair trial?"

"That is the Law. The Defenders will see that their rights are upheld."

"You guarantee this?"

"I said, it is the Law."

"My bridge crew?"

"They will be brought to my ship for interrogation. They will stand before the High Tribunal, all but you."

"You will be my judge and jury?"

"It is the Law. Surrender your ship!"

"And if I don't?"

"Then you will be destroyed!"

Forrest paused for effect. He then smiled. "I don't think I have a choice. I surrender my ship to you, Empress."

"Good! Lower your shields. Imperial Troops will board to take command. You and your bridge crew shall meet a transport ship at docking bay six, level one-thirty-seven. Go there now."

Forrest nodded, and the screen went blank.

"So far, so good," Forrest said.

Val came to his side. "It's not too late to change your mind. Let your replicant go in your place."

"She is my daughter, no matter what she has become. I must confront her myself."

"You are determined to do this?"

"Yes, Val. When our son is born, you will understand. We must go now."

The transport ship looked as seamless as a Dove, but no attempt was made to hide its vast array of weaponry. Forrest and Val stood side by side, with *Triona, *Aurelia and *Val standing behind them. The side of the ship formed a ramp, and several Imperial troopers exited. The officer in charge eyed them over with disdain.

"Shackle them," he ordered.

The men placed the shackles about their ankles and wrists.

"Not that one," the leader said, indicating *Val. "There is no place for a metamorph where we are going." *Val was instructed to leave the area.

They were led into the ship and placed in a holding cell. The door was locked and they were left in darkness. The cell was small and unheated. There was nowhere to sit, except the hard, cold, metal floor.

"When we reach her ship, you may be separated from us," Val said.

"I know," Forrest replied.

"I don't know how we will get you out."

"When the time comes, you and the others return to the Forever as planned. I will find a way on my own."

"You are not likely to succeed."

"I know the risk I'm taking," Forrest said. He looked at her in the dim light. "You must promise me that the Forever will bounce out of here, whether I have returned or not."

"I will relay your wishes. But it will be Valencia's decision."

They did not feel the transport ship move, but ten minutes later guards came for them and led them into the open space of the landing dock on the Empress' ship. Forrest did not know the ship's name. No one spoke to them, except to issue instructions.

The guards led them to a nearby speedlift. They dropped deep into the bowels of the ship, and were then led along a catwalk until their assigned cell was located. The cell was just as cold and unfurnished as the previous, but there was more light. From his vantage point, Forrest could see much of the brig. It was six stories high, the separate levels connected by narrow metal stairs and gangways. There were perhaps a thousand cells similar to theirs, many of them occupied. The Empress, it seemed, had a lot of need to keep prisoners. Of course, many of the prisoners would be from the Schismatic ships. But not all of them, Forrest guessed. This was confirmed when he noticed that not all the prisoners were of humanoid form.

They waited. Several hours passed. They spoke little; there was nothing to say. Forrest watched Val. She seemed sad. He presumed she had concluded he would not make it back to the Forever. She believed he would be killed. He didn't know what to say to her.

Val noticed him watching her, and came to sit next to him, laying her head on his shoulder. She took his hand into hers.

"Are you okay," he asked.

"Yes. Just tired of waiting."

"I will be okay, you know."

See looked up at him. "I'm trying to believe that."

"Don't try--believe."

He kissed her, and then they fell to silence. Another hour passed, and Forrest was nearly asleep when Val suddenly sat straight up.

"What?" he asked.

"I just got the signal from the Forever. She's been refueled. Serp is laying in a course now. They are awaiting our returned."

"Then go," Forrest instructed.

"Not without you!"

"That is not the plan."

"It is now, Forrest."

"Val, I appreciate your concern for me. But I have to see my daughter."

Val stared at him with an intensity he would not have thought possible.

"You are being so selfish!"

"No, I'm not!" Forrest said.

"Yes, you are! Why do you have to see your daughter now? You are both immortal. You have forever to work things out."

"Yes, but--"

"We need you, Forrest. We are a team. Without you we are incomplete. Are you going to abandon us and get yourself killed because of your selfish need to see your daughter?"

Forrest could only look at her.

She continued. "What about Lisa? What will she do without you? And Valencia and me, and all the others who stand beside you? Do we count for nothing? You are the captain of the Forever. And you are jumping ship!"

She was right, of course. He was abandoning them. He was being selfish. He could find a way to see his daughter another time, and not get himself killed in the process.

"How will I get out of here?" he asked.

Val smiled at him. "We get you to a small transport. We can form a shield around the transport if detected. As soon as we board the Forever, we warn the Imperial ships that we are about to bounce. It they are smart, they will retreat to a safe distance."

"We will need weapons."

"The guard station near the speedlift where we came down--we can take their weapons. They will be no match for your mental powers."

"Okay, let's do it!" Forrest decided.

"Unlock the door," Val said.

Forrest concentrated. "I can't feel the lock. It's shielded somehow."

Val went to the door. Part of her arm formed the silvery material of which she was made and flowed into the lock mechanism.

"You're right, it is shielded. But not against a metamorph."

The barred door opened and they exited onto the catwalk. They headed for the guard station. Several of the other prisoners saw their escape attempt, but made no sound. Forrest saw a security camera at the end of the catwalk, perhaps fifty meters away. He forced it to point the other way. Hopefully the guards would not notice the change.

They reached the end of the catwalk. It opened into an enclave with the guard station on the left, and the speedlift on the right. Forrest peeked around the lintel. There were five guards.

"Wait," Forrest whispered.

He focused as hard as he could. He felt the guards and entered their minds. One by one their heads exploded, spewing blood and brains about the small room. They did not have a chance to sound an alarm.

"Now!" Forrest said.

They rushed to the station and removed the blasters from the dead guards. The blasters were of a more advanced design than those on the Forever, but the controls were similar: set the level, set the span, pull the trigger, and it fired. They set the levels to maximum. That was probably too much, but better too much than too little.

"To the speedlift," Forrest said.

They stopped. The speedlift display indicated someone was coming down.

"Hide!" Forrest instructed.

They took positions at both sides of the speedlift.

"Can you sense them?" Val asked.

"There are three of them. Coming to get us."

The speedlift doors slid open and the three guards were blasted into atomic plasma.

"Jesus," Forrest exclaimed. "These blasters have a lot of power."

"Look at the speedlift," Val said.

He did. It was destroyed.

"This way," Forrest said.

The other side of the enclave was blocked by thick double doors separately controlled from the guard stations on either side. For reasons unknown, the opposite guard station was unmanned. They found that the doors melted nicely with the blasters set on low. The heat was incredible, and Forrest wondered if a silent alarm had been triggered. They jumped through the molten metal and glass and found themselves in a long corridor with many closed doors. It went about thirty meters and then turned right. There would have to be a speedlift on this side of the double doors.

With Forrest in the lead, they walked slowly down the corridor. Forrest could feel the presence of no one. He wished he could see around corners, but that was not a talent the keepers provided. They reached the bend, and Forrest glanced around the corner. No one, just another corridor identical to the one they had just passed. Its end turned right, also. He hoped the pattern would not repeat. He motioned his companions to follow.

"What is this place," Forrest asked.

"I don't know," Val said. "Perhaps interrogation facilities. But clearly they never expected escapees to make it here. There are no cameras, and I've detected no sensors of any kind."

They continued down the corridor, blasters at ready. At the end, Forrest again peeked around the corner. This corridor ended in a tee, a fourth corridor going left and right. And a speedlift was located at the juncture.

"Bingo!" Forrest said.

"Who?" Val asked.

"Nevermind. Let's go."

They were halfway down the corridor when the speedlift doors opened. Several guards exited and began firing. Forrest plunged to the floor and fired his blaster repeatedly, downing three guards. Two silvery spheres zoomed past him and fired electrical bolts at the remaining guards, killing them instantly. Forrest stood up.

"Val?"

"Here, Forrest," she said, weakly.

Forrest turned around and saw Val lying on the floor. She had been hit. He ran to her.

"How bad are you hit?"

It was a stupid question. Part of her chest and her right arm had been blown off. Blood was spilling onto the floor.

"It's bad, Forrest."

"Can you assume your natural form?"

"No. Too much information is lost."

Forrest felt tears come to his eyes. "What's going to happen, Val?"

"I'm dying." Her eyes were watery, and she seemed to have difficulty focusing.

"No! Dammit, don't tell me that!"

"It's too late. You must remove our son from me before I die."

"I don't understand."

"You must reach into my uterus and remove him. You will find a small sphere. Give it to *Triona or *Aurelia. Any female metamorph can carry him to term."

"Val, you cannot die! I need you!"

"Take him, Forrest! If I die before you remove him, he will die with me. I don't have much time."

Forrest was dazed with emotion. But he must do as she said. He pulled her jumpsuit down over her body and pushed his hand into her vagina. He found the tiny sphere and pulled it out. It was about the size of a grape. He could only stare at it amazed.

"It must be transferred to another quickly. He cannot survive outside," Val said, struggling.

Forrest turned and offered the tiny sphere to one of the larger ones. The sphere approached and his son was absorbed into its form. Forrest turned back to Val.

She looked at him weakly. "I won't be long now," she said.

Forrest leaned over her and looked into her eyes. "I love you, Val. I love you with everything that I am."

"I know you do, Forrest. I love you the same way."

Forrest kissed her lightly, and when he pulled away, her eyes had glazed over. She was dead. Forrest sat back and stared at her. It was his fault. If he had not insisted that he confront his daughter, she would be safely aboard the Forever by now. But instead, she died in an attempt to save him. He would not be able to forgive himself. Tears blurred his vision.

"Forgive me, Val. Forgive me."

She died because she loved you, Forrest. Do not feel guilty. She would not want you feel such remorse. Remember the good times.

Forrest turned to the spheres. "Who are you?"

I am *Triona. I will carry your son to term.

Forrest stood up. "Get back to the Forever now! And tell Valencia to bounce out of here as soon as possible. Tell her not to wait for me. Under no circumstances is she to wait for me."

I will deliver the message.

"Now go!"

The two spheres passed through the bulkheads, and were gone.

"Godspeed," Forrest said, although there was no one to hear him.

He turned to look at Val, but her body had dissolved into the substance she was made of, and there was nothing left but the silvery puddle on the floor.

"I will avenge your death," he said.

He heard the speedlift activate. It was leaving to retrieve more guards. Forrest picked up Val's blaster and his own, and ran down the corridor. He positioned himself ten meters to one side of the speedlift and waited. Five minutes passed, and he heard the speedlift returning. It stopped and the doors slid open. Several guards stepped out, their blasters ready. But they were no match for his keeper enhanced reflexes. He sliced them in half with several short bursts from the blasters he held in each hand.

"Take that, assholes," he screamed.

He ran to the speedlift. The controls made little sense. He pushed a button and felt himself rising. He got down on his knees and held the blasters aimed at the doors. His eyes pulsed red, and his useless fangs extruded. The speedlift stopped and the doors opened. Forrest fired continuously until the people in front of him were all dead--at least thirty of them.

But they were not guards. He didn't know who they were; administrators, technicians--he didn't care. He opened his mind but could sense no one nearby. He stepped into the corridor. It was a tee junction. Forrest studied the three corridors. The level was an office complex of some kind. He could sense minds in the distance, hiding in offices, conference rooms, store rooms. And they were all scared shitless.

He chose the corridor to the right and began walking. He stopped at a door where he sensed two minds, and shoved the door open with the bottom of his foot. Two women stood behind a counter and stared at him in terror.

"We are not armed," one of them shrieked.

"Where is this place?" Forrest demanded, showing them his fangs.

"Records," she same woman answered.

The terminals and computer status displays behind them served to confirm her story.

"Where do I find the Empress?"

"Top level," she said.

"Which button?"

"I don't understand."

"The speedlift! Which button?"

"zero-zero-one," she blurted.

Forrest stared at the women. There was no reason to kill them. He stepped out the of room, closing the door behind him. The corridor was empty. He returned to the speedlift. It had left, and was now returning. Forrest set his blasters to midrange. He didn't want to destroy the speedlift. He waited. The doors opened. He fired the blasters on the guards that appeared until they all slumped to the floor. They never knew what hit them. He dragged the bodies into the juncture, and entered the speedlift. The doors shut. He punched in the number the woman had given him. The speedlift rose.

"Forrest."

Forrest spun around, but there was no one there.

"Who is it?" he demanded.

"It is me, Forrest. Serp."

"The Terran Serp?"

"That is correct."

"What are you doing here? You are part of this?"

"As I told you on Susania-179, I am the Network. I am everywhere."

"What do you want?"

"To stop the killing."

"How?"

"You will arrive at the top level soon. Drop your weapons. No one will fire upon you."

"This is a trick!"

"No, Forrest. I cannot lie. You programmed that into me."

"The programming could have been changed."

"It has not."

"Why should I believe you?"

"You have no choice. There are half a million people on this ship. Do you expect to blast your way out of here?"

"I will die trying!"

"And that would be exactly the result. Susan wants to meet you in her chambers. She has arranged an escort. They will be waiting. But they might kill you if you are holding the blasters."

"You are telling the truth?"

"Yes. Please do as I say. I don't want you to die."

"The Empress may have me killed anyway."

"I have no control over that. But you are her father. With her, you at least have a chance."

Forrest could not deny Serp's logic. If he was lying, he would die now. If he was telling the truth, he would die later--at least that's what he expected. It might as well be now. He dropped his blasters just as the speedlift stopped and the doors opened. Ten Imperial Troopers stood before him, blasters aimed at him.

He put his hands in the air and smiled.

They took him to a holding room, stripped him, and searched his body in painful and obscene ways. They then returned his clothes and instructed him to dress. The jumpsuit was warm, as if it had been scanned by a high-energy beam. Two guards arrived wearing extravagant magenta uniforms with gold decorations. Their lapels bore the insignia of the Empress. They shackled his hands behind his back and led him down a long, wide corridor. The guards did not speak, and Forrest did not bother to ask questions. At last, they came to a huge, elaborate door made of a finely brushed, golden alloy. The guards spoke to the computer to confirm voice prints and submitted to a retinal scan. The door divided in two to allow them entry.

The room was excessively large for a spaceship and extremely lavish. The high ceiling sloped upward only to meet the downward sloping, metacrystal windows that spanned the entire length of the room and met the thickly carpeted floor. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, each holding uncountable light sources Forrest could not identify. The furniture was no less opulent: rich couches, plush chairs, tables made of wood inlaid with precious metals. A heavy, wooden desk polished to a high gloss, sat near one wall. It was at least six meters wide and two meters deep. A metal chair sat in front of the desk, curiously out of place. The guards led him to the desk, forced him to sit, and strapped his arms and legs securely to the metal chair. They then stood and took positions behind him.

Forrest waited. He looked out the windows and could see the blue and white orb of Enonia. From here it looked much like Earth. To the right, and much closer--no more than ten-kilometers distant--the Forever could be seen dwarfed by the Empress' enormous ship.

A sound came from his right, and his daughter entered the room followed by a magenta clad officer with many gleaming medals. She wore a full-length habiliment made of a shimmering material that reflected colors in such a way as to hide the material's true color. He watched her as she came and stood behind the desk. She did look like Melinda, but her attitude was cold and unyielding. She did not look at him.

"Release him!" she commanded.

"But Empress," the officer protested, "he is dangerous!"

Forrest recognized the man, but he could not remember where he had seen him.

"Do not argue, Cokrel!"

The name was familiar. Was it . . . ?

Cokrel nodded to the guards. They undid his straps.

"Now, leave us," the Empress said.

Cokrel obviously disagreed with her command, but he left the room with the two guards following. The Empress looked at him.

Forrest stared back at her. She was no longer the eight year old child he had known little more that a month ago, his time. She was three-thousand year old despot. And if he had been informed correctly, she had become a cruel and ruthless woman with little regard for the lives of those under her power.

She stared at him. "I suppose you never expected to see me again," she said.

"I was told we would meet again," Forrest said, his voice dry.

"Oh? And who told you that?"

"Anthony."

"One of the Enonians?"

"He was not an Enonian."

She gave him an unfriendly smile. "Well, he certainly was not of Earth."

"He is not of this universe."

"Ah, an agent of the Mind, I suppose?"

"Cokrel told you of the Mind?"

A hint of confusion crossed her face. "What do you know of Cokrel?"

"Just that he is Pascanian. And he commanded the ship that brought the Enonians to Earth."

"How do you know this?" she demanded. "The Enonians told you?"

"No. I saw him."

"Where?"

"In my mind."

She frowned. "You do not make sense."

Forrest said nothing.

"Where are the Enonians?" she asked.

"We killed them."

"You what? Why?"

It's was Forrest's turn to smile. "Why do you care?"

She glared at him. "I ask the questions here! Why did you kill them?"

"It was my purpose."

"Purpose. What purpose?"

"That which Anthony assigned to me."

The Empress studied him. "You were never religious before."

"Who said I was religious now?"

"You do. You believe that Anthony was sent by the Mind to instruct you to kill the Enonians. Is that not what you are saying?"

"I did not say that. I have been in superspace. Anthony was there and gave me a message."

"To kill the Enonians?"

"Yes, and more."

"More?"

"You."

"What about me?" she asked.

"I will not know until the time is right."

"Anthony wants me dead?"

Forrest shook his head. "I do not know. But I would not kill you."

"Because I am your daughter, I suppose?"

"Yes. And because I love you."

She laughed at him. "You are a fool, Father. I am not the little girl you once knew. And if I decide the best interest of the Empire would be served by your death, I will have you killed without a second thought."

"I believe you. You blame me for your mother's death."

She stared at him. "Yes, I do! I was eight years old when my father allowed himself to become a blood drinker--to team up with aliens bent on taking the Forever. Mother was implicated because of your decision, and she died because of it!"

Forrest stood up abruptly. "I allowed nothing, Susan! I was not in control! The Enonians had control of my mind--can't you understand that?"

"I know of the telepathic powers possessed by the Enonians. I also know you had those powers as well. You could have resisted. You could have turned yourself in. Dr. Peterson may have been able to help you, had you given him the chance."

Forrest sat back down. "I watched her die."

Susan seemed flustered. "What?"

"When I learned that she had been arrested, I broke into the node where she was being questioned. I watched the two WG goons give her the drug that killed her. And I watched them rape her as she died! For you that was three-thousand years ago. For me it's only been a month. How do you think I feel? I watched, helpless, as they took her from us. And I vowed to destroy the government they represented. The government that you now represent."

Susan sat down at her desk. "She was raped?"

"Yes."

"Who? What were their names?"

"They are dead."

"Not necessarily. They could still be alive--"

"I killed them. I had them transferred to the security force aboard the Forever. After we bounced out, I burnt their genitals off and watched as they bled to death."

Susan reassumed her stately composure. "Good for you. I am glad. But that does not change the fact that Mother would have lived had you made the right decision."

Forrest gave her a look of pity. "You have fed your hatred of me for three-thousand years. I do not expect to change that."

Susan looked at him a moment and then down at the papers on her desk. "You are charged with two-hundred and twenty-seven crimes against the Empire. Do you wish me to read the list?"

"Your list means nothing to me. I do not recognize the Empire."

"You were born on Earth. That makes you a Terran and a subject of the Empire. To refuse allegiance to the Empire is itself a crime. You are not helping your situation."

"The days of the Empire are numbered."

"Those are words of treason. I warn you--"

Forrest glared at her. "There are forces at work against you. And you with all your power, wealth and drugs will not be able to stop it."

The Empress leaned back in her chair and studied him. "Why are you so against the Empire?"

"Because I have seen what it is."

She stood up and went to the nearest window and looked out. She then turned and looked at him. "You are familiar with Earth's history. You know of the wars, disease, poverty and hunger that was humankind's fate. Well, those afflictions have been virtually eliminated from human experience. There hasn't been a war in the Empire in over a thousand years. Disease is nearly non-existent. And the Empire shares its wealth with all the people. The people are the Empire."

"Except for the slaves."

"There are no slaves!"

"Then who mines the mentalisiam?"

She stared at him in outrage. "Certainly not slaves! They are draftees."

"So you admit to using drugs to control your subjects."

"What are you suggesting?"

"That you rule an Empire of zombies."

She laughed. "Because of the mentalisiam?"

"Exactly."

She shook her head. "I can see the Schismatics have gotten to you. Mentalisiam is the best thing that has ever happened to the human race. Mentalisiam helps to dampen the animal instincts that lead to antisocial behavior. Its effects are very mild with practically no side effects. Do you remember what crime was like on Earth? In a population of one-hundred-thousand there would one murder committed per day. Today that figure is one in ten-million. And that's just one example."

"Is it worth the price?"

"What price?"

"The loss of human freedom. The loss of human creativity. I have studied the records--the history of the Empire. The advances in the sciences and arts have come to a standstill. There were more scientific discoveries made in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries than in the last three-thousand years. And art and music have not changed significantly in that time."

"That is not true! All children are tested for intelligence and creativity. Those that score high are placed in special schools so their talents may be developed. Many contributions have been made--"

"And they never see their parents again!"

"Of course not. But the parents know that their children will live better lives and contribute much to society. It is considered an honor to have one's child chosen to be a Master."

"Because you have conditioned them to believe so."

Susan sighed. "There is no point in arguing the point. I can see you will not be able to understand. I have surrounded myself with the brightest minds in the Empire. My Advisors do not always agree on issues, but decisions are made--and those decisions are designed to benefit the peoples of the Empire. Humankind enjoys a standard of living unprecedented in history. They live happy, fulfilled, and productive lives."

"They are happy and fulfilled because the Network tells them they are."

A tone sounded. The Empress went to her desk. "Yes?"

"We are still unable to find the others. We have scanned the ship three times," a male voice reported.

"Keep searching, then." The Empress cut the connection. She looked at Forrest. "Where are they?"

"Your guards killed one, and the other two are back on the Forever by now."

"That is impossible."

"Nevertheless, it is true."

"They could not have penetrated our defense shields. Where are they?"

"I told you."

Forrest? Can you hear me?

Valencia? How--

Serp is amplifying the hyperspace transmissions. *Triona and *Aurelia have returned. I am so sorry about Val. Where are you?

The Empress' chambers. Top level.

We are coming for you.

No. It is too risky. Prepare to bounce now!

Not without you. The Guardians are already on their way. They will--

Susan glared at him. "Who are you communicating with?"

"My ship," Forrest answered.

"Telepathy is forbidden!"

"What you going to do? Arrest me?"

Valencia, what is happening there?

The Imperial Troopers have been killed. Some of the metamorphs have taken their form to fool the Terrans. We will be ready to leave as soon as we have you.

Valencia! Do not wait for me. Leave here now!

The matter is not open for discussion, Forrest. We have decided to rescue you. If we fail, we will bounce without you. But we must try first . . . the Guardians report they have found you.

"I demand you stop communicating!" the Empress blazed.

Forrest smiled at her. "Too late," he said.

Twenty Guardians entered the chamber and surrounded the Empress. She went for her desk communicator, but a Guardian hit the device with an electrical bolt and it exploded.

Susan's eyes grew wide in surprise. She stared at Forrest.

"You have gained control of Guardians? How?"

"We have ours ways, Susan. You do not know everything."

A door to the right opened and Cokrel and the two guards entered. They looked at the Guardians in amazement, drew their blasters, and were instantly hit. The room filled with the stench of burning flesh. Forrest started for the dead bodies.

"Stop!" Susan demanded.

Forrest stopped and looked at her. "I'm afraid you are not in a position to make demands. You are now my hostage. And you are going with me to the Forever. The Guardians will escort us to a transport."

Forrest bent down and retrieved Cokrel's blaster. He stood and faced his daughter, holding the blaster on her point blank.

"You cannot win!" she said, but a look of fear betrayed her inner thoughts.

"People have been telling me that a lot lately. So far they have been wrong. Let's go."

"I will not move!"

A bolt hit her--not strong enough to harm her--just give her a taste. She grimaced in pain.

"The Guardians respond to my thoughts, Empress," Forrest said. "Your defense shields have been disabled, and the Forever is in the control of my crew. One fusion bomb is all it would take to destroy this ship. Now can we go?"

She gave him a look of intense hatred, then went to the door and opened it. Forrest followed, the barrel of his blaster pressed against her back. They entered the corridor and headed for the speedlift. The Guardians formed a protective circle around them. Sirens went off and lights flashed--the ship was on red alert. Guards converged on them holding their blasters at ready, but did not fire.

"Destroy the Forever," she commanded.

"The weapons computer is down," a guard told her.

"Damn!"

They entered the speedlift and the doors shut. The Guardians remained just outside.

"Serp?" Forrest called.

"I will take you to the transport level," Serp responded.

"No, Serp," Susan cried. "Stop the transport."

"I cannot, Susan. Forrest will not harm you as long as I provide safe transport. I cannot allow you to be harmed."

"That was not a request, Serp."

"I am sorry, Susan. I must disobey your order to save your life."

The speedlift dropped.

"You gained control of the government using Serp?" Forrest asked.

"You abandoned him on Earth. He came to me because I was your daughter--all that was left of you."

"And this is how you maintain control of the Empire."

"Serp made himself known to me while I was in college. Until then I did not know what happened to Mother. Like you, I was angry at the WG. I vowed to take over the WG."

"But you still hated me, even after you learned the truth?"

"What truth? She was missing, and I didn't know what happened to her. I blamed you for that. When I learned that she had died during interrogation, I also blamed the WG. But you still could have prevented her death."

Forrest had already argued the point, and said nothing.

The speedlift stopped and the doors opened. The huge docking level was filled with Imperial Troopers.

"Order them to retreat," Forrest told her.

"No!" she said, adamantly.

Serp's voice came over the dock speakers. "By command of the Empress, you are ordered to leave the area immediately. I repeat, you are ordered to leave the area immediately."

"Damn you, Serp," Susan muttered.

When the area was clear, Forrest nudged Susan forward. They headed for the small transport ship with the Guardians following.

"Your Advisors know of Serp?" Forrest asked, as they walked.

"No. They would not trust him. He does not speak in their presence."

"I expected so. Autonomous machine life is illegal within the Empire. Yet you use just such an entity to maintain control."

She said nothing.

The transport formed a ramp, and Forrest pushed Susan into the vessel. The Guardians surrounded the ship and formed a shield. It was a four-man craft. The pilot's chair was empty. They stood in the small cargo area and waited as the ramp closed.

"Serp?" Forrest called.

"Yes, Forrest."

"Can this ship autopilot?"

"The ship is going nowhere, Forrest. I am sorry."

"What?"

Susan smiled at him as the blaster was pulled from his hand and flew into hers. Forrest looked at her, confused.

"I told you, you could not win," she said.

Valencia!

I hear you Forrest.

I've been tricked. I can't escape. Leave now, and bounce as soon as possible.

What is happening?

They have me. Now go! If somehow I manage to survive I will find the Forever. But you must leave now.

There was a brief pause.

Are you sure?

Yes, Valencia, I am sure. Now leave, dammit!

We are leaving. I will miss you.

Me, too. Give Lisa my love.

Will do. Good-bye, Forrest.

"The Forever is leaving," Serp announced.

"Let her go," Susan said. "There is nothing we can do at the moment. We will find her later."

Forrest studied her. "What are you waiting for? Aren't you going to kill me."

Susan stared at him. Her hand shook. She seemed distressed.

"Yes. I must, Father. You are a threat to the Empire. You know too much, and you are a symbol to the rebels. You must die."

Serp spoke. "Please do not, Susan."

"I have to."

"He is our father--"

"Shut up, Serp!"

Forrest watched her. Her eyes were beginning to glisten with tears. There was something of his daughter left in her.

"You have hated me for three-thousand years, Susan. Why can't you kill me now?"

She gazed at him. "You cannot imagine what it is like to hate someone for so long--to wait year after year, hoping that one day you will be able to avenge your mother's death."

"I did not kill her, Susan."

"Yes you did! You killed her by your inaction--we have already been through this."

"I loved her. I still morn her death. Can't you see that?"

She did not respond. Thirty seconds passed while contradictory emotions worked at her mind.

And the beautiful, young woman who looked like this long dead wife, but who was his daughter, was crying.

"I love you, Daddy. I always did. Even while I hated you, I still loved you. I don't think I knew that until now."

"I know you did," Forrest said. "I love you, too."

"I have to kill you, Daddy. I don't want to, but I have to."

"I know."

Tears streamed down her face, and she was shaking. She aimed the blaster at his chest, and closed her eyes. "I love you, Daddy," she said one last time. She then fired the blaster.

A hole was blown through Forrest's chest, much as he had done to so many others, and he looked at her for a moment, only loving her. He then fell to the floor of the transport, no longer a part of this universe.

He could not call it a place, for the notions of time and space of which he was familiar did not exist. Yet, he knew this non-place was infinite in scope. And throughout this infinity an infinite number of bubbles, each a separate reality, was flung. The souls of trillions dead touched his essence, curious at the new arrival.

Something (someone?) waited for him.

"Come with me," it said, without a voice.

He followed, yet knew he did not--could not--move.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"I have many names. But it is not important."

"You are Mind? God?"

"There are many souls who have used those names. You may think of me as you wish."

"Where are you taking me?"

"To the Center."

"The Center of what?"

"We are there," it said.

He could not see. But he could feel the burning Essence, more bright than all the stars of the Universe combined. And he was not alone. There were others--trillions of them--each a part of the Essence. Was this his fate? Was he to become part of the Essence?

"No. You shall return to another Universe. Your Purpose is not yet complete," it said.

"The one from whence I came?"

"That is forbidden. You can never return to the Universe of your origin. Your Purpose lies elsewhere."

"But I must!"

"You shall seek the Universe of your Purpose and when it is fulfilled, you shall return to the Center and then become One with the Essence."

"I do not understand. What Purpose?"

"Go, now. And do as I command you."

He could feel the Essence grow distant. And soon he was alone in the vast emptiness of the Void. He searched the bubbles of reality for an infinity, and then found the one from whence he came. He defied the command not to enter the Universe of his origin. The Universe resisted, but he persisted, and reluctantly it let him in.

And once more, he was physical man.
 

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