Unfortunately the Dragon was concentrating too hard to call on his encyclopedic knowledge of his enemies.

"Joshua, of course," Warden continued as if he'd only paused to swallow. "Morn Hyland. And a kid named Davies Hyland."

The bait.

Fasner may not have heard that last piece of information. He was already on his feet, already yelling.

"Morn Hyland?" Hyland?" His fists punched the air at Warden's face; an apoplectic flush mottled his cheeks. "You G.o.d d.a.m.n sonofab.i.t.c.h! You sent Joshua out there to rescue His fists punched the air at Warden's face; an apoplectic flush mottled his cheeks. "You G.o.d d.a.m.n sonofab.i.t.c.h! You sent Joshua out there to rescue Morn Hyland?" Morn Hyland?"

"No, I didn't," Warden said stolidly; falsely.

"Are you saying he broke his programming?" Holt roared. "He's a cyborg! cyborg! You told me it's impossible for him to do anything he wasn't programmed for! And you You told me it's impossible for him to do anything he wasn't programmed for! And you specifically specifically told me he wasn't programmed to rescue her!" told me he wasn't programmed to rescue her!"

"He wasn't." Holt's fury made it easier for Warden to retain his poise. Nevertheless he didn't bother to conceal his own anger. He hated lying, even to the man he considered humankind's worst betrayer. "But he also wasn't programmed to kill her. If that was what you wanted, you should have said so. I a.s.sume Joshua needed Nick for something, and taking Morn along was Nick's price."

Nearly screaming, Holt fired back, "Then why aren't they dead now? Have you gone stupid, or is this treason? Morn Hyland is alive! What's the matter with you? What's the matter with you? I I ordered ordered you to kill that ship, kill everybody aboard, if anything went wrong! Don't you call you to kill that ship, kill everybody aboard, if anything went wrong! Don't you call this this wrong? Why didn't your f.u.c.king Min Donner carry out my orders?" wrong? Why didn't your f.u.c.king Min Donner carry out my orders?"

"'Treason,' "Warden snorted with a glower. "I like that. You haven't even heard my report yet, and you accuse me of treason. Do you really want to miss the point now? now? Wouldn't you rather wait until I'm finished?" Wouldn't you rather wait until I'm finished?"

Unaccustomed to men who disobeyed him-or, worse, men who acted like they knew better than he did-Holt gaped back at the UMCP director. Above his open mouth, his eyes blinked like cries.

"Then sit down and stop shouting," Warden commanded as if he'd gained what he wanted. Trying to undermine Holt's indignation, he added, "You're giving yourself an infarction." Holt knew what Warden's prosthetic sight was good for. "None of this is simple. I need you to pay attention."

The Dragon closed his mouth. He sat down. For a moment his emissions turned pale with uncertainty. Unaware of what he did, he raised a trembling hand to his chest as if he wanted to rub his heart. He was a discerning judge of his own symptoms, however, his own condition. Almost immediately he came back into focus like a beast emerging from a lair, ready for battle.

To prevent him from speaking, Warden said acidly, "Director Donner didn't just send us that report. She read it. She has enough sense to see what it means. She didn't kill Trumpet Trumpet because she knew I would flay her skin off if she did. We need that ship alive, Holt-we need everybody aboard because she knew I would flay her skin off if she did. We need that ship alive, Holt-we need everybody aboard alive." alive."

Smell the bait bait, you heartless b.a.s.t.a.r.d! Give me a chance.

Holt hawked an obscenity. "Ward, you're hanging by your b.a.l.l.s here. You had better do an extraordinary extraordinary job of convincing me. Otherwise you're gone. Your commission won't last long enough to get you back on your own shuttle. And I promise you this. The next UMCP director will know how to make that b.i.t.c.h of yours follow orders." job of convincing me. Otherwise you're gone. Your commission won't last long enough to get you back on your own shuttle. And I promise you this. The next UMCP director will know how to make that b.i.t.c.h of yours follow orders."

"Fine." Warden kept his arms locked to his chest, but he wielded his voice like a lash. "I'm trying to save your entire kingdom for you, not to mention your personal a.s.s. If you can't think of anything more useful to do than threaten me, I'll quit now and let the 'next UMCP director' make sense out of all this."

Without a blink or a flicker, Holt held Warden's glare. His aura yowled of furies that didn't show on his face. This was the Holt Fasner who scared Warden down to his bones: the man who used rage and hate and hunger as forms of concentration, to make himself invulnerable.

Warden also knew how to concentrate. But his emotions were of another kind. Slumping slightly, as if he were able to relax with the Dragon's glower fixed on him, he resumed his report.

"Don't ask me to explain all the details. I only know what was in Trumpet's Trumpet's flare. But here's the way it looks, as far as I can put it together. flare. But here's the way it looks, as far as I can put it together.

"Nick Succorso and Morn Hyland went to Enablement Station because she was pregnant. I don't know why either of them cared, pr why they thought going there was a good idea. All I know is, they went there, and she had them 'force-grow' her a son, whom she named 'Davies Hyland'-after her father, I suppose. Then they got in trouble.

"Apparently the Amnion decided they want Davies. They think he holds the secret to mutating Amnion so that they'll be indistinguishable from human beings." Are you listening, Holt? Do you hear what I'm really saying? "Which means they could infiltrate our s.p.a.ce without being detected. They could destroy us without a shot being fired, and we wouldn't even know it was happening until we were already doomed."

Can you smell it?

Holt's aura roiled with agitation and a clenched, acidic l.u.s.t, but his features revealed nothing. Only his eyes blinked and blinked.

"So Captain's Fancy Captain's Fancy ran," Warden rasped, "and the Amnion sent warships after her. She must have lost her gap drive-instead of trying to reach human s.p.a.ce, she headed for Billingate, the nearest port with a shipyard. ran," Warden rasped, "and the Amnion sent warships after her. She must have lost her gap drive-instead of trying to reach human s.p.a.ce, she headed for Billingate, the nearest port with a shipyard.

"That's crucial. She's a tach ship. What happened to her gap drive? And how did she get there and back so fast at s.p.a.ce-normal speeds? A trip like that should have taken years.

"Joshua's message said, 'The Amnion are experimenting with specialized gap drives to achieve near-C velocities for their warships. Nick Succorso and his people have direct knowledge of this.' Here's what I think happened.

"Nick blew out his gap drive getting to Enablement, and he couldn't fix it, so he traded for repairs. I don't know what he had to trade with with, but he must have had something, or else he wouldn't have been able to pay to "get Morn's son force-grown. Maybe the Amnion thought it was valuable enough to cover repairs. Or maybe it was an experiment-they used Captain's Fancy Captain's Fancy to test their 'specialized gap drives.' I can't imagine how else Nick and his crew would know about it." to test their 'specialized gap drives.' I can't imagine how else Nick and his crew would know about it."

"You're wasting my time," Holt snarled impatiently. His ability to contain his furies seemed to be weakening. "I don't care about weapons systems. That's your worry. If you can't figure out what to do about this, I'll find someone who can."

Warden nodded. "Fair enough. I'll do my job. But that's only a piece of the story.

"Whatever happened after Captain's Fancy Captain's Fancy left Enablement, the warships cut her off before she reached Billingate. They left Enablement, the warships cut her off before she reached Billingate. They wanted wanted Davies." That was as close as Warden dared go to waving his bait under Holt's nose. "Trying to protect himself, I guess, Nick put Davies in an ejection pod and fired him to Billingate." Warden had arrived at this conclusion by an intuitive leap based on the combination of Davies." That was as close as Warden dared go to waving his bait under Holt's nose. "Trying to protect himself, I guess, Nick put Davies in an ejection pod and fired him to Billingate." Warden had arrived at this conclusion by an intuitive leap based on the combination of Punisher's Punisher's and and Free Lunch's Free Lunch's transmissions. "Now transmissions. "Now Captain's Fancy Captain's Fancy was allowed to dock. I'm a.s.suming the Amnion didn't want to alienate Billingate, so they didn't take Davies by force. Instead they ordered Nick to get him back and hand him over or face the consequences of cheating them. was allowed to dock. I'm a.s.suming the Amnion didn't want to alienate Billingate, so they didn't take Davies by force. Instead they ordered Nick to get him back and hand him over or face the consequences of cheating them.

"Apparently Nick gave them Morn. He must have been trying to buy time." However Hashi had come by it, his information was invaluable. "But she wasn't the one they wanted. As far as he was concerned, it was Davies or nothing. But before he let him have her-this is crucial, too-he gave her some of DA's mutagen immunity drug. Joshua says it's possible they know about the drug because they may have found it in her blood."

Trying to make Morn's survival more palatable, Warden offered Holt vindication as well as bait. The Dragon's every instinct had rebelled against Vector Shaheed's antimutagen research for Intertech. Warden had persuaded the UMC CEO to give the research to DA against his better judgment. Perhaps being proved right would soften Holt's outrage.

He kept his reaction to himself, however. His emissions boiled and spat; but they articulated his emotions in colors and patterns, not in words.

Fear tugged at Warden's guts. He could feel failure gathering in the room around him.

"That's when Trumpet Trumpet arrived," he went on stiffly. "What happened next isn't clear yet. Joshua and Milos got together with Nick. Then Milos went over to the Amnion. He may have been trying to warn them." He refrained from mentioning that this detail was crucial as well. "And someone stole Davies from Billingate. Someone-Nick and a few of his people-raided the Amnion to get Morn back. arrived," he went on stiffly. "What happened next isn't clear yet. Joshua and Milos got together with Nick. Then Milos went over to the Amnion. He may have been trying to warn them." He refrained from mentioning that this detail was crucial as well. "And someone stole Davies from Billingate. Someone-Nick and a few of his people-raided the Amnion to get Morn back.

"Somehow they all ended up aboard Trumpet Trumpet-Nick, four of his crew, Davies, Morn, and Joshua. Captain's Fancy Captain's Fancy went down attacking one of the warships so that went down attacking one of the warships so that Trumpet Trumpet could get out of dock. But Joshua did his job. When Billingate's fusion generator blew, he escaped by riding the confusion." could get out of dock. But Joshua did his job. When Billingate's fusion generator blew, he escaped by riding the confusion."

Warden lifted his shoulders as if he were consigning his fate to the Dragon's whim. "That's the report. Director Donner added the information that there's a ship, presumably Amnion, heading out of forbidden s.p.a.ce after Trumpet. Trumpet. And she told me about And she told me about Free Lunch Free Lunch's alleged contract with you. Then she went after Trumpet Trumpet herself"-he did his best to spare Min the consequences of Holt's anger-"to keep the Amnion off Joshua's back until we decide what we want to do with him." herself"-he did his best to spare Min the consequences of Holt's anger-"to keep the Amnion off Joshua's back until we decide what we want to do with him."

"Fine." Holt's emissions suggested mockery. "You make it all sound wonderfully tidy and successful. In fact, you almost make it sound reasonable.

"What do you propose to do now? Trumpet Trumpet is back in human s.p.a.ce. Presumably you can protect her. If I give you enough rope so you can go ahead and hang yourself, what decisions will you make?" is back in human s.p.a.ce. Presumably you can protect her. If I give you enough rope so you can go ahead and hang yourself, what decisions will you make?"

Warden was ready for this. He was prepared to tell one more lie-a lie which was close enough to the truth to be plausible.

Leaning forward in his seat as if he'd come to the heart of his intentions, he said with quiet intensity, "I know you don't want Morn back, Holt, but I think we're d.a.m.n lucky we got her. We're d.a.m.n lucky we got all those other people. We need them."

Holt's emanations looked as hot as a solar eruption, although he didn't interrupt.

Softly Warden insisted, "We need what Nick and his people know about those near-C experiments. We need Joshua because he's too valuable to throw away. We need Morn because of what she can tell us about the Amnion-and because she gives us a way to check whatever Nick says, which probably won't be the truth unless he knows we'll catch a lie; And we need Davies so we can learn what the Amnion hope to get out of him.

"This is our chance. We can put Director Donner aboard Trumpet. Trumpet. Once she gets close enough to transmit a message, she can invoke Joshua's new codes. Then he'll take her orders. With her in command and Once she gets close enough to transmit a message, she can invoke Joshua's new codes. Then he'll take her orders. With her in command and Punisher Punisher as escort, she can take them all to someplace safe-a place where the Amnion won't find them and n.o.body else will get in our way. We can learn everything they know at our own pace, and we won't have to let events rush us. as escort, she can take them all to someplace safe-a place where the Amnion won't find them and n.o.body else will get in our way. We can learn everything they know at our own pace, and we won't have to let events rush us.

"And there's another benefit," he hurried to add before Holt ran out of patience. "Special Counsel Maxim Igensard wants blood. If we don't contain him"-deliberately Warden spoke of we we as if there were no distinction between himself and his master-"he won't stop until he finds something that makes us look dirty. So dirty he can dictate his own terms to the GCES. as if there were no distinction between himself and his master-"he won't stop until he finds something that makes us look dirty. So dirty he can dictate his own terms to the GCES.

"But if we produce survivors from Billingate, these specific survivors, most of his case against us will collapse. We'll be able to prove that what we've gained justifies the risks we took. We'll even be able to give him an explanation he can't refute for what we did with Intertech's mutagen immunity research. And not abandoning Morn Hyland will do wonders for our credibility."

Faced with the Dragon's seething concentration, Warden asked tightly, "Are you listening to me, Holt? When you look like that, I feel like I'm talking to a wall.

"This is an opportunity we can't afford to miss."

Abruptly Holt snorted. As if he were emerging from a trance, he shook his arms and shoulders, rubbed his hands over his cheeks. His eyes blinked rapidly to clear his vision.

"You probably believe that, you blind idiot," he growled. "Ward Dios, the f.u.c.king idealist." His anger was so vivid that it left afterimages on Warden's IR sight. "You almost make me regret choosing you for this job. After all these years you still don't know what you're for for-what the whole G.o.dd.a.m.n UMCP is for. for. You still think I invented you because I wanted You still think I invented you because I wanted cops. cops. If this weren't a terrible time to change directors, I would throw you out on your a.s.s and find somebody with better brains. If this weren't a terrible time to change directors, I would throw you out on your a.s.s and find somebody with better brains.

"Well, you you listen to listen to me me, Ward. This is your last chance.

"Do you really think I've missed the point?"

A pang twisted Warden's heart; but he tightened his arms so that the pain didn't show. "When you start yelling," he retorted trenchantly, "I don't know what to think."

"In that case," Holt said like a breath of flame, "I'll keep my voice down. I don't want to give you any excuse for making a mistake. These are orders, and you" you"-with the knuckles of one hand, he rapped every word onto his desktops-"are going to carry them out.

"If the Amnion want this Davies Hyland, so do I. I want him delivered here, to me, in person."

Warden tried not to let himself hope; he couldn't afford it in front of the Dragon. Holt was taking the bait.

"Why?"

"If you can't figure that out," Holt rasped, "you don't deserve an answer.

"But it does mean Trumpet Trumpet has to be kept alive. I don't like anything else you've done here-and you as sure as s.h.i.t haven't convinced me I can trust you-but I'll give you that one. has to be kept alive. I don't like anything else you've done here-and you as sure as s.h.i.t haven't convinced me I can trust you-but I'll give you that one. Trumpet Trumpet has to be kept alive. has to be kept alive.

"Since I don't trust you, I'll tell you how to do it. I'm not going to put up with arguments or insubordination or delays. If you give me any grief, I'll jerk you out of UMCPHQ so fast your vital organs'll be left behind."

Warden braced himself behind his arms and waited for the ax to fall.

Rapping the desktop again, Holt said, "I want you to contact Trumpet. Trumpet. Make 'Director Donner' do it," he sneered harshly. "You're so busy protecting her, I want her to get her hands dirty. I want you to Make 'Director Donner' do it," he sneered harshly. "You're so busy protecting her, I want her to get her hands dirty. I want you to make make her get her hands dirty." her get her hands dirty."

Go on, say it. Warden clasped his chest until he could hardly breathe. Say Say it and get it over with. it and get it over with.

Holt's aura shone with cruelty and relish. "Tell her to give Joshua's new priority-codes to Nick Succorso."

In spite of his grip on himself, Warden flinched. For an instant time seemed to stop. Behind his rigid expression and his flat stare, he went into shock.

Tell her to give Joshua's new priority-codes to Nick Succorso.

Amagnesium flare took fire in his guts. This was worse than anything he'd feared, anything he could answer. Holt had beaten him. In his most costly nightmares he hadn't dreamed that his master would go so far.

-to Nick Succorso.

"We'll let Succorso take Taverner's place," the Dragon explained as if he were licking his chops. "That way we can make sure Joshua doesn't spring any more surprises on us. Succorso can force him to follow my orders when I'm ready."

Joshua's new priority-codes- Whom had he betrayed most, Angus or Morn? They were the offspring of his most secret desires: he'd stripped them of everything they needed or owned in the name of pa.s.sions they hadn't asked for and couldn't share. And those pa.s.sions had just died as if Holt had driven a stake through Warden's heart.

"Once Succorso takes command of Joshua and Trumpet Trumpet-and gives us confirmation so I know I'm safe-we'll give him the rest of my orders."

Tell her- Oh, Min, you are going to, hate me for this.

Without Morn's testimony the Bill of Severance would never pa.s.s. Not now. And certainly not later, when the UMCP would be more vulnerable.

But Warden couldn't collapse now; couldn't bear to let Holt unman him entirely. He still had work to do. Damage-control: his last duty when everything had gone wrong, and the Dragon's rapacity swallowed human s.p.a.ce. Shame if nothing else required him to stand up; face the consequences of his arrogance and folly; save what last small things might still be preserved. He refused to fail under the burden until he'd paid for everything.

From somewhere, as if he were digging it out of a grave, he found the strength to ask, "Which are?"

Holt grinned. His aura reeked of pleasure. "Kill everybody aboard except Davies Hyland. Have him bring Davies to me. Let him keep one or two of his people, if he needs them. Make him kill the rest. Especially Especially Morn Hyland and Vector Shaheed. You and those two b.a.s.t.a.r.ds have done enough harm." Morn Hyland and Vector Shaheed. You and those two b.a.s.t.a.r.ds have done enough harm."

Through a storm of chagrin, Warden realized that Holt had recognized Shaheed's name after all.

In a bleak tone, like one of the d.a.m.ned, he murmured, "How am I supposed to make him do all that? He He doesn't have any priority-codes." doesn't have any priority-codes."

Holt positively gleamed with ferocity. "By Offering him something he wants. We'll let him keep Trumpet Trumpet and Joshua. He'll jump at it. He can't refuse a ship like that-or the chance to have a welded cyborg for crew." and Joshua. He'll jump at it. He can't refuse a ship like that-or the chance to have a welded cyborg for crew."

Angus, oh, Angus, it was all for nothing, I did it to you for nothing. I told you it's got to stop, but instead of stopping anything I committed a crime against you that you'll have to live with until Nick does you enough harm to kill you.

And Morn as well. Nick might agree to kill her, but until the end she would be his to torment and degrade as much as he wished.

Past his arms and his lacerated heart, Warden sighed. "I'm sure you're right. Nick Succorso is exactly the kind of man who'll jump at an offer like that."

Holt leaned forward; pouncing. Sharp with relish, he hissed, "You sonofab.i.t.c.h, you're mine, mine. mine. I invented the I invented the cops cops-I invented you. you. You're as welded as any cyborg, and you've had your last chance at getting me in trouble. From now on you're going to do You're as welded as any cyborg, and you've had your last chance at getting me in trouble. From now on you're going to do what what I tell you, I tell you, when when I tell you, I tell you, how how I tell you. And you're going to I tell you. And you're going to thank thank your pitiful a.s.s you aren't dead. your pitiful a.s.s you aren't dead.

"Do you really really think I've missed the point?" think I've missed the point?"

Warden shook his head. Slowly he undamped his arms. Every muscle in his chest and legs ached with cramps: he felt as stiff and unsteady as a cripple. Nevertheless he climbed to his feet. Holt didn't need to dismiss him: he knew he was finished. Fighting knots and strain, he limped toward the door.

"Follow orders," Holt said after him. "I'm watching-and you know I can do it. That's what all those listening posts are for. If you mess with me, I'll find out. Then you're dead."

Warden nodded as if he were beaten.

When Holt unsealed the door, however, Warden didn't open it. Instead he turned back to the Dragon.

Holt had surprised him with an act of imaginative malice he hadn't expected and couldn't match. There were other things he could do, however. He understood power and manipulation; he could still fight. With his hand on the door and no hope left, he replied to his doom with an imaginative act of his own.

"Speaking of your mother," he said distantly, "I haven't seen her for a long time. Do you mind if I visit her before I go? It should only take a few minutes. And I can spare the time. We have hours before our best window on the next listening post Punisher Punisher is likely to pa.s.s." is likely to pa.s.s."

"My mother?" Holt was surprised: his face showed it as plainly as his emissions. "Norna? What in h.e.l.l do you want to visit her her for?" for?"

The UMCP director shrugged awkwardly; falsely. "She's become something of a legend over the years-like an oracle, you might say. I want to ask her what makes her think I've been trying to get you in trouble."

Holt scrutinized Warden hard. The uncertainty of his aura suggested that he felt the threat in Warden's request, but couldn't identify it. After only a moment, however, his expression cleared, and he laughed acidly.

"You poor, misguided lump of s.h.i.t, you're still trying to play games with me. Go ahead"-he fluttered his hands-"visit her. Enjoy Enjoy it if you can. You two deserve each other. And there's a good chance you're going to end up just like her." it if you can. You two deserve each other. And there's a good chance you're going to end up just like her."

As Warden opened the door and closed it behind him, Holt was speaking into an intercom, instructing HS to conduct the UMCP director to Norna Fasner and let him talk to her for ten minutes before escorting him to his shuttle.

"Privately," Warden told the two guards who came to his sides. As soon as he left Holt's sight, his manner became authoritative and sure: he sounded as steady as a rock. "I want to talk to her alone. Check with him if you don't trust me."

"Yes, sir." As far as Home Security knew, Warden Dios was still the second most powerful man in human s.p.a.ce. "This way."

Walking briskly to work the cramps out of his legs, Warden followed the guards. Holt had said, You are mine You are mine, but he was wrong. Warden may have lost everything else, but he was still himself.

While any piece of him remained, he intended to go on fighting.