Furlow and I had made little progress on developing a first stage initiator.

"Should have been easy. Just copy your patterns."

I sighed in exasperation.

"There must be something we're missing. Perhaps my patterns cycle."

"Sareel, every measurement I've taken has been within these tolerances. I'm telling you don't run in cycles."

"Well something's different."

"Sure is, but for the life of me I can't figure what it is."

"Shall we call it a day?"

"Might as well. D'you fancy a game of kaplak?"

"You always beat me!"

She gave me her big cockeyed grin.

"You always let me. Don't think I don't notice these things."

There was a shrill whistle as one of the outer space scanners picked up something. She'd tapped into the space stations advance warning system. We both dashed over. Furlow located the intruder and brought it into focus.

"Oh frell! You see what I see Sareel girl?"

"Oh yes and they don't get any more attractive do they?"

"They look deadly . It's their sheer bulk that does it initially."

The Scarran dreadnought slid silently across the viewer and then stopped.

"Looks as if they want something!"

"Supplies?"

"If that's all we're frelling lucky. Wish I'd been able to get into the comm array too."

"Let me try. Can't be much different to the Aurora chair's buffers."

I fiddled with the controls on the comm unit and managed to locate the carrier frequency of the Space Station's main system. It had taken me quite a while so all we heard was, "I have no idea if any such person's here. We don't ask people who they are or what they want when they pay us a visit."

An extremely angry Scarran answered him. I could hear the barely suppressed sibilance that creeps into their voices where they are running out of patience.

"An advanced weapon of such a nature, must belong to us. We want it. I insist that you turn over the inventor and the weapon us or we will be forced to destroy your station. You have twenty ahns to deliver this person to us."

We didn't need to hear any more. Furlow and I looked at each other.

"Plan B?"

"Plan B!"

We'd made contingency plans to cover just such an event. The mass injector could be broken down into its component parts, all individually completely innocent. The data was encrypted but would be uploaded to my data banks and wiped from the computer. My prowler had had its non standard parts made completely removable and we stowed them away. The starburst drive was built in but wasn't detectable until it was fired anyway. The wormhole machine was just a canister. Again not detectable until initiated. We set to work and by the time the Station Militia paid us a visit we were happily playing kaplak and drinking quite acceptable ras'lak. Furlow went and opened the small personnel door.

"Come in", she said waving her hand. The squad gave me a cursory glance. Furlow always looked disreputable and in my dirty coveralls I wasn't far behind. Hardly worth a second look!

"What's your trade."

"We repair engines and renovate ships. All lig-git!"

She produced her licence. They gave it a cursory inspection.

"We've got to look round. Seems there's contraband been brought on to the station."

Furlow rolled her eyes.

"Can't trust anyone these days. Help yourselves."

They went round the workshop Furlow trailing behind them being 'helpful'. I could see that they had energy and radiation scanners with them. One of them picked up the wormhole machine.

"What's this?"

"Moa can tell you better than me. It's her baby."

We'd agreed that I use the name Moa while I was on the station. I got up making a show of reluctance.

"No peace anywhere these days!"

Ambling over I took the canister from the trooper.

"New casing for advanced photon drive. See the flanges, they concentrate the energy."

He rapidly lost interest. The rest of the squad poked about the workshop and then the officer in charge pronounced himself happy that we had no contraband. Unfortunately the surge of relief which I felt set of a small energy pulse. The detector of the trooper at the back of the workshop blared out a brief pulse of sound. Furlow came to the rescue. She took it off the woman.

"Mark three! Huh. Always were prone to false alarms!"

And she handed it back to her. The explanation seemed to settle the matter and they all trooped off. She closed the door behind them. I wiped my forehead, I felt suddenly extremely warm.

"Whew! That was a close one. What in Zorg's name made you do that?"

"Frell, I'm sorry. Lost control, I was so relieved."

"We're going to have to lose you for a while. I don't think they'll be fooled for long, especially with the Scarrans threatening to blow the station to smithereens!"

"I can probably slip off the station without being seen and slide straight down a small wormhole or starburst."

"Use your brain girl. Either would leave a huge energy signature. You want them to come down on us like the Furies of Ghaal? They'd delight in interrogating all of us in their own delightful way. I'm not ready for that just yet!"

She took a swig of her ras'lak.

"Balk and Pildor will know what to do. They took quite a fancy to you."

I remembered Pildor the slug and shivered. Furlow noticed.

"Oh I know neither of them's exactly what you'd call pretty, but they're honourable with comrades. You were given a honorary position in the clan for holding your liquor."

"You'll never know how difficult that was. Remember when I said I needed the sanitary facility?"

She nodded.

"I went out side and dispersed three garbage scows."

"You never said."

"If you'd have felt like I felt you'd have only wanted to die somewhere quietly. What's in that stuff?"

She shook her head.

"Dunno. I thought it sensible not to inquire. I'll give you a tip for the future. Get a jug of water and keep topping up your tankard. That way they won't keep refilling the thing."

"You could have told me before.!

"What and miss the ribbing you got. Haven't had so much fun in monens!"

I glared at her.

"Oh! Oh! You're glowing round the edges girl. I see what you meant about that. It's very effective."

I relaxed and let my incipient anger subside.

"I suppose it's some time with our motley associates then."

"I'll get in touch."

"How'll you cover for my absence?"

"Oh I'll just say you were here for the day to machine some parts. Can't prove otherwise. I'll set up the charge sequence and mark it paid in full."

"If you're sure."

"Look Sareel I was getting myself outa sticky situations probably before you were born. I've had plenty of practice!"

I went to pack my small bag. She went to the comms unit. I could hear her slightly through the partition which separated our living quarters from the workshop proper.

Having packed, I went back into our living area.

"What about the data? Is it safe to leave it in my holding buffers?"

She grinned.

"A safe as anywhere else. Let's face it your brain already knows it. You're just holding the computed encryption of it in the buffers. I don't intend to let the Scarrans get anywhere near you."

"I don't like the sound of that!"

"Balk will be round in a quarter ahn to collect you. He's got the ideal place to hide you. A place the Scarrans would never venture into!"

*******************

The place the Scarrans would never venture into turned out to be the disposal and recycling system of the station. Metron after metron of ducting. The place I was shown to by a Abrian drone was deep in the dren recycling system.

"How do you cope with the stench. It's.. it's indescribable!"

He grunted.

"Never notice. Get used to it. Look here's an inspection area. Balk has used this before to shelter fugitives. Will you be staying long?"

"Until the Scarrans remove their dreadnought."

"Could be a while then. I hear they're threatening to blow us up."

"I heard so too. Definitely not a friendly action."

The drone snuffled a laugh.

"Since when have the Scarrans ever been considered friendly?"

"The Charrons and Nebari seem content to aid them."

"While it suits them.  I wager the first time the Scarrans make any move against either of their territories they'll go howling to the Peacekeepers."

"You are behind the times! The Peacekeeper High Command was trying to negotiate with the Scarrans."

His gill flaps fluttered.

"I didn't know that."

"Well that ended the microt the Scarrans invaded the Outer Colonies. There was a big battle and the Peacekeeper Far Fleet took a drubbing."

"Oh my, not good."

"No I agree, but they have regrouped with new leaders in a place where the Scarrans are unlikely to return."

"They'd destroyed it?"

"Well made a mess and decimated the population."

"You been there, I can tell. Not good if Scarrans get you hey?"

"Very bad if they got me."

A low rumble from the Abrian.

"Scarrans not like to get dirty. You quite safe here."

"What about Charrons?"

"Oh we confuse Charrons. Get them lost in passages, close safety doors, re-route dren. Very smelly Charrons, Scarrans not like."

The idea of Charrons being covered in dren appealed to me and I burst out laughing. The Abrian joined in. Finally we stopped and he handed me the pack he'd been carrying.

"Food, water and pulse pistol."

"What do I need that for?"

"Large conduit rats. Get very nosy when food around."

"But dry rations and water don't have much odour."

"Me talking about you. They have eaten several of my friends."

"Great! How do I get any sleep?"

He pointed to the grid of purple points round the area.

"They give adequate warning."

"If you say so."

"Must go now. I'll be back with more supplies."

And he disappeared, leaving me with the cold light from light pads and my own thoughts and the unseen eyes of the other inhabitants of the system for company.

**************************

In about twelve ahns, I had come to an arrangement with my scaly companions. Firing a tiny pulse at the base of their feet had served to put them off me. They decided that there was nothing to be gained by bothering a being who could glow in the dark and toast them to a crisp if she wished. I wasn't troubled by them at all. Much to my amusement I found that I could talk to them in pictures. Their responses were, to say the least basic but gave me insight into the recycling system, from a conduit rat perspective.

On about what would have been the time for the Scarran ultimatum, I heard a scuffling near my feet. A female rat was there with a small scaled infant rat in her mouth. She gently deposited it at my feet. It was scarcely moving and I got an image of the tiny animal falling from a ledge. I picked it up, I'd overcome my fear of them and gently probed its tiny body. One of its four back legs was broken. The bone was jutting out and infection had set in.

One of the things the Vaud priesthood are good at is healing, but it was a gift I'd seldom used, not wanting to draw unwelcome attention to myself. The last time I'd used it had been to heal Moya. I concentrated on the limb, having placed the bone back inside the skin and made a couple of tiny splints. Fortunately I had found over the previous ahns that it was completely possible to just use a tiny amount of my energy accumulation at any one time and I used this to accelerate the healing process. The little limb firmed up and the skin healed over the wound, the infection countered. I removed the splint and put the animal down on the ground in front of the female. The tiny thing shuffled round and made a snuffling sound at its dam. She nudged it and it started hesitantly walking, using its repaired leg.

The female squealed with delight, I'd come to recognise their communication tones, and half a dozen other rats gathered round the infant. I was inundated with pleasure images, which I took to be their way of expressing thanks. One huge old male came up to me and I got the distinct image which denoted 'If you need our help, just send picture!'. Then they all disappeared silently down the corridors.

********************

About two hns later an extremely agitated Abrian slopped his way on the inspection area.

"Bad news!"

"One look at you told me that." I'd immediately felt his panic. "Take it from the start."

"The Scarrans decided that they weren't satisfied and sent down a squad to take over the station. The station commander just showed them the results but they were still sure what they were looking for was still here. Then they saw the recycling system. Immediately they sent for a group of their Charron lackeys. They're on their way down here now."

"Then they're after me rather than my invention."

The Adrian looked at me slyly.

"What do they need an object for when they can just take what they want from your head?"

"I know and it doesn't fill me with confidence!"

I sent out a help picture to my ratty friends.

"Look don't move or be upset, but the conduit rats and I have come to an understanding."

There was a scuffling down the corridor and the big old male, the leader hauled himself onto the inspection pad. The Adrian flinched slightly and then stood stock still. I sent pictures of the Charrons to the old male. I got back a feeling of revulsion, which actually was quite amusing because I think the Charrons could take the prize for the most repulsive large being in the galaxy and the conduit rats, the one for the smallest. Anyway it was obvious that they had no attachment to the Scarran's sidekicks and I could feel the communal muster going out. The old male sidled off.

The Abrian looked at me in amazement.

"What was that all about? I got little images from the old male."

"Oh you can pick them up too. Well if you can, try sending back pictures to them. That's what I was doing. The Charrons will be dealt with. Now do you fancy a game of kaplak?"

****************

At the entrance to the main recycling system three Scarran troopers, a Charron officer and a Scarran Da'vu all waited eagerly for the results of the sweep. The Scarrans were judiciously standing apart from the Charron, who's odour they found objectionable. Suddenly there was a sound from the comm unit on the Charron's waist.

"Sir help us we're surrounded. They're eating Zont. They 've got us penned up."

"Use your weapons you frellng bunch of tuncs. Use your weapons."

"Can't. Confined space, bounces off the walls and hits us."

"Reform and make a retreat. That's an order!"

"We'll try Sir. Oh frell, there goes Tokil."

The unit went silent and the Charron officer tried in vain to raise his men. The Scarran Da'vu grabbed the unfortunate station commander whom they'd brought with them. He was held off the ground at arms length.

"What's down there?"

"It'll be the conduit rats. We've lost the odd person ourselves. We use Abrians down there. They can swim in the tanks."

"You've never tried to exterminate the conduit rats?"

"They perform a function. Eat large pieces that would clog the filters."

Just then there was a howling from the tunnel and a dozen Charrons catapulted out of the exit followed by at least two hundred conduit rats of all sizes, teeth bared and eye glowing red. The Scarrans moved smartly out of the way as the swift moving tide charged past them. Several of the Charrons had fallen at the exit. That large pieces had been ripped out of them was obvious, as were their moans.

The Scarran Da'vu contacted the dreadnought.

"It's obvious that nothing could survive for long down in the recycling area. Yes the Charrons have made a search. Nothing but extremely ferocious conduit rats. I'd concur with that view. I'll collect my squads and return immediately."

He glared at the station commander.

"If you kept records of landings and departures it would have been obvious that our quarry had already departed. None of this!" He indicated the writhing Charrons, "Would have been necessary."

He turned to the Charron officer.

"I suggest that you collect your wounded and return to your part of the dreadnought."

The Charron took out his pulse pistol and calmly shot all his wounded in the head.

"They know there is no room for weakness! Let the rats have them." And he walked away in pursuit of the rest of his men. Whom he finally found collapsed at the foot of a small simulstone fountain in a piazza. One of them leerily opened an eye when he heard the footstep.

"Officer!"

They all groggily got to their feet and made a half hearted attempt to order ranks. Without any success!

"And what happened to the vermin or am I talking to them?"

"Sir they just disappeared down that opening."

He pointed to a dark, uninviting semicircle in the simulstone wall.

"Get your useless rumps back to the transport. Go to your quarters. I'll deal with you there."

Part 14

Crais had been gone four days when Pilot contacted the group on Earth.

"Moya reports that Talyn is rendezvouing with us in fifty microts."

D'Argo was supervising the newly constructed comms room that particular day. He took over the controls from the Sebbacian who was on duty.

"Pilot has he found what he wanted."

"Moya says that his mission is complete. He's fully functional."

"That is good news. We can start making some attacks of our own."

The screen shut down and then reverted to the space relay scanner array. D'Argo left the room and sought out Sout.

"Crais is back."

"Talyn's healed then?"

"I take it so. Where's Crichton?"

The Morgul shook his head.

"He's getting to be more of a recluse as each day passes."

"His conscience again?"

"It's more than that. He thinks that everything he's ever done has been for the wrong reasons!"

"I have never had that problem."

"Not even over Jothee?"

"Well I was totally focussed over that."

"From what I heard you were willing to sacrifice Crichton to get him back."

The Luxan looked at his substantial feet.

"That was what Scorpius wanted."

"And you're telling me that you don't have some feelings of guilt about that?"

"A warrior does not sucumb to negative feelings!"

"I thought as much. You're no different to the rest of us."

"Well John had better pull himself together and decide what he's going to do. I tend to agree with him. I can't see Sareel's toy as a major threat. Spectacular, yes but little more that a scratch on the surface of this war."

"Not as it stands at the moment perhaps, but if she develops it. What then?"

"That is in the future. I have sufficient problems in dealing with the present."

""When does Chiana leave?"

The Luxan ground his teeth together and growled out , "Tomorrow!"

"Oh I gather that you don't approve?"

"She's no warrior!"

"Agreed, but the skills she needs for her and the two Humans to survive aren't warrior skills d'Argo."

"I suppose not, but she could get killed. I'd miss her."

"I thought you'd washed your hands of her after the fiasco with Jothee."

"I tried very hard to put her out of my mind. When I was angry it was easy. Now I'm no longer angry with her, it's not easy."

"I'd say you'd got a very old problem d'Argo. Have a chat...."

He nearly said 'Have a chat with Urana', before he remembered that she was suopposed to be a youngling.

"What were you going to say?"

"Oh nothing. I'll go and see what Crais has found at this place he visited."

"I'll get back to the comm room. Nothing's happeneing at all. Even the two Gammak bases are quiet."

D'Argo left the courtyard where he'd found Sout and the Morgul watched him leave before striding purposefully to the parade ground, which was now mainly a transport landing area, to await Crais. The transport landed reather heavily on the tarmac, which was getting rather pitted from repeated thruster burns. The hatch opened and Crais climbed out followed by four Humans. Three men and a woman. Sout walked over.

"Successful sortie?"

Crais looked a little nonplussed.

"Well, on one count yes, I've got something that will adapt to make that part Talyn needs."

"And the other?"

"These people, well they aren't quite what I was expecting."

He looked round.

"Where's Crichton? I'd have thought his curiosity would have brought him to have seen exactly who I'd bought back."

Sout shook his head.

"He's by the lake. It's noticeble as each day passes, he's getting less and less communicative. It's this thing about Sareel!"

"Frelling female. She's been nothing but trouble. I'd have removed her long ago."

"I daresay you would have. However it appears that she can't be touched or something terrible will happen to all of us."

He nearly mentioned what Urana had told him them remembered that he was the only one who knew her true identity. Crais broke into his thoughts.

"Urana been behaving herself? Done her work?"

"Oh yes she's completed all her tasks. You know I saw her the other day, she and Jimmy brought the horses round. She sits the animal extremely well. I think its something I might profitably add to my skills."

"Riding an animal? What use will that be?"

Sout peered at him. It was obvious that the captain was in a cantankerous mood. the Morgul wondered what circumstance had brought that on.

"Not every planet has advanced technology."

The answer seemed to satisfy Crais and he moved off with two of the men and the woman. The third man held back and approached Sout. He was tall, good looking in a mature way and had short, steel grey hair.

"I fancy a turn round your lake. Where exactly is it?"

Sout gave him directions and the man moved off. He looked vaguely familiar but the Morgul dismissed the thought and started back to the main building.

********************************

Crichton was sitting on a rock at the edge of the lake idly flicking gravel into the water. The ducks were chasing the small stones, ever expectant of food. He seemed oblivious of his surroundings, a morose expression painted on his face. The tall, grey haired man stood at the edge of the copse bordering the lake and watched him. His face was impassive.

Crichton finally stood up and threw his last stone in an aggressive manner. Silently the man walked and stood behind Crichton, he was slightly taller than the disturbed human.

"Hello son! Things not going well?"

Crichton whipped round at the sound of the familiar voice.

"Dad! How the frell?"

They hugged and the grey haired man, Jack Crichton sat down on the stone.

"Sit down and tell me what's been going on. More to the point, what's the hell's wrong with you now?"

Crichton shook his head.

"It's a long story. After the Farscape module hit the wormhole..."

"Hang on there, that part will keep. Tell me exactly what's bothering you now!"

Hesitantly Crichton told Jack about Scorpius and his fear of what Sareel could accomplish and of his reluctance to do anything to aid the scientist over the matter and his guilt if he didn't. His father listened impassively.

"Well John you've got a decison to make haven't you?"

"Aw hell Dad, I don't need you to tell me that!"

"I can categorically state that you haven't changed one iota in your travels John Crichton. You're still the most mule headed person I ever met. Full of reasons why not to take a course of action. How about some positive thoughts."

Crichton grinned.

"Looks like I take after my ol' pa then doesn't it. You said you were the same in your young days."

"Ah yes but I grew up, matured, saw reason. Now what if your Sareel does suceed in making this a true useable weapon? What then?"

"Then who ever has it will win control of the galaxy."

"I take it the Scarrans wouldn't be your first choice of ruler?"

Crichton stared at his father in disbelief.

"You sound as if you've accepted that it's gonna happen."

Jack shrugged his shoulders.

"Haven't you?"

"Hell not while we've got breathe in our bodies to fight the bastards!"

"Against unacceptable odds?"

"There's nothing to prove that she can do it."

Jack was silent for a minute watching the ducks tailending on the lake.

"No? I think I should meet Scorpius. How do I arrange that?"

"You want to talk to Scorpius? Dad I just don't believe I've heard you right!"

"Son, just because you've had a few bad experiences that you blame him for doesn't mean that I shouldn't talk to him! He sounds to be a reasonable, well informed being and I need to double check some information I have."

"What's that?"

"Nothing to concern you at present. You have to sort out how you feel."

Crichton found his boots extremely interesting.

"Dad?"

"Yes son."

"Could I have been wrong all the time? Could I have believed in the wrong things?"

"I tried to bring you up to be a decent, thoughtful human being John, but somewhere along the line I failed in one aspect. You always knew best, even to the point of mule headed arrogance. Even over the Farscape project."

"You're telling me that I'm selfish?"

"Sometimes very selfish, other times you're a great person, caring and thinking about others."

"I never realised."

"Why should you? You were to wrapped up in what you were doing. If you hadn't been my son I'd have gladly toed you up the ass. Even then I was often sorely tempted."

"I never realised. Hell, you make me sound a real head case. I admit I've screwed up from time to time , but I never realised I was that bad!"

Jack laid hid hand on his son's shoulder.

"I'm sorry John, but it's better that it comes from me. Now how do I arrange a meeting with Scorpius?"

"You're better asking Sout to fix it. He's about the most neutral of all of us and Scorpius doesn't mistrust him."

"Sout?"

"The black and gold stripes with a crest."

"Ah yes he's the one that met Captain Crais on the landing pad. I've brought three others of the project with me. We'd gone fishing when the attack came so we survived."

When he saw that Crichton was paying scant attention to what he was saying, Jack walked away through the coppice leaving his son once again throwing stones into the lake.

******************

"Yes, no problem Jack, I'll get in touch with Braca now."

The Morgul laughed.

"I know how pleased he'll be to see me."

"From your expression I hazard a guess that he doesn't like you."

"Totally correct. I take great pleasure in annoying him. Our Braca feels uncomfortable unless he's talking to pure blooded Sebbacians, preferably Peacekeepers, though now we call them something else."

"I take it that isn't complementary."

"On the contrary they're renamed Earthforce one. Peacekeeper High Command has no followers here. This is the comms room."

He pushed open the door and a Delvian tech looked up as they entered.

"Ah Sout, I've got a message from High Command. They wanted Scorpius, but I said he was unavailable, and the Commander Crichton was away. I acted correctly didn't I."

"Oh yes, what do they want?"

"Here it's on the encrypted channel, screen one."

Jack and Sout moved across the room. the holoscren flickered into life as the three D head of the leader of High Command appeared.

"I gather that I'm addressing this to Sout, Chief Scout and Tracker. It's probably best that I speak to you first. You can pave the way to a possible meeting. We desire an alliance with you."

There was a brief hiatus.

"We understand that you have a weapon that will ensure victory. We will await your answer with considerable anticipation."

"Oh my, doesn't bad news get around fast!"

"I take it he's referring to the possible weapon this woman Sareel has invented."

"Yes. Though I actually think they are clutching at straws."

"You want my opinion?"

Sout looked at him searchingly.

"Yes, that might prove invaluable."

"Your big wheel on the screen wants the weapon, he's not got the slightest notion of an alliance. You say you have it and they'll make every effort to grab it and sell you down the pan!"

"But they can't reach us here. They haven't got the wormhole technology."

"You sure about that?"

Sout's eyes were suffused orange.

"Totally!"

"Then I ask myself what are they up to?"

"I really have no idea. I'll get in touch with Gammak one immediately."

"The sooner I can talk to this Scorpius, the better for everyone."

Scorpius was surprised when he was asked for a meeting by a tall grey haired Human. Braca had been out of the laboratory at the time.

"Hi I'm Jack Crichton. You'll be Scorpius I guess."

At the mention of the name Crichton Scorpius stiffened noticeably and Jack saw his change in posture.

"Don't worry, I'm not my son. I understand he's been giving you a great deal of trouble."

By this time Sout had briefly filled him in on the basics of what had happened as far as he understood them.

"You could say that. He managed to destroy a Gammak Base."

"I'm surprised you let him get away with it. He can be extremely pig headed. Gets an idea into his head and neither hell nor high water can dislodge it!"

"I have come to see John as burden that has been sent to make me try harder."

"You got your wormhole in spite of him!"

"Yes Sareel had part of his conscousness stored and that had part of the puzzle in it. The neural chip had another part and I deduced some for myself. But yes it was Sareel who put all the pieces together and made the first safe, working model."

"Anyway, past history apart, I need to talk to you face to face. I have some disturbing data I need to check."

And he'd agreed to meet Jack Crichton the very next morning. That morning found him waiting in the annex to his docking bay for Jack's transport to land. The small craft sank slowly to the floor and once environmental controls were restored, the hatch opened and Sout slid out, followed by the man Scorpius had seen the previous afternoon. Sout slipped off down a auxillary exit, Scorpius suspected he was off to nose his way round the base gossip. The Human walked confidently up to him and extended his hand.

"Hi I'm Jack Crichton. Nice to finally meet you!"

Scorpius realised that the proffered hand heralded some form of greeting and took hold of it. Jack shook it once and released it.

"I think we'd be better talking in my quarters. I can guarantee our privacy there."

"Good, although there may be things you'll want to check out for yourself."

"I have all the base computer systems linked to my personal console. I'm completely independent of the labs if needs be."

"Fine. I'll follow you then."

Scorpius led the way through the hollowed out passages of the asteroid. Jack followed, noting everything on the way. The sophistication of the technology which had gone into the forming of the base impressed him. After descending through several layers, Scorpius finally pressed his hand to a pad by the side of a metal door. With a slight hiss the door slid open revealing an austere room with two chairs, a table and a grey padded couch. Scorpius indicated the chairs ans Jack sat himself down in the nearest of the two.

"You sure don't go in for comfort."

Scorpius looked at him.

"I have no need of it. The chairs and the table are things Sareel introduced. Before I had a stool, which sufficed. Now what data do you wish me to look at."

Jack opened the folder he was carrying and handed Scorpius a series of photographs of space.

He pointed to an object which appeared on all the pictures.

"That's the problem. Look here are the calculations we made. As we only had access to the one telescope and the radio array, we need them checking to confirm or disprove it."

Scorpius scanned the figures.

"This could have serious consequences on our operation here. It would no longer be a suitable base."

"Downright dangerous I'd say!"

"I agree. I'll realign one of the deep space arrays to track your co-ordinates."

**********

Five hours later both men were sitting grim faced, drinking Jack Daniels. Jack had brought a small bottle with him. Scorpius broke the silence.

"You were correct in your calculations."

"How long before it gets here?"

Scorpius hesitated fractionally.

"Oh I'd say that it it keeps its present speed a trajectory, three of your Earth months."

"Then."

"Then total disaster."

"As if we hadn't endured enough already."

Scorpius looked keenly at the grey haired man.

"Jack, has there ever been anything of that mass posing a serious threat before?"

"No. Why the hell didn't I think of that."

"Then I'd suggest that the Scarrans left you a farewell present."

"Are they that vindictive?"

"Destruction of an invaded planet is usually effected by the complete rape of its minerals and often water. They may be trying out a new weapon."

"Not exactly subtle or effective."

"Extremely effective I'd say and at very little cost. Just divert a body with sufficient mass and farewell enemies."

Jack nearly spilt his drink.

"You're trying to tell me that this is an experiment?"

"Oh I'd say that was extremely likely. And that poses another problem. They must have left an observer."

"Well they would have to be on one of the other planets."

"I was thinking more of a probe. I'm still not certain how they got here. My information was that they'd not got a totally stable wormhole."

Jack thought for a minute and took a sip of the amber liquid in his glass.

"Would they risk personnel through something that wasn't totally stable?"

"Possibly if reward was sufficient."

He looked morosely at the ceiling.

"There's another factor."

"Go on."

"My early failures with Peacekeeper pilots, were somewhat messy. They totally degrade into a soup, yet the craft and its systems were intact. Scarran physiology like that of Humans, differs considerably from that of Sebbacians."

"You're telling me that it's only Sebbacians that have a problem with flux variation?"

"Sebbacians and related species. Though superior in many ways to Humans, they seem not to be as tolerant to extreme electromagnetic wave variation."

"The ship acted as a microwave. Scorpius, they literally cooked in the ship!"

"It would seem so. Some other species initially seemed to survive the transmission and then cellular degredation set in later."

"The cellular ability to repair was damaged irrevocably then. It seems obvious to me. We studied the effect of radiation on the human in space. There are long term effects due to gamma radiarion."

"Mmm, that's one form of radiation that doesn't affect Sebbacians. Their original planet was situated near a strong gamma source."

"Your troops are mixed?"

"They are now, far more than previously."

"Then some may be more suitable for certain areas than others."

"We can give chemicals against various forms of radiation."

Jack finished his drink.

"Getting back to our original problem."

"Yes I can only see that one solution."

"I'll get Moya's crew up here tomorrow then."

"And your son?"

"He'll be here even if I have to drag him kicking and screaming onto the transport."

Scorpius chuckled.

"Now that I'd very much like to see!"

************************

Rool, the ogroop had largely been left to his own devices and the strange animal had soon found that Earth was very much to his liking. He'd wandered outside the confines of the camp and encountered a bunch of very different animals scavenging round the outskirts of the Humans village. They seemed to be tolerated, evne made a fuss of by the inhabitants. Rool had been ambling along the main street when he was suddenly pinned to the ground by a large paw. There was something said in a language he didn't understand so he switched to thought communication as he did when Urana had a task for him.

"Where do you think you're going little weasel?"

It didn't feel particularly friendly so the ogroop decided that placation was his best bet. He was only tiny compared to the large black and brown animal that had him pinned down.

"Just exploring. No offence intended."

The paw was removed and the dishevelled Rool calmly started grooming his fur straight.

Six sets of eyes looked at him. He felt their varying thoughts, ranging from curiosity to downright antagonism. He gently probed the minds. Mmm.. intellegent but not brilliant. Realising that he was their superior and that with a little gentle manipulation he could easily control the pack he started mentally stroking their brains. The antagonism was from a black and white animal with a pointed snout and long hair. Rool sensed that he was worried that his mate might be taken from him.

The ogroop politely pinted out that it would be physically impossible for him to mate with the female, not only because he was of a different species, but because of size difference. One by one Rool won their confidence. They led him to a place under a large tree where there was shade fom the sun. They lay there tongues lolling out. This behaviour was foreign to Rool and he inquired why they did it.

"Lose heat that way!"

"Oh haven't you got cooling pores in the skin?"

He was informed that they hadn't.

"What species of animal are you", he asked the big leader.

"Dogs. We live with humans."

Rool saw nothing unusual in this arrangement. Ogroops had exploited several sentient species for protection and food from time immemorial.

"What do they expect of you?"

The leader barked.

"Protection, companionship."

"Nothing more?"

The black and white dog grunted .

"I'm a sheepdog, we herd sheep. Well I would if I could find any. All the sheep seem to have gone."

"Sheep?"

"Big woolly things with no brains. Follow each other as if they were tied together."

He added as an afterthought.

"Humans eat them and make things from their coats."

"Ah."

Rool had no idea what a sheep was but if you could eat them then that was fine by him. He would ask Urana to show him a picture of one when he got bak to the camp.

"You come far?"

"Depends. If you mean where to I sleep now, the camp. Where I came from before, er... not on this planet."

He was surprised to find that the dogs had no concept of planet and he had to give them a potted lesson on celestial bodies.

The black and tan dog was surprised.

"Well never even thought about it before. Round here seems big enough. Hard to imagine anything bigger."

The other agreed but they began to view Rool with a certain amount of respect. They began to talk amonst themselves in their strange language. Rool was disturbed. Finally a female, he was told was called a greyhound asked him, "Do you think any of your Humans would take a companion?"

He pointed out that nmany of the folk who lived in the camp weren't Humans, something else that floored the dogs.

"There are only Humans!"

"On this planet, yes. On other planets other species."

A red setter scratched his ear in confusion.

"Ain't ever going to get used to them new ideas!"

The leader laughed.

"Can tell you're a country boy."

Rool brought the conversation back to the topic in hand.

"Why are you asking if the Humans want a companion?"

There was a yipping and barking and an extremly shaggy dog appeared. He grinned at the others, his tongue lolling out his mouth.

"No one wants him. They say he's not nice looking."

Rool couldn't see much difference from the others but accepted that Humans were particular in their choice of dog.

"I've got to go back. It's getting near my feeding time at least my belly tells me so. He can come back with me but I can't guarantee anyone will take him."

"Well they like you. You don't look beautiful."

Rool had never thought about how he looked, but accepted that there were different standards from place to place.

He got off the rock he'd found.

"Come on then. Let's see what we can do!"

He was surprised when the dog gave him a slobbery lick with his tongue. He was so surprised he nearly erected his crest but remembered just in time that the mood wasn't threatening. They trotted off down the road towards the camp, watched by the pack.

Part 16