With the debriefing over, Rhijans, Haarmon and Juragga are dismissed, and told to get some rest.  As Arisis explains, "The information you've provided could be used in planning future missions.  I'll need to speak to the Colonel when he gets back, but I'm sure there must be some way we can work out where Reise was taking the diverted torps, and getting them back from whoever they were delivered to.  I suspect things are going to be busy for you people."

"In the meantime, I'll have Barsh taken into protective custody, just in case Reise has other people working with him here.  If I can manage it, I'll have him put on a ship and taken safely off-world.  Just bring him in, and we'll keep him safe until Reise and any friends he has are pinned down."

He squeezes the bridge of his nose and sighs, "Is there anything else?"

Rhijans thought for a moment...and grimaced, in a 'I can't believe I'm actually saying this' fashion.  "The repair tech in Medical...Kedra.  Make sure she knows Barsh isn't actually the bad guy.  Might have to wait on that until after we get Reise...but if we can tell her earlier and get her to agree to play along, it would be better."

He shook his head, adding, "Don't ask me to explain why..."

Haarmon gave the security guy a long-suffering look and a sympathetic shrug. "I still don't understand why."

And then, to Rhijans, "Should we... ummm... go get Shard? Or at least let her know it's all on the up-and-up?"

Juragga warbled a repeat and endorsement of Haarmon's query.  He had a bad feeling about this...

Rhijans nodded.  "You know where to get ahold of her?  It'd be smart to tell her Barsh is safe from Security...but that we don't necessarily know if Reise was operating solo and she should be on her toes until we meet up with them."  He wasn't about to leave her in the hands of any old security guard who happened across her path.

Oblivious, Shard continues to sit quietly while Barsh sleeps.  She does, after all, have a great deal to think about.

...not the best thing for her.

Hot void.  I could really use a drink.

Haarmon smiles as they walk away from Security Central.  Yes, he knows how to get hold of Shard.  And the smile slips only a little as he corrects himself mentally.  He thinks he knows how to get hold of her.


After a few moments of walking in silence, Haarmon clears his throat and asks Rhijans, quietly. "Where should she meet us?  I mean, if I can contact her."

Then, for some reason that only he seems to know, he gives Juragga a grin, and that "thumbs up" gesture that Humans use all the time, meaning that everything is going well.

Usually just before somebody pulls a thermal detonator out of their pocket...

Rhijans gave Haarmon an inscrutable look...whether it was because he could see no visible method of communicating with Shard, or because he had some exception to being asked the question wasn't clear.  At least, not until his response provided at least some clue...

"Well, I would suggest a place that's somewhere between where she is and where we are...but I have no idea where the blazes she is, so I can't really make that suggestion."  There was a look of expectancy on his face, as though he'd just left a blank in a sentence that he expected Haarmon to fill in, somehow...

Haarmon opens his eyes. He hoped that the message reached. He was pretty sure it did. Not that he had any real experience with whatever the void was happening. Or even knew what the void was happening. But still. He nailed it.

Totally nailed it.

"She's in the computer core," he said, quietly. He still wasn't sure how much of what he was supposed to be telling who. "With Barsh. Your quarters are about halfway. How bout there?"

His own quarters were actually closer to halfway, but he'd been shot there not too long ago. Maybe give them a miss for a bit. His hand picked idly at his wound as he walked.

Shard winces as the message floats through the aether to her; not from pain, but surprise.  She shoots a quick check at Barsh, finding him asleep or next to it.  With that, she closes her eyes and leans her head back.  It's becoming more and more easy finding the balancing point...or so she hopes.

Rhijans gave Haarmon another inscrutable look...then shrugged.  "My quarters will work fine," he said flatly.  "Maybe even a little to her side of midway, depending on how fast we move and how hard it is to get out of the core..."

Rather than discuss it further, he turned and started walking.  Nobody saw the flicker of disbelief and confusion that flashed across his features...

Juragga shrugged and went to follow Rhijans, sparing a glance to Haarmon to make sure.