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came. But there is work to be done. We'll talk soon."
    With that, he stepped out and strode on at speed. Cynara looked unimpressed, but she knew he would not be stopped. Jones headed for the Garden where Jafar had agreed to meet him. He'd heard of Zenobia’s Garden but never visited. It was one of a handful of artificial gardens on board the vast station built as places of tranquillity for people to relax, especially those still strongly attached to their homes on Earth. He had never felt such an appeal to fresh air and dirt, and didn't find the time or necessity to visit the artificial gardens either.
    It was a fifteen-minute walk, and he passed hundreds of military personnel and civilians en route. He had almost reached his destination when a news anchor stepped out in front and blocked his way. A soccer ball shaped drone floated at head height beside the woman with the name of her company. She was smartly dressed in a single piece business suit, and her hair up and fixed so perfectly it looked false. A smile stretched across her face as she approached, but it was so fake it was almost funny.
    "Lieutenant Jones? I am Winona Walters, UCNN. Can I have just a few moments of your time?"
    "Sorry, Miss Walters, but I am on duty and at work," he replied and side stepped, trying to get past her. But she moved over, and her drone camera blocked his path.
    "You were aboard the Bulwark on her mission to Kepler-186, were you not?"
    Jones sighed.
    "I'm not at liberty to divulge operational information, Ma'am."
    "But you were aboard the ship, weren't you? Can you provide some explanation as to the critical damage of the vessel, and the fact that you returned without the Bulwark’s two support vessels?"
    "No I cannot."
    He stepped forward, shoved the drone out of the way, and carried on. The reporter sighed as if to be offended by his actions, but he could not help but feel he was the offended party. Then the sign was before him, 'Zenobia’s Garden.' There was an open archway into the garden, and it was a bizarre sight to see green grass and trees just centimetres away from the steel floors of the station. He stepped inside and instantly noticed how great it smelt. The trees looked real, and he looked up at the sky and sunshine glinting across the tops of the trees fifty metres high. He knew it was artificial, and that much of what was above and in the distance was projected, but it was so effective he found his mind telling him it was real.
    He carried on down a smooth path that led into the park to hear the sounds of birds and squirrels running about the scenery. It was similar to a luscious park he had visited in England when he was younger, and later during training. He was entirely immersed in the fake world when he heard his name being called and found Jafar standing in front of him. His two bodyguards stood off in the distance, ensuring they were left in peace.
    “Lord Jafar, thank you for seeing me.”
    “What can I do for you?”
    Jones took a deep breath and tried to think. He’d wanted to meet Jafar for so long and discuss his family’s history, but now his mind couldn’t leave recent events.
    “I am sorry, but I am speechless. I just can’t stop thinking about Kepler.”
    Jafar nodded slowly.
    “Yes, it is a worrying situation. More so than you realise, I think.”
    “How can you know that?”
    Jafar pointed to his flank, and he turned to see Irala with them as if he had just appeared out of thin air.
    “What’s going on here?” Jones asked.
    He felt uneasy and couldn’t understand how two such powerful leaders would come to him. Irala looked expressionless and statue like. He was taller than a Human but of much slighter build. But he had presence, and the look of a highly knowledgeable and advanced being.
    “Why are you here?” he asked again.
    “Lieutenant, during the conference with the Allied leaders, we were honest, though we did not disclose all that we know.”
    “Why? And why are you telling