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with the matter at hand? We have Stroj agents on Earth again, sir. That much is clear, and they appear to have Betas helping them.”
    “Eh? Yes, well… you’re obviously correct. The general belief at Central Command is that this was an isolated sleeper cell. A group of undiscovered enemy agents that took action to exact revenge upon the man who defeated them in battle last time.”
    I looked at him. “Is that what you believe?” I asked.
    “Hell no. Two renegades can’t hack implants, blast holes in the umbilical and break into a hospital bent on assassination. It takes an organization to do all that.”
    I nodded. “I agree, Admiral. I agree.”
    “Good!” he shouted, clapping me on the back.
    The blow was painful, but I kept a wincing smile on my face.
    “Now,” he boomed, “get back up to that ship. Get her underway and get the hell out of this system. Find your way to Beta. The emissaries are waiting aboard your vessel now.”
    My expression shifted into a frown. “Emissaries, sir?”
    He laughed. “What? Did you think the government would let you represent Earth? What if you started a fight with the first colonist you met? You’re good at that—at least, that’s your rep.”
    “I see,” I said unhappily. “I’ll transport these emissaries to a colony world and make contact. Now, if you’ll excuse me, sir—”
    “There will be no excuses this time. There’s a color guard waiting out in the hallway, and a pinnace on the roof.”
    That startled me. “A pinnace, sir?”
    “Yes. To hell with the umbilical. Take my personal transport up to your ship and get going.”
    Nodding, I walked down the hallway. With great effort, I managed not to limp.
    Behind me followed a grim-faced group. Jillian, her partner, Zye and a team of four marines all walked with visible tension. They were looking everywhere at once, and eyeing everyone but me.
    How had I become the center of controversy again? Why had the enemy singled me out? After all, even if they did manage to kill me, Star Guard was certain to appoint a new captain to my post aboard Defiant and send him out into the unknown to explore.
    There was more to this situation on Earth than I understood, that much was clear. I decided to put it behind me as best I could. At this point, I relished a nice calm journey into the wilds of interstellar space.

-5-
     
    When the pinnace reached Defiant and docked with her, I was shocked to realize how much time had passed. Of the thirty-nine hours I’d promised Durris I’d return within, only two remained. I’d spent a full day in the hospital without knowing it. We would have to fly to the departure point in all haste to exit the system on schedule.
    As I rushed to the command deck, teeth gritting with each painful step, another thought occurred to me: Chloe hadn’t come to visit me.
    I’d been stretched out on a hospital bed for nearly two days, but she’d never come to see me.
    I’m no expert at relationships, but I knew this simple fact couldn’t be positive. I ducked into my office and contacted her on my implant.
    A tiny, irritating vibration ran up through the base of my skull. My implant had been restored and upgraded while I was unconscious. The new version seemed to be more intrusive—but that might just have been a side-effect of the swelling at the insertion-point.
    The call kept buzzing, but she wasn’t picking up. I glanced at my chronometer, there was so little time left. Perhaps I could call later when I was just about to leave Earth orbit.
    But then, just before I gave up and disconnected, the call was answered.
    “William?” Chloe asked. “Are you all right?”
    “Yes—at least, I am now. I’ve been in bed for days, but I pulled through.”
    “I’m very happy to hear that. I was so worried.”
    “Chloe…” I said, summoning up the courage to say what must be said next, “I’m going to be gone. Gone for a long time, I suspect.”
    “I know,” she said. “I’ll miss