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need is a bath and clean garment," Dagan said.
    Auken told the newcomer that Radu would take care of his needs, then reminded him not to forget his meeting with Tochar the following day.
    "I'll be there," Dagan replied, wondering about the reason for it.
    Starla rushed to the bridge of the Liska and took a seat next to Cypher. Her computer system had a memory bank and certain programs that no one could enter except the two of them and members of the Maffei Elite Squad; they

    didn't even show up on the screen unless a particular command was given. The advanced system—along with her security clearance level and her android's skills—had the capability and access codes for tapping in to numerous UFG and other sources without being traced back to her unit. She took a deep breath and murmured, "We came close to exposure, but he held silent about our first meeting for some reason. Who is Dagan Latu? Fm certain Tochar or his contacts have already checked his file, and the fiendal seemed impressed by what he learned. That doesn't bode well for my impression of him and gives us an unneeded complication."
    The intelligent android pressed a key to display the intruder's record and image on the screen. "Name: Dagan Latu. Age: twenty-eight ;;mg5. Height: seventy-five hapaxs. Weight: two-twenty pedis. Hair: black. Eyes: blue. Origin: Gavas, capital planet of the Kalfa Galaxy Mate status: none. Family status: all deceased. Current location: unknown, recently escaped from a Kalfan Seki after a fuel raid and his capture on Gavas."
    The news he had no mate strangely pleased Starla, whose eyes were locked on the magnificent male's image as it was shown from all sides. "Sekis are well trained, my friend, so Dagan must be cunning to perform such a feat. Few men have done so." She listened as Cypher spoke in the humanistic manner of his program, one which made him seem real to her.
    "His criminal record is long, but the most serious parts consist of strong allegations and suspicions."
    As she read the list and remarks, Starla reaHzed why she had never heard of him in the past because he operated outside of her sectors. Language had not provided an en-hghtening clue, as all people had translator chips implanted in their ears at birth so that any tongue spoken to them was understandable. Too, an intergalactic form of visual language— WEV —was used in multiculture settings so that

    anyone could read names, signs, and messages. She was relieved only WEV was used in Tochara where people from many planets lived and worked, though she was skilled in the written and visual forms of several languages.
    "If this record is only half accurate, Cypher, he's clever, careful, fearless, and intelligent; those traits are proven by his escape from one of the most sophisticated and highly trained law-enforcement units in Kalfa and in his ability to avoid detection and capture. It says he normally travels and works alone, but it's believed he occasionally hires on to bands of smugglers, raiders, adventurers, and bijonis. His goals appear to be wealth, pleasure, excitement, challenges, and retaining freedom."
    For a wild moment, she wondered what Dagan would say if she offered to pay him more than Tochar if he worked with her on her current assignment. She could provide more challenges and adventures than Tochar. As a man, he could get closer, faster, to the other band members and might gather facts she needed to complete her mission and fly home. Working together, perhaps they could find a way to disable the fiendal 's defense system, which would have to take place simultaneously at the two sites; then, the Serians could attack. It was too risky for her and Cypher to make that attempt, as it would leave no one aboard her ship to rescue them if things went wrong. She was determined to win, but she was not foolish and reckless. Villites had crazy codes of honor and loyalty toward the men who hired them, she was aware, even for short spans of time and despite