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  The shuttle arrived, and Frank and Maria boarded. Trong and Mangle, Maria's escort, arrived moments later, and stored themselves.

  "Is the drone ready, Dyna?" He asked.

  "All systems are ready, Frank. Launch in four minutes, thirty-one seconds."

  "Why a countdown Dyna?"

  "The drone will accelerate into transpace, thereby having the effect of 'disappearing' from view. This requires a systematic integration of the launch sequence, plus, the timing includes the diversionary launch of the shuttle."

  "Okay." Frank replied.

  "Four minutes."

  Frank felt silly waiting for the drone to launch itself. It was like having a four-minute countdown to back his car out of the driveway. The shuttle could go at any time, but he knew this had to work on the first try. The next time, the Iskolians would be watching more closely. There would be no second chances.

  There was plenty of acceleration when the countdown ended. The shuttle darted out of its bay and headed for the surface of the planet below. After a minute, Frank called the Butterworth to check on the drone's progress.

  "How's our baby doing, Suni?"

  "She's doing fine," Suni answered, "she just hiccuped."

  Frank knew that was the code that told him the drone had successfully launched and was in transpace. The drone now had to 'sneak' into the atmosphere and dive into the planet's ocean, find a suitable location and burrow under the ocean a full kilometer.

  The shuttle dived into the Iskolian atmosphere and headed for the spaceport. Landing, Frank saw the transport vehicle awaiting him with its return flight passengers. Frank and Maria exited the shuttle wearing skinsuits, and saw Lord Traaka standing there with Suni, Paddy, Tia and Nikki. Kisses and hugs could barely be felt, but they traded them anyway. Frank and Maria saw them off as the shuttle quietly lifted itself into the sky, and zipped away. Oddly, Frank noticed his shuttle was the quietest ship around, which fact seemed to amaze other people also. All the other starships in the spaceport made loud whining and groaning noises whenever they took off. The only similar noises made were those of crashing the atmospheric sound barrier as they accelerated upward.

  Lord Traaka greeted them once again, and escorted them back to the Imperial Palace and again to the same suite they had had before. That evening they attended another dinner with the Duke.

  ~

  Sahn was preparing for another night out in the lower city with her friends. She had seen the strange visitor again, and was excited about telling them he had finally returned. There had been a forty-five day ban on all freetime entertainment activities for the slaves, while the Iskolian authorities hunted for the slave who had killed a patroller in one of the parks. This would be her first opportunity to get out and see them in that time. She had fairly well worked out what happened on their last night out together. She had guessed while she and the others were running down the stairs, the patroller must have caught up with Gaf, and tried to hold him. Gaf, being weaponless, must have tried to beat back the patroller, accidentally killing him. She hoped he had not been found out. She would know tonight.

  "Be back later, Father."

  "Should you be going out again so soon? They only just lifted the curfew," Panc remarked.

  "I haven't seen my friends in a long time. If we don't meet at our regular place, they'll think I'm not coming back."

  "Be very careful, child. We don't know if the killer's been found yet."

  Sahn hoped not. "I will, Father."

  She left the apartment and headed for the underground Imperial Slave's tram terminal. There, she boarded the tram and headed for their regular meeting place. As usual, the tram and the entertainment area were not crowded, but only became so after a while.

  Gelk, Kima, and Truuk arrived together, and almost immediately started asking about Gaf and Pac.

  "Have you seen them at all?" Kima asked.

  "No, have you?" Sahn answered.

  "No. But I'm worried about Gaf."

  "I know. So am I. I know he didn't do it on purpose."

  "You don't know Gaf's people," Truuk interrupted.

  "What do you mean?" Gelk asked.

  "They're a nasty crowd. I don't want to say anything here, but I could tell you some things that would scare you wild."

  "Gaf is wild at times, but still, I can't believe he would do it on purpose. It had to be an accident," Sahn declared.

  Just as she finished talking, Gaf walked up to where they had gathered.

  "Gaf!" Sahn cried.

  "Where's Pac?" Kima asked.

  "He's not coming."

  "I can't believe you're alive," Kima said, whispering, "after what you did."

  "I'm fine," he said, nonchalantly.

  "Why didn't Pac come with you?" Gelk asked.

  "He didn't want to. Come on, let's get out of here. I know another place we can go." They stared at him, aghast, "It's legal, don't worry."

  "It'd better be," Truuk asserted.

  "Wait, I'm not going anywhere until I know," Kima demanded, "intentional or accidental?" she looked at Gaf.

  "What do you mean?"

  "You know what I mean."

  "Kima?" Sahn begged, "Not here."

  "Yes. I want to know. Here and now."

  "Okay… it was an accident."

  "You're lying," Kima accused.

  "Kima!"

  "No."

  "Be still."

  "Don't make a scene. We'll be noticed."

  "Look!" Gaf interrupted, as they tried settled Kima down, "I've got something I want to show you. I want you to come with me."

  "No," Kima insisted. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

  "It's very important. You must trust me."

  "What's more important than what you did?"

  "What I have to show you is more important."

  "You're lying."

  "I'm not."

  "What's more important, then?"

  Gaf paused for a moment as they waited for his next words, "Freedom," he whispered.

  The whole group quieted for a few moments and stared at Gaf, who was looking serious.

  "I should turn you in," Kima said, intolerantly.

  "No slave ever turns in another, Kima," Gaf replied.

  "I know, that's why I haven't."

  "Then come with me, please. This is the most important thing you could ever see in your lives. I'm only showing you because you're my friends and I trust you."

  "We'll go with you, Gaf," Sahn relented. "But you have to promise we won't get in trouble."

  "I swear by Uunta. This way—follow me."

  Gaf headed for the tram and all followed except Kima. Truuk looked around and went to pull her along.

  "Come on, Kima, don't spoil the fun."

  She finally gave in and followed the rest of them. The wait was not very long before the right tram came along. Gaf hopped on it and the rest followed. It was a long ride, and they finally stepped off at another terminal. They waited a while and caught another tram, which seemed to be moving even further from where they'd initially met.

  "We're going out of the city, aren't we," Sahn said.

  "Not far." Gaf admitted.

  They got off of the second tram after another long ride and got onto a third. The terminals were getting further apart as they moved along, and Sahn could tell they were already well outside the city. She had never been this far from home before, and she worried.

  "Gaf, maybe you'd better tell us, instead of showing us this big secret of yours," Gelk finally said, breaking their silence.

  "It's not far now, we're almost there."

  They finally arrived at a terminal where Gaf got off. They followed him, only to find there was only one exit from the small, vacant terminal. That would undoubtedly lead to the surface.

  "Come on." Gaf lead them towards the stairwell.

  They moved forward uneasily, and followed him up the stairs. When they reached the top, they emerged at the surface.

  "I knew it!" Ki
ma said, "You've lied to us. Now we're going to be in big trouble."

  "No, no," he calmed her, "this is a farm. It's alright here. Slaves are allowed to move around freely, even at night."

  "It's true," Gelk concurred, "I've heard that."

  They walked quietly, nonetheless, through a wooded area and stepped out onto an open area near some fences. A small building dominated the center of the fenced area, and appeared to be the only building around. Gaf led them around the fence to a gate, and walked towards the small building. When they got to the building, Sahn could tell that it was a place where animals were kept. She had read about farms when she was a child. It was another of the few benefits that Imperial slaves had, that of being educated and able to read.

  Gaf motioned them to remain quiet. He knocked on the door twice, then paused, then knocked once, then three times, then opened the door and walked in.

  The lights in the building were subdued, and Sahn could see the animals as she walked past their stalls. She sensed there was something very dangerous about being here, and worried the animals would make some noise, sending an alarm to the owner. They arrived at the second from the last stall on the left, and Gaf stopped, reached into a nearby bucket and pulled something out. He held it in the palm of his hand and fed it to the beast that occupied this stall. The animal snorted and munched the food given it. Gaf opened the stall gate and stepped in, motioning for the others to follow. Kima held back. They all motioned to her. She finally relented and stepped in.

  Gaf held the gate and soothed the animal at the same time because the stall had become crowded. He closed the gate and worked his way to the back of the stall, where he started fumbling around in the cruba lining the stall's floor. He finally found something and began pulling up planks. Sahn stood nearest to him and looked down at what he was uncovering, only to see nothing but a dark hole.

  "There's a ladder right near the edge," Gaf whispered, "feel for it first, then climb down and wait for me. Don't go anywhere until I get down."

  Sahn knelt down on her knees and felt around the edge of the hole. Surely enough there was a ladder rung. She sat down and grasped it tightly, easing herself into the hole and onto the other rungs further down. Gaf steadied her as she climbed down out of his reach. As she moved down into the darkness, she looked up and saw that the only source of light was the very limited source coming from the hole above. She gathered a little more courage and continued on down, until she found the bottom. There, she waited. Gelk came down next, and she touched him to let him know the bottom was near. Kima came next, then Truuk. Sahn looked up to see Gaf closing off their only source of light. A few moments later, it was pitch dark. Sahn could not imagine any place could be this dark. Gaf finally got to the floor, and started feeling around.

  "Everyone here?" he whispered, "No one wondered off, I hope. Truuk?"

  "Here."

  "Kima?"

  "Yes."

  "Sahn."

  "Here."

  "Gelk?"

  "Right here."

  "Okay, follow me. Make a chain and hold onto the one in front of you."

  Gaf led the way, Sahn holding his hand in front and Gelk's hand behind her. Kima and Truuk trailed them. Gaf moved along the wall feeling his way, until they arrived at the end of the corridor. Sahn heard Gaf knock again, first once, then four times, then twice. She heard the door opening as Gaf pulled her into another dark area, which she sensed no longer, was a hallway. Then he stopped.

  "Never wear red when you sleep on green." he said, no longer whispering, but his voice low.

  "What?" Sahn asked.

  "Shhhh."

  "It's Blue One, with friends, Blue Two, Five, Eight and Nine," Gaf announced.

  "Enter," a voice came out of the darkness.

  Sahn sensed danger here, as Gaf moved around her, pulling the others through the door and closing it.

  At once, light filled the room, blinding her with its brightness and she shielded her eyes against it. Then she saw other slaves in the room around her. They were all Relmish and some of them had weapons aimed at Gaf's group.

  Shortly they were identified and the weapons were lowered. Sahn looked at the weapons and realized they were not the regular slavestingers carried by patrollers, but the heavy laser rifles used by the military. She looked at the other slaves in the room, and did not recognize any of them except Pac, who was sitting in a far corner. There were thirty slaves here, she guessed, and they all had their eyes on her. She looked back at them and saw grim, deadly faces. Then she realized why Truuk had called Gaf's people a 'nasty crowd,' and felt he had made an understatement. She had been used to the pleasantries and friendliness of the Imperial slaves, and chided herself for not listening to her father about avoiding the slaves in the lower city.

  Gaf herded his group toward the front of the room, where a single lamp burned on top of a table. Three slaves sat at the table, waiting for them. They appeared to be the leaders of this group, and to Sahn, looked fearsome as could be. They stopped moving short of reaching the table.

  "Why did you bring all of them," the slave in the middle asked.

  "I had to. The others would've been suspicious," Gaf answered, "They're my friends, I trust them."

  "Gaf you…"

  "Quiet! We speak no names here," the slave reprimanded Kima, "Which one is from the Imperial Palace?"

  "This one," Gaf said, putting his hand on Sahn.

  "You tricked me!" Sahn rebuked, as she backed away from his touch.

  "No. We need your help," Gaf tried to calm her.

  "You toe-sucking—"

  "Quiet, child," the slave interrupted, "We're told you've seen the new off-worlder. Is this true?"

  Sahn looked at the haggardly slave, as his piercing gaze bored into her. She wanted to turn and run, screaming, but she knew if she did, she would be dead before she reached the door. Her mind raced for an answer. She did not want to be involved with these people in any way, but she knew if she said yes that she would end up becoming inextricably tied to them. If she told them no, they would accuse her of lying, and probably beat the truth out of her. Again, she chided herself for not listening to her father.

  "Please answer the question."

  "No," she answered, shyly.

  "What!"

  "I mean… yes. But only a glance."

  "Oh? We were lead to believe that you'd locked eyes with him. Is this not so?"

  "I made that up."

  "She's lying," came from the corner, it was Pac. She stabbed a look at him.

  "You will describe the off-worlder to me—in detail," the slave ordered.

  "Please come forward, child, don't be afraid. We only kill spies."

  The words did not comfort her, but she stepped towards the table anyway. When she was halfway between the table and the four others in her group, she described everything she could remember about the off-worlder's appearance. The slaves around her were seated on benches as they listened intently. Her voice trembled as she gave them the description. When she finished talking, the room was quiet.

  The slave in the center position at the table then reached under it and produced a box, setting it atop the table. He opened the box and pulled out a folded piece of leathery material. Sahn recognized it as an animal hide. The slave carefully and gently unfolded it, and laid it flat on the table.

  "Is this him?" he asked as he drew up the hide and showed it to her. She gasped and her eyes grew wide. The room filled with murmuring and whispers.

  "Yes," she said, "that's him."

  The murmuring grew louder. On the hide, was a roughly drawn sketch of the off-worlder.

  The slave motioned and the noise subsided.

  "Child, do you know who this is?" the slave asked.

  "She knows," came from the corner again.

  "Do you?" he wanted affirmation.

  "Yes… I think so."

  "Who is it?"

  "The Chosen One?"

  "Are you asking?"

  "I d
on't know."

  "Yes or no?" he sounded angry.

  "Yes!" she said, as tears ran down her cheek. The murmuring started up again, louder than before.

  "Quiet!" The crowd hushed. "It was foretold, the Chosen One is revealed to us by a child-slave of high order. The prophecy is fulfilled, and we are its witnesses. There is much to do now. We must prepare everything for Him. This meeting is ended. You, come with me," he pointed at Gaf, "and bring her. Those others will remain here, they're not needed."

  Gelk stepped forward and tried to protest, "You can't do that!"

  Gaf reached and grabbed him, "She won't be harmed," he said, assuringly.

  Other slaves in the room were leaving, but had stopped when Gelk got out of line. Several came forward and stood near the group. One came forward and said, "You won't be giving us any trouble, now, will you?"

  Gelk saw these were people with a deadly purpose, and decided that he would not be a source of trouble for them, "No sir."

  The lead slave finished folding the animal hide sketch of the off-worlder, and headed for another exit from the room. Other slaves were already leaving through other exits. But most of them were still in the room, milling about and talking. A few left through the main exit, but no more had gone that way since. Gaf took hold of Sahn's arm and lead her along, as ordered.

  Sahn felt the strength in his hands squeezing her to the point of pain. She went along fearfully for, now she knew she was mixed up with an insane batch of religious fanatics. These people actually believed in the old superstitions, and she was being forced to play a role in their crazy, suicidal game.

  They went through the exit into another darkened corridor, made a few turns until there was almost no light at all. They finally stepped into a room with a small light in it. It was a small, single-room apartment for one slave. A mat was rolled up in the corner, for sleeping, along with a small store of food in some throwaway boxes. A table with a small lamp adorned the far wall. A laser rifle and a large knife stood side-by-side in another corner. The box holding the sketch now lay under the table, and the slave was seated, cross-legged, on a floormat. Another slave sat facing him.