Chapter One

Vila wasn't sure at first, so he followed the man in tattered clothing for several blocks.

From the back, he was almost certain it was Kerr Avon, but an Avon like he'd never seen before. The man was stooped, weary, slow, and so bedraggled. It couldn't' be Avon yet it was. It had to be.

Just as Vila had gotten up the courage to close the distance between them and address the stranger, he disappeared. Vila looked around frantically but found no trace of him.

There was only one thing he could think to do: he put an ad in the financial section of the news/fax, addressed to Shevron*, hoping it would catch Avon's attention and make him contact Vila.

Then he waited.

Why he didn't tell the others, even though he saw most of them every day, Vila couldn't quite make out. Okay, he didn't want them to think he was losing his sanity, for a start. As far as anyone else was concerned, Avon had killed Blake's clone, then disappeared on Gauda Prime. Since no one had seen him since then, Avon was presumed dead and buried. The rebellion had gone on without him just fine, with the real Roj Blake at the reins.

Maybe he was afraid the others would make fun of him for even caring enough to try to contact this particular ghost. Too many times to count, Avon had nearly gotten them all killed.

Leave well enough alone, Vila thought they'd tell him. They'd survived with no help from Avon. They were well off now, in careers that suited them. Why rock the life pod?

They'd looked for him, of course. Not because they ever expected to find him, but because they did want to know what had become of him. Maybe they'd hear of his death or find a grave.

But Avon had been his friend for much longer than he'd been the psychotic madman the others, except Blake, had known. Vila remembered the arrogant Alpha he'd first met, on the way to Gauda Prime. T\Remembered the sharp mind that had followed Blake and gotten them out of harm's way often enough. Remembered him as Vila's protector.

And Vila had to know.

Each day he went to work normally, as though nothing were bothering him. He consulted with Dayna, his head of security. He talked to Soolin briefly, but she was out of the system doing field work for the company. Tarrant dropped by, as usual, just to keep tabs on everything that was going on, and, oh, by the way, the fleet he headed needed something---money, new ships, snacks, whatever. He got what he needed, and perhaps a bit more, by keeping in personal contact with the CEO of Restal, Inc.

Throughout the day, though, Vila found himself at odd moments thinking about the weary, worn back he'd seen on the street. Wondering.

Vila's musings this morning were interrupted by Elsbeth, his personal assistant. Normally she was the unflappable rock upon which his life depended at work. Today, she burst in, highly agitated.

"Sir, there's a…person demanding to see you. He's rather insistent and I can't get rid of him," she apologized.

Vila leaned forward intently. "Is he dark-haired and dark-eyed, rather…tattered?"

Surprised, she said, "Yes sir. Do you know him? He wouldn't give his name."

"Oh, yes, Elsbeth, I know him," he replied, softly, distantly, as though seeing something long ago and far away. He shook his head, focusing on her again. "Please show him in and leave us alone until I call you."

"Certainly, sir." She retreated through the office door, casting curious glances over her shoulder, as if she thought her boss was losing his mind. While Mr. Restal was a kind and considerate boss and a dynamic businessman, he didn't usually associate with…riffraff.

Vila sat back in his comfortable, custom-made chair and bowed his head. Now that the moment had come, what was he going to say to Avon? He was lost in thought when the doors to his office burst open.

"Well?" Avon demanded, without preamble or greeting. "I saw you ad. I'm here. Now what?"

The arrogance and impatience were strangely out of place in this raggedy worn down man. Avon somehow didn't seem as tall as Vila remembered and he was certainly much older, older than he should have been. His shoulders were bowed, his hair still dark but with a white streak across both temples. That should have made him look distinguished, but it couldn't overcome the general air of neglect and poverty that hung around him like a blanket.

Vila began honestly. "You know, even though I'm president of a very successful corporation and have direct access to the president of the New Federation, I still find myself intimidated by you. Why is that, do you think?"

"Is this why you contacted me, Vila? To chat?" he growled.

"No, to be honest, I saw you on the street last week. At least I thought it was you. That's why I placed the ad. We've been looking for you for years. Why didn't you contact us? It's not like we were invisible!" Vila was almost shouting now, standing and leaning across his desk toward Avon, who stood silent for a moment before answering.

"No, you surely weren't invisible," he said more quietly. "May I have a seat, Vila, or shall we just stand here berating each other like a pair of rutting male animals?" He offered a small half smile and cocked his head in query.

Vila blinked at this abrupt about face, and sat down in his own chair, gesturing Avon toward one of the guest chairs facing his desk. Vila thought a moment, then rose again. Going around the desk, he took a seat next to Avon, mostly because he wanted to be closer to his old friend.

"That's better," Vila sighed. "Now, where have you been so long? We looked for you after Gauda Prime, we did! How did you escape, how'd you end up on Earth? Where…"

"Vila," Avon interrupted, "stop. I'm here now. I'd rather not talk about the past. Please get to the point. I had to take time off work to come here and I really can't afford it. Now, why did you contact me?" He spoke so quietly and tiredly that Vila was disconcerted. Where was the strength, the vitality, the magnetism that had always marked this man? What could have drained him to this point?

"Well, for one thing, I need you with my company. You're the best computer security expert I've ever known, and I need you with me. You could be a designer or a researcher or a trouble shooter. Anything you want to be. Please say yes, Avon. Join us," he pleaded.

Avon stared at Vila, considering. Vila could see the wheels turning in Avon's mind, but couldn't predict the outcome. Would he run away again? Laugh in his face? Or come in out of whatever hell Avon was living in?

Finally Avon broke the silence. "Us, Vila? Who's 'us'?"

"You mean you don't know? We're all in this company. I couldn't have done this alone, you know. Dayna is head of security, Soolin is security troubleshooter, Tarrant commands our fleet. Blake…Blake runs the New Federation, by himself, as far as we're concerned," he explained. His hand slice the air. "We'd had enough of rebellion, of politics, of politicians. As soon as we could, we pulled out of that business. This business seemed the logical choice."

"Yes, I'll bet it was," Avon said, sarcastically. He seemed unconvinced, but willing to listen to Vila. "How do you know I'm still as good as you remember? Maybe I've lost my edge, maybe even my mind. Are you willing to bet on me again?" He almost seemed to be trying to give Vila a way out of his offer.

"I don't believe I could place my bet on a better prospect," Vila said sincerely, leaning forward and placing a hand on Avon's arm.

Avon glance down curiously at Vila's hand, then up again into his eyes. Then, he smiled. Vila felt like the sun had just come out on a rainy day to see that smile again.

"If that's how you really feel, then, yes, Vila, I'll join you, join you all." His face clouded a little as he said, "But Vila, please don't tell Blake. He and I have too much unresolved issues between us for me to handle right now. Promise me?"

"All right, Avon, whatever you say. Just so you join us," he finished happily. He was going to enjoy telling the others of Avon and watching their expressions. He was still bothered that Avon wouldn't tell him where he'd been or what he'd been doing. It seemed strange that Avon seemed to need money so badly, but hadn't come to him for help. He hoped that maybe someday he'd find out.

* Shevron was a name Avon in the series as an alias.