MISSION DAY 39

The face of Cardinal Wythe appeared on the ARGO's main screen. "I told you only to contact me in an emergency," he scolded.

"Oh well, excuse me for pulling you out of a boring council meeting," Jason spat sarcastically. "I thought you might like to know there's another alien presence on Eldeberon."

"Another…? Surely not," the Cardinal replied dismissively. Trevor had been wondering when the prince would get around to telling his mission coordinator about the Benefactor.

"You think I don't know alien technology when I see it? I've been onboard what's left of his ship. He's using holo-technology to disguise it from the locals."

Wythe scowled back at him. "Is he involved with the Glyateven?"

"No, he's helping me," Jason replied, adding sharply, "And considerably better than you are, I might add!"

Wythe gave him a reproving scowl.

"He's fully aware of the risk he's taking," Jason went on.

"Poor compensation for him should the other members of the Triad find out."

"Now he's sympathetic," the Alterran moaned, rolling his eyes to the ceiling. "Look, I don't see the problem. He's got this huge spaceship buried in the middle of nowhere. The only way to get there from the city is over some very broken down country lanes, or by transmat."

The Cardinal sat thoughtfully a moment. "Just who is this man? Where does he come from?"

"I don't know his real name. The locals call him the Benefactor. He crashed landed here several years ago, apparently. He's very tight lipped about his origins, and since I've pressed him into service, as it were, I'm not pushing for details."

"This…concerns me, Ambassador," Wythe observed. "Keep me informed."

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