TITLE: A Tale of A Mage and a Telepath part three

AUTHOR: CelineV and Crusaderat2002

FANDOM: Crusade

RATING: PG few words

ARCHIVE: Sure, but let me know where.

SUMMARY: The plan is put into action. With a little help from some others, fun will be had by all, unless you are Max.

DISCLAIMER: Warner Brothers and JMS owns Crusade. I own anyone you don't know.

NOTE: Italic Conversation between these means it is private. No one but the two people speaking can hear it. Many thanks to Rat and Azrah Syed for betaing this. You are truly a Saint!

~~

Excalibur atmosphere had changed the last couple weeks.

Everyone was smiling and happy. More people were coupling up. Acate watched the crew in the corridors outside the mess hall. They were holding hands, whispering in each other ears. Doctor Sarah Chambers came down the corridor at that moment.

"Acate, what are you doing out here?" asked the Doctor.

"Watching the crew today. There is something different about them. Is the food being drugged?" asked the Techno-mage.

Sarah started to laugh, "No it's St. Valentine Day today. No drugs in the food or drink."

"What is St. Valentine Day?" asked the Mage.

"Well it's a day that you give cards, flowers and other gifts to people you like or to someone you love. I remember as a child having to give everyone in my school class a Valentine's card. You had to do it. Even to the people you disliked." Sarah laughed even more.

"So you give romantic gifts to people?" asked Acate.

"Not always and it always depends on whom you are giving it to. I would give Captain Gideon a nice card. Someone I was in love with, would be something like a romantic gift. Like something that the person would like. Underwear or really something to tear off them," Sarah smiled at Acate.

"Oh the fourteen words could make a hit and a half on this day," said Acate.

"Yeah it would, if I were you, I won't bring it up unless you want a whole lot of people tracking you and Galen down to get those words."

"All right, Sister Doctor. I will not bring that up again. Can I ask you a question?" asked Acate.

"Sure Acate," said the Doctor.

"I was wondering if you had an interactive holographic image of a human brain?"

Sarah stared at the mage. "No, I don't. Why do you want that?" asked Sarah.

Acate smiled at the Doctor. "I wish to study the human mind. It would help me with the cure. I don't think you or anyone else would want me to experiment on a real person. Could be very messy with a real being?"

"OH," said Sarah. "Well if you can talk someone into scanning their head and we can work on the inside stuff later."

"Then I will see if I can get someone would allow me to do it, thank you, Sister Doctor." Acate turned going down the corridor toward the bullet car.

Sarah continued down to the mess hall.

~~


Galen came out of his ship to find Dureena standing there. "Dureena, how can I help you?" asked the mage.


The thief turned around to look at the techno-mage, "I am looking for Acate. We were suppose to go over some the research that she brought back with her. I haven't been able to find her at her ship. Do you know where she is?"

"I have no idea where she is. I am not her keeper, nor is she my keeper," said Galen.


Dureena looked at the man. She wasn't too sure if he was serious or not. There was a sound and Acate came out onto the flight bay. She stopped when she got close to Galen's ship and looked at him. She smiled at mage and kept going on. Dureena walked away from Galen's ship and moved over to Acate's.

"I am sorry I am late, Sister Dureena. But I had to talk to the Brother Captain. I will get the research out and we can go over it. Do you want to do it in my ship or do you want to go somewhere else?" Acate waved her hand and the door to the ship opened. She went inside and came back out without her cloak. She waved her hand at Dureena to move closer. "What do you think of the new Galen?" She smiled at the thief.

"What do you mean?" asked Dureena.

"You didn't notice that Galen has grown some facial hair?"

Dureena turned to look back over at Galen, when the mage came out from behind the ship, she could see that it was true. Galen had a goatee. Both women moved over to Galen before he could turn his long legs on.

Dureena grabbed Galen's arm. Turning the man toward her, Galen's chin was covered in hair. It was a lite shade of brown. It ran up above his lips. It had followed his mouth. The thief wanted to reach out and touch it.

"What are you doing?" Asked Galen.

"Looking at your face. I like the hair on it. It makes you look even more mysteries." Said Dureena.

"What?" said Galen. Waving his hand in front of his face, a mirror appeared and Galen looked at himself. He then turned his eyes on Acate.

"Don't you even blame me? I didn't do this. How could I?" said Acate.

Galen just stared at the mage. 'She had something to do with this' Acate!

I didn't do it, Galen. I swear on my cats lives.

Galen turned and walked away from the woman.


"Did you do it?" asked Dureena after she had stopped laughing.


"Me, never. I couldn't, I wouldn't do that to a mage." Acate didn't say any of it with a straight face.

"Well ladies," said Max. "What are you two up tonight?" Neither of the woman seen nor heard Max before he spoke.

"We are going to work on some research. That is after we have a good laugh," said Acate.

"What is so funny?" asked Max.

"Go find Galen and find out," said Dureena.

"Oh something good, I hope." Said Max.

"Go see Galen. Pray that he doesn't come looking for me later on," said Acate as she fell onto the floor with laughter. "I think we better go do this some place safe with lots of people around."

"All right Acate. You are so bad." Said Dureena as the three people walked off the flight deck.

~~

Dureena returns to her quarters to find a small parcel by the door addressed to her. She wondered who sent it to her. She picked it up and went inside. Putting the box down on her coffee table. She walked into the kitchen area and got herself a drink. Turning back around, the thief looked at the box. Taking a drink, Dureena put the glass down on the bar and walked back over to the box. Reaching down to the smaller table, the woman picked it up. She felt the weight of the box. It felt like there were two things in there. Bring it up to her nose, the thief smelled the package. She couldn't smell any chemicals or anything dangerous. Very slowly she unwrapped it. The brown paper came off easily and inside the box was open now. The lips to were apart. With a finger, Dureena moved the lips of the box so she could look inside. The thief could see two things in there. Reaching in Dureena pulled out a Phoenix dagger.

Her smile grow very large. The knife felt wonderful in her hand. Weight was just right. It was like it was made for her. She put down the box and moved about the room. The blade swished in the air as she moved it about. Dureena stopped homing her skills with the knife when she remembered there was something else in the box. Moving back to the box, she found a beautiful purple flower. It wasn't a real flower, but Dureena could swear she could smell it. Picking it up and looking at it in the light. The petals seemed to change in the light. They would go from a softer purple to a royal purple color. It was all so beautiful. It made Dureena smile and remember happier times in her life. There wasn't that many of them.


Very slowly Dureena lowered the box. She didn't know who sent it to her. The thief had an idea and she was going to kick his ass. Putting down the flower on the table. Then she bolted from the room. She was going to hunt down Max Eilerson. She used her nose to smell him out. She had tracked him down to the mess hall at the St. Valentine party. The room was packed with people, but Dureena didn't care about any of them. She just wanted Max. She wandered through the people until she found him. He was leaning against the wall holding court. There was lots of people listening to the all powerful God, Max Eilerson.


"You know if they had listened to me, there wouldn't have been so many broken objects at the site," said Max to the group.


"Excuse me, Max. Could I have a moment of your time?" said Dureena when Max finally took a breath.


When he turned to the woman, Max smiled at her.


Dureena pulled the knife out and put it to his throat. "I don't want your gifts. I don't need them. If I find out you have ever given me another gift, I will cut your nuts off!" She turned away from the man. Max was trying to figure if he should reach for his throat or his nuts. He was feeling lucky that he had either one at the moment.

Gideon was waiting at the door for Dureena. His hand came out to her. "What just happened?" Galen stood next to the Captain.

"I received a box at my quarters tonight. When I opened it, I found this knife and a flower in it. I know that creep left it there for you Valentune Day." Dureena spit it out the words like they were poison.

"OK, look if Max gave it to you, it doesn't give you the right to hunt him down. If you don't want it, then give it back to him." Matthew looked at the knife in Dureena's hand. "Can I see it?" The thief gave it to the Captain. "My this is a beautiful knife. Do you know what it is called?"


"It's a Phoenix dagger. It's one of the most wonderful knifes ever made," said Dureena. The woman smiled lovely at the object.

"OK," said Gideon. "It looks old, so I can understand why might think it might be from Max, but lets think about it. Max don't give a shit about anyone or anything in the universe. So giving you something like this nice just isn't something in Max's character."

"Hey, Gideon. That isn't fair," yelled Max.

"Shut up Max. Or I will let her cut your nuts off this time!" yelled back the Captain. Max shut up an disappeared into the crowd.

"Matthew," said Galen. "Is there a problem with the gift, otherwise?"

Matthew smiled at the mage, "No there is anything wrong with the gift. Who ever gave it to Dureena put some thought into it. They gave you the knife because you would love it. The flower, well it must be something personal to that person. So Dureena don't worry so much about it." The Captain handed the knife back to Dureena.

The woman took the knife and started to walk away but in the last second she turned around and went back into the crowd. Gideon tried to keep an eye on the thief, but she disappeared into the crowd too fast.

"Galen, can you see Dureena?" asked Gideon.

"No Matthew, I can't." said Galen. The Mage was looking into the crowd following the thief's every move.

Dureena made it through the people to find Max hiding in a corner. "Max," said the woman.


Max almost went through the ceiling. He looked for a way to get away from her.

"I want to say I am sorry for threatening you. I thought you gave the knife to me because it was old. I shouldn't have jumped to that thought," said Dureena. She there turned and disappeared into the crowd.

Galen smiled as the woman left.

"Hey Galen,"asked Lieutenant Matheson. "You look great in the goatee. You should have grown it a long time ago."

"Yeah I was going to tell you that too," said Gideon.

"Where is Acate?" asked Galen a little rudely.

"I talked to a bit ago. She said she would join us if her research was finished in time. I have no idea what she could be researching, but she was sitting over several small computers." said Matheson.

"Is she down on her ship?" asked Galen. Gideon reached up touched the goatee. Galen slapped Matthews hand away.

"No she was up in the small conference room," said John.

"Then I am going up there to see her," said the mage as he turned and walked away. He was out the door and out of sight in a matter of seconds. When mage arrived at the conference room and found Acate sitting there at the table.

"Acate, your joke is not wanted or needed," said Galen. His unhappiness was very clear.

Acate didn't look up from what she was doing. "Galen, I have no idea what you are talking about." When she finally looked up at the mage. There was no smile on her face, but her eyes went over to the window. Galen looked over there to find Gideon, Matheson and Chambers and Max and Dureena standing out there watching them.

"Take it away, I mean it." said Galen.

"OK be gone is the hair on your face," said the female mage. Her head went back down to the computers. Galen was checking his face and the goatee was still there.

Galen was about to say something to Acate when she shuttered her whole body. Galen moved closer to Acate, "Are you all right?" he said.


"I will be fine. I will go to my ship and meditate for awhile," said Acate got up to put the computers in the cloak and left the room. She smiled at the others as she walked by them.

John followed her down the corridor. "Are you ok?"

"Yes Brother John. So I am going to my ship and meditate." Acate stopped and looked at John. "I have a small gift for on Valentines day." Reaching into her cloak, she removed a brown object. She handed it to John. The man was surprised by the gift.

"I didn't get you anything," said Matheson.

"I didn't except anything. I hope you enjoy the humor of it. No matter what happens, I don't know a thing about it." Acate turned and walked away from the telepath.

Matheson watched her go and looked back to everyone else to find his shipmates all staring at him. Walking back toward them, John unwrapped the brown paper. Once the paper was undone, Matheson found a round disk inside. As he looked at it he realized that one second there was Galen's face. Then it disappeared and it reappeared with a goatee on it.

Galen came out of the conference room. He saw that Matheson was holding a disk in his hand.

"Galen, what the heck is this?" asked the telepath.

Galen came over to look at it. He saw his face and then it disappeared and reappeared with a goatee. The Techno-mage closed his eyes. "You have the spell. That one!" Galen started to go down the corridor in the same direction as Acate had gone.

"Captain Gideon," came of the comlink.

"Gideon, go," answered the Captain.

"Captain, I have a communication for Acate. Should I transfer it down to her ship?" asked the communication officer.

Gideon looked over at Galen, who slowly turned back around when he heard the message. The techno-mage raised his eyebrow and smiled. Acate thought the mage to the other.

Yes, Galen.

Someone has called the ship for you. Where would you like to take call? "Matthew I've contacted Acate about the call. I asked her where she wants it." Galen was being a little too amused by it all.

Galen there is no one to send me a communication. So if you are getting me back for the goatee, I am not falling for it.

No Acate this is not a joke, there is someone calling you through Excalibur.

I'll take in the conference room if that is all right with the Brother Captain.

"Matthew, Acate wants to know if she could take it in the conference room?" asked Galen.

"Yeah sure that would be fine."Said the Captain to Galen. "Transfer the call down to the small conference room." he said on the comlink.

"Aye, sir," said the officer.

Acate walked back down the corridor with in a matter of moments. All the people who were there before, were still there now. John followed Acate into the room to show her how to use equipment. He left the room very quickly.

Acate did as Matheson had showed her and she sat down. Her face turned a pale color.

"I wonder what she saying?" said Dureena.

"Why are you calling me?" said Max. Everyone looked at the man. "I can read lips. It's a hobby of mine." Everyone gave the Zeno Archaeologist a dirty look. They were all going to have be careful on what the say if Max could read lips.

"You had your chance to come with me when the Circle gave this job to me," said Max for Acate. "So don't try to get around of this by having me meet you some place so we can get married Hysla. I can't marry you now and I won't marry you ever. I told you if you didn't come with me to Excalibur then this was over. I am working with these people to save them. That is my only thing I have on mind."

Galen took a step back from the group. Matthew watched him. The Captain could see the Mage was working something through his mind.


"Where are you, Hysla?" said Max for Acate. "Then do you duty and forget me. I have to do this for the humans." Acate stopped to listen to Hysla. She started to laugh. "Actually Hysla, yes I am one of them. Remember I told you my Mother was French, Irish, Scottish, Welsh and Nez Pierce. That is all from Earth. So I am one of them, one of the Earthlings. No I don't understand it all, but I have to help them. I could have family on Earth right now in great danger. It could be used on any one next time. The cure is the only thing that is important to me. I want you to promise not defy the Circles orders and don't call me again. Just listen for once. I am signing off now." Acate pushed the buttons and stood up. Moving out of the room and down the corridor in a matter of seconds, she was gone.

Galen followed her down to the flight deck. Acate went straight to her ship. She went inside and closed the door. Galen went to his ship and went inside.

~~

Lieutenant John Matheson came down onto the flight bay not long after the two mages came down. Walking up to Acate ship. He stopped, how was he going to get Acate's attention if she was on the ship? Knock? He smiled and thought to the woman, Acate, it's me, John. I am outside your ship. Can we talk?

Brother John, one moment. You caught me with coming out of the shower.

'Oh my,' thought the telepath to himself. He smiled to himself too. 'This could get Max's engines sputtering!'

The door opened and the two cats were standing there with Acate fully dressed in this black silky thing on. She had a towel wrapped around her head.

"Hello Brother John, would you like to come in?" asked the Mage. John had never been in her ship.

"Sure that would be fine," said the telepath. Acate stepped back and the cats moved too. John stepped into the ship. He was surprised that the ship was bigger on the inside then the outside. "Man is this big!"

"Yes it's a neat little trick from my Father. Come make yourself comfortable." Acate walked into a bigger area. There were chairs and a fireplace.

"Is that real?" asked the Lieutenant He pointed at the fireplace.

Acate smiled, "No it's not. I missed my fireplace from home." She moved over to a chair and sat down. John took the chair closest to Acate.

"I wanted to check on you after the call you got. You didn't look to good after it." Said the telepath.

"I wasn't. I am not suppose to be in contact with any of the other mages in the hiding place. Hysla, he was my betroth, called to get me to meet him so we could be married. I asked him to come here with me, but he said no. He didn't want to give up his life plans to be here with me. I'm supposed to give up mine though for him. What kind of doubled standard is that?"

"Are you ok, though? You still seem a little shook up over it," said John. He really wanted to reach over and take her hand to make her feel better, but that was out of the question.

"Well yes and no. I am fine. I have resigned myself to not living the rest of my life with him. No, he makes me feel like a nothing in the scheme of things in the universe. I am still trying to figure out what I saw in Hysla." She smiled at John, "Sorry don't want to hear about my woes. Could I get you some tea or something to drink?"

"No I am fine, Acate. So how long were engaged to Hysla?" asked Matheson.

"For three years. We had the same teacher as apprentices. So we spent so much time together anyway. We always had each other there. So when he asked me to marry him, I said yes. What else was there to do?" Said Acate as she got up and poured her some tea. Moving back over to the chair and she sat down. Bring the cup to her lips; she took a sip.

"You didn't love him then?" asked John as he moved his chair a little closer to the mage.

"To tell you the truth Brother John, I am not sure what love is. I know what I felt for my father and my Mother's parents. Love for someone else is foreign to me."

"Didn't you love your Mother?" asked the telepath.

"You can't love something that doesn't love you at all," said Acate. "Truth is my Mother and I had a hate/hate relationship. She hated me from the moment she found out she was carrying me. I learned to hate her since she had nothing to give me. So I gave her what she gave me, nothing."


"I am sorry to hear that, Acate. My Mom is one of the most wonderful person in the world. I can go to her about anything. I always thought everyone loved his or her parents," said John.

"If one is lucky, yes. Not everyone has loving parents to go home to. I had my Father and the Grandparents and that was all I needed. I was sorry when Father died first. My Mother still didn't talk to me then. I was use to it by then. Nothing to worry about I am much better with myself then I use to be. Enough of this depressing stuff about my childhood, Brother John. I want to tell you that I will be leaving the ship tomorrow morning. I will be going out to check out some places I was researching tonight. That is what I was going over tonight was some reports on planets." Said Acate.

"How long will you be gone?" Asked the telepath.

"I am not sure, but I will contact you if it will be for a very long time," said the mage.

"Good, by the way," said Matheson. "I want to give you something." He reached into a pocket of his black uniform and pulled out something. John smiled and handed it over to Acate.

Acate looked at the human for a second or two, then she undid the tissue paper to find a triangle inside. There was a short cord running through it. Picking up the object, Acate looked at it very carefully. The triangle was painted in four colors, orange and black and red and gray. In the center of the triangle was pushed in. On the backside of the triangle she saw a child's handwriting. It was John's name. "How old were you when you made this?" asked Acate.

"I was five years old. I made it in crafts class. I told myself if I ever had a friend that wasn't afraid of me because I am a telepath, I would give this to them. So here you go. I know you are thinking I should have given it to Gideon, but a guy wouldn't have understood like you would." John seemed a bit shy at the moment.

"I am honored by your gift, John. I am going to keep it on me always." Acate pulled a small bag out of nowhere and put the triangle in it. She whispered something and the bag disappeared. "In case you are wondering, I just sent it to my cloak in a secret pocket. I will always have it with me. Thank you for trusting me enough with it."

"I had better get going then if you are leaving in the morning. You are going to be needing some sleep." John stopped talking and looked around the ship. "Where do you sleep at? There isn't much here."

Acate laughed, "Brother John let me give you the whole tour of my ship." Acate started to laugh harder. When she walked across the room the chairs and the fireplace disappeared. A control panel appeared in the wall and a basic pilot seat came up from the floor. "This is the cockpit, which reminds me. Someday I hope you or someone else brave enough to tell me why they call it a cockpit." John started to laugh. Turning back around Acate waved her hand and the fireplace and chairs reappeared. "This is the living room. I can read in here and terrorize the cats in here or just relax." John was still laughing. Waving her hand again the fireplace and chairs disappeared again and a large bed appeared. "Now I know what you are thinking. What is one person doing with a large bed? She is so small. That is true, but I have to cats, which hog the bed. I have to have a large bed just survive with them."

John was laughing even more, "so there is a fight every night for space?"

"Yes, sir there is. I don't always win, but I do try. If they aren't stealing space, they are stealing covers or my pillow. I'd kick them out, but I would get cold. Not much I can do."

"I had better go and let you get some sleep. I will be waiting for you to come back soon," said Matheson.



Acate moved back over to the door to the flight deck. Matheson stepped out on the deck. "I will see you very soon, Brother John."

"Yeah I can't wait," said the telepath as he walked away.

~~

Galen had gone into his ship as quickly as he could. Dureena didn't realize that the knife was from him. She thought Max had given it to her. Almost killed the man over it. Galen smiled. Turn on the probes and locate Dureena for me.


Confirmed, responded the computer to Galen's command. The computer started to go through all the probes that were through the ship. He had placed probes all through the ship without anyone catching on to him. Did it when he went someplace or when he used the invisibility spell, that Alwyn had given him. He would go to place on the ship invisible and place the probes and no one even knew he had been there.

Located Dureena, said the computer to Galen.


Good, Thought Galen. Put her on the center screen.

Confirmed, said the computer.


Dureena was in her quarters coming out of the shower with a towel wrapped around her. She had another towel she was running it over her head.


Galen moved a little closer to the screen. He wished he were in the room with her now. Her body odor would have been wonderful to smell. Shaking his head, Galen sat back into his seat.

Dureena throw the towel that she had been using on her head over on the floor by the shower door. She loved using the Excalibur's showers. It was much better then what she was use to using.

The thief felt so free here on the ship. She was a free person and no one was ever going to take it away from her again.

Walking over to the wonderful Phoenix Knife, Dureena picked it and looked at it. It was the most beautiful thing in the world to her. A smile appeared on her face. She dropped the towel from her body and took the knife and crawled into bed.

"Lights off." Said the thief as she pulled covers up on her. Placing the knife between her breast, the thief went to play a little with it.

Galen smile to see the woman liked the gift enough to take it to bed with her.

~~

Galen left his ship in the morning after he had watch Dureena take his gift of the knife to bed with her. He had enjoyed watching what she did with the knife. Though he wouldn't have put it in such places on her.

Galen realizes that he was just standing there in the middle of the flight bay. He wasn't going any where. When the techno-mage heard Acate's ship go into pre-flight, he moved over to the ship.

Acate, thought Galen.


Galen, what is wrong. You don't sound right? The door to the ship opened and Acate came out. The look of pure panic was all that was on Galen's face. Taking the mage by the arm, Acate brought him inside her ship. A chair popped into the room and Galen was placed there.

Galen, what is wrong? You don't look so good. I want to help you if I can. Acate moved away from Galen and to the other wall. She touched a part of the wall and it opened up to a cabinet. She removed some powder and poured it in to a glass. Pouring some water it too, she stirred the mixture together and took it over to Galen and made him drink it.


Galen started to look better. He looked up at Acate then he looked around her ship. He sat back in the chair. I've done something I shouldn't have and I am not sure what to do about it. Galen looked away from Acate.

What could you have done? Galen, I just want to help you, please tell me.


I was the one that gave Dureena the knife and flower. I didn't think she would think it was from Max.

She almost killed him. Would you have stopped her in time, Galen?

"I was watching her closely last night. I wouldn't let her hurt Max, though sometimes I think hurting him would be a good idea.

Galen, thought Acate. She wanted to so badly smack his head with her hand. That was too childish. There is more, what is it.

Galen looked up at the techno-mage. He was looking very ashamed about something. It just wasn't coming out yet. After I went to my ship last night, I told my computer to use the probes to locate Dureena.

There is nothing wrong with it, thought Acate.

I found her in her quarters coming out of the shower. Galen stopped again. Looking into Acate's eyes, I watched her crawl into bed nude and play with the knife.

Acate turned away from Galen. Her temper rose so when she turned back her face was all red. Galen, how could you. That is not what we do. We have to be better then the others. We are techno-mages. We don't go around and watch other people just because we can. Those probes are to used for gathering information not looking at dirty picture. That is Max's department. We are going to be here long after they are all gone, Galen. We have to be better then them. Acate took a step back. 'Do I really believe we are better then the rest of them? I don't think so, but if it will help Galen, then I will believe it.'

"Galen," said Acate out loud. "Why did you do something so stupid for?"

Galen looked up at Acate and spoke one word, "Love."

"You are in love with Dureena?"

"Yes, but I don't know how to tell her. Or if I should."

"By the Gods, tell her. Not at the moment, but tell her somehow. I would let the knife bit die down. Let everyone forget. But tell Dureena how you feel about her."

"Would she care to share her life with a Techno-mage?"

"Galen, if you don't tell her, you'll never find out. If you get shot down then well, ok get on with your life. You are never going to know if you don't tell her." said Acate as picked up her cloak. She moved it over to the pilot's seat.

"What are going to do about your Lieutenant?"asked Galen.

"My Lieutenant funny. Let's see if I can get all the ducks in a row here. Telepath, techno-mage taint going to work. Unless I can get something to work. Do you have a interactive holograph of a human brain on you, Galen???"

"Why are you giving up him so easy? You want me to fight. What is wrong with you fighting for what you want. If you want Lieutenant Matheson then go after him."

"How, Galen? I can't touch him. Or rather he doesn't want to be touched. I wanted to use a little magic on him last night to touch his cheek when my hand was good foot away from him. Having sex that way isn't high on my list."

Galen looked at her for long moment before speaking again, "you want to use the hologram to see if you can do what for Matheson?"

"To see if I can turn off the telepathic ability. That is all I want to do. To touch him. To feel what his lips feel like. IF his Mr. Jones finds anything on him, he will be out of here. Then I kill Jones, whoever he is." Acate moved about the ship. She was mad again but for a different reason now.

"Then we will see if we can get you something to play around with to turn Matheson's abilities off. I will see what I can find for you. A telepathic mind would be the best for this, right?"

"Yes, my ship is done with pre-flight. I have to go. Galen, talk to Dureena, right?"


"I will," said Galen as he went out the ship.

Galen moved clear of ship as it took off. He did not see Dureena running out from behind one of the Excalibur's shuttles and out of the area.