The Derelict
She wasn't called Kendra Hall, not anymore. In the 23rd Century, which was where she'd originated from, her name was Alice Murphy. Her hair was also shorter than Kendra's.
They'd done every possible check to make sure that they weren't releasing a dangerous virus or other disease into the atmosphere of Frazier's ship, then they'd opened her pod. It had taken a few hours for her to become fully conscious and coherent.
''She must have been in there for a long time'' was Caspar's verdict.
Now she was sitting up and drinking a mug of hot tea. Savage had noticed her British accent and ordered the beverage from the dispenser.
''Thank you.'' It had been a long - a very long - time since he'd heard the casual gratitude that went with such a simple act in her voice.
''Ben Frazier was my friend'' she'd just told them. ''In fact, he was more than a friend. We were lovers''
The skinny red-haired one (Caspar) and the bald one (Dronon) had both scoffed at that.
''Time Master's don't have more than friends'' Red-hair informed her. ''Especially not ones like Captain Frazier.''
''Obviously, he knew better than to take me to the Vanishing Point'' She riposted.
Savage was inclined to believe her story. He'd seen the shock - and grief - on her face when she was told that Frazier was dead.
''I - I don't know'' she confessed. ''There was nothing wrong with him before he went into the pod.''
Healthy, fairly young men do not usually die for no reason. Neither they nor the A.I. could work out what the problem was. Frazier's body - they agreed - would be consigned to space in the pod - as soon as Alice felt up to it.
Savage acknowledged that he was being soft towards her. But he'd continue to do so unless she gave him reason to do otherwise. It was a very long time since the person who'd been Edith Boardman, Kendra Saunders and now Alice Murphy looked at him with anything other than hostility. She plainly didn't recognise the name Vandal Savage and Joe Boardman and Carter Hall also drew a blank look from her.
Her story - as she'd told it - was simple. She was from a small town in Britain - yes, those still existed in her time. She'd got to know Frazier while he was hunting down a Time Pirate who'd managed to disguise himself as a local. The pirate had tried to use her against Frazier and she'd seen more than she should have done. Frazier had grown fond of her by then and let her join him rather than wiping her memory.
She wasn't a technician of any sort - she'd worked in the local library in her home town - reading actual printed on paper books had come back into fashion.
They'd made a time jump in pursuit of a pirate vessel. Their quarry had an ally who fired on them. The A.I. had made an emergency jump but a lucky shot from the pirates - plus the strain of the emergency jump had crippled the ship's engines. They sent out a distress call and got into the pods. Frazier had apparently decided to come clean about his personal life, given the emergency.
Savage was -of course - jealous at the thought of her with another man. But he was dead - and he hadn't been a reincarnation of Hall.
When she felt able, he walked her to the room.
''As you can see, I'm a magpie'' she confessed. He wasn't sure of the meaning of the phrase, but supposed it had something to do with the considerable number of ornaments she'd collected - from many time periods, he thought.
He left her to settle back in and to rest and went in search of Nikki, who had apparently been having quite a battle with Tamzin, the onboard A.I.
''Frazier was clever - and sneaky. He set the A.I. to show a completely false sequence of events - involving himself alone - if there was ever a ship inspection. '' she told him. ''But I broke through in the end. Alice Murphy was on board for a few years and she and Frazier were an item. ''
X
Alice wandered around her room for a bit, re-acquainting herself with her surroundings and possessions. Pausing at a large mirror in the bedroom, she made a careful check of her appearance and found it OK. She sat down in her favourite chair.
''Tamzin'' she said softly ''Are you my friend?''
''Yes'' the A.I.'s soft voice told her.
''Let me speak to Algernon.''
There was silence for a few moments, then another A.I. - a deep, male, one - asked. ''How can I help?''
''Open a channel'' she picked up one of her ornaments, apparently at random. It was a softly glowing electrostone that served as a paperweight. After a few moments there was a soft click and the concealed speaker in the side of the stone opened. She lifted it close to her mouth.
''It's working'' she said.
She felt a glow of satisfaction. There was no immediate reply - but she hadn't expected one. The important thing was that he would get her message. The plan was working - Savage had accepted her as a new version of his beloved Kendra. She was in a perfect position to spy on this immortal 'distraction'. With the attention of Earth's military forces focussed on Savage, her lord's plans would be relatively unimpeded. Everything was going their way.
X
He was alone. It was several hours since her message had arrived. He sipped his drink and gazed out of the viewport of his private quarters. The ship had been positioned so he had a continuous view of the planet - his planet. The rest of the flotilla was concealed beyond what the terrestrials called the Asteroid Belt. Soon they could begin.