Chapter 21

Mike Volland was understandably cagey around North as he and Thorpe led the Velikan's captain to the airlock in Llamrei Station. Commander Patel met them in the control room.

She handed Volland a padd. "This is the complete maintenance report, Captain. We also patched up the damage caused in the bridge by Garrison and Dehner. She's space-ready again."

Volland glanced at the padd and grunted. "Thanks, Commander. You and your team did a great job."

"Be sure to recommend us to all your friends," Patel said with a smile before moving off to start releasing the sleeper ship.

Volland awkwardly shuffled. "Well, thanks again, North. I'd best get back on the road. Long journey and all that."

Thorpe grinned. "Be sure to send us a postcard when you get to sector one-eight-four." He chuckled but both North and Volland remained uncomfortably silent.

"Safe travels, Captain," North said quickly, not making eye contact.

Volland just snorted and hastily entered the airlock to the umbilical tunnel.

"Sweet dreams," Thorpe called after him.

"You should get some sleep yourselves," Volland said over his shoulder before the doors sealed shut behind him.

Thorpe frowned, a bewildered smirk on his face. "What was all that about?"

"It's… a long story," said North. He gestured for Thorpe to follow him back to the other airlock and their shuttlepod.

He had decided to discuss his burning problem with his First Officer after all.

"Thorpe… your father contacted me a few days ago…"

"Oh?" Thorpe seemed concerned.

"Yes… He thanked me for your commendation. Insinuated that he now owed me a favour."

"Ah." Thorpe nodded in understanding.

"I refused, of course, but he was insistent. And lately, there have been a few positive occurrences on the base… For once."

"And you think my dad is the reason? Pulling strings for you against your will?"

"Frankly… yes. I know you've had some experience with exactly this problem. I was wondering how you cope."

Thorpe sighed. "I've put up with it my whole career, sir. I know you're worried people will get the wrong impression. And you can't confront my dad directly about it - if he is behind it all, he'll only deny it, and, in the unlikely event it isn't his doing, he'll take offense at the accusation."

"Exactly," said North, grateful to have someone put his dilemma into words. "So what do you do to stop it?"

Thorpe shrugged. "If I ever find out, I'll let you know. I just keep going as I normally would. Let people think what they will."

"But what if they do assume the worst?"

"Let me ask you this, sir: Did you put me in for a commendation because of my father?"

"No. I hadn't even spoken with him at that point."

"Right. You did it because you saw past my connections to what a great officer I am, if I may say so." He smirked. "Every so often, you'll meet people who base their opinion of you on first-hand experience, not rumour and speculation. Those are the people whose judgement really matters."

North nodded. "You've managed to both flatter me and advise me in the same counsel, Captain, bravo. I suppose there's a certain wisdom to it."

"It may not be ideal, but it gets me through the day. Trust me, Commodore, just ignore him and eventually my dad will move on to something, or someone, else. Don't play his games; you don't need the headache."

"Yes… I get enough of those on a daily basis…"

"Your friends Lexi and Ross are fine," Threv told Dehner. "They said to tell you that they don't blame you. The others in the security team are also recovering well."

With Dehner held in a maximum security cell, he was conversing with her via monitor in the detention centre. No one was allowed within 20 metres, just in case she tried to use her psychic abilities. Only MACO personnel were allowed any sort of contact with her at all until she left on the transport ship for Earth. But she had been placid and compliant, and Threv felt she could use some company, so he had arranged guard duty for himself.

"That's good," she said, with a small smile.

"So, um… how are you feeling after your mind-meld?" he asked, cringing at the stupid question as it left his lips.

Dehner was, thankfully, unoffended. "Much better. It was a strange experience… I dunno if I'd want to do it again… But my abilities seem to be gone now. Good riddance. I don't blame them for keeping me in here though, just in case. I hear they have Ed sedated… That's for the best…"

Threv tried to change the subject. "What will happen when you get back to Earth?" He realised this wasn't exactly a cheerier topic, but he was somewhat limited in conversation options.

Dehner sighed. "Court martial. Commodore North says he'll put in a good word for me though, say how I was partly coerced by Ed. I'll probably face some time in rehabilitation… Either way, I'm sure they'll want to poke and prod me some more to understand what Doctor Heidelburg did to us.

"At least my brother and his family will be able to visit… He always warned me about Ed… Everyone did… I wish I had listened before. Wish I had seen sense. I'd like to blame it all on Ed's latent mind-control powers, but that's not the whole of it. I let him get to me. I should have just asked someone for help before things got so much worse…"

Her words, and the sadness in her eyes, sunk deeply into Threv.