Wilma slipped away and made her way back to the portal. She didn't think that Buck's rock trick would work a second time so she decided on another distraction, but as she approached the portal, she realized it wouldn't be necessary. She could hear the guard snoring in the hut. So, she quietly slipped out of the portal and made her way back to Buck and the ship.
"Shopping?" Buck asked Wilma as she approached with the yellow coat over her arm.
"More like a disguise" she replied.
"Did you find him? He asked.
"No, I was not able to locate Hart, but I believe he is actually out of the colony at the moment on a supply mission and will be returning tomorrow I should be able to talk to him then. "She replied.
"Are you sure you want to go back there alone? What's it like?"
"Yes, I do not think that there is any real danger, I can slip in and out with or without Jon Hart unobserved." After a moment's thought she said. "What is it like in the colony? Different but not sinister I do not think." Wilma then gave Buck a full report of her visit to the compound. She finished with "and there is definitely a class system, the inhabitants and the helpers, but maybe even within the different orgs."
"Those people you called helpers, they are really slaves," said Buck.
"Slaves, what makes you say that?"
"Because the Vane Colony are not the only people living here." At this point Buck relayed the story of his encounter with Carson.
Wilma was quiet for a few moments, assessing the information. "You know what I would like to do, I would love to. "But Wilma interrupted him. "Buck, you know we can not interfere. But you know what we can do: when we are in New Chicago, we can visit Dr. Janus. I am sure he will want to send out a survey mission to record the Star Peoples story. And they can assess any assistance that Carson and his friends are willing to accept."
Buck smiled, "great idea!"
Buck and Wilma spent some time discussing the various options based on whether she was able to find Jon Hart; if she couldn't find him; if she found him and he was willing to return to New Chicago; if she found him and he was not willing to return. What would she do and say if she encountered Audrey, what would Buck tell Carson and the Star people. Buck would review the moon's orbit and other factors to determine the best launch times for leaving the area.
As Wilma had predicted, the cargo ship approach was obvious, as it flew low over the trees and disappeared into the compound. Wilma picked up the yellow coat, kissed Buck goodbye and headed back to the portal. As she approached, she could see the guard was out of the hut, his back was turned, looking towards the area of the settlement where the ship had just landed. Since she wasn't as concerned about him raising an alarm when he came to, she simply used the small phaser she carried to knock him out. If he realized someone had shot him when he came to, she felt there would still be sufficient time to contact Jon Hart and get back out of the colony. He would be out for a while and the entire colony seemed to have their attention on the cargo ship. Wearing the yellow coat and with her head bowed like most of the women she had observed on her previous visit she made her way toward the store house. She could see all of the helpers already there; they must be responsible for most of the work unloading the cargo. She quietly slipped into the store house, removed her coat, and entered the pilot room.
"You are a difficult man to communicate with Jon Hart."
Hart whirled around to see Wilma apparently lounging against a wall. "Col. Deering what are you doing here?" Hart exclaimed, obviously shocked.
"Looking for you. Your sister is very worried about you, so she asked for assistance."
"Jan is such a pain sometimes; she worries about nothing." He said. After a pause he added with a smile "I can leave any time I want but I'm really happy here, there are no worries, I don't have to make decision everything is taken care of for me. Easy life!"
"So why do they need an electrified fence?" Wilma asked, but Hart had no answer for her. Wilma straightened up and made a move as if to leave.
"What are you going to tell my sister?" Hart asked.
"The truth, that you are enjoying life based on the work of slaves" she said.
"They are helpers not slaves" replied Hart.
"Can they leave?" asked Wilma.
"Well, no, I guess they can't" he was quiet a moment and then added "But I had nothing to do with that I came here after the place was established. I am just living here."
Wilma just shook her head. "What a waste"
"I'm not wasting my life, I'm enjoying it."
"I meant the effort the Defense Directorate put into your training was all wasted" With that Wilma turned and walked out of the pilot's room. She slipped on the yellow coat and made her way back to the entrance portal. The guard was still out when she got there so she simply strolled out. She kept the coat as she did not want to leave a connection to Audrey and her org to get her into trouble.