"I am well..." Agent 47 told a number of concerned Night Watch close by "For now, at least. A number of medical staff who know about me made sure there is always drink set aside for me and… aaargh!… that keeps the pain away".

"It seems to not be doing that so well now" one of the younger recruits replied with concern, and Agent 47 smiled and replied "I thank you for your concern… for now, I am well enough. I will, since my health seems to be a topic of interest for all here, go and see the doctors again – perhaps they have found out some new thing that might help my condition improve".

Early the next day, after First Meal, he did just that.

"I have not found anything among the approved medical texts that might apply to someone with your ...condition" the doctor told him, and Agent 47 wasn't sure if the man was genuinely concerned for his health or was exhibiting the common Nebari fear of mentalism "All I can suggest is to check any of the civilian doctors to see if medical advances concerning brain conditions have been made which we do not know about".

He is concerned for my health Agent 47 decided but he certainly does not like dealing with mentalists. I will check with civilian medical personnel as he recommends, I am Night Watch and can make use of any and all resources available in our Establishment to ensure the success of my mission and to fulfil my orders – for now, success means seeing if any doctor can at least stabilise my physical and mental health until means to see a permanent improvement are found.

Agent 47 took almost an entire monen to journey around Nebari Prime and ask every medical professional he could find if they could identify why his health was deteriorating and if anything could be done about it.

"Well, it seems like this concoction is working better than when you consume excessive amounts of alcohol" one doctor told him after almost another entire monen "Large amounts of alcohol aren't good for people of any species – and while it may have dulled the pain in your head, I doubt it helped with anything else. I don't know if you can make this mixture yourself, you Night Watch can do so many things – but if you can't, I suggest you find someone who can and see to it that you have a good store of it with you at all times".

"It tastes a little odd" Agent 47 replied "But you are correct, I think – I am remaining stable for longer. I doubt I should rely on this new medicine you made for me for too long, though".

The doctor nodded, accepting Agent 47's payment but smiling as well when he called through a commendation to be added to his public record and an increase in his general clearances.


"We've not found out any clues where any of our old service comrades have been for the past twenty cycles" one tired Enforcer told his friends "While it's certainly true they could have been killed in action, we'd have found out by now if that was the case – at least if the mission wasn't classified too highly".

"We've all had encounters with the black while we look and while we work" one of the women replied, and all of them knew she meant Night Watch when she said 'the black' "If I believed in miracles, I'd say we had experienced such a thing by remaining free and without an arrest added to our records by any of a considerable number of Night Watch eager to move up the promotion ladder".

"I'll ask again among the few people I know outside the Establishment" the largest of them suggested "I'm sure our people are in demand as skilled mercenaries. Perhaps our old comrades have found employment this way".

"Do it" the group's de facto leader decided "Be careful – many of those from our training intake have proved to be some of the most professional Enforcers around but appear to be politically unreliable according to a number of those in the Night Watch here in positions of influence if not rank. If any of you can see to it that we can obtain suitable supplies and transport for a journey outside the Establishment, do it – best we be prepared, even though I hope it does not become necessary".

Another Enforcer mentioned the reports of a growing but still small resistance movement opposed to the Establishment.

"Best we avoid it" the man said warily "If they feel it's worth the effort to pursue those kind of longer-term goals, I wish them luck – but we have more immediate issues to contend with, namely seeing that our personal work is not considered opposition to the Establishment and worth a trip to a cleansing facility".

The others were not sure if they agreed with his concern about that, but decided to go along with it if it meant they stayed free and out of the hands of the Night Watch.


The humans were slowly becoming to the way Talzenadar IV operated, even though most of the Americans found it odd.

"We all did" Lazarus told them after Second Meal, the next time that topic came up "I'm not sure if any of you served in a Third World nation, but despite Tal IV being fairly rich, the way business works is a lot like a lot of places in Africa or south-east Asia".

"It's not as weird as I thought" Belle decided "I'm becoming more used to the fact that most shops here actually expect us to try and bargain for things, and paying by barter is actually encouraged with some shops and especially with street traders".

"Yeah, that's nice" Troll told them when he overheard "It's rare anyone here tries to put one over on me, my wife, or my kids – but you know we get the job of helpin' out when they try it on anyone else".

"Yeah, despite it all workin' out fine last time..." Blazer chimed in "I felt like strappin' that dude with the ratty beard underneath a Stryker an' doing some combat manoevreing tests till he shut up and saw sense".

"I've done several tours in the Middle East" Ivan told them "It's not so unusual. People like it when we take an interest in them, I find – is good when that happen, I like it. I had food from lots of species now".

"That's one of the best things about Tal IV, mister!" Troll replied, laughing "I know my boys love it even more than I do! Besides the fun part, people of all kinds love to eat… you can get talkin' to people over a plate of something an' a drink an' find out all sorts of things".

"Hellbolt an' I gotta go, you lot" Liz said, grinning "Arbitration patrol near the central part of Market Street by the transport crawler depot. We've got a Hynerian delegation coming in for business negotiations, and there's a bunch of Charrids who aren't as nice as ours who just got here from their capital world. I don't think we'll need to call for reinforcements… but keep an ear to the ground in case we do".

Ivan's brow crinkled as he tried to interpret Liz's odd slang, but eventually nodded.

"Your skill with the human language we know best improves" Keyah told him "You humans are not the easiest species to learn about or understand… but you try hard to make yourselves useful and to make friends".

"I would not have thought I see green people when I was in Russia" Ivan replied "Here there are lots. Some teach me good stuff about finding my way around this ship. Viktor learns that the quickest, but he's pleased I am learning where things are as fast as I am doing".


Hellbolt and Liz were wearing sneaksuits again, though both of them had the cloaking shields turned off.

Hellbolt smiled as Liz called out to traders she knew – more so when they called back to her about things that happened or people they had seen.

No one mentioned Nebari or anyone Hellbolt could decide was Night Watch, which suited both of them just fine – but several people did find it interesting or unusual that even one actual Nebari was there and either seemed to talk to others about him or disappeared into the landscape beyond even their changed senses ability to keep up.

"You Irregulars are strange" one Sebacean trader said as they came closer "but I say this for you, you all pay up without us having to shout at you or you get officer from that big ship to bring money if you don't have it with you. We like that. We like it that you have friends who help you pay up on time if you can't do it on your own".

"Officers get upset if we do that" Liz told her "But that's fine, most of us do just fine with what we get paid here anyway – not too many of us need loans from leadership".

"Yeah, I hear you lot get paid real nice" another trader added "I seen your uniforms both sides of the North checkpoint. Not sure if it's just your officers who gets to go up there, though – never got close enough to read those shoulder patches".

"We hear you" Hellbolt called when another Irregulars patrol called in the arrival of the Hynerians "Stay close to the locals, they should be able to handle it themselves – just be ready in case they can't. It'll take us a few momens to get to you from where we are, but call if you need us".


It took a weeken for the news of the presence of a Nebari among local forces on Tal IV to make its way back to Nebari Prime.

"It does happen on occasion" a Night Watch specialist trooper told someone else where an Enforcer could just manage to hear "Some of our people do prefer to risk the chance to make more money outside of our Establishment in places we would normally consider unsafe or even dangerous. A few may be fugitives from justice… but not all".

The Enforcer told a few people he knew about what he heard the next time he went back to his barracks, and one of the support staff passed the news on.

"It does sound promising" one of the other Enforcers agreed when he was told "The hard part will be getting there without bringing too much interest our way".


Agent 47 soon found out as well.

"I had heard ..." he said softly "about that… when I was there a few cycles ago. People there are… moderately welcoming to our people if not always to our government. If they know you have currency… they will encourage you to look at and buy what they have, no matter what species you are. All they… care about there… is if your currency is good".

"People like that are unstable" another Night Watch officer replied "but are certainly useful on occasion. They can be tolerated as allies of convenience – we need things done which we cannot deal with ourselves, and they need to get paid. They do what we need them to do and this gets them currency. Thus both parties are satisfied".

"There...is much to learn… simply listening, I find" Agent 47 replied "Hearing people talk to each other where they… think we cannot hear".

"You hear more than we do, Agent" the officer replied "We don't have the extra things you among the most loyal have".

"We are all needed" Agent 47 replied, smiling and nodding at the officer "whether we have those things or not. Anyone can be clever, anyone can be loyal and obedient – you do not have to have what I have to be a valued citizen of the Establishment. People of all kinds and social status levels are needed for us to succeed in our aims" before heading out of the office.

I should track down the source of this information Agent 47 decided All kinds of services can be bought on Talzenadar IV, I know that – perhaps this Nebari may know where a Diagnosan or other medical professional might be who can help me. It's clear enough now that no one with any connection to the Night Watch knows anything useful.


"Our situation is as follows" one Enforcer told the others when they met again "We have enough people we can trust to crew a small ship… or earn passage as security staff on board a larger one. If we can even make it a short distance from Nebari Prime, more so if we're off the main military shipping lanes, our chances of earning our keep the rest of the way improve".

Agent 47 barely managed to hear the speaker's surface thoughts, but he smiled with relief.

Normally I would report any such behaviour he decided but for now it seems that these Enforcers may have the same short-term aim as I do. I don't know if they might be persuaded to help me find a skilled medical professional… but I could use their help, and it would be safer to move in numbers should we reach the unaligned worlds.


"Greetings..." Agent 47 called softly to the younger of the two female Enforcers in their group "I need a little help…. No, I am not going to arrest you, nor have you or your friends sent to a cleansing facility. I simply wish to… talk".

After he drank from his flask and took several deep breaths, he added "Whatever others in my service branch may decide, I think you and your friends may be able to assist me. I believe that in return I might be able to assist you. Both of us need certain things I believe I can obtain for us… and it will be safer if we move together. Especially in Establishment space, to be honest".

Once she calmed herself down and decided running would cause more problems than it solved, she took a few deep breaths of her own before saying "People wearing that uniform don't always like seeing people in this one moving around unsupervised. If we have you with us, we'll be able to go further unmolested".

"We should continue this discussion in the company of your friends" Agent 47 urged "and preferably not in an Establishment barracks. If your friend could obtain a Wraith… we can move in comparative safety while we talk".

"I don't like hearing that a Special Agent knows about our business" the larger of the men said "but I'm thinking it's the only option we have that won't see us caught and imprisoned – and that's if it goes well".

"I don't know where that Agent is now..." the group's de facto leader decided "but if he or she's anywhere close, get them in here".

Agent 47 nodded to each of them when he was escorted inside.

"Greetings to… you all" he said softly "In case you have not been told… I think your aims and my aims may come to pass sooner if we operate together. Should you find this agreable, tell me soon – I believe I can obtain a ship for us and enough currency and supplies to get us where we need to go if managed carefully".

"And if Night Watch attached to border patrol don't find us" the larger man added.

"Even if they do" Agent 47 replied "They will not attempt to apprehend us in the ship I will be able to obtain for us… as long as I do so fairly soon".

These Night Watch are hard to negotiate with the larger Enforcer decided He is clealy trying to guide and direct us into agreeing with him and his aims, though for some reason I actually think he'll do what he says he will. If we did this our way we'd have to bargain with outsiders, and even Enforcers don't have much experience with others not of our people.

"That is correct..." Agent 47 whispered, walking up beside him "It suits both you and me that we reach an agreement between ourselves. It will proceed more smoothly, at least inside Establishment space, if we move together".

"Can you see inside my head?" the large man asked, concerned "or are you just skilled at reading people's reactions?"

"I can read some of your thoughts" Agent 47 revealed cautiously "Not always clearly. More easily than I could with other species, though".

Eventually, after maybe a quarter-arn, an agreement was reached. The Enforcers were even more pleased when Agent 47 passed over a small but meaningful amount of currency, and limited permits to enter his usual barracks for the purpose of talking to him.

"Get as much from our barracks as we can get away with" the older of the two women told everyone "I don't know what this Agent or whoever he is can get for us – but I prefer to see us provide for our own needs as much as possible, even if the Agent can open a Night Watch armoury for us".


They were still surprised when Agent 47 turned up at their barracks the following day, though all of them were relieved he was wearing civilian clothing and headwear.

"I...forgot to ask before..." he whispered "Can any of you… take the helm of a … large craft? I had hoped to find a small one...to pass unnoticed… but I cannot. Not easily and not now".

The large man nodded and turned to point at the badge on his upper arm, and Agent 47 nodded in return.

"This… is good" he replied "I can do many things… but flying anything bigger than a Hurricane is not one of them".

"We must stop at the sector 5 barracks to get gear" another of the group told Agent 47 "I don't know if they can spare a vehicle, but we can pack it all on our backs as long as we don't have to walk several kilometras with it".

The sector 5 barracks commander was not at all pleased to see Agent 47 there, but seemed relieved that he wasn't going to simply commandeer what he wanted and leave it where he couldn't get it back later.

"You are… correct" Agent 47 assured him "You and those with you will be able to collect the vehicle once we are finished with it. We do not require an armoured combat vehicle – just a truck will do, as long as it is in good order".

Agent 47 ran a swift diagnostic on the vehicle through his own PDA, and nodded happily before saying "It is good. My friends will be back shortly with the other things we need" - barely a half-momen before the Enforcers returned with a trolley and a lot of gear. Not one of them asked Agent 47 to help load it, something which the Agent was pleased to see, instead simply getting it all stowed in the truck as fast as they could.

"Not the fastest I ever saw..." the barracks commander muttered, watching them "but within proficiency requirements".

"He's starting to think too much" the younger woman decided "It is just as well we were outside his jurisdiction before his brain started working!"

"We were all careful, as required" Agent 47 replied "Now we proceed toward the next step in our plan, obtaining the ship I secured for us. It is in the Night Watch sector of the nearby port, but do not worry about that – your presence is expected as well as my own".

"Well… I am surprised" the large man said when he saw the ship "I had not thought I would ever even get aboard a Tempest-class ship, let alone take its helm".

"I am told they manoevre well in atmosphere" Agent 47 told him, smiling at how the man in front of him seemed pleased as well as surprised "and fly with both speed and stealth outside it. As long as the ship has been well maintained we should get where we need to go without needing to stop for repairs or even maintenance".

Agent 47 led them aboard the ship, not even talking to the Night Watch support staff when they looked with suspicion at the Enforcers except to say "You do not need to know why they are here… only they need to know that" before unsealing an entry hatch. As soon as the hatch was sealed again behind them, he led them all to the bridge – only stopping to calm himself and take medicine once along the route – where he was pleased to see the large man power the ship to operational status without help.

"I… have command" Agent 47 said from the command chair – once all stations unlocked after the computer recognised his voice from Night Watch archives, he plotted a course and sent it to both navigation and the helm.

Agent 47 ws pleased to see the large man on the helm took off with care but speed, heading for orbit with the minimum of fuss.

"We are… beyond perimeter markers" Agent 47 announced "Can navigation confirm?"

"Positive confirmation, aye" the younger woman on that desk replied "Set course as given?"

"As given" Agent 47 confirmed "Then all can rest or eat or perform proficiency drills".


Keeping the Hynerian business delegation away from the Charrids took a lot of work from both local Security and the Irregulars – but that work proved worth the effort, since the Charrids only saw the Hynerians when they crossed paths as ther Hynerians left. Since the Hynerians saw the wisdom of following the advice given by the Irregulars, all that came their way were a few unsavoury remarks and a few less empty drink bottles.

"We thank you for keeping the Charrids from attacking us during our negotiations, Irregular" the head of the Hynerian delegation told the Irregular leading their protective detail "Charrids of any station in life are maddeningly hard to deal with… but I expect you know that since you're Scarran".

"Not as hard as you might think" Altur replied, scanning the Hynerian's surface thoughts as he talked "Other personnel had more trouble dealing with the Hynerian delegation at the Games eight cycles ago than we did with these Charrids, according to our archive".

"Dominar-in-exile Rygel still has at least a small following among our people" another Hynerian added, shaking his head slowly as he suggested one reason for that unrest "I say he should be like us - move around, meet people, make money. But it seems to suit him to maintain a small gathering of people loyal to him and opposing Dominar Bishan outside Hynerian worlds and a slightly larger group of followers inside them".

Altur thought the Hynerian business delegation was just as pleased to be away from him as they were to be away from the Charrids, but kept his feelings on that to himself as he reported to the Havoc.

"Good one, Commander" Lazarus told him "It's not good for anyone's business if we get Charrids on one side of Market Street an' Hynerians on the other taking pot shots at each other".

"I'm fairly sure at least two of the Hynerians were seen at the mercenary campground, sir" Altur revealed "so it's quite likely that the business they said they were here for wasn't the only business they were here for".

"One problem at a time" Lazarus replied "Nothing's happened between them here – and we've not received a contract to sort out anything between those two groups outsystem either. Not yet, anyway".


"97.256%" said one of the Enforcers, over a testing kit.

"I am a medical professional" the woman replied, only hissing slightly "Whatever I may think about some of my customers – and you may be assured I know what kind of person he is – I would not taint any medicine I make to ensure the deaths of anyone!"

"Good" Agent 47 replied, nodding and passing over more currency "That will do. My personnel say you have made this special medicine strictly according to the recipe, which I thank you -aargh!- for..." before taking a dose of that medicine.

"I am… well" he announced "This blend seems to be taking effect more quickly than my original batch. A good sign, I feel"

"Maybe" the woman on his hammond side replied "Did you notice that she looked at your clothing for ident markings or rank badges? If she knows you are Night Watch simply from looking at you, she may be known to the sector commander here – officially or otherwise".

"We should return to our ship, you are correct" Agent 47 confirmed "The cautious plan is the correct plan. We are within five days travel of Tallus II, the last major Night Watch facility before the unaligned worlds – we will need to detour around that system, but whether we do that by entering the Neutral Zone ahead of schedule or by slipping in through the Scarran border worlds I have not yet decided".


"Agent 47 is moving around Establishment worlds, yes" a Night Watch officer told another Agent back on Nebari Prime "So our reports seem to imply. Not once have any of our personnel come close enough to see what means he uses to move from place to place".

"I have… been told..." the Agent replied "that he is… not well… and needs special medication. I do not… know why. I do not… need to know. Not yet".

"He may simply be using his authority to check at every official medical facility, civilian hospital, or unofficial medical study facility..." the Night Watch officer suggested "build up a knowledge base of his own… and manafacture his own medicine where his direct superiors will not know. Those people may perceive his physical weakness as an opportunity to move against him".

"Were he not an Agent like me" the Agent replied, smiling a little "I may believe that. We have not had any loyalty contentions between Agents and Internal Affairs since the Agent program was started – but I expect Internal Affairs will examine the evidence at hand in case any such thing is starting now".


By the time Agent 47 and the Enforcers with him were bypassing Tallus II on the neutral side, the Agent's condition had worsened considerably.

"I...aaaargh!… I should make contact..." he whispered, covered in sweat and in considerable pain "contact ...contact people I saw… when I came this way before. I must find… hyperwave communications".

"Get him to the sick bay" the large man on the helm replied "If he insists on making a hyperwave call in his condition then watch him carefully".

Agent 47 took more medicine followed by a small sip of his favourite spirit.

"You all show a ...surprising amount of ...concern for my health" he told the Enforcers, smiling just a little.

"As you told us before" one of them replied "We all get what we want only if we get to this… where was it?… Talzenadar IV successfully. Doing that means, since you know people there, making sure you don't die".

"It does" Agent 47 confirmed, taking deep breaths to try and calm himself "But your large friend on the helm is likely correct – I should go to the sick bay. Not until I make the hyperwave call, however".

Agent 47 scoured official business registration logs for many systems until he found one he knew. He smiled, nodding with both happiness and relief, before entering its contact details into the console in front of him.


"Dulenos, might I help you?" Lerren asked when she picked up the call.

"Might I..." Agent 47 whispered, his throat hoarse and his head hurting "speak to those… in charge. Please".

"The owners of this business are not on the premises" Lerren replied "Their son, my mate, is here and is authorised to speak on their behalf. Should I ask him to come and speak with you?"

"That… will do" Agent 47 decided.

Devin recognised Agent 47's voice when he came on the line.

"Ah yes..." Agent 47 said once Devin stopped talking "I...remember now. The helpful young… man who brought me food and talked -aargh!- … to me".

"I am not a medical professional" Devin replied "but both my parents and I know many people with many skills and may be able to help you when you arrive. For a small consideration, we may be able to let you land your ship at our private blast pit – we have one for our own use not far from where I am standing now, did you know that?"

"I… did not" Agent 47 replied, smiling a little "I… will instruct my… helm officer… to proceed to Talzenadar IV at our best safe speed".

Two of the Enforcers assisted Agent 47 to the sick bay, where they gave him more medicine and sedated him enough to make him more comfortable if not unconscious.


"Copy that, mister" Harrigan said when Devin called him "We can do that, sure – dunno that he'll need specialist help from our docs, but there's a few medical people who set up shop permanently here and a few more from merc units at the camp who might help out if money's sent their way".

"If he is as I remember" Devin told Harrigan "he may only speak to me or to mother or to father. Since he has seen Kalish before, he may speak to big sister or Master Keyah Kamara as well. Perhaps even Amara as well, though I do not recall if he has seen her before".

"Keep an ear to the ground for me" Harrigan urged "We can get Amara to bring people down by special delivery, but if we gotta ship him topside for emergency treatment I'll get a lander on standby. If he's Night Watch and needs something special to save his life, he'd better be prepared to pay a serious fee – for which you'll get a commission for letting us know, Devin".

Devin smiled, bowed slightly, then discommed.


"I hear you" Devin said when a call came through to the shop three days later "I do not recognise your voice… I can tell your species. I can speak your language".

"Our superior needs medical help urgently" the male Nebari voice told Devin "All of us expected he'd be well enough to speak to you himself…. but his condition has worsened, and we cannot afford to wait any longer. Our safety and his safety are one and the same".

"You should comm the HMS Cry Havoc once insystem at Tal IV" Devin advised "and ask for expedited landing clearance for medical purposes. Should your ship be able to fit in our blast pit, we will permit you to land there in order that your superior can receive treatment. If your superior is who I think he is, secrecy may only be maintained by me calling my special friends for assistance – you may not like them, some people do not, but they are helpful and useful and friendly".

"You know a surprising amount about our superior" the male Nebari told Devin "That, or you have a truly phenomenal memory for someone who has only met him once".

"I know a lot" Devin replied, not too boastfully "and I have a very good memory even for my people".


"I hear you" Kaisan replied when the Havoc was called "I have been advised of your medical situation. You will be permitted to land at the Duleno private blast pit, assuming your ship meets the safety limits for a pit that size".

The large man on the helm gave bulk and mass ratings for their ship, but not class – Kaisan nodded and replied "You are cleared to land at the Duleno private blast pit. The Duleno family know many interesting people, some of whom may be able to help you".

The Enforcer on the helm headed for high orbit at a speed the others only considered mildly unsafe, and made an acceptable if slightly more than mildly unsafe atmo entry.

"I can detect you" Devin said when the Enforcer on comms called him "but not easily. I know what you fly, I know many interesting things about spacecraft. It is just as well you called me, I and my family are known as people who respect and value our customers' confidentiality".

This man will want a large fee to keep our secret Agent 47 decided, listening in I am not well, I can barely walk or maintain consciousness for long now, but for my own safety I must stay awake long enough to ask for his help and that of those he knows in order to save my life.


"A Tempest-class, father!" Devin told his father, running for the rear entry to their dwelling and the blast pit beyond "Coming in on a fast approach! I expect that what we were told about medical attention was not only true, but may have been vastly understated – the person they bring may need urgent life-saving medical intervention!"

Devin watched as the Tempest-class ship came to a safe if rough landing, then ran out to meet it – banging hard on the hull beside the first entry hatch he could see.

"Come!" a female Nebari snapped at him, clearly stressed "Your appearance matches most of the description given by our superior – it seems you've had surgery yourself if that synthskin is anything to go by".

Devin managed not to smile at her mistake, instead nodding and telling her "I was needed to do urgent work. Doing that urgent work meant I hurt myself that one time. Useful friends with useful skills fixed me and healed me".

Devin took one look at Agent 47, felt the pained and distressed thoughts pouring off him and saw his skull bulging and moving, and promptly commed Nrakal directly – chattering at him very fast in Scarran until he was told to calm down and slow down.

"Amara will come!" Nrakal told him "I will come by normal means with orderlies! A small number of Irregulars with your uncle will come to take care of the patient's...friends".

Amara appeared in front of Devin and the Nebari almost immediately, saying "No! No questions, no time! I must see the patient NOW!" to the Nebari and telling Devin "Come with me, Devin" at a more normal volume.

The Nebari was very surprised that Amara seemed to know the layout of the Tempest-class ship better than she did, but kept her concerns to herself - or at least unspoken if not free of her surface thoughts.

Amara looked at him on the sick bay operating table, all around his head, before snapping a few words in English (which none of the Enforcers could understand) and calling Nrakal by mentalism.

~He is like Mella? ((wary concern))~ Nrakal asked, striding onto the hammond flight deck and calling out orders ~He has that program? He is an Agent?~

~One desperate enough to come here for help~ Amara replied ~His face is similar enough, accounting for age, to be the same man I saw before. We should be able to reason with him~

Amara heard Nrakal grumble, but was relieved when he said ~I will alert the War Commander, Amara – whatever I think about this person, for us to even consider providing help for an Establishment Agent the War Commander must be alerted~

~I'm gonna talk to mister grey big man~ Harrigan insisted when Amara linked him in ~I'll make sure he knows he's got no room to bargain, that the only way he gets to go back to Nebari-land alive is doing what we say and giving us a huge fee – you know me, Amara,I don't mind helping all kinds of people, but I'll make sure they pay a fee appropriate for the risk involved. Or, in this case, due to us having the only people in the universe who can do the job~

~I...hear ((pain, exhaustion))~ Agent 47 whispered ~Cannot pay… in currency. Can pay… in barter. Not that I… have a choice. Not if… you can fix my condition… permanently~

~Our doc there'll get you good for travel~ Harrigan told him ~When you get up here, we'll talk~

"Stretcher!" Amara barked in Nebari "No time to dawdle! Move, move, move! Power down the ship to standby levels and seal all entry hatches after we leave!"

The four men, two women, plus Agent 47 and Amara, left the Tempest-class ship and were out in front of the Duleno's shop when an assault lander dropped out of the sky and made a fast and surprisingly safe landing barely twenty metras in front of them.

"Uncle Troll?!" Amara called "Lower the drop ramp! We must board with our patient and his friends, then return to our home immediately!"

"Yeah, it's me!" Troll shouted back as he lowered the ramp "Get your asses on board smartish – I want to get back before the dinner Martha cooked for me goes cold!"

Amara barked orders at the Nebari until they carried Agent 47 on his stretcher aboard and secured him and themselves for travel, after which she raised and sealed the ramp before calling "ALL OK!" up to Troll.

He made a more careful takeoff, then called "Bridge, this is the big ol' Troll man with an inbound special medevac. Gonna need Big Man H and a few docs on hand when we get back".


"On it!" Westmore called "Yeah, Sheren- well, whoever you are, I won't learn if I don't see all the gooey details first-hand, will I! If the War Commander sends me back to quarters, so be it – until then, I'm including myself with this mission!".

Sherenka just laughed before calling "You'd better go too, mister – you're not helping anyone sitting there" over her shoulder.

"I'll be fine..." Liz assured her husband in his language "I'm not gonna be here long anyway, just need a check-up – but since the usual tricks don't work with us we gotta go old-school".

Trannak nodded and pointed to a position beside him when Hellbolt and the medical staff arrived at the hammond flight deck.

"Skulkers, I want every angle covered" he ordered "We have someone coming in for medical attention – but from what my Amara tells me, he's someone we'll need to keep under security watch. He's got a few people with him – by the sounds of things they're just people he convinced to go along with him, they're not from where he's from. We watch them too, though – no one's taking any chances".

Troll brought the lander down to the deck as fast as he could get away with – the landing was still a little rough, but even Amara didn't snap at him for it, just calling "On three… one two, three! Move!" while Troll lowered the ramp.

Nrakal immediately strode over and looked at the man on the stretcher.

"Subject showing same signs as before..." Nrakal muttered "… unstable… body showing obvious signs of rejecting artifical addition of mentalism...".

~Procedure… rejection? ((fear))~ Agent 47 asked Nrakal ~I live/die?~

"Right now I don't know" Nrakal admitted bluntly "You will be taken to my sick bay where you will be scanned and examined. If we can temporarily stabilise you without killing you, you and I and our leader will discuss your options".

The skulkers moved into formation around the stretcher. None of the Nebari were pleased to see Scarrans there, even less so when Westmore was seen to be in stone form – but when Trannak simply ordered them calmly into the transit car in their own language their attitude softened a little bit.

It took three arns for Nrakal to scan Agent 47 with every scanner mode and other method he could come up with – including Amara's hypersense.

"You are showing signs of procedures whose existence we have suspected but only now see evidence of" Nrakal told Agent 47 "I strongly suspect that you were given these procedures without anyone being sure how long they would hold without side-effects, lethal or otherwise".

"Why… should I ask?" Agent 47 whispered, clearly exhausted and in pain "I… serve my Establishment, and through them my people. If I...can serve more...fully, with these things, I will do so. I have done so… until now".

"Until now" Nrakal agreed "Right now you need to decide if having us provide emergency medical care to stabilise your condition and save your life is worth the risk of having your Establishment declare you unsound for receiving unauthorised medical treatment".

"How do you know..." Agent 47 asked "...that they would… declare me unsound… for this?" - who'd suspected it himself for the last weeken anyway.

Hellbolt removed his faceplate and helm, letting Agent 47 see his face and that he was a Nebari himself, before stowing the pieces safely.

"Ah..." he whispered again "You have… my people… among your ...crew".

"Just one" Harrigan told him.

"I don't know for certain, Agent" Hellbolt said in his own language "But I do know a bit about how Night Watch think – and I suspect that if they don't know what's been done to make you well again they will, as our Commander's people say, 'play it safe' and declare you unsound before – and this is the bit I'm really not sure about – either exile you from Nebari space for the rest of your life, or make sure you don't become a potential problem and dissect you to figure out how we manage to stabilise your artificially-induced mentalism".

"First..." Agent 47 wheezed "First I need to be well… then I will investigate… then I will know".

"Then we know too, mister" Harrigan added "We're gonna keep an close eye on you – partly to make sure they don't just try an' cut you up in the consulate, partly 'cause if they do anything like that, they might just learn things they got no business knowing".

This big one who leads thinks like some of my past superiors have thought Agent 47 decided While he may be concerned for my health… and that is certainly a surprise… I am starting to think that the means he will authorise to see me healed are either secret, experimental, or both – and he wants to make sure only his medical personnel know about them.

~Correct ((confirmation))~ Amara told him ~We have narrowed down our options which we may use to make you well again, now our Chief Medical Officer and our leader must decide which of those options will be used~

Troll whispered to Harrigan at length in English.

"You really think it's worth that level of risk, mister?" Harrigan asked, surprised "I doubt this guy's got any medical training.. but if he's got anything like the level of unofficial experience Gen'ral T got before he came here he might just figure out the basics anyway".

"Don't you worry, big man – the ol' Troll man's already thought of that" Troll replied – then whispered to both him and Nrakal a bit more before grinning.

"Interesting..." Hellbolt added when Harrigan called him over "You've not tested the later-grade augmentation levels on Nebari yet...nor Kamielisation. Assuming his current condition doesn't kill him, or our attempt to heal him doesn't make it worse… it might just be worth the effort".

"Troll, you get the job of explaining it all to him" Harrigan decided "unless the doc has a better idea on who can do that".

"Troll will do that" Nrakal decided "He has some talent with, as you humans say, 'people skills' - on the social level, at least. I will do what I did before, or Amara can do so – stand beside him to correct his exaggerated excitement".

"The ol' Troll man's ready" Troll replied "We get a new lab rat, it seems – and since he's got the choice of getting help here or getting painfully dead I think he'll go along with what we want. I'll tell him the good bits about it, so he knows there's something in it for him as well...".

"General, if you'd escort his friends outside..." Harrigan asked Trannak "I dunno… get 'em food or something… I'll authorise alcohol if you think it'd help… just take 'em somewhere safe and make sure they relax".

Since Harrigan had intentionally spoken Nebari, the Enforcers understood every word.

"Well, they know our language – that's both good and bad" the younger woman said.

"They're prepared to share alcohol with us" the largest male said, and the other woman nodded to confirm that "I doubt anyone here knows how to make our food, but if there's anything even remotely tolerable made here I say we eat now".

"I can see to it you get Nebari food if you want it" Hellbolt told them "I'm no master chef, but there's a few things I can make".

"We'll see how good you are, then" before something in his brain clicked and he started chattering at his fellow Enforcers.

"It took you long enough" Hellbolt said when they all turned around to look at him "I don't remember you, miss", and nodded toward the younger woman, "and your big man there looks to be a hybrid, he's far too large for a straight-bloodline Nebari...".

"Father is Interion" the man replied, confirming Hellbolt's guess as they reached the transit platform "I speak his language and mother's, Sebacean… very basic Scarran".


"Interesting..." Agent 47 whispered "I do say that I am not entirely without concern...but if I must measure concern about those things I was just told against concern for my continued health and survival then you should do what you must".

"The big ol' Troll man's gonna be here to help you out" Troll replied, nodding "A few others who know what's what as well. We'll have people takin' care of you real good the whole way".

"One thing I had not thought to ask before..." Agent 47 asked "Will I still have my new skills after you conduct this treatment on me? It took me longer than most to adjust to having them… but for all that, I like them. They are helpful and useful".

"We fully expect that you will" Amara told him "You will be tested physically after your treatment to ensure your body is in good health… but I will test your mentalism as well. Should you wish to reveal what mentalism you have currently, I will note this in your medical archive so I know where to start testing when the time comes".

Agent 47 took a deep breath, then told Amara by mentalism – and smiled when he felt her interest.

~It seems your primary skills are useful basic skills~ Amara told him ~Telepathy, hypersense, and empathy. I could not tell if you have other skills, at least not beyond the featherweight level – but we can test for that after your treatment~ - after which Nrakal promptly anaesthetised him, while Amara lowered his unconscious body to the bed gently.

"Tank 4" she decided, Nrakal watching her "Troll, you will go with the Chief Medical Officer and advise him on what options should be added, if any, for the treatment – Doctor Nrakal, we may need to use a synthesised sample and not one of the natural ones due to stocks being low at this time".

Nrakal gave her a sample number, and Amara took a few momens to find it and bring it back.


"Those orange people have been coming to us every few momens" the younger female told the others "They look at us, they ask questions… and then they run back to gatherings of others like them and tell all everything they learned. Are they trainee intelligence officers?"

"I doubt it" the half-Interion man replied "I think I saw people of that type in training archives, I think they are called Ki-lesh people".

One Kalish technician corrected his pronunciation and confirmed his guess as to their species.

"It is good that our people are of interest to others" he said "though I doubt those who trained you were simply curious".

"They were not" Hellbolt confirmed for him "The people who trained them were either Night Watch or had been approved of by those who were. Kalish people were considered to be the eyes and ears of the Hierarchy by a lot of Night Watch when I was being trained".

"I am glad..." one of the younger men said happily, smiling a little "That our own food could be made. Our stores were low and I was hungry when we arrived here".

"I am glad..." the younger female added "that alcohol was available. I needed to relieve tension, passing through so many potentially hostile systems on our way here was not good for my mood" before downing another bottle of fellip in one go.

"That had better do..." a Scarran voice decided, and all of them turned to see Talannah standing by their table "The young woman is clearly intoxicated – and the rest of you have drank a considerable quantity as well".

"Our understanding was that alcohol was available for our consumption" the half-Interion man replied "To be honest, we needed it when we saw so many Scarrans in the one place when we arrived at this galley".

"Hah!" Hellbolt laughed "A good excuse, though. I remember how those of you I knew before drank alcohol off-duty when we were all in the Enforcers – and that hasn't changed!"

Conversation halted when Liz vomited on the floor, barely missing the younger woman's boots.

"You are well?" she asked, quickly moving her feet "Should you be joining our superior in the sick bay?"

"I'm not ill, I'm pregnant with my first" Liz groused, drinking as much water as she could lay her hands on "This joker here's been having his fun – and now I get to have him wait on me hand and foot for a few monen!"

Hellbolt grinned and wrapped his arms around Liz, murmuring softly – she swatted at him a bit, but they both laughed before she decided "Grolak with treel sauce, mister".

The half-Interion man grinned a little at Hellbolt when he returned with Liz's food, more so when he said "Please try to keep this down, Liz...".

"I don't puke every half-arn on the half-arn, mister" Liz reminded him, after which she ate quickly and without stopping until her plate was empty.


Tired...so tired…

He looked up and saw lights on the ceiling.

Bright… very bright lights… until he saw them dim autmomatically.

Not gone… not maximum brightness… still good. Can still see…

He reached up slowly and tapped several times until a face appeared over him.

The mentalist female… Amara? Yes, Amara.

He watched her as much as he could for a few momens.

Checking… looking… about me? I think so. My head...not aching, not hurting… body feels calm too… I am...in secure confinement?

~A medical tank~ Amara told him ~I am checking your medical status to see if it is safe to remove you from your tank~

~Hungry~ he said without thinking, though he tried to apologise for that as well.

~Do not worry~ Amara replied ~It is expected that you are hungry. Since it is not a scheduled Mealtime, self-heating field rations have been set aside for you – if you feel it is worth the effort to climb out of your tank now and undergo basic medical testing first~

Amara watched Agent 47 in his tank, smiling as she checked the status screen and nodded to him before purging his tank and opening it.

"Remain still" she told him "I must remove any remaining medical instruments from your body that did not fall of their own accord during your rehabilitation. This will take just a few momens. Please remain still. I will tell you when it is safe to rise to a sitting position".

When Amara nodded, Agent 47 said "The lighting here is still a little too bright… might it be dimmed further, please?"

Amara did that, nodding once before making a few notes and leading Agent 47 through all the scans and tests she needed to perform on him.

"All goes well?" he asked hopefully, after he finished eating "I do not feel the pain as I did before, but for all I know that may come back after whatever medication I was given during rehabilitation wears off".

"All goes well" Amara confirmed "Your rehabilitation time was longer than usual, we needed to repair your skull and a few other things in your body – your artificially-induced mentalism had side effects, damage inflicted by those had to be repaired before a more permanent solution which you were told about could be used".

Agent 47 took a deep breath and tried to extend his hypersense as he did before – and ended up seeing outside the sick bay as far as the transit platform for a few microts until his eyes rolled back in his head and he fell until Amara got a good hold on him and helped him sit up again.

"I had not got to that point before you arrived, War Commander" Amara told Harrigan and Westmore "Should you or Mr Westmore wish to explain it to him, you can do so now".

Harrigan looked at Westmore, who shook his head.

"Interesting..." Agent 47 said after Amara finished talking "More so that you say I have these protective measures as well. Must I consciously activate these? I have been able to use mentalism so far, and it seems to me that these protective measures would hinder my own mentalism as well as that of others directed at me".

"Only one way to find out, mister" Harrigan told him "Test it, Amara there will say if it works".

Eventually Amara started chattering to Nrakal and Harrigan, which went on for almost fifteen momens.

"I heard" Agent 47 replied softly "It appears that the default mode with me is for mentalism to be active and this protection to be inactive – while with you it was the opposite, the protection is active and the mentalism is inactive".

"That's usually the case, yeah" Westmore replied – and stonechanged.

Agent 47 was extremely surprised when he did too, asking if he was supposed to be able to do that or not, as well as numerous questions concerning what this would let him do.

"I will need to practice more" Agent 47 decided after trying to move small objects across a neaby counter "This is an entirely new thing to me. I do not know if other Agents have this skill, but I expect that if any do they can move objects bigger and heavier than writing implements and small tools".

"It's more useful than you might think, mister" Harrigan told him "Think about it… you'll see...".

Agent 47 cast his mind back over past operational experiences, smiling and calling ~Amara? ((curiosity))~ when he thought she was listening mentally.

~((sound of a crowd applauding))~ Amara told him happily ~Yes, I read your thoughts! You have a good level of personal control if you can discern that without being instructed ((praise))~

~I have learned two new things today~ Agent 47 decided ~I do not know why you and the others here consider it worth the considerable risk to give me this ability and teach me things about it… but I am glad you do. I will not forget what you have all done for me~


"I have read it" the Nebari ambassador told the senior Night Watch officer in the consulate "I have not even heard of the existence of people among the Night Watch like these, but I expect that's intentional".

"It is" that officer confirmed "To be honest, until ten momens ago I didn't know any more than you did. Now, it appears, you need to know as much as I do – about this matter, anyway".

"Missing in action" the ambassador said, turning his head back so he could read the note – he paused and asked "This world is a regional centre of a sort… do we have a more senior representative coming to take charge of anything related to this matter?"

"If we do, it's the first I've heard about it" the Night Watch officer said, after which the comm on the desk bleeped.

The ambassador passed the headset over to the Night Watch officer, though to his surprise they just shook their head and placed one finger over their mouth before calling "Yes?" toward the speaker on the ambassador's desk.

"Agent 95" came an electronically masked voice "I will be investigating this matter concerning Agent 47 being missing from your consulate. I will not take a hand in any other matters – unless my orders dictate otherwise, or unless you ask me to".

"If you haven't landed already..." the Night Watch officer replied "then do so and come to the consulate… there will be quarters made available for you. They aren't Nebari Prime standards, but they're good".

"I have just left my craft" Agent 95 replied "I am proceeding to your location".


"I am well" Agent 47 said when he met the Enforcers again next Mealtime "Yes, I do look a little different – but this is not bad, it is good, and it will remind me to be more cautious in future".

Agent 47 smiled briefly when he sensed several of the Enforcers deciding he thought as one of them would do and that this was a good thing.

"Everyone got something?" Hellbolt asked, leading his wife over to their table – Liz snorted when they made room for her quickly, but said "I'm stable for now, you lot – feels like dinner will stay down where it's told, at least for now".

"You are well and I am well" Agent 47 said "This is good. I still find being around Scarrans and Charrids… especially in such numbers… to be unsettling, but so far they have treated me politely and respectfully and a few of their children have even come to look at me. Only these orange Kalish children have talked to me".

Three days later, Agent 47 told Harrigan "I thank you for your help, for seeing to it I not only survived but prospered… but, whatever others have told me, I should see for myself if I will be positively welcomed by my people once more".

"We're gonna be close by, keeping an eye on you" Harrigan reminded him.

"I expected such a thing" Agent 47 replied, nodding "I will see to it that you are given payment before I proceed to the consulate – you will need a small number of people to see this payment transported to safety aboard this vessel. It would be good if these people could be selected now".

"Scraper, get Queen and three others" Harrigan ordered "Meet me at the usual place".

"It seems..." Agent 47 added as he looked at the Enforcers talking to Hellbolt and Liz "that this Nebari here is known to you".

"I was an Enforcer before, if that's what you mean" Hellbolt replied cautiously "and yes, I served with most of this lot before or knew those that did".

"You have partially succeeded with your personal mission, then" Agent 47 replied "This is good. We will see if my survival means that I have succeeded with mine – or if it has not".

"You're going to this planet, then" the half-Interion said.

"Yes" Agent 47 confirmed "I do not entirely know if this is a wise idea, even now… but the life I have led until now is the only one I know. I should see if I am still welcome in it".

"Should we come with you?" the younger woman asked "You don't have friends here like we do. You might need backup".

Agent 47 smiled and said "I thank you for your concern, but the one who leads here has said he will provide people to watch me and see that I remain safe. I do not know how they would be able to enter the consulate and make that happen, but I think there are some very odd people here who can do some very odd things that even the most skilled and stable Agents cannot do".


The Irregulars landed at a public blast pit, after which Agent 47 said "We should first proceed to the Dulenos shop… your payment for the medical work conducted on me is there".

"Westmore, you're gonna be on emergency intervention" Harrigan whispered in Westmore's ear "You got a handle on that extra weird stuff you do enough for that – well, we think there's enough protection around their consulate to stop a translocation as well. You got the best odds on getting in if that Agent needs an extraction".

"Hearin' ya" Westmore murmured back "I ain't real good at that yet, but I think I can hold it together long enough to grab him an' beat feet back here".

"That's what I like to hear, mister" Harrigan replied happily "I could ask Amara to peel that place apart like an onion, but that might start a war here – and Tal IV's been through one in recent history already".

"Yeah, someone uses strategic-level mental stuff and everyone thinks Hierarchy – or at least Scarrans" Westmore replied "Slip me in when no one's looking and it might be anyone – or at least no one can prove who actually did it".

"There is a small gate" Agent 47 said "We should enter their blast pit that way".

The small group did exactly that, and Harrigan smiled when he saw Devin there waiting for him.

"You doin' good, mister?" Harrigan asked.

"All goes well, War Commander" Devin replied happily "The shop does well, mother and father do well, Lerren does well – we are even investigating the idea of adding another business to these premises in the near future, did you know that?"

"I didn't!" Harrigan laughed "Congrats to all of you, we're glad to hear you're doing so well!"

"The Nebari man I met before is there" Devin said.

"Yeah, we helped him out a bit – he said he's got payment for that somewhere here".

"It is here" Agent 47 said, waving at the ship "We would likely empty a large part of the stores to pay for all the resources used to take care of me and the Enforcers who came with me...so all I have left to give you for this is the ship itself".

"A Tempest-class" Caseya said happily "I have actually been in one before, did you know that? I should like to see if this one is the same kind as that was, or if the design has been updated".

"We will go inside" Agent 47 replied, after which he opened the nearest hatch.

Devin followed them inside, which made everyone grin and laugh – he stayed beside Caseya as the group made its way to the bridge.

"I must deactivate certain hidden software" Agent 47 said "if you are to take command here".

"We have an alternative option" Caseya replied "One which another on board our home invented and which has been thoroughly documented. I expect the War Commander is sending for the equipment we need already".

"Oh?" Liz called over Harrigan's comm "If Hellbolt hadn't got me knocked up I'd come down and do that for you – I'll stay by a comm in case you need me, though".

"We got Devin here" Harrigan told her "He's jumpin' up an' down already, he knows we're gonna need him".

"Amara says she's got what you need coming down special delivery" Liz replied, interrupted when Caseya called "Positive confirmation of delivery!" - before starting to call out orders.

Agent 47 watched as Devin and the other Kalish started pulling things apart on the bridge.

Ah yes he decided They know to disable all external communication first. I do not know if they know about some of the other security measures, but I will watch and see.

He was surprised when they simply deactivated the primary computer personality before installing their own and rebooting the system.

A crude way around the potential problems he thought but an effective one. Will their replacement computer personality properly assume control?

It did – although it took longer than expected.

"It'll do for now" Liz said when she was told "At least you can get that ship topside on its primary systems, though I'd suggest we do what we did last time if we have the cash for it".

"We can get the parts and do that ourselves now" Harrigan told her "We'll still call our other friends for replacement gubbins for this one, you know we don't run ours with stock loadout".

Caseya performed a full systems check, smiling when no serious issues were reported, before calling "All OK!", then adding "War Commander… unless you have other orders, I will give this ship a basic test flight. Devin can take the flight engineer's post".

Devin shrieked happily before comming his wife to tell her.

"I am glad you are happy, Devin" she replied just as happily once he stopped talking "I am needed here in the shop, I cannot come with you. Tell me the most interesting things about that ship when you come back".

So they intend to replace the main computer altogether, then Agent 47 decided after mulling over Harrigan's recent words This explains the hurried if effective procedures taken just now. They ensure the ship is safe to fly on basic systems, while planning to replace a ship's computer they would justifiably consider troublesome as soon as a suitable replacement can be obtained.

"I should head to the consulate now" Agent 47 told Harrigan "so that you can take this ship to a safe location and sanitise critical systems and examine any equipment stored aboard".

"Yeah, we'll get off now as well" Harrigan replied, waving for the small number of Irregulars with him to follow "Did this thing come with Wraiths and Hurricanes or is the garage empty?"

"I believe the flight deck and drop deck are fully loaded" Agent 47 replied "I do not know what craft the flight deck has on it, though – I did not need to check this when I assumed command of it".

"We'll find out later, mister" Harrigan decided "Come on, looks like Westmore's seen a crawler".


"If I am taken to the ambassador's office, this will be on one of the uppermost three floors" Agent 47 explained "Should I be taken to Night Watch facilities… those are less easy to locate. Sometimes they are below the detention levels, sometimes elsewhere".

Harrigan passed over a basic PDA and showed him how to operate the trouble alarm.

"I thank you once more" Agent 47 replied "You show a surprising amount of trust in me, considering how I serve the Establishment. Hopefully I will not need this extra option – but I also hope that if I do, you will react swiftly and come to retrieve me".

"The consulate is just around the corner of the street" Feltano told him softly "We will stay here, or personnel in your consulate will see us. We are prepared to risk ourselves on your behalf, Agent – we will come when needed" before peeking around the street corner and calling "All OK...".


"One person approaching the steps" a perimeter guard called.

"One of ours?" came the predicatble reply.

"Not consulate personnel, no" the guard decided after zooming his oculars "Premier's mivonks, they look like that new one up with the ambassador!"

The ambassador ran down to the guard hut inside the main doors once he heard about that.

"Another Agent?" he said to his Night Watch commander "So soon after the last one?"

"Perhaps critical information has to be hand-carried for a mission of their type" the Night Watch commander replied "Perhaps only other Agents are cleared, which would prevent the use of hyperwave comms? Perhaps neither of these Agents has those odd skills that let them talk in people's heads – the ones I hear about Scarran people having?".

"The less I have to experience concerning those things, the better" the ambassador decided "I accept that our First Premier and your superiors in the Night Watch find such things regrettably necessary – but I would also prefer it that they find I am best suited to my usual business on their behalf and kept well away from this".

"You may return to the other business of our people at any time" the Night Watch commander replied, slightly amused but also understanding his concerns.

"I am an Agent of our people" Agent 47 announced to the gate guards "I require admittance and an appointment with my service commanders here at the earliest convenient time".

"It is a happy coincidence that I am here, then" the Night Watch commander said, walking to where Agent 47 could see him and holding out a secure tablet "Present your hand for ident check".

"Geneprint … 58%" its synthesised voice announced, adding "Retinal and biometric print… 75%" when Agent 47 looked at the plate.

"Someone else is here to oversee this matter" the Night Watch commander admitted reluctantly "I must call them now".


"I hear you, Feltano" Keyah whispered "The entryway for their consulate must not have antisurveillance measures in place. We will continue to watch the consulate in case we are needed to send Westmore and support his retrieval of the Agent".

"The Agent would come to be with us?" Feltano asked in surprise "If we retrieve him, he will become an Irregular?"

"Nebari people, generally, are distrustful of the things this Agent can now do" Keyah reminded Feltano "It may be that the Agent, whether he is accepted back into his government or not, may consider service with us to be safer and more welcoming than service as an Agent of his Establishment".

"Only we know why he is still healthy and well" Feltano agreed, nodding "If they see he is healthy and well they will be pleased, but if they do not know why or how he is is healthy and well they might wish to examine him in a secure facility. We must prevent that from happening. No Agent or other personnel will be able to prevent me from proceeding inside and retrieving the Agent we know".

"That's my job, mister" Westmore reminded Feltano "You can't do everything yourself – besides, you can't ghost through walls like I can, and it'll take you too long to work your way around everyone and you don't have enough ammo to kill 'em all".


"Agent 95" Agent 47 announced, nodding slightly and saluting "I see you are healthy and well… without help".

"Without help" Agent 95 confirmed "I should like to hear your report on how you were returned to stability, Agent. It seems you were encouraged to conduct an extended health and exercise program after your treatment as well, you are seemingly larger and healthier than many of our people are".

"The Office of Public Morale always encourages every citizen of our Establishment to eat a balanced diet and exercise frequently" Agent 47 replied, knowing how to turn this line of questioning to his benefit "Who is best to set an example in this if not an Agent?"

Agent 95 laughed quietly for a few momens before nodding and adding "Nonetheless, I must receive your report in a more secure location".

Agent 47 followed him up the stairs, which he knew meant they were going to the Night Watch secure facilities in the consulate and not the ambassador's quarters.

He quickly scanned the room as Troll had taught him, using his new thermal-imaging vision.

I cannot see heat patterns from outside he decided so I must be inside a secure Night Watch zone. I can, however, see a number of personnel inside the room ahead of us – distributed around the room in a manner that suggests that they may attempt to immobilise me should questioning not proceed according to plan.

Agent 47 saw a number of personnel in Night Watch Internal Affairs uniforms, as well as medical staff – and one more Agent.

"You're more jumpy than a filimer bug" Agent 47 told the other Agent "Calm down, you will be no use at all to your superiors and our Establishment in your current state".

Not stable Agent 47 decided as he watched the newer Agent respond Oh,physically stable enough – but not mentally stable. Not to the extent required of a professional Agent. Someone sent a combat-trained mentalist, it seems – an Internal Affairs executioner.

"Your stability is under question, Agent – not mine" the executioner replied firmly "For the record, I am Agent 855 – we will now proceed with the examination of Agent 47. Agent 95 leads this examination".

An executioner Agent 47 knew for certain, once he heard the Agent's number Even if Agent 95 doesn't know, orders have already been sent out, declaring me unsound and ensuring that I am silenced.

~What's going on?! ((surprise, fear))~ Agent 95 told Agent 47 when he thought the executioner wasn't looking ~I would consider it acceptable for you to agree to return with us for retraining after your medical intervention – we could learn everything we wish to know then! Yet someone sent this thick-headed fool, not worthy to hold the title of Agent – with orders overriding my discretion as authorised by Agent leadership and the First Premier!~

~For certain?~ Agent 47 replied ~I do not know. I suspect that whatever the First Premier and Agent leadership agreed to, Internal Affairs and Night Watch supreme command sent that executioner to see to it my presence ceased being an issue of contention – and that no one else present could contradict their version of events. I do not know why… but I suspect the executioner is trained in combat mentalism, in particular pyrokinetics. His mind feels like it scorches the air~


"We got two nasty boys in there!" Westmore called, raising his treblin hand in a fist "Big bad mindtalkers! Can anyone get on the horn to Amara and see if she can tell what's going on?!"

"Hostile mentalists" Amara told Westmore over his comm "It seems that we have the worst-case scenario – someone has been given orders declaring our potential friend unsound. How many people among those present around our potential new friend know this I cannot be sure".

"Status of bad guys?" Westmore asked, fidgeting a bit.

"One pyrokine" Amara replied "While that man is physically healthy and stable, his mind is covered in sharp edges – he is someone accustomed to getting his own way, often by means of violence".

"You think he's got orders to turn our guy into a burnt crispy critter, then?" Westmore suggested.

"If I understand you correctly" Amara replied "I expect he has at least conditional authority to nullify everyone else in that room. As you humans would say it… 'tying up loose ends' ".

"He's going down first, then" Westmore decided "Thanks for the help, miss – but I got a job to do!"

"Not yet" Amara cautioned him "Let's see if he can solve his own problem".


The questioning proceeded for four arns almost exactly as Agent 47 expected it to. He did not mind revealing most of what he had been doing before arriving at Tal IV (although he did not mention the names of those who had helped him).

"Who were those who helped you?" Agent 855 snapped "They must be questioned as well".

"I did not ask their names" Agent 47 replied "I simply asked if they would consent to helping me in return for currency. They agreed to this".

"What did you expect?" Agent 95 told Agent 855 "Agent 47 is an Agent, over and above being a member of the Night Watch. Even under the most intense interrogation methods, there will be no information to find if he didn't ask for those names in the first place".

Agent 855 insisted some of those methods be tried anyway, and Agent 47 was glad he had been given the change and Kamielisation at that point since much of the pain and damage was mitigated to a more tolerable level.

"First, this is taking too long" Agent 855 decided "Second, sooner or later other Night Watch will discover us here. Three.. I have orders which I will obey, after which all of this will no longer be a concern. To anyone important, anyway".

~Premier's mivonks!~ Agent 95 told Agent 47 ~Whose dinner plate did you relieve yourself on?!~

~Shield yourself! urgency~ Agent 47 replied ~Me as well if you can. My earlier suspicion has proven to be correct, we have an executioner to silence if either of us wants to leave this room alive!~


"Pyrokine!" Amara called to Westmore "Strong but not a lot of control – he'll take a short while to build strength, but might then burn the consulate to the ground!"

Gotta go in unshielded Westmore groused or I won't be able to find him! Gonna have to put shields up, rephase and stonechange, then grab him before dephasing and leaving! I'm gonna have a headache tomorrow…

He immediately jumped a short distance up, then dephased and flew – making a screeching sound as he flew faster no matter hard he tried not to. He passed right through a number of rooms containing terrified consulate staff – before bursting right into the interrogation room, rephasing and stonechanging, and knocking Agent 47 down.

"I do not know who or what you are, intruder" Agent 855 told Westmore "but you will not leave this room alive".

The Agent was very skilled in hand-to-hand combat but Westmore's jujitsu proved to be just enough to keep the Agent down and grab his knife, which Westmore promptly drove through his hammond eye.

"Shitshitshit!" Westmore groaned, before asking Agent 47 "You still good? Can we get you outta here now before any more first-rate nutbags like that turn up?"

"We should proceed" Agent 47 replied.

"What about him?" Westmore asked, pointing at Agent 95.

"I think that Agent knows that what is good for me is good for him – and for our Establishment" Agent 47 replied "I would encourage the Agent to make the report believable and simple. I might suggest that should the Agent be permitted leave during his stay here, that he should visit the Dulenos business premises as they are known to have a good range of products and are friendly to our people".

"I don't like it, Agent 47..." Agent 95 replied eventually "but I will do as you suggest", before he turned his head as his ears twitched a little.

"Consulate staff, yes" Agent 47 said "My colleague here will see to my safe exit, you need not risk yourself any more for me than you already have" before nodding to Westmore.

"Keep a good hold on me, Agent!" Westmore hissed, before taking both of them back the way he came in.


Feltano's pistol came up to firing position when he saw Westmore return, but he lowered it again when Westmore rephased and he saw it was the human he knew – with the Agent.

"I am well" Agent 47 confirmed "The necessity of leaving the Establishment I know is saddening… I expect it will take a while before I fully come to terms with it… but it is good to know I have new colleagues. Perhaps some day, hopefully soon, many of them may become friends".

"Might take a while" Westmore replied "It's taking a while for the other new guys we got, too – probably a bit more for you after what you used to do for a living. But that's the thing about where we are – everyone gets their chance".

"They do" Feltano confirmed, nodding "We watch, we listen… then we know. Know if they will he helpful. Know if they will be friends"

"Back to Dulenos!" Keyah reminded everyone "Preferably fast! If that Tempest is still there, we'll go back up on it!"

"We are here, Keyah Kamara!" Caseya replied when she heard Keyah call in "Enter through the blast pit gate you know about! I am conducting the prelaunch checks as we speak!"

Everyone ran in, with Harrigan managing to shut the security door without breaking it, before Agent 47 smiled and opened the hatch himself. Feltano was the last aboard and sealed it behind him, calling "All OK!" and pointing to the drop seating along the wall.

"All OK, mama!" Feltano called over the comm once everyone was strapped in, after which Caseya took off.

"You'll be fine, you got nothing to worry about" Westmore told Agent 47 "You Nebari can all help each other, that's gotta mean something… there's not so many of my guys here, not till now, and I never knew any of them before I got here!"

"There are no Agents" Agent 47 replied "but yes, it is pleasing to see other Nebari here – even though I brought all of those but one with me".

"You'll get good quarters, you get good food..." Westmore told him "Dunno if you'll get a break with training or not – that's up to the Generals, the Sub-Commander, or the War Commander".


"Yeah, real good!" Troll said when he saw Agent 47 emerge onto the loading dock assigned to the second Tempest-class ship "You'll love it here, I know it! Me an' my boys will help you get sorted, though it'll probably be up to Amara to get you sorted with that special stuff you do".

"You'll be with me and one or two others for that" Westmore explained "Not many of us do that. But you and your helpers will get sorted out with quarters and basic orientation, then we'll see what else you can do".

"I thank you once more" Agent 47 told them "for my medical attention and for accepting me here. It is saddening to know I cannot return to the Establishment I know, but if I receive the help and support I have been assured I will… I think I will adjust".

"Do you have a name?" Troll asked "Never thought to ask before. Dunno if you got a name or a number or something else. For all I know you might have been bagged at birth for Agent training and never given a name".

Agent 47 smiled and told them his first name, though he did add "Agents always have a number. I knew the Agent Westmore silenced was from the service branch he was due to his number. Mine is 47".

"Special Agent 47?!" Troll asked in surprise, and Harrigan laughed before saying "Yeah, that's good, we got callsign sorted already".

It took a few momens to explain about that, but Agent 47 found it amusing anyway.

I have been given a callsign taken from a professional of my kind he decided even if that individual never existed outside of digital entertainment on our-on my new leader's home planet.

All the humans loved it as well, with Agent 47 sitting down with them in the rest area near their quarters and trying to open his mind enough to read their surface thoughts and some of their emotions. He smiled when he found the simple thoughts and feelings of children close by, and smiled when the human adults referred to him by his new callsign, Hitman, instead of his name.


Concerning the absence of Agent 47… came over a screen in a classified office on Nebari Prime.

Presence of Agent 47 outside Establishment space has been confirmed. He voluntarily submitted himself to medical examination (see attached file), but while he is alive and mobile he cannot resume his former position and elected to receive medical discharge in good standing.

"It'll have to do" a Night Watch officer decided.

"The First Premier will have to be informed" another added "but as long as no records exist of Agent 855 or their whereabouts then that issue has been tolerably contained – for now".

"For now" the first one agreed.