Part 17 (1/2)

”I'll show you.” Kirek stood there in front of them. Nothing changed.

”He isn't gone, is he?” Ranth asked.

”He's right here.” Zical tousled the boy's hair.

”He's disappeared from my sensors. I can't get a reading.” Ranth sounded more intrigued than disturbed.

”Kirek?” Zical's tone his curious but not the least bit anxious.

”He's back on my sensors now, Ranth reported.

”We'll have to turn around to take him home.” Zical plucked the boy into his arms.

Dora understood that Zical was disappointed by the huge delay in their journey, but his arms ground Kirek remained gentle, his tone kind, his demeanor compa.s.sionate.

After they'd made good use of the Osarian black holes, their speed was incredible.

Although they'd just left, to brake their s.h.i.+p then turn around and retrace their flight path without the slingshot effect would take years.

Kirek squirmed. ”My presence is necessary to this mission. Without me, you will fail.” Such a serious, grown-up prediction, like that of a prophet, coming from the mouth of a little boy seemed incongruous, but Zical hesitated. ”How do you know we need you?”

”I just do.” Kirek wriggled down and looked up at him beseechingly, his big blue eyes both wise and sad.

Dora wanted to tell the boy everything would be fine. This wasn't his quest. He should have time to be a kid before he placed himself in jeopardy on a dangerous mission. Yet, clearly Kirek had never been a normal kid. Even before his birth, the 101.

family had been aware of his strong psi presence. And since then, he had an inner quality that radiated from him-like a wise, old soul.

”Shannon, How's that hyperlink call to Etru coming? Zical frowned at Kirek. I'm not taking you anywhere without your father's permission.”

Kirek didn't argue. Instead, he stood too still for a child, his expression serene, his chubby cheeks set, his demeanor calm.

When his father's face finally appeared on the vidscreen, Kirek's expression filled with love. ”Hi, Dad told you they wouldn't find me.”

”You knew this child intended to stow away aboard my s.h.i.+p?” Zical's tone rose in astonishment.

It was two days before they heard Etru's reply and in those two days they'd traveled a third of the way to their final destination. Ranth reconstructed the conversation with questions and answers in real time so it seemed like a normal conversation. But in reality, the stars.h.i.+p occupants spoke, asking question after question in an initial message. Much later, Etru answered those questions in one long message.

”I knew Kirek intended to try and sneak aboard,” Etru admitted. ”I thought the sensors would catch him and he'd learn a good lesson.” Proud and sad, Etru spoke with Zical, but his gaze was focused hungrily on his son. Etru and Miri had conceived the child late in life and Kirek would likely be their only offspring. Etru doted on the boy, whose intellect had already surpa.s.sed that of his parents.

Zical shrugged. ”As you can see, he's learned how to fool Ranth's sensors. We haven't yet discovered how.”

”Dad, I must stay. They need me.” Kirek repeated his words and they sounded no less a prophecy this time than the last.

Zical spoke to Etru. ”Our journey might last longer than many. We're exploring unknown territory and we may not return for centuries.” He paused, and everyone on the bridge heard the words the captain didn't speak. That they might never come back.

”Your son will miss his schooling-''

”I've already pa.s.sed the required courses,” Kirek told him.

Dora knew that Kirek was being modest. The kid was way beyond the university level in physics and math. But it wasn't his vast store of knowledge that impressed her, it was the connections he could make with a limited number of facts. As Tessa would say, the kid could think outside of box-a trait both precious and unique.

Ranth piped in.” I will instruct him in his studies during his time aboard the Verazen.''

”We don't have offer children here,” Zical protested with a deep frown. ”Without playmates, his social stills will not be adequate.”

Kirek shook his head. ”Kids my age still play in the sandlot. We don't have much in common except physical size.”

102.

”I'll watch out for him,” Dora offered, aware that of all the crew, she had the most time to spare. And although Kirek didn't need parents, he needed someone to love him and she thought maybe she could do that.

Shannon spoke with the voice of experience. ”Boys his age aren't any trouble if you keep them busy.”

Zical's grin said that Kirek was already trouble, but to his credit he didn't disagree.

His gaze swept across to Dora, as if asking her opinion on whether or not it was a good decision to let him stay. They exchanged a long glance and she nodded yes, pleased she could figure out his silent question, pleased the rapport she'd often shared with Zical when shed been a computer hadn't completely vanished with her humanity. When Kirek had proclaimed they needed him, an answering chord inside her had agreed. It was something she couldn't explain with logic. Was this a hunch? She didn't know, but her gut agreed with her head, even if she couldn't give a logical reason.

Vax offered, ”I'll teach him to fight.”

Zical was wavering. ”Etru, he's your child. It's your decision.”

Already their speed was so great that no Federation s.h.i.+p had ever gone as fast. If they slowed, stopped, and turned, using their, regular hyperdrive, Kirek would likely be an adult long before they could return him to his parents.

A tear escaped Etru's eye. ”I love you, son. Your mother and I will miss you.”

”Thanks. You're going to be proud of me.”

”I already am.” Etru's wrinkled face was now s.h.i.+ny with tears that he didn't attempt to hide. ”Be careful and come back safe.” Etru ended the communication and the screen went blank.

”Hold on.” Zical scowled at the little boy. ”If you're joining this crew, you must agree to take orders from me.”

”Yes, sir.”

”I want your promise that you won't hide from Ranth unless you're working with him to figure out how you cloak yourself from his sensors.”

”Agreed.”

”And if you have any particular notions on how to accomplish this mission, you'll talk than over with one of my officers or me and get permission before you proceed.”

”Sure.”

”All right. You can bank down with-”

”Me,” Dora volunteered. She'd always enjoyed Kirek and she needed a distraction from thinking about Zical so much of the time. Besides Ranth, she had the best all- around education and could help the boy along in his studies better than anyone. She was the logical choice to be a subst.i.tute mom and actually looked forward to the challenge.

”Do you know anything about children?” Zical asked, his eyes fixing on her with sudden intensity, obviously hesitant to give his approval.

103.

Was he questioning her capability or her humanity? Either way, she didn't appreciate his interrogation, sure he wouldn't have doubted anyone else in his crew.