Page 158 of Alien Burn

“Under way.”

“The communicator?”

The lead held out a pad.

The message with Sereya's identity was still in the outgoing drafts. The examiner had matched the device record against the refinery relay: no dispatch of that page, no acknowledgment. The traffic block had held. A separate exchange arranging the extraction had gone through earlier, before Roemary visited Burk's cell and before Dhomhes cut off her calls.

Collection could proceed with one passenger. Sereya, if Adryel could not be brought. Alive, for an exchange. The pickup time was the evening meal.

Dhomhes read it twice. They meant to make him reach the person holding the chip. Sereya would be the price.

“Preserve the original. The identity page stays restricted. She decides who sees her name.”

“And Roemary?”

“Has counsel been arranged?”

“She's asked for it. Loudly.”

“Then give it to her.”

His lead hesitated.

“What?”

“Burk is asking what cooperation might buy him.”

“A chance to tell the truth to someone who can put it before the tribunal. Nothing else has been promised.”

“Understood.”

He took the pad back and left. Dhomhes stood in the doorway a moment longer, listening to Sereya breathe.

She woke while he was putting breakfast on the table.

“You're making a habit of this.”

“Eating? I'm assured it's beneficial.”

“Appearing with tea before I can ask for it.”

“Would you prefer to ask?”

She considered that with an expression he suspected would become troublesome.

“No. But I reserve the right to complain about the tea.”

“Generous.”

She sat up slowly. He waited while she tested her shoulder, then brought her the cup.

“The message wasn't sent,” he said.

She stopped moving.

He told her what the examiner had found.

“The relay check came back just before the alarm. I sent word, but it didn't reach you.”