Chapter Three

Evan didn't trust Miranda Carpenter, any more than he did her father. But ever since she entered the bar and sat down with Alex, there hadn't been a single new patron through the door. No sign of her father or anyone else paying undue attention to Alex. Still, he kept his guard up as he watched and listened to the conversation taking place. His Keeper wasn't taking well to her attitude, even though technically everything she was saying held truth. Still, Evan agreed with Alex. Once your own understanding changed, you could never go back.

Alex was doing a fine job of displaying his true feelings, as usual. The man had to be angry in order to look dangerous, but Evan was finding he liked that about him. You knew the expression you were seeing was the true reflection of Alex's feelings at that time, not a mask he'd put on to hide behind like so many other people. He might not always say what he felt, and often seemed to say exactly the opposite of what he was really thinking, but if you looked into his eyes, you could tell that what was there was genuine.

But now he was angry. Paulson Carpenter hadn't shown, sending his daughter instead, so Alex's confrontation would have to wait, if it was going to happen at all. Evan didn't want to see his Keeper distressed, and would never allow him to be harmed, but he knew that meeting had to take place before he could put an end to it all. That, and the fact that Carpenter might have some minor information that could help Alex with this foolish notion of finding the source of all Sha'erah.

Now you’ve gone too far.Evan stood when Alex did, but held back. Miranda had crossed the line with the comment about his monetary worth, obviously ignorant of Alex's feelings regarding that subject.

When he pulled his hand away from hers and stepped around the table, Evan approached and stood beside his Keeper, keeping his eyes on Miranda. She looked up, seeing him for the first time, and looked startled.

Alex tossed a credit chip over her shoulder onto the table. "I don't work for my father."

Miranda's expression altered instantly, losing its refined beauty. She said nothing as Alex walked away. Evan followed, still alert to anything or anyone out of the ordinary.

"He used his daughter to test the waters?" Evan held the door open so he could see down the corridor as Alex left the bar.

"Probably thought I was going to ambush him or something," Alex retorted. He was storming down the corridor toward the lift that would take them back down to street level, but his shorter stride allowed Evan to remain by his side. "Like I could, in a public place! I would never stoop to his level, no matter how angry I was."

"I think he knows that." Evan glanced inside the lift, then entered when he was sure it was empty. "He was either offering you his daughter as a buffer, or insulting you by refusing to show up himself."

Alex looked up at him and made a snort of disgust. "Either way is an insult, as far as I'm concerned."

"Do you think he'll meet with you now?"

The elevator stopped and Alex stepped out. "You know, I don't even think I care anymore." They were outside, on the walkway in front of the restaurant. The sun had set, but an orange glow still filled the sky and illuminated the quiet street. "He's not going to be able to tell me what I want to know, and I'm not sure I'd believe anything he said anyway." He shook his head once and started walking.

Evan kept up with his Keeper as they made a brisk pace away from the restaurant. He still wasn't convinced Carpenter might not be nearby, so he kept his eyes open for any unusual activity. He hated the man. For the first time in his life, he actually hated someone for what they'd done to his Keeper. Well, aside from Spencer. Evan considered that man a different category altogether. One he was allowed to hate without making any further association. He didn't owe Spencer or his memory any loyalty.

It wasn't unusual for a Sha'erah to pick up on his Keeper's feelings toward other people, especially anger or fear. It helped him maintain the upper hand. But Evan hadn't heard of any time when they were allowed, or even expected, to honestly hate someone for what they'd done. But Evan hated Paulson Carpenter. He hated what he'd done to Alex, causing so much pain and anger with his secrets. Now, as much for himself as his Keeper, he wanted revenge.

"I can go to him, find out what he knows. You were right back there, you know. He does owe you at least that much." He'd give anything for the chance to get into Paulson Carpenter's private files, see what else the man was hiding.

Alex stopped at the corner and looked at Evan as if he was actually considering the prospect. After a moment he shook his head and raised a hand to hail a ride. "If he won't come to me, then we'll both go find him." A car stopped and he climbed inside, giving the driver directions to the shuttle port. He raised the privacy screen and looked at the silver ring. "Any information he has could just be a dead end anyway."

Evan didn't know how to answer that, so he remained silent, watching Alex twist the ring slowly around his finger. He hadn't tried to remove it since that day on the bridge when Spencer demanded its return. But playing with it on his finger had become a habit he practiced when he was frustrated or confused about something. Evan knew people took great comfort in small, repetitive behaviors during times of stress, so he no longer thought of it as an unconscious desire to have the ring removed. It served as yet another indicator of how his Keeper was really feeling.

"He might have purchased his Sha'erah directly. And if so, he might be able to tell you how," Evan offered after several miles of silence.

Alex sighed. "Maybe. But that was a long time ago. His contact could very well be dead by now. We'll go to Murcadia, see what we can find out there."

Evan accepted that decision and relented. If Alex wanted some sort of closure with Carpenter, he'd seek it out when he was ready. God knew speaking with Miranda hadn't gotten him anywhere, so it was likely conversation with her father would not prove fruitful either. They just didn't see things the way Alex did, and didn't understand his anger. Evan understood it, and it only added to his own sense of guilt. All those years as Spencer's Sha'erah, all those years knowing the man's business and personal issues inside and out, only to find he'd been just as ignorant as Alex when it came to his real motives. Never in a million years would he have believed Spencer Marcase could be keeping secrets from him! Let alone the biggest secret of all . . . his supposed death.

The car dropped them at the shuttle port and ten minutes later Evan had them on a transport heading back to the orbital shipyards. On the flight up, he made sure anyone taking notice of him was quickly dissuaded from staring the entire trip by giving them a look that insured privacy. It didn't bother him one bit, really, to be stared at by people who weren't used to seeing a Sha'erah. But Alex obviously took great offense at it. In his mood, there was no telling what he might do if he found a reason to explode at someone.

"I'm not sure what I expected from Paulson." Alex walked off the shuttle and began making his way through the small crowd to the more open walkways that lined the orbiting station. Foot traffic was light this time of evening, and the rotation brought the planet in full view of the transparent panels that made up the roof. It could be a dizzying sight, to feel as if there was a planet in the sky above you, but it was a sight most residents didn't even take notice of.

"I think you expected an explanation."

"Yeah, but do you think I would have gotten one?"

Evan shrugged slightly as he walked beside his Keeper. "Probably not one you would have wanted to hear. They don't seem to feel any remorse. At least, his daughter didn't. People like that rarely do."

Alex made a snort of disgust. "Any why not? They're rarely the ones hurt by what they do."

They reached the airlock and Evan placed his palm on the keypad to open the door. Out of habit, he checked through the activity report which listed all entrances and exits made and by whom during their absence. When he saw the name listed last, he drew his weapon again.

"Carpenter's here."

They found him on the bridge, waiting there with Doctor Zane and Reilly, who hadn't yet moved off the Ascalon. Evan put his weapon back in its holster on his belt, but didn't allow Alex off the lift until he was convinced nothing was amiss. Paulson Carpenter was standing near the railing, looking nervous, while Zane and Reilly stood opposite him, several feet away, silently watching the man.

"Captain, you have a visitor." Reilly spoke to Alex without taking his eyes off Carpenter. "He wasn't keen on coming back another time."

Evan appreciated the tone of Reilly's voice and the uncharitable way in which he was keeping their visitor standing and confined to the large bridge. He glanced at Doctor Zane and saw a shadow of the same feelings reflected in the older man's eyes. When he looked at Paulson Carpenter, he sized him up quickly. No obvious weapons, a slight nervousness to his movements, and a definite glint of surprise and fear in his eyes when he realized who he was looking at.

Good. The man knows Sha'erah, so he knows what can happen if he steps out of line.

"Thanks, Chief. We'll take it from here." Alex nodded at Reilly and the man immediately took the hint, leaving the bridge with only a quick look back at their visitor. Doctor Zane looked up questioningly, but Alex made no comment.

Carpenter hadn't moved, so Evan maneuvered himself to the point where the upper walkway began, splitting the bridge into two levels. He stopped there, making it clear Alex would be staying below and Paulson above, giving his Keeper easier access to the exit, and the ability to move around and not have to look at Carpenter if he didn't wish to.

If the man made any move, Evan knew he could take him down before he realized what was happening. But even he couldn't be that stupid.

"I understand how you must feel, Alex." Paulson gave Evan one furtive glance, then looked down at Alex as he paced the bridge.

"Do you?"

Paulson swallowed. "You feel I've betrayed you, and that I was somehow a part of what happened to the Vision."

Alex turned suddenly, glaring up at Paulson. "What happened to the Vision was an explosion! Eighty-six people died, thanks to my father and his stupid bet with Harvey!"

"I didn't know! Honestly, I -- "

"You knew!" Alex pointed an accusing finger at the man. "You knew my father wasn't dead! You knew this was all a put-on, to get me out there and him in control!"

Evan watched Paulson flinch. He felt sure now that he'd never seen this man before, with Spencer or anywhere else for that matter. A part of him allowed a small feeling of relief to get through, knowing now that he hadn't missed something along the way, some hint at the secrets Spencer had been keeping.

"Spencer Marcase gave the orders, Alex. I worked for him, that's all." Paulson turned his head and shot a glance at Evan, swallowing. "Just ask him what that's like. No one questions what that man orders. What I did wasn't any different than what I've always done. He didn't tell me he was going to sneak onboard, or that he and Signus Harvey had a bet."

"You weren't on your way to see your wife's aunt that day. You were on that cruise ship because you knew I'd be there." Alex was pacing the bridge, alternating between glaring at Paulson and shaking his head as he stared at the ground. "All that time I was telling you where I was going, you already knew."

Carpenter said nothing, but Evan could see by his body language he was feeling the pressure of the truth bearing down with every word Alex said.

"And Miranda wasn't on that return trip by accident, either. Was she?" Alex stopped pacing and turned to glare at Paulson again, waiting for a reply.

"Yes, it's true." Carpenter looked down momentarily, then squared his jaw and met Alex's gaze. "Look, Alex, I know you're upset. You're finding out your father had more of a hand in your life than you ever expected. But I can assure you his interests were purely business. I had to offer you funding so you wouldn't sell the Sha'erah, but no one counted on Harvey making a move like that. Trying to steal him."

Alex's eyebrows arched. He blinked, looking momentarily at Evan. "That's supposed to make me feel better?"

Paulson shook his head sharply and turned, walking several steps away. Evan didn't move, but tensed, ready to go after the man if he had to. He didn't honestly believe Carpenter would try anything, but he wanted him to know he'd be stopped, should the thought cross his mind.

Paulson stopped pacing after a few steps and turned back to face Alex. "You're acting as if I'm the only one! I was just one of many employees, Alex." He pointed at Evan but never took his eyes off Alex. "What about him? His loyalties have been with Spencer since the moment he was born! How do you know he wasn't in on all of this from the beginning? How do you know he's not still working for Spencer?"

Evan moved his eyes only, so he could see Alex without turning his head away from Carpenter. His Keeper didn't even bat an eye.

"Evan's the only one who hasn't lied to me. He's the only one I've been able to trust since all this began! Spencer lost his claim when he died the first time." Alex looked at Evan then and nodded once, very slightly. "He's the only one I'm going to trust from now on, I can tell you that." He looked back at Paulson. "My father might have faked his death once, but this time it's for real."

Carpenter paused, his eyes darting from Alex to Evan and back again nervously. Sweat was beginning to glint on his upper lip. "Are you sure?"

"He's sure." Evan spoke for the first time, in as dark and unwavering a tone as he could. His sense of purpose and determination had just grown with his Keeper's words of confidence.

Paulson looked at him and nearly jumped. "Are you positive?" He looked at Doctor Zane then, shaking his head. "They were all sure before, too. The doctors, lawyers, even him." A nod of his head indicated the Sha'erah standing behind him. "What makes you so sure he's dead this time?"

"Half his chest was missing!" Alex answered for Zane, taking two steps forward. "And if he wasn't dead when we jettisoned the body, then he's been holding his breath for a really, really long time."

"I wouldn't put anything past that man."

Evan stared at him, trying to judge how strongly the man believed his own words. There was a resigned set to his jaw and a depression to his attitude that suggested he truly believed. It was ridiculous, of course. Spencer Marcase was deadI should have cut his head off when I had the chance, just to be sure.

"He's dead." Alex dismissed the notion with a shake of his head. "And if he wasn't, I wouldn't care. He has no power over me, or Evan."

A thought seemed to occur to Paulson. He looked at Evan suddenly, blinking in surprise. "Wait a minute . . . If Spencer was here, why is Evan still with you?" He looked at Alex, then Zane. "He wasn't dead. The will . . . He would have had to protect Spencer from you, not the other way around. He was counting on that."

Evan saw the smile form on Alex's face, filled with ironic justice. "My father made a mistake. It was his last."

"If you'll pardon me." Zane cleared his throat and looked questioningly at Alex. "I can verify the fact that Spencer Marcase is extremely dead. As for the transfer of Evan back to Spencer, I'm afraid it doesn't work that way. Sha'erah truly do make that decision of their own accord. Thanks to this pair, and Mr. Marcase's unfortunate attempts, we were able to prove that beyond any doubt."

Paulson laughed shortly. "You're joking!" He looked at Evan and shook his head, giving him no more credit than he would a mobile unit. "They have no power over themselves."

"Just keep thinking that, Paulson, it'll keep you happy." Alex stepped closer. "Right now, I want information."

"Information?"

"You owned a Sha'erah, according to Miranda."

"Well, I . . . I suppose."

"You suppose?" Alex glanced at Evan, confused. "How do you own someone and not quite recall exactly? Did you, or didn't you?"

"Why do you care?" Paulson Carpenter seemed to be returning to a state of self-assurance, his nervousness quickly fading.

Evan didn't like seeing the man relax. "Answer his question."

Carpenter swallowed, moving slightly more forward as if he wanted to step further away. "My second wife owned one, if you must know. She took him with her when she left me. Miranda was young, she doesn't remember the details."

"Dammit." Alex looked away. "So you didn't buy him?"

Paulson laughed. "God no! I couldn't have afforded one. I married her for her money, not the other way around. It wasn't until I started working for Spencer that I finally got my own wealth established." He paused, looking at the doctor. "Why? You can't be thinking of buying another, surely."

Alex turned back to face him. "Do you know how someone contacts the source?"

Paulson’s eyes widened. "Do I know -- ? No, actually, I don't know for sure. But I know who might."

"Who?" Alex took a step forward.

"The same people who take care of all of our business, Alex." Paulson was back to his old self, confident and assured. He ignored Evan completely. "The rich and famous have dirty little secrets, too. But we can't let the details touch us directly, so we have people for that."

Evan looked at Alex, wondering if he was going to be allowed to pummel the answers out of this man. How much more of this tap dancing was Alex going to take?

"Lawyers." Alex made a face when he spoke the word.

"Exactly." Paulson smiled slightly. "I can't say for sure which ones, but I'd bet money on them being the middle men. The contacts, if you will."

Alex looked at Evan and swallowed. "VanHolt?"

He remembered that albino weasel, and how terrified he'd been of the mere sight of him, let alone his legal responsibility during the gap between Spencer's death and Alex's arrival. Slowly, Evan shook his head. "I can't see it. Not him. Maybe someone he knows, though?"

"I don't know who your father used, Alex. But if I had to guess, it would be VanHolt. That little creep isn't all he seems." Paulson cleared his throat and straightened up a bit. "Now, if there's nothing more I can do for you, I do have a business to get back to. I'll see you around, I'm sure."

"Carpenter." Alex looked up, his eyes narrowing. "If I ever see you again, it'll be the last time." He looked at Evan, then back to Paulson. "Get off my ship."

Evan took that as his cue. He stepped forward until he was practically nose to nose with a startled Paulson Carpenter. Then, moving aside very slightly, he made it clear he was about to escort the man to the lift, with no questions asked.

Carpenter looked frustrated, but started walking. "Time will change things, Alex. You'll see. I'm just a businessman, I did what I had to do."

Evan kept the man walking, then pressed the lift button. The doors opened instantly and Carpenter entered without another word. Evan followed him, much to the man's obvious surprise, then shut the doors behind them and pressed the lower level indicator. He wasn't going to risk the man getting off anywhere but the exit, and wandering around the ship before they could find him again. There was a good deal of trouble one man could get into before being stopped.

The ride down was extremely uncomfortable for Paulson Carpenter, but quite enjoyable for Evan. He watched the normally calm, controlled man fidget and try desperately to avoid eye contact.

"You know what it's like, Evan. Working for Spencer. You do what you're told. Right or wrong, there's no questioning that man."

Evan said nothing. He kept his eyes locked on Carpenter, catching his gaze any time the man looked directly at him. He would have loved to have been allowed to take out some of Alex's emotions on Carpenter's face, but his Keeper was more refined than Spencer, and didn't seem likely to ever allow that. At least, not this time.

The lift car slowed, then stopped, and the doors opened to the corridor that would take them directly to the connecting walkway. Evan escorted Paulson the entire length of the corridor, until they reached the Ascalon's main airlock. There, he opened the door and all but pushed Carpenter out the airlock and onto the walkway.

Back on the bridge, he found Alex and Zane in the office.

"Thanks for escorting him out," Alex handed Evan a cup of coffee, then took his own from the small dispenser to his desk. "You didn't have to, but I guess that was a good idea."

"I didn't want him getting around in the ship alone even for a minute." Evan walked to the couch and sat down so he could see Zane at the table and Alex at the desk.

"Yeah, I didn't think of that. I just didn't think I could be near that man again." Alex shook his head, then rubbed his eyes tiredly. "So what do you think? VanHolt was dad's dealer?"

Evan glanced at Zane first, to see if he was going to offer up an opinion. When the doctor merely shrugged, he looked at Alex. "I don't know. That man was terrified of having me in his charge while he waited for you to arrive. I don't think that was faked."

"I know he looked pretty freaked out when I got there." Alex watched the steam rise from his cup. "But the instant that ring went from his legal reader to my finger, it was like he was a completely different man."

"Here's a thought." Zane leaned forward, resting his elbows on both knees. "If he knew your father wasn't dead, could his nervousness have been attributed to that?" He glanced at both men. "I mean, imagine what would have happened to him had something gone wrong, and you hadn't come? Or the ring hadn't transferred? Or, heaven help him, if Evan had learned the truth sooner?"

Evan shook his head but couldn't meet either man's eyes. "If Spencer had shown himself to me then, he would have had the ring again without question." The thought nearly made him shudder. He looked at Alex again. "But he would have killed VanHolt if his plan was ruined because of him."

Alex nodded. "True. But what do we do now? Carpenter's probably going to send word to VanHolt that we're interested in something. He just doesn't know what, exactly."

"I can stop him from sending anything to anyone." Evan really wanted the chance to act against that man. It occurred to him it went beyond what he should normally be feeling, but he didn't care.

"No, no need for that." Alex sighed. "I think it might even work in our favor. If we head to Murcadia first, see what we can learn there, that would give VanHolt time to sweat it out. Maybe even drop his guard, thinking we're not coming out to find him after all."

Evan nodded slowly, seeing the obvious advantages as well as the hindrances. "He could go underground, into hiding. But if he uses any computer terminal anywhere, I could track him down."

"I've never known a lawyer who could go underground and stay there for long," Zane offered. "He'd have to use money, or make money, at some point."

"What would he have to fear from us, anyway?" Alex leaned back in his chair. "For all he knows, we do want to buy another Sha'erah. There has to be a commission in something like that."

Zane whistled through his teeth. "Ten percent of more money than I'll ever see in my lifetime, that's a hefty commission. I'd wager he might stick around long enough to find out what it is you want him for."

Evan still wasn't used to all this speculation, when he could easily ensure Carpenter's transmissions off world never made it to their destinations. "Do you want to make sure you contact him first?"

Alex thought for a moment, then shook his head. "No, let him sweat. We'll go to Murcadia first, see what we can find out there. Visiting VanHolt might not even be necessary."

"I've booked us two adjoining cabins on the Newton III, pulling out in two days. It's a rather nice luxury liner making the rounds through several systems, including Murcadia. We could be there in just under two weeks."

"Good enough." Alex finished his coffee and stood up. "Well, it's been one hell of a day."

Zane took the hint amicably. "Yes, indeed it has. Well, I have some shopping to do while we're here. I haven't left the ship since we docked, believe it or not. Best get things taken care of before we leave." He smiled congenially at Evan, then Alex. "Good night."

They all walked to the lift and traveled down three levels, then Zane headed off for his quarters in the medical lab while Evan and Alex walked the empty corridor to their rooms. Evan found he liked the ship this empty and almost dreaded it being crewed again. That was inevitable, but since it wasn't going to happen any time soon, he let himself enjoy the peace and quiet while he could. The new crew, with perhaps a few exceptions, would cause all new problems adjusting to a Sha'erah as their second-in-command. Evan knew he'd been relatively spoiled by the acceptance of the first crew, regardless of their choice in the matter.

"Are you hungry?" Once inside their quarters, Evan walked to the galley to dial up a light meal.

"Yeah, a little." Alex kicked off his shoes, aiming in the general direction of the computer table. His socks didn't make it very far, even balled up.

Evan dialed up a selection, then walked to the living area and removed his own shoes, setting them under the chair at the table against the far wall. As he walked back toward the galley, he gave his Keeper's shoes a shove, so they were out of the way. "You could have pressed Carpenter for more information, you know. You had every right to."

Alex shrugged. He walked to the back of the couch and sat against it, watching Evan in the galley. "He wasn't worth it. Hell, much of what he said was true, just like Miranda."

Evan stayed in the galley, waiting for the food to arrive, but he faced Alex. "That doesn't make it right."

"I know." Alex sighed and rubbed his eyes. "I'm just tired of being the only one around here without a clue about what's really going on."

Evan clenched his jaw, grinding his teeth slightly, until the urge to go kill someone passed. Spencer was already dead, but Carpenter was still reachable. "I wish you'd have let me smack him around once or twice. If not for you, then for all those who died because of his involvement."

Alex looked at Evan, slightly startled but grinning just a bit. "Hell, Evan, you don't need my permission to beat the crap out of the guy. I halfway expected you might have done that in the lift."

Evan blinked. "You didn't authorize it. I wanted to ask, but you've given me orders not to offer things like that."

"I didn't say it was right," Alex amended. "And I can't order you to hit someone. But I was kinda hoping you would."

Evan briefly wondered if banging his own head against the wall would somehow empower his Keeper with better communication skills. It was doubtful. "I would have, if I'd known it was all right with you." God knew he wanted to.

"It shouldn't matter what's all right with me and what isn't." Alex pushed away from the couch and started walking toward the table. "If you wanted to hit him, you should have felt free to do so." He held up a hand suddenly. "Not that I'm saying I think you should go around hitting people."

Evan sighed, exasperated. The galley delivery bell chimed, so he pulled out two steaming plates of vegetables and noodles and set them on the table. Alex had already retrieved two tall glasses of water and sat down.

"Did you know VanHolt before Spencer's first death?"

"He was Spencer's lawyer, but he didn't use him for all that much." Evan felt a chill run up his spine when he recalled the albino lawyer's stark, frigid office. "He came around once or twice with contracts to be signed. And we visited his office now and again. I think Spencer knew him since before I arrived."

"So, it's possible he had a hand in that."

Evan shrugged and stabbed a noodle with his fork. "It's possible. I just can't see that man doing something like that."

"I know what you mean. He struck me as a real weasel. Why would he know how to contact . . . whoever it is you contact? Or, did they contact him?"

"We don't even know who "they" are. Or even if it's a "they.""

Alex blinked, stopping his fork halfway to his mouth. "You don't think one person could be responsible for all Sha'erah? The science alone would take quite a few pairs of hands, I would think. Not to mention raising, and training."

Visions of one room came back to Evan's mind. Of cold seats and mechanical voices, droning on and on about the rules and regulations governing his life. He remembered the other students, his age, listening in class and learning their individual talents. For some reason, he could also recall another room, where he was alone and learning how to 'speak' with computers. The voices were different there, more excited and encouraging. Almost as if they were taking great pride in his accomplishments.

"I don't know." He wished -- only for Alex's sake -- that he could remember more. A name, a planet even. But there was nothing. "One person, one group." He shrugged. "Maybe more than one. You're assuming there's only one source."

Alex blinked. "Yes, I am. Don't you think for security alone they'd keep it all in one place?"

Evan shrugged again. "I'm just pointing out things we haven't considered."

"Well in that case. . . " Alex stabbed more noodles. "We'll be up all night."

It wasn't all night, but a good portion of it. By the time Evan got into bed, he was exhausted and fighting a headache. Luckily, Alex fell asleep quickly, so Evan was able to get a decent night's sleep. By morning, he felt pretty rested and mostly free of any lingering irritation regarding Paulson Carpenter. With an hour before Alex typically woke, he decided a good long shower was in order.

The Ascalon had been fully restocked with basics, including fresh water, so Evan felt free to linger under the hot spray, letting the moisture bead up and run down his tall frame, pushing foaming clumps of soap along the way. It was easy to imagine all the frustration of the day before sliding out of his thoughts just as easily, circling the drain until the suction pulled it completely away, leaving only a slight dampness on the finely grated floor. He took comfort in the knowledge that he hadn't met Paulson Carpenter before yesterday, and therefore couldn't have possibly figured out what Spencer was up to with him.

Of course, that's what Spencer had in mind. He had to have known when Alex became Evan's Keeper, anything he knew that would cause harm or grief or any upset to his new Keeper, he would reveal. There couldn't be secrets between Sha'erah and Keeper. Which was precisely why Spencer had kept them. He knew, during the time when Evan thought he was dead, that he would have revealed anything Alex needed to know. Even if that meant going against anything Spencer had done in the past.

So how long had he planned that? Evan turned off the shower and stepped out, grabbing a warm towel. Had Spencer known, all those years, that he was going to use Alex in some way? And that in doing so, he'd need to employ his own Sha'erah? No, he couldn't have. There was no way for him to know Alex would make that discovery, let alone that Turbidium would come into such demand as to require the search for more.

Or could he? Spencer was a shrewd man, as well as a thief. It was possible he'd had some kind of idea things would go this way. The other possibility was too hard to think about, yet it was there, drifting around in the back of his thoughts. Could Spencer have been manipulating Alex's life from the start? Pointing him in the direction he could best help -- however unknowingly -- his distant father?

That idea was better left unmentioned! As were all the others. Evan finished drying off and walked back into his room to find clean clothes. It would do no one any good to discuss or even mention any further ideas regarding Spencer or the way he'd operated. In fact, it might just put Alex over the edge.

Evan forced the thoughts from his mind as he pulled on clean pants. There was plenty to think about now that they were on another job. And before they could leave, the Ascalon needed tending to, and there were security issues he wanted to work out, before leaving his Keeper's ship in the hands of others.

He found a clean shirt, sleeveless with the ship insignia imprinted over the right shoulder, located new socks, and walked out to the living area to get a breakfast order dialed in. Alex wasn't out yet, so he timed it to arrive in another thirty minutes and retrieved a cup of coffee to hold him over. Sounds coming from his Keeper's bedroom suggested he was awake and working his way toward the bathroom, so Evan went to the computer on the table against the far wall and turned the machine on. Within seconds, using his left palm instead of the keyboard, he'd gained access to the local news media's reports.

Alex's Turbidium discovery hadn't exactly made the headlines, those were reserved for the conspicuous consumption being enjoyed by the current governmental agencies entertaining visiting dignitaries. Evan had never cared for politics, so he ignored the details after skimming quickly through the main body of the story for any mention of anything that might help or hinder his Keeper in any way. After that, he found several articles regarding the findings of the crew of the Ascalon in regards to Spencer Marcase faking his death and sabotaging the Vision.

The bedroom door opened, revealing Alex dressed in pants and a short sleeved shirt, rubbing his eyes as he walked. Which was the direct cause of him slamming his bare foot into the corner of the table as he made his way to the galley for coffee.

Alex Marcase was not a morning person.

"What are you reading?"

"The few articles they've been printing about your discovery of the Turbidium deposits." Evan continued to read the papers, conscious now of Alex walking around behind him looking for last night's discarded socks. "There's one here that questions whether or not the evidence of Spencer's sabotage is real." He shook his head at such skepticism.

"My own mother probably doesn't think it's real." Alex gave up looking for his socks and leaned against the back of the couch, watching Evan. "Anything interesting in there?"

"No."

Evan pulled his hand away and let the computer power down so he could get breakfast out of the dispenser. "Our mineral findings were verified and registered by all the proper channels and methods used during explorations. How can they question the validity?"

Alex pushed away from the couch and walked to the table. "People tend to question everything these days. It's natural." He laughed again and shook his head once. "Hell, I didn't believe what was happening to me back on Cryian until I had to."

"But that didn't make me any less real." He handed over Alex's plate and sat down with his own.

"He's dead."

"I know that. But without the evidence of his body or a section for DNA sampling, I don't think anyone else believes it."

"Good." Alex stabbed an egg a little harder than he had to. "Let them think he's faking it again. Maybe he can haunt someone else for a while."

Evan found himself staring at his plate. He knew Spencer was dead. They'd jettisoned the body together, and that was weeks after his death had been undeniably confirmed. Alex was right. If people like Carpenter feared he was still alive, it would be their own undoing. The constant threat of a man like Spencer coming back would keep his minions on edge for the rest of their lives. They deserved it.

"We might be able to use that fear to our advantage." Evan idly pushed some meat around his plate with a fork. "I don't know Regian Kellman, but Spencer might have."

Alex nodded slowly. "Or, at the least, maybe Regian knew of Spencer. I just wish I knew how many people outside this planet and his knew he had a son. I could use that to our advantage."

"Or at least know when not to use it," Evan agreed.

"Good point." Alex ran a hand through his still-wet hair. "Well, we've got one day to kill. We'd better go down to the surface and get some new clothes. I don't want to advertise everywhere we go."

Evan glanced down at the Ascalon insignia on his shoulder, matching the one on the sleeve of Alex's shirt. "Are we going to see your mother again while we're there?"

"No." Alex stood and picked up both empty plates. "I think I've had my fill of her for a bit." He carried the dishes to the reclamator and shoved them in. "Besides, she sent me a message last night. She's left to go touring with Commodore Wilcox's wife somewhere in the Adagios system. She'll be gone for weeks."

Evan sighed his relief quietly and nodded. "The ship will be in dry-dock while we're gone, do you have parameters for the repair crews to limit access?"

Alex shrugged. "Not really, no. I've never needed to before." He pursed his lips and walked out of the galley, eyebrows creased. "Then again, I'm usually onboard whenever it's being worked on."

"I'd like to invoke some security this time, then." Evan phrased it politely, but he had no intention of taking no for an answer. "Keep all access confined to Engineering level and the maintenance mainframe files only." There were other, more strict enforcement measures he planned on, but those could be put in place quietly after he'd gained access to the shipyard's crew roster.

"Yeah, that's a good idea." Alex resumed his hunt around the living area, presumably for socks.

"I can do that this evening, if you're in a hurry to get to the surface." Evan stood, heading toward his room. "They're in the laundry chute. You have clean socks in your dresser."

Alex mouthed his thanks and went to retrieve a pair.

It was deceiving, Evan knew. If he wasn't there, Alex would be perfectly capable of taking good care of himself and all the details of life. But, knowing he didn't have to allowed him great leeway. At least, he hoped that was the case.

They'd both changed into clothes that bore no emblems or indications they were from the Ascalon, Alex having put on a deep green short-sleeved shirt while Evan settled for a simple black. He didn't see the need to purchase more clothes, since removing the patches from the clothes he had would be just as easy, but Alex was insistent. Evan couldn't help wondering if that meant another attempt on the part of his Keeper to get him into other colors.

The shuttle that carried them down to Scotian was only half filled, but one of the passengers was the same skinny man with the over-active Adam's apple that Alex had snapped at several days ago. This time, he avoided looking at either of them and was obviously nervous having mistakenly taken the seat next to Alex. Evan tried to ignore the man, but the way his throat bobbed with each nervous swallow was distracting. Luckily, his Keeper was oblivious to the skinny man, and the rest of the travelers who still found looking at a Sha'erah too tempting. Strange how he could be so irritated by something one day, and simply ignore it the next.

Must have been the hangover. Or maybe the trip to visit his mother. Being around that woman seemed to bring out the worst in Alex, turning him into a brat the likes of which even Evan would have been short with, had he not been his Keeper. It was amazing how someone could have such exact opposite parents, and yet turn out like neither of them.

Evan was eternally grateful he had no knowledge of his biological origins, and hoped that wasn't something they were going to try and find out, on top of everything else. He had no desire to know. Especially at his age, when it meant absolutely nothing. Alex knew both of his parents, and what had that gotten him?

"Murcadia is pretty upscale, so we'll need a few things that will help us pass for the rich, if not the famous." Alex stepped out of the hired car that had just deposited them in the center of town on a sunny late morning. "And that cruise liner Zane booked is high scale, too. Glad we're traveling on his ticket."

"This is his idea, after all." Evan wondered how hard it was going to be to convince Alex that black looked very high class, if made correctly. The wild colored patterns his Keeper been trying on that image of him, using his PDA in the café, still sent shivers up Evan's spine. He knew mentioning the fact that simply having a Sha'erah would be the most obvious indicator of Alex's wealth, regardless of how he dressed or acted, wasn't something he wanted to hear.

"He can afford it." Alex grinned, then pointed to the shop they were heading for. "He's paying for all expenses, too. I can't believe it never occurred to me Zane was registered as a survivor of the Vision."

"So were the other survivors. They vanished pretty quickly when we docked."

"Probably checked their accounts and went on the shopping spree of a lifetime."

Evan didn't want to point out how wealthy Alex would have been had he made that claim for himself. He agreed with what his Keeper had done.

They entered a shop filled with all manner of clothing in every style and color imaginable, and immediately drew the attention of several delighted shopkeepers. A small argument ensued in the corner over which of them should have the privilege of waiting on the important man and his Sha'erah, which the tallest and oldest man won. He cleared his throat, tugged at his perfectly tailored vest, put his best smile on and sauntered toward Alex, trying very hard not to look at Evan directly.

"Good morning, sir! My name is Serge. How may I be of help to you this fine morning?"

"Just need a few things, Serge." Alex didn't even bother glancing at the man.

Serge took the hint, playing expertly to his customer's mood. He lowered his head in acknowledgment and backed up one step, but remained immediately available.

Evan glanced around the shop. There were two other customers, equally shadowed by salesmen who threw Serge the occasional jealous glance. The shop was definitely high-scale and catered to the upper crust, with samplings of attire from just about every planet and system that produced clothing. What set this shop apart were the physical samplings of each color and pattern, allowing the patrons to get a better idea of what was available and how it might look before they made a purchase. Sizing was a simple matter of being scanned, then waiting the ten or so minutes it took to process the orders, eliminating the pesky need to try items on individually.

Much to Evan's horror, Alex suddenly pulled out a wildly decorated shirt of almost painfully bright colors, and held it up against his Sha'erah's chest.

This might have to be one of those times his Keeper always told him to assert his own opinion. Evan was sure there was no way in hell he could possibly put that on and be seen in public.

"Ah, if I may, sir." Serge reached over and drew out a dark gray shirt of the same style and draped it over one arm that was held out. "I would suggest with the gentleman's coloring, perhaps the deeper tones?"

Evan really liked Serge.

"He's right." Alex glanced at both men in turn. "I can't argue that." The shirt was put back with a shake of his head. "Well, Serge, I'll just let Evan stick to what he likes best. I never was very good with color."

"If you tell me what occasion you're dressing for, sir, perhaps I could make some suggestions?"

Evan wanted to add how much time that could save them, as well as headaches if Alex was going to keep looking at those colors just to continually prove the point, but he refrained.

"Good idea." Alex nodded, then explained the cruise they were about to take to a very exotic location. "Nothing that will stand out, Serge."

"I understand perfectly, sir." He pointed to the plush seating area near the back of the store. "If you would like to register your body scans, I can make some selections for your approval, and have them ready in no time."

The waiting area was unoccupied, so Alex and Evan had their choice of thick, comfortable seats facing the rest of the store while they waited. The two shoppers had already been joined by another seven, so Evan kept an eye on them as they milled about the store, occasionally shooting them quick, discreet glances.

"Word is going to start spreading about Franklin’s ship." Alex nodded toward the growing mix of shoppers.

"At least they're not reporters." Evan scrutinized a new arrival. "Now that everyone knows you're here, they're going to want an interview."

Alex turned and looked at Evan, eyebrows raised. "What makes you think they'll know I'm here? These people are all coming in to catch a glimpse of you."

Evan met his gaze. "They know there's only one Keeper on Scotian. And that man is the captain of the Ascalon. It's not that hard to put together."

Alex blinked. "Right." He sighed and looked at the shoppers. "Well, none of them look like reporters."

Serge returned then, bearing several selections for their approval. Evan's opinion of the man increased as he was shown dress shirts, dusters, jackets and pants all in various textures and materials, and all in black or a very deep, rich blue. For Alex, Serge produced an assortment of darker greens, blues and dark browns. The quality of the clothing was top of the line, even compared to Spencer's standards, and not so overly priced that Alex felt guilty charging them to Zane's expense account. With these new clothes, they could pass for the rich and the famous, if they wanted to. Understated, but undeniably expensive. Alex had a way of appearing perfectly at ease around great wealth, but now at least he could look like he fit in as well as he acted. Evan found basic black did the trick for him just fine. That, and his origins, finished off the appearance of fitting in to any situation, regardless of the assumed dress code the rich attempted to impose on their surroundings.

Delivery arrangements were made, sending the new purchases directly up to the Ascalon via courier, and freeing them up to continue shopping in town or return to the ship as they saw fit. Alex didn't have anything more he needed to purchase, but he felt like walking for a while, so they ignored the hired cars waiting for a fare and started down the wide, quiet sidewalk. The sun was shining brightly, but a cool breeze kept the temperature comfortable and lightly scented by the flowers growing in designated containers.

"So, it doesn't bother you that the media is raising the question about the sabotage and Spencer’s death?"

Alex shrugged one shoulder and squinted against the bright sunlight. "Not really. People tend to believe whatever they want to believe. It rarely matters what the truth is."

Evan considered that as they walked. To Spencer, reputation was everything. But to Alex, for the most part, public opinion meant nothing as long as it didn't get in his way.

"You get used to it, anyway. Nowadays, with technology the way it is, you really can't afford to believe everything you're told." Alex glanced up at Evan and grinned slightly. "Even DNA can be faked, and a few hundred years ago that was the definitive evidence. The scientific end-all."

Evan shook his head in mild disbelief. "It's strange to think the more advanced we get as a race, the more plain, physical evidence we need in order to believe what we're seeing."

"I had a teacher once who predicted mankind was going to reach a point someday where it was all too much. Technology would reach a climax then begin to collapse, and leave societies at a more basic level. He predicted eventually we'd even lose interplanetary communication and travel, and be reduced to little islands of humanity around the universe."

"That might not be a bad idea." Evan hadn't realized he'd said that out loud until his Keeper started laughing.

"I'd agree, as long as I knew it wasn't going to strand me on the same planet as my mother!"

The thought nearly made Evan shudder. "Well, I doubt that's going to happen." He hated to imagine his Keeper having to get drunk that often.

"Come on, let's get home and packed."

Alex hailed a car and they returned to the Ascalon, where they found the clothing orders already delivered with compliments from Serge. Evan could imagine the renewed business that shop would receive, now that a Keeper and Sha'erah had been seen shopping there. It never ceased to amaze him how people could be so persuaded simply by the fact that someone they felt the need to admire had presumably endorsed a product or establishment merely by using or visiting it. People could be such herd animals sometimes. Especially the wealthy ones.

Back on board the ship, Alex set about making final arrangements with the shipyards, as well as the remaining crewmembers still using the Ascalon as home while awaiting another job offer or excursion. While he busied himself with the necessities of captaining a ship, Evan went to work on security.

His first task was to identify the remaining crewmembers who would be allowed to stay on board in Alex's absence, and give them the same complete access to the ship they'd been granted all along. Next, he examined the work that was going to be done and identified all sections of the Ascalon that repairmen would be needing access to, then he limited their admittance to only those areas. After adding an exclusion that would prevent any crewmembers with access to grant passage to shipyard workers, he continued his sweep.

It took a little reprogramming, but Evan managed to set up all internal cameras and data recorders to detect and log all incoming and outgoing calls and visitors, regardless of their security clearance. He realized this might be going a little overboard in Alex's opinion, but his Keeper hadn't limited his permission to secure the ship, so Evan didn't think he'd want to be bothered with the details. Working this far inside the ship's mainframe was good exercise, and something Evan hadn't had to do in a while. With Spencer, hardly a month went by without him having to break into a system or private file directory, so he was glad to know he hadn't lost any of his abilities from lack of practice. It was such a normal part of his thinking, it was good to know how quickly and easily he fell back into it. Even better to realize he was no longer doing so unethically. No more was he required to break the law to serve his Keeper's best interests or do the work expected of him.

Now, with Alex, he felt as if he was finally -- for possibly the first time in his life -- reaching his full potential as a Sha'erah. Serving, protecting, enhancing the life of his Keeper, without being forced to use theft, violence, or extortion. It was refreshing.

And surprising, considering how little Alex was willing to use him properly. Evan finished his tasks and rubbed his left hand absently to relieve the strange tingling sensation that always followed a long computer session. Until now, he hadn't really thought about how much more he enjoyed his duties and unique talents in the months since he'd been given to Alex. But nothing had really changed with the man since they'd met back on Cryian. He was still confusing, stubborn, frustrating to work with and contradictory as hell.

Evan realized the time and headed for the galley to prepare something for the evening meal. The minute he starts making sense, I’ll know I’m in trouble.

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