Chapter Four

Alex looked around the room and whistled appreciatively. The cabin he and Evan were sharing on the Newton III was far more luxurious than the small one-room number he'd had on the Terria Rose. This one had an opulent living area, complete with its own full service catering unit should the occupants not wish to dine in one of the multitude of public eating areas onboard. There were two bedrooms, each with a modestly sized washroom, and a full closet where clothing could be neatly arranged, avoiding wrinkles.

That was where the porter was setting their bags, under Evan's tight scrutiny. Alex couldn't help noticing how nervous the man was as he quickly stuttered through his routine explanation of the room and its benefits. After his mild amusement at the spectacle ended, Alex handed the poor man a tip and gave him an out, which he quickly took, backing out of the room with a hastily-mumbled thank you.

"You were scaring the guy half to death." Alex grinned at the closed door and tossed his carry-on to the couch.

Evan shrugged his dismissal. "It's not my fault he's easily intimidated."

Alex glanced into the room to his left. "Which one do you want?"

There was another door on the right side of the living area. Evan walked to that and pressed his left palm against the panel set inside the wall. "This is the door to Dr. Zane's suite." He turned and glanced around the room, then nodded to the door Alex had looked in. "You take that room, it's furthest from any entrance."

Alex's mind suddenly flashed back to that frantic rush away from Cryian. "You can't possibly think we have anything to fear from Zane."

Evan made a small snort of frustration and retrieved the smaller bag he'd set on the floor by the main door. "I didn't say we couldn't trust Zane. It's just another way into this room."

"And who do you think is gonna come in here?" Alex could feel his irritation building unexpectedly. He thought this was going to be a small vacation, more or less, not a repeat of the paranoia that had governed his life that week he and Evan met. Angrily, he grabbed his carry-on pack and walked into the room while the Sha'erah replied.

"I didn't say anyone would, but your safety is -- "

"I know, your main concern." He threw the pack to the bed, then took a deep breath, trying to calm down. The only thing more irrational that Evan's willingness to throw himself in the face of any perceived danger first was Alex's childish reaction to the idea. "We're on vacation here. For a week or two, at least. Can't we just relax and enjoy the cruise?"

"Of course." Evan shrugged. "Why wouldn't you?"

Alex rolled his eyes. It was useless. Either that, or he was making too much out of nothing, which was entirely possible. "I'm gonna unpack."

The room had a large bed in the center, with a smaller open closet next to the washroom where that day's selection could hang in waiting, free from the cramped spaces of the larger filled closet in the main room. A service chute next to the door stood ready to accept any laundry service requirements, promising prompt return delivery within the hour. The shower was spacious, equipped with the latest in water recycling that would even clear out the steam of a hot shower instantly and send it to the reclamator for immediate purification and reuse.

Alex unpacked the contents of his shoulder pack, then sat on the bed to check his PDA for messages. He'd left detailed instructions with the shipyard crews, and Reilly, who'd elected to remain on the Ascalon to watch over the ship in his absence. He knew Evan had taken measures beyond simply locking things down, but those details he left to his partner. They were a good team, when they didn't stop to think about it too much.

But something felt different. Being on a cruise ship again was bringing back some strange memories, added to by Evan's insistence that he remain safe and secure at all times. Maybe that was it. They were off the Ascalon, outside of what they'd come to know as routine. Alex fiddled with the PDA, then slid it back into his pocket. He almost felt as if he was being faced with the need to get to know this man, as if he'd put that off since they'd started on their Turbidium quest, and now had to deal with it. It was a notion he'd been struggling with for a few weeks now, and still it made little sense.

I’ve known this guy for nine months! Known him, but as yet hadn't gotten to know him.

Feeling somewhat embarrassed about his overreaction, Alex came out of the bedroom and found Evan reviewing the ship's schematic from the computer inlaid table. The sight of the man, slightly unfocused, flipping through computer files without moving a finger or saying a word, never ceased to amaze him.

He was never sure if he should interrupt or not. "What do you say we wander around and see what this ship has to offer?"

Evan looked up and moved his hand from the input pad. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, then nodded. "Doctor Zane left a message, he's visiting the ship's medical personnel. Something about a professional courtesy."

Alex laughed. "Hell, he'll probably find a way to turn this whole thing into some kind of business trip and get it free." He shook his head and opened the door. "I'm just glad to be in a cruise-crowd I don't have to work."

Evan followed him out the door and palmed the lock, securing the room. "The payment Carpenter came through with should take care of you for several months. Even with the repairs."

"I know. And if this job works the way it's supposed to, we'll be set for some time. At least the ship will be ours." Finally. "And it won't have had anything to do with my father, or his money."

"Sort of."

Alex paused at the nearest lift door and looked at Evan, one eyebrow raised. "What do you mean, sort of?" He hit the button and the doors opened instantly.

Evan stepped inside and leaned against the railed side wall, waiting for his Keeper to make a selection from the multiple level buttons. "Directly, it has nothing to do with Spencer, or his money. But indirectly, it has everything to do with it."

Alex sensed one of their very confusing conversations pending, but like an idiot he voluntarily jumped right in. "How so?" He pressed a button, heedless of what level it was since they were out to explore anyway, and leaned back against the opposite wall facing the Sha'erah.

"We're on a job for Zane, to find the source of . . . where I come from."

"Right." Okay, so far. Working for Zane, doing something good. Probably impossible, but that was irrelevant.

"Zane's only able to do this now because of the money he's been awarded as a survivor of the Vision, which was destroyed by Spencer."

Alex knew he was destined to lose this, as usual, but he still thought there was a way around it. He was learning to take a perverse sort of pleasure in these arguments with Evan. "But if Zane had found the funding somewhere else, he would have approached us with the idea anyway. So the money, here, is almost inconsequential." He crossed both arms in front of his chest and looked up into the taller man's black eyes, feeling the slight hint of impending triumph.

Evan didn't even bat an eye. "He never would have returned to his quest if he hadn't met us. And we're together because of Spencer."

Now he did smell victory. Alex held up a finger. "No, we're together because you made that decision. By all rights, Spencer should have had the ring back." There, he'd won! Only, Evan wasn't buying it, by the look on his face.

"That didn't change the facts." Evan shrugged that milestone off as if it hadn't happened. "I would never have known you if you hadn't inherited me in the first place."

"And if I'd been with your father the entire time, we wouldn't be here having this conversation."

It was hardly a conversation. Alex made a snort of disgust and unfolded his arms. "Well, if you want to get that nitpicky." The lift doors opened, offering a chance to change the conversation.

"You asked."

"But you started it."

They stepped out into a wide corridor lined with gilded arrows and politely written directions, pointing to the various indulgences and amenities the Newton III had to offer. Alex randomly picked left and they proceeded, rounding a corner and seemingly falling into space.

"Man, that was unexpected!" Alex swallowed, trying to put his stomach back where it belonged. The walkway that had been nicely carpeted, with the typical wall/ceiling affair, had suddenly become a dark blue pathway through the stars as it snaked along the uppermost level of the cruise ship through a transparent tubing traversing the entire length of the ship. Below them, another tube could be seen carrying joggers enjoying one of many exercise options.

It was dizzying, but once the shock wore off, both men found themselves quite impressed with the sight. The walkway continued past several seating areas for the star gazers and through two "open-space" cafes. It was like the Ascalon's wide use of impractical windows, taken to the extreme.

"I can't believe the power they must use just to shield this." Evan hadn't stopped looking around since they'd entered the unique corridor, awed by the millions of stars visible.

"You know, I used to spend hours as a kid staring up at the stars at night." Alex had to slow down to avoid tripping, since he wasn't watching where he was going any more than Evan was. "It was almost as much fun as people-watching."

"People-watching?"

"Yeah." Alex dragged his gaze from the stars and blinked them back into close focus. He noticed the end of the walkway was nearing, bringing them back into the ship again. "People-watching. You know, when you just sit someplace, usually a café in a public area somewhere, and just watch people."

They were back inside now, traveling a very normal and quite boring corridor that led into a wider open section of the ship.

Evan's eyebrows came together. "Why would you do that?"

"Just for fun." Alex shrugged. They were in a large common area broken up by art work and massive live trees. Seats were arranged in conversational segments, overlooked by a balcony section that sported a large café and more seating. "You never do that?"

"I've observed people, but not for fun." Evan looked dubious.

"Don't knock it till you've tried it." Alex grinned, then slapped Evan on the arm and pointed to the upper level balcony. "Come on, we'll get some coffee and do a little observing."

It wasn't until they had their coffee, and the perfect seats at a bar on the edge of the balcony over looking the common area, that Alex realized how few stares the pair of them had received so far. Correction, the stares Evan received.He wondered if it was just the tattoo that did it, or the whole package. There was still the factor of his attire, all black all the time. But, reluctantly, Alex had to admit those colors he'd been toying with looked awful on the man. Part of him wondered what Evan would have said, had he insisted on the one particularly obnoxious orange print he'd held up back at the shop on Scotian. It was tempting, just for a minute, to let him assume it was going to be an order just to see what he'd do. Probably smack some sense into me.

Alex sipped his coffee and scanned the large crowd for someone interesting. Evan still insisted he was Sha'erah, and all that came with it. But, looking back, it was hard to pick out just what exactly that meant most of the time. Was it because of his treatment of the man, or was it the other way around?

Keep it up, Alex. You’ll have a migraine by the end of the day.

From their vantage point he spotted a familiar face below, walking slowly through the open area. "See that woman there, by the sculpted flower thing? Her name is Sadie Rogonian-Cog. Wealthy widow." He glanced at Evan to confirm he'd spotted the right person.

"The older woman with the three very young men around her?"

"Yep," Alex turned his coffee cup around in his hands. "Her husband died, left her a fortune she hasn't bothered to invest anywhere. At least, she hadn't nine months ago."

"Did you offer her the chance to fund your trip?"

Alex nodded and sipped his coffee.

Evan looked back at the woman, watching her and her followers move from one sculpture to another as if they were studying them. "She should have accepted. Those suitors will milk her dry. Soon, too, by the looks of it."

"Check that one out, over there to the left. The guy in the white suit. He's a vampire."

"Vampire?"

"Sucking the money out of people who won't even know it's missing."

Evan nodded. "A thief, you mean?"

"No, worse." Alex shook his head, squinting slightly at the man who was also visually working the room. "He'll weasel his way into someone's confidence, maybe try and sell them something or get them talked into an investment. Sometimes just flat out con them for all they can. It's worse than stealing. They make their victims hand money over willingly, not realizing they've been had until it's too late." He made a snort of disgust and shook his head once. "People like that make the rest of us legitimate types look bad. They can ruin a room, or cruise, if they get to your prospects before you do."

"He's watching the widow." Evan nodded toward the widow Rogonian-Cog. "Waiting for her to send those younger men off on an errand long enough for him to make a move."

Alex felt a grin tug at the corner of his mouth. He looked at Evan. "So you're pretty good at this after all."

"What?" Evan turned his attention back to his Keeper.

"Sizing people up."

"I told you, I've observed." He shrugged and looked back at the crowd below. "To size up potential dangers, evaluate rivals, keep track of changes and personal habits so I can better predict their actions."

"People-watching."

"I don't do it for fun." Evan looked at Alex again. "Neither do you."

Alex raised one eyebrow.

"You might enjoy it, but you're good because you have to be. It's how you know who to approach with your expeditions." Evan shrugged. "You must be good at it, since you've never had trouble finding the funding you need."

Alex laughed lightly, then lifted his coffee cup in a salute. "Touché."

They continued to watch the crowd, occasionally comparing notes. Alex watched the white-suited vampire make his move, but hadn't noticed one of the widow's suitors running interference until the man nearly got physical, insuring his money-well wasn't dipped into by an outside invader. Evan applauded the young man's caution and observation, keeping his prize safe from theft, as it were.

They were both wrong about the man escorting a beautiful woman easily half his age to a circular seating area where they sat and began to speak very closely. Alex thought he was probably treating the mistress to a vacation away from prying eyes, but Evan didn't see the need for a man of such obvious wealth to hide from anyone, regardless of the age of his date. When a woman and younger boy joined them, it became obvious the group was about as average, and innocent, as a family could be.

"Well, you can't win 'em all." Alex sat back in the chair and idly pushed the empty coffee cup back and forth. "What would you have made of me, if I was down there?"

Evan looked at him for a moment. "You mean, if I had never met you before?"

"Yeah. If I was just some guy, down there, and you were scanning the room."

He shrugged, but took a moment to consider before he replied. "I guess, I would have noticed you watching everyone else in the room, most likely. Then I would have wondered why you were doing that, and whether or not it posed a threat to Spencer."

"And if I wasn't, you would have had no further reason to watch."

"No. But, if I did keep watching, just in case, I think I would have figured out what you were doing." Evan shifted in his chair, fidgeting slightly. "I would have . . . Spencer had me keep an eye out sometimes, for potential schemes. If I'd've seen you before, when I was with him, I probably would have mentioned your expedition. As something Spencer might want to invest in. Depending on what it was."

Alex felt his face go cold as the implications of Evan's speculation set in. He inhaled slowly, nodding once. "I probably would have accepted his money, too. If I hadn't known who he was." He couldn't wrap his mind around the idea of meeting Evan under any different circumstances. Whether that was due to what Evan was, or who he was, Alex wasn't quite sure. Not that their first meeting had been in the best of conditions.

"If I'd had a choice, I wouldn't have."

Alex looked up, meeting the Sha'erah's eyes.

"In all the years I was with him, if I'd had a choice, I wouldn't have asked anyone to join in on his ventures. They were always designed to benefit Spencer, no one else."

Alex nodded slowly, accepting that exclusion.

"What about me? If I was down there, what would you have thought?"

At that, he laughed shortly and stared at his empty cup in an attempt to minimize his response. "Well, when I saw you back at VanHolt's building, you looked pretty scary." When he looked up, he could see that revelation had little impact. Evan was probably used to that as a first impression. Alex lifted one shoulder in a slight shrug. "I think now, if I was watching you down there, you would have intrigued me."

Evan blinked in surprise. "Really? Why?"

Alex shrugged again, not sure he was prepared to get called on to explain. "Probably because you have the look about you. You're used to being around money. You're definitely not a vampire, or one of those." He nodded toward the widow Rogonian-Cog and her suitors. "But you don't act like you have money."

"I don't. But, you're used to being around money, too."

"Yeah, but I'm more like the money anti-Christ." Alex grinned. "I don't use it to get more, I just use it. Then when I'm out, I go looking for more." He knew what he wanted to say was that -- had they met under different circumstances -- they would have become friends. But he was sure they both knew that wasn't true. Had he met Evan while he was with Spencer, even if he'd known what a Sha'erah was, he would have been intimidated and found no reason to get past it.

Had Evan met him, there would have been no incentive on his part to be curious or even want to get to know someone who wasn't a direct interest of his Keeper at the time.

During the slightly uncomfortable silence that followed Alex's answer, he knew they were both thinking those same thoughts. With an internal shake of his head and quick exhalation, he pushed the cup away.

"We should eat something. What do you feel like?"

Evan blinked. "I . . . Whatever you want is fine with me."

"Well, what I want is for you to pick a place."

Evan looked somewhat skeptical, but he pushed his chair back and waited for Alex to stand. "Did you have anything specific in mind?"

"No. I want you to pick something you want. It's not rocket science, Evan. You do it all the time anyway."

"What do you mean by that?"

"You're always making the decision what to eat and when."

"That's because you get so busy you forget to take care of yourself. Someone has to."

Alex shrugged. "So you make decisions all the time. You're only getting angry now because I told you I wanted you to pick something you want, instead of something you think I want."

"I'm not angry." Evan's brow furrowed. "I just don't see the need to make such a distinction. If you want me to find a place for us to eat, that's fine. Why do you have to make a point about whether or not I want the same thing?"

Alex shook his head, resigned to the fact that the conversation was at a dead end. "You know, you are the hardest person to be nice to sometimes."

Evan's reply was too mumbled to distinguish.

"What was that?" Alex got up, lowering his voice slightly as other passengers filed by, heading toward the dining areas.

"I said will this do?" Evan pointed to the second arched doorway to their left.

Alex looked in the direction he was pointing. It was a nice, airy restaurant with good lighting and a deft arrangement of tables that allowed maximum privacy without hindering anyone's view of the stars visible from the massive transparent wall. He nodded. "Fine with me."

The instant they crossed through the archway, a host appeared beside them, all polite smiles. "Gentlemen, good evening. I'm afraid I don't have any tables near the window right now, but if you don't have a preference . . . ?"

"Frankly, I've seen enough of space for a while." Alex glanced at Evan. "How about you?"

Evan spoke to the host. "Against the left wall is fine."

"Very good, sir. If you'll just follow me?" The host, apparently unaware or unconcerned that he was in the presence of a Sha'erah, smiled and led the way to a nicely situated table snuggled in the corner, looking out over the rest of the room.

Alex couldn't help noticing the lack of looks as they crossed to the table. Was it the caliber of people on this ship? Or was it just a case of Scotian being more back-water than he'd thought? "They don't seem too surprised around here."

"Or they're just not as obvious," Evan shrugged. "That woman in the red dress is staring at you. And she's not being very discreet."

Puzzled, Alex looked for the woman in question. She was at least twice his age, seated with a man her senior by maybe five or six years. When he met her gaze, she fumbled with her menu and spoke to her companion, then laughed a little too loudly at his reply.

"Not my type."

"Not even your century."

The arrival of their waiter curtailed Alex's chuckle.

When the food arrived, almost immediately after they'd placed their orders, Alex nodded with his chin toward the woman in red. "What do you think her story is?"

Evan studied her for a moment, eyes narrowing. "The money's his, no question. Probably married just when he started making it and now she's bored." He looked back at Alex, waiting for his assessment.

"I dunno." Alex idly stabbed a vegetable with his fork, keeping his eyes on the couple in question whenever they weren't looking in his direction. "She keeps laughing at all of his jokes, a little too loudly."

"That necklace she's wearing is real. No one can fake Zenium that perfectly, not yet anyway. I don't see him giving a mistress something that pricey."

Alex nodded. "I agree there. But I'm thinking she's maybe wife number two. Probably just married, though he could have done better."

"He looks happy. Isn't that what matters?"

"I used to think so." Alex reached for his beer glass. Sara had certainly dumped him easily enough, when she hadn't wanted to wait for him to get funding. He wondered what she would have thought if she'd been there when he came back with Evan in tow. Would the idea of owning someone have repulsed her as it had him, or would the illusion of wealth that ownership implied been the deciding factor in keeping her around? And how would he have known the difference? God knew, he'd been fooled by a lot of people about a lot of things lately.

They ate in comfortable silence for a bit, watching the people around them, until the waiter returned with an offer of dessert or a drink with a more serious bite. They declined both and elected for coffee to finish off the evening's meal. The woman in red was still sending him flirtatious glances whenever she felt she could get away with it. Alex didn't quite understand why. Not only was she out of his age range by a mile, but he didn't think he even qualified as someone she'd set her sights on even if she was younger. Now Evan was another matter. He looked exotic, even if you ignored the tattoo on his neck and hand. Alex wondered if half the stares the Sha'erah got weren't just due to his looks.

But he wasn't anything close. Never once had he entertained illusions of his own attractiveness, nor had he cared. He knew he was a bit too scruffy looking for the posh surroundings he often found himself in. Hell, he was too average looking to fit in with the house he'd been raised in. His hair wasn't perfectly contained at all times, his clothes often didn't fit his frame perfectly. God knew his sleeves were almost always too long. Though he did clean up pretty well. And tonight he was clean shaven and wearing some relatively expensive clothes.

Maybe that was it. Sure, that made sense. He was on a cruise that cost a good three months' salary, wearing clothes from one of the best tailors on Scotian. And -- Alex snorted in self-depreciating disgust -- he was sitting with a Sha'erah.

"What?"

Alex looked up, suddenly worried he'd just said that out loud. "Oh, nothing. I was just wondering what makes a woman who has everything like she must have, look at other men."

Evan shrugged. "Because she can? Because she sees something about you that doesn't fit in, and she's curious?"

Now Alex was curious. He raised one eyebrow. "You mean, I don't fit in?"

"Look at them." Evan nodded sideways, indicating the occupants of the restaurant in general.

Alex complied, scanning the room with his eyes. "Yeah?"

"They're all sitting quietly, perfectly manicured fingers, hair perfectly set in the latest styles. Even the men are wearing the newest fashions, sporting jewelry that makes them look a bit ridiculous. Point is, they're all very aware of themselves, and their surroundings." Evan was looking at him again, black eyes sparkling in the dimmed lights. "But you . . . You're the exact opposite."

Alex wasn't sure if he was being insulted, or merely observed.

"She can look at you and see you have money, but your attitude suggests you don't care. It's the same back at your mother's house. Her home is pristine, white, elaborately decorated. And you sit on the table."

Alex hitched one shoulder in a shrug. "I just never cared much for things."

"I know. And it shows. I think these rich people, some of them anyway, find it intriguing."

"Most of them find it annoying. I know my mother always did." Alex finished his coffee.

"I think it's honest."

A compliment? "Yeah?"

"At least you never pretend." Evan set his cup down, his expression growing suddenly hard. As quickly as the expression appeared, it was shaken off. "I never realized how much difference that could make. I'd go out with you."

Thankfully, Alex wasn't the type to get red-faced in light of such a heartfelt compliment, but he did feel a sudden wave of appreciation for Evan's honesty. "Let's get out of here before she makes a move on me." He grinned and stood, nodding toward the exit.

The woman in red followed them both with her eyes, but her companion had ordered dessert and was in no hurry to finish. They left her and the other diners behind, stepping out into the open area more brightly lit to emulate natural sunlight at all hours of the day. Individual areas were set with lighting that matched the chronological time of the planet they'd just left, slowly morphing to that of which ever planet they would dock at next, minimizing the effects of travel on internal sleep patterns. Alex had long since lost any sense of day or night, changing instead to standard ship-time from long years of habit.

The Newton III was perfectly designed for strolling and socializing, as well as privacy and luxury. Corridors and hallways wove through common areas and simulated parks, occasionally passing through rows of quiet little alcoves where lovers and families could sit and gaze at the stars in relative seclusion. Artwork and potted vegetation offered sound buffers and provided good room division and chair placement when necessary as the corridors continued on through the depths of the ship and its many levels.

Which was one reason he didn't see the Commodore approaching.

"Alex Marcase! Fancy meeting you here."

Alex blinked, staring at the man in disbelief. When he remember his manners, he smiled and hastened to accepted the offered hand. "Commodore Wilcox. The universe must be getting smaller." If he saw one more person on this cruise he knew, he'd be sorely tempted to bail out.

"Well, the wife is taking a trip in the opposite direction, so this was the most logical route for me." The Commodore smiled broadly, flashing overly white teeth that matched the color of his short hair. "I believe she's with your mother, as a matter of fact."

Alex nodded. "Yes, sir, she is." Suddenly he noted the Commodore's gaze switching to Evan, who was standing silently beside him. Flushing at his own lack of manners, he set a hand on Evan's arm. "Sir, this is my partner, Evan."

Commodore Wilcox's smile widened slightly as he extended a hand to Evan. "Good to meet you, Evan."

There was an awkward pause as the Sha'erah hesitated, then accepted the hand and shook it but said nothing.

Unconcerned, Wilcox looked at Alex again. "Jeff's not with you any longer?"

"Ah, no, sir, he isn't." Alex's gaze fell momentarily, but he forced it back up. Commodore Wilcox was a jovial man, totally harmless and always polite. He never understood why his mother didn't care for the man. "Evan's my co-pilot now, and business partner."

"Ah." The Commodore nodded knowingly. He looked at Evan again, studying him from head to toe. "Interesting tattoo you have there, lad. Must be a new fad or something, eh?"

Suddenly it occurred to Alex . . . Commodore Wilcox was either more polite than he remembered, or he had no idea what Evan was. He glanced quickly at the Sha'erah, who was looking to him for a clear way out of the situation. Clearly he wasn't going to say a word, as usual. "Evan's, ah, not from Scotian."

"Well, can't say as I'd do something like that myself." The Commodore shook his head and clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "But then, I'm not as young as I used to be." His face erupted in a smile again, accepting Evan's apparently odd choice of personal decoration. "Go with the flow, I always say! Whatever makes you happy, and all that."

Alex laughed lightly, joining in with the Commodore's chuckle. "Yes, sir."

"Well, I hate to run into you like this then have to dash, but I've got a dinner reservation to get to."

Alex shook the older man's hand again, nodding. "No problem, Commodore. It was good to see you again."

"We'll have to get together, have a drink or something. You can tell me all about that Turbidium venture I missed out on." The Commodore smiled widely again, nodded at Evan and took his leave.

They turned to watch him walk away. "He hasn't heard?"

"Commodore Wilcox doesn't really keep up with the news much." Alex shook his head and turned around, continuing their walk through the tunnel. "I don't think he had any idea you were Sha'erah."

"You didn't."

"Yeah, but in retrospect, apparently I was pretty stupid not to." They stepped out of the tunnel and turned left, heading further into the ship toward a bank of lifts.

"I thought so, too."

Alex stopped walking and stared at Evan, his face an exaggerated mask of hurt feelings and surprise. "Oh you did, did you?"

Evan shrugged nonchalantly. "I said "did." I don't anymore." He reached out and hit a button, calling a lift car. "Granted, I'm surprised you didn't know about Sha'erah, but I can understand why now."

Amused, Alex pressed the issue. "Really?" The lift doors opened and they stepped inside. "And why is that?"

Luckily for Alex, they were the only two occupants of the car. "You were too focused on other things. Your mother never discussed it, and I can see why she wouldn't. No one you knew had one, obviously Miranda Carpenter never talked about her father's Sha'erah."

"I didn't associate much with Miranda when we were that young." Alex flashed back on his childhood and realized, in a nutshell, Evan was right. "Guess I was just oblivious."

"But not stupid." The lift stopped and Evan stepped out onto their level, then turned left toward the rooms. The corridors were mostly empty, and the few passengers who did walk buy were too deeply involved in their own conversations to give them much notice. "There's a difference."

"Between ignorance and stupidity? Yeah, I guess so." It was small consolation, considering.

"Of course there is." Evan's voice held a tinge of recrimination. "You're a smart man. A visionary when it comes to exploration. And as long as you have me, there's no need to concern yourself with other things."

Alex laughed shortly to cover his sudden embarrassment. They'd reached the door to their room and Evan was palming the lock open. Alex cleared his throat. "Listen, just so you . . . I mean, whatever we find, you know, about the Sha'erah origins and all that -- assuming of course we do find anything -- I want you to know, I'm not trying to get rid of you."

Evan stood in the doorway, his face completely unreadable as usual. Black eyes sparkling down at him.

"I mean, you're perfectly within your rights to do whatever you want. You know, leave, stay with me, whatever. I just want you to know, no matter what we find out, that won't change. You're still going to be my partner, and second-in-command. 'Cause, we're friends, and all that." Alex knew he couldn't possibly look or feel any stupider than he did right then and there. Evan was just looking at him.

Finally, he blinked. "I'm not leaving, no matter what we find." He turned and walked into the room, leaving Alex standing in the corridor staring in at him.

"Well, that got me nowhere." With a sigh, he walked into the room and shut the door.

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