Maddox decided it wasn’t for sale.

  Later, he dined with Elge in an observation lounge, having learned of the Oko diet. It was vegetarian, consisting mainly of roots, large alien berries and nuts. He’d had the dishes prepared on the Gourvich and brought over to Victory via shuttle.

  Afterward, they drank an Oko vintage of wine, which was eminently palatable to Maddox’s tongue.

  Finally, Maddox dabbed his lips and said, “It’s time to discuss terms.”

  Elge nodded. He was wearing silk garments that reached to his metal-shod feet, and had tied a red ribbon to the end of his furry tail. He wore silken half-gloves that showed the claws at the tips of his slender fingers. A platinum pendant also hung from a silver chain around his neck. Elge fingered the pendant as if…as if it might be a weapon of sorts.

  The Oko “guest” had been given a higher chair than Maddox so he could reach the table comfortably. The captain estimated that Elge weighed a hundred pounds at the most, possibly less with all that fur.

  “I am quite interested in the mechanical man,” Elge said. “He…seems like an advanced model.”

  “Would you make him another of your slaves?”

  Elge appeared thoughtful. “Here, it is considered rude to ask a buyer what he chooses to do with his purchase.”

  “Not a slave,” Maddox murmured. “You’d have me believe that the Sovereign Hierarchy of Leviathan doesn’t possess models like ours. Not only that, but that Leviathan would dearly love such a model and pay fantastic sums to acquire it.”

  “Nonsense,” Elge said. “The mechanical man is a curiosity, nothing more. Call it a…whim on my part.”

  “Of course,” Maddox said, realizing he must have hit the mark. Batrun must be a prize indeed. Did that mean the Leviathan Soldiers were indeed cyborgs?

  “Remember, Captain, you promised the mechanical man to me.”

  Maddox did not respond, but swirled the wine in his goblet. Giving Elge Batrun would solve the problem of what do with the synthetic. Still, Batrun had knowledge he could use in the coming conflict with the Rull androids and Jotuns. As tempting as it was to leave the synthetic behind, that could have future repercussions that worked against the Commonwealth when Patrol vessels eventually traveled out here. Batrun would be a great source of information about Human Space, and more.

  The sooner Victory left the Scutum-Centaurus Spiral Arm, the better. If the Sovereign Hierarchy of Leviathan could explode stars and had fought the Swarm Imperium for seventy years, they might make awful enemies. The reverse might also be true: Leviathan might make effective allies in a future conflict against the bugs. What he didn’t want to do was meet any Leviathan warships. It would be better if wise Patrol minds could forge a policy for dealing with Leviathan from the details he brought home. Now that Star Watch knew—or would know—something about this region of space, strategists could add the details to future calculations.

  Did that mean it would be better to destroy the Gourvich and everyone on it so no one here learned about the Commonwealth? Would Elge really take data about Victory to the Sovereign Hierarchy of Leviathan?

  Maddox swirled his wine again. He didn’t know the answer to the last question. It would depend on whether Elge could wring an advantage from the sale of data or not.

  “You did promise the mechanical man to me,” Elge said again. “I have recorded the promise—”

  Maddox’s head snapped up.

  Elge stopped talking and looked away. It seemed as if the Oko was upset with himself for giving away a secret.

  The captain glanced at the platinum object dangling from Elge’s throat. Of course, Elge would be recording and photographing everything he could. It would all be for sale to someone. The Oko would attempt to derive profit from anything he possibly could.

  He should take the RV Gourvich and Master Elge back to Earth. Maybe Ludendorff had a point about the slaves aboard the recovery vessel being profitable for study.

  Would such an action make him a pirate?

  Maddox stared at the blood-red wine in his goblet. When the European explorers had first come to the New World, they’d captured Indians and brought them back to Europe. Had the ancient Englishmen and Spaniards studied the captives for clues to the Indian cultures? He’d have to ask Ludendorff about that.

  In this case, Maddox would force an alien ship to travel to Earth. It might not be ethical, but it would be prudent. Ludendorff was right about him being Patrol trained.

  Would Star Watch ever let Elge return to the Scutum-Centaurus Spiral Arm? It was doubtful. But then maybe that was the risk in attempting to salvage Victory, trying to salvage any spaceship before everyone on board was dead.

  Maddox realized that’s what he was going to do. In Elge, the Okos crew and slaves had priceless data about this region of the spiral arm. Victory had been hurled here as an accident. Now, like a true Patrol officer, he had to take advantage of what fate had offered him. Besides, maybe the Gourvich held something that would help him against Jotun technology. It was a long shot, but his first duty was to protect the Commonwealth.

  Maybe in time, Elge could return as part of a Star Watch mission in making contact with the Sovereign Hierarchy of Leviathan. That would be many times better than Earth receiving envoys from Leviathan in Human Space, which could happen if he let Elge and his ship go free.

  “You are quiet, Captain,” Elge said. “What are you thinking?”

  “I’m considering the future,” Maddox said. “Tell me, you said the Builders are legendry. Do you know if any of their artifacts are free-floating in space?”

  Elge made a sharp sound. It might have been a laugh. “Captain, do you take us for fools? The Sovereign Hierarchy has declared all Builder fossils as forbidden relics that none dare approach on pain of death.”

  “I see.”

  “Isn’t it so in your realm?”

  Maddox didn’t answer.

  “Surely, after all I have done for you,” Elge said, “you are not suggesting I commit public suicide by daring the Guardians. If I approach such a useless pile of space junk—”

  “If it’s junk, why are Guardians protecting it?”

  “I neither know nor care,” Elge said. “In this, the Sovereign Hierarchy is as fanatical as you. Why, even discussing such a thing—” Elge shook his head emphatically.

  “Where is the nearest Builder relic?”

  “Did you not hear what I just said? You are a monomaniac, a zealot to continue talking about it. Believe me, I have no wish to die under the prongs of an inquisitor.”

  “The Sovereign Hierarchy is that harsh?”

  Elge made another of his sounds. “Pray that you never find out, Captain.”

  Maddox set the goblet on the table. Galyan could hack the Gourvich, or space marines could take an Oko navigational computer. Elge and his Okos had boarded Victory, after all, attempting to take what they wanted. If Elge held the advantage, things would be going quite differently now.

  Maddox sighed. Why was he hesitating? Was he getting soft?

  “Master Elge,” Maddox declared. “There has been a change in plans.”

  “I am not going to receive the mechanical man?”

  “No.”

  “But you promised.”

  “The promise was a ploy.”

  Elge looked down at his diner plate.

  “You invaded my ship and would have killed us or taken us as slaves,” Maddox said.

  “That has no bearing on your word, your promise,” Elge muttered, still looking down.

  “True,” Maddox said. “But I did add that I would offer you alternatives. However, I will give you the mechanical man, if you are such a stickler for protocol.”

  Elge looked up. “Thank you, Captain. It is a pleasure dealing with an honest man.”

  “And then I will kill you,” Maddox said. “I will also destroy the Gourvich, as I never promised not to do that. Afterward, I will take the mechanical man as salvage. I will have kept my word in all particulars.”

  The Oko’s eyes seemed to darken. “Clever,” Elge said. “I had hoped…well, never mind. You think like an Oko, meaning you are more cunning than I’d realized. Very well, I relinquish my demand for the mechanical man. In his place, I desire the specs for your antimatter drive.”

  “Since you are being so understanding,” Maddox said, “I’ll give you the specs once we part company.”

  “Excellent,” Elge said, rubbing his half-gloved hands. “I would like to depart later today—”

  “No,” Maddox said. “The specs to the antimatter drive are a priceless commodity. In return, I want to know the whereabouts of the nearest Builder relic.”

  Elge considered the idea and finally nodded. “I will do as you request. Then, we shall be going.”

  “Not quite yet,” Maddox said. “You will show us the quickest route to the Builder relic by journeying with us.”

  “What? It is an outrage to suggest such sacrilege. No, no, I am not suicidal. I have made that clear, yes?”

  “You will show us the route, Elge, or I will destroy the Gourvich. First, of course, I will give you the mechanical man. Remember, I am a man of my word—and I give you my word I will do these things.”

  For the next few minutes, Elge twisted and turned with his objections, but finally and reluctantly agreed. “I should have listened to my fifth wife,” he mused sadly. “She warned me the derelict ship was dangerous, but my greed got the better of me. I will elevate her in my esteem, and listen to her more in the future.”

  “Good for you,” Maddox said. “She sounds like a wise woman.”

  Elge didn’t seem comforted by the praise. But for now, there was nothing he could do about it.

  -47-

  The next week proved harrowing as Victory and RV Gourvich used portals—jump points—to travel from one Scutum-Centaurus star system to another.

  Maddox warned Elge more than once to stick to the truth. He wanted to maneuver through empty star systems only. Even after the warning, however, the Oko master lied several times. Of course, Elge always said he’d forgotten about a certain outpost or that it had slipped his mind that the Kursks had put down a colony in that particular star system.

  So far, Maddox had discovered each “error” by using the star-drive jump to check ahead. Each time, he left a tin can piloted by Keith Maker and several shuttles behind to watch the Gourvich. Before leaving the first time, Maddox detonated an antimatter missile so Elge and his people understood that the shuttles easily had the firepower to destroy the recovery vessel.

  “Since we have risked so much for you,” Elge said at the end of the week, as they were on the bridge—he was a guest aboard the starship, a hostage for Oko good behavior—“I would also like the specs for the machines that allow you to use the star-drive jump.”

  “Agreed,” Maddox said from the captain’s chair.

  Elge rubbed his slender hands, perhaps anticipating future profits.

  The two ships were near a portal in an empty star system. According to Elge, they were one jump away from the forbidden star system. Maddox asked him what they could expect to find there.

  “I lack such data,” Elge said, having maintained that position from the beginning.

  “The more I think about it,” Maddox said, “the odder it seems that you’ve never purchased such interesting information.”

  “The Soldiers of Leviathan would not approve.”

  “Which would make such data even more valuable,” Maddox said.

  “You’re right,” Elge said. “Great profit often comes at great risk. And it is true that such data is for sale among criminal elements. But I’ve never had the need or a client who desired it. I do know this—the Guardians possess deadly vessels. You should forget this madness. Why do you need to see the Builder relic? It is old and useless.”

  Ludendorff was on the bridge today. “You speak confidently about it, Master Elge. What else do you know about the relic?”

  “Know in what way?”

  “Its mass perhaps.”

  “Why would I care to know its mass?” Elge scoffed. “That is more madness. This I know and no more, so do not pester me about it. The relic is shaped like a pyramid, a giant rotating pyramid, not like those on Gamma Deuce II.”

  “What color is this supposed pyramid?” Ludendorff asked in a seemingly offhanded manner.

  “Silver,” Elge said. “Does the color matter?”

  Ludendorff shrugged indifferently, glanced once at Maddox and then left the bridge.

  “I saw that,” Elge said. “I am not stupid. The glance has meaning. Is silver an important color?”

  “Possibly,” Maddox said.

  “Ah, saying possibly means it doesn’t have meaning. I have made a study of you, Captain. You humans are canny. Once, I believed you an honest man. Now…” Elge rubbed his thin hands. “Your part of the galaxy must be terrible indeed to have produced beings like you. I would not like it there. With that being said, the Sovereign Hierarchy of Leviathan could use Soldiers like you. Perhaps you can bargain with the Great One for a term of service.”

  “He hires?”

  “You didn’t know?” Elge asked. “No… How could you. Are you interested in serving Leviathan?”

  “Possibly,” Maddox said.

  “Then let us leave this place. Don’t even think about entering the relic system. That is a quick way to die. Instead, I can point you to a recruiting—”

  “Master Elge,” Maddox said, interrupting. “I’m sending space marines onto the Gourvich.”

  “What? No. That is an outrage.”

  “No more than you leading a salvage team onto Victory.”

  “You know that I paid Leviathan for the right. Thus, I acted legally. But you! You cannot possibly possess a privateer’s fee from Leviathan. Therefore, sending marines onto my ship is an illegal action.”

  “Leviathan sells privateer’s rights?” Maddox asked.

  “In times of war,” Elge said.

  “Is there an ongoing war?”

  “Information, you desire endless information without compensation,” Elge complained. “I am your prisoner, but this endless theft must cease. Surely, you desire that I have a positive attitude about you after you leave.”

  “Naturally, I desire that,” Maddox said. “However, the marines have already arrived on the Gourvich and taken control.”

  “Just like that?” asked Elge. “No, no, you should have told me in advance so I could have smoothed the way for them?”

  “You’ll be relieved to know then that the marines went in armed and armored. Your people understood the situation and surrendered without a fight. There were no casualties.”

  “I am overjoyed,” Elge said in a dispirited voice.

  “Excellent,” Maddox said. “The Gourvich will now lead the way for Victory as we head into the relic star system.”

  “No!” Elge said, bolting upright. “That is death to us all. Your ship has weapons, but they will fail against the Guardians. Now, please, Captain, be reasonable. We are Okos. We are peace-loving. If we enter the relic system, the Soldiers might report us to Leviathan. Then Okos everywhere will be held responsible for our sacrilege. No. This is wrong of you. You are essentially a good man. You cannot wish us annihilated as a species.”

  “I doubt it will be that bad.”

  “You are correct,” Elge said. “It will be worse. I beg you, Captain. Name your price so we can buy our freedom. Listen to this. I here and now relinquish my claim to the mechanical man. I will give you all our slaves; just don’t force us to die with you in the relic system.”

  Maddox was impressed. Were the Guardians really that deadly? Yet, how could Elge know if he knew nothing about the Builder relic? It was possible this was a mistake, but he had to gamble if he was going to get home in time to save Earth from a Juggernaut sneak attack.

  “This is madness,” Elge continued. “If you must kill yourselves, walk into space. We will record your passage. By giving us the salvage rights to your ship—”

  “Elge,” Maddox said, interrupting. “Tell me everything you know about the Guardians. As both our ships are going, our united survival might depend on what you can tell me.”

  The Oko looked torn. His narrow shoulders finally slumped. “I cannot do as you ask,” he said softly, “as there is a chance the Soldiers will take your computers and play back this talk. I want them to know that I told you nothing. Have mercy on the Okos,” he said. “Let my people go.”

  “I’m sorry, Master Elge. I have no choice.” Maddox told the bridge crew. “We’re making the jump. So let’s get ready for a fight.”

  “What about the Gourvich?” Valerie asked.

  “Tell Lieutenant Mars to take the alien ship through first as planned,” Maddox said. Lieutenant Mars was the space marine in charge over there.

  “You’re sending my ship through first as a sacrifice,” Elge complained.

  “No,” Maddox said, “I’m doing it as a ploy. Now stop complaining and start thinking about what you can tell me. Better that we all survive so no Soldiers tear out our computers, yes?”

  Elge did not reply but sat morosely, his fingers twitching continuously.

  -48-

  As had happened on so many other occasions, the captain shrugged off the infinitesimal jump lag faster than anyone else did. He knew better than to test any lagged equipment yet.

  As Valerie revived, she sat up and began to run the sensors.

  Shortly thereafter, Galyan appeared.

  “Report, please,” said Maddox.

  Galyan and Valerie both spoke up at once.

  “Lieutenant, if you please,” Maddox said.

  Galyan nodded in acquiescence as Lieutenant Noonan reported on the star system. It had a G-class star, four terrestrial inner planets and three outer gas giants. There was a large asteroid belt between the inner and outer system, a thick belt with an unnatural amount of debris, asteroids, meteors and dwarf planets. The Solar System had an asteroid belt at approximately the same location, but it was less than four percent the mass of Earth’s Moon. This system…