"Dexter Smith. Dexter Smith.... I've heard that name before. Um...." His eyes widened. "Captain Dexter Smith? The Babylon. The guy who got the Silver Star for Valour last year some time."
"That's the guy! Damn! I knew I'd seen him somewhere before. Hey, my daughter's got a picture of him up on her wall. Wonder if I can get his autograph for her?"
"Leave that for later, Jack. You'd better send him in. I know Captain Smith. We're old, old friends, we are."
"Right you are, Chief. Yeesh, she's going to be so excited when I tell her who I saw. She might even start respecting me a little...."
"In your dreams, Jack."
The conversation ended, and a moment later, a figure came through the door. It took a moment for Zack to recognise this person as the Captain Smith he had known two years ago. The loss of a uniform did do a lot.
"Well, Captain," he said smiling, leaning back in his chair. "How are you these days? Bit of a come-down in the world, isn't it? Rubbing shoulders with the President one minute, the next slumming it down in the Pit. Well, easy come, easy go, right?"
Smith's eyes narrowed. "Ah. Zack Allan. I didn't know you were Security Chief here."
"Well, it didn't match up to my former standard of Security Chief on humanity's flagship, but you've got to take what you can get. My CV was pretty impressive, but the new boss wasn't too impressed."
"That is an old argument, Mr. Allan. I gave you my reasons when I took over the Babylon. May I sit down?"
"Yeah, sure. Watch out though, I think there's some left-over pizza on that chair there." Smith looked at it, frowned, and then decided to remain standing. "So, Mr. Smith, what brings you to my little corner of the universe? You haven't come to get me fired from another job, have you? Oh, wait.... I forgot. You can't. You're not in Earthforce any more."
"I was honourably discharged."
"Oh, go tell that to mummy!"
Smith leant forward and slammed his hands down on the edge of the desk. It shook, and several papers precariously suspended there fell off. Zack looked at them and shrugged. They couldn't have been important. "Mr. Allan, I had you removed from your post as Chief Security Officer on the Babylon when I took over because I didn't think you were right for the job. Not only did you betray my predecessor, but there were gross lapses in your performance and duties. What I see now only confirms that I was right."
"Yeah, well, I'd hate to cut this fascinating conversation short, but I'm afraid the game's about to start, so...."
"What do you know about a Mr. Trace?"
Zack started, and then coughed falsely, trying to cover his tracks. Had Smith noticed his surprise? Probably. Damn the man. "He's a.... local businessman. An entrepreneur. Just the type Sector Three-o-one needs to improve the local economy."
"Ah. How much is he paying you, Mr. Allan?"
"I really hope you aren't accusing a Security Officer of this fair world of ours of taking bribes. I believe that's slander, defamation of a public figure with a view to harm planetary security.... I could have you arrested for that."
"That won't be necessary, Mr. Allan. I'll be leaving now."
"Good." He flicked his gaze to the vidscreen. "Aw, great. I missed the first plays."
"Mr. Allan." Zack did not turn around. "I never liked you, or your methods, but I never wanted you to fall this far. If I were you, I'd take a look in the mirror and start to question where your choices have brought you."
"Yeah, yeah."
Smith left.
Once he was sure Smith had gone, Zack reluctantly tore himself away from the game and went to his commscreen. He sent through a signal and was pleased when it was received almost instantly. "Yeah?" said the face on the screen. "There a problem, Allan?"
"There might be, Mr. Trace. I just got a visit from someone poking his nose into your business. Thought you ought to know."
"Indeed I do. Who was it?"
"You've probably heard of him. Dexter Smith, used to be captain of the Babylon."
"Him again? Yeah, I've heard of him. Thanks for the warning, Allan. By the way, if you're watching the game, my money's on the Swashbucklers."
Zack smiled. "You know, that's exactly what I was thinking."
Sinoval had a headache. He couldn't explain it and he certainly didn't like it, but he knew somehow that something was wrong, and his headache was a symptom of that.
He had not been feeling well since Kozorr had returned. Truthfully, he had not been well since Kozorr had 'died'. Kats had hardly spoken to him in all that time. She had been working herself almost to exhaustion, her guilt driving her to the abyss, and perhaps beyond.
And now Kozorr had returned from the dead, with a story of capture and escape. It was not implausible. Sonovar had not been the type to take risks with his prisoners before, but then he had never been the type to attack his own people before either.
Kozorr had been the first to swear fealty to Sinoval, the first to accept his rule and the changes that would come with it.
So why did Sinoval feel so strongly that something was wrong?
He had left his own quarters on Cathedral; dark, gloomy, majestic surroundings that they were, and was momentarily surprised by just how much he had got used to them. When had Cathedral started to become home? None of his people could stomach being on the place longer than absolutely necessary, but he had adapted to it easily.
He had wandered through corridors and rooms abstractly for some time, until he found himself at the pinnacle, the control centre of the ship. As he climbed up the many steps to the summit, he noticed his headache getting worse. By the time he reached the top and looked out at the vast spread of space below and above and all around him, his skull felt as though it was about to crack open.
"What is happening?" he asked slowly, knowing there was no one around to answer.
"A terrible thing," came a reply. He turned to see the Primarch Majestus et Conclavus take the final step to the pinnacle. The summit of the tower seemed to widen with the arrival of the newcomer. Before it had been large enough only for Sinoval, but it could now fit both of them comfortably. Sinoval had a feeling it could accommodate an army if it had to.
"The Well of Souls has been violated," the Primarch said.
"What is this.... Well of Souls?"
"The source of Cathedral's power, the source of our power, and our purpose. We have guarded it since time immemorial."
"You seem very.... calm, if someone has infiltrated it."
"I am. The Well will not permit itself to be damaged in any way. But I am still Primarch, and the Well is a part of me, just as I am a part of it. And you are also a part of it."
"Me?"
"All who dwell in Cathedral belong to the Well."
"So what's happening to it? Someone has.... tried to damage the Well of Souls. Who would do.... oh, Valen, no."
"It is of no account. The Well will deal with the intruder in its own fashion. You will merely feel a little ill until it is done. Some have tried to harm the Well before, and none has succeeded."
"You don't understand. How do I get to the Well? Where is it?"
"At the heart of Cathedral. To a large extent Cathedral was built around it."
"I must get there. Now!" He made for the steps, but the Primarch placed a hand on his shoulder.
"There is an easier way." He pointed to the depths of space all around them. "Jump from the pinnacle. Wish yourself there.... and you will be. The pinnacle is.... everywhere, after all. And everything."
"I.... jump?"
The Primarch nodded.
Sinoval drew Stormbringer, his dark blade, and rushed forward, throwing himself into space. Darkness swallowed him, and he was lost from view.