Mentor’s Comm Room
Tolly Jones swept into the space he and Haz had taken over for their own business, scant as it was. They met there at the beginning of every shift, checked for news and mail, and planned out the shape of their day.
This shift, Haz was ahead of him, frowning in a bemused sort of way at her screen.
“Problem?” he asked.
“I have a pinbeam from my captain,” she said, her eyes on the screen.
Haz’s captain was Miri Robertson, who also happened to be one-half of Delm Korval.
“New orders?”
“In a sense. She wishes me to increase my watch upon Jen Sin yos’Phelium, in case he should be moved to embrace honor’s reward.”
Perceptive woman, Miri Robertson. Tolly tipped his head.
“What’re you supposed to do, if he does?”
Haz looked up and met his eyes.
“Stop him.”
There was a particular note in her voice. Tolly considered her.
“Orders not to your liking?”
Haz sighed.
“I was in similar danger from myself,” she said slowly. “Captain Robertson had me join the port guard under her former commander, who had returned home to Surebleak and established the port security force.”
Tolly leaned forward.
“Commander Liz,” he said. “She paired us up—one of the best teams on Surebleak Port, right, Haz?”
“Yes.” Haz gave him a half-smile. “The cases are similar—but there is no Commander Lizardi here.”
“True enough. But we’re still the best team she had. You don’t think we’re up to keeping a hurt pilot alive?”
“A Korval pilot,” Haz reminded him, her smile about three-quarters, now.
Tolly shrugged. “You take ’im high and I’ll take ’im low.”
“A good plan,” she said, gravely.
“Proven, too,” he answered, and moved over to check his screen.