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Eltoro
Dock D


The researcher was regular in her habits, every day at the same hour visiting the same room near the breach hall.

She always drove in the couldn’t-be-missed Crystal Energy jitney, and she always wore a glittering net of beads over her close-cropped black hair, looking for all the worlds like a helmet made of crystal.

Sometimes, she had Thirteen-Forty-Four with her.

Other times, she was accompanied by a short, broad woman in what looked like merc leathers, pellet gun worn openly on a belt at her waist.

Sometimes, she went alone.

It was, in Director Formyne’s considered opinion, stupid to keep to such a strict routine. It was best to vary, in case enemies were watching and laying plans to strip you of everything you valued in life.

However, as such regularity did make Director Formyne’s mission easier, she was not about to complain. She merely watched, and made a timetable, determining the pattern—when Veeoni took a companion, and when she did not. She had her aides check every inch along the path, to be certain that there were no hidden traps set for those who were not Seignur Veeoni, with or without a companion.

There were no such traps, which was well, as Director Formyne could scarcely afford to lose even one of her four aides.

She would herself handle Seignur Veeoni, but there was another piece in this game.

The light keeper.

It happened there were three light keepers—one Ren Zel dea’Judan of Clan Korval, formerly first mate on Dutiful Passage, formerly clanless pilot, now attached to Korval’s witch, Anthora yos’Galan.

The second light keeper was a conscript; temporary assistance brought onboard in the emergency created by the wounding of the light keeper who mattered.

Jen Sin yos’Phelium was in league with Seignur Veeoni; a necessary part of her scheme to rule Tinsori Station. The two of them together had gathered station systems into a new rack-and-tile array constructed for the purpose. When Veeoni had completed her superior system, it was Light Keeper yos’Phelium who had decommissioned the temporary array.

Given the extent of his wounds, it was possible that Light Keeper yos’Phelium was merely a tool. However, it was best to be certain before she gave him a fitting death, and he would in any case have some use as a hostage to the good behavior of all those presently on-station.

She considered moving before Light Keeper yos’Phelium was released from the crisis ’doc aboard the smartship Bechimo. Considered it—and rejected it. Bechimo would also be a worthy acquisition. And there again, Light Keeper yos’Phelium held a key.

She would wait, laying plans. It would be best if all were done at once. She would work for that timing.

It would be optimum if she made her move on a day when Veeoni had Thirteen-Forty-Four with her; however, that was not as necessary to her plan as the capture of Jen Sin yos’Phelium.

She would continue to plan, and to ride the scans. Though so far she had found nothing that might be connected to Veeoni’s “more efficient” system, she was certain to find it soon. Such a system must register on the scans; she merely needed to modify her ranges.

Really, this was going quite well.


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Framed