The Quarry

[Rage Menelas]

[font=Lucida Sans Unicode]Ma'areol must have really taken a liking to him, for she had insisted on being the agent in bringing his wishes to fruition. He felt the same about her, somehow their fates were interwoven. Oh, Ryan had no illusions of grandeur; she was about a dozen light years out of his league. Still... anyone would want her in their life, at whatever level. She was just an incredible lady. And that she was drop-dead gorgeous to boot did nothing to detract from that, not one iota!

The plan was for her to carry Ryan back to Hei'a 12 to retrieve Saar'floe, which was by rights his property—her having been legally bequeathed to him by the Order (before they publicly ousted him). Thankfully he had had the foresight to discover the hiding place where she was secreted before leaving the moon. (Close interrogation of the three Dalcachene prisoners had assisted in that endeavor immeasurably.) So, the plan was to put Ryan back aboard his ship and send him along on his merry way to Pella'agre. He had raised an eyebrow at that, seeing (with his minds-eye) images of fleets of Exeonassi crescents descending on the planet, strafing and decimating the population in retaliation. Ma'areol just smiled, apparently reading the concern on his face.

“I managed to have Pella'agre declared a Contamination-3 Priority,” she said.

“And that means... what... exactly...?”

“The presence of a Federation Naval gunboat in-system with orders for an absolute quarantine, prohibiting the approach of any ship except one...”

Hmmm... Ryan thought, nice to have at least one friend in high places. “How long will the quarantine be in effect?”

“Indefinitely,” she stated demurely then added in a small voice, “as long as the current administration is in power.”

Fan-fricking-tastic! Come a trillion light years from home and everything still hinged on politics! Just his luck! “Grant one last favor?”

“Sure love, whatever you want,” she stated it so sweetly that he almost believed the whatever part of the statement.

“Send word if and when the quarantine is to be lifted?”

“I will... I promise...” she winked and stared back out at the stars, her profile reminding him of a statue of Venus he had seen in Rome a million years ago. Laura was beautiful but Ma'areol was simply da-amn! He sighed and tore his eyes away... three traverses left to Hei'a 12... God get me there quick!