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Perhaps merely debris from the sundered Polarian craft." But she did not sound convinced.
The irony was, Llume had acted entirely reasonably, by the standards of war. She had challenged the
approaching craft, informed it of the consequence of unrecognized approach, and only then destroyed
it. Had she not done so, all the fleet would have known she was bluffing. How could Melody blame her
for that?
She glanced across at Skot. He was writhing in agony. Obviously he had tried to do something!
There was a period of silence, as if in mourning for the lost craft that might have been a bomb, and the
inadequacies of those who might have allowed a brave entity to die needlessly. Melody rehearsed
script after script in her mind that might have saved her friend, knowing it was pointless. She was
guilty of the slaughter of a sapient entity, not in self-defense but in stupidity.
The fleet net came alive abruptly. "I am Mnuhl of Segment Knyfh," a voice announced. It was a human
voice, an automatic translation from the magnetic charges that were Knyfh communication. The net
was geared to handle the full range of languages and modes of the fleet components. All messages
were transmitted in common code, to be translated upon reception to whatever mode was applicable.
"In the seeming absence of leadership in Segment Etamin, in the interest of Galaxy Milky Way, I am
assuming temporary command of the loyalist forces of this fleet. I base this assumption on information
obtained from Melody of Etamin, a special segment agent who helped me free my vessel of hostages.
Loyalist ships will close in on my ship, the Ace of Atoms, after identifying themselves to me. It will be
necessary for each vessel to acquiesce to search by my personnel to verify absence of hostages."
Llume glowed. "This is Llume of Andromeda," she said into the net. "The loss of your vessel is a blow
to the cause of Andromeda, but I deal with you as pro tern Admiral of Segment Forces. Will you
permit hostage ships to clear your vicinity without harassment, in return for a similar truce on our
part?"
Melody could not help being fascinated by the military niceties. To indulge in a random melee would
be wasteful and pointless, with ships firing on their own allies from confusion and ignorance.
Therefore the two commanders negotiated politely to defer hostilities. Could she have saved Captain
Llono the same way?
"Mnuhl here," the Knyfh Captain responded. "I compliment you on your offer, and acquiesce."
"Truce established," Llume said. "One private question: Does Melody remain with you?"
"I do not feel free to divulge that information."
"Was she aboard the shuttle that just approached my ship?"
"I must decline to answer."
Melody nodded to herself. Captain Mnuhl was giving away nothing; he knew the importance of
keeping the hostages in doubt about Melody's location. Every hostage captain would be afraid that a
high-Kirlian counterhostage was aboard his ship. That fear would multiply her effectiveness many
times. Too bad she wasn't able to make that threat genuine!
"Thank you, Captain." Llume terminated the private exchange and returned to general information:
"This is Hostage Command: do not fire on loyalist ships as they maneuver. Truce is in force.
Andromedans will orient on the Ace of Swords; loyalists on the Ace of Atoms."
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Llume shut off the net. Then she sank into a glowing heap. It was, Melody realized, the Polarian way
of expressing complete grief.
Skot looked up. "Andromedan, are you ill?" he inquired. His tone was not friendly, but the query was
relevant. If Llume became incapacitated, Skot and Melody would be left under the control of the
discipline-boxes, unable to free themselves-with the Andromedan fleet closing about them. If Llume
did not maintain communications, the hostages would become suspicious and blast the Ace of Swords
out of space.
Llume drew herself more or less erect. "It is an illness of the soul," she said. "I fear I have slain my
sister."
"What is she talking about?" Yael asked. "She didn't kill-"
"Let's wait and see," Melody said to her. "If what I suspect is true...."
"You are killing our galaxy," Skot said coldly. "Why should one Spican matter to you?"
"Captain Llono!" Yael exclaimed, just catching on. "In the shuttle! Poor Spican Undulant!"
"I thought it was a trap, a bomb," Llume said. "That is what an Andromedan would have done, testing
the defenses. But it didn't detonate under the laser. The Knyfh tried to conceal it, but I could tell
Melody had left his ship."
"She thinks you were in that shuttle!" Yael cried. Skot, torn by mixed reactions, did not speak.
"She was more like me than any I have known," Llume continued, slumping again. "Such an aura! The
Dash Command of Andromeda put out a directive to save that aura at any price short of capitulation,
but I had even more reason to preserve her from harm. Instead, in an inexcusable lapse of logic, I
betrayed the affinity of aura."
"But she didn't kill you!" Yael said to Melody.
"Wait," Melody told her. "This just may be-"
Llume righted herself and returned to the communications console. "This is Llume of slash," she said
into the net. "I hereby resign my commission and become captive to the ranking remaining loyalist
officer of this ship, Skot of Etamin. Please allow the Ace of Swords to join the loyalist cluster."
Then she rolled across to Skot and turned off his discipline-box. "You are now in command. Orient the
box on me."
Skot, amazed, took the box. "You are betraying your kind?"
"No. I announced my captivity. The next in command will now assume coordination."
Sure enough, the net was already active. "I am Hammer of Quadpoint, Andromeda. I assume
command. Gather around my ship, the Ten of Disks. Truce holds."
Skot deactivated Melody's box. "Shall I tell her?"
"Let me." Melody crossed to Llume and put her hand against the Polarian hide, letting her aura
manifest. "Thank you for showing me your heart, sister," she said.
"I have been in transfer too long. I have become a true Spican Undulant." Then Llume glowed with
realization. "Melody! I brought you back! I chose you over my galaxy-and now I have you back!"
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