We all slept for about ten hours and then realized it was now nighttime. With a laugh, we all had 'breakfast' and then went back to bed. The next day, I sent a message to one of the asteroid smelting companies to find out their costs of basic structural members and metal sheeting. Compared to what we had paid in the Fogaris System, it was dirt cheap. I went a little crazy with it and spent a few thousand credits on buying construction materials and I didn't even have to go and pick it up. They sent a shuttle that dragged the shipment behind them with a tractor beam.

“It must be just a seat, a reactor core, a power converter, and a rear tractor beam.” Jelly said as she saw the stumpy shuttle drop off the shipment and take off again. “A tractor beam mechanism is huge.”

I chuckled, because the shuttle dropped the shipment off just outside my two mile range. “I haven't seen one yet, so I can't judge it.”

“You might find one when we go back and start doing the high priority wrecks.” Gleas said. She had let nothing in her mind or body indicate what had happened the night before and I had to admire that.

“I'm not really sure adapting either of the ships or even a shuttle to do what that thing just did would be of any practical use.” I said. “The pilot probably volunteered to fly the thing, just to break up the monotony of asteroid mining.”

Jelly and Gleas laughed, because they completely understood that point of view.

“Come on, Jelly. Now I do need a combat pilot.” I said and pat her shoulder. “Oh, and probably some securing struts and cable tie-downs.”

“Why not go all the way and use the mag-locks like we do to tie the shuttle to the Udelis?”

“We'll have to attach it to the side or bottom of the shipping containers, that way I've got room to work.” I said and we left the cockpit of the Udelis. “I only want to stop the things from floating away, though. Mag-locks might be a bit too secure.”

“Their inertia is going to hold them static for only so long.” Jelly warned.

I had to think about it as we entered the new ship. “Okay, I can take the mag-locks with me and then only use them after I take out the things I want to use.”

Jelly nodded and we went down the stairs and across the empty cargo bay. “It's so odd seeing this place empty.”

I chuckled and opened the hatch to the shuttle bay. “Don't get used to that feeling.”

Jelly nodded and we entered the shuttle and launched. It took me about an hour to very carefully drag along the huge shipment without making it gain too much momentum. It was weightless; but, it still had lots of mass. If I lost control of the shipment, it could crush the shipping containers, severely damage one or both ships, and probably destroy the shuttle if I wasn't careful.

I was very careful.

I secured it tentatively to the side of the shipping containers and then removed a little more than what Udelis and I had calculated that the network hub would need for its safety and cooling needs. I had been tempted to purchase a reactor core to install right away, then held off, because I knew that there was a good chance that I could find a good reactor core in one of the large alien wrecks.

Why buy when you can get it for free? I thought and used the mag-locks and cable ties to secure the shipment and took the things I needed to the top of the shipping containers and quickly laid out the basic structure for the network hub.

“You're building it right now?” Jelly asked over my suit com.

“I only have to attach the temporary power source and then the hub can be installed.” I said. “I told you it would be done by the end of the week.”

“But... we all took yesterday off by mistake...”

I laughed. “I can't wait to see what happens on the show tonight.”

Jelly didn't say anything for a moment, then she laughed, too. “Me, either.”

I used an actual plasma torch and welding apparatus to do the construction, instead of using my Light sword. I could have used the sword if I wanted to do it quick and dirty. I wanted it to last, though. It took about six hours to get the basic structure built to the design specs with the structural members, then I covered it in metal sheeting and left the space for the large double doors uncovered. Those I had to order, since I hadn't thought about salvaging a basic door system. We took a break for lunch and spent it with everyone, then I went back to work.

We had to make several trips back and forth from the Udelis to the shipping containers to get the rechargeable power source, the power runs, the mounts and ducting for the network hub's cooling requirements, and the double doors. I went inside the shipping containers and grabbed several deflector screens and mounted them in the appropriate spots to give the structure enough coverage to protect it. I spread recharging panels all over the outside of the shipping containers to gather as much ambient radiation and light that they could, hooked everything up, then installed the network hub in the center of the room.

“Okay, here goes.” I said and flicked on the power to the network hub and waited. Once it was fully powered up, I used the attached console and entered my command codes to activate the system. When nothing happened, I stopped myself from sighing, mainly because I needed to be patient and wait for it to boot up. No matter how fast the computing systems were, it still took time to become fully operational.

There were two blinking lights on the console for a few seconds, then they became solid. A second later, they started to flicker and a message appeared on the display.

Signals confirmed!

Satellites on network: 5 / 18 Pending messages: 0

I smiled because it was getting both the passive and active signals from the satellites. The active ones were the ones that had been taken from my room when Kalina left. I typed in a few things on the console to check over the satellites and had them do a diagnostic, then the screen showed that all of them were operating perfectly and five had been deployed. Thanks to Jelly's explanation about the military's communications protocols concerning using names and assigning personal com numbers when a message was being sent, helped Udelis and I adapt the same idea for this network.

“It's up and running.” I said happily and left the little airless structure. “Now all I need is a thousand maintenance robots programmed to construct the satellites for me and we'll be in business.”

Jelly laughed. “We don't even have one maintenance robot, and you know what they are like.”

I laughed, too. “Yeah, they can't handle the precision work.” I said and activated the deflector screens and floated over to the shuttle.

“Real and experienced hands are needed for the detail work.” Jelly said as I entered the shuttle and I closed us up. She pressurized us and flew back to the new ship and landed in the shuttle bay.

I guess that's why they haven't advanced robotics to that point. I thought as we left the shuttle bay. Maybe they wanted people to have the final say in the construction? I asked myself. Otherwise, we would have factories upon factories building other robots to do all of the work people do every day.

“You look deep in thought.” Gleas said as we entered the kitchen and it brought me out of my thoughts.

“I was just contemplating the value of hands-on work compared to complete automation.” I said and saw what was going on. “What the hell?!? You're cooking!”

Gleas laughed and waved me to sit at the table. “Yes, you've been tasked with this too much the last little while.” She said and gave me a smirk. “I thought you would appreciate some time off.”

I chuckled and Hailey came over to me and sat on my lap. “It's too bad that I can't take some time off.”

BEEP! BEEEEP!

“What is that?” Jelly asked. She had heard a lot of alarms over the years of working for the military and that was not one she recognized.

“It's for me.” Simone said and jogged across the room and checked the console. “YES!”

“Happy news?” I asked and she smiled at me knowingly.

“Guess who just popped up at a medical facility in the Varness System?” Simone asked.

I got a clear image of the man who had tried to assassinate me and I smiled. “How old is the information?”

“Three days.” Simone said after she checked it. “It came in on a freighter from the Granis System.”

“Then I think I will take some time off.” I said. “Hailey, I'm going into a very dangerous situation...”

“That's okay. I'll stay here with Beatrice and Sandy.”

“I don't have to explain, do I?” I asked and kissed her cheek.

“Make sure you raid their databases before you openly attack them.” Hailey cautioned me.

I laughed. “Are you my mission planner already?”

Hailey grinned at me. “You should take at least two personal shields with you, just in case.”

“You read my mind.” I said and she got off my lap. “After supper, Gleas and Deborah will pilot the Udelis, while Simone and I prep for what I need to do.” I looked at Jelly. “I'll need a combat pilot, too.”

“What's going on?” Gleas asked as she served us the meal she had cooked.

“When Luxea found that man who blew up the building on Chofaris, I tagged his digital signature.” Simone said with a grin. “I guessed that the next time he appeared, it would be somewhere important.”

“And you didn't tell me this because...” I asked, teasingly.

“In case it didn't work out and he never appeared.” Simone said. “You would have been worrying about it and wondering why it was taking so long.”

I couldn't refute that, so I nodded instead and reached out to put a hand on Jelly's arm. “I'm sorry that we have to delay your birthday party.”

“Wh-what?” Jelly looked at me in surprise, then she looked at the other women's faces. “What...”

“We'll have to wait a week, maybe more.” Gleas said. “Hopefully, this won't take too long.”

“It's three days travel to the Varness System on the Udelis.” Simone said. “Give or take a day. It's hard to estimate by just cutting the average ship time in half.”

I nodded. “We also won't know what the situation will be like or how long it will take to find where I need to go.”

“You might miss my birthday as well.” Gleas said and looked at the others. “I hope we can be back for everyone else to have theirs.”

“If worse comes to worst, we can have one big party and celebrate everyone's birthday together.” I said and the women rolled their eyes and two of them scoffed. “What is it?”

“A birthday is supposed to be your special day.” Hailey said. “If it's everyone's birthday at the same time, it's just another day and no one is special.”

I opened my mouth to respond, then took a bite of food instead and didn't say what I wanted to say.

Yes, keep those thoughts to yourself. Simone slipped into my mind.

I glanced at her and she smiled as she ate. We all enjoyed the meal and told Gleas that, then we had to prep for a short trip. We would plan for two weeks, just in case it took longer to establish surveillance on the assassin's base than I suspected it would. The problem was that they would be able to feel my Presence if I used Detect Presence. I was going to have to rely on technology and traditional techniques for infiltration and intelligence gathering.

We were packed and prepped an hour later and we gathered at the main hatches between the two ships. I knelt and gave Hailey a kiss goodbye. She held it a little longer than she normally did and then she gave me a pointed stare.

“I'll be back as soon as I can.” I said to her and she nodded.

“We'll keep her safe.” Sandy said and put a hand on Hailey's shoulder.

“There's lots of food and things to watch, so don't go anywhere.” Gleas said. “Lock the ship up tight and keep the deflector screens active.”

“Yes, Mother.” Beatrice said with a laugh and saluted badly.

“I said to stop calling me that.” Gleas said with a sigh, and we laughed.

The ships undocked and Gleas flew the Udelis out to the closest Lagrange point. The computer gave us the proper jump coordinates almost instantly and I chuckled. We had been so used to jumping for weeks at a time and waiting for a few minutes for the computer to work, that it was almost refreshing to get the coordinates so quickly and we didn't have to avoid any odd spacial anomalies. We entered hyperspace and headed towards the Varness System. I had a rough estimate of three days to get there, so I worked on making more satellites.

At my slower production rate, I could make three of them every seven hours, so that's what I did with an hour break for food in between. I made nine the first day and nine the second day, then I took a break for the last day and meditated and slept to get myself into peak condition. I was about halfway to getting my body back to the same state Allirynn had his in, so I was feeling particularly powerful by the time the ship came out of hyperspace in the Varness System.

“Are you sure we need an excuse to come here?” Gleas asked, unsure. “It looks like a normal system to me.”

“That's why.” I said. “Don't think about anything else except coming to see a recently admitted patient. It could be my missing father and we hope that the notice we received was from him.”

Simone managed to barely stop her wince at my 'missing father' comment.

I reached out and touched her arm. “I'm missing him.”

Simone sighed. “That's not the same kind of missing.”

I chuckled. “Then don't try to differentiate between the two. Concentrate on me actually missing my father and you'll be fine.”

Simone nodded. “Okay.” She took a breath and let it out. “I've been through Order checkpoints before.”

“We have a ship approaching.” Deborah said, a little surprised. “It's an Order scout ship.”

“Don't react unless they call us.” I said. “They're probably just scanning to see if we have anything illegal onboard.”

“I'm so glad you worked out all that stuff with The Order council, or the illegal thing would have been you.” Simone said.

I chuckled, because that made me remember running away on the long haul transport. “I wonder what happened to the long haul transport I escaped on?”

“Command confirmed. Ship registry#LH98S-6342T is in orbit around the third planet.” Udelis said.

“You're kidding!” I exclaimed.

“Command confirmed. I kid you not.”

“What are the odds that they would be here?” I wondered out loud.

“Command confirmed. Ship registry#LH98S-6342T was drafted for exclusive Order use. The odds that it would be in a main traffic system at the same time as this ship are six hundred and fifty-four thousand, three hundred and ninety-eight to one.”

“Ah... thanks, Udelis.” I said.

“We're being called.” Deborah said and turned on the communications console and accepted visuals. “Hello? Who is this?” She asked and leaned into the console's pickup closely so that her face was right next to it.

“Ah!” The man's voice nearly yelled and I held in my laugh at his startled response. “Um... ah... are... are you leaning into the console?” The man asked, his voice unsure, then he paled when Deborah frowned and spoke angrily.

“Do you have a problem with Jarnlings?” Deborah asked.

“NO! No, I... there's no problem.” The man said. “I just thought...”

“I thought The Order's mandate was that everyone is accepted and everyone is equal?” Deborah asked.

“It is. I apologize for my rudeness.” The man said as he started to regain his composure.

“Why are you calling?” Deborah asked.

“What is your business here?” The man asked.

“Why is that your concern?” Deborah asked and I touched her shoulder. “Well, it's not like it's a secret or anything.” She said and smiled, which made the man on the screen flinch at her distorted mouth. “There was a galactic notice that a nameless man was found and admitted to the hospital here on the fifth planet. We're coming to see who it is.”

“Why?” The man asked.

“Our passenger misses his father.” Deborah said and the man on the screen nodded slightly. “We're just confirming that this isn't him.”

Oh, nice twist there, Deborah. I thought and gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.

Deborah smiled again and the man on the screen flinched again.

“V-very well.” The man said and we heard someone off-screen say some gibberish. “You have been cleared to approach the fifth planet.”

“Why thank you!” Deborah said exaggeratedly and the man had to turn away from the screen momentarily. “Have a good day!” She said and cut the call, then we all burst out laughing.

“Oh! Ohhh!” Simone held her sides, because she was laughing so hard. “That poor man! Ha hahaha!”

“That was brilliant, Deborah.” I said and gave her shoulder another squeeze and let it go.

“I'm... saving that... to permanent storage.” Gleas said between laughs and hit several buttons.

“That was so good!” Jelly said and everyone calmed down. “I'm going to remember his 'disgusted while trying not to show his disgust' face for a while!”

“I think we all are.” I said. It was a bit crowded in the cockpit with the five of us there; but, I wanted us all present to witness the protocols that The Order used. “Gleas, take us in nice and slow. I'll drop off one of the satellites when we're in orbit.”

“Is one going to be enough?” Simone asked. “This system is huge.”

“We would look really suspicious flying around the system.” I said.

“What if there's a nice feature or something to check out?” Gleas asked.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Something like a solid ice moon or maybe a planet covered in volcanoes.” Gleas said. “We'll be in orbit in about two hours.”

I smiled and nodded. “Simone, get on the console and see if there's any local tourist attractions or a nice resort or something.”

“It will give us a reason to stick around for a few days as well, once we prove that this guy isn't your father.” Simone said and left the cockpit.