Greyla stood facing Hal. "Why didn't you tell me about Etaine?" she asked.

"It made no difference. You were out of control and not responsible for anything you did," Hal explained. "It's history. I've forgotten it already."

Well, I doubt Widhbo will ever let me forget it," Grelya said. "I don't know half of what I did while I was Etaine."

"You were a lot fun actually, until you ran into Widhbo on the bridge. Your mental status began to deteriorate after that."

"So, are you saying I was more fun as a ghost?" Greyla asked.

"No right answer there," Hal said with a shrug.

Greyla's face hardened, her cheeks flushed in irritation. "Try me."

"Um, I liked you better as a cloud than a snake?" Hal offered.

The door to their compartment opened silently and HT423047 entered. "Sorry to interrupt, but we have secured the individual known as Tajlon. We thought he might be more comfortable if his companions were present when we unlock his program."

"Sure. Take us to him," Hal said, "I could use a change of scenery right now."

"I just hope Tajlon's alright," Greyla said rushing toward the door.

"What's wrong with him?" HT423047 asked, pointing to the glowing cocoon in the corner which was Widhbo.

"Nothing. He's taking a little time out. It's a bird thing," Greyla said. "More of a Widhbo thing, really."

"He's a highly evolved energy being. Why does he think he's a bird?" the hologram asked.

"Your guess is as good as ours. It was the first form he took on entering our dimension,” Hal offered. "Do you need to wake him up?"

"His presence is not requested. Did you witness his arrival on your planet?"

"No, just stories about the island chieftain who did. It's how he adapted to our dimension. Widhbo has been in some sort of bird form ever since, except for when he was in the leopard... "

"So, he was a leopard too?" the hologram asked.

"Yeah, a leopard, off and on. The leopard ate the bird... it's a long story," Hal said as he went out the door behind them. " Can we go see Tajlon and discuss this another time?"

"Certainly." HT423047 led them back toward the interior of the ship. The hallways were spacious and laid out in an organized manner. It would be easy enough to find your way around once one was oriented to the ship.

"I thought you were supposed to dissipate," said Greyla to the hologram. "But here your are."

"I was instructed to remain in order to provide some continuity for your party. Do you recall me saying I would dissipate?"

"Yes. I do. A lot of things are coming back to me," Grelyla replied.

"Do you recall being Etaine?" HT423047 asked with concern in his voice.

"Bits and pieces. Why? Do you fear I'll backslide into my ghost?"

"You've been scrubbed. It isn't possible," the hologram said. "You must be re-constructing memories from what your companions have told you."

"Well apparently it is possible because no one told me you were supposed to dissipate," Greyla said. She came to a standstill. The angry flush returned to her cheeks. "Have you been spying on us?"

"No comment." The program turned back to his task and continued on his way.

Greyla turned toward Hal and mouthed 'no comment' behind the hologram's back.

"How much farther?" Hal asked, giving Greyla a sidelong glance and placed a finger to his lips. "This is a really big ship you have."

"We're almost there. Admiral Bethon himself is waiting for you." When HT423047 mentioned the admiral's name, he straightened himself and adjusted his uniform projection, adding crisp crease lines to his trousers and button-down cuffs on his sleeves.

They went down a side passage and entered a large hexagonal room. It appeared to be a lab. The prison module from the Sora was suspended over a large worktable. A series of lights were twinkling on a control console to the far side. The power grid on the floor looked similar to the bridge of the Sora where simulations interfaced with reality.

A handful of magitons, in human form, surrounded the table in a semi-circle on the far side. A rather large individual stood in the central position by the console. He was wearing a highly decorated battle jacket. The man towered in height over his companions with a commanding countenance.

HT423047 came to attention and saluted the admiral, who acknowledged his presence with a brief nod. Once Hal and Greyla entered the room, the hologram proceeded to introduce them ending with. "This is Admiral Bethon, commanding officer of our ship, the Moz Lidule. "

Greyla tensed. She sensed a darkness in his character which felt predatory, not unlike what she had experienced on the Sora. She shook the feeling off, refusing to accept the idea. She couldn't trust her frayed nerves under the circumstances.

"We will proceed now," Bethon said. "Do either of you know the combination to the lock of this prison unit?"

"No. Sorry,"Greyla said. "I wasn't privy to any of this."

"Only Jejliard would have known the combination," Hal answered.

"No matter. We should be able to break the code soon enough," Bethon said. "Could there be any traps?"

"None that we know of. I don't think it's very likely," Hal replied. "A situation such as this was not anticipated."

"We're putting up the shields up just in case," A thick, clear panel rose up from the floor on all sides between the worktable and area around it. "Why exactly did he lock up his own son?" Bethon queried.

"Not sure. It was quite a shock," Hal said.

“Oh, I have an idea," Greyla spoke up. "Tajlon didn't approve of Jejliard's decisions and confronted his father quite often. He wasn't the most obedient of sons and could be quite critical of Jejliard at times. When we decided to return with Tajlon to Beldora, Jejliard was furious with him from that moment on."

“There was a lot of friction and Jejliard even sent troops, trying to stop us from going. I suppose it got worse from there,” Hal admitted. "But it wasn't until Tajlon had to kill a mutant copy of his father in self-defense that things turned ugly."

Bethon stiffened and gave them a stern look of disapproval. "Mutiny is a serious offense. Any actions taken by the captain of a vessel under such circumstances are completely justified."

"Widhbo was our captain, actually. He had no objections to our leaving," Greyla said. "Jejliard was more of a first mate, though I recall he did argue that point with Widhbo on one occasion."

“Conditions on the ship were pretty bad. None of us would have had made it in mortal form if we had stayed on board the Sora,” Hal explained. “It would have been suicide.”

Their conversation was interrupted by a technician using a mechanical arm suspended from a boom to work on the lock. “A combination won’t help, Admiral. The lock’s been melted, sealed shut.”

"Apparently someone wanted him locked up for quite a long while," Bethon surmised. "We'll have to force it open. Try not to damage the contents."

Bethon's words sent a chill through Greyla, not only for her concern with Tajlon's well-being, but she sensed the predator in him once again. Bethon's desire to get at the contents of the cell was palpable, a sensual craving. It didn't feel human.