Yoeke and Hal were relaxing in the galley. The rockets were performing flawlessly, and they were heading to the center of the galaxy, guided by the new sensors Widhbo had installed. Even as they continued to accelerate in speed it would take a good while to reach their target.

Etaine had brought subjects with her to the planetoid, an entire military company along with an assortment of servants and kitchen staff. All had stayed behind with her and Bethon.

"What's this in my stew?" Yoeke asked his server. The small reptilian figure scuttled away without answering.

"Don't ask. It doesn't taste that bad," Hal said, slurping up a spoonful.

"Arrgh! It's moving."

"Then eat it before it gets away," Hal said. "Pretend you're camping, Yoeke. Eat whatever you have."

"I'd rather go hungry."

"Suit yourself. It won't taste any better tomorrow."

Widhbo teleported to their table.

"I wish you'd stop that, Widhbo," Yoeke said. "It gets to be really annoying."

"It's my mode of transportation, get over it, Sergeant," Widhbo answered. "I think Etaine is up to something. She's in the command center with Bethon."

"And what do you suggest we do about it?" Hal asked.

"Nothing we can do. At least Bethon is here so if she does something crazy it's on his watch," Yoeke said. "I'll not take responsibility for anything."

"She said something about teleporting the entire planetoid. I just thought you'd want to know." Widhbo disappeared.

"That would take an insane amount of energy," Hal said. "Widhbo? Come back here."

"I suppose we'd better check it out" Yoeke said. "I don't trust anything Widhbo says."

They walked into the command center. Bethon was adjusting some control dials. Etaine was lounging on one of the padded stools, her lower body in reptilian form.

"Hello, Admiral... " Hal hesitated, "Widhbo just informed us the plan has changed."

"It has," Bethon replied without offering any further information.

"It would be nice if we were kept in the loop," Hal persisted. "Something about teleporting?"

"Teleporting will save valuable time," Bethon said. "And we're about out of time, Hal."

"You've got to be kidding? You're going to teleport the entire planetoid? What will that do to the shield?"

"I've asked Widhbo to make allowances. It should hold."

"I don't like the idea, Admiral," Hal said. "We won't have enough power to teleport and support the shield properly."

"Sag Leggan gave us enough energy to power the rockets and hold the shield for a small eternity. The BakoNaat can provide what we need to teleport this lump of rock from the very ore under our feet."

"We have been busy mining the ore and should have enough by now," Etaine added.

"I still don't like it. This shield is untested at best," Hal said. "Now you're adding another factor."

Etaine coiled her lower body around to look at Hal. "It isn't your decision."

Hal bristled in response but kept his voice calm. "Are you making the tactical decisions for us now, Etaine?"

Etaine smiled sweetly, "Nice to see you again, Hal. Yes, it's my idea. I ran it by the admiral of course."

"The longer we wait, the stronger and more organized he becomes," Bethon explained. "The sooner we get there the better chance we'll have of surprising him."

Yoeke was was silent.

"What's wrong, Yoeke?" Etaine asked.

"We're doomed. We haven't got a chance," Yoeke wailed. "We will all wake up in the belly of that demon, if we wake up at all."

"That's no way for a brave garwolven to talk," Etaine chided.

"No, but it's what needs to be said. This was already a dangerous mission," Hal said. "Now it's suicide."

Etaine shifted her color to a shade of purple in agitation. "It's gets rather tedious listening to all the grumbling."

"Think about it, Bethon. You've never tried to move something this size by teleportation before," Hal said. "Does Lord Anakron and the others in the alliance know about this? Would they approve?"

Bethon stopped checking his instruments and turned to face Hal. "Stop arguing with me. I've made my decision."

"Are you going to threaten me with a flogging if I don't?"

Bethon laughed. "You've gotten crosswise with Munaci I see."

"I was born crosswise with him. He despises humans. All humans, by his own admission."

"He has strong opinions on the subject. Unlike Munaci, I find your kind to be quite agreeable, especially when you learn to behave properly," Bethon said with a discerning look at Hal.

"Even if you have to beat us into submission?"

"I've never flogged a human. They're so much easier to control than the other species, it wasn’t necessary."

"Really?" Hal replied with a smirk.

"Yes, really. I've never failed to reach an understanding with a human when in my voldarkan form."

"Hal, what the Admiral means is that you tend to be more reasonable once it's clear who's in charge," Etaine said. "Look how easily he managed to control us when we first arrived."

Bethon turned back to the console. "You are proving more difficult than some, but even your stubbornness pales in comparison to... say an aranga's."

"I'm not being stubborn. I'm stating the obvious," Hal protested. "This is a high-risk mission and you're complicating it with yet another gamble."

"You see, you're being perfectly reasonable," Etaine said.

"An aranga with your attitude would have attacked someone by now, Hal." Yoeke said. "Munaci is a study in temperance compared to the feral aranga who once roamed this galaxy. The admiral had to be rather harsh with them at times."

"I just want to go on the record to say you're jeopardizing this mission," Hal said and turned to leave.

"I'm weighing one risk against another," Bethon said. "Surprise is on our side this way. You may be forgetting the demon has assimilated entire ship loads of BakoNaat, including the magi and adepts on board. They will allow him to evolve even faster."

"I still don't like it."

"You're dismissed, Hal," Bethon said. "Yoeke, make sure everyone on board is locked into warp position for safety. I've set the coordinates and will sound the siren before we teleport.

"I'll be at the navigation station if you need me," Hal said. "If I had known we'd be doing hand-to-and combat with this thing, I would have spent more time in the sparring ring. I'm a little out of practice"

* * *

Yoeke had joined Hal and Widbo in navigation. He had rigged some makeshift straps to lock them in place. The warning siren blasted. A few minutes later the planetoid shook and quakes went through the complex.

"It's going to tear us apart," Yoeke said trembling as the whole building shuddered. He let out a moan of despair. "Widhbo, I thought I'd never say this, but I'd feel much safer inside your magiton body."

"And you would be.” Widhbo answered. "Too late now. I'll pull you and Hal in as soon as we arrive."

"Don't forget we'll be taking Bethon and Etaine with us too," Hal said.

"How could I forget? It will be such an honor to transport a queen. My first. I suppose Etaine will want all her little reptilian servants to come along."

"Oh joy," Yoeke said. "Separate us into private quarters, please. I can't stand the little beasts."

"That's the least of our worries, Yoeke," Hal said. "We have to knock the demon past the event horizon, even if it means we go in with him."

"Don't remind me, Hal," Yoeke managed to say. his tongue thick with fear.

The shudders died down and their surroundings came back into focus. Looking out they could see a few rifts in the rocks and the industrial complex sat at a funny angle as the ground beneath it had shifted.

"Hold on, I'm checking the shield," Widhbo announced. "It seems to be intact and I'm advancing it to double strength. My sensors show we are practically on top of the demon's ship."

Widhbo pulled Hal and Yoeke inside. They tumbled into the small round room inside the magiton body.

"I hate to admit it, but I'm truly grateful to be here, Widhbo," Yoeke said.

"You're most welcome," Widhbo said.

"I'll save my appreciation for later," Hal said. "Right now let's do this. How can I help?"

The interior transformed into a control station with a viewing screen.

"Monitor the shield and look for any breach or change in power fluctuations. Anything at all that's suspicious."

"Got it." Hal said.

"I hope the planetoid doesn't crack open," Yoeke said. "It's not safe. Just look at the industrial building. It could slide into the trench opening up over there."

"It only needs to hold together a little while longer," Widhbo said. "I'm going to join Admiral Bethon and see how I may further assist him."

"It's just a rank, Widhbo," Yoeke said. "Don't fall all over yourself trying to impress Bethon. I was just pulling your chain earlier. I'd rather stay a sergeant forever than die a captain in the belly of a demon."

"It's not whether we live or die, Yoeke," Widhbo said. "It's the mission that counts. That's more important than our survival. I understand now why you’re still a sergeant.”

* * *

Etaine was gazing out at the light show as the shield danced and shimmered. "It's beautiful," she said.

"I'm starting up the rockets again," Bethon said. The ignition was not as smooth this time and the planetoid lurched slighty with the impact of all the rockets thrusting at full power.

"Reporting for duty, Admiral," Widhbo said settling in a niche on the command center console.

"Gather up Etaine's staff and get ready to pull us all in," Bethon ordered. "As soon we know the planetoid is on target, you can take us home."

"No, darlling." Etaine's voice was soft and seductive. "Widhbo doesn't need to get my staff. I won't be going with you. Only take Admiral Bethon, Widhbo."

"Etaine! What are you saying?" Bethon was incredulous.

"I'm staying. I know now what I must do. I saw it earlier in my vision, but now I see it as my reality."

"Do what? What do you mean?" Bethon jumped to his feet and grasped Etaine with both hands.

"I have to stay. This won't work. The demon can feel me through the shield, just as I can feel him, so cold, so evil."

"Curses! The empathic abilities go through," Widhbo said. "I didn't plan on Etaine being with us and didn't test for it. The guardchevs don’t block empaths apparently."

"I knew it. We're all doomed," Yoeke moaned listening from inside the magiton.

Bethon put his arms around Etaine, "I won't let you stay here. It's certain death. What purpose could it possibly serve for you to sacrifice yourself to this thing?"

"I'm not sacrificing myself. I'm the Ghost Queen of the BakoNaat. The devourer is BakoNaat too. He has assimilated three of my ships and he is more BakoNaat than anything else. They can't attack their own queen, so neither can he, at least not with the BakoNaat portion of him. I now rule the largest part of him."

"Leave it to Etaine," Hal said from within the magiton body. "I hope she's right."

"Etaine is making perfect sense for a change," Widhbo said.

Etaine kissed Bethon and pressed into his arms, her forked tongue playing about his lips. "I'll always remember you like this, holding on to me, not wanting to part."

"I hate to interrupt, but the demon’s coming around the shield,” Hal shouted. “He's going to dodge the planetoid!"

"We have to go," Widhbo pulled Bethon inside without asking his permission. "Goodbye Etaine. Good luck."

Bethon was disoriented, but soon collected himself enough to get to his feet again. He hammered the bare wall with his fists.

"Etaine! No! Widhbo, let me out of here."

"You can't help her, admiral, but I can." Widhbo said. "Etaine, you have to change your trajectory before you get to the event horizon. Mirror the demon, go opposite of him. You'll need to orbit the center just as he's been doing. You can feed off its energy indefinitely. I'm sending you the coordinates you'll need to adjust the rockets and correct your course. Do it now."

"Thank you. I have them," Etaine replied. "It's going to be fun."

"Widhbo, pull her in with us," Bethon commanded.

"My darling Bethon. Don't worry about me. I can adapt to whatever hostility he throws my way. It's what I do best. I must fight evil with evil."

"My dear, sweet Etaine, come with us," Bethon pleaded.

"You wouldn't want me like this. I'm changing again, just as I saw myself in the vision."

Widhbo flashed an image onto their viewing screen inside the magiton body. Etaine's form was morphing into a full serpent, growing dark with black scales. Her eyes glowed red and green vapor trails surrounded her body. She spoke again, her voice taking on a raspy, quality that echoed through their small chamber.

"I can stay here for an eternity and hold him at bay, He can't attack his queen or even leave with the BakoNaat portion. He'd have to split himself in two. That would weaken him considerably. I would assemble my BakoNaat army and destroy him. He's focused on me now because I'm the only real threat he's found."

"We have to get out of here," Hal said. "Nothing's going to keep the demon from attacking us."

"Preparing to teleport to the Moz Lidule now," Widhbo said.

"No!" Bethon shouted. "Etaine, why?"

"Because I have to, darling." Her voice grated painfully on his ears as it grew even less human. "Goodbye."