Jejliard had put in a busy day and was finishing up when the lights flickered. "Good time to quit for the day," he thought putting down the detailed schematic of the spaceship interior plans he was working on. He couldn't resist one more look over his sketches for crew's quarters, a galley, and an infirmary. Dreams of future space travel, he once thought impossible in his lifetime, were now a reality and within his reach.

There was no way Jejliard would hand this ship over to General Colberton. He could not allow it to be used in warfare. The ship was large enough by his calculations to accommodate a hundred people or more if laid out efficiently. He wanted to make it self-sufficient. They would need to be able to grow their own food using hydroponics and a water recycling system. He made a few rough sketches.

"I'm not sure how feasible this would be," he mused aloud to himself.

"With a few changes it would work," The voice came from behind him.

Jejliard turned to find himself face to face with Widhbo. Not Koutou the minacaw, but the full seven foot tall and white feathered Widhbo. HIs face was flattened like an owl and almost human in appearance. Jejliard was looking at a glowing energy form in the shape of a ancient bird known as a spoerl eagle. These creatures used to live at high altitude and avoided contact. with civilization. So rarely were they seen, they were rumored to be a mythical creature. Only drawings and a few fossilized bones remained to verify spoerl eagles ever existed on Beldora. He jumped back in surprise.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to startle you," Widhbo said. "I thought you were expecting me."

"Uh, I was expecting Koutou actually. Thanks for coming." Jejliard struggled to regain his composure. Widhbo was every bit as disconcerting as dealing with Gengor."Where is Koutouo?"

"Koutou is sound asleep over in the research building. Let me see your plans."

Jejliard laid them out on the console.

"Yes. Hmm. Ambitious, but I like them," He fiddled with the notes and rotated a couple of drawings. "Yes. Alright. I can do it. I can't make the plants grow faster than their genetics will allow, but consider it done."

"Done?"

"It'll take a few days. Don't be so impatient. I'm a little rusty. Haven't worked on a project like this in a hundred or so years."

"You're going to do all this?"

"Of course not. The ship will," Widhbo put the plans aside and picked at his feathers. "I promised Tajlon I'd make him a couple of mechs to help out in his lab too. I'll need several truckloads of ore with a little help from our friendly armada."

"I'm trying to process what you just implied. You can do all of this in a few days?"

"I'll program the ship tonight and start tomorrow. We'll need the ore right away. Why don't you knock off and catch a few winks? I need to speak to my prisoner alone."

"Certainly. About him, Gengor has been on perfect behavior today."

"And why are you telling me this?"

"I thought you'd want a status report."

"I know his status and suspect he's trying to wriggle into your good graces. Forget about him. He's none of your concern."

"He is when he's beating down doors, creating chaos and making a scene."

"He won't be bothering you again. I plan to throw him off."

A loud shout came from the console. Good! I accept my punishment," Gengor said.

"I'll have to add spying to your record of transgressions, Gengor."

"I'm guilty as charged. Now throw me off before you change your mind."

"It might be wiser to smuggle you out while the ore wagons are rumbling around tomorrow."

Jejliard couldn't stop staring at the form Widhbo had chosen.

"What are you looking at?" Widhbo asked.

"Spoerl eagles have been extinct since before I was born."

"The logical conclusion being I arrived here before then. So sad. Such magnificent creatures. It literally saved my life by just existing, by being in the path our ship when we entered your dimension. If not for this life form, I would have perished. I honor this noble bird by taking its form. It lives through me now."

"Indeed, it does," Jejliard agreed. "I'm very glad you survived, but I'm curious. Why did you tell Tajlon everything?"

"You mean why not tell you?"

"That too."

"I have my reasons. Tajlon was young and receptive. More useful at the time. Let's leave it at that."

"He would have told me. You made him keep it a secret."

"He has a good head on his shoulders. You should be proud of him."

"I am. But I don't like the idea of my young son being manipulated by strangers."

"I'm not a stranger. I'm a total alien to your dimension. I once was an enforcer of the law and considered... generally trustworthy. I was even on good terms with the Ancients."

"Who might the Ancients be?"

"They rule this galaxy, all galaxies actually. But that's another bedtime story. It's late and I have a lot of work to do."

"I'll hold my questions for now."

"How considerate. Off you go then."

* * *

Jejliard found Tajlon setting up cots inside the research building. "Looks like we've had a demotion."

"I'm sure we'd be welcome on the ship, but we can get more work done if we stay here," Tajlon replied.

"I saw tents Colberton brought in for the work crews."

"I explained we'd rather bed down in here to keep an eye on everything, " Tajlon said. "Did you meet Widhbo?"

"Yes, I did." Jejliard said. "You're not going to believe this, but he said he can finish the ship's interior to suit me in a few days."

"I want to see that," Hal said coming through the door to join them. "It's quite a little walk from here to your beach and back, Tajlon. Soshe says she misses you by the way."

"I miss her too," Tajlon ran a hand through his hair, pushing some unruly strands from his face. "At least she's not stuck here."

"So, you were saying...," Hal said to Jejliard.

"He's requested several loads of raw ore. Apparently, the ship can be programmed to use the ore as building material," Jejliard added.

"Now I really want to spank Tajlon for keeping this under wraps," Hal said. "Think of the time and work we could have saved over the years."

"I'm a little too old for spankings," Tajlon replied.

"I could just kick your ass then."

"I'd like to see you try." Tajlon threw a bedding roll at Hal who caught it and tossed it on his cot.

Jejliard laughed. Tajlon was generally easy going but becoming more assertive lately. He interrupted them. "I want to figure out a way to keep Colberton from being suspicious of our progress. I don't want him to know how fast this ship will be repaired or when it's operable."

"I'll tell him you can't be disturbed," Tajlon offered.

"Oh yeah. I can see Colberton going along with that," Hal said. "Not to mention a few wagons loads of ore disappearing into the wreck."

"Widhbo's building some machines called mechs. I assume you know what those are, Tajlon." Jejliard said.

"I have a general idea," Tajlon said. "A couple of them working for us in the lab would distract Colberton's attention."

"You genuises figure it out. I'm getting some shut eye," Hal said and crawled into his sleeping bag

"What do you plan to do with the mechs here?" Jejliard asked.

"Build whatever we want," Tajlon said. "We need transport vehicles. Why not build something which could go between the surface and the ship but disguised as a sort of hovercraft. I'm thinking a design similar to a Nodda would work, except adapted for space."

"Intriguing. Let's all get some sleep so we can get an early start," Jejliard said.

* * *

Tajlon was too excited to sleep very well. Widhbo was actually going to help them go into space. If he could flesh out an entire ship in a matter of days, Tajlon was certain that Widhbo could build a mech before noon. He slipped out of his cot and was out of the building before dawn. He'd promised Mara he would stay away from the wreck and felt guilty as he walked up to the door. He took his knife handle and tapped it against the metal as quietly as he could to get Widhbo's attention.

"How quaint. Come in, Tajlon," Widhbo said to him telepathically.

"I don't know the combination," he replied in kind.

"Here it is. I lifted it from your father's memory."

The combination simply appeared in Tajlon's mind. He opened the door, closed it behind him and found Widhbo who was busy programming. Gengor was nowhere in sight.

"Dad's not going to like you reading his mind.

"Who's going to tell him?"

"He'll figure it out soon enough."

Tajlon gazed at the maze of grid work, walkways and railing inside the wreck.

"This is pretty amazing."

"Your father has put together an ingenious plan to fill in the space and make it cozier."

"He has a good eye for design," Tajlon agreed. "I've actually come to ask a favor."

"I know. I'm working on it now, programming your shiny new toys. It would really help to have some raw materials in here."

"What do you need?"

"Metal, rocks, ore."

"What about your friend? He could carry a lot."

"Too risky. He might be spotted," Wdhbo said. "I believe you met earlier."

"Yeah, we kind of got off to a bad start."

"I'm really very proud of Gengor. Going off this ship should have killed him, but he figured out how to evolve and survive on his own."

"That's pretty impressive."

"I'm proud of me too," Gengor said. "I'm a smart daglyr."

Tajlon looked around for the disembodied voice.

"Too smart for your own good," Widhbo chided.

"There's a big cart sitting on the dock they used to load the tents and supplies earlier," Tajlon said. "We could use that."

"Wouldn't they notice if it went missing?" Widhbo asked.

"Maybe, but they'll all asleep right now. Colberton has boats guarding the island, but I didn't see anyone on the dock. We could use it to haul some rocks and then put it back."

"Alright. Gengor," Widhbo said, "Go with Tajlon and do exactly as he tells you. Don't get caught."

"And if I do get caught?" Gengor asked.

"You've simply escaped and are causing trouble as usual."

"They'll shoot him" Tajlon warned. "They won't wait for explanations."

"Then don't get caught."

Gengor materialized in the middle of the metal platform. Tajlon had seen him before, but he looked much larger standing so closely.

"You're a big fellow, Gengor," he said. "Remember to move really slow and try to slide your feet. No stomping around outside."

Tajlon led the way out the door of the wreck. Gengor had to duck his head and was barely able to squeeze past the new door.

"They didn't have me in mind when they installed this new door," he said.

"The plan was to keep you inside," Tajlon replied. He pointed out the cart to Gengor and they rolled it down to the rocky shoreline. Gengor supplied the muscle and Tajlon steered.

"Just fill it up with the rocks here. We need to be back on the wreck in half an hour before the sun's up."

Gengor worked as quickly and quietly as possible, loading the cart to capacity.

"It won't fit through the door," Gengor said.

"We'll have to unload it through the doorway."

Gengor squeezed back in the wreck with the cart parked in front of the door.

Tajlon passed the rocks he could lift to Gengor until there were only a few larger ones left in the cart. He was startled by a guard calling out from the dock and running toward him.

"Gengor, hide," Tajlon whispered. It was near dawn and apparently everyone was coming on duty. Several other soldiers ran to join the first.

"What's going there?" the first guard asked shoving a gun uncomfortably close to Tajlon's chest.

"Didn't General Colberton tell you we would be working at all hours on this project."

"We're under orders to inspect all activity. I want to know what you're doing," the guard replied.

"You're just in time to help me finish loading these heavy ass rocks," Tajlon said.

"What are the rocks for?"

"We need them for raw materials,"Tajlon hesitated. "This thing doesn't run on normal fuels."

"It uses rocks?"

"That's our best guess so far. We'll be needing several tons of ore and rock for testing. Could you put in a request to General Colberton for me?"

"That's a lot of rock, kid."

"We need enough to lift this thing into orbit. How much do you think it should take?"

"I think this whole thing is crazy, but I'll request it for you." The guard peered inside the ship and asked, "Who's helping you in there?"

"I am," a voice called back. A man looking and sounding like Hal appeared in the shadows of the ship's interior. "We need that ore as soon as possible soldier. We're on a tight time schedule."

"Alright. Carry on. I'll request the ore." The guard waved the others back and left them.

The image of Hal disintegrated and Widbho took form in his place.

"That's a good trick," Tajlon said.

"I know a few. Let's have a little fun and build your mechs."

* * *

The sun was coming and Koutou woke Hal from his sleep. He perched on the covers and started preening. Hal opened his eyes and blinked a few times.

"Why aren't you talking?"

Koutou was silent.

Hal sat up. "Koutou?"

The bird looked at him without interest and picked at another feather.

A flash of light and the bird popped his head up with a jolt.

"Good morning, Hal."

"What just happened?"

"I've been working on the ship all night. Something must have woken him up before I got back."

"This is going to take some getting used to."

"Give me a break. This is the first time I've slipped up in twenty years. I didn't plan to work all night."

"I'm impressed, but I'm guessing you won't be getting any rest today. There's still have a lot to do."

"I'm not complaining. It's the most fun I've had in years."

"First, tell me how you got in here."

"I teleported. I thought that was obvious."

"Okay then. Wait. Where's Tajlon?" Hal saw Tajlon's cot was empty. Jejliard was in his and starting to rouse.

"Tajlon is playing with his new toys."

"The mechs?"

"Yes. He is also training Gengor and getting some work out of him too."

"And Gengor would be...?"

"The creature you were chasing yesterday that ripped the door to pieces."

"You left Tajlon alone with him?" Hal sat up and forced himself wide awake.

"He's fine, Hal. You know I wouldn't put Tajlon in danger."

"I know no such thing."

"Tajlon has some really good ideas. He handled the guards well too."

"What guards?" Jejliard cut in.

"Oh, good morning, " Koutou said.

Jejliard held up a hand. "Where's my son?"

"Learning to operate the mechs I made for him. You should get your work done much faster now," Koutou said. "I've done my part."

"What are the rocks for?" Hal asked.

"Extraordinary as I am, I can't make things out of thin air. I need raw material of some sort. The ship can use almost anything to its purpose."

"Tajlon's been on the wreck?" Jejliard asked.

"It's not a wreck anymore and she has a name now. I call her Sora," Tajlon said as he walked in. "Sorry, Dad, I couldn't stay away any longer. Sora's amazing and I really love your plans."

"Mara will be on the war path." Jejliard said. "But right now I'm more concerned about Gengor. We can't let Colberton find him. Where did you leave him?"

"He knows to stay on the ship," Koutou said. "I'm going back there now so Koutou won't be look like an idiot without me. I have a reputation to consider."

"Oh, you have a reputation alright," Hal said.

"Wait until you see them, Dad," Tajlon said. "Everybody's attention will be on the mechs. We had enough material to build two of them."

"And Hal, if anyone asks, you helped Tajlon load rocks this morning," Koutou said.

"Sure, anytime," Hal said and laughed. "I'm liking this."