"But he doesn't know what's going on," Neverlin reminded him smoothly. "He has only Braxton's version of events, a version that won't survive beyond the next few hours. Don't worry, Colonel. Our story is the only one that will ever leave this place."
He turned back to the Valahgua. "The mission is still on, Lordhighest. Order your people to continue as planned."
"They will continue until death," the Valahgua promised. "What of Morgan and the K'da?"
"As I said, they won't be around much longer," Neverlin assured him. "Since Morgan was kind enough to warn Braxton about the Death, I notice his ships have scattered out of their attack clusters. While they're trying to figure out how to regroup to face us, we'll have the Backstop force come back and deal with the Essenay. Colonel?"
Frost pursed his lips but nodded. "Yes, sir," he said. "I'll give the order."
CHAPTER 30
"Oh, for crying out loud," Jack growled as, for the third time, the Advocatus Diaboli veered sharply away just as the Essenay was getting close. "Hold still, will you?"
"So that you can dock and get aboard?" Uncle Virge said. "Not likely."
Do you want me to try? Draycos offered. I know some maneuvers Neverlin won't be expecting.
Thanks, but I'd rather have you riding my skin in case they try the Death on us again, Jack said. Don't worry—he can't outrun us forever.
"Movement," Uncle Virge said. "Those five Djinn-90s ahead of us are looping back."
Jack looked at the display. The fighters were curving around, all right, heading back toward the Advocatus Diaboli and Essenay.
And meanwhile, the Advocatus Diaboli had just straightened out again. Straightened out very invitingly, in fact.
Draycos spotted it, too. He's trying to lure you onto a path that will give the Djinn-90s a clear shot, the K'da warned.
Just means I have to finish this before they get in range, Jack said.
But that was easier said than done. The Advocatus Diaboli kept backing away as Jack tried to get the Essenay close enough for a crash-dock. He kept half an eye on the bigger ship, the other half on the ranging data for the Djinn-90s scrolling across the navigational screen.
It was going to be close.
"Wait a minute," Uncle Virge said, sounding puzzled. "Something's wrong. Three of the Braxton ships have started in toward us again. On full power, too."
"Which three?" Jack asked.
"The big yacht and two of the Security ships," Uncle Virge said. "They're moving into attack formation."
Braxton's trying to draw away the Djinn-90s? Draycos suggested.
Jack hissed between his teeth. Yes, that was exactly what Braxton was trying to do.
The problem was, by the time they got into attack range of the Malison Ring fighters, they would themselves be within range of the Death. "Get me a signal to them," he told Uncle Virge. "Mr. Braxton? Yo—Mr. Braxton?"
"I'm here, Jack," Braxton's voice came. "Hang on—we're coming."
"Well, don't," Jack said tartly. "Didn't you hear what I said about the Death?"
To his amazement, Braxton actually chuckled. "Perfectly," the older man assured him. "It just so happens I have a little surprise for Mr. Neverlin. Suban, would you like to say hello to Jack?"
Jack frowned. What in the world—?
And then a strangely deep, strangely alien voice came over the speaker. "Hello, Jack," it said. "It is good to hear your voice again."
Again? "Who is this?" Jack asked.
"I am now called Suban," the other said. "But you knew me as Snip."
Jack frowned even harder. Snip? It sounded familiar. . . .
He caught his breath. "Snip?" he said. "You mean . . . Special Needs Phooka?"
"You used to rub my ears and jaw to calm my fears," Suban confirmed. "I am pleased you remember me."
Jack shook his head wordlessly. He'd left Snip and the rest of his fellow Phookas back on Rho Scorvi with the Erassvas who served as their hosts. "How did you get—I mean—?"
"We rescued them, of course," Braxton came back on. "A lost colony of K'da would have been far too tempting a target for Neverlin if he'd found out about them. We took them off Rho Scorvi, woke them up, and brought them along as a good-faith gesture of friendship to the K'da and Shontine."
He chuckled again. "Ironic, isn't it? All along I assumed we were the ones protecting them. Now, it seems, they're going to be the ones protecting us."
"And you all have them?" Jack asked, just to make sure.
"Everyone aboard these three ships," Braxton confirmed. "That's why we're the ones moving in."
"But how did you even know about them?" Jack asked.
"Later," Braxton said briskly. "Right now, I see that Mr. Neverlin has noticed our intentions."
Jack looked at the display. Three of the five Djinn-90s that had been on course for the Essenay had turned around again, heading back to intercept the incoming Braxton Universis ships. "Leaving us only two to handle," Jack muttered. "I guess that's better than nothing."
"It's a lot better than nothing, Jack lad," Uncle Virge said, a dark slyness in his voice. "One of those two ships is Langston's."
He'd barely finished the comment when the rearmost of the two approaching Djinn-90s blew the other one out of the sky.
"You're clear, Jack," Langston's voice came over the radio. "What else do you need?"
"Nothing," Jack said. The Advocatus Diaboli, its use as bait suddenly gone, twisted violently away again.
Only this time the maneuver was too late. "Just get yourself clear," Jack added as he turned the Essenay to follow. "Go hook up with the rest of Braxton's group and wait to help with the cleanup."
"What about you?"
The Advocatus Diaboli loomed directly ahead. Clenching his teeth, Jack turned the control yoke hard to the left.
With a horrendous grinding of metal the two ships slammed together. For a long second the Essenay slid forward along the bigger ship's side, still grinding metal.
And then, with a lurch that threw Jack hard against his straps, the Essenay came to an abrupt halt. "Hatches linked," Uncle Virge announced. "Or at least, close enough."
"Jack?" Langston called. "What are you doing?"
"We're going to destroy the Death," Jack told him. "I don't suppose you happen to know where they've got it mounted?"
"I saw them kill Harper with it, remember?" Langston said grimly. "It's in the forward bulk storage room: upper deck, all the way at the bow."
"Got it," Jack said. "Thanks."
"Good luck," Langston said. "I'll see you later."
Jack grimaced. "Let's hope so."
The Advocatus Diaboli shuddered with the impact, the distant scream of tortured metal echoing through the empty corridors all the way to the bridge. Alison winced, her ears throbbing with the screeching.
And then she was nearly knocked off her feet as the Essenay caught the larger ship's docking collar.
"He's here," Frost spat. "Sergeant, get a squad to the starboard docking station."
"No," the Valahgua ordered. "We go instead to the bow. Everyone goes."
"You want to give Morgan the run of the ship?" Frost demanded.
"He may have all that he wishes," the Valahgua said coldly. "When we stand beside the Death, we will release it from its mount and sweep it through everywhere else."