Myitt nods vigorously. "Yes, it's a good idea to keep your computer here with us. They shouldn't be able to detect whatever we keep on the ship we have cloaked here."
Matthew nods, still a bit shocked from what Ossanlin had just told him. "Right, I'll go get it," he says faintly, and he retrieves the holocube with mechanical slowness, returning it to Myitt. He then holds up the faux Escafil device. "You're positive this thing won't explode and kill everyone?"
Myitt turns Matthew's cube computer around in her hand, anxiously. "Yes. It's designed only to render those in its range unconscious."
Matthew glances at Claxter, then back at Myitt. "What if this Zorish chick wakes up before I do?"
"Don't worry, we'll retrieve you and Hadrin as soon as the detonator goes off. We can't risk losing you or Hadrin, and the whole point of this thing is to capture Zorish. We'll make sure she's subdued." Myitt smiles reassuringly.
<I'm telling you, they must have classically trained you bunch of slugs as actors,> Tara says with a mixture of concern and admiration.
<Well, it's the truth. We really are going to make sure they're all accounted for. I can't risk anything disrupting our operations just for Terenia's sake.>
<Yeah, but Myitt, what if Zorish decides to let Hadrin do the talking and watch from orbit?>
<I know, I've considered that. We just have to hope that they stay where they are.>
"Myitt?" Matthew asks hesitantly.
Myitt blinks and looks up at him. "Right. You'd better get moving. We'll be watching, okay?" She hastily gives Matthew an arm's length hug and leads Matthew to his SUV.
Matthew climbs in and starts up the car, rolling down the driver's side window. "Here goes nothing," he calls, setting the mock Escafil on the passenger's seat and driving off down the county road.
Myitt watches him drive off. "Let's just hope that ship is still on the ground," she murmurs.
---
Hadrin notices a flash of light down the road and spots the dark shape of a Jeep SUV driving towards the shack. He steps out from the doorway and waves his arms.
Matthew pulls off the road and parks the Jeep, climbing out with the Escafil device in his hands.
"Gerald, I'm Justin," Hadrin says, walking over and extending a hand. "Thanks for meeting me. I feel like this is something out of a cheesy mob movie, from the location." He glances back at the shack. "Do you live here?"
Matthew shakes Hadrin's hand. "Hi, Justin. Yeah, well, I just don't trust anyone seeing us. This thing drew quite a bit of money on that auction."
"Of course," says Hadrin, reaching into his uniform pocket. Everything he said was being transmitted instantaneously to Zorish's ship nearby. "And here is your money." He holds up a large folded bunch of cash. "Five-thousand. You can count it if you want. Now give me the device."
Matthew, playing the part, looks skeptically at Justin. He takes the money and flips through it, not really counting. "It's all here. But what's with that outfit, man? You look like you've been watching too many episodes of Deep Space Nine. You're not from the government, are you?"
Hadrin smiles blandly. "You won't be followed, if that's what you mean." He holds out a hand. "The device. Now."
Matthew hands him the fake Escafil. "Fine. Take it."
Hadrin quickly turns and starts walking away, toward the cloaked ship, behind the shack. In his free hand he holds up his comm link. "Sub-visser," he whispers, "I've got the device. Open the exterior hatch."
Matthew takes a few steps back, opening the driver's side door to his car. "Oh Jesus," he whispers, bracing for some kind of impact. He stands there, hiding behind the open door.
