*That will be fine. Enjoy the trip--I must endure this reception for Duke Shirley. Until your return, thakur-na.*
*Until then, Thakur.* The contact ended, and Nevan grinned up at his captor. "Satisfied, Major?"
"Perfectly, warrior. And I will accept your offer of a ride." Owajima holstered his gun, then undid Nevan's bonds. "I have wished to meet you for some time; I regret only the circumstances."
Nevan sat up, rubbing his wrists. "Same here, maybe more so. I was after you in particular because my bio-father left you his personal weapons when he died last month."
"Oh? Knowing Sandemans, I assume there was a reason."
"Uh-huh. He was the one you gave need-release to on Piper's World."
"Ah." Owajima smiled. "I should not have broken cover to do so, but I had seen one warrior die that way when we were prisoners of the Traiti, and I could not let another go through such agony unaided."
"That's what he told me, not long after I finished my agent's training. Do you need to get anything before we go?"
"No. Had you been the enemy I originally thought, by now you would have been dead and your ship confiscated for my trip, to be turned in to the Navy at the Antarctica base. My things are already aboard."
Nevan chuckled. "Good thinking. Unnecessary, since this baby already belongs to the Navy, but I like the plan." He led the way to his ship's control room, got clearance for takeoff, and set course for Terra. Then he escorted his guest to the ship's small lounge. "I've followed your career for a long time, Major," he said, getting coffee for each of them. "It's been brilliant--at times incredible. Like getting into this ship without leaving traces."