He waved farewell as I turned to enter the 'copter. "Our thoughts go with you for your success," he said.
The Lyranian in my brain screamed and struggled, but I held him easily. I was his master, not he mine. There would be no sabotage on the Two Two Four. He wouldn't wreck my ship.
"Dan," I said as we went into orbit, "did Alex come aboard?"
"Of course."
"Where is he?"
"Down in the engine room, I suppose, or in his bunk. It's not his watch."
"Maybe you'd better check. But before you do—"
He waited for me to continue, and finally I was able to.
"Put Allardyce, Barger, and myself in the brig," I said. "Set a guard over us with instructions to shoot if we try to make a break. Then get Alex, if he's aboard. Frankly, I don't think you'll find him. They didn't need a ship's commander, a sociologist or a biologist, but they did need an engineer. Now get going. This is an order!"
Warren stiffened. "Yes, sir—sorry, sir!"