Bradley Johansson stood beside the big coupling on the first wagon, looking up at its dusty yellow and maroon shell. A single connector cable dangled from beneath the coupling, its end almost reaching the ground; it was as thick as his torso.

“We’re basically ready to go,” Adam said. “All the equipment and vehicles are loaded. The old brute is so heavily armored even it will have trouble carrying the weight.”

“And if it does get hit?”

Adam grinned, and patted the cool metal chassis of the front wagon. “The armored cars make the final dash through to Half Way. I’ve got it all covered, Bradley, stop worrying. We will make it.”

“All of us?” Bradley asked quietly. He glanced at the Guardians swarming like acrobats over the gantries around the nuclear-powered engine. There wasn’t one of them over thirty-five.

“Most of us,” Adam said.

“I fear the dreaming heavens will be welcoming a lot of friends this coming week.”

“You know, I never did get that part of your philosophy. Why give the Guardians their own religion? That makes it look even more like a cult.”

“I didn’t. I’ve been to the dreaming heavens, Adam. It’s at the far end of the Silfen paths, a place where noble demons fly through an endless sky. I was cured there.”

Adam gave him a judgmental look.

Bradley’s e-butler told him Senator Burnelli was calling.

“I’ve been in a meeting,” she told him.

“Forgive my lack of surprise, Senator, but that’s what politicians do.”

“Not meetings like this one, we don’t. You’ll be happy to hear you’re almost legitimate now. We want to bring you in, Bradley, you and the Guardians.”

Bradley opened the call to Adam as Justine explained what had been decided at Nigel Sheldon’s mansion.

“The Starflyer is the same family as the Primes,” Bradley said. “Well, in all the dreaming heavens, I never knew that. It does make sense, though. I remember its interest in the Dyson Pair right from the start.”

“Do you know where the Starflyer is?” she asked.

“No, but like you, we believe it will try and get through to Boongate.”

“It can’t. However, we are going to let it think it can. If its train approaches the gateway, our squad will bag it.”

“A honey trap. Good idea.”

“You’re at the Narrabri station already, aren’t you?”

“Now, Senator, you know that’s not a question I’ll answer for you.”

“But we want to join forces. You must have established procedures for this very moment.”

“We are certainly prepared for most eventualities.”

“Well then, we stand a much better chance if we combine our operations.”

“Forgive me, but after being hunted like a diseased animal for a hundred and thirty years, it is understandably hard for me to welcome the hounds into my house.”

“You have my word this is an honest offer; Nigel Sheldon’s word, too. I can put you in contact. You can hear it from him personally.”

“I appreciate that. However, there is one way you can settle the problem of trust.”

“Yes?”

“Kazimir McFoster was carrying some data for us when he was murdered at LA Galactic. We believe you may have it.”

“I do, yes.”

“Excellent. If Paula Myo delivers it to me in person, then I will truly know the Guardians have come in from the cold.”

“How about if I deliver it? Surely that would prove our goodwill?”

“Please understand, if it is the Investigator, I can be absolutely certain. I believe in her honesty. It is the one true constant in a very uncertain universe.”

“But you don’t trust me?”

“Please don’t be offended, Senator. It’s just that habits, both good and bad, become ingrained over a hundred thirty years. And I am a creature of habit.”

“Very well, I’ll see what I can do. But listen, CST is searching Narrabri station in case the Starflyer is already in place. If the security teams close in on you, for heaven’s sake call me. The last thing we need is for us to be shooting at each other.”

“Thank you, Senator. I am not so prideful as to risk everything we have achieved on a point of stubborn principle. If we are in trouble, I will shout for help very loudly indeed.”

“I’ll get back to you.”

Bradley smiled, his eyes focused on the far end of the shed. Adam groaned in dismay, resting his forehead on the huge steel wheel. “I can’t believe you just did that. Paula Myo? You’ve got to be fucking joking. As soon as she sees you or me, she’ll blow our brains out. She has no choice; her DNA won’t let her do anything else.”

“Nonsense, Adam, you must have more faith in human nature.”

“She squealed on her own parents, for God’s sake.”

“They weren’t her parents, though, were they? They were her kidnappers.”

“Oh for—We had it. We were there. Burnelli was offering us legitimacy, and you blew it. So much for not being prideful. Damnit!” He slapped the wheel in frustration.

“Adam, Adam, have you no negotiating skills? Investigator Myo is the opening gambit. It would be lovely if she did agree, but I expect we’ll wind up with a two-minute call from Nigel Sheldon or some other high-placed player.”

Adam groaned again, sounding like an injured animal. “I don’t need this extra stress. I really don’t.”

“It won’t be much longer, I think we can both be sure of that.”

The CST exploratory division wormhole at Narrabri station followed the usual layout: An isolated building away from the commercial sector, where the big environment confinement chamber was grafted onto the gateway. The Operations Center and all the associated support team offices formed a protective honeycomb around the outside.

Paula stood on the floor of the environment chamber waiting for the wormhole to be aligned. Nigel stood at her side, his mouth raised in a soft smile as he looked at the fuzzy bubble of air that was the force field capping the wormhole.

“Always gives me a buzz,” he confessed to the Investigator. “People just take this for granted so much these days, nobody appreciates the technology and energy sitting behind a gateway.”

“Making the extraordinary appear commonplace is the ability of true genius.”

“Thank you, Paula. Tell me, would you consider marrying me?”

“You ask me that every time we meet.”

“What do you answer every time?”

“No thank you.”

“Ah well, I’m sorry. And I won’t wipe this time from my memory. You must think me appallingly boorish to have done so before.”

Paula gave him a sly look. “If you ever did.” The slight flush above his collar was confirmation enough for her. “What did Heather say about the Starflyer infiltration?” she asked.

“Let’s just say she’s not a very happy person today. Christabel helped her save some face with the precautions she’s already instigated. Good move on your part alerting her.”

“It was Renne Kampasa who knocked on the door.”

“The one who died on Illuminatus?”

“She suffered bodyloss, yes.”

Nelson and Mellanie walked into the chamber. Paula was about to greet them when another woman came through the open airlock. She walked carefully, balancing on platform shoes that added over ten centimeters to her height. Paula froze in surprise.

“This is Tiger Pansy,” Mellanie said. She sounded proud, as if she was introducing a sister who’d made good.

“Real pleased I’m sure,” Tiger Pansy said around her gum. She smiled at Paula. “Hey, I know you, you’re that famous Investigator, right. I was wanting to play your character in Murderous Seduction, but Jaycee gave it to Slippy Gwen-Hott instead. Shame, that.”

Paula had absolutely no idea how to reply. She looked at Nigel for guidance. He seemed indecently pleased at her discomfort.

“Delighted to have you here, Tiger Pansy,” Nigel said with perfect civility.

“Oh, wow, it really is you.”

“This,” Paula sputtered at Mellanie, “this is the person you found for Qatux?”