Gaze Read Free Page B

specialists will be here shortly to back up the medical teams.”
    “Excellent. As soon as I get a full decontamination, I will request permission to come on board.”
    “Good. I hate surprises. Do you have food preferences?”
    “I can eat just about anything. I would like to thank you in advance for your hospitality.”
    “It is simply part of my duties. Nothing more, nothing less.”
    There was silence for a moment. “Then, I thank you for your attention to duty.”
    Gwyn laughed. “It is no trouble. We had no other plans.”
    “Are there others on board the ship?”
    “There is myself and the ship. Should there be someone else?” Gwyn smiled. She was used to the Guardians forgetting about the ship itself before they got on board, but the ship didn’t let them forget it after they were within the confines of her hull.
    “I will respect the honour of your hospitality.”
    “Thank you. Now, what kind of games do you like to play? I have nineteen board games and several card decks from all over the imperium.”
    They got into a discussion of the varieties of checker-like games, and before she knew it, there was a medical team docking with the station. She ran scans to make sure that all of the staff were who they said they were. Convinced that they were who they said they were, she watched the scans as people were moved into treatment clusters through the atrium, clumped by their relative health.
    It took twelve hours before the first of the ill parties began to rise and stagger around the space. More ships with better equipment arrived. They set up clean rooms for the workers to rest and installed air scrubbers to remove the traces left in the environment. It was a hard thing to sterilize an occupied station, but it seemed they were making headway.
    An airlock ran a sterilization protocol, including a blast of heat that should have killed the occupant. “Guardian Shiver requesting that the Blue Fairy dock for boarding.”
    “ Blue Fairy complying. Docking at port sixteen.” Gaze eased the ship into position and settled the seals.
    “Acknowledged. Proceeding to the entrance. Sterilization protocol is complete.”
    “Appreciated.”
    The seals locked, the link pressurized and she opened her hatch to the new Guardian.
    Shiver walked in, waited while her ship’s systems ran a complete purge on him and then strode onto the decking of the Blue Fairy.
    The ship sent her avatar down to lead him to the command deck while Gaze detached the hatches and prepared for launch.
    “Nitza, I have possession of Shiver. Where am I taking him?”
    “Thank the stars. I was worried. I am giving you coordinates. He is on his way to officiate at a wedding. Better get a move on, you have a long way to go in a very short period of time.”
    “I will. I hate to be late to a wedding. Blue Fairy and Gaze, engaging in transport.”
    “Acknowledged. Advise me of arrival.”
    “Will do. Gaze out.” She disconnected the com link, letting the Fairy fall completely away from the station. Once out at a safe distance, she took the coordinates and mapped the destination through three systems and around the edge of a nebula.
    Footsteps sounded behind her, and she turned her head. “Welcome to the Blue Fairy .”
    The armoured form stepped lightly for such a huge bulk. “I thank you, Blue Fairy and Gaze, for your offer of hospitality.”
    Gwyn smiled. “You are most welcome. The avatar you followed is the Fairy’s personal representation. It changes now and then, but she usually zips around the ship in that bright ball of fun.”
    The ball in question hovered in front of the armoured suit; only the dedicated vision of a true seeker could see the tiny figure inside. It was fun to see the reflection of the glowing blue in the golden armour.
    “I shall look forward to her presence. Now, shall I remove my helmet or do you prefer me to converse this way?”
    She chuckled. “Dress yourself in any way you like. I wear this bodysuit because I