He gave a hug to Quinn and Giles in turn.
The entire command crew stood at attention. Felipesegundo looked at them all and started to say something else, but then, with a small shake of his head, turned to walk off the command deck.
***
The whole crew of theMaracaibopacked the command deck to watch on the main screen as a cutter arrived from the battered Treb ship to pick up Felipesegundo and take him to theStella Maris. There was an audible sigh from the gathering as the cutter docked with the luxury liner. As if a signal had been given, members of the crew drifted back to their duties.
“Well, there goes one of the most remarkable people I’ve ever met,” sighed Giles moodily. “I wish him all the best, the clever little sod.”
Aria wiped a tear from her cheek. “He taught me so much,” she said softly. “When I lived the life of a noble lady, servants were…well, they were part of the background. I never gave them a second thought. I wonder how many of them had hopes and dreams like Felipesegundo.”
“That’s the problem when you live in a way that treats people like objects.” Quinn shook her head sharply. “That came out too harshly. You’re not living that way anymore.”
“Thank you, Quinn,” said Aria, surprised. “For what it’s worth, I like my new life much better.”
“Good,” said Jack.
“Incoming transmission from theStella Maris,” announced the comms operator.
“What? On screen,” ordered Jack.
Felipesegundo’s face filled the screen.
“My dear Treb, I know that we miss each other, but this is still unexpected,” said Jack with a smile.
The alien’s face was filled with concern, however. “This one is glad to talk to you, but not for this reason, good Captain.”
Jack sat up straight in his command chair. “What do you mean?”
Felipesegundo frowned. “As we discussed, our people are scanning theStella Maris, bow to stern. They have discovered something that concerns you.”
“Go on.”
“In sweeping for signals and homing beacons, our people have discovered a signal that is beaming your location.”
“From theStella Maris? How is that possible?” Jack frowned.
“No, my Captain. The signal is coming from theMaracaibo.”
“What?” burst out Giles and Quinn.
“Are you telling me that there is a tracking device on my ship, broadcasting where we are?” demanded Jack.
“This one is afraid so, Captain. We can’t determine to whom this signal is being broadcast, but it is powerful enough to reach several systems,” replied Felipesegundo.
“Dammit,” Jack muttered. “Okay, my friend. Can you send the metadata on the signal’s specifications to us, so that we can locate it from here?”
“Of course. And then we must be on our way.”
“Thank you, Felipesegundo. It appears that I owe you once again,” said Jack.
“The pleasure, and the debt, will always belong to this one, Captain,” replied the Treb, and the screen winked out.
There was silence for a moment as the figures on the command deck all looked at each other.
“Do we have the metadata and the specs from Felipesegundo?” Jack asked the comms officer.
“Yes, Captain.”
