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“Which means that this vessel and whoever it holds must have been following very close.” Truzenzuzex could not believe his own conclusion, far less what he was seeing. “But that makes even less sense. No one can track or follow a KK-drive ship through null space. This is not possible.”

Tse-Mallory inhaled heavily. “My friend, we are in a place where the not possible is made real. Like you, I begin to doubt the evidence of my own senses.” He turned to the nearest pickup. “Ship, is that truly another vessel we are seeing? Or could it be a corrupted duplicate of yourself, or an optical illusion generated by something in our surroundings?”

“It is another vessel.” As ever, the Teacher's reply was cool and assured. “A transport of Commonwealth origin. The externals and markings suggest a commercial craft of advanced design.”

The two scientists exchanged a long look before a grim-faced Tse-Mallory addressed the ship again.

“Destroy it.”

“I cannot do that.” The shipmind sounded almost sympathetic even as it was unyielding. “Only Flinx, my master and guide, can give such a directive. It is one of many security measures installed at his command.”

“Cannot the command be overridden if he is in imminent danger?” Truzenzuzex wondered tersely.

“There is no evidence that this new arrival presents any threat to him.”

Tse-Mallory ground his teeth helplessly. Even the most advanced AI could be damnably literal. “Why else would this craft have followed us here?”

“I believe we are about to find out. They are hailing us now. I will saturate the transmission.”

A communication holo appeared in the appropriate spot near the forward console. The image that formed was that of a middle-aged man. He did not look particularly threatening, Tse-Mallory thought. That meant nothing.

“Ship,” the man declared, “stand at rest to receive visitors.”

Tse-Mallory took it upon himself to reply. “Thanks just the same, but we're a little busy right now and we've no time for company. Who are you? How did you discover the plasma tunnel? What do you want here?”

By way of reply the man offered a thin smile. “All questions will be answered in due time. If you refuse to allow us to board, we will fire upon the radiant sphere that contains the individual Philip Lynx, perhaps better known to you as Flinx.”

Tse-Mallory found himself stunned into silence. This was madness! How could they know that Flinx was inside the luminous red orb? Between its softly pulsing brilliance and increased opacity it was impossible to peer within, far less see that it presently held a single individual.

“Ship,” Truzenzuzex declared, “the new arrival threatens your master! I say again, obliterate it!”

“I cannot.” The Teacher's tone was almost sad. “The threat is purely verbal. In any case, the visitor has halted itself on the other side of the luminescent orb precisely in line with our present position. At this point any unleashing of my weaponry in the direction of the new arrival would risk striking the sphere itself. I confront too many logical contradictions and practical difficulties to respond as you request.”

“Then ask Flinx! Inform him of the changed state of affairs and ask him what you should do.”

“I cannot,” the ship responded. “When the visitor first manifested itself I attempted to do just that. He is right there before me yet completely out of reach.”

The two scientists conferred anxiously. “We're going to have to allow these people to board, s!!laksk,” Truzenzuzex insisted. “We will engage them in conversation. Whatever they want, we can and will keep them occupied for as long as possible.” He indicated the incandescent crimson sphere. “It is evident that Flinx has succeeded in initiating a process of some significance. We must not allow it to be interrupted.”

“Flinx has to know what's happening,” Tse-Mallory muttered.

“You heard his ship, my friend.” Antennae bobbed restively. “He is out of contact with us. These visitors, whoever they are, want to come