Dakota Allerson studied Raoul Gaines. Despite having to relocate to Valkyrie after the defeat of Zeta II in the final months of the war, the Dissenter leader was not the worse for wear. In fact, he seemed to be thriving. His black suit, allowing his paper white skin to stand out in brilliant contrast, was tailor-made, and his white hair had been recently cut and styled.

And Gaines had recreated his office perfectly. Seemingly random papers and files covered the large desk, one stack leaning precariously close to the edge. Crumpled balls of paper overflowed from the wastebasket, littering the floor. Everything in perfect disarray.

Dakota had been nervous when Margo asked him to accompany her to this meeting instead of Hugo. But Margo had been assigning him more important jobs over the past few months, and she wanted to leave nothing to chance. Not after the utter collapse of the Dissenter movement three months ago. Every single Dissenting planet and moon had been forced to rejoin the Republic, and tens of thousands were shipped off to the Atlas System. Worlds which had already gained their independence, Valkyrie included, were free to continue without Novateran interference. So long as they did not cause any trouble.

"Ms. Symms," said Gaines, his violet Zephyrian eyes no more than narrow slits, "it's so nice to finally finish our business." He flashed a sardonic smile, exposing his long canine teeth.

"I hope it was worth it," Margo replied as she handed him the memory stick containing all the intel Event Horizon gathered at the Peace Summit. Intel that was ten months old.

"Every iota is worth it, Ms. Symms. Just because data is old does not make it worthless. And who is this young man? Did you finally tire of the imbecile who couldn't keep his mouth shut?"

"You could say that. Now, the funds you promised me—"

"Will be delivered to the bank account of your choice. What is your name?" Gaines asked Dakota, studying him like a slide underneath a microscope.

"Nate."

"Just one name?"

Dakota glared at Gaines, his face an unreadable blank. A skill Margo had taught him.

"And how long have you worked for Ms. Symms, Nate Just-One-Name?"

"About a year."

"And why did you choose to work in transportation?"

Dakota's heart pounded in his chest. Why was Gaines asking so many personal questions? Margo said the man prefer anonymity. The fewer details, the better. He peered into Gaines's mind and was met with a blank wall. Nothing. Perhaps the man was in a questioning mood, given the fall of the Dissenters. Or maybe he was trying to verify a rumor.

Keeping his voice level, Dakota replied, "It chose me."

"Interesting. Do you enjoy it?"

"I get free food and a place to sleep."

"Two very important things. Not everyone in the Republic is so well employed." Gaines leaned back in his chair, drumming his clawed fingers on the desk. He fixed his gaze on Margo.

She sighed. "Do you have another job?"

"How perceptive of you." Gaines smiled wolfishly and pulled a file out of a desk drawer. "A simple transportation job. Two individuals need a safe way back to their homeworld."

Margo took the file, clearly pissed off that Gaines had pulled her into yet another job, and read the first page. All the blood drained from her face.

Dakota peered into her thoughts. He gleaned a few snippets of information despite her mental wall being up. It was a simple job. A brother and sister here on Valkyrie, who had been very active and vocal Dissenters, were seeking a low-key ride home. 

But the destination was trapped behind her wall. What was the point of having a seer if you did not let him do his job?

He glanced at Uriel, who stood right next to Gaines. Worry painted the guardian's face.

That's not good.

"Do you have any objections?" Gaines asked, leaning forward.

"Why would I?" Margo snapped.

"You are taking an awfully long time to read that file. Some aspect is bothering you."

"No," Margo said, her eyes fixed on the file. "Just calculating travel time, extra supplies. Event Horizon can only take one passenger for now."

"Good thing they're related and used to poor accommodations, then." Gaines flashed her another smile, reveling in her discomfort. What had caused her to work with this man, Dakota could not help wondering.

"The brothers can share a room," Dakota said. "If we need two rooms."

Gaines pointed a clawed finger at him. "See, now there is good help. Only speaks when absolutely necessary. So, what do you say, Ms. Symms?"

Closing the file and tucking it under her arm, Margo shook hands with Gaines. "Sounds like a deal. Regular pay?"

"For transporting two individuals? Be reasonable."

"Two individuals who were Dissenters a couple of months ago. With random checks, I'll be risking my entire crew if these people come up as red flags."

"I assure you they won't. But if it gives you peace of mind, I will pay you four-fifths. As well as a bonus on the intel you just delivered," he added, seeing Margo scowl.

"Fine. Nate."

Dakota followed her to the door, grateful to be leaving. The meeting had not gone as planned, but it could have gone much worse.

As they exited the office, Gaines called out, "And goodbye to you as well, Nate. People like you are hard to find."

And what does he mean by that? Dakota wondered as anxiety crept into his mind. Everyone on Event Horizon had kept his secrets. No one even mentioned his abilities or his real name unless they were in the middle of nowhere. 

Had Gaines somehow recognized him as Dakota Allerson, the wanted seer from Dionysus? He reviewed every question the man had asked him, wondering if he had accidentally given away important information. 

No. Just generic answers. Nothing to indicate his real identity.

"With any luck," said Uriel, "you won't be doing any more business with Gaines."

"I hope you're right," Dakota said under his breath.

"What was that?" Margo asked.

"Our mutual friend doesn't want us taking more jobs from Gaines." It had seemed pointless to keep Uriel a secret from the crew. They already knew he was a seer. Why not know about his guardian angel?

Margo replied with a curt nod.

They exited the sprawling office complex and headed for the Mag-Lev train station without a word. The rail line cut straight through the dense area of skyscrapers, many of which rose a hundred stories in the air. Native foliage decorated the platform, as well as a sign declaring that the city's conservation society had commissioned the project. The green plants were turning reddish-brown in the autumn weather. 

At least a hundred other people waited on the open-air platform. A hundred people with every complexion in the Republic. Neither Dakota's bronze skin with blue eyes nor Margo's dark hair and eyes with fair skin stood out. They were just two faces in the crowd, one of two reasons he actually enjoyed being on Valkyrie. 

The train to Halsarlan, the city where the rest of the crew was enjoying a much-needed vacation, arrived a few minutes later. Dakota and Margo boarded, paying the ten-credit fee, and sat in a window seat near the back. Advertisements for local businesses were displayed on either side of the window, changing every thirty seconds. 

Once the train was on its way, Margo asked, "How do you feel about going to Dionysus?"

An icy chill ran down his spine. He had not set foot on Dionysus in over two years. Horrific dreams of destruction and chaos plagued him ever since that vision on Bedlam. Rowland's crown dissolving into ashes. Cantara telling him that he should not be there. And worst of all, watching himself shake hands with Myrddin, the Dionysian lord smiling.

But what if they really are in trouble? Dakota scanned the news once or twice a month, searching for information on Dionysus. The searches came up empty more times than not. Since the planet had remained loyal, Novatera had little to say about it.

"Is that where the siblings need to go?"

Margo nodded, her face grim.

Dakota took a deep breath, steadying himself. "How many stops do we have to make before arriving?"

"Depends. There are a lot of independent worlds in that Quadrant. Not all of them friendly. Do you want to be dropped off and picked back up?"

Every bit of logic in Dakota's mind screamed at him to say yes. It was better to be safe than sorry where Myrddin Graiko was concerned. Better to hide out on a world that held no sway with the Republic than risk falling into the Dionysian lord's hands. Instead, he replied, "No. We both know what happens if you arrive without me."

She let out a frustrated sigh. "Damn."

"When will you tell the others?"

"This evening. Once they've had their fun." Margo paused, her dark eyes trying to read him. "Are you sure about this?"

"I can't run forever." Cantara and her father and brother stared at him in shock. The crown, along with the entire Imperial gardens, turned to ashes. Dakota shook his head, forcing the images away.

"What did you see?"

"Nothing new. Can I look at the file?"

"Knock yourself out." She handed it to him. "We won't arrive for another hour."

Dakota touched the file. A variety of emotions flooded him. A bizarre mixture of positive and negative. Gaines delighted to be given more information to store away in his mind. Not in his files and office. In his mind. Residual emotions from the woman who gave the information to Gaines, wondering if she could trust him. The pain of loss, of working so hard only to watch everything you built crumble into dust.

Opening his eyes, Dakota read the scant information on the siblings. Kallista and Erik Emerson, both in their late twenties. Both high ranking members of the Zeta Secunda branch of the Dissenters despite their youth. There were no pictures. The last paragraph explained that the siblings would identify themselves to Margo at the Halsarlan Spaceport when they arrived there at noon tomorrow. Not a minute later.

There were no instructions for when they landed on Dionysus. Dakota figured that Gaines already had another person there, waiting to give them details for yet another job. A high paying one that they would be foolish to refuse.

Dakota placed the file on the seat between him and Margo and glanced out the window. The mountainous landscape rushed by, ridged peaks that altered the horizon every second, backdropped by a cloudless, pale blue sky. He had never seen mountains until arriving on Valkyrie. He never imagined they were so green and wild and beautiful. If only he had more time to enjoy them. 

He waited for Margo to speak, to fill the silence surrounding them like an invisible bubble. But she was too lost in her own thoughts.