Deathstalker 04 - Deathstalker Honor

sort through her old belongings before the cleaning staff went in. There hadn’t been much to look through. Like all Investigators, Frost hadn’t bothered much with mementos or personal touches. A few books, all strictly military in nature. No photos, or letters, or memories. Just a small library of discs of her favorite music. Silence hadn’t know she liked music. It seemed too… tranquil an interest for her. He’d taken the discs away with him, to listen to later, when he had the time.
    He hadn’t been back in the cabin since then. No one had. He’d had the cabin sealed, ready for whoever took over as Investigator. He reached out to punch in the security codes, and then stopped as Carrion put a hand on his arm. Silence looked at him, raising an eyebrow. Carrion stared at the closed door, frowning slightly.
    “Not just yet, Captain,” he said quietly. “There’s someone in there. Someone, or something, very unusual. And very powerful.”
    “That’s not possible,” said Silence. “The door’s still locked, and I’m the only one who has the security code.”
    “Nevertheless,” said Carrion, “this room is already inhabited.” Silence drew his disrupter. “Stand ready.
    And watch yourself. Anyone powerful enough to override this kind of lock would have to be very
    dangerous.” “That’s all right,” said Carrion. “So am I.”
    Silence entered the security code, kicked the door open, and stepped quickly into the room. Carrion at his side. The lights were already on. A dark figure was sitting in Frost’s old chair, her back to him. She was little more than a silhouette, but something about her shape and posture seemed familiar to Silence.
    He lurched forward a step, a mad, impossible hope bursting suddenly in his heart.
    “Frost… ?”
    “No,” said the figure, turning around in the chair to face him. “It’s just me.
    Daddy.”
    The hope in Silence’s heart crashed and died, but was replaced almost immediately by a different kind of warmth. He holstered his disrupter and smiled at his daughter. “Hello, Diana. How the hell did you get in here? I didn’t even know you were on board ship.”
    “No one does,” said Diana Vertue. “Let’s keep it that way. No one must know I was ever here. I have enemies these days, more powerful and dangerous than I ever expected.”
    “Oh, hell,” said Silence. “Who have you killed now?”
    “Nothing like that,” said Diana. “I could cope with something like that.” “Hold everything,” said Silence.
    “How did you get on board this ship? No matter what excuse you used, security should still have alerted me.” Diana smiled briefly. “A girl has to have some secrets, Daddy. Let’s just say no one sees me anymore if I don’t want to be seen. Not even your ship’s esper or security devices. Now, do sit down, the pair of you. I hate being loomed over.” Silence and Carrion looked at each other, shrugged simultaneously, and looked around for somewhere to sit. There was only one other chair, so Silence sat in it. He was the Captain, after all. Carrion sat on the bed. They both looked expectantly at Diana.
    “I’ve been working on something new,” she said carefully. “Investigating the true nature of the Mater Mundi. And I’ve been digging up all kinds of interesting things. The one thing I’m sure of is that she isn’t what everyone thinks she is. She’s also somewhat mad at me for poking my nose into areas she feels are none of my business. In fact, she warned me off personally. I think she would have killed me if she could.”
    Carrion looked at her interestedly. “You stood off the Mater Mundi? I’m impressed.”
    “Maybe you should back off, Diana,” said Silence. “What’s so important about knowing the Mater Mundi’s true nature that’s worth getting killed over?” “I don’t know,” said Diana. “That’s exactly my point. What could be so terrible about her, so shocking, that she’s willing to kill to keep it hidden?”
    Silence shrugged impatiently. “There’s no point in asking me. I’ve never had any interest in esper affairs.
    What do you want from me, Diana? We’re leaving for the Darkvoid in just under six hours.”
    “That’s why I had to catch you before you left. I’m becoming increasingly interested in the nature of esp itself. How it does what it does. You two are both unique individuals. The Captain because he passed partway through the Madness Maze and emerged changed. And Carrion,