The wait was unbearable.

Bregg paced back and forth in his office, often casting glances at his wristpad.

They’d been gone for two hours, but still he had not heard from them.

He’d been avoiding the bridge. There was nothing there for him. Nothing but questioning looks and startled expressions.

Too many of his crew were starting to wonder what they were doing here. Ferris had warned him this would happen. He only had himself to blame, he knew.

He also wanted to take the call as soon as it came, which would be quicker if he didn’t have so many people around him.

But it grated on his nerves.

Why did it take so long?

His wristpad beeped and he quickly looked at it.

He had received a message from Juden.

“Can’t talk. Coming back.”

Quick and to the point.

Though he wondered why the man couldn’t talk.

Were there too many ears down there?

He grunted as he marched out of his office, slamming the door behind him. The sound startled some of his crew, but he paid them no heed.

Ferris looked at him as he approached.

“Anything new?” asked the colonel.

“No, sir. Not yet. I—”

His console bleeped, and he turned his head to consider the display.

“The shuttle is coming back.”

Bregg nodded. “Have Juden report to me as soon as he arrives. I’ll be in my office.”

“Sir...”

The colonel paused in his movement, looking at his second-in-command.

“What is it?”

“Can we talk? In private?”

Bregg grunted. Was he going to chide him over his actions again? He had half a mind to say no. But Ferris was his only friend on this ship... If you could call that friendship. It had been, once upon a time. Either way, he didn’t want to antagonize the only person who might still be on his side.

So he nodded and walked to his office.

He heard Ferris following him.

The lieutenant closed the door behind him.

“What is it this time, Richard?” asked the commanding officer as he sat at his desk.

“I’m trying to understand what this is all about...”

“What does it matter?”

Ferris frowned as he walked up to a chair and sat across from his old friend.

“You’ve changed, Adam.”

“Don’t we all?”

“This is different.” The younger officer rubbed his neck thoughtfully. “I noticed it when I was first assigned to this ship with you. It had been a few years since I’d seen you. I didn’t think much of it at first. Thought maybe you were just having a bad day. But it’s been months now, and you’ve only grown more sullen.”

“I don’t have time for this, Richard.”

Ferris lifted a hand, which made the other man frown.

“No. You will hear me out. As a friend. We are still friends, aren’t we?”

Bregg grunted and gave a sharp nod. “Fine. But I can’t have this conversation without something to drink.”

He stood and walked to a nearby bar, where a collection of bottles was on display. He poured whiskey into two glasses as he listened to the other man talk.

“I’m not sure what happened to you, but I can only assume it was something destructive to send you down this spiral. I’m worried about where it will lead you. You know as well as I do we shouldn’t be chasing this ship. Our mission is to monitor and to protect. If you really are concerned about that ship, you should have sent a report in, and let a more competent person handle this.”

The older man came back with the two glasses and handed one to his friend, who took it with a nod. The colonel sat back in his seat and sipped from his drink, not saying a word.

“Talk to me, Adam! What is this about?”

Bregg thought about his options.

He’d met Ferris at the Academy, when they were both still students. They shared a common passion for space, the stars, the unknown. They had become quick friends. But then, after graduation, they had been assigned to different posts and had lost sight of each other. It was only a few months ago that Ferris had come on board to replace his previous lieutenant.

Ferris knew nothing about what Bregg had endured. How could he? It was not public knowledge. The Imperium had made sure of that.

The colonel sat back in his chair, twirling his glass.

“My career is over, Richard. It doesn’t matter what I do. I will never be anything more than a colonel. And I will never get off this damned ship. This is it. The peak of my career.”

Ferris frowned. “How can you say that?”

“Because it’s true.” Bregg shrugged. “I messed up. Bad. At least, that’s what I’m told. One mistake. Just one little mistake. And the rug was pulled from under my feet. I’ve become a bug in the eye of the Imperium. A bug they can’t crush, because that would be even more inconvenient, so they sent me away. To the rim. Where they can forget I even exist.”

“I don’t know that I can buy that. But even if it’s true, how does that have anything to do with that ship?”

This was not about trust. He knew Ferris was a good man, with a good heart—just like he had been, so many years ago. But he also knew his old friend would not approve of his plan. So how could he confide in him?

No, there was only one thing he could do.

“I need to redeem myself,” he said. “If I can bring this ship in, I just might be able to get a clean slate.”

The lie would not hold very long, but it would buy him some time. Maybe enough to set things into motion.

At some point, he’d have to come clean with his friend, but not before it became too late for Ferris to stop him.

He could see the younger man was not buying it, though. So before he could say anything more, Bregg lifted a hand—much like the other had done earlier—and played his last card.

“Just trust me, Richard. You can do that, can’t you?”

The other stared at him, then nodded. “Very well. But I hope you know what you’re doing.”

So do I, thought Bregg bitterly.

As the lieutenant walked out, Juden stepped in.

Bregg jumped to his feet.

“Finally! Why did you not contact me earlier?”

“I tried, but nothing would go through. The weather down there is atrocious. It disrupts everything. I barely managed to get that text out.”

The colonel grunted and waved the matter away.

“Well, what are the news? Did you get the ship?”

“Afraid not. It was gone when we got there. Barely missed it, from what I understand. They’re only ten or twelve hours ahead of us.”

Bregg smiled.

It had been a while since he’d smiled.

It felt nice.

They were getting closer.

But after his chat with Ferris, he understood he’d need to be more careful. This required some changes.

“Juden. I need you and your friend to chase that ship for me.”

The other man quirked a brow.

“You’re not doing it yourself anymore?”

“No. You will do it for me. Your ship is smaller, which should help you catch up with them quicker.”

“That’s smart thinking. What do we do when we get it?”

“You said you could store it away. Do that.”

Juden nodded. He was about to walk away, but he paused and looked back at the colonel, tilting his head.

“What about the passengers?”

Bregg frowned.

“I just want the ship. Nothing else. Do what you must.”

“Understood.”

With that, Juden walked out.