president in the company of a man he recognised immediately.
âRhun?â Zeven was startled to see him. âHow did you get here?â It seemed odd that the man had aged so much since last heâd seen him. Perhaps it was a disguise.
âSorry?â said the fellow in question.
âThis is Agent Zeon.â The president cleared up any confusion.
âMy bad â¦â Zeven suddenly realised this could not possibly be the man he thought it was. Wrong universe, he thought.
âZeon is the man the Timekeeper recommended to watch your back,â Anselm advised. âHeâs a strategist, which ought to come in handy. Agent Zeon, this is Starman, my new ââ
ââ crash test dummy.â Zeven held out a hand to Zeon, and his handshake felt like a bolt of positive energy. Zeven wasnât the only one who noticed the energy transfer; Zeon also had an inquisitive look on his face.
âThere is a transport waiting outside the office to take you both to the facility.â Anselm got straight down to business. âAs the test site is some distance from Heavensgate proper, youâll be staying for two weeks and then returning to the city for a week of R&R.â
âSounds good.â Starman had got his wish. âBut when I get back Iâm getting my own apartment, and car.â
Anselm was bemused by his decision. âIf thatâs what you want?â
âThatâs what I want,â Zeven replied surely, noting that Agent Zeon didnât look very impressed. âIs there anything youâd like?â he asked Zeon wondering about his new partnerâs discontent.
âIâd like last week back,â came the curt reply.
âGet over it, soldier.â Anselmâs reply was equally curt. âDonât make me doubt the Timekeeperâs faith in you.â
Zeonâs jaw tensed a moment, but then he nodded and seemingly accepted his assignment. âThe Timekeeper is never wrong, is she?â The agent sounded like he was reassuring himself on that count. Anselm nodded his head in agreement, in case there was any doubt.
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When the brief was completed, Zeven accompanied Agent Zeon to the transport that would fly them out to the facility. Zeon was walking very fast and seemed pissed off about something. Hence Zeven waited until they were seated alone in the back of their cross-desert transporter before saying anything to his new partner. âSo what did the boss drag you away from to come baby-sit me?â
Zeon was pacified by the way the question was phrased. âA beach on Frujia ⦠my first real holiday in ten years!â
âThat sucks!â
âYou bet it does.â Zeon clearly felt uncomfortable having the cause of his angst on his side.
âWe could find someone else if youâd prefer?â Zeven suggested, politely â offering the man an out now, before they fell out over the assignment.
âWhy are you so special?â The agent wanted to know before answering. âWho are you, Starman?â
âA pilot with a death wish.â He shrugged.
The agent leant forward in his seat to query in a whisper: âBut how do you know the boss ? Weâve been working with each other for years and I never got wind of you?â
âWell, Iâve known the boss for some time too and you were never mentioned to me either, Zeon,â Zeven reasoned, using neither Tarenâs code name nor her real one; if indeed Taren even knew what her real name was? âDo you have a first name, because Iâm not calling you Agent Zeon all the time ⦠Iâll feel like Iâm under surveillance.â
âMythric.â
âMythric Zeon?â Zeven consulted his memory. âNope ⦠the name is not ringing any bells for me.â
This man and Zeven had ruled a planet together in another life, another universe, and had been the staunchest allies and friends â why not here