and were escorting them in when the explosion
took place. The whole front of the ship was blown away, and the Guard
flier was knocked into the ground. They say it had to be a conversion
bomb. The crystal cloud fell in a perfect circle and what remained of
the ship showed the perfect disruption of a conversion plasma circle.
It was no accident, it was murder!"
76 North put his hand to his face, fighting to control his emotions.
"The crew of the Guard flier," he asked, "what's their status?"
77 "Seriously injured," The Commandant replied, "but they'll survive."
78 "Will you do me the favor," requested North, "of contacting my uncle
and telling him to see to their family's needs while they are
recovering? They are friends."
79 "Consider it done," agreed The Commandant.
80 "Has my wife been told?" asked North.
81 "No, sir," The Commandant answered, "it's been kept off the news
services until we heard from you whether or not you preferred to tell
her yourself."
82 "Thank you," said North, "I will handle the matter myself. You may
excuse the Medic. I am all right. If you do not mind, I will proceed to
the transport beam station and return home."
83 "We will escort you," The Commandant answered, "you will express to
your wife my condolences."
84 "I will do that, sir!" North answered.
85 The halls were clear as they made their way to the transport
station. All North could think about was why didn't he let someone else
do this? But then he knew. It was his place, his duty to tell his wife
their son had been murdered, and the word kept running through his mind
again and again. "WHY, damn it, WHY?" Had it been meant for him, or had
someone actually meant to kill his beloved child?