Chapter 3

Lennie snuck carefully out of the slaver’s ship. He had to see where they were, and figure out if he could find out where they were going––where they were taking his sister. Rolara had taken care of him all of their lives. He didn’t even remember their parents. Rolara said they’d been killed off in a raid on their planet, and it was easy to believe. Laerta seemed to get raided every several moons, and there was nothing anyone could do about it.

He held his breath, one of The Allegiant guards looked straight at him...but then one of the other guards found a gun on the guy they were taking out of the bay area. The guy looked dangerous, like he could take care of himself. Lennie wondered if he was the kind of dangerous guy who could free his sister. He supposed, it would depend not only on the man’s ability, but his character. His sister talked a lot about character.

But what did she know? Her character got her caught and thrown on a slaver’s ship. She hid him away so he wouldn’t get caught, but they probably would have thrown him to the side––a scrawny kid of thirteen winters. Rolara, she was different though, she was at least ten winters older than he was, and every man on their half of Laerta had tried to mate with her. She was strange about men though. No one was ever good enough. At least that’s what she said; he knew different though. He’d heard one of them talking one night, and saying she wouldn’t get rid of Lennie, and that’s why no man would mate with her. Of course the man had been drunk who said it, but Lennie was sure the truth was in there somewhere.

He was the reason that she hadn’t mated yet, and he was the reason she was on that stupid slaver’s ship, and he was going to be the reason she was saved. Frowning in concentration, he set his mind straight on the task at hand. He was going to get that man to get his sister off of the slaver ship.

Lennie found the ventilation shaft, and climbing in it. Scooting along beside them down the hallway, he watched them until they stopped outside of a door directly beneath him. Peering through the slats in the vent grate, Lennie strained to listen.

“Why is everyone so worked up about this guy?” the guard on the right asked.

“You idiot, that’s Xander Collins, The Allegiant’s Master Tracker. I heard from Jordan in Landing, that Xander asked to make a JUMP. He’s found the girl, so he’s asked to meet with a Representative of The Allegiant. I’m sure they’ll give him the JUMP, especially if she’s the one the Scientists are looking for,” the guard on the left of the door said.

“I’ll be back.” The third guard walked away, leaving the other two to watch the door.

If this guy was so good a Tracker that he was famous for it, then he could definitely get Rolara back; and if he needed this girl, then Lennie would make sure he had her. He’d do whatever it took to get his sister back.

“How do they know this girl is The Time Keeper?” the one on the right asked.

“The Scientists have her genetic code, but until now, no one’s been able to find her. If this guy thinks he knows where she is, it could change everything.”

Ok, that settled it. He had to figure out who the girl was, then where she was. And he had to find out . Lennie turned slightly to pull the bag off of his back. Rolara always made sure he had the important things packed “just in case,” and not for the first time, he was thankful. He pulled out his porta-com and immediately set to work hacking into The Allegiant’s main com system. All he had to do was find her genetic code off of their system, then plug it into his own , and he could find her. No matter where she was.

Lennie figured he could do most of it from right here, besides, he didn’t want to move and lose this Xander guy. Between him and the girl, they would be able to save Rolara. Lennie just knew they would, and he didn’t care what it cost him.