Time Salvager (Time Salvager #1)(87)

“… Sec Team Six to escort the High Scion out of her quarters to safety,” he was saying.

She checked the console again and realized that indeed, the red dot was moving toward her section. Fascinating. Her patience was rewarded as the first of the Security Eyes reached the corridor and recorded a visual of the intruder. She would at least get to see an alien life before she died, which was definitely worth the price of admission. Discovering alien life had always been one of her fondest wishes, unlikely as it was to be granted. The gods had an interesting way of fulfilling childhood dreams.

“Focus on the upper left,” Grace instructed. She had to squint as she stared at the screen within her screen.

She caught the tail end of a fight, where armored security soldiers were flung across the air like rag dolls. One of the bodies almost flew into the Security Eye, which managed to veer to the side at the very last second. Then, hovering close to the ceiling, it moved in toward the target. At first, all Grace could see was a dark figure, something definitely humanoid, with two legs and arms. Then she gasped.

“Captain Monk,” she said. “Monk!”

He turned toward the Security Eye. “Oh, High Scion! I was not aware you were there. Please be at ease. Everything is under control. A security team is on their way to see you to safety as we speak.”

“I see how much things are under control,” she remarked dryly. “The security team will not be necessary. Call all your forces back. Do not engage the intruder.”

“High Scion? We must! That thing is tearing the ship apart!”

“Call your forces back or I will order you shot on the spot.”

Monk hesitated. “Your will, High Scion.” He nodded to someone off-screen.

“Good, keep our people clear of him. Do not impede his path no matter what.”

“Him, High Scion? Is there something you know about this being? As the captain—”

She turned the comm off and waited. What could possibly be the explanation for this? It couldn’t be because of the ship’s fusion sources. They were already depleted. It could be the weapons systems, but why wouldn’t he have retrieved them his first time here? Besides, most of them were drained from the battle. It could only mean one thing. Grace Priestly began to pack. A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door. How quaint. He punches a hole in her ship, kills over a dozen guards, yet knocks on her door.

“Come in,” she said, throwing on her travel cloak last. It was a good thing she hadn’t had much time to unpack when the High Marker was attacked. Who knew what awaited her wherever she was going.

The same time traveler she saw an hour ago walked into the room.

She stood up and greeted him as if this were an everyday occurrence. “You’re back. I must have left quite an impression.”

He nodded. “High Scion.”

Immediately, Grace noticed the changes in the time traveler. His skin was darker, red, almost as if burned, and his facial hair, which was bad enough before, was overgrown and unkempt. Disgusting.

The time traveler looked over at the easel in the corner. “Nice painting.”

“Was just passing the time by reminiscing, as one is wont to do before she dies.”

“Is that what Iceland was like back then?”

Grace smiled. “The Blue Lagoon. You know my history.”

“Everyone does, High Scion.”

“I told you to call me Grace.”

The time traveler looked down at the bag floating next to her. “Are you ready then?”

Grace’s heart filled with anticipation. Traveling through time had also been a childhood dream. It was what led her to study the field and enter the sciences. And while the uncertain future was something she feared, it couldn’t be any worse than where she was now. Still, he wanted something from her, else he wouldn’t have come back. Grace wasn’t one to leap blindly into the unknown. If she left now on his terms, whatever leverage she had would be lost.

“Ready to leave for your time?”

He nodded. “You already know where staying on this ship leads to.”

“Why the change of heart? What about the Time Laws?”

“I am following the spirit of the Time Laws by disobeying them.”

Grace raised an eyebrow.

“High Scion,” Monk’s voice bleeped over the comm. “Are you all right? I am moving teams to your area—”

“Stay the f*ck out!” she snapped. “Comm off. Door lock. My authority.” She looked at the time traveler and smiled. “Sometimes, the consequences of the unknown are worse than the terrible ones you do know. I don’t even know your name.”

The time traveler bowed. “James Griffin-Mars, High Scion.”

“Call me Grace,” she muttered, mulling over his name. She had expected something fantastic and futuristic, but his name, like his appearance, was disappointing. Still, that tidbit of information told her much about the society he came from. Latin derivative. Old Western civilization. Possibly Christian-derivative religion.

Couple that with his familiar features and his mannerisms, not to mention his language … Actually no, he was speaking her form of space-speak too fluently. Language was the most easily mutated of cultural references, therefore logically he must be masking his native tongue. He could be well trained to behave in a fashion nonthreatening to her. By space, this could all be an act. Somehow, however, she believed him, and her instincts rarely failed her. That left only one thing to clarify.