“Well, it’s time for us to say goodbye.” An Kohli and Veritan were sat together in the small lounge of the Adastra while Gala took the ship into orbit around Sabik, the planet that Veritan had asked to be taken to once they had collected the bounty on Biggar Fro. It was a place well known to An Kohli, of course; popular with bounty hunters who were ‘resting’ between missions. It was one of the few planets in the galaxy where the law enforcement agencies were strong enough to provide a modicum of safety for a profession that was constantly under threat of retaliation through revenge attacks.
“Are you off again so soon? I was hoping to spend a bit more time with you; to get to know you a bit better.”
“As though we haven’t had enough time after two weeks travelling through a wormhole together.” An Kohli could feel herself blushing and hoped her skin wasn’t turning the deep purple of a member of her species that was ready to mate.
“You know what I mean. Get to know you without your co-pilot never being more than a thin sheet of metal away.”
“I’m only teasing. It’s a nice idea, but I’ve got a line on Su Mali. I have to chase it down before she disappears again.”
“You make it sound personal.”
“It is, in a way. She’s the ‘one that got away’, if you like. I’ve been after her for years and she’s always slipped through my fingers. She once went to prison just to avoid me capturing her.”
“Sounds a bit unlikely.” Veritan didn’t want to scoff, but criminals didn’t usually opt to go to prison as a means of escape.
An Kohli gave a self-deprecating grimace. “I know, it makes me sound paranoid, but it was a bit of a coincidence that she was caught by a police officer about two minutes before I was going to make my own arrest. Anyway, once she was out of prison again it wasn’t long before she was up to her old tricks and now there’s a string of warrants out for her. I could afford to retire on her accumulated bounties.”
The intercom on the bulkhead squawked into life. “An Kohli, I’ve got the Grand Master on the communications system. He wants to speak to you.”
Veritan and An Kohli exchanged surprised glances. It wasn’t every day that the Grand Master spoke directly to Guild members.
“Put him on the screen in here, please.” An Kohli instructed. The image appeared almost at once. “Ah, Grand Master, an honour and a pleasure.” An Kohli greeted him.
“The honour may be mine after your recent coup; the pleasure certainly is. Congratulations on taking Biggar Fro. Pity you couldn’t keep him alive.” The Grand Master tried not to sound too disapproving, but the prevention of unnecessary death was known to be one of his most beloved policies.
“Yes, but it was an accident, Grand Master.”
“No doubt, An Kohli. I know your record, but it was still a pity. Now, is that Veritan with you?”
“Hello, Grand Master.”
“Congratulations to you as well. You did well between you; excellent team work, just the way the Guild likes it. I’ve read the report. I like your subtle approach.” The Grand Master tried hard, and failed, not to make it sound like a criticism of An Kohli’s more direct methods. “You were next on my list to call, so you have saved me the trouble. I’m calling all the top bounty hunters to ask you to put everything you are currently doing to one side in favour of a more urgent task.”
“If you request it, Grand Master, then you have my complete co-operation.” An Kohli replied.
“And mine” Veritan added.
“Good. I knew I could count on you both. As you will have heard, the attacks by the Fell forced the Magi to go into hiding. Unfortunately they have now been lost.”
“Lost. Do you mean they’re dead?” An Kohli could hardly keep the shock from her voice.
“Yes… and no.” The Grand Master paused for a moment to gather his thoughts. “The physical bodies that were the nine Magi are dead. They were deliberately sacrificed in order to make it easier for the Magi to hide until they were in a position to return. However, before they died their intelligences were downloaded into memory eggs, so their essential selves are still very much alive.”
“Can that be done?” Veritan sounded astonished by the idea.
“Theoretically it has been possible for several centuries.” Came the reply. “But until now there have never been circumstances that have warranted trying out the theory on real beings. But needs must, as the saying goes. The essence of the nine members of the Magi were each downloaded into a memory egg and then they were entrusted to a reliable, or so it was thought, individual to take to a place of safety. Unfortunately the ship on which the courier was travelling was attacked by Meklon pirates and both the courier and the eggs have disappeared. It can’t yet be proven, of course, but we think the courier betrayed his mission to the pirates deliberately.”
“To what purpose?” An Kohli always wanted to understand motives.
“If the Fell can capture or destroy the Magi then there is no one for the galaxy to rally behind. The alliances that the Magi have helped to forge and maintain, the very stability of the galaxy, will fall apart, leaving the Fell to prosper at who knows what cost to the citizenry. The Magi eggs have just become the most valued property in the galaxy, perhaps even the universe. The Guild has been commissioned to find them.”
“And what do you want of us, Grand Master?” An Kohli asked.
“Why, to find the Magi before the Fell finds them, of course.”