The conversation was riveting. Great ideas flew left and right. She voidsmen were in awe, and the skitarii cried. The ship shook and we all died. Not.

  The magos wanted to know all about me, and I wasn't going to play that game. I either sidestepped, redirected, or outright stonewalled the questions, and eventually, a change in guard was called.

  I left the room, the priest displeased behind me. I pulled the Sargent aside, and requested more pistol packs, and sent him on his way.

  The new guards arived, and the cycle repeated. We entered warp without a hitch, and we stayed vigilant. Seriously, why was I guarding him again? Oh ya. Contract. Least I'm getting paid.

  We has one stop before we reached our destination, and we arived safely. No one had attempted anything regarding the magos, and he kept to quarters. My life was significantly easier due to it.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  He had tried conversion with me a few times more, but I am adept at creating issues to deal with, or ignoring him. Or both. Sigh, he was annoying. I just wish to do my job, and get back to my one friend. Is that too much to ask?

  The rumble of the ship rapidly accelerating a while into our trip through real space seemed to put a rather damning rebuttal to my fervent wish.

  A subsequent boom and the ever so slight shaking of the ship assisted that notion. We were under attack. I dialed up my chronosense, and ran the numbers. The bridge and its closest areas would be the safest.

  I returned my senses to normal, and ordered everything gathered and to get ready to go. I entered the magos's room, and he immediately confronted me.

  "What is going on, xeno?" He demanded.

  "It appears, Honored magos, we are under assault. We must move you to safer quarters." I say, as the echoing boom of the ship's weapon battery fires. "Immediately."

  He pauses, then nods reluctantly. The skitarii exit the room, magos in-between them, and the voidsmen put on their helmets.

  "We go to the bridge." I say, and lead the way. We hurried, and arived in short order. The guards posted gave us glances, but recognized me, letting us through. I nodded, and led them to the lower bridge segment.

  "You will be safe here. There is a side room, right there. Set up defensive positions around, and let no one in. I must see to my employer, immediately. Do not leave unless necessary. That will be all." I say, and stalk off to find Anibeli.

  She was the one true person I would protect, no matter what. The rest were chaff.