Find out if she got a response from the Wanderer, said Sifra. And remember, were routing you through the navigational systems so as to let you talk to her. Its going to be a step up from what youre used to.

And be careful what you tell her, warned Schelling. Gregor will be monitoring your conversation.

A virtual panel appeared directly before her. Thats your interface, explained Tarrant. Pick the control access option its the red icon at the centre.

She did as she was told. The icon flashed briefly, then a rippling darkness spread out from the panel to consume the entire room. Gabrielle lost any immediate sense of her body, as if her soul had been cut free of her flesh. She found herself now looking out on to naked vacuum.

She discovered she could rapidly cycle her viewpoint through dozens of different vantage points, each one flickering by with such speed that she could hardly take in what she was seeing and experiencing.

Szymurski is riding along with you, said Tarrant, as if from very, very far away.

<Szymurski?> she asked. <Who the hell is Szy>

The Ingersolls pilot. Youre seeing everything he does, but you cant control anything. Youll be able to talk to Megan but thats about it.

This, then, she realized, was what it felt like to have full access to a starships senses.

<Will he be able to hear what I say to Megan?> asked Gabrielle.

Szymursky? asked Tarrant. Yes. Why?

<I think its pretty likely Megans going to ask about our daughter. Im not going to lie about her for anyones benefit. Do you understand?>

You wont have to, replied Tarrant, Szymursky reports only to me, not Schelling. Were hooking you into the transceiver array now, he continued. If Megans monitoring our comms traffic and she will be she should know just about straight away that youre here.

Gabrielles viewpoint changed to show the Ship of the Covenant locked into orbit around the desolate moon that lay ahead. She could also see the equally lifeless surface of the world around which the moon orbited.

<Gabrielle? Is that you?!>

<Its me, Megan. Im here on board the other ship.>

<I knew that,> Megan replied. <Bash is there with you as well, isnt he?>

<You knew? But . . .> So much for the element of surprise that Tarrant had been hoping for. <You should know Tarrant is listening in to us.>

<Ive been desperate to get hold of you, Gaby. Have they hurt you? And what about your baby? What the hell did they do to you after I left the outpost?>

<The baby is fine,> Gabrielle replied. <Her name is Evie.>

Megans relief was palpable. <Oh, thank God. Where is she?>