The strongest threats, it seemed, were being delivered by the Accord forces already in station above Kjregrnnested. She was not surprised to learn that two of the Accords own nova-class ships were setting out in pursuit of them. But this was nothing more than a gesture; without a clear idea of just where it was they were going, it would be impossible for anyone to track the Beauregard after its first significant jump into deep space.

Its out of your hands, she told herself, and she let out a shuddering breath. They were entirely committed now.

She suddenly felt all the tension ease out of her body, like the first flush after sex, and a grin spread across her face.

She deliberately brushed against Bashs mind and saw, through their shared data-senses, that he was still locked into the astrogation chair after more than half a standard day. She pushed some of her good feeling towards him.

She felt, more than heard, his chuckle emanate through the connection. <If I didnt know better, Id think you were flirting with me, girl.>

She laughed. <As if. I thought Id be terrified once we were past the point of no return, but instead its as if all the tension and worry just slipped away.>

<I knew this guy back in my military days another pilot and he told me one time hed been guiding a transport down from orbit some place when all the systems quit on him at once. He dropped like a rock and he knew he was going to die. Absolutely knew.>

<But he didnt?>

<Nope. Just like that, all the systems came back online, right before he was about to pancake into the dust, and thats how he managed to pull out of it. He suffered some serious injuries, of course, but nothing they couldnt fix. And he told me that, right before those systems came back online, he felt utterly at peace. He said that was because he knew there wasnt a damn thing he could do.>

<Oh, great, so were doomed. Is that what youre saying?>

He laughed. <No way. I didnt mean it like that. But once you know there aint no turning back, just as you said yourself, theres no point in worrying any more. So you dont.>

<Thanks,> she sent back, with a tinge of sarcasm. <Ill remember that next time Im on the verge of some fatal accident.>

This time he really did laugh. <Not even a few lingering doubts in that head of yours?>

<A million and one,> Megan replied. <But I havent changed my mind. I know now this is the right thing to do.>

<Same here,> he sent back.

<Theres a long and lonely journey ahead of us, Bash. If ever youre harbouring any doubts about your sexual orientation, feel free to come to my cabin and lets discuss them in private.>