“We’ll just have to fix whatever*s been tampered with,” Elvira added huskily. “Hopefully it’s not serious. We’ve come this far.” She eyed the hangar opening hungrily. “We’re not going back to that cage.”

Murmurs of assent rose around her.

“I concur. We must take our chances now,” Ryo agreed. He led them silently onto the floor.

The boarding ramp was down. Most of the monsters started up but a few technicians, led by Javier, hurried toward the stern where they began working inside the open hatch.

Ryo nervously stood guard nearby. The voices came nearer still, then began to fade again. After what seemed like an eternity a loud metallic click sounded from behind him. The monsters had finished their work and were closing up the hatch. Loo and Bonnie waited to greet them at the base of the entry ramp.

“All set,” Javier whispered softly. “It looked like they’d just been testing. Nothing seemed out of place.” She shrugged, another gesture Ryo had come to recognize. The monsters were incorrect in stating they communicated only with their voices. “We’ll have to try it anyhow. We don’t have the time to run a detailed inspection.”

“Right. Get aboard.”

The three monsters climbed the ramp. Loo turned uncomfortably to Ryo. “We don’t know how to thank you. You know that There’s really nothing appropriate any of us could say.”

“You haven’t even reached your ship yet and you’re a long way from jumping to Space Plus. It’s premature to think of thanking me.”

“No, even if this is as far as we get we owe you more than can be put in the words of either language. We’ll be standing by for the overheads to open. Are you certain you won’t be harmed? You told me it would take them a while to determine for certain that it was you who reset the sleepgas cannisters, but that guard recognized you.”

“It doesn’t matter anyway,” Ryo replied. “I’m coming with you. The overhead doors have already been programmed. I did that when I first checked your ship for damage.” He indicated a nearby computer terminal. “There’s no lock or guard on them. No one would expose himself to the air here without orders.”

Loo and Bonnie were momentarily speechless.

“Why should I not go with you?” He fought hard to contain his excitement and his nervousness. “My entire life something has pushed me onward, to seek extremes, to learn the unknown. It pushed me into extending friendship to the both of you and then to your companions. It has pushed me to commiting an act of Eint-denial. Why should I not carry it to its next extreme as something inside is forcing me to do?”

“I don’t know.” Loo looked uncertainly at Bonnie. “I don’t have the authority. I …”