Pritchard walked up to the window and smiled. “Hello, Admiral. Dr. Narang mentioned you on several occasions. I was beginning to think you were an urban myth.”

Moore returned a brief, tight-lipped smile. “Well, we all have our jobs. Mr. Pritchard, I’m here today to talk to you about some comments you’ve made on calls with Dr. Kemp.”

“I wondered when you guys would get up the nerve to admit you were eavesdropping. Jeez, it’s not like it’s a surprise to anyone. I think I’d be insulted if you weren’t.”

“Well, I’m admitting it. And I’m admitting to being somewhat concerned, especially about these makers that you want to visit—”

“Contact.”

“Excuse me?”

Pritchard made a dismissive gesture. “I want to contact. Not visit. No FTL, as far as I know.”

Moore’s eyes narrowed. “How much do you know, Mr. Pritchard?”

“Bits and snatches, mostly. It’s like dreaming. You can remember bits when you wake up, but there’s never a full narrative. Except that what I’m picking up has internal consistency, unlike the free-for-all of dreams. I just can’t always get everything.”

“And what could we do, Mr. Pritchard, to help you remember better?”

Pritchard’s face went hard and he stared directly at Moore. “That’s the kind of oddly phrased question, Admiral, that could be interpreted as a threat. ‘It would be terrible if somethin’ was to happenz to youz or dis nice restaurant.’”

“I’m not interested in word games, Mr. Pritchard. I need to know if the Makers are a threat. And, closer to home, if you are.”

“I don’t have those answers, yet, Admiral. And judging by all the banging and clanking, I may not have time to get them.”

“What?” Admiral Moore took a step back.

“Being turned into something non-human isn’t fun, but it does have a few upsides. Like very acute senses. Along with the .02 gee acceleration, you’re doing some kind of mechanical work in that direction…” Pritchard pointed down at an angle of about thirty degrees. “My guess is a nuke or something else appropriate to get rid of the problem, as soon as you’ve moved us far enough away from Lagrange Four Naval base. Or maybe to be able to claim that I’m dead? Will I end up in some lab on the backside of the moon?”

This was not good. This thing had unknown powers and senses, and apparently had a better handle on reality than Moore had given it credit for. Could they even continue to contain it if it wanted to leave? What would happen if it decided to react defensively?

The question of whether more information was worth the risk of keeping it alive had just been answered.

Without a word, Moore turned to walk out. As he passed the technician on duty, he said, “Full isolation. No more communications with the outside.”

* * *