“Warrior. Kill.” Ben.

Sam stepped from the lift and walked the short corridor in a slow and deliberate stride. He tugged at the ill-fitting waistband and reminded himself he needed to cut back on the King's treats. On the way to Heaven's room, he passed the open door to Ben's room and spied Heaven with Ben. She sat on the side of his bed with her hand resting lightly on Ben's chest.

Heaven looked up from Ben to see Sam leaning in the open doorway. He wore casual slacks and a white shirt with the sleeves rolled past the wrist. Heaven remembered that a meal had been planned, but she wasn't dressed for it. She wasn't hungry.

Sam said, “I thought I'd come in person this time.”

Heaven said softly, “You got him drunk.”

Sam did not smile. He answered, “Well, he's my friend too.” He straightened and walked to the side of the bed to look down into Ben's sleeping face. He turned to Heaven and said dismissively, “It was one small shot. He'll sleep it off. It'll be fine.”

Heaven said, looking from Sam to Ben, “His face was twitching. I thought he might have another nightmare.”

Sam looked. Ben's face twitched; one hand moved slightly. In the voice of one deep in sleep, Ben mumbled, “Warrior. Kill.”

“I had a thought,” said Sam. “The enemy keeps finding you somehow. I need to find out how they're tracking him.”

Her eyes on Ben, Heaven said, “I've checked all his clothing. There's nothing.”

Sam said to Heaven, “I'm going to Jja Suma, to the hospital world. I'll ask a few questions, see what they say.”

“Oh?” asked Heaven. She looked into Sam's eyes. “I sensed something odd about Superior Garmhra.”

Sam asked, “Would you like something to eat?”

Heaven shook her head. “I'm really not hungry.”

Sam looked down at his shoes and pursed his lips. The disappointment he felt was all too real. Heaven had withdrawn from him. Lock, stock, and barrel, Heaven was gone. It was over. He glanced up at the woman he had loved, the woman who had loved him. Or, was that just his imagination?

Sam said, “Alright. I'll have a tray placed on the lounge table in case you get hungry later.”

Heaven nodded absently. Sam turned and walked to the door. He stopped, sighed, and hung his head. Then, he turned back to Heaven. “I'll drop you two at the Embassy and place guards. Raul can get whatever you need. I just wanted you to know that I'll be gone a while.”

Crispin wore work clothes as he led Heaven, Ben, and their two Orlainese bodyguards to the Embassy bunker. Heaven joked, “I never thought I'd see you in rags.”

Crispin smiled back over his shoulder. “Who'd have thought. Right? I've been working around the embassy.”

Heaven carried musty blankets in her arms. She wrinkled her nose. Ben said, “I can carry those for you.”

Heaven answered. “Just carry your bags. I'm fine.”

Crispin opened the iron door at the end of the dimly lit hallway, turned, and said, “The bunker is just down these stairs. The guards will post themselves here. We'll get them set up.” He turned and shone his wrist light down the stairs. “Now, be careful on the stairs. I'm told there are three bedrooms, a rather large shower room, a kitchen, storage, and a common room.” He stopped at the bottom of the stairs and felt around the corner.

Crispin fumbled along the inner wall as his light illuminated Ben and Heaven. Crispin smiled an apology and said, “All the amenities. It even has its own power source.” The lights came up. “There we are. Make yourselves at home. If you need anything, just give me a call.”

Heaven stepped in and looked around. She tossed the blankets on the sofa, raising a cloud of dust. She coughed and fanned the air. Turning with a strained smile, Heaven took Crispin in hers arms. She hugged him tight and gave his back a pat. “Thanks, Crispin,” she said, pulling away to look in his eyes. “We'll need wash clothes, a vacuum, broom, and mop. All of that, and maybe something to freshen the air.”

Ben set his supply bags on a counter and followed Heaven as she walked through the bunker. “This is nice,” said Ben.

Heaven stepped from the shower room with a nod. “I'll clean the kitchen. You get the shower room. We'll tackle the common and the bedrooms one by one.”

“Sounds like a lot of work,” said Ben, careful not to step on Heaven's heels.

Peeking into a bedroom, Heaven replied, “We're not exactly on vacation.”

Ben asked, “Can I pick my own room?”

“How about this one?” asked Heaven. “It's nice.”

Ben peeked around Heaven and nodded approval. Heaven continued. “You'll be on one side of the shower room and I'll be on the other.”

“I want to see the other,” said Ben. “You always end up with the bigger room.”

Heaven smiled as she followed Ben to the bedroom on the opposite side of the shower room. “It's in my contract. Written in bold letters. Rank hath its perks.”

“No, it's not,” Ben replied. “You're making that up. See! This room is bigger.”

Heaven stepped up beside him. She said, “There's a price for trading rooms.”

Ben stepped from the shower room, a towel tied around his waist. He busied a second towel on his unkempt hair. He said to Heaven, “I can't believe you took advantage of me.”

Heaven turned from dusting, a damp rag in her hand. She walked to Ben smiling. “You wanted the room.”

Ben complained. “Yeah, but I did most of the cleaning.”

Heaven dropped the rag and took Ben's second towel. “Here,” she said. “Do I have to show you how to use a towel?”

Heaven used the towel to vigorously dry Ben's hair. Ben's head bobbed, he closed his eyes. When he opened them, Heaven was smiling, her head cocked to one side. She stood close, both arms across his shoulders as she dangled the towel behind him.

Heaven said, “You said the spiders were trying to sell you to Malmogat. Do you know who that is?”

Ben pulled away. He considered his memories as he gauged Heaven's expectant expression. “They said I did. They told me that I cut off his talmah, that I defaced his face. I sort of have a vague image in my head.” Ben used his hand to assist his thinking. “It's like,” he said using his left hand to make a grabbing gesture and his right hand to make a cutting gesture. “And like. Like.” He shook his head. “I sort of remember and I sort of don't.”

Heaven tossed the towel onto the sofa, turned back to Ben, and wrapped her arms around his chest. She felt Ben freeze in her embrace, then relax. She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder. “Take it slow. You'll get there.”

“Busted,” said Crispin from the bottom of the stairs.

Heaven stepped away from Ben with an embarrassed look. Ben smiled. When Affe and Aggi stepped around the corner, Ben ran to them happily, calling their names.

“Affe. Aggi,” called Ben, giving each a hug.

Belatedly, Crispin said, “I brought visitors.”

Aggi held Ben at arm's length and saw a young man in a towel. “Uh huh!” she said. “Something been going on?”

Heaven coughed a warning to Ben, but he missed it. The smile on his face grew even larger as he answered. “Heaven hugged me.”

Crispin, turning to the stairs, threw up a dismissive hand, and shook his head. “So shocking,” said he. “I'll alert the media.”

The Bergs entered the bunker, turning to take it all in. “So, these are the new digs,” said Affe.

Aggi said, “We're here to help.”

Affe said, “But not with the intimate stuff.”

Aggi said, “You've got that pretty well covered.”

Heaven, with a blush, turned away. Ben smiled. The Bergs laughed.

Ben returned from his room fully dressed. The common was empty; Ben walked to the kitchen. Raul and Crispin were standing side by side at the counter. They leaned against one another and laughed quietly. Ben noticed the dust and smudges that covered them.

“Taking a break?” asked Ben.

Crispin turned chewing. Raul turned with a smile. “Want a PB and J?” asked Raul.

Ben asked, “Where is everyone?” He walked to Raul and accepted half a sandwich.

Raul answered. “Heaven needed to go out,” said the Prince. “The Bergs took a room.”

Crispin added, “Something about Private Johnson.”

Raul said with a broad smile, “So, I heard you and Heaven got busted.”

Ben replied around a bite of his sandwich. “I'm not ashamed. I'd rather be hugged by Heaven than breathe.”

Crispin fished a carton of milk from the cooling unit and said, “You must be doing something right.” He poured two glasses and returned the carton. He took a glass and a plate of cut sandwiches, then walked from the kitchen.

Raul took his glass in hand and as he walked past Ben, he said, “Keep up the good work. We're all in your corner.”

Raul and Crispin settled into the sofa. Leaving his milk on the coffee table, Raul tapped on the wall streamer. The banner channel came up, some scrolling left, some scrolling right. Raul tapped the left end of the broad spectrum news and chose regional. Then, with a smile, Raul returned to Crispin and sat close. Ben finished the slice of sandwich standing at the end of the sofa.

Heaven walked down the stairs and into the common. She carried a tote. Ben could see the pack of spaghetti peeking from the top of the bag. He called out in his usual happy voice.

“You're back!” he said.

Heaven could not hide her smile. “A little shopping,” she said. “A little plan B.”

“You must be a mind reader,” said Ben taking the tote from Heaven and walking into the kitchen.

Heaven stopped and turned to Raul. “Are the Bergs still here?”

Raul smiled and nodded his head down the hall.

Heaven walked to the closed door and knocked. “Affe. Aggi,” she called loudly. “I have a job for you.”

Muffled noises issued through the closed door. Clearly, they had been surprised. A voice answered from just inside the room. It was Affe's voice. “A moment, please.”

Ben returned from the kitchen, looking for someone to share a smile with. “I couldn't find the sauce,” he said.

Heaven called to him. “I'll have to make some.”

The Bergs came through the door with sheepish grins. They said in unison, “Yes, Constable.”

Heaven removed a piece of folded synth from one of her coat pockets. She removed a cred chip from the other. Passing both to them, she made light work of the instructions. “Go to the address and make the stated arrangement.” Saluting, they left with a shared giggle, Heaven following.

Ben's smile turned into a facial question mark when a shrill noise issued from Heaven's coat. Raul turned and said, “You're buzzing.”

As the three young men paused to look, Heaven reached into an inside pocket and withdrew the alien comm device. It buzzed in her hand and Heaven stared as if it was a coiled snake.

“Is that the call?” asked Crispin.

Heaven looked up and nodded. Ben walked over to take a close look. Raul rose from the sofa and stood beside Ben. Crispin followed. Heaven looked between the young men, uncertain.

Raul said, “Perhaps, you should answer it.”

Heaven pressed the stud. “Hello?”

A soft voice spoke as if reading from a script. “Come to Hell's Balls with Besh.”

The transmission ended without warning, leaving Ben, Heaven, Crispin, and Raul to bandy the unspoken question. Was that it?

Raul said, “Hell's Balls is mostly deserted these days.”

Crispin said, “That's close isn't it?”

Raul nodded. “My old stomping grounds. The mine was abandoned years ago.”

Ben looked from face to face. “Is that even a real name?”

Raul turned to answer. “Oh yes. I grew up there. We mined nickel. There was a large Consortium presence. A lot of shady businesses catering to the tired and credited miners.” He smiled at foggy recollections.

Suddenly, Heaven walked to her room to return with her guns. As she checked the charges, she said broadcast, “It sounds suspicious. Before I take Ben anywhere, I need to take a look.” Pocketing her guns, she walked to the stairs.

“Should you go alone?” asked Raul.

“If I don't call in, say, an hour,” she replied, “come looking.”