Page 41 of Tempting Jupiter
“That is correct.” Alfred’s confirmation seemed to ease some of Jupiter’s tension.
A chime sounded, startling them both.
“We have a visitor outside the ship,” said Alfred. “He is requesting entry.”
“Alfred.” Seneca sat straighter. “Identify the visitor and assess the threat.”
“The visitor is a human male. Caucasian. Age approximately nineteen Earth standard years. Weight approximately sixty kilograms. No weapons in view. Facial recognition reports 60% match to a human male that traveled on this ship 2200.045 to 2200.50.”
That managed to surprise Seneca. He couldn’t imagine Feeona taking passengers. “That would mean the man was a child at the time.” Feeona would have been young then, too. Seneca got to his feet. “Alfred, what is the man doing?”
“He is striking his fist against the hull and asking for entrance. His current activities and level of force will not harm the ship.”
Seneca glanced to Jupiter and rolled his eyes at Alfred’s threat assessment. “Alfred, how is he dressed? Is he wearing a uniform?”
“Would the ship be able to tell that,” Jupiter rumbled low.
“He is wearing pants, a shirt, and shoes. There is no insignia to indicate a uniform and he is not carrying a security ident-card or tracking device.” Jupiter and Seneca shared a moment of hesitation as Alfred paused. “Would you like to see him?”
Neither of them had seen that coming. “Yes. Can we speak to him without leaving the ship or opening a door?”
“Yes. Shall I engage the com?”
“Yes.” Jupiter barked.
A projection of the space along the walkway outside the ship appeared on the main wall.
“I know you’re in there.” In the image the visitor, barely a man, still pounded a fist against the hull, making a dull noise. “The Angel is in trouble. Or don’t you care about that?”
“Angel,” Seneca questioned quietly.
“Feeona,” said Jupiter. “Has to be.” He vibrated with tension.
“It could be a trick,” Seneca warned. His heart twisted at the evidence of how important Feeona had become to Jupiter.
“What?” The man in the image straightened and rubbed his hands down his pants. “Hello? It isn’t a trick. I mean…me coming here isn’t a trick. It’s the Angel that’s being tricked.”
“Who are you?” Jupiter growled the demand, apparently more comfortable talking to a computer generated image of a real person than he’d been talking to the computer.
“They call me Ears.” The young man’s voice carried a note of impatience.
It was an odd name, but Seneca didn’t know the naming customs of other worlds. On Roma, their owner had named them when they began training.
“I work for Celia Morris—she’s a money-lender. Your friend came into her office earlier and made a deal with my boss. But somebody named Owens had a bulletin out for the Angel and they offered my boss more money. She’s going to turn the Angel over to somebody who can extract the information they want from her implant then kill her.” The young man wrung his hands. “Please. We don’t have much time.”
Jupiter’s body tightened.
Feeona had said it wouldn’t be safe to leave the ship. They’d be recognized. But Seneca knew Jupiter wouldn’t be willing to wait. “Close com.”
“What—” the man began.
Sen really had no choice. “Alfred, let the man in.”
Jupiter raised an eyebrow in question.
“I will listen for a lie,” Seneca offered as explanation.
Jupiter scowled but nodded. Seneca would have to be close to the man, to touch him and gain his trust. Seneca hesitated. He wouldn’t be using the skills Jupiter taught him. This skill had come from his life before Jupiter. All the reasonsthatmight anger Jupiter weighed on his heart, but he couldn’t worry about that now.
