Waypoint Five, Page 3

  There had been an inquiry of course - still ongoing - but there was nothing from May's session recordings to indicate anything to predict Mana's actions when she had been returned to the Penelope Weaving. May was quietly confident that there would not be any serious repercussions for herself.

  What was occupying the authorities' attention more was how Mana could have completely vanished from the ship after launching the device. When Commander Halpern and his crewman had managed to get aboard they had found an empty vessel and a dead device, shut down and completely unresponsive. The report was likely to conclude that Mana had somehow managed to exit the vessel in a successful attempt to commit suicide. How she had achieved this as no hatches appeared to have been opened was still unclear and would likely remain so.

  Whatever had happened to her, May found herself hoping that Mana - the first soldier she had treated in her career - was somewhere where she could finally find herself some peace.

  26/09/209 (Adjusted Calendar)

  "I love you. Always did," Quinn finished and ended the message.

  "Love you too," said Mana from the doorway. “Just not since always.”

  "What the - " Quinn spun round. "How did you get out of your tank?"

  "I didn't. Not yet." Mana nodded towards the tank where she was still frozen peacefully.

  Quinn was uncharacteristically silent for a moment. She saw that he was trembling visibly.

  "So..." he said at last.

  "Waypoint five," Mana said. "It took me right back to the hold. All the way from Terraquintus. You were right, it's not so insane really."

  "No? There's two of you... You're here twice."

  Mana nodded. "Yes. Double trouble for you. I've been in two places for a while now. I think I will be for a few years yet."

  "Did the other device work?"

  "I hope so. I launched it like Falcon outlined but I suppose we'll never really know."

  "So now what?"

  "Well, you and I get into the skiff and head for Cinque Port. I'm sure we'll make it now. The other me goes to Terraquintus as planned."

  "Then what? For us, I mean."

  "Second chances, Quinn." Mana reached out and took his hand. "Just this once."

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