The crowd was still silent. The silence sailed out of the crater and the excluded knew something terrible had just happened. "What a delicious killing!" the abbess cried and began beating her fan on the chair. The nagas joined one by one. Their cheer rippled through the luxury boxes and a thunderous roar exploded from the crater cascading over the town. Eve's earphone was buzzing hot: everyone was backslapping, toasting and laughing. O'Malley had wagered JS would knock Hys off in two blows: "Fork over my moolah, folks! I made a killing on JS's magic!" At the centre of the arena JS stood as if taking the jubilation of the crowd. His mind, instead, was scanning the place to ensure no threats were brewing. The Lords were cheering too: this duel was history. JS exhaled slowly and took off his galea. The adrenaline rush was draining down leaving him spent like a dead battery, older than the universe itself. Eve felt his exhaustion. His enervation of mind quenched her joy, her eyes filled with tears for him. "It's OK, Eve, it's OK, just the aftermath." JS mind-brushed her lips with his. "I love you!" she couldn't find fiercer words. A medico entered stopping at a distance. JS nodded. The medico leaned over the corpse, chanting the formulas exorcising the deceased soul. "We made it, Jay!" Vickie shouted. "When you told me to modify the inner structure of your weapons, I was so afraid of making mistakes! Really, I wasn't sure it would work! I mean, I trust you, but... The other ships say it has never been made before!" "Smart idea telling me it now!" JS joked, finding his zest again. "Actually the other ships suggested... er... a small addition!" Vickie fired off. "A small addiction?" JS and Eve burst out. "Our daughter is ready, Jay, summon her now, please." "At this very moment?" JS was astonished. "Hey, don't change subject!" "Jay's exhausted and injured, Vickie!" Eve said. "Cannot she wait until tomorrow?" "What better time for her coming of age then a resounding victory in this sacred place?" Vickie insisted stubbornly. "The Ships thought a lot about your speech, Jay. We've decided old systems are unwieldy. We made a covenant with you, your sword is the token of it." "This sword?" JS's mind galloped wild on a vast prairie of possibilities. "Yes, we forged it. This sword is the only door. The seats of power are just chairs now. By the sword you can summon every ship and steer her yourself or whoever you like. You can communicate with all and every ship. Eve too, of course. 'Nowheregate' is the name we chose for your brand." JS looked at his sword. A rush of adrenaline gushed from his nerves. Eve felt it: "Call her, Jay!" "OK, I'm a little excited, I must admit. Instructions?" "Raise your sword and call her." Vickie said. JS raised his arm, holding his sword high. The crowd wildly applauded their champion. The sword began to flicker, as if animated by its own life, changing shape and writhing like a snake. The blade began to radiate St. Elmo's fire, pulse beams, shining sparks and energy vortexes. Its power was such that JS had to hold it tight with all his strength. Then the plasma blade stabilized and the sword seemed as light as a feather in JS's grasp. "I conjure you, my child. I'm your sire and I name you NMS Vendetta." The amazing miracle of the sword imposed silence to the crowd. Also the busaurs parked outside fell silent. The crowd waited holding their breath. It began with a slight breeze that quickly turned into a violent gale, shaking the drapery furiously and raising dust devils. Then the air became still anew. A glittering beam outstretched from the sword toward the sky. The skydome seemed to tear up until the heart of the galaxy. In the midst of the phantasmagoria Vendetta materialized, awesome and majestic. "What a splendor you're! A little closer and you singed my hair!" JS chuckled. --- THANKS!