Twenty-four hours later we had breathable atmosphere which was not bleeding out into the void anymore and we had enough propulsion to keep from floating around. I was working with the stasis and gravity field generators when Sally crawled out of a wireway. "I think I got the tach-com working. At least it appears to be getting some signal out," she said with a shake of her head. "Everythings so messed up I can't be sure." "Something is better than nothing, Sally." I was interrupted by a call from Lady Silver. "Captain! You might want to check this out." I put down my tools and got up from the floor to walk forward into the control cabin. I was immediately aware of what she wanted me to check out. A strange ship was maneuvering to match velocities with us. Reaching over I keyed on the landing radio. Sputtery static roared out along with a tinny voice. "Ahoy derelict! Anyone alive over there?" Keying the transmitter I replied, "Barely. Can you get us a tow to a repair facility?" A long silence of static rewarded me. As I was about to repeat my message the tinny voice returned. "I can give you a tow." The ship slewed around and I felt a traction field catch up the Athame. Eventually we reached an 'impossible' structure. People were moving about it without suits. Sally sat up. "Captain! There is atmosphere out there." I just shook my head as the strange ship brought us in for a landing. Unbelieving still, I opened the back ramp and we stepped out into a base. Flight operations were ongoing on the far side away from us, but it was the figure approaching us from our tow that caught my full attention. Piercing blue eyes looked us over from beneath golden hair. Her body was covered in a tight-fitting metallic black suit. "I thought that was your ship, Chris," she said as she walked slowly around us. The Iskar started to say something but Lady Silver waved it to silence. "Never thought to see you in such strange company though." A gun appeared in her hand as she glanced at Lady Silver. "Keep it under control," she said. "You have nothing to fear from us," Lady Silver replied icely. "Strange to meet you out here in a place like this, Pamela," I interrupted. "I have work to do which you have, somewhat, interrupted." She smiled. "I'm never quite what anyone expects." She looked over at the Athame. "I've convinced my people that it would be a good thing to fix your vessel and speed you along your way. Don't ask questions and stay out of their way. Meanwhile you all look like you would be better for a good sleep and some relaxation. Follow me." She led us into comfortable quarters and left us to our own devices. The Iskar once more tried to say something but was stopped once again by Lady Silver. "Not here. Not now. Maybe not at all." We spent a week there surrounded by people who ignored us as they went quickly about their tasks. The smoking wreck that the Sentinel had made of The Athame was repaired and refurbished to a point that she looked like she had just come out of the yards for her first trials. The blonde showed up to say goodbye. "I wish you luck in what you do," she said looking at Lady Silver. Then she came up to me and pulled me into a long kiss. "It's not often I meet people I like," she murmured. "I couldn't find you after that though." "Life is like that," she said cryptically. We were on our way once more. To be continued.....