The boys burst through the door with a torrent of rain and soggy leaves from the gale winds following them. Tan turned to the Coast Guard Officer and offered his hand. “Thanks for everything,” said Tan. The Naval Officer took Tan’s hand and shook it. “No problem, it’s just lucky we found him in time.” The Officer released Tan’s hand and waved at the building in front of them. “This is the Base Hurricane Over-flow Center. We really don’t need it anymore with the new stadium on the other side of the island, but we’re required by law to maintain it. Nobody has showed up, so you’ll have it all to yourself. I’ll have someone bring a hot meal and a thermos of hot chocolate over twice a day.” Tan nodded. “Thanks again.” The Officer turned away and hurried off to other important duties. Tan followed after the boys and pushed the door shut behind him. Luca was already at the snack table holding a very sharp looking knife in one hand and a loaf of bread in the other.” “Luca, let Jack cut that bread for you,” Tan called out to the boy. Luca rolled his eyes and glanced at Jack coming up beside him. “Sheesh, he thinks he’s our dad or something.” Jack took the knife from Luca. “It’s kind of what I hired him to do,” replied Jack. “I don’t need a dad, I have one,” pouted Luca, still in denial that his father had been killed by the evading Erodens a week prior on a planet fourteen light-years from the planet they were currently on. “I don’t think he’s trying to replace your dad,” said Jack. “But he is doing what I hired him to do. Do you think you could have found a table full of free food and warm beds out of the rain, or got that whirly bird thing to come out and get me?” Luca ignored Jack and grabbed a large jar of grape jelly. “I want a big slice of that bread.” Luca struggled with the jar for a moment, grunting as he did to try and get the lid off. Tan came up behind Luca and took the jar from him. “That Naval Officer said there’s some spare clothes in the boxes against the far wall. You’re both soaking wet, have your snack, and then put on some dry clothes before you catch a cold, and don’t forget to hang those wet clothes up to dry.” Tan popped the lid off the jar and handed it back to Luca. Luca took the jar and glared at Jack. “See, he doesn’t know anything.” Jack looked up at Tan. “We can’t catch a cold, we’ve been given shots for every known virus in fifty galaxies.” Tan smiled. “You said yourself there hasn’t been a Gatekeeper on this world in three-thousand years. You have no idea if a super virus hasn’t developed here. Let’s not take any chances, change into some dry clothes.” Jack glanced at Luca. “He’s got a point, we’re 800 million light-years from Aeden space. This was an outpost world, and we don’t know what happened to the Gatekeeper.” Luca made a ‘pfft’ sound and grabbed the slice of bread from Jack. Tan gave Jack a pat on the shoulder. “Oh, and you didn’t hire me, you kidnapped me.” Luca’s head snapped around. “You took a lesser human from his world without permission? That’s forbidden!” Jack shrugged. “That’s the least of my crimes.” Luca’s eyes widen. “I thought you were the new apprentice Gatekeeper my dad was going to train. Oh my gosh! You’re a World Walker!” Luca puffed his chest out and narrowed his eyes. “By the authority investimated in me by Gate Command, I’m placing you under arrest.” Jack cut another slice of bread. “I saved you from the Eroden Battle Drones, you might want to be a little more grateful. And the word is invested, not investimated.” “I’m going to turn you in to the Sherata,” insisted Luca. “Really? Oh no!” Jack slapped some grape jelly onto his slice of bread. “So, how many gates is a Gatekeeper allowed to travel through during an emergency?” “Three,” replied Luca. “And how many have we gone through since we left your world?” asked Jack. Luca turned pale as the blood drained from his face. “Five,” whispered Luca. Jack nodded. “Yeah, five, the Sherata will be looking for you also now.” Luca’s jaw dropped open. “You’ve made me a criminal.” “Welcome to the dark side, buddy,” said Jack with a grin. “That’s not fair,” stuttered Luca, his eyes welling up with tears. “That’s enough, Jack,” said Tan. “Don’t worry, Luca, we’ll explain it to the authorities.” Luca looked up at Tan with pleading eyes. “Have you ever tried to talk to a Sherata, they don’t listen.” “I’m not afraid of a little tiger,” said Tan. “I won’t let them touch you.” Jack shrugged. “He’s pretty strong, Luca, he is from a heavy gravity world.” Luca looked from Tan to Jack. “Oh my gosh, you told him they were just regular tigers? No, a Sherata isn’t a regular tiger, they’re taller than you are. The Sherata are genetically altered super intelligent saber-tooth tigers. We made them to fight wars on other planets. We made them to be able to fight those Eroden Battle Drones, and the Sherata usually win.” Tan glared at Jack. Jack shrugged. “Technically, they’re tigers, I didn’t lie.”