Twenty days and three more insertions later, "Red's Firebird" came out
of warpspace in the familiar starfield of Valperce.  A few
hours later, they were once again on solid ground.  Jack
Buck was waiting for them as they cleared the port inspectors.

"Welcome back, guys, have a nice vacation?" he asked, slinging their
baggage onto a trolley and starting out toward the airfield.

Turlon responded matter-of-factly, "Oh yeah, real quiet."  Turlon looked
across the haze and asked, "Is Sensei in?"

"Yep, and eagerly awaiting your arrival."  Soon they were
aboard the VTOL and a few hours later back on the ground
at the Dojo.  Buck filled them in the happenings at the dojo,
keeping up a running commentary so that Turlon's silences didn't
linger too long.

As he engines died away, Buck said, "Y'all go on in and talk to
Sensei.  I'll haul your gear in after I take care of this old girl."
He fondly slapped the control panel of the plane.

Turlon thanked his dear friend and entered the dojo, hoping to get an
immediate audience with the Sensei.

His wish was granted.  Waiting on the portico was Sensei Growl himself,
as well as some of the other students.  Growl opened his arms to
Red who ran forward and hugged the old cat firmly.  "Sensei," she began.

"Shush, child," said Sensei.  "Now is not the time, nor is this the place."
He disengaged himself fondly from Red and bowed to Turlon, "I am
pleased to see you well."

"I am most pleased to be well," he answered bowing. "There 
was a time I doubted I'd ever see you again, we need to talk," Turlon 
said averting his eyes humbly before the proud master.

"Indeed, will you refresh yourself first, or speak first?"

Turlon ran his hands over the clothes he wore and could feel the urgency of
the situation fade away in the safety of the dojo.  "There is no need for
haste, Sensei.  After I unpack and readjust to home will be better."

The Sensei nodded, "Very good.  Your rooms await you, when you
are refreshed, come to me.  First you, Turlon, then you
daughter-of-the-house."

Turlon bowed and turned smartly with a military flair to return to his
room.  Once there he was pleased to see that this had truly become his
home, comfort washed over his body as he unpacked.  After a quick clean-up,
he was dressed once again as a student of the dojo and returned to brief
the Sensei his mission.

Kral'Hiss'Growl led his student to the "clean room," and engaged the
various snooper-defeaters, then poured a cup of kleaf, a steeped
herbal infusion popular amongst the Mek'Purr, for his guest and
then for himself.  He settled back to listen.

Turlon adopted a militaristic tone as he recounted the parameters of his
mission and admitted fault for its failure.  Then he settled down with the
specifics and information which may prove useful in the future.  Turlon
confirmed Mary's gifts and assessed that she may very well be a pawn in
this matter with Redjos being the controller.   The forerunner device was
destroyed, but Turlon tried to visually describe what he saw and what it
was purported to do, all made questionable due to the source.

Turlon stood and paced a bit before continuing.  "She knows Sensei.  Red
saw me use Meowr'Hiss plus she was attacked by Redjos using Meowr'Hiss.  I
didn't do a good job of protecting her.  Forgive me."  Turlon hung his
head.

Growl looked up suddenly and Turlon realized the cat had been distracted.
"There is nothing to forgive.  She is alive and well and it was her job
to protect you as much as the reverse.  As for Red learning of
Meowr'Hiss ... she was bound to learn sometime.  Come here."  He
beckoned Turlon closer.  "The device, did it look like this?"  Growl
showed Turlon a sketch he had made.  Turlon was shocked to see that
the sketch was a very good representation of the device.

"Yes," he answered.  Turlon pointed out the beds where he was supposed to
have been laid, where Mary was to be situated and whatever else he could
remember.  Over to the side he pointed out the rough location where the bed
presumably for Redjos was located.  Turlon reiterated the desperation in
Redjos and Mary's demeanor that their plan hinged on his participation
prompting the assault of Red as a hostage.

"Are you familiar with such a device? is it Forerunner technology?"

"The ForeRunners were much more advanced in these sciences than
we.  They built a device capable of scanning across light years
seeking such potential.  Like many of their devices, the interface
required was a mind possessed of Meowr'Hiss.  Or multiple minds."

"So it was a location device?  They needed me to find more like me, like
us?" he asked.

"That is my guess.  With you and the other two, the device might have
activated and any potential Meowr'Hiss users within its range would
have been know to you.  If this Redjos is as evil as you describe him,
he would doubtless have then elimianted you and recruited or killed
all those so discovered," said the Sensei.

"That, I suspected," offered Turlon.  "Although it surprised me that he
would destroy it so quickly, its value was obviously immense.  Do you know
who he may have worked for?  I doubt he will be found by the authorities."

"He may have been working alone.  It is one of my greatest fears that those
who oppose us organize themselves.  One of our greatest advantages is
that we can find and contact those with power and either ask them to
join us or at least monitor them.  Our foes operate mostly alone or
in small groups since they lack the ability we have through the
device."

Turlon looked up, "The device? you have one?" he asked.

"I certainly do not," came the reply, "but the Purr'Meowr'Hiss'Ka
have access to such a device, yes."

Turlon scratched his jaw absent mindedly, "Possession of one of these
devices can't be too common.  Do you think the Purr'Meowr'Hiss'Ka will know
this Redjos?"

"I will certainly attempt to find out, but I suspect not.  My understanding
is that the device detects only potential, not realized potential," said
the cat.  "Something in the awakening process alters whatever mental
signature the device is attuned to scan for.  If he was known once,
he has doubtless changed his name and appearance."

"That is true," agreed Turlon.  "Whoever he works for certainly has those
means."  Turlon knew that it didn't take much to disappear in the far
reaches of space, and Redjos had some high powered backing to get access to
the device; but he knew that Redjos didn't take defeat lightly -- he'd be
back to even the score.