After the meal, Bassa retreated to his quarters to read. Unable to concentrate, his thoughts continued to drift to the exchange with Byron. Any hopes of connecting with Byron now lay shattered on the hangar floor. He’d failed to reach the boy.
The words on his computer pad appeared to blur and Bassa leaned away from the screen. Arching his stiff back, he glanced around the room. His gaze fell on the picture of Tal, nestled beside his main computer on the desk. His brother’s image reminded Bassa of his pilot, but he realized their looks and skills no longer seemed so similar. The only common thread lay in the fact that he’d lost both men.
Rising to his feet, Bassa slipped on his boots and stepped into the hallway. He proceeded to Byron’s quarters and paused at the door. After their earlie
