Steele Disposal

Yesterday, Captain Keller tried to convince the would-be assassin, Dan Steele, that the war was over. He even said the Darwin Project was a success but Steele was having none of it. There was nothing to do with him but send him to a place where, according to Keller, he would have time to think:

     Keller was just leaving the cargo bay when he decided to turn and to speak Rei and Rome.
     “He’s a smart dude,” Keller said. “He just needs some time to adjust to the situation. But I won’t let them take any chances. Why don’t you two wait here and I’ll send Virga out and you can take him to the…”
     “Prison?” Rei asked.
     “Yeah,” Keller answered sadly. “I can’t take the chance on him being a loose cannon. If I don’t see you again…” Keller held out his hand. Rei took it and shook it. “Good luck to you both. I’m glad you caught those two and that’s the end of it.”
     Rei was about to launch into a more detailed explanation. He looked at Rome who subtly shook her head. Rei nodded and said, “Thank you, sir and good luck to you.”
     “Thanks son,” he said. Keller looked around. “Where’s Bonnie?” he asked.
     “Uh, she decided to stay behind,” Rei answered. “We had no objection.”
     Keller looked at him funny then shrugged. He turned toward Rome. He bent down and tousled Aason’s hair then stood up and held out his hand to Rome. “Mrs. Bierak, I don’t think in all of human history, I could have been more wrong about someone. You are truly a remarkable woman and you deserve all happiness. You two belong together.”
     Rome blushed slightly. She was shaking Keller’s hand and knew that he was sincere. “Thank you,” was all she said. Then she added, “and I am happy for you as well. I am glad you have found peace. Everyone deserves it.”
     Keller smiled and turned and disappeared down the ramp, only to be replaced by Virga a moment later.
     “I understand that you wish to place the other Essessoni in protective custody?”
     “Yeah,” Rei said. “We’d appreciate it.”
     “It is not a problem,” she said and they walked forward to the cockpit. Rei and Rome buckled into the pilot and co-pilot’s seat while Virga buckled into the new ‘navigator’s’ seat. Aason climbed up on his mother’s lap where she wrapped her arms around him protectively.
     “You remember where the prison is?” Rei asked, directing his voice toward the grille mounted in the front console.
     “I am a computer,” MINIMCOM said. “Of course I remember.”
     Aason giggled. Rome did too.
     “Just wanted to make sure you didn’t hand that piece off to Junior,” Rei smirked as he said it.
     The starship lifted off and quickly rose in the air, gaining enough altitude to clear the central range of mountains.

Well, that's that. Steele will have a long time to "think" about his situation. There is one more suprise awaiting us when we get to the prison, however.