"First things first," Gene says. "We find the soul gem. Then we find the woman, and work up the chain from there." He taps a finger to his cheek, thinking. "It might not get us very far; if whoever did this is sophisticated enough to use that kind of magic, they might have a sophisticated chain of command. These attackers might not have an easily-trackable central command. They could be in cells, getting their orders some secret way."

He shakes his head. "Anyway - that's immaterial right now. Where was he in the Earth Sector? Did he say?"