not a child. I know what I want. What life would you have me go back to? The one where I was a slave? Is that safe or comfortable?” Greyson heard Shyanne gasp in surprise. As he started to move toward the pair, Brina continued.
“That’s right. I was the senator from Regalus’s slave. One of my duties was to care for his daughter. She d-died in the attack.” The young woman’s voice broke for a moment, then hardened. “How warm do you think my welcome wil be when I’m returned?”
“Don’t you have any family?” Shyanne asked.
“I don’t know. My colony was raided when I was eight. It wasn’t a sanctioned Earth colony, and I don’t even remember its name. Please, let me stay with you. I’m a good cook and have some limited medical skil s.” Greyson heard Shyanne heave a sigh and then say, “Al right. You can stay with us until we can find your family or a place for you.”
“Thank you.”
Greyson couldn’t see what happened, but he heard Shyanne cough and the rustle of clothing being straightened.
“Go help Eldin get the children settled for the trip. Afterward he’l set you up with a cabin and some clothing.” A few seconds later, Brina rushed past Greyson into the ship.
Shyanne fol owed and stopped beside him. “You heard?” she asked.
He nodded. “You should have sent her with the children. Kincaid would have seen to getting her settled somewhere safe. Earth banned slavery ages ago. No one would send her back to Regalus.”
“Maybe, maybe not. Who knows what the Earth government might do to prevent that senator from making a fuss? I couldn’t take the chance.” As much as Greyson hated to admit it, she had a point. With the threat of C.O.I.L. intervention hanging over their heads, the fate of one girl wouldn’t amount to much.
Eldin and Brina came out of the Spitfire . Eldin eyed Greyson. “The children are ready. I gave them al a mild sleeping draught, so they shouldn’t give you any trouble on the trip. You’re sure your friend wil see to them properly?” Greyson nodded.
Eldin said to Brina, “Let’s get you settled in. I know just the quarters that’l work for you.”
As they left, Greyson turned to board the Spitfire . Shyanne’s hand on his arm made him pause.
“Come back,” she said.
“I didn’t know you cared.” Before he could control his tongue, the wisecrack slipped out, masking his real feelings. As much as he’d like to deny it, he wanted her to care.
She snatched back her hand. “I don’t. But without your assistance it’l be harder to take down Dempster. And if you’re not around to back them up, wil ASP
honor the pardons they promised? I’d hate to test that.” Knowing what he did, Greyson felt the same way.
A short time later Greyson docked at the ELF outpost. He took a deep breath and punched the control panel to open Spitfire ’s hatch. Behind him, the children slept peaceful y.
The hatch swung open. After the dim il umination of the transport craft, Greyson squinted in the bright light of the docking bay. Five armed men stood waiting, their weapons leveled at his chest. He raised his hands and took a step down the ramp. The chil y air didn’t stop the sweat from trickling down his spine.
“Hold,” a familiar voice ordered.
Greyson blinked and the man came into focus. “Carter Kincaid.” Five years hadn’t changed his old friend. With long dark hair, swarthy complexion, scarred face and the dagger always strapped to his waist, he looked more like a pirate than an ELF officer. His disreputable appearance hadn’t won him any points with the judges during the hearing, but it was his disrespect for authority that real y sealed his fate. Few people who saw him would guess at his strong sense of justice. That same inner code was what had led him to disobey direct orders on Largon. And though his action saved lives, it had ruined his promising career and landed him here.
“Dane?” The barrel of the man’s laser rifle dropped a
“That’s right. I was the senator from Regalus’s slave. One of my duties was to care for his daughter. She d-died in the attack.” The young woman’s voice broke for a moment, then hardened. “How warm do you think my welcome wil be when I’m returned?”
“Don’t you have any family?” Shyanne asked.
“I don’t know. My colony was raided when I was eight. It wasn’t a sanctioned Earth colony, and I don’t even remember its name. Please, let me stay with you. I’m a good cook and have some limited medical skil s.” Greyson heard Shyanne heave a sigh and then say, “Al right. You can stay with us until we can find your family or a place for you.”
“Thank you.”
Greyson couldn’t see what happened, but he heard Shyanne cough and the rustle of clothing being straightened.
“Go help Eldin get the children settled for the trip. Afterward he’l set you up with a cabin and some clothing.” A few seconds later, Brina rushed past Greyson into the ship.
Shyanne fol owed and stopped beside him. “You heard?” she asked.
He nodded. “You should have sent her with the children. Kincaid would have seen to getting her settled somewhere safe. Earth banned slavery ages ago. No one would send her back to Regalus.”
“Maybe, maybe not. Who knows what the Earth government might do to prevent that senator from making a fuss? I couldn’t take the chance.” As much as Greyson hated to admit it, she had a point. With the threat of C.O.I.L. intervention hanging over their heads, the fate of one girl wouldn’t amount to much.
Eldin and Brina came out of the Spitfire . Eldin eyed Greyson. “The children are ready. I gave them al a mild sleeping draught, so they shouldn’t give you any trouble on the trip. You’re sure your friend wil see to them properly?” Greyson nodded.
Eldin said to Brina, “Let’s get you settled in. I know just the quarters that’l work for you.”
As they left, Greyson turned to board the Spitfire . Shyanne’s hand on his arm made him pause.
“Come back,” she said.
“I didn’t know you cared.” Before he could control his tongue, the wisecrack slipped out, masking his real feelings. As much as he’d like to deny it, he wanted her to care.
She snatched back her hand. “I don’t. But without your assistance it’l be harder to take down Dempster. And if you’re not around to back them up, wil ASP
honor the pardons they promised? I’d hate to test that.” Knowing what he did, Greyson felt the same way.
A short time later Greyson docked at the ELF outpost. He took a deep breath and punched the control panel to open Spitfire ’s hatch. Behind him, the children slept peaceful y.
The hatch swung open. After the dim il umination of the transport craft, Greyson squinted in the bright light of the docking bay. Five armed men stood waiting, their weapons leveled at his chest. He raised his hands and took a step down the ramp. The chil y air didn’t stop the sweat from trickling down his spine.
“Hold,” a familiar voice ordered.
Greyson blinked and the man came into focus. “Carter Kincaid.” Five years hadn’t changed his old friend. With long dark hair, swarthy complexion, scarred face and the dagger always strapped to his waist, he looked more like a pirate than an ELF officer. His disreputable appearance hadn’t won him any points with the judges during the hearing, but it was his disrespect for authority that real y sealed his fate. Few people who saw him would guess at his strong sense of justice. That same inner code was what had led him to disobey direct orders on Largon. And though his action saved lives, it had ruined his promising career and landed him here.
“Dane?” The barrel of the man’s laser rifle dropped a
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