Erick smirked. “We both know she’s not going to stop rescuing those in need, furred, skinned, and otherwise.”
“Yes, and I’m concerned about giving her a ship to facilitate that.”
“Again, people are talking about me as if I’m not in the room,” Jelena muttered.
A thump came from beyond the closed door that led to the hall, like someone bumping an elbow against the wall. Or maybe hitting it with a fist. Jelena sensed Thor out there and also her grandfather. She wasn’t surprised he was here, too, and hoped to see him soon. She wondered what Grandpa and Thor were talking about. And whose fist had struck the wall.
“You could hire a stranger with a fancy résumé to captain the ship,” Erick said, “but then you’d have to pay the person. Jelena is apparently working for an allowance still.”
Leonidas snorted. “I didn’t know you were concerned about her being underpaid.”
“She owes me a pack of Striker Odyssey cards. And a cape.”
“A cape?”
“With sequins and sparkles,” Jelena said.
She wasn’t sure which one of them appeared more horrified.
“We thought we’d see how the first voyage went before talking salaries,” Leonidas said, then met Jelena’s eyes.
She perked up. Was she to be included in the conversation now? It was odd and a little disconcerting to have Erick act as her character reference—though she supposed she should be glad he was speaking in her favor. Just because he’d been to the university and was six years her senior . . . He didn’t seem much more mature to her. A mature person did his laundry and folded his clothes, didn’t he?
“Your mother thinks we should give you another chance, but based on a few things we’ve heard, we may need to keep you out running freight for the border worlds for a while. You would be less likely to run into Alliance patrols out there—we understand there was a mishap on Upsilon Seven that our insurance might not cover.”
Jelena blushed and studied the floor.
“You would also be less likely to cross paths with core-planet corporations with long reaches. It would be a good idea to keep you out of sight, out of mind with the enemies you’ve already made.”
“The hope is that those enemies believe we’re dead,” Jelena said. “And Masika and I have already been discussing a paint job for the Snapper.”
“Masika?”
“Jelena doesn’t limit her rescuing to animals,” Erick informed him.
“She’s super strong,” Jelena said. “I told her you’d give her tips on needlepoint.”
“I see. A painted ship might not be enough to keep you safe if you’re regularly in the shipping lanes that Stellacor uses. So . . . the border worlds.” He held out a hand. “If you’re interested.”
Jelena blinked. Was she being offered the job of captain? Or at least another chance to prove herself?
“You will pay for the fuel and repairs that may be required due to any side trips that you undertake.”
“Er, with my allowance?”
“Going forward, we’ll pay you a share of the profits earned from your runs. Just so you know, we intend to keep the Snapper too busy for side trips.” His eyes narrowed. “Independent freighters don’t earn money unless they’re picking up and delivering cargo.”
“No side trips at all?” She’d delighted at the idea of being a captain and choosing her own destiny, but she had always imagined doing things more noble than delivering bags of rice and boxes of cereal. How else would she obtain the notice of the other Starseers in the system? But she didn’t want to cut ties with her family—and it wasn’t as if there was another way she could afford a ship of her own. “What about vacations?”
“I’m sure you’ll have some downtime now and then,” Mom said, stepping back into the room. “That’s the nature of the business.”
Downtime sounded promising. She would just have to find a way to finance personal missions taken on during downtime. “A share of the profits” didn’t sound like piles of money to her.
“I think you’re also going to get an extra engineer,” Mom added. “Feel free to use him however you wish.”
“Austin?” Erick asked.
“We’re going to hire someone a little more seasoned. And a little less determined to find ghosts on the Nomad.” Mom’s lips thinned.
“You want him to come find ghosts on the Snapper?” Jelena asked.
“Maybe you can keep him so busy he’ll forget about that hobby.”
“Doubtful.” Erick exchanged a dubious look with Jelena. “He went camping at the graveyard in town when we were growing up. He was always trying to get photographic proof of paranormal activity.”
Mom acknowledged this with a waggle of her fingers and continued speaking to Jelena. “You may also want to look for someone with a medical background more extensive than yours. As we’ve recently learned, things happen out in the Dark Reaches, and having someone who can help in that area is a good idea.” Mom came in to hold Leonidas’s hand, smiling at him and nodding toward the hallway. She must have known Grandpa was out there. “Grandpa has said he’ll continue your teachings over the sys-net, for both of you.” She looked at Erick as well as Jelena.
“Does this mean I’ll be able to hire people?” Jelena thought of Masika, but also of Thor. Was there any chance she could talk him into staying on the ship with her crew instead of pursuing his vengeance mission? It seemed unlikely, but maybe she could be persuasive.
“Yes, a couple of people if you need them,” Mom said. “Maybe some security specialists with combat armor.”
Jelena thought of Thor with his sword.
“It’s likely you’ll run into trouble out on the border worlds, even if you’re not going on . . . vacations.” Her eyes tightened with concern, and she gave Leonidas a long look.
Jelena’s senses told her that Mom wasn’t crazy about this idea. She wanted to keep Jelena home and safe with the family a little longer. If not that, she would have willingly let Jelena go off to study at a nice university on a safe core world. This new enterprise worried her. Surprisingly, Leonidas had been the one who’d argued to give Jelena some independence and to let her try again.
“Makes sense,” Jelena said. “Maybe I can find an Uncle Tommy. A chef and security officer.”
“That would be wonderful,” Erick said, a hand to his chest.
“Then Erick wouldn’t need to take ludicrous risks to get a pizza back to the ship.”
“Everyone should have an Uncle Tommy,” Mom said, “but it’s not that easy to find people with that combination of skills.”
“Maybe I should go sample some of his kebabs now,” Erick said, drifting toward the door. “And pack some up to take with us.”
“That does seem wise.”
The hallway door opened for the first time, and a red-faced Thor walked in stiffly. Grandpa came in behind him, wearing denim, flannel, and a goofy hat with a broad brim, his own face affable, especially when he spotted Jelena. She should have brought him a new hat from Upsilon Seven. Years ago, Mom had asked him to stop wearing a Starseer robe all the time, since it alarmed the customers loading their cargo onto the ship, and he’d discovered a love for cowboy attire. At least he wasn’t wearing the spurs and chaps today. Jelena was fairly certain Mom now regretted making snide comments about the Starseer robe. After all, robes didn’t jangle.
“How are you, little one?” Grandpa asked, coming over to wrap an arm around her shoulder.
“I’m well, all things considered.”
Grandpa regarded her, his brown eyes knowing, a faint smile visible through his neatly trimmed silver beard. If he and Thor had been arguing, it wasn’t evident from looking at his face, but Jelena wouldn’t be surprised if he’d expressed disapproval at the way Thor was using his gifts. Unfortunately, they didn’t know each other that well, and his disapproval might not mean much to Thor. The only one here who might have more luck swaying Thor than Jelena was lying on that hospital bed.
/> Leonidas turned his head, his eyes widening at Thor’s entrance. He and Mom might have learned a lot about Jelena’s adventures, but it seemed this aspect of them wasn’t in the reports they’d received.
“Have you sampled the cookies yet?” Grandpa asked Jelena.
“I haven’t gotten to sample the cookies yet,” Leonidas grumbled, though he was still looking at Thor. Actually, he was looking him up and down, probably wondering why the prince was dressed like death. No, that wouldn’t be true. He’d seen the news. Or, if not, Mom would have shared it. Right before she commed Jelena to tell her to avoid Thor.
“Has your doctor deemed it acceptable for you to eat sweets in your delicate state?” Grandpa asked.
Jelena almost snorted because Leonidas looked about as delicate as a brick lying there, but she reminded herself that he’d truly had a close call and looks could be deceiving. Even big, burly cyborg looks.
“If he hasn’t, I’ll have words for him.” Leonidas made a fist.
“Careful, you’ll pop your heart monitor off,” Jelena said.
Leonidas opened his fingers and gestured for Thor to come to the side of the bed. He was currently lurking just inside the doorway, looking sullen and wary, though that was more because of whatever Grandpa had said than anything Leonidas had done, Jelena was sure.
Grandpa nudged Jelena and nodded toward the inside door. She balked, wanting to listen in on the conversation. Did Grandpa think Leonidas might talk some sense into Thor? Jelena wasn’t sure about that. She didn’t think Leonidas would approve of assassinations under most circumstances, but he must have reason to detest the same people Thor was going after. Would ten years have stolen his desire to see the emperor avenged?
Grandpa cleared his throat, and Jelena reluctantly headed for the door.
“It’s good to see you, Thorian,” Leonidas said, his tone strangely grave. Jelena was relieved he didn’t call him “my prince” or “Sire” or something like that. Leonidas had once served the emperor closely, after all, and judging by occasional comments over the years, he wished the empire had never fallen.
“Colonel Adler. I’m glad you survived your surgery. And the last ten years of having such a rambunctious daughter.”
Jelena had almost exited the room, but she balked again at this.
Leonidas’s eyes twinkled. “Jelena’s not so bad. Have you met the twins lately?”
“Briefly in the hall, but not really since they were three or four and painting your combat armor case.”
“Ah, yes. The year they decided stickers weren’t sufficient. I’ve never understood why the girls all wanted to decorate my armor.”
“To make you look less fierce and scary,” Jelena said. “Good people don’t dress like walking deliverers of death.” She squinted at Thor instead of at Leonidas.
Grandpa cleared his throat again and this time, gave her a mental nudge as well as a physical prod.
Sighing, Jelena stepped outside where the music had turned from spaceships and cowboys to sailing the high seas of Outer Trason as a pirate. Despite the different lyrics, the song sounded similar to the other one. Mom hadn’t managed to increase the perkiness factor of the music. Rather surprisingly, and alarmingly, a few of the older set were dancing in the center of the room. Not all older. She spotted Austin, looking every bit as gangly as Erick and twice as awkward, stumbling over his feet as he danced with Yumi. Had Uncle Tommy spiked the cookies with alcohol? Could that be done?
“What is it you think they’re going to talk about that they need privacy for?” Jelena asked after Grandpa pulled the door shut behind them.
“I do not know, but young Thorian needs someone he respects to speak with him and hopefully set him on another path.”
“He had Dr. Dominguez and a bunch of Starseer tutors. I’m sure he respected at least some of them. And that they tried to talk him out of doing foolish things.” At least, she was fairly certain after their visit to Halite that Dr. Dominguez didn’t approve of the assassinations. She had no idea what all those other Starseers had been after, other than that they were supposedly imperial loyalists. The man on the couch had seemed decent though. “He’s stubborn,” she added.
“Perhaps, but Leonidas saved his life long ago, so he owes him a debt, yes? And since then, they have been apart so much that in many ways, Leonidas will be a stranger to him. Young people are less likely to defy those they don’t know well.”
“I’m not sure Leonidas is going to tell him to find another path. They’re from the same place, and they have the same outlook and feelings about the empire. Or they did once.”
Grandpa’s face turned uncharacteristically grave. “If he does not tell him, I do not know who will.”
Jelena thought about mentioning that she’d tried, but she doubted she had changed any of Thor’s opinions, so what did it matter?
“It is not the assassinations that bother me so much, though I find that tactic disturbing of course, but it is how they have been training him.” Grandpa shook his head. “From our brief conversation, I know they brought in chasadski tutors, and he uses some of their tactics.”
“Chasadski? Like Tymoteusz?” Jelena thought of Thor’s comment about back doors into people’s minds. She’d known that wasn’t a normal Starseer tactic.
“Yes.”
Though he appeared grim, Grandpa squeezed her shoulder and found a second cookie basket to visit.
Jelena chatted with Mom, Yumi, and Mica for a few minutes, and managed a smile when she learned that her only other Starseer acquaintances, Abelardus and Young-hee, were on the way. But as soon as she sensed Thor leaving Leonidas’s room—again through that direct door to avoid the crowd—she grabbed a couple of cookies and skewers of meat and stepped into the hallway.
It was empty except for Thor. His face wasn’t as red as it had been after his chat with Grandpa, but he didn’t exactly appear cheerful. Jelena hoped he didn’t regret coming.
“Are you all right?” she asked.
His mouth opened, but he didn’t answer right away, as if he hadn’t expected the question. And here she’d thought he knew her every thought before she spoke.
“I’m fine. I’m glad Colonel Adler came through his surgery admirably.”
“I think you can call him Leonidas. He’s been retired for a while.”
“I keep hoping he’ll want to come back and serve in my army one day.”
Something that seemed far less likely now. Jelena grimaced at the thought that Leonidas was getting old. Prematurely, yes, but old nonetheless.
Not wanting to dwell on that, she replied with, “The army you’re going to raise after you finish getting rid of people you don’t like?”
Jelena wondered if anything Grandpa or Leonidas had said had made him change his mind.
“The army I must raise if I’m to reestablish the empire.”
“Would it be horrible if the empire remained in ashes? The system is doing fairly well these days under the Alliance government.”
Thor curled a lip. “The part of it that’s protected by the Alliance. They’ve only been able to establish their rule on five planets and a dozen moons. That leaves a huge part of the system in chaos, or ruled by the mafia or opportunists or corporations far shadier than your Stellacor. Under the empire, ninety-five percent of imperial subjects knew they had nothing to fear from thieves and murderers.”
“They were too busy worrying about the repercussions of speaking their minds in a totalitarian government that didn’t allow free speech.”
“You were eight when it fell. What do you remember of it?”
“What do you?” she challenged. “You were only ten, and it’s not as if you were living a normal person’s life.”
The android nurse came around a corner carrying trays of food, and they both stopped speaking, not that the android would likely care or report the conversation—or the speakers. Jelena wanted to change tacks anyway. This wasn’t the argument she’d wished to have.
 
; “The Alliance almost caught up with you on Upsilon Seven.” She saw the indignation in Thor’s eyes and the way he opened his mouth to protest, but she pressed on. “Even if you’re determined to go back or continue on down your list, maybe you should give it a break for a while. Wait for them to think you’re done, and then they’ll lower their guards, and you’ll have an easier time of it when you start up again.” She couldn’t believe she was giving him advice on his assassination plans. Not that she wanted him to “start up again.” She just wanted to give him a reason to stop for now. And then . . . well, there was plenty of time to change the future.
“And do what? Go back to Halite for more training?” He spoke the words with distaste. He must not be monitoring her thoughts or he would have known what she had in mind. Maybe he was too preoccupied with his own thoughts.
“Not unless you miss the rabid apes and your puzzle and underwear collection. Erick informed me that the underwear was unremarkable. I’m sure we can find you something better at any clothing store.”
“We? You and Erick?”
“We both have eclectic tastes in fashion, and we’d be happy to share our shopping expertise with you. How do you feel about sparkles?”
Thor rubbed the back of his neck. Maybe Erick’s asteroids and spaceships pajamas would be more his style.
“It just so happens that I’ll be running freight out among the border worlds for the foreseeable future. It might be a good place to go to avoid the Alliance. My parents suggested I hire some security specialists. They were thinking of someone with combat armor, but you might be sufficient.”
“Sufficient?” His eyebrows flew upward.
“Barely. I don’t suppose you can cook. No? What about doctoring skills?”
He stared at her.
“Well, maybe we can find one other person who can do both those things.” Remembering the food in her hands, Jelena held up the kabobs. “Meat cubes on a stick?”
“I . . .” He was still staring at her. He’d either just noticed her stunning beauty, or he had no idea what to say to her job offer. “I’m supposed to be planning a resurgence of the empire, ridding the system of my father’s old enemies, and amassing an army.”