Deserter

Chapter 20

''It's six o'clock, Kris.''

Still half asleep, Kris didn't even roll over. ''Don't bother me for another two hours.'' What had she been thinking? She couldn't call Hank at this ungodly hour.

''Should I let Tom and Abby sleep in also?''

''No, Nelly, they have work. Now leave me alone.'' Kris doubted she would be left alone, but she could try. Amazingly, much later the delicious smell of bacon and coffee pulled Kris slowly from her stolen sleep. Rolling over, she found Abby ready to settle a breakfast tray across her. ''Breakfast in bed?''

''Why shouldn't we poor working folks who have been laboring in the fields for hours lavish such things on you lazy members of the leisure class?'' the maid said, dropping the tray the last few centimeters onto the bed. Plates rattled, silverware tinkled, coffee sloshed from a delicate china cup into the saucer.

''Gee, where did my mother find a throwback to the class warfare ideologues? Do they still have them on Earth?'' Kris said, unrepentant, as she took a bite from a delightfully flaky biscuit, already buttered and lathered in strawberry jam.

''Anywhere the holders of great wealth are slugabeds at nine o'clock there is bound to be unrest in the working class.'' Abby bustled about, fluffing Kris's pillows, then examining her wardrobe before laying out a business suit: red skirt and blazer. ''You up to a royal blue blouse or should we settle for a conservative white one, with a monogrammed coronet on it?''

''Whatever makes me a harder target,'' Kris mumbled through a mouthful. ''Back home, I'm at the Firebolt by seven. Out on the Rim, money can't be lazy either. It works as hard as I do.'' Kris glanced around. ''Is Nelly having problems controlling a bug infestation?''

''No, silly goose. I'm not putting on a show for public consumption. You pay me for my service, not my thoughts. You send me to dole out milk and cookies to the night watch, and you better believe you're going to take some lip for it.''

''How are our fearless and watchful defenders?''

''Bored, not very watchful, and I can't say how fearless they'd be in a shoot-out, but I can't tell you how happy I am that my delicate skin won't be targeted if they screw up or run.''

''Thank you.'' Kris grinned. ''How much armor can I carry without being noticeable?''

''You still planning on doing a plumbing job tonight?''

''Yes.''

''I'd planned to use the boob bombs, but the body stocking squishes you flat and doesn't take too well to close-ups. How close do you intend to get to this Hank fellow?''

''Dinner, maybe dancing. He shouldn't get too close.''

''You Rim people are such virgins. Back home my first date and I would have… well, never mind.''

''Abby, you are the best stand-up liar I've ever met.''

''Who says I'm lying?'' Abby sniffed. ''You going to take all day? Or maybe you want to call your fellow from bed. Back home, that's usually an invite to finish the date there.''

''I'm finished,'' Kris said. ''Let's do full armor with that suit. We can decide on tonight later.''

Half an hour later, Kris was armored, dressed, and made up enough for Abby to permit her to make a phone call.

''Mr. Smythe-Peterwald is unavailable,'' a standard computer voice informed her.

''Please tell him that Princess Kristine Anne Longknife of Wardhaven would like to discuss a date with him.''

''He will be so informed.''

KEEP THAT RETARDED BUCKET OF CIRCUITS ON THE LINE A BIT LONGER, Nelly put in.

''Do you have any idea when he might answer my call? I have such a busy schedule,'' Kris lied.

''I am sorry, but I cannot offer any estimate. He is a busy businessman and often must respond to unscheduled priorities.''

Kris hated talking to buffers. She really hated the ones that were following the new tact subroutines; they could waste your time by the yard. ''Well, I really would like a call back before noon. If he is really delayed, maybe…'' Kris rambled on. NELLY, HOW MUCH LONGER?

DONE!

Kris finished with the buffer, hung up, and turned around. ''Okay, Nelly girl, what was that all about?''

''That block of wood was programmed to shortstop you. I corrected that minor fault. Now, when Hank next asks for his messages, yours will be at the top of the queue.''

''More evidence Sandfire likes you where he has you?'' Jack asked.

''If we needed any. Where's Tom?''

''He got away at six-fifteen,'' Jack said. ''The guards were not too enthusiastic about that, but Abby just happened by with the coffee and donuts. What might have taken forever was resolved amazingly fast once the Sergeant commanding had food in his mouth. I've also arranged for chairs out there.''

''Chairs!''

''Why not? Those kids will never be very good in a fight. At least this way they won't be cranky.''

''When's Tom due back?''

''He'll stay out as long as he can, maybe until three if he can stretch it. He's dropping by the embassy to remind whatever officer is in charge of such matters that you and he are here and not intentionally missing ship movement or deserting.''

''Oh Lord, I forgot about that stuff. I am supposed to check in once in a while, aren't I?''

''I can't picture the Navy booting you out for this,'' Penny said, standing at the door to her room, wearing one of Kris's nightgowns and robes. On her, they hung long.

''You don't know General McMorrison. Mac would love an excuse to be rid of me.''

Penny raised her eyebrows, whether at the prospects of a Princess being given the heave-ho, or Kris's familiarity with the name of the Chief of Staff for all Wardhaven armed forces. Kris didn't bother to ask. Unless they got out of here, it wouldn't matter. And unless they figured out a way to blow up a nascent battle fleet, a lot of matters would change drastically.

But for the moment, Kris had absolutely nothing to do. She was, as comfortable as it looked, under house arrest. What she could do was already being done. She went down her list of things that might need doing and came up with a long list of answers that totaled ''insufficient information.''

Penny offered to play chess. ''But not with Nelly. Just you.'' Halfway through the first game, it was clear Penny was far more experienced at this game than Kris ever wanted to be. Penny didn't mind when Abby took to kibitzing, offering suggestions and pointing out possibilities four and five moves in the future.

Kris minded. Standing, she waved a hand not at all as graciously as she wanted to. ''Here, you take over.''

''You've already lost the game,'' Abby pointed out.

''We can start a new one,'' Penny offered.

''You do that,'' Kris said, walking, not stomping, but walking gently to the screen. ''Where is that call?''

''Earth girls don't wait to be called back,'' Abby pointed out, settling at the table and offering Penny two fists. Penny tapped one, got white, and they turned the board around.

''I thought the idea was for me to play her and help her stay calm,'' Penny said as she arranged her board.

''The woman is waiting for the man to call. Trust me,'' Abby said dryly. ''There is no way to calm her. It's an X gene thing.''

''I am not waiting for a man to call. I'm waiting for someone to call so I can go plant a bomb upstairs,'' Kris snapped.

''Looks like a moonstruck calf to me,'' Abby said, making her counter to Penny's opening move. ''What do you think, Jack?''

''Be interesting to see if he calls. I suspect he's got Kris right where he and Sandfire and his papa want her. Locked up like a bird in a cage. Available to be plucked at their convenience.''

Kris stuck out her tongue, but her heart wasn't in it. If Hank was his father's man, Jack was right. ''I don't think Hank's in on all his father's schemes,'' Kris insisted. ''He didn't know about the problem with the smart-metal boats he gave me.''

''He got kind of quiet when you brought that up,'' Abby said as she quickly responded to Penny's move. Unlike Kris's game, Penny and Abby moved pieces around the board like it was greased.

''When you grow up in my neighborhood,'' Kris said, trotting over to bend down and get in Abby's face, ''you learn real quick not to give anyone a sound bite they can use on the news or in a court of law against your father.''

''Anyway,'' Jack said, stretching his legs out on the couch and picking up his reader, ''it doesn't matter what plots he is or isn't in on. Whether you, young Princess, are moonstruck or not. If he doesn't call, nothing happens.''

''He doesn't call, I have to figure out a new option for rearranging the plumbing upstairs,'' Kris pointed out.

Jack shrugged.

Nelly gave a kind of light buzz that startled Kris. ''A call is coming in.''

''Who?'' Kris asked, struggling to swallow a grin. Abby brought her latest move to a roaring halt, a knight hovering in midair. Penny pulled her hand back from a move she was ready to make. Jack kept reading.

''Call has no identifier on it.''

''Well, accept it,'' Kris said.

''Please hold a moment for Mr. Henry Smythe-Peterwald the Thirteenth,'' a computer voice announced. A coat of arms filled the screen Nelly had opened.

WAS THAT TRUMPETS?

I WOULD HAVE TO RERUN IT AND ANALYZE, Nelly said.

WHO'S THE ROYALTY HERE?

YOU ARE, Nelly said. Kris wondered how you snorted derision at a computer.

''Hi, Kris, sorry I missed your call.'' Hank actually did look sorry, a slight droop to the mouth, a bit of a slump to the shoulder. Breathlessly handsome, but tinged with regret.

''They keeping you busy?'' Kris answered, trying to place the scene behind Hank, then realizing it was computer generated.

''Cal is up to his ears in things. I think he wants to impress me with his executive brilliance. Me, I'm wondering why he doesn't delegate the half of this. But then,'' he shrugged, ''I've watched my dad in full fury a few times. Hope I don't get like that when I'm his age. What are you up to?''

''It's not what I'm up to. More like what I'd like to do for a while this evening. My social schedule kind of got lightened suddenly last night. You have any plans for tonight?''

''They're never any more my plans than they are yours. Are you hatching a conspiracy to slip our handlers and maybe steal a few hours just for ourselves?''

''Think we could get hung for treason?''

Hank glanced around like a bad video conspirator. ''They have to catch us first,'' he whispered.

''Pick me up, say seven,'' Kris offered.

''Sounds great.''

''What do I dress for, dinner, dancing, a movie?''

''Sitting alone with you for two hours while ghosts do all the speaking on a holostage is not what I want to do with you.'' He smiled. This one reached across his lips, swept up to his eyes, and didn't stop this side of his eyebrows. Nice smile.

''I'll wear something for dancing,'' Kris said.

''See you at seven.''

''Call if you can't make it.''

''The only way I won't make it is if somebody blows up the elevator and I get stuck on the ground.''

''Hank, don't even think that! The way things have been going…'' Kris let that thought wind down.

''Don't worry. I think Cal's had enough of the locals' bumbling. Nothing's going boom that he doesn't want. Bye for now, duty calls, and I'm gonna get duty wrestled and tied up in a big bow by seven.''

Kris turned as the screen went blank. ''He called,'' she said, letting her own grin out to romp and play.

''He's with Sandfire,'' Jack pointed out.

''As an observer,'' Kris countered.

''Maybe you can get him talking about a few of his observations,'' Abby said slowly.

''That's not what I want to do tonight.''

Abby and Penny went back to their rapid-fire chess.

The day passed slowly. Abby paid a milk and cookies visit to the new guard shift and came back with an offer of a date from the Sergeant in charge. ''Cupid seems to be going through arrows at an alarming pace,'' Jack drawled.

''You're just jealous ‘cause I got a date and you don't,'' Abby said.

Jack shrugged her off with ''Sergeant just isn't my type.''

About three, Kris asked the obvious. ''When is Tom due back?''

Penny paused, rook halfway to taking Abby's last bishop, gave a worried shrug, and went on with her game.

Jack took Kris aside. ''I thought he'd be back by three. A quick stop at the embassy, then on to Penny's place.''

''Could he have been held up at the embassy?''

Jack shook his head. ''Your guess is as good as mine.''

At four, Abby pushed back from the table. ''Eight to eight. What do you say we leave it as a tie? There's always tomorrow.''

''Just one more.'' Penny sighed.

''I really have to get Kris into a bath.''

''Okay,'' had nothing but resignation.

''I'd offer to play you,'' Jack said, ''but color me totally intimidated. I've never seen people play like you two.''

''Saves me from thinking about anything but the game.'' Penny said, then snapped at the door. ''Where is that man?''

''He'll call,'' Kris got out before she thought about it.

''I don't want him to call. I want him to walk his thin-skinned body through that door, preferably with no new black-and-blue marks on it.''

Kris retreated to the bath; it wasn't nearly as relaxing. No sooner was Kris in the tub than Abby was showing her how to turn her falsies into bombs. ''Stretch them out, or they'll totally block the pipes and never get to where they need to be.''

Kris nodded. ''How dangerous are those things to wear?''

''I only know of them going off prematurely once, and she shot her mouth off too much,'' Abby said, giving Kris a wicked grin.

''I'll take a vow of silence when I'm wearing them,'' Kris said, hefting a booby bomb with both hands. It was light; she slowly settled it into the water. It barely floated.

''You arm it by pushing down on the nipple; that arouses it,'' Abby said with a straight face. ''Turn it three hundred sixty degrees, then depress it. Your breast is now dangerous.''

Kris shook her head. ''That's a disturbing picture.''

''You are far too literal,'' Abby said, retrieving the bomb.

Kris relaxed, or at least soaked. Her mind spun. She was launching an attack on a sovereign planet. Did she have that right? Hell's bells, was there any chance she could trip up this planet's mad rush to war even after this crazy stunt? Where was Tommy? Where was some returned intel from the yard? How many girls going on a first date with a cute guy thought about these things? Kris just shook her head.

The real question was Hank. Was he out to kill, kidnap, or otherwise mess with her life? And most girls just worried about their hair and makeup at a time like this. ''It would be nice to be just a girl sometime,'' Kris muttered, willing the jets to work their relaxing miracle on her muscles. But what could relax the tension between her ears?

After thirty minutes, Abby got her out, patted her dry, and started on her hair. About the time Kris was all sudsed up, Jack stuck his head in. ''Tom called from the lobby. He says to stand by. If he needs help getting back in, he'll yelp.'' Abby went right on working Kris's hair.

Five minutes later, Nelly chimed from the edge of the dressing counter, ''Tom's at the door. The new Sergeant doesn't want to let him in.''

Kris stood up; Abby was already stepping back to give her room. Tightening her robe, Kris headed, water dripping and barefoot, for the suite entrance. Jack stood in the doorway, Penny beside him. A half-dozen guards blocked them from Tom. Armed only with his lopsided smile, the kid from Santa Maria faced the grays. Kris charged in, coming to a halt only when she stood beside Jack. ''Is there a problem here, Agent, Sergeant?'' she said, using The Face that Grampa Trouble might use to freeze a laser. Surprisingly, her hair didn't grow icicles.

''There seems to be,'' Jack said.

''No, ma'am,'' the Sergeant said, eyes flinching to the floor.

''If our security agent says so, there is,'' Kris said, invoking the imperial plural.

It had the desired effect. The Sergeant blanched and swallowed hard. The guards got a whole lot more interested in Kris than in Tom. He edged forward into their midst as Kris snapped, ''We dispatched this young man to the surface of your planet because a member of our entourage required certain items from her home. Items required because she last came up here directly from the hospital, were she was being treated for a savage beating she received while supposedly under Turantic Security protection. Why are you delaying him?''

The Sergeant's Adam's apple was doing a full dervish dance. ''Sorry, Your Highness, we were only trying to protect you.''

''We appreciate your protection,'' Kris said, cutting him off even as she noted her transformation from ''ma'am'' to ''Highness.'' ''This matter has been well handled up to this moment. Let us leave it at that.''

Tom moved through the guards with a regal dignity of his own, as befitted a Princess's courtier. The guards morphed from roadblock to honor guard without moving so much as a step. As Tom passed through, he rewarded them with a nod as royal as any Grampa Ray bestowed. Only when Jack had closed the door behind them did he deflate with a sigh that would have been the envy of all his Irish grandmothers. ''Holy Mother of God, I thought they had me there,'' he said collapsing on the couch.

''We'd have retrieved you sooner or later,'' Kris assured him.

''You need me sooner. Can Nelly do her bug-catching thing?''

I AM WORKING ON IT. I AM WORKING ON IT, Nelly told Kris.

''Just a moment,'' Kris told the rest. The air sparkled and zapped around them.

HEY, SOME OF THESE ARE MINE! TOM BROUGHT BACK SOME RECON BUGS

INTERROGATE THEM LATER. TOM NEEDS TO TELL US SOMETHING.

I AM VERY AWARE OF YOUR PRIORITIES, KRIS, JUST A MOMENT MORE, PLEASE.

Kris drummed her fingers on the end table as she knelt beside Tom. Penny had settled in beside Tom, an arm around his shoulders. Abby stood behind Kris. Jack moved around so he had a good view of Tom… and the door.

''All clear,'' Nelly said. ''Tom, you brought back some of my recon nanos from the yard!''

''I was hoping to pick up a few. I borrowed Abby's second computer, and it reported I got rid of all this morning's drop real fine. You can have yours back, Abby. I picked up new ones for Penny and myself at the embassy.''

''Was that what took you so long?'' Penny demanded, bouncing on the couch with impatience.

''Well, wouldn't you know but the Ambassador himself wanted to tell me to tell Kris not to do anything ‘unseemly.' His word. ‘We will work all of this out. We don't need her youthful exuberance leading her into some unseemly display.' ''

''I'll try not to be unseemly,'' Kris said, adjusting her robe to make sure it was properly closed where she knelt.

''Penny's boss also took me aside for a little talk.''

''Oh dear,'' Penny said.

''Kris, he also doesn't want you to do anything.''

''Penny, you left me with the impression this boss of yours had guts. He sounds like a ninny who raids the Ambassador's long skirt collection.''

''He usually isn't. Tom, did he give you a reason why Kris should lay low? Does he have some irons in the fire?''

''Doesn't he wish he had. He didn't say a lot, other than to make sure I was who I claimed to be and to get as much out of me about what Kris has been up to for the last week.''

''What'd you tell him?'' Kris growled.

''Only what he'd get from reading the papers,'' Tom said, primly brushing the legs of his slacks.

''So he didn't tell you why he wants us to be good little children and wave as the army marches off to war?'' Kris said, letting the sarcasm run free.

''Yes, he did tell me,'' Tom said, real worry showing on his face. ''I don't know how to tell you this, Kris. He wouldn't tell me how he knows it, but he says that Sandfire has something personal against you. I told him I knew a few good reasons. He seemed disturbed I knew so much about all that led up to the mess at the Paris system. Anyway, he says that Sandfire wants you personally in chains when this is over. Sandfire seems to think Hank Smythe-Peterwald's dad would love to have you served up naked to him. What happens next involves knives and doesn't end with you alive,'' Tom finished with a hard swallow.

That knocked Kris back. Literally. She settled into a cross-legged sit. She'd been afraid before, terrified even. It usually came before the shooting started. Once outgoing and incoming were flying, she was too busy staying alive to bother with fear. Suds rolled down her forehead; she wiped them away. Abby produced a towel and wrapped it expertly around Kris's head. Kris sat lotus and tried to calm the sudden roiling in her belly.

Sandfire wants me a prisoner, tortured, and dead, she said to herself, tasting it. Feeling it.

No surprise there; she knew she'd been dodging Sandfire's assassins for at least the last year. When Eddy was kidnapped and killed, was it Sandfire? Was he going for the both of us? Did poor Eddy's demand for an ice cream cone save me?

Sandfire, I hate you.

Kris stood up slowly, not leaning on anything, anyone.

''Sandfire wants a war started. I want it stopped. Sandfire wants me dead. I like being alive. Nothing's changed. Nelly, let us know when you have something to show us on the yard.''

''Nelly,'' Jack said, ''do you have any access to the lasers on this station?''

''What do you mean?'' Kris growled.

''Nelly, do you have any way you could shut down the lasers they've got targeted for ships making for a jump out of here?

''Nelly, ignore that. Concentrate on the yard mapping.''

''Kris, Jack, I can do both,'' Nelly said.

''Talk to me about the lasers, '' Jack demanded.

''Display what you have mapped of the yard,'' Kris said. AND DON'T YOU SAY A WORD TO JACK.

KRIS, I CAN DO BOTH, AND MAYBE IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA IF YOU AND I DID GET OUT OF HERE.

I DON'T WANT OUT OF HERE.

I DO! Great, now her computer wanted to live forever.

''Nelly, talk to me,'' Jack repeated.

DON'T. SHOW ME THE YARD.

''I have filled in the yard to some extent,'' Nelly began as the screen across the room turned from a lovely view of snowcapped mountains into a schematic of the station. ''So far, our recon shows no other entry to the yard besides the elevators.''

''Show me the lasers,'' Jack said softly.

A dozen batteries began flashing red.

''Where's the yard's power plant?'' Kris demanded.

In the center of the yard a large block flashed yellow. ''The fusion reactor is here, '' Nelly said. ''The magnetohydrodynamic plasma track runs around the reactor.''

''That is unsafe, '' Tom said, forming each word separately.

''As I said, this place was a rush job,'' Penny put in.

''Build it in a hurry, lose it in a second,'' Tom recited.

''Nelly, can you take out any of those lasers?'' Jack asked.

''I have an eighty-five percent probability of penetrating the batteries on A and C levels,'' Nelly said. The eight lasers in the old section and the upper section flashed faster. ''I have no access to the ones in the yard.''

''They won't be there after we blow the yard,'' Kris said. ''We can steal a ship and get out of here real easy then.''

''And I don't think you or Tom will have any problem dodging the two or three yard lasers left active when we break out of here tonight,'' Jack said. ''Tom, you good on defense?''

''Not as good as Kris is. Something about the hair on the back of her neck tells her just when to jink from a laser hit.''

''We're not leaving tonight,'' Kris said firmly.

''My job is to keep you safe,'' Jack began slowly, as if talking to a very stubborn four-year-old. ''This is not some Navy show. You heard Tom. The objective of this situation is you—your personal demise. My orders are to keep you alive, if necessary, in spite of yourself. You've known since this started there was more to it than Tom. You've known since the Ambassador passed along Sandfire's invite to the first ball that someone was showing an awful lot of interest in you. Now we know you are the target. I'm taking over, and you are leaving now.''

''You did notice that someone is starting a war that will kill a hell of a lot more people than just little old me,'' Kris said. She started edging away from Jack… and backed into Abby. ''Penny, you're with me.''

The Lieutenant shook her head. ''Kris, those had to be Sandfire's people who beat me up. Given a choice between another session with them and a fifty-fifty chance of being shot escaping, I think fifty-fifty are lovely odds. And did you hear Tom? They beat me up. Sandfire wants you dead.''

''I heard. He's wanted me dead for a while now. I'm still breathing. He won't be much longer.''

''Longknife to the end,'' Tom snorted. ''You know, you can be killed. Eddy died. Don't you have a few grandparents that weren't as lucky as General Trouble?''

''Eddy didn't have a chance. He was six. I'm not six,'' Kris said low, her voice sparking flint.

''I… want… you… out… of… here,'' Jack said.

''And I'll be out of here, once I blow the yards and docks.''

''And kill Sandfire. It's personal now with you two.''

''If I get a bead on Sandfire, he's dead.'' Kris nodded. ''But priority one is blowing the yard and the damn fleet it's cobbling together. Jack, you know a hell of a lot of people are going to die if Sandfire gets what he wants. Klaggath's ready to throw himself at this mad drive to war. Klaggath and a couple of the Senators. They don't have a chance.''

''What makes you think you do?'' Jack shot at her.

Kris opened her mouth to shoot back a fast retort, then closed it. She couldn't claim she was the wild card in this game. Sandfire had dealt her in from the start… and she'd let herself be played. Kris's mind shot quickly through the last week. How much of it was her reacting to Sandfire? How much of it was her messing up his work? Little Nara Krief's kidnapping had not gone according to Sandfire's plan. What else?

''Jack, Sandfire has been running this place like it was his pet poodle. Yes, he ran me, too. He snagged Tom, and I walked right into his trap. But name me one person who could have pulled off the recon I did yesterday. One set of pictures, and everything Sandfire worked for went down the tubes.''

''So he got his pet President to declare martial law, and he's right back running the show,'' Jack pointed out.

''Right.'' Kris paused. ''Jack, you know I couldn't have gotten those pictures if a cabby hadn't been willing to stick his neck out. I wouldn't have gotten back here if a lot of women and men hadn't risked their lives for me.''

''And now you're telling me you owe them,'' Jack snapped.

''I was going to.'' Kris sighed. ''But maybe I ought to just leave it at this. There's a lot of people down there that deserve better. They want it. They've reached for it. I think we can give it to them. Why not try? What's so magic about us bugging out tonight? Why not tomorrow night, or the next one? Why can't we nibble a bit at Sandfire's god-awful plan?''

''Because you're bound to make Sandfire furious. And even if he can't point a finger at you for this or that mess, he'll figure you for it and tighten the noose on you.''

Kris nodded; Jack had an answer for everything she said. Without thinking, her hands came up to rest on her hips. ''Then it comes down to this. We do this my way.'' There were glaciers on Wardhaven warmer than Kris felt at the moment. Ice cold. Determined. No alternative. No compromise.

''I can hog-tie you in five seconds,'' Jack whispered.

''Abby, don't even think of going for me,'' Kris said, taking a step away from her maid, even if it put her closer to Jack. ''Anyone makes a grab for me, I start screaming. The guards will be in here before you can get a gag in me.''

''That would really foul things up,'' Tom pointed out, maddeningly reasonable.

''No doubt about that,'' Kris agreed. ''We do it my way, or I'll make sure we don't do it your way, Jack.''

''You are a brat.''

''Certified, Princess level,'' Kris agreed.

Jack locked eyes with Kris. She didn't blink. He finally shrugged. ''Once we get home, I could ask for a reassignment.''

So it had come to that, each of them playing their last card. Kris could scream and get them all locked away in the deepest dungeon Turantic had, able neither to escape nor wreck Sandfire's plans. And Jack could turn his back on Kris. Did he know how much she depended on him? How much she enjoyed him being around? Kris swallowed hard.

''That's something you'll have to decide when we're back.''

''If we get back,'' Jack shot at her. ''Abby, you better do something with her hair, or I'll get written up for causing serious damage to my primary.'' He scowled and turned away.

''Back to the sink, young woman. You may have the power to put my delicate flesh in a world of hurt, but I still am in charge of making you presentable.''

Kris went where she was ordered… for a change. Tom's and Penny's eyes followed her. Was there desperation there, or just the usual expectation that she'd somehow get them all out of the mess she'd gotten them into?