An Indecent Proposal

by Jaleta Clegg

  The crew had protested her presence at first. Once she'd started cooking for them and cleaning the ship, they'd backed off. And then they'd started to pitch in and help, all the while complaining it wasn't right she should work so hard. She'd charmed them into actually liking her. Ky kept his distance, treating her politely. But she saw the speculative look in his eyes as he ate her cooking.

  The ship shuddered as it labored to reenter normal space. She waited, holding her breath, for the universe to turn right side out again. It seemed to take forever. The crew didn't appear concerned. But they were used to it.

  "The core conked out," one of them announced. "The old girl has done her last jump."

  "Good thing we're in the right place," Ky said. "Give me all the power you can, Peit."

  Deena watched as they worked over the controls. The ship turned ponderously and crawled in a different direction. She watched the main viewscreen, wondering where they were this time. There seemed to be a lot of stars. Many of them were curiously lined up in straight rows.

  She gasped when she realized what she was looking at. It was a luxury liner, a galaxy class ship. It housed a crew of over a thousand and could carry three times that many passengers.

  "What is it doing out here?" she said, wondering out loud.

  "Myrln's Tower they call it," Peit answered her. "It's the new capital of the Federation."

  "And that's where we're headed?"

  "On a priority basis, to judge by the escort they're sending out," Ky said. He glanced back at her. "Whatever you've got in that bag has to be pretty important."

  "I think it is." She stroked the bag, remembering Scholar. "Someday maybe I'll know what it is."

  Ky laughed. "You carry it halfway across the galaxy, risking your life and dozens of others, and you don't even know what it is?"

  "I do know it's important," she said, stung by his comment.

  He grinned, taking the hurt from his words. "It must be awful important. We're being given the red carpet treatment."

  A swarm of fighters circled them, forming a protective ring around the battered freighter.

  "Did you ever think you'd see this day, Peit?" Ky asked his second.

  Peit shook his head. "Glory days for Black Rose were long over before you and I ever started flying her. Quite an exit she's making."

  "Final performance," Deena said quietly. It was going to be hers as well. She was going to turn over Scholar's messages and use whatever she had left to find Tayvis. And then she was going to settle someplace so far away from Linas-Drias no one would ever recognize her again.

  The fighters escorted them all the way into the huge shuttle bay. The old freighter crept to a halt near the airlock. A tube was run out to the ship. Ky turned to her after they shut the ship down.

  "You go on, this whole show is about you," he said. "And that bag of yours."

  She smiled. "Thank you, Ky, for your hospitality and kindness."

  His face slowly turned red. "You're welcome."

  Peit grinned and flipped her a salute.

  She saluted him back.

  The airlock ground open. Three armed guards entered the ship.

  "You are Dariana Grace? You have a message for Willet Smythe?" the lead woman asked.

  Deena stood a little straighter. "I was told to give it to him personally."

  The woman smiled. "He's waiting for you. This way, please."

  She stepped through the tube, walking carefully along the ribbed surface until they reached the liner's airlock. The woman cycled them through.

  The interior of the ship was vast, an echoing space filled with delicate bridges and people and trees. There was even an artificial stream down the center of it. She stopped, looking around her in delight. She could almost believe she was on a world, not a ship. The woman politely took her arm.

  "Please, he is waiting for you," she said.

  Deena let the woman pull her across the echoing space and into a maze of passages on the other side. The floor under her feet changed to a soft carpet, cushioning her steps and hushing the echoes. The walls were paneled with something resembling wood. The woman stopped at one door and knocked. The door slid open immediately.

  The first thing Deena noticed about the man who opened the door were his mischievous eyes.

  "Come in, please," he said. "It's an honor to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you."

  She found herself blushing as she followed him into the office beyond. "I haven't done a vid in years. It's nice to know I still have so many fans."

  "What?" he asked blankly. He waved her to a seat.

  "My vids. Aren't you talking about them?"

  "I was referring to the interesting reports I keep getting from various sources about the woman with vital information straight from Linas-Drias for me." He stuck out his hand. "Willet Smythe, at your service."

  "Dariana Grace." She shook his hand politely.

  He cocked his head to one side. "What have you got for me?"

  "Is she here?" The door burst open, admitting a thin, balding man wearing a crude brown robe tied with a length of rope. He grinned at Deena. "You don't look a day older than you do in your vids. I've tried to buy them all, but most of them are really hard to find."

  "I must be missing something here," Will muttered. "Dariana," he began.

  "Deena," she corrected. "I haven't been Dariana in years."

  "I'm so happy to meet you," the strange man in the brown robe said, pumping her hand up and down. His grin stretched ear to ear.

  "May I introduce Roland, President of the Federation?" Will said.

  Deena had to use all her talents as an actress to keep from laughing out loud. She stood, bowing her head to the short man. "It is a pleasure to meet you."

  Roland finally quit shaking her hand. "The pleasure is mine, I assure you. Maybe later you can come autograph a picture for me."

  "I would be delighted."

  Will cleared his throat. Roland stopped beaming at her.

  "It's always business with him," he said, nodding at Will.

  "Not always," Will said.

  "But right now it is, probably because it's important," Roland said. "You have something for us?"

  She lifted her bag and opened it. She dumped the contents across Will's desk. He turned red as the pile of lacy underthings covered his papers.

  "There are the datacubes." She pulled Scholar's pad from the bottom of the bag. "And this. Scholar told me to give them only to you."

  Will looked up sharply at the name. "Where is Scholar?"

  She shrugged. "I don't know. He disappeared on Linas-Drias. Lowell sent him to help that woman. He was looking for treason." She stopped, looking at Roland. "Why would he send me to the Federation if he worked for Commander Lowell?"

  "Because he works for us, too." Will delicately unrolled the underpants, looking for the datacubes.

  "But aren't you at war?" she asked.

  "On paper, possibly," Roland said. He poked curiously at the comp pad.

  "What he means to say," Will said, "is that we're trying to keep things from falling apart. Just like Lowell. We work together when we need to."

  "Will you promise me one thing?" Deena asked.

  "What?" Will answered.

  "Someday, tell me what was so important that he would risk his life for it," she said. "I hope you can help find him."

  "If anyone can find Scholar, Lowell can," Will answered.

  "We'll get these to a lab as soon as we can," Will said, holding up a datacube. "I'll see your things are returned to you."

  She smiled, deepening his blush. "You keep them."

  Roland laughed and patted her shoulder. "I really like you, Deena."

  "We have rooms ready for you," Will said a little stiffly. "I'll get you an escort."

  "I don't want to stay. I'd appreciate being left off somewhere not too far out of touch."

  Will looked a question at her.

  "My son is missing. I want to find him."


  Will nodded. "Whatever we can do to help."

  "Thank you," she said. And meant it.

  "You can't go until you sign a picture for me," Roland protested. "And I'd love to discuss your vids over dinner."

  She smiled. Roland's enthusiasm was catching. Life seemed much safer now. She felt as if a weight were left on the desk with Scholar's hidden messages. She turned her back on it, feeling regret that Scholar was missing, but relief that she was no longer in danger.

  Chapter 62

  I sat in the pilot's seat with my feet tucked under me. It was so familiar, and yet somehow I didn't quite fit anymore. It was like an old pair of boots that had been worn by someone else. I held the pink seashell I'd collected so long ago, running my fingers over its surface.

  I slid my fingers over the smooth inner curve of the shell. The first two days had been easy enough. There was so much to do, I didn't have time to think. I fixed the beacon, setting it to read us as the Lodestar. Clark had almost gotten it right, but I shuddered at the name. MaySue Marie was more than I could stand.

  We were headed out, away from the trouble with the Federation. There were rumors that trade was steady and not too many questions were asked in the sector we were headed for. Jasyn assured me we had business holdings even out this far. Money wasn't an issue.

  I still had at least a million credits on the Patrol account. I refused to touch it, though. Let it sit and rot. I didn't want Lowell's guilt money.

  "Your cat wants you." Clark dropped Ghost into my lap.

  Ghost sniffed me warily. She jumped down and sauntered away, her tail held high.

  "No, she doesn't," I answered.

  "How long are you going to sit up here and brood?" Clark sat in the chair next to me.

  "As long as I need to."

  "It might help if you talked about it."

  "And what if it doesn't, Clark?"

  "Then at least we'll understand what's bothering you." He shifted in the seat. "Paltronis told us about Trythia and Tivor. She didn't know much about you and Vance. She warned us it wasn't what it appeared."

  "So you know where I've been the last year and a half?"

  "Mostly."

  "Then you understand why I'm sitting up here by myself."

  "I still want you to tell me about it."

  I didn't answer. I ran my fingers over the shell.

  "It hurts them to see you sitting up here and not knowing how to help," Clark said after a long silence.

  "Why is Darus on the crew?"

  "Because he resigned after you disappeared and we felt sorry for him. He's a good engineer." He reached across the space between us and took the shell out of my hand. "What's really bothering you, Dace?"

  I had to trust someone sometime, or drive them all away. "Did you really believe I was marrying Vance?"

  "We didn't know what to believe. It seemed true enough, what we heard about it."

  "Even after Lowell told you I was working undercover for him?"

  "Lowell never contacted us. All we had were the news sheets and the gossip columns. They never doubted your engagement."

  "It was almost real after Tayvis walked out on me." I blinked rapidly. I was not going to cry. "I still thought he was dead." I shoved the back of my hand into my mouth and bit down to stop the tears. It didn't help.

  "The real story finally emerges." Clark patted my shoulder. "We can find him for you."

  I shook my head. "It's over. He walked out on me." I wiped my eyes. "He promised me he wouldn't ever walk away from me again. But he did."

  I couldn't keep the tears back any longer. It was as if a dam had broken inside. All the pain of the last two years came out in a flood. Clark's hand stayed warm on my shoulder while I sobbed into my hands.

  Sometime in the middle of my fit, Ghost chose to rejoin us. She sniffed my leg then jumped into my lap, purring loudly. I stroked her soft gray fur and let the tears flow. Clark squeezed my shoulder again and left me alone with my cat.

  I knew he was going to tell the others. Somehow that was all right. I had them, I had my family. It was enough.

  Chapter 63

  "You're certain you want the job?" The man asked again, holding the paper out of reach.

  "I wouldn't be applying for it if I didn't," Tayvis said.

  "It gets awfully lonely out there," the man said. "Truth is, we never expected anyone to actually apply for it. We had to post it to keep the officials happy."

  Tayvis shrugged. "I'll take it."

  "You hiding from something?"

  "Only my private life."

  The man slid the paper in front of him. He signed his name and pressed his thumb to the paper.

  "When can I start?"

  "Shuttle leaves in three hours. Supply runs are scheduled once a month" He picked up the paper. "Anytime you decide you've had enough, you holler and we'll send a shuttle for you. It will cost you, though. If you change your mind, you can hitch a ride with the supply ship."

  "Thanks."

  "Bay sixty three."

  Tayvis picked up his duffel and nodded.

  His shoulder was still a bit stiff. He almost hadn't made it off the shipyard station. He'd been hit trying to make it onto the last ship. He'd barely managed.

  He saw a news screen and ducked away from it. He couldn't stand to see Dace with Vance. It hurt worse than the blaster shot in his shoulder.

  He found the job almost by mistake. They wanted someone to babysit an automatic ore dump station. The pay was lousy, but he didn't care. It offered escape. He took the job, though everyone who interviewed him tried to talk him out of it.

  He found bay sixty three and settled himself against the wall to wait.

  Chapter 64

  "High Commander Lowell," the voice echoed through the vaulted room.

  Lowell pulled his collar straight. When the Emperor summoned, you came. He headed for the door to the audience chamber. Paltronis fell into step behind him.

  "Glad you could make it," he said. "How's your leg?"

  "Better than my arm," she answered. "But both are almost healed. How are you?"

  "Hating life," he said as they approached the ornate doors. "I never wanted to command the Patrol."

  She smothered a grin. "You'll do fine, sir."

  He shook his head. The heralds pushed the doors open. He walked into the Emperor's private audience chamber.

  It was actually private today, he noted in surprise. The usual fifty or so courtiers were missing. It was only the Emperor and the Speaker waiting for him.

  The doors swung closed.

  Iniuri Shiropi, Speaker to the Council of Worlds, smiled at him. "How are you, Grant?"

  "Fine, and you?"

  "Drop the act," Maximillius said. "You hate your job and we know it."

  "But you're still going to ask me to do it," Lowell said.

  "I don't trust anyone else," Maximillius said. "If anyone can root out corruption in the Patrol, you can. You've already proven that."

  "And what will you do if I turn you down?"

  "Reinstate the charges against you, first of all," Maximillius said.

  "Is that a threat? It isn't a very effective one."

  Maximillius laughed. "What if I say please?"

  "Maybe I'll think about it." Lowell sighed. "All games aside, I'm getting too old for it. I was thinking of retiring."

  "The Empire needs you, Commander," Maximillius said.

  "It has needed me for the last sixty years. I think it's time to pass the mantle on to someone younger."

  "Like your agent?" Iniuri asked.

  "Which one?"

  "She was very good. She even had me fooled."

  "She should never have been anywhere near Linas-Drias," Lowell said quietly. "I wasn't the one who planted her. As I said, I'm getting too old for this."

  "You are the only one we have that we can trust," Maximillius repeated. "Consider yourself appointed head of the High Command. Protest all you like, but do it now, before you walk ou
t that door."

  "And if I don't accept, I'll never walk out that door."

  Paltronis shifted behind him.

  "Even with your guard dog, you don't stand a chance. Don't force my hand, Grant."

  "Then I'll have to accept graciously."

  "Good," the Emperor said. "We'll hold the official ceremony this afternoon. It's already planned."

  "I figured as much." Lowell said.

  The Emperor strode across the room, already focused on his next appointment.

  "A word, Grant?" Iniuri asked. "Privately?"

  "Go on, Paltronis," Lowell said. "I'll be there in a moment."

  She nodded and left the room.

  "Well?" Lowell asked.

  "Was she just acting? Tell me the truth."

  Lowell shook his head. "I can't. I don't know it. Not this time."

  Iniuri nodded, accepting his answer.

  "Why do you ask?"

  "Vance resigned as Second Speaker shortly after she exposed Lady Candyce. He said in his letter of resignation that he was withdrawing out of respect for me and the awkward position he was in as her son. I want to know the truth. He claimed to love her."

  "Have you asked him?"

  Iniuri glanced away. "I haven't seen him. He seems to have disappeared. I can't fault him for it. Tell me if she loved him at all."

  Lowell shrugged. "I can't tell you. I don't know what she felt for him, if anything. I haven't spoken to her in months."

  "Is she well?"

  "Last I heard."

  "If you do see her again, tell her she's welcome to fly my yacht anytime. I'm sorry it ended the way it did."

  Lowell cocked his head to one side. "I'll tell her that."

  "Thank you." Iniuri straightened, turning away. He was once again the Speaker, not the man who cared about his son and the woman who had turned his son's life upside down and destroyed his wife's reputation.