"I can't go there, Lowell. I've explained it at least fifty times already. We try to land there and we won't survive." Everett Greene, captain of the Windrigger, folded his arms and leaned on the doorframe.
"You don't understand, Everett," Lowell said as persuasively as he could. "I've got at least two hundred thousand credits in cash. We can go in disguise."
"It won't work. They know you and I'm fairly sure they know me. We can't crash the arms bazaar, even posing as buyers. They'll kill us." He shifted to one side, balancing his weight on one hip. "Besides, we can't make it to Hestus in time. It would take us at least two more weeks of flying. And according to your paper, the sale has already happened."
Lowell sighed in defeat. "So what do you suggest we do?"
"We find out who bought her and attack them," Everett said. "The Gypsies would fight for her."
"The Gypsies are running undercover," Lowell said. "If I hadn't recognized your ship name, I would never have known you were Gypsy. None of the ships in any of the ports we've landed at will admit any claim to being Gypsy."
"You're underestimating us again," Everett said.
"Mrow?" It was a demanding noise. The cat making it was huge, a massive ball of gray fur and muscle. He jumped into Lowell's lap and began to purr. Lowell grunted at the weight but he didn't object. He'd learned the hard way that Mustafa's wishes were to be regarded as orders. If Mustafa wanted your lap, you let him have it.
"Even your cat bosses me around," Lowell muttered. "When did I lose control?"
"Probably about the time Dace got involved."
"Now tell me something useful. Tell me what we can do that will do someone good."
"I've been checking. I've got two more scheduled stops. I've sent the messages that will get us transferred to a different route."
"And what good will that do?"
"Patience, Lowell. I'm getting to it. Within two weeks, we land on Hawkmoor."
Lowell frowned. "It sounds vaguely familiar."
"I'm surprised. Hardly anyone knows about Hawkmoor. Population is less than a million."
"Tourist economy," Lowell said. "They have an entire continent devoted to immersive alternate reality tours, if I remember the brochure correctly."
"Close enough," Everett said. "They've converted one continent into a pseudo medieval society. Groups of tourists are sent on quests. The rest of the planet supports them. They have manufacturing and agricultural businesses that keep the planet self sufficient. Most trade involves people and luxury goods."
"And why are we going there?"
"Because they've stayed independent."
"Of everyone except the Gypsies."
Everett shook his head. "We don't control anything except a few shipping offices. But they don't try to kill us and steal our ships like most of the governments in that entire quadrant. Gypsies are the number one enemy now, if you haven't heard."
Lowell winced. "I hadn't realized it was that bad."
"I still don't understand how you could be High Commander, with access to all of the Patrol's information and not know about the situation."
"Because the Patrol is as corrupt as everything else," Lowell said. "And if they catch up with me, I'll probably be shot on sight. They don't take kindly to high ranking officers deserting. Especially not ones with access to their personal files. At least I used to have access."
"And we'll be arrested for helping you," Everett said. "I was tired of the Empire anyway."
"What are you suggesting?"
"The Federation, Lowell. Why haven't you gone to them for help?"
"Lack of transportation. And they'd probably shoot me on sight, too."
"I think you're underestimating them."
"It doesn't matter. It would take too long to fly out there and convince them to help. If I even knew where to start asking. Have you had any luck tracing the Phoenix?"
Everett shook his head. "They've been swapping out beacons, like most of the ships in the Empire. It's one way to keep from getting caught. And when everyone is doing it, no one gets punished for it. We can ask at Hawkmoor."
"You sound very sure of yourself."
"And you're doubting yourself too much, Grant. What happened to Paltronis?"
"She was transferred away from me. I never did track her down. She'd be good to have here."
"I'll see if I can find her. Would she give up everything for you?"
"According to Patrol rumors, she already has. We were supposedly having a torrid love affair."
Everett laughed.
"That hurts, Everett. Maybe she really is in love with me and I was too blind to see it."
"She's your friend, Grant. That's worth more than anything. Especially from someone like her."
"You don't need to tell me that." He sighed. "If only I'd done things differently."
"You can waste your life saying that, or you can change what happens next. Time travel is not possible. That's been proven many times."
"It wouldn't really change much. If I went back in time, I wouldn't know what I do now and I'd probably make the same mistakes over again."
"You're going to give me a headache talking that way."
"Now you're underestimating yourself, Everett. You're smarter than you give yourself credit for. A lot smarter."
Lowell gingerly scratched Mustafa under his furry chin. Mustafa rumbled with pleasure. He flexed his claws on Lowell's leg. Lowell winced.
"If you could have whoever you wanted for this, who would you choose?" Everett shifted his position, scratching his back on the doorframe.
Lowell looked up, studying him. "Are you asking if I believe in your competence?"
Everett didn't answer. He waited.
"You are more competent than many of my people ever were. You proved that when you set up the smuggling ring that is keeping the Empire alive."
Everett grinned. "That was easy."
"And getting Dace out in one piece is not going to be easy, not this time. I just hope there is still someone out there who will get me the information I need."
"I sent my own set of inquiries. We should be able to locate the people you want."
"They can't hide from Gypsies?"
"Never." This time Everett's smile had teeth.
"Tayvis can. He's hidden himself so well, the Patrol can't find him. He made the top of the list, right under my name. They think he's working for the Federation."
"You don't think so?"
"If he were, they'd never have let Dace get captured. He would have made certain of it." Lowell sighed again. Mustafa grumbled, demanding his chin be scratched. "He would have made certain of a lot of things. Or maybe I'm just wishing."
"Someone will track him down. Eventually."
Lowell scratched the cat's chin. The cabin was silent except for the cat's purring.
Everett unfolded his arms and straightened. "You know, Grant, there's only one real problem I can see with the situation."
"Only one?"
"How are you going to survive meeting Jasyn?"
"I didn't set Dace up, not this time."
"I just hope she believes you when you tell her that."
Mustafa rumbled in his throat. Lowell winced as the cat's claws dug in.
"I may not live long enough to find Jasyn. Your cat might kill me first."
"Just scratch him between the eyes. He loves that."
"I don't want to lose my fingers."