Intrepid

Kris went through the options, options she could almost see mirrored in the general's eyes.

The phone rang.

56

''Put on the pain collar,'' the general demanded.

The phone rang again. There were two phones on the desk, one white, the other red. The red demanded attention.

''You need to answer your phone,'' Kris said, taking a seat in the available chair.

''Put on the pain collar, or I will kill you.''

The words were harsh, demanding. Kris stared them down.

''Your master's leash demands attention.''

''You could be dead before ever he says a word.''

Kris knew that only too well. ''If I am dead before you answer that phone, you will be dead before sunset.''

''Are you so sure?''

''Why don't you answer the phone and find out?''

It had rung twice more while they debated their respective fates.

The general reached for his phone, pistol steady on Kris. She did not budge. Win or lose, that call would decide it.

Well, if she lost, she'd go down doing her best to kill this murderer. Her hand edged closer to where her automatic rode snugly at the small of her back.

''Yes,'' the general said.

''Yes, sir,'' he snapped immediately, and leapt to attention, gun still in his hand but no longer aimed at Kris.

''You are well, sir. Thank God, sir.'' was followed by a long pause as the general listened. ''Yes, sir, the girl is safe with me. I was examining options for her final disposition.''

So Kris was of interest to the old man. Now, was he thinking about the son she was supposed to have killed, the five thousand she'd just killed … or the fact she'd saved his life?

''Yes, sir. It will be so, sir. Long life, sir,'' the general said rapidly, then slowly put the phone in its receiver.

''You are a very lucky girl,'' he said.

''Those who survive have to be,'' Kris said, standing up.

''You are free to go. Your ship may leave as soon as you return to it.'' The voice was stripped of emotion, like a skeleton stripped of flesh.

''And how will I find my way back to my ship?''

''However you may. Greenfeld is not so populous that we can detail escorts to every girl with pretensions to importance.''

Kris was about to turn her back on the general when he reached out. ''I'll trouble you for that automatic you were edging for a few moments ago.''

Kris shook her head curtly. No way would she face this station unarmed. ''You can tell your thugs to be careful. I'm no easy takedown.''

''I'll tell my men what I choose to,'' the general said, but he kept his pistol arm at his side. Kris turned, caught the general's reflection in one of his paintings, and strode to the door. His gun arm stayed down, and Kris did no drop and roll and recover with automatic in hand as she had mapped out in her mind.

At the door, she turned. The general did not look like he had so much as twitched a muscle. ''See you around,'' Kris called.

''I doubt it,'' he said.

Kris was through the door in a blink and slammed it behind her. The two guards actually jumped at the noise, or at her presence. She doubted many people who went in that door came out again under their own power.

''Bye, guys, it's been a great time,'' Kris said, and covered the distance to the outer door before they recovered.

She slammed that door, too. Which left her a lot of balled-up anger in her gut and no more doors to slam. The temptation to gallop for the freight elevator was strong, but Kris denied it. As she expected, when she got there, the thing had no visible controls. NELLY, CAN YOU CALL IT?

KRIS, I AM SO JAMMED. ROCK SOLID AND TOTALLY JAMMED.

I GUESS WE KNOW NOW WHERE IT'S BEEN COMING FROM.

YOU THINK SO, MAYBE, JUST A LITTLE BIT was pure sarcasm, unusual from a computer, all too familiar from Nelly.

ANY IDEA WHERE WE ARE?

KRIS, I DO NOT HAVE A CLUE EVEN. WE ARE SO ON OUR OWN, LIKE TOTALLY.

YOU'VE BEEN SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME WITH THAT GIRL.

HOW I WISH I WAS WITH HER NOW.

A freight elevator usually meant there'd be a passenger one not too far away. Kris started walking in the direction she hoped was forward. She found nothing. But a couple of guys were following her, using the next hallway of the station.

On both sides. Kris kept going.

At the next cross point, the two guys on her left were heading to cut her off. Kris started to put on extra speed … then came to a complete halt.

As the two fellows passed one door, it opened and two sailors with billy clubs stepped quietly out behind them and very efficiently put them down. A chief stepped out behind the two left standing and signaled to Kris. ''This way, Your Highness.''

''And why should I go with you?'' Kris said, already moving their way.

''Because Captain Krätz sent us. He has some wedding pictures he wants to show you. It's quite a scandal. His second girl married first.''

''None of the captain's girls would ever do anything scandalous,'' Kris sniffed.

''Unlike you, huh?''

''Do we know each other that well?'' Kris asked as she came even with the chief. He did look familiar.