Intrepid

''Until you persuade me otherwise.''

''Hmm, I'll need to do some research.''

''You do. Be sure to check on the recent decision from Chance. You can contact, ah …''

MAYDELL ALLGOOD, Nelly put in.

''Maydell Allgood of the planet Chance High Court for a very recent decision.''

''I'm not sure we have them in our legal decisions database.''

''Well, you'll want to see the case.''

''Very well, now about payment. Are you putting us on retainer or shall we take this on contingency?''

''What kind of contingency?'' Kris reminded herself that not all the pirates were in the brig of the Wasp.

''Ah, you're Kris Longknife. We've done a lot of work for your offices here. How about one third. If there is no money in it, you don't pay us a dime.''

''And if there is, you get a third of it. Just a third, no other expenses, right?''

''Hmm, you drive a hard bargain, but yes.''

''Let me talk with the other interested parties,'' Kris said, and rang off.

* * *

''So, how do we want to do this?'' Kris asked after laying the whole thing out to all hands over the PA system. The system exploded with comments that, while they might reflect what Kris felt, were not what a princess should say.

Captain Drago silenced his commlink. ''We'll get back to you after we've had some time to talk this out among ourselves.'' Professor mFumbo, who'd just come on the bridge, agreed.

''We've got about a day to decide,'' Kris added.

''Sad to learn we can't hang all the pirates,'' Captain Drago said, looking rather piratical himself, then added, ''I'm glad I have both you and the professor here for a moment. Could we duck into my in-port cabin for a moment? Captain, you might want to come along, too,'' he said, nodding to Jack.

Uh-oh, Kris thought, but said nothing. With Kris and company, which somehow had grown to include Abby, seated around a small conference table, the captain closed his door.

''What do we intend to do next?'' he asked. ''Will we have to hang around here for all this court business?''

''Not if we hire a legal team,'' mFumbo put in.

''We really shouldn't be here long, not on official Navy business,'' Kris agreed.

''So, what do we do next?''

''Explore,'' mFumbo said, emphatically.

''Yes, yes,'' Captain Drago said, looking like your average pirate with several loaded cannons up his sleeve. ''But where?''

''Something tells me you already have an answer to that question,'' mFumbo said, looking quite unhappy.

''Well, I've been looking at the fine print on my contract.''

''Abby,'' Kris growled.

''Don't you go looking at me, your high-ship-ness, this is the first I've heard about this.''

''I assure all of you, this is the first our honorable COR has heard about this. You see, I met a man in a bar last night.''

''If there is a treasure map with X marks the spot in this story,'' mFumbo said menacingly, ''you're a dead man.''

''No, no map, I assure you. It's just that a man I talked to is one of the Sooners we've been running into. His problem is that he is here, back on the inside of the Rim, and he, and a cargo he has arranged, need to be there, out beyond the Rim.''

''He wants to start up a colony,'' Kris said slowly. ''I don't think I want to encourage that.''

''No, no, Your Highness, not start up a colony. His brothers sent him here to gather things they needed for a world that has been theirs since their grandfather staked his claim or snuck a claim or whatever we decide is the legal situation of these folks. Anyway, he swung a ride on a passing ship, but, what with the pirates and all, he hasn't been able to get back.''

''With the Compton or Big Bad and her crew in the dock, different docks,'' Kris said, ''that may change.''

''Was the Compton the only pirate?'' Drago asked.

That got shrugs or ''Your guess is as good as mine'' looks from around the table.

''Anyway, my contract says that I may offer passage and transport goods for a fee if it does not interfere with my principal duties.''

''And who decides that?'' Kris asked, wondering just who and how such language had slipped into the captain's contract. Apparently Grampa Ray wasn't the only one trying to twist this voyage of discovery his or her way.

''My COR,'' Drago said, with a more-piratical-than-usual grin.

''And what's my cut of the take?'' Abby asked through a cut-throat grin of her own.

''This is not happening to me and my science team,'' mFumbo said, standing up in protest.

Kris shook her head. ''And what high crimes am I going to be accused of this time? No, Abby. No!''

''But my contract,'' Drago cried.

''No!'' Kris repeated but was surely drowned out by ''No, No, No!'' from mFumbo.

''Would you at least talk to the man?'' Drago pleaded.

''Why?'' came from around the table, not just Kris.

''He's been stuck here a very long time and really wants to get back home. And I'd rather he be the one to talk to you about, ah, some of the other aspects of his trip here.''

''What aspects?'' Kris said.

''He's waiting right outside.'' Drago wheedled. That had to be a first for a ship captain.