Chapter Two

The landing pad at the spaceport at Fort Garnik was pitted and cratered from small arms fire and the occasional heavy ordnance strike, but the gleaming shuttle sat on the battered plasticrete like a gift.

All they'd had to do to open it was dodge a couple of bounty hunters. Captain Umali had muttered about "the last time I do anything like the Big Boom Run for an ungrateful jerk crime lord like Rogun the Butcher", but then had shouldered the battered carisac that held her share of Viidu's stashed equipment and told Riggs to hustle before any more bounty hunters showed up.

Standing in the boarding line made them both a little twitchy. "Too open here," Mairu murmured. "I don't think we'll have any more hunters on us so soon, but Rogun's apparently overly fond of his nickname. Wonder what he's compensating for?"

Corso disguised his laugh with a rough cough. "I'm keepin' an eye open, Captain. If anyone tries for us, one of us'll see it coming."

"Riggs, I like the overinflated sense of confidence you have in our abilities. I hope it doesn't blow up in your face." The Mirialan woman rolled her shoulders to ease the weight of her bag, but kept her hand near her holstered blaster. "Why do I keep thinking that getting offworld is just the beginning of our problems?"

"Because your parents didn't raise no fools?" Corso grinned down at her.

"My sisters would say otherwise, farm boy."

"Sisters? There's how many?"

"Four of us. The others are what you'd call legitimately employed."

"Bet they don't have near as much fun as you do."

Mairu smothered a laugh. "Maybe. Maybe not. You can ask them if you ever meet 'em."

They found their spaces on the crowded transport. Mairu stuffed her carisac under her seat and sat down with a slightly less than graceful thud. "Force, but it's nice to finally sit down. That boarding line took slightly less time than a straight cruise to Tatooine." She shot a quick look around the transport's interior. "Looks like we're not the only ones eager to shake this place's dust off their boots."

Corso took his seat with some difficulty, wedging his broad shoulders into the space allotted to them by a ship designer who apparently only made seats destined for anemic Senators. "Seems like sometimes the only way to deal with your memories is to leave 'em, Captain. It ain't a new thing, not here, not anywhere."

"Riggs, if you're gonna philosophize me the entire way to Carrick Station, it's gonna be a long trip."

"Sorry, Captain. Somethin' about space always puts me in a thinking mood. I suspect it's all them stars."

The captain narrowed her eyes. "Drop the hick act, farm boy. The accent is pure country, but I'm getting the very certain feeling that there's a lot more to you than meets the eye." The smile that slid across Mairu's full lips was sultry and a little speculative. "Not that what meets the eye isn't real attractive to begin with."

Corso could feel what was no doubt a flaming blush working its way up his throat and into his face. "Captain, ma'am, if you're gonna flirt with me all the way to the station, it's gonna be a long trip."

She laughed, one of those husky chuckles that sounded just so... pretty. "Sorry, Riggs. You make it so easy. I'll ease off the flirting. Kind of a habit, y'know."

"Figured that, Captain. Ma'am. That's a pretty potent weapon you're packin'."

"Riggs, I thought you didn't want me to flirt with you all the way to the station," she purred, leaning over his armrest a little. That soft scent of hers surrounded him, making him think of cool water and sun-warmed grass. "Because that sounded an awful lot like a line. Or a challenge."

Seemed like he was gonna be stuck blushing his damn fool head off for at least the next few minutes. Corso cleared his throat. "Captain, I... I got somethin' to say."

"Go ahead, farm boy." Mairu leaned back in her seat. "This promises to be good."

He took a deep breath. "Ma'am, you got more grit in one finger than all Ord Mantell's army. That ain't flattery, that's just the plain truth. Most Mantellians haven't done half what you have for the people in Drelliad, or Mannett Point, or every other village you've been into. And I realize we fought together some, but you don't know me, and Skavak wasn't the best kinda introduction to how us Mantell boys treat a lady. You gotta know, though, that I ain't gonna try and take advantage of ya in any way." His eyes met hers and held. "You're safe with me. You got my word on that."

Mairu's mouth was hanging open slightly. He wasn't sure if that was a good sign or not.

"Now I've gone and talked your ear half off, but I just wanted you to be, y'know, sure. About this one thing. Can't promise about anything else, though. Rogun the Butcher ain't likely to stop with just one set of bounty hunters, and we ain't caught up to Skavak yet and gotten your ship back. Like as not, we're in for a tough road."

"Riggs..." The captain cleared her throat. "I think that's the most I've ever heard you talk about a non-weapon related topic."

He grinned sheepishly and scratched his chin. "Yeah, well... Space and all. Fleeing for our lives. Affects a man, y'know?"

"You and me, back to back, blasters against the universe." Mairu chuckled, and the sound seemed to smooth along his skin. Yessir, he could get used to hearing that little laugh. "I'll do my best to keep you safe, too, Riggs."

Corso felt something in him lighten, only to crash when she added, "That's what friends do."

He hoped his smile didn't look as stiff at it felt. "Yeah. Friends."

He already knew he wanted more.