As I step off the transport, Soraya greets me by waving a pulse rifle in my face. I quickly realize she's not trying to gesture with it, or shaking it in some show of bravado; her hands are just trembling that badly. Her dress leaves her flabby arms bare, and I can see the tremors in those pitiful muscles. It would take weeks of decent food and proper training before she could handle that weapon with any skill.

I can't help smiling. "Let me guess. You have never surrendered before? A bit of advice-- you'll have better luck with negotiations if you set your weapon down." She gives no response, so I continue toward her, my arms spread wide. "You see? I took your offer of surrender to be one of good faith. I came unarmed. I trusted you."

She dances back, still holding the rifle, although it will soon grow too heavy for her. I wonder what she'll do when she can't hold it up anymore. Will she put the thing down, or just shoot me to be on the safe side? Curse Talyn! If I had my own weapon, the girl would already be stocking my transport with her supplies.

I sigh in frustration. "I hope you are not under the impression that you have the advantage. If you fire on me, girl, my ship will fire on yours. Cooperate, and I will leave the two of you unharmed. You have my word as--" The phrase "as a Peacekeeper" sticks in my throat. I've broken that word more times than I can count. "As captain of the Rogue Talyn," I finally finish. She doesn't know it, but the promise I just made her is the most binding oath I can imagine.

She lowers the gun and leans back against the wall of the docking bay. "What is it you want?"

"Food, basic supplies, and all map information you have."

She laughs, even as a tear courses down one hollow cheek. "That makes two of us."

"I thought you said this was a merchant vessel." I want to shake her. There was a time when I would have, and I can imagine how it would feel to squeeze those soft arms until they bruise. I remind myself that such actions will accomplish nothing, and I fold my arms across my chest.

"I lied." Soraya meets my eyes for a microt before bowing her head and staring at her boots. "Are you going to kill me, Peacekeeper?" She drops the pulse rifle and kicks it toward me. "Go ahead. I ran out of food days ago, so it's not lot I've got long anyway."

I step over the weapon, toward her, until my face is a hand's breadth from hers. I want her to see my eyes when I say this, so I lift her chin with my index finger. When she tries to look away, I hold her face in both hands. "Soraya, I have nothing to gain by harming you. You have already surrendered your vessel and its cargo to me, so you are safe. There is no war between us."

"No war between us," she repeats. She licks her dry, cracking lips, tears still coursing down her cheeks.

"That's right."

"You're not a Peacekeeper, are you?" She tilts her head to one side and scans my face with her large green eyes.

I hesitate. Is it better to be feared or trusted? Fear can be a useful tool, but instilling fear is all about the application of leverage. To make someone afraid, you must threaten something she values. This half-starved girl doesn't care if I shoot her. She surrendered her ship without even being overtly threatened. She has nothing to lose, and hence nothing to fear. Perhaps Talyn is right. I can earn her trust, and through hers, Kateri's.

I shake my head. "No. I was once."

"What do you want from me?" She licks her lips again, closes her eyes and takes a deep, shuddering breath. Her whole body stiffens, bracing for an attack that will never come.

I let go of her, then step back and collect the pulse rifle. "For now, only information. Who attacked you and Kateri? How did you get here, and where the frell are we, anyway?"

"For now?" She runs her eyes over me and the rifle at my side.

"Follow my orders and you have nothing to fear from me, ever. I have some food aboard Talyn. Come." I take her by the arm in case she decides to bolt. I don't want to chase her through Kateri.

She reaches across her body and places her free hand on my shoulder, leaning heavily. If not for the pulse rifle, I would simply carry her, but I won't leave behind a weapon I may need. We stumble like awkward dance partners as we make our way up the ramp and onto the transport. She sits next to me in the transport, her eyes closed. I let her rest. Once aboard Talyn, I will use whatever method is required to obtain all possible information.