"That was excellent, Mr. Po," I comment, the last mouthful now swallowed. "My compliments to your chef."

"Thank you, Mr. Ryan. I shall pass your kind words on to our people." He looks briefly around the table as others continue their meals. I guess one could say I inhaled mine much more quickly than anyone else at the table.

I think I catch surreptitious nods from each person our host looks at, then he looks my way and with a relaxed smile asks, "Mr. Ryan, since you have finished already, perhaps you would like to resume the story you began with Doctor Wong. You were describing a meeting with Admiral Emmin and the Seer Dnong."

Part of me wonders about his wife and daughter being here and my eyes stray to each in turn.

Po must be reading my mind, "Please do not let the presence of my family bother you, Mr. Ryan. My wife is my best lie detector and my daughter is already cleared to codeword level, you might think of that as ultra-secret. Her degree in Xeno Affairs is actually quite appropriate to your story."

"I see. So, you want me to just talk."

"Yes, sir. Exactly as you did with Doctor Wong."

"Okay..."

…..

I've just finished describing the vocal battle between the Admiral and Dnong when Xin interrupts to comment, "I've never heard of a 'takshak'."

"They told me it is ancient but also rare. Oddly enough, Dnong Ksack has been involved in two of them around me... perhaps even because of me."

"What was the other one?" she asks almost breathlessly.

"No," Mr. Bellforte says, "I submit that we need to hear everything from each event and not let his mind track ahead. I would rather not miss a detail."

Beside me, the Major nods and then looks back at me.

"Mr. Ryan," Mr. Po says, "I would prefer that you continue with your story for now. This incident is only a month or so ago, is it not?"

I think back. Yeah, since then, I got sick, had the second attempt on my life, got rescued/kidnapped, did the whole Outer Ring thing, played passenger/prisoner along the Xi'An frontier, flew an M50 back, and been tortured.

"Yup," I answer, "That was just about a month ago."

"So you are no doubt close to finished," he concludes.

They all stare at me as I begin to laugh.

In moments it has become wave after wave of guffaws interspersed with giggles. Perhaps it is infectious, Xin suddenly starts giggling herself.

While nearly everyone at the table is amused, it is obvious that neither Dr. Lee nor my host are at all pleased with the circumstances.

Mr. Po finally decides he needs to regain control. He rises and all eyes turn to him. "You will forgive me, Mr. Ryan, but I must insist that you treat this process with a little more respect and decorum."

I wipe tears from my eyes and try to stop laughing. Okay, I can't manage a straight face, but I at least am not even chuckling as I answer him, "My apologies, Mr. Po. Your comment struck me as funny and perhaps the stress of the last few days got the better of me. What you don't seem to know yet is there is more to tell still than I've told so far. While it has been just a month, it has been packed with more insanity than most years ever approach."

"Then continue, I pray thee."

Xin chuckles, probably at his overly archaic formal request. The humor fades, however, as he glares at her.

"So, where was I?"

"Admiral Emmin was explaining the takshak."

"Ah, yeah. Well..."

…..

Mai's head sinks to her chest and Mr. Po raises a hand to stop me in my narrative just after I have received the M50 from Ksan Ko'Kree.

"Please forgive me, Mr. Ryan, but I fear we will have to continue tomorrow. My wife has been sick lately and today has been long and tiring for her." She rouses at his touch and he gestures towards what must be their private quarters. As she rises to leave, he speaks again to me, "I would prefer it if you slept on the island tonight. I trust the quarters are acceptable."

"Would I get shot down if I tried to leave?"

He looks directly at me and I realize everyone else is doing the same also. Even Mai has frozen in place and is looking my way.

"No, Mr. Ryan. If you are able to leave the ground, we will not shoot you down."

'If you are able'... those don't sound much like words attached to freedom of movement. "I'm your prisoner?"

"Guest, Mr. Ryan. You are a guest."

"Oh?" I retort.

With a calm tone of control, he says, "Prisoners are not treated so well."

Touche. "I see."

"Sleep well, Mr. Ryan." With this, Mr. Po joins his wife in retiring.

Major McMurdoe looks my way and suggests, "Tomorrow will probably be long and tiring. You will wish you had slept tonight if you don't."

…..

The night air is warm and comfortable and the surf makes melody with the shore. Like a dance, it surges forward, then retreats... endlessly singing its hushing lullaby under the stars.

I walk out the back porch door and discover a hammock tied between two sturdy palms. Overhead, the branches rustle a lazy harmony for the wave song as a billion stars reach between their dancing fingers to touch my face.

I couldn't ask for anything better tonight. I stretch out on the knotted cotton cords and soak in the symphony of the night.

…..

Morning has arrived and sunlight tickles my eyelids enough that sleep flees. My mobi isn't working, so I've no idea what time it is. On the other hand, I suspect they will come get me when they decide I'm due... why should I rush things?

Birds of sea and land all cavort within earshot. "This is mine!" announce some, while smaller voices call, "FEED ME!" Behind them all, the tide is out and the surf a distant relative of what I remember from last night.

I do feel every place I took blows or other injury yesterday, but through the relaxation induced quiet within I notice them more with my mind than my senses. I guess it could be a lot worse, the knot on my head where muscle man clobbered me could still be pretty bad I bet.

My shirt is wet with dew, and I sit upright to pull it off. Maybe I should dry it, or maybe I should get a fresh one. I'm not sure my appearance matters to these folks. Heck, I'm not really sure I matter to them either.

Footsteps sound from the sand behind me. "Breakfast is served, sir," a middle aged person announces. "Master Po requests your attendance."

"I'll be right there."

"Thank you, sir. I shall let him know."

Sun tickles bubbles at the waters edge, transforming them into diamonds for a moment and then allowing their nature to return. If I'm to die today, at least it has been a wonderful last night... a fitting end, perhaps.

If instead, I'm to continue, then perhaps I can draw on this again when I'm trapped in another grilling.

…..

Were it not for the pleasure of my night on the beach, I might think I had only just stepped away from the table. The same group encircles the setting in mostly the same places, though Xin and Dr. Lee have traded places so that the younger Po sits at my immediate right.

The breakfast is fresh fruit and grilled fish. Pineapple is hacked clean and served in slices. Fresh-made orange, clisnas, and pineapple juices sit chilled in sweating glass pitchers, and more fish sizzles on a hibachi-like contraption.

The cook looks my way and asks, "Would you like scorpion pepper extract on your tapana fillets, Sir?"

"Yes, please."

"Thank you, sir." Addressing the gentleman to my left, he continues, "Major? Scorpion for you also, correct?"

"Of course, Mr. Patella."

"Thank you, sir."

I can see now that there is something of a retractable hood near at hand; Mr. Patella pulls it over the sizzling fish before painting the tender flesh with something from a smallish jar. The ventilation no doubt protects the more sensitive members seated about, a courtesy many might miss.

I look down the table at my host. "I would like to thank you for the great night's sleep, Mr. Po. I haven't slept in a hammock under the stars like that, it was wonderful."

Watching me with an evaluating look, he still gracefully replies, "I am glad our hospitality was to your liking. Likewise, I'm also pleased that you chose not to try to depart."

"Hey, it isn't every night I get to play layabout on a tropical island. The only thing I was missing was company," here I wink at the way too young Miss Po. The look I get from her isn't the rolling eyes or even the disgust I might have expected... just a steady gaze without recognizable emotion. Okay, maybe there's a hint of smile at the corners of her mouth, but then again, I have a pretty good imagination.

…..

The fish was indeed excellent... and very very hot; my lips are numb and my ears have that burn going. More satisfying, the spice euphoria is starting to kick in and yesterday's bruises seem even less interested in screaming for my attention. I like this feeling.

The plates are being cleaned away and Mr. Po speaks again, "Mr. Ryan, are you prepared to resume your story? I believe a Xi'An agent had just given you what I believe is your current craft."

A sigh escapes me. "Yeah, I guess that's where we stopped..."

…..

"And then I got the call from your approach with landing instructions." I've been talking for another hour or so and it is good to finally be done. "You know the rest of the story. So, is there anything else, or am I free to get my registration if Kree'Gna still needs me?"

There are looks back and forth, but Mr. Po seems intent on looking my way.

Unexpectedly, Mr. Bellforte says to no one in particular, "No tradecraft. He's useless to me."

The shrinks and Po look at the man and the Major asks, "You don't think he could learn?"

"Nope. Too willing to honestly say everything. It's no wonder the Xi'An are intrigued by him, he is a double edged sword without the guile to chose which way to cut."

"Aren't you curious just who this 'Mark' might be?" Mai asks.

"Must be some corporate entity. I checked last night and we have nothing on them."

Xin speaks up, "No, they are real. I ran against acronyms last night, there is a small unit of the Imperial Archive that has the acronym M.A.R.C., Miscellaneous Archive Research Committee. When I tried to access further data, my connection to the database failed and the search came back empty on the second pass. Codeword protocols failed. I checked with our research section and got nothing, but when I checked with some of my trusted free contacts on-world I got two comments about something called 'Flunkies' and one about a 'Reporter'... just exactly what our Mr. Ryan has described. There is also a line item in last years Imperial Archive budget for MARC, though it seemed to be a very small amount to run a covert operation of any scale."

The Major seems interested, suddenly. "Xin, you do know that our own line item is very small. Our actual funding is an arcane trail of shifted credits that even the Director would have a hard time explaining."

"So they wouldn't be necessarily limited by the stated portion of the Imperial budget?" she asks with what seems genuine curiosity.

"I'm more inclined to think what you uncovered is indicative of a need for more research into the matter," he replies.

I have the feeling that they are deliberately talking around me. I'm not sure why, but it seems like a conscious decision.

"I still say he is useless to me," Mr. Bellforte states. "Presuming that what he says is true, the Xi'An have obviously manipulated what he has been aware of to give us a very distorted view of what is happening and MARC seems to have dumped him. I see no reason to believe that it would change if we invested time and resources training him... even if I could cure him of talking about anything and everything. He may have met with members of the Outer Ring, but I doubt he will be useful at probing it and MARC seems interested in staying aloof."

Mr. Po looks briefly my way and then at his wife. She nods back and then turns to address me, "Mr. Ryan, do you think Gloria is what she said she was?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

She continues, "Can you prove anything you have stated yet about her or her organization?"

I think for a moment, "Your man George at the door last night proved it."

"Oh?" she asks, glancing back at her husband.

"What do you mean, Mr. Ryan?" the latter asks.

"The suit your man thought was bugged. Gloria or one of her people did that. The Xi'An suspected that and had me get a new one before I went to the embassy that first time."

"Do you mind if I have someone examine it?"

"I'm surprised that you haven't taken it and done so already."

"As I said, you are a guest."

"Then, by all means, please feel free to do so. I do ask that if you need to destroy it you provide me the credits to replace it."

"A polite request. Let's see if we need to do that, our nondestructive testing is actually quite good."

This comment prompts a snicker from Xin, followed by a knowing look my way.

Dr. Millesius quietly asks something I can't quite catch before looking my way as if expecting an answer.

Those at the other end of the table and Dr. Lee all look at me.

Guessing the situation I say, "If you asked me something, sir, I couldn't quite hear you."

The shrink clears his throat and I guess repeats himself, "Have you worked with Jenk Gallen for very long?"

I've heard that name before. "I know I've heard that name somewh... oh yeah, the Xi'An asked about whomever as one of a long string of names. From the way Dnong asked I guess the name must have been important, but if I've worked with him or her, I didn't know the name at the time."

"Why didn't you mention that before?" he continues.

"Because it didn't come to mind at the time. Dnong read several dozen names and only in hindsight does it seem that he wanted me to think about that one carefully. Why?"

"I am asking the questions, Shawn."

"False familiarity, Doctor. It won't serve you well."

Dr. Lee finally speaks, "Your hostility towards Dr. Millesius seems inappropriate, Shawn."

"If you want me to answer you about anything," I snap back, "You will show a little respect. I've seen you types play games with people's heads for more years than you've been alive, madam. I'm disinclined to play along."

"You like to lie, don't you, Shawn?"

"What? Bite me, you..." I almost say more choice words, but instead look Mr. Po's direction and continue, "You are the host, but your guests seem to wish to provoke a hostile response. Do you mind if I take a walk rather than slap this shrink back into her place?"

Xin laughs, as do both the Major and Mr. Bellforte, and Mr. Po smiles. Dr, Lee, however is fuming with no calmness to her appearance at all.

"You are a character, Mr. Ryan," the Major states and all but the two Doctors nod in agreement.

I'm about to offer a silly reply to the Major when something chimes or rings at the other end of the table. Mr. Po glances down at a small glas and is suddenly very focused on whatever is displayed there. Everyone else is looking very somber and... now there are two more ringers, or whatever you call them, going off and both Mai and Mr. Bellforte are pulling up their own glas... add the Major now. The intensity on their faces says something is serious somewhere; the two doctors exchange glances, rise, and quietly excuse themselves.

Xin has her hand hovering over her glas interface, but no chime has reached it. She looks my way, then back towards her father, "Dad, Mr. Ryan?"

He glances up at her, then steadies his eyes on her face. I think I see her mouth a few words and he nods.

Xin puts her hand on mine and says, "They will be busy. Come with me."

She rises and I do likewise, following her towards the door.

Just before I reach George and the doorway, I hear Mr. Bellforte comment, "I'll need Wrangler and the number two shadow team. Wheels up in thirty."

Mr. Po answers, "Approved. Make it clean, we..."

The door closes and I don't hear anything more.

"Let's go for a long walk on the beach, Mr. Ryan."

"I take it they are going to be busy."

"For at least a while. Father will page me when he is free again."

"Is it likely that I won't get back home today?"

She looks at me with something on her mind, but I've got no clue what. "Perhaps. We will have to wait and see."

"Joy," I opine, my tone denying the word its proper meaning.

"Yup!" She bubbles like a teenager. "We might as well enjoy it. How about some snorkeling?"

I'm about to object on several different counts, but she continues, "Go get your swim suit and I'll meet you at the back door of your cabin."

"I don't have..."

"I'll bring one over for you, along with a mask and fins."

"Well..."

"I won't take 'no' for an answer, Mr. Ryan."

Steamrolled. Okay, maybe those big dark eyes have something to do with it. Or maybe the way she tosses her hair. Or... um... the rest of her. She turns without another word spoken and I'm trying to remember what I'm supposed to be doing. The way she walks in the morning light... wow.

…..

"Mr. Ryan?" Xin asks, having walked into the cabin without a knock. At least I still have pants on...

She is wearing a silk-like bikini of blue fabric with large white flowers printed on it; the material marginally covers her most feminine areas and leaves nothing else to the imagination. "Here, these should fit you nicely," she says, tossing me a pair of red diving shorts.

I pick them up and say, "Well, you'll have to excuse me..."

"Look, a couple of ground rules," she states with a very serious look on her face.

I make eye contact and reply, "Okay."

"I'm a full OES Associate with more training than you've have ever had. If you attempt anything without my express permission, I can and will make you regret it."

I let my eyes go wide and ask, "You mean like trying to get my craft out of here?"

Her expression softens a bit, "No, like trying to touch without invitation to do so."

I smile and chuckle, "Look, I can guess you are much too young and with your dad here, the last thing I..."

"Stop." She commands in a low voice. "I am thirty-one and not too young for anything I want. My father knows what I like to do sometimes. I decide if I'm interested and if I am, he does not object."

"Hey, I'm not arguing. Is the occasional look a problem?"

"No, not a problem. More a problem if you don't look," with this she turns for the back door and I realize that her hair has been in a bun the other two times I've seen her... now it tumbles almost the entire way down her back to the very top line of her... um... wow... bikini bottoms.

This is deliberate, my mind tells me. What she is doing is deliberate and I'm not sure why... or am I? Dora flashes into my head but Dora never... wow... I can see Xin walking down to the dark sand, waves crashing onto the strand in time with the pounding of my heart.

The swim trunks attempt to keep me in check and I head out to join the beautiful and likely deadly flower who waits.

…..

We are treading water at the Island end of a long lagoon of warm crystal water. The bottom in out of reach, even with our fins moving back and forth, but I could almost swear it is just below them.

"Are you ready to see wonders?" she asks breathlessly from beneath her mask.

"Sure, lead on."

She grins and dives.

I'm not sure what shape I'm in, but I'm not going to miss this. I put my head down and my fins push me into position following her. Sunlight filters through the water with abandon, and I realize that the bottom is a longer way down than I had guessed. The fins add speed and in moments I'm catching up with her. The she turns and I can see her smile. At about the same moment, I'm aware that her wet bathing suit is... rather... revealing.

Her eyes are... I can see that she is evaluating me. I need to not get to fixated on what I can't have anyway. She is probably teasing with some ulterior motive and I need to act a bit less like some oversexed animal. She's half my age... well... not quite, but like that's going to matter.

She turns and the rest of her suit might as well have disappeared as well. With her hair floating in the current and her... curves... wow.

Stop. I need a reality check, and it is no further away than looking down at my less than Adonis physique. Okay, I'm not flabby, but I'm old and rather run down looking. Yeah, that's what I needed, my libido has suffered the humiliation of seeing myself and parts of me decide that they'll go back to sleep. Maybe I can just enjoy the companionship, it wouldn't hurt me and I might glean some of what they still have planned.

As she swims back to the surface for a breath, I follow, trying for all the world to look at the things below us and not the undulations a scant three meters away.

…..

We are laying on a warm black sand beach, caressed by the sea breeze and gently baked by the sun.

"May I call you Shawn?" Xin queries.

I don't have to move to answer, "Sure, whatever you like."

"Do you mind if I mix business with pleasure?" Xin asks with a voice that reminds me most of a purr.

I move my head to where I can look at her and respond, "Depends on what you have in mind and whether what we are doing already is business or pleasure."

"I consider it to be both."

"Then I guess I'm okay with whatever as long as it doesn't involve pain."

She laughs like an innocent child, "No pain. Just questions."

"Sure, fire away," I say while allowing my forehead to rest on my arms.

"What does Gloria look like?"

"Tallish, bald, she's a deep alto, almost a tenor. If it weren't for her name, her face and... um... her figure, I'm not sure I would have known her sex."

"So you don't actually know if the person is indeed a she?"

"Well, I can't imagine how could I know for 100 percent sure, but I'm pretty certain."

"Sex."

"Oh, yeah. I guess that would have confirmed it."

"What about her figure do you think meant she must have been a woman?"

"Um... honestly?"

"Yes. If you actually have something other than breast size."

I sigh and answer, "The gap between her legs at her loins. Men aren't like that, and not all women are. But it is almost 100 percent certain to be a woman like that. Sorry, you wanted me to be honest."

"Oh." Xin seems to think for a minute, then demurely asks, "Do I have one?"

Again, I sigh. I need a deep breath, then I answer, "Yes. Very much so."

"Do you find that attractive?"

I lift my head and look at her. Those deep dark eyes could make a man crazy, especially perched so perfectly above that brilliant white smile. What could she want from me that would make her tease so? I'm glad I'm laying on my stomach right now or my anatomy would be embarrassing me no end.

"Yes, Ma'am. Very."

"But you didn't find Gloria attractive or at least not attractive enough to make a play for her when she has all but offered."

"Nope. Not into bald women or bossy women."

"Do you like long hair?"

"You mean like yours?"

She nods.

"Yeah, I've had a thing for long haired women since I was a teen and my first experience..." hmmm, no, that isn't important, is it? "Sorry, tmi, I'm sure."

"No, it's good to know. You're being pretty honest."

"I'm not a good liar and besides, I feel bad about it whenever I've caught myself."

"Yeah, I bet Gloria's people must have pulled their collective hair out when they realized you really were so willing to talk about anything."

That image of makes me laugh: Gloria's bosses having hair rending experiences over my reports of talking with the Xi'An.

"Probably," is my comment.

"I think Gordon was right about you."

I can't remember which one that is. "The Major?"

"No, Commander Bellforte."

I try to remember what he said, but she saves me the trouble, "He said you had no tradecraft. Too willing to say what you think or know when asked."

"Is that bad?"

"No. You would not make a good Associate, but that gives me more time to probe your mind."

"How?"

She smiles, "I'm doing it right now."

"Oh. Go ahead, then."

"Put your head back down, I'm going to ask some more while I put some more solar screen on your back."

I comply. A cool splurp of solar screen splashes on the middle of my back.

"If you could do anything, what would it be?" Her deceptively strong hands are starting to spread the slick liquid across my back muscles and I'm having a hard time focusing on answering her.

"Be independently wealthy and able to fly wherever I want whenever I want."

"And if you could, what would you do for that?"

"Oh, one of those kind of questions. Nah, if I wanted to bend the rules to get there, I would have done it a long time ago. If I can't get it honestly, I don't want it."

"Really?"

"Hard to live with myself when I make bad mistakes, and what I think you were asking would be worse than bad."

"So is it fair to presume you didn't sell out to the Xi'An to get your ships?"

"Yeah, that's fair. I think they tried to recruit me and Gloria and Brother Patrick both seemed to think the M50 means they weren't done trying... though I guess if I'm not Kree'Gna's wing I may not be so interesting to them anymore. I don't mind, the Partisan is fast, but it is too small to live in. If I'm not runnin' the contract, it would just sit most of the time and I really don't have a hangar big enough for the three of them."

"Would you consider selling it?"

"Probably just return it to their embassy. I'd feel weird selling it like that."

"Even to me?"

I chuckle, "Yeah, especially to you."

Her breath tickles my ear... she must be leaning close as she whispers, "I could make it worth your while." As she is saying this, her hands have left my back and are now rubbing the block onto my thighs... her fingers going places I would not have expected...

"Hmmmm..."

"Feel good?"

"Um... wow... I think you wer... oh my..." I take a deep breath and try to think about anything but where her hands are now. "I hope you aren't trying to seduce me for whatever nefarious purposes you government types could come up with."

"No nefarious purposes. Like I said, I like to mix business with pleasure."

"You think I would bring you pleasure?"

"I don't know... yet. Experience often brings out gentleness from a man; that willingness to please even more than seeking his own pleasure."

"Wow..."

"So, will you sell me your M50?"

Ah... my cynicism kicks in suddenly, "I guess I'm not quite experienced enough to really want to please you."

Her hands gently move away from me and she appraises, "You are a tough nut to crack."

"Just loyal. Try to be fair, too. Besides, I know what I look like, so I'm not exactly going to believe that such a beautiful woman would want me for any other reason than use."

She laughs, "Honesty again. I like that. I haven't decided, but I do think you might be surprising."

"I'm sure I'm no better than average."

She smiles and rests her right hand on my thigh. "No, that was above average, my dear Mr. Ryan."

I'm trying for all the world to think up an appropriate response to Xin's 'above average' assessment when her mobi chimes. I look up and see her concentrate on something for a moment, then close it and start to stand. "Well, father has taken care of the business that came up. We are invited back to have lunch."

"Okay," I mumble as I too stand.

"You seem to have been having a good time," she opines after a sideways glance my way.

I should guess so. I turn and splash quickly into the water, just far enough that it serves the purpose of a cold shower. Well, that and it also rinses off a lot of the sand that seems to have stuck to my pasty white skin. Damn, I look so pathetic, especially next to the glowing tan Xin is displaying. She proceeds to wrap a towel about herself and leads me back towards the compound.

…..

Lunch has been another superb fish grill, this time with a much reduced group. The two doctors must have better things to do, and Mr. Bellforte is gone wherever with whomever.

Mr. Po has chosen a round table this time, one that has the five of us all together in a more comfortable arrangement. The Major is to my immediate left again, Mai is to his left and almost across from me, Mr. Po is to her left again and also almost directly across from me, and finally Xin is to his left which is my right. Xin has added a breezy cotton thing that drapes across her and covers the bikini completely. If it matters, I added a linen shirt to the swim trunks.

Mai looks my way and says calmly, "I see Xin has taken you for a swim. Are you quite relaxed now, Mr. Ryan?"

"Yes, Ma'am. It was kind of a new experience for me. I've swum in lakes and rivers, but never in sea water. Pretty awesome all the things you can see."

Out of the corner of my eye I see Xin almost imperceptibly move her head back and forth signaling 'no' to someone. Neither Mr. nor Ms. Po seem to have taken their eyes off of me, but I'm certain that whatever the message was, it has been delivered.

Mr. Po breaks the silence, "We would like you to tell us if we have anything to fear from your interaction with the Xi'An?"

"I've got no clue. Everybody seems to want me to be a spy and I still have no clue about any of it. MARC and the Seers say they are content with me just telling them everything. Whoever has tried to kill me obviously has other ideas... that wasn't one of your's, was it?"

The Major speaks up, "No, but I do have some possible info I can trade you."

"Trade?"

"We have examined the bugs in your flight-suit. They are different and perhaps actually better than what we have. I would like to trade my information for that flight-suit. We would provide you with a basic one when you leave."

"Well, since I figure you will take what you want anyway..."

"We would rather be civilized," Mr. Po interrupts calmly. "It is much easier to maintain pleasant relations if we haven't gone about making life too miserable... without cause."

"Well, then by all means, the trade sounds good. Who is the miscreant?"

"We know there are at least two members of the Senate involved. We will deal with them. The middle man is Hornek Tish, a Tev living on Gen. I think his assassin is a man from the Guild known as Vixen."

"Odd call for a man, isn't it?"

"We think his current or previous ship carried the name first. Besides, as you just observed, most folks would think of a woman with such a callsign." I shrug and he continues, "We also believe that Tish is running several Xi'An penetration ops, though we aren't sure what they are for... yet."

"Can you send that to my mobi?"

"Already done. When you leave your glas will work again, and it will be waiting for you."

"Jix."

"Father, I would suggest that we release Mr. Ryan tomorrow morning. The documents should be ready by then."

I think there is a subtle hint of surprise on Mr. Po's face and at least a shadow of displeasure on Mai's, but the Major nods and Mr. Po states, "Yes, I believe that one more night should do about perfectly. We will be able to provide you with your proper registration materials in the morning, Mr. Ryan. In the mean time, please continue to enjoy our hospitality. Dinner will be a sundown. I think a small luau is in order considering the time you've given us."

"Um... okay?"

The four of them laugh.

…..

The afternoon has flown and so has the meal. I'm comfortably full and grant that the wine has made a favorable impression. There isn't much better than to lay on a mat on the sand with a warm sea breeze and a full stomach. The stars have come out and begun their nightly cartwheel across the sky. There are even a few musicians playing somewhere nearby.

Out of nowhere, Xin is suddenly kneeling nearby. She leans in close and whispers, "Come with me, Shawn. I have something for you."

"Oh? Um, okay." I rise and follow her through the near darkness along the strand. Oh, I'm near my hut, I wonder what she has here? I stand at my back door, peering inside.

"Shawn," she purrs, "I've decided we should enjoy the night anyway. Are you interested?"

"In what?"

She walks back toward me out of the pitch dark and the faint light from the beach shows what the water-soaked bikini only hinted at. Her face comes close and I feel her naked curves against my chest. Her hands pull my face to hers and she whispers, "What do you think, Mr. Ryan?"