My blaster was strapped to my side.“Are weapons allowed?”I asked Lacy suddenly.
She nodded.“Yes, but if you use it on the station, you’ll need an extraordinary reason.Rigel Naught takes safety and security very seriously.”
“Are you bringing a weapon?”Burn asked her.
Lacy shook her head, her ponytail swaying behind her.“No.I don’t have one.”
Burn looked concerned.“Where’s the armory, Sarge?”
I blinked at the question, the looked at Lacy.“Do we have an armory?”
“Yes and no.The space for the armory has been incorporated into the cargo hold.I can show you where it used to be.”She started walking toward the rear of the ship.
“Wait,” I called after her.“You can show me, show all of us, after dinner.We’ve got to meet Finn.”
I studied her as she walked back toward us.Her coveralls were clean, but had definitely seen better days.She hadn’t worn the clothes I’d lent her since Burn arrived.
I wanted her to mesh with Burn and Finn so that they accepted her as one of the team.I wasn’t trying to replace Wilson, no one ever could, but she’d more than earned her passage in the last two days.Parts of the ship I hadn’t even known were broken now worked better and smoother.
For an attempted pirate, she was handy to have around.
“Let’s roll!”Burn slapped her hand on the palm reader and an unhappy beep sounded.“What the hell?”
I rubbed my hands over my eyes.“We’ll need to add you to the reader.Can we do it after dinner, though?I’m starving.”
“Fine.But right after dinner.It’sourship, remember?”
I pressed my hand against the sensor and didn’t look at Lacy.If she’d granted herself access when Burn didn’t have it?Big problems.
The hatch opened and station-flavored air rushed in.It was at once stale and flat, but also alive with all the little things that made up a station: ships and exhaust and people and food.
Mostly, it made me appreciate the fresher air on the ship.
“Let’s go.”I ushered Lacy and Burn out first, then waited whileFortuna’s locks reengaged.
Burn took point position.In addition to the blaster, she also had a knife tucked into her boot.I wouldn’t be surprised if there were other weapons I didn’t know about.Next time I’d put her in charge of reviewing the weapons policies wherever we landed.I crossed my fingers that everything she was carrying was legal on Rigel Naught.
Lacy, on the other hand, was quiet.
“I need to talk to you about one of the quotes.”I matched my stride to hers.
“Sure, which one?”
As I relayed the order and the price that they’d quoted me, Lacy nodded.“Yes, that sounds about right.”
My jaw dropped.“You’re kidding.It feels like robbery!”
She started to speak, then snapped her mouth shut and gestured for me to turn around.
Annoyed, I turned and realized we’d arrived at the customs desk.
“Purpose of your visit?”The bored customs officer on the holoscreen looked straight through me.It was eerie.
“Arrange for cargo pickup.”I used my best command tone.
“Name of ship?”
“Fortuna.”
